Episode 86

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Episode 86

Scene 1:

Dinah edged her way over to the nurse's station, careful that her father wasn't around. He'd raked her over the coals for sneaking in to see Tyler Jones and forbidden her to see him again. But of course, he had refused to tell her why she wasn't allowed in to see him. Hypocrite. He just used his power to suit his own needs. Well, she was going to get back in to see him again. He needed help from someone. Even she could see that if her father couldn't. She'd get back in to see him. She would just make sure Jackie was around to help her. She peeked over the edge of the desk, making sure Tyler Jones was still in the same room.

"What are you doing?" Dinah's head snapped up at the demanding voice meeting the stern gaze of a young nurse. Dinah offered a friendly smile and stepped away from the desk casually.

"Looking for Jackie," she answered carefully. "Have you seen her?"

"I don't know anyone named Jackie," the nurse replied, taking her set behind the desk. "Maybe she works in another department."

"No." Dinah looked at the name tag clipped to the nurse's sweater. "Georgia? That's a pretty name. Jackie is a friend of mine and I know she worked here last week."

"Well, maybe your friend transferred." A brittle smile crossed Georgia's face. "I know I'm a replacement for someone...maybe it was her."

"Transferred?" Dinah echoed. Had her father found out Jackie was the one who had let her in to see Tyler? She hoped not. The last thing she had wanted to do was get anyone in trouble. "Perhaps she has," Dinah said after a moment. "I guess I'll leave you alone then." She turned and headed down the hall towards the elevator and Tyler's room. At the elevator, she glanced over her shoulder at the nurse's station. Nurse Georgia was engrossed in a new visitor. Careful not to make herself conspicuous, Dinah hurried past the elevator to Tyler's room. She stepped inside with one more quick glance back, relieved that she hadn't been noticed.

"You're not supposed to be in here," Tyler said from the bed. He was in a sitting position and looking much healthier than he had the last time she'd been in to see him.

"I know. But I thought you might need a friend," Dinah said pulling a chair closer to his bed.

"Friend?" He repeated, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "And that would be you?"

"Why not? I did save your life after all," she reminded him, trying not to sound too self-absorbed. "And I do care what happens to you."

"Look...it's Dinah right? You don't know me and I don't know you. Why don't you leave before your father catches you again."

"He won't. He's at a business meeting." She dug through her bag, fishing out a paperback book and a magazine. "I brought you something to read in case you get bored. I hope you like mysteries. All they had downstairs in the gift shop were romance novels and Agatha Christie. Hope you don't mind. But I did get you one of the better ones. This one has Hercule Poirot...he's way better than Miss Marple any day. And this is Time for this week." She held them out for him, shrugging casually when he just stared at her. Setting them on the table next to his bed, she went back to her purse. "I also brought you some junk food. Just as a snack thing. I've eaten the food here and it isn't bad, but you'll want something bad for you after a week." She produced a package of Twinkies and set them on top of the magazine and book.

"What do you want?" Tyler asked, his voice laced with suspicion.

"Nothing...I just want to make sure you're all right. That's all," Dinah replied taken aback by his tone. "Should I want something?"

"No. You don't even know me."

"We could change that." She offered him a friendly smile. "Ask me anything. I'll answer."

"Why are you so interested in me?" He asked without missing a beat.

Dinah bit her lip, thinking about it. There were a million and one reasons. He was cute, she was currently single, though she wasn't exactly looking. She currently had one friend and that was her ex-boyfriend. Those were all superficial though. She knew the real reason she kept coming back. Honesty, she reminded herself, is the best policy and worst cliché.

"You crashed your bike in front of a house and died. And I made you breathe again," she said simply. "Before that, I didn't think I was too talented at much of anything. Helping you is the first time I ever did anything remotely right."

"So I'm like your project?"

"No," Dinah said firmly. "I do have a vested interest in helping you though. If you get well, than I've done something right and no one can take it away. My turn to ask a question. Were you trying to hurt yourself?"

