Under The Waves

Chapter Four                 

Hours had passed, but Chloe remained behind the locked door of the bedroom. She had taken the time to change into fresh clothes, a brightly colored flowery sundress that completely mismatched what was going on inside her mind and heart. She had detangled her long waves and pulled her hair into a casual upswept do. By all outward appearances, she looked like a young woman ready to go for a walk in the park on a summer's day. But, inside she felt as dark as the storm that was brewing over the ocean.

She sat on the edge of the bed and put her face in her hands. It had been four hours since she had told Bart what was to be done with Brady. Four very long hours passing by slowly as she waited to hear what the status of the operation was. She prayed as each second passed by that everything would work out, not wanting to put Brady's health in danger after already having been through so much.

Her mind raced to come up with some sort of plan. But, she knew that she couldn't just pop back into Salem and return to her old life. Nor could she just run away, and start a new life somewhere else with a new identity. Stefano DiMera was far too clever for that, and she knew he would be able to find her anywhere.

Aside from killing him, she could not think of another solution. And, even then, death had never stopped Stefano DiMera before, why would it this time? Chloe wondered if she was even capable of doing such a thing. The thought of Stefano being dead and gone wasn't something that bothered her, but she didn't know if she could murder someone in cold blood, taking away a life with her own hand. Chloe DiMera probably could have, but she was not that person anymore.

Chloe knew exactly what her heart wanted, but couldn't have it. If she attempted to contact Craig and Nancy, Stefano would kill them just to spite her. If she ran away with Brady, then his life would be cut short in a blink of an eye. She could not show weakness to her father, she had to make him believe that she was the loving, faithful daughter that she had been for the past four years. The thought of playing this game, pretending to be something she wasn't, tore every inch of her apart. But, it was the only way to keep those that she really loved safe.

The knocking at the door startled her out of her thoughts and she strode casually over to answer it. Bart was on the other side, nervously rubbing his hands together.

"Bart... Is he okay?"

"Yes -- yes... Everything went perfectly. The chip is out, as you asked."

Chloe nodded with a soft sigh. "Did you destroy it?"

Bart handed her a glass vial, the shards of the tiny microchip resting inside. "I -- I did. Rolf didn't want to do it, but I said the Lady ordered you, you better do it."

"Can we trust him to be silent? I need to know that Stef-- that my Father will never know what went on here."

"Y-yes ma'am. I told Rolf that if he even breathed a word of this to the big boss, he wouldn't live long enough to regret it."

Chloe stared at the chip, transfixed by how something so tiny could cause so much heartbreak and misery. "Good... Good... And, Brady Black? You sent him home?"

Bart took a half step backwards and cringed slightly. "Not yet..."

Chloe moved her gaze from the vial and glared at Bart angrily. "Not yet? I told you to take him home right away. Damnit, Bart... Why not yet?"

"Storm... Remember the storm? It's not safe to take anyone topside yet. It will be another eight to ten hours before we can get him out of here safely."

"Can we keep him sedated that long?"

Bart nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely... We've got enough tranquilizer in him right now that he should stay asleep until we can get him off of the sub."

Chloe nodded and prepared to close the door. "Good... Make sure he stays that way. Let me know when he's gone. As soon as he's back on land and with his -- with the Black family again, we'll head back to Paris."

"Yes, of course. Home to Paris, it is..." Bart exited swiftly and Chloe shut the door behind him.

She stared at the vial one last time and then slipped it into a drawer with some of her other personal belongings. Brady was just down the hall from her now. The real Brady Black, the one that she fallen in love with so many years ago. Her mind wandered at the thought of being in his arms again, but she was afraid that if he saw her before he returned home to his family, he wouldn't be able to let her go. Nor would she ever be able to let him go.

Chloe opened the door to the bedroom and looked down the hallway towards where Brady was. Beyond that door was her soulmate, the man she had intended to spend the rest of her life with. The same man who she wanted to raise her children with was also the same man whose life had been destroyed by her biological father. And in all this time, he had tried desperately to get her back, but not until today did something trigger the return of her real memories.

She knew she shouldn't go in there, the sight of him asleep and helpless would only serve to make her feel worse. But, it was almost as if he was a magnet pulling her towards him slowly. She walked into the hallway and towards the door, placing her hand on the knob.

"He's unconscious, right... What could it hurt?"

Chloe reassured herself and took one long deep breath in before turning the knob. She walked into the room and stared at his form sprawled across the bed. He was still in the black pants and white shirt she had told him to change into. He looked completely at peace, and completely beautiful.

She wanted to lie next to him, to wrap her arms around him and hold him closely, to feel his heart beating against his chest. But, she stayed glued to the same spot, not wanting to take any more risks than she already had. She got what she came for, one last glance at the man who owned her heart, and decided to leave.

She had taken three steps towards the door when she heard his voice behind her. "Diva..."

Chloe's heart froze in her chest. It had been a long time since she had heard that nickname and it made tears immediately spring to her eyes to hear it again. She tried to move, to walk closer to the door, but couldn't.

"I promise you, Chloe... Everything is going to be okay."

