I want to thank everyone for commenting on my story and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
YellyBelly: I want to thank you for reminding me how I get carried away with past and present tense. But please bear with me if I do it again, I do promise to look over my story closely before I post. And you are right about Jamie being too forgiving; he should be more upset with how Bianca and he were treated by Babe. And I have decided that is only because Jamie is tired and because he sees that Babe is upset, so he holds off on scolding her. Besides to tell the truth I just didn't want to write another confrontation at that moment. So I gave both Babe and myself a somewhat fluffy happy chapter to take a break.
Babe stood frozen in a state of shock, there stood her soon to be ex husband looking like the Grinch about to steal Christmas. JR held his head high watching Babe with coldness in his eyes, "Honey I'm home," mock JR. Breaking out of her shock coma, Babe try shutting the door, but JR was too quick for her. Using his superior strength over Babe, JR force his body against the door making his way into the house, "What no kiss hello for your loving husband?"
"Little hypocritical to be calling yourself loving don't you think JR?" asking Jamie from his place on the couch.
"Oh look the gimp is trying to insult me how cute," ridicule JR as he playful ruffle up Jamie's light brunette hair.
Leaving the door open Babe follow two steps behind JR, "What do you want JR?"
"Why my daughter of course, I have a court order with me," JR thrust some papers into Babe's hands, "simply saying you have to hand her over to me immediately."
Babe smile, she was looking forward to seeing his face when he found out he no longer had power over her. "Bess isn't here JR, she went home with her mother, so if you would please leave."
"What do you mean Bess is not here? Is big Mama hiding my daughter in a trailer park somewhere?"
"I think calling Erica Kane's penthouse a trailer park is insulting don't you agree Jamie?" Babe love teasing JR, to watch him squirm under her own personal joke. Jamie try to catch her eye, he knew it unwise to poke at the sleeping bear that was JR's anger. Jamie knew JR better than anyone and he knew that JR had only tap into his hate for Babe. Once JR finds out the truth, his angry against Babe will explode when he finds out he has been made a fool once more by Babe. Jamie knew volcano JR would soon erupt taking all innocents in his path and destroying everything that stood in his way.
"You let Bess's craze dyke godmother take her to see her mother the drunk?"
"You better watch your mouth JR!" Anger was rising in Jamie; Bianca certainly didn't deserve the harsh insults that JR appeared to save just for her.
"What is it little brother, are they not giving you enough pats on the head for trying to intimate me with empty threats?" JR gave Jamie a smirk as he talk to Jamie in a baby voice.
"When are you going to run out of enough people to insults to make yourself feel all powerful?" question Babe as she stood down JR. She loathe this man in front of her, JR had become the spiting image of his heartless father. Babe began dialing David's cell phone number trying to find out what was taking him so long.
"What are you warning Binks, that I'm coming to get Bess?"
"No actually my father, he was coming over to check Jamie's stitches before you barge in with your orders and insults."
JR snigger, "Your beloved father is fine, he probably off buying illegal drugs on sale."
Babe shook her head in disgust, "You must really like to hear yourself talk, I never seen someone so in love with all his own hot air before."
Jamie softly laugh as he pull himself into a sitting position, JR fire back, "That because I am the only one interesting in this room."
"Boy am I glad Bess isn't yours," the look on Jamie's face show he wish to take his words back instantly.
"What was that Jamie?" JR question as he whip his head around to face his brother.
But it was Babe who spoke up, "That right JR, you're not Bess's real father."
"What!" JR eyes were boiling with hot red anger; Jamie fear Babe was pushing him too fast.
"You think you have all this power, pushing me around. Well that all about to change. You remember Paul Kramer don't you darling?" it was now Babe turn to have the power and she was getting drunk off of it.
"Yeah he was another gullible idiot that you suck in with your trashy magic show of love. But what does he have to do with Bess?" JR was losing control of his anger, Jamie silently praying for his Dad to come home or even for David to arrive.
"Well when we took that little paternity test on my baby. The only reason why the results came back in your favor was because I got Paul to switch the results."
