Chapter 64

Three more months passed. Alice's death left a huge void in Salem; especially in her family and closest friends but gradually they resumed back to their daily lives as time went by. Carly adjusted to being addressed as Dr. Brady and Bo kept getting good natured ribbing at the station, though not in Hope's hearing.

One afternoon, Carly arrived at the station; exchanging greetings with the officers who eyed her appreciatively and gave low wolf whistles as she made her way to Bo's office. Naturally, he was very pleased to see her.

'Well, well... this is a surprise.' He said, kissing her, ignoring Roman and Steve's indulgent sniggers.

'I have the rest of the day off,' she explained. 'So, I wondered if my handsome husband... and my equally handsome brothers-in-law of course,' she grinned at them, 'were available for lunch.'

'Anytime of the day, sweetheart,' Roman drawled, stroking her cheek, 'but I don't think Bo's into foursomes; what do you think, Patch?'

'Absolutely not. But thanks for thinking of us, Carly.' Steve pressed a kiss on her forehead. 'Maybe if I wasn't married...'

'Why don't you two jerks beat it while you're still ahead?' Bo interrupted, with a glare on his face, a smile tugging at his mouth.

'Right, right!' chuckling, Roman and Steve made their exit, leaving them alone.

'Now... how about a real hello.' Picking her up, he placed her on his desk and they exchanged a long, heated kiss; hands caressing. 'Mmm... That's better.'

'Yeah.' She smiled at him lovingly, arms locked round his neck. 'But you haven't answered my question.'

'Oh, I'm available for lunch, and then some.' He encircled her waist tightly. 'Since we've both got the rest of the day off, what say we make constructive use of it?'

'Like taking a nap?' Carly suggested innocently even as his fingers moved up to toy with the buttons of her blouse under her jacket.

'What makes you think I'm going to let you get any sleep?' he murmured against her perfumed neck.

'Oh you are a one, Commissioner Brady.' Carly gripped his hand before it went down her cleavage. 'Whoa… watch the hand, mister. At least till we get home.'

'Maybe I don't want to wait, Mrs Brady.' He whispered urgently, capturing her mouth again. Carly found herself pressing herself against him but her concern for her husband's reputation won over her desire to make love to him right there and then. These days they made love more often, anywhere and everywhere; more determined to make Allyson Elizabeth Brady a reality. To her everlasting embarrassment, they even made love in Olivia's bed once; luckily she never found out or she would've been revolted beyond measure. Their daughter's been in a funk since her breakup with Nathan after a huge fight. He was suddenly offered a position in a reputable hospital in Baltimore, which he'd turned down; wanting to stay in Salem to be near Olivia. But then he'd changed his mind, since it was such a great opportunity. Disappointed but determined to be supportive; Olivia had urged him to go, promising to visit him, certain he would commute. But Nathan had quietly dropped a bombshell; as he wanted to emulate his late great-grand pop Tom Horton, it was best he had no distractions, whatsoever. He owed it to the family.

'All of a sudden, I'm a bloody "distraction".' she'd bit out as Carly bathed her bleeding hand under the tap; in anger she'd smashed it against the foyer mirror. 'It wasn't him talking, it was his interfering grandmother; and I told him so. He denied it but if he was actually his own man, he wouldn't have made this decision or call me a "distraction!"'

Bo went to Maggie's house later to confront Nathan but he'd already left town. Maggie calmly defended her grandson, explaining that all she advised him to do was think about his medical career instead of throwing it away, adding that Tom would've given him that same speech. But Bo knew well enough that Dr. Horton wouldn't have forced someone to do something they didn't really want to do, instead he would've said to follow their own instincts. Thanks to her so-called advice, his beautiful Olivia was now experiencing her first heartbreak and it tore his heart seeing the sadness in her eyes; really furious with Nathan. Besides him and Carly and of course, Ciara; everyone went out of their way to cheer her up, not wanting her to bottle up anything and she responded well to their love but that look was still visible in her eyes.

Carly broke the kiss regretfully. 'No, no… not here. Although it is tempting.'

'Because I'm so appealing?' Bo chuckled, stroking her legs all the way to her ankles.

'That… and because there's something about you wearing a gun holster. Very hot and dangerous.' She purred, batting her eyes.

'Oh, you're in big trouble lady.' He growled back, kissing her again. 'Come then, onward home!'

Carly laughed then remembered something as he slipped on his jacket. 'Wait; it's our turn to have Ciara. Who's going to pick her up from school?'

