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Crisis & Catharsis -- Part XX Rex stretched lazily and looked around. He was sprawled on Nora’s couch, still in the clothes he had worn the day before. He glanced at his watch and groaned. “This is way too early for me,” he muttered to the empty room.   Matthew came bounding down the steps and into the living room. He stopped as he was about to jump onto the couch. “Rex! You’re still here?”   Rex nodded as he slowly sat up on the couch. “Keep it down, will ya? It’s a little early to be so awake.”   Matthew plopped down beside him on the couch. “What are you still doing here?”   Rex looked around, wondering the same thing. “I remember I was going to go home. I guess I changed my mind and decided to crash here.”   Matthew nodded. “Where’s Rachel?”   Rex looked at the stairs. “Probably still sleeping, which is what you should be doing.”   Matthew laughed. “This is late for me.”   Rex made a face at him. “Kids just don’t get how lucky they are to be able to sleep late.”   Matthew shook his head. “Not on school days. “   Rex brightened. “That’s right. Do you have school today?”   Matthew laughed again. “Not on Saturday.”   Rex groaned. “I really need some coffee.”   “Maybe Rachel can make you some breakfast and we can play more video games,” Matthew said as he jumped off the couch and ran up the stairs.   Rex dropped his head into his hands. “Where does he get all that energy?”   Rex was huddled on the couch when Matthew returned with Rachel in tow. “Rach is gonna make breakfast for both of us. What’s your favorite, Rex?”   Rex looked at Rachel hopefully. “You cook?”   Rachel laughed. “Such as it is. What’s your poison?” He frowned at her. “Oh, sorry. Bad choice of words. How do you like your eggs?”   “Scrambled. And not runny.”   Rachel smiled. “I’ll do my best.” She disappeared into the kitchen.   Matthew looked hopefully at Rex. “Wanna toss the football?”   Rex looked at him, appalled. “In here?”   Matthew laughed. “No, my mom would kill me. I meant outside.”   Rex groaned. “I haven’t had my coffee yet. I’m not up to the great outdoors.”   Rachel returned from the kitchen with a mug of coffee in each hand. She passed one to Rex and dropped into the chair. “Give Rex a break, Matthew. He’s not used to your lifestyle.”   Rex nodded. “That’s right. I’m used to being up late and sleeping in late.”   Rachel laughed. “That doesn’t work around here. Drink your coffee, it will make you less grouchy.”   Rex glared at her. “You try sleeping on this couch and see how chipper you feel in the morning.”   Rachel chuckled. “Poor baby. You could have gone home after Matthew went to bed.”   “Yeah, Rex. Why did you stay?” Matthew chimed in.   Rex looked cautiously at Rachel. “I… Well, I was going to… I guess I must have fallen asleep.”   Rachel smiled. “Yeah, that must have been it. Matthew, why don’t you go upstairs and get dressed. Bo will probably be by this morning to bring you to the hospital.”   Matthew jumped off the couch. “Okay, Rach.”   Rachel watched as he ran up the stairs before turning her attention to the disheveled Rex. “Why don’t you go home. We’re fine and Bo should be here soon.”   Rex shook his head. “Bo told me to stay until he gets here. Now, I was thinking that would be last night but I can’t leave. You don’t know what he’ll do if I’m gone when he gets here. He looks laid back but he’s pretty mean.”   Rachel chuckled as she stood. “Didn’t think you were the type to be intimidated, Rex. But I’ll get you some breakfast while you wait.”   Rachel disappeared into the kitchen. Rex took a long swallow of his coffee, setting the cup on the table and lying back on the couch, throwing the blanket over his head with a groan.   *************** Bo slowly pushed open the door to Nora’s room. He closed it quickly when the light fell over her face and her eyes fluttered open. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”   Nora sat up. “It’s okay, I’m awake. It’s impossible to get any sleep in here with the endless stream of nurses checking on me all night. What are you doing here this early?”   Bo took a seat in the chair beside the bed. “How are you feeling?”   “I feel good. A little tired of course.”   Bo nodded. “I see they took out the IV.”   “Last night. Why didn’t you come back like you said you would?”   Bo avoided her eyes. “It was late when I finished up. I figured you needed your rest.”   Nora watched him carefully. “So you went home and had a few drinks. Bourbon, I would guess.”   Bo nodded sheepishly. “How did you know?”   Nora smiled. “You always prefer bourbon at the end of a tough day and I would imagine yesterday wasn’t pleasant.”   Bo shook his head. “No, it wasn’t.”   “Are you going to tell me what happened?”   Bo took a deep breath, hesitating and avoiding her stare. “Are you up to it?”   Nora nodded. “I need to know what’s going on, Bo. We have a little boy waiting at home to know what’s happening with me. I won’t lie to him to protect your girlfriend.”   Bo was suddenly angry. “I would never ask you to do that.”   Nora sat forward in the bed. “You certainly didn’t drag your feet in telling him all about what Daniel had done. Why is this situation different?”   “Well, for one thing, Paige didn’t kill anyone.”   Nora narrowed her eyes at him. “Get out, Bo. I’m not going to do this with you.”   Bo held his ground, staring her down. The door opened and Michael stepped into the room. “Good morning, Nora. How are…” Michael stopped when he saw the looks on their faces. “What’s going on in here?”   Nora turned her attention to Michael. “Nothing, Michael. Can I get out of here today?”   Michael glanced at Bo before addressing Nora. “If everything checks out this morning, I can have you out of here after breakfast.”   Nora smiled. “That’s great news. I’m ready right now.”   Michael turned to Bo. “I need to check her out. Why don’t you take a walk and cool off. You look like you could use a little fresh air.”   Bo nodded as he rose from his chair. “I’ll be back when you’re finished here.” He looked at Nora. “We still have a lot to discuss.”   Nora glared at Bo as he left the room. Michael followed her look. “You two are a fiery pair, aren’t you?”   Nora turned her glare to Michael. “He is the most aggravating man I have ever known.”   Michael held up his hands. “That’s between the two of you. I would point out that you have a young son who isn’t to blame for any of this and it would be to his ultimate benefit for the two of you to put your history aside and work through this together. I’ve said my piece, now I can get back to being your doctor.”   Nora smiled. “Thanks, Doc. You’re right, of course.”   Michael grinned. “Yes, I am. Now let’s finish your check and get you out of here.”   Bo paced around the hallway outside Nora’s room, waiting for Michael to let him back in so he and Nora could finish their conversation. The more he thought about what she said, the more annoyed he got and the further he paced. Michael emerged from Nora’s room and saw Bo at the end of the hall. Michael walked toward him. “Hey, Bo.”   Bo turned when he heard Michael call his name. “Hi, Michael. How’s Nora?”   Michael glanced at his clipboard. “She’s fine. I’m going to start the paperwork for her release. She can go as soon as she has some breakfast.”   Bo sighed. “That’s great news. Thanks, Doc.”   Michael nodded, taking in Bo’s demeanor. “I know this is none of my business, but if you intend to go back in there and continue the argument you were having, I suggest you keep walking around out here.”   Bo hung his head. “That obvious?”   Michael nodded. “Yeah, and whatever it was about, please remember that you have a young child at home who needs both of you to be on the same page. So cool off and discuss this like the adults I know you both are.” Bo took a deep breath. “I know you’re right but that woman can push my buttons!”   Michael chuckled. “And why do you think that is, Bo? I have a redhead who does the same thing to me – and I know exactly why.” He winked at Bo. “I think you can figure it out too. Good luck.”   Bo smiled. “Thanks, Michael. For everything. I’ll never forget what you did for Matthew’s mother. I owe you.”   Michael held out his hand. “Pay me back by enjoying the time you have with Nora and Matthew.”   Bo shook his hand. “I will, Doc. Thanks.”   Bo walked back down the hallway, taking a deep breath and pushing open the door to Nora’s room. She looked up when she saw the door swing open and he walked into the room. “I’m sorry,” they said in unison. Both smiled. “Me too,” they echoed.   