Laws of Motion – Book 1
Written by: Ms Maggs / Edited by: KJT
Chapter 15
August 31, 2005
University Medical Center
2:47 p.m.
As the hospital transport personnel were wheeling Nick's bed into room 310 on the surgical patient floor, Carrie and Jillian trailed several feet behind.
"It feels much less scary here than in the ICU," Jillian remarked.
"And he won't have a pit bull disguised as a nurse guarding his door," Carrie rejoiced. "Now I'll be able to sneak a snuggle with my fiancé."
"That's what you think." The strapping man wearing navy scrubs greeted the women. "I'm Hal." He extended his hand. "I'll be your fiancé's nurse until six a.m."
"Whoa…do you have a brother named Irving by any chance?" Carrie asked in a Valium fog. "You're the same size. Except you have great hair, a fabulous tan and no tattoos."
"Nope, I'm an only child and actually, I do have a tattoo…" Chuckling he left her side. "…but I don't think your fiancé would appreciate me showing it to you though, if you catch my drift."
"Wow." Jillian was fixated on the handsome man's broad shoulders as he stepped into her son's room. "Why the hell didn't they have nurses who looked like him when I was in the hospital giving birth all those times? I always got stuck with bossy women who were hard on the eyes."
"Oh man." Carrie covered her mouth with her hand. "Nicky is going to hate having that massive sexy guy pawing him…even if he's a professional nurse. Thankfully, he can wear a hospital gown now that he's not in ICU."
Snapping out of her adolescent fantasy over the hunky man, Jillian finally heard what Carrie was saying. "Oh, you're right…Nicky's gonna squirm. This should be fun."
Giggling with her future mother-in-law, Carrie shared an anecdote. "One time we went out to dinner and when our table wasn't ready, I went to the restroom while Nick waited for me in the lounge. When I returned, this guy was totally putting the moves on him and as soon as Nick saw me he pulled me close and planted a big wet one on my lips."
Tossing her arm around Carrie Jillian snickered, "Thank goodness Eileen took his catheter out instead of Hal."
"Mr. Stokes…" The affable nurse grabbed his patient's chart. "I'm Hal Connors. I'll be your nurse until six a.m."
Glancing up at the muscle-bound man with the Hollywood smile, Nick sought clarification. "My nurse?"
Carrie hid behind Jillian so she could laugh freely.
"First things first." Hal returned the chart. "Let's get you on your feet and moving." He lowered the rail. "You had your catheter removed an hour ago. Have you felt the urge to urinate yet?"
"Uh…" Nick looked around for Carrie.
After checking the fluid bags Hal remarked, "Your IV is full blast so need you to go for me within the next couple of hours or I'll have to re-catheter you."
"Oh!" Carrie popped out from behind Jillian. "Think about water, Sweetie. Lots of cold, gushing ice water…and waterfalls…and babbling brooks."
Upon lowering the rail Hal instructed, "I'll help you swing your feet over the side and let you sit for a minute. After that, it's on your feet and baby steps to the john."
"Thanks but…my fiancée can help me," Nick announced while pointing to Carrie.
"No offense, ma'am," Hal laughed in Carrie's direction. "But I don't think you're gonna be able to catch him if he's crashing to the floor, do you? At least not before he undoes all the work the surgeon did." When she shook her head Hal reminded his patient, "You haven't been on your feet since Monday night, Mr. Stokes, so we're not taking chances."
When the nurse pulled back the sheet and took his arm, Nick gave a nervous laugh. "Carrie, are you sure you tied up this gown tight?"
Hal glanced over at the women chuckling. "Do you think he'd relax more if he knew I was married with two kids?"
Carrie and Jillian nodded in between laughs.
"Sorry," Nick offered as he gripped the guy's arm and slowly worked his feet over the edge. "I hope I didn't offend you. It's just…"
"Don't worry. I get it all the time," Hal assured him. "No one has a problem with male doctors, but male nurses freak them out."
"Yeah, and no offense but…" Nick took a moment to breathe through the pain of swinging his feet around. "I still don't want to pee while you're holding me, Pal."
Burbank Airport – Baggage Claim
3:01 p.m.
While waiting for Bev to arrive, Tawny scanned the area for a restroom. "I'll be right back, Sweetie," she told Greg. "I want to freshen up before I see your mom."
Grabbing her hand Greg warned, "You're not in Kansas anymore, Princess. Watch out for weirdos."
"Aww…I love it when you get protective." Grinning, she stole a kiss before trotting off.
With his eyes tracking his fiancée, Greg didn't notice his mother's arrival.
