Chapter 21: Luck of the Irish

After she had cleared the Dublin zoo and Phoenix Park, Victoria finally felt secure enough to stop and rest, finding a bench to sit on. She was amazed she didn't instantly collapse on it. So was so tired... Victoria hadn't even been aware, until this very moment, that the human body could possibly be so tired. She could only praise God that it was dark and few were out. She could only imagine the reaction if anyone were to actually see her. She looked... well, she wasn't even sure if there was a word for how she must look now. Victoria had already startled a few people. She didn't want to draw attention to herself. She couldn't afford to draw attention, she just didn't know where the hell to go now. Her only concern had been getting out of the DiMera compound, she hadn't thought ahead of what to do after that.

"I've gotten too used to having Jordan back me up," Victoria muttered allowed to herself, leaning her head back and closing her eyes. She could just fall asleep right here, and not care if she ever woke up. Probably the only thing that kept her awake at that moment was the satisfying mental picture of Stefano's face when he received the news of her escape. Victoria smiled slightly, before she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Excuse me." Victoria jumped in surprise, turning towards the source and preparing to defend herself if need be. Instead of confronting one of Stefano's men as she'd feared, Victoria came face to face with a pair of blue eyes, twinkling with a kindness Victoria had never known. The elderly woman in front of her smiled brightly. "I'm sorry, dearie. I didn't mean to frighten you. I was just on my nightly walk, and couldn't help but notice you here. What is such a young thing like yourself doing out here all alone, and looking like you've just survived a car accident? My word, you do look a fright, dearie." The woman's voice possessed a heavy Irish accent, and was very tender, naturally motherly. Victoria breathed a sigh of relief to find the woman was definitely no threat, smiling slightly at her comments.

"I can only imagine..." Victoria muttered.

"Good gracious child, you have certainly been through one hell of a night. You're bleeding pints!" The woman exaggerated. Truly, many of the gashes Victoria had received during Merdoc's lashing had been opened by Stefano's next task, not to mention her fight with the guards. "Poor thing. It's a wonder you're able to still be sitting upright. Come, come. We've got to get you inside and cleaned up."

"No, I'll be fine," Victoria assured. "I just..." she paused, spotting a pay phone. Maybe... "Would you happen to have money for the pay phone?" Victoria asked. The old woman nodded, taking out a small purse and removing a card.

"These pay phones work with these little cards. Pointless contraption, but I don't use pay phones much so I can't complain. Here you go, dearie," the old woman said, handing Victoria the card. Victoria smiled, noting her obvious distaste for such advances in technology.

"Thank you so much. If you don't mind waiting, I'll return this card to you in just a moment," Victoria said, trying to get up from the bench. Trying being the key word. Fatigue was beginning to win the battle, and her legs nearly gave out on her. Had it not been for the elderly woman's surprisingly quick reflexes, Victoria would have fallen backwards.

"You think I'd leave you out here all alone when you can't even stand up?" The elderly woman said, helping Victoria steady herself on her feet before letting go of her arm. The irony, such an old woman having to help the young, barely 17 year old Victoria in the simple task of standing. "Come along dear, I'll help you walk over to the pay phone. You look as if you'll collapse at any moment." Victoria could only nod, taking hold of the woman's arm as they walked over to the pay phone.

"Thank you," was all Victoria could say. She was thankful that the only person who had confronted her so far this night was this kind woman, who understood her appearance and knew not to ask questions. Judging by the looks given to her by the other few people who'd gotten close enough to notice how roughed up she looked, anyone else would have called the authorities. For all she knew, someone already had. The elderly woman led Victoria over to the pay phone booth, only letting go of her arm to open the door for the younger woman. Victoria stepped into the booth, picking up the receiver before sliding the phone card in the designated slot. She only prayed she was able to reach him, as she dialed the familiar number...

Elizabeth inspected the cell bars wearily. Before she and Aaron were rather roughly shoved into the dank, small prison cell, they both had been strip searched, to insure that neither would be able to pick the lock as Victoria had done. Elizabeth shuddered in disgust at the memory. Merdoc had been all too eager to carry out his orders to search her. Just the thought of his disgusting hands on her made her skin crawl. But then, Merdoc had paid for his eagerness. He'd made the mistake of letting his guard down while he searched her, leaving Elizabeth the opportunity to kick him swiftly between the legs. While Merdoc doubled over in pain grabbing his crotch, the other two surrounding guards had retrieved a whip, the same whip used on Victoria for irony perhaps, and cracked it once across Elizabeth's back before roughly grabbing her by the arms and hauling her off to her cell. Her back still stung, but it was well worth it none the less. Unlike when Victoria was held in the dungeon, guards were posted both inside and outside the iron door that separated the dungeon from the rest of the compound. Stefano had no intention of making the same mistake twice. Not that Elizabeth would have been able to muster the same kind of escape, even with Aaron's help. Capable as she was... there was still too much of Chloe Lane left for Elizabeth to ever have the kind of power Victoria had. Or maybe there wasn't enough left. Either way, he wanted to be on the safe side. He had underestimated Victoria's strength and determination. He would not make the same mistake with Elizabeth.

