Reunion
Part 19
Sue Ellen awoke a few hours later. She had been having a horrific dream about J.R. and Don. She rolled over in bed, and was relieved to find that it was nothing more than a dream. J.R. was sleeping. Sue Ellen gazed at him while he slept. She silently thanked God that J.R. and Hank had survived the collision with the private plane. She wanted J.R. to make love to her, to prove to her that he was fine. She knew it would be a while before he could, but there was no harm in wishful thinking, she mused. She studied J.R. while he slept. She remembered the first time they had made love. J.R. was Sue Ellen's first lover. She had been close to giving in to her college crush, Clint Ogden, but he didn't have enough money for the hotel room. J.R. always seemed hesitant to let himself go with Sue Ellen. He was afraid that he would 'spoil' her. So much had changed since then. She and J.R. had come full-circle with their relationship. She vowed to herself that their third marriage would indeed be their last. Sue Ellen smiled, as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. J.R. tried to change his position in bed, but his shoulder would cause him pain, every time he moved. Sue Ellen heard his distress, and asked, "What's the matter, Darlin'?" J.R. groaned, "My damn shoulder is killin' me, and it's hard to breathe." Sue Ellen sat up in bed. She asked, "Do you want me to get you a pain pill, or would you rather go back to Dallas Memorial?" J.R. said, "I'll take a pain pill, and see if that helps." Sue Ellen told him that she'd be right back with his pain pill, and a glass of water to wash it down. J.R. called out to her as she walked into their bathroom, "Sue Ellen, instead of water, would you get me a bourbon?" Sue Ellen turned around and walked back into the bedroom. She said, "You know alcohol and painkillers don't mix, J.R." J.R. said, "I know, I just wanted to see if you were listenin'." Sue Ellen chided him for his teasing. She returned from the bathroom with a pain pill and a glass of water. J.R. took the pill from her hand, and put it in his mouth. Sue Ellen handed him the glass of water. He swallowed the water, making sure that he had completely swallowed the pill, too. He handed Sue Ellen the empty glass, and said, "Thank you, Sugar." Sue Ellen took the glass back into the bathroom, and sat the glass on the counter by the sink.
Sue Ellen walked back into the bedroom and J.R. said, "Come over here, Sue Ellen." Sue Ellen sat on top of the bed, next to J.R. He took her hand in his uninjured hand, and said, "I love you, Sue Ellen. Everything that happened today, made me realize how much I really do love you. I don't want to wait any longer before we get married. The thought of not havin' you as my wife, is too much to bear." Sue Ellen looked directly into his eyes. She searched for any hidden meaning in his words. She loved J.R., and she knew he loved her, but she also knew that a brush with death can make a person say things they wouldn't normally say. Sue Ellen tried to pacify him, and said, "You did survive the accident, J.R. I'm not going anywhere. I'm willin' to wait until you've fully recovered before we get married." J.R. touched a strand of her hair. Sue Ellen glanced at his hand. He was shaking. She looked at him, and said, "J.R., you're scarin' me. Why are you shakin'?" J.R. said, "It's probably just some adrenalin runnin' through my system." He continued, "I want you to make me a promise, Sue Ellen?" She looked at him and said, "Anything." J.R. said, "As soon as I've recovered, you'll become my wife?" Sue Ellen turned her left hand toward his face, and said, "I'm wearin' this ring, aren't I? What has gotten into you?" J.R. said, "I suppose it's nerves. I was so afraid that I would never see you again, Sugar. I keep thankin' God that I got another chance." Sue Ellen leaned forward and kissed him. J.R. pulled her head closer to him, to deepen her kiss. Sue Ellen accidentally touched his shoulder. J.R. winced, in pain. Sue Ellen quickly pulled back and said, "Oh, Darlin'. I am so sorry." J.R. managed a weak smile and said, "Don't apologize, it was my fault for pulling you so close to me." J.R. reached up and held Sue Ellen's chin with his hand. He huskily whispered, "I want you, Sue Ellen. I want you right now. I can't wait until I've recovered. Hell, who knows how long that will take." Sue Ellen saw the look in his eyes, and carefully leaned forward. She kissed his lips, then pulled away. She stood up from where she had been sitting, and smiled at him. J.R. looked confused, and frustrated. Sue Ellen wagged her index finger at him and said, "Patience, Darlin'."