Chloe turned on her heel and laid her hand on her chest. He was dreaming of her, even though the sedatives were so strong that he wasn't supposed to dream at all. Despite her better judgement, she walked towards the bed and sat on the edge to watch him. His face was scrunched up as if he was agitated or worried. Without even thinking, she brushed her fingers over his cheek and through his hair.

Brady sighed at her calming touch, his expression softening instantly. Her presence eased whatever was troubling him, like a mother to a newborn child. "I love you, Diva... I love you."

"I -- I love you too, Brady."

His lids fluttered open, exposing the almost unreal bright blue of his eyes to her. Her hand flew away from him in shock and she stood up from the bed, walking backwards a few steps. She looked at him nervously, trying to figure out how he could have woken up from the high dosage of drugs that were still running through his veins.

Brady pushed himself up into a sitting position, and blinked his eyes in surprise. "Chloe... Is that you?"

"Brady... I -- I -- You should go back to sleep. Just go back to sleep."

"You -- you kidnapped me."

Chloe frowned and put her hands at her sides, nodding slowly. He still thought she was her DiMera persona, and maybe that was for the best. "You remember?"

Brady nodded groggily, and brushed his hand through his hair. "You came to the beach house and shot me. How could I forget that? Where the hell am I?"

Chloe crossed her arms over her chest, and tried her best to wear the hardened features of Chloe DiMera. "That's not important now. But, you're going home. As soon as the storm has passed, we'll send you back to those people you call 'family'."

"Why? Why did you do it?"

"I have my reasons."

Brady put his hand on his forehead and nodded. "You wanted me back. Back working for your father. Back as your partner-in-crime... I remember now."

Chloe nodded and grimaced slightly. She wanted so badly to tell him the truth that it hurt her deep inside. But, instead she decided to put on one of the greatest acting performances of her life. "Correct. But, once I got you here I decided it wasn't worth all the trouble."

"Couldn't get the chip to work?"

"Didn't want it to. Men like you, Brady Black, are a dime a dozen. I could pick up one of you on a street corner anywhere in the world, and have a lot less trouble." Her words were obvious lies, but she put up a facade to save him from figuring out who she really was. "I knew those pathetic people you call a 'family' would come running after you again, and frankly, I just didn't want to deal with the trouble. You're too -- high maintenance."

Brady stared at her intently, locking his blue eyes with her own. There was something else there, something around the edge of her eyes that almost gave her away.

Brady shook his head in denial as he watched for some sign of what was going on inside her mind. "That's not it... You're lying."

"No, it's the truth. Not that I expect you to believe anything that comes out of my mouth."

"There's something else -- something else going on here. You wouldn't just kidnap me and then send me back without there being some sort of ulterior motive."

Chloe rolled her eyes and grinned slightly. "Always trying to figure things out, aren't you, Brady? I always did like that about you. You just can't let sleeping dogs lie..."

Brady nodded in agreement, trying to prevent himself from grinning back at her. There was definitely something different about her demeanor, but whatever it was, she kept it hidden well. "Never could, never will. There's something different about you, Chloe DiMera, and I *will* figure it out."

Chloe laughed at him, and Brady felt himself shaken by the tinkling sound of her laughter. For just an instant, he thought he saw the real Chloe right in front of his eyes. But, she quickly returned to her cold, caustic attitude.

"Sorry to disappoint you, Brady, but I'm the same Chloe DiMera I've always been."

"You haven't always been this way. There was a time when you were kind, thoughtful and cared about people. You had friends and family, and people who loved you. You had a real life, a very happy life and an even brighter future."

Chloe turned her face away from him, each word stinging her heart painfully. Even when she had been Chloe DiMera, she had never been truly happy or loved. And, even without the memories of the real Chloe in her mind, back then she knew that there was something missing in her life. She took a deep breath in and regained her composure quickly, but Brady sensed that something in her had been affected by his words.

She turned her gaze back towards him, her lips tightening into a straight line, showing no emotion at all. "You really need to get over that little fantasy you're living in. I never lived that life, it never happened. I have never even been to Salem, like you say that I have. I have no idea what you're talking about, so please get over it, before you become even more delusional than you already are."

Brady laughed at her words and continued on. "You know... You have ALWAYS been a mystery to me, Chloe Lane..."

The use of her name that she had lost long ago shook her to the core. She wanted to break down and cry, but held steadfast, clinging to her DiMera persona by only a thin thread.

"Stop it, Brady... Stop it. I told you never to say that name to me again."

Brady stood from the bed and walked towards her. He put his hands on her arms tightly and stared deep into her eyes. "Don't say it because you know it's the truth. Right? Come on, Chloe... Admit it. You know I'm telling the truth."

Chloe shook her head, fighting back her tears fiercely, her face turning red with anger. But, not anger at Brady, anger towards the life she was stuck with, towards the man who forced her into it. "It's a lie. Just... shut up... I don't want to hear any more of it. Please, stop..."

Brady watched her as her face contorted with emotion, trying to figure her out. "Like I said... You're definitely a mystery. You tell me you don't believe me, but I see something else when I look into your eyes. And someday, soon... You will admit that I'm right. I know you will."

