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Date Posted: 19:50:00 03/05/01 Mon
Author: Andrea E
Subject: NEW Chapter: Another Second Chance--Part 14

Sorry this has taken so long in coming, everybody. An overloaded fall semester at school --and not being sure how to
proceed here-- put my fanfic writing on the back burner. I've re-posted the previous parts below to refresh your
memory if needed. Hope you all still enjoy my little imaginings.:)

I'd say we've been spoiled by all the wonderful writing talent here, especially with all the wonderful authors posting
again after a bit of a dry spell. You all gave me some wonderful and MUCH needed study breaks this past semester.
Thanks so much for sharing your talent, and thanks to all you wonderful readers for your continued support and
interest.:)

~~~~~~~

Another Second Chance ~ Part 14

'Closed for Private Party.' Carries gaze moved from the sign on the door to the lively mix of Hortons and Bradys
gathered inside the cozy confines of the Brady Pub. She smiled at the welcoming scene just beyond the frosted glass
windows. Her Grandpa Shawn stood behind the heavy oak bar, his gray head adorned with a crooked,
yellow-construction paper crown and his face nearly overtaken by his broad, genuine smile. A huge banner reading
"Happy Birthday Shawn" hung on the wall behind him while he and her Grandma Caroline passed out cake and ice
cream to their guests. Hope, Bo and Shawn-D sat at the bar, talking and laughing, while John and Marlena sat in one
of the far booths, Belle and Brady cuddled in their laps, both the kids and John covered in ice cream and frosting.
Alice, Roman, Mickey and Maggie sat at the table next to them, and they all let out a hearty laugh when Belle swiped
a sticky hand at John, leaving behind a gooey glob of frosting on his nose. Brady and Belle giggled, then let out a
squeal as John and Marlena initiated a tickle war on them both, both tables laughing again as the kids wriggled free
and took off towards the bar for more cake.

Carrie's gaze fell away from the window. The wind had begun to pick up, and she hugged her arms tightly around
herself against the chill of the night air. Her eyes went to the velvet blackness stretched out above her. The moon sat
high against the darkened sky, full and bright amidst the scattered swirl of stars. Not one cloud dared to slip across
the serene night sky, as if the storm of the night before had never happened. As though last night had never
happened...

Just a little while longer...and then I'm never letting you go again....

Carrie sighed and leaned wearily against the worn brick. Away from the reassuring strength and warmth of Mike's
arms, she didn't feel as invulnerable--nor, for that matter, did her plan seem as fool-proof--as it had that morning. She
really did want to be inside the Pub with her family, wishing her grandfather well. She'd promised her dad and
Marlena last week that she'd stop by, but Carrie was realizing she was in no mood for a party--or keeping her family
in the dark about Mike's "absence."

She tilted her head back against the wall, letting her eyes fall shut with a long, exhaled breath. She opened them again,
an uneasy chill coursing through her. She looked around uneasily, her mind conjuring shadows lurking in the hidden
corners of the alleyway. The shadows once again blended back into the night, and Carrie's shoulders sagged, and she
squeezed her eyes shut again and shook her head, trying to banish the fear.

Mike, I didn't want to admit this before...but the whole thing, the thought of someone watching our every
move...

Carrie let out a shaky breath. "I am scared, Mike," she whispered to herself. "I'm scared, and I don't know if I can do
this..." She bit her lip and stared blankly at the wall in front of her. She rubbed her arms viorously, then jumped as her
cold fingers came into contact with her bare forearms. She rubbed her hands together, then clutched the end of her
wrap over her fingers. Her hands were freezing cold--big surprise. She'd had lousy circulation in her hands for as long
as she could remember, and it always was the worst at times like these. Actually, the last time it had been this bad,
she had been with Mike. An unconcious smile drifted across her lips. It hadn't been long after they'd gotten back from
Las Vegas, and he'd convinced her to come with him for a little escape..to their own secret getaway...


Dizzy's Diner had long since been dark by the time they pulled up into their usual spot. Mike turned off the
engine, then turned to look at Carrie. She'd sat in silence for most of the drive, her head leaned back against
the seat, watching as the sky zipped by overhead. Neither one had known what to say, nor if they'd wanted to
talk at all. They only knew they wanted to get away..together...

