My note….yes, I am officially certifiable. Not only do I not have the time or energy to start another new fic, I have TWO others that should be completed before I even attempt to start another...but alas, I have. I came up with the idea when I took the plot from my favorite Jimmy-centric episode of season5, a line Jimmy had in season 6, and an awesome flashback/daydream scene from a very recent, season 7 episode. It's something that I believe could have happened at one time, and probably still could(that is, if the Degrassi writers weren't such total idiots)...
HOOPS AND DREAMS
CHAPTER 1: A BITTERSWEET REUNION
"It was really nice of your mom to let you use her place, but you really didn't have to go through all this trouble, El", Ashley chuckled as she loaded her paper plate full of dip, veggies and chips.
"Of course I did", Ellie argued, filling her own plate. "Two of my best friends come home after being on tour for almost four months...". As her words trailed off, both girls shared a smiled, and headed for the refreshment table. "Besides, how many more times are we all going to be able to get together in one place, and...", this time, the words were cut short by emotions. Ashley put an arm around Ellie's shoulder and gave her a sympathetic squeeze, before leading her over to the currently unoccupied couch.
"I can't believe Paige's parents bought her a condo", Ashley effectively changed the subject, as she dipped her carrot stick into the ranch dressing. "...and that Griffen is moving in with her".
"I know, that news was like...just a bit shocking", Ellie returned, motioning over to where Paige and Griffen were heating things up, out in the middle of the living room. "They're cute together, though". Ashley nodded and took a bite of her carrot. "And so are Spinner and Jane", Ellie added, changing the focus over to the pair, happily sharing the makeshift dance floor with the other couple.
"Yeah, they are", Ashley agreed with a slight hesitation. "But it's just so weird seeing Spinner and Paige dating different people and being totally okay with it", there was a wistfulness in her voice that made Ellie turn her head.
"I know, they were like attached at the hip in grades nine and ten. Right? And then when they got back together last year, I thought for sure they'd end up together", Ellie chuckled. "I mean, first there was Alex, then Spinner, then Jesse, then Spinner again, then Alex again, and...well, you get my point".
Ashley laughed along with Ellie's joke, but her eyes had a faraway look in them, while she sat watching her friends talking and laughing together. She was quiet for a moment, before letting out a soft sigh, "They were each others first true loves...", there was a pause as she literally shook the thoughts from her head, "...but I guess it doesn't always work out that way".
"It does for some people", Ellie giggled and nudged Ashley in the ribs with her elbow. Ashley looked over at her friend, and ruffled her brow in confusion. "You and Craig?", Ellie prompted, pronouncing each word slowly and clearly.
"Right, me and Craig", Ashley repeated, just not as enthusiastically as Ellie.
Ellie tried hard to determine if the hint of sarcasm heard in Ashley's voice, was part of their typical playful banter. "Do I sense some trouble in paradise?", she teased back.
Ashley flashed a rueful grin. "Paradise...no", her cryptic answer, now confusing Ellie. Ashley noticed the perplexed look Ellie was giving her, and her expression softened, "We were driving around foreign lands, on a giant school bus, with a busted air conditioner, El".
Ellie chuckled, "Yeah, I guess that could be viewed as somewhat of a drawback". Ashley smiled, albeit weakly, and nodded. Ellie sensed there was something else bothering Ashley, but before she had time to think about what she was going to say, the words were already out of her mouth. "But everything else is okay between you two, right?".
"Of course, everything is fine". Ashley answered so quickly, that she felt the need to amend her previous statement with, "Why wouldn't it be?".
"Well, it just that you got all quiet and sad when I mentioned you and Craig...", Ellie stopped when she saw Ashley's face blanch. "Oh Ash, you two aren't back together, are you? I'm so sorry".
Ashley rolled her eyes at Ellie's apology. "No we aren't, and I'm not sorry...this is exactly how I want it", she assured positively.
"But if that's not it, then what...".
