Episode 95

[Home] [Episode Guide] [News] [Social Register] [Visitor Info] [Interact] [Links] [Credits]

Episode 95

Scene 1:

Dear Diary,

It's funny, my last entry in you was in August of 2001. I sounded so hopeful too, despite everything. How could I not be hopeful? I've got it all. I've said that over and over to myself, just look how far you've gone, Micki! But after so long, those words just kind of fall flat. So let's see, what's happened today that made me want to pick up this old thing and start scribbling in it again? The baby's got an ear infection, and has been screaming day in and day out. I took her in to the pediatrician this morning, and we're waiting for a call from the pharmacy to pick up her ear drops. Yes, even the almighty Mason family has to wait for something. I've got a letter from Jesse's teacher on my desk, telling me how absolutely charming and intelligent my son is, but there is this small problem with running around the room, mooning kids on the playground, and scribbling on work he considers to be "stupid." And Chris, with no ear infections, and no teacher's notes... no nothing. He's just quiet and there, kind of like his mom. Well, his "not real" mom, at least. Every once in a while I get reminded of that fact, when we have a fight, like we did this morning when he discovered that he had a bologna sandwich instead of ham. "I don't have to eat this! You're not my real mom, so I don't have to do what you say!" he'd said. Yes, Chris, I'm not your "real" mom. Your real mom sure would have given you ham. She also would have made sure that was rotten so you could be in the hospital and almost die of salmonella poisoning, so she could get more attention. He always says he's sorry afterward, and I'm sure he will when he gets home, but it still sort of hurts. So that's my day, and hey, it's only 11. It's during the quiet times like this that I would love to curl up in my bed, pull the covers over my head, and just die. There is nothing for me if I'm not running around for my family. Make friends, Jamie says. Oh yeah, that went over real well when our neighbors moved away just two months after they moved in. And I have yet to truly hit it off with any of the people that the Mason family surrounds themselves with, even the Masons themselves.

So somehow, some way, I've managed to pull together this fabulous life, that sometimes makes me look in the mirror and go "wow. The Observer even wants to do a story on me, about how I got myself off the streets. I keep telling them no, because I may be off the streets, but I haven't changed. So what's the use of telling a story about a person when the person's the same, but the only thing that changes is the location? Take Elvis out of Graceland in the 50s and stick him in LA in the 21st century and he'd still kill himself with peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

So if I'm the same person, why am I sitting around here pretending to be so much better than that junkie with the multi-colored hair? She at least had something she could count on... something that would always be there, always be predictable, and always made all the pain go away. Nothing worried me then. Not worried about being raped, shot, mugged... where I was going to eat or sleep... nothing mattered. I think everything would be easier in my life that way. It would make the Lily not cry so loud, make me not so hurt by Chris, and make me not so worried about Jesse... My little knight in shining armor, in a little syringe.

Oh yes, poor Princess Michaela, in need of rescuing. From what, you ask? From myself.

Scene 2:

Jamie locked the door behind himself, shaking his head in frustration. Michaela had decided at the last minute not to go to Four Winds with the rest of the family, choosing instead to stay behind and do the spring cleaning. It wasn't that he was angry, he wasn't. Far from it. Jealousy was more like it. If he had the choice, he'd stay home too. But this was an obligation he had to comply with for the sake of his sanity. His mother was known to hold onto things for longer than the average person after all.

Gwen's impromptu welcome home party for Hallie and Luke was a little over the top, but attendance was a requirement. Jamie had argued that not only was it unnecessary but it was entirely inappropriate considering that Dane had lost Phoebe in the fire and Luke's brother was still in the hospital recovering. As usual though, Gwen's stubbornness had won out. Herding the boys into the car, Jamie resigned himself to the embarrassment.

At Four Winds, the boys ran off around the back of the house immediately, forgetting their manners completely, foregoing greeting their grandmother for something more interesting in the gardens. Jamie carried Lily inside, handing her over to Maggie while he headed to the dining room. Gwen was there supervising the hanging of a welcome home banner. He leaned against the door frame, taking in the scene. If he didn't know better, he might think Gwen was happy her niece was fine. He did know better though and she was up to something.

