Chapter 2: Getting Too Old?

Chloe looked herself over in the mirror approvingly. She'd ditched the embarrassing teddy bear pajama's for a 3/4 sleeved purple sweater and fitted blue jeans. Her long hair was left down, after several failed attempts to put it up in a ponytail holder. She looked over at the clock: 8:15, he was 15 minutes late. She sighed heavily, heading down the stairs to reclaim her former spot on the couch.

"You'd better show, Black," Chloe muttered aloud to herself. As if on cue, she heard the familiar sound of Brady's unmistakable Jeep pulling up in front of her house. She grinned, jumping up and throwing the door open before Brady even reached the porch.

"Anxious to see me, Diva?" Brady inquired through the remains of his quick snack.

"Why would I be anxious to see you? I'm anxious to see this big surprise you said you had for me. Please don't tell me its just the honor of sharing your lunch... peanut butter?" Chloe questioned.

"Yep, want some? Grape jelly," Brady offered with a childlike grin. Chloe wrinkled her nose, holding the door open for him.

"No thank you. Now where's my surprise, because if you think I'm gonna let you trick me..."

"Now now, Chloe. Patience is a virtue. It's waiting for you in the jeep, I'm just waiting to see if you deserve it," Brady said, making himself at home by stretching out on the couch. Chloe rolled her eyes, basically slamming the door. Ugh, that Brady Black, sometimes she didn't know how she put up with his arrogant ego.

"And what, pray tell, do I have to do to be deserving?" Chloe asked.

"Hrm... well, foodage would be a great start," Brady answered, looking back at her with a bright smile.

"So, I'm expected to feed you now? What do I look like, your mother?" Chloe immediately cursed herself, knowing better to use a mother reference even in joking.

"Actually, there are some similarities," Brady replied, his former bright smile not so bright now. He shook it off, standing up again. "So, you gonna feed me, or do I have to start eating the furniture. Those PB&Js were all I've eaten all day."

"Alright fine, but only to keep my furniture intact. Come on, I'll make us BLTs." Chloe said, taking his hand unconsciously out of habit and leading him into the kitchen.

"Great, I'm starving!"

"You're always starving," Chloe replied. Brady just chuckled, seating himself at the kitchen table as Chloe began fixing the BLTs. Awhile later, they both sat in front of the television, though it was turned off, with their BLTs, Brady with a Mountain Dew and Chloe with a bottle of water. "So, am I deserving now?" Chloe asked, after taking the first initial bit of her BLT. Brady shook his head, setting down his paper plate after one bite.

"Not quite. First, we're going to talk. About you and Philip." Chloe tensed, suddenly no longer hungry.

"I'd rather not," Chloe said firmly, setting her plate down as well.

"Chloe, you know you can't avoid..." Brady started, but was cut short by the opening of the front door. It was Craig and an overly chatty Nancy.

"Craig did you see that awful dress... oh, Chloe, Brady, haven't seen you around lately," Nancy said, spotting the two on the couch.

"Evening Mrs. Wesley, Dr. Wesley," Brady greeted as brightly as possible, although he was very frustrated at the distraction. Craig, ever the rational one, immediately picked up on the tension in the room.

"Well, it was nice seeing you again Brady. Nancy and I will just leave you two alone to your conversation," Craig said.

"But Craig..." Nancy whined. Craig shot her a warning glance, ushering her out with him to head upstairs.

"Good night you two," Craig called before he and Nancy disappeared up the stairs.

"Night Craig," Chloe murmured. This was one time she wasn't thankful for Craig's rational, understanding nature.

"Alright, now that that's done with, spill it Diva. What's going on with you and Philip that is so bad that you had to shut yourself off completely from the world?" Brady inquired. Chloe flushed with anger. Didn't she just say she didn't want to talk about it?!

"What business is it of yours? What do you care?" Chloe hissed. Brady sighed, thinking he should have known better then to believe this could be easy.

"I care, because I'm your friend and I don't want to see you hurt. And that's preciously what Philip will do Chloe. Hurt you, just like he's done a million times before," Brady said calmly.

"What right do you have to make judgment on him anyway, Brady?" Chloe asked. She sighed, looking down. She didn't want to fight with Brady. Then again she didn't want to have to deal with Philip and his insecurities either. But that was something that seemed unavoidable. "Look Brady, I appreciate that you care and all, but it's not your job to protect me. I can take care of myself, make my own decisions."
"Yes Chloe, you can, but letting Philip into your life is the wrong one," Brady stated.

"What makes you think he's even trying to get back into my life? Did it ever occur to you that he might just need a friend he can count on right now?"

