The characters of Ally McBeal belong to David E Kelley. I appreciate the
use of them.
Spring Break by Kakie
Friday
"Ally, have you seen my pink bathing suit?" Maddie asked from inside her closet.
Ally sighed as she thought of the three suitcases piled at the front door. "You already have three bathing suits. Why would you need a forth one?"
Maddie rolled her eyes. "You wouldn't understand."
"Probably not. It's not like I was ever a 10 year old girl."
Maddie popped her head out. "But were you ever a 10 year old girl going on a week long Caribbean cruise?"
"You got me there." Ally's heart broke a little. She had taken the week off from work and had made plans to spend it with her daughter. But spending a couple of days in New York didn't compare with a cruise around the Caribbean. "I wonder what's keeping Bonnie? She does know that she was welcome to spend the night here?"
"She does but she wanted to stay at a hotel next to the airport since our flight is so early. Yuck, what kind of airline has flights at 6:00?"
Ally smiled. "They all do. It's about a seven-hour flight from here to Miami. The boat sets sail at sunset."
"Ah ha." Out came Maddie with her pink bathing suit. "I found it." She set it inside her suitcase and locked it. "All done. So, since I'm going to be having a fab time, what are you going to do? Have you and Victor made plans?"
Ally opened her mouth when the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," Maddie replied as she ran out the door. Ally followed. "It's Bonnie."
"So I see," said Ally from the top of the stairs.
Bonnie hugged her niece and looked at the luggage pile. "Going on a trip too, Ally?"
"Nope, that's all Maddie's."
Bonnie sighed. "Maddie, you can't take all that. The cabin we are staying in is very tiny. One suitcase is all you are allowed."
Maddie pouted. "But…"
"One suitcase only. I'll give you some time to decide."
Maddie continued to grumble while Ally and Bonnie walked into the kitchen. "Congratulations on this gig." Ally said as she handed Bonnie some bottled water.
"Yeah," grinned Bonnie. "I'm so excited. I have never been to the Caribbean."
"It's great that they gave you a ticket for Maddie."
"I know, I couldn't believe it. And on her spring break too." Bonnie finished off her water. "I think I'm going to help Maddie. How many bathing suits did she pack?"
"Four. I didn't know she had four."
"We are going to cut that in half," Bonnie said as she sailed out the door.
An hour later Victor appeared at the door with pizza and beer. "I thought you might could use the company."
"The company and the pizza." She set the pizza on the table and opened one of the beers. "Even though she has only been in my life for a few months, I'm really going to miss her."
Victor kissed her on the forehead. "She'll be back next Saturday."
They settled down on the couch and split the pizza.
"Now that your plans have gone south, how about we make some new ones?"
Ally wiped her hands. "Such as?"
He laid his hand on her thigh. "I know this cozy little bed and breakfast in Vermont." He leaned over and kissed her. "I want to be with you, Ally. I think it's time."
Ally cleared her throat. "Aren't things moving a little fast here?"
Victor took a deep breath. "This is about Larry."
Ally looked startled. "Larry? I..I..haven't seen Larry in a year."
"That may be true but he's been in your thoughts and in your heart."
Ally wanted to deny it but couldn't.
"I want us to have a future together but as long as your heart is in Detroit, then we can't."
Ally closed her eyes. "Then what do you suggest?"
"I suggest you follow your heart."
Ally's eyes flew open. "To Detroit?"
"If that's where Larry is, then yes, I want you to go to Detroit."
Ally couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You want me to go see Larry in Detroit and do what exactly?"
"What you need to do to bring closure to that relationship. You never got to say goodbye because he left you."
"I don't need you to remind me of that, Victor, thank you very much." Ally closed the pizza box and carried it into the kitchen.
Victor followed and pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry about that, Ally. I just want us to have a future that's just about us. No ex-boyfriends invited."
She stared at him for a moment. "Is it really that important that I go see him?"
Victor kissed her lips. "It really is."
Saturday
After tossing and turning all night, Ally boarded a late morning flight headed for Detroit. Through out the 2-hour flight, Ally remembered her past with Larry. She thought about the good times, the first time he told her he loved her and the song he wrote for her. She still heard it in her head sometimes. There were the not-so-good times, when he kissed Jamie, and when he moved to Detroit without saying goodbye.
