Dallas, Texas

Hanging up the phone in the foyer, Bobby headed into the dining room, making eye contact with Pam as she sat sipping her coffee and eating a small bowl of fruit, trying her best to talk with Lucy but apparently having little luck as the conversation between his parents overpowered everything else. He didn't know what he'd missed but clearly he'd missed something, because Pam didn't look particularly comfortable.

"I'll probably be there all day, it'll give Sue Ellen some time to rest in her own home, but still see John Ross when she wants to, she told me she needs that right now", listening to his mother's plans, he didn't think much of them, he had the same idea to a lesser extent. He cared a great deal for his sister-in-law and she'd been through a terrible experience, firstly being in an accident, and secondly losing a baby, it was only natural that he'd visit her now that she had been discharged home and he had the ability to do so easily because he worked on the ranch.

"Good. Does she need anything? Because you know…" sitting down beside Pam, he listened to his father's comments, still not hearing anything out of the ordinary. Whatever had been bothering Pam had clearly happened when he was on the phone, because he wasn't hearing anything that would make anyone uncomfortable now.

"I know Jock, so does she, and JR, if Sue Ellen needs anything it's no bother at all", warm in tone, his mother's fondness of her daughter-in-law was clear.

"No, it's not", shaking his head, his daddy didn't elaborate, he didn't need to, everyone knew he meant what had been said; Sue Ellen was a Ewing and that was everything right now.

Looking to Pam, the newest Ewing, his daddy made an effort to include her in the conversation, asking her what her plans for the day were.

Appearing tense, Pam's reply was short and simple, "I have to work".

"That's what I suspected", sounding unimpressed, his daddy's attitude wasn't much of a surprise to him, what was a surprise though was the way Pam responded to the clear criticism.

"I'm sorry if it disappoints you, but it has to be done. I care about Sue Ellen, but she doesn't need me at her bedside all day and I don't have the ability to do that either", quite obviously in no mood to listen to anything his daddy had to say, she was quick to tell everyone how she felt and why. It was understandable that she was upset by the criticism of her choice to work, but he did think her delivery of her opinion was unnecessarily snippy.

"Of course you do, you don't have to work", pushing back on her claims that she didn't have the ability to spend time with her recovering sister-in-law, his daddy seemed to have no time for his newest daughter-in-law's difference in opinion. That too was something he could understand, his daddy was a man set in his ways and who didn't easily change his opinions, but now didn't really seem like the time to be having the argument, nor was it particularly necessary at all. Pam working didn't affect anyone but the two of them, and even then it only affected him in that he selfishly wanted more of her time for himself.

Glowering, Pam set her unfinished coffee down on the table and stood up, first addressing his daddy and then him, "no, I want to. In fact, I think I'm going to be late. Bobby, will you walk me to my car?" Not waiting for an answer or for him to walk her out, she was quick to leave the room, stopping only to collect her purse and then heading outside to the driveway.

Surprised by the speed at which things had changed, Bobby's reaction seemed slow in comparison, first looking around at the shocked facial expressions of his family and only then realising that he hadn't imagined Pam's huffy departure. Murmuring a few words, he excused himself, catching a few comments to the tune of his parents disagreeing about Pam's independence and the importance of family as he made his way outside.

Walking out onto the driveway, past his beloved Mercedes Ewing 4 and Pam's shiny new Corvette Ewing 6, he circled his arms around her waist from behind as she stood looking out at the pastures that separated Southfork from JR and Sue Ellen's property. "Pammy?" speaking softly into her ear, he had an idea of what was bothering her but he wanted to hear her thoughts to confirm.

Turning around, she looked up at him, telling him her honest thoughts, "I don't like feeling judged".

"They're not judging you; they're judging your behaviour", conflicted, he could see both sides of the situation and could understand why she felt she was being judged; he certainly had a few feelings that didn't match hers. He didn't think it was unreasonable to expect her to make the effort everyone else was, Sue Ellen wasn't well and making sure she felt loved was the least they could do, however, he also understood that she was cautious about taking too much time away from work, especially after the way she was let go from her last job.

"It's the same thing", shaking her head, it sounded like she didn't believe there was any difference in the two ideas.

"We're just family oriented", not quite responding to her concerns, he offered her an explanation as to why his parents were judging her behaviour; being a Ewing meant being part of a family and clearly that meant something different to her than it did to him and his parents.

"I know, and I'm just as concerned about Sue Ellen's wellbeing as anyone, but I don't see how me hovering over her all day is going to help", firm in tone, she surprised him with a perspective that had never occurred to him.

"It's not about hovering, it's about support", knowing the intent of the attention everyone was paying to Sue Ellen, he felt confident in saying what he said, although thinking about it he was also aware of how his mother could be at times. He'd most recently felt a little suffocated by his mother's attentiveness after his concussion on the night he'd first met Pam, however, even at the time he'd appreciated that someone had cared, and he knew Sue Ellen understood too, she'd said as much when she'd visited him at the time.

"Has anyone asked Sue Ellen if she wants this level of support? Because when I spoke to her last it sounded like all she really wanted was to sleep and be left to grieve her loss with her own family, you know, her husband and her son, not her mother or her sister or any of us here at Southfork". Reminding him that they had visited Sue Ellen together and that she hadn't exactly asked to be kept company all day, every day, she made a good point, one he didn't have an answer for at that very moment.

"I didn't think so", sensing his hesitation, she took his silence as validation of her opinion.

"Pammy, I don't want to argue about this", shaking his head, it occurred to him that their disagreement was less important than Sue Ellen's wellbeing.

"I don't want to argue either. I'll see you tonight, I'll see Sue Ellen tonight too if she's up to it, because I do care", answering him, she confirmed they were on the same page, it was just they had different levels of intent when it came to showing their love and support to Sue Ellen.

"I know you do", brushing a hair out of her eyes, he leaned down to kiss her goodbye. He didn't like leaving things incomplete, but they seemed to have reached a compromise, plus, she really would be late if they continued talking.

To be continued…