Dallas, Texas

"Bobby!" hearing someone calling to him as he walked out of the hospital into the parking lot, Bobby turned around, coming face-to-face with his brother-in-law who understandably had some questions for him. "How is she? Where are you going?"

"I was going home; Pam's asleep for the night. She's going to have a nasty bruise, but she's going to be fine", looking at his watch and then at his brother-in-law, he answered Cliff's questions, reassuring him that other than being shocked and achy, his sister was going to be fine.

Looking equally relieved, Cliff broached his next question cautiously, "and the baby?"

"We're lucky, there's no bleeding and the tests indicate everything is as it should be with the baby. They're keeping her in overnight for observation, but they have no pressing concerns", simplifying the situation, he was unbelievably relieved that Pam had come out of her accident better than Sue Ellen had not long ago.

"Good news, good news", glancing around nervously, Cliff's words didn't match his behaviour; it was good news, but just by looking at him it wasn't obvious he'd received good news.

"Very good news. I think the experience frightened her more than anything else", ignoring his brother-in-law's skittish behaviour, Bobby addressed Pam's mental state.

"Yeah, I hear falling off a ladder will do that to a person", indicating that whoever had managed to contact him had relayed the story of why Pam was in the hospital, Cliff missed his point when it came to his next comment, "speaking of ladders, what was she doing on a ladder anyway?"

He hadn't actually been referring to a fear of heights or ladders in talking about the incident frightening Pam, he'd been referencing her feelings about coming close to losing a baby she was still conflicted about whether or not she really wanted; explaining that to Cliff wasn't something he wished to do though, so he answered his question more literally. If Pam wanted her brother to know what she was thinking, she would tell him. "It was a ladder up into the hayloft; she was looking for me and was taken by surprise when what she saw wasn't me. She slipped and fell".

"So it's your fault?" snapping at him, Cliff was quick to lay blame.

"No. I was up at the house watching a magician pull rabbits from a hat", feeling a little guilty that Pam had been injured looking for him while he'd been spending time with his legal daughter, he didn't and wouldn't admit that it was his fault, it hadn't been anyone's fault. Slipping and falling was an accident and he would always maintain that, with Pam and with Cliff.

"A magician? I always thought Ewing parties were more sophisticated than that", sounding perplexed rather than angry this time, Cliff's question was understandable, though unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

"It was my nephew's birthday party", explaining that the events at Southfork earlier had been for John Ross, not a Ewing barbecue, rodeo or other large, more adult oriented gathering, he didn't think anything else needed clarifying, but Cliff had more questions.

"A child's birthday party at this time of night?" looking at his watch, Cliff pointed out the obvious, it was dark outside and children John Ross' age were usually asleep by now.

Shaking his head, Bobby put the situation into context, "no, you're just late. We've been trying to call you for hours but couldn't reach you".

"I was out, but I'm not Pam's only family you know", defensive, Cliff turned the conversation around, accusing him of not doing enough, which simply wasn't true.

Not impressed with Cliff's response to the tragedy, throwing around accusations instead of empathy, he was quick to explain himself, making it known that he hadn't just tried once and given up, "I know, but your aunt Maggie isn't a Barnes and it's very difficult to get the operator to connect you to someone without a surname".

"Monahan, Maggie Monahan, Pam could have told you that, or you could have tried Digger, you know Pam has a father too", answering him, looking at him as if to say the answer to the question had been that simple, Cliff's attitude didn't sit well with him. He hadn't been neglectful at all, he and his mother had tried hard to contact someone from Pam's side of the family, but things were more complicated than just dialling a known number and getting the message across.

"Firstly, Pam was in with the doctors, then she was exhausted by the time they cleared her. Secondly, my mama tried to call Digger, but like you, he wasn't home; I don't think I need to remind you though that he doesn't know we're going to have a baby yet, so I don't even know if Pam would want him here at this time". Explaining the situation, he even detailed that he'd taken the extra step to have his mother be the Ewing to try to make first contact with Digger, to no avail, which was potentially for the best.

"He should know, it's his grandchild as much as it is your daddy's", jumping straight to attacking his opinion rather than acknowledging his efforts, Cliff did make a valid point, he just wished it had been said in a less aggressive manner.

"I agree. But I think that news should come from Pam herself, don't you?" trying to be reasonable, he could understand why Cliff didn't see things reasonably himself, Digger did need to know and Pam couldn't stall forever.

"Ideally, but she's in the hospital, I'm sure he'd want to know that", right again, Cliff spoke not of Pam's feelings but of Digger's, which although valid, weren't the most important feelings to consider at present.

"We did try to contact him. Do you think Pam would want him to know though? Because I don't, she wants to tell your daddy about our baby, but she wants to do it when she's ready", reminding Cliff again that they hadn't neglected to try to tell Digger, he also reminded him of Pam's feelings about the whole situation.

"What if she'd lost the baby? Would he ever know?" riled, Cliff made a fair point, though not a helpful one.

"Luckily we don't need to ask those questions because she didn't. Pam and the baby are going to be fine and I think the news can wait until the morning now", although he could see where Cliff's concerns came from, he didn't see them as necessary, and made an effort to redirect his attention back to what was actually happening.

"Fine, but can I at least see her?" appearing to understand what he was getting at, Cliff didn't exactly apologise, but he hadn't really expected an apology so there was no harm done.

"I'm not sure they'll let you in, she's asleep now, but you can try, and I'm sure she'll appreciate that you're here. She's in room 432, do need me to show you the way?" having just come from upstairs he offered what he could.

"I think I can manage", sarcastic, Cliff shook his head and looked up at the hospital, clearly anxious to go inside to see for himself that everything was ok.

"Sure, well, I'll be going", saying goodbye, he left Cliff to it, having no real interest in hanging around to talk more with his brother-in-law and knowing Cliff shared that opinion.

To be continued…