Sue Ellen slowly moved the strap on her nightgown over her shoulder. J.R. smiled at her. She moved the other strap. J.R. was grinning at her. She teasingly tugged at the straps of her nightgown, before letting it fall to the bedroom floor. J.R. sighed. He managed to say, "My God," before Sue Ellen's lips silenced his mouth. J.R. rolled her over onto her back. He kept his arm in the sling, but managed to remove his pajama bottoms with his free hand. J.R. looked down at Sue Ellen. She was touching his chest with her hands. His breathing was becoming more intense with each touch of her hands. J.R. couldn't take it any longer and they started making love. J.R. couldn't tell if he was the aggressor, or if it was Sue Ellen. They were wild with their need for each other. Afterward, J.R. rolled over onto his back. He sighed, and said, "That was incredible, Sugar." Sue Ellen grinned at him and said, "I'm glad you approve." She sat up in bed, and hugged her knees with her arms. J.R. sat up next to her. He touched her shoulder, and ran his hand down her back. She shivered from his touch. Her skin was keenly aware of any sensation. Sue Ellen glanced back at J.R. He was staring at her. She leaned into him and kissed him. J.R. whispered, "I love you, Sugar." Sue Ellen reached up and cupped his cheek in her hand. She gently pulled his mouth over her lips, and parted his lips with her tongue. J.R.s' eyes were lit up with passion, as Sue Ellen assumed the role of the aggressor . . .
The next morning, J.R. tried to stretch, but his shoulder was throbbing with pain, and his ribs were tender. Sue Ellen said, "I'll get you another pain pill." She walked into the bathroom and quickly returned with a glass of water and a pill for pain. J.R. thanked her, again. He swallowed the pill, and all of the water, as he had done the night before. Sue Ellen asked. "Did you want me to help you take a shower?" J.R flashed her a devious grin. Sue Ellen shook her head, and said, "I'm serious, J.R." J.R. laughed at her tone. He said, "If you wouldn't mind helpin' me, Sugar? I'd appreciate it." Sue Ellen said, "I wouldn't mind at all." She helped J.R. out of bed, and into the shower stall. She turned on the water. The steam from the shower helped to ease some of the pain J.R. was feeling in his shoulder. Sue Ellen helped scrub the parts he couldn't reach, then handed him a towel, and helped him dry off. She told him to wait for her, and she would help him get dressed, after she finished her shower. J.R. managed to put toothpaste on his toothbrush, and brush his teeth. Sue Ellen finished her shower as J.R. put away his toothbrush. Sue Ellen reached for a towel to dry off. J.R watched her, taking in everything about her. Sue Ellen wrapped the towel around her torso, and reached for her blow dryer to dry, and style her hair. She sat the blow dryer on the counter by the sink and said, "Come on, J.R., let's get you dressed." She helped J.R. dress in a pair of trousers, and a loose-fitting white, cotton shirt. J.R. put on his slippers, and sat on the bed to wait for Sue Ellen to finish getting dressed.
Sue Ellen walked out of the bathroom as her cell phone started to ring. She stopped in her tracks, fearing that it might be another call from Don. She hadn't told J.R. that Don called her the day before. J.R. had enough to deal with after the accident. The last person in the world he needed to be concerned with was Don Lockwood. Sue Ellen picked up the phone, and said, "Hello?" It was the dress designer. She wanted to know when Sue Ellen would be able to come into the shop for a final fitting. Sue Ellen let a small sigh escape her lips. She didn't care who had called her, as long as it wasn't Don. She asked the dress designer if she could call her back in a few minutes. The designer left her telephone number and said that she would be waiting to hear from Sue Ellen. J.R. asked. "Who was that?" Sue Ellen told him that it was the dress designer, calling to arrange for a final fitting before the dress was finished. J.R. beamed at her. If the finished product looked half as good on her as it did when she first tried on the gown, she would be the most beautiful bride the state of Texas had ever seen. Sue Ellen said, "I don't feel right about leavin' you, so soon after your accident, Darlin'." J.R. said, "Nonsense, Bobby and John Ross will be here. I can lean on them if I need help with anything." Sue Ellen walked out of the bedroom to tell John Ross and Bobby that she would be back home as soon as possible, and asked them if they would look in on J.R., if he needed anything. Bobby and John Ross told her not to worry about a thing. J.R. would be in good hands. Sue Ellen walked back into the bedroom to tell J.R. that she wouldn't be long. She asked him, "Would you mind if I drove into Dallas for the fitting?" J.R. said, "Not at all, Sweetheart. I can't wait to see you model the finished product for me." Sue Ellen touched his chin with her hands, and kissed him. She said, "I'll ask Lucy if she'd like to go into Dallas with me." She turned around, as she walked out the bedroom door, and said, "I've got my phone if you need to reach me, Darlin'." J.R. watched as she walked away from view.
