By Jackee C.

Ben followed the ambulance to the hospital. Micki was taken directly in the be examined, leaving Carey and Ben in the waiting area. Neither spoke, merely worriedly paced around one another.

After twenty minutes, the silence got the better of Carey, and she turned to Ben as if to speak. Even though she really hadn't known him very long, she trusted him, and so had Micki. There was a reason for his odd behavior, and there was nothing to do but ask. Before she could speak however, a dark-haired woman with a stethoscope wrapped around her neck approached.

"You're here for Nichola Dupree?" she questioned.

Both Carey and Ben moved toward her. She gave them a quick rundown on Micki's injuries, alerting them that she'd been admitted.

"Can I see her?" Ben asked as soon as the doctor finished speaking.

"She seems to have suffered from some kind of shock and shouldn't be upset," the doctor hedged slightly, glancing at her chart. "She's been given a pretty heavy sedative, and might be in and out. I'll only allow one person at a time."

Ben and Carey looked at one another. Carey could almost feel how much Ben wanted to see her. And she was fairly certain Micki would rather see him, too. She was prepared to acquiesce, but the doctor spoke first.

"Ms. Brighton, perhaps you should go first. I'll show you the way."

Carey gave been a small shrug and set off down the hall after the doctor, leaving Ben standing in the waiting room.

"Mr. Kingsley and Ms Dupree, they're seeing one another?" the doctor asked conversationally.

Carey nodded with a smile. "Yes. They're pretty inseparable. I'd wanted him to let him see first because of that."

"They've been together a while?"

"No not really. They just kind of hit it off right away, if you know what I mean."

The doctor nodded. "Have you ever known him to hit her?"

Carey was so stunned, she thought she'd misunderstood. She shook her head, "No."

"Ben's the only man she's been seeing since I've lived here. And he'd never... Are you saying she's been ... beat up?"

"Mmmm," the doctor was pensive. "Our records show that almost four months ago she was in for a blow to the head and *he* brought her in."

Carey smiled in relief. "Oh, she just feel down the steps at his house. She's just a little clumsy."

The doctor didn't look convinced. And Carey had to admit the excuse sounded lame to her own ears.

"All right," the doctor flipped a page on her chart. "What of last week, 6 days ago she spent 3 days here in this very hospital for fractured ribs and bruises coincidental with being attached physically. He brought her in then, too."

Carey could hold in a startled gasp, her hand flying to her mouth.

"What is it, Ms. Brighton. If you know anything at all..."

"I don't know anything," Carey said. "I wasn't here. I was at home visiting my family...in Virginia."

"So you were present for the first incident, but not the second?" the doctor pressed. Carey began to feel distinctly uncomfortable.

"Well....no, not exactly," she answered. "I wasn't *there* there. I was at home. That's what she told me. I know Ben wouldn't do anything besides we had both just drove in from Va. together, so he couldn't have."

"Okay, Ms. Brighton. Thanks for your help. You can go on in, now."

Carey thanked her worriedly and went on in. The doctor entered discreetly behind her. Carey tried to ignore her presence and focus on Micki. The dark bruises and scratches on one side of her face brought tears to Carey's eyes. She reached for one of her hands, but there was an IV there, and she was forced to draw back.

Slowly, with obvious effort, Micki opened her eyes. There was no sparkle there, only dull misery.

"Oh Micki," Carey cried. "I'm so sorry."

Micki's eyes filled then, tears spilled over. "Ben," she spoke hoarsely.

"He'll be in a little bit. He's just outside in the waiting room."

Micki shook her head. "...hurts..."

"Do you need some more medicine?" Cared asked her, looking over her shoulder at the doctor.

"Ben," she said again, tears spilling more quickly.

The doctor came over and placed a hand on Micki's shoulder. "Did Ben hurt you?" the doctor asked.

Micki turned frightened eyes on the doctor, and immediately her mouth shut. She looked to Carey in confusion.

Carey patted Micki's arm, and turned to the doctor. "Is there someplace we can go to talk," she asked in a strained voice.

The doctor nodded a silent yes, and directed her down the hall toward her office.

