The Long And Winding Road
Chapter 54 - Be Strong
Emma sat at JT's bedside, continuing to hold his hand. Being able to listen to his voice once again, she couldn't recall the last time she had felt such a great sense of relief. She understood about the pain JT would feel for at least the next several days, and she wished he didn't have to endure it. But he was alive. Alive and awake and talking to her. And for now, that was everything.
"Emma, could you do me a favor?" JT asked.
Though his voice was weak, Emma could still hear him clearly.
"Just name it," she replied.
"Lean in closer and listen."
"Okay."
Emma leaned her head even closer toward him, but when he didn't say anything she grew puzzled.
"What am I listening for?" she asked.
"Does anything sound strange or out of place?" he questioned.
"No. Why?"
"Good," JT said, sounding relieved. "Don't you remember a few weeks ago at TMD we showed that new documentary? The one called 'Hospital Hell – True Stories of Medical Mistakes.' I wanted to make sure one of the doctors here didn't accidentally drop a watch or something inside of me before they stitched me up."
Emma sat back again and looked at JT, expecting to see a grin come over his face. What she saw, though, was that he wasn't joking. JT looked genuinely concerned.
"This is one of the best hospitals in the city," she said, trying to ease his mind. "They're supposed to have an excellent track record. I'm positive no mistakes were made. Anyway, none of the stories profiled in that film were local. I think most of those hospitals were in the States."
"I'm sure you're right," he responded. "Guess I'm just being silly."
"I don't want you to worry about such things, JT. Just rest and leave any worrying to me. I'm good at that sort of thing."
"Do you know how all this happened?" he then asked.
"Enough to get a general idea," Emma answered.
"I want to tell you about it."
"Jamie, you don't have to get into this right now. You're tired and…"
"No," JT interrupted. "I need to tell you. I need you to understand."
"All right," Emma said. "You know I always want to hear anything you have to say. I just want you to relax."
"Emma, I didn't mean for all this to happen. I didn't mean to make a mess of everything."
Emma was startled to hear what sounded like JT blaming himself for what had happened that evening.
Meanwhile, Manny sat in between Sean and Liberty in the third-floor waiting room down the hall from JT's room. While the girls talked, Sean was thumbing through the pages of a magazine, more as something to do to kill time rather than having an actual interest in reading it.
"I can't imagine why Pat would do something like that, Liberty," Manny said.
"It's not worth discussing," Liberty replied, not wanting to let her troubled relationship distract from why they're all there. "He had his reasons, and I'm sure he'll remain forever convinced that they're valid. I, however, have no interest in his justifications. What matters most is that JT is going to be all right. Do you think we'll get to see him?"
"Hopefully," Manny answered. "Probably not for too long since they're going to want him to get a lot of rest. If we don't get to tonight, then definitely in the morning."
Just then, a weary-looking Spinner walked into the room.
"Is it true?" he asked the group. "Is he really doing okay?"
"Hey Spinner," Manny greeted him. "Yeah. He's going to be feeling it for awhile, and he'll have to take it easy, but he'll be fine."
"Any word from the cops?"
"Nothing new," Sean said, putting down the magazine. "They're going to come by in the morning to get JT's statement, but they said they'd call sooner if they found Jay."
"How did everything go at the theater?" Manny then asked Spinner.
"Naturally we shut down after everything that happened. We told the customers that, since they had to leave early, they can bring their ticket stubs back the day after tomorrow and see the movies over again. No problems. Oh, except for some old lady who wanted me to promise that she'd also get free food for coming back."
"But you took care of it," Sean suggested.
"Yeah, I ripped up her ticket stub and told the greedy old bat to hit the road."
"You ever thought about going into public relations, Spin?" Sean asked sarcastically.
"Hey, I didn't have time for her attitude," Spinner defended himself. "Not tonight. Not after… Not tonight. Anyway, I'll apologize next time she comes in. But I bet she won't even remember. You know how people can't remember things when they get up there in years. It's called Old Timer's Disease."
"Gavin," Liberty interjected, "I understand you're the one who found JT, and that you didn't waste any time in getting him medical attention."
