Killing Me Softy

[Joise]

Killing Me Softly

By Joise

Background: This story will take place with the current storyline. Little Zach Brady was killed and Claire received his liver. I am adding a new element to the story where there has been a serial killer in Salem stalking women. (Please bear with me; I hope it won’t see corny like the Days version). All of his victims have been found brutally murdered and raped. And they are always found 48 hours after the news plays a video of the victim saying good-bye. The police tried to stop the news from showing it. But the serial killer threatened to brutally harm his victims if he didn’t and used the current victim as an example. The police allowed the tape to be shown, knowing that after it played they had 48 hours to find her. The last victim was found three weeks ago, with each victim, the death being more brutal than before. They also noticed that he was picking out victims much quicker than before. With this woman, he waited only two weeks before searching for his next victim. Even the time frame between kidnapping his victim to killing her was getting shorter with each victim.


Chapter One- You always hurt the one you love

Mimi tried to comfort her boyfriend Shawn Brady as he just learned the news that Zach’s liver was transplanted into Claire’s body. The doctors were hopeful that her body would accept his liver; she was going to live. She knew that Shawn was happy for Belle, Philip, Claire and the rest of their family. But she knew that it was killing him softly inside as well. They all knew Claire’s miracle would be another family’s tragedy. Shawn just never imagined it would be HIS family that would experience the tragedy. The worst thought was that Shawn knew this wasn’t a DiMera trick, Zach would not become miraculously alive again next year. He was gone for good.

“I hate this!” Shawn said in frustration, “I prayed so hard for Claire to get her miracle….why did her miracle have to cost my brother his life!”

“Shawn,” Mimi said rubbing his back softly, “Zach’s death had nothing to do with Claire needing a transplant.” Shawn just glared at her, but she continued, “This might have happened whether or not Claire needed a liver. This is about Zach, Shawn, and how happy this must make him in heaven.”

“Happy to be dead! Happy to be away from his family!” Shawn snapped at her, Mimi tried not to jump by the malice in his voice; but her body wasn’t cooperating with her, “How could he be happy? What good could possibly come from Zach’s death!”

“Zach giving Claire the gift of life,” Mimi said.

“I just want my brother back!” Shawn cut her off.

“It gave his death purpose,” she said, “a miracle for another family so they don’t have to go through what you’re going through right now. He can save Claire’s life and spare her family the same grief…”

“Just shut up!” Shawn yelled at her. He watched her body twitch and inwardly regretted yelling at her. He wasn’t mad at her, he was mad at the driver and he was talking it out on her. He tried to reach out to hold her but she tensed up at his contact. He retraced his hand of if her skin was on fire. “Mimi…”

“I should go check on…I should just go…” she said standing up quickly not even bothering to finish her sentence and ran away from her fiancé as fast as her legs could take her.

“Mimi, I’m sorry,” Shawn said; but his voice as cold and he made no effort to move.

“Are you okay Shawn?”

Shawn looked up and saw Belle standing above him. He could tell she was trying to withhold the happiness from her. “I’m fine.”

“I saw Mimi…”

“I’d rather not talk to you about Mimi if that’s okay with you.”

“Sure,” Belle said as she sat down and hugged Shawn, “I’m so sorry about what happened to Zach.”

Mimi stopped running, “This is ridiculous,” she said, “I know he didn’t mean it.” She turned around and went back to NICU to see Shawn. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up again. She had that feeling again that someone was following her. She felt it know for about two weeks. She looked around her and couldn’t see anyone, “Hello?” she said, “Is anyone there?” She looked around some more and then laughed to herself, “You’re going crazy Meems,” she said, “There is no one out there.” She continued her journey to NICU, unaware that someone came out from behind the corner where he was hiding and continued to follow her.

“Soon baby,” he said, “we’re going to be back together again.” He continued to quietly follow her around the hospital.

When Mimi reached NICU, she wasn’t surprised to see Shawn and Belle hugging, “Hey,” she said, “how’s Claire?”

“Her body hasn’t rejected the….his…”

“You can say it Belle,” Shawn said, “Zach’s liver.”

“It’s hard,” she said, earning another hug from Shawn, “It’s looking good, so far.”

“I’m happy for you,” she said, “That little girl is a fighter just like her parents.”

“Thanks.”

“Mimi,” Shawn said, “about before…”

“You know,” Mimi said as she looked over her shoulder, “I was thinking that I’ve seen you and Philip in those clothes for way too long,” she didn’t want to have that conversation with Shawn right now, especially in front of his ex-girlfriend. She could feel it in her bones that he was going to say he made a mistake. She just wasn’t sure if that mistake was his outburst or their engagement. “And when Claire gets out of surgery I don’t think she would appreciate the smell,” she laughed, and Belle smiled at Mimi’s little joke to try and lighten the mood, “so I was thinking that I’ll just head over to the loft and get you two a change of clothes.”

“I could go with you,” Shawn offered.

“Don’t be crazy,” she said, “we both know you’re needed here.” She looked around again because she felt someone’s eyes were watching her.

“But…” Shawn tried to say as he watched her look over her shoulder again. The sound of his voice brought her attention back to him. Shawn tried to see what she was looking for, but couldn’t see anything.

“I’ll be a good sport and bring you back a change of clothes as well,” she said giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, “and definitely your deodorant Mr. Stinky pants.” She playfully said as she crunched up her nose.

“Hey now,” Shawn protested, “I do not smell….in fact,” he said sniffing her, “I think you smell just as bad as me Mrs. Stinky pants. I think we need a shower.”

Belle was trying really hard to tune them out. She couldn’t…and didn’t want to have mental pictures of Shawn and Mimi in the shower together.

“I’m sure you can find one around here,” she said as she looked over her shoulder again to find nothing, “I’ll be back in about thirty minutes.”

“Okay,” Belle said, “thank you Mimi for doing this. You’ve been wonderful.”

“That’s what friends do for each other Belle,” she said. Mimi couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her. She looked around the room again, giving it more attention than the pervious times.

“Are you looking for someone?” Shawn asked, trying to keep any thoughts of another man creep into his mind.

“No,” she said, looking over her shoulder once again “why?”

“You keep looking around like you would rather be somewhere else or with someone else,” Shawn said, just saying it out loud hurt him more than thinking it to himself quietly.

“No its not that…This is where I want to be….there is nowhere else,” her voice was soft and cracked a little. Mimi didn’t even recognize it as her own.

“Then why do you keep looking over your shoulder like you’re excepting to see someone?” Shawn said, his voice sounded angry and with the hint of jealsouy.

“it’s just…you’ll think I’m crazy…..Philip,” she finally said, “I was seeing if Philip was back yet…you know with news on Claire.” She could kick herself for sounding nervous. She didn’t know what she had to be nervous about. She knew Shawn wasn’t buying it…hell she wasn’t even buying it and it was coming from her mouth.

“I know what you mean,” Belle said, trying to lift some of the tension in the room, “I keep looking around for Philip myself.”

“Well,” Mimi said, “I need to go because the sooner I leave, the sooner the smell with go away….I mean the sooner you can change your clothes…oh I give up. Talking is not my friend today!” Belle laughed at Mimi’s antics.

“Thanks for that,” Belle said to a confused Mimi, “I know you were doing that to get me to smile so I’m in a good mood for when Claire comes out of surgery.”

“Well you know me,” she said, “I’m always willing to humiliate myself for a cause. I’ll be back in a half hour to forty minutes tops. Call me if anything changes okay?” Mimi looked at Shawn and could see that he didn’t share Belle’s opinion in why she was acting nervous.

“It’s a promise.” Belle said as she hugged her friend. Belle noticed that Mimi didn’t say good bye to Shawn or hug him. Belle could have sworn that Mimi seemed scared to be by him. “Trouble in paradise?” she thought to herself, trying hard not to show the smile that was trying to form on her lips.

“Hey Meems,” Shawn said, then he whispered to her “no good bye for your handsome fiancé?” He wanted to know why she was spooked. “Was it something I did? he asked himself.

“I didn’t see him anywhere,” she said, “when you see my fiancé please tell him…”

“Yup,” his mind confirmed, but somehow he couldn’t just let it be. He couldn’t stop himself from blowing up at her again. “Don’t be like that,” he said frustrated, “I already told you that I was sorry that I blew up at you!” He was practically yelling at her when he finished his sentence.

“In the coldest and most unemotional tone I have ever heard from you!” she said, “Look, I’ll be back in a half in hour and then I promise you my full attention.” She leaned up and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. It was so brief and light at if Shawn wasn’t watching her kiss him he would have never have known. “Belle needs you.”

“What does that mean?” Shawn said.

“It means what it always means,” Mimi said. She turned and walked down the hallway.

“God you can be so cryptic and irritating Miriam Lockhart!” he yelled at her retreating figure. Shawn was so irritated and frustrated with the situation and he couldn’t stop himself from taking it out on her. He knew it wasn’t fair to her and didn’t blame her. But right now all he could think about is Claire, “She better live God. You better not of destroy my family just so you can get some sick pleasure out of building up Belle’s hopes to crush them.” Shawn turned around and walked back to the NICU. He never noticed the man that stepped out of the shadows and followed his fiancée out of the hospital.

Mimi was walking to the dark parking garage when she got that sensation that someone was following her again, “Hello?” she asked as she looked around, “hello?” she said again, but she couldn’t see anyone. “Stop thinking crazy Mimi,” she said to herself, “you’re fine.” As much as she wanted to believe those words, it didn’t stop her from walking faster to her car. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her keys and dug into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. “I’m not sacred,” she told herself, “I just want to tell mom what is going on with Claire.” She tried to convince herself of that, but knew it was because she was scared. She reached her car and was about to bring the key to the lock when she looked at her window and saw someone come up from behind her. Before she could react, he had a rag over her mouth and nose and she quickly lost consciousness. She dropped her keys, cell phone, and her purse fell out of her hand and landed on the floor next to them.

“Welcome home baby,” he said to her unconscious and limp body in his hands, “I’ve missed you so much. Why did you runaway from me?”

[Joise]

Chapter 2-While my pretty one sleeps

It has been nearly four hours since Mimi had left the hospital. Claire was still in surgery. Belle and Philip were sitting on the couch and Shawn was pacing back in forth in the waiting area, “What is taking so long!” he said frustrated, “It’s been hours!”

“Shawn,” Philip said, “Lexie said that the transplant would take many hours.”

“I feel like we should know something by now,” Shawn said, “How long does it take to take one organ from….” Shawn with held the tears,” from….one person to the next. The waiting is killing me. I need to know that this worked! I need to know that Zach’s life wasn’t taken for nothing. His death needs to have meaning…it needs to give her life.”

“Shawn,” Belle said interrupting his rant, “it’s going to be okay.” She got up from the couch and gave him a hug. “Claire’s a fighter; she’s going to get through this. I know it.”

“I just wish we knew something,” he said, “All this waiting is driving me crazy.”

“Where’s Mimi? I haven’t seen her in a while,” Philip commented as he looked around for their quirky friend. He knew that she would know what to do to ease Shawn’s nervousness.

“She went to get everyone a change of clothes,” Shawn said, “She’ll be back in about 20 minutes.” All the stress that was taking a toll on him, he didn’t realize how long ago Mimi left. In his mind, she left a little while ago.

“Shawn,” Belle said when she realized for the first time that she hadn’t seen Mimi in hours instead of minutes. Before she could finishes her sentence Lexie came out. “Lexie,” Belle said, “How’s my daughter?”

“The surgery was a success,” Lexie said, “but the next few days are critical.”

“Why?” Philip asked coming over to Belle and pulling her into a hug. They both were smiling until Lexie said she was still critical.

“Claire’s body might still reject the liver,” Lexie said, “all we can do now is wait and pray that her body doesn’t reject it.”

“She won’t,” Shawn said, “she has to make it through this!”

“Thank you Lexie,” Belle said with a huge grin on her face as she hugged Lexie.

“I’m glad I could help,” she said, giving Belle a tight squeeze before letting her go, “Shawn, your father wanted me to pass on the news that they are still in the ER.”

