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Date Posted: 19:47:12 03/05/01 Mon
Author: Andrea E
Subject: Repost: Another Second Chance--Parts 8-13

Another Second Chance- Part 8

Mike took Carrie to a small, cozy restaurant on the other side of town by the pier. Little round tables sat clustered
outside its front window. Floating candles in rose bowls sat at the center of each, emitting a golden glow as the wind
rustled at the red checked tableclothes. A cobblestone pavement led into a nearby not far from the pier.

Mike sat back in his chair, watching Carrie intently. She stared off dreamily at orange sun sinking slowly over the
water, her chin propped in her hand. A soft smile crossed her lips as the early evening winds from the pier swirled
around her, playing through the soft wisps of hair at her temples.

~It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart...without saying a word you can light up the dark...~

Carrie felt his eyes on her, and turned to look at him. "What are you staring at, Horton?" she teased softly.

Mike smiled intently. "You." He paused, his eyes softening. "I missed you."

Carrie reached across the table, laying her hand over his. "I missed you, too."

Mike turned his hand over, playing with Carrie's fingers, absently turning the ring she wore on her middle finger.
Carrie looked down at their hands, then back up into Mike's eyes, clasping his hand tightly. A smile of understanding
passed between the two, saying what neither was quite able to voice.

~Try as I may, I can never explain what I hear when you don't say a thing...~

"You know, if you want to get real techinical about it, this isn't really our 'first date'. I still remember that time you took
me out to Tuscany for my birthday. Even though we couldn't be together then, I couldn't help feeling like it was our
first 'date'."

Mike grinned. "Yeah, and you accused me of requesting our song."

"So, why don't you come to L.A. with me?" And I'm not just asking for myself, y'know." Carrie propped her
chin in her hand, watching him with barely concealed amusement. "I'm asking because I value your
professional opinion...y'know, you might be able to give me some advice to help...better serve the people
there."

Carrie nodded, lifting her eyebrows. "Gee, when you put it that way..."

Mike's shoulders shook with laughter, his eyes glowing warmly at her as his smile softened. "Come to L.A.
with me."

~How do I, get through one night without you...~

Mike laughed, putting up his hands in defense as Carrie's stunned gaze went back to him. "Mike.."

"I did not...I did not..."

"This is the song we danced to in L.A. You did this, admit it."

"Honest, I did not request this song." He glanced out at the couples moving out to the dance floor.
"But...since it's playing anyway.."

Carrie shrugged. "No point in letting it go to waste."

Mike slid his chair back. "I like your attitude." He took Carrie's hand, leading her out onto the dance floor
and taking her in his arms.

Carrie gave him a look of mock severity as they both settled back in their chairs. "I still say you had the whole thing
planned."

The first few notes of "How Do I Live" drifted out on the wind from inside the restaurant. Carrie turned her head in
the direction of the music, her mouth opening in surprise. "Mike..."

He gave her a sheepish, lopsided grin, dropping his eyes to the table, tipping his head and lifting his eyes to hers.

Carrie grinned at him knowingly. "This time I know you're guilty. That look on your face is a dead giveaway."

Mike laughed, putting up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. Guilty as charged." He flashed her a quick grin before
shoving his chair back and extending a hand to her. "Did it work?"

Carrie couldn't help the grin that stole across her face as she slid her fingers into his palm. Mike pulled her to her feet
and took her in his arms. Carrie wound her arms around his shoulders, nestling her face in against his neck.

~All day long I can hear people talkin' out loud, but when you hold me near, you drown out the crowd... try as
they may, they can never define what's been said between your heart and mine...~

They danced in silence until the song was over, neither attempting to pull away as the song ended and another began.
Carrie leaned back in his arms, and Mike's eyes flicked down to her lips. "So, Ms. Brady, do you think I'm gonna get
a kiss goodnight?"

Carrie's eyes opened wide in shock. "Absolutely not, Doctor! What kind of girl do you think I am? You should know
I never, ever kiss on the first date..." She laughed as Mike groaned and rolled his eyes, spinning her around.

