The Rest of Our Lives (Read 86,019 times)

[Kpatch]

Chapter 233
 
JJ had one arm around Gabi’s shoulder as they drove from Chez Rouge back to Gabi’s place. He fingered her shoulder, his arousal building as he looked forward to a night of passion with this beautiful girl. She let her head fall on his arm as they drove through the night.
 
JJ’s attention to the road was diverted by something in his side view mirror. “Did you see that?” JJ asked.
 
She picked her head up. “See what?”
 
He took his hand off her shoulder and claimed his steering wheel with both hands. “I just saw two cars break through the railing across the road and roll over into a ditch.”
 
“What’s up with that?” she asked.
 
“I don’t know, but I’m gonna find out.” He turned his head to make sure it was safe to make a U-turn.
 
“What are you doing? JJ?”
 
“There may be injuries.” JJ pulled onto the shoulder near where the steel railing was damaged. He grabbed his emergency triage bag from the back seat, jumped out of the car and rushed down the hill, nearly sliding on his way down the embankment.
 
Gabi got out of the car and stood at the top of the hill, watching JJ.
 
He came upon two cars, an upside-down SUV and a Hummer that was flipped on its side. Both cars had sustained major front-end damage. He looked inside the upside-down SUV from the passenger side and saw a man and a woman, both unconscious. The driver’s side door was open and the woman was halfway in her seat and halfway on the ground. He dug in his medical bag for some gauze and rushed around to the other side. He needed to stop the blood that was gushing from the woman’s head. “Gabi, get down here.”
 
Gabi hesitated, but she made her way down the hill. She stopped to take off her high heels to make the trek easier.
 
“Here,” he said, holding out a roll of gauze. “Wrap her head.”
 
“Me?”
 
“I need to check on the victim in the other vehicle.”
 
He rushed over to the Hummer which was lying on its side. He climbed onto the passenger side to look in the window. The man’s head was smashed up against the window on the driver’s side. He was unconscious. JJ’s lips parted when he recognized the driver. “Oh god, no. God no!” He tried opening the passenger side door, but it was badly damaged and he couldn’t get it open.
 
He reached in his pocket for his phone and dialed 911. “This is JJ Deveraux. I’m an off-duty EMT and I need an ambulance. I’ve got three unconscious victims of a car crash in an embankment off—.” He began to panic when he couldn’t remember the street they were driving on. “Gabi! Where the hell are we?”
 
“Branch Road,” she called out.
 
“Branch and what?”
 
“I don’t know.”
 
“We’re on Branch Road, a block or two from Palmer. About two miles south of University Hospital. Hurry! And bring the jaws!” He pounded on the passenger side window of the Hummer. “Can you hear me? It’s JJ. Hang in there, okay? Do you hear me? Help is on the way!”
 
He rushed back over to Gabi. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she bandaged the woman’s head. He checked the pulse of the man in the passenger seat. He thought he recognized the man in the SUV as Brady Black but his face was too messed up to be sure. “He’s alive,” JJ reported, “he’s breathing, but he’s banged up pretty bad. Mostly I’m worried about her,” he said, pointing to the woman in the driver’s seat. “And … and the man in the other vehicle.”
 
“JJ,” Gabi said with a watery voice. Her hands and blouse were covered in blood from tending to the driver whose head and face were covered with blood.
 
“It’s okay,” he told her. “I’ve got it.” JJ checked the woman’s pulse. His hands were shaking as he tightened the tourniquet around her head and secured it. “I need to get her right-side up so she doesn’t bleed out.”
 
“Isn’t it dangerous to move her?” Gabi asked.
 
“Yeah, but she’s more likely to die if we don’t.” He carefully pulled the woman into an upright position and leaned her against the car.
 
“JJ, I know this woman. She’s the one who hired me for the party at the Kiriakis mansion. And JJ, she told me she’s pregnant.”
 
“This is Chloe?” JJ was trembling with emotion as he looked toward the Hummer a hundred feet away. “And I know the man in the other car. I can’t get to him dammit and I’m not sure if he’s dead or alive.”

An explosion shook the area as the Hummer went up in flames. “Noooo!”

[heroicmuse]

Oh no. I hope that the passenger in the other car isn't Daniel like in the real show.

I'm glad JJ was there to help.

[André DiMera]

Wonder who the person in the other car is. Oh man! Hopefully the EMTs get there quickly!

[krw627]

I hope Chloe doesn't lose the baby and that all of the victims survive. I wonder who the other driver is.

[Trey]

Gah! Not a fan of these cliffhangers... I need to know now!

[mae00]

Hahaha! Leave it to Julie to knock Gabi down a peg or two. I loved it!

Oh no! I knew Chloe taking Brady to a meeting herself wasn't going to end well. I didn't think it would end like this tho. I really hope the EMTs and fire dept get there quickly. Who was the person in the other car?

