Reunion

Part 17

J.R. sat on the bed, next to Sue Ellen, watching her sleep. He wanted to fly down to the Gulf, to see the gusher they hit with his offshore rig, but he didn't want to leave Sue Ellen without telling her where he was going. He leaned over the bed, and gently kissed her cheek. She muttered, "Mmm, don't stop there." J.R. grinned as she lifted her head off the pillow and returned his kiss. J.R. said, "Sue Ellen, I hate to have to tell you this, but I'm gonna take the helicopter to the Gulf, to see how much oil we actually hit." Sue Ellen said, "That's fine, Darlin', I've got some things I need to take care of at the Boutique. Will you be coming back home, tonight?" J.R. cupped her chin in his hands, and said, "There's no way I'm leavin' you alone, tonight, Sugar." He kissed her and said, "I'll be in the shower." Sue Ellen watched as he left the bedroom and walked into the bathroom. She stretched her arms over her head and glanced around the room. She leaned forward, and pulled the sheet away from her legs and walked around the bed, to join J.R. in the shower. They showered together, and dried off afterwards. They both dressed in appropriate business attire. Sue Ellen wore a creme colored camisole, a tan colored jacket and matching skirt. J.R. wore a dark blue suit with a white shirt, and a burgundy and blue striped tie. Sue Ellen quickly applied her make-up and pinned her back in a chignon. J.R. eyed her approvingly as she entered the bedroom. He said, "I'd love for you to see me off, Sugar." She winked at him, and said, "I thought you'd never ask." J.R. held his hand at the small of Sue Ellen's back as they walked downstairs. J.R. quickly grabbed a cup of coffee on their way through the kitchen. He asked Sue Ellen if she would like a cup, she told him that she would get a cup from a coffee shop in the Galleria. J.R. tried to keep his Stetson on his head as the Ewing helicopter landed in a vacant field near the horse stables. Sue Ellen escorted him to the helicopter. J.R. removed his hat and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her, and held her close to him. She gave him a questioning look. He said, "I never thought I'd say this, but, I'm gonna miss you, Sugar." Sue Ellen flashed him a tentative smile and said, "I don't know whether to be insulted, or say 'thank you." J.R. chuckled and said, "You know what I mean, Sue Ellen." He kissed her again and turned around to board the helicopter. J.R. waved his hand, and blew Sue Ellen a kiss as the helicopter ascended, and headed toward the gulf.

Sue Ellen waited in the field, and watched as the helicopter disappeared from her view. She turned around and walked back toward the house. She walked inside, and upstairs to get her purse and car keys. Her cell phone was ringing as she walked into the bedroom. She glared at the phone, as if the look she gave it might cause it to stop ringing. Then again, she thought, it might be J.R., or John Ross. She picked up the phone, and said, "Hello, this is Sue Ellen Ewing." The voice on the other end of the phone said, "Don't you mean Lockwood?" It was Don, her ex-husband. "What do you want, Don?" She asked, not really caring, but trying to be polite. Don said, "Where in the blazes are you, luv? I've called just about every hotel in the Dallas area, and you're not registered at any of them." Sue Ellen said, "So, has it ever occurred to you that I might not be using your last name, or even my real name?" Don asked, "Why not, do you have something to hide, or are you hiding from someone?" Sue Ellen clenched her teeth together. She wasn't going to let Don accuse her of any wrongdoing. She angrily spat, "Now you listen to me, luv. I don't know why you insist on calling me. You and I haven't spoken to each other for over a year. We have nothing more to say to each other. If you have anything to say to me, you can talk to my bloody lawyer." Don started to speak, but she hung up on him. "Damn him!" she said, as she grabbed her car keys and angrily flung her purse over her shoulder. She slammed the bedroom door shut, and hurried down the hall. Bobby walked past her on the staircase. He said, "Good Morning, Sue Ellen." She didn't respond. She could feel angry tears stinging her eyes. She fought back the emotions she was feeling, as she ran out of the house. She opened her car door, and climbed inside. She started the engine as she closed her eyes, and leaned her head against the seat. She took several deep breaths to try and calm her nerves. She lowered the convertible top, to allow for the breeze to take her mind off of her anger toward Don. She sped off down the driveway, and onto the highway, on her way into Dallas. She turned on the radio to search for a classical music station. She stopped pushing the search button when she heard a news story. The story relayed information that a helicopter headed for the Gulf of Mexico had collided with a private plane. Sue Ellen slammed her feet on the car brakes, as she steered toward the shoulder of the road, when she heard the news story. She stared at the radio in disbelief and said, "Oh my God, no…J.R." The tears she had fought to control moments before, uncontrollably streamed down her cheeks.