"The thought did occur to me, yes, but obviously, given that you have barely left this house in weeks and you don't answer you phone anymore, I would say you're the one who doesn't think all Philip wants is friendship. So, don't try and tell me all Philip wants from you is a "friend he can count on" because you and I both know damn well he'll do anything to get you back into his web of lies and possessiveness. Tell me, Chloe, has he come to you saying he needed someone to talk to, to help him grieve for his "dear" friends Jan and Jason? Has he Chloe? And tell me Chloe, if he were to ask you to be his girlfriend again, would you say yes?" Brady inquired. Chloe looked down at the table, almost ashamed. "Please Chloe, answer me. Would you take him back?"

"I... I don't know." Chloe whispered hesitantly. She knew he wouldn't buy that, but it was the honest truth. She didn't know what to do about Philip, that's why she'd shut herself off from everyone like she did. To avoid making any decision, least of all one she'd live to regret.

"You don't know? So, in other words, you would take him back, you're just to ashamed to admit it," Brady spat. Chloe's head shot up, tears threatening to spill over her cheeks. But she refused to let him see her cry. Would he even care?

"He... he needs me," Chloe said weakly. Brady nearly busted out laughing, though he felt a twinge of guilt, having seen the tears Chloe forced back.

"He needs you, aye? Well, I guess that's true. Uncle Phil does need someone to drag down with him to feel better about his miserable self," Brady commented dryly. "What about you Chloe? What about what you need?"

"You don't know what the hell I need," Chloe spat.

"Oh, but I do, Diva. You're the one left out in the dark. I know exactly what you need, and it sure as hell isn't Philip."

"I'll... I'll tell you what I don't need. I don't need you telling me what to do with my life!"

"I'm not telling you how to live your life. It wouldn't do any good. I know you wouldn't listen. I just don't want to see you throw your life away on Philip."

"Just... just get out. I don't want to talk anymore," Chloe said, the tears once again threatening to flow down her cheeks. She stood, but Brady stopped her, taking hold of her arm.

"No Chloe, you're not going anywhere. We are going to talk. Not later, not some day… now. We don't have to talk about Philip. We can talk about anything that's on your mind right now, but whatever the topic, you're not going to turn away from me now. You've shut yourself off from the rest of the world, Chloe. That ends here, tonight. Come back, sit beside me, and lets just talk, about anything you want," Brady pleaded. Chloe hesitated, still angry and upset, but nodded, allowing him to lead her back to the couch. "So, if you don't want to talk about Philip, what do you want to talk about Diva?"

"Let's talk about... the mystery that is Brady Black. Every time I try to get to know you, the real you, you shut down and blow me off. Well, if you want me to open up, Black, you're going to have to give me the same courtesy and open up to me a little," Chloe stated. Brady looked away, unable to make eye contact. Well, it was fair, but Chloe wasn't ready to know everything there was to know about the mystery that was Brady Victor Black.

"I'm not making any promises, but I'll give you as honest an answer as I think you're ready for. So, what do you want to know?" Brady asked, regaining his composure and turning to face Chloe again.

"Well..." Chloe and Brady spent the next several hours, losing all track of time despite a few interruptions from Nancy, talking, smiling at fond memories, but never really leaving the heated fighting behind. Their relationship began with heated arguments, and they so often ended up right back where they started, with shouting and yelling...

Roman slumped down in his desk chair, wishing to whoever may be listening this night would end already. He'd already spoken to Kate, who seemed less then upset at the news of Victor's demise, and now had to speak with Philip. Philip didn't seem very upset either, more like irritated, although he'd seemingly been surprised. Philip had been found with his mother. Apparently he was staying with her because he didn't want to go home due to a previous argument with his father. Henderson had been the one to accidentally leak out that information, much to Kate and Philip's displeasure. Kate was released, with orders not to leave town, while Philip sat in waiting in Roman's office, guarded by an extremely tired Bo.

"So, Philip, where were you around 7:30 tonight?" Roman asked. I'm getting too old for this bull... Roman thought to himself solemnly.

"You already know where I was," Philip snapped. "I was staying with my mother."

"And she is the only one who can testify your whereabouts?"

"Her word not good enough?"

"In a murder case, Philip, your mother's word won't mean a whole hell of a lot to a jury," Roman replied dryly. "Let's get right down to the point here. You and your father had an argument, correct? Tell me Philip, what was this argument about?"

"I don't see how its any of your damn business," Philip replied, crossing his arms definitely over his chest.

"If I were you, Phil, I'd cooperate and answer the question," Bo piped in from his place leaning against the wall next to the door. He'd been left to watch Philip while Roman questioned Kate, and he was in serious need of going home and getting some sleep. "If you've got nothing to hide, you've nothing to worry about." Philip eyed Shawn's dad, who had chosen now to speak.

"Fine, whatever..." Philip murmured. "We argued about a bunch of stuff; Nicole, my mother, the kids at school, my grades..."