"Gregory Hojem Sanders…who gave you the extreme makeover?" Bev greeted her perfectly tanned and normally coiffed son who was wearing trendy, not silly, clothing. "And where's the girl who will be receiving the rock locked in my dresser drawer?"
"Mom!" He threw his arms around her. "So you like my new look?"
"I do. You're a regular Hollywood heartthrob my Dear." She kissed his cheek. "Tawny is doing an excellent job as your keeper."
"She's of course in the bathroom." Greg chuckled. "Do you think Dad will get suspicious when he notices Tawny peeing every ten minutes?"
"Hmm…speaking of suspicious." Bev backed away with raised brows. "Since you refused to tell me over the phone, I demand you tell me how your car came to be at the airport while you were in Vegas."
"Okay…okay." Slumping his shoulders he confessed, "Becca e-mailed me saying she wanted to give things a go and both Tawny and my therapist…"
"You're in therapy?" Bev's eyes opened wide.
"You found that more shocking than Becca wanting to hook up with me?" he chuckled. "I have to go to therapy because of what happened at work…with Tucker." Actually, it was mandated because he broke Hodges's nose but telling her that story was out of the question but he was really going for entirely different reasons. "I like therapy this time. I'm going to Dr. Myers just like Tawny."
"Bev!" Tawny rushed over and assaulted her future mother-in-law with a bear hug. "Can you believe I'm here! I can't believe I'm here! I'm so excited to be here! I missed you."
With delight in his eyes Greg watched both his mom and Tawny melt from the mutual affection.
When the hug ended Bev said, "Greg was just explaining why his car was parked at the airport while he was in Vegas."
"Oh that." Tawny cuddled up to her half-fiancé. "When I found out Becca had the hots for him I told Greg to come here and hook up with her to see if she was his true love instead of me."
Bev shook her head while looking at the giddy couple. "I mean this in all seriousness, Gregory. If you had sex with Becca to determine if you should get married to Tawny, you get your ass on the next plane to Vegas because I won't be able to look at you, and if it was unprotected sex I will kill you right here in…"
"Mom!" Holding up his hand he stopped her tirade. "I promise there was no sex…just closure."
"For you apparently, but not for Becca." In her head, Bev replayed the words she heard from Becca the other day at the club. "She can't wait to see you, Greg."
"And I swear I don't know how that's possible," he assured both women as they gaped at him. "After she admitted to leading me on for years I called her a selfish bitch and that was only the beginning. Trust me…she was so freaked out she even asked me to calm down because she had never seen me angry and I was scaring her. You know…I was always so sweet and nice, it threw her that I could curse her out and tell her to go to hell."
"What! You didn't tell me she was scared because you were so cold," Tawny shrilled. "Of course she wants you now! Now you're a bad boy! Stupid women always want the asshole who treats them like shit. Trust me on this one because I was a stupid woman for years." She stomped her foot. "Now she'll be panting and chasing you!"
"Women are insane!" Greg yelled loud enough for many surrounding him to hear. "So while I was a super nice guy for years, just dying to love and spoil a woman, I couldn't get a date, but ten minutes of treating one like dirt and I'm suddenly irresistible?"
"Yes!" Tawny replied along with a few other women in the crowd.
"I'll be your date, Baby." A gorgeous man in an Armani suit draped his arm around Greg's shoulders. "You'll find life much less complicated once you eliminate estrogen from it."
"Yeah." Greg sighed, "I tried that once but it didn't do anything for me so…"
"I knew it!" Bev pointed her finger at her son. "You were gay."
The stranger laughed at the concept of temporary gay-ness. "Believe me, if he had it in him, he wouldn't be putting up with chicks."
Butterfield Academy
3:32 p.m.
As Sean ambled across campus to meet his mom at the arranged pick-up place, he noticed girl after girl not noticing him. They never seemed to notice him except when they needed a good laugh.
"Hi, Sean," Catherine warmly greeted the forlorn lad. "Rough first day?"
"Oh…hello, Ms. Willows." Sean forced a smile at the mother of one of the girls making his life a misery. "I'm just tired from all the high level thinking required here at Butterfield. It's much more demanding than public school."
"As it should be for ten grand a year." She waved when she saw Lindsay approaching. "There's my daughter now. I hope she's as exhausted."
"I have to go," Sean mumbled as he took off.
"Hmm…" Catherine's intuition told her another story. "Linds…"
"Mom!" Taking her friend's hand Lindsay introduced her. "This is Celine. She's a total brainiac. She's here on a full scholarship. And she plays softball!"
