Return to Camelot

Part 3

Miss Ellie and Clayton walked down the pristine hallway leading to the Intensive Care Unit at Dallas Memorial Hospital. Miss Ellie glanced down the hallway, and saw J.R. standing in front of the nurse's station. Miss Ellie covered her mouth when saw J.R.'s disheveled appearance. He had dark circles under his eyes, and his face bore the telltale signs of more than a day's worth of facial hair growth.

Miss Ellie stopped in front of Sue Ellen's hospital room, and gasped out loud when she saw Sue Ellen lying on the hospital bed, amidst the jungle of electronic monitoring equipment, and intravenous tubing lines. Miss Ellie turned away from the window, and buried her face against Clayton's chest.

Dr. Chamberlain was in Sue Ellen's hospital room telling her the details of what had happened to her, and what she could expect during her recuperation. The doctor told Sue Ellen that she could expect severe abdominal cramps while her uterus returned to its normal state.

Sue Ellen asked the doctor when she and J.R. could resume their sexual activities. Dr. Chamberlain instructed Sue Ellen to wait at least a month, until after he had given her a follow-up examination. The doctor finished talking with Sue Ellen, and left the room to check on his other patients. He told Sue Ellen that he would stop by later on.

J.R. turned his head when he heard Miss Ellie's muffled sobs. J.R. excused himself from the conversation he had been having with one of Sue Ellen's charge nurses, and walked down the hallway toward Miss Ellie and Clayton. Clayton held Miss Ellie, whispering to her that she should try to control her emotions for J.R. and Sue Ellen's sake, as he noticed J.R. walking down the hallway toward them.

J.R. touched Miss Ellie's arm, and said, "Mamma? Please don't cry. I know it looks terrible, but Sue Ellen's condition does seem to be improving."

Miss Ellie bit her bottom lip, as she lifted her head to face J.R.

J.R. pulled his Mamma into his arms, and said, "We've got to be strong, now, Mamma. We've got to be strong for Sue Ellen. How is John Ross dealin' with all of this?"

Clayton sighed, and said, "John Ross really wants to see Sue Ellen, J.R."

J.R. said, "I know Clayton. I know how much John Ross loves his Mamma, and as much as Sue Ellen loves our son, I think it'd be best for all concerned if John Ross waited until Sue Ellen is feelin' better."

Miss Ellie lifted her head, and asked, "J.R., May we go in and see Sue Ellen?"

J.R. said, "Well, I've been instructed by Sue Ellen's doctor to limit visitors' to one person at a time. I hope you understand?"

Clayton nodded his head, and said, "Of course we do, J.R."

Clayton turned to Miss Ellie, and said, "Ellie, why don't you go in first?"

Miss Ellie said, "Thank you, Clayton. I won't stay with Sue Ellen for very long. I know she needs her rest."

Miss Ellie opened the thick, glass door to Sue Ellen's room, and stepped inside. She gingerly walked across the room, and stood next to Sue Ellen's bed. Miss Ellie lowered her head, and kissed the top of Sue Ellen's head. Sue Ellen opened her eyes, and slowly smiled at Miss Ellie.

Sue Ellen's voice was groggy from the painkillers she had been given, as she said, "Hi, Miss Ellie. How are you?"

Miss Ellie said, "Shh, I'm fine Sue Ellen. I don't want you to talk, save your strength. I just want you to know how much I love you, Sue Ellen."

Sue Ellen closed her eyes, and said, "Keep talkin' to me, Miss Ellie. It'll give me a reason to try and stay awake . . . "

Miss Ellie said "Yes, but, Sue Ellen, you need your rest."

Sue Ellen said, "I know, Miss Ellie, between J.R., and the nurses, and the metered injections of this morphine pump they've hooked up to my IV that they're usin' to keep me comfortable, I can't seem to stay awake for more than a few minutes at a time."

Miss Ellie grasped Sue Ellen's right hand, and said, "Our prayers are with you, Sue Ellen."

Sue Ellen asked, "Did J.R. tell you what happened, Miss Ellie?"

Miss Ellie said, "No, that's one of the reasons why we came back here."

Sue Ellen pursed her lips, and choked back her grief, as she said, "I . . . I was pregnant, Miss Ellie."

Miss Ellie's eyes filled with tears, as she said, "Oh, Sue Ellen. I am so sorry. I had no idea that you and J.R. trying to have a baby?"

Sue Ellen shook her head, 'no,' then said, "We weren't tryin, Miss Ellie. Although, I always wondered how our lives would have been if we had tried to have another baby."

Miss Ellie swallowed hard to clear her throat, and then she said,

"Clayton wants to see you, Sue Ellen. Are you feeling up for another visitor?"

Sue Ellen nodded her head in agreement, then grimaced, as she pushed herself further back toward the head of the hospital bed, and pulled the covers around her chest.

Miss Ellie kissed Sue Ellen on her cheek, and said, "I'll stop by later on to check on you, Sue Ellen."

