Breaking Ties: An Ensemble Story (Read 239,356 times)

[heroicmuse]

Kpatch and unavitasegreta Thanks! Nicole will continue to be an important, RESPECTED (for the most part) part of events in this story. I can't stand the way she is misused in the show.

[Kpatch]

Rory is an idiot! Poor Marissa. I don't blame her for freaking out. She really needs to make that call to Marlena.

So what's a PC hearing? All I can think of is press conference.

Great interaction at the cop shop. It's good to see Roman taking charge and the detectives actually thinking things through!

[heroicmuse]

Jan 5, 2015 10:26:34 GMT -5 Kpatch said:

Rory is an idiot! Poor Marissa. I don't blame her for freaking out. She really needs to make that call to Marlena.

So what's a PC hearing? All I can think of is press conference.

Great interaction at the cop shop. It's good to see Roman taking charge and the detectives actually thinking things through!

PC - probable cause. I got a bit caught up in the cop lingo. LOL. I'll add a note to the chapter so everyone knows.

My take on Rory is he has no clue how to gt a girl's attention at all, so he acts super goofy--and at the moment thinks the fact that he almost got robbed is a selling point. Marissa really does need some help though. She just can't get away from reminders of her attack the way she thinks she can.

[fluffysmom]

Rory is clueless when it comes to talking to girls.

It's good to hear the Salem PD talking through a case.

[heroicmuse]

Daphne and Paige met at the school cafeteria. It was more crowded than usual; Paige had to push through a ton of students to get to Daphne’s table.

“Is something special going on?” Paige asked Daphne. “It seems like everyone’s in here.”

“Didn’t you hear? The robber attacked someone in the woods last night, and rumor has it the cops are about to catch the guy. Everyone’s crowded in here waiting to see who it is.”

“Oh.”

Daphne took a key out of her purse and played with it. “This is great news, Paige. Once they make an arrest, it means the campus is totally, 100% safe. Not that it wasn’t before, but this should put your mom’s mind at ease.”

“Yeah,” Paige said, staring at the key.

“What’s wrong?” Daphne asked her. “Last night you were all excited to come get your copy of the key and this morning you look like someone died. Your mom didn’t talk you out of it, did she?”

“Not exactly.” Paige blinked back tears as she took the key. “I’m still moving in with you, don’t worry. It’s just that my mom already told me she’s renting out my room as soon as I move out. I thought I was going to be able to go back and forth, but it seems like she can’t wait to get rid of me so she can move someone else in.”

“I don’t understand,” Daphne said. “This is a good thing, right? I mean, if she’s gonna fill your room with a stranger, she’s accepted your right to move into the dorms.”

“That’s the worst part,” Paige said. “I don’t even know why I care. But I feel like… if I move in my mom’s just going to forget all about me.”

“But you know she’s not.” Daphne’s voice was soft. “Paige, your mom is always going to be your mom. She’s just trying to make you feel bad so you won’t leave. Don’t you see that?”

“I guess.”

“Look, I bet you anything that by the time the dorms close next summer, there won’t be anyone staying in your room. So come on, after class let’s go get some of your stuff and start moving in. All right?”

Paige took her key ring out and slid the key onto it. “I have my internship this afternoon,” she said, “but maybe I can squeeze a few minutes in to get the boxes I packed last night.”

“Yay! Paige, this is going to be so great.”

Paige made herself smile as she nodded in agreement.


Daniel held Parker’s hand while the nurse prepped his arm. “Make sure the blood panel includes tests for viral disease as well as bacteria,” he told Maxine. “Also, his oxygen has been stable for over 24 hours--can we get someone in here after this to make a decision about trying him out without the CPAP?”

“We’ll get to it as soon as we can,” Maxine said. “Is he ready for the blood draw?”

“Let me check the tourniquet,” Daniel said. Maxine grimaced but said nothing as Daniel slid his finger under it, then adjusted the tightness.

As soon as Parker saw the needle he began to cry. “No, no, no needle!” he sobbed, pulling away from Daniel.

The monitor began beeping like crazy. Daniel ran his hands through Parker’s hair, trying to comfort him. “It’ll all be over in a minute, buddy. How about you, Parker, you just close your eyes so you don’t see it and we’ll tell you when it’s all done?”

“No!” Parker cried harder.

Maxine glanced at the monitor. “Now look,” she said. “Either this boy gets calm in the next five seconds or alarms are gonna be going off and a whole bunch of people are gonna come running in here expecting to need to save his life. Daniel, I know I’m not a doctor, but I’ve seen a lot of kids in his position calm right down with a little bit of medication.”

Daniel shook his head. “He doesn’t need a sedative swirling around his system while we’re trying to figure out what’s wrong with him. Just give me five minutes with him and I promise you he will let us do this.”

“And what makes you think we got time to spare?” Maxine’s voice was soft.

Daniel’s shoulders slumped as he turned back to his son. “He’s getting there, aren’t you, Parker?”

Maxine put her hand on his shoulder. “Move over, Dr Daddy. Let me try something.” She sat down next to Parker. “Now Parker, you’re too big a boy to be making all that fuss. You are old enough to understand we need to take some blood out of you so that the doctors can find out what’s making you sick.”

