Re: A Journey Home - ch. 18 & 19 -- The Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Fan Exchange

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Date Posted: 09:24:32 03/25/03 Tue
Author: dqfan
Subject: Re: A Journey Home - ch. 18 & 19
In reply to: dqfan 's message, "Re: A Journey Home - ch. 17" on 09:20:27 03/25/03 Tue

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"You'll call if there's any news, won't you, Ben?" Charity tugged on Ben's arm as he rose from the table.

Ben smiled fondly and placed a warm, reassuring hand on Charity's cold frightened one. "The minute we know anything, I promise�"

"What do you mean he's not here!!!!!" The demanding voice from the lobby could be heard all the way into the dining room, the commotion effectively ceasing all conversation.

"Do you have any idea the travel nightmare we've just been through? Mechanical delays in New York, ice in Chicago, and then this blizzard diverted us to Salt Lake where we've been stuck on a runway for the past 24 hours�I'm wet, I'm cold, and I'm tired and I demand that you find Mr. Scarbrow right now!"

Poor Reggie stood stunned. He'd come out into the lobby for a breath of air hoping to escape the frenzy of table three, if only for a moment. A nice looking lady in a fur coat had waved him over, apparently in need of immediate assistance. She seemed harmless enough - that is, until she started asking if Reggie knew Peter Scarbrow. Well, in the time it took him to blurt out that Mr. Scarbrow wasn't here, Reggie knew he'd made a terrible mistake. In a flash, she'd turned into one of them crazy ladies at table three, pulling on his sleeve - asking for answers he just didn't have.

Now, in spite of his colossal headache, Reggie had to wonder: what the heck was it about Peter Scarbrow that made all these nice looking ladies turn crazy?

Reggie remembered serving Peter dinner the night he first arrived. Sure, he was good looking - in that GQ way, which Reggie, personally, felt was highly overrated; but, Mr. Scarbrow had seemed like a nice normal guy - good tipper, too. He'd dined with Mrs. Mitchell that night, and another real pretty lady who Reggie hadn't seen since. Suddenly seized by a horrible thought, Reggie sure hoped the pretty lady hadn't turned crazy, too.

"I�I'm sorry, Ma'am�It's just Mr. Scarbrow's missing�" Reggie stuttered.

"MISSING?! What do you mean MISSING?" She demanded in an increasingly hostile tone.

Ben reached the lobby first, followed immediately by Charity, with the WALPOCS assembly traveling close behind. "Calm down, Miss�"

"Chloe!" Charity's horrified voice boomed, silencing the room instantly. The effect was momentary, however, for The WALPOCS never could remain silent for long�

"Chloe???"
"The first wife�"
"Oh dear!"

"Chloe," Charity repeated more softly now that the shock was beginning to wear off. "What a surprise to see you, dear, Merry Christmas."

"Aunt�Charity�" Chloe quieted, feeling all eyes upon her. "Merry Christmas," she stuttered.

Self-consciously, Chloe began fluffing the collar of her coat, embarrassed by the extent of her outburst. There weren't many people who intimidated Chloe, but Charity Lawson Mitchell was in the top three.

"Peter phoned me, Charity," Chloe explained defensively. "He asked us to come."

"Us?" Charity questioned, eyeing the tall but stocky, well-dressed yet pompous-looking gentleman who had the misfortune to be carrying four of Chloe's largest suitcases, two under each arm.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Chloe introduced, "Charity Lawson Mitchell this is Chip Fuller."

"Hi ya!" Chip bellowed, unable to shake hands at the moment.

"Chip, a pleasure," Charity greeted, completing the introductions. "This is my old friend, Sheriff Ben Reardon, and these wonderful ladies are The Women's Auxiliary League for the Preservation of Colorado Springs."

"Bet'cha can't say that three times fast," Chip chortled, amusing only himself.

"Oh, the WALPOCS," Chloe's eyes lit up, "of course."

With the deepest regret, Chloe intoned to Charity, "I do hope you've forgiven me for not joining your organization."

"Totally, dear, totally�" Charity reassured her, biting her tongue and swallowing the fact that, as Peter's wife, Rachel insisted Chloe at least be offered an invitation.

"But, Charity," Chloe questioned, "where is Peter?"

"Peter is�missing, Chloe," Charity began hesitantly as Reggie held his breath expecting another explosion.

