Return to Camelot
Part 13
J.R. rolled over in bed, and slowly opened his eyes. The morning sun was sifting into the bedroom through the drawn window curtains. J.R. glanced around the room, looking for Sue Ellen. He strained his ear and heard the distinctive sound of water hitting the floor of the shower stall. J.R. surmised that Sue Ellen must have been taking a shower, so he climbed out of bed, hoping to join her in the shower.
J.R. removed his pajamas, dropping them on the floor outside of the bathroom door. J.R. opened the bathroom door, and stepped inside. The normal steam from the shower that would have covered the mirror, making it nearly impossible for J.R. to shave his face was missing. J.R. figured that Sue Ellen must not be taking a hot shower, so he mustered up the will to join her for what he hoped wouldn't be another cold shower.
Sue Ellen had her back to J.R., as he opened the shower stall door. She turned her head, looking over her shoulder, and covered herself when J.R. entered the stall.
J.R. chided Sue Ellen for her modesty, saying, "Don't cover up, Honey. I've seen your incision. It doesn't bother me in the least. It sure as hell doesn't change the way I feel about you. Nothing could ever change how much I love you."
Sue Ellen gave J.R. a timid smile, and said, "I'm glad you feel that way, J.R. I'm havin' a difficult time handlin' the way I look. My stomach is still inflamed, and the discoloration from the bruise isn't attractive at all."
J.R. pulled Sue Ellen's back against him, and said, "Sugar, you could make a burlap sack look good."
Sue Ellen leaned against J.R.'s chest. J.R. lightly kissed her neck, then moved his mouth to trace kisses down her neck to her shoulder. Sue Ellen closed her eyes, as J.R. tightened his grip around her waist. Sue Ellen enjoyed the contrast between the warmth of J.R.'s skin on her back and the lukewarm water spraying over them from the showerhead.
J.R. asked, "How are you feelin' this mornin', Honey?"
Sue Ellen lifted he hands to J.R.'s arms about her waist, and softly spoke, "I have a nagging headache, but other than that, I feel pretty good. How are you feelin', Darlin'?"
J.R. gently bit at the skin at the base of Sue Ellen's neck, and huskily growled, "Much better, now."
J.R. continued, "Unfortunately, I have a dilemma. I have to go into Dallas and go over some construction issues with Randy, but I don't feel right about leavin' you so soon after bringin' you back home, Sugar."
Sue Ellen said, "Nonsense, J.R. I'll be fine. I'm just gonna take a couple of aspirin and lie down for a while. I'll be fine, really."
J.R. reluctantly agreed, but insisted that Sue Ellen call him on his mobile phone if she needed anything at all, regardless of the time. Sue Ellen agreed to J.R.'s request, asking that he drive carefully, and offered to join him on the veranda for lunch when he came back home.
J.R. turned Sue Ellen around in his arms, and said, "I'd love to have lunch with you, Sue Ellen. It might do you a world of good to go outside and get some fresh air. I'll hurry and finish showerin', and I'll give you a kiss before I leave."
Sue Ellen nodded her head, and stood on her toes to kiss J.R., before opening the door to the shower stall, to step into the bathroom and dry off.
J.R. quickly showered, and turned off the water. He stepped out of the shower stall; he reached for a towel, and wrapped the towel around his waist. Sue Ellen was towel drying her hair, when J.R. stepped behind her, and pulled her into his arms.
Sue Ellen sighed, as J.R. huskily said, "I want you so badly, Sue Ellen. These next few weeks are gonna be the death of me."
Sue Ellen leaned her head against J.R.'s neck, saying, "I know, Darlin'. I really am sorry. Hopefully Dr. Chamberlain will have good news for both of us when I go back to see him next week."
J.R. asked, "Next week? I thought you weren't goin' to have to see him for three weeks."
Sue Ellen said, "Evidently, Dr. Chamberlain's nurse called here last night, and left a message for me that he wanted to see me for a follow-up visit in his office next week. So, we might not have to wait as long as you thought."
J.R. grinned at Sue Ellen, saying, "Hell, Darlin', this calls for a celebration. Are you feelin' up for a romantic evening for two?"
Sue Ellen said, "I might be. What did you have in mind?"
J.R. said, "We could have a nice quiet dinner here at Southfork, then you and I could take a leisurely walk to our spot by the tree, if you'd like?"