“No needle.” Parker sniffed.

“I don’t know any other way to get the blood we need. Not unless your daddy here is okay with us putting a whole lot of little worms on your arm to suck out your blood.”

“Ew!”

“I didn’t think so. So you gotta be brave for just a few minutes, Parker. Your daddy is gonna hold your hand and that is all he is going to do.” She fixed Daniel with a look. “And I’m gonna tell Nurse Todd to take a break and I’m gonna take your blood myself. But I don’t want to hear any screaming. You just close your eyes and hold your daddy’s hand and let’s get this done.”

Parker hesitated. “Come on now,” Maxine said. “We don’t have all day.” Parker flopped back on his pillow. He gave his hand to Daniel and covered his eyes with his other hand.

“Thanks, Maxine,” Daniel said.

Maxine turned around as she put on a pair of latex gloves. “I know it’s not easy with a sick child, but sometimes you can’t be so soft on them. That boy just needed to know we meant business, that’s all. And you, Daniel Jonas, you stop trying to do everything else for him and just keep holding his hand. We got this.”


Marissa stiffened. “Could you please not do that?”

“Sorry.” JJ took his hand away. “I… I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t mean to…”

“No, it’s cool. You didn’t want me to break my head if I fainted.” Marissa sat down again. “I’m fine now, though.”

“You sure?” JJ asked. “I can call Daniel or my Aunt Kayla or someone to take a look at you.”

“Nah, no need. I’m embarrassed, I guess, but otherwise okay.” Marissa forced a smile. “I’ve just had way too much caffeine this morning. Sorry to have scared you.”

“Nah, no problem. But you’re sure you’re all right?”

Marissa nodded. “I had a bad feeling for a second, but it’s gone now.”

Rory dug his weed out of his pocket. “How about something to help take the edge off?” he asked.

JJ shot Rory a look. “What?” Rory said. Marissa shook her head slightly and he said, “Guess this’ll last me a while then.” and put it away.

“So you smoke weed,” Marissa said, and JJ couldn’t tell from her tone of voice how she felt about that. “Do you smoke too, JJ?”

Before JJ could answer, two uniforms came up behind them. “Rory Adams?” one of the uniforms said.

Rory hid his fear with a laugh. “Who wants to know?”

“Police officer. Get up and put your hands behind your back. You’re under arrest for armed robbery.”

[Kpatch]

Go Maxine! Loved how she took charge of the situation. And LOL at Dr Daddy.

Rory is in deep doo doo now!

[fluffysmom]

Nice job Maxine!

Poor Rory. He's in big trouble now.

[heroicmuse]

“You’ve got it all wrong,” JJ protested as Rory obeyed. “He didn’t rob anyone, man. He - ”

“That’s for a judge to decide,” the cop told him, “not you. If you don’t want to get locked up too, stay out of it and let us do our jobs.”

JJ’s eyes flashed, but Marissa touched his arm. “Don’t, JJ,” she said. “It’s not worth it.”

“Stop touching him,” the other cop told Marissa. “In fact, slide your chair over this way and put your hands on top of the table.” She turned towards JJ. “You too. Hands up here where we can see them.”

JJ scowled. “Why? We’re not - “

“We have plenty of room in the holding cells if you want to join your friend,” the cop told him. JJ hit the table as he put his hands down on it. The two cops looked at each other but said nothing.

In the meantime, the other cop had cuffed Rory's hands behind his back and was now patting him down. “No weapons on him.” He began emptying Rory’s pockets onto the table. “Well, what do you know?” he said, holding up Rory's dime bag of weed.

“Are you gonna jam him up over that too?” JJ demanded.

The two cops looked at each other again and the one standing by Marissa said, quickly, “Step over here with me, please, sir.”

Why do I have to be so stupid? JJ thought as he followed her.


After the blood test was over, Parker fell asleep almost right away. Maxine came back from dropping the blood samples off at the lab to find Daniel sitting by Parker’s bedside. “He’s out,” he said, his voice flat.

“You look like you’re halfway there yourself.”

“Nothing a power nap won’t fix.”

“Tell you what. Why don’t you get someone to sit with Parker while you and me step out for a cup of coffee.”

“I’m okay for now. Maggie’s gonna come by later so I can see a couple of patients.”

“If you’re talking about seeing patients at a time like this, then you definitely need to step out of this room so you can get your head on straight.”

“Life goes on.” Daniel’s voice was quiet. “Even at a time like this. Other people are depending on me, and I cannot, Maxine, I cannot let them down.”

“You sure there’s no one who can sit with Parker for 20 minutes so you can get yourself some fresh air?”

“I’ll do it,” a voice said from behind them. Daniel turned to see Chloe standing in the doorway. She looked like she’d been crying all the way from Chicago, though she gave him a weak smile. “But first I want Daniel to fill me in on what’s going on with our son.”


The cop took JJ over to the wall of the coffee shop and made him stand against it, facing her.