Carrie felt Mike's eyes on her, and lifted her head, her gaze automatically finding his in the dark. They could
only look at each other for what seemed like forever. Carrie swallowed audibly at the look she found in his
eyes. She knew that look. The determined, purposeful gleam in those blue eyes meant he had made up his
mind -- and moving heaven and earth wouldn't change it. She'd given in to it more times than she could count
in the past few months...their night together at Green Mountain Lodge..on their road trip to Los Angeles...Las
Vegas....

Carrie shifted uncomfortably in her seat and hopped out of the car before Mike had a chance to say a word.
She looked around the empty parking lot. "Wow...I'm not used to this place being this empty." She wrapped
her arms around herself. "I never realized just how far from everything you really are here."

She heard Mike's car door open and close, then held her breath as she felt him stop only inches from her.
"Yeah..." She turned her head at the sound of his voice next to her ear. "It's a great place to escape."

Carrie let out a shaky breath, moving back towards the car. Mike caught her hand as she moved past him,
and Carrie's icy fingers came into contact with his palm. His hand tightened reflexively on hers. "Your hands
are freezing..." Mike took her other limp hand in his. Her small hands were easily engulfed in the warmth of
his. Mike rrubbed his thumbs back and forth across her fingers; his gentle, persisent gaze searching hers.

Carrie cleared her throat, shifting her eyes away from his. "Yeah, um...my hands always get cold when I'm
nervous or worried about something."

Mike's eyes dropped to the fragile-looking hand in his. He opened his mouth, attempting to find the words,
then decided against whatever thoughts rushed through his mind, and chose instead to let his actions speak
for him. He bowed his head, lifting her hands to his face. He laid his cheek against her hand, feathering warm,
gentle kisses against her chilled skin; her wrists, her palms, then her fingers. When he finally raised his eyes to
her face again, he found hers bright with tears. When he finally found his voice, it barely came out above a
whisper. "I'm not asking you to decide what it is you want to do or where it is you want to be. That's not why I
brought you here." He inched a step closer to her. She could only stare up at him, silent and unsure. "All I'm
asking for is a moment...just you and me...no strings attached, no judging eyes...just you and me..."

Carrie's fingers splayed out against his cheeks, cradling his face. She stepped forward into his arms, and they
both let out a sigh as their arms closed around each other. Carrie pressed her face against his shoulder,
breathing deeply as MIke buried his face in her tousled hair. "We'll get through this, I promise you, Carrie,"
he whispered. "We'll get through this..."


Carrie took a deep breath, letting it out with a long sigh and a reminiscent smile. It had been a rough, long road, but
they'd gotten through it and found their way back to each other. They had made it through all of the aftershocks of
Las Vegas, and their love had grown stronger than ever, in spite of all the forces that had been against them. Now all
it would take was getting over this last obstacle, and then they would no longer need to hide, no longer apologize for
they love they'd found. Carrie straightened, squaring her shoulders as she headed for the front door of the Pub.
They'd already made it through so much, and they would make it through this--together.

A tall, thin figure emerged from the shadows of the alleyway, watching Carrie as she disappeared inside the pub. "All
by your lonesome this evening, are you, Carrie?" A catlike smile snaked across her lips. "Just can't keep your men
happy, can you?" A dark curtain of hair fell around her face as she stepped from the alley, and she reached up to
shove it away. She froze mid-movement, another uncontrollable tremor coursing across her nerves. Her fingers
clenched into a fist. Damn--her hands were shaking again. It was all those stupid pills they kept shoving down her
throat in that, that...hellhole.

You belong in that place, locked up with all the rest of those loonies...'cuz you're crazy...crazy, crazy, crazy
crazy crazy...

She crushed her hands over her ears, squeezing her eyes shut. No... go away... "Shut up!! Shut up, shut up, shut up!!
I don't need that place or their damned pills, because I am not crazy!!"

Crazy, crazy, crazy.... The voices melted away in a thick peal of laughter, echoing back into the bottomless tunnel
from where they came. Thick lashes fluttered open, and dark, frightened eyes darted to the cobblestone walkway and
the oblivious crowd inside the Pub, then breathed a sigh of relief. No one had heard her. She calmly smoothed her
hair back into place. If no one had heard her, she was safe--and free to go search for Mike. He would be so happy
to see her again, after all this time they'd been apart.

