Chapter 9

When his friend's face dropped and turned to leave, Philip grabbed his arm. "Shawn-"

Shawn's arm tensed, his hands fisted. "Drop it, man."

Philip released his grip and held up his hands in peace. "I'm your friend, ok? You were there for me with Chloe, and now I'm just trying to return the favor. Alright?"

Shawn's hard-set eyes dulled with defeat. "We buried my little brother today, Phil. Can't we just leave this be?" He turned to grip the edge of the counter. This day had been so inconceivable, yet so painfully real at the same time. And the pain just didn't end.

"Look, I know I can't say that I understand what you're going through," he said, plunging on before Shawn could respond. "But we've known each other, since we were little. I've never seen you this way, bro. It's like you've given up or something."

Shawn's head hung for a moment. "I'm still here, aren't I? I'm not gonna jump off a bridge or open up a vein, if that's what you're worried about."

Philip let the statement mull in his mind, before he spoke. "No. I'm not worried about that, because I know how much you loved J.T. You wouldn't dishonor his memory like that."

His grieving friend closed his eyes. "No, I wouldn't."

"No, you wouldn't," reemphasized Philip, letting the unspoken promise sink in. "That's why I don't get this Belle thing."

When Shawn tried to head for the door, Philip yanked him hard by the arm, so their faces were mere inches from each other. "I may be your run-of-the-mill rich, spoiled brat that doesn't know shit about life, but by God, you're going to listen to me." With that, Philip shoved him into a chair. Too shocked to resist or even get pissed off, Shawn sat, staring into his friend's angry eyes.

"You loved J.T. Everyone knows that. Crap, you bragged about the kid all the time, even when other people had written him off, because he was sick. You believed in him, and you took care of him. You were a great big brother. And you'd better take my word on that, because I know about big brothers, since I've got two."

Shawn's forehead furrowed, as he tried to control his tears. He grudgingly nodded in acceptance.

Philip continued, "And I know, if anything were to happen to me, because I love my brothers, I'd want them to be happy. I wouldn't want them to suffer because of me. And I wouldn't want them to blame themselves for something they had no control over." He sat down across from Shawn to meet him at eye level. "You know that J.T. wouldn't want this for you."

Tears overflowing, Shawn looked away from his buddy, who offered unconditional support. He rubbed his sleeve across his nose. "You weren't there, man. You don't know-"

"About you and Belle kissing? Yeah, I know," said Philip to his friend's surprise and shame. "Chloe told me, and you can guess the rest. And you know what I say? About freaking time."

Shawn's eyes bulged wide. His mouth opened and closed, struck dumb.

"Me and Chloe were about to handcuff the two of you together in a closet somewhere and withhold food and water, until you guys got a clue."

Shawn rubbed his palms into his eyes. "If I hadn't been playing around with her-"

"J.T. would've died anyway. He would've died, if your mom or dad had been there instead of you, and you'd be saying the same thing to them. J.T. was sick, and he died, and you did everything you could to save him. But he's gone, Shawn," said Philip soberly, as his friend sobbed in his hands. "But that little baby loved his big brother. We little brothers know a great big brother, when we see one, and he knew. Now, he'd want you to be happy."

"How can I be, when he's… he's gone and I'm…"

"When you're here, healthy and alive? Shawn, that's like asking… what to do, when anything bad happens to the people we love," replied Philip, thinking of his father and Chloe, "We'd give anything to protect them from pain, even take their place, if we had to. But that's not how it works. Shit happens, and all we can do is be there for them. In this case, we have to honor J.T.'s memory by getting on with life and try to be happy. If the situations were reversed, what would you want for him?"

Closing his eyes, Shawn absorbed his friend's words. He quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeves, as female chattering approached and entered the kitchen.

"Hey, guys," greeted Lexie and Hope, who had spent a busy and healing evening with Shawn D.'s grandmothers.

"Hi, Mrs. Carver, Mrs. Brady," replied Philip with a weak smile, which grew into a genuine one, when Chloe came through the doorway with wispy curls falling appealingly from her French twist. "Hey, beautiful."

"Hi," she answered, breathlessly planting herself in the chair next to his. "Shawn," she began, recognizing the telltale tear-ravaged eyes, and reached across the table to cover his hand, "Your grandmothers are cleaning, gossiping steam engines in disguise."

Shawn laughed and watched a worn-out Chloe snuggle against Philip. As his friend tenderly kissed her forehead, Shawn sighed with his lightened heart and considered.

Chloe yawned, as Philip's luxury SUV gradually reached semi-plowed roads. His hand automatically reached over and held hers to rest on the console.

"So, what did you guys talk about in the kitchen, before we came in?" she asked softly, weary from the long day.

Eyes sharply focused before him, he switched on his high beams, as the precipitation thickened. "We talked about J.T. and Belle."

Despite their fatigue, her eyes widened, as she turned to look at his profile. "Really?"

"Yeah," he replied, turning up the defroster, "It was pretty intense, but I think he's starting to see the light."

"What did you say to him?" Completely awake now, she turned as much as her seatbelt would allow in her seat.

"Basically, that he did a good job with J.T. and that his little brother would want him to be happy." He released her hand to navigate a shiny slick of pavement.

Chloe studied his face and felt her heart warm. "And what did he say?"

"That he felt bad that he'd been fooling around with Belle, when everything happened. He'd figured, if he hadn't been distracted, then J.T. would've been alright. But I told him that he did everything he could, and J.T. would've died, whether or not Belle or he was there. He's just got to remember that his brother would've wanted him to move on and be happy."

"Philip, stop the car."

