Nancy goes to get some coffee.
Tommy decides to get a soda. "Anyone want a soda?"
"No." Mary says.
"I just want to know what's taking them so long," Abby says.
Tommy goes and takes a walk.
When Tom is finally alone with Dr. Max. "Greg, I am going to be ok, right?"
"That's what we're here to find out but I'm sure you are going to be."
"You doctors can never give a straight answer." he sighs.
"Tom if I gave you a straight answer the other doctors would find out and alienate me." Max jokes.
Tom chuckles at this and then has another twinge.
Max and the other medical personnel tend to it.
"I'm feeling better now Max." Tom says.
Greg finishes looking over the tests. "I'd like to keep you overnight for observation."
Tom nods. "Well was it or wasn't it?"
"It was a minor heart attack."
"Great!." Tom says shaking his head.
Max calms him down and then goes to look for Abby.
As soon as Abby spots him coming through the ER doors, she rushes over to him. "How is Tom?"
"We need to keep him over night for observation but so far it looks good. And it's what I suspected."
"Then how can it look good?"
"Because he's going to recover."
"Can I go in and see him?"
"Sure."
"You'll tell the kids he'll be OK?" Abby says as she heads towards the ER door.
"Of course I will."
Abby thanks him and goes to see Tom.
Nancy and Tommy soon return. "Any word yet?" She asks Mary and Joannie.
"Dr. Max is talking to Abby."
"How are you doing?" Mary asks.
"It doesn't matter." Nancy replies and waits for Abby to return.
Dr. Max comes over and tells the kids what's going on.
"I'll go call Elizabeth and Susan." Tommy says.
"Dr. Max what caused it?" Nancy asks hoping it wasn't her that finally pushed him over the edge.
"Oh a number of things, his age, eating habits and I am suspecting this thing with Elizabeth didn't help either."
"Oh no." She groans. ~I did send him over the edge. For now on I'm keeping my mental health to myself.~
"Nancy, these things just happen. No one is to blame."
"Sure tell me another one." She goes outside to get some fresh air.
Dr. Max goes after her. "Nancy, you can't believe you caused this do you?"
"He was worried about me when it happened."
"Nancy, your father has been having these symptoms for awhile now. It's just a coincidence it happened when it did."
"How can you be sure of that?"
Dr. Max sighs. "Because he told me."
"He told you tonight?"
Max nods. "I warned him to lay off going to the Grease Pit."
"I still had a part in it." Nancy says not thinking clearly. "I almost killed my own Dad." She runs off.
Tom has his eyes close when Abby comes in.
One of the nurses assures her. "He is just resting. We will be moving him to the floor in a little while."
"Can I stay here with him?"
"Of course." she says. "I'll be back in a few minutes to take vitals."
"Thanks." A few minutes later, Tom's eyes open. "Hey there," Abby says.
Tom opens his eyes. "Hey, I was just thinking about our date."
"The only date you have right now is with Max."
"But he is so unattractive and he doesn't smell or feel as nice."
"I'm not sure Daisy would agree with you."
Tom smiles and reaches out and holds her hand.
After a while Abby asks, "Did Max say anything about why this happened so suddenly?"
Tom sighs. "I have a confession to make."
"Sounds serious," Abby says, joking to keep from being too scared.
"I've been having these pains for a few days and Max has warned me about my eating habits during my last checkup."
"Why didn't you say something? I would have cooked differently. I would have made you go to Max when you started having pains."
"Your cooking is fine." Tom says not willing to give up his favorite restaurant. "Besides, I didn't think it was anything to worry about."
Abby shakes her head. "Next time, even if you think whatever it is isn't something to worry about, worry me."
Tom nods.
Meanwhile in the waiting room Tommy comes back with a concerned look on his face.
"What's wrong?"
"Nicholas locked himself in his playhouse, he doesn't believe Dad is OK." Tommy explains. "Has Abby been out yet?"
"No not yet." Mary says. "If she's staying the night I'll go home and talk to him."
"Both Elizabeth and Susan tried talking to him, he isn't going to believe any of us." Tommy states.
Mary sighs in frustration.
Dr. Max returns to the waiting room.
"Where's Nancy?" Mary asks.
He tells her.
She lets out a primal scream to relieve the stress.
"Feel better?" Max asks.
"Yes, and at the same time no. I don't feel better." She tells him what's going on with Nicholas. "Can anything else go wrong tonight?"
Max puts his arms around her. "Everyone is just scared, that's all. It'll be ok, you'll see." he squeezes her shoulder. "I better get back to your father."
"Thanks Dr. Max." Tommy says.
"Dr. Max wait why did Nancy run off?" Mary asks.
"She thinks she is the cause of your father's heart attack." Max explains. "You know as well as I do, that isn't the case."