She tugged her jacket back into place, smiling out into the darkness. "See? I'm just fine. And I'll be even better once
I'm back with Mike..." She pulled a ragged, tattered newspaper clipping from her pocket, smoothing the wrinkles and
lines all her hiding places had left behind. They'd told her she couldn't keep anything to remind her of Mike Horton,
but when she saw the picture in the newspaper a few months ago, she'd managed to smuggle the newspaper back to
her room without anyone noticing. Mike's face smiled back at her from the photo. He was standing in his office, his
right arm extended, as though to shake the hand of someone next to him. His hand was gone, however, torn off with
the other half of the picture, but the headline still dangled from underneath the remaining half: "Horton/Brady team
return to revive UHMC." 'Brady' had been all but blacked out, and 'McIntyre' scrawled above it in its place. Ali
smiled contentedly, tracing a fingertip over Mike's face. "We're
gonna make the same unstoppable team we always did, honey." Her eyes narrowed at Carrie inside the Pub. "I'll take
care of a little nuisance, and then you and I will be Dr. and Mrs. Cheif-of-Staff, just like we always planned."

She searched the front walk of the Pub one last time, then darted down the alleyway towards the small side window
she had found earlier. It was just above one of the back booths--and it was open. Carrie was
standing just a small distance away, talking with her family. Since Mike hadn't been home nor to the hospital for a few
days, she would have to eavesdrop on Little Miss Perfect to figure out where he'd gone--before she got the
manipulative little witch out of the way.

She had no doubt Carrie knew exactly where Mike was. Heck, the girl had stayed stuck to him like crazy glue ever
since the day they'd met, so now would be no exception. She huddled up closer to the window, attempting to
decipher Carrie's voice from the muffled noise of the crowd inside.

Marlena enveloped Carrie in a warm hug. "Carrie, honey! I'm so glad you decided to come. I'm sure your grandfather
will be, too." Carrie smiled weakly and nodded. "So, where's Mike?"

"He's...gone."

Marlena blinked at Carrie in confusion. "Gone? Did he get called away on an emergency or..."

"No, Marlena," Carrie interjected, "he's left town. For good, this time."

Marlena could only stare at Carrie in a dumbfounded silence. "I...I don't understand, honey...I thought things were
going so well between the two of you..."

Carrie nodded. "So did I, Marlena, but apparently Mike didn't see it that way."

Marlena's forehead furrowed in concern. "Oh, honey..did you want to go outside and get some air, maybe talk about
this?"

Carrie shook her head. "No, Marlena, I appreciate the offer, but I really would rather..."

"There's my girl!" Carrie was cut off as she was enveloped from behind in a big bear hug. Sami stood beside him, Will
in her arms. Roman put an arm around Carrie's shoulders and kissed her forehead. "Hey, Punkin. I'm so glad you
decided to come."

Carrie managed a small smile. "Yeah, Dad, me too." She nodded in Sami's direction. "Hi, Sami."

Sami acknowledged her sister with a smile. "Carrie, it's nice to see you."

Carrie smiled back. It was nice that she and Sami could finally speak to each other civily after being at each other's
throats for so many years. "It's nice to see you too, Sami. Both of you."

Sami nodded. "Umm...Austin wanted to be here, but he was called away on a business trip earlier this week, and his
flight got delayed in Chicago."

Carrie nodded politely, silently sending up a small thank you that Austin's flight had been delayed. She really hadn't
wanted to face him. She didn't blame Sami for explaining Austin's absence. After all, they were together, so of course
she felt she should explain why Austin wasn't there. While it was nice to see Sami happy, she feared her sister getting
hurt. She'd seen Austin's true colors, and she was scared of what he might do to her sister. Carrie shook away the
thought of trying to persuade Sami about Austin now. While they'd gotten closer again since Carrie had come back to
Salem, their friendship was still not quite on steady ground. Until then, she could be there if Sami needed her.

Roman looked around the room. "Speaking of the men in my daughter's lives, where did Mike disappear to? Did he
get tied up at the hospital?"

