Dallas, Texas

Sue Ellen sat in Dr Harlen Danvers office, she felt a lot better than she had the previous night, but both JR and Miss Ellie had insisted that she see the family doctor just to be sure nothing was wrong, or, as they both hoped, to confirm that something was very right. "You mentioned that no one else appeared sick. Have you eaten anything different to the rest of the family? Perhaps ordered a different meal at a restaurant?" she thought about it for a moment, her days were normally spent with JR or Miss Ellie, surely if it was food related, they would also be sick; perhaps everyone's suspicions were correct, perhaps she was pregnant. She was still sceptical, choosing to believe the calendar dates rather than hoping that she was magically pregnant; of course, she was at the doctor's office, this was the perfect opportunity to find out. "I don't think so…" she couldn't remember eating anything different, "oh", she gasped as she remembered the catering tasting for a DOA fundraiser that she and a few other ladies had attended, Miss Ellie wasn't on the planning committee for that particular party and she hadn't attended the tasting. "Yes, and if it is what I think it is, then there are three other women with the same issues I've had", she explained the situation and the doctor nodded. "Well Mrs Ewing, it sounds like a case of mild food poisoning. I have reason to believe that you consumed contaminated food, which resulted in food poisoning", he explained that she just needed to keep drinking clear fluids, avoid any strong or heavy foods and rest. She listened and he continued to speak, "I would like to run a few tests though, just to be safe", Sue Ellen nodded, she liked that the doctor had listened and formed a rational judgement, he didn't just jump on the pregnancy assumption like the rest of the family seemed to every time she mentioned feeling a little sick. "Thank you", she stood and left his office after he explained what tests he wanted done and how long the results would take, assuring her that it was nothing to be worried about.

JR sat in his office, rereading the same page of writing over and over again, it was hard to concentrate when he knew that across town his wife was at the doctor's office finding out whether she was carrying their child or not, he was almost positive that she was, but Sue Ellen seemed unconvinced. He forced himself to focus on the contracts instead of thinking about his personal life, Sue Ellen had promised to call when she got home, there was no point in him sitting there unproductively waiting. "JR?" Bobby knocked on his office door and broke his thoughts, "yes Bob?" Bobby thought that JR looked distracted, but he didn't say anything, his brother would just deny it anyway; JR jumped up as Bobby reminded him of their meeting with the cartel, one he had completely forgotten about, he quickly made his way to Jock's office, it wouldn't look good if he were late to an important meeting. Sue Ellen arrived home and changed into her nightgown again, Dr Danvers had told her to rest and a little nap would appease the family when they inevitably asked her about what the doctor had said and whether she had been following his instructions. She quickly called JR's office to tell him that she was fine, but she was informed that he was in a meeting; she didn't want to disturb him with something unimportant, so she just left a message, she could answer any of his questions when he got home. She lay down and went to sleep quickly, she hadn't realised that although her stomach-ache was gone, she was still quite tired and a nap was exactly what she needed right now. JR finished his meeting and his secretary gave him the message from Sue Ellen that she was 'fine', he was a little annoyed that he didn't get to speak to her and that she hadn't expanded on what 'fine' meant so he tried to call her, but Teresa informed him that his wife was sleeping. He didn't want to disturb her and decided that he would just wait until he got home to find out whether she was pregnant or not, though it just made the afternoon drag on, he hated anticipation when he was the one waiting.

"It's a shame that Linda, Evelyn, Nancy and Sue Ellen are all sick, I would've liked to get their opinions at this meeting", Mavis Anderson commented to the group of DOA ladies at the table and the other women nodded in agreement. Miss Ellie listened and began to realise that perhaps she had been wrong about Sue Ellen's condition; it was too much of a coincidence that the four ladies had all taken ill with food poisoning at the same time. They finished their meeting and Mavis and Ellie did a little shopping in Dallas before Mavis drove Miss Ellie back to Southfork; Teresa informed her that Sue Ellen had returned home hours ago and gone to her room but she hadn't seen her since then. Miss Ellie knocked on the door and received no answer but opened the door anyway, she had to make sure that Sue Ellen was all right; "Sue Ellen?" she had only been lightly sleeping and the sound of Miss Ellie's voice caused her to open her eyes. She looked at the clock and realised that she had been sleeping for much longer than she had planned to; it was probably about time she got up and out of her bedroom, it wasn't good to be cooped up all day. Miss Ellie was a little saddened as Sue Ellen explained that the doctor thought it was food poisoning, but she hid her emotions, she didn't want Sue Ellen to feel like she had disappointed her, it wasn't something that she had any control over. Sue Ellen spent the rest of the afternoon outside by the pool, she was still resting, but at least she was also getting some fresh air.

It was Friday morning, two days after Sue Ellen's doctor appointment; she felt much better and everyone had all but forgotten about her illness, until breakfast when the phone rang. "Miss Sue Ellen", Teresa notified her that the call was for her and she felt as if she were being watched when she stood and left the table, though she was sure that it was just in her mind, no one would really care that much about her phone call. "Hello?" she listened to the nurse on the other end of the phone, and her heart dropped, it was the news she'd been expecting and had really known all along, but for some reason, she was still disappointed about the official result. She returned to the table just as Jock, JR and Bobby were getting ready to leave for work, "who was that darlin'?" JR enquired, he wasn't really being nosy, it was just an honest question, but she didn't appreciate him asking in front of the whole family, it meant that she would now have to once again disappoint everyone with the news. "It was a nurse from Dr Danvers office", the whole family stopped what they were doing and looked at her, it was exactly what she hadn't wanted, "well…" Jock interrupted impatiently, as if she were pausing to torture them, "my tests came back clear, the doctor is sure that I just had a little food poisoning earlier in the week, but other than that, I'm perfectly healthy", she tried to make it into a positive thing, but she knew that everyone was disappointed right now, including herself. No one really knew what to say, they didn't want to bring up the potential pregnancy again, but it was the only thing on everyone's minds, "that's great darlin', healthy is always a good thing", JR kissed her and everyone moved back into what they were doing before the phone call. "We'll celebrate your good health when I get home from work", he whispered in her ear and she blushed, she hoped that no one else heard what he said to her, though looking around the room at everyone, she was sure that no one was paying attention to her anymore.

To be continued…