A little while later a couple of police officers enter and get a statement from her.
"Will I have to go to court?" She asks.
"Only to testify against the man who beat you up."
"What about the man who sent them after the guy I was bringing food to? Is that trial over yet?"
"No it just started in fact."
"So he's still in danger?" Nancy asks curiously.
"No, all the bad guys are in jail. Why are you concerned about that kid anyway? He sure wasn't concerned about you last night."
"Not concerned just wondering. If you see him tell him to take a flying leap."
"Will do." After the police officer leaves the telephone rings. She answers the phone.
"Hello."
"Hey how are you feeling?" David asks. They talk a little while longer and then hang up.
Meanwhile at Noah's house.
"This time please don't go telling everyone you know." Noah says.
"What are you talking about?" His friend Ellen asks.
"It's not cool that Nancy's sister found out about her getting electrocuted through you gossiping about it. I don't want anything like that to ever happen again."
Ellen snorts. "Joannie Bradford is a you know what anyway."
Noah glares at her. "Don't talk about my girlfriends sister that way. Especially in front of Nancy because if you do she'll knock you down so fast that you won't know what hit you."
"Ok already relax."
Later in the Bradford house.
Elizabeth in her bedroom getting some of Nancy's nightgowns together to bring to the hospital when she finds the thing that Joannie had found when she and David were searching their room months ago.
"Oh my." She laughs. "I don't think I should bring this." She puts it back.
Soon later Mary comes in. "Are you done?"
"Yeah." She hands Mary the bag. "Be sure to lecture her about what she did to wind up there in the first place."
Mary laughs. "Elizabeth I know what to do I am the oldest sister." She leaves for the hospital.
Elizabeth finds Susan in the kitchen. "Any idea of Abby told Dad about Tommy and I?"
"No why?" Susan says looking up from her studies
"Just wondering." Elizabeth says hoping that she hadn't
"Are you afraid of what dad will do when he finds out?" Susan says
"Wouldn't you be?"
"Yeah I suppose so." Susan says "How come you and Tommy were drinking anyways?"
"It seemed fun at the time."
"And now?" Susan asks
"Hangovers are brutal and Abby is a tough discipliner. I should have known better anyway after seeing what Nancy went through."
"I guess sometimes we do foolish things and don't realize until much later how dumb it really was."
"You know we never did do that pizza thing. Maybe we should do is as soon as possible. Life is short. Mary said she wants to and so did Nancy who insisted on her hospital room I guess so she doesn't have to eat the food there. Can you talk to Joannie?"
"Sure"
"Thank you."
A little while later in Nancy's hospital room.
"How are you feeling?" Mary asks.
"Pretty lousy." Nancy admits. "I was so stupid walking into a trap like that."
"I won't argue with you there." Mary says.
"Mary."
"No, don't even, do you have any idea of what you put this family through? Don't ever risk your neck like that again."
"I won't believe me. Now will you please be nice to me my head hurts."
Mary smiles. "Ok." She shows her the stuff she brought from home.
"Thank you very much. Now I can go for walks knowing that my backside is covered."
"Not a problem." She glances at her sister for awhile. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Yeah right."
"It's probably nothing."
"Something is bothering you out with it."
"How come Susan and Joannie haven't been by to see me yet?"
"They're busy." Mary says and decides to change the subject. "Besides you don't need this place to be Grand Central Station anyway. You need to be resting."
"Yeah, I'll see them when I get home anyway." She says pretending not to be upset about it.
After awhile Mary leaves.
The next day Nancy's therapist comes to see her.
"I hear you had a little excitement."
"You heard right, and if that's what excitement is all about I prefer boredom."
"Want to tell me exactly what happened? What were you doing there, anyway?"
Nancy tells her about what happened to get her stabbed months ago and about the guy approaching her. "I helped because there wasn't anyone else to help. Then I came to realize why there wasn't anyone else." Tells her about his selfish manner. "I only went that night to tell him to get someone else to help. I didn't know that they had gotten to them." She tells her about him making a run for it and leaving her there in harms way.
