To Laugh Again
FAN FICTION EMERGENCY-
Authoress' note: This started out as a snippet - which I posted. I don't know what kind medical details I will be able to put in as that kind of help as been-lately- unavailable . Anyone having that kind of experience is more than welcome to write me scenario's privately. If I end up using them I'll give you credit. Also I will admit upfront details - of any kind - are not my strong suite, but I am continuing to make an effort to put them in.
0OOOOOOOO
Scene 1
Lynnette stood out in the open area holding tables for workers, or family members of patients to eat, letting the pouring rain thoroughly drench her as she stood - with her back turned to the door to cut down the chances of anyone seeing her mixed up emotions. Rampart's employee didn't want a bunch of nosy questions at the moment. Glancing straight ahead she said a silent pray of thanks for the wet stuff coming out of the sky.
The rain hid the tears running down her face, and Lynette's pockets hid her bawled up fists out of sight. How could Richard, Sharon's boyfriend, pull such a stunt. How could he not pay attention to where he was putting his, Sharon's, Joe's, and her own name on those blasted legal papers? How could she face the good doctor when he was told? Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. That sound - Lynnette knew who's feet they belonged to and she held her breath waiting for the blasting she was sure was coming.
"I always wanted to remarry." Joe clasped his hands behind his back and chuckled, "Course, I had this crazy notion I'd be dressed in a tuxedo - not my doctor's jacket."
When Lynette made no sound but only kept her head faced straight he reached out to touch her arm. "I don't blame you, Lynette, it was lack of attention on Richard's part. And.." the good doctor sighed, "I know annulments - not to mention divorce - are against everything you stand for. Truth is.." he shrugged his shoulders. "I haven't particularly cared for them either." He got the newest LPN at Rampart to turn and face him. "My shift is over. Why don't' we go back inside and talk in the break room where we won't be candidates for drowned rats?"
The halls had family members heading to the waiting room and nurses filling out paperwork as Joe walked with Lynnette towards their destination. Lynnette managed to hold her nerves together and a smile on her face to anyone passing by. Joe said a few hello's and kept his own thoughts to himself - until they were sitting down in the quiet room where employees chatted when they didn't want to be around patients, or their families.
"I know you don't drink coffee, how about some orange juice instead?" Joe offered as he poured his own cup.
"Sure." Lynette interlocked her fingers and twisted them. Her jumbled thoughts made her a nervous wreck.
"Here." Joe sat the cup in front of her and sat down with his coffee mug next to her. His chest rose and then he allowed himself to recline back as he let out a soft sigh, "The way I see it we have three choices."
"Three?" Lynnette was confused. In her mind there was only two -stay married or get an annulment.
"Get a divorce, or an annulment is the first one. Which I have already stated goes against everything you stand for. Our second choice is to stay married and have the real deal, but.." He looked at her with true understanding in his eyes, "I highly doubt that would be advisable at this point." Lifting the cup slightly up he then threw out the option of staying married, but have it be in name only.
"A marriage of convenience?" Lynnette raised her eyebrows. "Guess that means I'd still be living at my place, instead of yours." Lynnette's eyes looked a bit dazed as if trying to sort out too big of a mess.
"Why would you have to do that?" Joe lifted his eyebrows slightly. "I bought a split level house on the outskirts of town just before I became a widower. And with four rooms - three on top and one in the basement, well, there's plenty for you to pick from. You wouldn't have to share a room with an old man. "
"Don't talk like you're ancient. It's not like I'm super young myself. Last time I checked I am well past legal age." Lynette rolled her eyes.
"Still, there is a gap between us. I wouldn't want you to think you had to hung around to keep me company when off work." Joe wasn't a dirty old gizzard and wasn't about to push anything onto a woman who he enjoyed being around.
"Age isn't something I've ever been worried about I'm more concerned about children."
"What about them?" Joe leaned back in his chair continuing to sip.
"I thought someone said you had a couple. What will they think?" Lynette thought for sure they'd have a cow.
"Don't know who told you that. My wife and I wanted them, but none come. So, you see it's not like any would be around to spill the beans on the how-you-got-together type thing." Joe paused and decided to explain why he'd made the suggestion. "With both of us shuddering at the mere mention of divorce - or annulments. Well, I figure if we do this - say for a year - then it would give us time to know each other on a level outside of work. Help us see if we can hack making it the real thing."
"Will we tell people about what happened this morning, or what?" Lynette was working hard at putting the pieces together as if their situation was a puzzle.
"Na, let them get a wedding and reception. Everyone -including us I dare say - would enjoy it." Joe didn't see the need to explain the paper mess to anyone.