Sue Ellen intertwined her hands with J.R.'s and said, "I'd like that, J.R. I'd like that very much. I'm gonna go lie down, and I'll see you before you leave, alright?"
J.R. kissed Sue Ellen's cheek, and said, "I'll be out in a few minutes."
Sue Ellen closed the door to the bathroom, and opened her armoire. She removed a night- gown, and slipped it over her head. She put her arms through the straps, and pulled the gown down over her body, watching the gown fall past her hips, and cover her legs. Sue Ellen walked over to the bed, and pulled back the bedcovers. She climbed into bed, leaned back against her pillow, and closed her eyes.
J.R. shaved his face, and applied aftershave to his skin. The sting of the ingredients in the aftershave was agonizingly brutal, as J.R.'s hands smoothed the aftershave lotion over his face. J.R. sprayed cologne in his hands, and swiped his hands over his chest, neck, face, and hair. J.R. removed the towel he wore around his waist, and stepped out of the bathroom to dress for his drive into Dallas.
J.R. walked into the bedroom to tell Sue Ellen that he was leaving. J.R. glanced at Sue Ellen; her back was toward him. He wondered if she was sleeping. He slowly stepped toward the bed, and leaned over to see if Sue Ellen was asleep.
Sue Ellen groggily murmured, "Don't worry, J.R. I'm not asleep, yet. Are you ready to leave?"
J.R. lowered his head, as Sue Ellen lifted her head for a kiss. J.R. placed his hand behind Sue Ellen's neck, and pulled her to him for a passionate kiss. Sue Ellen softly moaned, as J.R. licked her lips with his tongue. The sensation of his tongue on her lips sent small jolts of electric current coursing through her. She shivered as he continued skillfully kissing her. J.R. kissed Sue Ellen with such fervor, ensuring that she understood that his kiss was meant for the moment, not for what might come next.
The gentle friction of J.R.'s mouth as it moved over Sue Ellen's lips was one of the greatest pleasures she would ever know. The tender wetness of skin on skin, their two mouths becoming one, the unyielding trust she had in J.R., as he concentrated his efforts on giving Sue Ellen pleasure, and enjoying the pleasure she gave him in return left her anxious for the next time their lips would meet.
J.R.'s tongue slowly slid over Sue Ellen's lips. She parted her lips for J.R., inviting him to explore her eager mouth. J.R. subtly edged his tongue over her lips, and then he gently bit at her lower lip with his teeth. Their tongues met in a symphony of sensual movements that left them both breathless, but ravenous for more.
J.R. pulled away from Sue Ellen, and murmured, "I won't be away for very long, Honey. I love you."
Sue Ellen dreamily gazed at J.R. and said, "I love you, and J.R., I'm sure I'll feel better by the time you get back."
Sue Ellen watched as J.R. closed the bedroom door. She waited until she no longer heard his footsteps in the hallway, before she climbed out of bed. Sue Ellen put on her robe, tying the sash around her waist, and opened the door. She peeked out into the hallway, before stepping into the hall. Sue Ellen walked down the hallway, and glanced into John Ross' bedroom. She wistfully smiled when she discovered that John Ross wasn't in his room.
Sue Ellen walked into John Ross' bedroom. She glanced around the room, running her fingers over the furnishings. She touched the Southern Methodist University banner that hung on the wall, across from his bed. She gazed at his soccer trophies on the rack of shelves on the other side of the room. She reached up to the top shelf on the rack, and removed John Ross' stuffed, musical teddy bear.
Sue Ellen left John Ross bedroom, still carrying the stuffed toy. She walked down the hallway and opened the door to the nursery. Memories of days and nights spend inside the nursery came flooding back to Sue Ellen. She absently walked around the room, remembering the first time she held John Ross in her arms, rocking him to sleep to soothe his crying.
Sue Ellen lowered her eyes to the stuffed toy she had been holding, and slumped to the floor as an incapacitating wave of emotion washed over her. Sue Ellen cried uncontrollably for the child she and J.R. would never know. She cried for the perfect life she wouldn't be able to cradle in her arms.
Sue Ellen cried for the gut-wrenching guilt she felt as she wondered if there wasn't something she could have done differently, perhaps, somehow…?
Countless tears streamed down Sue Ellen's' cheeks as she wept for her unborn baby's heartbeat that would have served as a reminder of the love she and J.R. had found together.