"And no one warned you about him?"
"Abby did."
"And?"
"I was an idiot and didn't listen."
"Who told you you were an 'idiot'?"
"I did."
"Why?"
"Well look at what happened. I almost died. Dr. Max said I was unconscious for almost 24 hours and would have gone into a coma if it had been any longer. And now I think, nevermind."
"Now you think what?"
"That Joannie has retreated back into her shell again."
"Maybe you should leave Joannie and her shell aside until you're stronger."
"Maybe I should just leave her and her shell alone period until she's ready to come out of it I can't spend my life walking on egg shells."
"Now that's what I call progress. How did Abby take it that you wouldn't listen to her?"
"She was a little angry, she said, but we talked it out a little."
"A little?"
"Well that's what she said."
"No, I meant--what do you mean, you 'talked it out a little'?"
"I started falling asleep so she said we'd talk about it more later."
"How do you think that'll go?"
"It'll go good."
"All right, then. But I do have one other question--why didn't you listen to Abby's warning?"
"Because I thought I'd be ok anyway."
"The invincible Nancy Bradford?"
"Something stupid like that."
"Why do you keep running yourself down like that?"
"To save everyone else the trouble."
"You think they want to?"
"Sort of."
"Because you got hurt?"
"And put them through a lot of worry."
"That's what families are for."
"True."
"Maybe, then, you're borrowing trouble."
"What do you mean?"
"You're expecting them to be down on you, but you also know that they worry about you because they're your family and they love you. Maybe you should give them some credit. Maybe they won't dump on you if you don't dump on yourself."
"Good point."
"I'm full of 'em."
"Yeah, you know one day maybe I'll actually get to see your office."
"Listen to your family's advice a little more, and you actually might," she agrees.
Nancy nods in agreement.
"OK, then. You know when they're springing you?"
"Yeah in about 5 or 6 days."
"Then I'll come see you here again a time or two."
"Ok."
"Take care of yourself until then. And if you need me, call."
"I will."
Meanwhile Joannie's boyfriend picks her up at home. In his car on the way to wherever they're going.
"I checked it out for you like you asked and not to worry. The one who attacked her won't be making bail." He assures her.
Joannie throws her arms around him. "Thank you. I really owe you one."
He grins, pulls over, and kisses her. The cars behind him start honking. He chooses to ignore them. "No you don't that's what men who love you are for."
"Love?" Joannie says, gulping.
"Yes, Joannie I love you."
"Is that like in high school love or grown up people's love?"
He grins and kisses her again. "What do you think?"
"If I knew what to think I wouldn't be asking, would I?"
"It's definitely not a high school thing."
"OK." ~Oh, no, I'm not ready to deal with this.~
He observes her expression. "You weren't ready to hear that were you?"
"Ummm..." Joannie hesitates, not ready to admit it. "Maybe we should talk about after you've parked the car."
He drives to the restaurant and pulls into a parking space. "What's up?"
"I don't know. I'm just really confused about a lot of things right now."
"Well I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. I'll wait as long as I have to."
"What did I do to deserve you, huh?"
He just smiles at her.
"Don't smile at me like that. We're in public."
He laughs and then they go inside.
One week later Dr. Mason calls Tom and Abby and asks them to meet with him at the hospital.
"Of course," Abby says. "Just tell us when to be there."
"Is one hour from now too soon." He asks. "I'm planning on releasing her tomorrow but I wanted to talk to the two of you first."
"Sure. We'll be there," Abby says, not even checking with Tom.
"Who was that?" Tom asks.
"Nancy's doctor. He wants to see us in an hour."
"Something wrong?" Tom asks concerned.
"I don't think so. He sounds cheerful. Then again, that might not be because of Nancy..."
"Let's not wait an hour, lets go now." Tom replies.
