Brady inhaled sharply as Carl maneuvered his leg. It felt as if someone had taken a knife and viciously stabbed it into his back. He groaned loudly and lay panting.

"Easy Brady." Carl shook his head. "I know you want to recover quickly but we’ve had this discussion before, you’ve got to take it a little slower and not push your body so hard."

"Hey no pain, no gain." Brady gasped and winced as agony shot through him.

"Not necessarily, you could totally jeopardize your recovery."

"Ok, ok, I’ll be more careful." Brady sat up.

Carl realized that Brady was being overly quiet this morning. "Brady, aside from the pain, are you alright otherwise?"

Brady smiled sarcastically. "Well aside from having no place to live, yah everything's just great, couldn’t be better."

Concerned Carl put his hand on Brady’s shoulder. "What do you mean you have no place to live?"

Brady’s eyes widened. "Well Marlena has ensured that I get kicked out."

"Come on Brady I’m sure you can work this out with your dad?"

"We’ll see." Brady hopped off the table grimacing. There was no way, he would go home today. John’s threat and his humiliation in front of Marlena was too much. He had no idea right now where he would stay. Grandpa Victor was still out of town, maybe Phil would let him stay at the mansion.

He was limping back to the motel when he ran into Chloe. "You again, what are doing? Following me?"

Chloe’s blue eyes narrowed. "You are such a jerk. I was hoping to run into Belle."

"Well if its Belle you want come with me, I happen to know where she is.

Chloe hesitated looking at him suspiciously.

"What you don’t trust me, a crippled guy who can hardly limp on his crutches?" A pout formed on Brady’s face.

Chloe smiled and shook her head. "You are so pathetic the way you manipulate people."

"Hey if you think I’m manipulating you then get the hell out of here, I don’t.."

Chloe cut him off. "Just shut up Brady, and take me to Belle"

Brady glared at her and started walking.

Chloe studied Brady as they went through the mall; he was acting even more bizarre then normal. She could tell by his slower pace that the fall yesterday was still hurting him. "Well here we are."

"This is a motel, are you insane bringing me here!"

"Whoa Chloe, calm down, Belle’s here she’s…hey look there she is."

Belle was standing outside talking on her cell phone. She had her back to them as they approached. She put the phone into her pocket and turned around. Her face was wet with tears.

"Belle, what is it?" Brady asked concern evident in his voice.

"Oh Brady." She went into his arms crying her heart out.

"Belle what happened? Did something happen to dad?"

Chloe put her hand on Belle’s shoulder. Brady held Belle and stroked her hair. "Come on Tink, what happened, please tell me?"

When her sobs subsided she was able to choke out. "It’s nothing really." She looked at them both embarrassed.

Brady raised an eyebrow. "My shirts all wet from your tears, don’t tell me it was nothing." Belle
hesitated. "Belle, I insist you tell me what happened…NOW!" Anger entered Brady’s voice.

Belle could tell he was very concerned.

"Belle, you can trust me, I won’t tell anyone, I promise." Chloe added.

"Its nothing really, it just shocked me that’s all, it’s none of my business." As the words left her mouth tears entered her eyes again.

Brady took a deep frustrated breath and the blue of his eyes felt like they were piercing her soul.

"I was just talking to Mimi, she and Shawn slept together last night."

Chloe responded. "Mimi? I doubt it, she’s probably just pulling your leg.

Brady’s fists clenched. "What was that idiot thinking!!!"

Just then the door to the motel room opened and Shawn stepped out.

"What the hell!" Brady asked, looking at Belle with a furious look.

"Oh its Ok Brady, I ran into Belle this morning and I wasn’t feeling well so she let me crash for an hour, its not what you think."

Brady limped over to Shawn. "It’s not what I think? It’s not what I think? What exactly am I thinking Shawn? That sex with Mimi wasn’t enough so you decided to go after Belle next?"

"Brady!!!" Belle screamed at him, fury and despair in her voice.

Shawn’s jaw almost hit the floor. He glanced over at Belle, registering her tear stained face, saw the look of disgust on Chloe’s face and then the absolute rage in Brady’s eyes.

"It’s not like that, I.." Shawn didn’t get a chance to finish the sentence as Brady’s fist connected with his jaw.

"Get out of here." Brady growled as he regained his balance.

Shawn staggered backward from the force of Brady’s blow. "Belle, I, I’m sorry but I."

He started to go over to her but Brady’s arm came out and firmly grasped his shoulder. "Go now!"

Shawn pulled away. "Calm down Brady, I’m leaving." He glanced at Belle one more time, his dark eyes wide with sorrow. Belle looked away putting her hands up over her eyes. Feeling like his gut had
been wrenched out of him; Shawn made his way home.

"Oh my god, I can’t believe Shawn did that, Shawn and Mimi?" Chloe shook her head in disbelief.

Suddenly a door a couple of rooms down opened and Philip stepped out. Chloe spotted him first. "Philip what are you doing here?"

Philip froze; he took in the scene in front of him, Chloe, Brady and Belle. Before he could utter a word, Jan came out behind him. Her eyes lit up when she spotted Chloe. Philip cleared his throat. "Chloe".

"Oh my god." Chloe barely whispered. Jan smirked "Come on lover."

Philip stepped towards Chloe. "Get away from me, never ever come near me again." Chloe tried to run but Brady had reached out and grabbed her arm. "Let go of me, let go of me." Chloe's voice had taken on a hysterical note.

Brady snarled at Philip. "Get out of here and take your slut with you."

Philips eyes narrowed as he glared at Brady. He turned and walked away quickly with Jan on his heels.

"Come on Chloe and Belle, let’s go in the room." Brady ordered.

"Stop it Brady, just let go of me." Chloe looked at him with rage and hurt in her eyes.

"We need to talk this out. " Brady shouted.

Belle sighed. "Come on Chloe, misery loves company."

The three of them entered the room. Chloe was visibly shaken. "How could Philip do that to me."

Chloe tearfully asked as she sat down on the bed. Belle sat down beside her. Brady stood by the door a little puzzled, how was he going to deal with these two weepy girls. If only he had his legs back to the way they used to be. He’d go after Shawn and Philip and knock some sense into them.

Belle put her own hurt aside to comfort Chloe. "I can’t believe Philip did that to you, did you have a fight or something?"

Chloe sobbed "No, he was upset about something but he wouldn’t tell me."

"I’m so sorry Chloe."

Chloe looked up with tear filled eyes. "What about Shawn are you Ok?"

"Well, Shawn and I are just friends, apparently that’s all we’ll ever be.

Come on Chloe I’ll walk you home." Chloe wiped away her tears.

"Brady, are you coming home?"

"No." He stood by the door.

"Brady come on, please."

"No Belle, I can’t".

"Brady, stop letting your pride get in the way, I know Dad was hard on you last night but he cares so much can’t you just try." Belle pleaded.

"Try what, being nice to Marlena after what she did to me?"

"It was an accident Brady."

"No Belle, wake up it wasn’t!"

Belle burst into tears, "Brady I love my mom but I love you too, can’t you please just come home, just for me. It’s been a rotten day, I need you there."

Brady’s heart cracked, he sighed as he put his arms around Belle. He held her tightly and closed his eyes.

Chloe watched in fascination, this was a side rarely seen of Brady. The unconditional love he had for his sister was so touching.