A/N – Thanks for the comments! * Cathy – Thank you so much for the compliments! I hate unfinished stories too. Re: the que, the only thing I can think of is that I post before 24 hours are up. Sometimes, I have to because of meetings at work. If I don't wait, then it won't push me up to the top (at least that's what I think). I don't look at that page, so I don't realize I've posted it "early". Sorry. If you follow the story, it will send you an email to tell you I posted. I will post Mon-Fri usually by 1:00 P.M. PST. If I'm not going to post, I will tell you unless, of course, there is an emergency. * Guest – re: popular opinion – Yes, I agree. One of my family members had the same thing happen and she wasn't mature enough either. It's tough. I'll be delving more into all of that at a later time. This one is twisty. * arcoisis – great questions. No, Sophie isn't alive. I'll squelch that because it's a natural guess. You will find out the baby's father next chapter.
You will find out why Andrea had the reaction she had much later, it's much deeper than image. Liz's parents had valid concerns about the pregnancy etc. It wasn't an easy decision. I would have been so upset. It wasn't handled in the best way, but it was complicated. Maybe I should have titled this fic It's Complicated lol.
Chapter 11
"What are you going to do?" Epiphany asked Jeff.
"I don't know."
"May I be frank with you?"
He nodded.
"You need to pull an Elizabeth on this one. Don't do what Andrea wants. The ball is in your court. Think about your happiness and what you want. Don't let yourself be bullied. Actions have consequences and she chose to blatantly disrespect you in the place where you work. I think she wanted to be caught because she was too much of a coward to confront you. Of course, you could go to marriage counseling. Just make sure that you are being authentic. Take some time to really think about it. You don't have to make a decision tonight."
"I want to move out."
"Why you? She is the one that cheated. Ask her to move."
Jeff smirked. "You have a point."
"Do you like your house?"
"Yes."
"Then take a stand and you make the demands this time around."
He gave her a side hug. "No wonder my daughter loves you."
Epiphany smiled. "I love her too."
He gazed into her eyes. "I just sat here and was brutally honest with you on the status of my marriage, so I need to ask you something and I hope you will be comfortable confiding in me. Epiphany, are you sick?"
Her eyes began to tear and she slowly stood. "If you need someone to listen, I'm your girl. I'm just not ready to talk about it."
He stood. "Okay, but you don't have to do this alone."
"I know."
He hugged her warmly. "It goes both ways. If you need to talk, you can call me any time too."
"I appreciate that. You should go home and rest. I doubt she'll show up tonight unless she's looking for a fight."
He smirked. "It could go either way."
"Come on."
They left and Jeff gave her a ride home.
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Elizabeth walked up to her door and was surprised to see Johnny sitting on the floor outside of it. "Why didn't you go in?"
"I don't know." He was just so floored about the whole situation.
He got up and she touched his face. "Can I stay?"
She could tell that he needed to. "Yes."
They went inside the penthouse and Liz went straight to her room. Johnny unzipped her dress and then got undressed. He got into bed while she was taking her makeup off and then she joined him.
"Just sleep baby."
She wearily closed her eyes, grateful that he was there surrounding her with his support and acceptance. Quickly, she fell asleep.
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The next morning, Jason woke up with a smile. Hopefully, he was going to get out of the hospital and he really couldn't wait.
Dante moved into the room. "Good morning."
Jason's eyes narrowed.
"Uh, bad morning?"
"You were with my sister."
Dante tried not to smile. "Yes, I was. She's wonderful."
"Dante, I might have a broken leg, but if you hurt her, I will find a way to hurt you."
"Duly noted. Now, can we get started?"
Jason nodded.
Dante lowered his leg and then began to exercise his limbs. "How do your ribs feel when I'm doing this?"
"Sore, but it doesn't hurt like it did and it's a little easier to breathe."
"Good. We'll work in some arm curls in our next session, light weights of course."
