Chapter 27

'Come on Mum... one spoon at least.'

Carly shook her head weakly. 'I'm not hungry.' Due to the loss of blood and the severity of her wounds, she'd drifted back to the world after a three day coma; to everyone's great relief. And during that period Ciara kept narrating their ordeal to everyone, enthusiastically describing in detail how brave and wonderful Carly was the whole time; not forgetting the staggering amount of money she'd offered the kidnapper.

'Ciara... she...?' she'd asked fretfully on the first day of consciousness, trying to focus on the faces in front of her.

'Hush sis... she's fine, not a scratch on her.' Frankie had assured her, kissing her hand, Nicholas tearfully kissing the other. As she now sat at her mother's bedside, Melanie thought yet again how characteristic it was of Carly to think about others before herself. Their uncle didn't have to remind them that she and Nicholas had very nearly lost a gem.

'It's just ice cream... chocolate chip.' She cajoled, keeping the laden plastic spoon close to Carly's mouth. 'Come on, for me.'

Carly opened her mouth reluctantly. 'I've had enough, thanks honey.'

Shrugging, Melanie put the container on the night stand and carefully adjusted Carly's pillows. Carly was always very tired but that was to be expected, considering what had happened to her. Daniel and Lexie had done their best, now they had to rely on the slow healing process to do its job.

The room was filled with flowers, balloons and Get Well cards, including carefully hand drawn ones from Ciara and Theo Nicholas had taped to the wall opposite Carly's bed. Because Carly was still too weak to have visitors, the only people she's seen so far were her own family and only for five minutes every hour, except for Melanie since she was hospital staff.

'Mel...' Carly asked cautiously. 'Has Bo been here?'

Melanie nodded. 'The whole time you were out, he was right here. I don't think a bomb would've pried him away from your side at all. Dad and Frankie raised hell but he wouldn't budge. His middle name should be changed to "stubborn"!'

Carly smiled faintly.

'He and Uncle Frankie are pressing charges against Vivian. Kidnapping, assault and attempted murder. They caught the guy who kidnapped you by the way. Nick almost choked him to death at the station, he was like a wild beast. I bet Bo would've gladly shot that creep right there and then himself.' Melanie stroked Carly's hair. 'I'm starting to think I've been so wrong about him... I don't think I've ever seen a man more in love.'

Carly studied her finger attached to an oximeter, wondering what she was going to say to Bo or how to face him on that subject. Everything she'd planned before the kidnapping was temporarily at a standstill, her mind filled with confusion. She badly needed to talk to Bo, yet she was afraid to, considering their last meeting.

Melanie looked at her mother's averted face. 'You still have doubts, Mum?'

Carly moved her eyes back up. 'I honestly don't know what I feel or what to do next... what to say to Bo.'

'There's still something between you two,obviously. Something deeper than I've ever seen between two people... I can't even begin to describe it. Don't...' Melanie hesitated, 'don't you think you owe him another chance?'

Carly stiffened, her heart hardening. She loved Bo, more than ever but she couldn't agree with Melanie. 'I don't owe Bo Brady anything.' She said coldly.

'Wrong choice of words, I'm sorry.' Melanie placated immediately. 'But after what's happened... I think you should reconsider leaving town. At least talk things out with him.'

'Have you?'

'I don't have to, I've seen enough to believe Bo finally knows what he wants. Nicholas' given him the benefit of the doubt but Uncle Frankie needs a lot of convincing;Aunt Audra's still trying to make him forgive Bo and the others.'

Carly sighed. 'What a man wants and does are two different things; I don't need more supposed promises from Bo and watch him do something love each other... or at least I know my own feelings but I'm still going by what other people say about Bo's; you, Ciara, Is...' she stopped, not wanting to tell her about her encounter with Isabella, Zack, Tony and Gwyneth; at least not yet.

'Who Mum?' Melanie frowned.

'Nicholas, I mean Nicholas too.' She said hastily. 'You all say so. But I need to know so; understand what I mean?When Bo and I broke up, it was like looking at what would've happened years ago if Lawrence hadn't made me fall for him again when I lost my memory. Imagine Bo and I married... and we had you. Then... Hope came back. I saw how he mourned her, Melanie. He would've left me for her.'

Melanie shook her head. 'You can't compare that time with now, Mum! From what I heard, Hope came back two years after you left Salem, would he have give n up five years of happiness and adventure with you to go back to her?'

'And all the guilt of being with me while she lost five years of her life thanks to amnesia; that wouldn't have made him leave me? And her family, they wouldn't have taken her side and guilt him to go back to his first love?'

