Mike, his agent, came in as his breakfast tray was taken away. More like a yuckfest tray. It was jello, broth, and coffee. He suspects it is decaf from the smell. He was feeling so much better after a good night's sleep. He had to admit Candace was right; he needed more rest. They pulled his catheter so now it was up to him to take a piss. He had no idea it was there until Masters checked the incision on his leg. Moving the thing around it jerked his dick and he knew something was going on down there.
He gave Masters his permission to tell Mike anything he needed to know about his health. The powers that be needed to know how long it would be before he was able to act in a stressful movie.
'Six to eight weeks if he wants to be back to before he was injured, he needs to work out slowly to be as good as new,' Masters told him.
Rob called to see him but when he heard the exhaustion in his voice he bugged off until tomorrow. Three nurses came in and as one shaved him the other two gave him a sponge bath. He felt better, even with the strange waterless shampoo.
Toby's shooting had turned into the crazy gun-toting people in Texas out in Hollywood. As an excuse for Toby being shot by the son of an old woman was, they were crazy people. The whole story was out when Frank talked with reporters as he left the courthouse once he bailed out. They all could tell the man was unhinged and not thinking correctly. His mother used her home for the bond. His insane jealousy of the relationship between Toby and his mother was his excuse. He felt his life was falling apart and took it out on Toby.
*
Toby watched the noon News, and they had an interview with Louise at the theater store that was packed with people. The same Channel 8 reporter was doing the interview. Louise had been so sweet talking about him. She said, 'he was the nicest, sweetest, man she ever knew,' and discussed her son's ongoing mental problems and how sad she is that it came to this.
He could see Liz, Alli, and Monica in the background dealing with all the people. It looked to him as though the people were coming to give condolences, not to buy. He saw Midget and Jamie in the group and smiled. He assumed this was done when they opened this morning after being closed for so long.
Alli called an hour ago. She has Travis and is on the way, so he expects her any second. The tap on the door he expected to be Alli, but it was Candace.
"Hi, how are you doing? I hear you have had some company and I want to make sure you don't wear yourself out," she said, eyeing him closely to see any signs of weariness then turned her attention to the monitors.
"No, I'm fine I may die of starvation but I'm good. They got me up to go pee an hour ago. Someone said they will let me out when I take a dump so I'm working on that, but it would be easier if I had substance to my food," Toby told her with a smart-ass grin.
"I wouldn't count on it, but it does help us to know your insides are still working right. Just take it easy, someone will bring a walker for you to walk the halls soon so enjoy," she said, sending him the same smart-ass grin as she walked out.
His friend jumped so he bent his knee to cover up the fact he was still attracted to her. Way to be attracted. Why does it have to be her? He bemoaned.
Just as he closed his eyes to sleep Alli came in with a very concerned Travis who approached his bed.
"Hi big guy," Toby said as Travis lunged for the bed.
"Travis remembered what I said," Alli chastised as she grabbed him before he made it to the bed. "He is still sick," she told him, holding him back.
"You can set him on the bed, but don't climb on me Ok Travis," he said running his hand over his chest feeling the staples along the cut through the bandage. They changed it this morning, but he couldn't look to see what had happened to his chest.
"Ok, you be Ok?" he asked as Alli lifted him to the side of his father. Setting him between the guard rails and Toby's hip.
"I'll be fine, I just have to be careful for a while is all. Come on and see me, my brave boy," Toby said, reaching out to hold him.
Alli brought him around, sat him by his side, and stood right next to him to make sure he didn't try to climb on him.
They talked and drew for about an hour before Toby sent them on their way. He felt tired. His lunch arrived, and once again it included liquids, along with iced tea. Just as he was falling asleep, he heard the door open. Expecting his tray to be taken away, he looked up and saw Candace standing there. He pressed the bed button to raise himself a little and adjusted his leg just in case.
"I see you had a busy day. I saw Travis leaving with Alli. He looked happy."
