The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
| REACHING OUT BY TIMA |
CHAPTER 50 |
PREVIOUSLY:
Tea: I can handle it.
Todd: They should give you more drugs.
Tea: I'm fine. My back is better now. You can move me again, just go slow.
[Slowly...very slowly, Todd begins to move Tea's body again.]
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chapter 50:
[Minutes later...
Tea is sitting on the edge of the bed and Todd is standing in front of her.]
Todd: Do you need me to go get someone so they can give you something for the pain?
Tea: I'm fine.
Todd: You're hurting.
Tea: I can handle it.
Todd: I'm getting you drugs.
[Todd turns to leave.]
Tea: Wait!
[Todd turns back toward her.]
Tea: I don't like the way that stuff makes me feel.
Todd: Pain free?
Tea: I can handle this. If I really need something, I'll take it.
Todd: No, you won't. You'll keep suffering, like you have been.
Tea: It's only in the last couple of days that I've tried to go without the painkillers. You're being here has helped me so much, I don't need them as much anymore.
Todd: You're not going to sweet talk me into letting you suffer.
Tea: After what I've been through physically, I'm supposed to hurt right now.
Todd: But, you don't have to. You're legally allowed to get high every day. You shouldn't turn that down.
Tea: If it gets really bad, I'll take something, I promise. Right now, I need you to wait outside. And, don't start anything with Del.
Todd: He's the one who's always starting something. If you're really worried about your brother's behavior, though, I'll stay in here with you.
Tea: I need some privacy.
Todd: No, you don't.
Tea: Yes, I do. I shouldn't have to argue with you about this every time. I need my dignity.
Todd: But, I want to strip you naked and, twenty minutes later, help you get dressed.
Tea: I'm not ready for those twenty minutes yet, and you know it.
Todd: Okay, we'll only focus on my needs...sixteen minutes.
Tea: Don't you mean two minutes?
Todd: That's a low blow.
Tea: I'm serious, Todd, I need you to wait outside. Someone on the staff will help me.
Todd: I could help you.
Tea: Not with this.
Todd: What is there that you need to hide from me?
Tea: I need to use the bathroom.
Todd: I could help you with that.
Tea: I don't think either of us would be okay with that.
Todd: Why not? I've seen everything you've go. So, I'll see it in the john...no big deal.
Tea: It's a big deal to me.
Todd: Would it help if I used the john in front of you first? Because, I will.
Tea: We both know that you would never feel comfortable enough to do that.
[Todd lifts Tea from the bed and places her in her wheelchair. He then walks toward her bathroom.]
Todd: Hurry up! I have to pee.
Tea: Stop kidding around.
Todd: Who's kidding? After all this talk, I need to go.
[Tea follows Todd into the bathroom, knowing that he'll never really do what he's suggesting.
Tea watches as Todd opens his pants. He turns his back to her, though, before going any further.]
Tea: I'll contact the staff.
[Tea leaves the bathroom. After several seconds, Todd closes the bathroom door, needing privacy.
Minutes later, he returns to the bedroom.]
Tea: Someone will be here in a couple of minutes.
Todd: When you move in with me, I'll have to do it, right?
Tea: We could hire someone.
Todd: I thought you didn't want that?
Tea: I'd prefer not to have other people around.
Todd: Because you want me all to yourself?
Tea (smiling): I am sort of looking forward to that.
Todd: Don't sound so excited.
Tea: I mean it. I am looking forward to being alone with you again.
Todd: What about the john situation? If I keep trying, eventually I'll be able to do it in front of you...maybe.
Tea: You don't have to. Maybe I won't even need help by the time we move in together.
Todd: They've got all kinds of stuff to help people out, right? They must have something so you can use the john by yourself.
Tea: I don't want you buying a lot of gadgets.
Todd: Why not? I'm rich. I'll make sure you have all the cool paraplegia stuff. All the other paraplegics will be jealous. I'll call Briggs and have him look into it.
Tea: I don't want Briggs to know about my condition.
Todd: You should have told me that before.
Tea: You told him?
Todd: He'll keep his mouth shut. I pay him big bucks not to get chatty with anyone about me, or you. You shouldn't be ashamed, anyway.
Tea: I'm not. I just haven't told some people in Llanview who won't appreciate it if they find out from Briggs, instead of from me.
Todd: He won't tell anyone. Besides, someone had to do the research for me.
Tea: You've had Briggs researching my situation?
Todd: As much as I could since you haven't told me everything yet and they don't keep your chart where a normal person would look.
Tea: A normal person wouldn't be snooping around, looking for private medical records.
Todd: They would if they cared.
[Tea and Todd's conversation is interrupted by the arrival of a female staff member. Todd leaves Tea's room and joins Del at a small seating area near her room.]
Del: She kicked you out?
Todd: I chose to give her some privacy. I'm a thoughtful guy.
Del: In other words, she kicked you out.
Todd: Where's my grub?
[Del hands Todd a bag with his breakfast. Todd surprises Del by walking away without saying anything more.]
Del: Wait, Manning!
[Todd stops and turns toward Del.]
Todd: You want to start a fight?
[Del approaches Todd.]
Del: That's your specialty. I want to make sure that you're here for Tea.
Todd: I won't ditch her.
[Todd turns and starts walking away again.]
Del: Why are you in such a rush to leave?
[Todd again turns back toward Del, frustrated that he's delaying his exit.]
Todd: I don't like you. Tea does. I'll come back later, after you're gone.
Del: I respect that. I really do.
Todd: I don't care what you respect.
Del: Did you and Tea have a fight? You seem to be in a bad mood.
Todd: This is my normal mood.
Del: Look, Manning, we don't like each other, that's understood.
Todd: Good! Are we done chatting? Can I leave now?
Del: I'll be leaving here in about two hours. You need to come back before I leave.
Todd: You want to hug me good-bye?
Del: If you try to hug me, I'll hurt you.
Todd: Why the hell should I be here when you are? You'll just end up doing something to tick off Tea, and I'll be the one left here to deal with it. If you're leaving here in two hours, I'll come back in two hours and ten minutes.
Del: You need to be here when I leave.
Todd: Okay, I get it now. You secretly have a crush on me, but you're trying to hide it.
Del: I'm flying home.
Todd: I didn't think you were going to do the doggie paddle.
Del: Stop with the jokes, this is serious.
Todd: Get to the point.
Del: Tea will need you to be here when I leave. It'll be really hard on her.
Todd: You think she'll be that broken up about you finally leaving? And, people think I've got a huge ego.
Del: She'll be afraid of my plane crashing. Do you understand now? Can you take her emotional state seriously? Or, is her terror amusing to you, too?
Todd: You think she'll expect your plane to crash, too?
Del: She'll be worried about it, until I call to tell her that I've landed safely. I'm glad you'll be here with her while she waits. I didn't like leaving her alone the last time I left, but she insisted. I could tell when I called her, though, how worried she had been. That's why I didn't tell her I was coming this time. I didn't want her spending all that time worried about me.
Todd: So, I should be back here in two hours?
Del: Yes.
[Todd again turns and walks away from Del.]
Del: Thank you.
[Without looking back at Del, or slowing down his escape, Todd responds.]
Todd: I'm not doing it for you.
to be continued...
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2001 COPYRIGHT BY TIMA
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