"So, what you in for?" Aaron inquired from his perch on the wooden plank attached to the wall that served as a bed. How hospitable of her father to provide sleeping quarters, Elizabeth had thought dryly upon seeing the thing on her visit to Victoria. Victoria had preferred the floor, undoubtedly to avoid the possibility of splinters, or the possibly rotting wood caving under her.

"I have a painfully curious nature," Elizabeth muttered, eyeing the guards hatefully. Alison, one of the two guards who'd been on watch duty since she and Aaron were dragged down here, had been one of her first friends upon her arrival to Stefano's camp in Paris. Of course, in this line of business, one could never really use the term friend, and now she understood why. If you found someone who wouldn't turn around and stab you in the back at first opportunity, you were damn lucky. And Elizabeth had never been one to have much luck.

"Well, you know what they say. Curiosity killed the cat," Aaron replied with a smirk. His sense of humor was not appreciated by most, Elizabeth included.

"What about you? What did you do to piss off the warden?" Elizabeth asked, mocking her father. Aaron chuckled, leaning his back against the wall.

"Ah, well I seem to have too kind of a heart when it comes to the ladies. Or specifically, ladies like your twin sister, Victoria. Now there's a piece of work, that Victoria. If you can live through the hell she's been through, and still remain sane, then you deserve more then just a break now and then. You deserve a medal." Aaron stated. Aaron was older then Elizabeth and Victoria, but not over 21. He wasn't born into this kind of life as Victoria and Jordan had been. No, he had only himself to blame for his career choices. Well, perhaps his father's dream of his only son taking up the family business, Shane and Shane's Manure Farm, had something to do with his decision to leave America behind and look for a life in Dublin. What he had found was Stefano DiMera. Truth be told, perhaps the only reason Aaron stayed was, for one, he had no where else to go, and two, if he had to get stuck working under someone else's supervision, it didn't hurt that his supervisor was the gorgeous Victoria DiMera. Plus, he had a knack for this type of life. He was definitely no John Black, but he wasn't as useless as that bumbling fool Merdoc either. Elizabeth nodded, looking away from Alison and the other guard to look over her shoulder at him.

"Victoria really has been through a lot, hasn't she?" Elizabeth asked softly. Aaron nodded solemnly, his usual grin slipping off his face.

"That she has, Elizabeth, that she has. Your sister is most definitely a one of a kind. A pure heart, forever tainted by the evil that is Stefano DiMera. Even I, merely another meaningless solider for Stefano's game of chess, can see that," Aaron answered grimly. Elizabeth sighed, looking down in shame. Although she could only remember six months of her entire life, her sister had been nothing but kind to her. Understanding of her eagerness to learn, and always willing to lend a hand in any situation, and listen when Elizabeth had a problem she needed to talk out. Like when she was first learning to use a fighting staff in one of the balance techniques. Most of all, Victoria was the only person on earth who could know what Elizabeth was feeling, even before she knew herself. They could read each other like a book because of the connection the twins shared. Or, at least Victoria could read Elizabeth. Elizabeth had been lead astray from her own instinct to blindly believe her father. When Elizabeth thought about the hateful things she'd said to her sister on the boat, she was filled with nothing but shame and guilt. She deserved to be here now, in this cage. And so much worse. Noting her quick change in mood from bad to worse, Aaron decided to attempt to lighten the mood. "Man, I'm starved. I think I'm going to end up eating my shoes, if I can't find a nice juicy rat first," Aaron joked. Elizabeth couldn't hold back a slight smile, although she didn't feel much better.

"Well, I don't think you'll be getting anything decent to eat while we're in this hell hole," Elizabeth stated.

"What's the matter, Elizabeth? Not taking a liking to the plush accommodations?" It was Stefano. Neither Aaron or Elizabeth had noticed his entrance. Aaron jumped up from his perch on the board.

