Return to Camelot
Part 10
Sue Ellen awoke to a darkened room. She could hear the soothing sounds of a summer rain shower as the drops of rain pelted the window of her hospital room. She glanced around the room, while her eyes adjusted to the darkness, then she lowered her gaze to J.R.' sleeping form. He had stayed in bed with her, while she drifted off to sleep after their walk through the halls of the hospital.
Sue Ellen rested her fist underneath her chin, and gazed at J.R. She studied the lines of his face. She knew each smile line, and each frown line, almost by heart. She had committed J.R.'s face to her memory before she left Dallas to go to London with Don Lockwood. She was vehemently angry with J.R. when she left for England.
Sue Ellen had vowed revenge on J.R. for every hurtful, and hateful thing he had ever done to her, or anyone else she cared about. Years later, she came to realize that the only person who suffered from carrying around so much anger and animosity toward J.R. was Sue Ellen. She willingly let go of her elaborate plan for revenge, and concentrated her efforts on raising John Ross.
Sue Ellen closed her eyes and tried to imagine what might have happened if she and J.R. had stayed together? She wondered if their relationship would have been as strong as their new relationship was today? She shook her head to clear her thoughts, deciding that the only thing that mattered was the life she and J.R. shared, now, and their future together.
Sue Ellen opened her eyes when she felt J.R. roll over on the bed.
J.R. turned his head, and caught Sue Ellen staring at him.
Sue Ellen softly said, "Good mornin', Darlin'. Did you sleep well?"
J.R. carefully pulled Sue Ellen on top of his chest, and lifted his hands to her hair. Sue Ellen closed her eyes as J.R.'s hands moved through her hair.
J.R. pulled Sue Ellen to him for a 'good morning' kiss.
Sue Ellen touched the tip of her tongue to J.R.'s top lip. J.R. opened his mouth, as he lifted his head to meet Sue Ellen's kiss. Sue Ellen intensified her kiss, while savoring the feeling of J.R.'s hands roaming over her back. J.R. moved his hands to Sue Ellen's waist, and carefully rolled her over onto her back. Sue Ellen pulled J.R.'s head down to hers, and smiled at him.
J.R. smirked at Sue Ellen, then spoke, "You are such a tease, Honey."
Sue Ellen huskily said, "Oh, J.R. I'm not teasin'. You wait until I get the go-ahead from Dr. Chamberlain. You'd better clear your calendar for an entire week, Darlin'. I plan on keepin' you extremely busy."
J.R. leered at Sue Ellen, saying, "God, Sugar. I've said it before, and I'm gonna say it again. Not bein' able to make love to you for three weeks or more is likely to send me over the edge."
Sue Ellen giggled, and said, "Well, we'll just have to think of a way to take your mind off of makin' love to me."
J.R. rolled over onto his back, and muttered, "Fat chance of that happenin', Sue Ellen. That's all I think about doin' every time I'm near you."
Sue Ellen rested her head on J.R.'s chest, and said, "I feel the same way about you, J.R."
J.R. sat up in bed, and said, "I'm gonna take a shower, and go get me somethin' to eat from the cafeteria. Will you wait for me, before you eat your breakfast?"
Sue Ellen said, "Of course, J.R."
Sue Ellen continued, "I was going to wait to tell you this, but, Dr. Chamberlain said that there's a very good chance that I might be able to leave the hospital today, or tomorrow."
J.R. grinned, and said, "That's wonderful, Honey. I can't wait to take you back home and start takin' care of you, myself."
Sue Ellen smiled at J.R, and then said, "You've already taken better care of me than I could ever hope for, J.R."
J.R. replied, "I love you, Sugar. There's nothin' I wouldn't do for you."
Sue Ellen smiled as she watched J.R. close the bathroom door. She waited for the sound of the water hitting the floor of the shower stall. She wondered if J.R. would use warm water, instead of cold water this time? Sue Ellen laughed out loud, when her question was answered by J.R.'s scream, as the cold water struck his skin.
Dr. Chamberlain knocked on the door of Sue Ellen's room.
