Opening Montage
Theme Song: "Jersey Girl" by Cash Cash
We see Quinn and Jim walking arm in arm down the street gazing affectionately at each other. Next, we see them at a diner on a double date with Chuck and Stacy. Close up of Quinn and her red hair. Next, we see Quinn dancing at a club. Jim comes into view and sweeps her off of her feet and they kiss. Cut to a bunch of guys looking jealous. Next, we see them speeding on the highway in Jim's Camaro. We see them playing a carnival game at the shore next. We see Quinn calming down a frustrated Sandi while Jim beams proudly. Next, we see her and Jim at a bar on a double date with Trent and Lindy. Finally, we see Quinn's smiling face in a circle with a pink background. Below that...
Quinn
in
"Nurse Quinn"
story by
WildDogJJ
Cedars of Lawndale, evening...
Jim lays unconscious in a hospital bed while a visibly sleep deprived Quinn, wearing the same outfit she wore that night at Chez Pierre, watches over him. Helen enters the room. "Quinn," she said, "are you alright?"
"As alright as I can be under the circumstances."
"How's Jim?"
Quinn said "They got the bullet out of him. Problem was that it ruptured a blood vessel. They were able to repair it, but he still lost a lot of blood. That's why he's in a coma. The doctor says he should come out of it soon if there aren't any problems. They took the tube out, so he's breathing on his own. That's a good sign."
Quinn looks at her injured boyfriend. Helen eyes her daughter with concern.
"Quinn, it's been three days. Have you eaten anything?"
Slightly distraught, Quinn said "How could I possibly eat at a time like this? My boyfriend is in a coma after taking a bullet that was meant for me. I can't eat or sleep and the only time I've taken my eyes off of Jim is when the doctor is working on him."
Before Helen can say anything...
"MY GOD!"
Jim's parents, Tony and Gina, are standing in the doorway. Tony looks impassive while Gina looks mortified.
Looking at her unconscious son, Gina said "Look what that animal did to my little boy! I want the one responsible to suffer, you hear me. I WANT HIM TO SUFFER!"
Tony, in an effort to both calm his wife down and take a cheap shot at Quinn (who he hates), said "If you wanna blame someone, babe, blame Quinn."
This gets Helen so riled up that she gets right in Tony's face.
"How dare you try to put this on my daughter!"
Tony doesn't even flinch as her comes nose to nose with Helen in an effort to intimidate her. He snarled "He took a bullet for her so I'll blame Quinn if I want. If he'd taken a bullet for his country then I'd actually respect him."
Gina gives her husband a death stare. In an ominous tone, she said "Tony."
Tony immediately shuts up and backs off.
Gina asked "Where's the monster who shot my boy?"
Quinn looks solemn.
"Dead. After Jim took the bullet Jeffy saw the cops arrive. He turned the gun on himself and blew his own brains out."
Gina said "I hope he rots in Hell."
Quinn looks unsure as she doesn't know how she should feel about Jeffy at this point.
Jim's hospital room, the next day...
Jim is still in a coma and Quinn is still watching over him. Mack, Kevin and Brittany are visiting. Brittany gave birth to twin daughters in December of 2007 and is now pregnant with child number four.
Mack asked "Who's watching the kids?"
Brittany said "Ultra is watching over Lisa and Beth."
Mack explained "Ultra's only six. Who's watching him?"
Brittany has a look of sudden realization.
"MY BABY!"
She immediately runs out of the room and straight for home. Quinn rolls her eyes. Of course they'd forget something that important. Kevin is a little freaked by how Jim is so pale. He said "Dude, he looks like a vampire."
At this point, Jim slowly opens his eyes.
"Wh...Where am I?"
Quinn's face light's.
"JIM!? You're awake!"
Kevin freaks.
"GAH! VAMPIRE!"
Despite being disoriented, Jim sarcastically replied "Nice to see you too."
Too scared to run, Kevin asked "Are you, like, gonna try to drink my blood?"
Mack groans in frustration.
"Kevin, he's not a vampire."
"Like, how can you be sure?"
Mack explained "Well, the fact that the suns shining through the window and he hasn't burst into flames is a pretty strong indication."
Kevin loooks relieved.
"He's gonna burst into flames!? Cool."
