Matter Of Time

Part 10

Author's Note: I watched Peggy Sue got married and was bored out of my mind. So I wrote a fic. Same idea as the movie. Hope it won't be too confusing.

~*~

Joey smiled as she woke to a soft singing voice.
"Mom?" She asked, her eyes still closed.
"I just had the strangest dream." She chuckled.
"Joey." A gentle voice called out and a hand smoothed her hair.
"I'm glad I didn't go on that trip." She sighed still half asleep.
"Joey." The voice sounded much more desperate this time.
"Mom?" Joey slowly opened her eyes, but winced at the harsh bright light.
"She's awake!" A woman's voice cried out with relief.
Joey rubbed her eyes in confusion.
"Mom?" She called out with fear in her voice.
"Joey. Shhhh." A soothing voice said, hugging her gently.
Joey clung on and shut her eyes tightly, needing to hang on to her mother.
"The doctors are coming." A male voice said softly.
The arms, which held her, released her and the woman pulled away. Joey opened her eyes and let out a cry.
"What's wrong?" Bessie reached for her again, but Joey brushed her hands aside.
"No!" Joey shouted furiously.
She looked around and realized that she was in a hospital room.
"Where is mom?" She choked back a sob.
"Joey." Bessie reached for her again.
"No! Don't you touch me! I want mom!" Joey pushed her sister away.
"You can't. You know that." Bessie said shakily.
"I want mom." Joey let out a sob.
She pushed the blanket down and started to get up, but her body refused to comply and she fell back.
"Mom!" She screamed hysterically.
"Joey, don't do this. Please don't do this." Bessie pleaded as she cried openly.
Strong hands held Joey down and pinned her to the bed. She kicked and tried to get out of their grasp, but the men were stronger than she was. A man in a white coat came towards her with a long needle.
"You'll be okay Josephine." He tried to calm her down.
He flicked the syringe a couple of times before bringing it to her arm and sticking it into her vein. Bessie stood at the foot of the bed, looking scared. Joey's eyes burned with anguish and anger as she realized she was being sedated. She didn't need this. She only needed her mom. Why couldn't they understand that?
"I want mom." Joey repeated softly like it was a mantra over and over again.

~*~

Joey sat on the chair and waited. Her eyes were red from the nights she had spent crying in her bed. Bessie had tried to discourage her from coming here, but she had to. She had to come see him.
A loud beep signaled his arrival and she stood up. Her father walked towards the table, which stood between them and sat down.
"Are you okay? I heard about" He left off.
"Yes." She said flatly.
The doctor had been surprised that she had been uninjured. It was only her sanity that he questioned.
"I didn't know I didn't think you would ever come here again." He said sadly.
"I had to. I had to come and ask you." Her voice quivered, betraying the cool expression on her face.
He looked nervous, but nodded for her to go on.
"Why did you do it? I have asked myself over and over again. Why did you do it? Why did you hurt her?" She asked, trembling.
"I I" He looked down, ashamed at having been a bad father and an even worse husband.
"Why did you hurt mom?" She demanded with anger.
Quiet spectators in the room murmured to themselves as they watched this painful scene unfold.
"I was wrong. I was angry. I couldn't forgive her." He buried his head in his hands.
"She hid the fact that she had cancer from me. I was so angry when I found those pills in the bathroom" He choked back a sob as he relived the past in his mind.
"Pills?" Joey's eyes grew wide.
"She must've been careless that day because it was there. I saw it and got so angry." He continued.
"Joey, I am so sorry. It was my fault. I couldn't forgive her for lying to me. I couldn't forgive her for keeping this secret from me." He shook his head and his tears fell onto the table.
"The pills in the potpourri." She said to herself bitterly.
It was like getting her two front-teeth knocked out.
"I'm so sorry." He cried over and over again.
"So am I." She pushed the chair back and got up from her seat.
She placed one foot after another until she was out of the confined prison. Her chest heaved and she held a hand over her mouth. Her eyes blurred from the tears she had managed to keep hidden from her father.
"Joey?" A voice called out.
She slowly made her way to the figure standing next to the car.
"Potter" He started to say when she raised a hand to stop him.
He nodded and opened the door for her. She climbed in and stared straight ahead. He walked over to his side of the car and slipped in, starting the engine. He knew something had gone terribly wrong. He didn't question her. They had a whole lifetime for that. Now she just needed his comfort, his presence. He shifted the gear and the car started to move, leaving behind the past and hurt.
She closed her eyes and let the tears spill down her cheeks as she felt the bitterness of disappointment.

*** THE END ***


Yoshhh