Laws of Motion – Book 1
Written by: Ms Maggs / Edited by: KJT
Chapter 36
September 3, 2005
Grissom's Mercedes
11:02 p.m.
After buckling his seat belt Gil turned to his stunned wife and said, "That was…"
"Something I really didn't need to witness." Sara blew out a tortured sigh. "Really…that was…"
"Extremely uncomfortable." Flipping the ignition Gil shook his head. "And going to be very hard to forget when we're back at work on Monday."
Warrick's SUV
11:03 p.m.
"Are you buckled up back there?" Warrick quizzed while glancing over his shoulder at McKenna who had a vice grip on her stuffed rabbit as she sat next to Lindsay. "Little Lady, your Aunt and Uncle have entrusted me to get you home safe so I want to be sure you're secure."
McKenna flashed her customary thumbs up. "Please get me away from the weird man, Mister Brown."
Lindsay nodded at her pseudo stepdad. "What she said."
Sitting in the front passenger seat, Catherine finally found common ground with her daughter. "You heard the kids, Mister Brown…step on it."
Nick and Carrie's Apartment
11:04 p.m.
Sitting in the dark at the patio table, Sean stared at the stars and prayed that somehow, even though he was a social misfit as a kid, he would grow up to be a normal adult.
Greg and Tawny's Limo
11:05 p.m.
Sitting naked across from Tawny in the back of the limo Greg fished out a third roasted peanut from the can in his left hand. "Let's see if you can go three for three." Grinning, he tossed the nut and rooted for Tawny to catch it between her breasts. "Score!" Greg lunged forward to retrieve his snack, happy to be partaking in such a frivolous activity after days of proposal anxiety.
"Why isn't this sporting event in the Olympics?" Giggling from Greg's touch Tawny said, "You're turn to catch."
"I don't think I'll be very good," Greg announced before laughing. "I lack the proper equipment."
"We'll be playing a different Limo Olympics event." Scooting over Tawny pressed the intercom button.
"Yes, Miss?"
"We're craving some fast food back here…onion rings in particular…and not those puny ones from Burger King." Winking at Greg she said, "No, we need jumbo onion rings."
"I know just the place Miss. It will be two minutes."
"Great. After that you can bring us to the hotel." Upon clicking off the intercom Tawny said, "I'm really good at ring toss."
"Uh…" Greg shifted uncomfortably against the leather. "You are going to let the deep fried onion rings cool off, right?"
Slinking over to him Tawny purred, "Mmm, of course…and while they're cooling off, I'll be warming you up for the big event, Baby."
Reclining against the leather Greg grinned from ear to ear. "I'm having the best night!"
Grissom's Mercedes
11:10 p.m.
Stopped at a red light Gil glanced over at Sara. "Are you still thinking about…"
"Yep."
"Is the image burned into your…"
"Yep."
The Blakes
11:15 p.m.
When Wendy opened the door she scooped up her daughter and cheerily asked, "Did you have a fun time at the party, Sweetie? I can't believe you're still awake at this hour."
"She was asleep," Catherine informed her neighbor. "Until…"
"The weird man woke me up," McKenna droned.
Wendy shot Catherine a look. "What is she talking about?"
Nick and Carrie's Apartment
11:17 p.m.
Saddened to the core Carrie walked into the apartment and shut the door behind her. "That was…"
"Horrible," Nick stated in a heartbroken voice from his position on the couch. "Devastating."
Wiping an errant tear Carrie approached the couch. "I feel awful."
"I'm sick to my stomach." Nick placed his palm on his knotting gut.
Sitting next to his uncle, wearing the same nauseous expression, Ryan nodded. "I feel the same way."
"Really, Ryan?" A faint smile appeared on Carrie's face. "I'm surprised a guy your age would be so affected."
Swallowing hard Nick bit back his tears. "I was so sure…damn…I was totally caught off guard. I couldn't believe my own eyes."
"Me either." Ryan slumped a little further into the couch pillows. "It was like time stood still and then BAM…it was over."
Sitting between the guys Carrie sadly said, "Maybe it's for the best."
"What!" Nick and Ryan yelled as they stared at the insane woman between them.
"They didn't put in the work required so maybe they didn't deserve to make it."
"How can you say that, Darlin'!" Nick blasted. "They gave everything they had. No one expected Dean to pull off that unwanted miracle!"
"Dean?" Carrie gaped at her man. "Who's Dean?"
Ryan fielded the question for his clueless aunt. "Jad Dean…the guy from Clemson who just kicked a school record field goal in the last two seconds of the game for a heartbreaking 25-24 Clemson victory over the Aggies."
"Football!" Carrie blasted as she leapt off the couch. "Football! Your eyes are watering over the outcome of a football game when a marriage just imploded in front of our eyes!"
"Oh…" Nick cleared his throat and sat a little taller. "You were talking about Hodges and Celeste, not A&M's horrific loss." From the way she was staring at him Nick knew he was in the dog house. "Sorry…it's the meds…I just dosed up about twenty minutes ago and they're making me real slow tonight."
"Nicky…" Having personally escorted a sobbing Celeste to a taxi, Carrie was still shaken. "How could you finish watching the game when two people's hearts just shattered all over our living room floor?"
Ryan nudged his uncle. "Can you see shattered pieces of heart with the ALS or just sailors?"
"Ryan Patrick Blake!" Carrie threw a pillow at her nephew. "And here I thought you were being a sensitive guy!"
