"Well, see, yo' honor…I mean Judge Joe Brown. I shouldn't have to pay her backs her money. She was my lady friend…." Click… "Today on the Chew we teach you how to make…" Click… "Roberto te amo, te amo mucho. No quieres…" Click….
Greenlee pressed the power button shutting off the TV, that just a few months ago had barely been used. She had never really been one to watch a lot of TV. Upon occasion she would indulge in a few daytime soaps, they were her secret guilty pleasure, but now it seemed like all that was on was talk shows and judge shows and cooking shows and some Telanovela but she didn't speak a lick of Spanish.
When she had first been released from the hospital Greenlee had worried that it would be difficult hiding her cancer from the world, but even out of the hospital her life revolved around Cancer. She now only had to go to PVH once a week for chemo, other days she sat a home trying, unsuccessfully, not to be bored out of her mind. Having a live in nurse you would think would make the loneliness more bearable but her nurse was all business. Always asking how she was feeling, did she take her meds, was she hungry, or did she have to use the bathroom. Greenlee knew she needed to have someone with her but the nurse was beginning to drive her crazy.
"Ms. Smythe?" Rebecca's voice cut through Greenlee's boredom.
"Greenlee….you can call me Greenlee…" she corrected the nurse once again. She understood why the nurse didn't like to get emotionally attached to her patients but Greenlee couldn't stand being called Ms. Smythe.
"I'm sorry…So I'm headed to PVH your running low on your prescriptions. Do you need anything while I'm out?"
As much as she hated the idea of being in the hospital, even if it was just to get her medication, Greenlee jumped at the chance to get out of the house, "Do you mind if I come with you?"
Rebecca smiled at her patient, "Of course not."
Half an hour later, Greenlee found herself entering the door to PVH for, what felt like the hundredth time, since she had been released just a few weeks ago. During the ride over Greenlee had come with an idea to get her out of the house for a least a few days a week but needed to run it by Angie first.
"Rebecca, I'm going to go up stairs for a few minutes." Greenlee watched as the nursed nodded her head and made her way to the pharmacy. Greenlee walked over to the elevators pressing the button.
She looked around the all too familiar hospital as she waited for the elevator. As much as she hated elevators the idea of walking up five flights of stairs was a lot less appealing. The bell rang and the doors slid slowly open. Without paying much attention to the people already in the elevator she walked right in. As the doors closed again she found herself standing beside Jake and Amanda.
The three people stood silence as the elevator moved slowly up. Never before did an elevator ride seem to move this slowly. Greenlee didn't know if she should speak up and say something to her former friends, or just stand there acting ignorant to their presence.
Jake and Amanda's eyes locked on each other, letting their eyes do the talking. Both had the same thoughts as Greenlee, weighing their options. Finally it was Amanda who caved not liking the uncomfortable silence that surrounded them.
"Hi Greenlee. We've missed you at Fusion." The younger woman spoke up.
"Amanda, Jake, how are you?" Greenlee turned to the couple, all the while praying the doctor and his wife wouldn't have a clue what was going on with her.
"Good, we're good. How are you?" Amanda tried making small talk.
"Um…good." Silence followed as Greenlee tried to think of something else to say. "How's Trevor? I'm sure he's getting big."
"He's good. It's hard to believe our little boy is already three." Amanda gushed.
"I heard you guys were looking to adopt another child?"
Jake finally spoke up, "We did actually. A little girl."
"That's great. I bet Trevor loves being a big brother." Greenlee answered genuinely excited for them. She had heard about Amanda having to have the hysterectomy and knew how much children meant to both of them.
The elevator stopped on the Martin's floor. The two walked out their hands firmly gripped. Amanda turned back to Greenlee before the doors could close, "It was going seeing you again. Maybe we'll see you back at Fusion soon."
Greenlee smiled at the other woman as the doors closed tightly.
"Wow…was that awkward or what?" Jake asked as the two headed towards his office.
"It wasn't so bad. Jake?" Amanda looked at her husband with a worried expression on her face.
"What is it baby?" Jake noticed the look in her eyes.
"Did Greenlee look ok to you?"
"I was paying more attention to my beautiful wife then Greenlee." Jake tried pulling her closer to him.
