When they get home from the vet Sam goes to lie down in the living room and pout.
Nancy observes this. "Dad never said how sad he'd be." She says never having this experience before.
Tom comes home. "What's going on?"
"Sam had his appointment today."
"Oh?" Tom asks. "Oh!!!" he understands.
"I didn't know it would have this affect on him."
"Well he did have a major change."
"Yeah but look at him." She says.
Tom looks at his sad face. "He'll be OK in a few days."
"I suppose." She sighs.
"Is Abby home yet?"
"I don't know I just got home."
"How did it go with you today?"
"Ok I guess, when I called into work today I found out that the shoot in New York is cancelled." She says a little disappointed.
"I'm sorry, but at least it spared me from telling you No."
Tom shrugs.
Nancy's about to say she didn't ask him but then sees the look on his face and relents and gives him a hug instead. "Yeah trying to tell me no can be a headache." She half jokes.
Tom hugs her back. "You know I don't like saying No to you kids just for fun."
"I know."
"You say that now. Just wait until the next time." he jokes.
"Oh ye of little faith." She jokes back. "Hey Joannie is Abby home?"
"Not yet," Joannie says. She looks out the window. "Wait--here they are now."
"Good I hope it went ok."
"OK, everyone lets not bombard Elizabeth with questions." Tom suggests.
Nancy nods.
The door opens and the Sacramento Central High contingent troops in.
Elizabeth and Tommy walk in first, They look at their father and then look at each other.
Tom is the first break the silence. "Hi."
"Hi." Liz asks. "What is this? To find out how humiliated I was today?" she says and goes upstairs.
Nancy starts to go after her.
Tom stands there with his mouth open. "All I did was say Hi."
"She had a rough day," Abby reports.
Elizabeth throws her books on the bed.
Tommy tells them about the locker incident.
"What?!?" he says. "Was it reported?" Tom asks.
Tommy nods no.
"But why not?"
"Tom, you can't protect her every hour of every day. If you report something like this, it'll just encourage the pranksters in the long run."
"I know...but." Tom says.
Nancy listens to this and then goes upstairs to her room to try to talk to her sister.
"Hi." Elizabeth says.
"Hi, there's something you should know. Your family was down there because they care about you and love you." She sits down next to her.
"I know, its just hard."
"I sure wish it didn't have to be, or that I can make everything you're going through disappear."
"Thanks."
"Anytime."
Downstairs: "But what? You think all this is going to be easy on her? If you think today was bad, wait until the trial."
Tom sighs. "I got a call from the D.A. today."
"And?"
"Bad news. He copped a plea."
"How could they do that without consulting us?"
"They don't work for us, they work for the city." he sighs.
"But we're the ones who're pressing charges."
"Apparently they are happy with the outcome."
"I could call my father and see if there's some way we can get them to change their minds," Abby suggests
"Actually the deal isn't a bad one." Tom replies.
"But he..." Abby starts, then tries to calm down. "What deal did they give him?"
"A year in Youth Detention and 5 years probation, plus counseling." Tom says. "I know it isn't much, but at least it will spare Elizabeth from testifying."
"I suppose. And maybe if he's accepting it, his friends won't be able to pretend he didn't do anything wrong. We have to talk to Elizabeth about this, though."
"Yeah, I know. Shall we do it now or later?"
"Might as well get it over with. It's not like we'll be wrecking a good day."
"Ok." They go upstairs.
Abby knocks at Elizabeth's door. "Your father and I need to talk to you. May we come in?"
"I guess, if Nancy doesn't mind." she replies.
Nancy hears Abby at the door. "I guess that's my cue to make myself scarce."
Abby and Tom walk in and wait for Nancy to clear out.
"You don't have to go." Elizabeth says.
"You'll find out sooner or later anyway." Tom replies.
"Find out what? And are you sure you don't want me to leave?"
"Up to you." Tom Says.
Nancy observes the looks on Tom and Abby's faces and decides to leave the room.
"Elizabeth we have something to tell you, but it is good news or bad news. Depends on your outlook." Tom says.
"What?" Liz asks.
When Tom doesn't answer, Abby steps in to fill the gap. "Your case won't be going to trial. They offered him a plea bargain and he took it."
