Part XV

Johnny got off of the elevator, chatting casually with Kim and Chris, but everything stopped dead when they saw Joanne sitting out in the waiting area. Johnny hurried over.

"What's going on? Roy's not in there alone, is he?"

A shake of her head was all the answer Joanne gave him. Exasperated by the lack of answers, Johnny headed for the room with the kids following along behind. He winced when he looked in and saw that Dr. Brackett was in there and had one of the restraints in hand. Taking a deep breath, Johnny stepped on into the room.

"If you're looking for someone to blame for those being off, that would be me, doc."

Brackett turned around, but whatever he'd started to say to Johnny was cut short when he saw the kids just behind him. He was still scowling though as he revised his question to Johnny.

"Might I ask why you took them off without consulting me first?"

"You weren't here and I couldn't break Roy out of wherever his mind had him until I did."

Kim darted around and circumvented the doctor to reach her father. Brackett was relieved that at least her presence got a positive response from Roy though he wasn't so sure that he approved of her climbing up to be beside him. He decided to let it go when he saw how cautious the girl was being of both the IV line and Roy's ribs.

"You have anything to do with the refusing medication part, John?"

Before Johnny could say anything, Chris piped up.

"Dr. Early was here and said Dad seemed to be sleeping fine without it."

"Oh, did he now?"

"Why yes, he did."

The voice from the doorway sounded slightly amused and no-one had to turn to know that the familiar voice belonged to Dr. Early. Dixie was at his side as well, but her eyes were on the waiting area where Joanne was still seated and seemed to be far too interested in the floor tiles. Giving Joe a light pat to let him know she was leaving his side, Dixie headed over to Joanne and sat down beside her.

Joanne didn't look up, but she knew Dixie was there and spoke to her before Dixie had a chance to say anything.

"Roy wants a divorce."

The tone of Joanne's voice was flat. Softly Dixie encouraged her.

"You know, that doesn't sound like something I would have expected to hear come out of Roy's mouth. Are those his words?"

"No, but that's what he meant."

"Tell me what he said."

Most times, Joanne would have just kept everything to herself, but right now the kids weren't in earshot and she needed to talk to someone. Before she even fully realized that she was doing it, Joanne was pouring it all out. Dixie didn't ask questions or interrupt, she just listened until Joanne ran out of words. Then Dixie took hold of her unresisting hand.

"Think back over the words that you just told me. Those didn't sound like the words of a man asking for a divorce. They sounded more like the words of a man who was offering a divorce to a woman he believed might have married him too young and for the wrong reasons."

"That's not what I want. I don't want a divorce. I do love him, even if he is right. I've done a very poor job of showing it lately."

Drawing in a deep breath, Joanne continued on.

"I was so mad when you and Ellen came over, but it started me thinking. I had a long talk with my sister who pretty basically called me out for acting like an idiot."

"Sorry for phrasing it this way, but how long do you think you've been acting like an idiot?"

A tired sigh came from Joanne as she answered.

"I can pretty much give you the date. It's been around thirteen months."

Doing a bit of quick math in her head, Dixie nodded.

"So, around a year back from last Thanksgiving?"

"On the nose. My mother was being nasty to Roy and instead of taking his side, I got embarrassed like he'd deliberately tried to make me look bad. Things kind of went along that same tone from there."

"May I make a couple of suggestions that will likely be wildly unpopular?"

There was a slight hesitation, but Joanne raised her head to look at Dixie, then nodded.

"Suggestion number one. Go in there and tell Roy what you told me. That a divorce is not what you want and that you know that you've been doing some things you aren't proud of."

"And suggestion number two?"

"Ask him to attend sessions with a therapist or counselor with you. Give it at least that same thirteen months to work before you decide if it failed or not. After that, you should both know if being together or being apart is what you really want. And you need to do it now, not later. The longer you let him lie in there and think that he was right about you not wanting him, the harder it's going to be to convince him otherwise."

"I was about to try and tell him - then Dr, Brackett walked in and ordered me out of the room."

A small smirk formed on Dixie's face.

"He's always had incredible timing. Come on. I'll shoo him out - if you're ready."

Getting to her feet, Joanne nodded.

"I think I'm as ready as I'm going to get. I - I'd like it if you and Johnny might stay in the room with us."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes. There's been too much miscommunication already. If I'm not making sense, I won't know it, but you could tell me to slow down. This is too important for me to lose him just because I'm not being clear."

"Alright. I'm in. Hopefully Johnny will be as well."

Dixie headed straight back into Roy's room and started speaking without preamble.

"Kel? Why don't you and Joe show Chris and Kim the base station while things are quiet. I'm sure they'd like to see that part of their father's job."

Brackett gave Dixie a 'what are you up to?' look, but Early just chuckled.

"Come on over, Chris. We're politely being asked to leave without fuss."

"I'll be here the whole time, Kel. It will be alright."

Kim took a moment to give her father a kiss, then carefully slid back off the bed and took hold of Dr. Brackett's hand, starting to lead him out - much to Dr. Early's amusement. When Brackett balked a little bit, Kim looked up to the doctor and spoke very matter-of-factly to him as if he had missed something obvious.

"Mom always says that in the hospital, we have to obey whatever Nurse Dixie tells us to do."

The smirk was full-blown on Dixie's face at that.

"When the young lady is right, she's right, Kel. Go on."

Muttering something under his breath about getting no support from Joe and being outnumbered, Dr. Brackett allowed Kim to lead him the rest of the way out of the room.