"Jake I'm serious. She looked thinner, which for Greenlee is already pretty thin. And it's not like Greenlee to take time away from Fusion. Why do you think she was here Jake? Do you think something could be wrong with her?" Amanda grew more and more concerned as she thought back to Greenlee's appearance in the elevator.
"I'm sure she's just fine. If there were something seriously wrong with Greenlee you know she would tell Jackson who would be running around this hospital doing everything to get her well. I'm sure it's just the stress of realizing her mistake in helping David."
"I don't know Jake…" Amanda looked back towards the elevator as Jake pulled her away.
Knock….Knock….Knock…Greenlee stood in front of Doctor Hubbard's door hoping she was in there.
"Come on in!" The gentle sound of the doctor's voice called out.
Greenlee poked her head in as Angie lifted her head up from her computer, "Hi Dr. Hubbard. Do you have a minute?"
Angie put the papers in her hand down on the desk, "Of course baby. Is everything ok?"
"Yeah…sort of. Dr. Hubbard I'm bored out of my mind. I know you told me to rest and take it easy. I've tried, believe me I've tried. But I've got to do something or I'm going to go crazy." Greenlee ranted on and on.
Angie laughed as Greenlee rambled on and on. "Greenlee! Greenlee!" Angie interrupted her. "Take a seat."
Angie walked around her next sitting in the chair next to where Greenlee had just sat. Angie sat across from the young woman the same way she had when she had to tell her about the cancer, and about the fight she had in front of her.
"What do you have in mind Greenlee?" Angie knew Greenlee well enough to know she had already formulated her argument for whatever it was she wanted to do.
"I want to go back to work." Greenlee blurted out.
"OH…." Angie paused. "I don't know Greenlee. "
"Please Dr. Hubbard…Angie…" Greenlee gave the doctor her 'sweet and innocent' smile. "It will just be part time, three days a week. No heavy lifting, no manual labor, just signing off on documents or calling suppliers. Maybe a meeting here or there, maybe a new product line." She rambled on and on again.
"What about all the people who work at Fusion Greenlee? A lot of them have children. If one of them brings in something as simple as a cold germ it could be deadly for you. Your immune system is shot right now Greenlee you can't fight the common cold let alone something more severe." Angie watched as the young girls face sunk.
Greenlee had walked into her office with a sense of excitement Angie hadn't seen from the girl in months. The idea of going back to work thrilled the girl and gave her something to look forward to. Now as Angie started to shoot down even the suggestion Greenlee started looking more and more like the woman that had been told she had cancer.
"I understand. I didn't think about that. I guess it's not that great an idea." Greenlee relented.
"Oh hell, alright three days a week maximum. No more than four hours a day. NO out of city meetings. If someone sneezes near you I want you to disinfect everything around you. If Kendall walks in talking about Spikes runny nose I want you to get the hell out of there.
Greenlee if I find out your working more than you should be or taxing your body or you get sick I swear to you I will put you back in this hospital until you're in remission AND I'll make you walk around with a face mask. You got me?"
Greenlee's eyes glowed as the Doctor told her she could go back to work. "I promise Angie. I won't do anything to put my health at risk. Thank you thank you thank you!"
Angie smiled, "Your welcome. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Going back to work may be good for you."
Monday morning Greenlee found herself standing in front of another elevator. This time she was heading up to Fusion rather than somewhere in the hospital. The night before she had called Kendall and told her that she would be returning to work. She had also explained to her unhappy partner that, due to personal reasons, she would only be coming back on a part time basis.
Kendall hadn't been completely thrilled to hear that Greenlee was returning to work. The idea of having her backstabbing friend back in the work place wasn't exactly something that made her jump for joy. But, even Kendall had to admit it was good for Fusion to have Greenlee back.
Greenlee was the first person at Fusion that morning. She took a seat at the desk across from Kendall's. Not completely surprised to find a picture of Ryan and Madison sitting next to her computer.
"Figures Madison would try and use my absence to weasel her way into my spot." She picked up the picture of her former husband and the latest love of his life. Madison's eyes stared back at her almost like the younger blonde woman was trying to taunt her. Having no use for the picture or the people in it Greenlee tossed the picture in the garbage can next to her desk.
