As Time Flies.....Chapter 14
Last time: Bo and Hank aren't happy that Lindsay and Colin were granted bail. Bo told Hank about Matthew. Sam was trying to deal with the news about Matthew. After urging Sam to find out the truth, Ben thought he might be coming down with the flu, and went to see Larry for a check-up.
The Gallery
Lindsay let herself in and breathed a sigh of relief. She threw her purse down and started taking off her clothes as she walked back to the bedroom. She felt filthy after being in that jail cell, wearing the same clothes for two days. She stepped under the shower and the hot spray pelted her face like liquid missiles. Her black eye stung when the water hit, and her arm ached something fierce as she tried to lather. In spite of the pain, it felt wonderful. Lindsay didn't know if she'd ever feel clean again, but she'd shower all night if she had to.
As she stood under the spray, Lindsay said a silent thank you to Dorian. If it wasn't for her friend, she'd be rotting in that cell right along with Colin. She knew Melanie didn't have $50,000 readily available, but there was no way she was going to ask Dorian to bail Colin out, too. Besides, that moron didn't deserve to be let out. He was too stupid to be on the loose! Lindsay became furious every time she thought of him. He had ruined everything!
Lindsay wasn't finished with Nora either. That bitch had ruined her life for the last time. Lindsay was going to finish their business, and Nora wasn't going to like it. Bo might be angry with her now, but that would change. She was sure Bo loved her, but he just needed time to get over her most recent escapade. Besides, Bo couldn't love a vegetable, could he? Lindsay wasn't taking any chances. Vegetable or not, she was gonna get Nora out of the picture, once and for all. As she rinsed off, she continued planning her ride with Bo and Matthew into the sunset.
Llanview Hospital
Sam's head whipped around at the sound of Bo's voice. He jumped up like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He quickly tried to wipe his face. His first instinct was to feel guilty, but then he got angry, fast.
"How dare you come in here, Bo! Nora is NOT your wife! Just..."
Bo cut him off. "She's not your wife, either, Sam. Larry doesn't want anyone in here. You should leave." Bo glared at Sam. He didn't want Sam anywhere near Nora, either.
"You should leave, Buchanan!
Just who the hell do you think you are? You're trying to steal
my life, do you know that? Leave my wife and my son alone!"
Sam's face and neck were completely red. He looked like a lobster.
Spit was flying from his mouth.
Bo was getting angry. "Your wife? For the second time, Sam, Nora is not your wife! You don't even know that Matthew is really your son, for Christ sakes! Who's trying to steal who's life? I think you've got it all backwards, Rappaport! Nora was my wife until you slithered into town, and Matthew is probably my son. Are you man enough to get another test and prove it?" Bo thought Sam's Freudian slips were very telling. The man was scared, and Bo wanted to strike while the iron was hot.
"I don't have to do anything, Bo. I already have a DNA test that proves I am Matthew's father. There's nothing you can do about it, that's the way it's gonna stay. Sorry, but I'm not buying into Lindsay's schemes anymore!" Sam's dentures were clacking furiously.
"Sam, this isn't a scheme. Do you remember how crazy we went trying to figure out where Lindsay was the night of the hit-and-run? How angry we were because she wouldn't give us an alibi? Well, Lindsay told me a long time ago where she really was that night, but she didn't tell me the whole story until a couple of weeks ago." Bo could see that he had Sam's full attention now.
Bo went on. "It seems she was with the DNA lab technician that night, paying him a half million dollars to make sure the test said that you were the father. Lindsay first told me that she changed her mind, and told him to play it straight. The truth is that she never got a hold of Jeff Barnes, so she doesn't know to this day whether he altered the test or not. I know she's not lying, Sam, because I've already questioned Barnes. He won't admit to tampering with the test, but he won't guarantee the results, either. I know something isn't right here, and I want you to help me make it right, for both of us. Not to mention for Matthew, and for Nora. Do you realize Nora doesn't know a thing about this?" Bo hoped he was getting through to Sam.
As Sam started to lick his lips and give Bo an answer, the door opened, and Larry came in. He didn't look pleased at all to see the two of them standing there, facing off like two snorting rhinos.
"What are you two doing in here? Who said you could come in here and have a screaming match in my patient's room? You two get out of here, now! You're not helping Nora like this at all! Shame on both of you!" Larry glared at both of them and held open the door while motioning for them to leave, immediately. Bo took a last look at Nora and walked out first. Just as Sam was going to walk through the door, he heard it.
"Bo?" It was Nora!
Sam rushed to Nora's side. Larry followed, and Bo ran in after Larry.
"Nora, honey, it's me. Sam! Can you wake up?" Sam pleaded.
"Bo?" Nora's eyes were still closed. She rolled her head to the opposite side and lay still.
"Did you hear that, Larry? She's awake!" Sam was getting excited.
"She's not awake, Sam, not yet. But she is coming out of it, and that's a good sign." Larry felt awkward. He clearly heard Nora call for Bo.