Chloe wriggled out of his grasp and shook her head. "Leave me alone... Just stop... You don't know what you're talking about. You don't know me at all."

It hurt her to say that, each lie that she had to tell was like a knife piercing her already broken heart. Brady did know her, better than anyone else ever had, and she knew if she stayed in this room one moment longer she wouldn't be able to lie any longer.

She walked towards the door and looked at him one last time. "Just... forget this ever happened. Don't try finding me again, you won't be able to."

Brady opened his mouth to stop her but Chloe marched through the door, slamming it shut and locking it behind her. She ran to the other room and grabbed the phone immediately.

"Bart. He's awake. You better give him something stronger this time."

She didn't even wait for a response, she just slammed the phone down and immediately burst into another fit of sobs. Chloe lay down on the bed and sobbed into the pillows, gripping the covers in her hand tightly. She knew she had to be strong if she wanted to find a path out of the DiMera family back to where she belonged. But, lying to the man she loved with all of her heart and soul was the hardest thing she ever had to do.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(Hours and hours later...)

Chloe sat in the back of the limousine, trying to keep her eyes off of Brady's sleeping form. It was late in the night, somewhere between three and four a.m., as they waited outside the Black's vacation home to drop Brady off.

Chloe turned to Bart and smiled uneasily. "Are you sure that John Black isn't home?"

"Positive. He's gone, out with the authorities searching for Brady."

"Good. He's the last person we need to run into right now."

Bart nodded in agreement, the thought of coming face to face with a very angry John Black was definitely not on his to-do list. "It's just the Mrs. Dr. Evans Black, the Brady couple and their two brats. It will be a lovely welcome home party, I'm sure."

Chloe opened the door and looked at Bart for reassurance. "Are we ready to go then?'

Bart nodded and the two of them lugged Brady's heavy unconscious form out of the limo. Chloe was thankful for her own physical strength, as Brady was pure muscle mass and not that easy to drag across somebody's driveway. They crept towards the house as quietly as possible and laid him on the short flight of steps that led up the front porch.

Chloe stood on the bottom step and whispered softly. "Is he going to be safe here?"

"I -- I don't see why not. The drugs should wear off soon, and he'll just find his way up the stairs and back into the waiting arms of those disgustingly perky Salemites."

Chloe nodded and waved Bart away. "Go on back to the car, I'll be there in a minute."

Bart stared at her nervously and shook his head. "But, Miss DiMera... I don't..."

"Shut up. Just go. I'll be right there."

Bart nodded and jogged across the lawn to the car in the distance. Chloe knelt down besides Brady and grabbed something out of her pocket. She quietly slid it into the front pocket of his shirt, and leaned over him.

She silently prayed that Bart wasn't watching, and leaned in to plant a soft kiss on his lips. Her hand ran through his hair and over his face lovingly. "I do love you Brady, more than anything... And, I will find a way to make everything okay again. I swear."

She smiled slightly as a single tear made its way down her cheek. Chloe quickly wiped it away and stood, attempting to erase all signs of emotions as she returned to the car. She was already at the door of the limousine when Brady's eyes opened widely. He had felt her kiss, and heard her quiet words.

He sat up on the steps, and his eyes searched the darkness to find her, but he couldn't see anything. His fingers found his lips and he sighed softly. "I love you too, Chloe..."

His hand found what she had slipped into his pocket and he yanked it out to hold it up to the moonlight. It was the glass vial with the miniscule shards of a microchip in the bottom. Brady understood perfectly. His Chloe was back and she had freed him forever from Stefano DiMera. His instincts hadn't betrayed him on the submarine, he had seen her true self hiding deep inside. He should have known it the instant she called him by his first name, but now he knew for sure. And, he now also knew that she had lied to protect him, to save his life.

Brady stood from the steps, his vision slightly blurred from the drugs in his system. He slipped the vial back in his pocket and sighed softly. "We will be together again, Diva. I promise you that."

He turned and trudged up the steps towards the front door. He knocked on it loudly and yelled the names of his family, knowing that they would be eager to see him. But, thoughts of Chloe still remained at the back of his mind.

"DAD! BELLE! MARLENA! -- OPEN UP!"

Chloe watched from the slightly opened window of her limousine hidden in the distance. She wanted to cry as she watched Marlena open the door, and pull Brady into her arms. Belle came running towards him, happily throwing her arms around her older brother. Chloe's heart ached in her chest, and she had to grip the arm rest beside her to prevent Bart from seeing the emotion on her face. She saw Shawn in the background as they pulled Brady inside and shut the front door. The lights in the house went on, and she could no longer see any of them. It was her first real glimpse of the woman who was almost her mother-in-law and two of her best friends that she had in four years, and it made every ounce of her ache with loss.

She inhaled deeply and turned to Bart. "Forget that any of this ever happened, Bart. Let's get out of here."

Bart nodded and motioned for the driver to leave. As they got on the road to head towards a nearby private airstrip, Chloe began plotting her next move in her head. It was hard to keep her mind clear from thoughts of Brady and the rest of the people she longed to see. But, she knew she had to keep focused on her goal. She planned on ridding the world of Stefano DiMera once and for all, no matter what it would take.

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