"Finally! Room service!" Aaron exclaimed, back to his old smart ass self. "I'd like a toasted bagel, not too done, with cream cheese, one of those cool looking fruit platters with all those strawberries, blueberries, and what have you, some eggs, bacon, oh and don't forget the o.j." Stefano eyed Aaron wearily, noting Elizabeth's smirk at his comments.

"I had been considering letting you go tonight, as I have no evidence that you betrayed my confidence. But I believe I shall keep you in here until at least the morning," Stefano stated. Aaron merely grinned, pulling his arm around Elizabeth's shoulder, mindful of the gash.

"Oh well, you know I couldn't leave the little lady behind, Steffy," Aaron stated proudly. "Unlike what you've shown me, I know how to treat a lady."

"Ah yes, you're such a charmer," Stefano muttered sarcastically. "Elizabeth, my dear. Young Merdoc is in quite a lot of pain because of your little stunt. I am rather worried that his ability to produce children is forever lost."

"All the more reason to kick him," Elizabeth muttered. "It would not have happened if you'd had the decency to at least allow Alison to strip search me instead of Merdoc."

"If you had any respect for family, and had not gone behind my back to meet with Brady Black, then none of this would be necessary Elizabeth," Stefano stated.

"Respect?! What respect! You have no respect for anyone! All you care about is yourself!" Elizabeth boomed. She'd had time to think things over, and now, she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Stefano was evil, and she was a fool for believing him for so long.

"That is not true, Elizabeth. My family is everything to me. When I can depend on my family to give me the same love in return, that is."

"Love? Ha! You mean if they're willing to be your devoted slave!" Elizabeth yelled. "You don't know what love is, Stefano," Elizabeth spat, intentionally saying 'Stefano' rather then 'father.' Stefano nodded, as if a question had been asked that hadn't been.

"I see there is no reasoning with you. I'm sorry to say, you will pay for such comments. It pains me to have to punish my beloved children, but all will be done, for the greater good. Sleep well, Elizabeth. You are going to have a very... interesting day ahead of you tomorrow," Stefano stated, before he exited the dungeon without giving Elizabeth a chance to reply. Elizabeth backed away from the bars, slumping down on the wooden plank. All this... it was becoming too much for her. Her whole life, that she remembered of it anyway, had been a lie. Elizabeth, all urge to keep the dignity which she'd been trained to always uphold, buried her face in her hands, and cried. Despite all her lessons to always be tough, bold, and emotionless, Elizabeth cried, her body racked with loud sobs as she poured out the frustration of the day. Aaron, unsure of what to do, rested his hand on her shoulder, saying nothing and just letting her cry...

Jordan yawned, stretching his arms over his head. His lap top sat in front of him. He'd been typing up notes on today's events. He was the only one who hadn't retired to bed, although he knew more likely then not, no one was sleeping. Perhaps Gabriel and his wife were, but John, and definitely Brady, would not be sleeping, even though all three of them were exhausted with worry. Jordan sighed, getting up from the kitchen table to fetch a cup of coffee. He couldn't even attempt to go to bed, not with his Victoria out there, with Stefano DiMera doing only God knew what to her.

"If that bastard so much as leaves one bruise on her..." Jordan muttered, sipping his coffee. He'd long since vowed that the first thing he was going to do when he found Victoria was tell her how much he loved her, no matter what the consequences were. Love in their kind of business was unheard of, but Jordan had every intention of whisking Victoria away from life under Stefano's control forever should she give even the slightest indication she felt the same way. Well... he'd take her away from Stefano even if she didn't. But what life he took her too... that remained to be decided. Jordan sighed deeply, and was about to refill his coffee cup when his cell phone rang. He practically slammed his cup down, darting for the kitchen table where he believed his cell phone to be. He almost panicked when it wasn't there. The distinct ring seemed to come from the living room, so he dashed in there, heading immediately for the sofa. After throwing all the cushions on the floor, Jordan retrieved his cell phone. Only one person, outside of the people with him in this house, knew that number...

"Victoria?" Jordan asked, out of breath, both from the cell phone hunt, and anticipation.

"Jordan! Oh, I'm so glad I reached you!" Victoria exclaimed. She had feared she wouldn't be able to get a connection. Of course, she thought Jordan would still be in Paris, not right there with her in Dublin.

"Victoria! Oh my God, baby where are you?" Jordan asked, immediately asking himself why he'd called her 'baby.' She hated such names. He often used them to tease her. Of course, he knew damn well that wasn't the case this time. Victoria wrinkled her nose; this was no time for their games!

