Chapter 19

"Oh boy." Shawn still couldn't believe his eyes. But there they were - his two friends, who'd barely spoken to each other this past week - on the floor… naked and as physically close as two human beings can get. Well, not completely naked, if one counted Jason's pants around his ankles as partially clothed. However, there was no doubt about it. His friends had done the deed. But what the hell happened… to lead up to this? "Jeez."

"Shawn?" called out Belle from outside, "What's going on?" Before he could stop her, she rounded the door and gasped. "Oh my gosh!"

"Uh, Belle," he said, trying to block her view, "Maybe you should wait outside…"

But her eyes widened and stared in shock and fascination. "Mimi? Jason?"

At the sound of his name, Jason stirred, "What…"

"Uh, Jase…" began Shawn, not really knowing what to say.

"Shawn?" yawned Jason, preparing to pass right back out.

"Jase!" Shawn now returned to reality and remembered Chloe. "Dude, you'd better get dressed. I don't know, if Kelsey would appreciate finding you two like this in her mom's home office."

"Huh?" Jason was still disoriented from the gallons of liquor circulating in his body.

Belle picked up Mimi's pink dress from under the computer desk and walked over to Mimi. "Mimi, wake up. We need to go." She shook her friend's shoulder, but Mimi was dead to the world. "Shawn, we can't leave them like this. And Chloe needs to get out of here."

Shawn nodded somberly. "Ok," he answered, wondering how they were going to do this without embarrassing their friends and themselves. Then, he threw up his hands. Crap, they were beyond embarrassment. "Ok, you roll Mimi over and get her dressed. And I'll deal with Jason."

Belle and Shawn exchanged an uncertain look. They were about to see a side of their friends that they'd never expected nor really wished to see. They took a unified breath, before they started.

Philip cursed. "Damn it, where the hell are they?" Chloe whimpered in the passenger seat. He instantly reached for her, trying to soothe. "It's gonna be alright, beautiful. I'm going to take you home, and we're going to call the doctor," he promised, "Then, Cook is gonna bust a gut, when he finds out you're there and he's going to feed us 'til we're blue. And Marie's gonna come in and help fix your hair and other girly stuff. Henderson's gonna bring you his favorite orchids from the greenhouse. Sebastian will wanna take you on a limo ride around the grounds just for the hell of it. You'll see, by tomorrow, you'll be so pampered that you won't wanna leave."

Chloe's eyes lethargically opened and closed, as she tried to drum up a reassuring smile for him. But she felt a thick chemical wave roll over her brain and felt her surroundings fade to black.

He saw her eyes begin to roll to the back of her head and grasped her face. "Chloe, listen to me. Stay awake, you hear me? Can you do that for me? You need to stay awake for me."

She forced her eyes open and tried to focus. "Philip…" her skin now clammy, "I'm so tired…"

"I know, baby," he soothed desperately, his hands running over her face, "Just hold on a little while, ok?" He kissed her and watched, as she did her best to fight off the effects of the punch. His lips straightened in a decisive line. "Fuck this." He buckled himself in and started the car. He was scared out of his mind, and Chloe was really sick from God knows what. His friends would understand, if he just couldn't wait any longer. The car had just jerked forward, when his friends came hobbling out of the house.

"Philip, wait!" cried Belle, supporting a nearly unconscious Jason on her shoulder. Philip's eyes widened, when he saw Shawn carrying a wigless, gloveless, and shoeless Mimi in his arms.

Philip put the car back into park and jumped out to help his friends in. "What the hell's going on?"

"Long and confusing ass story," huffed Shawn, finally settling in with Mimi in the back of Phil's SUV.

"Jase?" Phil turned to his obviously smashed friend.

"Hey, K-Man," he slurred with a sloppy grin, "How ya doing?"

Phil shook his head and, with Belle's help, got Jason into the backseat.

"How's Chloe?" asked Belle, her face now red from exertion and traumatic embarrassment.

"We need to go, now," answered Philip gruffly.

Praising whatever stroke of fate that not an ounce of alcohol was in his bloodstream to cloud his brain, Philip strapped in and peeled off toward the Kiriakis estate.

"Master Philip," managed Henderson, out of breath from his sprint to the guesthouse and to the master bedroom, "I've already phoned Dr. Stevenson, and he's on his way. How is Miss Chloe?" The servant approached the bed, where she lay, barely able to keep her eyes open. "Oh, Miss Chloe," he cooed, his hand feeling her forehead for fever.

"H-Hello, Henderson," she managed. Her muscles had grown so lax, and her mind had begun to float.

Her forehead was cool and damp from sweat. Henderson sighed in relief. No fever. "Everything will be fine. We'll take good care of you." He stood and pulled Master Philip to the side. "Do you have any idea what brought this on?"

"All she had was this punch, so it's gotta be that."

"How much did she have?" asked the servant, his eyes sharpened in understanding and deduction.

"Just a glass. Then, maybe ten, fifteen minutes later, she started getting dizzy and then she couldn't walk." He ran both hands through his hair.

"Did she have anything to eat before the punch?"

"I-I don't know. Maybe."

