Fallen Ch.20
by Namjr
 

~@~@ Fallen Ch.20
~~~

She didn’t say a word, not since her initial outburst, had Jody said one peep about the kiss she witnessed, while he was there. Which according to his watch was forty-seven minutes and seventeen seconds ago. He didn’t stop to wonder why he had the exact time it had been since he kissed Kay Bennet, he didn’t need t to their were dozens of reasons for him to remembered the top one was that it was completely wrong. “Shake it off; you’ll deal with it later.” The promise, cemented in his mind, Antonio, knocked on the door to his mother’s house.

“Oh it’s you.” His youngest brother stepped out of the doorway and moved to the side. He didn’t like Antonio, maybe it was because he had abandoned them like Papa, but most likely it was because of recent events. The beating he took from his big brother still stood out in his mind, but unfortunately not more then he words about guilt. Probably because it was true is thoughts were beginning to centre around his childhood best friend. “Mama’s in the kitchen.”

“Thanks.” He stopped, mid stride, and gave the younger man a devious grin. “How those wedding plans going?”

“Fine.” Miguel shut the door with angry slam and dropped back on the couch, turning on the television, to shut out the other man,

“Well I better go see Mama, can’t stand here yakking all day with you.”

“Whatever.”

“ Mijo.” Pilar opened the kitchen door, and smiled at her oldest, ushering him into the kitchen.” I thought heard your voice, come I’m baking flan.”
He followed slowly and sat down at the table; looking happier then she had seen him in a long time. “You seem happy, is that about Kay?”

Antonio paled, before he gave nervous laugh as he quickly wiped at his mouth, briefly wondering if Kay or Jody had let him leave the hospital with lipstick on his face, it sounded petty and immature, but he didn’t put it past either one of them. “What makes you ask that?”

“Nothing, I just know that you’ve been visiting Kay and keeping her company, I thought maybe you had gotten some good news o her recovery.”

“Oh, well, Kay’s doing better, she up and about, causing her usual brand of mischief.”

Pilar stop her mixing to her stare at her son, giving him a nod and a small wistful smile.” Oh yes, I remember, Kay has always been a handful, headstrong and passionate, I didn’t realize til her accident how much I had missed seeing her around here.”

“Don’t worry Mama, I’m sure once she’s released she'll be by, I’ll bring her here myself just to make sure.”

“Oh Mijo, don’t go to any trouble, I don’t want either of you straining yourselves.”

“Mama, it’s no strain, in fact one of the reason I stopped by was to tell you my good news.”

“What is it?”

“The drug worked, Dr. Russell liked my latest test results, and say I’m can have the surgery next week, and that I’ll be as good as new.”

Pilar let the tears fall down her face, in relief and happiness, before she went to her son hugging him as his stood and opened his arms, and kissing his cheek.” Antonio I’m so happy for you, I knew God wouldn’t let us down, I’ve prayed very night for this.”

“I know Mama, but we should also give out thanks to Dr. Russell and Jody, not to mention Jody’s partner in L.A. “He stepped back from his mother, and sat back down.

“Sí, I must apologize to Dr.McKoy, I’m afraid I wasn’t as supportive of her as I should have been.”

“Don’t worry about it; Jody’s conceited probably didn’t even realize you didn’t approve of her.”

“I don’t disapprove, there’s just something about her, that’s just calming and at the same time disturbing, does that make sense?”

“Actually yes it does, I think she’s a very unusual person.”

“Well it’s no matter.” Pilar said poured the mix into a cake pan.” You’re cured and that’s all the matters.” She looked out eh window over the sink, and sighed.” I just wish all my children were doing as well.”

Antonio stood, and moved by her, and took inn the sight of his brother Luis, outside in the back yard playing basketball with Hank, except Luis was very obviously losing , something which rarely happened at all.” So there hadn’t been any word on Sheridan?”

“No, and Luis seems intent on marrying Beth, so it almost makes little difference, except that….”

“Except that he’s in love with Sheridan and marrying Beth would just make him miserable.” Antonio patted his mother’s shoulder as he walked toward the door.” Let me handle this.” He stepped outside, and leaned against the side of the house. “I got winner.”

Luis turned around surprise highlighting his face; he didn’t think his brother would come by, much less stay in his company for any great amount of time. Hank however gave the other man a cocky smile.” Sure you’re up for it?”

“I’ll have you know I was just given a clean bill of health, thought rest assured that even sick I could take you Bennett.” He pushed himself off the wall, and grabbed the ball.” Why don’t you head inside get a drink, keep for your strength, before I beat you.” Hank took the hint and began walking toward the back door, leaving the brothers alone in the yard.

“So the miracle drug was a miracle.”

“Yeah, but let’s not talk about that, what’s this I hear about you marrying Beth?”

Luis stiffened, and glared at his brother.” I’ve always been marrying Beth, what’s so surprising about it.”

“I don’t know just the fact that you’re in love with someone else.” He began dribbling the ball, watching his brother from beneath his eyelashes. “Beth okay with being second best, because I know the thought didn’t sit right with me.”

“Beth understands.”

“Really, so she knows that every waking minute for the rest of your life you’ll be wishing she was a certain blonde.” He shook his head, and as he switched hands with the ball.” Gosh, Beth must have really changed, I thought she was smarter.”

“What are you getting at Antonio, you didn’t want me with Sheridan anyway, so what’s the deal.”

Antonio met his brother’s eyes, and gave a bitter grin.” I don’t want you to be unhappy Luis, if you want Sheridan and she wants you, then god speed, my problem is has always been that neither one of you trusted me to enough to know that I’d want your happiness above everything else, even if it meant losing someone I cared about.” He lifted his arm and released the ball, and gave a wink when the ball dropped through the hoop in an arc like perfect motion. “Life’s short Luis, don’t settle just cause it’s easier then fighting.”