The clock ticked slowly as Greenlee went through her very full inbox. It was hard to believe that she got so many emails in just a few short months. Almost all them had to be deleted as they were just reminders from vendors or a new supplier wanting to do business with her company. On the first of each month there was an email with the previous month's figures. Sales were down just slightly but given the time of year that wasn't abnormal.
Just as she was closing her email account the doors to the elevator opened. Expecting to see Kendall walking in Greenlee turned to greet her business partner only to meet the shocked look on Madison's face.
"Greenlee…your back…" Madison let out not trying to hide the annoyance in her voice.
"I am. It's nice to see you to Madison." Greenlee smiled at the other woman knowing her presence was infuriating her.
"It must be nice to take an extended vacation and leave the work to other people." Madison answered in her 'higher than mighty' voice.
"Yes, well when you're the boss you can do things like that can't you. Not that you would know what it's like to be the boss." Greenlee retorted unfazed by Madison's tone.
Madison glared at Greenlee trying to think of a witty comeback. In a huff Madison rushed passed Greenlee, stopping to take her picture out of the trash can.
Greenlee could hear Madison mumbling incoherently as she paced around the office. "Madison, I'm going to need a copy of the quarterly reports as well as a copy of the breakdown of each line." She stopped and looked at Madison waiting for a response. "Madison…Hello?...I need those reports."
Madison stood back staring at Greenlee, hating her more and more with each passing second.
"You are an assistant here right Madison? You weren't promoted to CEO in the last few weeks right?" Greenlee continued to push the blonde's buttons taking some pleasure in the look of hatred in Madison's eyes.
Without saying a word Madison stormed off to get the reports Greenlee asked for.
Kendall stood in the middle of the Fusion elevator. As she waited for the elevator to make its way to the top of the Fusion building her conversation with Zach kept repeating over and over again in her mind. When she had gotten off the phone with Greenlee, the night before, she had been upset. Who was Greenlee to come and go from the company as she pleased?
Zach, with his soft voice and wise words, had convinced her to see the good in Greenlee's return rather than focusing on the negative. Only Zach had that kind of power over Kendall. Kendall, of course, knew that Zach was right. It was more work to hate Greenlee then it was to accept Greenlee's role in the company.
Greenlee heard the doors to the elevator open once again. She could tell from the sound of the footsteps approaching it was Kendall this time.
"Morning Greenlee…" Kendall tried to sound chipper.
"Hi…Kendall" Greenlee looked up at Kendall surprised.
"Welcome back." Kendall continued surprising even herself.
"Wow quite the turnaround from when I last saw you at Krystal's. I didn't expect you to be so um…well welcoming." Greenlee looked at Kendall questioning her motives.
"Yeah well I don't really have a choice now do I. You're not going anywhere and neither am I. Maybe it's time to just accept that and move on. For the sake of the company I'll deal with you." Kendall took her seat across from Greenlee. The two stared at each other in this all too familiar position.
Madison walked out of the backroom carrying the reports that Greenlee had asked for. She dropped the reports on the desk before approaching Kendall.
"Kendall, you didn't tell me Greenlee was coming back to work…"
"I didn't realize I had to run my business by you Madison." Kendall was irritated with Madison once again trying to assert some sort of authority in the company.
"No, of course you don't have to run your business by me. I just thought since I've taken a larger role in the company, while Greenlee's been on vacation" Madison moved her fingers like quotation marks and overly emphasized the word vacation, all while giving Greenlee a dirty look, "You would trust me with something like this."
Kendall rolled her eyes, "Madison you know I appreciate all your help but like it or not this isn't your company, it's my company. And Greenlee's company" she quickly added, "Now I need to catch Greenlee up on what's gone on the past few months can you make sure the meeting with the board is still on for next week."
"There's a board meeting next week?" Greenlee questioned.
"Yeah sales dipped more than we expected. The board wants to know what we're going to do about it. We haven't had a new line in almost a year so we've been trying to come up with something new and exciting but haven't come up with anything that I think will be a winner."
"Have you thought about discontinuing any of the lines? It looks like we have a few unsuccessful ones in here." Greenlee handed Kendall the breakdown of their product lines.
"Sure I have, but most of our unsuccessful lines are one's we didn't create. How do I tell the makers of the line that I'm cancelling their product…" Kendall didn't mention the products creator by name but Greenlee knew who she was talking about.
