"Oh my God! Chloe!" I heard Isaac scream.
I winced as I moved my head to look at him and saw the panic in his eyes as he fell to the floor next to me.
"I thought you were dead!"
No, the pain I felt told me I was definitely alive. I was shot, but definitely still alive. Looking past Isaac, I saw Betty tied up on a kitchen chair. Joy was still on the floor unconscious, along with Rick and Jack." It looked like Brody had gotten a bit angry after I was shot.
I heard the sirens coming down the street as I closed my eyes against the light. It was only then I felt Brody's tears drop onto my cheek.
* * *
Apparently I had been shot in the head. Not badly. The bullet had grazed my temple, taking a chunk of skin with it and leaving a ringing in my ears I thought would never end.
I'd been stitched up and given some painkillers, and as I sat in a hospital bed in the emergency department, I tried really hard to concentrate on listening to Isaac fill me in on the part of the story I'd missed.
"You should have seen him, Chloe. Omg!" said Isaac, referring to Brody. "You dropped to the floor, and he moved to Jack so fast I hardly saw him move at all. He punched Jack, knocking the gun out of his hand, and of course, I heroically picked it up and aimed it at Betty. Brody bashed the crap out of Jack, and I think he enjoyed every punch. Rick jumped on his back, and Brody spun him over his shoulder like a rag doll, pushing him against the wall and punching him. Rick dropped, out cold. Jack got back up and ran at Brody, but he grabbed Jack around the waist and slammed him to the floor and punched him. He was crazy. All I could think was how bloody hot he looked, and how grateful I was he was on my side," said Isaac, fanning himself.
Brody had been sent to get an X-ray of his hand, which the doctors thought might be broken. I wasn't surprised, listening to Isaac's story. Isaac, bless him, had come out of this with a tiny graze on his knuckles, which he got during his battle with Betty.
"I guess money really is the root of all evil," he said.
"No, it's not," I said, sitting back and allowing my head to sink into the pillow. "Greed is. If Betty, Stan, and Lucy had all been happy with what they had, none of this would have happened, and they would have all lived much happier lives." I looked at Isaac as he thought about what I said.
As I was relaxing, my curtain flung back, and in ran Adam, his face pale with fear.
"Oh, Isaac, thank God you're okay," he cried, falling on Isaac as he spoke. "I got home from my trip and found all the police cars in the street. Mrs. White filled me in on what had happened. When she told me they took you away in an ambulance, I was so scared." The tears were streaming now. Watching Adam and seeing the love he had for Isaac, I felt my throat close with emotion.
"Oh, Adam, I'm sorry," cried Isaac, pulling Adam into his arms for a much needed hug. "I'm so happy to see you!" I think Isaac needed that hug as much as Adam did.
"It's been a really stressful day," said Adam
"Yes, it has," said Isaac quietly. "Look, I got hurt.' He held his hand up to Adam for inspection. Adam paled.
"Oh my, you poor thing, but I'm going to take care of you. You can relax and recover, and I will take care of everything you need."
"That would be wonderful. Thank you." Isaac smiled.
The nurse appeared and looked at Isaac. "What are you still doing here, Mr. Clarke? The doctor has given you the all clear to go home."
"Yes, I know. I just had to make sure my beautiful friend was okay," he replied, smiling at me.
"Well, she has to stay for the night. We want to monitor her for a while." She turned to face me. "We're just waiting for a bed to become available, and then we'll be moving you upstairs for the night."
I smiled at her as she turned, walked out of my cubicle, and closed the curtain behind her. "Hey, Isaac, please take care of Theo for me. I know you said Mrs. White has him, but could you take him tonight?" I felt the tears well up at the thought of Theo.
Isaac reached out and took my hand. "Of course I will. We'll stop at the pet store on the way home and get him a new toy and some of his favorite treats."
I squeezed Isaac's hand a little harder. As he leaned over to kiss me on the cheek, my curtain was pulled back again. I looked up to see Becky, her face tear-stained with mascara.
"Oh hi, Chloe. I'm looking for Brody. I was told he was here," she said, her voice shaky.