* * *

Ben's head was buried in his hands. He had a nagging worry in the pit of his stomach that something was wrong. He couldn't place it, but something was out of sorts. Brushing his hands through his hair, he gazed down the hall toward the door he'd seen the doctor and Carey disappear into after what had appeared to be a long conversation in the hall. He was surprised to see them leave Micki's room and head further down the hall and around a corner.

He debated with himself a moment that the doctor would tell him when it was okay to go in. His fear and worry won out. He decided he didn't care what the doctor thought, he needed to see Micki, needed to see for himself that she would be all right.

When he pushed into the room, Micki's eyes were closed, and the room was darkened. He entered further, moving cautiously so as not to awaken her. He only wanted to sit and watch over her.

Reaching out, he removed a lock of curly hair from where it fell over a bandage. At his touch, Micki opened her eyes and looked directly into his eyes. She closed hers. "Please go away," she whispered.

"Micki?" Ben was confused. "It's me," he said. "It's Ben..."

Micki shook her head vigorously. "No...I - I want you to just go away." He breathing was becoming raspy. One of the monitors began to beep an alarm.

Ben glanced at the alarm in half irritation, half worry. "Micki what's happened to you? Why won't you talk to me? Is it Stephanie? I can explain that."

Micki shook her head from side to side, crying openly now. Her chest heaved under the weight of her anguish, sending sharp spots of pain through her ribs. The pain caused her breaths to come in painful gasps, continuing the cycle. "You...hurt...me," she managed to rasp out. "Won't....let...you...hurt..."

"Micki...I--" Ben was at a loss, his worry over her physical condition vying with his devastation at her words. "Micki...I-I love you," he said in a dazed voice as he vaguely sensed another presence in the room.

He turned to see Carey standing by the door, a hand over her mouth. A nurse moved quickly by her.

He turned back to Carey. Saw that the doctor had entered as well, and was placing an oxygen mask over Micki's face and ordering something injected into her IV. The mask effectively stifled Micki's frantic words, but her eyes continued to focus on Ben; tormented eyes.

"Mr. Kingsley," the doctor was saying. "Would you please wait outside. There are some things I'd like to discuss with you."

Ben continued to stare at Micki, the doctor's words not completely reaching him. He was shaking his head in confusion. This wasn't right, he needed to tell them.

The doctor turned to Carey. "Could you please get him out of here. He's upsetting her."

Carey snapped out of her own sort of stupor and approached Ben, gently leading him to the waiting room. He allowed her to settle him into the chair, stilled stunned over what had happened.

"Ben," Carey was saying. "You need to tell me what's going on, and I mean now. You see that doctor in there is trying to have you brought up on charges."

That got his attention. "Charges? What for?"

"She seems to think that you've been beating on Micki. And I don't think she's willing to take my word on faith that you're not that you're relationship isn't like that. And that little scene we just witnessed... I can be interpreted a whole lot of ways."

Ben was stunned. "What? Are you sure Carey? Micki wouldn't accuse me of that? I won't believe it."

Micki rolled her eyes. "Look. Whatever. Their records tell a different story. Like, for example: Micki was here for 3 days last week. Why wasn't I told?"

Ben looked down at his hands. "I'm sorry," he said, softly. "I promised Micki I'd let her explain it."

Carey looked at him in disbelief. "You're about to be in big trouble, Ben. I suggest you tell me."

"No," Ben said. "I promised."

"All right. Have it your way. Tell me this though, what's going on between the two of you. I thought things were great judging by the way you talked on the way back here."

"Things *were* great," Ben said. "This morning. Stephanie must have really outdone herself."

"Yeah, my next question. Who is this woman?"

Ben looked at her for a long moment, gathering his thoughts. "Stephanie, my sister and I were good friends growing up. We had some great adventures together. Then, back in high school, Steph and I had...a thing. We ended up at separate colleges...grew apart - lost touch, you know. Well, I met my first wife in college. We kept dating after graduation, she settled around here. I guess Stephanie never realized that we'd both changed. She didn't want it to be over, she thought we could just pick up where we'd left off. She tried a lot of little tricks to break us up, but Ellen usually saw through it. I think she actually enjoyed bating Stephanie to some degree. Scary, I know.

"Eventually, Ellen and I got married. When that happened, Stephanie actually backed off and she and Ellen became friends. When Ellen died... it was...very difficult for me. Gennifer was till a baby. Stephanie was there. She helped a lot back then, helped me find a new house, even decorated it for me. But our relationship didn't change. We were still just friends - I couldn't go back to high school. She didn't feel the same way.