"Didn't we learn from the whole Bella mess that when it comes to new product development its better if it comes from us. You and I both know we can't bring friendships into business. Don't think of them as lines created by a friend look at the numbers. Based on those numbers what lines would you cut?"
Kendall looked over the numbers again even though she already knew the answers, "Fierce, the Mommy and Baby line, and Nostalgia."
"Those are our least profitable lines. Fierce is costing us a lot of money Kendall and isn't selling. Nostalgia was a great idea but the colors are all off, let's be honest their more lady of the night then we wanted. Now I'm not so sure about cancelling the Mommy and Baby line." Greenlee started to make her argument when she was interrupted.
"You've been back for five minutes and you're already trying to cancel MY products. Who the hell do you think you are!" Madison screamed at Greenlee.
Greenlee lifted her body out of her chair ready to do battle with Madison. As she stood her head felt light headed and she grabbed hold of the table. Before she could answer the screaming blonde lady Kendall stood from her own desk.
"Madison if you're going to eavesdrop on my conversations I suggest you listen better. It wasn't Greenlee's suggestion it was mine. Greenlee was just going to tell me why you're Mommy and Baby line deserves to stay. Your Fierce line on the other hand is gone."
Greenlee looked between the fuming blonde and the irritated Kendall before taking her seat again. "Madison this is a business not a sorority. The numbers for you lines are costing Fusion more money than they're bringing in. Fierce has been nothing but a nightmare for this company. Now the Mommy and Baby line while it hasn't had great numbers I think it has the potential to bring in big numbers for us."
"Whatever…" for the second time that day Madison stormed out of the room.
The next few hours went by quickly as Kendall and Greenlee went through each product line deciding where cuts would have to be made and which area's to focus on. While they were discussing the Miranda line Greenlee thought of a new product line.
With Kendall working on her presentation to the board Greenlee began working on her new product line. The Miranda line, which gave 100% of its proceeds to the Miranda Center, had given Greenlee an idea for a similar line. This line wouldn't just be about donating money to charity but it would be about helping women feel beautiful. Greenlee wanted to make a line that was geared towards women with cancer.
Greenlee wanted to make a line that women didn't have to cake on to hide the effects of cancer. It would have soft natural colors that would accentuate any woman, without making her feel like she was wearing a lot of makeup. The line would also have lotions that would help combat the dry skin and chapped lips that came along with the Chemo.
Greenlee was so focused on the idea, colors, and logistics of her new line that she didn't hear when the elevator door opened.
"GREENLEE!" A small voice shouted out. Greenlee turned her chair in time to see a small blonde girl running towards her; the little girl's arms opened wide embracing Greenlee tightly.
"Emma!" Greenlee was surprised to see Emma there. She hadn't seen the little girl since right before her car accident.
"I've missed you so much Greenlee! You didn't even come say goodbye. Don't you love me and Daddy anymore?" the little girl had been so confused the day she came home to find Ryan packing up all Greenlee's things. He had told Emma that he and Greenlee couldn't be married anymore and that Greenlee was moving out.
"I've missed you to Emma," Greenlee hugged the girl tightly, "I will always love you sweetie. And I'll always care about your Dad. We just don't love each other same anymore, and I'm sorry I didn't come say goodbye that was wrong of me." Greenlee looked up to see Ryan standing at the doorway hearing her words.
"Ryan!" Madison saw Ryan standing at the doorway. She walked over to him pulling him into a deep kiss that everyone could tell Ryan wasn't expecting. As she pulled away from Ryan Madison gave Greenlee a look that was supposed to make Greenlee jealous.
Greenlee only rolled her eyes at Madison's attempt to make her jealous. She hadn't been surprised to hear that Ryan had hooked up with Madison again. She wondered how long it took before Ryan was feeding Madison lines about them being soulmates.
"Emma are you ready to go to lunch sweetie?" Madison's voice oozed out fake sweetness.
Emma turned her attention back to Greenlee, "Can you come with us Greenlee? Please!" Emma gave her best begging voice.
Greenlee looked up at Ryan and Madison both their faces were shocked neither knowing what to say. "Not today Emma. Maybe one day soon your Daddy will let me take you to get some ice cream. How's that sound?"