"Are you telling me Jamie is the father of Bess?"
"No, I'm telling you Jamie is the father of my son," Babe saw the shock look on JR's face. "You heard me right. I had a little baby boy, but he died in the helicopter crash that night. Paul was such a coward that he gave you Miranda to save his own skin."
"Why don't we all just calm down," Jamie knew things were about to get ugly.
"Shut up Jamie! So you're telling me that you kept your supposed "best friend" baby just to get hold of my money."
"No, I only know about Miranda for a few months, but I only kept her to keep you happy. I don't want your money; I've never wanted your money," remaining calm Babe stands still as JR glare at her with unwelcoming eyes.
Jamie finally stood up, "JR I think it's time for you to leave."
JR turn to Jamie with fire in his eyes, "Don't tell me what to do Martin!" This was a completely new JR, one that Jamie had never seen before. His eyes were ice cold and there was an uncontrollable hate in the sound of his voice. Turning he gave his full attention back to Babe. "I find that hard to believe, you and your mother have been leeching off me for the worse part of a year."
"Well believe what you want to believe JR. But I don't have to worry about that anymore since we're getting a divorce. You don't have power over me anymore and you never will. It's time to face the music JR, game over you loss."
Jamie could see JR trembling with rage and before he could stop him JR's hands were around Babe's throat. The phone in Babe's hand fell to the floor, shattering in half, "JR get off her! Stop it you're killing her!" Jamie shouting had no affect, JR only tighten his grip on Babe, squeezing the life out of her. Jamie grab JR's arms trying by force to make him stop. "JR stop this right now!" JR release one hand long enough to strike Jamie in the gut with his elbow. Jamie let out dry moan, "Ow," was the only word he could get out as he fell to the floor.
Jamie cry of pain finally brought JR out of his trance, quickly he let go of Babe's throat and knelt beside his brother.
"Jamie I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," JR spoke softly as he put his jacket under Jamie's head. Babe was gasping for air as she gently held her throat where JR's hands had been moments before. JR uncaring of Babe's predicament, "Don't just stand there call 911!" He threw his cell phone at her and then went back to apologizing to a quiet Jamie.
Babe had only press the button nine when she saw the dark blood creeping out from under Jamie's hand. "JR..."
"Don't tell me you don't know how to use a cell phone? Or is it that you don't know the number?" Only JR's questions could serve as an insult as well.
Ignoring JR immature attempt at her intelligence, as Babe tore off her cotton sweater placing it firmly on the wound. "No you idiot, he's bleeding freely," she took JR's hand and force him to press hard on the sweater, "Now keep pressure on that." Looking down JR could see that Babe's green sweater was quickly soaking up Jamie's blood. Taking the cell once again in her hand, Babe finish dialing, "This is Babe Chandler I need an ambulance sent right away to 12870 NE Maple DR. Why? Because if they don't Jamie Martin is going to bleed to death, his stitches were ripped and he freely bleeding."
An "Oh my God," could be heard behind her head, Babe turn to see David standing in the doorway.
"David help him please," beg JR. Babe was stun, for the first time in months she saw a new JR...he was vulnerable.
Babe hung up the phone, "The ambulance is on the way, David you have to help him."
"Just give me room to work," said David as he shove JR aside, so he could inspect the damage. Shiver ran across her entire body as she saw the look of concern in David's eyes, she could see that Jamie's condition was very serious.
"What happen?" yell Tad as he enter his house with Krystal close behind. Spotting JR, "Why are you doing in my--" Tad stop his interrogation as he saw Jamie on the ground with his blood tickling out. Quickly dropping to the floor next to his son, "What happened here Babe?" Babe couldn't ignore the hardness in Tad's voice.
"JR attacked me when he found out about Miranda." Krystal put supporting arms around her daughter as she glare daggers at JR.
"I don't care about that, why is my son on the floor?" Babe could feel her mother wince; neither of them had seen Tad this angry before.
JR spoke up, "Jamie tried to stop me and I wasn't thinking clearly Tad..."
