Roman laid a comforting hand on his
brother’s shoulder, squeezing it. ‘She’s going to be alright Bo, you must
believe that.’ he said for the umpteenth time in a low voice, as Hope was
several yards away along with the rest of the family, including Victor and
Justin who were summoned after Clarice was wheeled into surgery. Ciara was
seated on Hope’s lap, holding on to her mother for dear life; the episode at
the house had truly traumatized her. Stabbed,
trapped in an elevator, buried alive, and almost beaten to death and now shot... all because she was trying to
help him. He was personally going to kill Dean Hartman with his bare hands for
this; he sincerely hoped Clarice had crippled him for life!
Clarice…
Carly. She didn’t remember her past with him yet within hours of coming back
into his life she saved Hope and Ciara and single handedly caught the
mastermind behind the kidnap. Bo shook his head, still dazed at the chain of
events. The kidnapper was right under their noses the whole time; a
vicious, disgruntled man under the guise of a loyal, dedicated officer. And Carly…
she did what she always did when they were still together; she was there for
him in the true sense of the words. It was simply just too overwhelming.
Abe
was right now on the phone trying to get in touch with the Director of Salem’s ISA.
Roman had called Shane earlier; Carly’s heroic deed was going to earn her a lot
of commendations and further seal her stay in Salem now.
‘Grandma…
what are you doing here?’ Bo heard Hope say and turned round. Alice Horton was
on her son’s arm, her expression anxious.
‘Mickey
told me what happened, are you alright darling?’ she asked, touching Hope’s
face and leaning over to kiss Ciara, nodding and smiling at everyone.
‘We’re
fine, Gram, really. You didn’t have to come all the way here.’ Hope protested
but glad to see her.
‘Nonsense,
Hope. I had to see for myself that you and Ciara are alright… I still can’t
believe such a thing happened in your home. Bo…’ letting go of Mickey, she
turned to him, drawing him aside from the others, beckoning to Roman who
immediately joined them. ‘Is it true… that the agent who saved Hope and Ciara
is Carly?’
‘Yeah,
Mrs. H. And Mickey probably told you that she has severe amnesia. She has no
memory of us, or of ever living here.’
‘Help
me understand this… I thought she regained her memory before she left with
Lawrence and Nicky.’
Bo
cringed at the memory; more than ever blaming himself. ‘She did. But everything
went wrong after they left town. Larry physically abused her; he doesn’t even
know she’s alive.’
‘What?’
Alice whispered. ‘How can this be, how do you know?’
‘We
got the whole story from Shane.’ Roman replied. ‘And it’s really a long
story, Mrs. Horton.’
‘However long,
I want to hear it. You’ll both tell me everything later, leave nothing out.’ was Alice’s firm answer. ‘Is Carly badly hurt?’
‘We don't know
how bad, she’s in surgery. Why don't you left Mickey drive you home, we’ll let
you know...’
Alice shook
her snow-white head. ‘Don't even bother, Bo. Carly was like a daughter to me
before and after you got together and after what she did today; more than ever.
I want to see her after her surgery. I will wait with the rest of you here.’
Both men knew
better than to argue. Instead, Bo took her arm and sat her between Hope and
Caroline. Stroking Ciara’s hair, he touched Hope’s cheek. ‘Hey, how are you
holding up?’ he asked softly. Hope merely nodded, not meeting his eyes.
‘Daddy, is
Clarice going to be okay?’ Ciara asked anxiously.
‘She’s going
to be fine, little one. The hospital has the best doctors who are going to help
her get better. Don't worry about her.’ he kissed her forehead and resumed
pacing again. Carly, please... please be okay... he said silently.
‘Carly,
is everything okay?’ he shouted as the elevator made a strange noise. His blood
ran cold as she let out a scream of terror and the elevator went down with a
shuddering crash.
‘Carly!
Carly!’ he shouted, terrified, punching the buttons. Nothing. Forcing the doors
open, he climbed down the dark shaft, stumbling to where she lay, pushing back
the rubble covering her. ‘I’m here, princess, don't you worry... I’m going to
get you out of here.’ Finally getting to her, he wanted to weep out loud. She
was bleeding from the mouth, blood on her neck and the front of her dress. If
she was dead, he might as well kill himself right now. This cannot be happening
again, not again... he was not going to lose another love, not now that he was
so happy again!
He
touched her neck, finding a weak pulse to his great relief. 'Carly, come on talk
to me...’ he pleaded. No response.
‘We’ll get you out of here real soon... Come on, princess, come on... hang in there baby... please
Carly open your eyes for me...’ he held her head, tears pouring down his cheeks.
