Reunion

Part 8

J.R. stretched his hand out in the jacuzzi and grasped Sue Ellen's hands in his. He pulled their hands in toward her chest as he watched the water splash against the side of the jacuzzi. He kissed her neck. Sue Ellen leaned back against his shoulder and turned her face to meet his lips. His lips were warm against her own. A passionate sigh escaped her lips, as he tightened his grip on her hands. Sue Ellen completely turned around in the jacuzzi, wanting to see J.R.'s face and look into his eyes. She had a difficult time breathing as she encountered a look on his face, unlike any she had seen before. He looked at her with so much intense emotion, she pulled his head to her chest and kissed the top of his head. J.R. hoarsely whispered, "I love you, Sue Ellen. Thank you for coming back into my life." Sue Ellen cupped his chin in her hand and lifted his head to meet her gaze. She kissed his forehead, his cheeks, finally, his mouth. They made love with such urgency, and they were exhausted, afterward. J.R. and Sue Ellen watched the fire in the fireplace. J.R. stared at Sue Ellen's profile as the color of her hair changed from blond, to red, to almost white as the colors from the flames reflected off her wavy strands. J.R. ran his hand down the length of Sue Ellen's torso, and rested his hand on her hip. They silently watched the fire until the last glowing embers were visible in the darkened bedroom. J.R. stood up, without saying a word, and carried Sue Ellen to the bed. He said in a soft voice, "Are you hungry, Sugar?" Sue Ellen looked at him and said, "I probably should be, but I'm not." J.R. pulled the covers up around them and pulled her against his side. He held her as she drifted off to sleep. J.R. lovingly watched Sue Ellen sleep, not caring about the time. His last thought before falling asleep was about their future, together.

J.R. awoke to a knock on the cabin door. A voice from the other side of the door called out, "Room Service." J.R. said, "Come back later, huh?" Sue Ellen rolled over and looked at the clock on the night stand. She said, in a panicked voice, "J.R., we forgot to call the ranch and tell John Ross we were stayin' here last night." J.R. touched her arm with his hand and said, "Darlin', if John Ross thinks we were together, he could care less where we spent last night." Sue Ellen looked up at him and said, "I suppose you're right." J.R. looked around the room. The clothes they wore to the lake were in a pile, next to the jacuzzi. J.R. reached across the bed, to the drawer in the night stand, and pulled out one of the brochures for the resort. He picked up the phone and dialed the reservation desk. He requested several outfits be delivered, in his and Sue Ellen's sizes, to cabin eleven. Sue Ellen handed J.R. one of the robes from the armoire and took one for herself. Sue Ellen chose a white linen sun dress with dark blue flowers along the hem, and some dark blue flats. J.R. picked out a pair of khaki colored trousers, a navy blue Ralph Lauren button down shirt, and a pair of loafers. After the hike he and Sue Ellen made the day before, he decided that cowboy boots were not well suited for the local terrain. Once they had showered and dressed, they left the cabin, and walked over to the café next to the resort offices. J.R. ordered steak and eggs. Sue Ellen ordered a spinach omelet. They both drank coffee. J.R.'s leaned his leg against Sue Ellen's leg as they dined on the veranda. They quickly ate their meal and checked out of their cabin.

J.R. and Sue Ellen walked around the lake once more. The early morning sunlight was peeking through the pine trees, giving their surroundings a much different look than how it appeared at sunset. Sue Ellen stood atop a large boulder, by the side of the lake and looked around. She smiled when she saw a deer on the other side of the lake. She quietly sat down on the boulder, and motioned for J.R. to join her. He climbed onto the boulder and squatted by her side. She pointed to the deer, drinking water on the other side of the lake, near the shore. J.R.'s gaze was entirely upon Sue Ellen as he watched her excitement at spotting the deer. He put his arm around her shoulder, and gently kissed her hair. He was glad they had spent the night in one of the cabins. They had a wonderful evening, just the two of them. He had learned something while they were there, it had taken J.R. Ewing his entire life to feel this comfortable around a woman. He had no problems as far as sex was concerned, but to actually feel comfortable was an entirely different matter. He was thrilled that the woman he finally found that comfort with was Sue Ellen. She asked J.R. if he wouldn't mind driving back to the ranch. He said, "I don't care where we go, Sue Ellen, as long as we're together." He tenderly kissed Sue Ellen's cheek as he held the passengers' door open for her.

Sue Ellen absently ran her fingers through the hair at the nape of J.R.'s neck as they drove back to Southfork. J.R. possessively rested his hand on Sue Ellen's knee. The sun was warm, but the breeze felt cool as they wound the car around the twists and turns of the canyon. The morning light was casting shadows over the hills and valleys lining the canyon. The pine trees were backlit behind the car. Sue Ellen looked around, admiring the breathtaking scenery. They both had learned to appreciate the unsurpassed beauty nature had to offer. The sun would disappear behind the pines and reappear minutes later, as the car made its way through the canyon. J.R. said, "Beautiful mornin', Sue Ellen. Sue Ellen replied, "Mmm-hmm. The scenery isn't bad, either." J.R. laughed, and started to hum as he drove Sue Ellen's car. She turned her head toward him, taking in his profile. J.R. had a very strong jaw line, she observed. She touched the side of his face with the back of her hand, running her fingers down his cheek, and underneath his chin. He grabbed her hand and kissed her palm. Sue Ellen leaned against his shoulder. She asked, "What song is that you've been humming, Darlin'?" J.R. said, " I can't tell you the words, but Daddy always used to hum it when he was in a great mood. I guess I just picked it up one day." Sue Ellen moved her head against his arm, and said, "So, tell me, are you in a good mood, J.R.?" J.R. put his arm around her shoulders and said, "Sugar, I've never been happier." Sue Ellen smiled, she lifted her hand and held the fingers of the hand he had draped over her shoulder.

