Here's chapter eighteen.
Hope ya enjoy.
On with the fic...
Karen Scott sighed and looked at her sons' once Gary stopped talking. Jeff was looking uneasy, Jason, of course, was wearing an unreadable expression and Todd, of course, was looking annoyed. Karen looked at Gary- who now looked nervous. He'd just informed them that he had liver cancer and needed a partial transplant. So, in other words, he'd probably die.
"I understand why it's difficult to believe anything I say," Gary said quietly.
"You don't look sick, you know," Todd said pointedly.
"Appearances can be deceiving, Todd. We're all aware of that. Besides, it's what I feel that matters," Gary said.
"I... really don't know what to say or think," Jeff said, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
"Neither do I," Karen said softly.
"Well, I'm sticking by what I originally said. I don't think he's telling the truth," Todd said. "Jase?"
Jason looked at each of his relatives, then, shook his head slowly. "I'm not sure."
"Again, I understand your uncertainty, but, I wouldn't lie about something so serious," Gary said, then, he grimaced.
"What's wrong?" Karen asked automatically.
"I'm just feeling some pain in my shoulder area," he said, rubbing his right shoulder gingerly.
'That's one of the symptoms,' Karen thought, uneasiness creeping into her.
"Man, you are really playing the role well, aren't ya?" Todd sneered.
"Todd, come on, man," Jeff said.
Todd ignored his brother. "Dying father wants to make amends with family. You're really big on TV, huh?"
"Todd-" Gary began.
"But I'm not falling for it. I don't know what you're really after and I don't care. I'm not giving you another chance to let me down all over again. I'm not. Mom, Jeff and Jase, I'll see you guys around. I gotta go. I just can't stand this," Todd said, then, he turned and left the room before anyone could say anything.
"I'll stop him and-" Jeff began.
"No. It's fine, Jeff. Leave him be. No one can blame him," Gary said calmly.
Jeff stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Look... I really hope you're being straight with us here. Because if you're not..."
"If you're not, I will see this as a despicable act of cruelty and spend my life hating you," Karen said crisply.
"I'm being completely honest," Gary said.
Suddenly, Todd re-entered the room.
"Sweetie, I thought you were leaving," Karen said with a slight frown.
"Not yet," he said. Then, he looked at his father. "Let's say you're not lying. Why did you wait until you were sick to reconcile? So you could die with a clean conscience? Or do you really give a flying crap about the family you left behind?"
"Todd, we all know I shouldn't have done what I did to you all. But there's nothing I can do to change it. I wish there was. But I do love you and your brothers. That's always been true. I wanted you all to know that because I may or may not make it," Gary said.
Jason cleared his throat. "Hey, I... can't do this right now," he said. It was all just too much. "I'd rather talk more tomorrow or something. I'm gonna, I'm gonna head home now."
Kim and Jade were in Karen's room, watching television. Well, Jade was. Kim was wondering just what was happening in the den. She was concerned about the Scotts- especially her boyfriend. What were they all talking about?
"Kim?" Jade said.
"What is it, sweetie?" Kim asked.
"Why is Daddy mad at his daddy?" Jade asked.
Kim sighed. "Well, honey-"
"Ready to head, guys?" Jason said as he entered the room.
Kim's eyebrows shot up. "What-"
"I'll tell you when we're home," Jason said, scooping Jade up in his arms.
"Okay," Kim said, standing.
"Jase, you said you'd tell me," Kim said a little over a couple hours later. They were in the bedroom and Jade was already fast asleep in her own bed.
"Yeah, but, I thought better of it. You're pregnant and-" he began.
"Rex, I can handle it. And these babies can, too. Just, just lay it on me," she said.
He sat down on the foot of the bed and sighed deeply. He rubbed his hands over his face, then, shook his head. Kim sat next to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. He looked at her.
"I hate when you're upset. Tell me what happened. Please," she said, her eyes pleading with him.
"All right. Gary has liver cancer and he needs a transplant. At least, that's what he told us," Jason said.
Kim's jaw dropped. Wow! "That's really- what did your mom and brothers say? Do they believe him?"
"Todd doesn't. Mom, Jeff and I just are hesitant to. It's all so frigging outrageous. All of it. Just everything lately," Jason said.
"You said it. I really hope he isn't lying. That'd just be evil. I mean, he's hurt you guys so much already. This would just make him a monster," Kim said.
"Todd thinks he's after something. A part of me agrees, you know?" Jason said.
"Anyone would understand, Jase. Anyone would," she said.
"I said I'd talk more about it another time. I just had to get out of there," he said.
Kim nodded, then, they sat in silence for awhile. Finally, Jason spoke up after what seemed like hours.
"I guess we better get some sleep or something. We can deal with this more tomorrow," he said.
Kim nodded in agreement. "Yeah. It's a little early, but, I am kind of tired."
"Same here. Drained," he said.
"Let's hit the hay, then," Kim said.
(Next morning)
"Are you really ready for this?" Chad asked Gina. They'd just arrived in Angel Grove and was sitting in his car in front of Jason's house. It was almost nine in the morning.
"No. But I've gotta go through with it," Gina said. Her heart was racing wildly. She could hardly stand looking at the house. Memories came rushing back like a tide. She shook her head- as if to free her brain of them.
"I just remembered something. It's Friday. Isn't Jason at work or something? Or does he not go in on Fridays?" Chad asked.
"Oh, right! I wasn't even thinking about that," Gina said with a sigh.
"Wait. Whose car is that in the driveway?" Chad asked.
Gina looked up and frowned in confusion. "That's Kim's car."
"And she would be?" Chad asked, lifting his eyebrows.
"One of Jason's friends. I wonder what she could be doing here so early," Gina said, her curiosity rising rapidly.
"There's one way to find out," Chad said, looking at her.
"Right," Gina said slowly. What was going on? Wait a second. Kim being here didn't necessarily have to mean anything. Gina took a deep breath and opened the passenger door.
"You want me to come with you?" Chad asked.
"No. Just stay in the car for now," Gina said, then, got out and closed the door. The blonde stared at the house for several moments, then, made her way up to it on shaky legs. Why did she suddenly feel like she was about to head to the gas chamber or something?
When she finally reached the door, she looked back at Chad's car, then, swallowed hard and rang the doorbell with a trembling finger.
Moments later, the door was opened by Kimberly Hart. The brunette's eyes widened in astonishment when she saw who the visitor was. "Gina!"
Gina opened her mouth to speak until she noticed something interesting. "You're pregnant."
Kim blinked, then, looked down at her swollen belly. She placed her hand on it and looked up at Gina... wariness in her eyes. "Yeah."
Gina nodded. Then, the way Kim had responded and reacted registered in her mind a couple seconds later. Gina looked at the other woman's belly once again, then, into Kim's eyes. Kim bit her lower lip and Gina's blood froze as realization slammed hard into her.
"Oh, my God," she whispered.
And that's that. The hated cliffie. Stay tuned.