"Why would I want to be a sensitive guy?" Ryan countered. "Uncle Nick said sensitive guys don't get laid."
"I didn't tell him that!" Nick urgently placed his hand over Ryan's mouth. "The boy must have overheard me joking with Greg."
Infuriated by the lack of sensitivity in the room Carrie stormed into the bedroom and slammed the door.
Pointing at Ryan Nick spat, "You need to get that blurting problem under control, boy! Never share anything said man to man with a woman! It goes against the guy code. Break the code too many times and your nads will shrivel up to raisins and stay that way permanently."
From the patio doorway where he had been listening, Sean's tension returned full force. Now, on top of everything else, he had to worry about permanent testicle dehydration.
"Pardon me boys." Nick pulled himself to standing. "I need to go and dig my way out of the dog house."
"Uncle Nick…" Ryan pointed to the TV. "Can I order a pay-per-view movie?"
"Sure, do whatever you want, just don't disturb us in the bedroom." When he saw Sean gulp Nick clarified, "I'll be getting my ass chewed out and I don't want your aunt to be interrupted because then she'll start from scratch." Before opening the bedroom door he lectured his young guests, "You can eat whatever you want, watch TV, and stay up as late as you like since it's not a school night…sheets and pillows are in the hall linen closet…if you even sniff booze I'll kick your ass."
When Nick disappeared into the bedroom and Ryan heard the door lock a smile exploded on his face. "Okay, my brother, you rule following geek, you heard what he said, right?"
"Yes." Sean took a seat on the couch next to Ryan and watched him program the remote. "What movie are you ordering?"
"Naughty College Girls Number Five."
"What!" Sean grabbed the remote. "You can't…"
"Ah…ah…ah." Ryan pointed to the bedroom. "You heard the rules…he said we could watch TV and I could order a movie."
Gripping his hair Sean rocked on the couch. "But we're only twelve and the movie is rated more than R! The rule is you have to be seventeen. I'm sure Uncle Nick expects us to follow the Motion Picture Association's dictates."
"First of all, we'll be thirteen in two days…since you're a math whiz you really should know the rules about rounding up…we're teens. As far as the R rating goes…if your parent or guardian says it's okay for you to watch, you're allowed…and Uncle Nick said we could watch whatever we want."
"No! He said eat whatever you want."
When Ryan saw the movie description, 'These sexy College Students have been very naughty, now it is time for them to be taught a lesson' he remarked, "Don't worry…I'll be chewing up the scenery." Only seconds into the opening shot Ryan nodded. "Oh yeah…boobs on the fifty inch plasma in HDTV…I'm in heaven."
The Willows/Brown Household
11:21 p.m.
With a cold can of Diet Coke in hand, Lindsay plopped into her desk chair and clicked the AOL icon on her laptop. Anxious to blog about the night's events, she tapped her fingers on her chair's arm while waiting for the welcome screen to pop up and when it did she typed away...
Tonight I was forced to go to this lame partyat my mother's co-worker's house to watch a video of another one of her co-workers proposing to the girl he knocked up two months ago and it ended up being a total freak show when yet another co-worker of my mothers went nuts while we all sat there. As if all of that wasn't bad enough, The Geek and The Jock were there too! Ugh! The Jock ignored me all night which wasgreat, but The Geek spoke…waaaaaaaaaay too much…he really needs to learn when to shut up . But we're cool again. Well, he's not cool, he's still a geek , but things are cool between us which I'm kinda happy about in a not happy about it in 'that' way so CHILL I'm happy because I need a friend at school. The Geek wasn't that bad tonight. He was funny actually…not that he was trying to be funny. What that boy doesn't know…
Nick and Carrie's Apartment
11:23 p.m.
"Ryan…" Sean grabbed a couch pillow and hugged it tight. "The other movies didn't show…"
"That's because the other movies were on a regular movie channel. This stuff is premium pay for soft porn." Ryan tilted his head. "Whoa."
"What if we get busted?" Sean gulped as he partially shielded his eyes.
Ryan grabbed a bowl of popcorn from the table and relaxed. "Don't sweat it…they're not coming out of the bedroom for a loooong time. You know, like when Mom and Dad get cranky about something and go off 'to talk' in the bedroom and then come out looking much happier."
And while the boys snuck a little late night naughty TV, the big boy in the bedroom was working his way out of the dog house.
"Carrie…would you look at me please?" He tapped on her shoulder hoping she'd turn over. "Are you asleep?"
"No…" Flipping onto her back she wiped her tears and rambled like the drunk, stressed out and overly emotional woman she was, "I'm just sad…Tawny and Greg were so happy in that video, and I was so happy, and then all that trauma between David and Celeste had to happen and remind me that there's still so much sadness in the world…and then you with the football game being Mr. Insensitivity…ugh…and everyone hated my bean dip even though I followed the recipe."
"I liked your bean dip."
"You're high on painkillers, you'd eat anything…I saw you eat hospital food, remember?" Two new tears squeezed out the corners of her eyes. "This isn't about the bean dip."