"Did any of your friends have the punch?" The servant recalled Mr. Welles flopped face down on the living room couch.

"I don't know. Maybe," his eyes locked on Chloe, shifting uncomfortably on the bed. He went to her instantly, taking her hand in his. "I'm here, baby."

Philip looked up, when Henderson put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Master Philip, if she ingested something, particularly a drug or alcoholic substance, I think it'd best be expunged."

"What do you mean? Like throw it up?"

Henderson's eyes were kind. "I could help her, if you like."

"No," Philip said, looking back at her pale face, "I'll do it."

After he left Belle, who tended to Mimi, Shawn strode over to the living room couch, where Jason had laid out snoring. He shook his friend hard by the shoulder. "Jason," he said sternly, "Wake up, man."

Finally, Jason's eyes cracked open. "Huh?"

"What the hell happened?"

"What…"

"Did you drink the whole freaking bar? What the hell happened with you and Mimi?" Shawn asked impatiently. So many things had happened tonight, and he was getting punchy.

"M-Mimi?" Jason muttered and then passed out for good.

"Jase!" Shawn shook him again, but it was no use. He ran a hand through his hair. What a night. He looked down at himself and simply shook his head. What a fucked-up night.

Belle tried to wake Mimi one more time, but her friend barely batted a lash. She couldn't believe what she'd seen tonight. Mimi had had sex with Jason.

Belle stood and walked to a nearby dresser, looking for something Mimi could change into. She found two sets of soft cotton pajamas on the top drawer. Leave it to the Kiriakis staff to always be prepared for unexpected guests, she thought. Sighing, she took a set and walked back to sit beside an unconscious Mimi. She unzipped the satin pink dress.

Mimi had been a virgin.

How many nights over the phone and at sleepovers had they fantasized their first time? Of course, the images were filled with magical fairy tales and bubbly romance. Belle had wished it to be on her wedding night in some exotic place like Aruba. Mimi had wished for satin sheets and candlelight with hundreds of rose petals scattered throughout.

But most of all, they'd dreamed and positively decided that their first time would be with someone that they loved. With someone, who loved them in return. When the moment came, it would be alright, because they loved each other. Thus, the time and place were secondary. Love was the one condition that was nonnegotiable.

Belle sighed again, as she gently led Mimi's arms into the shirtsleeves. She hoped that her friend at least got one part of her fantasy.

Exhausted like never before, Chloe rested her weary head against Philip. He gently cleansed her face with a warm, damp towel. She'd used up the last of her energy to force herself to regurgitate the contents of her stomach. She was too worn out to feel embarrassed. Instead, she sighed weakly in the comfort of his arms.

On the door came a soft knock. "Master Philip?"

"Come in, Henderson," he answered softly, so as not to startle Chloe.

The servant entered the bathroom with a perfectly folded stack of cloth. "Marie arrived with a nightgown and other personal items for Miss Chloe, in addition to some things for you for tonight. She has already provided your friends with anything that they may need."

"Thanks," Philip replied, looking down at Chloe's perfectly natural face. Somehow, she looked even more exquisite without the makeup and sparkles. The bruise was barely noticeable now. Barely.

"Would you like Marie to help her change?"

Philip ran a loving hand down Chloe's cheek, as her eyes fluttered toward sleep. His angel. "Yeah." He lifted her back up into his arms and carried her to the bed, laying her down, as gently as he could.

A moment later, the maid shuffled in with a small bag of extra toiletries. "Oh, the poor dear." Marie had served the Kiriakis family for over two decades and had a heart as giving as the sun. She clucked like an attentive mother hen, running a gentle hand over Chloe's forehead.

Chloe could only smile a little, as a strange euphoria set in.

Marie looked up expectantly at the men in the room.

At her cue, Henderson took his young master's arm and quietly led him out of the room.

"I'll be right back, beautiful," Philip promised, before Henderson closed the door behind them.

Dr. Stevenson arrived with his faithful medical bag in hand. Chloe's pulse was steady and temperature normal. "She'll still have some of the chemical in her bloodstream. Depending on the substance, the effects may last anywhere from four to twelve to twenty-four hours. I really can't say without knowing what it could be. Now, it'd be best, if we take her to the hospital to run some blood and urine analysis and observe her overnight."

Philip felt her almost imperceptibly squeeze his hand. "She really didn't want her parents to worry, Doctor. Couldn't we keep her here? I promise to look after her."

The doctor frowned in disapproval. "I don't really recommend it. It's a dangerous risk to take, when the drink could have been spiked with any number of substances. Rohypnol and GHB, for instance, have many corresponding symptoms and are popular drugs added to party drinks. They also could have serious complications."

"She threw up a lot of it. Do you think that helped?" asked a worried Philip.

"Obviously, the less circulating in her body the better. But again, we have no idea what the substance is." The doctor sighed, since it appeared his patient would stay put. The Kiriakis clan never made good patients. "Perhaps, I could take blood and urine samples now. I'll put in a rush for the results. In the meantime, I recommend that she get plenty of water to flush out more of the substance, whatever it may be."

"Thank you, Doctor," said Henderson.

