Chapter Eleven
Apparently, you can screw up pancakes, or so Zoe was finding out. She did not really know how it had happened. One minute she was mixing the eggs with the pancake mix, and the next, the stove caught on fire. Zoe frantically started looking for the fire extinguisher. Why had she never asked where something so monumentally necessary was?
She heard the alarm start to go off, "I'm aware, but you're annoying beeping is really helping the situation!" Great. Now she was yelling at an inanimate object.
The fire had now spread from the stove to the counter; Zoe could see the where this was all going, and she found herself starting to panic.
Okay, stay calm Hart; you are good at keeping a cool head in a dangerous situation. That's what made you such a good surgeon. Wait, surgeon? Didn't she work as a General Practitioner? Not the time Zoe, safety now, epiphanies later.
Okay, if I can't find the extinguisher, I need to find an exit. Right? Wish I could remember those stupid elementary school fire drills.
"Zoe?" she heard Wade call from outside. She could hear the panic in his voice; it kind of matched her own.
"I'm in-" she started coughing, unable to finish the sentence. Damn. How had it spread so fast?
"Zoe?" He called out again.
"Here!" she called as loud as she could, finishing her previous sentence and closing her mouth quickly.
She saw Wade look in through one of the windows. Her head was starting to get a little woozy. No, you will not get woozy! You will not pass out! You hear me? You've had enough hospitals and pity for a lifetime. You are not waiting for Wade or George or anybody to play knight in shining armor. You are getting yourself out of this.
She looked around the kitchen, searching for something she could use. Then, she spotted it, the fire extinguisher. The problem was it was practically on the other side of the room. She could do this, she knew it.
Keeping low to the ground, she purposefully made her way to the other side of the room. She grabbed the fire extinguisher, pulled the pin at the top, aimed, and squeezed the lever. She was a little surprised by the force, but she didn't dare let go. She sprayed every inch of the kitchen, even the parts the fire had not yet touched. Once the whole place was coated in foam, she collapsed to the ground.
"You sure you okay with it?"
George smiled at her. They were on the couch, looking over the guest list.
"Lavon is one of your best friends."
"But Lemon-"
"-Is ancient history. We've made our peace, and you two have become pretty damn close these past few years. Seems to me, it would be weirder not to have them there."
Zoe sighed, but nodded, "I just wanted to be sure."
"What you worried I'll see Lemon and Lavon walk in and change my mind at the last minute," he smiled, leaned down, and kissed her, "Not a chance, Zoe Hart. Not a chance." Zoe smiled. "So, what about Wade?"
Zoe's face fell, "What about him?"
"D'you wanna invite him?" Zoe shook her head, "You sure? He's one of your closest friends."
"Was," Zoe corrected.
"What exactly happened between you two anyway?"
Zoe sighed, "It doesn't matter. Look, trust me, even if we invited him, he wouldn't come."
"Well, maybe it could be a sort of, uh, olive branch, you know."
Zoe stood, frustrated, "Why are you pushing this?"
"Because, I want you to be happy," George said, standing too, "Regardless of what you say, I know you miss him. You two been close for years, suddenly, all contact disappears, and you try to act like everything's fine, and you don't notice, but you do. And I hate seein' you upset. And I refuse to see you upset come the day. I want to make you happy Zoe Hart."
Zoe smiled, "I appreciate that George. I really do. But you've already made me happy. You've given me everything I've ever wanted. Being around you, nothings better. I don't want anything to ruin the day either. Which is why I don't want a selfish, immature womanizer drinking in the corner and being a baby."
George chuckled, "Wow, whatever he said to you must have gotten you really pissed." Zoe smiled, "Why won't you tell me what it was exactly?"
"Because, then you might feel the need to defend my honor and confront him, and even he doesn't deserve that."
George chuckled.
"Zoe! Can you here me? Zoe!" when Zoe woke up, she was in a Dr.'s office, Rose Hattenbarger standing over her fidgeting.
"Oh, not again." She said. Her throat was dry, and her head hurt.