"I know." Slipping his hand into hers Nick firmly planted a kiss on the back of it. "I'm sorry if I irritated you, but I have to be honest…I really didn't feel much of anything about Hodges and Celeste breaking up because although he's a co-worker, I barely know him…and I don't know Celeste at all. Sure it sucks to see two people miserable but really…you said it yourself, they jumped into marriage without knowing anything important about each other. To me that's making a mockery of an institution I hold dear…so, no, I don't feel sorry for them. Hell, Greg and Tawny had all the reason in the world to have an insta-wedding but they've been taking their time and putting a lot of effort into getting to know each other and working through a lot of drama so they don't end up making a mistake…and look at the pay off. Tonight they were both on cloud nine and confident about spending the rest of their lives together. Now if it had been Greg and Tawny having that shouting match in my living room I would have been freaked because they're my good friends and innocent babies futures would be at stake. I guarantee you I wouldn't have been up to watching the game afterwards if Greg and Tawny had called it quits in my living room. Sorry if that sounds insensitive, but I think it's more important to be honest than to tell you what you want to hear."
Glancing in Nick's direction Carrie sighed, "So, while I'm playing the part of the silly drunk girl who just wants everyone to be happy because she's been dealing with sadness and pain all week, you're going to be a logical man about this, huh?"
"Sorry, I'm predisposed by my DNA." Smiling, he pointed to the spot next to her. "Can I snuggle up or are you still ticked?"
She answered by opening her arms to welcome him.
"You know…" Nick paused to kick off his shoes and then he cuddled up. "We cancelled everyone coming over tonight for a reason…so we could have a quiet evening at home watching our first football game together and recouping from a hellish week. The game was important to me, not because I'm a football nutjob, but because it was my opportunity to zone out from everything else weighing heavy on my brain for a few hours."
"I know…I know…and I'm really sorry." Carrie pushed out a heavy sigh. "When Ryan called and wanted to watch the game with you because Sean got to frolic on a farm of corpses all day with Gil, I felt sorry for him. Then McKenna got on the phone and reminded me I said she could see you when you came home because only the boys were old enough to visit you in the hospital. After that, Sara took the phone and asked if you were okay...what can I say?" Smiling at her man Carrie said, "You're just too popular and I'm a softie."
Once Nick was in his fiancée's arms Nick he confessed, "I never shoulda challenged Hodges to that game of Trivial Pursuit…"
Dying to finish the never-ending game of Trivial Pursuit, Nick secretly asked an easy question he recalled from a previous card rather than the obscure one on the card he pulled. "Damn it!" he faked annoyance. "Just my luck...it's a leisure question." "Damn it! It's a leisure question."
"Yes!" Hodges slid to the edge of his seat and readied for his win. "I'm the King of Leisure!"
Shaking his head Nick groaned the question, "What flavor is the schnapps that puts the fuzzy in a fuzzy navel?"
"Peach!" Hodges exclaimed while jumping to his feet. "I won! I won! Yesssssssssss!" Around the room he did the happy dance and finally he came to rest in front of his wife who he only then noticed was crying. "Tears of joy over my win! That's so sweet! No, it's peachy!"
"They're not tears of joy, David." Celeste didn't make an effort to wipe them because she knew fresh ones would stream in their place. "You're happy that you won so you don't have to discuss kids with me anymore. It's over…and I don't mean the game."
On the couch Catherine grabbed the remote from Nick, muted the TV and put on the captions.
"What?" David reached out and took his wife's hand. "No…I'm happy because Nick has to suck up to me for a week."
"It's okay…you are who you are and I don't want to force you or change you." Celeste crossed the room to find her purse. "I've watched you all night…you and the children blended as well as water and oil."
In his science-challenged brother's ear Sean whispered, "That's bad."
Checking his watch, Grissom loudly cleared his throat. "Wow! Look at the time, Sara." He had been around long enough to recognize a train wreck.
"Right!" She jumped out of her seat in the dining room. "We have this thing in the morning…" Unfortunately her path was blocked by the unhappy couple.
"I like some kids. Like…" David glanced around. "This kid!" He yelled as he grabbed Sean by the arm and pulled him close. "Stan is great!"
"My name's Sean…and can you let go of me, please?"
Hodges stared at the kid. "Is your middle name Stan?"
"Let go of my brother!" McKenna charged across the room and kicked the weird man in the shin.
"Ow!" Hodges released his grip on Sean's wrist and raced his hand to the bruise forming. "Dammit! Those pointy pink dress up shoes hurt!"
"The mean man said a bad word!" McKenna shrilled while pointing.
"Goodbye, David." Celeste hurried in front of the couch but was stopped when her husband's grabbed her arm pleading, "I can change!"
With his view of the TV blocked during the last minutes of the fourth quarter, Nick deadpanned, "How about changing locations for a start?"
But the couple could only hear each other's desperate words.
"A mutual love of board games, the bionic man and cream soda isn't enough, David." Celeste stood her ground. "I've waited this long for happiness and I refuse to cheat myself by settling."
"You don't have to settle! You can have my seed! And I'm not just saying it! I mean it. I'll prove it to you!" He frantically glanced around the room until he found his hostess. "Carrie! May we borrow your guest room for ten minutes!"
"Ten minutes?" Warrick raised his brow at Catherine. "That's the saddest thing I heard so far."
"Uh…" Caught off guard by the request and too drunk to think clearly, Carrie said, "Sure! But I haven't had time to change the sheets since Nick's mom slept there…but don't worry, she's very clean." When she saw Sara cringe Carrie shrugged. "What should I have said!"
When Hodges and Celeste quickly disappeared into the guest room a hush fell over the room until Lindsay said, "Nick…Hodges is trying to impregnate his wife in your guest room while children are present. Shouldn't you be doing something?"