J.R. sat on top of the bed. He tried to rub his shoulder, but the slightest amount of pressure became a new adventure in pain for him. "Damn it," he cursed. J.R. thought about the events of the day before. J.R. had survived numerous attempts on his life, through the years, but, yesterday's accident was different. The assailant didn't have a face. The cause of the accident was unknown. J.R. and Hank Patterson were at the wrong place, at the wrong time. They were hapless victims of a potentially poor judgement call on behalf of the pilot of the plane. J.R. put his hand up to his face, and rubbed his eyes. His reverie was interrupted by a knock on the bedroom door. J.R. asked, "Who is it?' John Ross replied, "It's me, Daddy. May I come in?" J.R. smiled and said, "Come on in, the door is unlocked." John Ross grinned at the sight of J.R. sitting on the bed. John Ross raced over to hug his Daddy, but J.R. put up his hand. He said, "Whoa, partner. Take it easy. I'm still sore from the wreck." John Ross pulled back his hands, and said, "Yikes, I'm sorry Daddy. I forgot. I was so excited to see you. I forgot all about your injuries." J.R. laughed at his son's commentary. J.R. pulled John Ross closer to him, and gently hugged him to his side." John Ross asked, "Where's Mamma?" J.R. told John Ross that his Mamma had gone into Dallas with Lucy for a final fitting for her wedding gown. John Ross smiled a broad smile. The thought of his parents getting remarried was never far from his mind. J.R. ruffled the hair on John Ross' head, and said, "How would you like to help me downstairs to eat breakfast?" John Ross gazed up at his father, and said, "Uncle Bobby, and I will help you with whatever you need, Daddy."
Sue Ellen and Lucy talked the entire drive into Dallas. Lucy told Sue Ellen about her life with Mitch, and Sue Ellen told Lucy about all of the changes she, and everyone else had seen in J.R. Lucy eyed Sue Ellen suspiciously, she knew what J.R. was capable of. Lucy acknowledged that Sue Ellen had become a powerful force in her own right. She was strong, competent, and hard as nails when necessary. Lucy also knew that Sue Ellen had never fully resolved how she felt about J.R. before leaving Dallas for London. Sue Ellen parked her car in front of the dress boutique. She and Lucy walked inside. The dress designer greeted the two women as they entered the showroom floor. Sue Ellen said, "Hi, I'm Sue Ellen Ewing. I'm here for my final fitting for my wedding gown." Lucy glanced at Sue Ellen when she heard Sue Ellen refer to herself as 'Sue Ellen Ewing', instead of 'Sue Ellen Lockwood.' The dress designer walked into the backroom to find Sue Ellen's dress. Lucy said, "It's none of my business, Sue Ellen, but, I was wondering when you stopped using Don's last name?" Sue Ellen said, "You noticed that, huh? I didn't realize it was so obvious." Lucy said, "It's no big deal, I'm curious, that's all." The dress designer returned with Sue Ellen's gown before Sue Ellen could explain anything else to Lucy. The dress designer invited the two women to follow her into the backroom for the final fitting.
Sue Ellen slipped on the gown. It fit her perfectly. The flared straps clung to he shoulders, while the wrap-around bodice of the gown accentuated her perfect breasts. The waistline fit her like a glove, and the skirt flowed around her feet like the ebb of the ocean tide. Lucy gushed, "That is the most beautiful gown I've ever seen, Sue Ellen." Sue Ellen turned around to see the gown in the mirror. She couldn't stop smiling as she turned around to see different views of the gown. Lucy had tears in her eyes when Sue Ellen turned around to talk to her. Sue Ellen said, "Lucy, what's the matter?" Lucy said, "You look so beautiful, Sue Ellen. I can't help it. I love weddings." Sue Ellen leaned over and hugged Lucy. The dress designer noted a couple of skirt length alterations that should be made before the wedding date. She told Sue Ellen that the dress would be ready before the end of the week. Sue Ellen put her clothes back on, and handed the gown to the dress designer. Lucy and Sue Ellen thanked the designer for her help and walked out of the boutique. Lucy asked, "Where do you want to go now, Sue Ellen?" Sue Ellen grinned at Lucy and said, "I was wonderin' if you'd help me pick out some lingerie for my wedding night?" Lucy grabbed Sue Ellen's arm and said," Lead the way." Sue Ellen drove Lucy to the Valentine Lingerie Boutique. She parked her car in the employee parking lot, and walked into the rear office. Lucy followed her into the building. Lucy was in awe at the size of the boutique. Lucy had shopped at the Valentine Lingerie stores in several of the malls in Atlanta, but the Dallas store dwarfed them all. Sue Ellen explained that the Dallas store was the flagship store for Valentine Lingerie. Lucy said, "Sue Ellen, I might have to buy a little something for Mitch before I go back to Atlanta. The two women giggled as they walked into the stockroom.