"I owed her a lot, but I knew that she needed to move on. So, I arranged a job for her in Europe, one she wouldn't be able to say no to. I'd hoped that she'd meet someone over there and get on with her own life. She's been gone for nearly six months. Her job couldn't possibly be over. She must have dropped in for a surprise visit. What a surprise," Ben sighed, shaking his head.

"Micki isn't like Ellen was. Micki puts up a tough front, but she takes everything to heart. She won't know how to deal with Stephanie. I'm going to have a talk with Stephanie, tell her to back off."

Carey sat quietly as he finished his story. "Seems you know Micki pretty well." Ben simply smiled. His smile faded as the doctor approached.

"Mr. Kingsley, if you would join me in my office?" she requested.

"Is it about Micki's condition?" he asked, not moving from his seat.

"Yes, it is." she answered.

"Then please," Ben continued. "I'd much rather discuss it out here."

The doctor's expression turned mildly uncomfortable, but she pressed onward. "All right. Ms. Dupree's fractured rib received additional damage. There is some internal bruising and multiple contusions on her face and some on her arms. She will need someone to look after her for at least a week. No road trips Mr. Kingsley, and please make sure she doesn't get into any more 'fights'.

"Fights?" Ben questioned.

"That's what she told me after we got her calmed down. She said she'd gotten into a fight."

"Did she say who with?" Ben questioned.

The doctor looked at him as if the answer was obvious. "No, she wouldn't say, but I think it would be a wise idea if you'd allow Ms. Brighton to handle her care until she is on her feet again."

Ben's expression hardened.

The doctor continued. "If you can be sure to meet these guidelines, I will recommend that she be released tomorrow.'

Carey spoke up. "We can do that." There was a brief moment of silence when the doctor looked as if she had a few choice things to add, but was restraining herself.

"Will she be moved to another room, or will she be spending the night here?" Ben asked coolly.

"Familiar with our procedure, are we?" the doctor said, suggestively. "Yes, she will be transferred."

"Thank you so much for your concern," Ben said. "It's a credit to you, but in this instance it is misplaced."

The doctor stared hard at him a moment, then stood and left without another word.

Sighing, Ben offered Carey a ride back to his place. Amazingly, he got no questions when he asked if she wouldn't mind staying at his place. Despite the threat of Frank still being around, he didn't want to be there alone if Stephanie were still there. He had a few choice things to say to her, and a witness was probably a good idea. When they arrived to him home, however, she was gone and hadn't left any messages with Angelina.

Ben resigned himself, and headed for bed. It had been one heck of a day, and he'd no doubt need his strength for the next. Of course, he knew that in the tension induced ache of his muscles, but his brain refused to cooperate. He didn't fall asleep until the very small hours of the night.

The next morning, exhausted, he climbed into the car beside Carey and headed for the hospital. Carey joked and teased him in an obvious effort to release some of his tension. It helped a little, but it couldn't alleviate the fears he had over his relationship with Micki. Would she even accept a ride home with him? He'd promised her parents that he'd look out for her and Carey; he couldn't go back on that promise because of problems in their relationship. He just had to talk to her when she was calmer.

When they arrived at the hospital, he pulled up near the front of the building and stopped the car. Carey turned to him in askance. "You want me to bring her out?"

"Yes," he answered hesitantly. It wouldn't do if the good doctor were in and saw him today. And it wouldn't do to give Micki a heads up that he would be the one to take her home. "I'll be waiting at the patient pick-up." He gestured his head toward the area. "I'll pull up when I see you."

"All right," Carey winked at him and walked through the sliding doors. When she reached Micki's room, she found that an orderly was helping her into a wheel chair. She looked awful.

"Need any more paperwork taken care of?" Carey asked her gently.

"No," Micki shook her head. "Everything is done. We can just leave."

"All right," Carey sighed, smiling slightly at the orderly. "Can I drive?"

The orderly gestured her toward the back of the chair and walked alongside. Carey steered out the doors and into the waiting area. A new mother was being loaded into the loading area in front of them, and behind her were two taxis. Carey spotted Ben's car sliding into place behind the mother's car.