But before Chloe could respond, Charity continued her explanation. "He and Sophie were hiking on Pike's Peak when the blizzard hit. They've been missing for two days."

The solemnity of Charity's words struck all assembled, profoundly affecting several WALPOCS, who began to sob uncontrollably.

"But�but�we have to do something�," Chloe raged, unwilling to accept the worst.

"Search parties�we need search parties�Chip, don't just stand there - go search!" Chloe fumed, while Reggie stood back and nodded sadly, noting the telltale signs of craziness beginning to creep back into the poor lady's voice.

"We've got it covered, Ma'am," Ben interrupted, hoping to interject some calm. "We'll be sure and let you all know when there's word."

"And just what are we supposed to do in the meantime?" Chloe huffed.

"Tea, please, Reggie," Charity requested. "I think we could all use some tea."

Reggie immediately jumped into action, pleased that there was finally something he could do to be of service. Wondering if tea alone could possibly calm these poor women, Reggie wasn't overly surprised, when, on his way into the kitchen, Charity grabbed him by the sleeve and whispered in his ear, "and a bottle of whiskey, too."

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

"Oh, come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant�"

The stirring lyrics of the strolling carolers did little to bolster the fading hopes of all assembled as the imposing grandfather clock in the hotel lobby struck the hour of 8 p.m.

"Mrs. Mitchell�" Reggie treaded softly, "the maitre d' regrets that he won't be able to hold your dinner reservation any longer, Ma'am. I'm afraid I'll have to seat you all now or you'll forfeit your table. You know, any other time it wouldn't be a problem, but it's Christmas, Ma'am�"

"I know what day it is, Reggie!" Charity snapped, her nerves shot and her head pounding, the whiskey having its usual churlish effect upon entering the bloodstream of a Lawson.

Almost immediately, though, Charity regained her composure. "Forgive me, please," she begged in a whisper, taking the young man's hand in her own.

"Sure thing, Mrs. M.," Reggie winked, giving Charity's hand an encouraging squeeze.

Addressing the WALPOCS, Chloe, and Chip, Charity directed firmly, "Why don't we all go into dinner?"

"Dinner? You expect us to eat?!" Chloe was outraged and sat up straight in the chair she'd been slowly slouching into all afternoon, courtesy of the jetlag and the whiskey. Chip sat lazily on the arm of Chloe's chair, intermittently rubbing her back as he downed a whiskey of his own.

"Yes, I think we could all use some food," Charity emphasized, pointing to the empty whiskey bottle on the table. "Now let's go!"

As Charity began wrangling her group into the dining room, she caught sight of Ben, heading her way once again.

"Anything?" Charity asked with her eyes.

Ben just shook his head, unable to meet her gaze directly. "We'll start fresh in the morning." The words sounded so pathetically hollow that Ben was ashamed the moment he heard himself utter them.

Charity swallowed hard and carried on stoically, "We're just going into dinner, Ben. Please�join us."

Ben nodded his reluctant agreement. Sadly, there was little else he could do.

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

The Broadmoor's Christmas dinner was an elegant feast with expensive crystal, fine linens and dozens of red and white poinsettias festively displayed about the warmly lit dining room. The menu of mushroom and barley soup, warm spinach salad with bacon bits, glazed baby carrots, and turkey with wild rice stuffing was a proven perennial crowd-pleaser. Tonight, though, Reggie watched, heartbroken, as most everyone at Mrs. Mitchell's table valiantly tasted each bite as if it were poison.

"The soup was delicious," Chloe stated blankly, merely trying to make conversation.

"Yeah, they sure put on quite a spread here," Ben mumbled, absent-mindedly poking his salad with his fork.

"Well, I'm definitely spreading, that's for sure," Chip chuckled, patting his expanding waistline, not embarrassed in the least to have finished both of his appetizers. The simultaneous disapproving looks he received from both Charity and Chloe, did, however, manage to quell Chip's inappropriate merriment for the moment.

With precious little fanfare, Reggie brought the exquisitely browned turkey to the table on a sterling silver platter. He was close enough to Mrs. Mitchell to hear a small sigh escape her lips. With each course served, he'd noticed her glance at the clock on the dining room wall; and, now, as the main course was wheeled to the table, there was no escaping the fact that she would not be sharing Christmas with her beloved Peter.

