All Over Again
Chapter One
A court is in session, a verdict is in
No appeal on the docket today
Just my own sin
The walls are cold and pale
The cage made of steel
Screams fill the room
Alone I drop and kneel
"Guily, Guilty, GUILTY!"
The words echoed in Bo Buchanan's head over and over as he stuffed another duffle bag full of clothes. His life had fallen apart around three times in as many years and now all he wanted to do was get out of town.
The latest blow had been dealt to him earlier that day when Melanie had broken down on the witness stand and cofessed to killing her ex-husband Colin. Bo had sat in stunned silence as she told the story.
"I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I had to stop Colin from going to see Bo. He was going to tell him my secret. That I killed my father. I knew if he told Bo I'd lose him, and I didn't want to lose him. Colin and I argued. I grabbed his arm and he pushed me to the ground. I grabbed the first thing I could get my hands on and hit him. Anything to stop him. It wasn't until ten minutes later that I realized he was dead and I was holding the bloody baseball bat. I didn't mean to do it. I'm sorry Bo. I'm so sorry..."
It had taken the jury less than two hours to come back with a guilty verdict. Judge Fitzwater sentenced her to twenty-five years to life in prison.
And just like that another chapter in his life ended. What was he going to do now? It had taken him so long to learn to trust Melanie. To learn to trust anyone after Lindsey.
Silence now the sound
My breath the only motion around
Demons cluttering around
My face showing no emotion
Shackled by my sentence
Expecting no return
Here there is no penance
My skin begins to burn
Lindsey. It seemed as if every problem in his life for the past few years could be traced back to her. It saddened Bo to think about all the time he spent justifying Lindsey's actions to everyone. And what was even sadder was the fact that everything Lindsey had done was out of some kind of misguided hatred for Nora and love for him.
But Lindsey would never be an issue again. Not after today. After Melanie's admission of killing their father, Lindsey had gone nuts. Screaming, crying, charging the witness stand. Security had managed to retrain her until the EMTs could come and take her away. Larry had called him earlier to inform him that she had been admitted to the hospital's psychiatric ward for observation.
Now Melanie was out of his life. And maybe she had been a rebound relationship stemming from Nora's "death". And Lindsey was gone from his life. She had definately been a rebound relationship. A way to get revenge on Nora.
Bo sighed as he placed his bags by the front door of the garrett and then sat down at his desk and pulled out some paper and a pen. Maybe that was the biggest question of his life. Would he, could he ever be over Nora? Would he ever have another relationship that was anything more than rebounding from her?
So I held my head up high
Hiding hate that burns inside
Which only fuels their selfish pride
We're all held captive
Out from the sun
A sun that shines on only some
We the meek are all in one
He and Nora had spent alot of time together over the past few weeks. Melanie had been spending most of her evenings with Sam, who was her attorney, going over trial strategy. That had left Bo facing the cold nights alone and even though Sam and Nora weren't together anymore he wasn't around every night to play with Matthew and she was feeling the sting of loneliness herself. And just like so many times before they had found themselves keeping each other company.
Much of the confusion Bo was experiancing stemmed from that closeness he felt to Nora. They had spent the past few weeks eating pizza and chinese, watching old movies, and talking. They had talked about anything and everything. Bo hadn't realized how desperate Nora was to fill in the missing pieces of her memory until he had really sat down and listened to her. So, he had helped her in anyway he could.
A week ago Bo and Nora had agreed to go out to Rhodi's for burgers, beer and a little dancing. Bo arrived at her house at 7:30 sharp only to find Nora frozen in place, a vacant look in her eyes. Bo had rushed to her side afraid something horrible had happened to her. She explained she had head "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", by The Toekens, on an oldies station. She didn't know why but the song had struck a chord in her. She didn't remember it being important to them. What was she missing?