“What happened?” Shawn said with concern, “Did something else happen?”

“No,” Lexie said, “Hope was getting upset and I gave her a sedative to calm her nerves…”

“What do you expect she just lost her son…”

“I know that Shawn,” Lexie said, “That is why I gave her the sedative. She needed to calm down before she had a panic attack or worse. I just wanted to let you know where your parents were. If you have time, you might want to stop down here. I’m sure seeing you would help her somewhat.”

“Thanks Lexie,” he said, “I’ll be down shortly.” Shawn watched her leave and turned around to face Belle and Philip. Belle flung herself into his arms and he embraced her.

“My baby’s going to be okay,” she said, “I will always be indebted to your family for this precious gift.”

“It would have been what Zach wanted,” Shawn said as he broke their hug, “I should go check on my parents and see if there are any leads on the driver of the car.”

“Okay,” Belle said as she watched Shawn walk down the hallway, “Oh my god, Mimi!”

Philip looked around but couldn’t find her anywhere, “Do you see her?”

“No,” Belle said, “I promised I would call her with any news. She’s going to be so happy.” Belle went to the pay phone and dialed Mimi’s cell phone. With all of the excitement she forgot her thoughts about the amount of time she had been gone.

Down in the parking garage Mimi’s cell phone laid on the ground next to her purse and keys. It started to ring and the sounded echoed through the empty parking garage. Hey this is Meems, sorry I missed your call. Leave me a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Belle waited until she heard the beep, “Mimi,” she said, “its Belle. Call me as soon as you get this, better yet come to the hospital. I have news on Claire.” Belle hung up with a smile on her face, “It’s best she hear this in person instead of a message.” She couldn’t stop grinning as she walked into Philip’s embrace, “She’s going to be okay,” she said, “our baby girl is going to be just fine.”

“Thank you God,” Philip said, holding Belle closer to him, “I can’t wait until we bring her home.”

“Me either,” Belle said looking up at him.

“Let’s go find out if we can see our beautiful angel,” he said.

“You read my mind,” she said as he leaned up and kissed him. They walked over to the nurse’s station, Philip had his arm around her shoulder and she had hers around his waist.

Shawn walked into the ER, “Dad,” Shawn said when he spotted Bo, “how’s Mom?”

“She’s upset,” Bo said, “which in understandable. Lexie gave her a sedative to help calm her. She was getting too worked up.”

“Did they find out who did this to Zach?” Shawn asked.

Bo hesitated, “Not yet,” he hated lying to Shawn. But he wanted to know the answers himself before telling the world. He saw Shawn starring at him looking for more answers. He was getting uncomfortable and decided for a topic change, “Where’s Mimi?” he asked when he noticed she wasn’t with him.

“She’s getting everyone a change of clothes,” Shawn said, “she should be back in twenty minutes.” His brain wasn’t even processing that he told Philip the exact same thing thirty minutes ago.

“How’s Claire?” Bo asked, “Did the transplant go well?”

“Yeah,” Shawn said, “it was a success, now we have to sit and wait to see if her body rejects the…his…”

“The liver.” Bo finished for son who was struggling with the words.

“Yeah,” Shawn said, “if you don’t mind I’m going to call Mimi and see if I can speed up her process.”

“Yeah,” he said, “you go do that. I have some stuff to do down here. I’ll call you when I know something okay?”

“Okay,” Shawn said before giving his father a hug. He walked away from Bo and out to the terrace to use his cell phone. He hit his speed dial and waited for Mimi to pick up. After five rings her voicemail picked up. Hey this is Meems, sorry I missed your call. Leave me a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can. BEEP “Hey Mrs. Stinky pants, this is Mr. Stinky pants,” he said remembering the little name she called him earlier, “I’m getting pretty smelly over here; so I’d appreciate it if you could hurry up. Claire’s out of surgery now. Everything went fine….listen, I’m sorr…..” Shawn listened as her voicemail cut him off. He tried to think of reasons why she wouldn’t answer his phone call. But Belle’s scream interrupted his thoughts.

“Lexie!” Belle screamed, “Something’s wrong with Claire. She feels like she’s on fire!”

Shawn ran in behind Lexie to see what was going on. Claire had a high fever. It didn’t look good and Lexie feared Claire’s body was rejecting the liver.

Meanwhile across town, her kidnapper was carried her into an old abandoned house. The inside of the house was in better shape than the outside. He carried her to the bedroom and laid her down on the bed. He tied her hands together at her wrists and then tied it to the bed. He ran his fingers through her hair and stroked her cheek. “Welcome home my beloved,” he said, he continued to run his fingers through her hair and became upset at her, “you changed your hair again on me!” He dropped her hair and raised his hand at her, he seemed to calm himself down before he slapped her, “Don’t worry. I’ll fix it for you like I’ve done for you before.”

He walked out of the room and came back with a pair of scissors. He sat her up and held up her head as he started to cut away her beautiful locks. “I don’t understand why you insist on changing your hair on me,” he said. When he was done he cut off at least two inches and her hair was now just above her shoulders. “I like it better this way,” he said to her. He laid the scissors down on the table next to them and went back to playing with her hair and stroking her face. He smiled when her face seemed to react to his touch.

“Shawn,” she said with a smile.

“YOU SLUT!” he yelled at her as he lifted his hand and slapped her hard in the face, waking her back into consciousness. He couldn’t believe she cheated on him with another man. He was going to make her pay for betraying him like this. When he was done with her, she’ll never look twice at another man again…especially Shawn.

Mimi felt like her cheek was on fire and it ached for some unknown reason. Mimi’s eyes focused on the bed and noticed she was surrounded by her own locks on hair. She tried to move her hands to grab her hair but couldn’t. She noticed she was tied to a bed. She felt extra weight on the bed, but was too afraid to look at the source. She looked around the room, “Where am I?” she said as her eyes fixed on her attacker, she began to tense up.

“Home baby,” he said, “and this time you’re not leaving me. NEVER AGAIN YOU LITTLE SLUT!” He raised his hand faster than before and slapped her hard again. “I’ll teach you to betray me.” He slapped her hand one more time before reaching for the scissors.

Mimi looked at him with horror as he grabbed the scissors. Her face was already in pain for his slaps, her lip was cut open and she could feel the blood running down her chin and neck to her shirt. “Please don’t!” she begged him.

He punched her in the face, knocking her back into unconscious as he grabbed the scissors and walked out of the room. “You’ll pay for this,” he said in a cold voice, “I will teach you what the word pain really means.” He slammed the door shut, leaving her tied to the bed bleeding and bruises already beginning to form.

[Joise]

Chapter 3-A million little pieces

“There’s a story about of a young man who visits an old man for counsel. The young man tells him that he broke something. The old man ask how broken it is. When the young man responds that it is broken into a million pieces the old man says he cannot help. There is nothing that can be done; it cannot be fixed. When asked why, the old man said that it is broken beyond repair. It’s a million little pieces.”

Shawn was pacing the halls of the hospital again. Lexie was checking on Claire again. Her fever was still high and did not show any signs of breaking anytime soon. He could feel it again, deep down in his stomach that something wasn’t right. It was the third time that hour that his gut was talking to him, “Mimi should be here by now,” he said, “What’s taking her so long?” Shawn looked down at his watch and saw it was seven o’clock. His brain registered quickly that she should have been back here eight hours ago. The feeling in his stomach worsen in light of this new information, “She should have been here hours ago. Where is she?”

Mimi slowly began to regain consciousness and at first she thought she just had a nightmare; but when she opened her eyes she realized she didn’t dream it. She was being held captive and she could only guess by the Salem Stalker. She noticed her hands were still bounded together and tied to the bed. Mimi looked down and noticed that her clothes were different. A sick feeling came over her that this man had seen her naked while she was unconscious and was completely powerless to do anything about it. She felt so violated and dirty knowing that another man had seen only what a few were allowed to see; her at her most vulnerable state. It made her want to throw up.

“Well, well,” said a voice from the corner, “I don’t ever remember you sleeping this long darling.”

Mimi looked immediately at the corner and allowed her eyes to adjust to the light and focus in on him, “Who are you?” Mimi took note that the simplest question seemed to anger him quickly. She tried to curl into a ball when she saw him quickly come at her with fire in his eyes.

He was over by her in an instance slapping her as hard as he could, “Who am I?” he screamed at her, “Who am I!” He slapped her again, “I’M THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE YOU UNGRATEFUL PIECE OF TRASH!” He raised his hand to slap her again but stopped. “Maybe this will jog your memory!” He pulled her by her hair to a sitting position and kissed her roughly on the mouth.

Mimi felt sick inside all over again, especially has his hands tried to roam freely around her body. She felt his tongue roughly invade her mouth and all she could think about was Shawn as she tried to struggle with him. The thought of Shawn gave her new strength; she would not roll over and allow this man to take things from her that she only would ever give to Shawn. She tried to push him away; but find it hard with her hands tied; so she bit down hard on his tongue.

He pulled away when she let go of his tongue, it was throbbing in pain. He starred at her with new vengeance in his eyes. He could not believe she just bit him. He couldn’t remember her ever being this bold. Before he could process what was happening, she hand rolled over her back and kicked him backwards with her feet and legs. He landed hard on the floor and could hear her trying to free her hands from the bed. He wasn’t about to let that happen. He quickly got to his feet and kicked her hard in the stomach and punched her in the face when she curled over in pain. He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her face to look at him, “You’re going to regret doing that,” he said to her. He pushed her back on the bed and stormed out of the room.

Mimi cried in pain, but relieved to know that she won this round. “I’ll never let you hurt me,” she told herself with determination, “You’ll never have me.” As she laid on the bed in pain she tried to remember if she had ever seen him before in her life. He seemed to know her and was under the assumption that they were once lovers. “This is crazy,” Mimi said, “I only had three boyfriends and only was intimate with two of them.” Her brain tried to process everything, “And he’s not Kevin or Rex and he’s definitely not Shawn.” She couldn’t stop crying when thoughts of Shawn flooded into her mind, “Oh Shawn,” she said, “please find me. I don’t want to leave you. I don’t want to die.”

Mimi was unaware that someone had listened to her entire confession. “I’ll take care of lover boy,” he said, his voice full of rage and hatred, “he’ll never know what happened to him.” He went to his desk and pulled out his gun. He put it in his holster behind his back as he headed out of the door.

Back at Salem University Hospital Shawn had tried again to reach Mimi. When the voicemail beeped again, he sighed heavily into it, “Okay Mimi I get that you’re mad at me,” he said, “I said some stupid things. You know I didn’t mean them…I was hurt and angry…I know it doesn’t excuse my behavior. I know I was a jerk. I was venting and I hurt you. I’m sorry, and I’m not trying to use that stupid cliché ‘you always hurt the one you love’ crap…I knew that you’d…” the voicemail cut him off again. “d**n it!” he shouted, “Why won’t she talk to me?”

“Keep your voice down young man,” said a nurse in a stern voice, “This is a hospital not a zoo.”

“Sorry ma’am,” he said, “it won’t happen again.”

“Just remember that there are sick people here,” she lectured, “the next time you feel like screaming at the air.”

Shawn watched her walk away, “This is ridiculous,” he said, “If she’s going to be childish and avoid me fine. That doesn’t mean I have to play this stupid game.” He started to walk back to Claire’s room when he stopped and growled out in frustration, earning another scolding look from the nurse. “That’s it,” he said, “I’m going to track her down and we’re going to talk about this like civilized beings.” He did a 180 and headed for the elevators, “Which means I’ll probably have to go on my hands and knees and grovel in her presence,” he paused to think about what he just said, “Which I’m almost fully prepared to do.”

Down in the parking garage by Mimi’s car a nurse was walking to the elevator before her shift. She looked over at the ground by Mimi’s car and noticed her belongings. “Oh dear,” she said, “Someone was in a hurray and dropped their belongings.” She gathered them up and continued to walk to the elevator when she decided to take the stairs instead. “Time to try and get rid of those holiday pounds,” she told herself as she walked up the stairs. “I’ll just put this in the lost and found. She will would want this back.” She looked through the purse for an ID and found it belonged to Miriam Lockhart, “even better. I can see if I can find her number and call her. I could see if she’s in the hospital and have her paged to the nurse’s station.” She continued walking up the stairs with a smile on her face for her good deed she was doing.

