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Date Posted: 19:45:50 03/05/01 Mon
Author: Andrea E
Subject: Repost: Another Second Chance--Parts 1-7

Another Second Chance-Part 1

"...so Marlena was hoping to get all those extra plans taken care of for Belle's birthday party, and she asked if you
could help out."

"Um, sure," Carrie mumbled distractedly, staring blankly out amongst the rest of the couples occupying the dance
floor.

John looked down at Carrie, noticing her far off expression. "And, of course, I'm sure she's going to invite both the
Hortons and the Bradys."

"Uh huh..."

John's lips curved in a knowing smile."And I'll bet Mike would try to stop by if he could."

Carrie snapped out of her reverie, her eyes staring blankly up at him. "I'm sorry, John, what did you say?"

John shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh, I was just saying you missed the UFO the just landed in the middle of the dance
floor. Had the little green men comin' out of it and everything..." Carrie smiled and blushed. "There, that's better." John
returned the smile. "I've been waiting to see that pretty smile of yours again."

"I'm sorry, John. I guess I've just had a lot on my mind lately."

John nodded understandingly. "I'd believe it."

He paused, sighing. "Carrie, I know you feel guilty for what happened between you and Austin, but don't you think
you've beat yourself up enough already?" He shook his head. "Punkin, take it from somebody who's been there. I
know that when it all first comes out, you feel as though things will never be right again. You're sure there's nothing
that will ever ease the hurt and guilt."

Carrie stared at John's shoulder, her eyes full of regret. "I've hurt so many people, John. I can't take that back."

"You also can't change the truth, Carrie." He paused, looking deeply into her eyes. " You love Mike, don't you?"

Carrie swallowed hard, dropping her eyes for a moment before they came back to John's. "Yes."

"You can't change what your heart decides, Carrie, no matter how much you want to. Believe me, I tried. But then
you finally figure out the only way you're ever going to be happy is to listen to what it's telling you- and follow it." The
music stopped, and John kissed Carrie's hand before giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You deserve to be happy,
Carrie, you really do. Don't push away your best chance at it."

Carrie smile and leaned up on her toes, kissing John's cheek. "Thank you."

John gave Carrie's hand one last squeeze and backed off the dance floor. Carrie turned to go, stopping short as she
found herself staring up into a pair of achingly familiar blue eyes. They both froze to the spot, unable to move.

~Did you ever love somebody, so much that the earth moved...~

Carrie looked away, trying to make a quick escape. Mike could feel her tense, and grabbed her hand before she got
more than a step away. "Wait..."

~...did you ever love somebody-even though it hurt to?~

Carrie stilled, staring at his chest as he moved closer. She felt his breath stir her hair, his lips almost brushing her
forehead. Carrie's eyes closed in desperation, a gentle warmth spreading through her.

"Dance with me, Carrie," he whispered. His fingertips touched her shoulder, trailing slowly down her arm. Carrie
shivered involuntarily. "Please."

~Did you ever love somebody, nothing else your heart could do...~

Carrie's fingers slid into his palm as she took a small step closer. Mike turned his hand, threading their fingers
together, clasping her hand tightly and laying it against his heart. Carrie swallowed hard, her eyes drifting shut. They
shouldn't be doing this, she knew it, but her brain shut out everything, everybody else as his arm slid around her, a
gentle sigh escaping her at his touch.

Her hand hovered hesitantly over his shoulder for a moment, unsure. Mike's arm tightened around her, and Carrie
gave into temptation. Her hand curved around his arm, her fingers digging into his jacket as she let her head rest
against his shoulder. She could do this, no more. She couldn't look into his eyes...she couldn't...

~Have you ever laid your head down on the shoulder of a good friend, and then had to look away somehow;
had to hide the way you felt for them?~

Mike's cheek rested against her hair, his eyes closing as he breathed her in. He felt Carrie's hand tighten on his
shoulder, and his arm automatically tightened around her, his breath escaping him in a slow rush as their bodies
connected. "Carrie..."