Ben quickly hopped out of the car and opened the passenger door. The look Micki sent Carey was furious. Carey looked on helplessly as her cousin's mouth settled into a hard line and she climbed into the car. She didn't meet Ben's gaze, and she averted her eyes from Carey as well. The silence during the drive to Ben's home was deafening.

Quietly, Micki allowed Ben to lead her into one of the downstairs bedrooms and settle her on the bed. She went obediently under the covers, and flinched only slightly when he settled the blanket on her shoulders. Through his ministrations, she never lost her icy demeanor.

Ben sighed, dropping his hands dejectedly to his sides. "Micki. We need to talk."

His words were greeted with silence. And Micki continued to avoid his gaze.

"Micki," Ben settled on the edge of the bed, careful not to hurt her. "Please talk to me," he said, drawing her chin toward himself, hoping to get her to at least look at him. She closed her eyes defiantly.

"You're behaving like a child," he said, struggling to keep the frustration out of his voice. "Won't you at least look at me? Tell me what I've done wrong."

She squeezed her eyes tighter. "No. I can't listen to you any more. I won't. Because if I do I won't be able to do what I know I have to do

"Why?" Ben shot back. "Just tell me that. After all we've been through, after all I've been through, the least you owe me is an explanation."

Micki shook her head, tears creeping from beneath her lashes. "No," she whispered. "Ben, just leave me alone. Please, just leave me alone."

"I can't do that," Ben said very softly, tenderly. "If this is about Stephanie, I'm sorry. She can come on strong sometimes. I wasn't expecting her back in the country for a while yet and--"

Micki drew her hands up and covered her ears. "Leave me alone, please. Can you just do as I ask, just this once? I don't want to talk to you, I don't want to see you, I don't want to hear you!"

The silence weighed heavily in the room as Ben simply sat there stunned. "All right," he managed after several moments. "All right. If that's what you want."

'It is," Micki replied.

Without another word, he walked out of the room and out of the house.

* * *

Carey poked her head around the door frame of Micki's room. "What do you think you're doing, woman?" she asked. "Are you crazy?"

"I have to get out of here," Micki said, struggling to sit up.

"Why?" Carey asked, speaking as if she were talking to the mentally challenged.

"Stephanie." Micki said as if with a single word she could explain everything. At Carey's gesture of askance, she continued between gasps as she tried to get herself out of the dressing gown she'd worn from the hospital.

"She told me everything. She's his fiancé. Turns out I'm just a bit of side action while she's out of the country. Did you know she decorated this place? She even gave him that stupid cat that swallowed the canary!"

"Micki," Carey warned. "You're not making any sense. Did you ask Ben about any of this?"

"Why would she lie?" Micki asked.

"I don't know," Carey said sarcastically. "Why?" Then after watching Micki struggle for several moments, she repeated: "Did you ask him, Mick?"

Micki hesitated slightly. "Not in so many words. But he didn't deny it! Now, are you going to help me, or am I going to have to do this by myself?!" "Why should I help you do what is maybe the silliest thing you've done in your life? No, I'm not helping. If you have one shred of sense you'll lay back in that bed and get some rest like the Dr. ordered."

Carey left the room in search of Angelina, but the woman was nowhere to be found. She and Micki were alone. Well, if she had anything to do with it, Micki wouldn't be going anywhere.

Thirty minutes later, the door bell rang. Carey answered it, surprised to find Stephanie standing on the opposite side. Glancing anxiously over her shoulder toward Micki's open bedroom door, she told Stephanie that Ben wasn't in.

"I'm here to see Nichola," Stephanie said politely. "May I come in?"

Carey wasn't at all sure that was a good idea. When she'd last checked on Micki, she'd been angrily battling with her overnight bag. Unfortunately, she must have heard the bell because she appeared at the doorway.

Stephanie spotted her, quickly took in her bedraggled appearance and started toward her. "Ben sent me," she spoke hesitantly. "I'm sorry about how I came on yesterday. I didn't know you were injured."

Pausing, she glanced between the two women. "Listen, this is really hard for me to you." she sighed, rubbing a hand over her forehead. Turning back to Micki she opened her mouth to continue, but stopped. Then, "Don't be so sad," she said, reaching for her.

"No!" Micki cried. "I don't want your sympathy." Moving around the taller woman, she headed toward the door as fast as she could, which wasn't very quickly.