'That's Olivia's job, remember? And she said something about taking her for ice cream and whatever on the way home.'

'Okay then.' Linking arms with him, they made their exit.

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EJ spotted Olivia before she spotted him, walking through the school gates holding her little sister's hand and looking like a summer breeze in a pair of jeans, sneakers and a plain deep green sweater.

'Olivia!' Johnny yelled, running to her, Allie at his heels.

'Hey trooper! And pumpkins… How was your day?' Olivia bent to gather them in her arms, kissing them in turn. EJ walked up to her, smiling widely. She was so amazing with children, even with Ciara she was like a young mother.

Olivia saw him and she rose to her feet. 'Hello EJ. You came to pick up the kids?'

'It's my week to have Johnny and of course Allie goes anywhere with him. Hello Ciara.'

'Hi.' Ciara nodded, eyeing him warily as she took Olivia's hand again.

'You look lovely; I like what you did with your hair.' He missed the curls but the long, lush waves were a perfect foil to her exquisite features.

'Umm… thank you.' She rumpled it self-consciously. 'So how have you been?'

'Busy with business.' And thinking about her a lot. She still invaded his dreams, more so after the news of her breakup with Nathan Horton. He'd wanted to call her but Lexie had advised against it; nowadays Bo was now very stern with any male who showed an interest in his older daughter and he was sure to chew him out good if he dared move in on Olivia.

Olivia nodded, meeting his grey eyes squarely; wondering what he was thinking right now and hoping he wasn't going to try and ask her out; because there was no way she was going to say yes. 'Well, it was nice seeing you again. Come, cherub.'

Johnny tugged her free hand. 'Come to the park with us. Daddy's going to buy us ice cream!'

'Yes… Yes!' Allie clung to her.

'No… no, Ciara and I already have plans.'

'Please, please….' Allie's lip quivered.

Ciara didn't want to be around EJ DiMera but having ice cream with Johnny and Allie was too appealing. 'I want to go.' She said.

'Ciara wants to go! Come please!' Johnny said persuasively.

'Well' Olivia said reluctantly, looking at EJ. 'If your Daddy doesn't mind…'

'He doesn't mind at all.' EJ said softly.

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Ciara played happily with Sami's children after ice cream and a hot dog each. Olivia kept a sharp eye on them, trying not to think about Nathan's unfairness for once. Bitterly, she thought how the Hortons used guilt and so-called sense of family to manipulate people; just like Hope did with her Dad. Thank God he was free of her now. EJ sat down beside her, passing her second ice-cream cone.

'Thank you.'

EJ regarded her silently. There was something hard in her green eyes and he hated seeing it. Impulsively, he took her free hand, squeezing it. To his relief, she squeezed it back, smiling faintly.

'You alright?'

'Yes.' She tasted the ice cream. 'How did you know strawberry's my favourite?'

'It just seems to be the excellent choice for you. I don't see you as a vanilla or a chocolate woman.'

'I'm sixteen years old, EJ.'

'Not inside. And especially when you're around children; I've seen you a few times with Ciara and Theo. Theo talks about you a lot to my sister; how you read to him and make the funny voices when you go over to visit Tamara. You're wonderful with children.'

'Probably because I wish I could turn back the clock and experience their innocence. It's too strange feeling 30 instead of 16 in mentality; the only person who's remotely like me is Tamara.'

'Maturity comes with experience. You may have grown up too fast but it only makes you delightful.'

Olivia gave him a warning look but decided not to freak out the children playing nearby by erupting.

'If you call cynical and nonconforming delightful.' She said instead, shrugging and eating her ice cream.

EJ badly wanted to tell her that he was still in love with her, and wanted the chance to show her he was not the old EJ DiMera. Stefano now regarded him as "soft", telling him constantly that Olivia Brady would forever be beyond his reach. 'There are many women out there, for God sake,' he added, exasperated. 'Forget that child!'

EJ paid no heed. Olivia was no child; she was the woman he loved, and wanted. And right now she was hurting, although hiding it as well as she could. He on the other hand was doing his best at hiding his desire as he watched her lick a spot of ice cream off the corner of that beautifully shaped mouth he wanted to devour. But having her beside him was right now was more than lucky, the last thing he wanted was scare her away. No, it was best to take his time, slowly.

After talking on random subjects for a few minutes, Olivia glanced at her watch and got up from the bench. 'Ciara, come!' Turning to EJ as the children ran up she said, 'Well, thanks. For everything.'

