Ghosts

Chapter 9

J.R. carelessly piled some clothing items into his suitcase, reassuring himself, that whatever items he forgot to pack would be available for purchase when he arrived in London. J.R. had been to London once before. He savored the weather when it rained in London, but didn't care at all for the dense fog that engulfed the city every night. J.R. found the fog an eerie reminder of camping trips he and his brothers would take with their Daddy when they were young. Jock would always tell ghosts stories and it didn't matter where, or when the story took place, there would always be a part of the ghost story that involved fog. Memories J.R. had of his childhood always brought a smile to his face. He could vividly recall conversations that he and his Daddy had about how J.R. and Jock would work side by side, at the helm of Ewing Oil. J.R. couldn't wait until he was old enough to work in the Oil business. It was fabulous back then, with just the two of them, spreadin' the three B's, as Jock would always say. The three B's were booty, booze and broads. J.R. laughed as he recalled how many times Jock Ewing had uttered that phrase. If Ewing oil were to ever have a set of rules, spreadin' the three B's would have been at the top of the list. J.R. dearly missed the oil business. His reputation was famous and infamous, depending on which side of him someone found his or her self on at the time. J.R. shook his head as a feeling of regret came over him. He had no one to hold blame for tarnishing the Ewing name, but his own selfish and sometimes blind motives behind his drive for success. His dealings with a revolutionary named B.D. Calhoun had cost his entire family the right to call his Daddy's company "Ewing Oil." J.R. had every intention of regaining his Daddy's company and his birthright, but that would have to wait for another time. J.R. had bigger fish to fry, in particular, Miranda Barrington.

Sue Ellen was deep in thought as she sat in the limousine she had requested, from the Landmark Hotel to take her to Bethlehem Royal Hospital. There simply had to be a way for her to avoid another confrontation with Miranda, she thought. Sue Ellen wasn't without means, or womanly wiles . . . Perhaps, she could casually flirt with a male orderly or intern and coerce them into letting her know when Miranda was in the Intensive Care Unit with Don. She shook her head in approval at how devious she could be when warranted. Then again, she had learned how to be devious at the feet of the Master, as she had once told J.R. So much had changed between them in such a short period of time. The reasonable voice in her heard warning her to be wary of J.R. gave way to the renewed love she felt for him. She longingly gazed out the window as thoughts of the past few weeks she and J.R. had spent together filled her mind. Sue Ellen once again stepped out of the elevator and onto Unit 6. She walked up to the nurse's station and was thrilled to discover a handsome, young orderly sitting behind the desk. Sue Ellen brazenly touched his arm as she spoke, "Hello, Darlin'," she said, turning on the charm. "I'm here visitin' a family member in ICU, and I was wonderin' if you would mind doin' me a favor?" she played her helpless card for all it was worth. The orderly didn't hesitate and said, in a thick Cockney accent, "Anything, Mum." Sue Ellen told the orderly that she hadn't seen her "dear sister," Miranda Barrington in ages, and would just love to surprise her, if the orderly wouldn't mind informing Sue Ellen whenever Miranda happened to be on the floor. Sue Ellen gave the orderly a very detailed description of Miranda, and the number where Sue Ellen could be reached at the hotel. Sue Ellen thanked the dazzled orderly, and winked at him as she turned around to look in on Don.

J.R. quickly grabbed his suitcase from the baggage carrousel at Heathrow and informed a sky cap that he would greatly appreciate a taxicab to drive him to the Landmark Hotel. The taxi driver helped the hotel's doorman with his astute passengers' luggage, as J.R. quickly walked inside the hotel. J.R approached the concierge's desk and asked if Sue Ellen Lockwood was in her room. The concierge picked up the phone and rang her suite. The concierge sat the phone down and said, "I'm terribly sorry, sir, no one answers in that room." J.R. said, "I'd like for my bags to be delivered to my suite, please." J.R. informed the concierge that he had flown here to surprise his "wife" and would wait for her at the bar. J.R. sat in the empty hotel bar, and looked around. "Must be teatime," he grumbled aloud. J.R. patiently watched as patrons came and went through the brass hotel doors. J.R. choked on his drink when he noticed Sue Ellen walk through the lobby. He wanted to surprise her. He wanted to surprise Miranda, too. He watched as Sue Ellen's hips swayed back and forth with each graceful step. God, she was exquisite, he thought. Her blond hair was perfectly coiffed. She wore a black dress with three-quarter length sleeves and black crocodile pumps. J.R. smiled when he saw that she also wore the platinum cuff John Ross had given to her. J.R. watched as the elevator doors closed, obscuring her from his view. J.R. finished his drink, tipped the bartender, and quickly walked over to the elevators.

Sue Ellen was in her suite, taking off her shoes, when she heard a knock at the door. "Who is it?" She asked, not expecting any visitors at such a late hour. She almost cried out when she opened the door and saw J.R. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. "What are you doin' here?" she asked. "I couldn't stand bein' away from you any longer, Darlin', "he said. Sue Ellen kissed him again, as he let out a relieved sigh. J.R. reached back and closed the door to the suite. He turned around and took Sue Ellen into his arms. "I've missed you ever since your plane left, " he said. "I figured if you had to stay here for another day or two, I might as well join you." Sue Ellen stood on her toes, as she hugged him tight. J.R. kissed her neck, as he once again found the scent of her perfume more intoxicating than the drink he had at the hotel bar. Sue Ellen gently touched the lapels of his jacket. She had missed the feel of his touch. She had missed his lips against her own. She looked into his eyes and tremulously said, "I love you, J.R." She placed a delicate kiss against his neck as he picked her up and carried her over the bed. "I love you, Sue Ellen," he said before covering her mouth with his own, eager lips. Their passion for each other drowning out any reason either of them had to hold back. Hours later, J.R. held Sue Ellen in his arms as they both drifted off to sleep.