"He is a happy boy, he has lots of people who love him," Toby told her, wondering why she was here again.
"I can tell. You have done a wonderful job with him. I hate to be a Debbie downer, but what would happen to him if that bullet was a little to the right."
"Well you missed, that was a downer, and I was thinking about that when they rolled me into the emergency room. I know I was not hurt that bad, but I did start fighting to stay alive for him. I have no one in my family I would want him to go to, and Louise is too old, and Alli and Liz aren't close to being married."
"But you're not married either," she offered and sat next to his bed taking the chance to get off her feet and listen to his logic.
"No, you're right so maybe Alli loves him, and he loves her. She would have plenty of money and the store for income. I'll ask her when she comes back. He is very smart and will be a handful as he grows up. I think she could handle him."
Someone showed me your response about taking him to the school district office. Were they helpful?
"Yes, I found a good teacher-nanny for him. They say he is a genius and I'm not being a proud parent. He is doing fifth-grade work at fifteen months, plays the piano, and is working on math catching on quickly. He was working so quickly that we decided to change his focus to the piano. Louise has a nice baby grand. We have a piano teacher who is working with him on his first composition. His problem is his fingers are too short for him to play all the notes he wants, so he shows the teacher what the notes are, and she plays them and writes down the notes. It is a beautiful piece he has composed, kind of haunting."
She was smiling as she listened. How cool, she has birthed a genius.
"Wow, I'm impressed, aren't you glad you made some money."
"Yes, it does help pay all the people he needs to work with him. The school district claims they have to teach him so we will see when we come back from the next movie."
"So, you're making another movie?" she asked, being inquisitive so he would continue to talk to her.
"As long as I get better quickly, they haven't withdrawn the offer," Toby told her thinking how nice it was to just talk to her. "So how is the doctoring going?"
"Good, exhausting on good days, and I'm going to kill myself on bad days. But I don't. Five people called me to tell me you had been admitted. I was shocked people knew I knew you. But I found out the nurses in the nursery remembered you and told everyone you're my baby's daddy when the movie came out. I wondered why people started looking at me differently. So anyway, the emergency nurses saw your name and they started calling. I'm happy they did so I could keep an eye on your care. You were very sick and actually, you did die twice," she told him and watched him wince and his clear blue eyes reddened.
"I thought I did or was just about to die and willed myself back."
"It is good you did because it was touch and go for a while. You had that hole in your main artery and had bled out almost completely. My father plugged the hole to stop the flow and hooked you up to a heart and lung bypass machine as he repaired the damage. Then infused a lot of new blood into you to keep you going. We were lucky so many people came to donate because they had to use a lot to keep up with the loss."
"I need to thank him when I see him again. Hum, so I did see the white light of God. I thought I was imagining it."
"Yes, but you will be fine as long as you don't push yourself," she told him. "I also want you to know I lied," she said looking down at her hands. He could tell she was embarrassed about something.
"I haven't had sex with anyone since you. I just wanted to get back at you for being so mean to me. I know I started it, but weekend after weekend of not finding you was wearing on me. Then they wouldn't let me come to the hospital anymore and there I was as big as a house feeling as low as anyone could be. Knowing I couldn't keep my baby, and boom there you are in my house being fawned over by my mother. She came downstairs carrying on about this handsome man installing the system they ordered."
"Why couldn't you keep him?" Toby asked, sounding concerned for her.
"Having the baby caused so many fights in the house. My Mother wanted me out and I had nowhere to go. So, I told them I would give it up for adoption and my mother backed off. When I first started looking for you, I thought maybe you would want to be with me. I hoped we could figure something out, but week after week all hope faded. I became angry that I was the only one held accountable for this mess. It became all your fault in my mind. I know it wasn't but pregnancy hormones kind of mess up your mind," she said looking up at him, he could see the regret in her eyes.