"What about Sharon and her boyfriend? I mean wouldn't they talk?"
"Not if they value their jobs." Joe spoke with a rare hard look very seldom seen. It shouted volumes he meant what he said.
"And what if we end up wanting to commit murder?" Lynette asked as she began lifting her glass up.
"Well, guess then an annulment would be in order." Joe sit his cup down.
"Would they give it to us after a year of marriage?" Lynette took a drink while thinking surely that would not be possible.
"Sure, just tell them I couldn't perform my husbandly duties." It was all Joe could do not to crack up laughing as Lynette spit out her juice just as Dixie walked in.
"What's so shocking?" Dixie asked as she picked up the coffee pot.
"I just asked her to marry me." Joe's whole face beamed as Dixie's coffee shared the same fate as Lynnette's juice.
Joe stood up and offered his hand to Lynette - who managed to rise on what she felt were very unsteady feet. "So, dear, what do you say?" The good doctor had his back turned to Dixie who was still in shock over her friend's proposal to the hospital's latest employee, so, he couldn't see her staring.
"Yes, yes, I'll marry you." Lynette managed to give a smile that hid all the uncertainty she felt, and even gave Joe a believable hug as not to send up any red flags to their colleague.
"See you later, Dixie." The two smiled and left the room just seconds before Kel
entered.
"What are those two grinning about?" The head doctor asked Dixie as he picked up his
coffee cup and she sat down.
"I'll tell you - - when you sit down."
OOOOO
The breeze blew over the sand as Joe and Lynette sat at a lone picnic table someone had set up, but then deserted to fend for itself. The two were discussing various topics in an attempt to get to know each other better. For the first time in her life Lynette confessed her true feelings in regards to her job.
"Don't get me wrong, Joe, I like helping people, but I do not enjoy being a nurse." A sigh came out of her mouth as she let fingers draw an imaginary line on top of the table.
"Why do it then?" Joe looked puzzled and couldn't picture doing a job he hated for as long as Lynnette had done hers.
"When I started out as a C.N.A I didn't mind it so much. Switched to this job and thought things were going okay, but.." Lynette pushed her legs up against her chest and looked at Joe, "after - oh, about ten years- well, I just couldn't find any enjoyment out of it. I only stuck around because number one I was already well established in the work, second it paid the bills I needed to cover, and third it allowed me to take care of my mother until she passed away last year. Just when I thought I could quit my father ended up needing my help." Lynette shoulder's looked as if three hundred pounds had been lifted off them by that confession. Her eyes started to sparkle, "I love music, written some things too, but they haven't gone anyway. However I admit it's what makes me truly happy. Well, that…and don't laugh… but I love babysitting."
"So, it wouldn't break your heart to not to work at Rampart?" Joe leaned towards her.
"No, but don't tell anyone that." Lynnette spoke without thinking and then pulled back, "But the last thing I want anyone saying is that I'm marrying you for your money."
Joe meant no insult, but he found that just too funny and cracked up laughing. "Honey, anyone with half a brain can tell you I may be comfortable, but I'm not rich. Besides, we'll both know the truth and that's all that matters." He could tell there was more on her mind and asked what it was.
"It just doesn't seem right to leave Dr. Brackett and Dixie in the dark. They seem like really great people. And you get along so well with them. Besides, surely, it won't take them long to ask questions." Lynnette eyed Joe wondering what he'd think of her statement.
"You're right, they are super." Joe laid his hand on hers, "Truth is - I'd tell them now if I thought keeping them in the dark would bring them harm. But if it makes you feel better rest assured I will not lie to them if they ask. However, I am not telling any of the paramedics - good as they may be it is none of their business. If asked by them I will simply tell them - politely and in a nice way - it is not their business who I do, or do not, marry, nor is it their place to question my judgment in regards to my personal life. Okay?"
"Fair enough." Looking at Joe she asked, "Do you really play the piano?"
"Ya, I do, but I'm not married to it, so, you'd have plenty of time on the instrument without me asking to take over." He asked her how she felt about golfing.
"I stink at it, but I don't mind a weekend game. And I certainly wouldn't holler if you wanted to play."
"You asked about my children and I told you I didn't have any - what about you? Do you have any? And do you want anymore?" Joe had wondered that for sometime now because the way she'd talked in the past.
