Stolen Moments (Read 15,824 times)

[fluffysmom]

Dr. Newman doesn't seem very friendly. It must be so hard for Philip to see Chloe so dazed.

[MrsM]

I wonder if there is some nefarious business going on with Chloe's transfer...

[gapeach]

I don't think I like this doctor very much.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 3


It had been years since Philip visited the Salem Public Library near the high school. The last time he was here, he was with Chloe. They were about 17 years old, sitting side-by-side studying for a history quiz. Something about Charlemagne, if Philip remembered correctly. Seemed like two thousand years ago.

Chloe had her head in her textbook, glasses firmly on her nose, hair pulled into a tight ponytail, wearing an oversized Salem High tee-shirt and faded blue jeans. Whether she was wearing a strapless red prom dress or a burlap sack didn’t matter to Philip. She looked beautiful no matter what. She bewitched him, and all he wanted to do was to be near her, within touching distance, drinking her in. He was afraid she was just a mirage that would disappear if he blinked. Leaning on the table with his cheek propped against his palm, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

“Staring,” she said, without looking up from her book. “I can feel your eyes boring a hole through my head.”

“Can’t help it,” he chuckled. “I’d rather study you than Charlemagne.”

Chloe tilted her head to look at him, the most charming little smile adorning her lips. “Well, Kiriakis, don’t blame me when you flunk your history test.”

“Ask me if I care,” he said, running his hand over her hair and pulling her into a kiss.

It was true, he didn’t care about anything but Chloe back then. He was totally immersed in her and that’s what made it impossible for him to get over her -- probably the reason he never did. To this day, he cared more about Chloe than anything else in the world, except Parker. Parker added a new dimension to his life, but Parker was an extension of Chloe. In Philip’s mind, they were a package deal, which is why, when he lost Parker, he felt like he lost Chloe too, and losing them both became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Now he knew better. It wasn’t all or nothing. And even if it turned out he wasn’t Parker’s biological father, he was still determined to build a family with both Chloe and Parker. George, the grocery store manager said it best. “Even if you’re not the kid’s bio dad, you can still have a place in his life. And if you love Chloe, you should be with her.”

As he surveyed the library, he was struck by how different it looked than he remembered. Fewer shelves with books, more electronic devices; comfortable chairs replaced the hard wooden ones from the turn of the 20th Century. His family donated quite a bit to the library foundation over the years. May as well get some value for the money.

He sat down at a vacant computer terminal and started to get serious. He wanted to find some locations on the outskirts of town where he could get a paternity test done without anyone knowing. He didn’t want to use any of his own computer devices to do the research because he no longer trusted his information security. And, unlike the pub or the square, it was a good bet he wouldn’t run into anyone he knew at the library. This was not as popular a hotspot. No coffee or beer served here.

Hmmm, here’s something interesting, he thought as he searched for information online. Home paternity test kits. There were lots of them. Lots of brands available for purchase at any pharmacy. Philip kept reading and he liked what he was learning. Doing the test himself in the privacy of his own four walls was very appealing. He wouldn’t have to lug Parker around with him. Just follow the instructions and get a swab of his own DNA and the boy’s.

Ah, but here was the downside. The samples would need to be sent to a lab for evaluation, and the lab would send the results to Philip. He didn’t like the thought of sending the samples to a lab. Too easy to alter them.

Philip noted that some of the labs offered online results. His wheels were turning. If Philip bought multiple test kits and set up accounts under fake names, surely he could get a valid test result or two.

Philip hit print and retrieved a copy of the list of test kit brand names from the library’s printer. He was folding it up when he bumped into someone he knew.

“Philip!”

Philip looked up. “Oh. Hi Jennifer. Sorry, didn’t see you.”

“What are you doing here,” Jennifer asked a question that was none of her business.

This woman was Daniel’s ex-girlfriend or maybe current girlfriend, Philip wasn’t sure. But he knew he needed to be very careful how he answered her. Philip held up his iPhone. “Came in hoping for a better wifi connection. What about you?”

“Oh just trying to figure out the next few books for our book club meetings. Say, how’s Chloe doing? I heard she was transfered to a mental institution.”

“It’s not an institution,” Philip snapped. “It’s a retreat. And if you want to know about Chloe, ask Daniel. He has more access to her than I do.” For whatever reason, Philip didn’t much like Jennifer, and he hoped his little barb bit her in the butt.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to pick at an open sore,” Jennifer said.

“Are you and Daniel back together,” Philip lobbed back.