"Here, drink this." Rose said, bringing her a glass.
"Hi Dr. Hart." Said an elderly man with a warm smile, "I'm Dr. Breeland. Brick."
"Brick. You, you're the other doctor, right?" he nodded. "What happened?" she asked nervously.
"Nothing too drastic. You inhaled some smoke, and got a few minor burns. It could have been a lot worse."
"I remember using the fire extinguisher, and then … I guess I passed out?"
Brick nodded, "Wade found you, but he couldn't find a way in at first. Tried some pretty screwy things from what I understand. Once he got in, you were passed out, and the firemen were already on their way. He called me up and I came over to assess the damage." Zoe nodded.
"And I saw them takin' you out. I'd been on my way over to see Wade about this … project we're workin' on together. Well, you know they never let me near you last time you passed out or after the accident, so I insisted Wade took me, and refused to leave his car. I knew he'd want to follow Brick and wouldn't have time to argue, plus, I kind of have some blackmail material on him now." She smiled, but then Brick looked down at her disapprovingly and she tried to look ashamed.
"So … so, Wade's here?" Zoe asked.
Brick nodded, "Pretty much everybody is by now. Thing about small towns, news travels fast, and everybody cares. Wade, George, Lemon, Lavon, Shelley, AnnaBeth, Addie, Bill, Fredrick Dean, Tom, and Wanda are all out there in the waitin' room waitin' to hear how you are. But, you can only have one person in here at a time, and this little girl all but forced her way in."
Rose beamed proudly.
"Now, because you're head has already been through some recent trauma and has not yet recovered, it took a little longer to stabilize you, but you should be just fine."
Zoe nodded, "Hey, can I ask you something kind of random?"
"Of course." Brick said gently.
"Was I a surgeon before I was a General Practitioner?"
Brick smiled, "Why yes, as a matter of fact you were."
"How'd I end up here?"
"It's somethin' of a long story."
Rose opened the door and called out to everybody in the waiting room, "She's awake!"
Zoe heard "yea's" and "thank god's" and smiled.
"I have a lot of really great friend's, huh?"
Brick smiled at her again.
Rose came out into the waiting area, "She's asleep again. But she's doin' fine. Just restin' is all." There were a lot of very relieved smiles. Rose made her way over to the wearer of one particular smile, "You were very heroic in there, rushin' in and everything."
"Hardly. I didn't make it in until the fire was out." Wade said, his tone self-deprecating. Rose rolled her eyes. How could a person be so cocky and still so down on himself?
"If you had gone in before, you would have gotten hurt in the fire too, and then what? Who would have carried her out of the residual smoke? Who would have called Brick?"
Wade sighed, "I guess. I still think I could have done more."
Rose shook her head, "You sure are a piece of work."
"Rose?" a voice said behind her. It was Fredrick Dean.
"Hey. I didn't know you were here."
"I heard what happened and I figured," he shrugged, "So, she's okay?" Rose nodded, "What about you? I heard you were pretty nearby."
"Well, I'm fine, obviously." Rose said, pointing to herself.
"I'm glad. I was worried."
"That's sweet, but Zoe needs the concern more 'an me."
"Still."
Rose smiled, "Well, thanks for checkin' up I guess. I'll catch up with you later. I have to talk to Wade for a bit." His face fell, and Wade's face became somewhat amused, somewhat pitying.
"Oh, right. Guess I'll see ya round then." Rose nodded, "But, you know, if you ever want to talk about all this, you can always talk to me."
"Thanks."
He walked off. Wade was smirking down at Rose.
"What?"
"Nothin'. Just not sure you're the most qualified to be givin' me romantic advice is all."
Rose folded her arms across her chest, "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" her tone was slightly bitter, but Wade just laughed.
"Relax kid. It wa'nt an insult … exactly."
Rose humphed, "We getting back to the topic, or what?"
"And what topic is that?"
Rose gave him one of those I-Do-Not-Have-Time-For-Your-Childish-Games looks that he had grown accustomed to getting from many people over the years.