‘Come on baby, talk to me.’ His heart
leapt as her eyelids fluttered and half opened. ‘There you are...’ he stroked
back her hair. ‘No... Don’t...’ he begged as they slowly closed again. ‘Carly,
stay with me!’
‘Bo!’
a voice from above shouted. ‘Are you alright?’
‘Get
down here quick!’ he shouted back furiously. ‘Carly needs help!’
‘The
paramedics are here!’
‘Well,
make it fast! She’s dying!’
‘Bo... Bo.’ Bo
spun round to face Dr. Lexie Carver and Dr. Bobby Scavo, everyone out of their
seats, their expressions harried. ‘Well?’ he demanded.
‘The bullet
got near her left kidney and pierced a loop of her small intestine. We stitched
it as well as the exit wounds, Dean shot her twice. She lost a lot of blood of
course so she’s going to suffer some discomfort for a while.’
‘But she’s
okay, right?’ Bo asked, gripping Lexie’s arm.
‘Yes, she is.
And very lucky.’
‘Oh thank
God...’ Caroline sobbed, hugging Bo who blinked back his own tears. Roman
hugged Hope who was sobbing as well. Abe smiled.
‘When can we
see her?’ asked Sami.
‘She’s been
moved to Recovery now but you’ll all have to come back tomorrow to see her. We
can only allow her one visitor right now.’
‘I’ll go.’ Bo
said immediately.
‘Fine but only
five minutes because she’s in a lot of pain. Come on.’
Hope bit her lip, wondering if Clarice will
tell Bo about her foolishness; she felt so stupid and confused right now. Victor watched Bo as he walked away with the
two doctors, his eyes narrowed. Justin had told him about her new occupation...
an FBI agent; he was still reeling from the shock. And with what she just did
for the family, he didn't know what to think of her for now.
Clarice looked
pale and fragile in the hospital bed, her chestnut hair fanned across the
pillows and breathing shallowly through the respirator under her nose; her arm
hooked to an IV unit. Bo moved over to the bed and sank on the chair beside it,
his lips quivering as he reached out to take her hand, remembering another time
he’d seen her like this. Her body had
taken the severe injuries meant for him, including internal bleeding and her
lung pierced by a dislodged bone. She’d almost died...
After
the stabbing at the lighthouse, he never thought he would see Carly on a
hospital bed again. The last time had been heartrending enough; he knew he
loved her yet so terrified of loving her; not wanting to experience the
terrible heartache and sense of loss he’d felt when he lost Hope. Now it was
much worse... she’d walked into a trap meant for him and Victor was definitely
going to pay for it. Marcus and Dr. Horton have done their best; the real
healing process was up to God.
He
smiled down at her, holding fast to her hand, openly loving her and proud of
it. ‘You’re the reason I get up in the morning.’ He said softly, ‘to know
you... to love you... to get kisses, to see those eyes.’
Carly
sobbed weakly, her fingers entwined with his. ‘Don't leave me...’ she begged.
‘I know it’s doctor’s orders but don't leave me...’
‘I
won’t.’ He promised. ‘You’re my doctor, order me to stay.’
‘Stay.’
She whispered, eyes fixed on his.
‘Yes
ma’am. Now you listen to these orders; close those pretty eyes and go to sleep
okay? I’ll be here, I promise. I’ll be here when you wake up... go to sleep...’
Bo took her
hand and kissed it; so many emotions running through him. He had no idea what
they were nor did he understand what was going on. He started as her fingers
moved slightly under his. ‘Clarice?’ he said softly, leaning over her.
‘Clarice, can you hear me?’
No response;
then her eyelids fluttered. ‘Clarice? It’s Bo.’
Carly’s
emerald-green eyes half opened, gazing up at him. Bo smiled with relief, wiping
his eyes with his free hand. ‘Hey you... how do you feel?’
Carly’s eyes
closed then opened again, peering at him as though trying to focus.
‘Don't try to talk;
you’ve just come out of surgery. I’m so glad you’re awake.’
Carly made an incoherent
sound and winced, her face going even whiter.
‘No, no... Don’t try to move.’ Bo admonished
gently, rubbing her shoulder. ‘Your wounds been stitched up. You need to be
quiet and stay in bed. Okay?’
Carly nodded
but looked anxious even in the middle of her pain. With effort, she mumbled
something and Bo leaned over to hear. ‘H...Hope...’ she croaked.
‘She’s fine,
she and Ciara; thanks to you.’ Bo sniffled, his heart thumping as he gazed at
her face. ‘I can’t thank you enough for what you did, Clarice. You saved my family
and I’ll never forget it, ever.’
