Episode 99

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Episode 99

Scene 1:

Dinah unlocked the door, tucking the key back into her pocket. She turned and motioned for Galen to stay where he was for a moment. He was still in the dark about who she wanted him to see though he had freed her from the babysitter. The look on Georgia's face when Galen had announced he was taking Dinah back to his house to see Mia was priceless.

"I'll be right back, just let me tell him you're here," Dinah said over her shoulder. Galen cocked a questioning eyebrow at her but remained silent. He leaned against the wall, watching an alley cat below. She stepped into the apartment closing the door gently behind her. Tyler had taken over Dusty's room, thankfully, and was no longer visible from the doorway.

"Ty?" She knocked on his door, pushing it open at his response. "Hi...how are you feeling? Noah said you were still under the weather."

"Yep." He pulled the quilt over him closer to his chin. His face was flushed but his eyes were alert.

"I brought someone to help then," she said sitting next to him. He groaned slightly as she sat on the bed next to him. "What's the matter? Wait, I'll go get him..." She half rose from the bed but was stopped by Tyler reaching for her wrist. His hand was hot on her skin which worried her even more.

"No, wait, Dinah." She sat back down, gazing at him expectantly. "Look, I know you're trying to help...and I owe you so much already...I just don't understand why you're so intent on it. You don't know me very well. For all you know, I did rape that girl like your father says."

"But you didn't," Dinah insisted. "I know that girl, Tyler; I went to school with her. Melissa Cravens is a spoiled brat. When we were in the fifth grade, she said I stole her bracelet because I was jealous of her and how much money her family had. And I know you don't know me very well, but I have never worried about money in my life. That's the one thing I do owe my dad."

"Fine, but that still doesn't explain why you're helping me. You put yourself and Noah in a really tight spot especially if someone finds out about this," Tyler insisted.

"I know...look, all I can say is that you happened into my life on a night where I didn't have much going for me. I've always been accused of being a flake, even Noah thinks I'm, well let's just say I'm not worth Noah's time." She sighed and shook her head. "But when you crashed in front of the house, I found a way I could help someone. Does that make any sense at all?"

Tyler's eyebrows pulled together in a comic frown. "No, but right now I'll take it. I need a friend and I wasn't very nice to you before. I hope you can forgive me?"

"There's nothing to forgive. Now, you really do look terrible. Let me go get my friend, okay?" Tyler nodded, closing his eyes. Dinah stood, turning towards the door. Galen was framed there gazing from her to Tyler with a cold disinterested stare. Swallowing hard, she approached her brother-in-law but stopped short when he raised a hand.

"So, Tyler Jones," he said brusquely. Tyler's eyes flew open, surprised at the sound of Galen's voice. "Well, Dinah, I wondered where this patient of mine had gone to."

Scene 2:

Piper allowed herself to be pushed through the long corridors and picked up, finally leaving the stark, white walls of the hospital building. She had assumed that she would be able to make it without the aid of a wheelchair, but two weeks confined to a bed and tubes left her tired and weak. On a brighter note, Noah was picking Piper up and taking her to HER house. Not her Dad's house, but her own house that she shared with her best friends. It was wonderful and awful all at once. Piper's thoughts clearly reflected in her face whenever her eyes fell on Noah as she rounded a corner. She smiled for him, clutching on to a stuffed animal he had given her. All of a sudden, leaving the hospital felt like a baby with the capacity to understand the evil in the world leaving the womb. Piper involuntarily shivered.

Noah smiled, waving off the nurse standing behind Piper's wheelchair. "I think I can take her out," he said giving the chair a soft push towards the front door. "I bet you are relived to be out of there."

She nodded in agreement, placing a hand on Noah's arm to stop him. "I don't want to be rolled out of here, I want to walk, I can make it to the car," she insisted.

"You can't...hospital policy," Noah admonished. "I'd want to walk out too but you know they don't want a lawsuit if you slip and fall, Pip."

She jerked her head around in the chair, "hospital policy?" she scoffed, her eyes narrowed, "you aren't just humoring me in case I can't walk are you?" Piper demanded.