"Nice to meet you, Celine." Catherine held out her hand.
"Likewise." The girl demurely returned the handshake. "Lindsay was telling me earlier that she's struggling with some of the math. I offered to tutor her."
"Can I stay here for a couple of hours, Mom? We're allowed to use the library and the student union until eight every night," Lindsay asked. "I don't want to get behind on my first day."
"Uh…" Catherine checked her watch. "The problem is, I need to get in some sleep before shift and if you…"
"My mom could drive her home," Celine sweetly offered. "It's on the way."
"Oh." Catherine smiled at the nice new friend her daughter had made. "Thank you." Reaching into her purse Catherine produced a twenty. "In case you get hungry on a study break."
"Thanks, Mom!" Lindsay took the money and gave her a hug. "I'll see you at home."
"Nice meeting you, Ms. Willows," Celine shyly waved goodbye.
Once Catherine was out of sight Lindsay burst out laughing. "How easy was that!"
"Me…on scholarship. Ha!" Celine cracked up. "My father owns The Royale Hotel and Casino."
"So, what are we going to do?"
"We're going shopping, girlfriend." Celine grabbed Lindsay's hand and tugged. "Just because we have to dress like stuffy school girls on the outside, doesn't mean we have to be ones underneath. There's this great thong I saw in a magazine that I have to have!"
Crime Lab
3:45 p.m.
"Welcome back," Sara greeted her husband when he popped his head into the room. As luck would have it, they were alone and she could speak freely. "Did you pack all my romance supplies? I meant to ask specifically for my butterfly thong because…"
"Got it."
"Of course you did." Her smile unfurled. "I'll model it for you tonight."
"If you insist." Before leaving the room he informed her, "Oh…I spoke with my dad and you'll be happy to know the maintenance crew fixed the fan in the guest bathroom."
University Trauma Center – Surgical Floor
Room 310
3:54 p.m.
When she saw Nick returning from the bathroom on Hal's arm Carrie sweetly inquired, "Any output this time?" The first time he had no success.
"No," he grumped.
"Third time will be a charm," Hal said in a hopeful tone as he gently eased his patient onto the bed. "In other good news…I'm going to see where your first liquid meal is."
"Goody." Nick pulled the blanket up to his chin and as soon as they were alone he confessed to Carrie, "It's not my kidneys. I'm so freaking weak he has to hold me up while I hold my pecker. I can't pee while I'm quivering in some strange guy's arms and with my naked ass pressed against his big body. It's way too unnatural of a scenario for me. It's a serious case of stage fright, Darlin'. And stop laughing at me!"
"Sorry! Sorry!" She took a deep breath. "Maybe if I went in there with the two of you?"
Nick dropped his hands on his face. "Right…watching you watch me in that homo-erotic position is going to help."
"There's always the bedpan option Hal mentioned."
"I'm not peeing in a pan while lying in bed before the age of ninety-five, Darlin'."
"Knock knock…" Wendy's voice floated through the opening in the door. "Are you up for visitors? I have Sean and Ryan with me."
"Heck yeah!" Nick snapped out of his funk. "Come on in."
Carrie rushed to hug her sister-in-law. Until now they had only spoken on the phone. "Thanks for coming to visit."
"What the hell happened to you, Ryan?" Nick asked with concern when he saw his busted lip and black eye. "It's like looking in a mirror."
Carrie turned her attention to him as well. "Oh, my gosh. Who did that to you! We'll sue his ass."
Wendy placed one arm around each boy's shoulders. "After they accidentally overheard me talking to Paul about Nick's hospitalization and the fight he had with his brother, I lectured the boys and told them to work on their relationship…citing that they don't want to end up in the hospital one day after beating on each other. Today, one of Sean's old bullies at school went over to Ryan and said some nasty things about Sean."
"So I punched him," Ryan finished. "Unfortunately, the guy was way bigger than me and he got in a few good ones."
"He's suspended," Wendy admitted before releasing a groan. "The other boy was expelled though because he had a lot of history."
"Suspended!" Nick yelled, "On the first day of school? Damn…in my house that would have been equivalent to the Apocalypse."
Feeling terrible, Sean sadly said, "And he may get kicked off the football team." He turned to his aunt. "Is there anything legal you can do to prevent that?"
"I'm afraid not, Sweetie." Sensing Wendy was at wit's end and needed a sympathetic ear Carrie said, "Sis…would you mind going to the cafeteria with me to grab a bite while Sean and Ryan keep Nick company?"
"Please say yes, Wendy," Nick smiled. "I've been surrounded by my five sisters, mother and Carrie for days. I need a little male company."
