Ch. 11

Feelings exposed

Babe arrived at the Chandler house early the next morning and knocked on the door. She was surprised when JR answered the door.

"Hey, what are you doing up?" Babe asked.

"I don't know; I didn't really sleep well at all last night." JR said, backing up so she could come through the door.

"Me either." Babe took off her coat and set it on the table.

"So have you eaten?" JR wondered and Babe shook her head, "I haven't either. What do you say about some breakfast?" JR asked.

"I think it sounds good." Babe said, rolling up her sleeves.

"I've tasted your food. I'll feel much better if I make it." JR teased.

"Hey, it was not that bad!" Babe responded, and shrugged when JR gave her a look, "OK so I'll never win a prize for my cooking but it was edible."

"Babe, if we had a dog, he wouldn't even have eaten it." JR said.

"Well fine then Mr. Cook; let's see you whip up something." Babe challenged.

"I will." JR smiled, and started pulling out ingredients.

"Do you need my help with anything?" Babe asked.

"My legs are paralyzed, not my arms." JR snapped.

"I... I didn't mean it like that." Babe said quietly.

JR sighed and put the stuff on the counter.

"I'll be right back." Babe said and walked out of the kitchen.

JR watched Babe leave and heard the bathroom door shut and he slammed the pans he had in his hands on the counter. Why did he have to be such an asshole? He finished getting out the stuff and Babe came back into the kitchen.

"So what are we having?" Babe asked.

"How about pancakes?" JR asked.

"Mmm, sounds good. I haven't had those since... a while." Babe said.

"Why don't you go and get Little Adam?" JR asked.

"What... you're serious aren't you?" Babe asked.

JR nodded, and Babe smiled.

"OK, I'll be right back." Babe turned and jogged out of the kitchen, and JR chuckled as he watched her leave.

Babe returned with Little A in her arms and she sat on a chair with him in her lap.

"Guess what daddy is making?" Babe said to her son.

"Pancakes!" JR said, "Can you say pancakes?"

"Pancaes..." Little A said.

"Well that's close enough." JR laughed with Babe.

Babe and JR both looked at each other, and then both turned away.

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It had been a month and a half now since Babe had started helping JR. It was hard sometimes for Babe because JR would get so frustrated and take it out on her, but Babe knew it was because he was feeling weak and helpless. Other times everything was perfectly fine. They spent a lot of their time as a family, Babe, JR and their son.

Babe helped JR get to physical therapy and back, and a lot of the time she would stay there with him to give him support or just be there for him. JR had insisted on paying her now because he didn't want her working at the old bar anymore. He could tell both jobs were too much, and he would rather have her work with him.

Jamie and Babe were still together, but they barely spoke. Jamie was barely there during the nights when Babe was home and Babe was never there during the day when Jamie was home. Babe was falling more and more for JR and Jamie was still sleeping with the brunette from the bar. Jamie was convinced JR and Babe were having an affair even though they weren't.

Babe had just finished putting little Adam to bed and was walking down the stairs. She realized she spent more time at the Chandler mansion then she did at her home, but she didn't mind at all.

When Babe walked into the Chandler living room she wasn't expecting to see Jamie standing there, obviously drunk.

"Jamie, what are you doing here?" Babe asked, walking towards him.

"I came to s-see you." Jamie slurred.

"My god, your drunk aren't you." Babe accused.

"That I am. You know why? Because of you." Jamie told Babe.

"Me... why?" Babe wondered.

"Because you and JR and sleeping together, that's why."

"Now where in the hell would you get that idea?"

"Well you only spend all your time over here and all you do is think about JR, so I landed at the explanation that you were a slut and sleeping with JR." Jamie raised his voice.

"Hey, keep your voice down, my son is sleeping!"

JR, who was in his room, heard Jamie's voice and got up off his bed and into his wheelchair, wanting to see what was going on.

"Your son, with JR. He was supposed to be mine, ya know?" Jamie said.

"Well, I'm glad he is not because with the way you're acting you don't deserve a child." Babe scolded.

By then JR was making his way down the hall towards the living room.

"How dare you say that to me? I'm a better father then JR ever could be."

"That is not true. JR is one of the best fathers and my son is blessed because of it. Don't you dare ever talk about JR that way again." Babe warned.

"You care about him don't you, don't you!" Jamie demanded an answer.

JR stopped in the hallway, now listening to every word.

"Answer me Babe!"

Babe looked away.

"Oh my god, you do care about JR. JR was right, I should have listened to him. You're just a stupid slut."

JR heard that and then wheeled himself into the living room, "Watch what you say to her James." JR warned.

"Oh and here is the man of the hour, JR! How do you like sleeping with a slut... again?" Jamie asked.

"What is wrong with you Jamie!" Babe cried.

"I don't like being cheated on. Now I know how JR felt when you cheated on him with me." Jamie said.

"But JR and I aren't sleeping together!" Babe said.

"I'm not s-stupid Babe." Jamie pointed out.

JR wheeled closer to Jamie, "Then listen to her and stop acting like you are."

Jamie stared down and JR and then Babe said, "Jamie, we aren't sleeping together."

Jamie turned and walked up to Babe, "Look me straight in the eyes and tell me your not."

"We are not." Babe told him.

"Liar." Jamie said, and turned and headed towards the door.

"Jamie!" Babe called out.

Jamie turned around, "Time for a confession?" He asked.

"Yes. I don't want to be with you anymore. We're over. I'll have my stuff out of the apartment soon."

JR turned and stared at Babe, as did Jamie.

"You don't mean it." Jamie said.

"Yes I do. I don't want to talk to you again." Babe confessed.

"Fine." Was all Jamie said before walking out of the room.

Babe turned away from JR and ran her hand through her hair.

"You OK?" JR asked softly.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I knew it was coming for a long time, it's still just... hard... when it happens." Babe explained, blinking back tears.

"I am sorry Babe." JR told her.

"Yeah, me too." Babe turned and started walking out of the room.

"Where are you going?" JR asked.

"I don't know, to probably get a hotel." Babe leaned against the door.

"Why don't you stay here tonight? We have extra rooms, and free room service." JR smiled.

"Are you sure?" Babe asked.

"Why are you always asking me if I'm sure? If I wasn't I wouldn't have said anything."

Babe smiled sheepishly, "Sorry. I guess that's a good idea. Thank you JR."

"Anytime."

Babe smiled at him and then headed upstairs.

JR headed back towards his room, feeling sorry for Babe but at the same time secretly happy Jamie was out of the picture.