Sue Ellen sat in the driver seat of her car. Her hands were covering her mouth, stifling the sound of her tears. Her body shook as she was racked with sobs. She kept the radio on, hoping to hear more news about the helicopter collision. She reached for her purse to grab her cell phone. She threw the purse on the car floor when she realized that she had left her cell phone back in her bedroom at Southfork. She glanced in her side view mirror to see if the road was clear enough for her to turn around and drive back home. The reasonable voice inside her kept telling her that it would be better if she waited until she had calmed down before attempting to drive the car. She turned back around and turned up the volume on the radio. She frantically changed the station, searching for a news channel. The station she found repeated what she had heard before. They would reveal more information as it came into the station. Sue Ellen placed both of her hands on the steering wheel, in a vain attempt to control her emotions. She told herself over and over that J.R. would be fine, it wasn't his helicopter that had been involved in the collision. It couldn't be his helicopter. She started the engine, then stopped, as a Texas State Trooper vehicle pulled up behind her on the shoulder of the road. The Trooper opened his door and walked toward her car. The Trooper stopped by the driver side door and looked at Sue Ellen. He noticed her emotional state and asked, "Is everything alright, Ma'am?" Sue Ellen turned her head to look at him as the tears continued to stream down her face. She mustered up enough of a voice to say, "M-my husband was on his way t-to the Gulf...I just heard a news story about a helicopter colliding with a private plane..." Her voice trailed off again, as her tears drowned out her voice. The officer patted her arm, reassuringly, and said, "I'll call the station and see if they have heard anything." The Trooper walked back toward his vehicle, out of hearing range of her car. Sue Ellen leaned her head against the back of her hands, as she gripped her steering wheel like a vice. The Trooper returned and stood by her door and said, "I'm sorry Ma'am. The station hasn't heard anything more about the accident. Is there anything that I can do to help?" Sue Ellen lifted her head and blankly stared at the Trooper. Her eyes were red-rimmed from her tears. She softly asked, "Would it be possible for you to give me a ride back home?" The Trooper asked her where she lived. She said, "Braddock. The Southfork Ranch."

The Trooper instantly recognized the name of the ranch, and was even more attentive to Sue Ellen than he had been before. He opened the door for her and helped her out of her car. Sue Ellen stood on shaky legs and walked toward the Trooper's car. The Trooper called into the station on his radio. He told dispatch what had happened, and where they could reach him, if necessary. The Trooper opened the left rear door for Sue Ellen. She absently climbed inside. The trooper watched her as she fastened her seatbelt. She didn't care what her make-up looked like. She didn't care that she hadn't stopped crying since the Trooper first approached her car. The only thing she cared about at that point was J.R.'s safety. The Trooper started his engine and pulled away from the shoulder. He turned his vehicle around, and headed back toward Southfork. The Trooper's car pulled into the driveway at the ranch. Sue Ellen sat motionless in the back seat. The Trooper opened her door and helped her out of the car. Bobby was walking out of the house when he saw the Trooper and Sue Ellen. He hurried over to where they were, and saw Sue Ellen's face. Bobby looked at the Trooper, and asked, "Is she okay, Officer?" Miss Ellie walked out of the house shortly after Bobby. She took one look at Sue Ellen, and ran over to her side. Miss Ellie told the Trooper that she would help Sue Ellen into the house. Miss Ellie looked over her shoulder at Bobby, as she helped steady Sue Ellen. The Trooper said, "Mr. Ewing?" Bobby said, "Yes, I'm Bobby Ewing. The woman you brought here is my sister-in-law, Sue Ellen Ewing. What the hell happened to her?" The Trooper told Bobby what Sue Ellen had told him. Bobby thanked the Trooper for bringing Sue Ellen home, and told the Trooper that they would send someone to pick up her car. Bobby watched as the Trooper drove away from the ranch.