"Which gentleman will be serving, Ma'am?" Reggie asked his hostess as gently as possible, giving her time to collect herself.

Suddenly from behind them an impossibly familiar voice chimed, "Aunt C. always lets me carve, Reggie!" And with that, Peter bounded cheerfully into the dining room, clutching Sophie's hand tightly in his own.

"Peter!" Charity turned and exclaimed, to the astonished gasps of the entire room.

"Merry Christmas, everybody!" Peter and Sophie announced joyfully to one and all.

"Peter!" Charity cried again, taking her first full breath in almost two days. Quickly, she rose from the table and wrapped her arms tightly around her wayward godson.

"Oh, I have never been so happy to see anyone in my entire life," Charity sighed, unwilling to let go, afraid Peter might disappear as miraculously as he'd arrived.

"I'm okay, Aunt C. really," Peter reassured her, feeling a twinge of guilt that he and Sophie hadn't returned earlier in the day.

"Let me look at you both," Charity instructed. "Sophie, darling, it's so good to see you," Charity continued, now including Sophie in her embrace.

The pair looked surprisingly none the worse for their ordeal. Peter's deep blue eyes were twinkling brightly, a cocky grin on his face. Sophie, too, seemed more relaxed than ever. In fact, Charity noticed with barely concealed curiosity, Sophie and Peter both appeared healthy, happy, and very much in love.

The warm, wonderful feel of them both safely in her arms finally comforted Charity - sufficiently enough for her pent-up anger to spew forth. "Where have you been? How could you do this to me? Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

"It's my fault, Charity," Sophie readily admitted.

"I don't doubt that," Chloe muttered from her chair, unable to resist a jab, now that Peter was once again safe and sound.

"Merry Christmas to you, too, Chloe," Sophie smiled sweetly, refusing to be goaded.

"Yes, Merry Christmas, Chlo," Peter agreed, giving his ex-wife a friendly kiss on the cheek. "You, too, Chip," Peter added, offering his hand. "Thanks for coming."

"Sheriff�sorry if we caused you any trouble," Peter apologized winsomely, hoping Ben's affection for Charity might spill over into a little forgiveness for their adventure.

"Trouble? Naw� What makes you think you were any trouble?" Ben remarked wryly, slapping Peter quite soundly on the back. "I better go call off the search. Night everyone."

Impulsively, Peter grabbed a perplexed Ben by the wrist as the Sheriff walked by, hoping to make amends somehow. Whispering low into Ben's ear, Peter divulged, "Yellow roses�she's a sucker for yellow roses�"

Ben just smiled and shook his head, experiencing first-hand the charm Peter'd used on Charity over the years. Silently, Ben couldn't help observing that it was no wonder Peter felt so at home at that Mount Horizon, teaching those delinquent kids. "He's still a delinquent kid himself�" Ben chuckled under his breath.

But Charity loved him - and in spite of all the trouble he'd caused, Ben was happy to see Peter home safe and sound. On his way out, Ben placed a devoted kiss on Charity's cheek. "Merry Christmas, Charity," he whispered. "Glad you got your wish."

Charity watched Ben leave, a sparkling glint in her eye, one that did not go unnoticed by Peter, who gave his aunt a mischievous wink.

Now, with Ben gone, there was only one more greeting left to make. Looking about at the sea of anguished WALPOCS, still virtually immobilized from the shock of his reappearance, Peter continued breezily, "Ladies�Good to see you all again�Merry Christmas�"

Peter and Sophie looked expectantly at the WALPOCS, unnerved by their uncharacteristic stillness. Then it happened�

"Peter! Thank God!"
"We feared the worst!"
"Truly a Christmas miracle!"

The WALPOCS instantly rose as one, seriously threatening Peter and Sophie's air supply as they converged upon the pair, attempting to hug them quite thoroughly and in unison.

From a discreet distance, Reggie observed it all - smiling broadly, unable to resist a happy ending. For at last, the crazy ladies weren't crazy any more�

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

CHAPTER NINETEEN

As the dessert dishes were cleared from the table, what, undoubtedly, had been the most eventful Christmas dinner in recent Broadmoor history drew, at last, to a close.

