Chapter 16
"Johnny, look at me."
Putting her hand under his chin she lifted slightly bringing his eyes up to meet her gaze.
"I need to know what's wrong with me. If you're worried whether I'll take a flying leap again, don't. I'm not going anywhere. You're here, and I tru... have confidence in you."
"Alexis, please. Can't you wait... "
"No, Johnny. I can't wait."
Suddenly an idea presented itself to Johnny that he hoped she would go along with.
"Alexis, I have had help taking care of you. You have a personal nurse, whose name is Joy. She has devoted her time to you just like I have. You have met her before. She came to you a few years ago and asked you to help her father. He was sent to jail for embezzlement."
"I was able to overturn the verdict, right? He was uhmmm… framed I think. Joy... uhm... Martelli. Joy is my nurse?"
Smiling broadly Johnny nodded in agreement then continued.
"Could I ask Joy to come join us just in case. She is just as devoted to your care as I am and we won't have any problem getting her to agree to holding off on calling your doctor."
Alexis studied him for a moment wondering whether or not she could trust him them quietly agreed.
"Ok, Johnny. But, I think I would like to go in now. I'm getting pretty tired."
Taking hold of her hands Johnny knelt down on the ground beside her and looked up into her face with a mixture of fear, concern and affection.
"Alexis, are you ok? I'm really worried about you."
Pulling her hands from his, Alexis cupped his face within her palms.
"For someone who seems to have a pretty selective memory, I seem to be doing just fine. Johnny, don't worry. I tell you what... why don't we make up some kind of code for when things get to be a bit too much for me then you can step in and rescue me."
"I'd be willing to back off a bit if you would promise me you'd do that."
Laughing gently, Alexis urged him from his knees to sit once again by her side.
"You have my word as an officer of the court. If you're close to me, I'll lay my hand on your arm and if you're across the room, I'll… I'll pull on my earlobe, like Carol Burnett does. How's that?"
"It's a deal. Now give me a sec and I'll call Joy to meet us back in your room. Are you ready for your acting debut? I'll have to pick you up and put you back into your wheelchair, then push you back inside. If you play your cards right, I just might be able to secure an Academy Award for you."
Laughing at his silliness, Alexis covered her mouth to keep her laughter from reaching any ears that might be within hearing distance. Waiting patiently for Johnny to call Joy, Alexis let her eyes roam around the grounds. She was more afraid and anxious than she was letting Johnny know. It felt like a heavy blanket covered her mind and it was making it difficult to stay focused enough to carry on a decent conversation. She was having to work too hard to put her words together in a way that would not alert Johnny to the trouble she was having. There were gaps in her memory and it was scaring her senseless. As a little more clarity surfaced she knew she would have to be honest with Johnny so that he could watch for signs of a relapse.
Reaching Joy just as she finished preparing Alexis' dinner tray, Johnny asked that she hurry because he needed to talk to her. Disconnecting the call, he focused on Alexis and could tell something was on her mind.
"Hey partner. What's up? I didn't feel your hand on my arm, and you didn't pull on your ear, but there is definitely something going on here. Be honest with me, Alexis. What's bothering you?"
"You're a pretty smart man, Johnny. I was just thinking that I probably needed to be a little more honest with you about something."
Taking a deep breath, Alexis let her eyes again roam around the grounds. Without looking back at Johnny, she told him what was bothering her.
"I'm not doing as well as I intended you to believe. I didn't want you worrying about me, but I also didn't want you to go calling all kinds of head doctors in to start pulling me apart piece by piece. I need to do this in my own way, but I also know that I need someone watching me. You know, in case I... well, in case I disappear again. Do you understand, Johnny? I need you to watch for anything weird, but I also need you to let me do as much as I can on my own."
Listening to her concerns, Johnny could tell by some of her slurred words that she was probably getting real tired by now. And because he had no way of knowing if it meant anything else he bent down and picked her up to put her back into her wheelchair. He needed to get her to her room fast so Joy could look at her.