"And Chloe Lane?" Bo questioned. He knew enough from Shawn to know Chloe was the center of Philip's world, and Victor made no secret of his dislike for the situation. Philip turned back towards Roman, growing more irritated by the moment.

"Not that it matters, but yes, we talked about Chloe too. So? What's the point of all this?" Philip demanded. Roman was growing sick of Philip's attitude.

"Leave the questions to us Philip. Just cut the bull, and answer the damn questions," Roman warned. "Now... so, you argued. And from what Henderson has told me, you got extremely angry. Violent even?"

"Are you trying to accuse me of killing my own father, over some stupid fight?" Philip demanded.

"What I'm trying to do is get the truth, the facts. Henderson knew where that gun was, and I don't doubt for a moment you knew too. Now answer my question. Do you have a tendency to get violent when angry?"

"I wouldn't hurt my father," Philip replied coolly. Roman sighed, shaking his head.

"That doesn't answer my question, but fine, lets move on. What time did you leave the house?" Roman asked.

"I don't know. Just after lunch I guess. 1:30 maybe."

"And you didn't go back to the house for any reason after you left? Where exactly did you go?"

"I went to for awhile. Hawk was there so we played video games to get my mind off things. Then I went straight to my mother's apartment. She wasn't home from Basic Black yet, so I had to wait awhile."

"And when did she arrive?"

"What do I fucking look like, a human clock?" Philip snapped.

"Philip..." Bo started.

"Oh alright already! I guess it was around 3:00, 3:30." Philip huffed.

"Ok, so, what did you and your mother talk about?" Roman asked.

"That's none of your..."

"Damn it Philip, answer the question or none of us will be going home tonight," Bo interrupted.

"Look, I'm not the one you should be hassling!" Philip yelled.

"What do you mean Philip?" Roman questioned.

"What I mean is, I'm not the only one that had a big fight with my father today," Philip said confidently. "Brady's the one you should be questioning."

"Brady Black?" Roman asked skeptically, leaning back in his chair.

"That's right, Brady. My father went to Basic Black today to talk to Mr. Black, and ran into Brady instead. Dad said Brady got him so upset, he left without ever speaking to John," Philip said smugly.

"Did he say why Brady would be angry?"

"Nope, I never asked. All I know is that Dad went to speak to Mr. Black, and Brady came out of no where with all these accusations," Philip answered. "I guess you'll have to ask Brady for details, not that my so called nephew will tell you the truth."

"And I'm sure your such a saint..." Roman muttered under his breath. "Alright Philip, you're free to go. For now. But you know the drill, no skipping town," Roman instructed. Philip stood, not being able to hide a slight arrogant smile. Not to say he wasn't upset, but hell, it's not like Victor hadn't "died" before.

"Nice talking to ya, Officer Brady. Catch ya around sometime," Philip said, walking towards the door. "Give my regards to my dear nephew will you?" Philip asked, disappearing out the door without waiting for further comment.

"I hate that little prick," Roman muttered, pushing aside his notebook and reaching for the phone.

"Does seem a little less then upset, doesn't he?"

"I'm not surprised," Roman replied, picking up the phone.
"You calling John?" Bo questioned, suppressing a yawn. What a night.

"Yeah. You can go home now, I'll round up Brady and question him myself," Roman replied, dialing the familiar number of the Black residence.

"You sure?"

"Positive. Now get your insomniatic ass home to your wife and sons before I change my mind," Roman said. Bo attempted to smile, but failed quite miserably.

"Night Bro," Bo said before he too disappeared out the door of Roman's office. Roman shook his head, hearing the first ring. The phone was picked up on the second.

"Brady?" It was John.

"That's who I was just about to ask for," Roman said solemnly. "So, I take it that means he isn't there?"

"Roman? No, no he hasn't come home yet. He comes and goes as he pleases."

"You know where he was headed?"

"He left for Chloe's, but that was hours ago. Why? What do you want with my son Roman?" John inquired. Roman always had it in for Brady, even if he claimed he wanted to make things right.

"Victor Kiriakis is dead," Roman replied simply.

"What?" John asked, obviously stunned.

"You heard me. He's dead. Shot in the chest. I believe your son might have some info for me."

"Brady would never..."

"Yeah yeah, I know. Just doing my job, John. Now, can you tell me where he might be?"

"Your guess is as good as mine Roman. Try Chloe, maybe she'll know. But I'm warning you right here, if you do anything to hurt my boy again..."

"Point taken John. I don't want any trouble, I just want to talk to him. If you hear from him before I do, send him my way," Roman said, hanging up the phone before John could get in another word. Roman stood, grabbing his coat and heading for the door. Definitely getting too old for this bull...