Bo sat in the chair beside the bed. “Can we try this again?”   Nora nodded. “I think we should. So why don’t you start by telling me what happened with Paige and Spencer yesterday.”   Bo sat back with a sigh. “Not a whole lot. What it boils down to is Paige did use an extract in the cookies – which she ran out of – that she claims Spencer gave to her. He played dumb about any extract so I have nothing to go on. Paige claims it was from his mother but he told me his mother is dead. David verified that when John checked. It’s a classic case of he said/she said, which leaves Spencer in the clear if he is behind it and Paige with no way to prove her side of the story.”   “Do you believe her?” Nora asked quietly.   Bo shook his head. “I don’t know what to believe.”   “What does your gut tell you?”   Bo looked in her eyes. “My gut says that if there is the slightest shred of doubt in my mind, I need to keep her away from Matthew. I asked her to move out. And given the appearance, I encouraged her – strongly – to resign from the hospital.”   Nora watched him closely. “So you believe her?”   Bo shook his head. “No. Even if her story about not knowing about the poison is true, there is something she’s not telling me and I’m not willing to put up with deceit in my life anymore. I think it would be better for both of us if she left town. I told her that, as well. I have no way of knowing if she will take my advice.”   Nora nodded. “I’m sorry about all of this, Bo.”   Bo looked at her incredulously. “What do you have to be sorry for? It’s hardly your fault that Paige was trying to hurt you. I’m the one who owes you the apology for bringing her into your life.”   Nora smiled. “Let’s make a deal. Let’s both admit we screwed up big time with Daniel and Paige and move on.”   Bo held out his hand. “Deal.”   Nora took his hand, shaking it slowly. Bo felt the awkwardness of holding hands and pulled away. He looked around the room nervously before focusing on Nora again. “What do you want to do about Paige?”   Nora looked him square in the eye. “I want to talk to her and give her a piece of my mind.”   Bo shook his head. “You don’t need to do that…”   Nora cut him off. “Yes I do, Bo. And I would appreciate it if you would stay out of it. This is between me and Paige.”   Bo nodded slowly. “If that’s the way you want it.”   Nora nodded firmly. “It is.”   Bo watched her carefully. “Are you going to press charges?”   Nora studied Bo’s face for a long time before answering. “I honestly don’t know yet. Maybe it depends on what she says when I talk to her. But no matter what I decide, I’ll handle it my way.”   Bo took a deep breath. “Okay. Turning to other topics, how do you want to handle Matthew?”   Nora smiled. “I want to grab him in my arms and squeeze him tight until he squeals and never let him go!”   Bo laughed. “I’m sure he will appreciate that.”   Nora laughed along with Bo. “I know, it will crush his ‘big boy’ image but I don’t care. I’m just so happy to put all this behind me and concentrate on watching him grow up. He’s still my baby, after all.”   Bo nodded. “Yeah, he’s growing up so fast!”   Nora turned serious. “Too fast. He hasn’t had much time to be a kid this year. I’m going to see to it that he gets that chance from now on.”   Bo shook his head. “No argument from me. Why don’t I go pick him up and we’ll come back and spring you from here. We can take him out just the 3 of us and explain all this to him. Or try to, I guess.”   Nora nodded. “I think that’s the best way. Once it’s all out there, he can process it and we can all move on.”   Bo smiled. “I’d like that. And I’d like it if we could move on as a family.”   Nora looked at him cautiously. “Let’s take it one step at a time, Bo.”   Bo stood quickly. “Right. One step at a time. I’ll go get Matthew and let Rex off the hook.”   Nora grinned. “Rex is still there?”   Bo put on his best ‘stern’ face. “He better be. I gave him an order.”   Nora cracked up. “You are going to have to explain that boy to me. For some strange reason, he actually listens to you.”   Bo winked at her. “I have my charms.” He turned and left the room.   Nora sat back in her bed with a sigh. “You sure do, Buchanan. Damn you.”   TBC