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Date Posted: 06:04:36 03/26/03 Wed
Author: dqfan
Subject: Re: Say The Words - ch. 11
In reply to: dqfan 's message, "Re: Say The Words - ch. 8,9 & 10" on 10:13:59 03/25/03 Tue

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"Suitcase is in the truck…" Peter reported, attempting to nudge Sophie along.

"Hmmm? What? Oh…okay…" Sophie was just standing in the driveway, staring back and forth between Peter's house and her trailer, deep in thought.

"Sooner it's over, the sooner we'll be dancing at our wedding," Peter encouraged lovingly.

"I know…it's not that…I guess I was just remembering the last time I stood here before surgery," Sophie revealed.

"Totally different." Peter's reply exuded a confidence that Sophie found extremely attractive.

"Oh, really," she smiled in spite of her mood.

"Absolutely…" Peter explained readily.

"Last time…rainy, damp…" he remembered, his face contorted in an exaggerated scowl.

Today…" Peter gestured, pointing to the clear winter sky, "Beautiful, sunny, not a cloud anywhere."

The corners of Sophie's mouth turned slightly upwards as Peter continued…

"Last time…day surgery. This time…an overnighter, complete with designer hospital garb AND complimentary cafeteria cuisine…" Peter was definitely on a roll now, his face breaking into a wide grin as Sophie's gloominess faded and her smile matched his own.

"Okay, okay, I get the idea…" she laughed, holding her hands up in surrender.

"Don't you want to hear the most important difference?" Peter's seductive voice stilled Sophie's laughter as he reached for her hands and clutched them tightly against his chest.

"And that would be?" Sophie wondered shyly, hoping she knew the answer.

"That I'm going to be with you every step of the way," Peter promised, his eyes locked intently on hers.

Afraid she might cry if she tried to respond, Sophie just bit her lip and nodded gratefully.

Sensing how overwhelmed Sophie was feeling at the moment, Peter decided to give her a little something extra to look forward to.

"Come on," he nudged again, leading her toward his truck as he opened the door for her. "The sooner, you have the surgery, the sooner you'll get your surprise…"

"Surprise?" Sophie perked up immediately.

"In!" Peter ordered sternly, shutting the door behind her.

"Do I get a hint?" Sophie asked, suddenly excited by the prospect.

"No hint…." Peter wasn't budging as he settled behind the wheel.

"But I get a surprise…" Sophie re-confirmed to be sure.

"Soph…" Peter warned, his expression almost as severe as his tone.

"I get a surprise…" she repeated cheerfully under her breath, while beside her, Peter was quietly complimenting himself on a job well done.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"I'm afraid this is as far as you can go, Peter." Stephanie held him back as Sophie's gurney was being wheeled into the hallway toward the operating room. Hastily, doctors and nurses seemed to brush past him everywhere as Peter tried desperately to express everything that was in his heart.

"Sophie…" Peter called her name urgently, looking down at her beautiful face. Although he still held her hand in his, Sophie's grip was slipping as the anesthesia began to take effect.

"Don't forget my surprise," she mumbled somewhat incoherently.

"Don't forget I love you," Peter replied as he lightly kissed her lips, his voice deep with raw emotion.

"Love you, too," Sophie whispered softly as her stretcher disappeared behind closed doors, leaving Peter starkly alone in a hallway full of people.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"How's she doing?" Quietly, Frank occupied the seat next to Peter's in the waiting room and placed a consoling arm around Peter's shoulders.

"I don't know…they told me to sit here…that was three hours ago…" Peter's nerves were obviously shot.

"You want me to ask around?" Frank offered, starting to rise from his chair.

"Shouldn't you be at Horizon?" All Peter could do today was worry.

"Roger's there…Jeff and Kat. The kids asked if I'd come and check on Sophie," Frank explained, sitting back down to face Peter. "They're good kids. They care…"

"I know they do…" Peter sighed, rubbing his neck.

Suddenly, Peter caught sight of Stephanie Burke, heading his way.