"I was a teenage mother." Lynette confessed going back to drawing an imaginary picture. "Had three children ..wham, wham, and wham. Not something I'm ashamed of, but not something I'm real pleased about either. Jack got tired of married life I guess, because one day he just up and left. I got divorce papers in the mail a week later." She bit her bottom lip, "At the time I was hurt major time. After the hurt - and anger- had worn off I was just grateful he didn't fight for custody of the children." Her eyes turned misty, " Spinal meningitis took Wynette from me, a drunk drive took Jackson when he was five - that left me Andrew."
"Where is he?" Joe laid his hand over hers as it had stopped drawing, but was still a bit fidgety.
"I.. he.." Lynette tried not to speak as if gasping for air. Tears - held back for longer than one could count - started flowing, " He was my youngest, and I had him the longest." She tried to go on, but couldn't. Joe scooted closer and drew her close.
"Easy, darling. I can wait for answers on him." Whatever it was had to be big, and he wasn't about to force her to open up with whatever it was. "I take it that it's safe to say we won't have anyone on your end to blab about the paper work."
"No. And to your second question…I'm not sure. It's not like I'm at an age people would expect it." Lynette managed to speak and then managed a weak chuckle, "What a way to start a marriage, sure you don't want to just turn and run? Some would call all of this stupid. Say we should just admit to the paperwork mix up and be done with it."
"I don't really care what people would say about it , and , no, I'm not interested in running." Joe wiped Lynette's tears and the two turned their chat to anything they could think of while ignoring the fact their 'engagement' was creating quite a buzz at the hospital.
0000000
"Joe's engaged?" Roy looked at Dixie stunned. "I didn't even know he was dating." It was the same sentiment spreading like wildfire throughout the rest of the hospital.
"Don't look at me," Dixie held up her hands, "I didn't either." The head nurse saw Sharon give them a strange look - which only lasted a split second- and watched her as she hurried by.
"Dixie?" Johnny asked as the nurse's gazed followed the younger one's down the hall, "Something wrong?"
"No." Dixie started to speak but Roy and Johnny were called out to join Engine 51 on a brush fire. Watching them go she thought in to herself I'm going to talk to Joe as soon as we get a break.
Wanting to talk to Joe was one thing, being determined to talk was grand, but reality decided against being accommodating. First, there was that teenager brought in that couldn't breathe and Joe had to do a tracheotomy, then there was an elderly person who needed more stitches than Dixie could count, and now? She'd lost track of him.
"Hey, Kel." Dixie asked as Dr. Brackett walked by holding someone's chart.
"Yes?" He looked up from what he'd been reading.
"Have you seen Joe?" Just as Kel went to answer the object of her question came around the corner.
"Did I hear someone speak my name?" Joe walked up to the nurse's station.
"Yes, you did. Tell me what is going on." Dixie didn't hide the demanding tone in her voice.
"Nothing unusual, kid just had a broken leg from thinking he could be superman." Joe answered confused as to why she would want to know anything about his last patient.
"Not him." Dixie eyed him determined to get her answers.
"Then what?"
"You and Lynette. Everyone's talking about the engagement and I just saw Sharon."
Dixie scanned Joe's face to see what reaction he'd give. When he stood a little straighter and grew more serious than even she'd expected she -along with Kel- wondered what was up.
"What did she say?" If that gal had talked then Joe was going to make his word good in regards to her job.
"Nothing, but for one split second I saw a look that said she knew something and wasn't telling anyone. And I want to know what's going on." Kel -upon hearing that -chimed in he'd like to know.
"It's like this.." Joe couldn't explain about the paper work, or his full reasoning -even more than what he'd let on to Lynette - because the phone rang.
"Hold that thought." Dixie answered and then gave a great-now-when-do-we-get-those-answers look and handed Joe the phone.
"Yes, I see, well, Lynnette and I were just getting ready to come check the place out. She's coming down the corridor as we speak." Joe bit back any laugh that wanted to come out when he say the annoyed look at his answer being interrupted on Kel's face. "Okay, see you then." Turning to two of the best friends he had Joe told them he'd meet them at either Dixie's, or Kel's, place after their shift for a night cap. "You'll get the private scoop then, fair enough?"
"Fair enough. Make it my place." Dixie spoke just seconds before Lynette got within earshot. Kel's eyes showed Joe he would be there.
"Ready?" Joe held out his arm to the nurse who had just turned in her resignation.
"Sure, but you aren't taking that chart - are you?" Lynette hated that idea to the hilt.
"No way." Joe laughed and handed Dixie the folder. "See you two later?"
"You bet." Kel smiled and watched the two leave. Turning to Dixie he told her he'd see her after her shift." The head doctor then walked down the hallway leaving Dixie alone to wish the phone hadn't rang.