Mack and Quinn both roll their eyes.
Jim's hospital room, a short time later...
Jim and Quinn are alone and talking. Quinn said "Sorry about Kevin."
Jim replied "Don't be. It was somewhat entertaining to wake up to that."
Quinn gently takes Jim's left hand in both of hers.
"Honey, I was so worried. If you'd died I don't think I would've been able to deal."
Jim said "Well, I'm still alive."
Quinn asked "How are you feeling?"
Jim answered "Like shit. How long was I out?"
Quinn said "Almost four days. The bullet ruptured a major blood vessel. The doctor repaired it when he took the bullet out."
Jim looks relieved.
Quinn asked "Why'd you do it? Take a bullet for me."
Jim said "Like I'm gonna let the woman I love get shot."
Quinn blushes as she realizes what a dumb question that was. She said "You lost a lot of blood. The paramedics said if I hadn't kept pressure on the wound until they arrived you would've died."
Jim said "So, you saved my life."
Quinn smiles.
"After you saved mine. Also, I love you too much to let you die. Anyway, I'm gonna go to the vending machine. You want anything?"
"No thanks."
Quinn stands up.
"I won't be long. After all, I caught some of the nurses checking you out."
Jim deadpanned "Yeah, I'm a regular Orlando Bloom."
"You are to me."
She kisses him on the cheek and leaves.
The hallway at the hospital...
Quinn is at the vending machine getting a soda. As she does this, she's deep in thought.
Thank God Jim's gonna pull through. I was so worried. I don't know how to feel about Jeffy, though. After what happened part of me is glad that he's dead, but another part of me feels sorry for him.
A can of Diet Ultra Cola drops. Quinn picks it up. She opens the can and takes a sip.
I can't help thinking that this is all my fault. If I hadn't strung Jeffy along all through high school then maybe he wouldn't have gone insane.
At this point, Quinn's thoughts are interrupted by a familiar voice with a French accent.
Dr. Millipedis: (VO, off screen) "Miss Morgendorffer."
Quinn turns around. Cut to a shot of her facing Dr. Millipedis.
"Jean-Felipe!?"
Dr. Millipedis said "I wanted to tell you how sorry I am for what happened. How's Jim?"
Quinn answered "He's awake now. He seems to be doing fine but he's still very weak."
"That's good. I don't want his death on my conscience as well."
Quinn raises an eyebrow.
"What do you mean "as well"?"
Dr. Millipedis looks guilty.
"I was the one who'd recommended Jeffy's release from psychiatric care."
Quinn gasps.
"You bastard."
Her face now contorts into a mask of pure rage.
"YOU BASTARD!"
She punches him in the face so hard that he staggers back a few steps. She's about to hit him again when Dr. Millipedis said "I deserved that. It was the biggest oversight of my career. I really thought he had made enough progress to be safely re-integrated into society. It never once occurred to me during our sessions that he was just telling me what I wanted to hear."
Quinn lowers her fist and visibly calms down. Frankly, she never thought Jeffy capable of manipulating a psychiatrist either.
"I guess he pulled a fast one on all of us. To be honest, the ultimate blame is mine."
Dr. Millipedis goes straight into psychiatrist mode.
"What makes you say that?"
Quinn explained "I led Jeffy on all through high school. I was pretty self-absorbed as a teenager and strung all the cute guys along because I loved the attention. Jeffy never got over me. He just became obsessed and went crazy. It's my fault any of this even happened."
Dr. Millipedis said "It's not your fault. While it was pretty selfish of you to do what you did in high school you had no way of knowing one of your admirers would take things too far and develop an obsession that would lead to a full psychotic break. No one is to blame. Mistakes were made that had unforeseen consequences. It happens."
Quinn visibly feels better.
"Thanks."
Dr. Millipedis asked "Can I see Jim?"
Quinn looks angry again.
"Look, after what happened I really don't want you anywhere near my man."
Dr. Millipedis accepts this.
"I understand. Tell him I'm sorry for what happened."
"I will."
Jim's hospital room, a short time later...
Quinn is back at Jim's bedside having a soda and updating Jim on what happened during his four day coma.
"...so I got Daria to dog sit Storm."
