Brenda Returns – Chapter 6
Brenda looks at Jason before turning to talk to the doctor.
"I don't know…I have to think about this," she almost stutters.
She starts to pace.
The doctor gives Jason a confused look.
"I don't understand. What is there to think about?" he asks.
Jason holds up his hands. "It's a long story. Would you like to see Hope?"
"Yes, I'd like that," the doctor says.
"Is she upstairs?" Jason asks Brenda.
Brenda realizes that they are talking to her and pulls her attention back to them. "Yes, but she's probably taking a nap. Give me a minute before you come up."
Both men watch her as she ascends the stairs.
Jason waits until he feels Brenda's out of hearing distance. "You just have to give her some time. There's a lot of history here in Port Charles for Brenda. "
Maria returns with the water and a small tray of sandwiches.
"In case anyone is hungry," she says as she sets the tray down.
"Thank you, Maria. We're going to go up and see Hope now," Jason tells her.
Maria nods and Dr. McNeal follows Jason up the stairs.
When they reach the room, Brenda is sitting on the bed next to Hope.
"The doctor is just going to ask you some questions and take a look at you," Brenda reassures her daughter.
"I didn't think I had to go to the doctor here, mommy," Hope says, almost on the verge of tears.
Brenda pulls her close to her. "You're not….not today. But, remember what I said? The people at the hospital are going to help you, so you don't feel so tired all the time."
Jason knocks on the opened door.
"Should we come back?" he asks.
Brenda wipes a tear away and shakes her head. "Nope. Come on in."
Dr. McNeal walks over to the side of the bed. "Hi Hope. I'm Dr. McNeal. I heard you're not feeling so well, so I'm here to try to help you."
"Can you say hi?" Brenda asks, gently squeezing Hope's shoulders.
"Hi."
He sits down on the other side of her on the bed.
"Can I take a look at your eyes with my flashlight?" he asks.
Hope nods and turns more toward the Doctor. Brenda is still holding onto her a little bit.
Dr. McNeal flashes a light into both eyes.
"Very good, thank you. The last report from Italy stated that her pupils were getting cloudy, they seemed to have cleared up some."
Brenda nods. "Yes, they gave me some eye drops to give her every night before she goes to sleep. They seem to have been helping."
"Good," Dr. McNeal says.
Dr. McNeal asks a few more questions.
"Hope, thank you for answering my questions so well. You look tired, so I'm going to let you get back to your nap, okay?" he asks.
Hope nods and looks at her mommy.
"I'll be down in a minute," Brenda tells Dr. McNeal.
A few minutes later, they all are downstairs in the living room.
"She liked you," Brenda tells the doctor. "That's very important, I think."
She shoves her hands in her jean pockets.
The doctor nods. "You have a beautiful daughter. I think it's in your best interest to hear me out completely and trust me."
Brenda glances at Jason who gives her a reassuring look.
"Okay," she says. "Just tell me what to do."
Dr. McNeal nods. "First, I'm going to go over these notes with Dr. Scorpio."
Brenda starts to say something but the doctor stops her. "I won't give her any names or information….yet. Whatever your reason for not wanting to involve Dr. Scorpio….I suggest that you work that out."
Brenda nods. "I will."
"Thank you, doctor," Jason says as he walks the doctor to the door.
He grabs his coat on the way.
"Dr. McNeal…" Brenda stops him.
He turns to look at her.
"Thank you."
He nods. "We're going to get your little girl the help she needs."
She smiles at him as tears brim her eyes.
Jason closes the door behind the doctor and walks back into the room.
"Jason, you don't have to stick around, you have a family of your own…"
"Why are you doing this?" he asks, holding his hands out.
"Doing what?"
"Keeping all of these secrets?"
Brenda walks around the couch and shakes her head. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Jax is Hope's father, isn't he?"
She bows her head down and doesn't say anything.
"You don't even have to answer that. I knew it the moment I saw her. She's the right age….her eyes…."
Brenda bites her lower lip and holds back her tears.
"I don't understand why you'd keep this from him? His life isn't dangerous, he isn't a terrible person…"
"I had my reasons at the time," she says loudly.
Maria pokes her head through the kitchen door. "Is everything okay?"
Jason turns to her. "Yes, Maria, I'm sorry we startled you."
"It's okay, Maria," Brenda says.
Maria nods and lets the door close.
Jason walks around the room and shakes his head. "I can't agree with what you're doing….I was there, Brenda," he says sternly. "I know what it's like to be kept away from your child."
"I know you do and I'm sorry that I'm asking you to do this…"
He stands there with his hands on his hips.
"This is why I almost didn't come to Port Charles," she says.
"Because you knew your lie would blow up in your face?"
"Yes!" she snaps.
She slowly sits down on the couch and puts her face in her hands. She pushes her hair away from her face and looks straight ahead.
"What are you going to do?" she asks.
"It's not for me to decide, but the first thing you should do is talk to Robin, right away."
"Yeah, I'll call her later this afternoon. Once I've given Dr. McNeal a chance to go over the case with her."
Jason nods. He goes over to the door and picks up his jacket.
"Call me if you need anything else, okay?"
Brenda nods.
"Jason…" she stops him once she hears the door open.
He stops but she doesn't turn around to look at him.
"Thank you."
He pauses for a moment and then leaves.