"What type of plea bargin?' she asks.
Tom tells her.
"Only a year?" she says.
"At least you won't have to testify," Abby says, reminding her of the positive side. "And by accepting the plea, he's admitting he's guilty."
"But don't they sometimes get out before they serve their full sentence?" Liz worries.
"It's a possibility." Tom says.
"If it went to trial, though," Abby reminds her, "there was the possibility he'd get off with nothing. Sometimes you have to take what you can get. Well, in this case we had no choice, anyway--the DA's office decided for us, but you know what I mean."
Elizabeth sighs. "I guess at least he'll get the help he needs."
Tom looks proudly at his daughter. "That's a mature statement. I don't think I could be that generous."
"Thanks Dad."
"You'll be OK with this?" Abby double checks.
"I don't have a choice do I?" she asks.
"About the plea bargain, no. But if you need to talk to anyone about it, or about what happened today in school..."
"Thanks Abby, maybe later OK?"
"Sure. Whenever you're ready. I'm just going to go downstairs and start dinner. Your father can stay up here with you if you want."
"I have an idea, what if we all went out to dinner tonight?" Tom suggests.
"If Elizabeth wants," Abby says, distinctly unenthusiastic.
Elizabeth shrugs. "I'm not that hungry, besides I have homework to do." she says opening a book.
"OK, but if you change your mind." he says and then leaves.
"I'll be downstairs if you need me," Abby says, and follows Tom out.
Meanwhile in the hallway. ~Why couldn't he just ask me to stay? And why wasn't Abby talking? Must be bad news.~ She contemplates listening in but doesn't. She goes downstairs to the kitchen instead feeling down and not being able to shake it.
"Something wrong?" asks Susan
"I don't know, I hope not."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"That's just it I don't know what's wrong."
"Well, if you find out and want to talk I'm here."
"Thank you."
After talking to Susan she goes to check on Sam again.
"You look as bad as I feel buddy." She pets him and gives him a kiss on his forehead.
"Are you ok Nance?" Mary asks.
"No."
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know."
"Did you take your medication today?"
"Yes."
"You upset about Elizabeth?"
"Yes, but that's not all of it."
"What's the rest of it."
"If I knew I'd tell you." She says starting to get irritable.
Mary whispers to Joannie. "I'm going to talk to Dad and Abby will you keep an eye on her?"
"Sure," Joannie says.
Elizabeth throws a book at her wall.
Abby turns at the sound and looks at Tom to see if they should go back into Elizabeth's room.
"Let's let her cool off." Tom suggests. "We can take a plate up to her later, besides don't you have to help Tommy?"
"Yeah, I do," Abby sighs. "Maybe Elizabeth would loan me one of her books to throw."
Tom gives her a hug. "Thank you."
"What for?" Abby asks, a little surprised.
"For being here for me and the kids. I know I don't tell you often enough, but I know I couldn't have gotten through this alone."
"You're making it sound like my presence here is optional. This is my family too, now, you know."
"I know." Tom says. "I didn't mean it was optional."
"I know," Abby says. "I'm sorry I snapped at you. It's just been a rough day."
"That's why I felt if we all went out, we might feel better."
"Well, this makes two offers to go out I'm turned down today," Abby says without thinking her words through.
"Two Offers? Who was the First?" Tom asks curiously.
"You don't want to know."
"Abby, tell me."
"If it wasn't important, you wouldn't have said anything." Tom follows her.
"You're right. I shouldn't have."
"So tell me." Tom asks.
"One of the teachers asked me out for Friday night. I think my wedding ring was more of an attraction than a deterrent."
"Oh? Which one?"
"Bill Thomas, the auto mechanics teacher."
Tom laughs.
"That was my reaction, too. But I didn't think you'd take it this well."
"He did the same thing to Joan at Parent-Teacher Conference. David had him as a teacher." Tom says still snickering. "I'm sorry, I should have warned you about him."
"I think maybe you didn't warn me on purpose."
"What makes you say that?"
"Must be kind of flattering, to know another man so agrees with your taste in women."
"That leech?" he asks.
"I don't know. He seemed like a nice man. Not his fault you get the women he likes before he can."