“Um, yes. And no. I mean, now and then.” Jennifer seemed to be struggling for an answer. “It’s more complicated than you think.”

Philip laughed sardonically. “Isn’t it always?”

“It’s just that my son JJ is back from boarding school and he’s having a hard time readjusting to life without Jack. He can’t accept me having a new man in my life, so I’m trying to give JJ my full attention.”

Philip wondered what she would have said if he asked a really personal question. Time to get out of here before he had to listen to the rest of Jennifer’s life story. Lucas might have to be civil to his sister, but Philip had no such obligation. “He should serve a stint in the military,” Philip brusquely suggested.

“Are you serious?” Jennifer seemed insulted at the suggestion.

“Worked for me. ... Well, it was nice running into you Jennifer. Take care.”

“Wait,” she said, “Where are you going?”

Philip pretended not to hear the question and kept on walking toward the exit.

[gapeach]

Jennifer is still butting in to everyone's business.

[MrsM]

Can't say that I blame Philip for not liking Jennifer...

[jc20886]

Philip has a lot to deal with in the days ahead' hope he does not get into any trouble
with the paternity test and glad he didn't answer Jennifer

[fluffysmom]

The flashback was so good. I really liked Philip's memory at the library. Loved Philip being bewitched by Chloe.

I'm glad Philip found the DNA test info.

[djm]

LOL at doing the multiple tests in hopes of getting a valid result or two.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 4


Philip returned to the mansion and, as he walked into the living room, his stomach turned. Daniel was on the sofa with Parker on his lap; they were playing with some toy trains and laughing.

Philip thought about the special times he spent with Parker in Chicago and the laughter they shared as father and son. Parker was such an amazing little boy with such a happy disposition. He and Chloe were so lucky ... or were they? Was Daniel actually the lucky one? Damn EJ for playing God with their lives like this.

Right now, Philip was leaning toward believing that he was really Parker’s father -- it was what he desperately wanted to believe -- and that meant Daniel had no right to be sitting in his seat.

Daniel looked up when he saw Philip. Parker wriggled off Daniel’s lap and ran toward Philip. “Daddy!”

Philip crouched down and opened his arms to Parker. The little boy hugged Philip’s neck. Parker knew his real daddy, and wasn’t that the true test, after all?

“Hey big guy. What are you and Daniel doing?”

“Daddy,” Daniel said, getting up off the couch. “When you talk about me to Parker, I’m ‘Daddy,’ not ‘Daniel.’ Is that understood?”

Philip leered at Daniel as he rose to his feet lifting Parker in his arms. He kissed the boy’s forehead and tried to maintain a calm demeanor. “Yeah, I get that,” Philip said. “What are you doing here?”

“Me? I was going to ask you the same thing, Philip. Why aren’t you back in Chicago where you belong,” Daniel asked with obvious animosity.

“As long as Chloe and Parker are here, this is where I belong.”

Daniel raised an eyebrow and pulled Parker out of Philip’s arms. “Parker isn’t your responsibility anymore, in case you’ve forgotten. As for Chloe, she’s being well cared for without your help.”

“How do you know? Have you seen her?”

“She’s only been at The Oaks a day and a half, Philip,” Daniel said with annoyance. “Her medical team needs time to evaluate her. She doesn’t need any distractions from anyone, including me.”

“But you’re a doctor.” Philip was a bit confused. He didn’t care for Daniel, but he recognized the value of having Chloe in Dr. Jonas’s care. “I figured you were part of her medical team.”

“At University Hospital, yes. At the Oaks, no.” Daniel must have noticed the concerned look on Philip’s brow. “Don’t worry. I’ll see her, as soon as Paul clears her for Level 1 visitors, meaning medical professionals like me and her father.”

“Who’s Paul?”

“Paul. Dr. Newman. He and I go way back. We did a residency together in California. He was always pretty avante garde, always wanting to know what makes people tick. He was constantly psychoanalyzing me.”

“Did he ever figure out why you date all your patients?”

Daniel eyed Philip with disdain. “That’s it! Damn,” Daniel snapped. “You want to tell me what’s your problem, Philip? If you have something you want to say, then just say it.”

You, you're my problem, you and everything about you, Philip thought to himself but refrained from saying it out loud for Chloe and Parker’s sake. Just get along with him the best you can, he told himself. “Hard to miss the pattern,” Philip said, knowing full well he should just leave it alone. “Chelsea, my mother, Chloe, Jennifer.”

“That’s enough! Time for you to leave,” Daniel barked.

“Me?” Philip responded calmly. “I live here.”