Ashley looked away and sighed, nervously chewing on her lower lip as she answered softly, "Craig wasn't my first or truest love, Ellie". The realization registered just as Ashley continued, even quieter this time. "Jimmy was". Ellie opened her mouth to say something, but Ashley was too quick. "I really didn't expect him to be here, I guess I just figured...I mean, Craig is still Jimmy's friend...at least I think he is, and...".
"Ash". It was more the tone of Ellie's voice, than the actual use of her name, that got Ashley's attention. She turned her head, a sudden and inexplicable feeling of dread filled the pit of her stomach. "Jimmy's sick...".
The rest was a blur, voices we muffled and the room started to spin...even though Ashley hadn't even made it through half of her strawberry daiquiri. "Sick?", she gasped.
Ellie nodded. "Some sort of post-op infection Mrs. Brooks said", she took in a deep breath. "He's home now. I guess it was pretty bad though...".
"But he's okay, right?", Ashley cut in, anxiously.
"I think so...I don't really know...".
"Haven't you been to see him?", Ashley asked incredulously.
Ellie shook her head. "Nobody has, not even Spinner...", she paused and swallowed hard, "he doesn't want to see or talk to anyone...he won't even take phone calls...".
"What hap...".
A tap on Ashley's shoulder cut her off before she was able to finish her thought. "Hey Ash, Marco's putting in our new cd...".
"Did you hear about Jimmy?".
"Yeah, terrible isn't it?", Craig asked back, as he grabbed onto her hand and tugged. "C'mon, let's dance".
"Wait, no I...". Ashley's protest fell on deaf ears, as she found her self in the middle of the dace floor, in Craig's arms, dancing to their latest song...the one she wrote about Jimmy.
Ashley sat parked in the car, her clammy hands still clutching the wheel. It was a bad idea, they'd all told her so. They'd all tried, and failed. But she was determined not to.
The first knock was weak, so she decided to try again, but just as she raised her hand, the door swung open. "Ashley?". There was a split-second hesitation before she nodded to the obvious. "I thought I heard something, but I wasn't sure...".
"I was going to use the bell, but...", she trailed off shyly.
"Come on in sweetheart", Mrs. Brooks invited, taking Ashley by the hand and nearly pulling her into the house. "It's so good to see you", she added, almost tearfully, as she embraced the young lady she regarded so highly..."We've missed you".
The words were barely a whisper, but because they were spoken while her and Mrs. Brooks were hugging, Ashley heard them loud and clear. "I'm hope I'm not intruding", Ashley apologized as she broke away.
"No, no...not at all", Mrs. Brooks assured, waiving her further into the room. It was when the woman turned around to face Ashley, that the toll of the past few weeks became apparent. There were worry lines creasing her forehead that Ashley hadn't remembered seeing before, dark circles rimmed her puffy eyes, and her demeanor was much more jittery than the forever calm and professional Mrs. Brooks. "I heard you were back in town", she stated, then distractedly went about straightening the clutter around her usually immaculate living room. "How was Europe...touring...your dad?".
"Fine", Ashley replied, stepping over to take the stack of magazines Mrs. Brooks was just standing there holding, and deposited them into the rack next to the couch.
"Thanks", Mrs. Brooks sighed gratefully, then moved over to the dining room, to pack away the folded piles of laundry that were sitting on the table top. "And your mom, Jeff and Toby...they're all doing well?", she asked, continuing with the small-talk.
"They're all fine Mrs. Brooks, but I didn't come here to talk about my family...".
"I know Ashley, and I'm sorry...", there was a pause and a painful sigh, "...but Jimmy doesn't want to see anyone...". A noise and muffled shouting interrupted Mrs. Brooks, and both women looked in the direction of the stairs. "I really need to get up there sweetie...if you wouldn't mind seeing yourself out...".
"Or, I could help you with the laundry", Ashley offered, taking the last pile into her arms and inhaling the familiar, clean scent.
