A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Forty Three
Sam slowly wakes up the next morning. Lifting her head, she looks up and sees that Jeffrey's still asleep. She lays her head back down, closing her eyes, and listening to his heart beat beneath her ear. When she had gotten back from Company he had been asleep. She had put their food on the table by his bed and getting hers out, she began to eat. The nurse came in about an hour later. She woke him up to check his vital signs and then she left and he had eaten his dinner then, immediately falling back to sleep after he was finished.
She laid down beside him around midnight after the last nurse came in to check on him and give him another dose of medicine. When the nurse left, they had both fallen asleep after Jeffrey gave up trying to get her to go home. Sitting up, she stretches and then she scoots off the bed. She goes into the bathroom. Using it, she comes out as Jeffrey's waking up. He looks around and sees her coming out of the bathroom. "Hi." She says, walking over to the bed.
"Hi."
"How do you feel?"
"My head is hurting."
"I'll go get the…." Sam was saying when Dr. Stephens walks in.
"Good Morning, Mr. … Jeffrey." He says,
"Hello." Jeffrey says, quietly.
"How are you feeling?"
"My head hurts." Jeffrey says as Sam comes over to the bed.
"It's from the impact. Let me look you over and then I'll have the nurse bring you something for the headache.
"Okay."
He checks Jeffrey's ribs and his eyes to make sure the concussion hasn't worsen overnight. He takes the bandage off the cut on Jeffrey's forehead, making sure there are no signs of infection. When he's finished, he makes some notes in Jeffrey's chart and then he says. "I'm going to release you, but I want you to take the rest of this week off and if you have to next week too. You'll need to keep those ribs wrapped with an ace bandage, as well as change the bandage on your head. I'm going to give you a prescription for the pan and you can take Tylenol for the headache. You're probably going to have one for a few days."
"Okay."
"I want you to take it easy, no sudden or strenuous movement."
"I'll make sure he behaves himself." Sam says.
"Then I'll be right back with your discharge papers and I'll have the nurse bring you something for the headache and rebandage that cut. You'll also need to schedule an appointment with your family doctor to have those stitches removed within a week."
"We'll take care of that." Sam says.
"Thank you." Jeffrey replies. Dr. Stephens leaves as Sam picks up her phone. "Who are you calling?"
"Ava, so she can bring you some clothes." Sam says, dialing Ava's number as the nurse comes in. She gives Jeffrey the medication and then rebandages the cut as Ava answers her phone.
"Hello."
"Ava, its Sam."
"How's my dad?"
"He's okay. They're releasing him."
"Okay, I can come by after work to see him and bring the guitar."
"That will be fine. Since they are releasing him I was wondering if you could go by the loft and get a change of clothes for him." Sam asks.
"I can do that."
"Thank you."
"I'm leaving now, so I'll go by the loft and get the clothes and bring them to you."
"Thank you and we'll see you then." Sam says, hanging up. "She's going to bring you some clothes.
"I could have worn what I had on last night."
"You had blood all over your shirt." Sam says, sitting down on the bed. "She said she would bring the guitar to the loft after work."
"So Frank was able to get it?"
"Yes."
"Good, are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not. You're worried and tense. Lay down with me and try to relax." He says, reaching for her. She lies down beside him and he put his arms around her. "I'm going to be okay. They wouldn't be letting me go if I wasn't." He says, running his fingers through her hair. When she doesn't reply, he looks down and sees that she's fallen asleep.
About ten minutes later, Ava comes in. Jeffrey looks up and then motions for her to be quiet "Here are the clothes. Are you okay?"
"Yes, I've got stitches, a couple of broken ribs and a minor concussion. They insisted on keeping me for observation."
"Which is exactly what, I would have done." Sam says, opening her eyes.
"I was trying to let you sleep." Jeffrey says, as Sam sits up.
"Thank you for bringing the clothes." Sam says, as Dr. Stephens walks in.
"Okay, Mr. Mayor, I have your discharge papers and the prescriptions I am prescribing for the pain. How is your headache?"
"It's better."