“Since when?”

“Since 1982. I’m the son by blood, remember?”

“Well then you should know you’ll have a full house here. Parker and I are living here until Chloe gets out of the hospital. I don’t want to leave him with a nanny, so Mom offered to take care of him while I’m at work.” Daniel paused and looked pointedly at Philip. “Frankly, I think you’d be much more comfortable in a hotel.”

And that right there is why Philip wasn’t going to a hotel. Because Parker was staying here. “Well that’s half a good plan anyway,” Philip snapped.

“Huh?”

Daniel was getting on every one of Philip’s remaining nerves and Philip couldn’t hold his tongue anymore. “Leave Parker here. You can go to hell.”

“Oh you’d like that, wouldn’t you,” Daniel shouted. “It would give you the chance to kidnap my son. Wouldn’t be the first child you kidnapped, would it?”

Philip stood there with clenched fists, using all his strength to keep from punching Daniel. If Parker weren’t in the room, Daniel would be flat on his back. “Why you son of a b---.”

Parker started crying from all the yelling and Maggie came rushing into the room. “What on earth is going on in here? Philip?” She looked at Philip, then at Daniel. “Daniel?”

“Ask him,” Daniel said, indicating Philip. “Come on little man,” he said holding Parker. “We’re going upstairs for a nap.” Daniel left the room without looking at either Maggie or Philip.

“Well?” Maggie said impatiently, “Would you care to explain what all the noise was about?”

Philip never meant to make Parker cry and it killed him not to be the one to comfort the boy. He took a deep breath and counted backwards from 10. “I didn’t know Daniel was living here too. Wish Dad would have told me.”

“I see. ... Philip, Daniel is my son. He’s just as welcome in this house as you are. This is just as much his home as it is yours.” She turned and left the room.

Philip shook his head and mumbled. “Then we’re in for a bumpy ride.”

[terry]

Like what is Philip doing? Tell Daniel about the DNA test tell him that Parker is not his son and that he is yours because I would just love to see the look on Daniel's face when he finds out that Parker really is not his son after all and that he really is Philip's and then for Maggie to find out that Parker is really not her grandson but that he is really Victor's grandson after all then Kate she can be truly be Parker's grandmother again

Loved Philip suggesting to Jennifer that JJ should serve in the Marines, hey if it could work for Philip then it could definitely work for JJ

[terry]

Philip needs to speak up like honestly? The truth about Parker's paternity needs to come out the sooner the better and if and when it does happen Philip can re-claim his son Parker and change his last name from Jonas back to Kiriakis

But Philip judging from his actions I wonder if he is still in love with Chloe? Because if he is I cannot see his parents Victor and Kate being happy about that because they hate Chloe and rightfully so even though she is the mother of their grandson Parker

It would be nice to see Philip re-take control of Titan by Victor bringing Philip back into the Titan fold and Victor firing his grandson Brady, Philip's nephew from Titan considering the path Brady has been on lately

But it would be interesting to see Philip have scenes with his cousin Justin or his cousin Sonny since Philip's cousin Sonny is with Philip's nephew Will

And has Philip even met his great-niece Arianna Grace?

And for Philip I hope he also has scenes with his brother Lucas but I wonder just how awkward it will be considering Lucas is Chloe's ex but she is also Philip's ex too

Or maybe Philip could perhaps spend time with his niece Ciara and his sister-in-law Hope since his brother Bo is not around right now

[terry]

I wonder if Dr. Newman if he is really on the up and up? Or if he is a part of something entirely beyond him? Like perhaps Dr. Newman is not so honorable of a doctor in the sense that he could be working for a DAYS villain, I mean it would make sense, or if Dr. Newman is a part of a certain organ donor ring or something I don't know

[fluffysmom]

It took a lot of self control for Philip not to punch Daniel. Daniel doesn't need to be such a jerk to Philip. Victor should have warned Philip that Daniel was moving in.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 5


Chloe was pacing around her room. She’d only been at the The Oaks for two days and she was already tired of looking at the four walls. Okay so they were blue instead of white, but they were still austere, still institutional, still not home. If this was supposed to be a retreat where she could relax, it wasn’t working.

She could barely remember arriving at The Oaks and being checked in. She vaguely remembered Dr. Newman talking to her and other people waving flashlights back and forth in front of her eyes, asking her name, age, place of birth, state of residence. She guessed they were trying to determine how crazy she was on a scale of one to ten. She wondered what they decided. She wondered how long she was going to have to stay here. She wondered what her stay here would be like. And mostly she wondered about her son.