"No. Seriously. Hospitals don't like to let patients walk until they're off hospital property. It really is true," he told her. "I'll tell you what though," he added conspiratorially. "When we hit the front door, you can jump out and we'll make a run to my car. How about that?"

"I can walk, but running...maybe not," Piper said and as the doors came closer with the light of the world shining through the panes of glass, Piper felt a sort of panic rise in herself. She had spent the past two weeks in the hospital, her cocoon, only leaving her room to have a session with the therapist. Entering the living world again made her eyes widen, her breath catch in her throat, and her heart beat so hard against her ribcage she was almost sure Noah could hear it. She held back a whimper, biting on her lip. She didn't want Noah to realize just how truly weak she was, not just physically, but mentally as well. She grimaced as she bit harder on her lip not to cry until she tasted a tartness in her mouth. Realizing it was blood, Piper swiped her tongue over her lips and forced a smile for Noah's sake.

He pushed the doors open and pushed her into the sunlight. Giving her a bright smile, he stopped the wheelchair and offered his hand to her. "Ready?"

All she could manage was a nod as she subtly tried to suck the blood off her bottom lip. Piper took Noah's hand, immediately clinging tightly onto his much larger hand. She rose from the chair a little fast and stars danced briefly in front of her. She reached for Noah to steady her, suddenly feeling like a trapped rabbit.

"Hey, slow down," he said catching her by the elbow. "Don’t try to overdo it." He gave her a disapproving gaze but softened it after a moment. She’d been through quite enough without him condescending to her. "Okay, better?" He waited for her nod before helping her take a few cautious steps towards his car.

Piper unconsciously recoiled away from Noah at his tone, but quickly coiled back. "I'm fine," she said, "well, I mean, you know," she tried to explain, not wanting to be so pig-headed as to insist she was fine.

"I know you are, but I worry about you, Piper. I'm allowed, I think," he added with a grin.

"I guess you are," she said, giving him a weak smile. Her clothes and such had already been loaded into the car, along with thousands of gifts, flowers, and balloons she had received.

Noah helped her into the front seat, closing the door once she was settled. He, in turn, went to his side and climbed into the car. "All right, so, I guess we're heading off to your house?" He asked, meaning her new house with Jewel.

Piper nodded, wondering how soon she would be back in full operation. They drove in silence for a bit before Piper asked. "Noah, how long before I'm back in full swing?"

"Since, most of your hospital stay was for psychological recuperation, I'd say you'll be fine in no time," he replied with confidence. "After all, you've got some nasty cuts there, but skin heals. You'll be back in full

swing whenever you're ready, Piper."

"Good, I have to find a new job as soon as possible," she explained, wringing her hands like she always did when in deep thought.

"Oh yeah." Noah had forgotten about that for the moment. Kevin Conlan was being stubborn, he thought. "Well, where do you want to work? You could try and get a job at another restaurant. Maybe The Fountains."

"I looked some things up at the hospital. A local summer daycare is looking for help. I was thinking about that," Piper admitted. Working with kids was ten times more appealing than serving food.

"Well you should do that then! If it's at the hospital, I'm sure Dr. Stafford would give you a good recommendation."

"Well, it's not at the hospital, but it pays pretty well starting off." She squirmed. "Insurance pays most of my weekly therapy sessions, but I have to find a way to pay for the rest," she admitted. She didn't know if Noah knew they were insisting she continue therapy.

He didn't want to mention that Maura would undoubtedly have covered the rest of the costs of her recovery. She hadn't mentioned Maura in a while so he imagined she was on the blacklist as well as Kevin as far as Piper was concerned. He was proud of her though. Not everyone could claim their independence so quickly from their family. Especially at a time like this.

"You should do it then," he said, letting the thought of Maura slip away.

"Noah, I don't know anything about being on my own," she admitted with a slight tremor in her tone. "The last two days in the hospital, I researched what I thought I would need to know to get by for now. I don't know anything about insurance or taxes or handling money. I mean I'm researching...," she trailed off. What was she trying to say? She wasn't sure.

