HEARTS DIVIDED: Let's make a Deal

by tarskeewee08

Jessica was outside of Evangeline's door pacing biting her nails. The doctors had been with her for over an hour now and she was beginning to really freak out. Vikki and Clint sat down and Joey went to home to see about KJ.

Jessica kept seeing her sister standing in front of the judge humiliated by the violation heaped upon her begging for her son. Evangeline was the most loving caring person she knew. The media was painting her into some sperm stilling villainess.

They should have called her as soon as that asshole showed up trying to steal KJ. She could kill him for hurting her like this. They are trying to take her baby from her on his birthday it will kill Evangeline. Jessica is sure of it. Hearing the elevator ding she looks up to see McBain with his mother and dad step off the elevator. Jessica marches right over.

"What the hell are you doing here!" she hissed.
John looks Jessica up and down. "How is she?"
"What the hell do you care!"

Vikki gets up "Jessie! Enough!"

Jessica looks back at her mother and softens. Her mother was humiliated as well and nurses were staring. Turning back to John she put her hand on her hips "Leave!" she hisses through her teeth.

John shakes his head sadly. Eve rubs his back. "We don't want to cause trouble Ms. Buchanan, we just came to offer our support."

Jessica looks at Eve and then turns back to John. "Your son wants to take her baby from her!"

"It's our baby…." John snaps.

Before Jessica can respond Dr. Miller comes out of Evangeline's room. She looks at the crowd and frowns. Going over to Vikki she smiles slightly.

Vikki holds her husbands hand trying to stop the shivers that are running through her. She couldn't handle it if something was seriously wrong with her daughter in-law. "Is she okay Paige?"

John and everyone move closer. Jessica relents on allowing them access because she's so frightened herself.

"Evangeline had a small seizure, apparently she's been under extreme stress. Has she been taking any medication?"

Vikki shakes her head. "Evangeline doesn't take drugs. I gave her a sedative the day she learned about Kevin's paternity and that's it."

Jessica stepped up "This didn't look like a seizure to me doctor…she blacked out."

Paige looked at Jessica "It was a partial seizure but we will see if there is any abnormal activity in her brain scans. She's up now and lucent. I really think that it was just extreme stress and her diet that brought this on but we want to keep her over night and run some test."

"She has a party tomorrow for her son. Can we please take her home tonight? Please…" Jessica said desperately. If Evangeline isn't with her baby now it would just aggravate the situation more.

"Let me check the latest results. No promises" Paige says looking at them all frowning.

John steps up "I need to see her…"

Jessica whirls around "Absolutely not! You heard the doctor you did this!" she snapped.

John narrowed his eyes on Jessica. "I have a court order to take my son tomorrow on his birthday to spend time with me. If I don't speak to her their will be no party."

"John!" Eve snapped pulling his arm. "The woman had blacked out from stress don't aggravate this further..."

John looked at his mother "I won't I swear. But I had no idea it was his birthday. We need to work together; I think I can help her."

"NO!" Jessica shouted tears in her eyes. Vikki grabbed her daughter calming her. She looks at John and his family "We'll ask her. Give us a moment."

Keeping her arms around Jessica shoulders they walk into Evangeline's room. Evangeline looks up at them. In the short time she's been here her eyes are dark with circles underneath. She's pale and her skin looks dry. She smiles weakly "Hey…what you crying for girl?" she says pointing at Jessica.

Jessica hurries to her bed and kisses her forehead. "You are going to be okay…the doctor says everything is fine."

Evangeline nodded "I know…where's KJ? Who's watching him?"
Vikki smiles. "The nanny is with him still. We came straight here from the courthouse."

The mention of the courthouse makes Evangeline's smile fade. "Did the judge go ahead and grant visitation. Is he taking my baby?" she asks her voice choking.

"I kill him first!" Jessica snaps.

Vikki shakes her head. "Evangeline, he's here and willing to talk about it with you, I think you should hear him out."

Evangeline lets tears fall and Jessica feels as if she is going to loose it. "Mom we don't know this man. We can't let him near KJ...there has to be more we can do. I don't want him in here upsetting her."

Evangeline grabs her sister hand and squeezes. "Jessica, it's okay. I'm okay…I want to see him."