Ally told herself to forget about the past and think about the present, think about Victor and the fact that he was waiting for her back in Boston ready for her to love him.
She checked into her hotel room and ordered room service. The knots in her stomach prevented her from eating much. She gave up the food and picked up the phone. It was time. She opened up the phone book, found the only listing for Larry Paul, took a deep breath and dialed. It rang and rang and after the fifth ring, she hung up. She lay back on the pillow and closed her eyes.
Larry picked up the phone to a dial tone. "Just great." He glanced over to where he had moved his sleeping son so he could answer the phone. He was still asleep; the phone had not woken him. Larry was glad. He was more than ready for Sam's 24-hour virus to be gone.
He covered Sam and headed into the bedroom so he could see whose call he had missed. "The Marriott?" he asked. "I don't know anyone staying at the Marriott or any hotel for that matter." Larry stretched out on the bed. A name crept into the back of his brain but he brushed it away. Impossible. The more he denied it, the more it came closer. It couldn't be.
Larry sat up and dialed the number on the caller ID.
"Thank you for calling The Marriott, this is Margaret, how may I help you?"
Larry took a deep breath, "Has Ally McBeal checked in yet?"
Silence.
"Yes, she has. Would you like me to connect you?"
"Not at the moment, but thank you."
Larry breathed slowly and tried to focus. "Okay, Ally is in Detroit and staying at the Marriott. You received a call from the Marriott. Odds that it wasn't Ally? Million to one. Since I didn't answer, she must think I am not home. I need to call her. And say what exactly?" He picked up the phone and hit the redial.
"Thank you for calling The Marriott, this is Tina, how may I help you?"
"Ally McBeal's room please."
"One moment."
"Hello?"
"Hello Ally, it's Larry."
Ally's heart began racing. "Larry, how did you…..?"
"Caller ID gave me the hotel. I don't know how I knew it was you, I just had a feeling." Larry was glad that she couldn't see his shaking hands. "So how are you?"
Across the phone line, Ally, too, was glad he couldn't see her shaking hands. "I'm good. How about you?"
"I'm fine."
Silence.
Ally spoke first. "I didn't think you were home."
"Sam was asleep in my lap and I couldn't get to the phone."
"Oh, Sam's there? How is he?"
"At the moment he's asleep. He picked up one of those 24 hour bugs."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
Silence.
Larry went first. "So what brings you to Detroit?"
"You do, Larry, I came to see you."
Larry tried not to let his feelings show in his voice. "Oh really?"
"Yes, I need to talk to you."
"Sounds serious. How is this evening? Say around 7:00?"
"That's fine. I'll see you then."
Larry opened the door and the two of them stared for a moment.
"May I come in?"
"Of course." He stepped back and she walked in.
"You have a nice place. It's very homey."
"I can't take the credit. Aside from Sam's room, it was already furnished."
Ally laughed. "I can believe that. I remember all the effort you put into buying one couch."
"Do you still have it?"
"No, I just couldn't…. I left it in the apartment when I moved."
Larry gestered to the couch. "Please have a seat. So you moved?"
Ally sat as far away from Larry as possible. She mentelly ordered her self to relax. "Yes, I purchased a house."
"Really? A house? That was a mighty big step. Does Renee still live with you?"
"No, she took a leave of absence from work and is touring with Tina Turner."
"That's great. She really has a great set of pipes. How did Elaine take the news?"
"Elaine was very happy for her."
Larry chuckled. "That bad, huh?"
Ally smiled.
Seeing Ally relaxing, Larry followed suit. "So how is everything at Cage and Fish?"
"That's Cage, Fish and McBeal."
Larry was surprised. "Really? They made you partner? How did that happen?"
"John felt the need to cut back. Nelle didn't take it well either. She's learning to play nicely with others. And Ling became a judge, one of those TV judges."
"Yeah, I saw her."
"Daddy?" came a small voice from elsewhere. "Daddy, I don't feel so good."