Spinner had only interacted with Liberty a few times in the past and usually didn't know quite what to make of her, but he understood that she and JT had a close friendship.
"Yeah," he responded. "Just did what I could. Was just hoping I wasn't too late when I saw him."
Liberty then stood up and faced Spinner.
"I'm learning that you simply cannot count on some people to be there for you in difficult times," she explained. "You're obviously not that type of person, Gavin. Thank you for making sure my best friend got the help he needed."
She extended her hand, wanting to shake his as an expression of gratitude. He followed her lead and the two shook hands.
Downstairs, Snake received change back from the cafeteria's cashier after purchasing two cups of coffee. He and Spike then walked down the hall, on their way to the elevator.
"Christine, aren't you going to say anything in response to my suggestion?"
"I assumed my silence was all the response you'd need. Although I AM tempted to have you admitted for a brain scan."
"Think about it, though," Snake continued. "If the situations were reversed and – years from now – one of us was estranged from Jack, we'd still want to know if something this serious happened to our boy."
"That could never happen with us," Spike argued. "We would never treat Jack in the kind of heartless way that this man has treated JT. Look, Snake, I know your heart is in the right place, but when you look at things realistically, surely you can see how absurd it would be. Nathaniel Yorke has no business knowing about what's happened tonight."
An elevator opened up and the couple walked in. Spike pressed the third-floor button.
"I'm not saying I'd be thrilled with the prospect of making that call," Snake explained as the elevator door closed. "When I think of the lack of consideration he's shown for JT, not to mention doing that background check on Emma last year, I'd like to donate his body to Degrassi as the gym's new punching bag. But maybe if he understood how close he's come to really losing his son, some speck of goodness within him might show itself. It just seems like it's only right to notify him."
"Right? Archie, there's nothing right about it. As far as I'm concerned, this is a closed subject."
Back in JT's room, Emma was concerned as JT grew increasingly troubled.
"Why doesn't it hurt more?" JT asked, looking confused. "I mean, I can feel it. But shouldn't it be a lot worse?"
"They're giving you something so you it won't be so bad. So that you'll be able to rest easier tonight."
"You're right. I remember now. And they told me I had to stay here. Maybe a couple of days. They won't let me go home tonight. Home…We were supposed to do more apartment hunting tomorrow."
"We have a lot of time for that," Emma said, not wanting him to worry. "Once you're well, we'll find you something wonderful."
"And now Saturday's ruined, too," he continued. "Emma, it was going to be so great."
"I understand about Saturday, JT. I know we haven't missed a Saturday afternoon of movie watching since we started seeing them there together years ago."
Emma didn't realize that JT was thinking about his plans to propose to her on that day.
"But that's not…"
"It's all right, though," Emma interrupted. "We'll still be spending the time together. Just at home instead. Jamie, it doesn't matter where we are or what we're doing. What's important is that you're okay. Of course, that doesn't mean I want you in this hospital a minute longer than absolutely necessary, but you know what I mean."
Emma's words made JT smile in spite of his feelings of disappointment, but then he realized he still hadn't explained to her about what happened to him.
"It was Jay," JT blurted out. "He showed up looking to get to me. Hoping he'd finally get me to react to him. I never do. I always just laugh at him. But this time, I…And then he…"
Emma saw the distress in his eyes and squeezed his hand.
"You don't have to talk about it," she offered. "I have a fairly good idea what happened."
"I tried not to let Jay get to me," he continued, ignoring her suggestion. "Figured I'd just annoy him like I have before. He makes it so easy. And it would make for a funny story to tell while the four of us were eating.
"I've always known he was a nut, but he was never worth taking serious. But he started talking about Sean and it really ticked me off. He had no right. I started to argue with him. I was so stupid…letting him know he was getting to me. Exactly what he's always wanted. And once he knew I wasn't ignoring him, he took the next step. The one he knew I couldn't ignore."
JT stopped speaking and yawned. He felt so tired, but he knew he wouldn't be able to rest if he didn't explain things to Emma.
"Emma, he talked about you," JT continued. "Disgusting words from a disgusting person. I just snapped. But you know me…I'm not a fighter. But I did shove him. Hard. Knocked him off balance. Only, then he pushed back. I was trying to catch my own balance when I felt something. At first it felt like a punch to the stomach, only a little different. Then I looked down and saw him pull this…thing…this knife…out of me."
