The Deepest Regret

This story was originally written as After Dallas and was suppose to be an episode form but it turned out I sucked at writing that way and turned it into a story written as "The Deepest Regret", I stopped writing as I grew tired of it but now I'm more into and want to continue to write on it. So I continue on and hopefully original readers will like it.

Summary: JR & Sue Ellen had a daughter before they was married but decided that power and money was more important not just to them but to her so they let their best friends raised her knowing that she was an Ewing and knowing that she would never be an Ewing, if that makes sense. But the story leaves off after JR shoots the mirror in the series finale.

"My God JR, what have you done?" Bobby looked on as he saw the shattered glass covering the floor in front of JR. He walked into the room and looked at the dazed JR. "Give me the gun JR."

"Why? Be a hero."

"No, I don't want to see you like this."

"I have nothing left Bobby."

"What?"

"Sue Ellen left me, John Ross left me and I have no more family."

"What happen to the old JR? Who wouldn't let anything get in his way?"

"He died along with his son and daughter."

"Why bring Cassidy into this?"

"I was thinking about her when I was holding the gun. I had a dream about her. She was happy and told me straight to my face that she never needs me again. She didn't want me around."

"JR"

"No, she was right. She is a successful businesswoman down in Houston now. She doesn't need me."

"She will always need you but you wouldn't give her half the chance." Bobby said. JR said nothing more. "JR, give me the gun and get some rest."

"Take it," He said throwing it at Bobby's feet. "Everybody has taken everything else from me."

"Get some rest JR." Bobby said picking up the gun and walking toward the door. "Things will look better in the morning." Bobby said closing the door behind him.

"Yeah right, I'm sure it will." JR said drunk as he walk over to his bed, falling on top of the mattress. Remember the feel of Sue Ellen, as they would lay for hours talking about their children. He looked at the picture of John Ross that stood at the nightstand beside his bed. He missed him and never though he would miss Sue Ellen after her shooting him. Nevertheless, he did and he forgave her for that a long time ago. Finally from the drunkenness and the exhaustion, he let sleep take over.

The Next Morning - Bobby was packing. He thought a special trip was needed. He informed Theresa that to look over JR for him and call if anything was needed. Once he finished packing, he walked down the stairs and toward his car. He looked back once more before getting into the car.

Houston - A slim figure woman walked from her desk to a door with gold letters that read "President". Knocking on the door, a young woman of the age of 23 looked up from her paperwork.

"Come in"

"Cassidy, Mr. Bradford is here to see you." Stephanie, Cassidy's assistant, said.

"Oh, send him in." Cassidy said standing up. Mr. Bradford was a middle-aged man who had lots of money and was one of the top novelists in Texas. "Mr. Bradford, it is so nice to see you again." She said extending her hand. As a Texas gentleman, he took it and greeted her.

"It is certainly nice to see you again Mrs. Ewing." She smiled.

"Sit down." She said walking over to her bar. "Would you care for a drink, Mr. Bradford?"

"Bourbon" He said. Cassidy made it and handle it to him. She walked back behind her desk.

"Well, what did I fancy this visit?"

"Ms. Ewing, I have a novel coming up and as you know, I'm very satisfied with your work you have done for me. I want you do this novel as well but I'm running short on the release date and wondering if you would have enough time."

"Mr. Bradford, I would love to work on this with you." She said smiling. "When would you like to get start?" Cassidy asked.

"The soon, the better, I need it done as soon as you can complete it."

"Well, have your secretary send the stuff over here and I will start on it immediately." Cassidy said.

"Very well, nice doing business with you again Mrs. Ewing."

"It is nice to do business with you too, Mr. Bradford." She said smiling.

"Well, I have other appointments. I'll be getting going. I have my secretary send it over this afternoon." He said standing up.

"I'll walk you to the elevators."

"Oh Mrs. Ewing, I was wondering if you was related to Ewing's in Dallas." He said as they walked toward the door. A pain went through her.

"I'm a distant relative, so yes."

"It was sad about JR losing that oil business." He said. "It made state headlines."

"Yeah, it is. Have all that power and then suddenly lose it. How tragic?" Cassidy said reaching the elevators. "Well, have a good day Mr. Bradford." Cassidy said. He tipped his hat as he got onto the elevator. She walked back toward her desk when Stephanie, her secretary, stop her.

"Cassidy, somebody is here to see you. He is in the waiting area."