"Oh no." She tells him about what was going on with her earlier.
"Oh brother, what an idiot I was." Max says.
"You couldn't have known what was going on with her if I just told you."
"Somebody needs to find her." Max says. "But I don't want your father to know anything about this yet. We have to keep him calm for at least the next few days." He then looks at the Bradfords. "Or at least 24 hours." he jokes.
"I'll go look for her," Joannie volunteers.
"Need any company?" Mary asks.
"Can't hurt," Joannie answers.
"I hope not." Mary says as they leave in Nancy's car.
"And somebody needs to talk to Nicholas. Dr. Max can you do that?"
"I would but I am on call all night, besides I don't think he has a phone in his playhouse." Max jokes. "I'll go talk to Abby."
"Ok."
Max goes back into the ER.
"Abby, can I see you outside?" Max asks.
"What's wrong?" Tom asks.
"Nothing, just routine, We need to find out if you can afford my
care." he jokes.
"Funny Max." Tom says not amused.
"I'll be right back," Abby assures Tom. "And meanwhile, don't flirt with the nurses or I'll see if you were right about Max." She follows Max out of the room.
"I hate to tell you this now on top of everything else but....." Max
explains the situation to her about Nicholas and Nancy. "Now Joannie and
Mary have gone in search of Nancy in her car." Max says and pulls out his
car keys. "Why don't you drive Tommy home and see if you can
persuade Nicholas that Tom is going to be fine."
"But I want..." Abby sighs. "OK. Just let me tell Tom I'm going."
"Abby, like I told the kids. I wasn't kidding. Tom will be fine. Before you know it he'll be badgering about going to the Grease Pit for Dinner." he says as he gives her a hug.
"I know, I know. But still... Next time you warn him about his eating habits, you let the cook of the family in on the secret too, OK?"
"You are right, I should have known better than to think he would have told you."
"After all these years, you really should have. I'll go tell Tom I'm going and then I'll take care of Nicholas. Thanks for warning me." Abby heads back into the room.
"I'm going to head back to the house for a little, tell them how you are. I'll be back in an hour or so--can you behave for that long?" she asks Tom.
"Something wrong?" Tom asks.
"No, but you know Nicholas. He believes me more when I'm really there, not just talking on the phone."
Tom sighs. "He must really be scared. OK, for Nicholas sake I'll behave."
"For your own sake. I catch you flirting with one of those nurses and I'll take a lesson in auto mechanics Friday night."
Tom cringes. "I'll behave, I'll behave."
"The better you behave, the faster you'll be out of here and get your reward for behaving," Abby says. She kisses Tom goodbye, tells Tommy she's going to the house, and offers to take him, too.
"Are you sure someone shouldn't stay here with Dad?"
"They're going to move him up to a room. By the time they get him settled, I'll be back," Abby says. "We'll have to do your English assignment tomorrow, I guess. I'll talk to your teacher."
Tommy nods. "I guess, I can get started on my own."
"I'd appreciate that. And then I'll look it over and we'll go over it together."
"OK." They go home.
"Where do you think she's gone? The cemetery?" Joannie asks.
"Has to be. Either that or... The ice cream shop is closed. Do you know of any other place she could be if she's not at the cemetery?"
"Noah's?"
"It's a possibility. But we'll check the cemetery first."
"Wish we didn't have to..."
"Yeah me too."
Mary and Joannie don't find Nancy at the cemetery or at Noah's house.
"Joannie do you know of any other places she can be? Where was it you two used to go when you were kids and never would tell us no matter what we bribed you two with?" Mary asks.
"I'm still not going to tell you. Move over; I'll drive."
"Ok, would you like me to wear a blindfold, maybe wait in the car once we get there?"
"No. But at least this way I never told you. Showing's not telling."
"Ahh good point." Mary continues the cheerful banter because the alternative is too frightening to think about.
"If she's here," Joannie says as she parks the car, "she's OK. Loud, but OK."
"Loud?"
"Like you with Dr. Max."
"Ahh," they get out of the car. "There's a campfire and there's our missing sister." Mary points to Nancy who is just staring at the flames with a sad and guilt ridden look on her face.
Joannie sits down next to Nancy. "You're not screaming."
"My throat hurts from screaming. You missed it."
"Why don't we go to a diner somewhere and get you some tea with honey, then?"
"Don't be nice to me I don't deserve it right now."
"Why not?"
"Dad could have died because of me."
"Why's that? You didn't make him eat at the grease pit." Mary says.
"No, but worrying about me set it off."
"No, it was worrying about Liz that did it," Joannie insists.
"It's not Elizabeth's fault she didn't do anything wrong." Nancy insists.