Tad stood up looking JR coldly in the face, "What...did...you...do?" he ask JR through clench teeth.
JR look scared and upset, "I wanted him off, so I hit him hard in the stomach. I didn't realize what I was doing Tad," he point at Babe, "she made me so angry."
"You want to see anger JR?" a look of fear enters JR's blue eyes. "If I lose Jamie over this little spat of yours and Babe, you will know real anger. If anything happens to my son, not even Adam himself will be able to protect you." Tad was shaking with his fury as he twists around to Babe and Krystal. "I want you two out of my house right now."
Babe usher her mother to their room, Krystal was unsteadily packing her bag. She was trying to hold back her tears, but Babe could see the pain in her mother's face. Pausing with her red pumps in her hand, Krystal sank to the floor crying softly unable to express her grief. Instantly Babe was at her mother side, "Shh Mama we've had hard times before and we always come out breathing," Babe spoke softly as she hug her mother close.
Krystal was falling apart, "How can you be strong at a time like this darling? Tad left me, Bianca is so angry, and Jamie...poor Jamie."
"Will get better," Babe's voice was stern but shaking as she stop her mother from finishing, "Jamie has to get better, he just has too." Babe could handle Bianca's wrath, Tad's disappointment, and JR's threats. But she could never handle losing Jamie.
He was the one person who had stood by her through all her downs and celebrated with her during all her ups. He could bring a smile to her face and a laugh to her throat when she was about to burst into a billion pieces. Jamie was her white knight in a time of darkness, her rock in a time of confusion. God had already taken her baby boy from her; he wouldn't dare take Jamie from her as well. Babe refuse to shed a tear over what was happening; she needed to be strong to face what was coming. Drying Krystal's face with the handkerchief that Bianca had given her, Babe brought Krystal to her feet. "Now we have to finish packing, I have the keys to David's cottage. We can stay there till we figure out our game plan. Can you pull yourself together now?"
Krystal gave a nod yes then stop, "Babe, I'm the Mama I am the one who should be pulling you back from an emotional breakdown."
Babe shrug, "I've cry so much over the last few weeks Mama that my tear well is in the middle of a drought. It time I grow up and take responsibilities for my choices and my actions."
Krystal open her mouth again to say something in protest, but she change her mind and turn back to her suitcase. Neither said another word as they finish packing in a heavy silence. When all zippers had been zip up, Babe and Krystal walk out into the living room with bags in tow. It was empty now, everyone had gone to the hospital with Jamie.
Picking up her discarded sweater that was still damp with Jamie's blood, Babe went into the kitchen and put her sweater into a plastic bag. How strange events can change your whole life in one day, a few hours and your life that you know is completely gone.
Babe pause in the kitchen, she could see the ghosts of her and Jamie. She could feel his warmth and his kindness to her when she didn't deserve a simple hello. He was the first person to get her to think of her son without feeling drain afterwards. Jamie could give a silver lining to any thunder storm. Babe slowly let herself walk back into the living room not wanting to leave her good memories with Jamie in the kitchen.
In the living room everything was mixed, the good was combined with the bad. It was harder to feel Jamie in here, Babe was resisting she didn't want to give him up. But Krystal was already at the door, she had already said her goodbye while Babe was in the kitchen. Babe took in one more look around as she memorizing it all into her brain, at least her memories of this place and Jamie couldn't be taken from her. After locking the front door Babe follow Krystal out, closing the door behind her with a confirming grip. Krystal walk ahead to the car with her suitcases in tow, Babe dwell a few minutes more lamenting on the life that could have been hers. She was closing a chapter on her life that she could never return to. No matter how much she wanted too. Wishing she could cut out only the bad and leave in all the Jamie parts. And in her fantasy life her son was alive and safe in her arms. A quote flash through her mind, the philosopher, Kierkegaard, once said, "The most painful state of being is remembering the future. Particularly one you can never have."
In the softest whisper Babe's voice said, "Goodbye," to her lost future of real happiness. Picking up her bags, Babe walk to the car feeling the emptiness enter her body.