"That's good right there, thank you," Gwen said dismissing her helpers. She picked up a basket of roses and began arranging them in a vase, catching sight of Jamie after a moment. "Oh Jamie! I had no idea you were here!" She laughed, her bubbly social laugh, continuing with her flower arranging. "I didn't hear the boys!"

"They're out back," Jamie replied standing up straight. "Doing what I have no idea."

"I hope they plan on coming inside at some point and saying hello to their grandmother. Honestly, Jamie! Didn't Michaela teach those boys any manners?" She looked up from her flowers, giving him a disapproving look. "And where is your wife? Oh, I'm sorry. She must have decided at the last minute not to come. How typical."

"Don't start on her, Mother. She had things she needed to do. Besides, my wife is very astute and can spot insincerity quite easily."

"Are you implying that I am insincere?" Gwen picked up her pruning shears and clipped a stem savagely.

"Did I imply that? I meant to state it unequivocally," he retorted. "I'm sure you would rather have seen Hallie left for dead. Stephen Roth, however, disagreed with you thankfully."

"Is that what you think? Well, you are wrong, my dear." She rammed the last stem into the vase. "I am very relieved that Hallie is fine."

"Do you even realize how grotesque this whole affair is Mother?" He asked, spreading his arms wide. "Hallie's brother-in-law is still in the hospital and Dane hasn't come out of his room since Phoebe's death. Not to mention the other people that lost their lives. Our employees, Mother. Do you understand that?"

"Of course I do!" She slammed the shears down on the table and stared at him, her eyes burning with intensity and her lips pressed into a thin line. "You think I wanted to do this? I had to. If I hadn't all those gossip mongers would have said that Gwen Mason wished her niece had died just so she could get ME back. Yes, they would have, don't shake your head at me. I hear what my friends like Eleanor Fairchild say about me behind my back, Jamie. This impromptu party is going to give them something positive to say for a change. It isn't as if I sent out a press release about it. A slip of the tongue to one or two people was all I needed. I'm doing this for you and that ridiculously ungrateful wife of yours!"

"Jesus Christ, Mother! What are you talking about?" Jamie's voice raised angrily. "No one cares about this. And it isn't as if it was some huge secret that you and Hallie don't get along. I don't care about public opinion and neither, for that matter, does my wife. In fact, leave her out of this. She's done nothing..."

"That's just it! She doesn't do anything! She's a Mason now and she needs to realize that she is an important person in this town. She has repsonsibilities! All she does is mope around that house. I'm tired of it and I can't imagine that you are pleased at all."

"Don't even try to make this about Michaela. This is about you and your utter lack of concern for your family. You think that all you have to do is make the right impression and people won't talk about you? It's a small town, Mother. They'll talk no matter what you do."

"Not if I can help it!" Gwen snapped. Jamie opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by his sons' entrance into the room with Ellen.

"What's going on?" She asked eyeing them both suspiciously. Jesse flung himself at Gwen, dripping water and mud on her and the floor.

"Hi Grandma Gwen! Me and Chris found a pond!" He announced.

"Jess!" Jamie pulled his wet son off Gwen. "Come on, let's get you dried off and changed. Chris, you too," he ordered, pulling them along with him. The conversation was over for now, but it wasn't closed. He had a feeling Gwen wasn't going to let this one die any time soon.

Scene 3:

Luke sat next to Jory, not sure of what to say or do. According to Galen Gennaro, Jory could hear him even if he was in a coma, but Luke wasn't buying into that. Besides, what the hell would he say? Nothing seemed remotely appropiate right now. Maura had been here before him and had probably talked his ear off anyway. If Jory could hear them, he was probably tired of listening.

He heard the door squeak as it opened and glanced oer his shoulder. Liza. Her forehead was bandaged where she'd had stitches and there was a good size bruise on her cheek but given the circumstances, they both could be in worse straits. They hadn't seen each other since their rescue and the memory of the kiss they shared was still there, only marred by the events following.