'She was his first love, big deal!' Melanie said harshly. 'But it's not like their marriage was a hundred per cent perfect because it wasn't! Max told me the period before she got lost, she and Bo were in the middle of a fight. Didn't you know that?'

Carly slowly shook her head. 'When we first met, Bo never wanted to talk about her. Grief and guilt I guess. My picture of her was always of the perfect woman I could never be in his eyes.'

'You and Hope are two different women; but that's not the point, Mum. He wouldn't have left you then, at least you don't know that for sure.'

'I wouldn't have been sure of him then either; whether he was with me out of obligation or whatever...' Carly closed her eyes wearily.

'Mum, listen.' Carly opened her eyes again when Melanie took her hand. 'I know you've been hurt and you still scared ... cynical , why don't you talk things out with Bo when you see him? You don't have to show your own feelings, just watch his for a while until you're sure you can trust him. How about that?'

Not show her own feelings? Easier said than done, Bo would be able to tell just by looking into her eyes. And as if she'd conjured him up, there was a light tap on the door and Bo entered the room, a single long stemmed rose in his hand.

His heart leaped at the sight of Carly. She looked fragile and thin against the pillows; pale except for healing bruises here and there on her face with a breathing tube under her nose but she never looked more beautiful to him.

'Hey.' He said softly, his eyes only on her. Taking a big hint, Melanie left them alone, closing the door behind her. If it weren't for the position he held, Bo wouldn't be allowed in but then again Maxine thought the world of him.

'Hey.' Carly replied equally softly as he leaned over her. Brushing back a few strands of hair from her forehead, he kissed her at first tenderly, half-afraid she would pull away but when she returned it instead, he kissed her more possessively, kissing her like he'd badly wanted to kiss her for so long.

Carly smiled up at him faintly when he ended the kiss. 'Are you trying to take my breath away, Commissioner?'

'Well you take mine away all the time, Princess. Even more right now.' He took her hand, pressing it against his cheek.

'You might as well stop the flattery, Bo; I already know I look like a car wreck.'

'The most beautiful car wreck I've ever seen.' Lowering his head, he kissed her forehead, the tip of her nose before capturing her mouth again.

'Thank you, it's beautiful.' She murmured as he closed her fingers over the flower he'd brought. 'And... Ciara?'

'She's fine. She can't stop talking about you or asking to see you. You're her hero, you know that?'

'I only did what you would've done for my children. You and Hope don't owe me anything.'

'You saved our daughter's life and you're saying we don't owe you anything... are you nuts?' He sat close to her on the narrow bed, slipping his arm round her.

'It's the truth... I wasn't trying to be a hero or anything.' Carly insisted. 'I did what I had to do and I would do it all over again. Ciara's safe... and Mel will be safe from now on.'

'With the time Vivian and her goons are going to spend in jail, trust me; you and Mel never have to look over your shoulders ever again.' Bo said grimly. Roman had been the one to catch Vivian and personally clamp the handcuffs on her that fateful night while Rafe had shot Gus Pascal on the shoulder. The moment Vivian's eyes had met his as she sat in the holding cell, he wanted to kill her for almost taking Carly and Ciara away from him forever but the satisfaction that she was getting her comeuppance at long last had prevailed. With Nicholas also pressing charges and Victor bent on revenge, Vivian had no leg to stand on this time. 'She's going away, for a very, very long time.'

'Thank God.'

'Which leaves the subject of us, princess.' Bo said quietly, watching her face carefully. 'We have a lot to talk about but we don't have to get into it right now...'

'No, no...' Carly gripped the hand resting on hers. 'Let's. I assume Ciara must've told you why she was with me that day.'

'Everyone knows now she left the house on her own to talk to you; but I'm the only one who knows what you both talked about; she told me everything, especially about the "angel".'

'It was Isabella...we both saw her Bo...'

'No... it's okay, I believed her.' Bo assured her. 'When Izzy B said she'll always be with us, she really meant it and I'm so glad she was there for you, like she's been for me.'

'You've been... seeing her too?'

Bo nodded, still fixing his eyes intently on her face as he told her about his encounters with Isabella's ghost and what she'd told him, Carly listening to every detail without interrupting.

'So that ceremony...' she said at last. 'it was...'

'Much deeper than we ever realised, Carly- it joined us spiritually see? The time you came back, when I was alone and miserable... it all fits. I felt that connection at the cabin, something in me willed you to come back.'

Your spirit came back to your body because Bo's love wouldn't let you go...

There's still something between you two, obviously. Something deeper than I've ever seen between two people... I can't even begin to describe it.

Bo didn't like her silence. 'Princess...' he said quietly, leaving her hand to stroke her cheek. 'Must we keep doing this? We love each other, we can't let the past ruin what we have.'