Bo sighed with relief. He felt a brief moment of triumph, although he wouldn't admit that to anyone, maybe not even himself. Sam really got on his nerves, and he meant what he had said about Sam stealing his life. In his most private, introspective moments, that's exactly what he thought and he hated Sam for it. At this moment, however, he really didn't care who Nora called for, as long as it meant she was going to wake up. He was so worried about her. "So it looks good, Larry?"
"I'd say so. Her vitals have been improving steadily, and this is strong evidence that she's returning to consciousness. Give her a little more time, and I'm sure she'll be fully awake. No more stunts, you two, okay?" Larry gave them both another stern look.
"Sorry, Larry. Where's my brother? Are you all finished with him yet?" Sam wanted to go home and tell Matthew the good news.
"No, Sam, not yet. Actually, I sent Ben for some tests. He should be back in about an hour. I've got to run, I'm running late and I've got other patients to see. By the way, Bo, where's that guard you said you were going to station here? I think I'm going to need him to keep you two in line!" Larry smiled.
Bo laughed sheepishly. "As a matter of fact, starting tonight, about 6 o'clock. I hope round-the-clock surveillance won't be a problem for you or the hospital?"
"Not at all. I'm sure your officer will stay out of the way. See you later. I'll let you know how Nora is doing." Larry left to go on his rounds.
"Is anything wrong with Ben, Sam? Last night he didn't look too good. Is he feeling okay?" Bo was concerned. He thought the world of Ben.
"I don't know, Bo. I've been kind of worried about him lately. I get the feeling that something is wrong, but I don't know what, and Ben won't tell me."
"Now that you mention it, Ben did say that something was bothering him last night, but he wouldn't tell me what it was, either. He said something like he was 'sworn to secrecy' or something like that. Have any idea what he meant?" Bo's instincts told him there was something more on Ben's mind besides his own health.
"Not a clue, Bo. I guess I'll have to wait and talk to him when he gets back from those tests. I really hope nothing is wrong with him. It's not like Ben to keep secrets." Sam looked worried. He sat down in the lobby to wait.
Bo just stood there. He couldn't stay and wait for Ben, he had to get back to the station. But he wanted to reinforce his point about Matthew. "Sam? I'm not going to start again, since I really don't want to get thrown out of the hospital, but will you think about what we talked about earlier? I really want the best for Matthew and Nora. Will you at least think about it?" Bo was trying to be nice.
"I'll think about it Bo, that's the best I can do." Sam picked up a magazine and tried to appear immediately engrossed. Bo got the message. He turned on his heel and walked away.
Sam kept his eyes on the magazine until out of the corner of his eye he saw Bo get on the elevator. He closed the magazine and put it on his lap. He didn't remember seeing one word. His mind was swirling. He had had no idea about Lindsay bribing the lab technician, nor did he know that Bo had already questioned the man. He knew Bo was a good cop, but was he really being objective here? The technician didn't say that he'd changed the test, according to Bo, but he wouldn't verify the results, either. Did he believe Bo? As much as Bo annoyed him, he didn't think Bo would lie about something like this, and he was sure Bo would have been thorough. Suddenly, Ben's voice cut through his brain.
A child should know his real parents!
Sam sat straight up. Ben was right, although now that he thought about it, Ben's reaction did seem extraordinarily vehement. Then again, Ben obviously wasn't feeling well. Sam knew he was rationalizing. Ben was right. Matthew had every right to know who his real father was. And Nora had every right to know who the real father of her baby was.
This whole thing was so Lindsay, he knew in his gut that it had to be true. That woman knew absolutely no limits when it came to manipulating! She was a master, he gave her that, but this was too much. If he wasn't Matthew's father, he'd lose everything. Everything! His child, and the woman he loved. He was devastated that Nora had called for Bo. Damn Bo! He hated Bo at that moment, more than he thought possible. He couldn't do another test. He couldn't risk it.
Sam waited until Ben came back. He stood at Nora's window, his eyes never leaving her face, her beautiful face. No, he wasn't going to risk it. Never.
"Hey, Sam. You ready to go?" Ben walked up, dressed and ready.
"Ben! How did it go, pal? Are you okay? Larry said he sent you for some tests." Sam looked concerned.
"Yeah, he did. You know Larry, he's very thorough!" Ben smiled, but he didn't look Sam in the eye. "Between you and I, I think I just have the flu. Larry gave me some antibiotics, and said he'd call me with the results. Nothing to worry about, I'm sure. I've just been a little run down lately. That's all. I'm going to go home and get some rest.
Sam didn't catch it. "So you're gonna live?" Sam laughed hysterically.
Ben thought Sam should stick to the law. He was a lousy comedian. "So how's Nora, Sam? Is she awake yet?"
Sam didn't even want to go there. He'd had enough humiliation for one day. "No, Ben, not yet. But Larry says she's close. I'll check back later. Let me drive you home, okay?"
The two men walked out of the hospital, each lost in their own thoughts.
To Be Continued...
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