"Yeah…" Nick's eyes were locked on the TV as he reclaimed the remote from Catherine. "I'll turn up the volume so we don't hear anything."
"You're insane!" was what everybody heard instead of the football game as Celeste threw open the guest room door and bolted out fully clothed. "You don't create a life this way, David! It should be done out of love, not a pathetic desperation to remain married!"
"Damn…" Nick and Warrick both groaned as the hysterical guest paused in front of the TV again.
"Pooky!" Hodges darted out of the room pulling up his pants but tripped on a Barbie doll and dropped his drawers upon startling. With his shirt off, his white skin brightened the room. "Don't leave me!"
"Oh!" Everyone gasped at the sight of Hodges standing there with his black trousers around his ankles and his Pillsbury Dough Boy Boxers that said, 'What's Cookin'.
"My mommy has an apron with the dough boy on it," McKenna curiously announced while staring at the weird man. "I understand that." Shaking her head she sighed, "This I don't understand."
"Don't worry, Sweetie." Catherine pulled the little girl on her lap. "It's a good thing you don't."
And while everyone was mesmerized by the front of Hodges's boxers, only Sara could see the back which displayed the words 'Good Lookin'. "Oh!" The sight of that saying on her co-worker's ass combined with his pale skin and hairy legs forced her to shield her eyes.
"I love you, Celeste!" Hodges pleaded as he got down on his knees. "I can't be a two-time loser at love. First Vicky Lynn dumps me and now you! Please!"
Holding her head high, Celeste grabbed her purse. "Carrie…Nick…it was lovely meeting you both, but if you'll excuse me, I have to get home and feed my ferrets."
"I'll walk you out!" Carrie shouted, feeling horrible for the sobbing woman.
"Hodges…" Grissom prodded the stunned man. "You really should pull up your pants now."
Staring at each other Carrie remarked, "How funny is it that Hodges's first dumping was by a girl named Vicky Lynn?"
"You mean because it's the name of the chick whose ass you kicked in Flagstaff?"
"What if they're the same person!" she giddily exclaimed.
"The world is small, but not that small." Shifting to get a little more comfortable Nick said, "I have a surprise for you, Darlin'."
"Really?"
"I pulled Sara aside earlier and asked if she was free to hang out with you tomorrow." A loving smile crested on Nick's face. "When she stepped outside she was calling around looking for spa openings. She'll be coming by in the morning to accompany you on a girls-only day of pampering…eight solid hours away from caring for me and worrying." He winked to signal he had inside knowledge. "Call it a mini vacation from your tour of duty."
"Awww…she was worried about me…and you're worried about me." Leaning over she snatched a kiss that sent her stomach into a delightful swirl. "Eight hours? But I'm going to miss you…maybe we could just do four." When a pillow smacked her in the face she cracked up.
"I don't want to see your ass in this apartment for eight hours tomorrow, Blake." Removing the pillow he teased, "That just clued me into your real problem. I haven't seen your ass in over a week."
"How is that my problem?" she asked in a laugh.
Knowing she'd be shy about it, Nick whispered the answer in her ear. "You're tense because you haven't been actively releasing tension after getting used to regularly releasing tension in bed with me."
"I really do miss that," she confessed. "I didn't know what I was missing before I met you, but now that I do know what I'm missing…I miss it…I reeeeally miss it." When she felt his fingers dip under her t-shirt Carrie smacked his hand. "Hey now…you're restricted for another week. Just because I'm drunk, I'm not letting you be easy."
With his hot breath fanning against her neck Nick assured her, "I don't intend to be on the receiving end of anything, Darlin'." Popping the buttons on her jeans Nick chuckled, "Haven't you heard…it's better to give than receive?"
Carrie's hands gripping her hair she nervously said, "You mean just me?"
"Yes, ma'am." Tugging off her jeans he calmly said, "Don't worry, I'll let you return the favor some day. If you're self-conscious, just pretend it's one of those times when I finish first and help you out after…or…Plan B is you go it alone and let me watch because I think that would be fun too." When he saw her cover her face Nick sweetly chuckled, "That's what I thought you'd say. Okay, we'll stick with Plan A and save that other scenario for a rainy day."
"Thank goodness rainy season is over in the desert!" Her hands still over her face Carrie whispered, "Are you sure you're feeling well enough to…you know."
"The only pain I'm in is over the Aggie loss, the painkillers have numbed everything but that. Physically I'm feeling great."
Starting to warm up to the idea Carrie removed one hand from her face. "Won't you get excited?"
"Yeah, but I'll talk myself down." Grabbing her hands Nick tugged Carrie to sitting and quickly discarded her t-shirt. "My new anti-boner thought is Hodges standing in my living room wearing that asinine dough boy underwear. Ten seconds focused on that image and I'll be down for the count."
"And here I was thinking of buying you those boxers for Christmas," she giggled uncontrollably from the thought and Nick's expeditious removal of her bra. "Smooooth Stokes."
"I'm tryin'". Carefully positioning himself for optimum comfort and flexibility Nick brushed Carrie's curls off her face. "You bein' so tense is reminding me of the first time."
"I was just thinking about that yesterday." The hypnotic brush of his fingers over her gently rising and falling torso sent shivers of delight through her body, and when he eventually reached the satin of her panties Carrie's eyes fluttered shut. "I love you, Nicky."
"I love you too, Sweetheart," he murmured before tugging on her ear lobe with his mouth. "Ready to relax and enjoy yourself?"