Kissing her man's cheek Carrie teased, "You had plenty in the bathroom."
"Out!" He pointed to the door. "And take your time, Darlin'. I want some quality time with my posse. Pull up some chairs, men."
Victoria's Secret
4:12 p.m.
Holding up a scant piece of black lace Celine informed Lindsay, "My stepmom, Brandi, just bought a bunch of these for my sister. She said they drive men wild."
"How old is your sister?"
"Sixteen." Celine scoffed, "My stepmom is only twenty-two so they're like buds. Brandi was a topless dancer in my dad's hotel's big show, that's how they met."
"My parents got divorced too," Lindsay shared while shifting her eyes from one sexy piece of apparel to the next.
"Mom and dad got divorced when I was four. Dad's been married three times since. My mom just finalized her second divorce and is working on snagging husband number three." Spying the panties she came for Celine took off across the store.
"You're really going to wear that?" Lindsay asked in disbelief as she stared at the tiny scrap of black and hot pink fabric.
"Why? Do you think the butterflies on the string are too immature since I'm fourteen?"
"Uh…" Not wanting to appear like a silly little girl Lindsay replied, "Now that I see them up close, they don't look little girly, they look hot."
"Awesome!" Celine grabbed a pair in each color. "Aren't you going to get some?"
"Well, I didn't know I was going shopping today, so I didn't bring cash."
"Duh! They take credit cards here."
"I don't have a credit card."
"You don't?"
Watching her friend stare at her like she was a freak show exhibit Lindsay corrected, "I don't have it with me. My mom's real paranoid about identity theft so she tells me not to carry it unless I need to."
"Hey, no sweat. Pick your favorite color and I'll buy them for you. You can buy something for me next time."
"Oh…okay." Lindsay quickly grabbed a black and purple pair and handed them over. "Thanks."
The Mandalay Bay
4:17 p.m.
"Thank you but…" Lina stared at the gorgeous diamond bracelet Ron had just fastened around her wrist. "…it's too much."
"Are you kidding?" With his hands on her shoulders he beamed. "It's not nearly enough for putting up with me all these years. I could clean out Tiffany's and still be in the red. I love you, Lina. I have for a long time." Gently he brushed his lips over hers and together they reveled in their first kiss.
"Wow…" Lina's hands went to her blushing cheeks. "And I thought the bracelet was nice." Shyly she confessed, "That was my first kiss in many years."
"It was my first real one in a very long time." Taking her hand he escorted her to the door. "Now let's go shopping for things for our house."
"But the place comes fully decorated and furnished."
"With someone else's touches." He opened the door. "I want our home to have your touch."
"This fairy tale is getting better by the moment," she joked. "Not that I'm complaining. When Tawny returns from California we'll be able to compare notes."
The Sanders Home
4:27 p.m.
"Here we are," Bev cheerily announced while pulling into her circular drive.
"It's so beautiful!" Tawny exclaimed while eyeing the charming yet elegant sprawling two story home surrounded by lush landscaping and pockets of beautiful flowers. "It's so sweet and countryside at the same time it's so luxurious. Does that make sense?"
"Yes, it does, Honey," Bev replied while pulling her new pewter Mercedes SLK350 convertible roadster into her spot in the four car garage right before Greg drove into his old spot in his Z.
"Mom!" he yelled as they all exited their cars. "You were way over the speed limit and you cut someone off."
"Sorry, Honey…" She covered her mouth like a guilty child. "It's such a smooth ride that…"
"My kids were in the car with you on the freeway." He rushed over to Tawny's side. "Why didn't you answer your cell? I was calling you to tell her to slow down."
"Oops." She fumbled through her purse until she found her phone. "The ringer's off." Slipping her arms around his waist she smiled. "Aww…you were worried about the babies and me."
As Greg cuddled her, he scowled at his reckless mother.
"Do you want to ground me?" Bev asked, trying to joke her way out of the dog house.
"Beverly Hojem Sanders, this is not a laughing matter," he scolded before breaking out in a laugh. "I'll forgive you if you give me the keys and let me drive it while I'm here."
"Deal." She tossed them and then caught his.
"Sweet." He tucked them in his pocket and grabbed Tawny's hand. "We'll get your stuff after the tour."
As Bev unlocked the door leading from the garage into the house she said, "Your father won't be home until six so feel free to act pregnant, Tawny and let's get some gushing about babies in before he gets here. I bought a few things and have them locked in my dresser."
"Ooh!" she squealed, hoping to catch a sneak peek of the ring while she was at it.