Sarcastic, Jim said "Your mother must love that."
Quinn said "Well, she never was one to tolerate animals. That's why we didn't have any pets while growing up."
Jim rolls his eyes.
"Quinn, I already know this. I have a gunshot wound, not amnesia."
Quinn nods in our direction, breaking the fourth wall. Jim nods in understanding. At this point a doctor enters the room. It's the same doctor who took care of Daria in "Ill". The doctor asked "How are you feeling, Mr. Carbone?"
Jim said "Well, I was shot by a psychotic guy who was obsessed with my girlfriend, spent four days in a coma due to the blood loss and Quinn just repeated a story she's told me a million times for no apparent reason..." Jim winks at us, "...but aside from that I'm doing pretty good."*
*(A/N: This was originally written as a script fic. What you just red was a fourth wall gag.)
The doctor said "Well, you'll be happy to know that you can go home tomorrow. I'm here to discuss your in home care."
Jim raises an eyebrow.
"In home care?"
The doctor explained "Yes. The bullet ruptured a blood vessel. The blood loss was what caused your coma. We were able to repair the rupture but you have to take it easy for the next four to six weeks. That's how long it'll take for the wound to completely heal. It's lucky that you're an otherwise healthy 28 year old male who doesn't smoke and only drinks in moderation. For now, though, no vigorous physical exercise, no sexual activity, no stress, no washing yourself, keep your posture straight at all times and don't walk up or down stairs."
Both Quinn and Jim frown when they hear this.
Quinn said "Our apartment's on the second floor of a building with no elevators."
The doctor said "Then, you have a problem."
Jim asked "What about once, just to get home?"
The doctor shakes his head.
"Disregarding these instructions, even once, could re-open the wound. Just be thankful it's only four weeks."
Both concerned and surprised, Quinn asked "He can't wash himself?"
The doctor said "You'll have to tend to his personal hygiene, and that includes wiping his ass for him. It's also important to keep the wound clean."
Quinn and Jim both frown. It's going to be a long four weeks.
Quinn and Jim's apartment building, evening...
In the bathroom Jim is sitting in the bathtub while Quinn is beside the tub scrubbing Jim down with a sponge. His ribcage on the lower right side has stitches in it from where the doctor took the bullet out.
Jim groaned "Was it really necessary to have Kevin, Chuck and Mack haul me up here on a stretcher?"
Quinn said "Jim, you heard the doctor. No walking up and down stairs."
"I would've been careful."
"I'm not willing to risk it. Raise your left arm."
Jim does as she says. Quinn scrubs down his left side.
Jim said "Not that I don't appreciate this, Quinn, but you don't have to do everything. I can get the stuff in the front."
"Sorry, but I'm not taking any chances."
Jim rolls his eyes. With a soaped up washcloth Quinn reaches toward his submerged privates.
"Quinn, as much as I love you touching me there in the bedroom I can get that myself."
"Jim, don't be such a baby."
Cut to a close up of Jim's face. He looks mildly annoyed. Cut to when Quinn's done washing him. Jim gets out of the tub while Quinn approaches him with a towel.
Jim said "I'll towel myself off."
Quinn firmly said "No you won't
She starts to towel Jim off. When she's finished she wrapped the towel around Jim's waist, covering his nakedness. Quinn approaches him. She has a fresh washcloth in one hand and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide in the other. Jim asked "Quinn, what's that for?"
Quinn said "To keep the wound disinfected, duh."
With a roll of his eyes, Jim said "You just bathed me, I can disinfect myself."
Quinn soakes the cloth in the peroxide.
"Jim, you remember what the doctor said. Now hold still."
Ext. Shot: The apartment building.
Jim: (VO from inside) "AAAARRRRGGGHHHHH! Damn, that stuff stings!"
Quinn and Jim's apartment building, morning...
In the bedroom Quinn is starting to wake up, but neither Jim or Storm are there.
"'Morning...yawn...Jim."
Quinn opens her eyes and notices that Jim's side of the bed is empty. She gasps. Meanwhile, the kitchen, Jim is frying an egg.
"Jim, what the hell are you doing!?"
Jim is startled. He truns around as Quinn comes into view. Her expression is a mixture of disappointment and concern.
"I'm cooking breakfast."