"You devastated me when you sent me away without asking my name or number. I didn't go out or sleep with another woman for two years," he told her, feeling very vulnerable. "After I got Travis, I vowed to never have a one-night stand again. I haven't. His nanny was the first after he turned one and then Missy Collins the second, but I knew them both well. They knew me too."
"Wow, Toby, she claims you guys didn't, she was not your type," Candace kind of teased.
"Well the nanny got me over the thick thing and Missy kept offering. She said she got a taste in the sex scenes and wanted more," he told her kind of bragging.
"Yeah, it sent tingles all over my body watching those scenes. I remembered your every touch. I thought of you often when any man flirted with me. I would think he would be as good as Toby, but I never tried to find out."
"I was told no one is as good as I am. I think it is because I enjoy the reaction more than getting mine," he said remembering her reaction so well. "I also figured out why I liked thicker women," he told her, and she seemed interested, so he told her what he figured out. "That feeling of ribs used to turn my stomach." He went on about his mother's drinking and death. "I couldn't find anyone who would take me on, and the nanny offered."
"And she was thin?" she asked.
"Right."
"So, she is gone?"
"Yes, she went back to LA when the movie was over; it only lasted a couple of months. She knew it wouldn't last. I didn't, but she did."
"Oh no, you got your heart broken again."
"No, and if I did, Missy stepped in and took her place real quick. But I'm alone again."
"Right, but you're off to make another movie," she reminded him.
"Yes, and I just bought a house a few blocks from you and the Theater Store, so I'm settling down here when I finish the next movie. The pay was just too good to pass by, so I'll do it," he said, shifting in his bed, he was worn out and had planned to sleep and not talk all day.
Taking the clue, she stood and said, "Well it was nice having this conversation and I'm going to let you rest. If you don't mind, I'll come back and check on you."
"No please do, I enjoy our talks," Toby said and smiled.
She smiled and left his room. That had been a good start on mending their relationship. She had wanted to run out the door when he left that night and beg him to come back so they could talk. Her mother had laid into her so savagely about how disgusting she looked, she let him go. After that, she knew he hated her. She had been so cruel in the way she spoke of the baby. But now he was being at least tolerant, almost friendly. Candace had a smile the rest of the day.
"Yeah, Hello," Toby mumbled as he answered his phone pressing the speaker again, he was almost asleep. He was too tired to hold it as he tried to wrap his head around the fact, he had died twice six days ago.
"Toby oh my God. How are you? I expected to be talking to Louise. How are you?" Missy whined.
"I'm tired sweetie how are you,"
"In an Uber, the wait for a limo was too long. I should be there in twenty, the driver says."
"I'll be asleep babe, I'm exhausted," Toby told her barely awake.
"That is fine I'll watch you sleep. I couldn't stay away any longer."
Toby groaned and fell asleep. He thinks Candace hit him with the painkiller button again while she sat by his bedside. Sneaky little snit he thought and was out.
*
What felt like hours later he heard talking and stirred from a good sleep. He heard nurses come and go. They came in and checked him; he felt too often, but these voices were familiar, so they roasted him from the sleep of the dead. Thank God he wasn't dead.
He opened his eyes, and he hadn't moved. His phone was still sitting on the table in front of him. Hearing voices again he scanned the room, Louise was at the door Missy sat in a chair as he scanned the room. Aah, two of his favorite people tried to raise his hand and it felt like it was tied down. Damn, those painkillers are strong he mused.
Louise caught his eye and a smile spread across her face Toby smiled back at least he thinks he did as she walked towards him.
"Hey sweetie, how are you?" Louise asked.
"Drugged I think, loopy, and drugged," he slurred out fighting to stay awake. He wanted to see them and talk to Missy. He has missed her so much. It was so sweet of her to come all this way to see him.
"I would say so, I'm sure you needed the rest," Louise said, slipping her fingers in between holding his hand.
Missy stood on the other side of the bed doing the same holding his hand and drawing his attention to her. "Oh, Hi babe you made it," he said with a crooked smile.
