Kendall sat in a chair by the window of her room staring down at the hospital parking lot. Ever since she had heard about the divorce from JR she had been frantic to reach Zach or Bianca or Livia to warn them about what Erica was up to, but no one had been able to reach them. It was as if everyone had suddenly disappeared and left her behind without remembering to say goodbye. Then a new doctor arrived and introduced herself before conducting a series of tests and making a lot of notes. Under normal circumstances, she would have liked her a great deal… she was kind and gentle and explained everything to her… but she was so worried and agitated that it took all her willpower to cooperate. In fact, the only reason that she did was because she hoped that this was the first step to resuming her therapy.
At a knock on her door she turned and saw Bianca entering the room. They smiled to each other before Bianca said, "Hey, Kendall. I know you've been trying to call me… we need to talk."
Kendall watched her sister seat herself and pull the chair close beside her before responding, "Binks… I… just… found… out… Mother… is… trying… to…"
Without letting her finish, Bianca laid a hand on Kendall's and said, "It's okay, Kendall. I know all about it… and Mom lost."
Kendall's eyes filled with tears at her sister's words, her relief was so great, "No… divorce?"
Bianca shook her head, "No divorce."
"What… happened?" Kendall asked her quietly.
Taking a deep breath Bianca plunged into the story, "Mom tried to have you declared incompetent and be named as your guardian." Kendall shook her head emphatically, but Bianca patted her hand, "No. No, Kendall. It's okay. We went to court… and I… well… the judge granted a temporary order that allows me to make decisions on your behalf."
Kendall looked at her sister accusingly, "Thanks… a… lot. I… guess… no… one… trusts… me… any… anymore. I… don't… need… a… guardian!"
"You're right. You don't need a guardian… but you do need protection while you recover. I promise you that I won't do anything without consulting you first. In fact, that's why I'm here… to discuss your treatment from now on," Bianca answered.
"My… treatment? No. I… want… Zach. Binks… I… love… him. I… have… to… tell… him," Kendall said urgently.
Bianca looked at her sister sadly, "I'm sorry, Kendall. I did try to get him to come with me… to talk to you… but he thinks you're better off without him. He thinks you don't love him."
With unrestrained tears falling from her eyes, Kendall answered, "He… said… he… loved… me. Before… I… woke… up. He… told… me. Why… doesn't… he… want… me… now?"
"I know he loves you, Kendall… and I know he wants you," Bianca said with a sigh. "I tried to make him understand… he didn't believe me when I told him you loved him, too. He thinks he was in the way… and that you wanted him gone. I think you're going to have to get better so that you can tell him yourself."
"I… want… to… get… better. I… want… Zach. I… want… to… go… home," Kendall said while wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I… want… my… life… back."
Bianca walked over to the bedside table and picked up a box of tissues and handed them to Kendall, "Good. You know it won't be easy… and it's going to take a lot of hard work to get better?" Kendall nodded her head and wiped her face with a tissue as Bianca continued, "What did you think of Dr. Geoffrey?"
"Dr… Geof-frey?" Kendall asked in confusion.
"Mm-hmm. She is a specialist that Zach found… she thinks she can help you get better," Bianca replied. "But only if you agree. If you don't like her, we'll do something else."
Kendall answered, "Good… doctor. Nice. I… like… her. Zach… sent… her… to… me?"
"Yeah. She has a clinic in Minnesota and has done some tremendous work with people that have injuries like yours. She thinks she can help you, and Doctors Donelson and Stallman agree. You have three choices, Kendall… and we'll do whatever you want to do," Bianca answered.
"Three… choices?" Kendall asked with a puzzled expression.
"Yes. You can stay here at PVH and continue the therapy you were receiving before Mom stopped it… or you can start on a treatment plan designed by Dr. Geoffrey," Bianca replied.
"You… said… three. What… is… the… other… one?" Kendall asked.
"We can go to Dr. Geoffrey's clinic in Minnesota," Bianca said quietly and looked at Kendall expectantly. "We think that you might do better there than in the rehab unit here."