"Are you crazy? You'll reopen your wound."
Jim said "Quinn, I'm okay. I didn't wanna disturb you."
Channeling her inner Helen, Quinn said "Jim, step away from the stove and get back to bed. I'll cook your breakfast."
"But, Quinn..."
Quinn points in the direction of the bedroom and her voice takes on a stern tone.
"Now, young man!"
Jim let's out a defeated sigh.
A short time later...
Jim is back in bed when Quinn comes in with a tray. On it is the eggs and bacon that Jim had started to make. She places the tray in front of Jim.
"Here you go, honey."
Jim looks a little guilty.
"Sorry I got snippy with you earlier. I'm just not used to being waited on hand and foot."
"That's okay, babe."
Smiling, Jim said "I have to admit, it's nice being served breakfast in bed. Thanks."
Quinn said "My pleasure."
Jim reaches for his fork and knife. Quinn immediately snatches them away.
"Allow me."
She cuts the eggs for him. Jim instantly goes from grateful to annoyed.
"Quinn, you don't have to..."
"I insist."
Now Jim looks even more annoyed. Quinn takes a forkful of egg and holds it to Jim's mouth.
"Open wide."
Jim is beyond annoyed.
"Quinn, I can feed myself."
"Not until you're fully recovered you can't."
Jim rolls his eyes. He isn't sure how much more his ego can take.
Quinn and Jim's apartment, day...
Jim is on the phone while sitting up in bed.
"...she won't even let me feed myself. It's really annoying."
On the other end of the line, Michael "Mack" MacKenzie, said "You're actually complaining!? Most other guys would love being waited on hand and foot by their girlfriends."
Jim explained "I do, but only to a certain point. Quinn refuses to let me do anything for myself. I can't wash myself, I can't dress myself, I can't feed myself, I can't shave myself. I like being served meals in bed and I don't mind not having to do my share of the housework, but everything else is just too much. I can't leave the apartment at all. If I have to use the toilet I wait until Quinn is running errands because she won't even let me wipe my own ass."
Mack now seems to understand where Jim's coming from.
"I get it. You're used to being self-reliant and now you can't be and it's driving you crazy."
Jim said "Exactly. I get that she's doing all of this out of concern for my well being, but I can't stand feeling so damn helpless all the time."
Mack looks sympathetic.
Food Lord, day...
Quinn is doing some grocery shopping. She rounds a corner and runs into Stacy. Little Chucky, Stacy's infant son, is in the baby seat of the shopping cart.
"Hey, Quinn."
Quinn smiles brightly.
"Hi, Stacy."
Quinn looks at little Chucky and starts rubbing his chin and making baby talk.
"Hey, Chucky, cootchie-cootchie-cooo"
The baby giggles when Quinn does that.
Stacy asked "How's Jim?"
Quinn said "He's on the mend. I'm just doing some shopping. He still isn't allowed to leave the apartment."
"How are you holding up?"
Quinn said "I'm still shaken up by what happened, but I can deal. I can't stop worrying about Jim. The doctor said I have to do everything for him, so that's what I've been doing. He's not even allowed to wash himself and I won't let him feed himself. I do it all for him."
Stacy, as the mother of a newborn, sympathizes. She said "Welcome to my world."
"At least Chucky doesn't complain about not being allowed to do anything."
Stacy said "Try to understand where Jim's coming from. He's a grown man, not a one month old baby. Not being allowed to do anything for himself is probably a huge blow to his pride."
Quinn looks thoughtful. Finally, she said "Now that I think about it I have been a little overprotective. The doctor only said no vigorous physical exercise, no sexual activity, no stress, no washing himself, keep his posture straight at all times and don't walk up or down stairs but I've not been letting him feed, shave or even dress himself. Maybe I could give him some freedom. I'm just so worried. What if he reopens his wound and I can't save him? He could die."
Stacy explained "I have all those same worries about Chucky."
Quinn asked "How do you deal?"
Stacy said "By reminding myself that I'm doing a pretty good job so far and all worrying about all the what-if's will accomplish is that I drive myself crazy. I can't be a good mother if I let myself become a head case, at least that's what the psychiatrist tells me."
Quinn raises an eyebrow.