"I'm in a phone booth, just outside of Phoenix Park in Dublin. I couldn't stop until I was sure I could be safe... with Stefano, you never know where one of his goons is waiting. But, when I saw the phone booth, I thought I'd try your cell phone. Oh and Jordan? Don't call me baby," Victoria finished. Jordan couldn't help but smile.

"Glad to see you still have a sense of humor. Where exactly is this phone booth? I'll come and pick you up."

"What? Your in Dublin?" Victoria asked in disbelief.

"You doubt my tracking equipment?" Jordan joked, far too relieved just to hear her voice and know she was out of the grasp of Stefano DiMera. "Yes, Victoria, Brady, John and I are in Dublin. Now, tell me where you are so I can come get you."

"No, don't come here. I'm still not sure I'm safe yet. Tell me where you are."

"How will you know how to get here from there? I'm not even sure where Phoenix park is," Jordan stated. Victoria looked out the glass door of the telephone booth, catching the eye of the kind old lady, and smiled.

"I have my own guardian angel to guide me there," Victoria replied. Jordan was about to ask questions, but thought better of it. Whatever Victoria wanted... just as long as she got here, and he could hold her in his arms, then he didn't want to argue about some guardian angel. He merely sighed, giving Victoria Gabriel's address, which she wrote down using a piece she'd ripped from the phone book and a pen sitting beside it. "Ok, got it."

"Victoria, wait," Jordan interrupted before she could say goodbye and hang up.

"Yes Jordan?"

"I... I... um... be careful. I don't want to lose you again," Jordan said softly. Victoria's brow creased in deep thought, but she was far too tired to ponder it long. It would have to wait.

"I promise," Victoria said simply before hanging up the phone. Jordan breathed out a heavy sigh, shutting his cell phone and putting it down on the lamp table beside the sofa. Of course, be careful hadn't been what he had intended to say, but saying I love you for the first time over the phone in such a situation didn't sound all that romantic or heartfelt. Victoria turned to the booth door, opening it and stepping out. She handed the phone card back to the elderly woman, smiling. "Thank you. I don't want to impose but... do you think you could help me again? I need directions to this address," Victoria asked, holding out the paper with Gabriel's address. The old woman smiled brightly, taking the piece of paper from Victoria.

"Why of course, dearie. If it will get you inside and to a place where you'll get those wounds looked at, it'll be my pleasure," the elderly lady answered, looking down at the address. "Oh my. You know my Gabriel?"

"No... that's where my partner is staying I suppose. Who is he?" Victoria asked.

"Why, he's my grand son, my dear. Come come, I can get you there in no time," the elderly woman replied, taking Victoria's arm gently, mindful of her many cuts and bruises. Victoria nodded, allowing the woman to lead her off in the direction of Gabriel's house...

Jordan walked quickly into the guest room where John and Brady were trying to sleep. He'd been right, neither were actually asleep.

"Get up you two," Jordan said, a slight smile gracing his face. Brady groaned, sitting up in bed. John did the same, only without the groan of protest.

"What is it, Jordan? Don't know how to work a coffee maker?" Brady grumbled. He of course wasn't cranky because he'd been disrupted from sleep. Only, a very nice, very vivid fantasy of Chloe, which was a hell of a lot better then sleep.

"Very funny, Black," Jordan muttered, not allowing the comment to ruin his slight elevation in mood. Victoria was on her way to the safety of his embrace. He only wished he could rush out and meet her half way, but he believed Victoria would make it to him. She was no quitter. "I just got... a very interesting phone call." Now Brady was more alert and less grumpy.

"What? From who? No one knows your cell number but..."

"Victoria," Jordan finished. Brady's mouth opened in disbelief, as John stood from the bed to approach Jordan.

"Aida called you? Where is she, what did she say?" John prompted, in 'Soldier John' mode. Jordan rolled his eyes slightly as the thought came to mind.

"She's safe. She escaped from DiMera's compound, and she's on her way here. And, before you say it, don't worry. She won't allow herself to be followed or caught. She never makes a mistake twice," Jordan assured.

"What about Chloe? Is she with her?" Brady asked, he too standing up to come up beside Jordan and John. Jordan shook his head.

"No, I don't think she's with her. Victoria had no reason to try to get her sister to escape with her, I would think. Victoria's the one who crossed Stefano. Elizabeth is safe from harm as long as she is in her father's good graces."

"Stop calling her Elizabeth! Their names are Chloe and Aida, damn it!" Brady stated, frustrated. He had a bad feeling about all this. Something didn't feel right. DiMera had a way of finding out about everything. If he happened to hear of he and Chloe's confrontation... and, God help him, anything that happened to her would be HIS fault!