Between the stuffed turkey and the plum pudding, the saga of Peter and Sophie's brush with death on Pike's Peak had been relayed to the rapt assemblage - with Peter carefully omitting the more 'private' moments of their adventure. Thankfully, no one suspected a thing. Or so he thought�

Although he'd tried to gloss over it, the moment Peter mentioned he and Sophie had taken shelter at the old homestead, Charity's eyebrows raised imperceptibly. Her suspicions were quickly confirmed by the dazzling emerald ring she noticed on Sophie's hand as well as by the subtle smile, which Sophie aimed discreetly in her direction.

Woefully unnerved by Charity and Sophie's body language, poor Peter valiantly continued recounting his condensed story of rescue and survival - despite a severe lapse in concentration.

Finally, one by one, the WALPOCS gathered single-file to offer Peter and Sophie each a kiss, wishing them Merry Christmas, welcome home and goodnight. In return, the grateful couple cheerfully expressed their appreciation, truly happy to see them all.

"I think I'll be going, too," Charity sighed, still weary from all her worrying.

"I'll drive you," Peter offered, considering the lateness of the hour.

"Don't be silly, I'll ride with the girls," Charity balked. "Besides, you need your rest," she added slyly.

The double meaning was not lost on Peter, who rose quickly from the table to kiss his aunt goodnight, and silence her at the same time. "That's enough, Charity," Peter threatened good-naturedly in a whisper.

"You deserve to squirm after what you put me through," Charity complained in soft defiance, sensing another Sully-Lawson battle about to begin.

"Truce?" Peter suggested, simply too exhausted to argue.

"Deal," Charity smiled, content in the knowledge that she would have all the time in the world to argue with Peter now.

Hugging him tightly around the neck, Charity whispered with all her heart, "I love you, Peter."

All at once, Peter realized fully the extent to which his disappearance had affected his seemingly unflappable aunt�how much he truly meant to her. And, for the first time since his own mother died, Peter experienced the awesome power of a mother's absolute love once again.

"I love you, too, Aunt C.," he proclaimed, holding her a few seconds longer for the reassurance he knew she needed, "very, very much."

"Well," Charity choked, placing her palms against Peter's shoulders.

"The WALPOCS won't wait forever," she huffed, breaking the moment of unexpected tenderness.

"Merry Christmas, children," she covered brightly as she waved goodnight to Sophie, Chloe and Chip. "Stay as long as you like. Dinner's on me."

"Reggie�" Charity beckoned, causing the waiter to dash to immediate attention.

"Yes, Mrs. M.?" he stood ready for any instructions.

"Reggie, come here, please�" Charity said again in a softer tone, pulling the young man aside privately.

"You know, I never much believed in Christmas angels," Charity confessed to the sweet young man before her, "but, tonight, Reggie dear, you were mine."

Then, before Reggie could say a word, Charity Lawson Mitchell bestowed him with a kiss on the cheek and more cash in his pocket than he could make in a month. Stunned, Reggie placed a hand on his cheek, smiling to himself as she walked away. Quietly, he whispered, "You'll always be an angel to me, Mrs. M."

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

"Peter, not that this hasn't been a fascinating evening," Chloe began indignantly, "but why exactly are we here?"

"Well, this is my cue to say goodnight," Sophie chimed abruptly, not wanting to spoil the warm glow she was feeling right now by listening to Chloe whine and moan.

"Oh, I see your future wife isn't any more interested in the delightful WALPOCS than I was, Peter," Chloe taunted for sheer pleasure. "What a shame�"

"They have Peter," Sophie smiled sweetly. "What more could anyone want?" Sophie then emphasized that very fact by giving Peter a soft, tender kiss on the cheek.

Peter just grinned as Sophie sprightly bid them all, "Night," turned, and departed before Chloe could say another word.

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

"So, what do you think, Chip?" Peter asked, the three scouring Randolph's plans while Reggie busily poured more strong black coffee.

"Definitely do-able�He'd have to be a fool�The revenue�The publicity�" Chip was growing more and more excited by the possibilities.

"How soon could you prepare a proposal?" Peter smiled, hearing the answers he'd hoped for.

"Less than an hour, my man!" Chip boasted, rising from the table.

"You're the king, Chip," Peter complimented, stroking Chip's ego for good measure.

"I know�" Chip's ego needed no stroking.

"See ya upstairs, Baby," Chip oozed suavely to Chloe as he left the table. "Night, Pete!"

Silence hung thickly in the air as Chip's meaning was left perfectly clear.