"Don't even think about it," Greg warned. "When and how I'm proposing along with what the ring looks like are all the surprises I have left. I don't even want her to see the box, Mom. Got it?"
"There's no way I'm ruining the surprise, Honey," Bev replied as she walked down the hall towards the kitchen. She worked too hard arranging the extravaganza to have it ruined.
Taking in every inch of the home's décor Tawny said, "I haven't felt this kind of anticipation since I was a little girl on Christmas morning."
Bev rolled her eyes, "And how did you celebrate Christmas in Amish country, Ann Yoder?" Tawny had filled her in on the plan on the drive over.
"Well, like any other day we woke and completed our chores but after that, we gathered, and the eldest member of the group read the story of Christmas from the Bible. After that, we drew lots to see who would open their presents first after the noon meal." Tawny winked at Greg. "Most gifts are hand made and they were always practical. Some things we do the same as The English though…like baking special cookies and exchanging greeting cards."
"Brava," Bev clapped. "You had me snowed."
"Holy shit!" Tawny shrieked when she looked out the kitchen windows. "That's your backyard? It looks like a resort. Oh my god! It's so freakin' awesome!"
Bev winked at her son. "She sounded very Amish just then."
"Well, she has been off the farm for five years." Greg unlocked the French doors and joked, "I'll take you for a stroll of the grounds. I think you'll like what you see."
University Trauma Center – Surgical Floor
Room 310
4:41 p.m.
When Carrie and Wendy reached the open doorway to Nick's room they were surprised to see Ryan reading aloud from his Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone book while Sean watched sports on TV.
"'I know you haven't, said Professor McGonagall, sounding half ex'…" Stuck on the word Ryan began sounding it out. "Ex-as-perat-ed. What's that?"
"Ex-as-per-ate-ed," Sean mindlessly corrected his brother. "You didn't know what it was because you were saying it wrong."
"I'm coaching him," Nick reminded him. "What's happening in the game?"
"Two strikes have been thrown and three balls. There is a player on first, second and third bases, and it's the top of the ninth inning."
Ryan rolled his eyes, "You mean…it's do or die with a full count and bases loaded."
"We have a long way to go to get you both balanced, gentlemen," Nick sighed. "Exasperated, to answer your question, Ryan, means to be impatient and angry. Like you get when Sean doesn't know something you think he should and vice versa."
"Why does it say Professor McGonagall is half exasperated?" He smiled when he got the word right this time. "How can you be half impatient and angry?"
"McGonagall is also admiring Dumbledore for being able to say Voldemort's name without fear so she's partly irritated and partly proud. Kind of like when I broke my brother's nose the other day…he was pissed off because it hurt but he was proud I managed to accomplish it after all these years. Not that I'm sayin' it's ever good to break someone's nose."
Wendy saw it as a good point to step inside the room. "I'm half exasperated and half proud of you, Ryan…I'm proud that you defended your brother but ticked about how you went about it."
"You're back already?" Nick stated before checking the clock. "I was just getting into the story. Until now I've only heard about this Harry Potter stuff, I've never had time to get into it. It's cool."
"Aww…" Wendy patted the patient on the head. "How about Ryan leaves his copy here and I'll buy him a new one on the way home. Then, since he's suspended, I can bring him back tomorrow and leave him for an hour and the two of you can have your own book club."
"Cool!" Ryan handed over his copy. "How many pages do you think you can read by morning?"
"Is that some kind of challenge, Punk?" Nick leafed through the book. "Since I'm still a little weak and on drugs I'll say…the first five chapters."
Sean covered his mouth to stifle the laugh. Ryan hadn't read five chapters all summer, to think he'd do five in one night was impossible.
"You're on!"
"And, Sean…" Nick called over. "Your homework is to watch Sportscenter and tell me some plays of the day. Your brother can give you an assist if you need it."
"Speaking of brothers…" Jillian announced from the doorway. "Nicky…you father and brother are down the hall in the lounge. Are you up for their visit or should they come back later?"
Wendy scooted her boys out of the room. "See you tomorrow."
Glancing over at Carrie, Nick asked, "Will you be my bodyguard, Sweetheart?"
"You bet." She took a seat on the edge of the bed. "I may not be strong enough to walk you to the bathroom but if your brother gets out of line rest assured I'll be kicking him in the nuts. Jillian…in ten minutes, send them in."
Crime Lab
5:02 p.m.
As soon as he stepped outside the building with Sara, Gil took his wife's hand. "Feel like celebrating your Hcg results?"