Carrie leaned back in his arms, her eyes moving slowly up to his. She breathed deeply, her lips parting as she stared
up at him.

~ Did you ever love somebody, so much that the earth moved; did you ever love somebody, even though it
hurt to? Did you ever love somebody, nothin' else your heart could do...~

She couldn't breathe. Her breath froze in her throat as their eyes locked, her heart beginnging to race.

~did you ever love somebody-like I love you?~

They stopped swaying as Mike's eyes fell to her lips, and Carrie's hand automatically slid around the back of his neck
as he leaned closer.

~like I love you.....~

Carrie's eyes dropped away from his lips. "I can't do this." She pulled herself from his arms, nearly running out the
front doors as she felt the tears begin to sting at her eyes.

Carrie's head fell back, the air escaping her lungs as she stared up into the scattered brilliance above her. She
wrapped her arms around herself, hugging herself tightly as the tears began to fall.

Carrie heard the door open behind her, but didn't need to turn to see who it was. "Carrie..."

She turned to face him, staring at him steadily. Their eyes met, and neither could look away. She walked swiftly into
his arms, melting against him as their lips met in a heated kiss. They pulled each other into the shadows, their arms
closing tightly around each other.

*************************************************

Carrie awkwardly shoved the door shut as she and Mike stumbled back into the wall. She released him only long
enough to shove his jacket off his shoulders, her arms twining around his neck as it fell to the floor.

Her eyelids went heavy as his lips trailed down her neck. "I'll stop if you ask me to," he whispered raggedly, his eyes
moving back up to hers, "But, dear God, don't ask me to."

She leaned up, answering him with a slow kiss. An unstiflable groan tore from Mike's chest as he lifted her off her
feet, crushing her against him.

*************************************************

He gazed down at her, his heart twisting as he leaned down, gently brushing the hair back from her forehead. His eyes
squeezed shut as he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, feathering a kiss across her lips. He straightened, his hand
hesitating as he laid the note on the pillow next to her. He walked to the door, turning to look at her one last time.

~...did you ever love somebody, nothin' else your heart could do...~

He turned quickly, closing the door silently behind him.

*************************************************

Carrie felt the warm sunlight touch her shoulders. She turned on to her back sleepily, her hand brushing across the
pillow beside her. Puzzled, her eyes opened to find the note. She reached over, picking it up and unfolding it carefully.


Carrie-
We both knew this was coming, but I don't think either of us wanted to admit it. I realized that you weren't the
only one who couldn't think straight after what happened. I'd been given a little glimpse of perfect happiness
that night we were together in Vegas, and I wanted to hold onto it so much that my heart wouldn't let me let
you go. I now realize that you need some time, and that you deserve to give yourself a chance to think without
me there to try to pressure you to make a decision.

Letting go of you is the most difficult thing I've ever done, but I want your happiness more than anything, so I
know that I've got to. I love you more than you'll ever know, Carrie, and I always will.

All My Love Forever,
Mike

The tears brimming her eyes splashed out across her cheeks as she squeezed her eyes shut, clutching the note against
her heart. Her gaze went to the pillow beside her, her hand running over it, her her fingers tightening.

~Did you ever love somebody, so much that the earth moved, did you ever love somebody, even though it hurt
to...~

She curled into a ball, burying her face into the pillow, the soft remnants of his scent whispering to her senses.
Anguished sobs claimed her as heartbroken tears streaked the pillow.

~...did you ever love somebody, like I love you...~

End Part 1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another Second Chance-Part 2

Mike fell back on the bed, pulling Carrie down with him. He kissed her with a tormenting slowness as he
rolled her onto her back, trailing a few soft kisses against her neck.

Carrie opened her eyes, staring up into his. He cradled her face in his hands as she reached up, trembling
fingers trailing over his jaw.

