Challenged, but still Unbroken
Rating: PG-13 (Just in case, for other chapters)
Disclaimer: These characters belong to NBC, Michael Crichton, and etc.- except the ones I made up!
Author's note: This is a chapter that focuses on the Carter Family situation. It explores the relationships between John, Randi, Georgia, and Eleanor. It takes place immediately after the first chapter. Hope you enjoy, and DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!
****
"What the hell are you doing here?" John's face redden, his fists clenched in anger.
"John, don't do this. I am your mother-"
John stopped Eleanor's words with his own slightly louder words.
"I think we had this same discussion about three and a half years ago, at which time I think I made myself pretty clear on the topic. You played this same game back then, right after you insulted the woman I was in love with, a woman who just happens to be the mother of your only grandchild. Or did you know about Georgia?"
"Yes. I did. I also heard about the gala wedding I was not invited to. And you did not say one word to me at your grandfather's funeral. The least you could have done is called to let me know that I had a granddaughter."
"Randi and I had no reason to invite you to our wedding. After the way you treated her, I did not want you trying to stop my wedding because she was not 'socially adept.' Those were the same reasons we kept our daughter from you."
"John, you're being unfair. Give me a chance to-"
"A chance to what? Pretend like you are interested in my life? Prove yourself worthy as a grandmother? Undo the past twenty years? It's too late for that. I've moved on. You're still stuck on Bobby's death. I think about him every day, but I do not obsess over it. You can't seem to let go. He is gone. He has been in the ground for twenty years. You can't bring him back. Move on, Eleanor!"
John could see the anger in his heart now reflected in his mother's eyes. Before he knew what was happening, he felt her hand come in contact with right cheek. The slapping sound echoed throughout the vast room.
To keep himself under control, he turned away from her, finding himself face to face with his wife. He stared into her eyes, knowingly reading her expression. She gently pushed her way past her husband. She walked up to her estranged mother-in-law. She began her speech very politely.
"Eleanor, I think its time that you say goodbye. I have a baby upstairs sleeping, and would hate for her to wake up to your squawking. I think John has made it perfectly clear that we don't want you here, or anywhere near our child. I don't think you qualify for the title of grandmother. That requires that one be a mother first. We all know that you failed miserably at that. Therefore you have no idea how to be a grandparent. So kindly walk out that door, down that hallway, and out the front door. Keep walking, and don't even think about coming back. You are not welcome in my household."
Randi was yelling by the time she finished. Eleanor's face was like stone. Empty, yet hurt at the same time. She moved toward the door, stopping momentarily to face John.
"Yeah, John, she's a real classy woman."
"I think you need to go," he said with a hard look on his face.
With a huff, Eleanor Carter disappeared into the hallway. It was not until after they heard the massive front door slam that either of them took in a breath. John walked over to Randi, and pulled her into his embrace.
"Come on. You need to get some sleep."
"Yeah."
With their arms around one another, the couple walked up the grand staircase. They were both exhausted.
****
"You awake?"
"Yeah, I can't sleep. I guess my mother unnerved me a bit." John and Randi were laying in their luxurious king size bed an hour later. Neither could sleep.
"I am not sorry about what I said to her, you know. I had that pent up inside of me for over three years. It felt good to let it out."
"I know. I was impressed. I was not sure if you had it in you. I mean, I knew the Randi I knew five years ago would have spoken her mind, but you're different now. You have been since that benefit at the museum."
"I told you the next morning. You brought out the nice Randi. Now you can bring out the naughty Randi, too." They both laughed a bit, thinking retrospectively about their first date. John turned Randi over and kissed her softly on the lips. She then turned back over, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, placing his chin in the crook of her neck. He quietly continued their discussion of their late night visitor.
"You know that she'll be back. She does not give up that easily, and I think she has fallen back into her depression."
"How do you figure?"
"Just her expression. The way she acted."
"Maybe she finally realized that has not only lost Bobby, but you too. And along with that, she lost her opportunity to be a grandmother. It is her realization of the consequences of her actions."
"I just hope she won't totally go off the deep end. We need to speak with everyone who will be working around the estate, and let them know that she is not to be here. Not on the grounds, in the house, and especially around you and Georgia."
"You don't think she would do anything psychotic do you?"
"I have no idea, but I don't want to take the chance. The two of you are my life. I don't want to even think about anything happening to either of you."
"I love you."
"And I love you. Now I need to get some sleep. I have to work tomorrow night."
He kissed his wife on the check, and closed his eyes for some much needed rest.
Randi felt his arms around her, and realized that with his arms around her, she was nothing but safe.
****
An ear-piercing wail filled the quiet mansion. John and Randi leapt out of their warm, comfortable bed, and ran across the wide hallway. On the way, John caught a glimpse of the clock on the bedside table. 4:32 am. They had been asleep two and a half hours.
Randi was the first inside their daughter's room. She ran over to the bed, lifted up the covers, but Georgia was not in her usual spot. Fear swept over the mother and she frantically looked around the room. John remained only somewhat calmer, turning on the overhead light, and searching the corners of the room.