Even though Emma knew that it was all over, she couldn't help but regain that feeling of worry and dread as JT recalled these events. Still, she realized that JT felt the need to say it all out loud.
"Before I could say anything or do anything or even think," JT recalled, "it went in again. Near where it hit the first time. Then he shoved me to the ground. He just stood there. Talking. Like nothing had happened. I don't know what he said. I wasn't really listening anymore. I just know he left soon after."
Despite believing she'd already released all the tears she had to spare, Emma found her eyes misting up once more.
"After he was gone I tried to get up, but it wasn't happening," JT explained, taking great effort not to lose focus on what he needed to say. "All at once my knees felt weak, I had this sharp headache. And I had this feeling in my stomach. I can't even describe it. All I know is I never felt anything like it. And I remember having this weird metallic taste in my mouth. Anyway, I was all hunched over and trying to hold my stomach. I was bleeding and hoping it wouldn't all leak out. I remember I could breathe. But it was hard to. And I kept feeling like I needed to cough even though I didn't really have to.
"And I was scared, Emma. Scared he'd come back and finish the job."
Emma felt a chill just thinking about the possibility.
"Somehow I had enough strength to crawl back behind my desk. I just sat there, figuring that if he came back, maybe he'd think I was gone. But…I remember…someone DID come in. I think there was something about finding a phone."
"That was Spinner," Emma explained.
"Really?"
Emma nodded.
"My eyes…it wasn't blurry, but so hard to focus. And I could hear a voice, but it wasn't really registering, if that makes any sense. I don't know whether I could have talked or not. I didn't even try. I was too afraid Jay would hear me, wherever he was, and come back."
"From what I was told," Emma said, "Spinner found you and called for an ambulance right away. He let the staff know what was going on. Then he stayed with you right up until the paramedics put you into the ambulance."
"I think I remember being in the ambulance," JT remarked. "I don't know."
"Sean rode along with you. He said you were in and out of consciousness the whole time."
"How did he get there?"
"Jay showed up at Sean's place bragging about what he'd done, so Sean and Manny went to check on you and see if Jay was lying. Sean wanted to ride with you to make sure you'd be all right. Spinner stayed behind and took care of things at the theater. Manny came to the house and got me."
"See? I really made a mess of things this time."
"Hardly," Emma responded.
"I'm not sorry for trying to defend you. I'm just sorry I couldn't do a better job. I should have found some other way to handle him. And to think I did all this with employees and customers all through the building. I could have gotten any one of them hurt. All because I thought I knew what I was doing. Really mature way to run a business."
Emma was about to remind him that only Jay is to blame for what happened, but she noticed that JT's upset expression suddenly turned to one of panic.
"I didn't even ask…Emma, Jay didn't go looking for you, did he? You said he went to see Sean, but after that…If he tried to…"
Upset but still very weak, JT tried unsuccessfully to sit up in his bed.
"Jamie, it's okay."
Emma leaned forward and kissed JT while continuing to hold his right hand. She gently guided him so that he was once more laying down in the bed. She then placed her free hand on his shoulder so he wouldn't try to get up again.
"I'm right here with you and doing fine," she said, trying to sound as reassuring and comforting as she could. "And it's been over a year since the last time I even saw that lowlife from a distance."
"Okay," JT said, letting out a sigh of relief.
"We both know Jay tries to talk to Sean in hopes Sean will go back to his old ways," Emma commented. "You being Sean's closest friend and someone who never bought into Jay's tough guy image, he was hoping to bother you. The only bad thing Jay's done to me today is to hurt you."
Several minutes passed, as Emma was able to get JT to relax.
"Sean's been keeping in contact with the police. I'm sure they'll want to talk to you soon, but not tonight. They have all the information they need for now. Manny's been a big help as well, making phone calls and keeping my spirits up."
"I'm glad you weren't out there by yourself," JT said.
