Chapter 2: Better Friends, Than Lovers

Writer's Note: This chapter is really about Tony and Joanna's relationship as it stands at this point. So please bare with me. And it is told from Joanna's point of view. Peggy Roberts you may want to read this chapter, at least. : )

Tony had spent all week at the hospital hoping that Na' eem would let him see Kerry. On Friday around five pm I went there to see him.

Burn Unit Waiting Area

"Tony."

"Joanna." He said getting up. "What are you doing here?" He gave me a hug and a kiss on both cheeks.

"Anna told me about what happen to Kerry. Are you ok?"

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

He took a deep breath. "I will be, once I see Kerry."

Why haven't you seen her yet?"

"Because it's family only or you have to be on the list and Na' eem won't let me see her. I'm not on the list. I have been trying for the past five days to convince Na' eem to put me on the list, but he refuse. I don't blame him. What man would want his wife ex-boyfriend to see her? If it was me I know I wouldn't."
"It was you. And you did. Remember? It was when I had stage four cancer."

"Yeah, it was Christmas 2018, you wouldn't wake up on Christmas Morning."

"You didn't know I had it until then…"

"And…" He took a deep breath. "I was terrified. I thought I was going to lose you."

"So did Tony…" he looked at me. "The other Tony. You let him visit me whenever he wanted to."

"It wasn't because it was what I wanted. I knew it was what you wanted."

"I know. Thank You." I took his hand. "Do you hate me?"

"For what?"

"For wanting him over you?"

"No. I wanted Kerry over you, too. So I figure we're even." Tony said smiling. "True fully, Joanna, all I want…all ever wanted was for you to be happy, even if it's not with me."

"That's all I wanted for you, but your life isn't going that way." Tony sighed. "Maybe if she knew you were here she would want to see you and Na'eem wouldn't have any choice."

"That's what I am hoping."

"Is there anything I can do?"
"No."

"Have you eaten?"

"I'm fine. I have a few more hours before visiting hours are over and they will kick me out."

"Is it ok if I wait with you?"

Tony smiles. "Yes. I would like that."

Just then "Wait. Stop." Kerry said as Na' eem push her past the waiting room. "Back up." Na'eem did. "Stop." He did. "Tony."

Tony looked up. "Kerry." He said and runs over to her and was about to give her a hug when Na' eem stepped in between them.

"Nurse, will you take my wife to her room please?"

"Sure." Nurse Roberts said.

"I really want to talk to Tony." Kerry said.

"Go to your room."

"But I want to…"

"What did I say?!" He yelled.

"Kerry it's alright. Just go back to your room." Tony said. She looks at him and looks at the nurse.

"You can take me to my room." She said.

"That was totally uncalled for. If you don't want me to see your wife, fine, but you didn't have to treat her like she's a child."

"You want me to treat her like a woman, like my fucking equal, then stop coming here. I don't want you to see my wife. I don't want you anywhere near my wife. Don't call her, don't text her, stay the fuck away. Do I make myself clear?" Na' eem said they both an inch away from each other, sizing each other up.

"Crystal."
"Good." Na' eem said and walks away.

IN KERRY'S ROOM

"Are you alright?" Nurse Roberts asked.

"I'm fine. Thank you."

The nurse push her to the bed, lock the wheelchair and is about to help her in it. "No." She said. "I can do it myself."

"You're sure."

"Yes, you can leave. Thank you." She said.

"Kerry if you're being abuse…" Peggy said.

"I'm not." Kerry said interrupting her.

"Verbal abuse is just as bad as physical." Nurse Roberts said and walks out. As she was leaving Na' eem was coming in.

"Excuse me." She didn't say anything and walks past him. He walks in…

Kerry sat in her wheelchair just staring at the bed. She is weak and tired; she can't feel her legs; and her body from head to toe from what she had seen is cover. The only thing that is visible is her eyes and mouth, with thin lips, where big, juicy lips used to be. She's not even sure if she still has a nose and ears. So instead of getting in the bed she wheeled herself to the mirror. She is about to remove the bandages, when… "No! No! No…" Na' eem said stopping her, "… you have to keep those on for a few more weeks. Ok." He put her hands in her lap. "Why aren't you in bed?" Kerry rolled her eyes and roll herself to the bed.
"I told the nurse that I can put myself in bed."
"Why didn't you?" Na' eem asked. Kerry didn't say anything. Instead she put her hands on the arms of her chair and tried to lift herself up only to fall.