"Sorry... after a lifetime of referring to a person as Victoria, and six months of thinking of her sister as Elizabeth... that's hard to correct, ya know," Jordan pointed out.

"I know... I'm sorry I snapped... it's just... if Chloe's not with her, and she's not safe..."

"Son, don't even start blaming yourself, especially before we know everything. I'm sure Chloe's fine. Stefano has no reason to hurt her. Whatever he's planning next, he needs her alive," John reassured.

"But you'd be amazed what you can live through..." Brady whispered sadly...

Victoria breathed a sigh of relief as the house came into view. There weren't many houses on this particular street, and along the way, the old woman had explained that it was the only brick house on the block.

"That grand son of mine... always made me so proud. He was quite the active child, he was," the old woman continued on, praising her grand son and his parents. Victoria shook her head, chuckling lightly. Normally, such constant chatter about one's relatives would bore her to death, but this woman's tales were quite an acceptation to the rule.

"Your family sounds wonderful," Victoria put in lightly.

"You sound like a young girl who didn't have a very stable, loving family life," the old woman stated. Victoria looked down at her feet as they walked.

"No, no I didn't. I've never even met my mother, and... well, my father... lets just say he's... a very evil man." Victoria replied. The old woman nodded as if she knew that already.

"I'm sorry my dear. But, if you ask me, his evil hasn't touched you. I gather you're a very compassionate, very pure soul."

"I don't think so," Victoria said softly. They were now only one house away from Gabriel's, and Victoria felt the need to change the subject. "I can't thank you enough for all your help. I don't know what brought you to me tonight, but I'm very grateful you found me." The old woman chuckled softly, stopping just outside of the boundary of Gabriel's lawn.

"Aye, the luck of the Irish brought me here, dearie. The luck of the Irish," she stated as she turned on her heel, satisfied that Victoria was now in safe territory.

"Hey wait!" Victoria called as the elderly woman began to walk away. "Aren't you going to visit your grand son? And you never did tell me your..." Victoria stopped mid sentence as the old woman began to fade, literally, into the distance. The fade was slow, increasing until the elderly woman's form was transparent, before she completely disappeared out of existence, nothing more then the memory of a ghost left behind. Victoria stood stunned for a moment, unable to believe what had just happened. Then, as shock wore off, a smile slowly creeped across her face. "Luck of the Irish..." Victoria repeated. She sent a silent thank you out to anyone that may be listening before turning back around and going up the steps of Gabriel's porch and approaching the door. Her legs had felt like jelly the whole way here. She was only reassured by the help of the old ghost, and had nearly fallen more times then she could remember. She knocked on the door, barely catching her balance and staying on her feet when the door was immediately flung open. Jordan stood before her, stopping himself from taking her immediately into his arms when the light from inside showed all of Victoria's visible wounds.

"Victoria! My God, look what that monster did to you!" Jordan exclaimed, rage apparent in his tone. He gently took her by the arm, leading her inside the warmth of Gabriel's home. He brushed past all the questioning glances of the room, ignoring Brady, John, Gabriel, and William, who had just gotten back in when he was informed Victoria was on her way, and leading Victoria into the guestroom where he Brady and John were to be staying, helping her lay down without giving her any room for objection. Jordan lay her down gently, sitting on the edge of the bed. He brought a tender hand up to her cheek, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "Dear God. I'm so sorry, Vicky. I never should have let you leave Paris with that man," Jordan breathed. Victoria was rather shocked at his soft, tender tone. I mean, they were friends, the only true friend the other had. And she's always suspected... or rather she always just imagined some feelings there, because Michael had loved her. And because, deep down, she had wished Jordan... but the way he was looking at her... was certainly not just the look of a concerned friend. Victoria brushed the thoughts off.

"It's not your fault," Victoria whispered. "I'm the fool who got caught," Victoria added, attempting to lift his sprits. Of course, unlike most times, the attempt at humor didn't accomplish the intended.

"I should have never given you the opportunity to get caught! I mean... going up against Stefano DiMera so blindly... it's absurd! I... I don't know what I'd do if I'd lost you."

"Jordan..."

"Oh, come on, Vicky. You know damn well the only reason I even bother going up against DiMera is because I want you to have a normal life. You know I don't care about what happens to me," Jordan stated. In fact, she did know, she just never allowed herself to process the idea that someone actually cared for her so much.

"No," Victoria denied flatly. "You fight, for Michael." Victoria was more trying to remind herself of that fact rather then him. They both knew the truth. Jordan sighed, about to protest when Brady and John entered the guestroom, followed by Gabriel, William, and Michelle. Michelle gasped when she caught sight of Victoria. Being a mother who'd recently lost her daughter to a car accident, the young woman was over-powered by motherly instincts.

