Reunion

Part 20

J.R. and John Ross finished eating breakfast as Bobby and Christopher walked into the dining room. Bobby poured himself a cup of coffee, and asked J.R. if he'd like another cup. J.R. said, "Thanks, Bobby. I would like another cup." Bobby filled J.R.'s coffee mug and handed Christopher a glass of orange juice. J.R. and John Ross remained seated at the table while Bobby and Christopher ate their morning meal. Bobby asked J.R. how he felt, after the accident. J.R. said, "My shoulder is sore, but my ribs don't hurt too badly." Bobby asked J.R. how Hank had managed to steer the helicopter away from the plane, after the collision. J.R. said, "Beats the hell out of me, you should have seen him, Bobby. The tail rotor was destroyed, and the main propeller was bent out of shape." He continued, "It's a wonder we survived." John Ross and Christopher sat at the table with their fathers, while the two men talked about old times. Bobby reminded J.R. of other helicopter rides they had taken when Jock was alive. J.R. and Bobby laughed at some of the stories they recalled. Christopher had never known his Grandfather, Jock Ewing, but he had heard countless stories about him. Clayton Farlow was the only grandfather Christopher had ever known, and that was good enough for him. John Ross sat back in his chair. He was surprised that his Daddy and his Uncle Bobby were getting along. It had been a few years since a civil word had been exchanged between them. John Ross asked his Daddy if he and Christopher could go swimming. Christopher said, "Yeah. Daddy, may we please go swimming? We won't fight, we promise." Bobby and J.R. chuckled at what Christopher had said. They were reminded of how they behaved when they were younger.

Sue Ellen asked Lucy how she and Mitch were getting along. Lucy said that Mitch was one of the most sought after Plastic Surgeons in the entire state of Georgia. His practice at Grady Memorial Hospital's Burn Unit kept him busy, but they managed a few stolen moments, here and there. Lucy asked Sue Ellen how she and J.R. had managed to become so close, after all of the animosity between them since before she left for London. Sue Ellen said, "J.R. has changed, Lucy. He's considerate, thoughtful, attentive. I almost didn't recognize him when I first came back to Dallas." Lucy said, "That's because he's getting older, Sue Ellen." Sue Ellen said, "Lucy, that's a terrible thing to say." Lucy hinted at J.R.'s advancing age and asked if that was a hindrance to their physical relationship. Sue Ellen grinned and said, "Don't kid yourself, Lucy. Just because there's snow on the roof, doesn't mean the fire's out in the furnace." Lucy blushed, and said, "J.R. would pitch a fit if he knew you were talking about him like that." Sue Ellen laughed, and said, "Well, then I'd better not tell you what I was going say next." Lucy and Sue Ellen laughed like schoolgirls. They perused the entire Valentine Lingerie product line on Sue Ellen's computer. Lucy purchased several items to take back home for Mitch's enjoyment. Sue Ellen remembered J.R.'s reaction to a flyaway, baby-doll ensemble she had tried on when he was with her after her initial fitting for her wedding gown. She blushed as she recalled that they almost made love on a table in the stockroom. Sue Ellen wanted something sexy, but more traditional. She decided on a white lace gown with seed pearls sewn into the bodice of the gown, and sheer panels on the sides of the legs slits. The straps of the gown crossed in the back, over her shoulder blades. Sue Ellen and Lucy paid for their purchases and left the boutique to head back to Southfork. Sue Ellen was worried about leaving J.R. so soon after the accident.

J.R. and Bobby sat outside on the veranda watching John Ross and Christopher swimming in the pool. Bobby gave J.R. another pain pill. J.R. was tempted to wash the pill down with a shot of bourbon, but he didn't want to give Sue Ellen a reason to get angry with him for drinking alcohol with a painkiller, so he settled for iced-tea, instead. Bobby turned away from watching the boys playing in the pool and glanced at his brother. J.R. was getting groggy from the pain-pill. Bobby offered to help him into the house, and upstairs to his bedroom. J.R. consented. Bobby helped J.R. get as comfortable as his injuries would permit, and said that he would check back in a little while to see if he needed anything. J.R. mumbled, "Thanks, Bobby," as his eyes closed, and he gave in to the effects of the pill.

Sue Ellen and Lucy carried their packages into the house. Bobby met them at the patio door. He said, "Welcome home, how was your fitting, Sue Ellen?" Sue Ellen said, "It was fine, bobby. How is J.R. doing?" Bobby said, "He's upstairs, asleep in your bedroom." Sue Ellen thanked Bobby for taking care of J.R. and John Ross. Lucy had already walked into the house. Sue Ellen walked upstairs to check on J.R. She cautiously opened the bedroom door. J.R. was lying on his back, with his face turned toward the bedroom window. Sue Ellen took the opportunity to try on the nightgown she had selected for her wedding night. She removed the outfit she had been wearing and pulled the gown out of the shopping bag. She slid the gown over her head. She turned to view the gown in the floor-length cheval mirror. The sheer fabric of the gown was even more diaphanous, because of the sunlight filtering through the window curtains. Sue Ellen turned her head over her shoulder to see the view of the gown from the back. She jumped with a start as J.R. whistled at her.