"Good, I need both of you to sign these papers and then you will be free to go." He says, laying the papers on the table beside the bed as Jeffrey pushes the covers back. Taking the pen he signs the papers and then hands them to Sam. She signs them and then hands them back to Dr. Stephens. "You can get ready and I'll have the nurse come in to take you downstairs." He says, taking the papers.
"Thank you." Sam says, as he nods before he leaves.
"I'll step out." Ava says, walking to the door.
She leaves as Sam reaches for his clothes. He takes his pants and slips them on. Standing up, as she bends over and pulls them up for him. He fastens them as she reaches for his shirt, helping him with that before he sits down and she reaches for his socks and shoes. Putting then on, she gets up as he lies down. Taking as deep of a breath as he can, he closes his eyes. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, but I'm going to lay here until it's time to go."
"Okay." She says, walking over to the door.
When she opens it, Ava and a nurse are there waiting. Stepping back, she lets them in. "Mr. Mayor, are you ready to go?" The nurse asks.
Jeffrey slowly sits up. "Okay." He says, as Sam turns to Ava.
"I didn't think about this before, but I don't have my car here. Frank brought me.
"I'll give you a ride home." Ava says.
"What about work?" Jeffrey asks.
"I'll call Billy and explain. Let me go get my car." She says, as the nurse helps Jeffrey into the wheelchair.
"Thank you." Sam says, gathering up Jeffrey's clothes from last night.
Ava leaves, followed a few seconds later, by Sam and the nurse with Jeffrey When they reach the elevator, Sam pushes the button. They wait for a few moments and when the doors open, Sam lets the nurse on first and then she gets on. "Can you let her have the corner?" Jeffrey asks, looking up at the nurse.
"It's okay." Sam says, pushing the button.
The doors close and they start down. They go a couple of floors before the elevator stops and the doors opens again. Dr. Sedgwick looks up and is surprised to see Sam and Jeffrey. "Mr. Mayor, Sam." She says, as Sam moves back.
"Let me offer my congratulations, but I'm surprised to see you here. What happened?" She asks, looking at Jeffrey and then Sam.
"Thank you. Jeffrey had a car accident last night and was admitted for observation." Sam replies.
"Are you okay?" Dr. Sedgwick asks, looking at him.
"I will be." He replies, as Dr. Sedgwick nods and looks up.
"I don't want you stressed." She says, looking at Sam.
"I know and I'll be fine when I get him home."
"You need to rest. Don't wear yourself out, taking care of him."
"I'll be okay." Sam says.
"I'll make sure she doesn't do too much." Jeffrey says, as the elevator stops and the doors open. Sam and Dr. Sedgwick let the nurse and Jeffrey leave before they walk out.
"You take it easy Mr. Mayor." Dr. Sedgwick says.
"I will or I'll have to deal with her."
"You're right, you will."
"And you make sure you don't get too stressed out." She says, turning to Sam.
"I will and I'll call next week to schedule my next appointment."
"That will be fine. I'll see you then." Dr. Sedgwick says.
"Yes ma'am." Sam says. Dr. Sedgwick walks away and they walk towards the front lobby.
Ava is waiting when they walk outside. The nurse helps Jeffrey into the car as Sam takes the wheelchair back into the hospital and a few moments later they leave. Ten minutes later, they are pulling up to the loft. Sam helps Jeffrey out of the car as Ava gathers up their stuff. "Are you okay?" Sam asks and Jeffrey nods. "Can you make it upstairs?"
"Give me a moment." He says, leaning against the car. After several seconds, he stand up and slowly walks towards the building.
They stop a couple of times on the way upstairs. When they reach the loft, Ava unlocks the door, holding the door open for them. "Do you want to go upstairs and lay down, or stay down here?"
He stops next to the bathroom, leaning against the wall. "I'll go upstairs, but give me a moment."
"Why don't you stay down here?" Ava suggests.
"Because eventually I'll have to go upstairs."
"Are you going to want to come downstairs every time you need to go to the bathroom?" Sam asks.
"Okay, I'll stay down here." He says, walking over to the living room.
Sam helps him to sit down. "Just wait and I'll get you some pillows." Sam says, going upstairs. She returns a few moments later. Putting the pillows down, she gets them situated before he lies down. Ava comes in from the kitchen with a glass, sitting it down on the table beside him. "I hate to leave but I need to go."