Shawn was waiting for the elevator he saw Philip and Belle coming towards them with a bag in hand. He first took note that their clothes were changed. “What’s going on?” he asked, “Where did you get the clothes from?”

“Mimi dropped them off,” Belle said, “A nurse brought them to us. There are some clothes for you too.” Philip gave Shawn the bag as Belle explained.

“Where is she?” Shawn asked, something didn’t feel right about this, he just wasn’t sure what it was, “It’s not like Mimi to drop clothes off and go.”

“Well the nurse said she left to yell at some noisy visitor,” Philip explained, “when she came back there was a bag of clothes and a note that said they were for us.”

“That’s it?” Shawn said, “No explanation of why she dropped them off and went away?” There it was again, in the pit of his stomach that awful feeling. And it was getting worse by the second.

“Something about needing some time to herself,” Belle said, “which I guess sounds reasonable…”

“If you didn’t know Mimi,” Philip said, “she wouldn’t just bail on Claire like that.” Philip was looking at Shawn for an explanation.

Shawn noticed Philip’s glare, “What?”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” Philip said, “Mimi was here everyday since this happened. Doesn’t it seem odd that she would just up and leave; especially now?” Philip looked questionably at Shawn, “What happened between you two?”

“I may have yelled at her a lot,” Shawn said, “and none of it being her fault.”

“Why would you do something like that Shawn?” Belle asked. She tried to make it sound sincere without being happy. She didn’t like the idea of her friends being together. She never did.

“You know how you know someone so well and you love this person,” Shawn tried to explain.

“Yeah,” Philip said, not sure where he was going with this.

“And you know that no matter what you do they will always love you and always be with you?”

“Yeah,” Philip said before realizing where he was going with this, “What did you do to her?”

Belle’s interests here perk here, she thought this would be the moment Shawn would tell them that Mimi wasn’t the one and they broke up.

“I vented all my anger about Zach’s death, the irresponsible driver, and Claire to her,” he said, “I laid it into her good. I didn’t hold back because I wanted it out of my system. I knew that in the end…”

“She’s still love you and be by your side,” Philip finished for him.

“Yeah,” Shawn said, “I knew she’s understand that I wasn’t blaming her or angry with her. I was angry with the world and I needed to get rid of that like she wanted me to.”

“Yeah,” Belle said sarcastically, “Every woman wants their boyfriends to treat them like crap wherever they want and say that it was what SHE wanted.”

“It wasn’t like that Belle,” Shawn said, “If you knew me at all you wouldn’t have said that. Mimi wanted me to let it go. I…I need to find her.”

Belle tried hard not to let it be shown how much Shawn’s words had hurt her. They were broken up nearly a year and half…that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t know him anymore. Or was he implying that she never knew him in the first place. Either thought made her want to cry.

The elevator finally came and Bonnie Lockhart came out, her face lit up when she saw Shawn, “I was just looking for you two,” Bonnie said, “Where’s Mimi?” Her eyes darted across the room in search of her daughter.

“She’s not here,” Shawn said, “she needed some time to clear her mind.”

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard Shawn Brady,” Bonnie said, “My daughter would never leave you…especially now when you need her to support you.”

“She went home to bring us changes of clothes Mrs. Lockhart,” Belle explained, “she dropped them off and left.”

“No she didn’t,” Bonnie said.

“Yes she did,” Philip said, “she left a note explaining that.”

“Can I see that note?” Shawn asked. He took it from Belle and read it over. He could feel his stomach tying up in knots. Nothing about this note was right, nothing at all. He could try to explain away the fact the handwriting didn’t match to her writing in a hurry. Even that was still unbelievable. But the fact that Mimi would never say any of this made his heart sink into his stomach. “Something’s wrong,” Shawn mumbled.

The stalker came back to his hide out with a smug look on his face. He watched as two of her friends had immediately believed that Mimi had dropped off the clothes and left. He watched as the married couple handed lover boy his clothes and he seemed to take it without hesitation. “Easier than I thought,” he said to himself, pleased with his actions. He was able to sneak into their lofts and grab clothes for them. He was able to go into the hospital undetected drop of their belongings, and spy on them long enough to see them fall for his trap. No one will look for her until it’s too late. He walked into the bedroom and looked at his beloved, “Did you miss me?”

“About as much as I would miss the cramps I get when I have my period,” Mimi snapped back at him. Her response earned her another slap in the face.

“How many times have I told you not to talk about to me!” he demanded.

“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Mimi responded and she felt his response on the other side of her face.

“I’ve told you more times than I can remember,” he said, sucker punching her in the stomach, “and you better start remembering your manners before I do something you will regret.”

Mimi watched him leave the room and slam the door behind him, “Okay Meems,” she said to herself as she struggled to regain normal breathing, “time to rethink your game plan.”

“Mimi’s here in the hospital,” Bonnie said, “She has to be here.” She emphasized the has in her sentence.

“She’s not here Mrs…”

“Listen Belle,” Bonnie said, “I know you’ve been busy with Claire and haven’t left this hospital in weeks. But I just came from the parking garage and Mimi’s car is there.”

“Mimi’s still here?” Shawn asked, but somehow that news didn’t make the bad feeling go away.

“Her car is here,” Bonnie explained to them like they were five, “So she has to be here.”

“Something’s not right about this,” Shawn said reaching for his cell phone, “I’m going to try her again.” He hit the speed dial and he heard a familiar ringtone behind him that was undoubtedly Mimi’s. He turned around and didn’t see her anywhere. He walked over to the sound and found himself walking in the direction of the nurse’s station when someone picked up.

“Hello?” a woman’s voice said.

“Who is this?” Shawn demanded.

“Who is this?” the woman replied.

“I’m calling my fiancée’s cell phone,” Shawn said, getting a surprise look from both Belle and Philip.

Bonnie looked pleased that Shawn openly called Mimi his fiancée in front of his ex-girlfriend. “He’s going to be all yours Mimi,” Bonnie thought to herself with a huge grin across her face.

“May I ask the name of your fiancée sir?” the nurse responded.

By this time Shawn had figured out he was speaking to the nurse two feet from him. He quickly made up the distance and grabbed the phone from her. He didn’t notice that Philip, Belle, and Bonnie followed him.

“Hey,” the nurse said, “that doesn’t belong to you.”

“This is my fiancée’s cell phone,” Shawn said, “I know this because we were lying in bed the other night…”

Belle inwardly cringed at the thought of them in bed together. She didn’t want to think about what they were doing before they were just lying there in bed. But unfortunately, her mind had wondered there. She tried to shake the images from her mind as she continued to listen to Shawn’s story.

“…and she thought it would be romantic and sweet if we had the same ring tone. It was my bright idea to do the Rolling Stones since we both love the group beyond words. It was her brilliant idea to do “The Streets of Love” since we first danced to that song on our date on the rooftop of our building. It was a magical and romantic night. We both agreed it was a wonderful idea because whenever we heard that song it would bring us back to there. Then my fiancée decided that we couldn’t use that song for everyone, just for ourselves, so whenever we call each other we know who it is by the ringtone. The moment I dialed my fiancée that phone went off.” He finished his story with waving Mimi’s cell phone at the nurse.

Philip was stunned to hear about their engagement and decided to ask him later about it…especially why they didn’t tell him or Belle. Belle on the other hand was trying hard not to look heartbroken. She knew that she lost Shawn forever now. And Bonnie was thrilled at the number of times Shawn had called Mimi his fiancée, she had counted four times so far.

The nurse tried to snatch the phone back from Shawn but he pulled it out of her reach, “You still didn’t…”

“Why do you have her phone?” Shawn demanded.

“Tell me your fiancée’s name and I’ll tell you why I have it,” the nurse said. She really wanted to believe this boy’s story, it sounded so romantic to her. But she wanted to know for sure just incase there was a mix up.

“Mimi Lockhart,” Shawn said without any hesitation. That feeling in his stomach wasn’t getting any better. It was getting worse with each passing second. “Something is wrong, very wrong here,” he told himself.

“What’s her full name?” the nurse asked, she wanted to make sure that this was the same person. She hoped that if someone else had her belongings they were be as careful as she was being now.

“Miriam Lockhart,” Shawn snapped at her, “Would you like me to spell it for you!”

“No…” the nurse tried to say but Shawn cut her off.

“Miriam, M-I-R-I-A-M,” Shawn spelled, “Lockhart, L-O-C-K-H…”

“I think she gets it Shawn,” Philip said, standing up for the poor nurse that was only trying to do her job.

“Okay, I believe you,” she said as she reached for Mimi’s belongings, “I just wanted to be sure Sir, you have to understand that part.”

“Sorry, he said, “I’ve been worried about her.” He didn’t know why his heart was breaking with the nurse handed him Mimi’s purse and keys. Her purse was opened, Mimi never does that.

“I was about to page her over the hospital intercom to come to the nurse’s station when her cell phone rang,” she said, “I though maybe it was the young woman calling. I sometimes call my own phone when I loose it. When you were the one on the other line I had a bad feeling.”

“Where did you find this?” Shawn asked, almost afraid to know the answer.

“In the parking lot,” she said, “by a car. I was going to make announcements over the intercom for Ms Lockhart to pick up her belongs. I was also going to try and see if I could find a home number to call to let her know it was here.”

“How long ago did you find it?” Shawn asked, his gut felt like it was about to explode from the horrible feeling that continued to grow.

“Just now,” she said, “I started work about five minutes ago. Would you like me to call the police?” She offered to call the police after seeing the young man’s face drop the way it did.

“Yes!” he screamed at her.

“No, wait a minute,” Belle said stopping the nurse from making the call, “Mimi dropped off the clothes for us. She might have accidentally dropped those things trying to carry it all.”

“Mimi’s in trouble,” Shawn said, “My gut is telling me that.”

“You just told us that Mimi was angry with you,” Belle tried to reason with him. There was no way in her mind that Mimi could be in danger, nothing added up, “She could be avoiding you.”

“The note,” Shawn said, “isn’t her handwriting.”

“She could have written fast and sloppy,” Belle said, “she does that sometimes when she’s in a hurry.”

“Something doesn’t feel right,” Shawn said.

“I’ll page her to the nurse’s station,” the nurse said, “tell her we have her belongings.”

“That’s a good idea,” Philip said, “we’ll give her ten minutes, and then call the police.” He tried to play mediator between Belle and Shawn.

“Call the police now,” Shawn said, “Mimi would never not tell me she’s mad. She would have come back to the hospital and hit me over the head and demand to know why I was being so much of a jerk I couldn’t see that she was angry with me. Then she would storm off to cool down as she waited for me to beg for forgiveness. She wouldn’t ignore my calls. Especially with Zach’s death and Claire still not out of the woods yet! This isn’t how Mimi acts and you know it.” He pointed an accusatory finger at Belle.

“Shawn you have a lot on your plate right now,” Belle said, “she might be giving you space.”

“That’s not my daughter,” Bonnie said in defense, “She would…”

“She’s in trouble,” Shawn said to the nurse, “call the police now. I think something bad as happened to her.”

“How do you know,” Belle said, “and don’t tell me it’s a hunch; because your hunches have been wrong before.”

Shawn looked down trying to think of physical evidence to agree with his gut. He looked at the bag Mimi brought to the hospital. He didn’t even look inside before he said, “This is my proof.”

“Your old high school gym bag is your proof?” Belle said in disbelief, “How do you figure that?”

“Because,” he said pulling out the clothes inside, “these aren’t my clothes.”