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

The stars glistened overhead as they headed hand in hand down the small cobblestone path of the park. They kicked
off their shoes, walking through the wet grass.

Carrie let her head fall back as they came to a stop in front of a bench. "What a beautiful night. It has been absolutely
wonderful, Mike." She linked her arms loosely around his neck as he slid an arm around her waist. "But y'know,
there's still one thing missing."

Mike smiled, leaning closer. "What's that?"

"A waterfight."

Mike stepped back, staring down at her in complete confusion. "What?"

She grabbed his hand, pulling him toward the huge fountain at the center of the park. "You bet. No date is complete
without one." She dropped her shoes and dipped her toes in. She kicked her feet, sending the water flying in a wide
arc out in front of her. She turned back to him with grin. "C'mon, Mike." Her eyes glittered mischeiviously as she
slowly crouched closer to the water. "What's the matter, Horton? Afraid of a little water?" She scooped her hand
across the surface, a huge splash going across Mike's chest.

"Oh, you are in such deep trouble..." He hopped in as Carrie let out a little laugh dodging around the other side of the
fountain.

"Oh, no you don't..." Mike doubled back behind her, Carrie letting out a shriek as he swung her off her feet in a wide
circle. She dropped her chin, smiling down into his eyes.

~The smile on your face lets me know that you need me, there's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave
me...~

Carrie's body slid down Mike's as he set her back on her feet, their laughter slowly dying away. Mike automatically
leaned down, brushing his lips over hers. Carrie leaned up against him curving her hands around his shoulders, and
Mike deepened the kiss, cradling her face in his hands. Carrie moaned softly, sliding her arms around his neck.

~The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall....~

He pulled back a long moment later, watching her face as her eyes slowly drifted open, her lips parting with a sigh of
contentment. "I'm still not used to that."

"Used to what?"

She looked down at his lips, the corner of her mouth lifting before she drug her eyes back up to his. "The way that
feels. It's so...I don't know..."

He grinned. "You think we should try it again?"

Carrie smiled, lifting her lips to his as he leaned down to her again.

~You say it best when you say nothing at all..~

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

They reluctantly came to a stop outside Carrie's apartment door. Mike slid his arms around her waist. "So, I guess it's
time for that goodnight kiss."

"Oh, no you don't."

Mike groaned. "C'mon, Carrie, we already broke that rule anyway..."

"Nope, uh uh. It wasn't the goodnight kiss, so it doesn't count." She turned her cheek to him, tapping lightly with her
finger.

Mike's eyes sparkled as a slow grin spread across the face. Okay, Brady- time to fight fire with fire. Mike's hand
slid down over her back, his lips hovering by her ear. He pulled her body in against his, nuzzling kisses across her jaw
and cheek, slowly working his way up to her temple. Carrie swayed against him, sliding her hands up over his arms.
Mike's lips went to her forehead, brushing over the bridge of her nose. Carrie let out a shallow breath, leaning up on
her toes, willing to give in as his lips hovered over hers.

"Goodnight, Carrie." Mike released her, backing away down the hall with a teasing grin.

Carrie shook her head, letting out a huff of self-mocking laughter. She leaned against the door, watching him head
happily down the hallway. "Good night, Mike." She let out a little giggle before shoving the door open and going
inside.

End Part 8

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

Another Second Chance- Part 9

Mike knocked on Carrie's apartment door, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion at the muffled commotion
coming from inside before the door swung open to a slightly disheveled, out of breath Carrie. "Mike, hey!"

"Hey yourself." He looked around the apartment questioningly. "Everything okay? It sounded like you were waging a
war in here."

Carrie shook her head and smiled. "No, just trying to deter a small disaster from starting with dinner. Come on in and
have a seat, I should probably go check on it again."

"Did you need some help?"

"No, it's okay. I said I'd handle dinner tonight, remember? You just go ahead and relax." She gave him a quick smile
before darting back into the kitchen. "So how is everything going at the hospital?" She called over her shoulder.