"You see a psychiatrist?"
"She's been helping me with my post-partum issues. That pep talk you gave me was only a temporary fix."
Quinn and Jim's apartment building, day...
Quinn is putting the last of the groceries in the fridge.
Now I'd better check on Jim.
From the bathroom, Quinn hears the sound of a toilet flushing, followed by the sound of the sink running. She immediately becomes nervous.
God, I hope it was number one!
Jim emerges from the bathroom. He gasps upon seeing that Quinn's home.
"Quinn! You're back."
Quinn eyes him susipciously.
"Was that number one or (shudder) number two?"
Nervous, Jim said "Um...Well...Does it matter?"
Quinn said "Since you're not allowed to wipe yourself, yes."
Jim says nothing but looks like a kid who was just caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Finally, in a stern tone, Quinn said "Answer me!"
Jim sighs. Busted. He thought as he admitted "Number two".
Quinn gets right in Jim's face.
"Dammit, Jim, you know you're not allowed to wipe yourself."
Jim insisted "Quinn, I'm fine. I wiped myself without re-opening the wound. See."
Jim raises his shirt. The wound has not re-opened and is actually less apparent than when he got that first sponge bath. He lowers his shirt.
Quinn said "Jim, that's not the point. What if you had re-opened the wound? Even if we can't see it, you could've reopened the ruptured blood vessel."
Jim rolls his eyes.
"I'm not bleeding internally."
Quinn folds her arms and channels her inner Helen.
"Jim, let me see that wound."
Jim is visibly hesitant, which Quinn notices.
"NOW, young man."
Losing his patience, Jim responds with a curt "No".
In a VERY menacing tone, Quinn said "Excuse me!"
Jim angrily explained "I said no. I didn't re-open my wound. Take my word for it."
Her frustration mounting, Quinn said "Dammit, Jim, I'm not doing this to be mean. I'm doing this because I'm worried about you."
"Quinn, it's great that you care about my well being and all, but this is too much. You won't let me do anything."
"Because I'm afraid you'll hurt yourself."
Jim loses his last bit of patience.
"Dammit, Quinn! I won't hurt myself shaving, feeding myself or dressing myself. This is..."
Just then, Jim clutches his ribcage. Quinn is instantly concerned.
"Honey, are you alright?"
Jim groaned "Chest...pain...call...911."
Quinn panics.
"OHMYGOD!"
She runs to the phone and dials 911.
Morgendorffer house, day...
Daria is in her room listening to Quinn tell her about Jim's chest pain.
"...but by the time the ambulance arrived the pain had stopped and Jim was fine. Turns out it was just a case of heartburn. I can't begin to express how relieved I was."
Daria commented "Just like with Grandma Ruth when Dad had his first heart attack."
Quinn said "What I don't get is why Jim's being like this. I'm only doing everything for his own good."
Daria explained "Quinn, think about it, he feels helpless and that's a blow to his pride. You, of all people, know how guys think."
"I see your point. I guess I should let him do the things he still can. I just can't help worrying. This is all my fault."
Daria raises an eyebrow.
"How is this your fault? You're not the one who shot him."
Quinn said "No, but that bullet was meant for me. Jim's injury and Jeffy's death are my fault. It's all my fault."
Daria said "Quinn, you didn't shoot Jim, Jeffy did. Jim took a bullet for you, but what would you have done if the situation was reversed?"
Quinn has a look of realization.
"I would've done the same thing. But it's still my fault. If I hadn't strung Jeffy along all through high school he wouldn't have gone insane. He'd still be alive and Jim wouldn't be recovering from a gunshot wound."
Daria said "Quinn, none of this is your fault. You had no way of knowing Jeffy would become so obsessed with you that it'd drive him insane. You didn't kill Jeffy, Jeffy killed himself. You don't have any blood on your hands. Also, you need to have this conversation with Jim."
"I will. I just wanted to get your perspective on this first. You always were the most sensible one in this family."
Daria half-smiles at the praise.
Quinn and Jim's apartment building, evening...
Quinn and Jim are watching TV. On the TV screen is a grown man in a bib and diaper with a pacifier in his mouth.
TV Announcer: "His wife wanted a baby, so he became one. I Married a Man-child, next on Sick, Sad World."