~I've memorized your face, I know your touch by heart...~

A soft moan escaped Carrie as Mike's lips devoured hers once again. Mike held her so tight it was hard to
breathe, but she didn't care. Don't let go, she thought as she clutched at his shoulders. Don't ever let go.

~still lost in your embrace, I dream of where you are...~

Afterward, Carrie lay awake, watching him sleep beside her. She softly stroked his cheek, afraid to close her
eyes.

~If I could hold you one more time,
like in the days when you were mine,
I look at you 'til I was blind, so you would stay...~

A soft smile touched Mike's lips at her touch, and Carrie felt one drift across her own as she brushed her
fingertips across his lips. She rolled over, her eyes closing in a gentle peace as his arms closed tightly around
her. She kissed his shoulder, tucking her head in under his chin.

~I'd say a prayer each time you smiled, cradle the moments like a child....~

"Remember when I told you being with you made me feel like I'd come home?" she whispered. "That was
because I had." Mike slept on, his arms tightening around her as she moved closer, her arms sliding around
him. "I'll never let go, Mike," she whispered. "I swear. Not ever again."

~...I'd stop the world if only I could hold you one more time...~

Carrie swallowed painfully, her heart twisting into knots. She tore her gaze from the bed, leaning her head back
weakly against the doorframe. "How, Mike?" she whispered brokenly. "How can something that happened almost a
year ago still feel like it happened last night?" She tried to shake herself free of the memory of that night, but it
wouldn't leave. The sobs she had been fighting since that morning finally claimed her, and her back slid slowly down
the wall as she crumpled to the floor, tears streaming freely down her cheeks, trying to drown his face from her
memory for the millionth time.

~..one more time.....~

*************************************************

Carrie's head tilted back as she took in a deep breath of night air, then blinked up at the haze of stars scattered over
the inky blackness above her. The stars had been brilliant like this that night....

She gave herself a shake, squeezing her eyes shut. "I need to get out of here," she whispered aloud to herself. Her
heels scuffed along the wood of the docks as she turned to leave.

"Whoa, hang on there, darlin'! Where are you in such a rush to get to?" Carrie froze for a second, then backed up a
few steps from the darkly clad man before her, his face shadowed. He made her uneasy immediately, his voice
sending an eerie chill up her spine. "Why don't you stay and keep me company for a while?"

"Sorry, I have to get going." Carrie tried to move around him, but he grabbed her arm.

"Oh, no, honey, I don't think you understand...I really would like you to stay, and whatever cash you got on you
would be nice, too."

Carrie tried to wrench free from him, but his hold on her arm was like iron. She struggled for a long moment, finally
reaching her free hand up and scratching three long lines across his cheek.

His hand slammed across her face, and he flung her across the dock, her head banging against the wood as she
landed with a thud.

Through the blinding pain, she waited helplessly for him to come at her again-but he didn't. Carrie opened her eyes
slowly, seeing two men struggling a few feet away. One was her attacker, that she could tell, but the other.....

One of the men toppled backward, falling hard in an awkward heap before scrambling to his feet and disappearing
into the darkness.

Carrie's vision began to waver and blur as she saw the other man heading toward her. "No, please...." she whimpered
feebly, her head spinning.

"No, no, shh...it's okay, I won't hurt you..it's okay.."

The swirling blackness finally enveloped Carrie as she felt herself being lifted by a strong pair of arms. She went limp,
her head lolling against his shoulder.

End Part 2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another Second Chance-Part 3

Carrie forced her eyes open, then squinted as the glaring light attacked her eyes, making her head throb. She turned
her head to find a tall, young man standing at her beside.

"Well, hello. I didn't know if you'd be joining us anyime soon or not, but I'm glad to see that you have. I'm Dr.
Mason." He quickly scanned the chart in his hand. "It says here you were attacked down on the pier and hit your
head...."

The memory crept slowly back to Carrie. "Yes, he tried to rob me, and....wait!" Carrie struggled to sit up. "There was
somebody else there...he came to my rescue..." The room suddenly began to swim, and the throbbing in her head
began to increase.