Belle couldn’t help but to laugh at him, “Shawn those are your clothes,” she said, “I’ve seen you in them before…”

“Mimi and I were cleaning out our clothes to make them fit in one closet…to make room,” Shawn decided his friends didn’t need to know about Shawn and Mimi now sharing closet space as well as a room, “and I put all of my clothes that I haven’t worn in a long time in my old high school gym bag to give them to Goodwill. Mimi put hers in shopping bags. We put them by the door and we were going to bring them to Goodwill in the morning. The morning turned into weeks. This bag was still there when we left this morning to come here.”

“Mimi could have just grabbed that bag out of convenience,” Belle continued to reason with him.

“Impossible,” Shawn said, “none of these clothes fit me anymore. Mimi knows that they are all too small for me. Don’t you get it Belle! Mimi is in serious trouble. Someone knows were we all live and tried very hard to make it look like Mimi wasn’t missing. She’s in trouble. Someone has her and I swear to God when I get my hands on him, he’s going to wish he was never born!”

“Yes, this is Nancy Brown at Salem University Hospital,” she said, “I need police over here right away. There was a possible kidnapping.”

When Shawn heard those words, it rang repeatedly in his head. “There was a possible kidnapping. There was a possible kidnapping. There was a possible kidnapping.” His mind started to play all the moments they had shared their whole lives together in his head. Then he remembered the cold way they said good bye to each other this morning. He was embarrassed that is took him eight hours to get to this moment of time. But was scared him the most and replayed over and over in his mind was the number of times Mimi was looking over her shoulder the past two weeks, like someone had been watching her. It was at that moment that the horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach had taken control of his entire body and his heart broke into a million little pieces.

[Joise]

Chapter 4-Dreached in my pain again

“Did you ever have one of those days that you wish you could live all over again? I know I do. And I know exactly what I would have done differently. I wouldn’t have let her leave the hospital by herself. I should have walked her to her car to make sure she was alright. I should have gone with her. If I did, I wouldn’t be living this nightmare right now. I wouldn’t be out of my mind with worry, wondering where she was and if she was still alive. God, please don’t take her from me. I can’t lose her, I just can’t. I need her. This is all my fault; I should have handle things differently. I should have noticed the distress in her face, I should have…I should have…”

“You’re not listening to a single word I’m saying are you!” Shawn yelled at the police officers who responded to the possible kidnapping the hospital, “Are you a some kind of a moron! A trained monkey could do what you’re doing right now!”

“Shawn!” Belle said, “You’re not helping the situation.”

“I know you’re upset Mr. Brady,” the policeman said, “with everything that has happened with your brother…”

“Stop talking about Zach,” Shawn said with distain dripping from his voice, “my fiancée is missing. Zach’s dead! There is nothing that will bring him back. But my fiancée may still be alive so if you would get your heads out of you asses…”

“I want you to look for my daughter,” Bonnie said interrupting Shawn before he dug himself in a hole he couldn’t get out of, “her car is still here. I felt the hood before I came up here to see if she’s been here for a while. It was cold. My daughter’s been missing for almost nine hours now. Would you do your jobs now…”

“My fiancée could be dead right now because you two are too stupid to do your jobs,” Shawn snapped at them.

“Mr. Brady,” said the officer, “I’m not going to warn you again. I know your upset but our hands are tied.”

“Bullsh…” Shawn said but was cut off again.

“You’re parents are police offices,” the officer said, “and as I told you before. You can’t report someone as a missing person until they have been missing for 48 hours.”

“She’s not missing,” Shawn said, “someone has her!”

“We’ve been through this Shawn,” the policeman said in frustration, “there are no signs of struggle or any signs that she was taken except for the fact you said so. But as Mrs., Kiriakis pointed out to us. You two had an argument. She’s probably just cooling off before coming back to see you.”

“She would not just disappear,” Shawn said with his voice full of anger, “Especially with all that is going on. You don’t know Mimi like I do. She wouldn’t just disappear for an entire day and not talk to anyone. My brother is dead and our goddaughter is still in critical condition. She would not be away this long under these circumstances!”

“I’m sorry Mr. Brady,” he said, “we cant’ do anything without actual evidence. Your gut feeling isn’t proof of anything. Call us in two days if you haven’t seen her. That’s all we can do for you now.”

“The police force is this town is complete and utter shi….”

“Shawn Douglas Brady is you finish that word so help you God you will regret it!” Caroline Brady said as she walked up to her grandson, “I don’t care how upset you are about Zach’s death. It doesn’t give you the right to talk to officers of the law like that. Now tell them that you’re sorry.”

“Sorry!” Shawn yelled at Caroline, “You want me to apologize to the most laziness and useless pieces of sh…” His sentence was cut short by Caroline slapping him in the face.

“I warned you,” she scolded at him as she watched him rub his face, “Apologize now.”

The officers tried to withhold their assumed faces at how this little old lady was putting that punk into his place.

“Mimi is missing,” Shawn said, “Something terrible has happened and Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum won’t do anything about it! I will not apologize to them. They are wasting time here patronizing me when they should be out there looking for her. This is complete and total crap Grandma and you can hit me from here to eternity but I will not apologize for getting angry at two police officers who would rather have my fiancée die than do anything about it.”

“Shawn you need to calm down,” Belle said.

“The hell I do!” Shawn said, before Caroline slapped him in the face again for his outburst, “Would you stop hitting me like I’m a child!”

“Then stop acting like one!” Caroline said, “Now will someone tell me what’s going on.”

“What’s going on?” Shawn said, “Are you losing it?” He saw the anger flare in her eyes and she reached to slap him again. Shawn took it, knowing this one he deserved. “Mimi is missing,” he said in a calmer tone that seemed to please Caroline, “She’s been gone for almost nine hours and no one’s heard from her. Her car is in the parking lot and the engine is cold. A nurse found her belongs on the floor next to her car. And these two…..” Shawn’s anger began to rise again, “Aren’t doing anything about it because apparently she’s not in any danger. But I’m allowed to call them in two days to report her missing. But by then whoever has her, would have killed her already and the only thing they have to do is fill the police report on her dead…you mother fuc….”

“We’re going to talk a long walk,” Philip said pulling Shawn away from the officers, “before you land yourself in jail. And that will not help Mimi now will it?”

“You know I’m right Philip,” Shawn said, “Something happened to her.”

“I agree that Mimi not being here is unusual,” Philip said, “but how do you explain the clothes that were dropped off. Nothing about this makes any sense.”

“You don’t think I know that?” Shawn said exasperated.

“I’ll help you look for her,” Philip said, “We’ll comb the hospital looking for her.”

“Mr. Brady,” the officers said, “call us if anything changes. But we can’t go with your theory that she’s been kidnap without any evidence. Your father would do the exact same thing we are doing now. I left my card with your grandmother incase you need something.”

“Leave you incompetent jerks,” Shawn, mumbled, “before I do something I’d enjoy doing to you.”

“I’m sorry I missed what you just said,” the officer said.

“He said thank you for time,” Philip responded before Shawn could repeat himself, “and he’ll call if anything changes.” Shawn shoved Philip and walked back towards the nurse’s station, “Where are you going?” he asked Shawn’s retreating figure.

“To find that evidence,” Shawn said, “Because they are too stupid to do anything about this.” Shawn noticed Philip was quickly by his side again as he approached the nurse’s station, “I don’t need a babysitter.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Philip said in disbelief, “If it wasn’t for me or Mrs. Brady, they would have thrown you in jail.”

“Don’t remind me about that,” Shawn said rubbing his jaw again.

“Shawn we need to talk,” Caroline said.

“Not now Grandma,” Shawn said, “I need to find Mimi. I feel it in every being of my body that something is wrong. If I don’t find her now, something bad is going to happen, I can feel it.”

Mimi had concluded that ever tying in her body ached from that man. But she could continue to fight him in every way. “I need to get back to Shawn,” she said. She saw her reflection in the mirror and could barely see herself anymore. Her face was badly bruised and her lip was bleeding again from the latest encounter with her kidnapper. “Oh God Shawn,” she cried, “Please find me. I don’t know how much more of this I can take.” Mimi tried to sit up, but the pain was too much for her to bear. Even if she wanted to, she couldn’t. Her hands were bound to the bed, it was impossible task. “Come on Miriam,” she said, “think. You need to get yourself out of here. If this is the Salem Stalker, you know you don’t have the luxury of time.” She looked around the room and then started once again to free her hands. “I need to think of away out of here,” she said, “this isn’t working. Who is that man? When I escape it would be better to have a name to go with the face. That way the police could catch him better. But how?” Mimi looked at the door as it opened up. Her kidnapper approached her with a bowl in his hands.

“I brought you something to eat my darling,” he said.

“I’m not hungry,” she said, not wanting anything he had.

“Don’t be silly,” he said, “You haven’t eaten all day. You have to be starving. I made your favorite, chicken noodle soup.” He waved the bowl under her nose. It actually smelled good. Her stomach growled with hunger.

“How do I know that you didn’t poison it?” she snapped back at him, earning herself another slap in the face.

“Because I love you,” he said, “and we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.” He took a sthingyful of soup and ate it himself. “Just incase you don’t believe my words.”

Mimi hated the way his eyes lustfully roamed her body. When he would look her in the eye, she couldn’t help but to think that he was never really talking to her. “I can’t eat,” she said.

“Yes you can,” he said, “I know you’re starving. I heard your stomach growl before.”

“I can’t eat,” she said, “My hands are tied. If you untied me…”

“Open up,” he said putting the sthingy to her mouth.

“I can feed myself,” she said.

“But its more romantic this way,” he countered, “don’t you think?”

“I need to find a way to get my hands untied,” she thought to herself, “I need to get him to think he can trust me…but how?” She obeyed his command and opened her mouth. She watched as it seemed to please him to feed her.

“Wasn’t that fun?” he said to her as she finished the last sthingyful, “I want to make sure you stay healthy. We’ve got a busy few days ahead of us.” He got up from the bed and kissed her on the forehead. “Why don’t you take a nap and rest up? You’re going to need your strength for tonight.”

“What happens tonight?” she asked, afraid to know the answer.

“We’re going to make sweet and beautiful love,” he said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Mimi’s eyes widen in horror and her mind raced with ways to figure out how to get out of this. She also found it hard to keep her eyes open. Her last conscious thought was on the fact he had just drugged her before she fell into unconsciousness.

Back at Salem University Hospital Shawn was getting into another argument with Nancy Brown, the nurse that found Mimi’s possession. “What do you mean I can’t look over the security tapes?” he asked, more like yelled, “They could have the proof I need that she was kidnapped.”

“You’re not an officer of the law,” Nancy said, “so unless you have a badge I’m sorry Mr. Brady I cannot help you.” She walked away from the desk before he could drag her into another argument. She felt sorry for the boy; but she could get fired if she did what he asked.

“You don’t understand,” Shawn tried to say to her retreating form, “I love her!”

“What are we going to do now?” Philip said, “Should we search the hospital.”

“You do that,” Shawn said, “I know someone that can help me with those tapes.”

“Shawn,” Caroline said in a stern voice, “You break the law it can’t be used as evidence.”

“I’m going to find her Grandma,” he said, “you can be the living day lights out of me I don’t care. But I’m going to find her.” He ran away from Caroline and Philip.

“I’m going to look around and see if I can find her,” Philip said.

“I’m going to apologize to Ms. Brown,” Caroline said, “and see if she’d be willing to page Mimi again.” They parted their ways, each one to their own task at hand.

Shawn had run into the ER and searched for his father when he heard another announcement for Mimi to come to the nurse’s station on the third floor. He scanned the ER looking for his father, “Dad!” he shouted when he noticed him by Chelsea. “I need your help.”

“With what?” Bo asked. He was obviously frustrated that Shawn interrupted his conversation.

“Do you have your badge with you?” Shawn asked.

“Yeah,” Bo said, “I always do you know that.”

“I need it.”

“You can’t borrow my badge Shawn,” Bo said, “You know that.”

“I know,” Shawn said, “I need you and the badge to come with me to the nurse’s station. Mimi’s been kidnapped.”

“Did you call the police?” Bo asked.

Shawn looked at him like he was stupid, “Of course,” he snapped, “the boys in blue are idiots. They won’t do anything until she’s a missing person because I don’t have proof she’s been kidnapped.”