"Kerry." Na' eem said catching her. He lift her and about to..

"No. Put me back in my chair!" He did.

"Come on, let me help you in bed."

"No. I don't want to get back in bed."

"Kerry you need your rest."

"I know but I don't want to get back in bed, right now, I want to sit here and…Why won't you let Tony come and see me?" She ask looking at him.

"Because you had an affair with him! What the hell do you think? If it was me that was here instead of you, would you let me see my ex-girlfriend?"
"If it's Riley's mother, yes, I would, if you wanted to see her. In matter of fact, I would let you see whoever you wanted to see regardless of who it is or rather I like them or not."

"Well, am not you, Kerry. "

"I realize that."

Na' eem sighs. "And I really don't want to fight about this. Not right now. All I want to know is two things."
"What?"

"Do you want us? Do you want this marriage to work?"
"Yes."

"Then you need to cut all ties with him." She looks at him angry. "Don't call him, don't text him, don't go to any of his plays, don't see any of his movies or TV shows; I don't care what is going on with his life, do not support him in any way. And if there is another Scandal Reunion, then you don't go. Don't make comments to him on social media, in matter of fact; delete him off of all your social media. Because that is the only way this, you and me is going to work. So if you want us, cut him loose, starting today." And he sat down and looks at his book.

A nurse approach us as we were about to leave. "Look, My name is Nurse Peggy Roberts, I'm the Charge Nurse, here for the 3-11pm shift. I am an Olitz and Terry fan…" She looks at me. "…no offense Ms. Musky."

"None taken."

"And if you really want to see Kerry, I think I can help you with that."

"When?" Tony asked

"Anytime you need me, tonight, if you want too."

"What is the latest you can stay?" Tony asks her.

"Midnight."

"Perfect. What's your plan?"

"Come to my office." Peggy said and we follow her to her office.

One Hour Later

"You really didn't have to come with me to my apartment, Joanna." Tony said as he opened the door.

"I know." Tony walks in and I follow. He looked at me like 'What the hell?' But I ignore him and went to the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, I asked, "You're hungry."

"I'm not cooking dinner." He yelled

"Did I ask you that?"

"So you're going to cook?" He asked coming into the kitchen.

"I haven't cook in 20 years, I'm not about to start now. I was going to put some chicken breast on your George Foreman grill and make a grill chicken salad. Do you want some?"

"You're not going to poison me, are you?"
"Do you want some or not?"

"If I say yes, would you go away?"

"After you eat."

Tony smiles. "Sure, why not."

Just then there was a knock on the door. "That must be RuPaul." He said going to open the door.

"I got the stuff you need." He said bring in four bags. Tony took him to his bedroom.

Meanwhile- back at the hospital

"Kerry." Na' eem said looking away from his book. Kerry looked at him. "You know I love you right?"

"Yes. I just wish you express it more and show it in public."

"Kerry we barely go out in public. And I thought you want to keep your personal life, our marriage, just that, personal."

"Is that why you won't let me post any selfies of us together on social media?"

"Kerry."

"The only time you hold my hand when we go out is if I asked you to and if I grab it, you pull away. And when I asked to take a selfie of us to post online, when I went to your opening of 'A Soldier's Play' you refuse to take the selfie with me. You wouldn't let me wish you a Happy Valentine's day on social media, you wouldn't…"

"I thought that what you wanted, Kerry! You the one that said that you want to keep our relationship private. That you don't want us to be all lovey dovely in front of the cameras, in public, not that we're that at home. But the point is you said you didn't want all of that. Until Terry fans started speculating about you and Tony. And saying that Isabella is his, etc, all of sudden, you want the world to know you're "happily married" suddenly you want to parade me around like I'm some damn trophy. I'm sorry, Kerry, but I didn't sign up to be your trophy wife!"
"No, but you did sign up in hopes that being married to me would give you stardom." Kerry said. "You don't love me no more than I love you, why do you care if am with Tony or not?"