[fluffysmom]

I wonder if this experience will bond Gabi and JJ. It's lucky that JJ was there to help.

Poor Chloe. Brady's actions may have killed her and her baby along with the other driver. She never should have gotten in the car with Brady when he's high and drunk. I sure hope Daniel isn't too worn out from working multiple shifts. Someone is likely to need a good surgeon tonight.

I wonder who is in the other car.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 234
 
Scenes from the next 24 hours
 
Maggie’s house on Chestnut Street, 10 p.m.
 
Maggie and Melanie were seated at the kitchen table in Maggie’s Chestnut Street house. Melanie flipped her phone over and over in her hand. “Why isn’t he calling me back?”
 
“Something must have come up,” Maggie responded.
 
“I left three messages. This isn’t like him, Maggie.”
 
“You told me he seemed a little off lately.”
 
“Ya. Blowing me off is out of character,” Melanie pouted. “Maybe he got a better offer.”
 
“Not possible.”
 
“He was supposed to be here two hours ago.”
 
“Something probably came up. I’m sure you’ll hear from him in the morning, honey.”
 
“I’m worried.”
 
“I’m a little worried too,” Maggie admitted. “I know…Why don’t we play a game of Boggle to take our minds off of Brady.”
 
“Thanks, but I don’t really feel like it. I think I’ll just go to bed.”
 
“Sweet dreams, my love.”

***
 
Hospital, 12:30 a.m.
 
“Kayla?” In the on-call room, Sarah gently jostled Kayla, who was lying on a cot. “Kayla, you should go home and get some sleep.”
 
Kayla rolled her shoulders and sat up in the bed. “What about you?”
 
“I’m fine. I had a good nap. You’ve done three straight shifts.”
 
“So did you, but I’m too tired to argue.” Kayla stood up and her pager beeped. She checked it. “Well, I guess I’m not going home yet. A couple ambulances are bringing in three victims of a car crash. Sounds bad.”
 
“Bet you’re sorry you sent Daniel home,” Sarah commented.
 
Kayla took her cell out of her pocket. “I hate to do it, but it looks like we may need him back here.” She texted Daniel.
 
***
 
Outside Chicago, 5:00 a.m.
 
Philip yawned as he and Parker drove from Chicago toward Salem. The sun was just starting to come up, and Philip was pleased that they got out of the condo so fast this morning. They had plenty of time to get Parker to school on time.
 
Out of habit, Philip reached over to check that Parker’s seat belt was buckled. The boy was asleep in the passenger seat and Philip was a little jealous. He was going to have a hard time staying awake once he got to the office. First thing he needed to do when he got in was to confront Brady. Nicole said he was still employed by Basic Black. If that was true, Brady had some explaining to do.

If he could just get through the workday, he’d be rewarded with that sexy bubble bath Chloe promised, followed by a good night’s sleep.
 
***
 
Marlena and John’s penthouse, 7:00 a.m.
 
Coming into the breakfast nook, Marlena told John, “Brady didn’t come home again last night.”
 
“Again?”
 
“John, I really think we should get him into a rehab program.”
 
“Come on, Doc! You’ve been harping on this for months and the answer is still no.”
 
“Well, he hasn’t done anything to help himself and he won’t listen to me. I hate to say this but you need to take off your blinders.”
 
“I'm not wearing blinders,” John insisted. “I know exactly what’s going on. Hell, I’m a detective. I was ISA. I don’t need a roadmap to figure it out. But he’s been through so damn much. I can’t bear the thought of him being locked away in some sanitarium the way he was in that facility in Vienna. It’s not fair to Brady and it’s not fair to Tate.”
 
“I know, but it’s only temporary. He’ll be safer there. And Tate will be safer with him there.”

***
  
Salem Academy, 8:00 a.m.
 
Philip walked Parker into his classroom, he was immediately greeted by Abby. “Philip Kiriakis!”
 
She extended her hand and Philip shook it in a very professional manner. “My son Parker here is ready for his first day of school.”
 
She looked at a chart on her tablet. “Okay Parker. You’re in the third row, third seat from the front. Can you count, honey?”
 
“Uh huh.”
 
“Parker?” Abby spoke gently. “We don’t say 'uh huh' here. We say ‘yes,’ okay?”
 
Parker looked up at his father who nodded at him. Parker started to turn around, and Philip stopped him. “One second, Parker.” Philip crouched down and hugged Parker. “Have a good day and mind your teachers, kiddo. Mommy will pick you up at the end of your school day.”
 
“Bye daddy.” Parker ran to his seat and the boy in the chair next to him immediately began chatting with him.
 
***
  
Titan offices, 8:30 a.m.
 
Marie stopped Philip as soon as he got near her desk. “Philip, Dr. Johnson has been trying to reach you.”
 
“Who?”
 