"No, Van…you had a seizure because of god knows what. Please."

Evangeline smiles. "I know what caused the seizure. I remembered what happened to me as a child. I remembered being pulled from my mother. I won't let that happen to KJ. I'll sell my soul to the devil first. I need to see him. I have a plan."

Jessica frowned. "A plan? What kind of plan?"

"Get him for me. Trust me I know what I'm doing."

Jessica looks at Vikki. "Mom…."

Vikki nods and pulls her from Evangeline. "Let her see him baby. We will be right outside the door. Clint opens the door for them and winks at Evangeline. She smiles weakly. John sees them come out and stands up. Jessica rolls her eyes and walks away.

Vikki approaches him smiling. "She will see you now. Please be mindful of her stress and don't upset her."

John nods "I would never do that. I just want what's best for our son."

Vikki smiles "I believe you."

Eve pats her son on his back. "We will wait for you."
He nods and walks to her room. Pushing her door open slowly he looks inside. She's sitting on the bed her hair loosely falling out of her bun. She looks extremely fragile and sad. He swallows the lump in his throat and walks to the bed.

"Are you okay" he asks softly
"I am" she says looking into his eyes
"Look…I'm sorry…."
She nods "It's okay"
"Actually it's not. I never intended to make you sick."
"What did you intend?" she asked

He looks at her and frowns. "This may not make sense to you. I know you don't know me. But I love KJ and I want to be a father to him."

Evangeline smiles and looks away. "Not to hard to believe everyone within five minutes of meeting him falls in love with KJ."

John smiles "Yeah he's an awesome kid."
Evangeline looked at him. "He seems to like you a lot."
John is surprised at her softness toward him. He looks at her shocked. She doesn't appear to have any ulterior motive and looks at him with innocent doe like eyes. "I hope so because I want to get to know him."

Evangeline sighs. "Have a seat Mr. McBain."
"Call me John…"
She looks at him frowning and then softens. "Okay John call me Evangeline..."
John nods and gets the chair bringing it close to her bed.

"Do you know the Pennsylvania laws in regards to custody John?"

John looks at her. She's staring straight ahead and he sees the pain on her face. She has a tube in her wrist running up to a bag dripping from an iron pole to her left. There are monitoring wires connected by circular suctions on her chest and forehead, running to a machine that seems to be recording her brain waves.

She looks nothing like the cool Diva he saw challenge him earlier this week. She looks likes KJ's mother struggling to hold onto him.

"Not really, but my lawyer has….."

"Yes Attorney Hugh Hughes…did he tell you why he wanted to take your case?" She asked looking over at him. He sees the sly smile on her face and doesn't like it

"Look, I don't have time.."

She nods. "Let me finish. The laws here clearly state that you have rights John. The only way that I could keep KJ from you is to prove you unfit. And although I know about your rage and professional misconduct, I found no evidence that you would harm our child."

John listens to her, apparently she did her homework like he did. He wasn't surprised. But her monotone voice was leading somewhere. He didn't understand her point.

She turned and looked at him and smiled again. "On the flip side of that John. The only way you can take my son from me is to determine me unfit. Attacking my mother in-law and dead husband with wild accusations doesn't make me incapable or raising our son. And I give as good as I get trust me on that. I would never be separated from him."

John thought about the evidence on her husband's dealings. She had no knowledge of it. If she did she wouldn't be so confident. He was glad he didn't introduce it into evidence. His mom was right. She was his son's mother and he could never hurt his child by destroying her.

"What are you leading up to Evangeline" he asked dryly.

She looked back at the ceiling. "You want KJ full time. I won't be separated from him anytime."

"That seems to be our impasse" he said frowning.

"Well no matter how dirty we get the judge was right, the only way KJ wins is if we work together." Turning her head she looks at him. "I can't have him with you unsupervised. I can't split vacations and holidays with you. I don't know you. I carried that baby in me for 9 months. I wiped his butt and watched him take his first steps. I won't miss a second of his life because some lunatic doctor through us together. But by the same token I've watched you. Your loss and grief as been transferred to my child. You are just as driven as I am and that scares me because their can never be a compromise between us."