Carly smiled
faintly then said something else and he leaned over again. ‘Family...
precious...’
‘Yes they are.
Thank you, Clarice, thank you.’ He squeezed her hand, tears falling down his
cheeks. Maybe she didn't remember him or her past with him and the family but
inside she was still the same Carly Manning he fell in love with years ago;
selfless... and so brave.
Carly sighed,
closing her eyes as she drifted back to unconsciousness. Bo kissed her
forehead, his eyes moving down to the rosebud mouth he’d kissed countless of times
in the past. Lying there, comatose and injured, she was drawing him to her like
a magnet and the connection was strong, very strong.
Your
love was a long time ago, his head reminded
him as he was about to give in to temptation. A lot of things have changed; Hope, the children and the life you
share.
‘You rest now,
Carly,’ he said softly, stroking her hair instead. ‘When you get out of here,
I’m going to get you your real life back. I promise you, princess.’
It was after
he closed the door behind him that he realised that he’d called her by her old
pet name out loud for the first time in years.
:::::::::::::::::::
True to his
promise, Bo went to Alice’s house afterwards and she was told the whole story.
She shook her head. ‘Poor girl...’ she whispered. ‘And she did this great thing
for the family Bo... she saved your wife and daughter, imagine that.’
She took hold
of his hand. ‘Are you going to tell Hope she’s your ex fiancée?’
Bo shrugged. ‘I
mean to after some time but right now, I don't know. Hope’s still being so
hostile towards me; she’s still mad that I offered a reward instead of letting
her pay the ransom and with what’s just happened... I don't want her bothering
Carly with questions she can’t answer. Nothing’s familiar to Carly right now
and I don't want Hope or anyone else agitating her.’
‘No of course
not, that won’t do at all.’ Alice fixed her eyes on his face. ‘It must have
been a shock for you, seeing her again after all this time, and in this
condition. It’s worse than before, isn’t it?’
‘Those damn
Alamains!’ Bo gritted his teeth, his brown eyes flashing with anger. ‘They did
this to her; first Vivian dosed her with drugs and buried her alive, Larry
brainwashed her and lured her away from me and then went on to abuse her! I
should never have...’ he covered his face with his hand. Alice was the only one
other than Roman who knew what happened between him and Carly on the boat; the
painful, heartrending talk that ended with her walking out of his life forever.
‘You had no
choice! The damage was already done; you couldn’t tie her up and lock her away-
what could you do except let her go? You did that because you loved her, you
wanted her to be happy, even if it cost you a lot.’
‘But Mrs. H...
Larry never loved Carly like I loved her; she was nothing but a plaque to him,
how could I have let her go with him, knowing the type of man he was? I should
have sat her down, warned her...’
‘After the way
Lawrence made himself look good in her eyes... what good would it have done? I
can see that you blame yourself for what happened to her and you have to stop
this nonsense, dear. You did what you thought was best...’
‘I loved her,
I should’ve fought harder!’
Alice shook
her head. ‘You let her go because you loved her; you’re as selfless as she is.
And she would’ve done the same thing I’m sure, if she was the one with you when
Hope came back to us.’
Bo shrank away
from that scenario. He’d left Billie to be with Hope because he couldn't deny
his feelings for her but would he have left Carly? Billie had healed the wound
of losing Carly but Carly.... Carly was different. They’d gone through so much
to be together; she’d been his spiritual partner, bound to him by the symbolic
Mayan wedding they had on top of El Castillo in México, a huge part of his life
and Shawn Douglas’. With the way she affected him since she came back, he
sincerely doubted he would’ve left her and he certainly wouldn't have allowed
her to leave him. Mrs. H was right about that, Carly would have stepped aside,
no matter how much it pain it would cause her.
‘That’s
neither here nor there, Mrs. H. I need to help her get her memory back, after
what happened today; more than ever she needs to be Carly again. The dangerous
life of an ISA agent is not for her.’
‘What about
Lawrence? Suppose he or Nicky come back here? What will you do then?’
‘Hopefully,
that won’t happen. If it does, I’ll protect her. I’ll tell Hope about her...
eventually.’ As he spoke, Bo wondered just how he’ll go about that task.
At the
hospital, Clarice drifted in and out of consciousness, two-second visions
flashing in her mind.
A
laughing little boy holding her hand....
She lying bleeding in
a dark place...
Someone making love
to her... the room was lit by many candles... she couldn't see his face... there
was something on his back, a tattoo...
A deep voice
whispering the word “Princess...”
Clarice
fell into a deep sleep as the visions faded, her mind blank again.
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