"He does have excellent taste." he concedes.
"Then maybe I should tell him yes about Friday," Abby says. "And besides, it would ensure Tommy and Elizabeth got good grades if they ever had him."
"Oh no you don't, you and I have a date for dinner and dancing; that is if you accept."
"Well, I've been asked out more romantically in my life, but I think I'll let you defer the romanticism for the actual date."
"Hmm, I'll be ready, but the question is will you?" he jokes.
"For you? Always."
He kisses her when Mary comes in.
"Thank you." Mary leaves the room and finds Tom and Abby still in the hallway. "I hate to interrupt you but we might have a problem."
"Another one?" Abby sighs.
"Yes another one." Mary says.
"Oh?" Tom asks curiously. "What's wrong."
"It's Nancy, she's not looking right."
"Is she sick?" Abby worries. "She looked OK a few minutes ago."
"I don't think it's that. She looked like she did at the beginning of the year before she ran off and had to be committed."
Abby exchanges a worried glance with Tom. "Where is she?"
"She's downstairs with Sam and Joannie."
"You want to talk to her, or should I?" Abby asks Tom.
"Let's both talk to her."
Abby sighs and begins heading down the stairs while Tom lags behind, talking to Mary.
Meanwhile in the living room.
"Hey Joannie can we get out of here for awhile?" Nancy asks.
"Sure. Let's just tell Dad and Abby so they don't worry where we've gone off to."
"Ok." Tom and Abby enter the room. "Joannie and I are going out."
"Wait," Abby says. "Joannie, would you excuse us for a minute?"
"I should get a few things done before we go, anyway. I'll be back in a few minutes," Joannie tells Nancy.
"Ok," She looks at her parents. "What's going on?" She asks not knowing that Mary had talked to them.
"That's what I'd like to know," Abby says. "You look pretty down."
"I don't know why if I did you'd know, and I did take my medication today." She replies.
"Why don't you come into the kitchen and sit with me while I make dinner?" Abby suggests. "Sometimes if you just ramble on about whatever comes into your head it helps you figure things out."
"Ok, but if it doesn't work can we go to the hospital in case the meds have stopped working?"
"That's a good idea in any case. Why don't you call your doctor and make an appointment?"
"Ok." She calls to make the appointment and then they go into the kitchen. "She wants to see me tomorrow at 10am."
"Maybe your father can take you," Abby says. "I would, but I've got to be in school--more for Elizabeth than for my students."
"How did Elizabeth take whatever news you had to give her?"
Abby shrugs. "As well as could be expected, I guess."
"Must have been bad news."
"You'll hear about it sooner or later. The DA reached a plea bargain agreement with Peter."
"He what? What kind of plea bargain?"
Abby explains the terms. "At least Elizabeth won't have to testify. Everyone knows what they do to women at rape trials. It's not pretty."
"I know, I've known a few people who have kept silent just so they wouldn't have to go through that."
"So in that sense, this plea bargain's a good thing."
"Yeah I guess."
"I'm not thrilled with it either," Abby confides, "but you take what you can get."
"That's a hard lesson to learn."
"Hopefully it's something minor, I thought it best to tell you guys right away instead of having a repeat of earlier this year." Mary says to her Dad.
"I am glad you did," Tom says rubbing his left arm.
"Dad are you ok?"
"Uh." Tom says continuing rubbing his arm. "Sure, I just probably pulled a muscle golfing yesterday."
"Do you want the heating pad?"
"Yes, Thank you."
Mary goes to get and brings it to him.
When Mary comes back in she finds her Dad has collapsed.
"Oh no, Dad!!" She rushes to his side. "Abby!!"
"What the heck." Nancy says from the kitchen and rushes in there.
"What is it, Mary?" Abby says as she hurries towards the sound of Mary's panicked voice. She sees her husband on the floor. "Tom!" She turns towards the girls. "Call Dr. Max."
Mary calls Dr. Max and also 911.
~Come on Dad get up.~ Nancy thinks while trying to hold it together.
Tommy, Elizabeth and Nicholas hear the yells and come running down the stairs.
Nicholas starts to freak out. "DAD!!"
Tommy and Elizabeth hold him back.
