Authors Note: I own nothing. No ownership rights to Beverly Hills 90210.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I could feel my father's glare as Dylan pulled out a chair for me to sit down. When we had walked in we had gone and said hello to everyone, Iris had immediately pulled me away from Dylan's side to introduce me to old family friends and very very distance cousins of hers. As we chatted I looked over and saw how pale Dylan looked talking to his Dad I nodded in his direction, Iris immediately looked over.
"He shouldn't be here but he wouldn't listen to Jack or me, I even heard you tried over the phone."
"It's his birthday he wants his family around. It's the first one in-"
"I know. Jack and I made a fuss this morning, a big Irish fry up and gifts. He… my son as you know is very sweet, he pretended that this was a regular tradition, pretended that he hadn't spent most of his other's alone. He went along with Jack and my carry on. I even made him a cake."
"I heard. I can't wait to see the pictures. Very ambitious trying to make it into a surfboard."
"Try being the optimal word. It looked terrible the cake and the icing was all mixed together. Jack said it was great but my husband-" I lift my eyebrow at that, she lightly hits my arm. "You know as well as I do what twin flames mean, he's always going to be that and maybe one day we can make it official again." I beam it's the closest I believe she had ever come to admitting that she was open for a full reconciliation. "Take that smile off your face darling, in an event like this it will create god knows what ridiculous gossip. Now let's go see if we can get my son to sit down at least."
He did as long as I joined him, and thus the glare from my dad.
As the rest of the gang came to the table they took seats. Kelly sat on Dylan's other side, Brandon next to her, Donna next to him, David next to her, Andrea next to him, and then Steve sat between Andrea and I. Dylan held my hand even tighter under the table, as the blonde sat down. Steve was still in his bad books for teasing him earlier in the week.
Samantha was very entertaining and you could see how proud Steve was of his Mum. He whispered a few times to Andrea and me, telling us when he could tell that she was happy after nailing a joke. He loved it.
The Mother's all got on the stage and welcomed everyone. Vivian Carson surprisingly did not take the lead in their speech, Iris did. It was clear in this crowd that family rank mattered.
As appetisers were served I could tell how little appetite Dylan had. He ate hardly anything. When he went to take his medicine I asked to see the bottle, from my no nonsense face he complied without comment. The antibiotics needed a full stomach and I knew he hadn't eaten enough to gain that.
"Dyl-"
"Honestly, I'm not hungry. I'll try to eat some of the entrée but…"
I stopped a waiter as he was walking by. "Excuse me could I get a glass of tomato juice please."
He nodded and I looked at my husband, "you're going to make me drink that aren't you?"
"When I got my tonsils out Grandma Walsh made me drink it daily with my medication, she said it helps coat the stomach."
"Great another family remedy, at least this one doesn't involve a towel over my head."
The waiter was back immediately with the drink and I passed it to Dylan. "Just drink it down- no complaints."
"Yes dear."
He picked at his entrée and engaged in very little conversation. Kelly asked about his birthday gifts and he proudly showed off the cuff links he was now wearing. He referenced that his parents gave him some sentimental gifts. Dylan didn't say what they were, first edition books and piece's of art weren't the usual eighteenth birthday gifts but it wasn't like he needed anything, and I knew that his best gift was the breakfast his Dad prepared and the cake his Mum made him. He couldn't eat much but it had made him happy that they had wanted to make his day special.
When the dancing started the gang broke away. Brandon having broken his no dance rule at the Pig Skin Prom was ignored as he grumbled all the way to the dance floor when Kelly dragged him up after Dylan declined the offer of a birthday dance. Steve asked Andrea, and David and Donna had been the first up before anyone else.
"I'm sorry I'm sick. I'm sure I'd be okay for at least one."
"Baby you are sick, and spending anytime in your company these day's is so rare. I'd happily spend the rest of the night here."
"Do you think we could sneak out?"
"Nope. I can feel my Dad's eyes every few minute's."
As Dylan groans in annoyance, we are interrupted by Stuart Carson, "Brenda it's so nice to see you again. May I have this dance?"
Before I can answer Dylan does. "No!"
"McKay I believed I asked Brenda-"
"And I believe I answered for her." I put my hand on his knee under the table, no one needed a scene.
"Thank you Stuart but I'm not in a dancing mood tonight."
"I can't convince you to change your mind?"
Dylan goes to stand and I push my hand on his knee harder, I can feel his annoyance roll off him as he is forced back into his seat. "No thank you Stuart."
Before I can say anything else Iris and Jack walk over. "There you two are, we were hoping to get a few minutes together with our birthday boy and honorary daughter, it's been such a mad house so far. Stuart you wouldn't mind giving us a little family moment would you?"
Stuart smiles and bows his head slightly, "not at all Mrs McKay."
As he walks away Jack pulls out a chair for Iris to sit next to us. "Dylan Darling you shouldn't let him get to you-"
"Mum he wanted to dance with Bren."
"And I'm sure she said no."
"It's not the point he shouldn't be anywhere near her."
"Son that may be taking the McKay territorial role a little too far."
"Dad. Stuart was the manager at Eve's."
"I know the club you used to go to." Dylan nod's and hold's his eyes, his dad finally gets the the. "I'm going to kill him-"
Iris's hand immediately cover's Jack's that were resting on her shoulder, "can someone share what that means with me?"