"Oh dear lord, look at you, you poor thing! Gabriel, I can't clean those up with what I've got here. She needs to be in a hospital!" Michelle exclaimed.

"No," Victoria protested. "I'm fine, really. It looks worse then it..." Victoria paused; attempting to sit up caused the materiel of her shirt to rub against her back, causing an involuntarily gasp of pain, "feels," Victoria finished. Jordan shook his head, visibly distressed by her pain.

"No Victoria, she's right, you need to go to a hospital."

"Jordan, you of all people should know I can't afford to go to a hospital! That leaves me vulnerable. Stefano will surely locate me there!" Victoria protested. John interjected before Jordan could counter.

"Jordan... as much as I hate to admit it, she's right. At least here we can make sure DiMera doesn't get near her again. Michelle, do you have all the things I would need to dress her wounds?"

"No, I don't think so. Not even any gauze," Michelle answered. John nodded.

"Alright then. Gabriel, William, will you come with me then? We'll have to go out and get the necessary supplies."

"Dad, I don't think it's such a good idea for you to go out in public..." Brady stated.

"You did," John countered. Brady had to admit, his father had him there. "Besides, unlike you, I won't be wondering aimlessly around the DiMera compound entrance. Now, lets get going. Michelle, you start cleaning her up as best you can," John instructed. Michelle nodded, coming to Victoria's side as John, Gabriel and William departed.

"Aida, what about Chloe? Is she alright?" Brady asked, unable to contain himself.

"I don't see why she wouldn't be. She hasn't done anything to get on Stefano's bad side," Victoria answered, pushing aside the rush of emotion the name Aida caused. When she noticed the momentary look of doubt in Brady's eyes, she became worried. "Has she?" Victoria prompted.

"Um... well..."
"Spit it out!"

"Brady and your sister ran into each other earlier this evening," Jordan stated.

"What?" Victoria asked, stunned.

"I was out walking... I ended up asking for directions to St. Michan's Church when Jordan and the others figured out that was where the entrance to DiMera's camp. I was on my way back here, when I kind... ran into Chloe." Brady answered.

"Which reminds me, why did you make that riddle so complicated?" Jordan prompted.

"They're all exits from the tunnels Stefano uses to get to his underground compound. St. Michan's Church is just the only entrance. Now be quiet and let me hear the rest of this," Victoria replied sharply. Michelle couldn't help but chuckle, until she got closer to Victoria, pulling the material of her long shirt off her shoulder a bit to reveal a large, dreadful looking purple and red gash that more then likely ran down at least half her back.

"I ran into her, and we talked. I couldn't get her to agree to come with me right then, but she agreed to meet with me tomorrow." Brady stated.

"If she would agree to see you tomorrow, why wouldn't she go with you then?" Victoria inquired, ignoring the pain caused by Michelle inspecting the gash revealed on her shoulder that ran so far down the once flawless, creamy skin of her back.

"That bastard Philip showed up," Brady practically growled through clenched teeth.

"What?!" Victoria demanded. She shot up from her place leaning against the headboard. "Philip saw the two of you together, and you let her get away?! You bastard! He won't hesitate to tell Stefano about this!" Victoria practically screamed, all thought of the pain she was experiencing gone. Realization took it's place, a feeling she hadn't been able to feel before washing over her. Utter guilt, sadness, and hopelessness, she knew weren't her own emotions. Her twin was in trouble, and it was up to Victoria to rescue her. "God, I've got to get back there. I've got to get her out of there, before father does something even worse then he did to me."

"Wait a minute! You're in not condition to go anywhere," Jordan prompted, gently but firmly pushing her back onto the bed.

"Jordan..."

"No buts, damn it. Now tell us, what could be worse?" Jordan demanded. Brady already knew.

"He'll try messing with her mind again," Brady stated. "That chip.. that fucking chip... he has control over her as long as it's there in her nervous system. And it's my fault..." Brady seemed calm saying this. All thought of calm was thrown out the window when he impulsively slammed his fist against the wall, causing a few pictures to rattle. "Damn it! Why did I let her go?! It's my fault!" Brady boomed.

"Yes, it is," Victoria spat coldly, pushing off Jordan's restraining hand. No matter how weakened she was in her condition, she didn't care. All she knew was her sister was in danger. "And now its my job to save her."