"Tom, he does have other patients to tend to. Oh, OK--but if he keeps us waiting, don't say I didn't tell you so."
A short while later, Abby and Tom arrive at Dr. Mason's office.
He lets them in and offers for them to sit down. "Right now she is recovering nicely, but for the next week or so it will be crucial that she takes it easy. She doesn't have to be in bed all the time but no strenuous activity. And if she appears to be feeling fine make her rest anyway because she will go through periods where she thinks she's better but she's not. A dizzy spell can sneak up on her in an instant."
"We'll set up a schedule to make sure she takes it easy," Abby says. "I'm certain Tommy and Elizabeth will be more than glad to help."
"Good, we still need to keep her here for another day, but I'm releasing her tomorrow at noon."
"We'll be here," Abby says. "And thank you for everything."
"Not a problem, and you probably won't be thanking me when you see my bill." He teases.
"Hey, she's worth it."
He smiles and checks his watch. "I have to go check on a patient. I'll see you two tomorrow."
"Thank you." They leave the doctor's office.
Tom looks at Abby curiously. "Why would Tommy and Elizabeth be more than happy to help?"
"Oh, they were really good while you were gone. Very helpful. Didn't you notice all the things they did around the house? How nicely they mowed the lawn?"
"Helpful? My kids?" Tom asks. "OK, what did they do."
"The lawn, a thorough cleaning of the living room, polished the silver--I'm telling you, your underestimate your family." ~And your kids underestimated me, but maybe they'll listen to me once in a while now.~
"Uh huh." Tom says not convinced.
"You're not trusting me," Abby says, hoping that will satisfy Tom
"I trust you." Tom says reluctantly.
"Good," Abby smiles. "Remember that."
"I'm going to go check up on Nancy. You want to come, too?"
"I'd love to, but Elliot wants a meeting. Tell her I'll see her after work."
"Ah, the debriefing after the conference. OK, I'll tell her," Abby says and gives him a kiss.
"Hi." Nancy says as Abby comes in.
"Hi. We just came from your doctor," Abby says with a smile.
"And the news is good I take it." Nancy says when she sees the smile. "When do I get to go home?"
"End of the week soon enough?" Abby asks.
"You mean tomorrow? Yeah that's soon enough." Nancy smiles.
"I was trying to trick you into that one," Abby mutters. "You could act a little more excited. I thought that with Noah and all, the cute doctors wouldn't be an incentive to stay."
"Can't trick me today." Nancy says and tries to get up to start packing.
"Tomorrow, Nancy. You don't have to pack just yet."
Nancy laughs. "Sorry I just can't wait to get out of here."
"Elizabeth will be flattered."
"You mean she's not used to having her own room yet?"
Abby leans close and whispers in Nancy's ear: "I think she's too exhausted to notice."
"Oh I see." Nancy whispers back remembering Tommy and Elizabeth's punishment.
"Your father hasn't noticed anything yet, so shhh..."
Nancy nods in agreement to keeping it quiet.
"Anything special you want waiting at home for you?" Abby asks.
"Yes, but he's not allowed upstairs."
"Sorry, Sam will just have to substitute."
"That's what I figured."
"Sorry."
"It's all right. Sam's my bud."
"He must think so, too. He's been lying on your bed whining most of the time."
Her face clouds over. "Oh no, poor guy."
"He'll be fine once we get you home."
"Yeah, so how have things been at home?"
"We'll talk about it tomorrow, when you're home and bored," Abby says, trying to subtly nod in Tom's direction.
"Ok."
Abby stands. "I'll be back in the morning to help you pack up and get you out of here, OK?"
"Sounds good to me. Thank you." Nancy says.
"Just don't make me do it again too soon. I think they're getting tired of seeing you here."
"Yeah I'm getting tired of being here, no more."
"A mutual parting of the ways, then."
Nancy nods.
Abby bends down and kisses Nancy. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Ok." Nancy gives her a hug.