'The pleasure was all mine.' EJ brushed back a strand of hair from her forehead, unable to help himself. 'It was nice talking to you again.'

Olivia flinched and she knew very well it was not from revulsion. Abruptly, she took Ciara's hand after kissing Johnny and Allie. 'Take care of yourself.'

'Olivia, are you okay?' Ciara asked as they walked to her car. 'You look funny.'

'Nothing to worry about, cherub. I'm fine.'

This was a lie. Right now she was very conscious of EJ again and it disturbed her greatly.

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Collapsing against Bo, Carly pressed her face against his heaving chest. 'Oh my God...that was far better than a nap.' She panted.

Panting as well, Bo hugged her tight in his arms, breathing in the scent of her skin. 'I'll say.' He rubbed her back, his hands moving up to ruffle her hair. 'That was so amazing.'

Carly grinned, raising her head. 'It's a good thing the girls aren't home yet; we didn't even lock the door.' she giggled.

Bo chuckled, brushing back her hair from her face. 'Something was more important closing a door, having you right under me.' He kissed her repeatedly. 'Now this is what I call resting.'

Kissing his chest, Carly cuddled against him, closing her eyes. Definitely a wonderful way of resting.

'We still haven't had lunch.' She reminded.

'Ah, we'll order Chinese in a few minutes. I'm way too comfortable to move right now.' He held her against him tightly.

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

Olivia saw the bolt of lightning first, it came out of nowhere and her first instinct was to protect her sister. 'Get down, Ciara!' she shouted, a split second before the speeding car smashed against hers, accompanied by a thunderous sound. Then silence.

'You two stay here!' EJ ordered the frightened children, springing out of the car and ran towards the two damaged cars. 'Get the hell out of my way!' he shoved his way through the bewildered crowd. A man was already pulling a screaming and bleeding Ciara out of the car; while another was trying to open the mangled door to get to Olivia.

EJ roughly pushed him aside, before frantically tugging at the door. 'Olivia… Olivia can you hear me?' he cried, his heart tearing at the sight of her sprawled over the seat covered in blood and broken glass. 'For God sake, somebody call an ambulance!'

'They're on their way.' A woman said quickly, wrapping Ciara with a car rug. 'Is she breathing?'

'Olivia! Olivia!' Ciara cried hysterically; frightened for her sister, trying to pull free from the arms holding her.

EJ finally got the door off and gently pulled her out and people made way as he lowered her on the ground. With shaking fingers, he touched her neck; feeling a weak pulse. Taking off his jacket, he rolled it up and cushioned her head with it.

'Christ! Where's that ambulance?' someone snapped. The driver of the other car was muttering to himself as two people got him out, except for a cut over his eye, he was unharmed but clearly drunk.

'Son of a bitch ran a light… I hope that girl's okay!'

'I'm here my darling; it's going to be okay. You're going to be okay.' EJ sobbed, tears pouring down his cheeks as an ambulance and two police cars finally drove up. 'You have to be okay. Please… don't leave me, Olivia don't leave me!'

'Step aside sir, we'll take it from here.' A paramedic said. His female partner took charge of Ciara who was still crying.

'My sister…' she wailed repeatedly.

'It's okay sweetie, she's being checked out right now.' The woman soothed her. Ciara's left arm looked like it might need stitches but the cut on her forehead appeared to be minor. And there were a few bruises and scratches on her face.

EJ watched helplessly as Olivia was given oxygen, praying like he'd never prayed before.

The cops meanwhile were keeping the traffic back. One of them cuffed the culprit and as he did so saw Ciara, turning sharply to see who was on the ground. 'Holy shit…' he nudged one of his colleagues. 'He hit the commissioner's daughters!'

'Oh, my God!' the young man gasped, horrified. 'How the hell are we going to tell him?'

After settling the drunk driver in the squad car's backseat, he hurried to console Ciara as best as he could.

'On three; one, two…' and Olivia was lowered on the gurney and carried into the ambulance. Ciara was carried in as well and the doors were slammed behind them.

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'Get them while it's hot, princess.' Bo called from the foot of the stairs, his hands full of takeout boxes.

'Coming!' she shouted back.

Bo was just setting them on the counter in the kitchen when his cell rang from his back pocket. Sighing, he pulled it out; seeing it was Roman by the caller ID. 'What's up?'

'It's Olivia and Ciara, they were in a car accident.' Roman's voice was tremulous. 'You and Carly need to come down here. Hope's already on her way.'