"Chloe? You�and Chip?" Peter was speechless.

Chloe rarely blushed but still she lowered her eyes for good measure and traced the rim of her coffee cup with her finger.

"I was going to tell you�" she stuttered.

"No..no�you don't owe me any explanations," Peter assured her, though he was still stunned by the news.

"Remember when Chip and I came out to Mount Horizon to discuss the marketing brochures?" Chloe felt the need to explain anyway.

Peter nodded, remembering vividly Chloe's suggestion that a shot of Peter, in full hiking gear, would make a magnificent photo for the cover.

Peter also had no difficulty recalling, quite clearly actually, how Chip had attempted to make a play for Sophie that night, too. Somehow, Peter couldn't imagine that his old friend Chip was in any hurry to settle down again; and, in spite of everything, Peter couldn't bear to see Chloe hurt a second time.

"Well, on the way back to New York we got snowed in, in Chicago�What is it about me and snowstorms," Chloe digressed with a sigh.

Peter grinned, knowing he'd have to let Chloe tell this story in her own way. It was one of her more endearing qualities.

"The hotels were full and we ended up sharing a room and�well�one thing led to another�" Chloe was staring down at her coffee cup again.

"I know what you're going to say, Peter," Chloe sighed defensively. "Chip's cocky and brass and I honestly never expected it to be more than what it was - one night. But when we got back to New York, he kept calling, sending me flowers�we started spending time together at my place out in the Hamptons. He's a different person when we're alone, Peter. He makes me feel special�" Chloe's hopeful voice trailed off.

"You are special, Chlo," Peter said honestly, giving her a peck on the cheek. " And you deserve to be happy."

"You made me happy, Peter - in the old days - before the drugs. I'd give anything to have those days back but I can't. So, I have to move on." Chloe was being surprisingly straightforward.

"When you wrote me that you and Sophie were engaged, I wasn't surprised. I saw the looks between the two of you at Horizon when we were watching the kids' home movie. I hadn't told you about Chip and me because I thought, well, maybe, you and I still had a chance. But once I saw that movie, I knew."

Peter remembered how awkward it was for all of them, watching his and Sophie's relationship play out on screen in front of Chloe and the entire school.

"Chip helped me through it all, Peter. You know, when Vanessa remarried, he acted like it didn't matter to him, but deep down it broke his heart. Chip held me and he let me cry and he didn't once make me feel like I didn't have a reason or a right to."

Peter grasped Chloe's hand and rubbed it gently with his own, listening intently as she told her story. In so many ways, he regretted the disastrous course their marriage had taken - a course the cocaine put them on�a course he put them on.

Now, here, tonight, Peter saw a glimpse of the Chloe he had married - open, loving, and impulsive. He just hoped her impulsiveness wouldn't cause her more heartache still.

"Do you know Chip told me he'd been attracted to me from the very beginning, even when you and I were married?" Chloe seemed surprised, but Peter wasn't.

"I figured as much," Peter confirmed. "But then, half the guys I knew were," Peter winked.

"Only half?" Chloe smiled, enjoying the relaxed, easy conversation and the welcome friendship Peter was offering.

"The other half didn't tell me," Peter wriggled his nose in charming reassurance.

"Chlo, I can't thank you enough for coming�and convincing Chip to come. If you ever need anything�" Peter began sincerely.

"I know�" She cut him off with a gentle kiss. "Same here�that's why I came."

Nervously, Chloe felt that old familiar tug on her heart. "Well, I guess we should be going�" she mumbled.

"Do me a favor�" Peter asked innocently. "Tell Chip�if he hurts you, that I'll personally drag him up Pike's Peak, tie him to a stake, and let the coyotes feed off him," Peter exaggerated for full effect. "Oh, and, um, wish him a Merry Christmas, too, of course."

"Merry Christmas, Peter," Chloe grinned. No one would ever make her smile like Peter could.

"Merry Christmas, Chlo," Peter wished tenderly, putting his arm around her and walking them both towards the elevator and their respective new futures.

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Replies:

Re: A Journey Home - ch. 20 & 21 -- dqfan, 09:29:31 03/25/03 Tue
- Re: A Journey Home - ch. 22 -- dqfan, 09:46:37 03/25/03 Tue
  - Re: A Journey Home - ch. 23(Final) -- dqfan, 09:51:00 03/25/03 Tue