"I did, I have been here for a few hours just watching you sleep."
"That must have been boring," Toby said, shifting his body trying to gain control of it. If there was a fire right now, he would be screwed, he thought, lifting his arms. "Why didn't you wake me?"
"Believe me I tried but you were out," Missy told him smiling at him, but there was a lot of concern in that smile.
"Candace stopped by, and we talked for a while. Did you know I died twice?" Toby told Louise and watched her clear bright eyes turn red in an instant as tears filled them.
"I'm going to be fine. I just thought I was dreaming, feeling drawn to a light, but I couldn't leave Travis here alone. My father is my only relative and I don't want him to go to my father.
"No, we don't want that. I met Kate and your half-brother and sister. They were here yesterday, but they wouldn't let them in to see you. They had no proof they were related to you. Claiming a last name was not enough. Apparently, a lot of people have tried to see you, so they are cautious," She told him, holding his hand tighter, so he won't slip away.
"What about you guys?" Toby asked.
"Candace approved of us; she knew we would be here for you."
"Good and you Missy," he inquired.
"They knew who I was and that we worked together. The front desk is holding my luggage."
"It is good to be famous sometimes," Toby teased.
"Most of the time. I was told to let the nurse know when you woke up, so let me do that," Missy said, and with a kiss on his hand she let it go and went to get the nurse. By the time she came back, he was asleep again. Those drugs are strong.
Dinner had been a finely mashed type of meatloaf, instant potatoes, and green beans cooked to a rubbery death, but he was happy for some consistency to the food. He didn't understand the food decision. He hadn't been gut-shot.
Louise took Missy home with her. They planned to go out to eat and then Missy would sleep in his bed tonight and come back in the morning. She had to fly out the next evening; she was expected to be on set Monday morning.
She hated the movie she told them, but the director loved her boobs, so she has a lot of scenes with her topless. She tried to explain the plot, but to Toby, it just sounded like someone wanted to see her boobs. Maybe the storyline will fill out once they get all the body shots done. Her body was nice, but so were a lot of others. He kept that to himself, after all, he wanted to get out of the hospital soon.
*
Nine days in and Dr. Masters was talking about setting him free. He had a mass of staples across his chest, but he was doing well. He walked the halls for hours and visited the nurses in the nursery, that was a long walk. He promised to bring Travis by to see them. He and Leila have it planned. Liana can't drive him in her car under some ridiculous district rule until she goes on leave.
He owes Linda big time and the girls his debt of gratitude. She says he is no trouble, but he knows better that boy is a handful. They will bring him an hour before visiting time is over, so they can walk over to the nursery, and amaze the nurses with how much that tiny little guy has grown.
He wants out of this place, but Mike told him to stop worrying he is covered by insurance. When he signed the contract for the new movie, they covered him. That was why he had to go to the doctor. Just a quick trip to the local emergency clinic told them he was healthy and disease-free that came a few days later. He was relieved to know he hadn't gotten anything during his wonder lust days. He was good about keeping it capped except for one slip with Amy.
They told him the main reason they have kept him is that they are afraid he will do something dumb and pull his stitches or pop the vein graft to his heart. Masters lectures him every time he sees him in the halls or out of bed to take it easy. The problem is he is so bored, and he feels better walking the halls. There are a lot of pretty nurses to flirt with too. So, he stands at some desk instead of sitting in his room and talks to whoever isn't busy. He feels calmer in the halls. Given the time to sulk he didn't do well on his own. So, he roamed the halls looking for a friendly face.
He has plenty of visitors, thank goodness. Kate and the kids came to see him last night. He walked down to the visitor's desk and put them on a list that could come up to see him. They looked good, with new clothes, and haircuts. She had a pamphlet on a house she wanted and wanted to get his approval. It is a nice house, a hundred and fifty thousand, brick, three bedrooms, and two baths on the other side of town from his father in the newer area of town.
