Truth and Lies
(follow up to Reality Check)
Natalie hurried down the hospital corridor, unsure why she had come, but knowing she had had no other choice. The truth was, she hadn't intended on coming here. Hadn't wanted to face this possibility and what could follow. But her car had seemed to have a mind of its own--- or else her heart did.
Slowing her steps as she came closer to the room that everyone had thought held Hugh Hughes, she wondered if she was doing the right thing. . .
Only it had to be the right thing.
That was, if the man lying in that bed was John.
Rounding the corner, she stopped at the sight of Paige standing in front of the room's door, tear tracks on her face.
Part of Natalie wanted to feel sorry for her uncle's girlfriend, but as the woman started towards her, a new stream of tears falling down her cheeks, all she could feel was disgust. "Natalie, I'm sorry. . ." Paige started as she walked slowly towards her, stopping just in front of her.
"I just bet," Natalie shot back as she went to go around the older woman.
"Where. . . . where are you going?"
"Where the hell do you think I'm going, Paige? Where I should've been all along. To be with John."
"Oh, but you can't!"
"You want to bet?"
Paige bristled at the red head's tone and stepped back to place some extra distance between them, even as Natalie took a step towards her. "No. You don't understand. John's not. . . he's not in there--- in that room."
"Then where is he?"
"Perhaps we better sit down and discuss it."
"I don't think so. I don't want to hear any of your lies."
"Natalie, I never. . ." Paige protested, trying to sound offended.
"Of course you did. John and Hugh couldn't exactly pass for twins. Different eye colors. Builds. And you kept him sedated as long as you could."
"He was sedated for his health--- not that it mattered in the end," the blonde protested.
"Right. Because you got caught in the end. You know you're just as bad as Spencer!"
"I'll let that comment pass since I know how much you're hurting right now," Paige said condescendingly.
"Do what you want. I'm going to see John."
"You can't."
"You really want to try and stop me?"
"I'm not trying to. . . Natalie. . . I. . . I didn't want to be the one to tell you this. . . John's gone."
"What do you mean 'gone?'" Natalie asked, a touch of unease entering her voice.
"We were keeping him sedated partially for the pain and partially because. . . well, he became very agitated and his body just couldn't handle it with everything else it was going through."
"No. . . you're not saying. . . he's not. Uncle Bo told me he's not," Natalie protested.
"He wasn't when Bo left. . . he just. . . I'm sorry."
"You're sorry?!?!? Sorry? He's been alone. He died without us and you're. . . you're SORRY?" Natalie ranted. "You know, I don't. . . I don't believe you. Where's Michael or anyone besides you?"
"Michael took the news hard. He had to be sedated. Marci's with him."
"Where's the body?" Natalie asked, wanted something to prove the woman's words.
Paige shook her head sadly: "they already moved it. You won't be able to see it."
"It can't be. . ."
"I can give you something."
"I can't take anything. I. . . I can't do this. I have to leave. . . I shouldn't have. . ."
"Natalie, let me. . ."
"You've done enough! You want to do something for me? Go to hell," she yelled before hurrying down the hall.
Smirking now, Paige watched her go: now that was easier than I thought it would be.
Shaking his head over the scene an orderly approached Paige: "You have a patient you need help moving?"
"Yes, and as you can see, we need to be extremely careful. You know not to say anything, don't you?"
"Yes. Dr. Truman already explained. And I saw enough to understand."
"Yes. Well, it's a shame what lengths a grieving family will go to, isn't it?" she sighed as she led him to Hugh's room. . .
