Ch. 22

Need to talk

JR arrived back home with Krystal. Krystal helped him out of the car and into his wheelchair, and then she started pushing him inside.

"You've been pretty quiet on the way back JR. Something wrong?" Krystal asked.

"I've just got a lot of my mind, that's all." JR said.

"Like some doubts, maybe?" Krystal asked.

JR shook his head, "None at all."

"As long as you're sure." Krystal said as they entered the house.

Babe heard them come in and she stood up and walked up to JR. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

"I've missed you." Babe said sweetly.

"I was just gone for an hour." JR said.

"That's too long." Babe grinned, and then JR followed her into the living room.

"Anything interesting happen while I was gone?" JR wondered.

"You have no idea." Babe sat on the couch.

"Really?" JR raised an eyebrow, "What did I miss?"

"You're buddy Kendall stopped by. She offered me a lot of money to get out of your life. It was hard to refuse it, but..." Babe joked around with JR.

"She is out of line. I told her to leave you alone! No more of this crap, she is going to stop right now." JR wheeled himself towards a phone.

"JR, don't. It's OK. I can handle Kendall." Babe said.

"But you shouldn't have to."

"Do you think Kendall is really going to leave me alone just because you tell her to? If you call her right now she will probably become even more mad and will never leave us alone."

"Well... I guess you're right."

Babe decided against telling JR that David was here, and decided then she was going to pay her dear old Dad a visit later.

JR was staring off at the opposite wall, his face blank so Babe couldn't see what he was thinking about.

"JR, you OK?" Babe asked him, kneeling down next to him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?" JR wondered.

"You've been kind of quiet since you've gotten back." Babe told him.

"No, I'm just kind of tired, that's all."

"So are you going to tell me where you and my mama went in such a hurry?"

"We just were talking... that's all."

"You and my mom, talking. Why couldn't you have just done it here?"

"I felt like going for another drive."

Babe raised her eyebrows, "Fine, I'll leave it be... for now. I know there is something else to the story. Now let's get ready for your physical therapy session."

JR looked away, and then looked back at Babe, "Babe..."

"Hmm?" Babe asked, putting on her boots.

"I..." JR opened and closed his mouth a few times, and then shook his head, "Never mind."

"If you say so." Babe walked up to him and kissed him, "It's been too long since I've been able to do that."

"Yes it has." JR pulled her into another kiss.

Babe pulled away and JR groaned, "I know, I know, but we have to get going."

"Fine, but you're mine when we get back." JR grinned slyly.

Babe laughed, "Let me go and get my coat upstairs." Babe took off out the living room doors and up the stairs.

JR sighed. He came so close to telling Babe about Jamie and his affair, but he couldn't do it. He knew it would still break her heart even though she wasn't really in love with Jamie at that point. And JR didn't want to hurt her. But he knew he had to tell her. He just didn't know how.

He heard Babe walk back through the doors and he looked up at her. Babe saw a distant look on his face and was a little worried.

"Are you sure you don't want to talk JR?" Babe asked.

JR nodded and smiled, "Come on, let's go. We are going to be late."

Babe nodded unsurely, and then followed JR out the door, locking it behind them.

----------

After they arrived at the hospital, Babe told JR she had to go somewhere but she would be back soon. JR started to question her, but Babe promised she would fill him in when she got back.

Babe knocked on David's cabin door and waited.

"Who is it?" David called through the door.

"It's your daughter. Open up!" Babe yelled.

David opened the door, "Babe, what are you doing here?"

Babe pushed past David and walked in, "We need to talk."

"If this is about Junior..." David started but Babe cut him off.

"Since I've already told you to stay out of my life over 50 times, I know it won't do any good to tell you again,"

"Damn right." David interrupted.

"But, I can tell you that it is my life and I will live it however I want to. And right now that is with JR."

"But Babe, this is crazy! I mean its JR Chandler, the man is pure evil!" David said.

"No he is not! God David, why do you think JR is such a bad guy?" Babe questioned.

"Um, maybe it's because of all the things he has done. Think about it Babe, that man is as ruthless as it comes. Wherever there's smoke, there's JR."

"Fine, he has done some bad things. So have you!" Babe said back.

"Not as bad as what he's done." David ignored the shocked look Babe gave him.

"All the stuff happened in the past, why can't we leave it back there?" Babe asked wearily.

"Because sweetheart, the past tends to repeat itself. And there is no way I am letting you get hurt by him again."

"David, listen. I know you don't trust JR, and I know you probably never will, but you don't know him like I do. He has changed; he would never hurt me like that again."

"Yeah, he won't until he thinks you've done something wrong again and he goes after you again. I can't stand by and watch him do something to my daughter."

Babe shook her head, "It won't happen David, I promise. I know how to handle JR if I need to, but I won't need to. We are so much older and not as naïve as we used to be. We've both done things to hurt each other and we've both forgiven each other for them. I have never been as happy in my life as I am right now, and JR is the reason for that. We are a family again with our son, and life is perfect. And there is nothing you can say that will make me turn my back on JR."

"But..."

Babe shook her head, "No buts. David can't you see how happy I am? Why would you want to take it away from me?"

David sighed, "I don't want to." He pulled Babe into a hug, "I know you think I'm always out to hurt you but I don't ever want to hurt you. I just want to protect you. Everything I do, whether you like it or not, is with you're happiness and safety in mind. You're my daughter and I love you."

"I love you too, Dad."

David smiled and Babe pulled away, "So do you promise to stay out of mine and JR's relationship?"

David gritted his teeth.

"Please?" Babe asked.

"Yes, I promise I will."

Babe smiled and kissed him on the cheek, "Thank you."

"Be careful though Babe. And at the first sign of trouble, call me."

"There won't be." Babe smiled at him.

She turned and walked out of his cabin, leaving David angry as hell that he promised to not mess with her and JR.