Startled, he brought the already slow-roving car to a halt and scanned through the windshield. "What? You see something in the road?"

She put the car into park, unlatched her safety belt, and with strong hands on his cheeks, brought his lips to hers. Totally caught off guard, his hands moved weakly to her ribs, before his fingers tightened and pulled her closer. She eventually drew away to place kisses on his nose, eyes, and forehead.

His eyes opened, still dizzy and stunned. "What was that for?"

"For being you. For being a good friend."

His chest twinged with some indescribable emotion. His hands reached for her face to run thumbs over her cheekbones. When her hands settled on his wrists and her adoring blue eyes seemed to engulf him, something snapped. He pulled her roughly against him and plundered her mouth. Her fingers ran recklessly through his hair, as he wrenched his seatbelt from between them and pushed her back against the opposite door. His teeth grazed up her jawbone to her ear, ripping a moan from her. Under his quick fingers, her coat parted. When his hand cupped her breast, she instinctively arched against him. His eyes darkened to a dangerous midnight blue.

Panting for breath, his lips had begun a tortuous trail down her neckline, when a loud pounding to the driver's side window startled them. Philip quickly scurried to sitting, before a thickly gloved hand wiped away the accumulated snow on the window and flashed a light and a badge. Looking over at Chloe, who had regained her seat and smoothed her rapidly unraveling hair, he held back a laugh and nodded. He lowered the window, which brought a flurry of snow into the car.

"Is everything alright in here?"

Philip had to smile up at the dutiful officer. "Yes, sir."

"I noticed that your vehicle was stopped in the road. Is there anything wrong with the vehicle?"

"No, sir. We're just on our way home."

"Alright then. I suggest that you proceed. The snow's coming down pretty hard. You'd best get home and off the roads, as soon and as safely as possible."

"Yes, sir."

"Miss," the policeman greeted Chloe, "Be sure to buckle up."

"Thank you, officer," she replied, before the policeman returned to his squad car and Philip closed the window. She pulled on her safety belt and watched Philip do the same. Then, the car gradually continued toward her house. After a couple of blocks, the squad car turned a corner and disappeared.

The couple exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.

"Hey, Gram," yawned Shawn from his bed. He was on the edge of sleep, when a knock came at the door and his great grandmother came to say goodnight. Tonight, she would stay in the guest bedroom across the hall.

"Hello, darling," she said, sitting down on the bed's edge, "You've certainly had a long day."

"Yeah." He looked away pensively.

"You know, I'm very proud of you," she smiled, tucking a big lock of hair behind his ear. "The way you've taken care of your brother and your family."

He felt the ever-present tears burn again. "I really miss him."

"I know you do, dear. We all do, but he's safe with your great grandfather in heaven. Now, he gets to look after you."

Shawn lay back to stare at the ceiling. "What if I start to forget him? It-It'll be like he was never here."

His great grandmother took his hand in both of hers. "Your heart won't ever forget, because you loved him and he loved you. As long as you remember that, he'll always be here, just like your great grandfather."

Shawn wiped away his tears and drummed up a tired smile. "Thanks, Gram."

She smiled and squeezed his hand. "Now, dear, what is my handsome grandson doing tomorrow?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I guess, just hang at home."

"Nonsense. I hear that we might see a break in this crazy snowstorm. Why don't you go out with your friends tomorrow?"

"I don't know, Gram. I don't really feel like it."

"Shawn, dear, when you get as old as I am, you'll understand how precious time is. So, enjoy tomorrow with your friends and bring them all back here for my famous donuts. How does that sound?"

Shawn's smile spread. "That sounds great."

"And we'll celebrate life. J.T. deserves no less," she said, echoing Philip. She kissed his forehead and missed his wide-eyed expression. "Good night, darling."

"Night, Gram."

The next morning, Chloe gave her hair a last brush, when the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hey, beautiful."

"Philip." Remembering last night's encounter with the law, she smiled. "Now, what did you once say about kissing me and handcuffs?"

He chuckled. "So, what are you up to today?"

"Well, I was going to go to Salem Place," she replied, eyeing her bespeckled window.

"Ah, shopping. Would you mind some company?"

"Actually, I do." She laughed, when she was met with surprised silence. "You see, you're not allowed to see what I'm buying."

"Hmmm, does that mean you're buying something for me? Wait. I smell a certain holiday around the corner, involving a naked dude with arrows."

She could hear his dimples over the phone. "Maybe."

"Hey, I got this idea. How do you feel about going away that weekend?"

"What? Are you serious?" She sat on her bed with a smitten smile.

"Yeah. We could go someplace on my dad's jet and spend a night in Chicago or something."

"Philip, I don't think Nancy or Craig would go for that."

"That's okay. They're not invited."

"Philip…"

"Ok, I'll figure something out." He paused to think a bit.

"Philip…"

"Don't worry, Chloe. I've got it covered."

She sighed in charmed exasperation. "Famous last words."

"So, how about a hint about my present, huh? Does it have something to do with you in something edible?"

She laughed. "No hints. I'd better get going, while the weather still holds up."

"Alright, beautiful. See you there."

"Philip Kiriakis…"

"Don't worry. I'll be good."

She shook her head. "Famous last words."

After a night for Philip and Gram's words to sink into his taxed heart, Shawn took a breath, before he punched the elevator key. He closed his eyes, listening to the chimes, which signaled each level. The doors finally slid open, so that he could cautiously step out onto the top floor.

For J.T., promised Shawn. He rang the doorbell and seconds later the door opened.

"Hey, Shawn," greeted a surprised Brady, before he bear-hugged his friend.