"Thank you" She said walking toward the area. She saw Bobby looking out of the skylines. "Bobby?" She said. He turned around.

"Hello Cassidy"

"Well, come on in my office and we can talk more." She said. He smiled and walked past her. "It is the first one on the left." She said. "Stephanie, hold my calls."

"Yes ma'am." She said. Once inside the office, Bobby looked around. She certainly had herself well off. He thought.

"How are you Uncle Bobby?"

"I'm doing pretty well. How are you doing?"

"Well, I'm busy as ever but I'm happy." She said sitting down behind her desk. "Do you care for a drink?"

"Don't mind if I do." He said pouring himself a drink. This would be hard to ask, he thought.

"And Bobby, what are you doing here?" She asked curiously.

~*~
Southfork - JR was walking around the ranch, trying to clear his head.

"What was he going to do now?" He thought.

"Bobby should've let me kill myself. Nobody wants me. Daddy didn't, momma don't or Sue Ellen and John Ross. Hell, even his own daughter told him she didn't need him. "I wonder what kind of life she has down in Houston with that Wade boy. He was always a good boy but didn't know how to treat a good woman right. He was always hurting Cassidy. I hope that he grew up. JR thought as he continues to walk. He walked toward the lake.

"I let you down daddy." He said looking up toward the sky.

~*~
Houston - Cassidy was waiting from an answer from Bobby.

"Can't I come down here just to see my niece?"

"When have you ever done that Bobby? What's going on in Dallas?"

"Sweetheart, I don't want you to worry but your daddy tried to kill himself last night."

"So?" She said coldly. "I can't worry about what daddy does. He never did with me."

"What? How can you say that? He is still your daddy." Bobby said disgust at her attitude, figuring she would have a mental breakdown. He knew John Ross or Sue Ellen would be upset but she was sitting there like nothing never happen.

"Bobby, I don't know daddy like you do or momma. I can't show anything for him like y'all do. I know he is my daddy but I have no emotion connection to him. Now if that's all you wanted. I have worked to do." She said coldly.

"I thought you would be the answer that JR needed."

"Well you were wrong." Cassidy said looking up. "Call John Ross, I'm pretty damn sure he would love to soothe daddy."

"That's it. You're jealous of John Ross."

"Don't I have a reason to be?" She said.

"I guess you do."

"I love that little boy but face it. He has got all the things that were supposed to be mine. You know what; I haven't even talk to my momma in seven months. She cares that little to pick up a phone and to see what her only daughter is doing. Now, if you excuse me. I have stuff to do Bobby. It was very nice seeing you. Tell daddy I said hi." She said walking over to her door and opening it. Bobby sighed. He walked over to her and kissed her forehead.

"Think about it, please." He said walking out. She closed the door behind her. She looked at the clock. Deciding she didn't want to work anymore today. She grabbed her stuff and walking out to Stephanie's desk.

"Steph, I'm going home for the day. If Mr. Bradford sends his novels scripts over, please have them sent out to the ranch."

"Yes ma'am." Stephanie said. Cassidy smiled as she left.

Riverbed - Cassidy and her future husband's ranch and home. Cassidy saw Hunter hard at work moving haystacks as she drove down the long path to the house. She decided to help him for a few hours, to let the visit from Bobby wear off. She changed outfits and walked out toward the barns. She saw him, all sweaty and exhausted.

"Hello Darlin" She called out. Hunter looked up and smiled

"Hi yourself, what are you doing home so soon?"

"Oh, I just didn't feel like working today. Need any help?"

"Sure" He said wiping the sweat from his face. "Come on, you can help me take these hay to the horses.

"Okay" She said hoping onto the jeep. They were silent for a few minutes. "Hunter?"

"Yeah honey"

"My Uncle Bobby came by today."

"Bobby? What did he want?"

"My daddy tried to kill himself last night."

"Old JR, killing himself."

"It isn't funny Hunter." Cassidy said. "Bobby wanted me to come up there for a few days. I told him I couldn't."

"Why can't you go?" He asked.

"I don't think I could see daddy after me telling him I didn't ever need him again."

"Honey that was a years ago."

"I hurt him though."

"I'm sure he has forgiven you by now."

"What if he hasn't?" Cassidy asked as they stop, gathering the hay stacks, Cassidy started to cut the strings holding them together.