Dr. Mason quickly reached out, taking Carrie by the shoulders and gently but firmly pushing her back against the
pillows. "Whoa, easy. You took quite a blow to the head, remember? Fast movements like that aren't such a hot
idea."

"But the man," Carrie persisted, her fingers gingerly touching the lump at the back of her head. "Did you see him? I
mean, do you know where he is?"

Dr. Mason shook his head. "He sort of disappeared right after he carried you in."

Carrie allowed a small flicker of hope. Maybe, somehow, by some sort of miracle.... "Did you talk to him at all? Can
you remember what he looks like?"

Dr. Mason held up a hand. "I'm sorry, but even if I had gotten a good look at the guy, I probably wouldn't know him.
I just came to town about six months ago. I'm sorry." Carrie's hope died, and she leaned back defeatedly against the
pillows. "I'll be back to check on you later. I have some other rounds to do, so why don't you try and get some rest,
okay?"

Carrie nodded numbly as he left. Of course it wasn't him, she berated herself. "This is ridiculous," she said to the
empty, white room around her. "How could it have possibly been him?"

*************************************************

Carrie stirred slightly, feeling the golden glow of the early morning sun coming through the window. She moved her
right hand to pull the blankets up around her. Her fingertips slid over a broad palm, the skin slightly rough. Puzzled,
Carrie turned her head--and froze.

His tall, elegant frame was crumpled stiffly into the chair beside her bed, his chin resting against his shoulder in an
uneasy sleep. Golden stubble shadowed his face, a loose lock of hair straying over his forehead.

Carrie stared at his sleeping form in stunned belief. She opened her mouth to speak, then hesitated, afraid he would
vanish. "Mike?"

He stirred, restlessly readjusting in the stiff chair. He blinked heavily, sleepy, brilliant blue eyes opening to meet her
gaze. He bolted upright in his chair, his eyes filled with concern as he leaned forward squeezing her hand tightly.
"Carrie?"

"Oh my God..." Tears of disbelief and joy clouded her eyes as she reached for him. "Oh, my God..."

Mike sat down beside her on the bed, taking her into his arms, resting his cheek against her hair. "I missed you," he
whispered.

End Part 3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another Second Chance-Part 4

Carrie watched Mike intently through her window as he conferred with Dr. Mason in the hallway, a soft smile tugging
at the corner of her mouth. Her smile faded as she let her eyes fall closed. "Dear God, if this is a dream, please don't
ever let me wake up."

A gentle hand trailed over her temple, cradling her face. Carrie's smile returned as she laid her hand over his, running
her fingers over the back of his hand. She opened her eyes, and her heart ached with tenderness in the answering
smile on Mike's lips. "Ready to go?"

Carrie's smile widened, and she nodded, sliding off the edge of the bed. She slid her hand into his, threading their
fingers together before looking back up into his eyes. "Let's go."

*************************************************

Carrie led Mike down the hallway to her new apartment. She shoved her key into the lock and popped the door
open. "You'll have to excuse the mess, I'm just getting things moved in..." she paused and flicked on the lights before
tossing her keys onto the side table, giving her coat a careless toss over the back of the couch. "We've managed to
get all the furniture and most of the other boxes in here, but there's still all that little stuff y'know, all that extra little
junk, that..."

"Carrie?"

Carrie turned to look at him. Mike moved slowly toward her, lifting his hands in a frustrated, unexpressable emotion,
then letting them fall to his sides as he let out a deep sigh. "Can I just hold you? Please?"

Carrie's eyes softened as she closed the gap between them. She walked into Mike's arms, letting out a deep breath.
Mike cradled her against him as he rocked back and forth, resting his cheek against her hair. Mike let out a deep sigh,
letting all the apprehension, pain and regret that had separated them to flow out with that breath. In its place, he let
himself feel something that he hadn't given himself the chance to feel over all those months they'd been apart. Once
again, he felt...at peace.