My heart missed a beat. "Well…yes, he is…" I replied, only Isaac interrupted me.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I went to visit Brody, and I saw all the police vehicles. Mrs. White told me the three of you were brought here and that one of you was shot. I was so worried. I thought it was Brody." I watched as her big, brown eyes filled with tears.
"No, it was Chloe," replied Isaac, his voice filled with indignation. "And she's fine by the way, thanks for asking."
I saw Becky blush through her tears.
"I'm sorry, Chloe. I hope you're okay, but where is Brody?"
"He's gone for an X-ray," I answered quietly.
"How did you get in anyway?" asked Isaac.
"I told the nurses Brody was my partner, and they let me in," she explained.
"Humph."
The pain in my chest returned. Back at the house, waking up in Brody's arms, I'd thought maybe he felt something for me too. I was wrong. Becky was his girlfriend. That thought hurt a whole lot more than any gunshot wound.
* * *
I was having a dream and this one was as far from bad as you could get. It involved a hot and extremely sexy Brody and a shower. When I woke, I needed a cold shower. It came a lot faster than I'd expected.
First, I was still in a hospital bed. That reminded me of all the events of the last twenty-four hours. Second, Brody stood in the doorway, Becky by his side. Even traumatized, with mascara streaks and puffy eyes, she still looked gorgeous. Unlike me.
I'd managed to take myself to the toilet before having a nap, and I didn't look great. In order for the doctors to stitch me up they'd had to shave a small, but very obvious patch of my hair. I had a large medical swab stuck to my scalp, puffy, bloodshot eyes, and the worst bed-hair ever. I watched Brody's mouth turn up into a smile when he looked at me. Well, if nothing else, I amused him.
"Hey," he said, walking towards me.
I attempted to smile back.
"Becky said you look like shit. She wasn't wrong."
He laughed and picked up my hand. I felt it tingle under his touch, and my heart cracked a little more as the tears welled in my eyes.
"I'm sorry, I was joking," explained Brody, concern replacing his smile.
My tears spilled over my lashes as the sobbing started. It was all too much for me. The last two months had been a rollercoaster. So many wonderful things had changed my life, like Theo and Brody, and yet so many bad things had happened too. All that culminated into the most terrifying moments of my life. Now, here sat the man who'd stolen my heart, and none of it was mine for the keeping. I pulled my hand away from his and covered my face, unable to stop the tears.
"Chloe, please, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I just wanted to see you were okay."
I heard the crack in his voice as I rolled away from him and buried my face in my pillow. His hand touched my shoulder as his weight shifted to the bed. The shaking started, but I didn't attempt to stop it. Maybe it was what I needed to clear my emotions. After this, I'd be okay and be able to visit Denial Land. In fact, I was moving there permanently.
"Chloe," Brody whispered. "Please look at me."
My sobbing kicked up a notch, and within seconds I had trouble breathing. I struggled to sit up and get control, but I couldn't. I could see the agony in Brody's eyes.
"Oh my God, is she okay?" I heard Becky ask.
"No. Becky, go and get a nurse," Brody demanded.
"Just press the buzzer, and they come to you," she replied.
Bitch. My nose filled fast, and the tears continued as the panic attack took hold
.
"Get them!" yelled Brody. "Now." As Becky ran from the room, Brody looked into my eyes. "It's okay. It's over now," he said, pulling me into his arms.
His warmth seeped into me as his strong arms surrounded me, and the panic attack kicked up another notch. I knew I had to calm down and enjoy this moment for what it was because once that nurse arrived, Brody would move away from me, and I would never feel him again.
I really did try to enjoy that moment, but it was over all too quickly. As soon as the nurse entered the room, Brody let go. She took one look at me and handed me the oxygen. It didn't take long for it to work, and as it did, I looked up to see Brody standing at the end of my bed, Becky clinging to him as if her life depended on it.
* * *
As promised, the doctors gave the all clear for me to go home the following morning. Isaac and Adam came to get me, and judging by the loving looks they were giving each other, I'd say they had patched up their differences. Which was great, it really was. I was happy for them. Okay, I'll admit the green-eyed monster had reared its massive, ugly head.