Sue Ellen asked, "Who is it?"
Dr. Chamberlain, said, "Sue Ellen, it's me, Dr. Chamberlain."
Sue Ellen said, "Come on in, doctor."
Dr. Chamberlain smiled at Sue Ellen.
The doctor looked around the room, and asked, "Where's J.R.?"
Sue Ellen said, "He's gone to the cafeteria to get something for breakfast."
Dr. Chamberlain spoke, "Did J.R. mention our conversation?"
Sue Ellen said, "Yes, he did. I want to thank you for takin' the time to talk to him. He's been in a much better mood since you spoke to him."
Dr. Chamberlain asked, "Right now, I'm more concerned about you, Sue Ellen. How are your emotions?"
Sue Ellen considered the doctor's question. She hadn't thought about how she felt emotionally since the day before, when J.R. left her room to go for a walk. She absently lifted her fingertip to her mouth, nervously gnawing on the edge of her fingernail. Dr. Chamberlain's voice interrupted her train of thought.
"Sue Ellen?" Dr. Chamberlain asked.
Sue Ellen turned to look at the doctor.
There were tears in her eyes as she raised her voice, "My emotions? Look at me. I can't muster the words to describe my emotions, let alone tell you how I feel. When will this feeling of complete isolation go away, Dr. Chamberlain?"
Dr. Chamberlain put his arm on Sue Ellen's shoulder, but she turned away from him. She walked over to the window, and pushed the curtain aside. The rain continued to pelt the windowpane, as Sue Ellen's tears steadily ran down her cheeks. Sue Ellen trembled while she stood in front of the window, overcome with emotion.
J.R. tapped on the door to Sue Ellen's room with the toe of one of his cowboy boots. He carried a box containing his breakfast in one hand, and a vase of yellow roses in his other hand. Dr. Chamberlain opened Sue Ellen's door, and held it open as J.R. entered the room.
J.R. instantly sensed that Sue Ellen was upset, when he saw her with her head bowed as she stood by the window. J.R. flashed a questioning gaze at Dr. Chamberlain as he walked over to Sue Ellen. He placed the vase of roses on the table, next to her bed, and sat his container of food next to the vase.
J.R. put his hands on Sue Ellen's shoulders and said, "Honey, I'm here. Let me help you, please?"
Sue Ellen inhaled, and turned around to face J.R.
J.R. pulled Sue Ellen into his arms, and held her tightly against his chest. He offered his shoulder for her to cry on, and his strong arms for support. Sue Ellen shook in J.R.'s arms, while he gently stroked her hair. J.R. cried with Sue Ellen, fully understanding the depths of her despair.
Sue Ellen's tears stopped, and she reached for a tissue to wipe her eyes. J.R. cupped her chin between his fingers, and lifted her face to meet his eyes.
J.R. gently kissed Sue Ellen's mouth, and whispered, "I love you Sue Ellen. I always will."
Sue Ellen mouthed the words, "I love you so very much, J.R."
Sue Ellen glanced over J.R.'s shoulder, and apologized to Dr. Chamberlain for her emotional outburst.
Dr. Chamberlain said, "You don't have to apologize, Sue Ellen. I'm glad to know that you're not bottling up your emotions. I'd be much more concerned about you, if you were keeping everything inside. I'd like to take one last look at your incision, and give you a final pelvic exam, before I sign your release paperwork, to let you leave the hospital."
Sue Ellen asked "J.R., will you stay with me while Dr. Chamberlain examines me?"
J.R. was apprehensive about how he might react when Dr. Chamberlain removed the dressing on Sue Ellen's incision, but agreed to stay for Sue Ellen's sake. J.R. helped Sue Ellen get back into bed, while she lifted her gown over her hips, and held it about her waist, as Dr. Chamberlain put on a pair of latex exam gloves.
J.R. curiously watched as Dr. Chamberlain slowly peeled back the dressing on Sue Ellen's incision. J.R. cringed when he first glanced at the bruise on Sue Ellen's abdomen, and then sobered, realizing that any negative reaction on his part might hurt Sue Ellen's feelings.
