Past and Present Danger: Chapter 5
by blueeaglex
 

Chad heaved a sigh of relief. With T.C.'s attention diverted elsewhere, he didn't have to worry about having to explain what he and Whitney had been doing in the shed.

Simone, however, stared at Chad, ignoring the drama going on with her parents. Could Kay's suspicions about Chad and Whitney be correct? "No," she thought to herself. "Chad wouldn't do that to me. And Whitney can be a pain in the neck sometimes, but even she wouldn't be so mean as to fall in love with Chad." Yet despite telling herself that it couldn't be true, she had a nagging fear that something was horribly wrong.

"Are you going to answer me or not?" Julian took a step backwards in the elevator, cowering in fear.

Eve put up her hand to block her husband from entering. "It's just a silly misunderstanding, T.C.," she said. "We were trapped together in the elevator, and I fell into his arms." She stepped out of the elevator, and Julian followed, being sure to stay several feet away from Eve. Glancing around and seeing Simone and Chad standing nearby, Eve added, "What's everyone doing here?"

"Whitney was bit by a snake," T.C. explained to his wife. "The doctors haven't come out to explain what's going on, yet."

"A snake? Where was Whitney that she could be bitten by a snake?"

"She was in my shed--with Chad."

All eyes were on Chad now, as the group waited for his answer.

Behind them, Ivy walked into the hospital, casually carrying a red purse over her shoulder. Stopping near the entrance, she pulled the infamous photos of Julian and Eve from her purse. The secret concerning Ethan's paternity was out, so Eve no longer had anything she could hold over Ivy. Now, the ball was in Ivy's court to make Eve do whatever she wanted.

Returning the pictures to her purse, Ivy looked over to see the group standing near the elevators. She focused especially on Eve, Julian, and Chad, standing near one another. Ivy frowned at the sight of the threesome together. Recalling how she had once suspected that Chad was Julian and Eve's bastard child, Ivy wondered again if there was anything to her suspicions.

"My child is dead, Ivy." Ivy remembered Eve's words all too well. But was there any chance that Chad could be the Crane heir? Wishing to get away from T.C., Julian shifted uncomfortably, looking for a way out. At the same time, Chad's actions seemed to mirror Julian's... "It can't be," Ivy told herself. "It just can't be!"

"What were you doing in the shed, with Whitney?" Eve asked Chad, unable to think of a plausible explanation. For the first time in a long time, her worries about Chad resurfaced.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but Whitney's woken up and would like to see her parents now."

T.C. and Eve's attention was diverted away by the arrival of a doctor, who motioned for them to follow him. Chad moved away from the Russells, as did Julian.

Julian noticed his wife for the first time, and walked her way. "What are you doing here?"

Ignoring her husband's question, Ivy spat out one of her own. "Is something wrong with the Russells?"

"Whitney's been in something of an accident."

Ivy turned to leave; now was not the time to be talking to Eve. "I'll see you at home, Julian," she said without turning around, not bothering to explain her actions.

Julian watched Ivy walk away, curious as to what his wife was up to.

****************

Before stepping into her car, Ivy looked back towards the hospital, spying a familiar face. Ivy studied Chad's face, trying to see if she could see some clue suggesting he was a Crane. "This is ridiculous," she told herself. "He can't be. He just can't be."

Or could he?

There was only one way to find out.

Ivy reached into her purse, quickly searching for something within the mess. Finally, she found what she was looking for. Smiling, Ivy pulled it out.

"Chad?"

Casually walking towards Chad, Ivy waved at him. "Chad? I know we're not close, but you and my son are such good friends, I was wondering if I could get your help with something."

"Sure, Mrs. Crane, what's up?"

Ivy looked around the hospital parking lot. "I just can't seem to find my car here...I am so embarrassed. Is there any chance you could help me find it? It's a red Porsche."

"No problem, Mrs. Crane." Chad walked through the parking lot, and before long found the car. "Here ya go," he said helpfully.

"Thank you so much, Chad," Ivy said, extending her hand to him. Chad took a step back, blinking twice as he pulled his hand away. Several drops of blood fell from his hand.