"How is he?" She asked, stepping into the room cautiously. He shrugged, looking back at his brother hooked up to beeping machines and tubes of liquid. He had no idea. "I hope you don't mind that I'm here..."

"Why would i mind?" Luke asked, shifting in his chair. "I'm glad you came."

Liza smiled uncertainly at him, "I wasn't so sure." Well, he couldn't blame her there. "I heard they were releasing Hallie today."

"Yes...she's doing much better," Luke returned. He pulled another chair closer to the bed and patted the seat. "Stay awhile?" Liza nodded and sat next to him. He looked at her closely. She looked tired. "How are you?"

"I'm okay. Luckily, I have a brother who made sure I got good attention when I was brought in. Though, I must admit, he was not happy to see me here at all. He told me you were quite a handful though," she scolded.

"Nothing wrong with me," Luke pointed out. "I was needed elsewhere and I couldn't get there," he added looking back to his brother.

"I'm so sorry...do the police know anything yet?"

"Well, they know it was arson. That's all anyone will tell us. Nothing about who attacked Jory or Hallie. Nothing about why it was done." He shook his head miserably. "I don't know why he was there, Liza. What was he doing at ME? Maura says she sent him there...but he calls first. He always does." He scrubbed at his jaw, trying to make sense of it. "I feel like it's my fault he's in here."

He felt Liza's hand touch his arm, tentative and cautious. "It isn't though," she said softly. "Don't do that to yourself, Luke."

"What are you doing here, Liza?" He asked suddenly. "You should be at home with your son."

"Luke, please, I came to make sure you were okay...that's all. I was concerned about you..." She trailed off meeting his skeptical eye. "Fine, you want the truth? I had to find you because...I wanted to talk about what happened in the elevator."

"You mean when I kissed you?" She nodded, looking troubled. "I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry to have put you in such an awkward position."

"No, it's not that. Truthfully? I kissed you too. I shouldn't have because you're married, but I did. I just didn't want you to think that I'm that desperate. Or that awful. I shouldn't have let it happen but I wanted to kiss you too. Wait, I'm not done. I talked to Jory right before we got in the elevator and he told me that you were sincere in your feelings. I didn't beleive you were but Jory explained it."

"Why didn't you think I was sincere? Did I do something to make you think that?"

"Well, you did marry Hallie for business purposes," she pointed out.

"I'll never live that down will I?" He smiled at her, taking her hand in his. "I am sincere. I've been attracted to you since the first time I saw you and I never intended to tell you."

"No, it's good that you did! I mean, I know your marriage is a sham. I hate to tell you this, but pretty much everyone in town knows. But I didn't want to get caught up in it. I'm not a homewrecker, Luke. The truth is though, I'm attracted to you too even though I shouldn't be. And I came here to tell you that. Well, that and I don't think we should act on it again."

He dropped her hand as if she had slapped him. "Why?" He demanded. "Give me one good reason."

"Hallie-"

"Is not a good reason," Luke insisted. He cupped her chin in his hand drawing her closer. "You said it yourself, my marriage is a sham and I'm going to get out. It's that simple. Hallie doesn't love me anymore than I love her."

"Don't do that because of me. You don't even know me," Liza returned softly.

"I do know you though...better than you think I do," he said softly, forgetting that they were in a public place and that his brother was laying in a bed next to them. All that he saw was Liza. All he could do was kiss her. They leaned into each other at the same time, their lips meeting gently, melting into each other and forgetting all that surrounded them.

Scene 4:

"I'm fat and I'm dead sexy!" Jewel giggled, pulling another handful of Doritos out of the bag before passing it to Piper.

"Am I allowed to have this?" Piper asked, before stuffing one in her mouth.