"Great, actually. The board heard about that new emergency procedure I told you about-the one the teams and I used
in the bombing zones. They thought it would be a great thing for the EMT's and staff to learn, so they brought in
another one of the team heads to help train. It's only been a couple of weeks, but everybody seems to be picking it up
pretty fast..." Mike was interrupted by a loud clatter, followed by a few choice words from Carrie. Mike choked
back a laugh before coming to his feet and heading into the kitchen. "Are you sure you don't need some help?"

Carrie slammed the lid down on the saucepan as the contents bubbled threateningly at the top edge. "Nope, no
problem, no problem at all. Everything's just fine."

"Except that you're wearing part of our dinner." Carrie lifted her eyebrows, then looked down, letting out a frustrated
groan at the reddish streak across the front of her dress. Mike smiled. "Here, why don't you go get changed, and I'll
try and hold the fort down, okay?" He rolled up the sleeves of his oxford determinedly and armed himself with an
oven mitt.

Carrie giggled. "Just be careful of that saucepan in front there. I think the red sauce is posessed." She gave him one
last smile and headed into her room.

Mike turned down the burners under the two pots on the top of the stove, cautiously lifting the lid off the front pan. A
hot burst of steam curled around his wrist and Mike yelped and jumped back, the lid falling to the floor with a loud
clatter. The sauce seethed and bubbled dangerously, rolling slowly out of the pan and spewing over the sides. Mike's
hands shot out, quickly turning off all the knobs on the stove.

Carrie came running back in to find a bedraggled, red-streaked Mike. "Mike, what happened?"

"Well, you were right. That red sauce is posessed. Let's just say we went to war--and it won."

Carrie laughed, dabbing at Mike's shirt with a towel. "I'm so sorry about that. I guess I'm a little out of practice with
my gourmet cooking skills, huh?" Mike laughed along with her, grabbing another towel to help. She looked at his shirt
in dismay. "That's probably going to stain. I tell you what- why don't you give me your shirt, and I'll throw it in the
wash while you go to the bathroom and get cleaned up? I've got some extra scrubs Marlena gave me in my room. I'll
get them for you to change into."

Mike unbuttoned his shirt, and Carrie blushed slightly, shyly attempting to avert her eyes as he shrugged it off his
shoulders and laid it across her outstretched palm. Their eyes met for a brief moment, a quiet tension and longing
passing between them. Carrie cleared her throat uncomfortably. "I'll just go throw this in with my dress." He gave her
a silent nod in response, and she quickly turned and left the room.

Mike groaned, expelling a deep breath and raking both hands through his hair. "There's no need to rush..no need to
rush...." he repeated, reminding himself over again. He looked off in the direction of Carrie's room, squeezing his eyes
shut and laughing at himself. "Would somebody please remind me why there's no need to rush?"

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

Mike relaxed onto the couch with a weary sigh. He rolled his shoulders, wincing slightly and kneading his fingers at a
sore spot by his shoulderblade.

Carrie readjusted the tie on her robe, lifting her eyebrows with a smile. "You look a little stiff."

Mike chuckled softly. "Yeah, I think I threw it out of whack when I brought that box in for you the other day. It was
getting better, but I guess that little battle in there brought it back."

Carrie smiled and stuck out her lower lip in a teasing pout. "Poor baby." She sat down behind him, tucking a leg
underneath her as she scooted closer. "Here, let me."

Mike stiffened slightly at the touch of her hands against his skin, then slowly relaxed as her fingers kneaded gently into
his shoulderblade, carefully draining the tension from his muscles. Carrie stopped for a moment, and Mike's eyes
opened at a gentle clicking of metal against the coffe table top. The cascade of tiny stars glistened against the wood
surface, the delicate chain that connected them barely visible as the sparkled in the dim light.

Carrie saw Mike's gaze on the necklace. "The clasp came undone. It must've gotten caught in my hair while I was
changing."


Carrie smiled contentedly, lacing her fingers through his. "Are you happy?"

"No."

Carrie looked back at him in surprise. "No?"