Bo had taken her hand and led her to the couch where he proceeded to tell her the whole story. How he and Hank had gone fishing together to try and repair their relationship. How he had left her to deal with Asa being arrested. How they had sent Hank to Carlotta's with the fish and it had been the first step in their short lived relationship. And how, after her was gone, they had danced and made love in every corner of the living room. By the time he was finished they were both laughing hysterically. Nora was leaned over in his lap trying to catch her breath while he held his arm around her waist.
"I actually called you a big hairy mackeral?" Nora asked as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Yeah, but I really think you liked it."
Nora sat up and swatted his chest. "Oh, I have no doubt about that."
She tried to pull away but he tightened his grip around her waist. Their eyes locked and time seemed to stand still. Before either realized it their lips were pressed together. At first it was awkward but soon it became passionate and familiar. After a few monents they pulled away in a daze.
"Uh, Nora...."
"Don't Bo, let's just to Rhodi's and have a good time."
Bo nodded. "Rhodi's it is then."
Bo had spent every waking moment over the past week thinking about that moment, that kiss. They hadn't discussed it, hadn't even brought it up so when Nora had called and asked to meet him in his office that morning before the trial to discuss something he assumed that was it. Never in a million years did he expect to hear what she actually said.
"You're going back to Sam?"
Nora paced across his office. "I didn't stutter Bo."
Bo sat back in his chair. "No. No you didn't. I'm not sure I understand your decision."
"It's simple really. Matthew needs both parents and Sam's a decent guy. I even remember that I cared for him in Chicago."
"Caring for someone and loving someone aren't the same."
"Don't Bo. There's no point. It's not as if there are alot of other options out there. It's finally time to move on."
It certainly had been a hell of a day for him and now all he wanted to do was to escape. He grabbed his bags, locked the door to the garrett, and headed outside to hail a cab. He pulled his jacket tighter around him as the cool air surrounded him. A cab pulled up to the curb and the cabbie jumped out to load Bo's bags into the trunk. Bo walked over to the nearby mail drop and slid three envelopes through the slot before running back to the cab and climbing into the backseat.
I hear a thunder in the distance
See a vision of a cross
I feel the pain that was given
On that sad day of loss
A lion roars in the darkness
Only he holds the key
A light to free me from my burden
And grant me life eternally
Should have been dead
On a Sunday morning
Banging my head
No time for mourning
Ain't got no time
"Final call for Flight 1621 boarding at Gate 52."
Bo ran up to the gate attendant and handed her his ticket while trying to catch his breath. She took his ticket and smiled. "You made it just under the wire sir. Have a nice flight."
Bo made his way onto the plane and took his seat, the last one in first class. He looked around and couldn't help but chuckle. Every seat in first class was filled by a beautiful blonde. Bo just shook his head and opened the small duffle he had carried on, pulling out a book.
"Good ole Faulkner. It's been three years and I never finished you. Well, no time like the present."
Bo opened the copy of As I Lay Dying and settled in for the flight. Ten minutes later he was halfway through the first chapter when he looked out the window. Bo closed the book, holding his page with his finger, and watched as the lights of Llanview finally disappeared.
"So long Llanview."
So I held my head up high
Hiding hate that burns inside
Which only fuels their selfish pride
We're all held captive
Out from the sun
A sun that shines on only some
We the meek are all in one
Nora got up from the couch where Sam and Matthew were playing soldiers with Matt's G.I. Joes. She walked over to the french doors and opened them up. She stepped out onto the patio, looked up at the stars and took a deep breath. She had felt like she was suffocating inside.
"Nora, come back iside. You'll freeze out there Stinger."
Nora turned to face Sam, who was still sitting on the couch, with a smile. "I'm fine Sam."
"If you're sure."
Nora turned back around and looked back up at the sky. Her eyes caught the small blinking light of an airplane. As she followed it's path across the sky she couldn't help but wonder if maybe someone on there was trying to escape reality like she was wishing she could.
I cry out to God
Seeking only his decision
Gabriel stands and confirms
I've created my own prison
To be continued....
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