"She's doing fine," Stephanie answered, before Peter could ask. "The surgery went well - no complications. The anesthesia and painkillers should keep her out for quite a while. Why don't you go home, get a good night's sleep and come back in the morning," Stephanie suggested.

"No…No…I want to see her…I want to be there when she wakes up." Peter was willing to argue for as long as it took but he wasn't leaving.

"Easy, Pete," Frank tried to calm him.

"All right…have it your way," Stephanie relented. "They're wheeling her to her room now. I'll take you there. If you want to you can sleep in the chair by her bed. It's not very comfortable, but…"

Peter didn't care if he had to sleep on the floor. "It'll be fine," he assured her. Then, in a very tired voice, he added simply, "Thank you."

Stephanie smiled and nodded, offering to lead the way. Taking an extra moment, Peter turned toward his friend and mentor. "Frank…thank you…" he smiled appreciatively.

"Go on…give Sophie my love…I'll tell the kids she's okay." Frank's voice was filled with its customary gruffness, tinged, noticeably, with a large dose of relief.

"Shall we?" Stephanie inquired again, urging Peter to follow her.

Bemusedly, Frank watched as Peter raced to catch the elevator that Stephanie was holding for him, the doors sliding closed on Peter's beaming face.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Sophie lay unconscious, her ankle immobilized by a plaster cast and a complicated system of pulleys designed to keep it properly elevated. The anesthesia was taking a little longer than expected to wear off and, as he waited for her to regain consciousness, Peter dozed fitfully in the chair beside her. It was late in the evening and Sophie's room, at the far end of the hallway, was eerily quiet, except for the reassuring beep of her heart monitor and the steady sound of the couple's synchronized breathing.

Though the door was securely closed, a rush of cool air seemed to breeze into the room as a pair of hushed voices began commenting on the scene before them….

"Reminds me of someone…" Sully whispered, as he watched Peter toss and turn.

"Who?" Michaela asked curiously.

"Me," Sully answered soulfully. "The influenza epidemic…when I rescued ya from the dog soldiers…when ya got shot... Each time, wonderin' if you'd ever wake up…" The painful memories seemed like yesterday to him.

"But I did," Michaela soothed, "and Sophie will, too," she reassured him.

"Ain't right, him havin' ta go through this again, so soon after almost losin' her on that mountain," Sully observed sadly.

"If he loses her it will be his own fault," Michaela commented cryptically.

"Thought ya had faith in them?" Sully was surprised to hear Michaela so pessimistic.

"I do, it's just that…" Michaela took a deep breath while Sully waited patiently for her to complete her sentence.

"Well…secrets can destroy a relationship," she spoke softly, slightly avoiding his gaze.

The time had long since past when either Michaela or Sully dwelled upon recriminations and what-might-have-beens over Sully's behavior during the Palmer Creek uprising. Yet, even now, after all these years, Michaela was loathed to mention such a painful topic. For, despite the countless times that Sully had apologized for his devastating actions, and the equally countless times Michaela had pledged her unwavering forgiveness, any inadvertent reference to Sully's lone act of betrayal cast a pall over their discussion.

"They're strong…they'll get through it," Sully vowed, stalwartly brushing aside the unavoidable sting of Michaela's remark. "Just like we did."

"Yes, but we had a solid foundation." Michaela's heart filled with love, pride and gladness for all they had overcome.

"I want them to be happy, Sully," Michaela explained her concerns hesitantly. "I'm glad they're together but…"

"But?" Sully smiled knowing there had to be more.

"Well…they've become intimate again…now they're living together. They're not even married yet, Sully. It's too fast. They need time to adjust…." Michaela was beginning to pace nervously at the foot of Sophie's bed. "They're doing it all wrong," she sighed exasperatedly.

"They're doing what's right for them, Michaela," Sully reminded her, gently grabbing her by the elbow to stop her in her tracks.