“If you don’t have proof then how do you know?” Chelsea asked.

“My gut tells me so,” Shawn said to Chelsea, finally acknowledging her presence, “She left,” looked down at his watch, “almost ten hours ago to get a change of clothes. No one has heard from her since. Her car is still in the garage the hood is cold. A nurse found a bag with a note from Mimi saying she needed time apart.”

“Mimi wouldn’t leave you alone,” Bo said, “especially with Zach…”

“I know,” Shawn said, cutting her off, “and a nurse found Mimi’s purse, cell phone, and keys outside her car. Mimi’s been paranoid for the past two weeks; she felt like someone was watching her but brushed it off as her mind playing tricks on her. I didn’t pay much attention to her concerns because of all that’s been happening with Claire. Plus she said it was probably just her mind playing tricks on her. Dad trust me, I know the woman I love is in danger.”

“Why do you need me and my badge?” Bo asked.

“To get the proof I need,” Shawn said, “I want to look at the hospital security tapes and I can’t do that because I’m not a cop.”

“We’ll talk more later Chelsea,” Bo said as he and Shawn starting walking to the nurse’s station again.

“I hope you find her,” Chelsea told her half brother as they left.

Bo and Shawn walked up to the nurse’s station. Nancy looked up and saw Shawn coming and almost walked away. But they were there before she could. “I already told you Mr. Brady…”

“Hello Nancy,” Bo said looking at her nametag, “I’m detective Bo Brady with the Salem PD.” He showed her his badge.

“I would normally ask what you needed,” she said, “but I have a feeling I already know what you want.”

“Security tapes from about ten hours ago,” Bo said, “we might have a…”

“I know Detective Brady,” she said looking at Shawn, “trust me I know.”

“I’m sorry about my behavior before ma’am,” Shawn said, “I was a little upset.”

“A little upset would be the understatement of the century, possibly the millennium,” she said, “but I understand. Now if you follow me I’ll show you were you can look at the tapes.”

“Thank you,” Shawn said as they followed her to the security room.

“Good luck,” she said, “and I don’t say this to be mean Mr. Brady.”

“What is it?” Shawn asked.

“I really hope you’re wrong about her being abducted,” Nancy said, “and she’s just angry at you like Mrs. Kiriakis suggested.”

“Me too,” Shawn said as he watched her turn and leave.

“Here’s all the tapes you requested Detective Brady,” said a security guard, “all the ones from this morning starting at the time Mr. Brady said they arrived at the hospital to now.”

“Thank you,” Bo said as he grabbed the first tape and put it in the VCR, “Shawn why don’t you grab us some coffee. I have a feeling its going to be a very long night.”

Shawn looked at the huge stack of tapes and agreed with his father. He turned towards the door and opened it. He almost ran into Nancy again. He looked at her strangely as she handed him two really large cups of coffee, “What…”

“I figured you could use these,” she said.

“Thanks,” Shawn said as he watched her walk away to the nurse’s station. Shawn turned back around and sat back by his dad handing him a cup of coffee. “Now I feel like a complete jerk for the way I treated her.”

“She obviously got over it,” Bo said, “I think we all understand a young man in love does crazy things when he thinks his girlfriend is in trouble.”

“She’s not my girlfriend anymore dad,” Shawn said, “I’m going to marry her. I just need to find her first.”

“Are you saying you two are engaged?” Bo said with a surprised look on his face.

“Yeah,” he said with a huge grin on his face, “I proposed to her last night.”

“And you’re keeping this a secret why?”

“It was before Zach and when we thought Claire was doing to die,” Shawn said with an even bigger smile on his face as he remembered, “It was an impromptu proposal, I don’t even have a ring for her yet. All I knew is that I didn’t want to waste any more of my life. I love her and want to be with her forever. So I got down on one knee and proposed. She said yes. And we both felt we should keep it to ourselves because we didn’t want to rub our happiness in Belle and Philip’s faces.”

“I understand that,” Bo said.

“Can you not tell anyone Dad?”

“You mean by anyone, your mother?” Bo asked.

“Yeah,” Shawn said, “I wanted us to tell you two together.”

“My lips are sealed,” Bo said turning his attention back to the VCR, “now let’s find that fiancée of yours so my wife can be in the loop too”

“You got yourself a deal,” Shawn said bringing his attention to the screen, “God please let me be wrong.” He sent his silent prayer as he started to watch the hospital tapes. He silently hoped that he was wrong about this. He couldn’t loose her now; they had just found each other and were going to spend their lives together as Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Douglas Brady.

[Joise]

Chapter 5-The innocence can never last

Did you ever have one of those days that you wish you could do over again? I know I do. I know exactly what I would have done differently. I would have never left that hospital. I would have swallowed my pride, put concrete in my shoes and be willing to share my fears with him. I would have sat him down and told him that I love him with my whole heart, my entire being but he was being a complete and total jerk. I would have told him my fears that someone has been watching me. I would have told him everything; I would have bared my soul to him. I would have held on to him so tightly and begged him to never let me go. I would have…I would have…

Mimi woke up groggy from the sedative that he put in her soup. Her mind immediately wandered to Shawn and she prayed to God that he was searching for her this very minute. She knew she didn’t have long. She knew what she had to do to escape from his clutches; but the thought of what she was going to do made her sick to her stomach. “Forgive me Shawn,” she thought to herself, “I need to do this to survive. To get back to you.”

“Good morning,” her kidnapper said from the chair across the room.

“Say my name,” Mimi said with a smile, her voice was sweet. She quickly noticed the anger that flared in his eyes. She watched him jump to his feet and stride over to her. She could read his intent in his eyes; he was going to hit her again. “I love the way my name sounds on your lips,” she added seductively. She saw that her comment seemed to please him as the anger immediately left his system as quickly as it came. He sat down next to her. She felt his fingers comb through her hair and inwardly cringed. She hated doing this more than words could say, but she needed answers. She needed time. She needed Shawn.

“Sarah,” he said in a gentle tone, “my beautiful Sarah.”

Mimi successfully hid the shock that she felt. She had a feeling that he wasn’t talking to her all those times and he had just confirmed it. This new piece of information made her whole body shake in fear.

“I see my touch still makes your body tremble,” he smiled as he leaned over and kissed her.

Mimi wanted to throw up on his mouth. But instead she silently thanked God that he misinterpreted her body’s reaction to the newest piece of information. The Salem Stalker’s first victim was named Sarah. Sarah Johnson to be exact. She wanted to break down and cry knowing that her attacker was the Salem Stalker. She wanted Shawn to come and rescue her this very moment. She wanted him to save her from this mad man because she knew how this story would end. And it wasn’t going to be pleasant. “Keep making him believe you love him. Wait for the right moment.” Mimi pictured Shawn in her mind and kissed him back with equal force. She broke the kiss and breathed heavily, “Say our name,” she said, “I love the way you say our names.”

“Jimmy and Sarah,” he said, “and someday soon we’ll be married.”

“Then my name will be,” she asked, hoping that he didn’t catch on to her.

“Mine,” he said, “mine forever.”

Mimi plastered on her best fake smile and watched him smile in return. Mimi leaned over and kissed him.

“I want you baby,” Jimmy said, “I want to make sweet love to you.” He leaned them both down towards the bed.

“No,” Mimi said forcefully as she pushed him away, “you can’t!”

“I knew it!” he yelled at her, slapping her, “You can’t stop thinking of that Shawn person! I’m going to kill him for poisoning your mind against me!” He jumped from the bed and started to walk out of the room.

“Thank you for the refill Ms Brown,” Shawn said to the nurse who came in for the fifth time with coffee refills. Every time he felt like an even bigger jerk than before.

“No problem,” she said, “did you find anything yet?”

“Not yet,” Bo said, “Shawn you should try her cell phone again.”

“I have her cell phone dad,” Shawn snapped, waving it in front of his face, “would you like me to call so we can hear the ringer.”

“Stop being a smartass,” Bo said, “I meant the phone at the loft.”

“I already did that,” Shawn said sighing in defeat, “got the machine again and left another message.”

“We’re hitting a dead end here Shawn,” Bo said.

“I know what you’re going to say Dad,” Shawn said, “and you’re wrong.”

“Oh really?” Bo challenged, “What was I going to say?”

“You were going to say those sorry excuses of police officers were right and Mimi is fine,” Shawn said, “but she’s not fine. She would never put me through all of this. She’s in trouble. Let’s not waste time fighting about it.”

“This is my cue to leave,” Nancy said as she set down the sandwiches she brought in and walked out the door.

“Thanks for the coffee and the sandwiches,” Bo said before directing his attention back to his son, “What makes you so sure? We’ve been here all night and we’ve come up empty.”

“We still have more tapes to look at,” Shawn pointed out as he watched the latest tape fast forward the NICU.

“I’m trying to be realistic here Shawn,” Bo said, “we should have found…”

“Dad,” Shawn said, “someone is trying to make it look like Mimi isn’t gone to buy time.”

“And you know this for a fact?” Bo said.

“Mimi’s car is still here,” Shawn said.

“She could have had car trouble,” Bo said logically, “Did you ever check to see if the car was working properly?”

“Does the word ‘duh’ mean anything to you!” Shawn said.

“Watch your tone young man…”

“Whose side are you on here!” Shawn yelled at his father looking away from the screen as Mimi was walking down a hallway with someone following her five feet behind her. Both men missed it.

“Yours,” Bo said.

“You have a funny way of showing that!” Shawn said, bringing his attention back to the TV screen.

“I’m just bringing out the other side,” Bo said, “to help think outside the box. We’re hitting a dead wall here Shawn, we need to think of other things.”

“The clothes,” Shawn said quickly.

“Belle said…”

“Belle’s an idiot!” Shawn yelled louder than he might to, “Those clothes are too small for me Dad. Mimi and I were going to donate them to Goodwill. What does that tell you?”

“The stupid answer is Mimi was mad and wanted you to wear clothes that were too small to get back at you for being a jerk,” Bo said, “the smart answer is that someone was trying to make it look like Mimi wasn’t missing.”

“And it also tells you that whoever has Mimi,” Shawn said, “has been stalking her long enough to know where she lives and her schedule…” his face turned white, “Oh God no…please no.”

“What?” Bo said looking at the screen seeing only Shawn and Belle talking, “I don’t see anything.”

“What if the Salem Stalker has her?” Shawn said.

“We can’t think like that,” Bo said as Shawn gave him a look that said we need to think like that “God, please don’t let it be so…it can’t be. We would have had a news tape right?”

“Right,” Shawn said. “Please God, let me be wrong.”

Mimi was silently praying to God for the strength to do what she had to do next. She couldn’t let him think that what she was really thinking. She needed him to take the bait. Above all she needed to be strong, strong for Shawn and strong for herself. “That’s not what I meant,” she said in a lovely dovey voice, “so don’t even go there.” She watched him stop and face her.

“What are you talking about?” Jimmy said, eyeing her suspiciously.

“I do want to make love to her,” Mimi hoped it sounded sincere because her insides were vomiting from that statement, “But…”

“But?” Jimmy said, “How could there possibly be a but to that statement?”

“I can’t move my hands,” she said trying to move her hands that are bounded, “I can’t comb my fingers through your hair or run my fingers down your back. But most importantly, look at me.”

“I am,” he said, “and you’re beautiful.”

“I’m a mess,” she said, “my clothes have blood stains and I can only image my face needs washing and make up as well.”

“What are you trying to say?” he asked.

“Untie me,” she said, “let me look through my belongings to find something sexy to put on. I’ll go into the bathroom and change into whatever I picked out and make me face pretty for you.”

“I don’t know…”

“Please,” she said with her best puppy dog face on, complete with the pout.

“Alright,” he said, “but no funny business.”

“They only business I’m interested in is the love making kind,” she told him. “That would be making love to Shawn, not you. I love Shawn, not you. And if all goes as planned, I’ll be in his arms tonight.”

“Okay,” Jimmy said as he untied her and took her hand. He led her to a drawer and watched as she looked through the lingerie. He saw her stop, “What?”

