As Time Flies.....Chapter 27
Last time: Nora had an impromptu party in her room. Asa crashed the party and made fun of Ben. Sam tried to crash Asa. Larry interrupted just as things were about to get out of hand.
Llanview Hospital - Room #416
The room was frozen. Nobody moved. Sam looked at his clenched fist and let it drop to his side. He looked at the floor. No one said anything.
"I asked you all a question! What the hell is going on here!" Larry's voice boomed throughout the crowded room.
"Well, Larry, it seems that I was almost assaulted by this beast!" Asa huffed loudly and let his indignation be known.
Larry looked completely disgusted. "Is this true?" He looked at Bo when he asked the question.
Bo looked uncomfortable. "I think it's over, Larry. Nothing to worry about. Tempers were flaring a little, but I think everything's under control now. Right, Asa?" Bo glared at Asa first, then Sam. That was the last thing he needed, an assault case between Asa, Sam, and possibly the hospital.
Larry glared at Asa and Sam as well. These two never failed to amaze him. Asa was much older than Sam but they were both grown men and they should certainly know better. What made them constantly feel the need to flex their power muscles? Larry shook his head in disgust and walked over to Nora's bed. He smiled at Nora and chucked Matthew under the chin.
"How's my star patient today? All these visitors must be wearing you out. I really don't think you should have so many visitors at one time." Larry began checking Nora's vitals.
"I'm okay, Larry. It's actually been fun, kind of like a party!" Nora laughed. "I'm lucky to have friends and family that care so much." Nora smiled at everyone and squeezed Matthew.
"Yes, that much is true, I'll grant you that. I just wish they were more well-behaved!" Larry laughed. "You’re doing fine, Nora. Just get some rest and I'll be back to check on you later. Come on, Ben, let's go to your room and talk." Larry closed Nora's chart and started to walk out of the room.
"So, Benji, what's wrong with you?" Asa sneered. "Some dreaded family disease? Rappaport-itis?" Asa laughed at his own joke.
Ben stood up behind Larry. "None of your business, old man. Stay out of it!"
Ben followed Larry out of the room. Viki glared at Asa and followed Ben. Asa watched them go into the room across the hall. When the door closed, he started interrogating Bo.
"What's going on, Bo? What's wrong with him?"
"None of your business, Asa! No one invited you to this little party, so why don't you leave?" Sam licked his lips furiously. His fist clenched and unclenched. He was still dying to hit the old man.
"I wasn't talking to you, Spam. Oops, I mean Sam. I've got to stop doing that." Asa laughed snidely.
"You've got some nerve, Asa Buchanan! You can't help yourself from kicking people when they're down, can you? You ought to be ashamed!" Sam's face was getting red again.
"Pa, I think Sam is right. Maybe it's time for you to go. Thanks for coming by." Bo sighed.
"Why doesn't Rappaport leave, Bo? I'd like to spend some time with my family if you don't mind!" Asa huffed.
"I'm not going anywhere, Asa, not until I find out about my brother." Sam practically spat.
"If you're so interested in your brother, then why don't you go to his room? What the hell are you still doing in here?" Asa asked.
"You don't give up, do you Asa? If you must know and it'll shut you up, I'll tell you! My brother has bone cancer and he needs a transplant. We're trying to find out if Matthew is a match for him. Bo and I tested but we don't match, and Larry can't find a match in the bone marrow registries. If you were a compassionate and humane man, you'd call off the dogs so Will could come home and test, too. My brother could die because of you!" Sam was furious, but he remained seated.
Asa laughed. "You've got to come up with something a little better than that, Rappaport! This is some scheme you've cooked up! Did you really think I'd fall for it?"
Sam looked dumbfounded. "What the hell are you talking about Asa?"
"Come on, Sambo! You've got to be kidding me! Did you really think I'd drop the charges against Will? Ben has bone cancer? Yeah, and I'm John Wayne. Nice try, Rappaport!"
The door opened and Larry walked in. "Oh, Asa. Hi, Renée. You're still here. Can you guys step outside for a minute? I need to talk to Nora, Bo, and Sam. Privately."
Asa laughed. "Oh, are you in on it, too, Larry?"
Larry looked impatient. "What are you talking about Asa?"
Sam interrupted. "Oh, Larry, you didn't know? We're cooking up a scheme to fake bone cancer for Ben just so Asa will drop the charges against my son. Go ahead, tell him!" Sam stood up. He was furious with the old man, and he didn't care who knew it.
Larry sighed. "Asa, this is no scheme. Ben Davidson really does have osteosarcoma, otherwise known as bone cancer. He needs a bone marrow transplant, but we need a donor first. Are you interested in donating? If not, then please get out. This is confidential."
"Yeah right, Larry. Okay, I'll play along. I'll be right outside. Come on, Renée." Asa stood up.
Sam had had enough of Asa's superior attitude. "Hey, old man, if it's okay with Nora that you stay, then I have no objection. Wanna make a little wager?"
Asa snorted. "Certainly not, Rappaport. You have absolutely nothing that I wish to acquire. I do have a question, though. Larry, how come you want to talk to Bo? Does Bo have cancer too?" Asa guffawed at his own joke.
Renée was mortified. Asa went completely out of control whenever he came in contact with the Rappaports. This silly feud just had to stop. She hated it.
"Come on, Asa. We're leaving. I think you've done more than wear out our welcome. I'm so sorry, everyone." Renée grabbed Asa's hand and started to lead him out of the room.
Asa planted himself like a tree. He didn't move. "If something's going on with my son, then I wanna know about it. I'm not leaving until somebody gives me a straight answer!"
Renée tugged on Asa's hand and tried to drag him along, but Asa remained immobile. "These test results for Matthew have nothing to do with Bo. If he stays, then I stay. I don't believe you guys for a minute, but I'd like to see you play it out." Asa sneered.
Bo and Sam looked at Nora. She nodded. "It's okay, Larry. Let Asa and Renée stay. I don't mind."
Larry sighed. "Look, I have more news than what you guys think and I think you'll want to hear it privately. I really think Asa should leave."
"I'm not leaving, damn it! Is something wrong with your hearing, Larry? Get on with it, already!" Asa boomed.
A collective hush fell over the room. Larry really didn't think any of this was Asa's business and he knew Sam was going to react badly. It was gonna be another bad scene. But if this is what everybody wanted... Larry sighed resignedly.
"Okay, here goes. Wonderful news, Matthew is a match! He matches Ben in three of the six categories, the same two that Bo did plus one more essential one. He's an ideal candidate to be a donor for Ben! I'm so pleased with the results, since as I'd told you most family members match only one to two of the essential genetic factors. Matthew and Ben have very similar genetic patterns in their T-cells, and I'm extremely optimistic that this transplant will be successful."
Asa clapped. "Bravo, Larry! A wonderful performance!"
Sam cut him off. "Shut up, Asa! You're a real bastard, you know that?" Sam snorted.
Larry shifted his weight back and
forth. An uncomfortable look came over his face. Sam and Asa were
too busy
staring each other down to notice. Bo broke the silence.
"Larry, you said there was more, right? Is there bad news?"
Larry looked even more uncomfortable. "That depends on how you look at it, I suppose."
Asa sneered. "The suspense is killing us, Larry. Please continue." Asa laughed snidely. "Oh, is that a bad choice of words?"
Larry glared at Asa. He'd certainly never planned on giving this news in front of such a large audience. Life for these people would never be the same after today.
To Be Continued...
|
|
|
|