"Neither did you." Mary says. "Nancy you're just having another episode which is probably why you're reacting this way. And you might just need to have your meds adjusted. Now when is your appointment?"
"Tomorrow morning at 10."
"Don't sweat it until then," Joannie says. "Look, we're all thinking 'what if' and whether we did anything to make Dad worse. You think I don't regret running away? And I'll bet Abby regrets all the jokes she's made about giving Dad a heart attack. But we've got to trust Dr. Max, and if he says it was the grease pit that almost did Dad in, that's what it was. Now we've got to figure out how to make Dad behave from now on, not brood about what we can't change."
Nancy starts putting out the fire. "Can we do that at the diner?"
"Your treat. You're the only one working here."
"But I'm having an episode don't I get special treatment for that."
"No." Mary teases as they leave for the diner.
"I'll take you to the doctor tomorrow," Joannie volunteers. "You take me to the diner tonight."
"You got it."
"Maybe afterwards we should grab some pizza or something. I'll bet Abby forgets to cook anything for dinner. It's got to be the last thing on her mind right now."
"Yeah." Nancy says.
They retreat to the diner. "You want to talk about it?" Joannie offers.
"It'll sound selfish." Nancy hesitates.
"More selfish than taking two hours in the bathroom every morning? We're your sisters. You can tell us anything."
"It's not a big deal. Dad obviously comes first right now. Just like Elizabeth comes first and Tommy he needs help with his school work. And Nicholas he's just a kid so he should be priority one too. Why should I need parents or what I'm going through why should it concern them? I mean there's way more important things to worry about right?"
"You're right, Nance. You are being selfish. Dad and Abby dropped everything when you needed to be top priority. Remember--they even postponed their honeymoon to get you set up to trap your drug dealer. We all loused up their wedding night when you thought you saw Alan. So now it's Tommy and Elizabeth and Nicholas who need them and Dad who needs Abby. OK, you need them, too, but sometimes we're just going to have to fill in the gaps ourselves."
"I know I am and I'm sorry." Nancy says. "But you said I could tell you anything."
"You can. Doesn't mean we'll agree with you."
"But because all that stuff happened does that mean I'll never come first ever again? Did I use up my quota or something?"
"No, it means that maybe we should see if they can check your meds today instead of waiting until tomorrow."
"Yeah that's right blame the meds."
"Why not?" Mary says. "I mean normally you know enough to not feel this way right?"
She nods.
"Would it hurt to check them? If they're fine, then we'll blame Dad and Abby, OK?" Joannie says. "Mary, go call and see if the doctor can see Nancy now."
Mary goes to do this.
When they pull into the driveway Abby tells Tommy to go inside without her; she's going to head straight for the playhouse. Once there, she knocks on the door. "Nicholas? It's Abby. I know I'm a girl and all, but can I come in?"
Nicholas sighs and unlocks the door.
Abby comes in and sits down. "Your dad's going to be OK, you know. He scared us all, but I was just with him and he'll be fine."
"Really?" Nicholas is surprise. "He isn't dead?"
"Of course he isn't. Didn't your sisters tell you that we'd called from the hospital and he'll be OK?"
Nicholas nods. "But I thought they were lying to me like last time."
"Last time?" Abby asks, confused, then realizes what he must mean. "They didn't tell you the whole truth about your mother?"
Nicholas nods no.
"Well, I'm telling you the truth about your father. He's a little sick and Dr. Max wants to keep him in the hospital overnight, but then he'll come home, rest a little, and he'll be good as new. They were going to be moving him into a room soon, and when they do, you can talk to him on the phone, and until then, if you want to know something, I'll tell you."
"There is one thing." he says.
"What?"
"Could I have a hug?"
"Only if I can get one, too," Abby says, opening her arms
Nicholas hugs her.
Abby almost starts crying, but holds it back so as not to scare Nicholas.
"You OK?" he asks.
"I am now. I was pretty scared before," Abby admits.
"Me too."
"But you're better now? Because I was planning to go back to your father, at least bring him some of his pajamas. You know he'll hate having to be in those hospital gowns. But if you need me here, I'll stay."
"No, I'll be OK."
"Will you come inside and help me pack him a bag?"
"Yeah, Can I put something in his bag?"
"As long as it's not something green, slimy, and alive."
Nicholas laughs and runs into the house to fetch one of his stuffed animals.
Abby follows him into the house and goes up to her room to pack Tom's bag.
Elizabeth taps on the door before entering.
"Come in," Abby says.
"Hi, Tommy told me about Dad." Liz says. "How are you?"
"I'm OK. Just packing him a bag. He'll be fine, Max says."
"That's not what I ask, How are *you* doing?"