“Dr. Kayla Johnson.” Marie handed him the message. “She called five times already. She wants you to call her back immediately.”
 
“Five times?” He looked at Kayla’s message as he walked into his office. He took his phone out of his pocket and was surprised to see it was on Do Not Disturb. “That’s weird. I guess that’s why I haven’t gotten any calls since last night.” He changed the setting on his iPhone and dialed Kayla.

Her voice came through the phone. “Philip! Where’ve you been? I’ve been trying to reach you for hours.”
 
“You got me now. What’s up?”
 
“I need you to come to the hospital immediately. There’s been an accident.”
 
Philip’s gut twisted. “Parker?”
 
“No. It’s Chloe.”

***
 
Salem Academy, 4:00 p.m.
 
Parker laid his head on his folded arms and cried. “Mommy forgot about me. She was 'aposed to come get me an hour ago. She left me here alone.”
 
Abigail rubbed his back. “I’m sure she didn’t forget about you, Parker.” She looked up the parents’ contact information on her laptop, then she took out her phone and tried calling Chloe’s cell. “Voicemail,” she mumbled. She was about to leave a message when the outgoing recording announced, “This mailbox is full. Please try again later.”

[heroicmuse]

This is all so tense.

My bad feeling that the other driver was Daniel is twice as bad now.

[André DiMera]

It’s understandable that Melanie’s worried. Brady won’t be getting back to her, though, at least not soon.

Sounds like the hospital’s busy.

Philip confronting Brady will have to wait.

At least Marlena wants Brady to go to rehab. A little late for that, though.

I hope Parker has a good day at school.

Thank goodness Kayla finally got through to Philip.

Chloe certainly didn’t forget Parker.

[krw627]

So if Daniel was tired and Brady caused Chloe to swerve, who actually caused the accident? Assuming it is Daniel in the other car.

[fluffysmom]

I'm very worried about what's happening at the hospital. It's good that Kayla got ahold of Philip's secretary.

Poor Parker. Abby should have started calling his emergency contacts by now.

[mae00]

I love Boggle!!!!

So John has been the hold up on getting Brady some help.

Oh no! Poor Parker. Why is Abby only calling Chloe? She should have been going down the contact list by now.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 235a
 
Hospital, 12:30 a.m.
 
“Kayla?” In the on-call room, Sarah gently jostled Kayla. “Kayla, you should go home and get some sleep.”
 
Kayla rolled her shoulders and sat up in the bed. “What about you?”
 
“I’m fine,” Sarah claimed. “I had a good nap. You’ve done three straight shifts.”
 
“So did you, but I’m too tired to argue.” Kayla stood up and her pager beeped. She checked it. “Well, I guess I’m not going home yet. A couple ambulances are bringing in three victims of a car crash. Sounds bad.”
 
“Bet you’re sorry you sent Daniel home,” Sarah commented.
 
Kayla took her cell out of her pocket. “I hate to do it, but it looks like we may need him back here.” She texted Daniel and closed her phone.
 
Dr. Johnson. Come to the ER stat. Dr. Johnson to the ER.
 
When Sarah and Kayla arrived in the ER, the Emergency Room doctors were performing triage on Chloe and Brady. Kayla approached the doctor. “What’s the situation?”
 
“She’s got an intracranial hematoma. We need to get her into surgery immediately. I called upstairs and they’re coming to get her.”
 
“Oh my god. It’s Chloe Kiriakis.”
 
“You know her,” the triage doctor asked.
 
“I do,” Kayla said. “I was just at her house for a party on Saturday.”
 
“Well, the guy’s got a few broken ribs and a separated shoulder. There’s also a fatality.” He motioned to a gurney where a body was lying with a sheet over it. “We’re waiting on the morgue to pick up the body.”
 
Kayla turned in the direction the other doctor had pointed. “Since there was a fatality, the police are going to be involved,” Kayla stated. She watched Sarah checking out the body.
 
Sarah lifted the sheet and quickly jumped back. “No. It can’t be. It can’t be. Oh my god.” She lost her footing and sank to the ground.
 
“Sarah!” Kayla called out. She crouched down next to Sarah. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
 
Sarah looked up at Kayla and struggled to speak between sobs. “It’s … It’s … Oh my god, Kayla. It’s Daniel.”
 
 
***

Nicole and Daniel’s apartment, 6:00 a.m.
 
The alarm app on Nicole’s phone went off at 6 a.m. on Monday morning.  She woke up and turned off the ringer. “Daniel?” She was surprised to find herself in bed alone. She threw back the covers and got out of bed. “Daniel?” She walked around the apartment calling his name, but Daniel was nowhere to be found. “You messaged me saying you were coming home,” she muttered to herself. “That was hours ago.” She grabbed her phone and texted him. “Where are you?” She decided to stop at the hospital to check on him on her way to work.
 

[heroicmuse]

Noooo! I knew it but i hate that it was Daniel.