"Eh, who cares, you've been fed liquid food through your veins for like three days, now," Jewel answered. Jewel had decided today that Piper was waking up. He had, along with Jon, Allison, and Evan, had decorated Piper's white room with flowers, toys, Broadway posters, anything she liked to cheer her up. The doctors had said something in fancy terms that Jewel had interpreted as, 'the reason Piper was still
unconscious was because she didn't want to wake up.' Well, Jewel wasn't going to have it. And this morning, Piper had woken up with the most painful expression and only the international man of mystery could change it. "Yeah baby!" Jewel declared as Noah entered the room. She smiled brightly at him, flipping her long hair over her shoulder, "someone finally decided to wake up today," she said, gesturing at Piper.

Piper leaned forward trying to see who had entered her room and a warm, genuine smile broke out across her face at the sight of Noah.

Noah smiled for the first time in days. It had been an awful week, what with Dusty's death and Jory Conlan in ICU barely hanging on to life, not to mention his house guest. At least, Piper had come around. If she hadn't, he didn't know what he would have done. He pulled a chair closer to her bed and offered her the rose he had brought for her in case she was awake.

"Feeling better?" He asked, smoothing her hair away from her face.

Piper nodded. "Jewel brought Doritos and Austin," she replied with a half-grin. Jewel tossed her a smile, before turning back to Austin and Piper felt like her theatre friends were now the only family she had. When she opened her eyes and saw Jewel's face, all she could remember was Chase, her dad, the fire, and she had only wanted to go back to sleep.

He flicked a gaze at Jewel, almost a questioning one. Had Jewel told her about anything yet? From the look Jewel gave him back it was obvious she hadn't. He patted Piper's hand affectionately. "I'm glad Jewel was here for you today. Would you mind if I spoke to Jewel outside for just a minute?"

Piper arched an eyebrow at the same time Jewel did. Jewel frowned, annoyed that she was being taken away from her best friend and Austin Powers. Jewel slid off the foot of Piper's bed.

"Be right back, Pip, we're gonna say bad things about you," Jewel retorted. Piper rolled her eyes with a small smile, looking unsure of being left by herself.

Noah led her into the hall, waiting for a nurse to pass by before saying anything. "Can she hear about her brother yet?" He asked. "I assume you haven't told her, but she really needs to know."

"I'm really bad at stuff like that, I figured you should be the one to tell her," Jewel answered. "But, I'll go and leave you alone...but I'm afraid she might fall back into unconsciousness if someone leaves her...,"
Jewel trailed off.

"There's nothing wrong with her physically," Noah sighed, staring at her door. "It's just the shock of it all. Maybe this isn't the time to tell her, but if she doesn't find out before he..." Noah trailed off not wanting
to say the words. "She'll be crushed if she finds out too late."

Jewel nodded affirmatively, "Tell her, then...I don't want her thinking we think she's...," Jewel searched for the word, "weak."

"She's not, but she's been through a lot." He smiled at Jewel. At least, Piper had good friends to get her through it. "Thanks for coming by, Jewel. I know Piper appreciates it."

Jewel shielded her annoyance for Noah acting like the supporter when he was the one who had royally hurt Piper in the first place. And now he was going to dismiss her, she painted a smile on her face. "Right, I'll stop by later," Jewel said, stuffing her hands in her pockets.

Noah nodded and turned back to Piper's room. He smiled as he went inside, rearranging his face to hide his thoughts. The last thing he wanted to do was make her worry. "Sorry about that," he apologized, taking his seat again.

Piper shrugged. She had been suspicious about why they had left, but her complete faith in Noah didn't allow the suspicion to show in her face. She shifted in her bed. "How long has it been...?"

"Three days," he said softly. "Three very long days. You scared me."

Piper dropped her blue eyes from Noah's, focusing on her hands. "Oh...I'm sorry," she replied. "I...uh...I kept...like...waking up...but, I didn't want to stay awake...I kept thinking about...Chase...and Dad...and the fire...it all just kind of hit me."

Noah swallowed hard at her mention of the fire. He could feel tears well in the corner of his eyes at the thought of Dusty. He was glad she wasn't looking at him for the moment as he swiped away the tears with the back of his hand. They hadn't been close for their whole lives, but she was all the family he had. "Maura told me what happened with your dad. He wants to come see you."