~~~

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Jody looked up from her clipboard, and raised a practice eyebrow.” Talk about what Kay?”

“You know what.”

“Okay.” She gave a shrug, and folded her arms across her chest.” How are you and your father doing?”

“Great, but then things were always great with my Dad; He at least tried to understand me.”

“Unlike who?’

“My saint of a mother for one.” Kay’s eyes narrowed in anger and pain.” She has never really cared enough to get to know me.”

“You never been close?”

“No, we don’t do close, we do socially polite, and maybe mutually respectful, but never close.”

“You don’t know why?”

“Of course I know why, because I’m not her, I don’t sew or bake, I’m not an obedient little girl like Jessica or Charity, and girls that aren’t capable of Donna Reed status don’t register on my mother’s radar.” Kay stared down at the her bed sheet, and fought back the pain, it was a dull feeling, one she had gotten use to a long time ago.” Girls who climb trees, and speak their own mind aren’t her type of people.”

“So it’s because you’re different?”

“Didn’t I just say that?” “And in her eyes, I’m not different, I’m evil always plotting and scheming, up to no good.”

“But you’ve admitted that you were scheming and plotting?”

“But that’s different, she’s my mother some blind faith would be nice, or even a hesitation in the rush to label me guilty.” Kay looked upon, and met the doctor’s eyes sadly.” I can hear now ‘What are you up to know Kay, forcing yourself on poor Antonio, making another play for Miguel no doubt, can’t you just expect that no man but outside your family will ever love you’.”

“And that’s not what happened?”

Kay rolled her eyes.” Antonio’s my friend, and I wouldn’t risk that friendship for anything, and definitely not for his brother, trust me Miguel was the last thing on my mind.”

“So what was on your mind?”

Instead of answer Kay looked out of her window, and focused on the question. She couldn’t really remember, it wasn’t like she had been thinking, one moment she had just been happy that Antonio was going to live, then the next she was falling, yeah falling, there was no other words for it. One minute she was just there on solid ground, and then she wasn’t, she couldn’t be sure where she was falling from or to, but it felt like heaven. Firm lips, strong arms surrounding her, more passion then she had ever felt in any of her previous kisses, it was like nirvana.
 

“Kay?”

Shaking out of her thoughts, she gave her friend an annoyed look, and shrugged her shoulders. “I was thinking that only a moron like Antonio could mess up a kiss on the cheek.”

Jody stopped writing, and barley managed to keep the snicker at bay, and nodded. “Yeah, that makes sense.” She stood, and pocketed her pen. “Well that’s all we have time for today Kay, we’ll talk more tomorrow okay?”

“Uh huh.” Kay said distractedly; now lost happily back in her earlier thoughts.

~~~

“So Julian, what do you think?”

‘I think you’re a goddess on Earth.’ Julian gave a sincere smile. “I think you’re right, this break through is definitely worthy of the nomination for the Stansfield Award.”

Eve nodded pleased that she was right, she wasn’t really a fan of Jody McCoy, but facts were facts, the young doctor, was excellent at what she did, and her drug was found to save hundreds of lives. The Stansfield was well deserved, the award was reserved for doctors that excelled in their, the reward for such hard work was a million dollars, and nation recognition by their peers. “So, you will second my nomination?”

“Of course Eve, I’d do anything you asked, you know that.” The statement was the truest thing Julian had ever in his long and worthless life. Sitting here with her, he had no doubt that if she asked him to take a on a group of armed gunmen he would, he’d loss obviously, but just the pleasure of dying in her arms, was reason enough to do it. “Not only are you correct in assessing the importance of Dr. McCoy’s work, but even I can see the good she’s done, the Bennett girl, her work in pediatrics, the list could on for hours.”

“Thank you Julian, but I’ll pass.”

Julian watches Eve carefully; he surmises the look on her face correctly.” Why Eve are you jealous?”

“That’s ridiculous, I just don’t find the Dr. McCoy, as charming and endearing as everyone else does, but I am most definitely not jealous.”

“And you shouldn’t be, you’re excellent doctors.” Julian reached across the table and touched her hand. “One of Harmony’s greatest assets.”

Eve moved her hand away quickly, but not before she noticed how her hand tingled where Julian had touched her, gathering her belongings, she stood, and gave him a small smile.” Thank you again for assistants Julian.”

He stood, and watched her hurry out the door. “Anytime Eve, anytime.”