Michaela looked lovingly into her husband's clear blue eyes and exhaled deeply. "But without the commitment, it will be so easy for them to walk away…"

"Folks can walk away any time, Michaela," Sully replied, remembering the day Myra left Horace on a train bound for St. Louis, never to return to their marriage.

Softly, Sully brushed a stray wisp of hair back behind his wife's ear. "It's the love that keeps 'em goin'. If the love is strong enough, they'll make it."

"I'm just so worried, Sully. We have to help them…" Michaela was becoming overwrought.

"We can't change what they do, ya know that," Sully warned ominously.

"No…" Michaela drawled, "but Sophie did invite us to the wedding. We could watch over them until then…maybe offer our advice. We could do that, couldn't we?" she smiled seductively.

"S'pose so," Sully indulged her. "But we can't stay here."

"C'mon…" he winked mischievously, taking her hand, "I got an idea…"

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Sophie's eyes blinked repeatedly as she attempted to orient herself to the darkened, unfamiliar room. Gradually, she remembered the surgery and felt the jarring sensation of her leg, completely immobilized, and her ankle deadened temporarily to pain, surrounded securely by a plaster cast.

Slowly, she turned her head and the upper half of her body toward the door. Only then, did she notice Peter, curled uncomfortably in the chair beside her bed. His knees were pulled up to his chest, his head lay upon his bent forearm and his lone warmth - his jacket - had fallen to the floor amidst all his obviously contorted attempts to find an acceptable sleeping position.

Just seeing him there made Sophie relax instantly. Not only was his presence reassuring but he looked positively angelic, curled up as a small boy would in his father's chair. Sophie smiled slightly and whispered to him gently, "Peter…"

Peter startled abruptly, ignoring the pain of his stiffened neck and joints as he took Sophie's hand in his and beamed, "Hi there, Beautiful. How ya feeling?"

"Awake, I think…" Sophie ventured, not sure about anything else at the moment. "I can't feel my ankle," she worried, unable to stifle a yawn.

"It's the drugs, they're numbing the pain," Peter explained.

"They're doing a good job," Sophie admitted, the conversation beginning to tire her already.

"Just sleep now, Sweetheart. You need to rest," Peter encouraged her, stroking her temples lightly with his fingers.

"What time is it?" Sophie asked, moaning softly at his soothing touch.

"Almost midnight," Peter answered, smiling as he watched her fight the impulse to sleep.

"Not too late…" she mumbled.

"For what?" Peter asked curiously.

"Happy Valentine's Day," Sophie whispered, her voice filled with love.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Soph," Peter replied, kissing her gently on the lips.

"So where's my surprise?" Sophie's eyelids were drooping as she struggled to stay awake a few seconds longer.

Indulgently, Peter grabbed his jacket from the floor and pulled a small, square package, wrapped in red foil, from its pocket.

"Right here," Peter promised as his hand slid the package securely under her own.

As Sophie's eyelids finally fell, her hand rested protectively over Peter's and over her coveted gift. Taking great care not to disturb her, Peter shifted his chair closer to the bed.

Quietly, he placed his other hand lovingly over Sophie's and whispered, "We'll both be right here when you wake up…"

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Ezra arrived at Oakhaven bright and early. He knew Dr. Burke would make her hospital rounds before visiting Oakhaven; and, though, Frank had said the operation went well, Ezra wanted to be there when she arrived, hoping to hear the latest news on Sophie's condition.

Purposefully, he stepped onto the balcony and looked out at the few residents hardy enough to be wheeled onto the lawn for their morning "walks." The winter air was brisk but dry and the sun's warm rays shone brightly in the eastern sky. Cheerfully, Ezra began handing out juice or blankets or newspapers - anything to make their lives a little more comfortable. In return, some made pleasant conversations, some merely snatched whatever he offered, and others just stared blankly into space, oblivious to everything but their own thoughts. Whatever the reaction, Ezra took it all in stride, providing as much encouragement as he could along the way.

With only two blankets remaining, Ezra noticed an elderly man and woman seated apart from the crowd, alone on a bench beneath a large tree. Their backs were to him as he approached, ready to offer his assistance.