He stopped the car in the drive of the house that she was to share with Jewel. "Hey, I've been on my own for almost three years now. If you need help, you know you can count on me Piper."

Piper nodded, "I know Noah...but you've got a lot more important things to worry about."

"Nothing is as important as you, Piper," Noah replied. He leaned forward, catching up a wisp of her hair with his fingers. "And don't ever think that anything else is more important to me than you. Okay? I'd move mountains if you asked me to."

Piper felt a blush rise from her neck to her cheeks. All the times she had wanted to profess her undying love to Noah slipped from her and she felt extremely embarrassed and rather tongue-tied. She had to look away. Clearing her throat, she focused her eyes on the small house that was now her home. A grin broke out across her face at the 'welcome home Piper' sign. Jewel suddenly poked her head out the door, turned, and beckoned everyone else inside. She bounced down the steps and up to the car.

"Hiya sweetie!" she said brightly and gave Piper a kiss on the cheek. "You look a lot better without all those things stuck in ya."

"Piper, baby, boy have I got some fab news for you," Evan shouted from the porch wearing his foxy grandma shirt. Allison burst out the door, curly-red hair flying everywhere. And Jon came after. Piper hurriedly pushed open the car door, climbing out to greet her friends.

Noah stayed in the back as her friends crowded Piper. He was the outsider here, he knew, and butting in now would make him feel ridiculous. Instead, he went to the trunk and began pulling her things from it. Besides, he reminded himself, he did have other things to worry about, things that Piper couldn't know about. Like the fugitive hiding out in his apartment for starters.

Scene 3:

Dinah looked up at the sound of Tyler's door closing. She jumped up from where she was sitting, gazing at Galen expectantly. He ignored her for a moment, going in search of a notepad instead. Finding one in the kitchen, he scribbled some instructions on it and pinned it to the refrigerator with a Spiderman magnet. He could feel Dinah's gaze on him, waiting patiently for some bit of information from him.

"Well?" She said after a moment of his silence. "Is he going to be okay?"

This was certainly no time to be angry, he reminded himself. "Dinah," he began, forming his sentences carefully before he said them. "You and I have known each other for a long time. You're family. But excuse me when I say that you are probably the dumbest person I have ever met." Dinah's jaw dropped in surprise. "Every time I think you've made the worst decision, you make an even worse one!"

"Hey!" Dinah exclaimed, getting her voice back.

"No! Listen to me Dinah, you are in a world of trouble right now. And what's worse is you've got your boyfriend here in a world of trouble too. Do you think Noah Wallace will be happy in jail?"

"We're not going to jail, Galen. You're overreacting," she interrupted. "Tyler needed help and I was there to give it to him. My father was going to let them arrest him for something he didn't do."

"You don't know that. For all you know, he's as guilty as sin."

"See, that is where you're wrong. I know that girl, Galen. She's a liar! Always has been. I can't let him suffer because of her!"

"Why, Dinah? Why can't you? You're risking your life for someone you don't know! For someone who could be very dangerous. Why would you do that?" Galen seethed. He liked Dinah, always had. But this was beyond comprehension to him. What would possess her to act this way?

"Because I don't have anything else!" Dinah cried. "Is that what you wanted me to tell you? Noah broke up with me for my ex-best friend who hates me because I went out with Noah in the first place. And then of course, don't forget about my parents who really just wish I was Kelly. They don't even acknowledge me unless they're pissed off at me. So, yeah, maybe I did it to get their attention. But I didn't. I did it because he asked for my help. And don't lecture me. Once upon a time, you would have done the same thing!"

"No, I wouldn't have," Galen argued. "I would never have put anyone I cared for at risk."

"Fine. If you don't want to help me then forget it. Go tell the police that Tyler Jones is here," she challenged, lifting her chin. "But if you do," she added. "If you do, I won't help you find Kelly. In fact, I'll tell my parents that you are looking for her. If I do that, you know you'll never see or hear from her again, Galen. Do you want that?"

"I never said I would turn you in but it's nice to know you can be so cold hearted," Galen returned. "I made a deal with you Dinah. My help in return for finding Kelly. I'll stick to my part of the bargain. It doesn't mean I have to like it."

