Ch 13: The Monica Young Variation of the French Defense

"He's mine, damn it." Monica Young screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Over my dead body." Andrea the therapist lunged toward Monica Young.

Andrea tackled Monica onto the small, single bed on the left side of Ben's dorm. Monica rolled to one side and forcibly broke the clench. The two women righted themselves and squatted on their knees on top of Ben's bed. They faced one another and stared like angry beasts. Monica lunged toward Andrea, grabbing her hospital gown from the back, just below the shoulder. Andrea reached around behind Monica and did the same to her blue sweater. Ben sat in a folding chair on the opposite side from the bed and placed his feet up on the desk Denver University had provided for him. He watched the scene unfolding on his bed intently. As the women pulled and grappled, each managed to lift the other's shirt over their heads. The fighting paused long enough for each woman to take their arms out and jettison the shirts to the floor. Ben tipped his chair back slightly and held his breath at seeing the two. He was surprised to see each woman wore a lacy black bra. Andrea lunged at Monica again and the wrestling resumed.

"Ladies, ladies. As much as a man might enjoy having two beautiful women fight over him, something is missing." Ben rose from his chair and stepped toward the bed.

"What might that be?" Monica asked in her sexiest voice. Both women stopped wrestling and faced Ben with beaming smiles.

"Well the wrestling is great, but girls, there just isn't enough hair flying around." Ben now had a small camcorder in his hand and was recording the two women on the bed.

"Maybe we can fix that, if you join us." The girls said it in unison as they each reached toward Ben. Both seized an arm and pulled him onto the bed with them. Before he knew it Ben was laying flat on the mattress with Monica laying on top of his left side and Andrea his right. The camera was laying in pieces on the floor. The two girls each lifted their heads and shook them to make their hair sashay around like he'd wanted. "Oh man, a guy could get used to this, oooooh." Ben moaned as both women started to kiss the sides of his neck.

"Breakfast." A male orderly slammed the tray on the table midway down Ben's hospital bed. Ben awoke with a start, and slapped his forehead with his right hand. He closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep, but the fantasy was ruined. Ben angrily jammed his thumb against the up button on the console beside him. He pulled the wheeled table closer and unveiled his food. Shaking his head he took a bite of flavorless scrambled eggs.

Ben had now resided in this hospital bed for almost three weeks. Both his shins were still in hard casts but his ribs had healed at least to the point he felt comfortable sitting up. Without family near the recovery was terribly boring. As he ate Ben contemplated the lurid fantasy he'd just had. He was sure most of it came from boredom. Henry and Monica both visited him frequently. Henry tended to visit in the afternoons and would take his leave when Monica would show up in the evenings. In fact Monica took her promise to Ben's parents so seriously she looked after him like a hawk. Most nights she brought Ben food so he wouldn't have to eat the disgusting stuff the hospital served. Not that hers was much of an improvement, but it was thoughtful. She also brought playing cards or board games to pass the time. Still he and Monica had remained somewhat distant from each other.

Most of that Ben knew was jealously over Andrea. To spite the musings of his subconscious, he had no romantic interest in her. The connection was simply one of presence. Andrea made Ben walk the halls on crutches every day as well as perform a series of exercises from his bed. In short, Andrea was a distraction, and distractions were something Ben Conner had come to appreciate above all else because they helped pass the time. The fact that Andrea got to have her hands all over him as part of her job was beside the point, at least to him. Monica on the other hand, she was well, Monica. Convincing her nothing was going on was about as easy as say pulling the tooth of a hungry lion. The thought aggravated Ben because he really thought he and Monica would start making progress after the near disaster of Sam's visit.

It was mid December now which meant cold and snow for the Denver area. Frost covered the window of Ben's hospital room. As he finished his tasteless meal Ben anticipated nothing special about this particular Friday. Just after breakfast Andrea appeared to put him through his paces. She had her hair pulled back into a ponytail and today she wore a white smock over her uniform. He got up and scooted himself to the edge of the bed. She handed him his crutches from the corner and he reluctantly got up on them. "Okay I want six laps today." She ordered as she smiled at him.

Ben rolled his eyes. Outside his room the white tile floored hallway looped in a square around the nurses station. Six laps meant Andrea expected Ben to mount his crutches and pogo his way around the square six times. He mounted the crutches and began doing as he was told. "I'm not sure I can do six yet," he replied. Ben's muscles really had atrophied and the workout itself was hard. Even with the eye candy present.