“It’s suppose to be a surprise silly!” she said, “So turn around.” She watched him turn around slightly, stealing peaks every now and there. “Okay Meems, so far so good.” Mimi found something that would work. It was a long black nightgown with a see-through black lace robe. “This should cover me will I’m running.” “Bathroom?” she asked as she bundled her choice to keep the rouse of the surprise alive. She let him take her hand and lead her to the bathroom. “I’ll be ten minutes tops,” she said as she gave him a quick kiss and closed the door. She immediately looked around for windows but didn’t see any. She quickly changed and washed her face. She cringed at the sight of her battered face in the mirror. She put on some light make up to cover up some of the bruises. She wanted him to believe that she was dressing up for him. She opened the door and leaned up against. “Miss me?” she asked.

“Always,” he said. He walked over and started kissing her.

Mimi let him take some control of the situation, but gently pushed him towards the bed. She felt dirty whenever he touched her and tried to remind herself that this isn’t betraying Shawn. It was her only way to get back to Shawn. “I want you so much,” she told him as she felt his hands go to the tie of her robe. She felt his hands go to her shoulders and the robe drop from her body. He felt her pull her body on his as they fell onto the bed. “Father forgive me, for I have sinned.”

“Shawn,” Belle said as she knocked on the door and walked in without waiting to be invited in, “Can I talk to you?”

“Do you know something about Mimi?” Shawn said.

“Not exactly,” Belle said, “but it’s important.”

“Go,” Bo said before Shawn could protest, “You need a break. I’ll keep an eye on the screen.”

“Okay,” Shawn said, “but I think its time to switch over to the footage from the parking garage. This feels like a dead end.”

“Will do boss,” Bo said to humor his son as he reached for the parking garage tapes and put the first one in.

Shawn followed Belle to the waiting room. He was about to sit down when he saw that she walked outside on the terrace. He followed her outside, “What’s up?” Shawn said, “Is it Claire?”

“No,” Belle said, “Claire is doing wonderful. Her fever broke. It looks like her body is accepting the liver.”

“Okay,” Shawn said, “but I don’t see why you had to drag us outside to tell me that.”

“That’s not what I wanted to talk to you about,” Belle said.

“What is it?”

“It’s about Mimi,” Belle said.

“Did you find her?” Shawn said hopeful, “Is she here?”

“No. I haven’t seen her yet,” Belle said before talking a deep breath.

“Then what is it?” Shawn asked, “What could be so important about Mimi that you tore me away from looking for her?”

“Don’t marry her,” Belle said. She let out the breath she was holding and looked up at him with hopeful eyes.

“Excuse me?” Shawn said, “I don’t think I heard you correctly. Did you just say don’t marry her?”

“Yes,” Belle said, “You can’t marry her because it would be wrong.”

“Wrong!” Shawn yelled, “You want to know what is wrong about this conversation…”

“I still love you!” Belle said over him, “It’s suppose to be Shawn and Belle forever. We’re suppose to be the ones who are married. Claire is suppose to be your daughter, not Philip’s! We’re suppose to have the happy ending…” Belle stopped talking when she felt Shawn grab her arms and start to shake her hard. She looked into his eyes and what she saw terrified her. She saw complete hatred and anger.

“I can’t believe you!” Shawn yelled at her, “You’re suppose to be her friend! She’s missing right now and all you can think about is yourself! What kind of selfish little brat are you! She’s your best friend!”

“I know she is,” Belle said in tears, “You’re hurting me Shawn!”

“She could be at the mercy of a madman and all you can think about is yourself!” Shawn screamed at her, “She could be dying and all you can think about is yourself! She is missing! Someone has her and all you can think about is yourself!”

“Shawn please!” Belle begged, “You’re hurting me!”

“I don’t care!” Shawn screamed at her.

“She’s not right for you!” Belle said, trying to plead her case.

“She’s my other half!” Shawn said his voice was full of rage, “All you ever did is take from me. You made me into a monster. She made me a man. A better man than I could ever hope to be and she’s STILL molding me into an ever better man. I love her with my whole heart and soul. You could never be her in my life. I can’t live without her.” Shawn didn’t realize that his grip was getting tighter; her arms were beginning to bruise. He continued to shake her faster and harder with each sentence.

“We’re suppose to be the next Bo and Hope,” Belle said, “everyone said that!”

“How dare you compare my parents great love story to our dysfunction that had the nerve to be called a relationship!” Shawn screamed at her.

“You’re hurting me!” Belle yelled as the tears rolled down her cheeks, “Please let me go. Shawn you’re hurting me!”

Philip heard Belle yelling. He ran to the terrace has fast as his leg would take him. He opened the door and saw Shawn full of rage and anger gripping Belle and shaking her. He saw the tears rolling down her cheeks. “Shawn let her go!” Philip ordered.

“Didn’t anyone ever tell you that sequels always suck!” Shawn said, his voice was dripping with malice and distain, “They can never EVER compare to the original!”

“Shawn I said to let her go,” Philip said trying to pull him away from his wife.

Shawn wasn’t letting go just yet. She pulled Belle even closer and whispered in her ear with great disgust in his voice, “I always wanted my own love story, not the poor man’s rewrite of a classic love story.” He let go of Belle and pushed her away from him. “You disgust me!” he said in a low even toned voice, “Stay the hell away from me and if I ever see you near Mimi so help me God, you will live to regret it.”

“What the hell is your problem?” Philip said angrily.

“YOU’RE WIFE IS A SELFISH LITTLE BITCH!” Shawn said, “That’s my problem.”

“Shawn….” Philip said but was cut off by Bo running through door.

“I’ve found it,” Bo said, “In the parking lot there was a man that came up from behind her. He surprised her. She didn’t even have time to react to his presence. He put a rag over her mouth and nose. She was knocked unconscious and he carried her into a car.”

“Oh my God!” Belle said, “Shawn I’m so sorry I didn’t believe…” She tried to hug him but he pushed her away.

“Don’t you even try to comfort me!” Shawn said.

“Shawn…” Belle said, but was cut off.

“You were never my friend,” Shawn said, “You were never her friend. You’re a taker. That’s what you are. I have nothing left to give you so shove off!” Shawn walked back into the hospital with his father on his heels.

“What was that all about?” Bo asked.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Shawn said, “Finding Mimi is my only concern. I think it’s time to call Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum back.”

“Why?” Bo asked, “I’m a cop remember. I can call in the kidnapping. I can have forensic enlarge the images for a better look at his face and license plate…”

“Because I’m going to kick their asses for not doing anything,” Shawn said cutting off his father, “if anything happens to Mimi, I swear to God someone is gong to pay with their life!”

[Joise]

Chapter 6- But never forgets what I lost…

Summer has come and passed
the innocent can never last
wake me up when September ends

Bo and Shawn were waiting in Abe’s office for the computer enhancement of Mimi’s attacker from the garage tape. Bo was sitting on Abe’s desk talking on the phone watching as Shawn nervously was pacing in front of him.

“Davis and Brooks are coming with the enhancement of the picture from the parking garage,” Bo said, he watched as Shawn just nodded after processing what he said, “they should be here any moment,” he was frustrated with Shawn’s constant pacing and grabbed his arm when he walked by him again, “Shawn.”

“What?” Shawn said looking at his father’s hand on his arm.

“Stop pacing you’re driving me crazy,” Bo said, “we’re going to find her.”

“I know,” Shawn said, releasing his arm from Bo’s gripe and sitting down on the near by chair, “we have to find her. She’s my heart, my soul. I’ll die without her.”

“It’s going to be okay son,” Bo said, “It has to be.”

“Please stop saying that,” Shawn said jumping up from the chair, “people on say that when there is something to worry about!”

“Shawn…”

“I will hold my Mimi in my arms before the night is over,” Shawn said, “or someone is going to pay with their life!”

“Shawn you can’t just say that,” Bo said, “we’re in a police station. I’m a cop…”

“I don’t care,” Shawn said, “All I know is that if Mimi is harmed in any way the first thing I’m going to do is kill the bastard that hurt her and then kick the ass of the cop who sat on his hands while Mimi was….was…” Shawn slumped down onto the chair; his heart was breaking at all the possibilities that could be happening to his love. “I can’t lose her,” he whispered, “I love her too much to go on without her.”

“You won’t lose her,” Bo said, putting his hand on Shawn’s shoulder, “I’ll do everything in my power to prevent that from happening. I promise you that Mimi will come back to you unharmed.”

Shawn looked up at him surprised; he didn’t think he said it out loud. He saw compassion and concern in his father’s eyes. Shawn’s heart couldn’t take it anymore. He could feel the tears rolling down his cheeks. He wiped the tears from his eyes, only to find new ones had already formed and escaped down his face. He buried his face in his hands and released the heartache that was building inside of him from the past twenty-four hours. He felt his father embraced him.

“Let it out son,” Bo said comforting his son, while holding back his own tears, “just let it all out.”

Like my fathers come to pass
seven years has gone so fast
wake me up when September ends

Davis and Brooks chose that moment to walk into Abe’s office. The two young officers witnessed the tender moment between father and son. “Sorry,” Davis said, “we should have knocked.”

Shawn left his father’s embrace, wiped his eyes, and stared coldly at Davis, “Why?” Shawn snapped, “So you can waste even more time while my fiancée suffers from it!”

“I thought you understood Mr. Brady,” Davis said, “I was following protocol…”

“Screw protocol!” Shawn yelled at Davis, “If anything happens to Mimi I’ll kill you!” Shawn got right into Davis’ face, “I’ll kill you!”

“You need to calm down Mr. Brady,” Davis said in a patronizing voice, “For all we knew she was just trying to get away from you…” His voice trailed off, he didn’t mean to say those words. It was just something about Shawn that brought out the bad side of him.

“You’re a real bastard!” Shawn said his voice was dripping with malice.

Davis was about to apologize when he watched what felt like slow motion. Shawn’s arm going back and watched as Shawn’s fist made contact with his face. His skin burned instantly from the impact of the punch.

“If anything happens to her,” Shawn yelled, “I’m going to kill you! That’s not a threat it’s a promise! I have nothing to lose but her so you pray to whatever god you believe in that she’s alright…”

“That’s enough Shawn!” Bo said grabbing Shawn and pulling him off of Davis before he could get another punch in. “Davis get out of here.”

“I could press charges on your boy here!” Davis threatened.

“You know better than to provoke a family member of a missing person,” Bo said, “now get out of here!” Bo ordered, “And you,” throwing Shawn into the chair, “calm down before you winded up in jail for doing something stupid!”

“Detective Brady,” Davis said.

“I said to leave,” Bo said, “that’s an order.” Bo watched him leave, “Brooks, what do you have for us.”

Brooks who was silent for the ordeal walked up to his superior officer with a folder in his hand, “We have a positive ID on the make and model of the car. Forensics was able to get the license plate.”

“Good,” Bo said looking through the folder.

“A patrol car just reported the car,” Brooks said, “It’s in the warehouse district. There is an old abandoned house there; it’s reported to have two people in there. A man for sure, cannot ID the second person yet, but it’s definitely a woman. We have the place surrounded; SWAT is standing by for your orders.”

Shawn was sitting there processing the information. He couldn’t believe that he was close to finding Mimi. He sent out a silent pray to God, thanking Him.

“No one moves until I get there,” Bo said, “keep him there. But no one is to move in unless he is leaving or…or…” Bo looked at Shawn who was looking down. He turned back to Brooks and looked at him.

“I understand Sir,” Brooks said, “I’ll radio them in. We leave immediately.” Brooks turned and left.

“I’ll be back Shawn…”

“I’m coming with you,” Shawn said jumping out of the chair walked quickly to the door. He was stopped by his father grabbing him and pulling him back.

“No you don’t,” Bo said, “You’re not a cop.”

“She’s my fiancée dad,” Shawn said.

“I have to follow protocol…”

“If you were me and Mimi was Mom,” Shawn said, “would you just sit around because a cop said so?”

“No,” Bo said as he watched Shawn smile. “Like father like son” Bo thought, “Do not get in the way,” Bo said to his son, as they walked out of the office, “and let me do my job. No trying to be a hero.”