At Noah's comment, Piper's head snapped back up, her eyes widened at Noah, "No!"

"It's okay. He's... Well, he's..." Noah didn't know what to say. Taking a deep breath, he plunged on. "Piper, your dad is busy. Christ...that's not it. Jory was in the ME building when it burned. He's in the ICU right now. Mr. Conlan hasn't left that floor since the fire."

Piper's eyes widened even more and her bottom lip trembled. "Oh," she answered. She bit down on her lip to keep from crying. And all she had done the past couple days was think about herself.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to tell you like that..." His throat tightened as he tried to force the rest of it out. "It doesn't look good, Pip. They don't know if he'll make it..."

"Well,...I mean if...you had never told me...it's okay," she offered, wrapping her arms protectively around herself. Suddenly, she widened her eyes again. "What about Luke? Dusty? Jeez, even Hallie!?"

"Luke is fine. He was in an elevator that malfunctioned. Bruised but all right," Noah said. "Hallie is recovering. No burns...lots of smoke in her lungs." He bit his lip as he tried to continue. "Dusty was in the
Research Department. You know that's in the basement there." His voice trembled a little. "She didn't make it. There was about ten people down there that were hurt pretty badly and died."

Piper easily cried and she tasted blood in her mouth from biting on her lip too hard, but she didn't want to make it worse for Noah. "I'm sorry, Noah," was all Piper could say. She reached for Noah's hand,
desperately wanting to hold him.

"Can I see Jory?"

"As soon as you're released. He isn't conscious, but I'm sure Dr. Stafford will let you sit by his bed."

Piper nodded, she was ready to go home...or to her new home. "What about Chase?"

His jaw clenched at her question. "He's out there somewhere. Detective McCormick told me this morning they have a pretty good idea where he's at. He'd better pray he never runs into me again," he added.

Piper cringed at Noah's sudden burst of anger, turning paranoid eyes on the only window in the hospital room. So Chase was out there. "Why?" The word was caught in her throat, but it was question more addressed to herself.

"After what he's done, I'll kill that bastard," Noah muttered. He cleared the angry expression from his face. "But let's not talk about him, okay? Jewel is a great friend, you're very lucky you know."

Piper turned her attention back to Noah. It was stupid of her to feel pity for Chase, but she had to wonder what drove him to do what he did. "Jewel is...they all are...they all came in here and hung up these posters." She smiled half-heartedly. "Evan hung up the Rocky Horror Picture Show one, that's his dream, to be Frank-n-furter, Jewel's Magenta, Allison's Colombia, I'm Janet, Jon's Riff-raff, you can be Brad," she offered, trying to brighten Noah up.

"I've never seen Rocky Horror," Noah admitted, studying the poster. "What's it about? Horror or mystery or something?"

Piper giggled, "nevermind sweetie. Just wait till you see the play one day, I don't wanna spoil the surprise."

"Fair enough," Noah replied as the door behind them opened. He shifted in his seat, catching a surprised look from Maura. "Hey Maura. Look who decided they'd had enough beauty rest." Maura smiled wanly, moving slowly towards the bed. She looks as if she were caught in a dream, Noah thought.

"Piper...how are you feeling?" Maura asked, her voice thick with exhaustion.

"Fine," she answered stiffly, but not in the tone which she usually bestowed on Maura. There was more affection because Piper felt differently since Maura had stood up for her.

"Good. You scared us all," Maura added. "Did Noah tell you....?"

Piper nodded, absently squeezing Noah's hand. "How's Jillie and...Dad?"

"Jillie is..." Maura paused looking for the right word. "She's worried sick about you and Jory but she's doing the best she can right now. Dad is beside himself, Piper. He wants to see you. Will you let him?"

Piper shook her head before the words came out of Maura's mouth. She knew it was disgustingly selfish of her, but it was selfish of her dad to deny her of her dream. "No, tell him I'm fine."