There may have been nothing special about this Friday for Ben Conner, but the same was not true of Monica. While he was eating breakfast and receiving his daily workout, she sat in one the classrooms at UC Boulder. She was proctoring the final exam for Journalism 100. In two hours her work would end for the semester, and she'd be free until after the holidays. Monica faced the terraced rows of grey tables in front of her and began passing out the exam. When she finished she seated herself on a stool at the front of the room. Ben didn't know it, but Monica shared his frustration over their relationship. She thought things might move forward as well. The difference was she had a plan. As the class began filling in bubble sheets, Monica opened a book on her lap: The Art of War by Sun Tzu. She began skimming the quotes of the ancient Chinese philosopher quietly, but still out loud. "All warfare is based on deception. …The battle is won or lost before it is ever fought. …Cleverness has never been associated with long delays. …To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." Monica closed the book and smiled wickedly. 'I can do that.'

Try as he might, Ben simply couldn't take a liking to soaps. He was sitting up in his hospital bed flipping channels on his TV when the familiar form of Monica Young appeared in his room, much earlier than usual. It was cold outside and Monica blew on her hands after she took her gloves off. The next part Ben had always loved, she took off her long black winter coat to reveal her outfit. To Ben it was like opening treasure. Today's treasure was a white spaghetti strap top, a burgundy sweater with a plunging neckline, and form fitting black pants. Her hair was hanging loose at her shoulders and swayed seductively as she walked. She draped the coat on the back of the chair nearest Ben and walked over to the room door and closed it.

She'd never done that before. Ben was hit with the smallest sensation of fear as he watched her. He felt like he was a part of something she had pre-planned, and he had no control over. Ben was so busy watching Monica he hadn't noticed the objects she'd carried in with her, a laptop computer and a narrow red cardboard box. She smiled kindly at him as she moved the items and sat down next to him. "I'm free, proctored my last exam at nine this morning." Monica pinched Ben's cheek with her still cold hand. "Hey you're dressed."

Ben jumped at her touch. "Jeez you're cold. Yeah I am it's the outfit you bought for me." Ben opened his arms as if to reveal himself. It was the gift Monica had given him the same day she confronted his parents and Sam. She'd bought a shirt and jeans to replace the ones the paramedics had cut to shreds after his accident. He wasn't wearing the jeans because they wouldn't fit over the casts around his shins. But he wore the shirt and a pair of black sweatpants. It was the yellow and red striped button down he'd worn the same day he'd lost his virginity in the supply room. Monica looked him over and was actually slightly disappointed with the clothing. There was just something that made Ben look so cute and helpless in a hospital gown, which he didn't have anymore. "Yeah after Andrea put me through my paces this morning my nurse asked if I wanted to get dressed. So here I am, thanks for the clothes by the way." Ben continued, but his stomach tightened as he mentioned Andrea.

Ben sat in his raised bed waiting for jealous Monica to explode on him. Instead she just smiled seductively. "I'll make you forget all about your therapist, with a little therapy of my own." Monica responded in her sexiest voice.

Ben's face swung from fear to curiosity. "Monica Young I just mentioned another woman and you are calm, cool, collected. What have you got up your sleeve?"

Monica picked up the red cardboard box from beside the chair and opened it. Inside was a children's chess set. She unfolded the red and black cardboard battlefield and placed it on Ben's table tray. She took the small plastic pieces out of the box in handfuls and placed them on top of the board. Without thinking Ben began to set them up at the proper starting position. When the operation was finished Ben gently pushed the table tray out and sat up on the edge of the bed. Monica adjusted her chair so she was directly opposite Ben. They both looked up and their eyes met, memories of three years ago in Ben's house flooding back to them. Monica had the black pieces in front of her and Ben the white. "Let's play," she said with a smirk.

"I'd play with you anytime." Ben continued the innuendo. Ben thrust the pawn in front of his king forward two squares.

Monica wordlessly grabbed the pawn in front of her king, but she pushed it forward only one square. "A special variation I've worked out." Monica interlaced her fingers and rested her chin on top of them, elbows planted on the edges of the table tray. A beaming smile on her face, she waited for Ben to process the message.

Ben batted his eyes at the move; he hadn't taught her this particular opening so he was surprised she knew it. "French defense," Ben finally announced, puzzled.

"It certainly is." Monica stood up and leaned over the table, seizing Ben's lips with hers. Her tongue slid into his mouth as he leaned forward and put a hand on the side of her head. Ben stroked her silky hair and she placed a hand at the back of his neck to pull him closer. Both leaned their heads in hard and resisted the others movements. The kiss lasted an eternity, lips parting only long enough so each could breath and then sloshing back together again. Ben thanked his lucky stars he was wearing loose fitting sweatpants instead of the hospital gown. Monica finally broke the kiss and nudged her nose against his before sitting back down.