“No hero stuff,” Shawn said with a smile.

“And wipe that smile off of your face,” Bo said, “I’m not giving in, I’m keeping an eye on you because I know if I leave you here you’ll go there yourself. At least this way I know where you are.”

“Smile gone Sir,” Shawn said as he followed Bo out of the police station.

Here comes the rain again
falling from the stars
drenched in my pain again
becoming who we are

When the Brady men arrived at the old house they were both surprised at what they found. They could hear Mimi screaming in the background as he attacker was yelling at the police officers. Bo looked around and saw the house was still surrounded. “Stay here,” Bo ordered as he got out of the car. He spotted Roman, “What the hell is going on here?” he asked, “I gave specific orders not to do anything until I got here.” Bo was focused on Roman that he did not notice Shawn was following him.

“I’m not quite sure what’s going on,” Roman said, “I got here a few minutes before you. But from what I’m told a rookie sniper tried to take out the assailant…”

“What!” Bo said, “I gave orders…”

“Apparently, they heard Mimi begging for her life,” Roman said, “the snipers confirmed that the assailant had a knife and was about to carve her like a turkey.”

“Oh my God,” Shawn said covering mouth, “is she?”

“Shawn I told you to stay in the car,” Bo said.

“And you honestly thought I was going to stay there?” Shawn said to Bo, he turned to Roman, “Is she okay?”

“Who’s in position?” Bo said at the same time Shawn asked how Mimi was.

“TEK has the best angle on him,” Roman said, “but Mimi’s in the way. He has a standing order to shoot when she’s clear.”

“Good,” Bo said, “we need to get her away from him.”

“How is she?” Shawn said frustrated that he was being ignored from both men, “Is she still alive…”

“NO!!!!” Mimi screamed from the house, “PLEASE DON’T HURT ME.”

“MIMI!” Shawn yelled as he started to run into the house. He only got a few steps before he was tackled by his own father, “Get off of me!”

“No,” Bo said, “I said no hero stuff remember.”

“I have to save her!” Shawn said, “MIMI!”

“SHAWN!” Mimi yelled from inside the house.

“Dad let me go,” Shawn said, “I need to get her out of there.”

“If you go in there you’re going to kill her and yourself,” Bo said pulling him away from the house, “Is that what you want?”

“I can’t just leave her in there,” Shawn said.

“Do we have a view of the assailant?” Bo asked.

“No,” Roman said, “Mimi’s in the way, he’s using her as a human shield.”

“What are his demands?” Shawn said, “He has to have demands!”

“He doesn’t,” Roman said, “He said if anyone comes near the house Mimi is dead.”

“HEY LOVER BOY!” Jimmy said from inside.

As my memory rests
but never forgets what I lost
wake me up when September ends

Shawn looked at the window and saw Mimi being used as a shield as her kidnapper hid behind her.

“Let her go!” Shawn said as he tried to move towards the house when Bo and Roman held him back.

“Your girl here is the best lay I’ve ever had,” Jimmy taunted from his safe position behind Mimi.

Shawn struggled against his father and uncle, “Let me go I’m going to kill that bastard!”

“You should have heard the moans and groans that came from her,” Jimmy said, “She couldn’t get enough of me. I’m more of a man than you ever were to her.”

“Said from the coward hiding behind her!” Shawn said, “Why don’t you come out here so I can kill you!”

“Sounds tempting,” Jimmy said, “what do you think Mimi?”

Shawn’s heart broke when he looked at her. Her whole body was shaking as a steady stream of tears flowed from her eyes. He saw the knife pressed up against her neck. He saw a little blood coming from her neck. Her face was bruised almost beyond recognition. “He’s so dead” he said to himself.

What happened next surprised everyone there. The door opened and Mimi and Jimmy stood in the door way, “I want the snipers to put their guns down,” Jimmy said, “or I slit her throat.”

Summer has come and passed
the innocent can never last
wake me up when September ends

Bo and Roman looked at each other. After a few moments, Roman gave the order, “Snipers throw out your weapons, keep it TEKing all of your.” Roman watched TEK nodded in agreement to the order and kept his position and weapon a secret. The rest of the officers watched as Jimmy looked around and saw their guns fall from their location.

“Much better,” Jimmy said, “come on baby. Tell lover boy how much fun we had together.”

“You make me sick,” Mimi said as she stiffened as the knife pressed up closer to her neck.

“I’ll kill you and lover boy before tonight is over,” Jimmy said, “if you don’t behave.” He grabbed her side and squeezed hard. Mimi cried out in pain.

“Mimi!” Shawn yelled, “I’m going to kill you!” He struggled even harder to get free from Roman and Bo.

“Tell him,” Jimmy said to Mimi, “how much you wanted me. How much you screamed when I was inside of you.”

Shawn felt sick to his stomach; this poor excuse for a human being, this creature violated his Mimi. It only strengthened his resolve to break free and strangle that man to death.

“Tell him,” Jimmy said, “tell him or you are dead.”

“Shawn,” Mimi yelled through her tears.

“Mimi,” Shawn said, “I’m going to get you out of this. I’m going to save you.”

“How sweet,” Jimmy said, “but she doesn’t need you. I’m more than enough man for her!”

“You’re a monster!” Shawn yelled back, “and when I get my hands on you…”

“You’ll what?” Jimmy said, “Kill me?” He laughed at Shawn’s struggled to break free, “you come near me and I’ll kill her, then you.”

Ring out the bells again
like we did when spring began
wake me up when September ends

“You are a coward!” Shawn said, “You can’t even face me. You need my fiancée to hide behind. You’re not a man, you’re a coward.”

“Keep talking and she’s dead,” Jimmy said pushing the knife tighter against her neck, “Tell him,” he said to Mimi, “Tell him how you made sweet love to me. Tell him how you wanted me, you need me. Tell him now.”

Here comes the rain again
falling from the stars
drenched in my pain again
becoming who we are

“I can’t,” Mimi whispered, “the knife is too tight.”

“I’m not playing your games anymore bitch,” Jimmy said, “Now tell him.”

“I can’t talk loud,” Mimi said, “please.”

“Your wish is my command,” Jimmy said losing the knife just a little.

“Thank you,” Mimi said.

“Tell him,” Jimmy said, “tell lover boy and all these cops that you want to be with me. Tell them all that we are together. Do it now!”

“Shawn,” Mimi said.

As my memory rests
but never forgets what I lost
wake me up when September ends

“Mimi I love you,” Shawn said, “I’m going to get you out of this. I promise.”

Jimmy laughed, “You think you can save your one true love here lover boy. She doesn’t want you. She wants me. She can’t get enough of me.”

“You’re a sick bastard,” Shawn said.

“Tell him now!” Jimmy ordered, “Tell him now or I’ll slit your throat.”

Summer has come and passed
the innocent can never last
wake me up when September ends

“Shawn,” Mimi said, “remember when you proposed to me. You said that you couldn’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.”

“We have forever baby,” Shawn said, “I love you. I will not lose you.”

“I’ll always be with you no matter what,” Mimi said, “You’re my heart, my soul, my everything.”

“This is not what I told you to say!” Jimmy said tightening the knife, “You betray me again you stupid little slut!”

“I will always love you,” Mimi said at the top of her lungs, “You are the only man I will ever loved from the moment you first kissed me in Paris. You are my other half, my soul mate. I love you.”

“You stupid little bitch!” Jimmy said.

Shawn watched in horror as Jimmy pressed the knife into Mimi’s neck, “NO!”

“Take him out TEK,” Bo ordered, “Take him out NOW!”

Like my father's come to pass
twenty years has gone so fast
wake me up when September ends

“NO!” Shawn watched in horror as he struggled to break free, “MIMI!”

“Take the shot now TEK!” Roman said.

Shawn used Bo and Roman’s distraction to his advantage. He broke free from their grasps in time to watch Mimi’s kidnapper push the knife into Mimi’s neck and pulled it out. “NO!” Shawn falling to his knees, “MIMI!”

Wake me up when September ends

Shawn watched the satisfied grin on the Jimmy’s face and charged at him with renewed vengeance. He didn’t even take two steps before TEK’s sniper bullet killed Jimmy dead.

His body fell on top of Mimi’s body. Everyone there was in shell shock; TEK’s bullet was two seconds too late, Mimi was dead.

“NO!” Shawn said finally reaching Mimi. He pushed Jimmy’s dead body off of Mimi and cradled her limp body in his arms, “My love, you can’t be dead.” Tears streamed from his eyes and landed on her body.

Bo approached his son and took a hold of Mimi’s hand and examined her neck.

Shawn watched as he checked her pulse, “Dad?” he said hopeful.

“I’m sorry son,” Bo said, “I’m truly sorry. She’s gone.”

“No, no, NO!” Shawn yelled, “We were going to grow old together. We were going to have so many children. Children who needed parents to love them. We were going to have a life together.”

Bo watched Shawn cradled Mimi’s body. His heart broke for his son. To lose the love of your life before you had a chance to live it was more pain than Bo’s mind could imagine.

“Dad,” Shawn said.

“Yeah son,” Bo said.

“This isn’t how I imagined holing her in my arms again,” Shawn said, “She was suppose to hold on to me too.”

“I know son,” Bo said, He couldn’t hold the tears back. He wanted to be strong for Shawn. But being in this moment, he couldn’t hold back the pain he felt for Shawn, himself, the Lockharts. Mimi’s death would rock their world to the very core. Bo knew nothing would ever be the same again. He couldn’t help but to blame himself. He broke his promise to Shawn. He let his son down, he let Mimi down.

Shawn held Mimi’s body closer to him and cried on her shoulder. “This is all my fault.”

“This isn’t your fault Shawn,” Bo said.

“It is,” Shawn said, “I was too obsessed with Claire to care that Mimi was freaking out that someone was following her. I let my pride get in the way. I should have walked her to the car. I should have never left her. I did this to her.”

“No Shawn you didn’t do this to her,” Bo said, “That man right there,” pointing to Jimmy’s body, “did this to her.”

“I’m so sorry baby,” Shawn said running his fingers through her hair, “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry.” He broke down, burying his face into her, letting out all his brokenness.

Wake me up when September ends


Song Credits: “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day

[Joise]

Chapter 7- Wake me up when September ends…

Shawn sat in front of the house that held Mimi captive for the past forty-eight hours. His heart was breaking every second that past. “I’m so sorry baby,” he said, “I would have died for you.” Shawn kissed her cold lips and looked up to the sky, “Why are you so cruel! Why God! Tell me why! First my little brother and now the love of my life.” He broke down, laying his head in her chest, “Am I not allowed to be happy?” He felt a hand resting on his shoulder.

“Shawn,” Bo said.

“Go away,” Shawn said, “I have nothing left, just leave me be!”

“Shawn,” Bo said shaking his shoulder.

Shawn lifted his head off of Mimi’s chest and glared at his father, “I said to leave me alone! Leave me alone with my fiancée!”

“Shawn,” Bo said, “You need to wake up.”

“I’m not sleeping!” Shawn said pushing his father away from him, “leave me be. I can’t leave her,” he looked back at Mimi’s lifeless body, “not yet.”

“Shawn!” Bo said shaking him harder, “You need to wake up. Our lead was a bust. We couldn’t get a positive id on Mimi’s kidnapper.”

“What are you talking about?” Shawn said turning to his father. He felt Bo shake him harder. The house and all of the surroundings slowly faded away. Shawn looked at his arms and founded them empty. “Mimi!” He looked around frantically for her, but as he eyes adjusted to the light he found himself sitting in a chair in the security office of Salem University Hospital. “Where is Mimi?” Shawn demanded, “What have you done with her!”

“What are you talking about Shawn?” Bo said, “Mimi is still missing.”

“No she’s not,” Shawn said, “I had her in my arms,” his arms were out still like he was cradling her body, “She was dead…there was so much blood…he…he…slit her throat…dad it was so awful.”