Jason was looking forward to it. "Can I use crutches?"
"Yes, but it will really depend on how your back and ribs feel. You were really bruised."
"Okay."
Dante continued to massage and work out Jason's muscles. It felt both good and bad. "With the cast, it's going to be harder to get up and down. Using the chair for the next week would be better. Once we get it off, you can move around with the crutches, but nothing weight bearing yet. I have a wedge that I want you to use to prop your leg up when you're in bed. The more you keep your leg raised, the better. It will help with the inflammation."
"Okay."
"Elizabeth is bringing a wheel chair. For now, I don't want you operating it manually for at least another week. Your ribs need to heal more. After that, we'll also increase the weights you'll be lifting."
"So, you'll be coming to the house?"
"Yes."
Monica had been listening from the doorway. Jason caught a movement and she walked in further. "How's the patient?"
"He's doing well. I'm done. I'll come back with the wedge and will see you in two days."
"Thanks."
"I just spoke with Patrick. I think he's going to let you go home."
Jason smiled. "Thank God."
Monica chuckled and sat. "I would love it if I could visit. I don't mean every day, but I would like to check up on you."
Jason had been thinking about them, especially in light of everything that went down with Elizabeth. From what he understood, he carried around a lot of pain regarding his mom and the position the Quartermaines took. Elizabeth's pain had consumed her and he really didn't want to do that. It was hurting him and affecting the way he lived his life. Maybe it was time to try and let go. "Okay."
"Thank you."
"How is Lila?"
"She is wonderful. Her hip is healing nicely and she is itching to get out of the chair."
"I understand completely. Tell her I said hello."
"I will."
Francis walked in with a bag. "Good morning. I brought you some clothes to wear home. I dropped some of your things off at Elizabeth's and later, I'll buy you some more sweat shorts. You're going to need them."
"Thanks!"
"No problem," Francis said.
"Tonight, Cook is going to make dinner for you. Should I make it for three?"
"Francis, can you join us?"
"Sure."
"Okay, I'll make it four then," Monica said.
Jason thought it might ease the tension with Johnny. They left and a nurse helped him get dressed.
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Elizabeth rolled over and felt around for Johnny. "Babe?"
"I'll be right there!"
She went to the bathroom and when she came out, Johnny was waiting with a tray and some hot chocolate.
"Breakfast in bed?"
"Yup. It's nothing crazy, just an English muffin and some jam."
"That sounds great."
She got comfortable and took a sip. "Yum."
"Francis stopped by."
"For what?"
"To drop off some of Jason's clothes."
"Oh." She took a bite of the muffin.
He had really hoped that she wouldn't go through with this, but at this point, he realized that there was no turning back.
"I know you're not happy about Jason staying here."
"I'm not. To be honest, I'm a little jealous."
"You have no reason to be."
"He's seems like a good guy and he'll be spending a lot more time with you then I will."
She put her cup down. "Once the wing is finished, I promise I will slow down."
"I really hope so. You deserve some down time." He needed to know if this relationship could make it before he got in too deep.
"Are you going to spend the day with me?"
"Yes, if that's okay."
"I would like that. I just feel like cuddling and maybe watching movies."
"Sounds good."
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Jeff finished getting dressed and made some coffee. He had given their cook off for the day. The house would be way too big for him, if they divorced, he was thinking of just selling it and buying something smaller.
He had just walked into the living room when Andrea breezed in.
"I didn't think you'd be here," she said as she froze in her tracks.
"It's my house. Where else would I be."
She put her bag with her clothes in it down. "Do you want to talk?"
"There's not much to discuss."
"You know, you are just as much as responsible with the problems in our marriage as I am."
"That is true, but the minute you threw away our vows and disrespected me, you took it to a whole other level."
"I know I was wrong to turn to someone else. Things—it just got out of control last night and I didn't plan it."
"Most people don't."
"I don't want to get a divorce."