"Okay I love this new variation." Ben moved the pawn in front of his queen but only one square. It wasn't a good move, but Ben wasn't thinking straight. "How'd I get so lucky?"

Monica thought for a moment and moved the pawn in front of her queen bishop two squares forward (it was the best way to take advantage on Ben's timid second move.). "You risked everything coming here for me, and you forgave me." She stood again and gave another French kiss. "I guess I just needed to hear it from you. By the way I forgive you too. For Sue." Monica sat back down again smiling. 'Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.'

Monica's plan was successful, any resistance left between her and Ben was already broken. Ben's head was swimming so much he could hardly remember his own name, let alone play chess. He began making random moves, not caring at all about strategy or the game's outcome. Monica continued making moves as well, and kissing Ben every time she did. The battle was extremely short. "Checkmate," Monica announced victoriously after only eleven moves.

Ben surveyed the final position for a moment, shaking his head. "I need to learn this new variation." As he said it he shoved the table tray out from between him and Monica, the board and pieces went flying. He grabbed her with one arm and pulled her to him while wrapping the other around her waist. He slid back into his bed and pulled her on top of him. Monica was extremely careful of Ben's ribs as she climbed on top of the bed and straddled him. She was on her knees, legs wrapped around his waist. Ben let go of her arm and cupped her neck, pulling her in for another kiss. However she pulled back, "Ah Ben, you do realize hospital doors don't lock." Her eyes darted over to the closed door.

"Risk I'll have to take." He turned her head back toward him. Their eyes met and locked on.

"Well then, the variation goes something like this." Monica smiled and leaned forward. Their lips met again. As the kissing continued Monica pressed her thumb against the controls on the side of Ben's bed. Slowly the upper half of Ben's bed slid downward taking both of them with it. Both laughed gently when the bed hit bottom because Monica had to place her hands on the mattress to keep from collapsing on top of Ben's injured chest. This inadvertently caused the kiss to break.

"Since when did this place become a bordello?" Henry asked as he opened the door. Monica practically vaulted off of Ben and over the bed rail upon hearing his voice. Ben winced in pain as he scrambled to grab the blanket at the foot of the bed and hide his, ahem interest. "Please don't stop on my account," Henry quipped with a sly grin. He closed the door behind him as he entered. Once covered Ben threw his head back into the pillow, laughing. Monica on the other hand was not at all pleased. She quickly straightened her clothes and hair, before crossing her arms and glaring at Henry. The grandfather simply removed his tan trench coat and sat down.

"Hi Henry, I just have to say that your timing really sucks." Monica's eyes could have burned through lead.

"There, there my jealous little angel." Ben sat up again and rubbed Monica's cheek with his hand.

"I'm jealous, of what, him." Monica shot a hand toward Henry.

"You're jealous of everything. It's a character flaw, and I find it irresistible." Ben pulled her down onto his lap and brushed his lips against hers. Monica shook her head and made a face. 'You're right Ben but you don't have to say it.'

"Would you rather it have been one of the hospital staff?" Henry rejoined the conversation.

"I rather it have been no one at all. I was enjoying what we were doing." Monica growled.

"So was I." The grandfather laced his fingers behind his head and let out a deep laugh.

"Keep it up." Monica threatened.

"He is." Henry continued with his rolling laughter while nodding toward Ben.

Monica put her head down to cover it, but even she began laughing. 'I can't believe I walked into that a second time.' What could have turned into an angry moment instead dissolved into a friendly one. "Must have been some party." Henry commented motioning toward the board and chess pieces scattered everywhere.

"Hey that reminds me." Monica snapped her fingers and picked up her laptop. She logged in and opened her bookmark for Yahoo chess. "Let's see if he's on, ah ha. Ben I want you to crush this guy for me."

She handed Ben her laptop. His eyes surveyed the cyberspace board. He laughed uncontrollably when he saw Monica's screen name, but his face quickly fell. "Monica, by ratings this guy is better than me. Besides my confidence is lacking, I was beaten recently." Ben jokingly made a sad face at Monica; in reality his confidence could not have been better. Or so he thought.

Monica put her arms around his shoulders and kissed him on the cheek. "So you need a boost of confidence huh?" She cupped her hands around his ear. "If you win, when you're healthy enough we'll…"

Henry leaned forward in his chair trying to hear the whispering but he could not. Ben's eyes lit up with a wild and ravenous light. To spite being rated over 300 points better than Wet Hot Fire Starting Queen, jeff4bigred was utterly destroyed in under ten minutes.

"What did you say to him?" Henry finally had to ask as he watched Ben finish the game.

Monica turned and grinned, "Sorry Henry, this ride may not be suitable for young children, those with heart problems, or the elderly."