His thoughtfulness delighting her, Sara asked, "Hmm…what did you have in mind?"
"Taking you out to dinner. I was thinking of…" His offer was interrupted when a distinguished man in a suit approached. "Excuse me, are you Dr. Gil Grissom?"
Believing he recognized the man from a court and thinking he was a fellow scientist Gil answered, "Yes. And you are?"
Reaching into his pocket the man retrieved an envelope. "Here you go." When the envelope was taken from his hands he turned to walk away. "You've been served."
"Served?" Sara snipped. "With what?"
Holding up the paper Gil shook his head. "A temporary order of protection until a court hearing. Specifically, an Injunction against Harassment, courtesy of none other than Ben Rodgers."
"Unbelievable!" Sara snatched the document.
"Remember…we agreed, we're not going to let them interfere with our happiness." Gil removed the document from his angry wife's hands. "Even if this holds up in court, which I'm sure it won't…it means I can't get near Ben Rodgers, that's not going to change anything about my life."
"It's so annoying."
"Exactly." Gil stuck the envelope in his briefcase. "Annoying us is the goal. Now I have to take off from work and attend a hearing."
"Fine." Sara shook off the irritation. "Whatever. We're the ones celebrating our baby, going out to dinner wherever we please and then returning to a comfy bed where we'll make love all night…"
Gil raised his brows.
"Well for an hour anyway," Sara laughed. "My point is…the best Mike can hope for tonight is prison rations and a date with his hand or some big dude named Bubba. Annoying us from behind bars is realistically the only way he can have fun. Well that, or closing his eyes and living out his sick fantasies."
Ely State Prison Library
5:09 p.m.
After placing his library books in the return slot, Mike meandered to the rear of the room.
"What are you looking for?" Ray Innes, one of the guards working library duty asked.
"A good read," he answered through a grin while stealthily slipping a tightly folded hundred dollar bill to his buddy. "As you were, man." With that, Mike opened the usually locked door to the supply closet and slipped inside like he did every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at ten after five. "Well, hello there," he greeted his date who was leaning against a box of donated books.
"How are you, Michael?" The thirty-four year old librarian with dark brown hair and brown eyes grinned at the sight of her man. "I've missed you."
"Good…because I've missed you, Sweetheart." He wasted no time getting busy because he only had ten minutes. "You got the perfume I told you to buy." It was the one Sara wore in Tahoe.
"Yes," Janice confirmed while letting him have his way. "Thanks for giving me the money to buy it."
"Anything for you, Baby. Now remember…no words." It was astonishing, the similarities between her and Sara, their bodies were almost identical, all that was missing was a slight gap between her front teeth and Sara's sexy voice. …that's why he always asked her not to speak and focused on her hair. Under those terms, the fantasy was nearly perfect and now the new perfume brought it to new heights.
Janice couldn't blame him for being pent up so she never complained about his gruffness. One day, when he was free from the unjust prison term and they were married and not making love on the sly, she was sure he'd be gentler.
"Don't worry, Baby…" He grinned, thinking of the fantasy one day turning reality. "…I'm almost there."
Celine Campbell's Limo
5:17 p.m.
"Can we cruise for a while because I'm loving the ride? I can't believe you have a limo!" Lindsay yelled for the third time as she reclined on the plush velvet seat.
"It's the hotel's limo," she corrected. "It's one of the perks you get when your dad owns a hotel."
Opening the sun roof Lindsay huffed, "Yeah? My granddad owns a bunch of hotels and he's never offered me a limo at my disposal."
Fixing her lip gloss Celine asked, "Who's your grandfather?"
"Sam Braun."
Dropping her gloss she barked, "What did you just say?"
"Sam Braun…he's my grandfather."
Pressing the call button Celine yelled, "Stop the car!" Next she reached over and opened the backdoor. "You have to get out."
"What!" Lindsay glanced out the open door. "You're kicking me out on The Strip? Why!"
"Because Sam Braun screwed my dad out of some property and he's like number one on my dad's shit list, that's why! If he knows I'm hanging out with Sam's granddaughter he'll go postal." She started pushing Lindsay out the door. "We can't be friends."
"What is this, platonic Romeo and Juliet! Our families are feuding so we can't hang?" Lindsay yelled as she grabbed her backpack and practically fell out of the limo.
"Exactly!" With that, Celine slammed the door.
Watching the limo peel away Lindsay was floored. A man she had interacted with only a handful of times just cost her the first cool friend she made at Butterfield. "Damn." Tossing her pack on her back she started down the street. There in the distance she saw the flashing sign of her grandfather's newest hotel, The Tempest and her eyes narrowed. "I'm going to give that man a piece of my mind!"