Cut to Quinn and Jim on the couch while Storm is resting at their feet. Quinn is stifiling a giggle while Jim is visibly amused.
Jim said "It's ironic given my current situation."
A little guilty, Quinn said "Jim, about that. I think I was being over protective. I can't blame you for being short. I know you don't like feeling helpless."
Jim said "Quinn, if anyone owes an apology it's me. I should've been grateful that you're willing to do so much for me. I'm sorry I got mad. Truth is I wasn't as non-chalant as I was acting. When I had that chest pain I really was afraid I'd pushed myself too far."
Quinn asked "Why were you being like that, anyway?"
"I didn't want you to worry about me."
Quinn said "Jim, I'm your girlfriend, more than likely future wife at this point. Worrying about you is part of the job. I mean, you did almost die."
Jim admitted "I know. I just couldn't accept feeling so weak."
"Jim, you're recovering from a severe injury. I want to take care of you because, one: I love you, and two: you'd do the same for me."
"I understand why you went a little overboard. You were afraid I'd hurt myself."
Quinn admitted "I also feel a little guilty. If I hadn't led Jeffy along back in high school none of this would've happened."
Jim puts a reassuring hand on Quinn's shoulder. He said "Hindsight's always 20/20. You had no way of knowing this would happen. I took that bullet because I love you and wanna protect you. Jeffy's death also isn't your fault. He killed himself."
Quinn asked "How did you know that's what I was thinking?"
Jim answered "We've been together almost four years now. There isn't much I don't know about you at this point. Quinn, I won't disobey doctors orders again."
Quinn said "And I'll let you do the things you still can do, but I'm still taking care of you."
"I actually appreciate that. Also, I love you."
"I love you, too."
They kiss.
Montage Scene
Music: Generic background music (because I couldn't think of a song that fits)
First, we see Quinn giving Jim another bath. He's enjoying it. Next, a shot of Quinn helping Jim dress by pulling his pants up for him while he puts on his own shirt. The next shot shows Quinn serving Jim dinner but letting him feed himself. After this is a shot of the bathroom door.
Quinn: (VO, through door) EEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
Nest, we see Jim in the bathroom brushing his own teeth, followed by Quinn applying disinfectant to his wound. Final shot is Jim getting into bed and allowing Quinn to look at his wound in order to reassure her.
Cedar's of Lawndale hospital, day...
Jim is laying on an examination table while the doctor (same one as before) is liiking him over. Quinn is sitting in a nearby chair waiting anxiously. Close up of Jim's wound shows that the stitches have been removed. The doctor finishes.
"Alright, you can put your shirt back on."
Jim gets off of the table, puts his shirt on and has a seat next to Quinn. Quinn asked "Well, how is he?"
The doctor said "He's going to be just fine. The injury is almost completely healed. You must've taken really good care of him."
Quinn smiles proudly. Jim asked "So, what now?"
The doctor said "You can now slowly increase your level of physical activity. You can walk up and down stairs, wash yourself. As for vigorous exercise, I'd hold off on that for another week or two just to be safe. As for sexual activity, mutual masturbation is okay but I recommend abstinence from anything more for another week or so."
Both Quinn and Jim are visibly relieved. The doctor looks at Jim.
"Quinn took really good care of you. You're a lucky man, Jim."
Jim smiles while Quinn blushes.
Pizza King, day...
Quinn and Stacy are having lunch. Chucky is next to Stacy in a baby carriage. Quinn said "So it turns out that my care actually accelerated his recovery time."
Stacy said "I knew you could do it, Quinn. Why do you think I wanted you to be Chucky's godmother?"
Both women giggle.
Quinn said "Well, I'm glad Jim's gonna be okay. I was really worried about him. I'm especially glad that I can stop acting like his mom and start acting like his girlfriend again."
Stacy asked "Why don't you and Jim have kids? It's obvious that you'd make a really good mom."
Quinn smiles at the compliment.
"Thanks, but I'm not ready for kids just yet and neither is Jim. We aren't even married yet."
Stacy said "Frankly, it's only a matter of time. You and Jim act like a married couple already, have been for quite a while."
Quinn looks VERY thoughtful.
Next Time
Grandma Emma is going senile.