"Mmm…yeah…work your magic." Carries lips spread into a smile while her eyes stayed firmly closed. "This is a really nice surprise."
The Regent Beverly Wilshire
11:48 p.m.
Step after step into the palatial hotel lobby Tawny's heart beat faster. "Greg…it's exactly like the movie." Her eyes turned upward. "That chandelier is gorgeous." When he gaze lowered she saw the table with an enormous floral centerpiece. "This table and flowers were in the movie too!"
"That movie is over ten years old," Greg stated while tugging Tawny toward the check-in area. "How have they managed to keep those flowers alive that long?" Feeling more relaxed than he could ever remember, Greg walked up to the desk and smiled, "Greg Sanders…I have a room reservation."
"Yes, of course…Mr. Sanders." Terrence nodded and quickly retrieved the special guest's portfolio. "You'll be staying in our Ambassador Suite."
"Hold up." Greg froze while handing over his credit card. "I didn't reserve a suite, I reserved a standard room." He couldn't imagine how much something called the Ambassador Suite would cost.
"You've been upgraded." Terrence handed over an envelope. "Courtesy of Charles Dwyer…the Dwyers are special customers of ours and young Charles called in a favor."
In Greg's ear Tawny whispered, "I bet that means Terrence looks the other way when the Dwyer men bring slutty female guests through the lobby…just like in the movie. Ugh…those Dwyers are swine."
Greg quickly whispered back, "Does that mean you don't want to accept the upgrade?"
"Are you kidding!" Ecstatic for her first stay in Beverly Hills, Tawny snatched the suite key. "Is room service included?"
"Yes." Terrence pointed the envelope he had given the guest a moment ago. "Mr. Dwyer details everything in the letter." He snapped his fingers for the bellman to escort the guests. "Enjoy your stay at The Regent Beverly Wilshire and congratulations on your engagement."
"Thank you," the happy couple both replied.
"Let me guess…" Greg swung Tawny's hand as they strolled behind the bellman to catch the elevator. "You want to order strawberries and faux-champagne and eat them while watching an 'I Love Lucy' repeat."
"Yep!" She pecked his cheek and giggled, "And I want to take a bubble bath together!"
The Mandalay Bay
11:54 p.m.
"Feeling better?" Gil asked his wife who was reclined against his soapy body in the bathtub.
Gliding her hand over the bubbles Sara slipped a little lower into the tub. "I hate seeing couples screaming at each other…even when it doesn't have violent overtones, it's just…I don't know…it gets to me."
In silence, Gil slowly wrapped his arms around Sara's waist.
Trying to shake off the unwanted childhood memory that popped into her head Sara said, "I'll never be able to look at Wendy in her Pillsbury Dough Boy apron again without thinking of Hodges and his boxer shorts."
"I can't believe they even manufacture those shorts. How many men do you think wear them?"
"One too many for sure."
After sharing a laugh Gil whispered in Sara's ear, "I was thinking of getting some."
"What garlic is to vampires, those shorts are to my libido."
"Not for myself, Sara," he laughingly assured her. "To give as gifts to Nick and Warrick."
An image of Warrick in the silly shorts materialized in her head. "Yeah…I'm sure Catherine would love seeing her man in those."
September 4, 2005
The Willows/Brown household
12:04 a.m.
Standing in the dark kitchen in front of the open fridge Catherine considered her snack options.
"You couldn't sleep either?" Warrick commented when he padded into the kitchen in a white tank shirt and navy pajama bottoms. With Catherine wearing his favorite gold silk robe and basking in the refrigerator light she looked heavenly. "I heard your door open…I thought I'd see if everything was alright."
"The door squeaks."
"I'll get some WD-40 on the hinge in the morning."
"Don't you dare." Turning to face him, her eyes and voice softened. "Because if the door doesn't squeak, how will you know when to follow me?"
Reaching out Warrick wrapped his fingers around Catherine's wrist. "Come here."
She left the fridge door open and slipped into his embrace. "Thanks…I needed a hug."
"Me too." He rested his head on hers and squeezed her tight. "Were you really out here because you were hungry, or were you hoping I'd hear you and come out of my room?"
"I really am hungry." Pulling back she caught his eyes. "I had a couple of chips and bean dip at Nick and Carrie's but it made me queasy. I just got my appetite back."
"That bean dip was nasty…but it was the sight of pasty-boy Hodges in those stupid-ass dough-boy boxers that made my stomach flip. How the hell am I supposed to get that image out of my head when talking to him in Trace?"
"Especially if he's analyzing flour."
Laughing together in each other's arms the world felt right again.
Running his fingers through Catherine's hair Warrick gazed into her eyes. "I'm glad we started talking more, because I don't ever want to have a blowout with you in the middle of Nick's living room."
"I don't want one in our living room either."
Eyes locked on each other Warrick whispered, "You wanna try out our hot tub?"
"Are you teasing or spoiling me?"
Nick and Carrie's Apartment
12:17 a.m.
When Carrie returned to the bedroom after enjoying the hot bath Nick had drawn her she found her fiancé sound asleep in bed. That's interesting…he falls asleep after fooling around even when he doesn't O. After a sweet kiss to her sleeping man's cheek, Carrie cinched her white terry spa robe tighter and headed out the bedroom door anxious to snack on the leftover brownies from the impromptu gathering earlier.
"Ryan!" Sean frantically whispered when he heard the bedroom door opening. "Change the channel!" Giving him a shove he realized his brother was sound asleep…and sleeping on top of the remote.