University Trauma Center – Surgical Floor
Room 310
5:25 p.m.
Sitting in chairs next to Nick's bed, Judge Stokes and Andy waited for Nick's nurse to finish changing out an IV bag before making their apologies. They were just about to speak when the gentleman had bounded into the room.
In an effort to weather the severely awkward silence Carrie said, "As luck would have it, today's Jell-O flavor here at the hospital is cherry…Nicky's favorite."
"It was good," he added while giving Carrie's hand a squeeze. "I ate the whole cup. And there was some broth."
"Bullion actually," Carrie sweetly corrected.
"Yeah, bullion…right…that was good too."
When the terribly uncomfortable feeling quickly returned Carrie remedied the situation yet again. "How's your nose, Andy?"
"Huh?" Focused on his planned speech he had tuned out the conversation. "I don't care for Jell-O but, if I had to choose, I'd say my favorite flavor is lime."
"I asked, how's your nose?"
"Oh." Instinctively bringing his fingers to his crooked schoz he replied, "I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to have it re-broken and set. Thanks for asking."
"Ooh." Carrie shivered. "Sounds painful." She left out the second half of her thought…I hope they don't have any pain medication on hand and just give you a stick to bite down on, you dirty dog.
"All set," Hal announced. "Mr. Stokes, I'll be back in twenty five minutes for our third try. If you need me before then, buzz me."
"Sure thing, Hal." Nick waved. Yeah…I'm counting the minutes until I get to have my pee crawl back up yet again, because you're holding me tight and breathing down my neck waiting to see some results. And when you don't see results this time… you're gonna expect me to lie still in bed while you grab my pecker and shove a tube up it. Holy hell, I want to kill my brother all over again for starting this whole mess.
When Carrie saw Nick furiously snapping his rubber band she grabbed his wrist. "Honey…"
"Oh."
"Nick…" Judge Stokes cleared his throat. "Your brother and I are here to apologize to you."
"I get why Andy needs to apologize, Dad…but why you?"
Carrie scooted a little closer to her puzzled fiancé and waited for an explanation.
"I'm sure I don't have to tell you that emotions have been running quite high the past couple of days. This morning your mother sat me down and brought something to my attention." He glanced over at his eldest son. "When you were in surgery, your fiancée, who was gravely concerned about you, confronted Andrew about his treatment of you over the years. During that heated conversation Andrew told your mother that he was following my orders to toughen you up."
Knowing the revelation would be hard on Nick, Carrie grasped his hand a little tighter.
"Although he has solidified his reputation as a liar, it pains me to admit he was not lying about that. I told your brother I was concerned you weren't tough enough to make something of yourself in this oft-merciless world. I saw you as weak…a mama's boy is the term I used with your brother, because you had suddenly started clinging to your mama and crying too easy." After a quick breath he confessed, "I specifically directed Andrew to do whatever it took to get you to come around. Only today do I realize how far he took his role and while he clearly should have maintained certain boundaries, I am ultimately responsible because I never asked how he was accomplishing the task. I just blindly accepted the success."
"Um…when was this order given to Andy?" Nick asked after swallowing the lump that had risen in his throat.
"When you were nine," the burdened father replied. "Now, your mother has told me that I was gravely mistaken about the situation, that there were extenuating circumstances that led to your behavior, but she would not tell me what those were. She said it would be up to you to tell me and that it was within your rights not to share the details and not my place to push if you opted not to share them." When he saw his son tense and Carrie gulp, Judge Stokes nodded, "Honestly, I don't ever need to know the details, Son, if you don't want to share them."
Nick released the breath held hostage in his lungs.
"So, with all that said, Nicholas…I hope you will accept my apology for my gross error in judgment, my poor parenting decision, and the subsequent suffering you endured when you had already suffered enough." Swallowing hard he said, "I will be taking the guilt to my grave because…I expected perfection from my children while I wasn't practicing it myself. Hypocrisy, as you know, is a hard pill for me to swallow. I am guilty as charged and can only ask for your forgiveness because I am truly remorseful and come before you a humbled man."
Overwhelmed, he looked to Carrie for validation and when he saw tears welling in her eyes and a quick nod he returned his gaze to his sullen father. "I accept your apology and want nothing more than to put it behind us and move on."
"Thank you, Son. You and your mother have always been the most compassionate ones in our family. I'm glad Andrew was unsuccessful in eradicating that. " Judge Stokes rose and extended his hand. Once the gesture was accepted he said, "Now, I'll leave your brother to speak his peace. And, Carrie…when you have a chance, I need to share a conversation I had with your boss earlier. I'll wait for you in the lounge."