She hated the fact that he saw her fall apart in the Kiriakis dining room. That must have been so frightening for him. She sort of remembered Philip holding Parker and she was glad that he was being comforted by someone he knew and loved.

The door to her room opened and a man walked in wearing black slacks and a short sleeve button-down shirt with a muted plaid pattern. He was about 5’10, medium build, roundish face, thick wavy black hair and rimless eyeglasses framing his coffee-brown eyes.

“Hi, I’m Dr. Steve Kiley,” he said extending his hand to Chloe.

“You’re a doctor? You don’t look like one,” Chloe noted.

“Ha. Wait’ll you see me all in white.”

Chloe knit her brow.

“Sorry,” Dr. Kiley said. “That joke never goes over real big around here. ... Most of the medical personnel dress in street clothes. It seems to make the residents more comfortable.”

“Residents?”

“Patients, such as yourself.”

“Oh, I see,” Chloe said. “But how do I know who’s a doctor and who’s not?”

“Name tags,” Dr. Kiley said, pointing to the brown name plate pinned to his shirt pocket. In white letters it read “Hi, I’m Steve.” Then in smaller letters it said, “Dr. Kiley, The Oaks, Salem Heights.”

“Oh, I get it. So,” Chloe said nervously, “what now?”

“How do you feel today?”

“Why don’t you tell me?”

“Feisty, huh? I’ll have to make a note of that on your chart.”

Chloe smiled. “Sorry. To answer your question, I feel good. Actually great. I feel energetic and in a good mood, except for maybe being a little restless. Am I on medication?”

Dr. Kiley looked at Chloe’s medical chart. “Actually you’re off medication right now. That’s probably why you feel more energetic and restless. The sedation has worn off. But once we’ve completed our evaluation, we’ll likely be prescribing a new drug and we’ll monitor your progress. If that doesn’t work, we’ll try something else. Do you know why you’re here, Chloe?”

She nodded. “Dr. Newman said I have Psychogenic Epileptic something or other.”

“Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures, or PNES for short. Did he explain what it means?”

“Yes, and it all made sense. I ... when can I see my son?”

“Your son?”

“Yes, Parker. He’s only 2 and I miss him so much.”

The doctor nodded. “I understand. I’m afraid you won’t be able to see him right away, but hopefully soon.”

Chloe smiled in an effort to mask the tears that were forming. “Do you think I could at least get a few pictures of him? For the room, I mean. It would make me feel a lot better.”

“I’m sure that can be arranged. Perhaps Dr. Jonas can bring them next time he comes.”

“Daniel? Daniel was here?”

“Yes, he signed his authorization for your admission the day you were brought in. And he left some clothes for you to wear while you’re here.”

“Oh,” Chloe said, looking down at her blouse. “So that’s how my clothes got here. Did I see him? I don’t remember.”

“You’re not permitted visitors during the intake phase of your treatment. I’m sorry.”

“No visitors? I thought maybe just children weren’t allowed. Daniel’s a doctor. He should be able to visit me, shouldn’t he? ... And what about phone calls?”

“Telephone calls have to be cleared through Dr. Newman. He needs to make certain the call wouldn’t be upsetting to you.”

Chloe looked down and thought about how she and Philip yelled at each other at dinner on New Year’s Day, right before she had the seizure. Even so, she felt the need to talk to him. “I’d like to speak to Philip.”

“Philip? Is he your husband?”

“No, I’m not married, but ... I want to speak to him. It’s important.” Chloe wasn’t sure why it seemed important for her to talk to Philip but it did. She felt her anxiety level rising, but she wasn’t sure whether it was because she needed to talk to Philip, or because she needed to not speak to him, whether just thinking about him made her anxious. “Um. His name is Philip Kiriakis and his phone number is .... I ... I can’t remember his cell phone number right now. Oh my god, I’ve called it a million times. Why can’t I remember it?”

“Don’t worry, Chloe, it’s all part of the panic disorder associated with PNES. If you allow yourself to relax, it will come to you.”

“I want to speak to Philip, Dr. Kiley. Can you arrange it?”

“I’ll check with Dr. Newman when I see him. Meanwhile, you have a group therapy session to look forward to tomorrow.”

“Group therapy? No, I don’t think I want to do that. I’m a really private person and I don’t like talking about myself in public.”

“Understood. Most people feel that way at first. There’s no pressure Chloe. You don’t have to say a word until you feel comfortable.” He looked at his watch. “I have other patients to see.” He squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. “Try to relax and make yourself at home.”