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Galen. I really do appreciate all your help." She glanced at Tyler's door. "What about him?"

"He is going to be fine, just make sure Noah follows those instructions I wrote down. The faster he recovers, the better off we'll all be."

Scene 4:

"Maura, it's good to see you made it back." He looked from Maura back to Jillie, giving them both critical gazes as if he had heard their whole conversation and was thoroughly ashamed of them both for carrying on as they had in his hospital. "I've got some news about Jory...if you want to hear it, that is."

"Of course," Maura replied automatically, forgetting completely that she and Jillie had only moments before been fighting as if nothing in the world was wrong. Jillie fell silent as well, giving Dr. Stafford her full attention.

"All right. Jory stabilized about ten minutes ago," John told them, smiling broadly. Maura heard Jillie let out a deep breath beside her.

"Thank God," Maura murmured with relief. "Can we see him?"

"Well wait now, there's more than just that," he added. Maura and Jillie exchanged quick glances. "It seems since the cardiac arrest, his vitals have improved. His brain activity jumped and we got a little eye movement. Now, don't get your hopes up, but we think Jory stands a good chance of coming out of the coma."

"Can we see him? Please Dr. Stafford?" Maura asked, tears of relief pooling in her eyes. John nodded but held Maura back even as Jillie rushed into the room.

"Maura, I don't mean to be critical of you and your sister," he admitted, pulling her off to the side. "But I think it would be best if the two of you didn't visit Jory together. You two have a tendency of making anyone around you quite uncomfortable with your incessant bickering."

Maura blinked in surprise at the admonishment. No one had ever put it so bluntly to her before. Sure, she and Jillie fought and argued. It was the only way they ever communicated. Still, it wasn't pleasant to hear it put just so from a family friend. Maura dropped her head, nodding shamefully.

"I'm sorry Dr. Stafford. We don't mean to fight...well, I don't," she amended. "And I know neither one of us meant to cause a scene. I'm really very sorry."

"I know." John patted her shoulder in a fatherly way. "I hope I haven't offended you. It's just that I think Jory, if he does come out of the coma, is going to need a very safe and peaceful environment to recuperate in. And having you and your sister visiting at the same time might prove too stressful for him."

"I understand," Maura nodded. "I'll make it a point not to be here with Jillie, Dr. Stafford."

"If you have to Maura, just keep the bickering to a minimum?" He requested. Maura nodded in agreement, letting him give her another reassuring pat before walking back towards Jory's room. She watched Jillie through the window feeling the moment turn bittersweet. They were lucky those two. They were so close and what did she have? Sure she had Luke, but they weren't close like Jillie and Jory. They had a special bond; one that she would never have with any of her siblings.

"How is he?" She jumped at Rick's voice just by her elbow. Sighing, she turned to him, not entirely happy to see him but glad someone had interrupted her thoughts.

"Better as a matter of fact," she told him. "Dr. Stafford thinks he might be coming around."

Rick raised his eyebrows in surprise. "That's wonderful, Mo. Jillie must be relieved to hear that."

There it was again. Didn't anyone think she was having a rough time too? Jillie wasn't the only one who was worried, she wanted to bite back at him. Instead, she shrugged and turned away from him. "I guess so. I don't pretend to know what goes on in Jillie's head."

"She's said the same of you," he commented. "I'm glad he's doing better, Mo. Really. In fact, I was hoping he would be doing better because I think you and I need to talk."

"Rick," she sighed shaking her head. "I don't have the energy to rehash all of the reasons why I don't want to talk about the past."

She started to brush past him, but he grabbed her arm roughly, pulling her along towards a deserted room nearby despite her protestations. He closed the door behind them, letting go of her at last. Planting himself in front of the door, he crossed his arms over his chest waiting.

"What? What do you want from me? There's nothing to talk about. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to go see my brother," Maura announced. Rick looked down at her, shaking his head.

"You've put me off for long enough, Maura. I deserve an explanation and you aren't leaving until I get one."