Sue Ellen wailed for the ten little fingers, and ten little toes she would never be able to kiss, and for the wispy soft hair on her baby's head that she wouldn't have the chance to brush.
Sue Ellen shed tears for all of the mothers of the world whose unborn babies had been taken from them, finally understanding their incredible feelings of loss, and their inconsolable fears that they would never again feel whole.
J.R. pulled his Cadillac Allante' into the driveway at Southfork. The construction issues for his new offices building that he had to resolve with Randy went smoothly, allowing J.R. the opportunity to return home sooner than he had planned. He grinned as he welcomed the chance it would give him to surprise Sue Ellen. He looked out over the veranda, as he walked toward the house. He was hoping to find Sue Ellen sitting on a chaise, enjoying the fresh air.
J.R. walked inside the house, through the empty kitchen, and into the foyer. He peeked into the parlor, but the room was devoid of people. J.R. checked the notepad on the table next to the staircase, to see if there were any telephone messages for him, or Sue Ellen.
J.R. walked upstairs, and opened the door to his and Sue Ellen's bedroom. J.R. had every intention of waking Sue Ellen with an adoring kiss. His glee turned to a disappointment when he found the bedroom vacant, and Sue Ellen nowhere in sight.
J.R. called out, "Sue Ellen? I'm home. Honey? Where are you, Sugar?"
J.R. wondered where Sue Ellen could have gone? He looked outside to see if she might be sitting on the balcony. J.R. walked out of the room, to see if Sue Ellen might be in her old bedroom, or John Ross' room. J.R. started to worry when he didn't find Sue Ellen in John Ross' room. J.R. walked across the hallway, and knocked on Miss Ellie and Clayton's bedroom door.
J.R. nervously waited for a response. He turned away from the door as he concluded that Miss Ellie and Clayton must have gone somewhere. J.R. walked back down the hallway, to go back downstairs, when he heard the weak sound of someone crying as he walked past the door to the nursery.
J.R. muttered, "Oh no," as he turned the doorknob on the nursery door.
J.R. dropped to his knees when he found Sue Ellen lying on the floor of the nursery, clinging to John Ross' stuffed bear.
J.R. said, "Oh my God, Sue Ellen. Are you hurt? What the hell happened?"
Sue Ellen continued sobbing, as J.R. lifted her into his arms, and carried her back to their bedroom. J.R. gently placed Sue Ellen on top of the mattress, as he reached for a tissue to wipe away her tears. J.R. searched Sue Ellen's eyes for some indication that she was aware of his presence. Sue Ellen's eyes were glassy; they seemed to have lost all of their sparkle.
J.R. gently shook Sue Ellen's shoulders, begging her to talk to him. Sue Ellen turned her head to look at J.R.
Sue Ellen asked, "What have I done, J.R.? Where did I go wrong?"
J.R. pulled Sue Ellen into his arms, and said, "No one is to blame for what happened, Sue Ellen. Not you, not me, not even the baby. Dr. Chamberlain said there wasn't anything that could have been done to save our baby. You can't go on like this, Honey."
Sue Ellen put her arms around J.R.'s neck, as her body trembled with each intake of breath. J.R. reached for the telephone, and dialed information. He asked for the telephone number for Dallas Memorial Hospital. The operator put J.R.'s call through to the PBX operator at the hospital.
J.R. asked to speak with Dr. Aaron Chamberlain.
The PBX operator instructed J.R. to wait, while she transferred his call.
Dr. Chamberlains' receptionist answered the phone, "Good Morning, Dr. Chamberlain's office. How may I help you?"
J.R. said, "This is J.R. Ewing, my wife Sue Ellen is one of the doctor's patients. Is the doctor available?"
The receptionist replied, "You're in luck, Mr. Ewing, one moment, please?"
Dr. Aaron Chamberlain accepted the telephone from his receptionist, and asked, "Good Morning, J.R.? Is something wrong?"
J.R. said, "Yes, there is. Sue Ellen isn't handling her emotions very well at all. She's practically hysterical. I can't get her to stop crying. I'm damn near ready to take her to the Emergency Room just to get her something to calm her down."
Dr. Chamberlain said, "Bring her in, J.R. I'll be waiting for you in the E.R."
J.R. lifted Sue Ellen off of the bed, and walked out of their bedroom…