As Time Flies.....Chapter 17
Last time: Ben went in for a biopsy and a bone scan. Bo and Hank had coffee and a few laughs at Lindsay's expense. Lindsay wrote off her sister and took a nap. Nora got a private room, and Viki got terrible news.
Llanview Hospital
Bo went to check on Nora in Intensive Care. He went to peek through the window first, hoping she was awake. He was horrified to see the bed was empty. Larry would have called him if Nora was... No! It couldn't be! He went in frantic search of Larry, and found him in his office. Bo didn't even knock. He just barged right in.
"Larry! Where's Nora? Is she all right?" Bo was breathless.
Larry laughed. "How's that for an adrenaline rush, Bo? I'm sorry, I thought I'd see you before you found out. We moved Nora. She's in a private room upstairs."
"Thank God! Not funny, Larry!" Bo sank into a chair. "You really had me going there! For a moment, I thought..." Bo trailed off into silence.
"No, Bo, Nora is gonna be with us for quite a while. She's a trooper, and I think she's doing much better today. I wouldn't be surprised if she comes out of this within the next 24 hours or so. She's on the 4th floor, Room #416. Go on up if you like. Didn't mean to scare you!" Larry chuckled. He could see how much Bo loved Nora. He knew Sam loved her, too, but to him it just wasn't the same. He had known Bo and Nora long enough to know that they belonged together.
Bo was out of Larry's office like a shot. Larry was smiling long after the door had closed behind Bo.
Llanview Hospital - Room #416
Bo walked into Nora's room. She was still unconscious. The guard was stationed outside the door and had nodded to him as Bo entered the room. Bo sat down beside the bed and took Nora's hand in his. He caressed her face, then her arm, with his other hand, and started talking to her. God, he wished she'd wake up! He had so much to tell her. So much he wanted to make up for. He couldn't believe what they had been through these last months. In a weird way, Bo was glad for the experiences, no matter how awful, since they had totally focused his priorities. He knew what he wanted.
"Red? How are you feeling, honey? Can you open those beautiful brown eyes for me? I miss them so much. I miss you so much. I miss your laugh, your smile, your wicked sense of humor. Matthew misses you, too. He's getting so big! He looks just like you, honey. We have a lot to talk about, you and I, about Matthew. I want to tell you so many things! But you have to wake up first. Do you hear me, Red? You have to wake up." Bo was stroking Nora's arm the entire time.
Bo sat and waited, watching Nora's face. He would sell his soul if Nora would just open her eyes. He kept stroking her arm. Nora stirred. Was he imagining it?
"Red?" Bo was getting excited. Nora seemed to be moving. Her head shifted and her eyelids fluttered. "Red? Are you coming back to me? Red? Come on honey, I know you can do it!" Bo wasn't seeing things. Nora was moving! "Red, come back to me! Come on! You can do it! I know you can!"
Nora's eyes popped open. Her lids were heavy, but she was awake. "Bo? Is that you? Where am I?" Nora's head lolled to one side. She smiled weakly.
"Thank God! Oh, Nora, I knew you'd come back! How do you feel? I'm gonna go get Larry! Don't move!" Bo flew out of the room, and Nora could hear him shouting to the nurses. It was good to be back.
Llanview Hospital - Room #414
Viki sat in the chair next to Ben's bed. She wished he'd wake up. Then again, she wished he'd sleep for a long, long time. How was she going to tell Ben the news? All that had registered in her brain were the words.
Bone cancer.
Ben had bone cancer. Oh God, what was she going to do? Viki thought she couldn't live without Ben. Her life felt like it was spinning out of control. She was ill, Ben was ill, Jessie was on the run. The whole town was feuding. What could be next? Viki wasn't sure she wanted to know.
At least Nora was hanging in there. Viki said another silent prayer for her friend, hoping she'd wake up soon. Viki could use a friend, and Nora was the very best.
Ben stirred. "Hey, Blondie." He took her hand. "You been waiting long? So, how'd I do?"
Viki burst into tears. She clutched Ben's hand and buried her head in the blanket. She was shaking.
"That bad, huh? Tell me, Blondie, do I have it? Just say yes or no, that's all you have to do. Can you do that for me?" Ben knew the answer already, he just wanted to help Viki be strong.
Viki wailed. "Yeeees! Oh God, Ben! What are we going to do? I love you so much!"
Ben smiled. He was more awake now. Bad news had a way of sobering one right up. "I love you too, Viki. Don't worry. We're gonna beat this. Both of us. Don't worry, there's lots they can do for me. I'm sure Larry will explain everything."
"He tried to tell me, but it just sounded like mumbo jumbo. All I remember hearing are those two awful words. I'm going to do everything I can for you, Ben. Whatever it takes. I promise!"
"Blondie, all you have to do is marry me, as soon as we can both walk down the aisle. You know, I just had a funny thought. With our mutual cancers, we'll be Mr. and Mrs. "C", just like on Happy Days!" Ben laughed. Believe it or not, he actually thought that was funny.
Viki smiled through her tears. Ben was strong, and so was she. They were going to make it, she just knew it. If Ben could joke at a time like this, they were going to be just fine.
