B-Backhand

Kelly understood now why nobody wanted to be around when Nora was angry...she was now breathing fire as she backhanded Clint so hard that she thought he would have another stroke. Kelly walked calmly into the room and tried to play referee as Nora railed at her husband.

"I will see you in the furthest corner of hell you son of a bitch," she spat.

"You aren't fit to raise a puppy," he retaliated. "No judge in the world would side with you."

"We'll see about that," she snapped, and whirled around, just as Kelly was walking into the room.

"What in the world has gotten you two so worked up," Kelly asked?

"Oh nothing much...just Clint being a dick."

"At least I have one," he hissed."

She made a lunge for him but Kelly managed to pull her back. "I know you are upset but is this helping at all?"

"Sure it's helping...it's making me feel useful. It's good for my sanity. "

"It's not good for your health," Kelly stated.

"Are you talking about the fact that my whore of a wife managed to get herself knocked up...and doesn't even know who the father is."

"I'll tell you who is not the father Clint...and I don't need a DNA test to tell me what I already know..."

"Didn't you say that with your last two kids too."

"Oh that's it," she said, and picked up the first available blunt object and hit him where her grandma used to say the sun don't shine. He winced in pain as she stood over him.

"Don't have much of a dick now do you," she stated?

"You're crazy," he barked, and she just glared at him. "Damn right I'm crazy. I was crazy for ever thinking you had a heart. Go to hell Clint. If you think I can't take your fancy lawyers and your big bucks then you're wrong. I know more about the law then you will ever know...you want a war...you got one...and in the meantime...keep your filthy hands off your brother...because trust me when I say..."

She leaned in closer as she whispered in his ear..."If you ever try to kill him again, I will bury you. You aren't Asa, Clint. Stop pretending that this is what he would want. We both know he would be ashamed of you."

She slammed out of his hospital room, still breathing fire and this time Kelly stood and faced him...anger all over her face. "I can not believe you could ever do this...you are a lot of things Clint...I never thought you would try to kill someone in your own family."

"Kelly..."

"Save it for someone who gives a damn...Nora's right...You don't have a heart...you probably didn't even have a stroke to begin with..."

"You don't understand..."

"What I understand is that you are a sore loser...have some dignity for gods sake...let her go gracefully...you lost her a long time ago...if you think contesting the divorce will change that then you are the one who is crazy...you shot him Clint...you shot your own brother...he was trying to save us all and you shot him...was that your plan all along...were you working with that freak bomber...my God...your children were there...what kind of father puts his children in danger because he can't handle the fact that his wife doesn't love him anymore...Joey...Kevin...they're both in critical condition...are you happy now...will you ever be happy?"

She didn't wait for an answer...she simply stormed out of the room ... and found Nora leaning against the vending machines sobbing. "Nora...Nora what is it...Nora?"

"You didn't see him Kelly...he looks so pale...How many times is he going to be shot before he can't fight it anymore? I can't lose him...I can't lose him now."

"You won't lose him Nora...You won't..."

"How do you know," she asked her? "How do any of us know anything...nobody will tell us anything."

"Patience isn't your best quality," Kelly said.

"How can I be patient when the man I have always loved may be dying? How are you...how are you so calm right now?"

"I honestly have no idea," she said, and they both shared an awkward laugh. At that moment they heard a loud beep and turned in the direction of the rooms where everyone they loved was lying unconscious...What did that mean? Were they about to find out more bad news?

Kelly and Nora both held their breath then...waiting for the inevitable news that may or may not shatter their worlds.