*************************************************
Carrie cuddled deeper into Mike's chest, closing her eyes with a small sigh of contentment as Mike's hand stroked
over her hair. She tipped her chin up, gazing up into his eyes. "I missed this-being with you, alone like this," she said
simply.

Mike smiled softly. "Me too." He brushed a gentle kiss to her forehead, and Carrie's eyes fell closed again at the
touch.

Carrie's nose twitched, and Mike smiled knowingly as her face scrunched into an unstiflable yawn. "I think I should
we should get you to bed. I probably should head out anyway, and you need some rest. You've had quite a day."

Carrie bit her lip, and her eyes flicked up to his. "Do you have to go? There's so much left that we need to talk
about...."

Mike ran his hand over her arm reassuringly. "Don't worry. I'll be back first thing in the morning, and we can talk
about everything then. Besides, we have all the time in the world now, Carrie. We don't have to rush it." His smile
faded as he rose reluctantly. "But... my mother and Jen found out from the hospital I was back in town, and are
waiting at home to see me, and if I don't leave now, they're going to send out a search party for me."

Carrie smiled. "Looks like a peaceful homecoming's out of the question then, huh?"

Mike laughed and shook his head. "One of the many joys of being a Horton, I guess."

Carrie sat up. "I guess I should let you get going and get myself to bed." She stood quickly, then starting rocking as
the room shifted slightly. Mike's arms shot out immediately, supporting her. Carrie let out a little laugh as the room
stilled. "Whoops, that wasn't too smart, huh? Dr. Mason warned me about any..."

"Sudden movements, yeah, I know." Mike gave her a quick grin. "Here, put your arms around my neck..."

Carrie attempted to shake her head."Oh, no, Mike you don't have to..." Mike silenced her as he scooped her up
effortlessly into his arms. Carrie quickly slid her arms around Mike's neck, shyly lifting her eyes to his as she felt a mild
blush creep across her cheeks.

Mike silently carried her into the bedroom, carefully leaning over to set her on the bed. The motion slightly upset
Carrie's balance, and she let out a little gasp, grabbing onto Mike's arms for support. His palms flattened automatically
on the bed on either side of her, her unexpected movement throwing him off balance. They froze, staring straight into
each other's eyes, their faces inches apart. Mike's eyes sparked, falling to Carrie's lips as he slowly leaned closer.

Carrie felt her heart slam into her ribs, and she swallowed hard as Mike inched closer. At the last possible second,
Mike moved up, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. Carrie let out a deep sigh, her hands sliding down his arms as
she let her eyes fall closed. He pulled away, and Carrie's eyes fluttered open as Mike trailed a finger across her
cheek. He let out a deep sigh as he straightened. "Good night, Carrie."

Carrie gave him a soft smile. "Good night." With that, Mike turned and left. Carrie fell weakly back against the pillows
and stared up at the ceiling, letting herself drift back to that night in Vegas...

"Carrie." Mike stared down at her, a slight glimmer of surprise in his eyes. He leaned slightly against the
doorframe. "Why'd you come to my room?"

"The same reason you came to mine." Carrie leaned up on her toes, wrapping her arms around him, her hand
sliding through his hair as she kissed him. She pulled back, looking up into his eyes expectantly.

An answering spark instantly flared to life.
"You realize, of course...I'm not going to let you leave here..." his voice was a low whisper, pulling her in with
the slow heat building in his eyes.

"I don't want to," she answered softly. "I couldn't stand another moment away from you, Mike. Make love to
me." She leaned up to him again. "Please, make love to me..."

Mike offered no hesitation as she kissed him again. He took her hand, leading her into his room, wordlessly
closing the door behind him. Carrie vaulted herself into Mike's waiting arms, running her hands over his
shoulders and across his back, pulling him closer.

Mike only broke their kiss long enough to scoop Carrie up in his arms, and Carrie wound her arms around
Mike's neck as he carried her into the room.