"No chance of that. We got hold of some of the people we knew would want to be here. Mom and Archie have been here most of the time. Liberty arrived a few minutes before I came in here to see you. And I'm pretty sure Spinner's here by now. You've got so many people in your corner, JT. Don't ever doubt that. And just so you know…nobody is going to let you blame yourself for any of this. There's only one person responsible for this situation, and the police will deal with him."
JT wanted to believe that he bore no responsibility, if only because that's what Emma was telling him. But right now, he felt too weary and too confused to know what to think.
Out in the waiting room, Manny and Sean sat in a corner toward the back of the room talking, both feeling great relief that JT was going to be all right. Liberty, Spinner, Snake and Spike sat closer toward the door exchanging small talk. Out of the corner of his eye, Spinner noticed someone standing at the open door. He looked up and saw Patrick.
"Liberty," Spinner said, "your boyfriend's here."
She looked away from the older couple and saw Patrick. Spinner could see that Liberty looked less than thrilled.
"Excuse me for a moment," she told her three companions.
She walked briskly toward the newly arrived young man.
"Is there something you need?" she asked coldly.
"I was hoping we could talk," Patrick replied.
"JT's doing fine. So thoughtful of you to make that your first concern."
"No need to be sarcastic, Liberty. I know he's doing fine. I asked at the front desk before coming up here."
"Then what do we have to talk about?" she demanded.
"It's a little crowded in there," he said. "Maybe we could go somewhere more private?"
"All right. I'll walk you to the elevator around the corner."
He sighed, but nodded his head in agreement. Then the two started to walk down the hallway.
"I apologize, Liberty. I really was going to tell you about what happened to JT, but I honestly thought it would be better to wait until later on. I should have just told you as soon as I found out."
Patrick waited for her to say something in response, but she said nothing.
"Well?" he tried prompting her for a reaction.
"I assume you feel better now?" Liberty finally answered as they turned the corner.
"I was hoping YOU would feel better," he said.
"You hoped wrong. No thanks to you, I was finally able to learn what was going on and get here. You will never understand how happy I am that JT is going to be fine. However, neither you nor I knew at the time that he would be all right. JT could have been dying. And if that was the case, instead of being here to comfort Emma, or even…even getting the chance to say a final goodbye…I would have been at your house eating your food, blissfully unaware that someone I hold dear was in his final moments. All because YOU, Patrick Ryan, are a selfish bastard."
By this time, the pair had reached the elevators.
"Liberty…" Patrick knew she was unhappy with him, but didn't expect such hostility, even to the point of using language he was fairly certain she had never before used.
"You had your moment to speak," Liberty stopped him. "Your apology means nothing. Merely words without understanding or sincerity. You have always been so convinced that I still harbor romantic feelings for JT. Convinced that I would constantly compare you to him…and find him preferable. Well, let me tell you something. It's your insecurities about my friendship with JT that have caused the end of this relationship, not any non-platonic feelings for him that you'd like to think I have.
"I really liked you, Patrick. And because you and I became friends when we helped JT and Emma admit their feelings to one another, I felt sure you understood the nature of my own feelings for JT. They run deep, but not beyond the level of friendship. I was even willing to give you the reassurance you seemed to need on more than one occasion, but apparently it was never enough. I'm tired. I'm fed up. And more than anything else, I no longer trust you."
"So that's it," Patrick responded, growing annoyed with her lecturing. "In your mind, I screwed up. I even apologized, but it doesn't matter because you'd already made your decision. You have so much to offer, Liberty, but nothing's ever going to come of it because – friendship, crush, whatever – everything always comes back to JT Yorke. I swear, JT could run over your mother with a car and then make a joke about it, and you'd find some way to rationalize the whole thing and make him the victim. But I delay in giving you a phone message, and you're ready to call for a firing squad."
"You will never understand," Liberty said. "We're done – both with this conversation and this relationship."
"Fine. If that's the way you want it."
"It wasn't what I wanted at all, Patrick, but you simply don't get it. You forced things to turn out this way. Goodbye."
She started to turn away from him.
"Liberty," Patrick called to her. "Wait."
Reluctantly, Liberty remained where she was. She watched as he pulled his wallet from his back pocket. He took out some money and held it up.