She told him about the lawyer he hired. She is working on a Class Action lawsuit against the police department for failure to protect wives and ex-wives of police officers. Several of them complained to Kate when she told them her problem over the years when they came into the store. So, she gave the attorney their names and they added more names to the complaint. So, she feels she has a pretty good class action lawsuit against the department and the city. Once the suit got media attention women called in from all over the country with the same complaint.
Kate seemed excited when she told Toby about what they had accomplished. Miss Williams told Kate to tell him after they heard about the shooting that she wouldn't be sending him a bill. The city would be paying the bill along with damages in the lawsuit. Kate and the kids may receive a whole lot more money, so good for them. That relieved him that he wouldn't be responsible for them from now on. The kids just had to tell them about him hitting them and how hopeless they felt. Kate said Kyle really poured it on for their complaint.
*
Toby was resting in his bed like a good boy waiting for Leila and Liana to bring Travis when Candace stopped by again. He stifled a groan wondering why she was here again.
"I'm so glad to see you resting. My father gripes me out every time he finds you in the hall. Like I can control you," she teased.
"I'm fine I haven't pulled anything so tell him to chill," Toby offered.
"I know he is very pleased with your progress. He just doesn't want to jeopardize your recovery," She told him and moved back to the door. "I have to get back to the emergency department that is my rotation this month. It is very exciting down there. They're a lot of crazy people in this town," she said leaving his room. Minutes later Travis came into the room carrying flowers smiling proudly at his offerings.
"We bought you flowers, so you feel better," he told his daddy and walked over for a hug.
"Well, I bet they work and by tomorrow or the next day I'll be coming home," he told him and stood to hug the two girls. "Has he been good?" he asked Liana.
"I have and Mrs. Lettie said my song is finished and I need to start on a new one or she needs to teach me some that other people wrote."
"That sounds good to me when I get to hear your song," Toby asked Mr. Smarty Pants.
"When are you coming home?" Leila asks him.
"I think tomorrow," Toby told her, "But I can't pick you up anymore, sorry Travis. At least not for a while."
"That's Ok I'm big now," Travis assured him.
"Let's go for a walk and see where you were born and the ladies who took care of you for Daddy,"
"Are they my Mommy," Travis asked looking concerned, "Leila has a mommy she is nice to me."
"I know that Linda is nice." His heart pounded he had dreaded this day, so he said. "No, these ladies are nurses, they just take care of the babies for the daddies," he told him as they slowly walked to the nurse's desk for a vase. He knew they would fix him up. They all jumped to help him every time he walked up. Toby should be ashamed of how he uses them, but he likes the attention they give him.
*
Margaret saw them walking up; she had talked to him a few days ago on one of his walks and was anxious to see Travis. With her mouth gaping she asked, "This is that tiny baby."
"Yes, he grew fast and smart. Travis, say hello to Margaret. She helped bring you into this world."
He put out his hand to shake so she crouched down to look him in his eyes. "My goodness he is a handsome fellow," she said and shook his hand.
"Hello Margaret, I'm Travis,"
"Well, hello Travis, it is nice to meet you and you have grown a lot," Margaret said looking at Toby for an explanation.
Toby gave her a quick rundown of his achievements until a woman screamed and she had to go back to work.
They continued to the nursery and Leila picked Travis up so he could see the few babies in the nursery as Toby explained that he used to be here and that this is where he came from. Angie saw them as she put a fussing baby back in a bassinet and came out to see them. He basically did the same with her and Travis amazed her with his talking. Nurse Lisa was busy with a sick baby, so she missed the visit.
*
Dr. Masters sent some tech over to run an ultrasound wand over his chest to check on the graph. He had to wait for him to give the all-clear. So now he has to wait for all the others to do their jobs before he can go home.