Larry lept up and ran towards the bedroom. A few seconds later Ally could hear gagging followed by crying. Seconds turned into minutes. Ally walked down the hall and stood in the door of Sam's bedroom. She could hear Larry running water in the bathroom.
Sam looked up. "Ally? Is that you?"
Ally smiled. "Yeah it's me, buddy. I heard you don't feel so good."
"Yeah, I got a virus. Did you come all the way from Boston to see my dad?"
"I sure did. I needed to talk to him but I'm thinking it can wait until tomorrow. Tonight you need him." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
She had picked up her purse when Larry entered. "Please don't leave."
"This has bad timing all over it. Call me tomorrow. Room 545. We'll talk then." With all the confidence she didn't feel, she walked out the door.
Sunday
Ally opened her eyes and felt like death. Her head was filled with cotton and her touge was too big for her mouth. She tried to focus on the clock but her vision was impaired. "Sam,"was her only thought as she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.
The phone rang but she didn't have the energy to pick it up. Light turned into dark as she slept and made numerous trips to the bathroom.
Ally could hear the knocking but couldn't move.
"Ally, can you hear me?"
Ally peeked through her lashes. Someone had turned on the lamp. "Larry?"
"Yes, it's me. You had me worried. I've been trying to call all day but you wouldn't answer."
"Phone far away," she mumbled. "How you get in?"
He pulled a chair to the bed. "The maid let me in. And it's a good thing she did, look at you. You're a mess. You have vomit all over you and your night shirt is soaken with sweat. You could catch a cold. I am going to clean you up."
He set her in the chair while he changed the sheets into the clean ones he got from housekeeping. He then removed her nightshirt and put on a clean one. He deposited a clean Ally into a fresh bed. A knock at the door proved to be room service with some juice and a much-needed thermometer. He poured the juice and inserted the thermometer into her mouth.
"103. You are one sick little girl."
Ally groaned.
"You need to drink something." He set her up and managed to get three sips of juice in.
"Sleep," she mumbled and did so.
Larry sat in the chair and watched her sleep. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I love you," he whispered. He picked up the remote and quietly turned on the TV.
Spring Break by Kakie
Friday
"Ally, have you seen my pink bathing suit?" Maddie asked from inside her closet.
Ally sighed as she thought of the three suitcases piled at the front door. "You already have three bathing suits. Why would you need a forth one?"
Maddie rolled her eyes. "You wouldn't understand."
"Probably not. It's not like I was ever a 10 year old girl."
Maddie popped her head out. "But were you ever a 10 year old girl going on a week long Caribbean cruise?"
"You got me there." Ally's heart broke a little. She had taken the week off from work and had made plans to spend it with her daughter. But spending a couple of days in New York didn't compare with a cruise around the Caribbean. "I wonder what's keeping Bonnie? She does know that she was welcome to spend the night here?"
"She does but she wanted to stay at a hotel next to the airport since our flight is so early. Yuck, what kind of airline has flights at 6:00?"
Ally smiled. "They all do. It's about a seven-hour flight from here to Miami. The boat sets sail at sunset."
"Ah ha." Out came Maddie with her pink bathing suit. "I found it." She set it inside her suitcase and locked it. "All done. So, since I'm going to be having a fab time, what are you going to do? Have you and Victor made plans?"
Ally opened her mouth when the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," Maddie replied as she ran out the door. Ally followed. "It's Bonnie."
"So I see," said Ally from the top of the stairs.
Bonnie hugged her niece and looked at the luggage pile. "Going on a trip too, Ally?"
"Nope, that's all Maddie's."
Bonnie sighed. "Maddie, you can't take all that. The cabin we are staying in is very tiny. One suitcase is all you are allowed."
Maddie pouted. "But…"
"One suitcase only. I'll give you some time to decide."
Maddie continued to grumble while Ally and Bonnie walked into the kitchen. "Congratulations on this gig." Ally said as she handed Bonnie some bottled water.
"Yeah," grinned Bonnie. "I'm so excited. I have never been to the Caribbean."
"It's great that they gave you a ticket for Maddie."