"Where is she, John? Where's my baby?"
As she screamed this question to him, John heard another noise.
"Shhh. Listen." The couple listened, hearing the most beautiful soft whimpering sound they had ever heard. John walked over to Georgia's closet, and opened the door. The little girl was huddled in the far back corner, tightly hugging the teddy bear that Aunt Deb gave her for her first birthday.
As he walked over to the child, she looked up at her father with a red, tear stained face. He gently picked her up off the floor and wrapped his arms securely around her.
They walked out of the closet, and Randi let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank God. Georgia, baby, what happened? Did something scare you?"
Georgia nodded into her father's chest as he rubbed her back, and rocked her back and forth. John and Randi exchanged a look of solace.
"Angel, you want to come sleep in Mommy and Daddy's bed?"
She nodded again in answer to her father's question. As the three exited the room, Randi cut off the light and shut the door. They walked across the hall, and John placed Georgia in the middle of the large bed. Randi got in on one side of the bed, and John got in on the other. Randi looked at her daughter, who still seemed to be frightened by something.
"Sweetie, what is wrong? You know that you're safe now. Tell us what happened."
"Scary dream."
"Oh, do you want to tell us about it?"
The child looked at her father, and then at her mother.
"Someone took me away, and wouldn't let me come back."
John took in a deep breath, and then tried to console the child.
"That would never happen, Angel. I wouldn't let it, and neither would Mommy. There is nothing we would not do to keep you safe and here with us. Do you understand that?"
"Yes, Daddy. Teddy too?"
John patted the soft brown bear in his daughter's arms, and smiled.
"Yes, Teddy too. Now, I think that you and Teddy both need to get some sleep."
"Here?"
John looked at Randi for an answer.
"Yes, but just for tonight, Sweetie. Tomorrow night you have to go back to your big girl bed. Promise?"
"Yes, Mommy."
John and Randi pulled the covers up around their child, and tried to get themselves comfortable, with the extra person in the bed. They watched Georgia until her eyes shut and she began to snore softly. John reached above the child's head, as did Randi, and they spent the rest of the night with their hands clasped together. Neither of them would let anything happen to their little girl.
****
Ok, I know what you are thinking-will there be any medical scenes in this or not? The answer is of course! It would not be ER without them! The next chapter will take place in the hospital, as will many that will follow. I just felt it necessary to reintroduce my audience to the family.
****HEY- Please review! I thrive off of your compliments and comments (good or bad). I'll take any and all insight! If you have any ideas for John and Randi's future, let me know! I just might use you're idea!
Thanks For Reading!
*Hugs*
Rating: PG-13 (Just in case, for other chapters)
Disclaimer: These characters belong to NBC, Michael Crichton, and etc.- except the ones I made up!
Author's note: This is a chapter that focuses on the Carter Family situation. It explores the relationships between John, Randi, Georgia, and Eleanor. It takes place immediately after the first chapter. Hope you enjoy, and DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!
****
"What the hell are you doing here?" John's face redden, his fists clenched in anger.
"John, don't do this. I am your mother-"
John stopped Eleanor's words with his own slightly louder words.
"I think we had this same discussion about three and a half years ago, at which time I think I made myself pretty clear on the topic. You played this same game back then, right after you insulted the woman I was in love with, a woman who just happens to be the mother of your only grandchild. Or did you know about Georgia?"
"Yes. I did. I also heard about the gala wedding I was not invited to. And you did not say one word to me at your grandfather's funeral. The least you could have done is called to let me know that I had a granddaughter."
"Randi and I had no reason to invite you to our wedding. After the way you treated her, I did not want you trying to stop my wedding because she was not 'socially adept.' Those were the same reasons we kept our daughter from you."
"John, you're being unfair. Give me a chance to-"
"A chance to what? Pretend like you are interested in my life? Prove yourself worthy as a grandmother? Undo the past twenty years? It's too late for that. I've moved on. You're still stuck on Bobby's death. I think about him every day, but I do not obsess over it. You can't seem to let go. He is gone. He has been in the ground for twenty years. You can't bring him back. Move on, Eleanor!"
John could see the anger in his heart now reflected in his mother's eyes. Before he knew what was happening, he felt her hand come in contact with right cheek. The slapping sound echoed throughout the vast room.
To keep himself under control, he turned away from her, finding himself face to face with his wife. He stared into her eyes, knowingly reading her expression. She gently pushed her way past her husband. She walked up to her estranged mother-in-law. She began her speech very politely.
"Eleanor, I think its time that you say goodbye. I have a baby upstairs sleeping, and would hate for her to wake up to your squawking. I think John has made it perfectly clear that we don't want you here, or anywhere near our child. I don't think you qualify for the title of grandmother. That requires that one be a mother first. We all know that you failed miserably at that. Therefore you have no idea how to be a grandparent. So kindly walk out that door, down that hallway, and out the front door. Keep walking, and don't even think about coming back. You are not welcome in my household."
Randi was yelling by the time she finished. Eleanor's face was like stone. Empty, yet hurt at the same time. She moved toward the door, stopping momentarily to face John.
