Ghosts

Chapter 11

J.R. took a step over to the closet of their suite; he reached for his suitcase and walked over to the king-size bed. He unlocked the suitcase and opened it up. Sue Ellen gave him a puzzled look, and asked, "J.R., What are you doing?" He replied, "Packin' my clothes so we can go back home." Sometimes, he thought, Sue Ellen could be so naive. Sue Ellen eyed him and nervously said, "I can't leave yet, J.R., I'm still worried about Don. I'd also like to stay until Miranda goes on trial..." J.R. stopped her before she could continue, and said, "Darlin', we don't even know how long that'll take. My God, Sue Ellen, it could be months, maybe even years." Sue Ellen turned her back to him and headed for the balcony. She was irritated with J.R., even though a part of her knew that he was right. She always hated it when he was right. J.R. could feel her discontent and tried to placate her, "Sweetheart," he said as he stopped packing his suitcase, and walked to where she was standing. Sue Ellen had her arms folded in front of her, nervously biting at the fingernail between her teeth. J.R. turned to look at her, and reached out to touch her shoulder, but hesitated, not wanting to increase the tension escalating between them. Their past few weeks together had drawn them closer than he had ever dreamed they could be, and once again, Don Lockwood was coming between them. "Damn it, Sue Ellen," he cursed, instantly regretting his expletive. Sue Ellen turned her head over her shoulder and heatedly glared at him. Sue Ellen could cut him to the quick with a single look, and the look she gave him served as a warning for him not to go any further. J.R. shook his head in disgust. He grabbed his Stetson, and walked out of their suite, slamming the door behind him. Sue Ellen flinched from the powerful sound as the door made its connection with the frame. Tears were forming in her hazel eyes, as she stood, motionless, and alone in their suite.

J.R. rode the elevator down to the hotel lobby and swiftly walked over to the bar. The bartender asked in a distinct Cockney accent, "What'll ye 'ave, mate?" "Bourbon, straight-up. Make it a double," J.R. growled. The bartender handed J.R his bourbon, and walked to the other end of the bar. J.R. furiously downed his drink, and motioned the bartender for another. When he had his second drink in hand, he looked around the bar, realizing that he was the only patron there. His thoughts drifted to why he sat there by himself, while Sue Ellen was upstairs. J.R. sipped on his second drink for a moment or two, then he sat the glass on the bar. He put his hand up to his head, and pinched the bridge of his nose. Sue Ellen had a unique ability to make him feel like this, he silently confessed. Why couldn't she see that all he ever wanted was for her to be at Southfork with him, and John Ross? London was a nice place to visit, but it wasn't Texas. The bartender interrupted his train of thoughts and asked, "Anything wrong, mate?" J.R. didn't respond. He was too wrapped up in his reverie to hear anything. The bartender watched as J.R. moved his hand back and forth against his nose. It was a vain attempt to silence the pounding in his head. J.R reached into the pocket of his jacket with his other hand and pulled out the blue velvet box. He pulled his other hand away from his head, and opened the box. The bar was dimly lit, but the prisms bouncing off the diamond ring caused the bartender to speak up, "Lor' blimey, would ye look a' that rock!" J.R. said nothing. He gingerly moved the ring around in his fingers. The bartender was curious, and asked, "Who's the lucky lady?" J.R. said, "Huh?" The bartender could tell his lone customer wasn't interested in small talk, so he walked away to the other end of the bar. J.R. stared at the ring as the myriad of colors reflecting off the stone danced across the top of the bar.

Sue Ellen sat on a chair on the balcony outside their hotel room. "That son-of-a-bitch, " she hissed. She didn't care that her mascara was dripping off her cheeks, and onto her skirt. She was too angry and frustrated to worry about her clothes. She wondered how she and J.R. always managed to wind up like this, bickering, with one of them invariably walking out the door. She acknowledged that J.R. was partially right, when he reminded her how long it could actually take before Miranda Barrington's trial date. Sue Ellen also knew that J.R. was just as frustrated as she was by the whole situation with Don Lockwood, but why did J.R. have to get so damn angry? Sue Ellen wondered where J.R. had gone? He'd been gone for a couple of hours, and she could tell it was getting late as she disinterestedly watched the setting sun. She looked down at the black splotches of tears and makeup on her clothes. "To hell with him!" she cursed as she stood up and went back inside the hotel room. Sue Ellen walked over to the side of the bed and picked up the phone. The hotel's operator asked her for the number she wanted, and Sue Ellen said, "The Bethlehem Royal Hospital, please?" Sue Ellen told the hospital's switchboard operator that she'd like to speak with someone in ICU. Finally, she heard, "Unit 6, ICU." Sue Ellen said, "This is Sue Ellen Lockwood. I'm calling to see if there has been any change in my husband, Don Lockwood's condition." "One moment, please?" came the voice at the nurse's station. "Mrs. Lockwood?" - a male voice asked. "Yes?" Sue Ellen quietly said. "This is Dr. Carroll. I'm a neurologist assigned to your husband's case." Sue Ellen anxiously waited for him to tell her more. The doctor continued, "Your husband is making some progress, and responding to various stimuli. However, he has yet to regain consciousness." Sue Ellen softly said, "Thank you, Doctor," as she hung up the phone