My headache didn't help. The painkillers the hospital had given me made me groggy, so I hadn't taken any this morning. I looked forward to getting home, back to my safe place.
It was only as we drove down our street that I realized my house might not feel that safe anymore. Theo was snuggled up on my lap in the back of Adam's car, and as I stroked his head, I knew that no matter what, somehow we would make it home again. From what I understood, Betty, Joy, Rick, and Jack had all been carted off to jail and would have lots of time to do some family bonding, compliments of the state penitentiary.
"I've organized the cleaners to go in this morning," explained Isaac, obviously feeling my emotion from his place on the front seat. "You can go home once they're finished. In the meantime, we've organized a bit of a welcome home for you." He smiled, looking at me in his visor mirror.
"Really? I just want to curl up and sleep," I whined. It didn't help that I could see Brody's house from where I sat and felt the now familiar weight in my chest.
"Don't be a party pooper. You've got all day to sleep."
I sighed.
Walking into Isaac and Adam's, I found a party is actually what they'd organized. There was Sam, Robbie, Jodie, Cooper, and Mrs. White. Even Gary, my boss, had turned up. But no Brody. Actually that was a good thing. I didn't think my heart could stand looking at him.
As I felt the tears sting my eyes, Isaac pulled me in close.
"You have to stop crying, Chloe. You'll dehydrate, and then you'll get ugly," he said, rubbing my back. I swatted him and wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand.
The front door opened, and in walked Brody. My heart stopped. He looked better than ever in his jeans and black V-neck T-shirt, his hand still bandaged from yesterday, and the start of a black eye. The fact that Becky was absent made him even more appealing.
Stop it, Chloe. Remember yesterday in the hospital? How Becky was hanging off of him? I sighed and turned away as he made eye contact with me and smiled. I moved to the kitchen and away from crowd, suddenly feeling very claustrophobic.
The air in there was cooler as I made my way to the sink and looked out into the back yard. I didn't stand there for long before I heard footsteps enter the room. I didn't need to turn around to see whom they belonged to. I knew it was Brody by the way the air changed as he walked closer.
"Hi, Chloe," I heard his deep voice say.
I swallowed hard trying to clear my emotion before I turned to look at him. "Hi," I responded, my voice cracking. Damn. I heard his footsteps get closer.
"How are you feeling today?"
"Fine, thanks." I plastered a fake smile on my face and turned around. He'd stopped a few feet away from me, and let me tell you, it was way too close. "How's your hand?" I asked, quietly.
He looked down at it and smiled. "It's okay."
"Isaac told me you didn't break it, so that's good."
"It wouldn't have mattered if it was. It was worth it," he said, all indication of a smile disappearing as he looked at me.
"Yes, well…umm," I stuttered, his look so intense it made all thoughts evaporate from my mind. "Umm…I wanted to thank you for that." I saw the confusion cross his face. "You know, for saving us all yesterday. I know if it wasn't for you, we'd probably all be dead."
"Believe me, I got a sick satisfaction from hitting Jack," he said, a slow smile starting.
"Yes, well, thanks," I shrugged, the heavy weight back in my chest. Having Brody this close was a seriously bad idea.
"Chloe, I…I…wanted to talk to you." I heard the uncertainty in his voice and looked up into his eyes, surprised.
"Oh?"
Brody stepped closer and took my hand in his. His thumb traced little circles on my wrist as the clock ticked off the seconds. My pulse quickened, and the butterflies were at it again.
"Do…do you feel anything for me?" he asked, quietly.
Wow, that was a question and a half. Well, now let me think. Yes, I was completely in love with him and secondly…umm…yes, I was completely in love with him. Would I tell him though? It felt like the world had stopped turning as I looked at him and tried to form my reply.
"It doesn't matter what I feel, Brody," I said.
"It's all that matters," he whispered, his grip on my hand tightening.
"Do you feel anything for me?" I asked, silently praying his answer would be yes, but I never got to hear his reply. Sam burst into the room, declaring Becky was here looking for Brody.