"I know, I couldn't believe it. And on her spring break too." Bonnie finished off her water. "I think I'm going to help Maddie. How many bathing suits did she pack?"
"Four. I didn't know she had four."
"We are going to cut that in half," Bonnie said as she sailed out the door.
An hour later Victor appeared at the door with pizza and beer. "I thought you might could use the company."
"The company and the pizza." She set the pizza on the table and opened one of the beers. "Even though she has only been in my life for a few months, I'm really going to miss her."
Victor kissed her on the forehead. "She'll be back next Saturday."
They settled down on the couch and split the pizza.
"Now that your plans have gone south, how about we make some new ones?"
Ally wiped her hands. "Such as?"
He laid his hand on her thigh. "I know this cozy little bed and breakfast in Vermont." He leaned over and kissed her. "I want to be with you, Ally. I think it's time."
Ally cleared her throat. "Aren't things moving a little fast here?"
Victor took a deep breath. "This is about Larry."
Ally looked startled. "Larry? I..I..haven't seen Larry in a year."
"That may be true but he's been in your thoughts and in your heart."
Ally wanted to deny it but couldn't.
"I want us to have a future together but as long as your heart is in Detroit, then we can't."
Ally closed her eyes. "Then what do you suggest?"
"I suggest you follow your heart."
Ally's eyes flew open. "To Detroit?"
"If that's where Larry is, then yes, I want you to go to Detroit."
Ally couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You want me to go see Larry in Detroit and do what exactly?"
"What you need to do to bring closure to that relationship. You never got to say goodbye because he left you."
"I don't need you to remind me of that, Victor, thank you very much." Ally closed the pizza box and carried it into the kitchen.
Victor followed and pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry about that, Ally. I just want us to have a future that's just about us. No ex-boyfriends invited."
She stared at him for a moment. "Is it really that important that I go see him?"
Victor kissed her lips. "It really is."
Saturday
After tossing and turning all night, Ally boarded a late morning flight headed for Detroit. Through out the 2-hour flight, Ally remembered her past with Larry. She thought about the good times, the first time he told her he loved her and the song he wrote for her. She still heard it in her head sometimes. There were the not-so-good times, when he kissed Jamie, and when he moved to Detroit without saying goodbye.
Ally told herself to forget about the past and think about the present, think about Victor and the fact that he was waiting for her back in Boston ready for her to love him.
She checked into her hotel room and ordered room service. The knots in her stomach prevented her from eating much. She gave up the food and picked up the phone. It was time. She opened up the phone book, found the only listing for Larry Paul, took a deep breath and dialed. It rang and rang and after the fifth ring, she hung up. She lay back on the pillow and closed her eyes.
Larry picked up the phone to a dial tone. "Just great." He glanced over to where he had moved his sleeping son so he could answer the phone. He was still asleep; the phone had not woken him. Larry was glad. He was more than ready for Sam's 24-hour virus to be gone.
He covered Sam and headed into the bedroom so he could see whose call he had missed. "The Marriott?" he asked. "I don't know anyone staying at the Marriott or any hotel for that matter." Larry stretched out on the bed. A name crept into the back of his brain but he brushed it away. Impossible. The more he denied it, the more it came closer. It couldn't be.
Larry sat up and dialed the number on the caller ID.
"Thank you for calling The Marriott, this is Margaret, how may I help you?"
Larry took a deep breath, "Has Ally McBeal checked in yet?"
Silence.
"Yes, she has. Would you like me to connect you?"
"Not at the moment, but thank you."
Larry breathed slowly and tried to focus. "Okay, Ally is in Detroit and staying at the Marriott. You received a call from the Marriott. Odds that it wasn't Ally? Million to one. Since I didn't answer, she must think I am not home. I need to call her. And say what exactly?" He picked up the phone and hit the redial.
"Thank you for calling The Marriott, this is Tina, how may I help you?"
"Ally McBeal's room please."
"One moment."
"Hello?"
"Hello Ally, it's Larry."
Ally's heart began racing. "Larry, how did you…..?"
"Caller ID gave me the hotel. I don't know how I knew it was you, I just had a feeling." Larry was glad that she couldn't see his shaking hands. "So how are you?"