"What does it matter?" Tyler asked sinking back on the pillows. He met her gaze sullenly refusing to say more than that.

"I suppose it doesn't. Can I ask you another question?"

Tyler rolled his eyes. "Could I stop you?"

"What do the police want with you?" She watched Tyler's face pale slightly but his expression remained the same. "I mean, is it because you crashed your bike? Or did you do something?"

"That's three questions and it's a long story."

"I'm not going anywhere..." Tyler's eyebrows raised and she followed his eyes, turning towards the door. Her father stood framed in the doorway, his arms folded across his chest and looking seriously pissed off. Just behind him, Nurse Georgia gazed back at her with a clinical expression.

"Yes, Dinah, you are," Dr. Stafford interrupted, stepping aside. "Now."

Scene 2:

"Hey baby," Chase said as he slid into the booth across from Piper. "Did you miss me?"
Piper inwardly cringed at Chase's affectionate term. Forcing saccharine smile, Piper nodded.

"Of course." Yeah right.

"Good, I missed you," he said, placing his hand on hers.

Piper glanced down at his hand. Chase was much larger compared to her and the idea suddenly sent a shiver of apprehension down her spine. It reminded her of reading the Great Gatsby in high school and Chase was Tom Buchanan. Brushing it off, Piper asked, "So how was the trip?"

"Eh, usual business, but that doesn't matter...," he trailed off, his face darkening suddenly. "Hallie took over ME." Piper nodded. She had heard some talk over that, but she never really paid attention to what happened at ME. "Nevermind, Piper, I know you don't want to hear about business. What did you do while I was gone?"

"Oh, school and work mostly." With Noah and thoroughly enjoyed it, she silently added. She had to squelch a smile at the thought of Noah. She could do this. She wasn't just doing this for Noah. She was doing it for herself, too. She couldn't stay with Chase. She knew his true nature...his violent outbursts. "Chase, I think we need to break up." Not as eloquent as she had planned, but it got the point across. Piper yelped suddenly when she felt Chase's hand tighten so fiercely on hers, she was sure some bones snapped.

"Why?" he asked. Calm and cool. She would have been less scared if he had screamed.

"You're so busy with work...and me with school...," Piper answered lamely.

Chase released her hand, leaning back in his seat, "fine, I understand."

"You do?" Piper couldn't contain her surprise.

"Yeah, come on, I'll take you home," he said, tossing money on the table.

"Oh, I'm going to walk home, it's not far. I like walking in this weather. It's refreshing," she lied. She'd be damned if she was getting in the same vehicle with Chase Garret...ever.

Chase nodded, "suit yourself."

Piper slid out of the booth after him, relieved that Chase wasn't putting up a fight. "I'm glad you're not too upset. I guess I was flattering myself to think you would be upset," she replied with a laugh. Chase laughed as well, fishing into his pocket for his keys. "All right, well I guess I'll see you around some, Chase..."

Scene 3:

Maura smiled at Jory as he climbed on a stool at the bar. "Hey, what brings you here for breakfast?" She asked looking at her watch. Jory shrugged, studying the menu board.

"Dad's pissed off about something. Doing some yelling and throwing of crockery in the kitchen. What's the matter with him anyway? Hey can I get some french toast?"

"Yes," Maura answered writing an order and pinning it on the order rack before responding to his first question. "Piper's moving out," she said simply.

"And he's mad about that?" Maura shook her head slowly. "There's more huh? Well, spill it."

"He told her she had to change her major. She refused so he fired her. I think that's probably why he's so upset. Piper's never stood up for herself like that. I'm kind of proud of her actually. Though I wish he hadn't fired her. Now, I'm short handed!"

"He fired her? That's a little extreme...I wonder why he's so worried about her studying acting? It isn't as if Mom wasn't an actress when they met. Weird."

"I know! Look, I was thinking maybe we could talk him out of this condition he put on her. Can you make sure you're home for dinner? And maybe see if Jillie will come too? I know she'll say no if I ask her."

"Sure, no problem...hey I'll even head over to ME and see if Luke will come. Do you want to invite the barracuda?"