"Alexis, I understand. You may not remember me, but I know more about you than I've led you to believe. You and I have spent a lot of time together and I know how much you need to be in control of your own life. I will do my best to see that you stay in control. Now, please, be a good little girl and let me get you inside so Joy can look you over."
Sending him a look of total gratitude she lay her hand once more against his cheek.
"Thanks, Johnny. Now, come on, you've got a woman with a vacancy upstairs to sneak past the guards at the gate."
"Oh man, how bad is that?" Johnny laughed with her and set off to sneak her inside without any one noticing that Alexis Davis had rejoined the world with at least her sense of humor intact.
Rounding the corner on his way to the room, he saw Joy standing in the hall pacing back and forth waiting for him. When she caught sight of him she ran to him.
"Johnny, what's wrong. You sounded like there was something wrong."
"Joy, not out here. Please hang on until I get Alexis inside."
Opening the door and pushing Alexis into the living room he called back to Joy to make sure the door was closed and locked.
Going to do as he asked, she locked the door then returned to the living room and let out a squeal. Alexis was standing up without assistance, looking straight at her and smiling.
"Alexis?"
"Hi, Joy. It's been a while since I saw you last. How are you?"
Rushing toward Alexis she stopped when she saw Alexis touch Johnny's arm and Johnny in turn raised his hand motioning her to stop.
"She's still a little wobbly, Joy. No quick movements. Ok?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. How long has she... been with us, Johnny?"
"Uh... Joy, you can ask me. Johnny doesn't need to be my mouthpiece... "
As she said the word 'mouthpiece' a pain shot through her head and she lifted her hand in an attempt to stop it. But the pain left as quickly as it came leaving her completely exhausted.
"Johnny, I need to sit down."
Once she settled onto the couch, she returned her focus to Joy.
"Joy, please sit with me here. We have to talk to you."
Setting her personal feelings aside, Joy began to look at Alexis through her professional eyes noting that Alexis was more pale than usual and her hands were shaking slightly. Looking closer she noticed her pupils were dilated and slow to react.
"Alexis, I need to get Dr. Collins in here to assess your condition."
"Not yet, Joy. Johnny and I talked about it and we agreed that I could wait until in the morning. I let him call you, so that you could reassure him that I can make it through the night on my own. He assures me that you can be trusted."
Joy looked up a Johnny, slightly frowned and then looked back at Alexis.
"Do you have a headache of any kind, Alexis?
"No, I don't. And before we get into all of your questions I have one of my own."
Johnny moved closer and knelt beside Alexis. Taking one of her hands in his he spoke very quietly and gently to her.
"Are you sure you won't wait until in the morning, Alexis?"
Looking at him compassionately Alexis squeezed his hand.
"If you know me as well as you say you do, then you know I can't, Johnny. It's time you told me what's wrong with me."
Joy looked at Johnny and found he was looking at her. When he knew he had her attention he slid his eyes toward Alexis' stomach and frowned slightly. Joy, finally understanding what Alexis was referring to lifted her own hand to lay on top of Johnny's who still held onto Alexis.
"Ok, Johnny. Go ahead... tell her. But, Alexis, it is very important that you do not let what you will hear cause an unhealthy amount of stress. You will need to exercise that enormous amount of control everyone is telling me you have. Once you have the news you want, you must promise to let Johnny hover and pamper you as much as you are comfortable with until you are stable enough to handle it on your own. What I'm saying Alexis, is that you cannot run and hide. Mentally or physically. You must talk about what you feel. Tell Johnny whatever comes into your mind. We cannot take the chance of you going into overload because you're holding everything inside. Do I have your word that you will do as I ask? If not, I have no choice but to call Dr. Collins."
"You have my word, Joy. I promise."
Turning and giving her full attention to the man who knelt beside her; she saw the concern and fear etched in his face.
"Johnny, it's ok. I can handle it. You're going to be here with me and I promise if I get into any trouble I'll yell. Johnny, please... tell me."
Closing his eyes briefly and resolving himself to the task he looked up at Joy for strength then back to Alexis. Tightening his hold on her hand slightly, he told her.
"Alexis, you're pregnant.