"Would you care for a…" Ezra stopped short as he noticed the man's hands wrapped tightly around the woman's waist. An almost girlish giggle escaped her lips as the old man nibbled playfully at her ear.

"Oh…I…uh…ooops…" Ezra was speechless. He'd pretty much gotten over his awkwardness at seeing Oakhaven's elderly population in various stages of undress or indisposition but this was the first time he'd has the misfortune to interrupt a romantic interlude between a couple old enough to be his grandparents.

"Well hello there, young man," the old woman smiled warmly as she deftly maneuvered the old man's hands discreetly back onto the bench. "To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?" she asked.

Ezra's tension was beginning to melt under her considerable charm. She was petite but not really frail with fine features and a manner that exuded elegance and good breeding. Her long silver hair was coiled atop her head in a sweeping bun and she kept a large shawl draped about her shoulders.

Ezra was feeling almost welcome. That is, until he heard the old man mutter disappointedly under his breath, "Yeah, this unexpected visit…"

Again, Ezra felt a blush rising to his cheeks. "Uh…I'm…sorry for interrupting…I was just wondering if you needed anything…"

"A little privacy…" the old man suggested with a raised eyebrow.

Instantly, the old woman slapped her companion on the shoulder, not bothering to hide her annoyance at his jests. "Please, don't pay my husband any mind, young man. We're delighted with the company."

Still slightly ill at ease, Ezra did manage a smile as he watched the lady dare her husband into refuting her statement solely by the stern look in her eyes.

"Delighted…" he echoed begrudingly.

Intrigued, Ezra observed the old man with interest. He had a chiseled face, obviously weathered from many years out of doors, and his long brown hair was streaked with shades of gray. His shoulders were broad and his strength still appeared formidable, despite his advanced age. Somewhat fearfully, Ezra stood amazed at the powerful physique and virility the man must have possessed in his younger years. Intimidated, Ezra avoided his penetrating gaze - crystal blue eyes that seemed to see right through you.

Instead, Ezra turned his attention safely toward the kindly old woman and asked curiously, "Are you new here? I don't remembering seeing you the other day…"

"We're only here…temporarily," the woman answered cryptically.

"Oh, you're here for a respite stay," Ezra conjectured breezily.

"Indeed," the old woman smiled, repeating his words, "a respite."

"You gotta name, Son?" the old man inquired, his tone softening slightly.

"Yes, Sir, it's Ezra." Ezra's introduction prompted the woman's smile to positively beam while her husband's mouth dropped open in disbelief.

"Yer jokin," he sneered.

"No, Sir, it's Ezra…Ezra Friedkin," Ezra repeated, feeling he was missing something between the two.

"Why, I think it's a lovely name, Ezra, dear." The woman seemed exceptionally thrilled by it.

The old man scowled and rubbed his hand over his face, appearing almost pained by the news. Undeterred, he persisted, demanding, "You gotta nickname? Anything…?"

"Well…" Ezra stumbled nervously, "some of my friends call me E.Z."

"E.Z." the man considered desperately. "It'll do…"

"Thanks…I think…" Ezra mumbled, confused over what just happened.

"Well, I should be going…" Ezra found the old couple intriguing but he needed to complete his tasks before Dr. Burke returned.

"Will your family be visiting while you're here?" Ezra wondered, as he turned to leave.

"Oh, I think we'll be seeing them very soon…" The woman's lips curled upwards in an almost mischievous smile.

"Great…well…See you later," Ezra waved.

Then, suddenly, Ezra remembered the blankets he had come to offer them originally. "Oh, would you like a couple of blankets?" he asked, extending them his last two.

With a wink and a devilish grin, the old man accepted a single blanket, informing Ezra, "Thanks, but, we'll only be needin' one…"

Incredulous, Ezra felt his blush returning at their undiminished ardor. Departing swiftly for the balcony, Ezra barely overheard the old woman's lilting giggles wafting on the breeze behind him, "Sullyyy.…"

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