"Yeah, John, she's a real classy woman."
"I think you need to go," he said with a hard look on his face.
With a huff, Eleanor Carter disappeared into the hallway. It was not until after they heard the massive front door slam that either of them took in a breath. John walked over to Randi, and pulled her into his embrace.
"Come on. You need to get some sleep."
"Yeah."
With their arms around one another, the couple walked up the grand staircase. They were both exhausted.
****
"You awake?"
"Yeah, I can't sleep. I guess my mother unnerved me a bit." John and Randi were laying in their luxurious king size bed an hour later. Neither could sleep.
"I am not sorry about what I said to her, you know. I had that pent up inside of me for over three years. It felt good to let it out."
"I know. I was impressed. I was not sure if you had it in you. I mean, I knew the Randi I knew five years ago would have spoken her mind, but you're different now. You have been since that benefit at the museum."
"I told you the next morning. You brought out the nice Randi. Now you can bring out the naughty Randi, too." They both laughed a bit, thinking retrospectively about their first date. John turned Randi over and kissed her softly on the lips. She then turned back over, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, placing his chin in the crook of her neck. He quietly continued their discussion of their late night visitor.
"You know that she'll be back. She does not give up that easily, and I think she has fallen back into her depression."
"How do you figure?"
"Just her expression. The way she acted."
"Maybe she finally realized that has not only lost Bobby, but you too. And along with that, she lost her opportunity to be a grandmother. It is her realization of the consequences of her actions."
"I just hope she won't totally go off the deep end. We need to speak with everyone who will be working around the estate, and let them know that she is not to be here. Not on the grounds, in the house, and especially around you and Georgia."
"You don't think she would do anything psychotic do you?"
"I have no idea, but I don't want to take the chance. The two of you are my life. I don't want to even think about anything happening to either of you."
"I love you."
"And I love you. Now I need to get some sleep. I have to work tomorrow night."
He kissed his wife on the check, and closed his eyes for some much needed rest.
Randi felt his arms around her, and realized that with his arms around her, she was nothing but safe.
****
An ear-piercing wail filled the quiet mansion. John and Randi leapt out of their warm, comfortable bed, and ran across the wide hallway. On the way, John caught a glimpse of the clock on the bedside table. 4:32 am. They had been asleep two and a half hours.
Randi was the first inside their daughter's room. She ran over to the bed, lifted up the covers, but Georgia was not in her usual spot. Fear swept over the mother and she frantically looked around the room. John remained only somewhat calmer, turning on the overhead light, and searching the corners of the room.
"Where is she, John? Where's my baby?"
As she screamed this question to him, John heard another noise.
"Shhh. Listen." The couple listened, hearing the most beautiful soft whimpering sound they had ever heard. John walked over to Georgia's closet, and opened the door. The little girl was huddled in the far back corner, tightly hugging the teddy bear that Aunt Deb gave her for her first birthday.
As he walked over to the child, she looked up at her father with a red, tear stained face. He gently picked her up off the floor and wrapped his arms securely around her.
They walked out of the closet, and Randi let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank God. Georgia, baby, what happened? Did something scare you?"
Georgia nodded into her father's chest as he rubbed her back, and rocked her back and forth. John and Randi exchanged a look of solace.
"Angel, you want to come sleep in Mommy and Daddy's bed?"
She nodded again in answer to her father's question. As the three exited the room, Randi cut off the light and shut the door. They walked across the hall, and John placed Georgia in the middle of the large bed. Randi got in on one side of the bed, and John got in on the other. Randi looked at her daughter, who still seemed to be frightened by something.
"Sweetie, what is wrong? You know that you're safe now. Tell us what happened."
"Scary dream."
"Oh, do you want to tell us about it?"
The child looked at her father, and then at her mother.
"Someone took me away, and wouldn't let me come back."
John took in a deep breath, and then tried to console the child.
"That would never happen, Angel. I wouldn't let it, and neither would Mommy. There is nothing we would not do to keep you safe and here with us. Do you understand that?"
"Yes, Daddy. Teddy too?"
John patted the soft brown bear in his daughter's arms, and smiled.
"Yes, Teddy too. Now, I think that you and Teddy both need to get some sleep."
"Here?"
John looked at Randi for an answer.
"Yes, but just for tonight, Sweetie. Tomorrow night you have to go back to your big girl bed. Promise?"
"Yes, Mommy."
John and Randi pulled the covers up around their child, and tried to get themselves comfortable, with the extra person in the bed. They watched Georgia until her eyes shut and she began to snore softly. John reached above the child's head, as did Randi, and they spent the rest of the night with their hands clasped together. Neither of them would let anything happen to their little girl.
****
Ok, I know what you are thinking-will there be any medical scenes in this or not? The answer is of course! It would not be ER without them! The next chapter will take place in the hospital, as will many that will follow. I just felt it necessary to reintroduce my audience to the family.
****HEY- Please review! I thrive off of your compliments and comments (good or bad). I'll take any and all insight! If you have any ideas for John and Randi's future, let me know! I just might use you're idea!
Thanks For Reading!
*Hugs*