Miss Ellie helped Sue Ellen into the house, and had her sit on a chair in the parlor. Sue Ellen hadn't stopped crying. Miss Ellie knelt on the floor in front of Sue Ellen's chair and grasped Sue Ellen's hands. Sue Ellen lifted her head and glanced at Miss Ellie. Miss Ellie asked, "What happened, Sue Ellen?" Sue Ellen cried, "Oh, Miss Ellie, something has happened to J.R..." Sue Ellen dropped her head as her tears rolled down her face. Bobby walked into the parlor and looked at the two women. Miss Ellie looked up at Bobby, and asked, "What in the world has happened, Bobby? What's going on?" Bobby said, "I think you might want to sit down, Mamma." Miss Ellie didn't want to leave Sue Ellen, she remained on her knees, and said, "Tell me, Bobby, tell me what has happened." Bobby told Miss Ellie what the Trooper had told him. Miss Ellie bit her lip, she had to be strong for both her and Sue Ellen. She had to be strong for the entire family. Miss Ellie stood up from where she had been kneeling, and turned on the television. Bobby used the remote control to find a news channel, or a news update. Miss Ellie walked out into the foyer to call Dr. Henderson, for Sue Ellen. She knew that Sue Ellen would need something to calm her down. Sue Ellen turned her body in the chair so that she could see the television. She wiped at the tears still clinging to her cheeks. Bobby walked over to Sue Ellen and put his hands on her shoulders. Sue Ellen reached up with her right hand and grabbed one of Bobby's hands. Miss Ellie finished her call to Dr. Henderson, and walked back into the parlor. She said, "Sue Ellen, Dr. Henderson is on his way to the ranch. He's going to give you something to calm you down." Sue Ellen said, "No, Miss Ellie, I want to know if J.R. is okay. I don't even know if it was the Ewing helicopter. I won't rest at all until I know that J.R. is okay."

The report came on the televison. The news coverage displayed photos of the downed plane, but they had not located the helicopter. Search and rescue teams were on the scene. The plane was severely damaged. It resembled a twisted mass of sheet-metal, instead of a private plane. Fire crews were on the scene, extinguishing the flames from the wreckage. Miss Ellie gasped when she saw the scene. Sue Ellen gripped Bobby hands, as she, too, witnessed the wreckage. The reporter said that the chances for the survival of the planes' passengers was slim, but unlikely. Miss Ellie fell to her knees, and covered her face with her hands. Bobby said, "Mamma," and let go of Sue Ellen's hand to try and console Miss Ellie. Clayton walked into the parlor as Bobby was helping Miss Ellie to a chair. Clayton said, "There's a slew of reporters outside the gates. What's going on around here?" Miss Ellie cried, "Oh, Clayton..." Clayton walked over to Miss Ellie and hugged her to his chest. Sue Ellen's gaze was fixed on the television. Bobby heard a knock at the front door, and called for Teresa to answer the door. Bobby walked over and crouched on the floor next to the chair Sue Ellen was seated in. He touched he arm and said, "I don't know what to say, Sue Ellen." Sue Ellen turned her head and looked into Bobby's eyes. When she saw that his concern was genuine, she reached out to him. Bobby held her, and let her cry on his shoulder. Teresa announced that Dr. Henderson had arrived. The doctor looked around the parlor, and asked Clayton what had happened. Clayton said, "I'm not sure." He looked around the room, and said, "Bobby, what's going on around here?" Bobby told Clayton and Dr. Henderson what little information he knew about the situation. The doctor walked over to Sue Ellen's chair and said, "Mrs. Ewing? I'm Doctor Henderson. Miss Ellie called me on your behalf." Sue Ellen looked up at the doctor and snarled, "I do not want anything to calm me down! I just want to know if J.R. is alright!" She put her hands up to her face and started sobbing. The doctor turned to see if Miss Ellie wanted anything to help calm her frazzled nerves. Miss Ellie shook her head and whimpered, "No." Clayton said, "I'm sorry, Doctor. Perhaps, you can stay here until we find out more about what happened?" Dr. Henderson agreed to stay, offering whatever help the family might need.