"But Nichola, you've got to listen to me. Ben will never forgive me unless -"

"No," Micki shook her head, gazing pleadingly toward her cousin. "Carey please, help me get out of here."

Carey stared thoughtfully at Stephanie, then helped Micki to the car. In her present state of mind, Carey had no doubt that her cousin would have tried to walk home.

When they arrived, and she was in her own bed, Micki seemed calmer. Carey settled in a chair near the bed. "Okay, I've been in the dark long enough. Mind telling me what's been going on around here?"

"Stephanie and I kinda got into a fight," she said, her words slurring slightly. The medication she'd taken was obviously making her drowsy.

"Yeah, I sorta figured that. I mean before. Remember: fractured ribs. Ben wouldn't tell me."

"You mean you don't know yet?" Micki's voice rose a bit in surprise.

"Well, Ben said you made him promise! Imagine that, he's still keeping his promises," Carey couldn't resist the dig. "Now release me from this suspense."

"All right." Micki told the story as clearly and quickly as she could. Half expecting Carey to be devastated by her accusation, she was stunned when Carey pulled her into a gentle hug and asked for her forgiveness.

"I'm sorry I ever brought him into your life, Micki. But you won't have to worry about him anymore. He got some record deal and is gone to LA. I can find out where he is if you want to press charges. He should pay for what he did to you."

"No," Micki said, smiling. "He's gone. Let him go. And there's nothing to forgive. You couldn't have known that he would try to come back here looking for you."

Carey was silent, obviously not ready to relieve herself of a bit of the guilt.

"He never hit you, did he?" Micki asked the question that had been bothering her since her last meeting with the volatile young man.

"No," Carey said. "But I saw the potential, you know. He's so full of anger. That's why I had to get away from him." Then taking a deep breath, she cleared her throat and redirected the conversation.

"Since a certain person, and I'm not naming names, needs to get some rest, I'm going to leave you be." Their eyes met in understanding smiles as Carey gently squeezed her hand. "I'll be in the living room if you need me."

Much later, when the room had darkened, suggesting that it was late evening, Micki woke to the sound of voices speaking softly.

"Carey?" she called out. The voices stopped. Moments later she heard footsteps coming down the hallway. But the figure that filled the doorway was much too tall to be the petite Carey.

The overhead light came on, causing her to blink in the sudden glare. Her vision cleared to reveal the image of Ben Kingsley standing over her bed. Their eyes locked for the briefest moment before she dropped her gaze.

"Nichola Dupree,' Ben said, surprising her by using her given name. "I have something to say to you, and you will not interrupt me until I'm done. First of all, you are the only woman in my life, the only one I want there, and frankly I'm offended by your lack of trust in me. I would never, ever accuse you of the things you thought me guilty of.

"Secondly, about Stephanie: She and I grew up together and have known one another forever. She is overprotective of me, and tends toward jealousy. But, she is like a sister. She told me what she said. I sent her to tell you the truth from her lips, since you seemed to believe everything else she said. But, determined to believe the worse in me, you wouldn't listen to her either. So, you hear it from me.

"Now, I love you more than I can bear, and I am not letting you walk out of your life like this. Not without a fight. Any questions?"

Micki shook her head, stunned speechless.

"Well, I have one," Ben said, starring hard into her eyes.

She nodded, mouth agape, still assimilating all that he'd said.

Ben reached into his jacked pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box. Opening it to reveal the most beautiful diamond Micki had ever seen. "Will you marry me?"

Micki's jaw dropped even further, if that were possible. For long moments, she didn't blink, didn't move. And then suddenly, she was crying. "Oh, Ben. I don't deserve you."

"Just make me happy and say 'yes', and we'll work out the deserving part later."

"Yes?" Micki said, more a question than a statement.

Ben got down on his knees and took her face in his hands. "No, you have to mean it or no deal."

"Yes!" she said emphatically. "Oh Ben, I love you so much," she breathed.

"I know you do," he said moving closer to kiss her. "I know."

The End. Comments to the author Back to Romance Main page

All stories posted to this web site are original, written by Jackee C. They may be read and printed for personal use only!  Please do not claim them as your own. I share them freely because I enjoy writing, but all stories are copyright Jackee C, 1992 through 1999. All Rights Reserved.