A few hours later at home. Elizabeth goes to answer the door and is a little stunned to see who is there. "Auntie V, hi!!" She hugs her.
Vivian hugs her. "Hi there yourself." She looks around the house. "Where is everyone?"
Joannie comes out of the kitchen. "I'm right here. Who needs anyone else?"
Vivian hugs her. "It's good to see you."
Joannie hugs her back. "Good to see you, too. Why didn't you call and say you were coming? Oh, stupid question."
"I wanted to surprise everyone of course. I have gifts for all of you. Where's your brothers and sisters, your Dad, Abby."
"Tommy's probably hiding out; I'm not sure where everyone else is. I think Susan's upstairs. Dad and Abby went to the hospital, but they should be home soon. Hey, Elizabeth, you might want to hide."
"Ha ha funny Joannie." Elizabeth says.
"Why are they at the hospital?"
"Nancy got hurt again." Elizabeth gives her the details adding that she'll be all right now.
"Oh my." Vivian says.
The front door opens and Abby walks in. "Who's...Vivian--hello! Why didn't you let us know you were coming in to town?"
"Because if I did that my brother would probably have me committed." She greets her.
"You mean this way he won't try?" Abby jokes.
"He'll try but he won't succeed, now when are visiting hours."
"In about three hours," Abby says, "but she's coming home tomorrow. You can help keep her tied to her bed."
"Oh I will, and I'll go see her in a few hours to bring her her gift. In the meantime come into the living room I have something for you."
Abby follows her sister-in-law into the living room, a little apprehensive.
Vivian hands Abby her present.
"Thank you," Abby says, looking at it. "It's...um...it's..."
"They're all wonderful Auntie V." Elizabeth says.
"Thank you I'd knew you'd like them. Joannie how do you like yours?"
"I love it. You know Dad's going to hate it, though. When do we go?"
"I thought we'd leave the day after tomorrow." Vivian says.
"Leave for where?" Abby asks, not having seen what Joannie's gift was
Vivian cringes. ~Oh boy here goes.~ "I was planning on taking Joannie to see some Broadway shows."
"You're right," Abby says. "Tom is going to try to have you committed."
"He'll understand, it'll be good for her career."
"V, could I talk to you a minute?" Abby asks.
"Sure." ~Uh oh.~
They head off to Tom's study. "You really should have checked with us first," Abby says.
"I'm sorry but Joannie does seem excited about it."
"Of course she is. Who wouldn't be?"
"If you want I'll talk to Tom about this."
"I think that's probably a good idea. And I'll go warn the news about the impending earthquake."
"Thank you." Vivian says
"You're a braver woman than I."
"Oh I don't know about that. You live here all the time."
Abby laughs.
So does Vivian and then they return to the rest of the family.
"So?" Joannie asks anxiously.
"I'll talk to your father when he gets home." Vivian says. "Don't worry I'm sure he'll say yes."
"Yeah, right. He'll never say yes."
"Sure he will. Just let me talk to him."
"What's the use?" Joannie says, and runs up the stairs to her room.
Elizabeth goes after her. "Joannie she'll talk him into it. She's always been able to before and even if she can't. He can't stop you. You're an adult."
"Sure I can go, but will he let me come back?"
"If he doesn't he'll have seven children refusing to speak to him again."
"Like that matters to him."
"It matters."
"If it were Nancy, he'd say yes, no problem."
Elizabeth shakes her head. "No, remember when it was Nancy. Vivian had to fight him tooth and nail. What did Nancy do to you anyway?"
"Nothing. She didn't do anything, all right? Saint Nancy is perfectly perfect."
"She's anything but perfect but at least she wouldn't let pettiness keep her from visiting one of her siblings if they had almost died."
"Look, why don't you just get out, ok?"
"Fine, not like you care about anyone in this family anymore anyway." Elizabeth leaves the room angrily.