Maura rolled her eyes. "No. We want to cheer Dad up not make him feel worse. But yeah, ask Luke..." She had meant to add something but her eyes settled on a newcomer at the door and her thought disappeared. She stared at Jude framed in the doorway, his eyes scanning the crowd. Jory's head turned following her gaze.

"Well look at that," he said thoughtfully. "Wonder if he's here for the french toast too?" Maura snapped her gaze back to Jory, trying to look unconcerned.

"No, only family gets french toast," she said casually.

Jory laughed in spite of himself. "Suuuure. Go talk to him, Mo. I don't know what happened between you two, but maybe he wants to work it out."

"I already apologized," she muttered watching his progress as he spotted her at last. Her heart beat faster as he neared her and any thought she had of leaving, which if she was honest was none, left her head. Jude stopped next to Jory, standing silently, letting their eyes meet.

"Okay, this isn't uncomfortable at all," she heard Jory murmur and then louder, "Hey Jude! Long time no see! What brings you to the family biz? Business or pleasure?" Jude didn't even turn his head.

"May I speak with you privately, Maura?" He asked. Jory snagged his plate of french toast and slid off the stool.

"I'll just get a to go box. I'll see you tonight, Mo. Jude, always a pleasure," he added heading off towards the kitchen. Maura spread her hands on the counter in front of her, afraid to say anything to make Jude leave. She dropped her eyes at last, swallowing hard.

"Would you like to go into the office?" She asked.

"That would be all right," he replied and followed her lead there. He closed the door behind them, leaning against the doorframe. She couldn't help but remember the last time he had been here and what she had been doing. She hoped he didn't think about it, but from the guarded way he looked at her, she knew the memory would always be there for him. She waited for him to speak again, still unsure what he wanted.

"I got your message," he said at last.

"Oh." Yes, she had left him a message, she reminded herself. She had sounded like an idiot too. "I hope it was all right to call you."

"Of course. Look, Maura, I appreciate the apology. But I owe you one as well."

She blinked in surprise. "You do?"

"Yes. I wasn't very nice to you. I didn't give you a chance to explain. And now that I've had time to think about it...I'd really like to hear it."

Maura swallowed again, feeling a lump in her throat. She owed him one. "Rick and I were engaged. He didn't want a family and he made it clear any time there was a child around," she began, closing her eyes, letting her memory take her back. "I didn't mean to get pregnant. It happened and when I tried to tell Rick about it...God, a hundred times I tried to tell him but something always came up or someone. Then one night, I decided it couldn't wait and I tried to tell him." She looked away from Jude, the memory of the night overwhelming her a little. Rick had been in a terrible mood and she had started the conversation only to be cut down immediately. He had a cruel streak then. She wondered if he still had it.

"And?" Jude prompted.

"He didn't want to hear it. He stormed out and I left. I went to New York to stay with my cousin. She had just gotten married and her career was taking off...when she found out I was pregnant, she offered to take the baby. I had no other choice. I thought my mother would be so ashamed of me and I never wanted Rick to find out. And I was so young..."

Jude nodded as she trailed off. She could feel two small streams of water slide down her cheeks at the release of her story. She'd held onto it for so long, she had forgotten how much it all still hurt. She had given her child away because she had been young and unable to be a mother alone. If Rick had been more supportive, perhaps she could have been a good mother. She grabbed at a Kleenex and wiped her eyes.

"I can't tell you that I think you did the right thing, Maura. But I wish you had told me about all of this before," Jude said at last.

"I know," Maura muttered, miserable. "I made a lot of mistakes. With you, with Rick...with everyone."

"Well," Jude said unmoved. "Thank you for telling me." His expression softened and he took a small step forward. "I want...," he stopped, his voice choking. He cleared his throat and smiled. "It's still difficult. Some days I wake up and I think everything is fine and then I remember."

Maura nodded. "Have you seen Jamie or Gwen?"