"No," Brady growled, quickly coming up to the bed again and pushing Victoria back down before she could get up. "You are going to stay here and rest, and that is final. It's my fault that Chloe's vulnerable. It's me who has to go in after her," Brady stated firmly. Victoria was a bit taken back by his aggression. Rage practically radiated off him in waves. But not at Stefano. No, he was disgusted, with himself. Victoria sighed, regretting her earlier choice of words. She knew this man loved her sister, whether he wished to admit it or not. After only one meeting, that was already apparent. Victoria had a gift for reading people.

"You don't know how," Victoria prompted.

"That's why you are going to tell me how," Brady stated. Victoria nodded, admitting her own human fault. She wasn't a superwoman, and she most certainly was no god. She was in no state to go back into that place to retrieve her sister. She probably wouldn't make it to the front door without collapsing. No doubt, if Elizabeth was being held in the dungeons as she would imagine she would be if Stefano found out about her meeting with Brady, the security would be much tighter. And though she learned quickly, Elizabeth did not compare to Victoria in the slightest in the field of self defense.

"Alright, sit, and listen quietly," Victoria instructed. Brady grabbed a chair, turning it around to sit backwards on it, facing Victoria. He had calmed himself slightly, but Brady had no doubt he would go to his grave cursing himself for allowing his precious Diva to slip out of his grasp. How could he have been so stupid! He would rather have her hating him and not trusting him then stuck there, alone with the evil master-mind Stefano DiMera. The thought that he'd also done it to risk harm coming to Aida didn't cross his mind. Obviously, he needn't have worried on her behalf. "Alright... like I said earlier, all those places mentioned in my riddle are exits to the tunnels. St. Michan's Church is the only exit that can be used as an entrance. All the other doors will only open from the inside. It's a tactic Stefano would use if he needed to make a quick getaway. The exit I used to get away was the one located within Phoenix Park, outside of the Dublin Zoo, because it, and Stefen's Green, are the two unguarded exits. The Chester Beatty Library exit is different. Stefano uses that one to import and export things into and out of the compound. Have you ever seen the movie The Skulls?"

"No," Brady answered, not getting why a movie would matter here.

"Well, in one scene, the main character is following a guy with a briefcase to get a tape from him. The library in the movie had a restricted section, which only the sorority, The Skulls, could access that housed a secret entrance to a storage room for all the surveillance tapes. That's sort of what the Chester Beatty Library is to Stefano. He does store surveillance tapes there behind a bookshelf which is triggered by moving a certain book out of the way and pressing your thumb to a panel for clearance. But also, the entrance to the tunnels is hidden behind that bookcase as well. On the far wall, just as you enter the storage room, are selves of tapes in blue cases. When you pull on the one marked 'Phoenix,' it sets off a little blinking light and makes a buzzing noise, signaling whomever is on guard duty at that door to open the door so whatever, or who ever, is being brought in can get inside the tunnels. I can't be certain if the schedule I know is still accurate. It's been years since I was in Dublin, things might have changed. But, if I'm correct, someone is set to leave at 8 a.m. this morning, to retrieve the weekly supplies. The library opens at 7. What you'll need to do is, stake it out. You can't get into the storage room, because your thumbprint isn't cleared, and unfortunately, now neither is mine. You'll have to wait until you see someone leaving the wing. It's the West Wing. No one is allowed to go in, but I'm sure you'll manage to sneak past the desk clerk when you see someone coming out. You'll know it's one of DiMera's, since obviously no one else would be coming out of the restricted wing. What you'll need to do is, either follow him until he comes back to the library, or wait there for him to return and then follow him into the West Wing. Wait until he's opened the door to the storage room, before you jump him. Knock him out, and get your tight ass in that storage unit so no one can follow you in. The door will close directly behind you. Then, go up to the back wall, and pull on the tape I told you, marked Phoenix. I don't know how many guards will be posted at the door, at least two I'm sure. You'll have to take them out. From there, you'll follow the tunnel until you reach the fork. You'll need to turn right, so you can turn into the tunnel that will take you to the one that leads to the Phoenix Park exit. You'll turn left into it, and then you'll take that tunnel down to the dungeons. Normally, I would say not do this, but it's the one that leads directly to the dungeon areas. If you see any cameras, which I'm not sure if you will or not, disable them any way you can," Victoria instructed. Brady nodded, making mental note of every word.

"Alright. Anything else?"

"Yes. You're not going alone. If I can't come with you, then Jordan and John will take my place. And don't for a moment try to argue with me! I don't care if it cripples me for life in the end, I can beat the living shit out of you no matter how much Stefano tortures me, so no arguments. They're going with you," Victoria stated firmly.