"You and Zoe, dimwit."
"Dimwit?"
"You want me to use a different word?" she asked, slightly threatening, slightly playful.
"No, dimwit's fine. I like it."
"Well, you're not supposed to like it."
"Fine, I hate it then." He said with a smile.
"Quite stallin'. Did you talk to her yet?"
"I … I did."
"And…"
"And?"
"Cut the crap Kinsella, did you tell her how you feel or not?"
"Ain't we talked about you swearin'?"
"Don't get me impatient and I won't swear."
"That a promise?"
"Wade!"
"Okay, okay." He put up his hands in surrender, "I … I couldn't."
Rose sighed in frustration, "Because …"
"Because, she was startin' to remember about her and George. They're, I don't know, datin' or somethin' now."
"Well isn't that better?" Wade looked at her like she was insane, "Hear me out. You did not want to do anything because you would be takin' advantage of her lack of memory right. Well now, she knows about George, and is getting her memory back about all that, but now she has all these new memories of you too. She has information that throws your takin' advantage excuse right out the window."
"It's just some memories. Trust me, if Zoe remembered everything, she'd never let me touch her."
"What makes you so sure?"
"Because. She's her, and I'm me."
"'Cause that makes sense."
"Kid … Rose, look. I can get a girl into bed pretty easy. I've always been able to. But I'm not the long-term guy. I'm not the take-home-to-mother guy. Guys like George are those kinds of guys. They deserve the Zoe Hart's of the world because … because she deserves the best, and while George may not be like, the second coming or something, he's a hell of a lot better 'an me."
"You can't seriously believe that."
"You are about the only person in this town who doesn't."
"Zoe doesn't." Rose said firmly.
"Yeah, well, she will. Just you wait. Soon as she gets all those memories a hers back, she will. Mark my words."
"I ain't lettin' you give up. You owe it to her, and yourself, to give you guys a chance. You may not get another shot, and I'll be damned if I don't make sure you take it."
"Why's it so important to you."
"Because I want Zoe to get everything she deserves too. I want that for all of my friends."
Wade smiled down at the girl, "You know kid. Maybe you're right. Maybe you have grown up after all." Rose smiled, "I'm still callin' you kid though."
She shot him a death glare and shoved him playfully. He cracked up. That was something she had picked up from Zoe.
"What on earth possessed you to attempt to cook?" Lavon asked as he drove her home.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to do something nice. It can't exactly be easy dealing with the empty-head girl."
"Girl, you're head ain't empty, just a bit more … spacious, than usual."
Zoe smiled at his attempt at humor.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Lavon nodded, "Did Lemon and George ever date?" Lavon swerved.
"Whoa, hey, I've just left the doctor's office. I'm not really keen to go back, thanks."
"Sorry." Lavon said, as he regained control of the wheel. " It's just, uh … you kinda caught me by surprise."
Zoe nodded, "I'll just be quiet then."
After a minute, Lavon spoke, "They did, a while back."
"What happened?"
"Well, you and I entered the picture."
"You're saying we broke them up?"
"It's a bit more complicated than that."
Zoe nodded, "So, have George and I been together for as long as you and Lemon?"
"How did you-?"
"I figured it out yesterday. It's a long story." Lavon nodded, "It's so weird."
"What is?"
"Well, if Lemon and George were together, and we broke them up, you would think we would all hate each other, me and Lemon, you and George. But we all seem so close."
"Well, it didn't happen over night, but some friendships just find a way."
Zoe nodded, "Like me and Wade?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, after I passed out, I had this dream, a memory or something, when I was passed out. I guess George and I were planning a … a party, or something. It seemed pretty important. Anyway, we were going over the guest list, and George was saying I should invite Wade as an olive branch because I obviously missed him, and I said I didn't want him there and we weren't really friends anymore. But … if we weren't really friends anymore, why has he been so great since I woke up in the hospital. I mean, he's been totally there for me, even when it didn't seem so at the time, he always had my best interests at heart. It doesn't make any sense."
"You and Wade have always had a … complicated relationship."