"Now, be prepared," warned Dr. Stevenson, pulling Philip and Henderson to the side, hoping to make them understand, "Drugs, such as those I've named, also have neurological effects, including hallucinations, seizures, and memory loss. There is also a risk of coma or worse, depending what else was mixed in this cocktail. So, if she exhibits any additional symptoms, call me and get her to the hospital immediately."

Philip exchanged a look with Henderson, uncertain if they were doing the right thing. The servant laid an encouraging arm on the boy's shoulders. "We'll take good care of her."

Afterwards the doctor took a look at the snoring Jason and Mimi. No one knew their symptoms and no amount of shaking or shouting could rouse them. But their pulse and temperature were normal. Shawn and Belle reported that they'd probably had a lot to drink, considering Jason and Mimi's breath. Chloe, in contrast, had no alcohol in her breath. It was still unclear, however, if they'd had any of the dubious punch. The doctor surmised that with Chloe's empty stomach and fast metabolism, the effects of the punch were that much more pronounced and greater cause for concern.

After the doctor and the servants left, Philip changed out of his costume and into his pajamas. He normally only wore boxers to bed, but his ever thoughtful servants had brought him his flannel pjs. Philip admitted to himself that it was probably a good idea, considering there was no way he'd leave Chloe's side. On the dresser was a pitcher of spring water and easy to hold glasses. Philip was to make her guzzle as much as she could, before she fell asleep. Then, throughout the night, he'd wake her to drink some more.

"Chloe?" Her eyes opened slowly. Then, she gave a drowsy smile with her eyes uncharacteristically glazed. He shifted her, so she leaned upright against him. She obediently drank and drank, until the pitcher was a third empty. He replaced the glass and settled next to her in bed.

Marie had brought her a simple but pretty pink cotton nightgown that covered from her neck down to her toes. With her hair brushed in cascading waves and braided loosely down her back, she looked like a life-size doll. Philip smiled. Women and their maternal instincts.

Henderson had brought a separate blanket for Philip and given him a knowing look. He'd bet that there was a box of condoms in the nightstand drawer. Philip grinned. Servants and their paternal instincts.

But he understood their concern and heeded their unspoken warnings. He would take care of her. Chloe was exceedingly vulnerable right now. He couldn't take advantage of that. If he did, not only would she hate him later for it, but he'd hate himself. Their first time together would be, when they were both mentally and physically present to enjoy it. He would make sure that he wouldn't fuck up, as Brady would hope and count on. Resolved, he tucked Chloe in, then tucked his own blanket tight around himself.

"Philip," she sighed in her sleep. She turned and rested her hand over his heart.

He smoothed back her hair and kissed her forehead. He sang softly, "All I have to do is dream. Dream, dream, dream…"*

Mimi blinked at the intruding sunlight and turned over in bed.

"Mimi?"

She opened her tired eyes and found herself face to face with Belle. "Belle? What are you doing here?"

Her friend's brows drew together in concern. "We're at Philip's house, Mimi. We came here after the party." They lay in bed facing each other in soft cotton pajamas.

Mimi tilted her head in confusion. "I thought we were going to sleepover at my house. How'd I get here?"

"Philip drove us here, and Shawn carried you inside. I guess you were unconscious."

"Really?" Her eyes were wide. "I can't believe I missed that. How'd I zonk out?"

Belle appeared even more confused. "I don't know. You were out like a light, when we found you."

"Wow. What the hell happened to me?" she wondered aloud. Then, she tried to recall the last thing she could remember. "Brian and I were dancing. I hope he got together with Krista. Man, were they cute together." She smiled, then she looked about. "Hey, we're in the guesthouse. I remember staying here once."

"Yeah," Belle replied, watching her friend very carefully.

"Hey, how'd I get into this nice sleepwear?" Mimi looked inquisitively down under the blanket.

"I kinda helped you."

Mimi grinned, "Oh, good. If you'd said that Shawn did that part, too, then we'd have to do some serious talking."

But Belle couldn't grin in return. "Mimi, you don't seem, like you have a hangover."

Mimi laughed, "What? Why should I? I didn't drink anything. Well, maybe if you count that punch..."

Belle's eyes widened in shock. "Meems, how much did you have?"

Mimi looked at her friend curiously. She was sure acting strange, she thought. "Like three glasses. Something like that. Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Uh," Belle's eyes looked from side to side, trying to think of a subtle way to sort all of this out, "What happened with you and Jason?"

"Jason?" Mimi scoffed. "That idiot was so drunk last night, it was pathetic. But you should've seen the look on his face, when I told him that Brian was my date," she confessed in unholy glee. "I know, know," she admitted, when she saw the shocked, then sad look on her friend's face, "I fibbed a little, but it was about time he got a dose of his own medicine."

"Uh, Mimi," began Belle very slowly. She pushed herself up to lean against the headboard and took a breath. "Do you remember what happened after that?"

Mimi looked up at her friend in confusion. What a bizarre question. "What do you mean?"

"Like what happened after you told Jason that Brian was your date?"

Mimi blinked. She'd… She thought and she thought. She shifted in bed, trying to think, when she felt sore in places that had never felt sore before. Then, she looked up at her friend in fright. "Oh, my God, Belle. What happened to me?"