"Take this," he said, holding his hand out. "Twenty bucks. Maybe you can bribe one of the nurses to let you give JT a sponge bath. It'll be your dream come true, and you'll always be able to say that I helped make it possible."
Liberty, without hesitation, slapped the left side of Patrick's face soundly with her right hand, and the money dropped from his hand onto the ground.
Just then, an elevator opened up. Patrick picked up the fallen money then stepped inside. Soon, the elevator door closed. Liberty turned to go back to the waiting room when she saw Spinner standing over at the corner.
"You okay?"
"Enjoy the floor show?" Liberty asked sarcastically as she walked in his direction.
"You…left your purse back in the waiting room," he explained, holding up the item. "I didn't know when you were coming back and thought…"
"Thank you." She grabbed the purse once she had walked to the corner where he stood. "We should get back."
"Sorry," Spinner said as they both started walking toward the waiting room. "You know…about all that."
"Thanks."
"But I liked the slap," he added. "Remind me never to make you mad. Unless, you know, you give me a running start to get away."
"I'll keep that in mind, Gavin," Liberty said, this time without any sarcasm.
Soon after Liberty and Spinner returned to the room, Emma arrived. She explained that JT wanted a chance to see everyone before going to sleep. She told how the doctor, who had come to check on JT's condition, was hesitant about him having more visitors, but JT was insistent.
She then related the doctor's instructions. They could go in to say hello to JT, but not all at once. Also, they could only stay for a few moments. There would be more time to visit the following day.
Emma returned to JT's room with Spike and Snake. JT was happy they were there, though it was becoming more difficult for him to remain awake. Liberty was his next visitor, followed by Spinner.
Shortly thereafter, while Manny and Sean were with JT, Emma left and went back into the waiting room and sat down next to her mother.
"Don't take it personally if tomorrow JT doesn't remember he saw you guys tonight," Emma said. "The drugs are really starting to take hold now."
"All that matters is that he's going to be around to SEE tomorrow," Spike stressed.
"I'm going to stay here tonight," Emma then said. "I know JT's okay. That he's in good hands. But I can't leave. Not tonight. Even just sitting out here…I'll be close to him."
"You don't have to explain, Em" Spike assured. "If it was Archie lying in there, wild horses couldn't drag me out of this building. Archie and I can stay too, if you want. He was just on the phone with Joey, and Jack's going to stay with them for the night. So we're available."
"Thanks Mom, but I'll be fine."
"Okay," Spike said. "But, no matter what time it is, call us if anything changes with JT's condition during the night. Or if you just want to talk. Or if you don't have any reason at all and just want to call."
She then hugged her daughter.
"He'll be up and around before you know it, Emma," she said after the hug, knowing that her daughter needed the encouragement.
After saying their goodbyes, Emma's mother and stepfather left.
"I wish there was something more I could do, Emma," Liberty then said.
"JT smiled when he saw you a few moments ago," Emma commented. "That was something."
Just then, Manny and Sean returned.
"JT wanted to talk," Manny said, "but before he even realized it, his eyes were closed."
A few moments later, Emma was back in JT's room, standing over his bed. She leaned down and lightly kissed him on the lips.
"How did you know I wanted you to do that?" JT asked.
Barely awake, he opened his eyes and smiled.
"Well it can't be a psychic thing, JT, because I thought you were asleep."
"Off and on."
"I just wanted to see you one more time tonight," Emma explained. "But don't worry. I'm only going to be just down the hall."
"You're not going home?" he asked.
"And give you time to flirt with all the nurses?" she teased. "Not on your life."
"You shouldn't stay there alone."
"Don't worry, Jamie. When I told them I was staying, Manny and Sean insisted on staying, too, to keep me company."
"Good," JT said, relieved. "Hey, Emma…"
"Yeah?"
"This really happened, didn't it. Not some dream I'm going to wake up from. It's all real."
"I'm afraid so," she replied. "But you made it through the worst of it. Tomorrow will be a little better. And the day after that better still."
She was going to continue, but then she noticed that JT's eyes had again closed and he had fallen back to sleep.
"I love you," Emma whispered. "Now and forever."
Next Chapter – The day after…with Ellie Nash.