"Elizabeth, I've got all of you to think of, and school tomorrow, and your father...If I stop to think about how I'm doing I won't be able to manage."
"Sorry, just trying to help."
"I know. Once your father's home, ask me again, and I'm sure to give you an earful of how I feel. Right now, though, I'm just numb, and I hope I stay that way."
"OK, you need anything?"
"No--yes. Will you keep an eye on Nicholas and give him dinner? I don't know when I'll get home tonight, if I'll get home. If they let me stay with Tom, I will."
"Sure."
"Thanks. I really appreciate it; I mean, you've had a really rough day, too."
"Yeah, but it puts things in perspective."
"I'm not so sure," Abby says, but drops the subject. "Did anyone call David?"
"Not me."
"Could you take care of that, too?" Abby asks, latching the suitcase.
"OK," Elizabeth says.
Nicholas comes in with a arm full of stuffed animals. Elizabeth laughs.
"I don't know if the hospital will let your dad have that many visitors," Abby smiles. "Why not just pick out the best one and I'll take it to him?"
Nicholas goes through his collection and hands her the gorilla.
"Very appropriate. He's going to appreciate this," Abby says, and hugs Nicholas. She looks at her watch. "You guys will be OK? I should be getting back."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of everything." Elizabeth says.
Nicholas nods.
"OK. I'll call when I know the number in his room, so you can speak to him if he's awake."
"Thanks." Nicholas says.
A little while later Abby returns to the hospital.
"Abby we need to talk, don't worry it's not about Tom. He's holding up fine," Max tells her.
"Then what's wrong?"
"Nancy's been found but they're checking her out now instead of waiting till tomorrow."
"Nancy was missing? When did this happen? Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Abby I told you earlier when I told you about Nicholas."
"You did? Maybe...I'm a little unfocused right now, I guess. But she's OK?"
"We'll know more in awhile but can you stop in and see her for a few minutes just to let her know you're still there before you go and see Tom."
Abby sighs, but nods. "Where is she?"
He tells her what room Nancy's in.
Abby also gets Tom's room number and makes her first stop. "Nancy?" she asks as she peeks in the doorway. "Can I come in?"
"Yeah come on in. How's Dad?"
"OK, I guess. I was just going to check on him, but I wanted to check on you first."
"Dad needs you more, I'll be all right." Nancy says trying to overcome her selfishness by being brave.
"I'll go see him in a few minutes. Why didn't you tell me it was this bad?"
"I didn't have time to earlier because Dad collapsed and then at the hospital you were worried about Dad I couldn't just come out and tell you through all of that. That would've been wrong."
"You could have told Mary. Or Dr. Max."
"Abby sometimes when you're going through it it's not always easy to tell people what's going on. It's not like saying hey I have a headache or my foot hurts. But I did talk to them and Joannie a little about things."
"That's good. I want to be here for you, but I can't always promise I will be. There are so many other people who need a piece of me; sometimes there isn't enough to go around."
"I know, and I understand that. But how do I stop it from hurting when it happens?"
"If I knew how to stop the hurting...I don't know."
"Neither do I. I sure wish the human body didn't become immune to certain medications over a period of time."
"Maybe we could get Mary to take that as her area of specialization when she gets her medical degree."
"Yeah," she manages a smile but it soon fades. "So Dad really is going to be fine. Everyone's not just saying that so I don't freak out."
"You sound like Nicholas. This is not a conspiracy to make you feel good," Abby says. ~But it may be one to keep me from my husband.~
She sighs in relief.
The doctor comes in with the test results after the med increase. "You should be fine now but you might be pretty sleepy the first couple of days with the increase."
"Are you sure it's awful sudden."
"Yes I wouldn't be releasing you if I wasn't sure."
Nancy hugs Abby. "Will you tell Dad that I love him and to get better. I love you."
"I will. You're releasing her right now?" Abby asks the doctor.
"Yes."
"Nancy, would it be alright if Mary or David came and got you? I'd really like to see your father now, but if you want me to drive you home first...."
"Mary and Joannie are still here I can go home with them." Nancy says wondering why Abby didn't say I love you back or hug her or anything. ~Ok I'm getting on her nerves, better stay out of her way for awhile.~
"I didn't see them. I must really be losing it..." Abby muses. "We'll talk when I get home, OK? In the meantime, you rest and get used to the new dosage." Abby gives her a quick kiss and hurries off to Tom's room.
Nancy then remembers Tommy's advice from earlier that year about jumping to conclusions and laughs then she goes to find her sisters and hugs them. "Thanks you two for hunting me down, you know just for being there."
"That was quick," Joannie says. "They from a real doctor?"
"Yes do you want to talk to her?"
"No, I'll trust you. This time."
"Good." On the way home they bring pizza for the siblings holding up things at home.