Mike tossed away the pillows laying between them. "No..you're way too far away..." Carrie giggled as he
snuggled in closer. "There...there, that's better."

Carrie smiled, looking up at him. "You had me worried there for a second."

Mike's expression went serious. "You never have to worry about, or doubt, my love for you. And," he added,
giving a quick kiss to her arm. "Just to drive that point home, I have a little surprise." He gave her a little
grin as he sat up, pulling a flat black box from under his pillow. He opened it, a tiny array of stars glittered up
at her, laying in a delicate circle against the black velvet.

"Mike, this is perfect. I love it."

"I bought it yesterday. I was waiting for a special occasion to give it to ya..."

Carrie smiled softly. "What's more special than this night?"

Mike looked deeply into her eyes, his voice a low whisper. "Whenever you look at these stars, I want you to
remember that you are the only star in my universe, and you always will be."

Carrie's eyes shimmered with love as she leaned closer to him, their lips meeting in a gentle, tender kiss.


Carrie smoothed the hair at Mike's nape, her hands sliding down over his shoulders as Mike's eyes lifted to hers.
"Brings back a lot of memories, doesn't it?"

Mike smiled softly. "Yeah." His eyes dropped to his hands, his smile becoming one of reminiscent sadness. "Yeah, it
does." He paused for a long moment, swallowing hard before he spoke. "I never wanted you to hurt the way you did
after that night. I never wanted to pressure you..."

"Mike, what happened that night happened because I wanted it to. It happened because I wanted you...because I
love you..."

The muscles in Mike's back jumped at the gentle brush of her lips against his shoulder, her breath heating his skin. Her
fingers trailed down his shoulderblades, sliding around his waist and splaying wide across his chest. He covered her
hands with his as she pulled herself against him, his eyes closing in sweet agony as her lips brushed over his nape and
jaw. With a silent moan, he turned his face to hers, their tender kiss slowly building.

Mike reluctantly pulled back, his breathing uneven. "Carrie..."

"Mike, I know you said you didn't want to rush things, take things slow. But we've waited for so long to be together,
really be together...." Carrie hesitated for a moment, her eyes searching his. "I just want to be with you, be in your
arms like that again..." she leaned closer, brushing her lips over his. "Stay with me tonight, Mike," she asked in a low
whisper. "Please stay with me."

Mike turned his body into hers, pulling her against his chest as her arms looped tightly around his neck, their kiss
gaining intensity. Carrie rose to her knees, her head falling back, her eyelids heavy as Mike's lips trailed down her
neck. He peeled her delicate silk robe back from her shoulder, raining small kisses against her skin. Carrie moaned
softly at the touch, her fingers plunging through his hair. Mike pulled her onto his lap, gathering her into his arms, lifting
her and carrying her into the bedroom.


End Part 9

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

Another Second Chance- Part 10


The warmth of dawn crept in slowly, setting the room in a gentle glow as Mike lay awake beside her. He watched in a
contented silence as she slept, the light dancing across Carrie's hair, the tumbled cascade shimmering against the
pillow. Her slender back rose and fell with steady breaths in a peaceful sleep, and Mike slid closer to her, smoothing
her hair away from her face. He nuzzled his way down her neck and over her shoulders, brushing a gentle kiss against
her spine.

Carrie stirred sleepily, lifting her lips to his. Mike's arms slid around her with a silent moan, pulling her back against
him as he rolled onto his side.

He pulled back finally, his lips hovering over hers. He gazed down into her eyes as Carrie turned into him, carressing
her cheek with the backs of his fingers. "I missed being able to hold you like this...opening my eyes and seeing you
lying next to me, watching you sleep..." His smile faded, his eyes staring down into hers, his fingers trailing in a gentle
carress over her arm, his voice a low whisper. "I just keep thinking that if I'd only stayed, I might've been able to
spare you so much pain..."

Carrie raised a hand to his lips, smiling softly and shaking her head. "Nuh uh. No more 'what if's', or 'if only's', or
'what might have been's'. No looking back, and no regrets." She touched his cheek, tears filling her eyes. "I love you."