They got out of the truck.
"Well, I guess I should get to work."
"With what?"
"Fixing your kitchen. I mean, I kind of wrecked it, so-"
Lavon chuckled, "Don't go worryin' about that. Wade's takin' care of it. You need your rest. Besides, your construction work is better than you're cooking, but, not by a lot."
"Well, I don't want to just sit around. I am so sick of doing that."
When Zoe got home, she had asked Lemon if they could go shopping. She needed something to wear on her date with George, she refused to sit around and do nothing, and she figured it would be a good idea to see if she was a shopaholic or not.
Lemon had been thrilled. Ever since Zoe had gotten back, she had been trying to spend quality time with Zoe. Plus, she still felt guilty about the party, and spilling the beans about George, although that last one seemed to be turning out all right. She wondered who Zoe had been talking about before, but dismissed it. Now that Zoe and George were going out again, everybody else would fade into the background. Things would be like they were before. Zoe's love for George would help her remember herself; Lemon just knew it. Zoe would recall everything. That day at the practice that had changed everything, and all the events that had spiraled afterwards.
"I didn't want anybody to know back home, you know. Teen pregnancy's are still frowned upon, even with all those abcfamily shows." Zoe nodded, listening, but she kept stealing glances at Lemon. Lemon knew why of course. It was not like her to lead a patient away from her father, let alone towards Zoe, her sworn enemy. Normally, she would never have done it, but she had been desperate, and she needed to do some quick thinking. It was just the only option.
"All right. Well, why don't you sit tight, and I'll go get some supplies."
"Um," Lemon interrupted, "Should you really leave her alone? I mean, she is in a fragile state." Lemon kept trying to hide the panic in her voice, but she knew Zoe had caught it, even after her demure comment about the girl's fragility.
"Lemon, can I see you for a minute?" she said.
"Well, that makes her even more alone, doesn't it?"
Zoe sighed, "Well, then you stay with her."
Lemon had smiled at the girl. It was strange. She felt a mixture of hatred and affection for her. She hated that this girl had been the result of her world collapsing. She loved that, well, she loved her for the obvious reason.
When Zoe returned, she took some tests, and made and appointment for the girl to come back. After the girl left, Zoe turned to Lemon, "You want to tell me what that was about?"
"Not really." Lemon said, but then she sighed, "but I'm guessin' you won't keep this from my daddy unless I give you a good reason."
"I'm all for doctor/patient confidentiality, I just don't understand-"
"Dr. Hart, this is a very … fragile situation." Zoe waited, "A few months ago, I found out my mother, who walked out on us when I was sixteen, well, she remarried. She's got a new family now. And that pregnant girl, who cannot be more than eleven, is her daughter." Zoe sucked in a breath, but said nothing, "Daddy doesn't know she remarried. It would break his heart. I cannot let him find out. One look at that girls face, he would see my mother." Lemon paused, "She's my sister, or, half-sister, even though she hasn't a clue I'd wager. She needs help, and we are the only to people she can get it from. No parent is goin' to be okay with a girl getting' pregnant when she hasn't even had her period for a whole year yet. I don't know what sort of upbringin' they're givin her, but that's the situation."
Lemon waited. Zoe was silent for a moment, one of the longest of Lemon's life. Finally, she spoke, "Okay."
"Okay?"
"It's going to be tough, keeping a patient a secret from Brick, and obviously she cannot count as one of my thirty percent, because then Brick would want to look into who she was, but I'll do what I can. She can stay with me until it's all resolved … assuming she's willing, and we can help her get through this, no matter what she decides to do with this baby."
Lemon was silent. Stunned. Then she started yelling, "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Excuse me?" Zoe asked, taken aback.
"You and I hated each other. You have been tryin' to make my life hell since you got here! You want my daddy's practice, and my fiancé! You aren't supposed to be nice to me, doin' me favors …" she started hyperventilating; she was feeling very overwhelmed.
"Lemon, calm down." Zoe said, grabbing Lemon's shoulders, sat her down, and got her a paper bag. After breathing into it a few times, she said, "Why are you doin' this?"