J.R. placed the engagement ring back into the velvet box, and put the box back into the pocket of his jacket. He paid the bartender for his drinks, and left a ten-pound note on the counter, next to the empty glasses. J.R. solemnly walked through the lobby, and stared at the floor as he reached out and pressed the 'call' button on the panel next to the elevator doors. J.R. continued to stare at the floor as the elevator ascended to the floor of their hotel suite. J.R. peeked out into the hallway, when the doors opened. His anger had given way to regret, and recrimination as he walked toward the suite. J.R. pulled the pass card out of his pocket, and swiped the card while he waited for the green light to flash. J.R. gently turned the doorknob. He contemplated what Sue Ellen had said to him a few weeks earlier, after their argument at Southfork. They were indeed both at a point in their lives, and their relationship that would serve them well to talk things over, instead of bickering. God knows they'd had their share of quarrels. J.R. slowly walked into the room and held the door handle as it closed behind him. The room was dark, and J.R wondered if Sue Ellen was even there? He couldn't blame her if she was gone. He speculated that she might have left the hotel, and gone back to the hospital to check on Don. J.R. put his hand to the bridge of his nose, once again trying to silence the hammering in his head. J.R scrutinized the outline of Sue Ellen's shape on the bed. He removed his cowboy boots, and walked into the bathroom to look for some aspirin for his headache. J.R. switched on the light, as he removed his jacket, and placed it on the counter, next to the sink. He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, and placed his fists on the sink, while his arms straddled the basin. He lifted his head, and glanced at his reflection. Steel-blue eyes bore into him. "Damn," he cursed, as he removed his clothes and pulled his robe off the hook, behind the bathroom door. He tied the belt of the robe around his mid-section, and continued getting ready for bed. When he was finished, he switched off the bathroom light, and cautiously opened the door.

J.R.'s eyes darted to Sue Ellen's sleeping form, His thoughts once again betraying his earlier behavior. J.R. longed to join Sue Ellen in bed. He desperately needed to apologize to her for being such a hard-nosed jackass. Instead, he walked outside, onto the balcony and peered out over the sprawling city below. He contemplated the past few weeks him and Sue Ellen had spent together. The day she returned to the ranch was one of the best days he'd had in years. His spirits lifted as he recalled the kisses they had shared and the lovemaking. "Ah," he sighed aloud as he closed his eyes, endeavoring to seize the recent memories. Sue Ellen was the best lover J.R. had ever experienced. He skilled campaigns elevated him to heights he scarcely dared to dream about with other women. Sue Ellen had matured into an exceedingly accomplished lover. J.R. was lost in his daydream when Sue Ellen crept up behind him. Her voice barely audible as she said, "J.R.?" He turned around to face her. She was wearing the primrose-colored nightgown he purchased for her, when they were at the Valentine Boutique. J.R.'s eyes glanced up and down her lithe curves as she met his gaze with her own. He said, "Darlin', I'm sorry about earlier." Sue Ellen closed the distance between them with one graceful step. "I'm sorry, too," she whispered. "God, Sue Ellen, you are breathtaking," he said, as his eyes beheld the vision standing in front of him. The wind blew strands of her upswept hair into her eyes. J.R tentatively reached out to catch the wayward locks of wavy blond hair. She was bewitching, he thought, as he closely examined her face. The wind had caused the fabric of her gown to seductively cling to her magnificent frame. J.R.'s eyes roamed the entire length of her body. His breathing was becoming ragged with desire.

"Have you heard any news about Don?" he asked, feeling the need to show remorse for the way he had acted earlier. "Mm-hmm, I called the hospital and spoke with a neurologist. He said that Don was responding to some stimuli, but he was still unconscious," she said. J.R. searched her eyes for a look of approval. Sue Ellen gave him a timid smile. J.R. found a small amount of solace in what she had to say about Don. "What have you decided about flying back home?" He asked, and instantly wished that he could take back the question. "Well, the neurologist does have the phone number for the ranch, and there really isn't anything I can do for Don, except wait. I can wait for news at Southfork just as easily as I can wait for any information here in London..." her voice faded, as she watched a nervous smile spread across J.R.'s face. He didn't want to talk about Don, anymore. He was concerned about his relationship with Sue Ellen. His fears were put to rest, as he watched Sue Ellen extend her hand.

Sue Ellen touched his hand with her delicate, slender fingers. "I was worried about you," she said as she lifted her eyes to meet his. J.R. pulled her into his arms. He whispered her name into her hair. Sue Ellen tenderly kissed his cheek. J.R. turned his head, and kissed her lips with his unfulfilled mouth. The feel of his warm hand on the skin of her back made her shiver with an uncontrollable desire. J.R. effortlessly picked her up, and carried her into their room. J.R. rested his knee against the bed as he carefully set her down on the mattress. Sue Ellen reached out and slid her hand into his robe and touched his chest. She let a single finger trace a line down his body to where his robe was tied about his waist. J.R.'s breath caught in his throat, as she touched his skin. "Sue Ellen, " he said in a voice husky with need. She reached around to the back of his head and pulled him to her lips. She kissed him, exploring his warm, inviting mouth. J.R. slid his fingers under one of the straps of her gown. She lowered her eyes, and watched as J.R.'s eyes followed the movements of his agile fingers. "God, you are so beautiful, " he said in a voice deepened by longing, as the two of them succumbed to their passion. The next few hours found the two of them with their legs entwined, underneath the sheets. J.R. stroked her arm as they lay in silence. All the emotions of their argument replaced with a newfound intimacy. Finally, they gave in to exhaustion and fell asleep.