Tears of his own clouded his eyes despite his answering smile, his palm cradling her face. "I love hearing you say that,"
he whispered.

"Good, 'cuz I love saying it." Her arms went around him as she stared up into his eyes. "I love you," she whispered,
her lips brushing his. "I love you, I love you, I love y..."

Mike captured her words in his mouth, gathering her swiftly into his arms and robbing Carrie of her speech--and then
her breath.

*************************************************
Carrie rolled sleepily onto her stomach, her eyes flittering open as her hand came to rest on the pillow beside her. She
recognized the single flower waiting for her there as one from the small flower box outside her living room window.
She laughed softly, lifting it to her face. The smell of coffee wafted to her, and Carrie sat up, swinging her legs over the
side of the bed and reaching for her robe.

She wandered her way into the kitchen, an uncontrollable smile of amusement tugging at her lips. Mike stood over the
stove, his eyes darting precariously over the contents of the black iron griddle before him, cautiously jabbing at it with
a flipper.

Carrie bit back a giggle, sliding her arms around his waist a pressing a kiss to his shoulder. "Good morning."

Mike looked down a her with a lazy grin, giving her a light kiss. "Good morning."

A small giggle escaped her before she could hold it back. "What's this?"

Mike gave her a look of stung hurt. "It's breakfast."

Carrie lifted her eyebrows, biting her lip uneasily. "Ummm, honey...no offense to your cooking skills, but...are you
sure that's safe? I mean, considering our little--escapade--with dinner last night and all..."

Mike put up a silencing hand before pulling her into his arms. "Don't worry! I have everything under complete
control."

As though intent on proving him wrong, the griddle began to smoke omniously, a small bit of grease running to the
burner and shooting up a threatening burst of flame. Mike jumped back, pulling Carrie with him.

Carrie's shoulders shook with giggles as Mike stared nervously at the stove. He looked down at Carrie, and soon
both of them were both laughing.

"Maybe we should go...out..for breakfast, whaddya think?" Carrie managed finally.

Mike laughed again, leaning down to give her a quick kiss. "Yeah, I think that would be a lot safer."

*************************************************
Mike and Carrie walked hand in hand out of the small cafe they'd found down at Salem Place.

"Well, we finally managed to get through a meal without anything disastrous happening," Carrie said with a smile.

Mike laughed. "Yeah, because they wouldn't let either one of us near the stove." Mike snapped his fingers suddenly,
pulling her to a stop. "Oh, wait! I almost forgot..." He reached into his pocket, taking out a gaudy vending machine
ring. A huge plastic diamond dominated the top, two tiny pink stones nestled in on either side of it. "A lovely token of
affection for the lady." Mike took her hand sliding it onto her finger. "It'll probably turn your finger green, but,
y'know..."

Carrie giggled, sliding her arms around Mike's neck and leaning up on her toes. "Thank you." Mike wrapped his arms
around her, kissing her sweetly.

"Well! Isn't this cozy?"

Carrie and Mike pulled apart at the familiar, sarcastic voice, their smiles dying instantly as their eyes fell on the face of
their intruder.

End Part 10

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

Another Second Chance- Part 11

"Well, well, Carrie. It's been quite a while, hasn't it?"

Carrie could feel her throat constrict in disgust. "Not long enough."

He flashed her a mockingly hurt expression, then turned a hateful gaze to Mike. "Mike, I see you decided to come
back. What, did you get bored and decide to come back and do my wife for a weekend or two?"

Carrie could see the muscles in Mike's jaw flinch from the corner of her eye, and she tightened her grip on his arms.
But Mike didn't move, and only shook his head, his voice sounding as if he were reprimanding a small child. "Austin,
you always seem to forget-- Carrie's not your wife anymore, remember?" His voice went serious, his gaze unflinching.
"I love Carrie, and I'm staying--for good."

Austin let out a huff of laughter, nodding. "Yeah, sure. Is that what you told her last night to get her into bed?"