"Hi, Sean," Carrie dreamily greeted her nephew as she stood in front of him with her back to the TV. "You're still up?"
"Uh…" He clutched the bed pillow planted on his hips a little tighter and prepared to explain the risqué movie on the big screen. "I'm really…"
"I came out for some chocolate," Carrie sighed as she continued on her journey without a care in the world.
Once his aunt was in the kitchen, Sean shook his brother. "I need the remote!"
"Huh?"
"The remote!"
Squinting, Ryan groggily said, "It fell in the crack of the couch. Just get up and shut it off."
"I can't get up. What if Aunt Carrie comes back out while I'm standing and sees…" He pointed to his crotch. "Can't you shut…oh no…she's on her way back."
Ryan slammed his eyes shut and feigned sleep.
Still tingling with pleasure Carrie floated into the living room nibbling on a fudge brownie. "Night, Sean."
"Uh…night, Aunt Carrie." Once she was behind the closed door he bolted up to change to the Discovery Channel.
Carrie suddenly poked her head out the door. "I think we have a problem."
"I'm sorry!" he shrieked while turning off the TV and turning his back to his aunt.
"For what?" Carrie walked out and apologized, "I'm the one who's sorry. I don't have any new toothbrushes to give you guys. I usually have a supply on hand because Nicky and I both take dental hygiene very seriously. Promise me you won't tell your mom that I let you go to bed without brushing."
"I promise."
"Thanks."
"That was so close." Sean relaxed his shoulders and steadied is breathing, but his relief was short-lived.
"And, Sean…" Carrie called when she stuck her head out again. "Leave the TV off because you shouldn't be watching that nasty stuff. I'll have Nicky lecture you about it in the morning." Shaking her head she droned, "If it were Ryan sneaking a peek I wouldn't be shocked, but you? Ugh…very disappointing."
"But!"
When the door shut Ryan opened his eyes and cracked up. "You're such a perv, Bro!"
"Me! This is all your fault!"
Hodges Apartment
12:31 a.m.
Staring at his shelves of board games Hodges saw one common phrase on all of them 'For 2 to 4 players'. Once again he was alone and the games, like his life, were suddenly without value.
Knowing he'd never be able to sleep, he stepped forward and grabbed his souvenir deck of Mighty Mouse playing cards. They were vintage and he never played with them for fear of tattering their delicate paper but since it was a special occasion…the day his last chance at happiness ended, he decided to splurge.
Trudging to the kitchen table he stopped at the stereo and spun the dial from the upbeat station Celeste had preferred back to the depressing one he used to play. Next he took a seat at the kitchen table…the table with 2 chairs and he noted the empty chair never looked more symbolic or ominous.
Alone in the dimly light room, while a sad song filled his apartment, Hodges dealt his first hand of solitaire and accepted the fairy tale was over.
The Regent Beverly Wilshire
12:52 a.m.
After heading directly to the bedroom suite for a bubble bath, Tawny and Greg realized they hadn't inspected the rest of the luxurious suite. "I'll call for room service," Greg announced from the desk.
"I love you in that hotel robe," Tawny giggled while tying the belt of her matching one. "We're definitely putting these on Charlie's tab."
When she saw a piano in the far corner of the main room Tawny slid onto the bench. "I can't believe there's a piano in the room."
Finished ordering, Greg joined her on the bench. "They have a piano here so you can have someone play while you're hosting a cocktail party."
"Play something for me."
"Noooo." Greg shook his hands. "I earned my freedom from my mother's piano lessons years ago and I'm loving retirement."
Glancing up she shot him a loving smile. "Come on…you came out of retirement to sing and I loved every second that." Suddenly she remembered another scene from the movie and stood on the bench.
"What are you doing?" When he saw her reclining on top of the piano he figured it out. "Of course…Vivian listens to Edward play the piano." Cracking his knuckles Greg stared at the black and white keys. "As if I could say no to you tonight anyway."
"Play something classical…maybe Mozart…or Chopin?"
"Uh…" Greg looked up and laughed. "You seem to be confusing me with someone who doesn't suck at piano."
"You always think you suck at something when you're not perfect at it. It's one of your issues."
"True, but this time I really do mean I suck."
"Okay, then…play chopsticks."
"Ugh…anything but that." Placing his fingers on the keys Greg readied to end his piano strike. "Name this tune."
Only seconds in she shrieked, "London Bridge!"
"Very good." The feel of the keys was surprisingly familiar even after all this time. "It seems this is just like riding a bike. Okay, next one…"
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!"
"She's on fire!" he teased. "This one will be a little harder."
"Jingle Bells!"
Seeing her eyes lit with excitement Greg's smile ignited. "You'll never get this one." Watching her expression instead of the keys he began playing.
Unlike the other three songs, this one didn't have a children's tempo. "It's beautiful, but I have no idea what it is."
"It's something I made up when I was twelve. I've hit four wrong notes already."
"I didn't notice."
He smiled as he forged on. "Ah ha! You're tone deaf…that's why you like my singing so much." When their gazes locked again Greg said, "I played this whenever my mother was out of the house because I didn't want her to know I liked playing. Oops…that bad note was reeeeally bad."
"Greg…"
"Yeah?"
"I'm really glad we didn't rush into getting married after finding out the baby news." Her eyes glassing she whispered, "After seeing you place a ring on my finger out of love tonight, I realize it would have been meaningless to get married out of obligation right after finding out I was pregnant." A grateful smile unfurled. "Thanks for demanding we wait and for sticking to your big plan."
