Ch. 16

Talks

It had been another month, and Babe and JR kept growing closer. They were constantly together, laughing, talking, and playing with their son. They had gone out on picnics and to the park, enjoying the spring weather. Babe and JR still hadn't admitted their feelings, but now not only Kendall and Jamie knew, but so did Krystal and Adam. Krystal was happy about it, but Adam wasn't so sure. Neither of them let on that they knew.

JR's therapy was still continuing, and it was getting harder and harder, and JR kept taking out his frustrations on Babe. But she toughed through it, determined to help him get the use of his legs back no matter what.

Babe was upstairs, getting ready after she had just taken a shower. She heard her door open and Krystal walked in.

"Hey mama." Babe said, pulling a comb through her straight hair.

"Baby doll, we need to talk." Krystal said and sat on her bed.

"About what, mama?" Babe asked, turning towards Krystal.

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Downstairs in JR's room, JR was busy buttoning his sweater when Adam walked in.

"What's up?" JR called, looking at Adam in the mirror.

"Son, can we talk?" Adam asked.

"Well, we have to go to that appointment soon." JR pointed out.

"I know, but it'll be quick, I promise." Adam said.

"Alright, shoot." JR turned.

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"I wanna to talk about JR." Krystal said.

Babe was startled by the question, but tried not to show it, "What about him?" Babe turned back towards the mirror.

"Is there anythin' you want to tell me about him?"

"Like what?" Babe wondered.

"Oh I don't know any new feelings you might have for him?" Krystal asked, and Babe stopped brushing her hair.

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"So you and Babe have been spending ample amounts of time together." Adam said.

"Your point is?" JR asked, still messing with the buttons on his sweater.

"I don't know. It just seems like there is something going on. You're different."

"Different? Different how?" JR asked,

"Well, you smile all the time, you are constantly laughing, I catch you singing in the shower..." Adam told him.

"Is that a bad thing?" JR finished with his buttons.

"No... It's just the classic symptoms of love." Adam said, and JR turned and looked at his father.

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"You think I'm in love with JR?" Babe asked her mother.

"Are you?" Krystal asked.

"That's crazy." Babe stood up and walked to her closet to pick out something to wear.

"Is it? I mean, all you do is spend time with JR. I barely see him without you right next to him."

"He needs my help mama." Babe said, and pulled out a blue off the shoulder sweater.

"It's more then that. And I betcha' right now you're askin' yourself if JR would like that top." Krystal said.

Babe hurried and put the shirt back in her closet and blushed, embarrassed that her mother knew what she was thinking right then.

"I know you better then you think Babe, and lately... you've had this look on your face. I haven't seen it in such a long time, and I thought I would never see it again."

"What look, mama?" Babe asked.

"The look you get whenever JR is around or whenever someone talks about him... the look you had on your weddin' day."

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"Dad, I don't have time for this right now. I have to get Babe and tell her we have to go." JR said, wheeling out of his room.

"No, it's OK. I'm going to take you today." Adam said to JR.

JR was a little disappointed, he was looking forward to spending a little time with Babe today. He was glad his father couldn't see his face because JR was sure the disappointment showed.

"Alright then, well we better head out." JR said, and grabbed his coat.

Adam opened the door for JR, and then followed him out.

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"Listen mama, I have to take JR to physical therapy today, so I have to get going." Babe stood up.

"No, it's ok. I heard Adam say he was going to take him today." Krystal informed her.

"Oh... ok." Babe said, and sat back down.

"Babe, if you're not going to be honest with me, at least be honest with yourself." Krystal came and kissed Babe on her head, and then walked out of the room.

But I am already being honest with myself... I love JR. Babe thought as she looked in the mirror.

------

JR had just returned from physical therapy and he wheeled straight to his room and slammed the door. That day had been especially hard on JR, and he had met with Wilma, the physiatrist, and she had not given him happy news. Babe walked down the stairs as soon as she heard JR's door shut.

"How is he?" Babe asked quietly, walking up to Adam.

Adam shook his head, "Not good. The physical therapy was even harder today, and he went to talk to Wilma Ramirez." Adam informed her.

Babe sighed, "I don't like that woman. She doesn't have any hope for JR recovering."

"I know, and she said that much to JR." Adam said.

Babe sighed, and Adam headed off towards JR's room. Babe caught him by the arm.

"No, let me go." Babe said quietly.

Adam hesitated, and nodded. He knew JR could use some comfort... from the women he loved.

Babe knocked on JR's door, and when he didn't answer, she pushed it open.

"JR?" she called out.

"Just go away." JR said, sitting in his chair near the mirror.

"No, I'm not going to do that." Babe shut the door and walked closer to him, "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? Look!" JR pointed down to his legs, "That's what is wrong!" He growled.

"I heard you went and talked to Wilma today." Babe said, and JR looked away, "JR, don't listen to her. Whatever she said, it is wrong."

"She said I probably would never walk again." JR said.

"JR, she is wrong. You will walk again."

"Yeah, will I? How do you know? Do you have a crystal ball upstairs in your room that can tell that future?"

"No, I don't. I wish I did. But what I do know is you, and you're not going to let this injury keep you down. Even if you don't walk again, which I'm sure is not going to be the case, you'll be OK."

"How? I mean, look at me. I'm pathetic. I can't walk; it's hard for me to even dress myself. I can barely take showers without a lot of work."

"JR, you are not pathetic!" Babe said forcefully.

"Yes, I am." JR said miserably.

Babe kneeled down and placed her hand on JR's thigh.

"JR, look at me, you aren't pathetic. Got it?"

JR was staring at Babe with his mouth open.

"JR?" Babe asked.

"Oh my god." JR breathed.

"What? What is it?" Babe asked.

"I can feel your hand on my leg."