"Evangeline there is nothing you could do to prevent it. The court order has recognized my rights. This speech of yours doesn't change a thing. I will have him whether you like it or not."

She laughs lightly. John likes the sound of her laughter even if it's directed at him. "Let me clue you in. I have more money than god. I could leave tonight with KJ and you would never see us again. I don't care if your momma ran the CIA you would never see us!"

"Are you threatening me!" John hissed sitting up in his chair.

Evangeline looked at the fire in his eyes and was reminded of why she must do this. This man wasn't going anywhere. And she had to find a way to neutralize him as a threat. They wanted her to hand over her child to this stranger on his 2nd birthday. What mother in her right mind would do that?

"No John it's not a threat….just a fact. With that being said I love KJ and what I am about to offer you is because of my love for my son. I would advise you accept it."

John was more than curious and waited for her to make her pitch. He was amused at how she was turning the tables on him. He still had a trump card she was unaware of.

"I'm offering that tomorrow after the party you and I move back into my home. The one I shared with Kevin. I'm offering that we get married."

John's mouth fell open. If he had been standing he would've fallen down. He thought she would come up with a bribe or something but this? How in the hell did she come up with marriage?

Evangeline looked at him. "You want your son don't you? You want to wake up with him and put him to bed. Every other weekend won't do that. Joint custody for a two year old is ridiculous. He needs stability. If we want him happy and well adjusted then we make the sacrifice. Not my baby boy damnit" she snapped.

John's head was spinning. It made perfect sense. He would gain so much from this arrangement. But a loveless marriage? He looked at her and saw how beautiful she was. He still loved his wife but he could have something with her. And to be living with his son as soon as tomorrow was something he couldn't pass up. Why would she do this? What was her motive? He couldn't see one but she was a smart woman. Just the other day she recoiled from him. Now she was inviting him into her bed.

"Don't think that this is a real marriage. I won't share a bed with you. I won't be anything with you. This is just for our son."

"I would never marry a woman that I couldn't be with! I have to much respect for the sanctity of marriage….you want to deal then let's deal. You offer your home, then you offer yourself as well."

Evangeline eyes grew big. She looked at him in shock. "I don't know you…"

"Fine we do the meet and greet but eventually you are my wife. And I mean sooner than later."

Evangeline shook her head "I could never let you touch me."
"I promise it won't be that bad…"
She glared at him. "I am offering you a chance with my son. This is about KJ not your dick!" she shouted.

John shook his head. "Do you really think that KJ can benefit from a lie? Living separate lives under one roof. You talk about sacrifice. Well dangling a carrot in front of me is not a sacrifice. You want to have this arrangement and spend your son's birthday with him, waking up next to him then you need to commit to it all. I won't push you but that is the agreement. Default on it then I drag you into court but this time as your husband. Don't play games with me Evangeline, I'm much better at than you are."

Evangeline looks at him for a long time. She bites her bottom lip. Tomorrow is her baby's birthday and she could very loose him.

She sees her mothers face screaming as the social worker pry's her hands off her pulling away. Tears well in her eyes, Kevin how did I get here? Help me Kevin.

"Fine…"

John stands up smiling. "Well let's tell the family the good news. We have a wedding to plan."

"No! I will explain my decision to my family privately. As for a wedding don't kid yourself. We can go to the courthouse Monday and finalize our deal."

"And my honeymoon?" he asks laughing. He's joking but he sees the anger on her face and decides to let it hang in the air between them.

"Whatever…"

"Fine. See you tomorrow. I'll bring my bags. And my family including the Cramers will be there so make sure you set enough plates."

Evangeline watches him walk out. She turns over in her bed and cries. She hoped she made the right decision. She had the information on his wife. It was her final trump card. When the time is right she would play it and drive him away from her life. But she needed some additional proof she was determined to get it.

Jessica pushed the door open slowly "Van…"

Evangeline turns over tears flowing freely "Jessie…." She says stretching her arms out to her.

Jessica rushes to her bed and pulls her close. "I am so sorry sweetie" she says stroking her hair.

"Me too…" Evangeline mumbles crying for the loss of a life she wanted and beginning of one she didn't know.