"Thanks for not strangling me during the wait," he teased. "You came pretty close once or twice."
"I know...I was just scared that it wasn't going to work out."
"I was too." Swallowing the lump rising in his throat Greg confessed, "I think there will still be times when one or both of us gets scared and thinks the worst. I'm not saying that to freak you out…I just want you to be prepared." A corner of his mouth inched up. "My dad told me that earlier today actually."
"He's right." Tawny acknowledged the point with a nod. "But now the difference is I'll know it's only a temporary feeling because we can get though anything if we try hard enough."
"Except this song." Stopping, Greg raised his hands. "That's as far as I got before I quit playing piano for good."
"I loved it. You should finish it one day," she urged while sitting up and holding out her arms.
Standing up he shrugged. "I've got a lot of other priorities." With that he lifted her off the piano. "Room Service should be here any minute. Where would you like to eat your strawberries, Princess?"
Eskimo kissing as he cradled her Tawny whispered, "In your arms."
"I love that answer."
The Willows/Brown household
1:14 a.m.
Standing in front of her bedroom door Catherine asked the clichéd question, "Would you like to come in for a nightcap?" They had just spent a glorious hour talking and taking turns massaging each other's shoulders in the hot tub and the last thing she wanted was to spend the night alone.
"Hmm…" Leaning against the wall Warrick casually replied, "Whatcha got?"
"Tap water."
"Okay."
"I hope you don't mind it served in a paper...whoa."
Lifting her off her feet as if Catherine was a feather Warrick growled in her ear, "The last thing I wanted to do tonight was sleep alone."
"Just let the record show it was you who caved."
"Guilty as charged," he replied while landing both their bodies on the bed. "But let the record show we also talked for an hour prior to me caving."
"I guess it's official…good communication is our new foreplay."
"Then I look forward to communicating with you on a regular basis."
Meanwhile, out in the hall, Lindsay was padding to the kitchen for some Sprite because the bean dip she ate earlier had been churning her stomach for hours.
It didn't take her long to figure out the score…Warrick's door was open and muffled sounds were drifting out from under her mother's door. "They made it one whole night." And while normally the idea would turn her stomach harder than Carrie's bean dip, tonight, after watching a couple break up before her eyes, she was grateful the old folks were getting it on.
Glancing out a side window of the house she noticed Sean's room had a light on and for a moment a smile appeared on her lips as she wondered if he would look out his window at the same time. Then she remembered he was sleeping over at Nick and Carrie's. What was with that smile? she asked her subconscious as she started walking. Don't do that when thinking of the geek. Freezing again in her tracks she thought, I wonder if he ever subconsciously thinks of me?
Nick and Carrie's Apartment
7:54 a.m.
When Ryan returned from the guest bathroom he saw his brother was still snug under a blanket on the couch sound asleep and wearing the goofiest expression. "He even looks like a geek in his sleep." Deciding he was hungry Ryan pulled on his jeans and headed for the kitchen. At the door he stopped. "What?"
Glancing over his shoulder he realized that Sean was mumbling in his sleep so he stepped closer and listened.
"Lindsay…"
"Ha!" Ryan slapped his palm over his mouth so his laughter wouldn't wake his brother and ruin the quality entertainment.
"Kiss…"
Just then the bedroom door opened and Ryan saw Nick looking freshly showered and dressed. "Shhh." He placed his finger to his lips and then pointed to his ear.
"Yes…"
In Nick's ear Ryan whispered, "He already said Lindsay's name and kiss."
"What are you guys doing?" Carrie curiously inquired upon approach.
"Shhh." Ryan cautioned his aunt.
"Beautiful boobs…yes…"
"Oh!" Carrie covered her mouth a little too late to mask her surprise.
Startled by the scream Sean snapped out of the dream.
"Dude!" Ryan pointed to his brother. "You talk in your sleep."
"I…wha…" Sean froze in sheer terror.
With glee Ryan informed him, "And you were sayin' some naughty stuff about Lindsay Willows!"
"Nicky," Carrie's spoke in parental tone. "Last night I found Sean watching spicy pay per view TV. You need to talk to him."
Pulling his fiancée aside Nick whispered, "Carr, come on…you don't have to say it in front of his brother. Sean already looks like he's gonna hurl just from being busted about talking in his sleep. This is really embarrassing stuff for him."
"Sorry…" Carrie returned to the couch and pushed out a sunny smile, pretending she never mentioned the issue. "Who wants bagels? I'll drive to the store."
"I'll go with ya!" Ryan walked to the door. "I want to pick my own."
"How about you, Sean? Are you coming?" Carrie asked, trying to make up for embarrassing him. "I'll buy you anything you want." When he just sat on the couch shaking Carrie looked over at Nick. "I didn't mean to…"
Taking her hand, Nick walked Carrie to the door. "You two go on. Sean will keep me company."
"They're gone," Nick announced when he returned to the couch. "How about we head into the kitchen and have a man to man chat over milk?" When Sean didn't budge Nick assured the terrified boy, "I'm not gonna yell at you. Trust me…I've walked in your shoes and won't be casting any stones." Still the boy didn't budge. "Sean…really…it's okay." He patted him on the back. "Let's…"
Sean frantically shook his head.