"It's the club our son used to come home from drunk and on god knows what."
Iris closes her eyes and breathes deep, she then turns and looks at Jack. "No killing you are on parole, though it might be best that Stuart understand how unwelcome he is around our family."
Jack leans down and kisses Iris's head, "and there is the Mrs Jack McKay; I knew you hadn't meditated her out completely."
Iris just clucks her tongue but before she can say anything Dylan starts to cough again. "Darling the formalities are nearly over why don't you head home? Your Dad and I won't be too far behind you."
"Mum I'm okay I just…" he looks at me, "I just want to be here a bit longer." I give him a wink. "But if you guy's will excuse me I'm just going to head to the bathroom."
Jack smiles at his son, "mind if I take my daughter for a spin?"
Dylan smiles, "like I have a say? Bren is the one who needs to give permission."
"Really Dyl, I thought with Stuart and your earlier glare at Steve it meant you were in control of my dance card?"
Dylan looks around and spots my Dad with his back to us, he quickly leans down and kisses the side of my forehead. "People who want more than a dance absolutely need to get past me."
I roll my eyes but say nothing else.
When Dylan walks away Jack and I go to the dance floor, we are halfway through the song and he has me laughing telling me the story of the first social event he ever accompanied Iris to when I see the tap on the shoulder. I'm not surprised.
"Jack I'd like to dance with my daughter." From the lack of a question and clear lack of manners it was not a request well a demand Jack could say no to.
I give Jack an apologetic look, he simply squeezes my hand. When he is out of earshot my Dad finally breaks the tense silence. "I thought you understood that you were to stay away from him, well the whole family." I keep my mouth shut. "Brenda your mother and I are doing this because it is in your best interest. You are young you don't need to be tied down, you should see the world. Visit places, meet new people. You'll quickly understand what your mother and I are trying to do. We don't want you making your life small over a high school romance, you have such potential it would be a shame if you let that go to waste because of Dylan McKay."
The song ends and I step back, I give my dad a fake smile. "Thank you for the dance." I've turned around and walked off before he can even respond.
Steve must see the anger rolling off me, he quickly steps in my path and tries to get me to dance with him. It takes me half a song till I can get away, though I have to give it to the blonde joker that he can make me laugh. When I get back to the table Dylan still hasn't returned, a chill runs down my back I know something isn't right.
I move quickly to the lobby bathroom, and try knocking on the men's room door. When I get no answer I cover my eyes and open the door, and call out. When I get no answer I uncover my eyes, I think it's safe to look. I find Dylan passed out breathing very shallowly.
When calling his name and shaking him doesn't do anything I know I need to get help.
I'm out the door and immediately see a waiter walk past. I don't even bother saying anything I pull him inside the bathroom; it's the same waiter who has been serving our table all evening. "I need you to call an ambulance immediately, and then discreetly get word to Jack and Iris McKay to come here." He looks over my shoulder and sees Dylan. "Go now please."
Time doesn't so much as stand still it actually stops. It feels like hours until the waiter is back with my brother and Jack. Dylan still hasn't woken up. I fill them in on what I know, it could be the medication that has made him pass out from being too strong, or maybe it's his breathing though his lips aren't blue and while his hands are cold I think there is still oxygen moving around. I speak fast; Brandon can tell the level of panic I'm in, he doesn't even attempt to try and calm me.
The manager of the venue quietly leads the paramedics into the men's room, and the three of us move away. As they work on Dylan putting oxygen on him, Jack tells me that Iris is currently on stage running one of the charity auctions, she'll be devastated that she isn't here. Brandon says he'll go tell her when she gets off stage, and quickly leave's.
I don't know how we do it but the doors to the ballroom are shut and the paramedics have used the back entrance. We manage to get him out of the building without more than a few glance's in the lobby.
When I go to get in the ambulance Jack places a hand on my shoulder. "Sweetheart, I'll need to travel with him. If he doesn't wake up they'll need my perm-"
I stop him by pulling the chain out from around my neck.
The man is fantastic at reading a situation, I can see why he at one stage was able to create a legitimate fortune. He stops speaking and nod's, he has a look of disappointment but there is no shock.
"I thought I was wrong. I thought when I saw his ring on his finger the other afternoon when he was sleeping it may have been a promise. I thought the whispered wife I heard as he hugged you on the porch at the bbq was a hope for the future." He runs his hand through his hair, very much like my husband does when he is unsure of a situation. "Paris?"
I nod.
"Shit. My wife is literally going to kill me." The paramedics are ready to leave and ask which one is going with him. Jack helps me into the back.
"Brenda I'll be right behind you, make the decisions you need to make but keep it quiet. Ask for confidentiality for all his medical needs. Is Dylan using the lawyer who helped him access the trust?" I nod. "Okay, I'll call him and get confidentiality agreements, with the press interest in the family the lawyer won't look out of place at the hospital. Iris and I will be next to you the whole time. If we stick together we hopefully should get through this without anyone finding out, and seeing who is in charge tonight."
I squeeze his hand, "thank you Jack."
"Don't thank me yet daughter, once he is better I plan on giving you both the world's longest lecture about being smart, and strategy. This move while I'm sure it was romantic it was also foolish."