Joannie pulls her door open. "Why don't you go check what chore Abby's got for you now?" she says to her sister's retreating back.
Elizabeth slams her bedroom door.
Joannie slams hers, too.
Mary looks at both doors trying to decide who to talk to and finally shakes her head. "Uh uh." She then heads downstairs.
"Hey, easy on the door sis." Susan says looking up from her book "Is there something wrong?"
"Elizabeth. Someone ought to teach that kid a lesson."
"What are you talking about?"
"I don't know who she thinks she is," Joannie says, not really answering the question.
"What did Elizabeth do now?" Susan asks
"She's a brat. Who appointed her...thinks she can tell me how to act..." Joannie growls.
"Since when does anyone tell you how to act." Susan says still confused about Joannie's ranting
"Since little Lizzie decided she's grown up enough to boss me around. Miss Perfect thinks I'm not acting properly, that I don't care..."
"You don't care huh. Well, what is it exactly you don't care about?"
"About this family. That's ridiculous!"
"Well you have been pretty busy lately." Susan says "What brought all this on anyways? Did you two have words over something or . . .maybe someone. . .Let me guess, Nancy."
"Who else? Doesn't every conversation in this house revolve around Nancy?"
"I know it has seemed that way lately but she was hurt you know."
"Yeah, I know. Every other week lately."
"True, it does seem she's been more accident prone lately. I wonder what's up with that?"
Joannie shrugs. "Not like she'd tell me."
"What makes you say that?"
"Every time I talk to her it's like she wants something from me, but I can't figure out what. Maybe you'd have better luck getting her to say what's up with her."
"I'll see what I can do." Susan says "You know maybe all of us should get together after Nancy gets out of the hospital and have like a Bradford girls night out You know we haven't done anything like that in a while and maybe that will help clear up some of the tension that's been going on."
"That's a great idea, but you'll probably have to organize it, since I don't think Nancy or Elizabeth is talking to me."
"No problem. I'll let the others know."
"What was all that slamming up there?" Abby asks her when she comes down.
"I don't know and I don't want to know." Mary says.
"Do you at least know who?"
"Elizabeth and Joannie."
"Well, Joannie has enough problems, but I think Elizabeth was looking at loose ends. I have the cure for that," Abby says. "V, if you'll excuse me?"
"Sure Abby." After Abby goes upstairs. "What does she mean about Joannie having problems?"
"That's open to Joannie to tell you."
Abby knocks on Elizabeth's door.
"Come in." Elizabeth says.
"That was some slam," Abby says.
"I'm sorry, she just makes me so angry sometimes."
"Joannie? Why?"
"She doesn't like us anymore."
"Us?"
"Mostly Nancy, at first she didn't talk to her because she kept screwing up and now she calls her miss perfect. I don't understand why she's acting this way."
"I never have understood Joannie," Abby admits.
"I'm just so tired of it. I've tried staying out of it but it's difficult."
"You can't fight other people's battles."
"I know."
"But you still slam doors."
"She made me mad."
"But what did the poor door do?"
"Better the door get hurt then me socking Joannie one."
"She got you that mad? I thought Bradfords don't hit Bradfords."
"We don't, that's why I slammed the door instead."
"You do realize you're talking in circles."
"Let's just say that I hope Dad says yes to her going to New York."
"Well, it's nice to hear you're not mad enough at her to wish her ill."
"I would never do that. I love her."
"Remember that the next time you feel like slamming something."
"Ok."
"And if you have so much excess energy, there are plenty of chores you can do."
"When is our punishment going to be over?"
"When I can be sure you've learned your lesson."
"I've learned it, really."
"Uh huh. Well, in any case, starting tomorrow your days of being a chore slave are over."
She sighs in relief. "Thanks Abby."
"Don't be so quick to thank me, Elizabeth."
"Why not?"
"Starting tomorrow you're released from the extra chores because you'll become your sister's keeper."
Elizabeth groans.
"I knew you'd be happy."