J.R. awoke a short time later, and gazed lovingly at the woman resting quietly in his arms. He gently traced her profile with his finger. Sue Ellen, moved against him. She slowly opened her eyes and smiled at him. J.R. kissed her. "You have made me so happy, Sue Ellen," he said. "I am so damn lucky to have you back in my life," he said as she reached out her hand to touch his face. "I love you, J.R. I love you more than anyone I have aver known," she softly whispered. They spent the next couple of hours getting reacquainted. "How is John Ross?" Sue Ellen asked. J.R said, "He told me to tell ya that he loves ya and can't wait for you to come back home. " Sue Ellen touched his lips with her fingertips as he spoke. She was captivated by even the slightest change in his expression, every movement of his mouth. She traced the side of his chin, as her hand swept through his hair and brought his lips to her own.

J.R. sat in a chair while he waited for Sue Ellen to get dressed, his thoughts going back to the night before. Sue Ellen had become such a wonderful lover, and she was his. He could feel the small box in the pocket of his jacket, and he smiled. He silently wondered where he would propose to Sue Ellen . . . Should he ask her right now? What would she say if he dropped to one knee and opened the blue velvet box? His mind racing. He remembered the other reason for his trip to London. He wasn't exactly sure how he would deal with Miranda. He did know that no matter where Sue Ellen went, he would not leave her alone with that crazy woman. J.R. smiled approvingly when Sue Ellen asked, "How do I look?" J.R. whistled. She was dressed in a linen suit the exact color of her eyes. Her perfectly made up face only adding to her beauty. J.R stood up from the chair and reached for her hand. "God, you are so beautiful, I must be one of the luckiest men alive," he said as he brought her face next to his. "J.R., I thought we were going to go talk with the police inspector?" Sue Ellen asked as she returned his kiss. "The inspector can wait..." he said as his voice trailed off.

J.R. and Sue Ellen were seated in the police Inspector's office. J.R. held Sue Ellen's hand as they waited. He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb, trying not to seem impatient. Minutes later, the Inspector came into the room. "Awfully sorry to have kept you waiting," he said, as J.R. squirmed in response to his accent. J.R. shook his hand and said, "My name is J.R Ewin'. This is my wife, Sue Ellen." Sue Ellen winked at J.R as he continued, "I have somethin' I think you'll find interestin' about the Lockwood situation my wife spoke to you about." J.R. proceeded to tell him about how he found it odd that Miranda had been trying to reach Sue Ellen, before Don Lockwood had even attempted suicide. The Inspector told them that they were going to investigate Mrs. Barrington, and would contact both J.R and Sue Ellen if they had any further questions. "I appreciate that, I really do," J.R. said as he and Sue Ellen stood up to leave. The inspector spoke, "Oh, and if possible, would you mind staying in London until this matter is settled?" Aw hell, J.R thought, but said, "Only for a day or two then we have to get back home." He took Sue Ellen's hand as they walked out of the office.

Once outside of the police station, J.R. said, "That man is a moron, Darlin'." Sue Ellen tried to calm him down by saying, "He only found a out about Miranda two days ago, J.R. Give him some time." J.R. held the limousine door as Sue Ellen stepped inside. J.R. had agreed to accompany Sue Ellen to the hospital while she met with Don's physician. He had called Sue Ellen earlier that day and told her that some of the test results had come back. J.R. didn't give a damn about the results, he was too busy thinking about how he would deal with Miranda. J.R. waited for Sue Ellen outside of the physician's office. He could only hope that the news was promising so he and Sue Ellen could leave London and head back to Dallas. He started to pace back and forth as he waited for the door to open. He stopped when he saw Sue Ellen. "Well, what did the doctor have to say?" he asked, hoping for a favorable answer. "Don is showing signs of some brain activity," she said. J.R. tried hard not to roll his eyes. If her ever thought someone was capable of brain activity, it certainly wasn't Don Lockwood. He managed to say, "Well that's promising." His mood lifted as he put his arm around Sue Ellen's waist as they walked toward the elevator. The elevator doors opened, as Sue Ellen nudged J.R in his ribs. J.R knew exactly what she wanted him to see as Miranda stepped out of the door. Sue Ellen stood up straight and said, "Hello, Miranda." Miranda scornfully eyed Sue Ellen and asked, "What are you doing here, Sue Ellen? I thought you had left to go back to Austin..."J.R interrupted Miranda and said, "Dallas, not Austin." Miranda was outraged that a complete stranger would have the nerve to speak to her in such a way. "Look here, cowboy," she huffed..."J.R pinned her against the wall as he put his face next to hers and said in a gravelly tone, "I don't know who ya are, or where you think you came from, and I really don't give a damn. We have a way of dealin' with people like you where I come from and if I ever hear you speak to my wife like that again, you better pray to God that you can run." Miranda's face turned ghostly white as she stood against the wall by the elevator doors, obviously shaken.

Sue Ellen took J.R.'s hand as they walked down the hallway. Sue Ellen grinned as she looked over her shoulder at Miranda. Sue Ellen had never known Miranda to back down from anything, until now. "I think you scared her, J.R," she said as they continued walking. "I meant it, Sue Ellen." Sue Ellen kissed his cheek and asked, "You really care about me that much?" "I love you, Darlin'. I'll be damned if some crotchety, old, British hag talks my wife like that." Sue Ellen smiled when J.R had called her his wife. She was amazed that after all these years, it still felt natural to hear him refer to her as his wife. She had even found it easy to call him her husband. Sue Ellen leaned her head against J.R.'s arm, as the elevator doors closed.