Mrs. Brooks gave a weary smile and a weak nod, then wordlessly beckoned for Ashley to follow her.
Again, Ashley found herself standing on the other side of a door, unsure of how to proceed...
"Please son, let me help you".
Ashley glanced over at a sad looking Mrs. Brooks, then placed the pile of clothes she was carrying into the laundry basket, and took it from her. There was a silent exchange of gratitude as Jimmy's mother placed her palm on the face of his door.
"Dammit Dad...I said I got it".
She pushed it open and they quietly stepped in, just in time to see Jimmy struggle to get from his bed to his chair.
"C'mon Jim...".
Mr. Brooks head snapped up at the sound of a slight creak, and a small smirk began to form at the corners of his lips. "You have company...", he trailed off, and Jimmy raised his eyes in the direction of his bedroom door.
"...and laundry", Ashley offered softly, giving a slight nod to the basket in her arms.
They locked eyes, Jimmy's narrowed, while Ashley's teared. On the way up the stairs, Mrs. Brooks filled Ashley on the "complications" that arose from this experimental surgery...how Jimmy's body began rejecting the stem cells soon after the procedure, and then his own healthy cells; the infection that followed, one doctors believed to be a form bacterial meningitis, the eleven days Jimmy spent in intensive care; how the "vixen", the term Mrs. Brooks used to refer to Trina, didn't even bother to call them about their son's condition, until Jimmy's fever spiked to 105.3 and the doctors feared organ failure; the pain, disappointment and depression he was going through now, because of this...but nothing prepared her for what she saw.
He was broken, in more ways then one...more ways then Ashley had thought possible. Gaunt and pale, sporting a few days worth of stubble, a bad case of bed head, and the same circles his mother had under her eyes...only Jimmy's were darker, deeper.
Ashley knelt to place the basket on the floor next to her feet, diverting her eyes for only a moment to break the awkwardness, but it only ended up adding to it. Jimmy followed to where her gaze had stopped and angrily pulled his trembling left leg onto the footrest of his chair. Mr. Brooks, who had also noticed the situation, handed his son two pills and a glass of water from the nightstand next to Jimmy's bed...then walked over to his wife and put his arm around her shoulder. "We'll be downstairs if you need anything", Mr. Brooks said to Jimmy, as they walked out.
"I told you I didn't want to see anyone", Jimmy yelled at their retreating backs. He swung his head heavily, then looked up at Ashley. "What are you doing here?".
Ashley swallowed nervously, "I came to see...".
"Well you saw...satisfied?", he spat angrily and gave a his chair a quick half turn.
Ashley took a tentative step forward. "I never wanted this Jimmy...".
"No?", he sarcastic chuckle.
"No", she stood firm. "I heard you were sick...I just wanted to make sure you were...", the right words failed her, and she turned to leave.
Jimmy let out a soft cough, as if he was clearing his throat, just as Ashley reached the doorway. "How long are you back for?", his voice was dry and raspy.
Ashley stopped, her head turned to left, but she didn't look back at Jimmy. "A while", was all she said, and made her way out.
I just love this date 8-8-08, so I created a new story just so I could post it today...just kidding. I'm sure most of you can see where this may be heading. I've wanted to write this SL since season 5 ISHFWILF, but didn't find the inspiration until now. I'm hoping to be as accurate as possible, and will be/have done my homework on the subject, but even so, I do welcome any insight or assistance others might have(yes, I'm pointing at you Heather;).
I know this first chapter has some(very mild) similarities to a previous fic, and it might seem to some that I have something against Jimmy recovering...but, I don't. In fact, I'd love to see it happen. But, since stem cell research is still so new and experimental, and there hasn't been much documentation in the way of complete and total recovery, and I have limited medical knowledge...I wouldn't know where to start, and be totally accurate. So, until then, I'm forced to write plots where the surgery was unsuccessful/partially successful(and with a storyline like this, it would to be written that way)...you'll see.
Degrassi is not mine.