"Because I would not be upstage by an old ass white man. I'll rather for you to dump me for a younger black man, then an old ass white man. If you want a divorce, we can get one, but given the circumstances… you know what forget it. Go ahead have your fun, with Romeo, but I'll bet the moment he sees how you look, all of that '…Kerry is grace personified…' would go out the window. And when it does, don't come back running to me." He said and left. Kerry just sat there, crying.

Tony's Apartment

"Got it." RuPaul said coming out of the bedroom without the bags.

"Got it. Not sure how my dick is going to feel afterwards, but I got it."

"That's because you're just too damn big for a white boy." RuPaul said. Tony laughs.

They walked to the door and Tony's opens it for him. "Thanks for your help."

"No problem. If you have any questions or need any more help…" He paused and leaned in a little closer to Tony and whispers. "Or decide you want to try the other side, I'm here."

"Bye, girl." He said.

"Bye boy." RuPaul responded and left out shaking his hips. Tony smiles, shakes his head and closed the door.

Tony walks into the kitchen. "Just in time." I said putting our plates on the table.

Tony sat down and took the Ranch dressing and pours some on his salad. "How much do I have to eat before you leave?"

Why are you trying to get rid of me? Is there something I should know?"

"Like?"

"Do you have a hot date?"

"No. I don't see that changing anytime soon unless Kerry chooses me. Other than that, I probably be an eunuch until I died." At that moment I realize how badly the sex scandal trial hurt him.

"Tony can I ask you a question?"

"If I say no, is that going to stop you?"

"No and stop acting like an ass." I said changing my tone with him.

Tony sighs. "What do you want to know?"

"WHY?"

"Why am acting like an ass?"

"NO, I know why you're acting like an ass, because you are an ass. I want to know why you didn't tell the truth in the beginning. You knew you were drugged and raped. You have proof, the real tape and they confessing to drugging and raping you, yet, you didn't say anything, the moment they accuse you. You didn't say anything when all these other women came out with simpler accusations. And you didn't say anything when it was all over the news. And more importantly, you never said anything in court. Why?"

"When a woman gets raped it's bad, disgusting, how in the hell can a man do that to a beautiful woman, type of thing. When a gay man gets raped by other men or women, it's bad, disgusting, bile, how the hell can someone be filled with so much hatred, type of thing. But when a straight man gets raped, by women, it's just embrassassing."

"So you were willing to go to jail for something you didn't do to saved you some embrassassment?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Would you have believed me or them?"

"I see you're point. But I was your wife, Tony. You told Kerry, but you wouldn't tell me."

"Joanna, Kerry believed me the moment I told her I was innocence. She continued to believe me once she saw the videos. She continue to believe me regardless of the DNA; despite of the press and paparazzi; at the cost of her own marriage and possibly her career. She believed me and struck by me, through it all. Even my fans, most of them, strangers; people that don't know me personally, believed in my innocence and all I wanted was for you to do the same."

"Tony, I am sorry."

"I'm not mad at you, Joanna, really. Like I said you know me. You knew me longer than any of those people, even Kerry and I understand all your reason why."

"That was one time, Tony. One person. Years ago. When you were accused, you owe up to it. And you did the time for it. I should have believed you." I got up and grabbed the plates. "I should go."

"Joanna." Tony said stopping me. "Do you want to watch a movie?"

"As long as Kerry not in it, sure, why not?"

Tony smiled. "You know me so well. Ok, no Kerry's movies." He said grabbing the dishes and we begin to wash them together.

"One more thing." I asked as he wash and I dried.

"What?"

"Why didn't you press charges against them?"

"Because I was afraid it would destroy any other women who was actually sexually assaulted and speak out, chance of believing them or give any men who are really guilty any ideas."

"So what do you want to watch?" I asked putting the last dish away.

"Friday the 13th, the one I am in."

"The one you died right away?"

"Yeah, the one when I decided to be a badass and confront, Jason, yep, that's the one.

I laughed. "Sure, why not?" And we went in the living room and sat down.

"Joanna."

"Yes." I responded.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." And we watched the movie.