"My boss?" Carrie felt torn between her curiosity and her job as bodyguard.
"I'll be okay," Nick gently pushed her.
Andy raised his hand. "I swear he's safe with me, but if it makes you feel better you can tie me to the chair."
After looking around the room for something that would function like rope but not seeing anything, Carrie relented, "I won't be long."
Once they were alone Andy moved from the chair to the edge of Nick's bed.
"Are you going to smother me?" Nick snipped. "Because you should know that's one of the easiest murders to figure out."
"Damn…" Andy tossed up his hands. "I guess it's on to Plan B then."
The Sanders Home
5:45 p.m.
"Aren't they adorable?" Bev asked Tawny as she held up the matching baby outfits she pulled from her dresser drawer. "They can be used for a boy or girl so, whatever combo we get, they'll work."
"Greg!" Tawny gushed with excitement. "Can you believe how cute these are!"
Lying on his parents' bed watching the spectacle he replied, "Seeing those teeny tiny outfits is making me really tense. Little babies will be in those…and little babies hate me."
Deflated, she snapped, "Would you stop saying that already. Our babies will not hate you."
"I have a surprise for you, Honey." Bev took a seat on the bed next to her nervous son. "Robbie and his wife are joining us for dinner tonight and they're bringing their four month old…"
"Baby!" Tawny screeched. "Yes! It will love you and you'll get over your fear once and for all." Holding up one of the little outfits covered in pastel safari animals she imagined little Haleigh Ann Sanders in it. "Awww."
"I thought I heard voices in here," Scott announced as he stepped into his bedroom. "Tawny!"
"Oh!" Tawny hid the baby outfits behind her back, not realizing one slipped and fell to the floor in the process.
"Honey!" Bev scampered over to smooch her husband and distract him. "You're early."
Greg rolled off the bed and kicked the second baby outfit under the dresser. "Hi, Dad!" When he placed his arm around Tawny's waist he took the outfit from her hand and jammed it in his pocket. "Busy day at the office?"
"An emergency appointment threw the whole schedule out of whack this morning, but thanks to a few cancellations, we got back on track."
"What's that smell?" Tawny asked as her stomach started to violently churn.
"Surprise!" Scott produced a jumbo bag of raw shrimp. "A little surf to go with our turf at tonight's BBQ." He held it up for his guest to inspect. "Caught right off the coast."
One look at the slimy crustaceans along with another whiff of their smelly odor and Tawny was clamping her hands over her mouth trying to figure out which door was the bathroom.
"That's a closet!" Greg yelled. "Go right. No! Your other right! Oh!"
The three Sanders family members cringed simultaneously as Tawny hurled into a hamper.
"That's okay, Sweetie," Bev assured her. "They were dirty anyway."
Scott's eyes were fixed on the baby outfit spilling out of his son's pocket. "Greg…why do you have infant wear stuffed in your trousers?" Then he turned to see Tawny heave a second time while clutching her belly…a belly that looked slightly bigger than the first time he met her. Right after that, his eyes fell on an open baby décor magazine lying on the bed and then they moved to his wife who looked tense. "Bev?" Finally they came to rest on his son who looked tenser still. "Greg…"
"Those shrimp really should get to the fridge." Greg snatched the bag and darted out of the room. "Food poisoning can occur when shellfish is not properly stored."
"Oh my god!" Bev shrieked. "She's fainting."
"Catch her!" Greg dropped the shrimp and raced back into the room.
"I've got her," Scott assured his son while gently placing Tawny on the bed. "Is this a medical emergency and I should call 911?" Gently tapping the girl's cheeks he offered another option. "Or, are sudden nausea, vomiting and fainting a routine happening for some biologically explicable and highly disappointing reason?"
"Uh…" Greg averted his eyes.
Scott pulled out his cell phone and punched in the number nine.
"Um…" Sweating profusely he struggled for the right words.
He punched in a one and shoved the phone displaying 9-1 in front of his son's face. "Do I need to keep going, Gregory?"
"No."
Author's Notes:
I hope everyone had a nice weekend and enjoyed the mostly lighthearted chapter.
Thanks to Rojaji, Misty J and moia for their reviews.
Thanks for reading everyone!
Maggs
Next Chapter: Gil and Sara do something hot, Greg is ablaze on the hot seat, Lindsay is ready to give her granddad some hell, and Nick listens to his brother and wonders whether or not he should go to hell. Posting: Wednesday night.