"Is something wrong?" His concern mounting Nick took a seat on the coffee table. "Did you eat your aunt's bean dip?" When he saw tears spill from Sean's eyes Nick leaned in. "You need to calm down, okay…you're gonna hyperventilate if you keep breathing like that. Trust me…you didn't do anything teenage boys haven't been doing since Cable TV came to town."
"Uncle Nick…" Sean gripped the blanket and squeaked, "Why did this have to happen today…here?"
"I'll give you that getting busted watching soft core by your aunt is uncomfortable, but it could have been much worse."
"It is much worse." After a jagged breath Sean finally found the courage to blurt, "There's spirited courage all over Aunt Carrie's good linens!"
"Spirited…courage?" Nick cocked his head and pondered the phrase. "Oh!"
"This never happened before!" His panic intensified. "What am I supposed to do! I don't want Aunt Carrie to know!"
Trying not to smile Nick stood up. "She won't…I promise. I make my living handling evidence with the utmost professionalism and discretion. I'm gonna head in the kitchen to get a plastic trash bag. I'll put everything in there and hide the bag. After she leaves for the spa I'll wash everything up. While I'm doing that…go into the bedroom, freshen up in my bathroom and then grab a clean pair of underwear from my dresser drawer….they'll be a little big, but they'll do. Sean…I promise…no one will find out. Okay?"
Nodding like a madman Sean waited for his uncle to leave the room and as soon as the coast was clear he made a mad dash for the bedroom and shut the door.
"Nicky…" Carrie called out upon opening the front door. When she had reached the parking lot she discovered her car had a flat and had come back for his keys to the Xterra.
When she saw the living room was empty, Carrie headed for the bedroom and opened the door. "Nicky, I need to…" The sight of her naked nephew trying on her white Jockey underwear blew her mind. "Sean…"
The combination of female and pubescent boy screams coming from the bedroom were Nick's first clue that all had not gone according to plan. "Oh, shit."
"Nicky!" Carrie shrieked as she ran out of the room. "Help!"
"Darlin'…the boy only had a wet dream. He's not…" When he saw her grab the first aid kit from the hall closet and rush back into the bedroom he hurried after her. "What the hell happened!" Nick screamed as he saw blood streaming down Sean's face as he lay unconscious. "Did you think he was an intruder and nail him with something when you came into the bedroom?"
"No!" Carrie yelled while pressing a wad of gauze to the open wound on Sean's head. "I walked in when he was pulling on a pair of my underwear."
"Your underwear!" Nick glanced down at the boy's ankles and saw that Sean had mistaken the boyish underwear Carrie wore while exercising for his. "He needed a fresh pair and I told him to grab a pair of mine from the dresser." Kneeling down he assessed the damage. "Let's not panic. I'm sure it looks worse than it is."
Feeling terrible Carrie explained, "I screamed 'What are you doing with my underwear' and he took off running for the bathroom but tripped when the underwear fell to his ankles…" Wincing from the image she said, "His forehead smacked the corner of the nightstand. Nicky…I'm scared. He's not coming to. You're not allowed to carry him to the car. We need to call 911."
"He'll be okay, Sweetheart." Nick crossed the room and grabbed the phone just as Ryan entered the bedroom.
"What's taking so long?" The sight of his Aunt tending to his naked and bleeding brother sent his head spinning. "Oh my God! What happened! We weren't gone five minutes!" The room started to spin as his terror and notoriously weak stomach combined efforts. "I can't…" Sweat beaded on his forehead. "Did he shoot himself in the head with one of Nick's guns because I was teasing him! Is he…dead?" he managed to ask before passing out.
"Carrie!" Nick screamed as he dropped the phone. "Catch…" But the warning came too late. Ryan hit the floor like a ton of bricks just as the operator answered.
"911, what's your emergency?"
Author's Notes:
Soooo…Carrie's day of relaxation is off to a great start. I don't think Sean will ever trust Nick again if he says, "I promise no one will find out." And Wendy will have something to say about Aunt Carrie and Uncle Nicky as babysitters.
The last scene of Greg and Tawny at the piano (segued from Hodges accepting the fairy tale was over) showed a slight turn for the couple toward a more rational and mature outlook. Tawny admitting Greg was right about not rushing…Greg quoting his father's advice…both of them acknowledging that there will be rough patches ahead. Tawny also showed she knows her future husband well…she cited he had an issue thinking he sucked at something when he's not naturally great at it and she knew how to push gently and build up his confidence at the piano.
All the couples moved a little closer after witnessing the Hodges and Celeste train wreck. Are Hodges and Celeste done? Definitely for a while, but maybe there will be hope in the future. As all the other characters have found out already, it takes effort and sometimes big change to make things work.
The teens continue with their struggles. I hope those who wanted to see a Lindsay blog, enjoyed it. The latest Blake Boy drama will cause some change. When Sean wakes up, he'll be a new man.
Next Chapter: The drama continues at Nick and Carrie's…when Wendy has to rush to the ER, Cath & Warrick babysit Ashley and McKenna and experience what it would be like to have small children together…Sara shows up to take Carrie to the spa and finds an ambulance…Mike's lawyer gets an update…and in carefree California, it's shopping time! Posting: Monday (holiday weekend delay:-) )
If you have any questions about the story, this website has added a 'reply to review' feature that let's authors respond to reviewers who have left signed reviews.
On this (U.S.) Thanksgiving I just want to say THANK YOU for reading and your continued support of the saga! I'm very thankful for that!
Maggs