"No, go and thank you for coming and bring us home." Sam says, turning to her.
"Yes, thank you." Jeffrey says, as Ava leans over hug him.
"I'll come by after work and bring the guitar." Ava says, standing back up.
"Thank you." Jeffrey says, sitting back.
'I'll walk you out." Sam says, turning to Jeffrey. "I'll be right back, don't go anywhere."
"I'll stay right here, I promise."
"Okay." Sam and Ava leave, they walk down to her car. When they reach the car, Ava turns to Sam. "What happened to other victim?"
"He didn't make it." Sam says.
"It killed him."
"Yes, he was ejected from his car and hit Jeffrey's tailgate."
"What happened?"
"Apparently, he was sending a text message and he didn't see your dad was stopped and he ran right into him. Witnesses said he never slowed down."
"I find myself doing that."
"Well, we all need to stop it."
"I think I will from now on. I'm going to go. I'll be by tonight."
"Okay, I wanted to tell you that I loved what you did with my office."
"You saw it."
"Yes, Jeffrey took me over there after he came home last night and he was on his way back over there so that we could stay there for the night when the accident happened."
"You were going to stay there. You don't have any furniture but downstairs."
"He bought camping stuff. We did the same thing when we moved into our apartment together in DC."
"Well, I'm glad you liked it."
"I did and when things are settled down here with him we'll get together for finish the rest of the house."
"Good. I'll be glad to help."
"Alright, you need to go and I need to go back upstairs. Thank you again."
"You're welcome and I'll see you both later."
"Yes." Sam says, as Ava opens her door and gets in. Starting her car, Sam waits till she pulls out of parking lot before she goes back upstairs.
On the street, Ralph is sitting in his car, watching. When she goes upstairs, he picks up his cell phone and dials Simmons number.
Simmons was coming in from outside when his cell phone rang. Pulling it from his pocket, he answers the call. "Yes."
"We have a new development." Ralph says, watching Sam walk back into the building.
"The plan is already in place."
"Maybe so, but this might make the plan easier."
"What's going on?"
"He's been hurt."
"What do you mean, he's been hurt?"
"I'm sitting outside their place and they just brought him home. And he's not moving too fast. I'm not sure what happened but they stopped twice on the way to the building and the woman just came out with his daughter and they entered…." He pauses to look at the clock. "…they entered the building about twenty five minutes ago."
"Could you see anything at all?"
"No, only that he's moving really slow and that they stopped."
"I'll see what I can find out." Simmons says, hanging up the phone. Picking up the phone again, he dials a number.
"City Springfield, Mayor's office." Stacey says.
"Yes, I need to speak to the mayor."
"He's not in right now?"
"When will he be in?"
"Not for the week, is there a message?" Stacey asks, picking up a pen.
"Did something happen?"
"Who is asking?"
"I went to college, law school with him. I'm in town and I wanted to meet up with him."
"He was in a car accident yesterday evening. He won't be back in the office until sometime next week. He's been ordered to have complete bed rest."
"Was it serious, the accident?"
"He's not critical. The hospital only kept him over night but he has a concussion and a few broken ribs. Would you like to leave a message? I'll be speaking with him later this evening."
"No, I'll be in meetings all day. I wanted us to meet for lunch but it sounds like he's not able to get out, thank you." Simmons says, hanging up before Stacey can reply.
Olivia slowly opens her eyes, reaching for James and then remembering that he left around three so that Emma wouldn't find him there with her. Letting him love her last night had seemed so right, but now that he was gone and she was alone to think about everything, she wondered why she so easily gave herself to him and why she didn't feel at all guilty that she has slept with him, especially since she convinced herself that she was in love with Jeffrey and that he would be back with her.
Sitting up, she pushes the covers back, getting out of bed. She walks into the bathroom. Using it, she stands in front of the mirror for several moments before she reaches for a wash clothe and turns the water on. She starts to wash her face and then she decides that just washing her face wasn't going to wash away what she and James did the night before. Dropping the wash clothe, she turns to the shower and turns it on as hot as she can possibly stand.