“Shawn you need to wake up,” Bo said slapping his face lightly, “it was just a nightmare. You fell asleep while we waited for forensics to blow up that photo.”

“It was just a dream?” Shawn said hopeful, “She’s not…she’s not…”

“No,” Bo said, “as far as we know she’s still alive. If it’s the Salem Stalker, he would have sent a video to the newsroom. As long as we don’t have a tape, we know she’s still alive. Once that videotape is aired, then we have less than twenty-four hours to find her before he does kill her.”

“And somehow that’s not comforting,” Shawn said sarcastically, “what about the photo?”

“We can’t get a positive id on his face,” Bo said, “the hat he’s wearing covers the top half of his face. I had some rookies view the security tapes.” Bo looked down slightly defeated.

“That’s not a good look,” Shawn said.

“The same hat wearing figure was following her around the hospital all week.” Bo said looking at Shawn, preparing himself for any type of reaction.

“This is all my fault,” Shawn said, “I was too obsessed with Claire that I wasn’t paying attention. I should noticed her behavior or that someone was following her.”

“This isn’t your fault Shawn,” Bo said, “Look at me,” he grabbed Shawn’s shoulders and looked him in the face, “Blaming yourself is not going to help this situation. We need to have a clear head to find her. This isn’t your fault, so much was happening. You couldn’t have prevented this. All of the Stalker’s victims had boyfriends, fiancés and husbands. No one knew. What we need to do know is focus all of our time, energy, and brain power to finding her.”

“Okay,” Shawn said.

“Okay,” Bo said.

“What about the car?” Shawn said, “The license plate. You said that you had a clear picture of the plates. That must lead us to her kidnapper.”

“It’s to a car that belongs to a sixty-five year old woman named Pauline Anderson,” Bo said, “she reported it stolen three days ago. It was founded yesterday afternoon in the mall parking lot abandoned. Forensic combed it looking for any leads.”

“Let me guess,” Shawn said, “it was clean.”

“Yeah,” Bo said. He saw Shawn throw up his hands in frustration before burying his face in his hands. Bo put his hand on Shawn’s shoulder, “He might be smart,” Bo said, “but he’s going to slip up. We will nail this punk. I will not let your nightmare come true.”

“I don’t know if I can handle seeing her face like that in real life,” Shawn said, “she was so scared so frightened. And even in my dream I was useless to her!” Shawn yelled that last sentence and he jumped up. Bo stopped him before he could punch the wall.

“A broken hand is not what you need right now,” Bo said, letting go of Shawn’s arm, “We’re going to find her.”

“I know dad,” Shawn said, “but I want her to be alive when we do.”

Mimi was kissing Jimmy and letting her hands roam his body. She was concentrating so hard on not throwing up because of what she was doing with this man. And the feel of his hands on her body made her want to die. “I’m doing this for Shawn. I need to get back to him. Mimi felt his hands on the string of her nightgown. She looked into his eyes and saw lust for her. She bent down and kissed him again.

He was too distracted from the kiss to notice her left hand reaching for the table. Before he knew what was going on, she stopped kissing him. He heard her say, “You’ll never have me you pig!” He opened his eyes and saw her holding the lamp from the nightstand. She hit him over the head hard with it. As he was loosing consciousness, he felt her shove him back onto the bed.

Mimi jumped off the bed and grabbed the robe that had fallen on the floor. She was putting it on her body and covering herself as she ran out of the room. She got the front door to find it locked. It was one of those locks that required a key to open and lock it from both sides. She tried the windows, but they had bars on the outside. She ran back to the bedroom and quickly patted him down for the keys. She saw his head moving, he was coming back to. She worked faster to find the keys. She found them in his left front pocket and grabbed them. She ran back to the door and unlocked it. She left the keys in the lock and door open as she ran for help. As she was running out the door she could hear him yelling for her.

“Get back here you little bitch!” Jimmy yelled for her as he stumbled off of the bed, “You’re going to pay for this!” He staggered out of the house running after her.

Shawn and Bo heard a knock on the door, “Shawn,” Belle said, “can I talk to you?”

Bo noticed Shawn’s demeanor change when he heard Belle’s voice. His body became ridged and his face hardened. Bo would have shown it was Stephano or Tony DiMera’s voice he heard and not his childhood friend’s. “What’s going on here?” Bo thought to himself.

“I have nothing to say to you,” Shawn said with a cold tone, he didn’t even turn around to look at her.

“I’m sorry for what I said,” Belle said, only to receive an evil laugh in return from Shawn, “I’m sorry I doubted that Mimi was missing. But things like this usually happened to other people, not to us.”

“Shut up!” Shawn screamed at her, finally facing her. His voice was so hard it sent shivers down Belle’s spine, “You were never my friend you selfish little bitch! You are definitely not Mimi’s friend you selfish conniving little snake!”

“Shawn’s she’s trying to apologize,” Bo said, defending her as he say her begin to cry, “She made a mistake…”

“Don’t you dare defend her!” Shawn said turning his anger to his father, “You have no idea what this manipulative poor excuse for a human being was doing while my fiancée was, I mean is fighting to stay alive!” He turned back to Belle and got into her face, “Did you hear that Belle! She’s my fiancée and the only love of my life. The only woman I have or will ever love.”

“I was your first love,” Belle said, “How can you forget that?

“I didn’t,” Shawn said, “You were my first mistake at love. And the only good thing to come out of that mistake was Mimi. Having Mimi in my life…there is no words to describe that kind of joy. Because Mimi taught me what love means. When you love someone you want to protect them, challenge them, stretch them, make you want to be a better person, you give them everything you have of yourself to them. You trust them with your heart because you know that they will take tender care of it.”

“You loved me once Shawn,” Belle said, “and I still lov…”

“Don’t you dare say it Isabella Kiriakis!” Shawn said, “You never loved me. You never gave me anything. All you did was take from me until I had nothing to give. You destroyed me and Mimi was the one that made me the man I am today. Not you.”

“Shawn you’re upset, you don’t know what you’re…” Bo tried again to defend Belle.

“Stop it Dad,” Shawn said, “you have no idea who this piece of trash really is. When Mimi was…I mean is being held captive she was trying to talk me out of marrying Mimi. Claiming to love me. Shawn and Belle forever. Telling me that Claire should be our daughter and not Philip’s. What a bunch of crap! She even had the nerve to care that dysfunctional disaster we called a relationship to yours and Mom’s. What a joke! She robbed me of precious minutes that could have been used to find Mimi and here you are doing it again!”

“Shawn I’m sorry…”

“No you’re not!” Shawn yelled, “If you really loved me like you claimed than you would want me to be happy.”

“I do.”

“Mimi makes me happy,” Shawn said, “Mimi makes me what to be a better person.”

“I…”

“You make me want to die so I can escape you,” Shawn said with fury, “The next time I want to see your face is when I’m marrying Mimi. I want you to look deep into my face as I look at Mimi with all the love I have inside of me and promise to be hers forever and always. I want you to suffer. Because you deserve to suffer.”

“Shawn…”

“Get out of my face,” Shawn said as he pushed her out off the room and slammed the door.

“Shawn, I’m sorry,” Bo said, “I didn’t know.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Shawn said, “Belle Kiriakis is the nightmare I want to stop living.”

“Okay,” Bo said, “but if you never need to talk…”

“I know Dad,” Shawn said, “you’re always there for me.” Shawn hugged his father, “I have to find her because this is one nightmare that needs the happy ending. Mimi is a good person, she doesn’t deserve this.” “Belle deserves this to happen to her. She’s poison. Not Mimi, not my Mimi.”

Mimi was running as fast as her legs could carry her. Mimi heard Jimmy coming after her. She looked back to see if she could see where he was when she tripped over a branch. Mimi hit her head hard in the landing. She curled into a ball and held her head.

“I’m going to get you, you little bitch,” Jimmy yelled.

Mimi’s head snapped up at the sound of his voice. She tried to forget her throbbing head and looked for a place to hide. Mimi scanned her surroundings when an odd sense of familiarity washed over here. “Why does this place look so familiar to me?” Her eyes stopped at the old memory coming into her mind. “I know where I am!” Mimi was so lost in her thoughts she didn’t hear Jimmy coming up behind her. He muffled her scream as he grabbed her.

“You’re going to pay for that Sarah,” Jimmy said, “and when I’m done with you, you’re going to wish you never betrayed me.” He let go of her mouth and reached into his pocket.

“Somebody help me!” Mimi screamed the instant his hand was off of her mouth.

“Scream all you want,” he said, “no one will hear you.”

“HELP!” Mimi yelled as Jimmy placed a rag over her mouth and nose. Mimi struggled, but soon went unconscious. Jimmy carried her body back to the abandoned house and tied her to the bed again.

“What did you say to her!” Philip demanded as he walked into the security room.

“Who?” Shawn said confused.

“Like you don’t know!” Philip said, “I found Belle in tears again, what did you do?”

“Why is this my fault?” Shawn said.

“All she could say was Shawn.”

“I was just giving her a reality check,” Shawn said, “it’s not my fault that I refuse to play into her little fantasy.”

“What are you talking about?” Philip asked.

“Ask your wife,” Shawn said.

“I’m asking you.”

“In case you forgot like your wife,” Shawn said with anger, “my fiancée is missing. She’s been taken by a crazy man. I have more important things to put my time and energy into.”

“Sorry,” Philip said, “What can I do to help the search?”

Jimmy placed smelling salt under her nose. Mimi came back into consciousness. The first thing she noticed was that she was tied to a chair and not the bed. The second thing she noticed was the video camera. Her face went pale. She knew what was going to happen next.

“It’s time to make a home video Sarah,” Jimmy said, “time to say good bye to your family and to lover boy.” Jimmy said “lover boy” with malice in his voice.

“Oh God, I ran out of time. He’s going to kill me.” “Why are you doing this to me?” Mimi asked.

“You’ve been a bad girl Sarah.”

“My name isn’t Sarah!” Mimi yelled, “Its Mimi! I didn’t do anything to you!”

“Oh yeah? Then why does my head hurt again?” he said sarcastically as he rubbed it.

“Please just let me go,” Mimi said.

“You’re time is up,” Jimmy said, “We could have been happy together. But no, you had to ruin it again!” He yelled the last sentence into her face.

“Please…” her sentence was silenced with a slap in the face.

“Time for you to make your first news story,” Jimmy said with an evil look on his face, “Don’t worry, you’ll be great. Now this is what you’re going to do and if you deviate one bit or try to incriminate me lover boy is the next one to die.” Jimmy gave her instructions before going to the camcorder, “Its show time,” he said pushing record.

“Thanks for nothing!” Bo said slamming the phone down.

“Nothing!” Shawn said reading his father’s expression, “How could there be nothing! We have hours of tape with that bastard on it! How could we not have a picture of his face!”

“He kept his head down and that d**n hat covered most of his face,” Bo said, “we’re at a dead end. We need to think of a new angle to examine.”

The three men sat in silence, after five minutes had gone by Philip’s face lit up. “What about….” Philip said, but was cut off.

“NO! NOT MY BABY GIRL!” Bonnie Lockhart screamed, “MIMI! MY BABY!”

Shawn was the first one out of the door, followed by Bo then Philip. They ran into the waiting room where they heard Bonnie’s sobs. Shawn saw Bonnie crying into Patrick’s arms, who was looking a cross between anger and devastation as his eyes were glued to the television screen. Shawn looked up at the screen and saw a bruised and bleeding Miriam Lockhart in tears. “God please don’t let this be happening. Don’t let my nightmare because reality. I can’t lose her.”

“Why didn’t anyone call me sooner!” Patrick demanded, “I could have helped. She was missing for two days and no one calls me!”

“You’re not a cop,” Bo said.

“No I’m her brother!” Patrick said, loosing his embrace on Bonnie to get into Bo’s face, “And I have connections that go deeper than anything the Salem PD could go! I might have found her by now!”

“Shut up both of you!” Bonnie said, “My baby….my baby girl.” She felt Patrick hold onto her tighter as they watched the screen, waiting for Mimi to speak.

“Mom I know that I’ve never really appreciated….”