"Lemon. I'm a doctor. This girl needs medical help. And if there is anything I learned from working here with your father, it is that medical goes far outside the exam room. I'm no stranger to family issues Lemon. My mother slept with a man while she was engaged to another, got pregnant from the former, but still married the latter, never telling either of us. My dad only found out because I needed a transfusion when I was ten and he didn't match. He practically disappeared from my life then. I spent so hard trying to prove myself to him, figure out what I had done to make him stop loving me. By the time I found out Harley Wilkes was my biological father, he was already dead and I never got the chance to know him. Every family has issues, and I am sorry that you and you're sister are both going through something. The fact is, no matter how I feel about you, it is my responsibility as a doctor, and a human being, to do all I can to help."
Lemon looked up at her through tears, "You sure are full of surprises Zoe Hart."
Zoe sighed, "And for the record, I never set out to hurt you, or anybody related to you. I care about George; I cannot help that. As for the practice, I respect Brick as a fellow doctor, but I never knew my father, and I owe it to him to try and figure out what he wanted for me. He left me half of this practice for a reason. I know you don't like me. I don't like you either. We are both very-"
"Different." Lemon finished.
Zoe nodded, "and similar." Lemon looked at her, surprised, "What I mean is, we are both stubborn and bossy, like two bulls charging each other. Not exactly a recipe for a friendship."
Lemon laughed at the simile, and wiped at her eyes with a hanky from her purse, "Well, I should get goin'. I was supposed to meet daddy for lunch over an hour ago."
"Before you go," Lemon stopped, "Look, I, um, I know it's none of my business, but one of the hardest things of finding out the truth about my family was knowing that they had all been lying to me for so long. I know you're trying to protect you're father, and that's noble, but don't you think it's better he know now than find out you were hiding it later."
"Well," Lemon said, straightening her dress, "He's never going to find out, now is he? You and I will both keep quite, that girl will deal with her problem, and it will all be behind us."
She left the office. That was a weird conversation. For a minute, before she had come to her senses, Zoe Hart and her actually seemed to have been getting along.
"Lemon!"
Zoe called from the bottom of the stairs, "You ready to go?"
"Almost." Lemon called back.
By the time they got to the door, half the day was gone, but Lemon was very into appearances. Zoe did not really like her style, but she clearly but a lot of thought and effort into it, so that counted for something. She made a mental note to not wear anything Lemon picked out on her date with George.
"Okay, let's shop." She opened the door, and was surprised to see young a blonde-haired girl standing there with bags in her hands, looking up at the two of them.
"Hey. Sorry about the surprise visit, but, I kind of need a place to crash for a bit. You don't mind, right Lemon?"
Lemon nodded, clearly still in shock, "Great. You can bring those in for me when you get a minute." She dropped her luggage and walked through the door, past Zoe and Lemon, and up the stairs. When she was gone, Zoe turned to Lemon.
"Who was that?" she asked, as Lemon composed herself.
"Um, that was, she's my sister."
Author's Note: Hi. Sorry about the Lack of Zoe/Wade in this chapter, but there was some other stuff I really wanted to do. Do not worry, more will happen, but it would be boring it it was just them and nothing else, right? I like stories with layers and sub-plots. Hopefully you all do too.
Some of you probably expected Wade to save Zoe, and I was tempted to do that, but Zoe has always been very independent, and the circumstances of this story have forced her to be very dependant. I thought it was time she started to remember who she is in that respect.
I am sorry if the fire thing seems inaccurate. I have never set a stove on fire. I know you do not use water, because of the gas, and I know it spreads fast. I hope it was believable. I did some research on Yahoo! Voices, ehow, and a website called fire-extinguisher101. I please let me know if I screwed up.
Coming up:
More Fredrick Dean/Rose Stuff
George/Zoe/Wade stuff
Obviously there is going to be some Lemon drama.
Thank you to all who keep reading and reviewing. Those really help keep me going. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Have a nice day.