Jeff laughed. "Do you think I'd agree to let you screw Stefan at night and keep up appearances during the day?"
"We never made love. That was the first time we were intimate."
"And you think I'm going to believe that?" he said incredulously.
"It's the truth."
"Well even if you didn't, you were headed that way before I walked in."
She sighed. "Probably."
"Why?"
"He was there. About three weeks ago, I was upset after a fight with you and he talked me down. He was just being a friend. Tonight, I lost it. You just don't understand me. None of you do."
"If I meant anything to you, then you should have stopped it. And if we don't understand you, that is your fault. You won't open up to us."
"I'm sorry. It's just too painful. You don't know what you're asking me."
He noted the look of anguish on her face, but pushed forward. "And what if it did go all the way, would you have just used him for sex?"
She shot him a look. "I'm not some trollop. Stefan is a good man, but I also have a family to consider. I wasn't thinking. I know I was wrong and feel horrible about it."
"If only you had considered us before you let some other man grope you. I want you out."
"What?" Her lip quivered as she really processed the enormity of her actions.
"You heard me. Why should I leave? I'm not the one who cheated. And yes it is cheating. You were with him physically even if it didn't go all the way."
She was stunned. In her mind, this was going to play out differently. "But I love this house."
"Oh well."
"I'm not leaving! You can't just kick me out?"
"If you stay here, I will make your life a living hell. I will make sure that everyone finds out what you did."
Her mouth dropped open. "You know how much my reputation means to me."
"You can pack up today. If you aren't out of here by Monday, then you can kiss your reputation goodbye."
Her lips pursed. "I'm getting a lawyer. I have a right to be here."
"Go for it. There is no law that says that I can't tell the truth. I won't do it at work. I'll make sure that someone hears it elsewhere. What happens after that is out of my control."
"You are being such a bastard!"
"I don't think you want to hear the name I want to call you right now."
She growled and grabbed her bag and stomped up to their bedroom.
Jeff sat down and opened the paper. There was no way he was going to let her ruin his day.
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Patrick knocked on Epiphany's door.
She looked out the peephole and frowned. "Patrick?" she said as she opened the door.
"Good morning. I brought you some breakfast from Kelly's."
"Why?"
He handed her the bag. "Because a girl needs to eat as you have so aptly put it time and time again."
She smirked. "I was just about to make some. Let me put the food away."
He sat on the couch and turned on the television and then took their food out of the box.
"Grab the food trays," she said.
He went into her hall closet and retrieved them.
Epiphany got comfortable. She didn't have much of an appetite lately, but she knew she needed to eat. She took a bite of the eggs. "Good."
"I'm glad you liked it." He was really worried about her. He could tell she was still losing weight rapidly and that really scared him.
"What are you doing today?"
"Since we both don't have to go in until three, I thought maybe we could go shopping. I need some new sneakers."
"What, the twenty pairs in your closet aren't good enough?"
"They are not work sneakers."
She shook her head. "You are worse than a girl."
"I like to look nice."
"So, are you sure this visit has nothing to do with Amelia?"
Patrick groaned as Piph chuckled. "Please, don't mention her."
"I like her."
"You would."
"Come on, she's just your type. I can tell she's a little wild and edgy. She's smart and I think you guys could help a lot of people if you worked together." She wanted him to be happy and make sure he was taken care should something happen to her.
"I don't know about all that."
"Is it so bad that you have a little healthy competition?"
He sighed and put down his breakfast sandwich. Piph handed him a napkin. "I don't know. I guess I'm just used to being top dog. Her feminine wiles could be my kryptonite."
"If I didn't know that you were a doctor, I'd swear you rode here on the short yellow bus."
"Don't be mean."
"Give the girl a chance."
He muttered something and took another bite. Women.
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Elizabeth and Johnny walked into Jason's room. "You ready to get out of here?"
"Definitely."