Emma excitedly nodded her head. Greenlee pulled the little girl in for one more hug, "It was great seeing you again Emma."
She watched as the small family made their way back to the elevator. Moments after the elevator headed down stairs Greenlee packed up her things and told Kendall she was leaving for the day.
Greenlee smiled to herself as she rode the elevator back up to her penthouse. She couldn't deny how tired she was, especially for only working for half the day, but she was also happier than she had been in weeks. Being back a Fusion gave her back some of her sense of freedom. Coming up with a new product line gave her a sense of happiness again that she hadn't felt since long before she found out she had cancer, even before her car accident almost a year ago.
As the doors slid open Greenlee came face to face with a very worried looking JR.
"Greenlee! Where have you been?" his voiced sounded panicked.
"I was at Fusion." She walked passed him like being at work was no big deal. She opened the door inviting him in.
"At Fusion? You were at Fusion! Do you know how scared I've been?" he lashed out.
"Why?" she was confused. Shouldn't he be happy she was working again, it was a sign that she was getting better, wasn't it?
"I called here this morning over and over again to see how you were doing and I got nothing. I called your cell phone and you didn't bother to answer."
"I turned it off. JR…" she was cut off.
"I called your nurse, I called Angie, I called the hospital no one answered and the hospital didn't know anything. I thought you had gotten sick….or…or…" he couldn't finish the last part. The thought of her dying scared him more than anything.
"You should have told me you were going to work! And what are you doing there anyway. You can't be working" he threw his hands up in frustration.
"I should have told you what I was doing? Who do you think you are JR? You're not my father! You're not my husband! HELL I don't even know what you are to me! " She could feel the anger growing inside her. Who was he to tell her what she should or shouldn't be doing? "It's not like we're friends right?"
When she saw the hurt look on his face she instantly regretted her words. She was angry at him and wanted to hurt him, and had been successful at it. She watched as he turned and walked out on her.
He had been the only one to stand by her when she was sick in the hospital. He had held her hand while she slept, pulling her hair back when she was throwing up. He had listened to her fears and comforted her, and now she was telling him he wasn't even her friend. She hated herself for saying those words even in anger. He was more than a friend and she knew it. Slowly he was becoming a part of her family, the only family she had right now.
JR stood outside her door their argument going through is mind over and over again. He had been so scared when he couldn't reach her, afraid she was sick again. She was right though they hadn't discussed their relationship, he didn't think he needed to. He considered her as much a part of his family now as he did Colby. Having cancer had created an impenetrable bond between them that they had nurtured over the past few months. As much as he cared about her it wasn't his place to treat her like he had just moments ago.
Greenlee looked up as the door swung open, JR walked back inside. "I'm so sorry JR. I didn't mean it." Tears were streaking down her face.
JR sat on the stairs next to her, "You don't need to apologize Greenlee. I was out of line. I was just so scared I might have lost you that I overreacted. I'm sorry." He put his arm around her, pulling her small frame next to him.
"I'm sorry I said you weren't anything to me. JR you're the only person who's been here with me through everything. I don't know when it happened but your more family to me than anybody else. I don't know what I would do without you here with me." She rested her again against his chest; she could feel is soft heart beat.
"I know Greenlee. I feel the same way about you, that's why I was so scared. I was afraid I had lost someone I cared about all over again." The two sat in silence for a moment trying to forget about the argument, "So you went back to work today?" JR finally asked.
"Yeah I did." Greenlee nodded her head. "Angie didn't want to let me at first but she finally relented. Not without a few restrictions, of course."
"Stay away from sick people, wash your hands, and sanitize everything?" JR remembered his own doctor giving him the same speech when he wanted to work again. "So how did your first day back go?"
Greenlee laughed, "Well Madison hated that I was there. She's used the past few months to try and weasel her way into my spot a Fusion. Which I can tell infuriates Kendall."
"Which I'm sure you take great pleasure in." JR gave her a mischievous smile.
"I have no idea what you're talking about Mr. Chandler." Her own smile gave away her secrets. She then told him about her idea for the new product line. He gave her is stamp of approval, even though she didn't need it. It was a great idea after all.
After a small lunch Greenlee and JR were stationed on her couch watching a movie. When she laid her head down on his lap he smiled down at her, as she slowly fell asleep.