He cursed under his breath. As he stepped away from me, I saw the look of regret in his eyes. The lump moved from my throat to my chest as a feeling of loss swallowed me.
Sam crossed the room, and as his arms supported me, I cried…again. I knew Isaac was right, and I would eventually have to stop crying, as very soon I was going to resemble a shriveled up prune.
"Chloe, why don't you fight for him?" he asked.
"Because…I don't stand…a chance against her," I said, between sobs and hiccups.
"How do you know if you never try?" said Sam, kissing the top of my head.
I took a minute to think about what he'd said. Maybe he was right. Maybe I should march out there and declare to the world how I felt about Brody.
"But what if…?" I trailed off, unable to think what would happen if he rejected me.
"Exactly…what if?" Sam smiled, obviously the optimist of the family.
I stepped back from him and took a few slow, deep breaths. Only when my breathing evened out, did I wipe at my tears and straighten up.
"Okay, I'll do it," I said, rallying all my strength, preparing myself to face Brody and Becky, and completely embarrass myself. As I took a step towards the door, Sam grabbed my arm.
"What are you doing?"
"Taking your advice. I'm going out there to tell him how I feel."
"Not looking like that you're not. Go home and put some makeup on, then tell him. I don't think even Brody is that strong."
"Whatever." What happened to the supportive speech he'd given me?
I opened Isaac's back door and headed home, my only thoughts on Brody. As I reached my house though, my thoughts changed track. The cleaners were in my kitchen attempting to remove my bloodstains from the cabinets, and the fear of yesterday rushed back. I could feel the panic attack start, but knew I had to do this. Maybe not right now, but I would have to do it. I turned, ready to run away, when Isaac stepped through my gate.
"Sam told me what you were doing. I didn't want you to do this alone," he said, pulling me under his arm, and turning me back towards the house. Isaac really was a good friend, and just having him with me made it a whole lot easier. Maybe I could get him to tell Brody how I felt. That way if he said he didn't feel the same, I could stay hiding in my bedroom forever. Or at least until one of us moved.
I prepared myself as I stepped over the threshold and into my kitchen, but strangely enough it was a feeling of overwhelming love I
felt. A different kind of love to what I felt for Brody, but it was definitely love I felt for my house. It was my own, stupid fault I had left a key under the pot for anybody to let himself in.
Making a mental note to move both keys from front and back doors, I smiled at the cleaners and headed towards my bedroom, Isaac on my heels. Once inside, I knew without a shadow of a doubt I could make this feel safe again.
"I'm going to have a quick shower."
"Okay, my sweet. I'll wait here for you," replied Isaac, sitting on my bed.
After a very fast shower, I took a minute to pick out my clothes. I settled on my sexy, pale-pink push-up bra, covered it with a silk tank top in the same color, and pulled out my low-slung jeans. I accessorized with some sparkly bracelets and smoldering eyes. Yes, my makeup was too heavy for daywear, but I needed the extra confidence. I styled my hair the best I could to cover my patch. Finding the strappy sandals I'd sworn to never wear again, I slipped them on and opened the en suite door.
"Okay, I'm ready." I smiled, looking at Isaac for his approval. What I found was him reading my diary.
"Are you ever." He laughed without even looking up.
Snatching the diary out of his hands, I looked at the entry and realized he had just read my thoughts on a day when my hormones were feeling particularly frustrated with Brody. Bugger.
My cheeks heated up as I slammed the book closed, thinking how later I was going to burn the damned thing.
"It's time to tell him, my lovely. Before you combust!"
I felt my resolve waiver as I followed Isaac down the stairs, this time using the front door. I adjusted my top for the hundredth time and followed him up the footpath into his home. Looking around the crowd for Brody, I wondered how the hell I was going to do this. Sam walked over to me and smiled.
"That's better," he laughed.
I swatted his arm as Jodie walked up and gave me a hug.
"Good luck," she said.
"Yeah, good luck, sis. Not that you need it," said Robbie, stepping up and kissing my cheek.
Gary winked at me as I walked further into the room. I stopped and looked at the crowd around me, my eyes stopping on Sam. "Did you tell bloody everybody?"
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