Toby was having an argument with Chuck about the cost of a car for Katlynn. She brought in a picture of the type of car she wanted. When Chuck popped some up on his computer, they were shocked at how expensive a used Honda was. Chuck was pointing out the percentage of wrecks teens have in their first cars. It was a good-hearted argument and Chuck knew Toby just wanted to argue, filling his wild oats out of boredom sitting in that hospital bed. He was glad he was doing so well. He had already told Toby he had made back everything he spent in the last month. It boggled his mind it had only been a little over three weeks since he was out buying a house and enjoying life.
Two of the things Chuck brought up he did agree with. He needed to wait until Katlynn turned eighteen to buy the car and put her name on the title and some good insurance. Next, it needs to be bigger to protect her from the idiots who run into people. As they were coming to a decision on the car, which Chuck knew he had no say in, but enjoyed the bantering, a sharp knock came on the door and Candace came in. He let him go. Word was out that he would be getting out today and Louise was waiting for the word to come get him.
"So, do you have my release papers," he asked happily.
"No, but I do know Doctor Masters has you as a go-home today. You checked out just fine, so good for you."
"Doctor Masters huh?"
"Just trying to be professional," she told him, sharing a smile. "I actually came to remove your staples and make sure you haven't pulled anything loose."
"I don't see how I could have I haven't even flexed my muscles." He had been too afraid to with all the warnings he had received. He has walked around like an old humped-over man all week keeping the walker in front of him as he was told.
"Good and keep it that way, if I find one popped stitch you have to stay here," she told him with a smile to show she was teasing.
She had him lay flat on the bed looking down as she pulled the bandage. He saw they shaved his chest and groaned. Looking up inches from his mouth she asked, "Did I hurt you," if she did, he is a big baby.
"No, in that movie I did they wanted to shave my chest for the sex scenes, and I refused, and you guys shave me,"
"To save your life and keep bacteria from contaminating your wound. It will grow back, and you will be sexy again,"
"So, I'm not sexy without it?" he asked, trying hard to not laugh as Candace looked at him, not entertained.
"You do know how close you came to not being here, right."
"I do, it's easier to joke about it, but I do know, and thank you for your concern," he said as she was still inches from his face. He could smell her perfume the same as the night they spent together.
She started removing the staples, adding a clear strip of tape between every three staples. He watched her work keeping a close eye on what she was doing. She worked down his body removing staples and taping. Working down on his leg was difficult for Toby. He was working hard to control his attraction to her.
"Why did you have to be so mean to me?" he asked, trying to sound sexy.
"Because I was stupid, doing as I was taught, take what you want and walk away. I regretted it the second you went out the door, but I knew I couldn't have a relationship with anyone at that time in my life. I thought it was for the best."
"And now?"
"I don't have a reset button," she said and dropped the old bandages in the Bio trash can. "We are going to leave it open for now and let it dry out. You can shower now and the see-through bandages will fall off by themselves, don't pull them off," she told him tapping one of the bandages with her finger.
"Don't I need help in the shower?"
"Sure, get your girlfriend to help you."
"I don't have a girlfriend, you want to help me I could use one now," he asked and used that sexy smile of his to seduce her he hoped it would work again.
"I would be happy to, but I have to get back to the emergency department. I'll have a nurse come and help you," she told him, catching the jest of his flirting. She knew she wouldn't be able to control herself if she saw him naked and he was in no shape to try and do anything. Flirting or not she had to protect her patient.
"Toby, what are you doing? Has your painkiller warped your brain?"
"Nah, just picking on you. I guess we both blew this whole thing, but thanks for my son, he is the best." He wondered why he was so attracted to this woman. "As crazy as it sounds, I still want you," he said just above a whisper, and if God wanted her to hear she would.
"Get well and call me," she also whispered and left the room.
"I heard that," he called out.
"It is up to you," he heard from the hall.
If he had the energy he would have gotten up and watched her walk away. She was looking good even in those scrubs.
He remembered everything about her, her taste, her smell, the feel of her body. Most of all her reaction to him was the best. That was all he ever wanted was to know that he could make a woman feel wanted. That he could make a woman feel good was the best feeling of them all.