"Minne… wow… that's… a… long… way," Kendall said. "Would… you… come… with… me?"
"Miranda and I will both come with you and stay with you the whole time. That's part of the package," Bianca answered with a smile. "Can you stand to have us around you that much?"
"Zach? Can… Zach… come… with… us?" Kendall asked.
Bianca looked at her sister sadly and shook her head, "I'm afraid he won't, Kendall. Don't get me wrong… I wouldn't stop him… but I don't think I could talk him into it. Do you want to go to Dr. Geoffrey's clinic? Is that your decision?"
Kendall shook her head, "No. I… don't… want… to… leave… Zach. If… he… won't… go… with… us… then… I'll… stay… right… here."
"Kendall… he's not going to come here to see you either. You can't let Zach influence your decision," Bianca answered. "You don't have to give anyone an answer yet. Let it all sink in and we'll decide over the next few days. Would you like Dr. Geoffrey to come and tell you about the clinic before she leaves?"
"I'd… like… that," Kendall nodded. "Will… mother… visit… me… anymore?"
"She said she would, but I don't know," Bianca answered honestly. "She was pretty angry with us all."
"Us… all?" Kendall asked.
"Me, Myrtle… and Zach," Bianca replied.
"Tell… me… please?" Kendall asked.
"We went to court and we had to testify that she wasn't taking care of you the right way. Zach testified, too. The judge… she wouldn't grant the divorce or Mom's petition… and you know Mom," Bianca answered.
"She… was… mad," Kendall said, stating the obvious. "She… will… stay… that… way… for… a… while."
Bianca nodded, "Unfortunately… I'm afraid you might be right. She's even angry with Myrtle… and she's furious with Zach."
"Why? She… never… liked… him," Kendall said in confusion.
"Because he testified that he loves you," Bianca answered with a squeeze to her sister's hand. "I guess its one thing to feel that way… but entirely different to admit it in public."
Kendall smiled, "He… did… that… for… me?"
Bianca nodded, "I think he would do anything for you… except force his love on you."
Kendall shook her head, "Not… force."
"I know that… but he doesn't… and he is a very stubborn man," Bianca answered. She smiled, "Just like his wife."
"If… we… go… to… the… clinic… then… I… could… go… home… sooner?" Kendall asked. Bianca nodded and Kendall continued, "Let's… do… it! But… first…" Kendall paused and Bianca waited patiently for her to continue, "Jay… Arr… said… I… filed…"
Bianca nodded, "You and Zach filed divorce papers the morning of the accident. You don't remember?" Kendall shook her head, "He said it was because you wanted to… um… what was that word? Oh, yeah… 'honor' your friendship."
"What… what… happened… with… the… divorce?" Kendall asked.
"I told you, you're still married to Zach," Bianca answered in confusion.
"But… for… how… long?" Kendall asked. "If… we… filed… the… papers…"
Bianca smiled, "Zach withdrew his after the accident. He was afraid Mom would get him kicked out if she found out… and he was right. He hasn't filed them again… and the judge said she wouldn't grant your petition for a year."
Kendall sat thinking quietly for a moment before responding, "Can… I… with-draw… mine?"
"I don't see why not. I'll call Livia tomorrow and ask her," Bianca replied thoughtfully. "But you know that won't stop Zach from re-filing if he thinks that's what's best for you?"
"I… know. May-be… he… won't. When… I'm… better… I… will… still… be… his… wife. Then… he'll… have… to… talk… to… me," she answered with a lopsided smile.
"That's a good point. Okay. I'll go tell Dr. Geoffrey that you want to talk to her. Then if you still want to go to her clinic I'll start making the arrangements," Bianca said as she rose from the chair. She laid her hand on her sister's and leaned forward to kiss her cheek, "The psychiatrist… Dr. Samuelson… she said you wanted to see Miranda. I'll bring her to see you tomorrow. Okay?"
Kendall's eyes brightened and she nodded her head vigorously as Bianca walked towards the door. Bianca opened the door and paused, "I love you, Kendall."
"I… love… you… too… Binks. Thank… you."