"My fingernails!" Ivy reached for her purse, pulled out a white handkerchief, and wiped the drops of blood from Chad's hand. "I am so, so sorry."

"Don't worry 'bout it," Chad said, forcing a smile. If he didn't know better, he'd think that Mrs. Crane had just intentionally drawn his blood, from the smile on her face now.

"You'll never know how thankful I am," Ivy told Chad, before stepping into her car. As Chad walked away, Ivy slipped a pin back into her purse...the same pin she'd palmed seconds before to break Chad's skin. Ivy held up the handkerchief, marred only by the drops of blood. "One down, two to go," she whispered.

***************

The worry melted from Eve's face as she followed T.C. into the hospital room. Whitney was sitting up in bed, a weak smile on her face.

"Whitney, are you all right?" Eve was at her daughter's side in an instant.

"I'm fine, Mom, I'm fine." As the seconds passed, Whitney gained more strength. "I guess they pumped the venom out of me. It looked worse than it was, anyway."

"I'm glad you're all right," T.C. said, leaning over and kissing his daughter on the top of her head. "I don't know what we would have done without you." He paused, unsure as to whether he should pursue with his questions.

Whitney broached the subject first. Glancing around the room, she frantically asked, "Where's Chad? He got out, didn't he? Did the snake get him too?"

"Chad's fine," T.C. said, doing his best to hold back his anger. Yet the anger rose up within him, despite his best efforts. "What I'd like to know is, what was Chad doing in the shed with you?"

Whitney bit her upper lip, unsure as to how she should proceed. She wanted to tell her father the truth...she really did. But would be so much easier if Chad was here with her.

"No," she thought to herself. "I have to do this myself."

"I'm sure there's a perfectly logical explanation for Chad being with Whitney inside the shed," Eve said quickly, trying to mediate between her two loved ones. She put her hand gently on T.C.'s arm, pulling him back. "Isn't there, honey?"

"Why is there a dead body inside a coffin in your shed?" Whitney asked, suddenly recalling what she had seen. Eve dropped her husband's hand and gasped.

"A glass coffin?" T.C. said, laughing weakly. "When did you see this?"

"It was after the snake bit me," Whitney explained. She closed her eyes for a brief second, recalling the horrifying sight. "I knocked over some boxes, and there was the coffin."

"You must have been hallucinating," Eve said, with a small laugh. "T.C., tell her. You don't have a coffin in your shed, do you?"

A long pause. Just as Eve was starting to worry about her husband's response--or lack thereof--T.C. cleared his throat and began to speak. "Of course I don't have a coffin," T.C. said. "Like your mother said, you must have been hallucinating."

"But what about the painting of me?" Whitney added. "I saw that before I got bit. Why do you have a painting of me inside your shed?"

The idea that T.C. had a coffin in his shed had been too ridiculous for Eve to consider, but the painting piqued her curiosity. "You have a painting of Whitney in your shed? That's what you've been keeping in there all those years?"

"I...I guess I should admit the truth," T.C. said, his voice unsteady. "I've been painting in there the past several years."

"I didn't know you'd ever even picked up a paint brush," Eve said, surprised by this revelation.

"You should see the painting of me," Whitney told her mother eagerly. "It looks so--"

"NO!" Whitney shuddered in her bed, and Eve jumped back, both surprised by T.C.'s forceful response. Calming down, he added, "I don't like showing off my paintings, that's all. Maybe some other time." Eve studied her husband's face carefully. She knew him all too well...he was holding something back. But what? "I think we've gotten off the subject," T.C. said, turning his attention back to Whitney. "What were you and Chad doing in the shed? I gotta say, honey, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I found out, and my mind's come up with some crazy explanations."

"Whatever the explanation is, I'm sure it's a good one," Eve said, confident in her daughter.

Whitney struggled with what to say. Was now the best time to reveal the truth?

"Whitney? Say something," T.C. advised his daughter, prodding her on.

All eyes were on Whitney. It was now--or never.

"There's a perfectly good reason I was in there with Chad," Whitney began.

"See?" Eve looked to her husband. "I knew we were worrying about this for nothing."

"And the reason is, that Chad and I are in love."