Carrie shot him a dagger look. "We don't have to listen to this." She tugged on Mike's arm. "C'mon, Mike, let's go."

They turned to leave, but Austin's next barb stopped Mike mid-step. "Your conscience must be buggin' ya now,
huh?" Carrie could feel the muscles in Mike's arm go taut under her fingers, and his eyes squeezed shut in a silent
battle to control his fury. Austin could see him tense, and pushed further. "I mean, after you got Carrie pregnant and
then ditched her, and then you go and kill your own kid..."

Carrie caught a split second glimpse of rage in Mike's eyes as he turned like a shot, ripping his arm from Carrie's
grasp, his knuckles going white as his hands clenched Austin's shirtfront. Austin's eyes flickered with triumph as Mike
rammed him back into a pillar outside one of the stores.

Carrie grasped at his shoulders in a vain attempt to pull him away from Austin, then froze as his voice curled out, low
and threatening, nearly dripping with fury, his seeming calmness betrayed by the dark, dangerous gleam of anger in his
eyes. "Do you have any idea what you did to Carrie, a woman you claimed to love? Any idea at all? An innocent
child--Carrie's and my daughter-- is dead because of you and your stupid pride, you son of a... "

"Mike... he's not worth this." Mike could hear Carrie's voice, and the image of Angel's grave washed over him again,
bringing with it a fresh surge of fury. His eyes darkened, and he didn't relent. "Please, Mike," Her hand tightened on
his arm, her gaze never wavering from his face. "He's not worth it."

Carrie could feel the tension in his shoulders slowly begin to fade. Mike let him go, reluctantly responding to the gentle
tug of Carrie's hand and following after her.

"I'm sorry, Carrie," Mike began as they walked," But I'm not going to let him..."

Carrie pulled him to a stop, tilting his chin in her hand, gently urging his gaze to hers. "He can't hurt me anymore,
Mike. You're here, and you and I are together--like we should've been from the beginning." She stepped closer,
wrapping his arms around her and taking his face in her hands. "Let's just forget about Austin, Ali, Sami--everybody
else--and just concentrate on you and me. Okay?"

A gentle, loving smile touching his lips in return. He trailed his fingertips over her cheek. "Okay."

"Okay...." Carrie leaned up, giving him a gentle kiss, then winding her arms around him in a tight hug. "Let's go home."

Austin watched them go, their arms around each other. He inhaled sharply, watching them until they were out of sight.
"It ain't over 'til it's over, Horton."

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

Carrie stirred in a contented sleep, reaching for Mike in the tangled sheets beside her, her eyes opening slowly in
confusion to find them empty.

His tall frame stood silouhetted by the faint moonlight at the window, sending a glow around him as he stared off into
the stars, lost in thought. A deep sigh escaped him as her arms slid around his waist, her lips brushing against his
shoulder. "What're you thinkin' about?" she asked softly, resting her cheek against his back.

Mike looked down at her hands laying against his chest, covering one with his hand and bringing the other to his lips.
He stared out ahead of him, lost in thought. "I keep thinking about Angel-- what she would look like, sound
like...what it would feel like to be able to hold her..." He smiled softly, turning and taking Carrie in his arms. "If she
would be stubborn and hard-headed like her mother..." Carrie smiled, hitting him teasingly as he brushed a stray lock
of hair back from her cheek, his voice softening, "...or if she would be as beautiful or have as giving of a heart." He
kissed Carrie's forehead, wrapping his arms around her as she laid her cheek against his chest.

"I don't know what she would be like, but I do know that I would tell her how much we love her, and that she was
created from, and is part of, love." Carrie lifted her head and looked into his eyes. "Let's just forget about the past and
the future, and just be here in this moment, together. I think she would've wanted it that way." She trailed her fingers
over his cheek. "I love you." She leaned up, sliding her hands over his shoulders and brushing her lips tentatively over
his.

Mike's arms tightened around her with a silent groan, lifting her off her feet and carrying her back to bed.

*************
(Continued)

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