Carly turned her head to look at him, the expression on her face saying it all. 'You allowed your past with Hope to come between us because you couldn't let go of it and I now understand because you've been married for so long.'

'Carly listen...'

'Spiritual connection or not... put yourself in my position. After everything that's happened... I just...'Carly closed her eyes as she felt the sharp prick of tears.

'Don't... don't do that princess... you know I can't stand it when you cry.' Bo pleaded, holding her close. 'Please.'

Carly was too exhausted and upset to say anything; the agonising fear in her heart overriding her love for him. Love just isn't enough! She told herself sternly.

'You're right, I... I can't deal with this right now.' She removed her hand, averting her face.

Bo winced, very upset too. Just when he thought they were finally making headway she's shut him out again...he should have waited until she was stronger.

' Why's it so hard for you to believe how much I love you?' he pleaded. 'Please don't keep doing this, we belong together. I know it and so do you. Carly, look at me, come on.' Cupping her cheek, he gently made her face him. 'Listen to me, I'll do anything, anything to convince you... just name it and I'll do it! I almost lost my mind when I thought you were dead... please, I don't ever want to be without you again!'

'I ...but...' Carly began but he stilled her words by kissing her again, long and sweet and Carly kissed him back in spite of herself.

He pressed his cheek against the top of her head. 'We're going to make it this time, Princess.' He promised. 'You'll see.'

:::::::::::::::::::

Frankie wasn't the only one being hostile towards the family; Bo was still very angry with them too, especially Kayla and Victor. Victor, he was never going to forgive and as for Kayla, he didn't want to be around her for a while; unable to get over how hateful she'd been to Carly.

'I don't want to discuss her or her reasons why she treated Carly the way she did; she's got no excuse, neither do you Ma! Frankie didn't have to spell that out to you, you know very well you were wrong! You never asked Carly what happened all those years she was with that bastard, you blamed her for something you were guilty of ... yeah,' he said scathingly at the stunned expression on Caroline's face. 'Mel told me all about Parker's paternity tests! And you didn't even have the courtesy to be there for Carly when she lost Tony!'

Kayla sat silent, biting her lip.

'Alright, alright!' Caroline cried, tears pouring down her cheeks. 'I know what I'm guilty of and more, you don't have to keep listing it!'

'I'll keep listing it because Carly didn't deserve it!'

'No, she didn't deserve it! We were wrong to blame her... but it was so easy to blame her and shun her because...' Caroline sobbed, pressing her hand against her mouth. Bo regarded her coldly, unmoved.

' We didn't want her complicating your life further! You and Hope have always been able to work out your problems and then Carly came back...'

'She is not Billie!' He snapped.

'I know she isn't Billie, that's the whole point! The only woman you've ever really loved besides Hope was Carly Manning. With all the problems you've had with Hope, I knew it was only a matter of time before you fell in love with Carly again, the love you two shared all those years ago was so intense! And I wanted things to stay the way they were and not have Hope resent us by being close to Carly or make her feel we were comparing her with the ex fianceé you were so happy with while she was gone. And you couldn't expect the Hortons to side with Carly instead of Hope, no matter the mistakes she made in the past.'

Caroline dried her eyes with a hanky, sniffling. 'And I didn't mean to be cruel to Carly when she lost Tony Delfino. The truth is...I couldn't face her; I was too ashamed to. With everything that happened... I just couldn't. And now... I don't know if I can. She lost your baby but she saved Ciara... almost at the cost of her own life! You're very angry and you have the right to be; but I can't even imagine just how angry Carly must be ... will she even have the heart to forgive all of us?'

Bo was silent. He glanced at Kayla but she wouldn't meet his eyes.

'Bo, son... please don't cast us out like Frankie's done- we thought we doing what was best; to protect the love and bond between our families. I'm apologising for everyone, especially Kayla.'

Bo shook his hand away, standing up. 'I'm not the one you should be apologising to, Ma. You should be at the hospital right now, apologising to Carly who was like a daughter to you, who saved two of your grandchildren from being killed, who helped you and Pop build this place, who loved you like a mother, who loved and never judged me. You should be apologising to Frankie because you deliberately forgot Carly's his flesh and blood so don't blame him for disowning should be apologising to Mel too for not sharing Carly's years with this family long before she was born which would've helped them form a relationship a lot easier. And please...' he added, more coldness in his tone, 'don't apologise for anyone, much less Kayla. If they're really sorry, let them make their own damn apologies- to Carly and her family!'

The pub's glass doors almost shattered as he slammed them shut behind him.

Caroline buried her face in her hands while tears of shame filled Kayla's eyes. Nothing hurt worse than the blunt truth thrown at you.