Sue Ellen watched as Miss Ellie left the room, and Clayton took her place. Clayton grinned at Sue Ellen, hoping that her seeing a friendly face might lift her spirits.

Sue Ellen lifted her arm, and smiled at Clayton. Clayton leaned down, and gently hugged Sue Ellen's shoulders.

Clayton asked, "Is there anything we can get for you, Sue Ellen?"

Sue Ellen smiled, and said, "I'm happy just knowin' that you and Miss Ellie have come to visit me, Clayton."

Clayton said, "I don't want to upset you, Sue Ellen, but what in the world happened?"

Sue Ellen covered her mouth to stifle a yawn, and said, "I had a tubal pregnancy, and it ruptured. I started bleeding internally, and I passed out on the stage from the loss of blood."

Clayton folded his arms across his chest, and said, "God, Sue Ellen, I had no idea you were pregnant. Why didn't you say anything?"

Sue Ellen said, "Funny you should ask that Clayton. I didn't even know that I was pregnant."

Clayton asked, "Were you trying to have another baby?"

Sue Ellen said, "Lord no. I'm too old to have another child, but . . . " Sue Ellen's voice trailed off as tears fell from her eyes.

Clayton sat down on the bed, next to Sue Ellen, and tenderly pulled her into his arms. Sue Ellen's body shook from wracking sobs, as she unleashed her pent-up emotions about the loss she and J.R. had suffered. Clayton rubbed his hands up and down Sue Ellen's back, as he waited for her to stop crying.

Clayton reached for a box of tissues on the table next to Sue Ellen's bed, and handed Sue Ellen a fist full of crumpled up tissues, as she pulled away from him. Sue Ellen took one look at the ball of tissues in Clayton's hand, and started to laugh. Her laughter was short-lived, as she recoiled from a jolt of searing pain that shot through her abdomen.

Clayton stood up from the bed, and asked if Sue Ellen needed him to call the nurse. Sue Ellen closed her eyes, as she shook her head, 'no.' She held her breath, and waited for the pain to subside. Sue Ellen's trembling hand reached for the morphine pump, as she pressed the button that would deliver a metered dose of morphine into her IV line.

Sue Ellen exhaled the breath she had been holding, and said, "I'm sorry about that, Clayton. Dr. Chamberlain said I'd probably have painful cramps for a few days. He wasn't joking."

Clayton caught a glimpse of J.R.'s worried expression as he stood outside Sue Ellen's door, and said, "Sue Ellen, if you need anything at all, you let me know. Promise?"

Sue Ellen's eyes were closing as the morphine coursed through her bloodstream.

Sue Ellen softly whispered, "Thank you Clayton . . . love you."

Clayton walked back out into the ICU hallway, and asked, "J.R., is there anything we can bring you from Southfork? A fresh change of clothes, and maybe an electric razor?"

J.R. lifted his hand to the beard stubble that covered his cheeks and chin, and said, "That would be nice, Clayton. I don't think Sue Ellen likes it when I wear a beard."

Clayton shook J.R.'s hand, and Miss Ellie kissed J.R., before leaving the hospital to drive back to Southfork. J.R. looked down the hallway, and waited until Clayton and Miss Ellie were put of sight, before going back into Sue Ellen's room. Sue Ellen opened her eyes, and she seemed to look more comfortable than she had since her arrival in the ICU. Her face had more color, and her eyes twinkled as she smiled at J.R.

J.R. smiled back at Sue Ellen, as he leaned over her bed, and kissed her on her forehead. Sue Ellen reached for J.R.'s hand, as their eyes met. The look of love J.R. saw reflected in Sue Ellen's eyes took his breath away for a moment. J.R. returned the look Sue Ellen had given him, as he leaned forward, and gently kissed Sue Ellen's mouth.

J.R. pulled away from Sue Ellen, and asked, "Can I get you anything, Honey?"

Sue Ellen lifted her hand, and touched J.R.'s cheek. She moved her finger underneath his eyes, and traced her finger over the dark circles J.R. wore from his lack of sleep. J.R. grabbed Sue Ellen's hand, and kissed her palm.

Sue Ellen asked, "How are you holdin' up, J.R.?"

J.R. grinned at Sue Ellen, and said, "You know me, Sugar. I'm just fine."

Sue Ellen said, "I do know you, J.R., and I know you haven't been sleepin'. I'm worried about you, too, Darlin'."

The sound of Sue Ellen's endearing name for J.R. was one of the highlights of his day. He kissed Sue Ellen's fingertips, one at a time, and flashed her his broadest grin. Sue Ellen pushed her hand against J.R.'s hand, and asked him if he would help her try and get into a more comfortable position. A devious grin spread across J.R.'s face, as he and Sue Ellen realized they had the same 'comfortable position' in mind.

J.R. chuckled, as Sue Ellen started to laugh, then she winced from the pain she felt in her abdomen. J.R. flashed Sue Ellen an apologetic look. He was worried that they might be pushing her recovery, when it would be better for Sue Ellen if she were allowed to rest, and recuperate, and let her body heal at its own pace.