She said, "J.R., I thought you were asleep." He grinned at her, and said, "I was, but I could smell your perfume, and you know what that does to me." Sue Ellen felt her face redden as she tried to evade J.R.'s intense gaze. He said, "Don't move, let me look at you." Sue Ellen continued to blush as J.R. eyed her appearance. He said, "Come over here, Sugar. You look good enough to eat." Sue Ellen said, "J.R., what has gotten into you?" He took her hand as she approached the bed. Sue Ellen said, "Let me change out of this gown, and I'll be right back." J.R. shook his head, and said, "You're not gettin' away from me that easily, Sugar." He pulled her down to the bed with his uninjured arm. Sue Ellen was careful not to touch his shoulder, or his broken ribs. J.R. kissed her neck as he pulled her closer to him. Sue Ellen caught he breath as his kisses traveled down her neck to her shoulder. J.R. said in a low voice, "It'd be a shame to have to wait until our wedding night to see you in this, Honey." Sue Ellen lowered her eyelashes as she reached out her hands and pulled him to her for a passionate kiss. J.R. whispered, "I want to leave you breathless, Sue Ellen." He reached out and touched Sue Ellen's leg as she shifted her position on the bed. J.R. showered her with kisses. Their needs were met again and again, leaving both of them exhausted, but extremely satisfied. Sue Ellen lay by J.R.'s side, her arm gently touching his chest. J.R. asked her how her fitting went. She told him that her dress would be ready by Friday. Sue Ellen nuzzled his neck, as they fell asleep.

J.R. moved against Sue Ellen. She opened her eyes. He grimaced from the pain. Sue Ellen softly said, "I'll be right back with something for your pain, Darlin'." Sue Ellen returned with a pill, and a glass of water for J.R. She dropped the pill into his mouth. He took the glass of water from her hand, and swallowed the contents of the glass. Sue Ellen touched his cheek with her hand, and sat the empty glass on the night stand next to the bed. J.R. asked her to lie beside him, again. He always slept better when she was by his side. Sue Ellen smiled at him. His heart melted. She pulled the bed sheet over them, as she rested her head on his shoulder. J.R. hugged her to his side. He asked, "Have you given any thought to where you'd like to spend our honeymoon?" Sue Ellen lifted her head off his shoulder and said, "No, have you?" J.R. said, "I was bored when you were gone, so I started reading the magazine on your night stand. I noticed that you had a page marked with a paper-clip. So, I was thinkin' maybe we ought to take our honeymoon in Tuscany. What do you think?" Sue Ellen beamed at him and said, "I can't believe you. You really wouldn't mind going to Italy? It's your honeymoon, too." J.R. reached for her outstretched hand, and said, "Sugar, as long as I'm with you, I've died and gone to heaven." Sue Ellen leaned forward and kissed him, as tears of joy formed in her eyes. J.R. reached his hand up to her face, and tenderly wiped away the tears. Sue Ellen said, "I'm sorry for gettin' so emotional, J.R. It's been a rough couple of days, hasn't it?" J.R. kissed her, and said, "I love you, Sue Ellen. I'm ready to start the rest of my life with you by my side." Sue Ellen returned his kiss, and said, "So am I."

Sue Ellen helped J.R. change into something appropriate for supper. J.R. watched her while she dressed and freshened her make-up. Sue Ellen helped him downstairs. The rest of the family was walking into the dining room when J.R. and Sue Ellen were walking downstairs. Teresa and Miss Ellie had prepared a sumptuous meal, and an incredibly rich dessert. The entire family retired to the parlor after their meal. Sue Ellen looked at the clock on the wall. It had been almost five hours since she had given J.R. his last pain pill. She figured that one glass of Bourbon might not be too detrimental to him. She poured his drink, and a glass of cola for John Ross. Bobby offered Sue Ellen a drink. She said, "Thank you, Bobby. I'd like club soda, please?" Miss Ellie and Clayton told the family about their earlier visit with Hank. The hospital released him that morning. The attending Physician said that Hank would fully recover, in time. J.R. slowly sipped on his drink. Sue Ellen smirked at him, and whispered, "You don't have to drink it that slowly, Darlin'." J.R. retorted, "The hell I don't. You won't let me have a drink, otherwise." Sue Ellen playfully slugged his arm, almost causing him to spill the precious contents of the glass he held tightly in his hand. Sue Ellen laughed as she watched J.R. try to hold onto the slippery glass. Sue Ellen said, "Here, that should help, Darlin'," as she steadied the glass in his hand. J.R. finished his drink, and handed the empty glass to John Ross. John Ross sat the glass on the wet bar. Teresa and Raoul would collect the glass later on. J.R. tried to stifle a yawn as the evening progressed. Sue Ellen decided that they should probably both get some well-deserved rest. John Ross hugged, and kissed his Mamma and Daddy. Sue Ellen and J.R. politely excused themselves and walked upstairs.

J.R. opened their bedroom door and held it open until Sue Ellen was inside the room. Sue Ellen turned around and said, "Let me help you out of these clothes and into your pajamas." J.R. was too tired to argue. He wanted to make love to Sue Ellen but the combination of the alcohol and the pain pill were his undoing. Sue Ellen helped him walk over to the bed and pulled the covers over his legs. She said, "I'll be back in a few minutes." She walked into the bathroom and changed into a nightgown, and put on her robe. She washed her face and brushed her teeth. She fluffed her hair with her fingers as she walked back into the bedroom. J.R. was asleep. He was lying on his back with his uninjured arm over his eyes. Sue Ellen gently kissed his cheek, before turning off the bedside lamp. She walked around the bed and removed her robe. She turned off the lamp on her night stand and climbed into bed. She lay on her side, watching J.R. sleep. She smiled as she thought about their impending honeymoon. She had always wanted to visit Italy, but Tuscany would have been the last place in the world she thought J.R. would want to visit. Sue Ellen closed her eyes as she envisioned all the sights they would see in Italy. She smiled as she contemplated long walks along old cobblestone streets. She grinned as he wondered how it would feel to have J.R. make love to her in a Tuscan villa. She pictured their bodies entwined under a sea of stars. Sue Ellen fell asleep with her head against J.R.'s shoulder.