Maura nodded. "I will. Don't be mad at him too long, okay?" She bent to give Piper a quick hug. "And when you can, come upstairs and see Jory and Luke. I know they'll both be glad to see you. Even if Jory might not..." She trailed off letting her words disappear into the air. Shaking her head briefly, she touched Noah's shoulder gently before leaving.

"I will," Piper assured. She sighed when Maura left the room. "Can I take these thingies out yet?" she asked in reference to the tubes attatched to her.

"Yes. As soon as Dr. Stafford okays it. He's been a little distracted but I'm sure it won't be much longer."

Piper nodded, looking around at the room and the effort, Jon, Allison, Evan, and Jewel had made to cheer her up. Posters of her favorite Broadway plays lined the wall. She wouldn't be going home...she'd be going to the house she now shared with them. She'd be going to her new home.

Scene 5:

"I can walk on my own. Stop this wheelchair right now." Hallie dropped her feet to floor, letting her heels scrape painfully on the tile. The nurse stopped at her resistance, just long enough for Hallie to jump out of the chair. She was feeling much better and did not need to be treated like an invalid.

"It is hospital policy to escort all patients as they leave..."

"I don't give a damn about hospital policy," Hallie spat at the nurse. "I have been released by my doctor and I don't intend to follow your policies any longer." She snatched her release papers from the nurse and took a few steps away from her. "But you can tell everyone you took me downstairs, okay? Just forget this part." She turned on her heel and went to the elevator. She had something else she had to do before she could go home. Not the leats of which was finding her errant husband who hadn't even been there when she was released. She had a fair idea where he was though.

She punched the button for the eighth floor and waited impatiently for the elevator to make it's climb. The doors slid open at the eigth floor and she walked through a maze of hallways before coming to a stop at the nurses' station.

"Excuse me?"

"Yes?" The nurse behind the counter looked up offering her a pleasant smile.

"Is Jory Conlan allowed visitors? I'm his sister-in-law." The woman's expression changed to surprise at Hallie's words. "What? Is something wrong?"

"No, not at all. I thought someone else....nevermind. Um, he is in room 822. But I think he has two visitors already and that's more than we usually allow. Perhaps you'd like to wait?"

"No. I would not. Thank you though." Hallie didn't pause to hear what the nurse would try next. Two visitors. One had to be Luke. The other was likely Jillie or Maura. She headed towards his room, pausing just outside. She could hear voices inside, though they were hushed. She recognized Luke's voice but the woman's voice was harder. It wasn't Maura's or Jillie's that was certain.

She pushed the door open just enough to peer into the room. Her eyes widened at the sight of Luke holding Liza Gennaro's hand. What was he doing? She thought, her mouth falling open as their conversation hit her.

"I've been attracted to you since the first time I saw you and I never intended to tell you."

Hallie's stomach fell away as she listened to her husband and her secretary discuss their mutual attraction. How could this happen again? First Stephen with Maggie Stewart and now Luke? He was supposed to be better than Stephen. She dropped her eyes, looking down at the floor, listening. Yes it was true that their marriage was a sham but how could he treat her like this? She shook her head, berating herself for even allowing herself to think that. She had done the same thing with Stephen. She was no better.

Looking up, she watched as Luke and Liza kissed. She let the door close, stepping away from it. So there it was. Stephen had walked away and Luke was taking up with her secretary. A twinge of jealousy sparked in her chest as she thought of her husband in bed with another woman. She could fully admit that she didn't love Luke but to lose him to another woman? That was just embarrassing! And to think that she trusted him! He was supposed to be the one man who wouldn't let her down. They had agreed on the whole trust issue!

She stood in the hallway for another moment, letting her anger get the better of her. So, Luke thought he could marry her for her name and her money and just do as he pleased? She thought. If he did, he had another thing coming. She shook herself, retracing her steps back to the elevator, holding her head high. Hallie Lennox would not let anyone embarrass her like that. She'd had a few setbacks this week, with the burning of ME and Stephen, but this was one she simply would not allow.