"Cassidy, you won't know till you go up there." Hunter said. "Go on, I hear that JR Ewing has gotten a soul since losing Ewing Oil." Hunter said

"You son-of-a-bitch" She said throwing some hay at him. "That's my daddy you are talking about." She started to laugh as he grabbed her into his arms.

"I love you Cassidy and if you feel the need to go up there. Please do."

"Okay, but promise me if I come home crying my eyes out. You make me feel better." She said.

"Oh I promise my darlin." He said kissing her. She returned the kiss.

"Are you sure you want me to go?"

"Yes"

"You know this won't change anything. I'll come back without a family still." She said.

"You still have me."

"You are all I need." She said kissing him once again.

~*~
Southfork - Bobby came walking into the house with his suitcase. He didn't feel much like staying in Houston after the conversation he had with Cassidy. The house had total silence, every footstep sound like an echo throughout the house. He place his suitcase down and walked into the den where he saw JR still hung-over, drinking another bourbon.

"Evening JR" Bobby said grabbing himself a drink.

"Oh Bobby, I thought you were staying overnight in Houston."

"I was but I took care of my business early and thought I would fly back."

"What kind of business you had to take care of?"

"About the ranch" He said lying.

"You didn't see Cassidy?"

"No JR, I figure she wouldn't want to see me." Bobby said half-truthfully, she didn't want to see him or any of the Ewings for that matter.

"Oh" Was all JR said. "Well, I'll think I'm going to retire early. It has been a long day."

"Night JR" Bobby said. JR nodded and went upstairs. Bobby looked down at the alcohol. "Why couldn't you just see him Cassidy?"

~*~
Houston International Airport - Cassidy was making sure you got everything as Hunter was telling her goodbye.

"Now darlin, I don't want you to be nervous. Just go up there and see how he is."

"Are you sure you don't need me?"

"I'm sure, I can run the ranch by myself."

"What about Ewing Publishing?"

"I can handle that too."

"Okay" She said as she heard the first call for Dallas passengers.

"You better get going." He said. She walked over to him and kissed him passionately. "I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you too. I love you Hunter."

"I love you too honey."

"Now, if that novel script comes from Bradford arrives at the ranch, send it up to Dallas. Okay?"

"I heard you for the last billion times Cassidy." He said as they heard the final call for Dallas.

"I'll better get going." She said kissing him once more. He let her go. She picked up her suitcases and walked toward the exits. He watched her walk away.

"I hope he doesn't disappoint you, darlin." Hunter said leaving.

~*~
Dallas International Airport - Cassidy walked out of the exit to retrieve her suitcases. She went over to the payphone.

"Yes, I need to make an international call, please." She said as they operator wanted to know where. "London, England. Don Lockwood's home please." She said. "Thank you" She said as she waited for somebody to pick up. The answer machine picked up. All Cassidy could say was "Momma, when you receive this. If you have time in your busy life, try calling your daughter to see if she is still alive." She said hanging up. She walked outside to catch a taxi.

"Where are you going to miss?" The driver asked.

"Southfork Ranch, please." She said.

"Are you related to the Ewings?"

"You can say that."

Southfork - Cassidy stepped out, paying the driver. She sat her suitcase down on the concrete. She looked around the ranch. She never had seen a place like this. It was almost magical. Riverbed wasn't as huge. She heard noises from the patio. She went to look and saw JR look at the newspaper and little Christopher, who she hadn't saw in years, swimming in the pool.

"Uncle JR, when is dad going to be out?"

"He said give him a few minutes." He said dryly. She noticed how he talked.

"It must be hard on him." She said quietly. She finally had the courage to walk toward them. She was in plain view when Bobby was coming out. He thought he was seeing a vision. However, when she began to speak, he knew she was really there.

"Hello daddy" She said as JR looked up from his paper. He couldn't believe who was standing there, his own flesh and blood, his grown and beautiful daughter. She was actually on Southfork lands. He got out of his child and walked over to her. She was nervous, terrified, and scared of what was to come next. He touched her cheek. His eyes suddenly became the sparking blue, the ones she remember as a little girl.

"Cassidy" He said. "My little girl" He said sweeping her up and hugging her close to him. Naturally her arms went around his neck as he hugged her. "You're here." He said. She had tears in her eyes as she saw Bobby looking on. She gave him a stern look as she continue to hug JR.

"Yeah daddy, I'm here."