"No. Look, this isn't about that. I miss you okay? You were good for me and you were there for me. I'm sorry I let my feelings for Gwen interfere with...us. But there is still the matter of Rick Upton. I can't be...I won't be second choice, Maura." He shrugged and reached a hand out to the door. "That's all. I won't tell you to choose between me or Rick because that is unfair and not my style. But as long as Rick is in your life, I can't be. Thank you for telling me," he added, giving her a wistful expression before leaving the office.

She watched him go, then sank into her chair. He didn't make ultimatums? That sounded like one to her. But if she were in his shoes, she reminded herself, she would ask the same thing. How could she choose between them, she asked herself, realizing as she did so, that she could and already had.

Scene 4:

Piper woke up disoriented. She fumbled around briefly, trying to discern things. Her hands made contact with soft, cottony material. She fluttered her eyelids open against the dark room that somehow managed to dance before her eyes. She knew though, that she shouldn't make a sound. With a conscious effort she boosted herself up onto her elbows. The room's wobbliness ceased slightly and she was able to discern that she was in a large bed surrounded in something. Gingerly she reached out to touch the surrounding and fell with a thud and a ruffle of taffeta onto the floor.

Stifling a groan, Piper rolled over to see a canopy bed looming over her. The moonlit light filtering in from a large window lit up the dark corners of the old, plantation room. Chase. Piper again attempted to boost herself back up, finding yet another restraint, the dress. She looked down, the mint green taffeta dress and the Southern Belle cut reverberating a sense of panic throughout her entire body. A ball of tears rose in her throat, but she swallowed it back down. She beat her small hands against the pale green taffeta skirt futilely. This had to be some terrible nightmare. A nightmare.

Footsteps echoed in the hall and Piper tried to pull herself to her feet. She had to hide. She didn't have the mental capacity to find a place to hide at the moment. "Now, Piper..."

Piper released an animal like whimper, "no, lemme 'lone."

Chase moved his strong arms around Piper, lifting her off the floor. He set her on her wobbly feet and balanced her in his arms.

"I hate you," Piper said, her viciousness evident even through her drug induced haze.

Chase gently smoothed a few pale blonde strands from Piper's face. "Piper, you messed up your hair and your pretty dress," Chase chastised as he eased her to a sitting position on the bed. He began to brush off the dress, holding back Piper who was viciously attempting to fend him off. She waved her arms around in an attempted attack, screeching many I hate you and obscenities. Chase finally grew tired of it. He reached up and locked his fingers into her hair. Jerking down, Piper released another screech, but stopped her fighting.

"I'm warning you, Piper, behave." Slowly, he released the soft blonde tendrils, allowing her to sit back upright. "You look beautiful," he said, placing a kiss she wouldn't return on her lips. Chase pulled her off the bed again and she fell forward in his arms. Piper felt infantile over the control of her movements, like a mentally disabled child. She attempted to tear out of Chase's grasp once again until she felt his hand tighten in a bone shattering clutch over her wrist. Again in that chastising way he told her to behave. "You're not being very polite. I made a special evening, a dream evening for you."

"You're crazy," Piper spat and pushed him away. She reached for a vase and through it across the room at him. It came nowhere near to hitting him.

Chase took one step forward back to Piper and backhanded her across the face. Piper cried out in pain and fell back on the bed from the force of the blow. She scrambled up on to the bed, trying to get as far away from Chase as possible, the red flaming pain in her cheek reminding her of his rage. He grabbed Piper by the waist and jerked her back. She fell under him and he pinned her down with his body.

"Don't make me do anything really crazy, Piper," he threatened. Piper's eyes widened at his threat, again there was that animal whimper from her throat, but her animal whimper was nothing compared to the wild animal gleam in Chase's eyes.

Chase again kissed Piper, letting his lips trail down her neck, as she attempted to shy away, but he held her firmly. He stopped just above the neckline of her dress and in one swift motion jerked both of them off the bed. Having to hold the mostly limp Piper in his arms, he drug her towards the door into the candle lit hallway of the old plantation home.

"My Pied Piper, I hope you remember how to waltz."