Before Carrie could respond, Marlena laid a silencing hand on her arm. "Actually, Roman, Carrie and I were just
going to go somewhere to talk about that."

Roman and Sami looked back and forth between Marlena and Carrie. "What do you mean, Mom?" Sami turned her
attention to Carrie. "Carrie is there something wrong with Mike?"

Carrie shook her head. "No, Sami, Mike's fine, as far as I know."

Roman stared at Carrie, puzzled. "What do you mean, 'as far as you know,' honey? What's going on?"

Carrie sighed, lifting her eyes. "Mike's left town, Dad. I don't know when or if he'll ever be back."

Liar, liar....

Roman shook his head. "So you're saying Mike left town, and you don't know where he is? What happened?"

Carrie shrugged helplessly. "I don't know, Dad. Mike wouldn't give me a reason. He just told me that he couldn't be
with me, and he had to leave town."

Shame on you, Carrie...lies, lies, lies...

Samie looked at Carrie, dumbfounded. "You have no idea why he left? That doesn't sound like something Mike
would do, to leave like that, especially not without some sort of explanation. There must have been some reason..."

"Whatever his reason was, he wouldn't tell me, Sami. He just said he was sorry, and he had to leave."

Lies upon lies...

Marlena stroked Carrie's hair, "I'm sorry, honey. I know how much you wanted this to work." She shook her head in
disbelief. "This just all seems so completely...out of the blue."

Carrie nooded, blinking back tears. "I know. After everything...I just don't know how he could just leave like that..."

Oh, now tears, huh? Perfect touch, Carrie...

Roman put an arm around Carrie. "I'm sorry too, Punkin. You didn't deserve this. You've already been through so
much, and now this..." He kissed her forehead. "I want you to know that if you ever need to talk, we're all here for
you."

Poor little Carrie....blah, blah, blah...

Sami nodded in agreement and took Carrie's hand. "I agree with Dad. I mean, I know you and I haven't always been
the closest, Carrie, but I hope that you feel you can talk to me..." Sami smiled and shrugged. "Even as a last resort."

Carrie smile warmly at her sister. "You would never be my last resort, Sami. I'm so glad you and I can finally be
friends again. I tell you what--why don't we have lunch or get together and go shopping sometime soon? I've really
missed my sister."

Sami nodded and gave her sister a hug. "Sounds great, Carrie."

Carrie gave Sami one last squeeze before letting her go. "I hate leaving while the party's still going, but I'm just really
not in the mood for a party. I'm going to go wish Grandpa a happy birthday, and then I think I'm going to head home."

Relate your sob story and then cut out, huh, Carrie? Poor baby...

"Oh, honey, are you sure?" Marlena asked. "Don't you think it might help if you were around family right now?"

Carrie smiled appreciatively and shook her head. "I thought so too, Marlena, but I really would just rather go home
and try and get some sleep."

Marlena nodded reluctantly. "All right, sweetie." She gave a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. "You call if you need
anything, okay?"

Carrie nodded and gave her a reassuring smile. "I will, I promise. I'll see you all soon, okay?"

You'll see me sooner than you think...

Carrie headed toward the bar, and Sami drifted off to talk with Mickey and Maggie. Roman and Marlena worriedly
watched Carrie as she was greeted with a warm smile and a big bear hug from her grandfather. "I'm concerned about
her, Roman. She puts on such a brave front, but that big heart of hers has taken such a beating these last few years."
Marlena blinked back tears at the exhaustion she saw on Carrie's face. "I just so want her to be happy."

Roman nodded. "So do I, Doc. So do I." He turned to face Marlena. "But don't forget this, Doc--Carrie is a Brady,
which also makes her a survivor. It may be tough, but she'll make it through this, and then she'll find that happiness we
both know she deserves."

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

Alie strained closer to the window. "Dammit Carrie, speak up! I can't hear a thing..." She chewed her lip thoughtfully.
"Maybe if I just follow her when she leaves..." her eyes brightened. "Of course! If she doesn't go to see Mike, at the
very least she'll call him when she gets home." She hopped down from the box she was standing on and cautiously
slipped along the wall, peering around the edge. The coast was clear. Now all she had to do was wait.

End Part 14

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