Abby looks up at Nicholas from where she kneels next to Tom. "Dad will be OK, Nicholas."
"Did you reach Dr. Max?" Abby asks the girls.
"Yes he's on his way." Mary tells her while still on the phone with dispatch.
"What else do you want us to do?" Nancy asks wanting to do something.
Tom finally comes around and tries to get up.
"Dad stay still." Nancy orders.
"Tom, lie still," Abby tells him.
Tom tries to rise then has another sharp pain and lies back down. "You won't get an argument from me."
He looks at his youngest. "Nicholas, don't worry I'm fine." and tries to motion to Abby to get him out of there.
Abby doesn't want to leave Tom, but realizes that what she wants isn't the most important thing right now. "Come on, Nicholas, let's go get Dad's bed ready. Bet he's just trying to get a day off of work tomorrow and Dr. Max will tell him not to play hooky like that."
Elizabeth realizes what is going on and volunteers. "I'll go get the bed ready," and then leans down to Nicholas. "Think you can help me?"
Nicholas nods
"Thanks, Elizabeth," Abby says, grateful.
Elizabeth gives her a worried look and then takes Nicholas upstairs.
Instead of knocking Dr. Max comes right in and looks Tom over.
Abby watches Max anxiously.
"He's going to be ok right?" Nancy asks Greg.
"Of course he is honey I just need to make sure." Greg says. "Tom stay still."
"I would if you would stop poking at me." Tom says but giving Max a scared look.
"Oh, come on, how many times does he get the chance to poke you without fear of retaliation?" Abby tries to get Tom to relax a little and stop scaring her so.
"You enjoy having me poked." he jokes to try and put his wife and kids at ease.
Abby leans down and whispers in his ear, "Not by Max..."
He smiles.
"I want him brought in for tests. Did anyone call an ambulance?" Max asks.
"Yeah I did." Mary says.
"What's taking them so long?" Abby fusses.
Tommy hears the sirens. "They are here."
Nancy goes to the front door and lets them in. "It's about time." She tells them.
Used to this kind of greeting once in awhile they ignore her comment and go over to Tom and take over. Soon they have him ready to go in the ambulance.
"Who wants to ride with me?" Nancy asks figuring Abby will go with Tom.
Tommy says "I do."
"Me," Joannie says.
"Ok, let's go."
"I'll drive." Mary takes the keys from Nancy. "That ok?"
Nancy nods.
While the paramedics are loading Tom onto the stretcher, Abby whispers to Max, "Tell me what you think happened."
When Max doesn't answer her, Abby whispers more insistently, "Is he having a heart attack?"
Max whispers back. "So far it looks like a minor heart attack."
Abby nods and hurries out to the ambulance. In the ambulance, she sits next to Tom and tries not to show how worried she is.
Tom sees the tears welling up in Abby's eyes. "I'm going to be fine."
"You'd better be," Abby tries joking. "We have a date Friday night, and I don't like being stood up."
"Don't worry, I have my twostep down."
"And you just keep it down until Max checks you out."
"Yes Ma'am." he jokes.
Abby starts to say something, but instead just takes hold of Tom's hand.
He holds her hand until the ambulance arrives at the hospital. The paramedics unload Tom and rush him inside while Abby tries to keep with Tom.
Max gets in his car and follows the ambulance once it takes off.
Meanwhile all the kids who are going to the hospital leave in Nancy's car.
With Nicholas not there, Joannie finally asks, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Yes." Nancy says quietly as her eyes well with tears.
"He'll be OK." Tommy says.
"He'd better be."
"He's going to be OK, Nancy," Joannie tries calming her little sister.
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart."
Nancy manages a smile through her tears. "Thanks Joannie."
They arrive at the hospital and check inside to see if the paramedics have brought Tom there yet.
"He's being seen--you'll have to wait here," a nurse tells them.
"Thank you." Mary says and they go find Abby.
"Do you need anything?" Nancy asks Abby.
Abby shakes her head and continues her pacing.
Tommy finally speaks up. "You trying to hypnotize us?" referring to her pacing back and forth.
Mary stops her. "You're going to wear a hole in the floor."
"Got any better way to pass the time?"
"No actually."
Abby goes back to her pacing.