"Fine," Brady said through gritted teeth. "Anything else?"

"That's it, I think. No doubt there will be extra security on the dungeons, so be careful. When you get Eliz... Chloe," Victoria corrected. Getting used to their proper names was so strange. "When you reach Chloe, get her out of there as quickly as possible. Go back up the way you came, but instead of turning right back onto the tunnel that will lead back to the library, keep going straight. That will lead you to the Phoenix Park exit. Have Gabriel waiting there outside of the Dublin Zoo with a car to get you guys out of there quickly," Victoria finished just as John returned with all the supplies he would need to fix up Victoria.

"What's going on here?" John asked, sensing the strained mood. Jordan sat in complete silence, just marveling in the wonder that was his Victoria. She never failed to amaze. Jordan knew if Victoria thought she had any say in it, she wouldn't be telling Brady all this, she'd just be doing it herself. John set down the supplies, motioning for Jordan to move out of the way so he could come up beside Victoria on the bed.

"Victoria has a plan to get Chloe out of Stefano's compound," Jordan answered.

"Stefano may know I talked with Chloe, Dad. We have to get her out of there now, before he can do any more harm to her," Brady stated. John just nodded, focusing on the problem at hand; bandaging up Victoria.

"Alright. You can tell me all about it in a minute. But now, out you two. First, we have to get Victoria here fixed up so none of these get infected," John stated. Brady nodded, moving back and leaving the room. Jordan gave Victoria's hand a reassuring squeeze, resisting the urge to lean down and kiss her forehead, before following Brady out of the guestroom. John and Michelle helped Victoria set up so her ragged shirt could be removed, leaving access to her back. Even John gasped in surprise and horror as Victoria's back was revealed. Michelle only noticed the deep, purple, black and red gashes lined sporadically across her back. John, however, first noticed the phoenix symbol which had been cruelly burned into Victoria's flesh with a branding iron. "Damn him," John cursed under his breath. "Damn that bastard to hell. What kind of monster could do something like this to his own child?"

"Father cares nothing for flesh and blood, if they aren't willing to bow down to his every command," Victoria commented dryly. John shook his head, silently vowing to make DiMera pay for all the pain he'd caused, to Victoria and to his own entire family. Their was silence while he and Michelle set to work cleaning and bandaging the gashes. Much to Victoria's dismay, one gash was so severe, John had to take needle and thread to attempt stitches. It was crude, yes, but the tactic worked long before there were huge, teched-out hospitals, and it certainly worked then. It was just a hell of a lot more painful this way. Finally, free of all clothing because, in Victoria's words, they were "fucking pointless, I don't have anything to hide and clothing is annoying as hell when your backs' a human tic tac toe board," Victoria laid gently back against the bed, allowing Michelle to cover her gently with a soft, cozy comforter.

"Here dear, drink this. It's an old remedy of the family's, it will help with the pain and allow you to sleep," Michelle instructed. Victoria sat up a bit to drink the tea, wrinkling her nose in disgust at the awful taste. She barely managed to keep the stuff down.

"Yuck! What's in that stuff?" Victoria asked. Michelle chuckled, setting the cup aside.

"Family secret," Michelle answered, sitting down in a chair beside the bed. She felt the need to sit at Victoria's bedside. Victoria was the same age her daughter would have been, had she not died only a year before. Victoria sighed, settling herself in the most comfortable position she could manage, given her injuries. Fatigue and a will to sleep off the pain began to take over her body. But, before she fell asleep, she noticed a picture on the wall that caught her eye.

"Who's that?" Victoria asked softly. Michelle looked up at the picture, which was slightly crooked thanks to Brady's outburst earlier.

"Oh, her? That would be Gabriel's grandmother. Amazing woman, Agnes was. She had a heart of gold. She would have adored you, dear. She loved everything and everyone."

"What happened to her?"

"She died, oh, nearly four years ago. Stroke, the doctors said. She died in her sleep at least, so we know she didn't suffer. Oh, Agnes was one of a kind. She dreamed of visiting the States. In fact, I believe many, many years ago, long before even her time, a few relatives of hers achieved that goal. Why, I do believe they settled in the very place your friends the Blacks come from! Salem, that's right, Salem, Illinois. That was where Agnes longed to go. Poor thing, never made it there. We all miss her very much," Michelle continued. Victoria smiled slightly at the picture of the elderly woman, who's blue eyes sparkled with a kindness Victoria had never known until tonight.

"Luck of the Irish..." Victoria murmured, before welcomed sleep finally took over her tired form...