Carrie let out a deep breath, shutting her eyes. "It all seems so long ago, Mike. So long..." She sighed softly, her eyes
going sad as she wrapped her arms around her pillow, resting her cheek against it. "There's so much you need to
know..." Another, more painful memory assaulted her, and she squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back the tears as it
ripped at her heart. Carrie's eyes opened wearily, now full of long hidden pain as she stared off into the blackness
around her. "But how do I tell you, Mike... how?"

End Part 4

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another Second Chance-Part 5


"So, will Carrie be okay?"

Mike nodded at a very concerned looking Jen, setting down his coffee cup in front of him. "The doctor said except
for some bumps and bruises and a pretty good sized bump on the back of her head, she should be fine."

Jen let out a sigh of relief and smiled. "Thank God you were there, Mike." Mike smiled distractedly, staring down at
the table in front of him. Jen's smile faded as she took in Mike's worried expression. "Is something else bothering you,
Mike?"

"No, I just..." Mike shook his head slightly, his eyebrows furrowed in concern. He hesitated for a moment. "It's
Carrie, actually."

Jen looked puzzledly at Mike. "What? Did she say something that worried you?"

"No, it's not that, it's just..." he let out a deep sigh. "It's just that she seemed...different, somehow."

Jen shook her head, not understanding. "Different? How so?"

"I'm not sure, exactly. It's just she seemed...older. Not physically, but her eyes...it was like she had been through
something that had... I don't know...broken her in some way." He shook his head, looking up at Jen. "Jen, do you
know what happened with Carrie while I was away? Did Austin make the divorce tough for her?"

Jen's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "You mean you didn't know?"

"Know what?"

"Carrie left town about a month or so after you left. She just took off without telling anybody where she was going."

"Do you know why?"

Jen shook her head. "Nobody knows. They just thought that the divorce and everything else was getting to be too
much for her, and she needed some time alone."

Mike chewed his lip thoughtfully for a moment before sliding his chair back and grabbing his coat. "Something's not
right, Jen. Something happened to her while she was away, and I need to find out what."

*************************************************

Carrie slid the box inside her doorway, leaving her apartment door open to let some air circulate. She'd created a dust
cloud clearing out some of the drapes in the spare room, and it had created a thick haze that now clouded over the
entire apartment.

Carrie headed over to the living room window, swinging apart the thick drapes with a swish, sending out a thick cloud
of dust into her face. She coughed and sputtered, laughing as she dusted herself off. "Geez, don't these people know
the meaning of dusting?" She slid open the window, and some of the notes she'd taken from work laying on her desk
caught in the breeze, drifting with a soft crackle towards the window. Carrie reached out quickly, grabbing the few
that attempted escape. She shook her head and grabbed the rest of the pages, sliding open a drawer on her desk to
shove them into.

Carrie's hand stilled over top of the drawer as a photo nestled among some papers caught her eye. The notes
dropped into the drawer, forgotten, as she picked up the picture, her eyes glued to it as she shoved the drawer
closed. She slowly lowered herself to the couch, staring down at the picture. Her fingers shook as she lovingly traced
them over the well-worn image. The same memories ripped at her heart again, and Carrie squeezed her eyes shut,
holding the picture to her heart as she vainly fought her tears.

"Carrie?"

Carrie's heart jumped into her throat, her hair spinning over her shoulder as her eyes flew to Mike's. The picture fell to
the cushion beside her as she rose, a shaky smile on her lips. "Hey, you." Her voice was unsteady as she quickly
threw her arms around a concerned looking Mike to hide her tears. "I didn't expect you 'til later." She hugged him
tightly, then just as suddenly released him. "I'm sorry," she said, trying to make her voice sound light as she turned
away from him and took a few steps across the room, wiping at her tears. "Your mom and Jen probably did enough
of this already to last you a lifetime..."

Mike watched her with worried eyes."Carrie, what is it? What's wrong?"

Carrie attempted to dispell his worry with a wave of her hand. "Don't worry, Mike. I'm fine, really. It' just all this dust
in here..."

(Continued)

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