Getting in, she stands under the hot water, trying to erase what she had done. She hasn't been standing there under the water for long before Emma is knocking on the door calling for her. She pulls the curtain back. "I'll be right out." Olivia calls, reaching for the soap, and hurrying through her shower. Emma is on the couch, waiting when Olivia comes out of her room. "Mom, I'm already late."
"We're going right now." Olivia says, grabbing her keys as Emma gets up.
"What about breakfast?"
Olivia reaches for her wallet. "We'll get something on the way to school." Olivia says, handing her some money for lunch as she ushers out the door.
Thirty minutes later, after getting breakfast and checking Emma in at school and promising that they would order pizza and watch a movie, Olivia walks into her office. Her assistant is at her desk. "Good morning, Ms. Spencer." She says, getting up as Olivia walks towards her office.
"Good morning." Olivia replies, out of politeness. The morning hadn't felt good since she woke up.
"Here are your messages and coffee. Will you be needing anything else?"
"No." Her assistant turns to leave as Olivia asks. "Has Mr. Marshall been in?"
"Yes, he was by earlier. Do you want me to call him?"
"No, no, that's fine, thank you." Olivia says, turning her computer on. Nodding her assistant leaves. Olivia reaches for her messages, flipping through them, she's surprised to see a message from Simmons. Reaching for her cell phone, she dials his number. After a couple rings, he picks up. "Why are you calling me on my office line? I've told you never to call there." Olivia says, turning to face the window behind her.
"I tried your cell phone and your room, it was the last call."
"Why are you calling me, everything is planned?"
"We've had a new development."
"What?"
"He's been in a car accident, last night. He was admitted to Cedars for…."
"He was admitted to Cedars!"
"Yes…."
Olivia hangs up and dials Ava's number after four rings she gets her voicemail. "You need to call me about Jeffrey." Olivia hangs up and reaches for the remote on her desk. Being that she sometimes worked after hours she had a TV in her office, turning it on, she tunes to a local station as her cell phone rings again. Grabbing it, she answers it without looking at the screen. "Ava."
"No, it's me. Why did you hang up on me?"
"What do you want?"
"I called to tell you about the accident the mayor had last night. He was admitted to Cedars for observation after he was involved in a car accident last night. He's got a concussion and a few broken ribs." Simmons says in a rush.
"Is he still at Cedars?"
"No, he's at home but Ralph says he's moving very slow and this could work to our advantage."
"We have a plan."
"I know, but if we move now and he's injured, we might be able to overpower him without the drug."
"We can't take advantage like that."
"What! This is a perfect opportunity here. He's weakened so we could take him without having to drug him. You didn't want to drug him in the first place."
"I'll think about it and get back to you." Olivia says, turning around as James opens her office door.
"This is a golden opportunity. We won't have to…."
"I said, I'll think about it and get back to you. I've got to go. I've got a meeting."
"Alright, but we can't wait on this. He's going to get stronger the longer we wait."
"I realize that. I'll call you back later." Olivia says, hanging up. "Hi." She says, as he walks over to her desk.
"Hello." He says quietly. "How are you?"
"I'm fine."
"I wanted to check on you after last night."
"You have no reason to worry. I'm fine." Olivia says, looking at him.
"I thought you might have second thoughts about what we did." He says, watching her. He saw a flicker of something in her eyes but wasn't quite sure it was there before it was gone.
"We had a good time last night and we're adults. I appreciate you leaving before Emma got up this morning."
"I was worried when I came by later and you weren't here."
"I overslept this morning. I'm sorry. Did you want to discuss the sites for the expansion in Europe?" Olivia asks, getting up she walks around her desk and he gets up too, reaching for her hand.
"Do you want to stop pretending that we didn't spend the night together last night and talk to me?"
She looks at him for several moments before she says. "I can't talk to you."
"Why not? You talked to me last night."
She looks away from him. He moves closer and she turns back to him, pulling her hand away. "I need to think and I need you to back off." She says, looking at him. He stands there for several moments, watching her, trying to gauge her and wondering if he should press her. " I enjoyed myself last night, but I need to take a step back and figure out what this means and how you, me and this fits into my life. I've got plans and I'm not sure I can change them." Olivia says, thinking about the call from Simmons
"What plans?"