J.R. started to get up from the bed, as Sue Ellen said, "No, J.R., don't go. Stay with me, please?"

Sue Ellen shifted her weight onto her hands, as she moved closer to the edge of the bed to make room for J.R. to lie down on the bed with her.

J.R. said, "No, Sweetheart. You'll be more comfortable if you're in bed by yourself."

Sue Ellen softly asked, "Please?"

J.R. couldn't resist the pleading look in Sue Ellen's eyes, or the lilting tone of her voice.

Sue Ellen moved as close to the edge of the bed as she could comfortably move, while she waited for J.R. to join her. J.R. sat on the side of the bed, and lifted his legs on top of the mattress. He leaned back against the mattress, and lifted his arm above Sue Ellen's head.

Sue Ellen moved closer to J.R., as he put his arm behind her neck. Sue Ellen laid her head on J.R.'s shoulder, as she pressed the dosimeter button on her morphine pump, and closed her eyes. J.R. kissed the top of Sue Ellen's head, as he wallowed in how good it felt to him to have Sue Ellen nestled by his side. J.R. had missed the way their bodies fit together.

J.R. and Sue Ellen drifted off to sleep as they lay together on Sue Ellen's hospital bed. They had been lulled to sleep by the familiar sounds of each other's heartbeats. J.R. inhaled the faint scent of Sue Ellen's perfume. He was awed by the fact that after all she had been through she smelled so incredibly delicious, and she still looked as breathtakingly beautiful to him now, as she did when they first met, almost thirty years earlier.

Sue Ellen opened her eyes, and turned her head toward J.R., his facial stubble from the day before had grown considerably. J.R. looked much different to Sue Ellen wearing a stubbly beard than he did when he was clean-shaven. Sue Ellen lifted her hand to J.R.'s face, and lightly ran her fingers over his beard.

J.R. stirred, and slowly opened his eyes. He turned his head to see Sue Ellen smiling at him. J.R. cupped Sue Ellen's chin in his hand, and softly kissed her mouth. J.R. pulled away from Sue Ellen, and covered his mouth, as a yawn escaped his lips. Sue Ellen stretched, and then yawned, as she apologized to J.R. for being so tired.

J.R. said, "You don't have to apologize, Sugar. Your body has been through an awful lot in short period of time. There's now way in hell that I could have gone through what you did, and lived to tell about it."

Sue Ellen cautiously rolled over onto her side, as she nuzzled her face into J.R.'s neck. J.R. put his arm around Sue Ellen's back, and carefully hugged her to his chest. Sue Ellen enjoyed the feel of J.R.'s hand, as he rubbed his hand up and down her back. His hand felt warm against the skin that the back of her hospital gown exposed to the air-conditioned room.

J.R. asked, "Do you need anything, or want anything, Sugar?"

Sue Ellen lifted her hand to J.R.'s chest, and purred, "Um-hmm. I want you, J.R."

J.R. took Sue Ellen's hand in his, and said, "I'm afraid it's gonna be a while before we can have sex, again, Sue Ellen."

Sue Ellen lifted her head, and gave J.R. a petulant look.

J.R. said, "Don't look at me like that, Honey. I'm not sayin' that I don't want to make love to you. You've got to know how much I want you. But, you've also got to understand how extensive your surgery was, Sweetheart. I could have lost you. I'm never gonna take havin' you in my life for granted, again."

Sue Ellen blinked back her tears as J.R. said the words she had always wanted to hear.

Sue Ellen huskily asked, "Do you have any idea how much I love you, J.R.?"

J.R. said, "God, I love you, Sugar. I've never loved anyone as much as I love you."

Sue Ellen kissed J.R., and lowered her head to his chest. J.R. ran his fingers through Sue Ellen's hair, as she fell asleep in his arms. Sue Ellen's nurse tapped J.R. on the shoulder, and gave him a scolding look for being in bed with Sue Ellen. J.R. lifted his finger to his lips, urging the nurse to be quiet. J.R. slid his hand away from Sue Ellen's neck, and slowly climbed out of the bed.

J.R. tiptoed out of Sue Ellen's room, behind the nurse.

The nurse turned around to face J.R., and put her hands on her hips, and asked, "What the devil were you doing laying in bed with your wife, Mr. Ewing?"

J.R. said, "She begged me to lie down next to her. I love Sue Ellen, there's nothin I wouldn't do for her if she asked me."

The nurse spat, "Humph! I suggest you practice a little more restraint, Mr. Ewing."

J.R. felt like laughing out loud at the nurse's reaction to finding him in bed with Sue Ellen. J.R. turned around, and stood outside the door to Sue Ellen's room. He watched Sue Ellen sleep. She looked peaceful, and out of pain, for the time being. J.R. ran his hands over his face, and quickly jerked his hands away from his stubbly beard. He stepped back from the door, and gazed at his reflection in the glass.

"Mister Ewin', you need a shave," J.R. said, as he walked toward the nurse's station to call the ranch and find out when Clayton and Miss Ellie were planning to come back to the hospital . . .