Across the phone line, Ally, too, was glad he couldn't see her shaking hands. "I'm good. How about you?"
"I'm fine."
Silence.
Ally spoke first. "I didn't think you were home."
"Sam was asleep in my lap and I couldn't get to the phone."
"Oh, Sam's there? How is he?"
"At the moment he's asleep. He picked up one of those 24 hour bugs."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
Silence.
Larry went first. "So what brings you to Detroit?"
"You do, Larry, I came to see you."
Larry tried not to let his feelings show in his voice. "Oh really?"
"Yes, I need to talk to you."
"Sounds serious. How is this evening? Say around 7:00?"
"That's fine. I'll see you then."
Larry opened the door and the two of them stared for a moment.
"May I come in?"
"Of course." He stepped back and she walked in.
"You have a nice place. It's very homey."
"I can't take the credit. Aside from Sam's room, it was already furnished."
Ally laughed. "I can believe that. I remember all the effort you put into buying one couch."
"Do you still have it?"
"No, I just couldn't…. I left it in the apartment when I moved."
Larry gestered to the couch. "Please have a seat. So you moved?"
Ally sat as far away from Larry as possible. She mentelly ordered her self to relax. "Yes, I purchased a house."
"Really? A house? That was a mighty big step. Does Renee still live with you?"
"No, she took a leave of absence from work and is touring with Tina Turner."
"That's great. She really has a great set of pipes. How did Elaine take the news?"
"Elaine was very happy for her."
Larry chuckled. "That bad, huh?"
Ally smiled.
Seeing Ally relaxing, Larry followed suit. "So how is everything at Cage and Fish?"
"That's Cage, Fish and McBeal."
Larry was surprised. "Really? They made you partner? How did that happen?"
"John felt the need to cut back. Nelle didn't take it well either. She's learning to play nicely with others. And Ling became a judge, one of those TV judges."
"Yeah, I saw her."
"Daddy?" came a small voice from elsewhere. "Daddy, I don't feel so good."
Larry lept up and ran towards the bedroom. A few seconds later Ally could hear gagging followed by crying. Seconds turned into minutes. Ally walked down the hall and stood in the door of Sam's bedroom. She could hear Larry running water in the bathroom.
Sam looked up. "Ally? Is that you?"
Ally smiled. "Yeah it's me, buddy. I heard you don't feel so good."
"Yeah, I got a virus. Did you come all the way from Boston to see my dad?"
"I sure did. I needed to talk to him but I'm thinking it can wait until tomorrow. Tonight you need him." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
She had picked up her purse when Larry entered. "Please don't leave."
"This has bad timing all over it. Call me tomorrow. Room 545. We'll talk then." With all the confidence she didn't feel, she walked out the door.
Sunday
Ally opened her eyes and felt like death. Her head was filled with cotton and her touge was too big for her mouth. She tried to focus on the clock but her vision was impaired. "Sam,"was her only thought as she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.
The phone rang but she didn't have the energy to pick it up. Light turned into dark as she slept and made numerous trips to the bathroom.
Ally could hear the knocking but couldn't move.
"Ally, can you hear me?"
Ally peeked through her lashes. Someone had turned on the lamp. "Larry?"
"Yes, it's me. You had me worried. I've been trying to call all day but you wouldn't answer."
"Phone far away," she mumbled. "How you get in?"
He pulled a chair to the bed. "The maid let me in. And it's a good thing she did, look at you. You're a mess. You have vomit all over you and your night shirt is soaken with sweat. You could catch a cold. I am going to clean you up."
He set her in the chair while he changed the sheets into the clean ones he got from housekeeping. He then removed her nightshirt and put on a clean one. He deposited a clean Ally into a fresh bed. A knock at the door proved to be room service with some juice and a much-needed thermometer. He poured the juice and inserted the thermometer into her mouth.
"103. You are one sick little girl."
Ally groaned.
"You need to drink something." He set her up and managed to get three sips of juice in.
"Sleep," she mumbled and did so.
Larry sat in the chair and watched her sleep. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I love you," he whispered. He picked up the remote and quietly turned on the TV.