"It's too complicated to get into, but I have to think and I need space." Olivia says, looking up to him.
"Alright, but I can't stay away. We do have to discuss the sites for the expansion in Europe, but I'll give you time." He says, reaching up to caress her cheek.
She turns her head, pressing her cheek against his hand before she steps back. "Tell me about the sites." She says, becoming all business. James took his cue from her and began telling her about the sites that JR had briefed him on.
It had taken most of the night for the Lord Chancellor to reach all of the council members and advise them of William's order. Most of them were surprised by the order, since it wasn't custom for the prince to call them back to Capital after they had taken their summer recess. William was walking into his office when the call came in. "Sir, it's the Lord Chancellor." Jodi says.
"I'll take it in my office." William says, walking into his office and closing the door. Picking up the phone, he pushes the button for the line. "Lord Chancellor."
"Your Highness." The Lord Chancellor says.
"Have you spoken to the members of Parliament?"
"Yes Sir, they have all returned and are here with me."
"Then I shall be down there in a few moments." William says, hanging up.
Ten minutes later, he walks into the council chamber. Most of the council members are gather together in groups talking among themselves when William walks in. "Gentlemen." He says, walking over to his place. When William walks in, the gentlemen stop talking and turn to face him. "You can all be seated." William says, sitting on the throne. It's a replica of the throne in the palace. The men move to their respective places and sit down as William looks at the Lord Chancellor.
He clears his throat and then says. "Gentlemen, his highness has ordered the Parliament reconvened to settle the matter of the elections to decide the fate of the monarchy." He says, looking at each man.
"We decided to table this until after the holiday." Lord Finley says.
"His Highness wishes this to be settled before then." The Lord Chancellor says.
"If we are to decide this matter then his Highness should not be here." Lord Billingsley says. "Proper protocol demands…."
"Proper protocol demands that this matter be settled in a timely manner." William says. The men turn to him. "This country wants to know what it's future will be and I happen to know that some of you wish to hold up this proceeding in the hopes that I'll decide not to abdicate. I'm telling you know, I will not change my mind. The only reason I took the throne was because I was forced to protect my nephew. That threat is no longer there and I no longer want to be your prince. I happen to believe that San Cristobel would be better off without the monarchy."
"The monarchy served San Cristobel for more than three hundred years, your highness. We had a few months of democracy. That is hardly sufficient time to decide that democracy is best for San Cristobel." Lord Ramsey says.
"Maybe so, but we had three hundred years of a monarchy and look where we ended up. Two brothers fighting over a crown neither on of them had a right to because a father lied and turned his back on his true son because he wasn't the son of the woman he truly loved. A woman he turned his back on because his father would not accept her because she wasn't titled and rich. I'm a product of that and I know longer want to contribute to it. A democracy would be in the best interest of this country. We've been a democracy for years. Every year there are referendums put before the citizens to vote on. Every year they vote on taxes and proposals brought before this council why should they not vote on the head of their government."
"And why should we turn our backs on a way of life that we've understood for over three hundred years?" Lord Monte asks. "Simply because on man deceived the country."
"And do you not think there will not be another man down the road that will not do exactly or worse than my father did. Worse than my brother Edmund did." William says.
"If we did vote for democracy, we could have Richard back as head of state." Lord Wittings says.
"Richard is in Springfield. He has moved on." The Lord Chancellor says.
"He might be persuaded to come back, if this was democracy. He barely got started when the vote went before the people to keep it or go back to the monarchy." Lord Johns says.
"Richard is not going to come back to run for President of San Cristobel. Gentlemen, you're not taking this seriously." William says. "This isn't a discussion on whether or not to raise the taxes. This is about the fate of our country. Our countrymen want answers and closure and they deserve that and I will be abdicating my role as Prince of San Cristobel in a few weeks. We have to decide what our country will be within that time." William says, standing up.
"You can't abdicate without a proper government in place to take it's place." The Lord Chancellor says.
"That is why you have one week to figure this out. None of you will be leaving until it is." He says, walking out of the room, each of the men, turn to stare as he walks out.