Sue Ellen turned her head to look at J.R. while Dr. Chamberlain started her pelvic exam. Dr. Chamberlain sat down on a stool at the foot of the bed. J.R. held Sue Ellen's gaze as the doctor told Sue Ellen that she would feel some pressure on her abdomen, but he would try to be as gentle as humanly possible.
Sue Ellen grimaced, as the doctor started her pelvic exam. J.R. lowered his head to Sue Ellen, and kissed her forehead. Sue Ellen opened her eyes, and smiled at J.R.
J.R. touched Sue Ellen's cheek, and continued to hold her gaze while the doctor finished examining Sue Ellen.
Dr. Chamberlain pushed himself away from the foot of Sue Ellen's hospital bed, and said, "You are healing remarkably well, Sue Ellen. I'll go get your release paperwork from the nurse's station, and I'll be right back with some post-op care instructions."
Sue Ellen said, "Thank you, Dr. Chamberlain. I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me…I mean, us."
J.R. held Sue Ellen's hand while they waited for Dr. Chamberlain's return.
J.R. grinned at Sue Ellen and said, "You're goin' home, Honey. I'm so glad."
Sue Ellen smiled at J.R., and said, "Thank you for the yellow roses, Darlin'. Thank you for all of your love, and support. I don't know how I'll ever be able to show you how much everything you've done for me has meant to me."
J.R. winked at Sue Ellen, as he said, "I'm sure you'll be able to think of somethin' , Sugar."
Dr. Chamberlain knocked on Sue Ellen's door, before pushing on the door handle, and opening the door. J.R. and Sue Ellen signed the insurance documents that the hospital would need for billing purposes. Dr. Chamberlain handed J.R. a list of incision care instructions, and a bottle of antibiotics for Sue Ellen to take, to prevent infection.
Sue Ellen asked, "When can I take a shower?"
Dr. Chamberlain said, "Any time you'd like, as long as you're careful not to get your sutures too wet, you'll be fine. I would like you to wait until after I see you in two weeks until bathing in the tub. I want you to keep your incision as dry as possible."
J.R. glanced at Sue Ellen, almost as if he read her thoughts, and asked, "Uh…doctor? When can Sue Ellen resume normal activities?"
Dr. Chamberlain shook his head back and forth, trying not to laugh at J.R.'s deliberate lack of bravery for not openly asking when he and Sue Ellen could resume having sex.
Dr. Chamberlain said, "I've advised Sue Ellen to wait at least until after her two week follow-up exam before you and she resume any sexual activity."
J.R. squeezed Sue Ellen's hand. Two weeks wouldn't be near as difficult to get past as three or four weeks, he mused. They would simply have to find other ways to occupy their time, and their thoughts. Sue Ellen climbed out of bed, and walked over toward Dr. Chamberlain. She hugged Dr. Chamberlain, and thanked him for his skills as a surgeon, his patience and understanding, and his advice.
J.R. shook Dr. Chamberlain's hand, thanking him for saving Sue Ellen's life. J.R. watched as the door closed behind the doctor. He grinned at Sue Ellen, and hugged her to his chest.
Sue Ellen kissed J.R.'s neck, and said, "I'll take a quick shower, and then we can get out of here. I can hardly wait to get back home."
J.R. called the ranch and asked Clayton if he would have the limousine driver meet them at the hospital. He would send someone for his car later on. J.R. packed their belongings into his and Sue Ellen's garment bags, while he waited for Sue Ellen to finish her shower. A nurse walked into Sue Ellen's room with a wheelchair, and a cart to carry all of Sue Ellen's floral arrangements to the Ewing limousine.
Sue Ellen sat down in the wheelchair, as J.R. held her hand. The nurse pushed Sue Ellen's wheelchair out into the hallway, as another nurse pushed the cart, containing the bouquets of flowers, and Sue Ellen's giant, stuffed teddy bear. Sue Ellen lifted her head, and smiled at J.R., as the entourage moved through the hallways of the hospital.
Sue Ellen was ecstatic; she and J.R. were going home…