"This is Bob. He's going to help get you into the van." They had rented one so Jason could stay in the wheelchair.
Bob pushed the chair. "Your chariot awaits."
Carefully, they helped Jason ease off the bed and then get into it.
"It's comfortable," he said.
"Good."
They made their way out of the room and a few nurses said goodbye to him as he rode by.
Patrick and Epiphany were just walking in. "Are you escaping?"
"Damn right," Jason said.
"Be careful. Don't let him do too much."
"I won't," Liz said.
Kelly walked out of a room and smiled. Jason returned it and they continued.
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Epiphany frowned as she looked at the gurney being pushed into the room.
"What the hell?" Amelia asked.
"Male patient, stabbed with a pointed stick right below the heart. He coded once already."
Alan ran towards the gurney. "Transfer him and get him prepped for surgery."
"How the hell did it happen?" Epiphany asked.
"His son was on hallucinogens and thought he was a vampire."
She did a double take. "You're kidding right?"
"Nope. He's currently under arrest for attempted murder."
"Whatever happened to using garlic?" Amelia muttered.
The EMT smirked.
Alarms started going off and crash carts were pushed towards the bed.
"I think his lung has collapsed."
They feverishly worked on him until his heart started beating again.
Alan smiled at Amelia. "Good work."
"Thanks."
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Johnny helped get Jason settled. They had set up a bell for him to use if he needed them.
"Are you sure you are okay with me being here?"
Johnny turned around right before he reached the door. "I'll deal."
"I would never take advantage of her."
"I hope you mean that. Elizabeth is a special person."
Jason didn't reply.
"I'll see at dinner time."
"Bye."
He walked back into the living room.
"You leaving?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yeah." He hugged her and gave her a kiss. "Call me if you need me."
"I will."
He left and she took a phone call. She was feeling a lot better. Her ankle felt stronger and her wrist only ached a little bit. Several minutes later, there was a pounding on the door. She whipped it open and her sister brushed by her.
"Brooklyn, I have to go."
Sarah plopped onto the couch.
"What is wrong with you?"
"I think our parents are fighting."
"More than usual?"
Sarah nodded. "They are not speaking to each other."
Liz was stunned. "Did you talk to her?"
"No. Dad looks like shit and mom stormed off. He looked like he was done. I don't know how to explain it."
"Really?"
"I'm as serious as a heart attack. What if they are over?"
Liz didn't answer. Her brain just couldn't go there right now, especially since she thought they were fighting because of something she did.
"I'm sorry."
Liz's gaze snapped to her sister's. "Why?"
"I wish I had been there for you."
"Oh Sarah, it's not your fault."
"I hate that you've been carrying that around. It must have been horrible."
Liz nodded. "You want to see her?"
"Yes."
Liz quickly flipped open the locket and Sarah's eyes began to tear as she studied the baby's face.
"She was beautiful."
"I thought so."
A sob escaped Sarah's lips and the sisters embraced as they both cried.
"I think you are the strongest person I know," Sarah said.
"I don't know about that."
"Well, it's certainly not me. I'm crazy about someone who is probably like eighteen years older than me and emotionally closed off."
Liz sighed as she wiped her face. "I take it that it's not going well."
Sarah shook her head.
"Why him?"
"He's smart, moody, handsome, but I've seen him be gentle. We've talked from time to time. He smolders and I can't help it. Stefan just does it for me."
"I'm sorry."
"Me too. I just don't want to give up, but I can't force him to want me. Sometimes, I see it in his eyes that he does, but maybe because of our work situation, he just doesn't want to go there." Doctors practically lived at the hospital, so they did tend to end up dating people that worked there.
There was a thud that came from the bedroom and Liz jumped. "Jason."
"I got it," Sarah said standing and then wiping her face. "Which room?"
"Second door on the right."
"Be right back."
A/N – I'm re-thinking my Patrick/Epiphany stance…..hmmmm. They are giving me feels!