J.R. parked the car in the drive at the ranch and walked around to the passenger side to open the door for Sue Ellen. His eyes glanced down at her feet then followed the length of her body as she climbed out of the car. He was going to kiss her when John Ross ran out to greet them. John Ross said, "Welcome home. Where were you guys last night?" J.R. laughed at his son's curiosity. John Ross said, "Oh, Mamma, before I forget, Dr. Carroll called from London. He said to have you call him as soon as possible. He said it was urgent." Sue Ellen's eyes held a look of fear, as she looked at J.R., she thanked John Ross for relaying the message. Sue Ellen hurried into the house as John Ross continued talking to his Daddy. Sue Ellen dialed the country code, area code and the telephone number for The Bethlehem Royal Hospital in London, England. When a nurse from Unit 6, ICU answered, Sue Ellen explained why she was calling and that she'd like to speak with Dr. Carroll. The nurse put her on hold while she paged Don's neurologist. Finally, a man's voice came on the line, "Mrs, Lockwood? I'm very glad you returned my call. Your husband has suffered a series of small strokes through the night, last night, and it's left him in a rather bad state." Sue Ellen wondered what could be worse than being in a coma? She asked, in a shaky voice, "How is Don doing, under the circumstances?" Dr. Carroll replied, "Well, I'm terribly sorry to inform you that his condition has been elevated to critical. The next few days may well determine any chances he'll have for a recovery." Sue Ellen said, "Thank you doctor, please keep me informed if there is any change in his condition?" "Of course, Mrs. Lockwood. Thank you for calling." Sue Ellen held the phone in her hand as the call was disconnected.

J.R. walked into the den as Sue Ellen replaced the phone on its base. He said in as much of a comforting tone as he could muster, "Is anything wrong, Sugar?" Sue Ellen looked down at the floor as she told him what Don's neurologist had told her about Don having several strokes, causing him to be placed back on life support. J.R. did the only thing he could, he pulled her into his arms, and asked, "How are you holdin' up, Sue Ellen?" Sue Ellen pulled her head away from his shoulder and looked into his eyes and said, "I'm okay, I guess. I wish this whole mess with Don would go away and leave us alone so that we could get on with our lives." J.R. put his arms around Sue Ellen's waist and said, "Since you brought up the subject of the rest of our lives, have you given any thought to settin' a wedding date, yet?" Sue Ellen's mood lifted, and she smiled and said, "I've been so wrapped up in plannin' John Ross' birthday party, I honestly hadn't thought about it. I'm so sorry, Darlin'." J.R. kissed her and said, I'm not tryin' to rush into this or anything, I just thought, since you did bring it up, that we might want to sit down with Mamma, take a look at a calendar and start makin' some wedding plans?" Sue Ellen looked at him and raised an eyebrow and said, "You want to help Miss Ellie and me plan our wedding?" J.R. flashed her a hurt look, and said, "It's my wedding, too, Sugar. I'd like to be involved in who we invite, where we go for our honeymoon. Hell, I think we should write our own wedding vows." Sue Ellen jumped into his arms and kissed him. She said in a bubbly voice, "I love you, J.R. I really do love you."

They walked upstairs to J.R.'s bedroom, and J.R. closed the door once they were inside. He sat down next to Sue Ellen on the bed and said, "I meant what I told you downstairs. I really do want to be more involved in plannin' for our future together. I screwed up the first two chances you gave me at bat. I have no intention of strikin' out this time. If we can't make this work, we'll go back to bein' lovers, 'cause I can't go through another divorce." He held Sue Ellen's gaze as he continued, "I won't go through another divorce. I'm gettin' too old, and too set in my ways to start chasin' women again." Sue Ellen looked disappointed when she jokingly asked, "Does this mean we're going to have a staid and complacent marriage, J.R.?" J.R. pushed her back against the mattress, as his mouth hovered over hers, and said, "Do you think this is complacent?" He kissed her mouth, as she lay beneath him. He ran his hand through her hair as his mouth covered her lips. She pulled him closer to her as their desire intensified. Sue Ellen started to unbutton his shirt as he watched her eyes. He was riveted by the way the overhead lighting caused the color of her hazel eyes to change whenever she moved her head. She caught him staring at her and asked, "J.R. what are you thinkin' about?" He snapped out of his reverie and grinned at her. He winked, and said in a devilish tone, "I'm wonderin' what the family will say when we show up late for supper?" Sue Ellen shook her head, laughed and returned his kiss.

J.R. and Sue Ellen walked outside after supper. They walked around the pool, and out by the horse stables. They wound up standing by their usual spot near the tree, next to Miss Ellie's brother, Garrison Southworth's grave. J.R. pulled Sue Ellen into his arms. He wanted to shield her against the chilly evening air. He also wanted to feel her next to him. She leaned against his chest, as he leaned his back against the tree. J.R. held her, neither of them spoke. They savored their time alone. The sound of the wind blowing through the leaves of the tree sounded like a thousand whispered voices. Sue Ellen turned around in J.R.'s arms. She looked at him, and his heart started beating faster in his chest. He had never indulged the little boy inside of him to feel this kind of love. He never imagined that he could feel so loved by the woman he held in his arms. J.R. and Sue Ellen had been to hell and back for the sake of their relationship. Now, they had arrived at a point in both their lives where they needed each other, and wanted each other. Most importantly, they loved each other - completely. J.R. fought back emotion as he kissed her neck. Sue Ellen shivered against him. He pulled his head away from her shoulder, looked at her and asked, "Darlin' is it too cold out herefor you?" Sue Ellen looked at him and coyly said, "I don't know about you, J.R., but I think it's gettin' pretty hot out here..."