All of a sudden, Ben and Viki heard shouting in the hallway. It sounded like Bo. Viki got up and opened the door in time to see Bo running down the hallway shouting for the nurses. Nora's door was open, and Viki could see her friend's eyes were open. Thank God! Viki took that as some sort of sign. Yes, everything was going to be just fine, indeed.
"Hey, honey, how are you?" Viki went in and stood by the bed. She brushed Nora's hair off of her face. "Glad you could join us!" Viki smiled.
"Hi, Viki. I'm glad I could make an appearance myself. I'm fuzzy, and I don't remember much. Where have I been?" Nora laughed weakly.
"There'll be plenty of time for that later. You just stay quiet until Larry comes. He's going to be so proud of you!" Viki smiled.
Bo and Larry came rushing in to the room. "Nora, it's good to see you awake finally. Let's take a look at you." Larry started checking Nora's vital signs and other things.
Viki looked at Bo. She could see that Bo was immensely relieved. She knew how much Bo loved Nora, and she knew how much Nora loved Bo. She hoped they could find their way back to each other.
"So how is she, Larry?" Bo sounded anxious.
"It looks like she's fine, Bo. Everything checks out. How do you feel, Nora?"
"I feel like a piece of meat after all the stabbing and poking you just did to me, but I think I'll get over it." Nora smiled.
"I'd say she's feeling much better, Bo!" Larry laughed. Bo laughed too, and so did Viki. The happiness in the room was palpable.
Larry hated to break the mood, but he was worried about Ben. "Viki, is Ben awake yet?"
Bo looked questioningly at Viki. "Ben's here? Is everything all right, Viki?" Bo looked concerned. He had suspected something was wrong, but he hadn't thought it could be something serious.
"Yes, no, I don't know. Ben's across the hall, and we just got some bad news. Larry will have to explain it more to us, but I'm sure everything will be okay in the long run. Thanks for your concern, Bo. If I can do anything for you or Nora, let me know." Viki suddenly looked sad. "Larry, can we go now? Ben's waiting."
Sam wasn't pleased to walk in on the crowd in Nora's room. He was infinitely relieved that Nora was awake, but he didn't relish the thought that Bo had been there first. Bo was always there first! Sam's face darkened.
"What's going on here?" Sam shouted.
"Quiet down, Sam! This is a hospital, for goodness sakes! Please lower your voice." Larry was exasperated. For a nationally renowned lawyer, Sam had to be one of the most insecure and petty men Larry had ever seen. He professed to love Nora, but Larry thought he had a very immature way of showing it.
"Come on, Viki. Let's go." Larry turned and walked across the hall into Ben's room. Viki followed him.
"Where are they going? What's going on around here? Somebody tell me!" Sam's face was starting to turn red.
"Hi, Sam. Nice to see you, too."
Sam seemed shocked to hear Nora's voice. He snapped back to reality. "Stinger! I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. I'm sooo glad to see you!" Sam leaned down and planted a wet kiss on Nora's cheek. Bo winced.
"Don't you have somewhere to go, Bo? Nora and I want to be alone if you don't mind!" Sam gave Bo a dirty look. He turned back to Nora. "Stinger, wait until you see Matthew! He's gotten so big, he looks just like you. He misses you so much!
"I miss him, too, Sam. I've been away for a long time, and I've missed a lot of people." Nora was looking at Bo when she said the last part.
"Did you miss me, Nora? Did you?" Sam's voice took on that annoying whiny quality.
Nora looked at Bo. Sam followed her eyes and realized that Bo was still in the room. "Buchanan, what are you still doing here?" Sam snorted and licked his lips.
"I'm going to stay until Nora says different, Sam. I have a lot to say to her, too, and I've waited just as long, if not longer than you. I'm also worried about Ben. Something's obviously going on, and I would think you'd want to know what's happening with your own brother!" Bo was losing his patience rapidly. Sam acted like he owned Nora, for Christ sakes!
"Is that where Viki and Larry went? Are they right across the hall?" Sam was starting not to like what he was hearing. He didn't want to add problems for Ben to the already huge list of things wrong with his life. Sam's shoulders suddenly felt very heavy.
"Listen, you two, why don't you go over there and see what's happening with Ben? I'm very tired, and frankly, this arguing isn't helping. I do want to talk to both of you, and I desperately want to see Matthew, but I need to rest first. And I promise to wake up a little more promptly this time, okay fellas? Now scram!" Nora smiled to take the edge off her words. If they weren't out of here in two seconds, she was going to be rude and fall asleep in front of her guests.
Bo got the hint. He leaned down and kissed Nora on the forehead. "See you later, Red. Count on it." Nora smiled. Sam just stood there, glaring. He hated Bo touching her!
"Sam, didn't you hear what I said? Scram means vamoose, adios, get the hell out of here! That applied to you, too." Sam didn't move. "Please, Sam? Come back later and bring Matthew, okay?" Nora closed her eyes. She was asleep.
Sam wasn't pleased about his first encounter with Nora after all this time. Leave it to Bo to ruin it, and now it sounded like something serious was up with Ben. Sam reluctantly turned away and followed Bo across the hall. He had thought Ben was troubled in some way, but he didn't like this one bit. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.
To Be Continued...
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