He said, “Look, that came out wrong. I didn’t mean - “

“If I were you, I’d stop talking before I get any deeper into trouble.” JJ glanced at the ground and then back at her, his expression turning from anger to fear. She said, “I’m not out to get you or your friend. But he’s in a whole lot of hot water, and if you don’t control that mouth of yours, you’re going to end up in it too. Understood?”

JJ nodded.

“So consider this your final warning. You mouth off again, I’m arresting you for disorderly conduct.”

“It won’t happen again. I promise.”

“Good. Now, I had another reason for walking you over here. You and your friend seem pretty tight. I want to know what you know about last night.”

JJ took a deep breath to control himself. “All I know is what he told me when he showed up on my porch. Some guy tried to rob him in the woods, and he was pretty shaken up about it. So my mom, she let him stay over so he could chill out.”

“And you think he was telling you the truth?”

“Um,” JJ said slowly, trying to choose his words carefully, “Rory’s not that good a liar. Even if he got one over on me, there’s no way my mom would ever have let him stay if she wasn’t totally convinced he was telling the truth.”

“Okay. I’ll let Detective Hernandez know when we get to the station.” The cop turned to go back to the table and gestured for JJ to follow her.


Eve decided to go for a walk in the park. She’d had to get out of the house so she could stop replaying her argument with Paige over and over. She’ll come home tonight, she thought. Of course she will.

Her phone rang. She pulled it out of her purse quickly, hoping it was Paige. It was a number she didn’t recognize; she started to hit the decline button, but stopped herself. If she was going to put out an ad, she was going to have to let herself get bothered.

“Yes?” she said, answering the phone. She didn’t like what the person on the other end said, but she kept her cool. “No, I don’t think that would be a good idea. There are lots of reasons you’re not suitable, and I’m sure if you think about it, you can come up with one or two yourself, all right?” She hung up the phone, making a face as she headed for the pub to get a drink.


When they got back to the table, the cop put on her tough girl voice and said to JJ, “No more warnings. Have a seat.” JJ stared at the ground as he sat down.

The cops bagged up everything in Rory’s pockets. They began to lead Rory away. “You two are free to go,” one of them said. “But a word of advice: both of you--and especially you, young lady--should think twice about the company you keep from now on so that it doesn’t get you into trouble.” They left.

Marissa looked like she was blinking back tears as she picked up her coffee. “You okay?” JJ asked her.

“Oh yeah, fine. This was exactly how I wanted this morning to go.”

JJ pushed away from the table so hard it moved. “I’m sorry, Marissa,” he said.

“What are you sorry for now?”

“If it wasn’t for me and my big mouth they probably would have left us alone. It’s bad enough that cop walked me over there in front of everyone, but that was kinda on me. If the other one did anything to you while I was gone... “ JJ curled his hands into fists.

“Stop it!” Marissa’s voice shook and she looked more scared than angry. “It’s over, JJ, just let it go.”

JJ crossed his arms, turning his back to her. “You barely know me, but you’re already judging me for my temper.” He started to walk away.

“JJ, wait!”

JJ didn’t know why, but he turned around again. “What?”

“Look,” Marissa said. “You’re right, I have no business telling you how to feel, especially when I’m angry too. I mean, I survive a violent robbery, and then this morning they make me show them my hands like I’m the bad guy. What IS that?” She took a step towards JJ, slowly, and said, “I didn’t like having to let them… um, having to do whatever they told us. And they treated you like you were an awful, dangerous person just because you asked them a question. But I’m putting it all aside for your friend’s sake. It’s… it’s even worse for him. We’re free to stand here complaining and he’s locked up for something he probably didn’t do.”

“He didn’t!”

Marissa flinched, but she said, quietly, “I believe you, JJ.”

“You do?”

She nodded. “Rory seems like the goofy type, and goofy and violent don’t really mix. Besides, there’s no way I can ever forget the guy who really did this. Everything about him was different from Rory. His voice… his manners… he wasn’t even as tall.”

“I thought you didn’t see him.”

“I didn’t, but I heard him. I… I felt him.” Marissa’s hands tightened into fists. “God I hate talking about it!”.

“I’m sorry,” JJ said. Marissa stood still, breathing heavily. She uncurled her fists and said, more softly, “I told you yesterday, you don’t have to apologize because you’re not the one who did this.”

“I...I know. I just… I don’t know what to say.” JJ could feel himself blushing. He made himself shut up.

“You don’t have to say anything.” Marissa was standing very close to JJ; she didn’t trust herself not to try to kiss him. She looked into his eyes and her whole body hungered for him, but she shook her head ruefully and made herself move back. “I don’t know which is worse,” she said. “Your friend getting arrested when he didn’t do anything or me knowing that the real robber is still out there somewhere.” She pulled her purse over her shoulder. “I can’t just sit here. I have to… I have to do something...”

“Where are you going?” JJ demanded as Marissa pushed past him.

“The police station. I have to try to straighten this out.” Marissa glanced over her shoulder at JJ. “You coming?”

JJ hesitated for a split second before following her.

[Kpatch]

Wow, the cops were really rough on the teens. Marissa is just a mess. I'm glad she's going to try to help Rory's case, if the cops will even listen.

Wonder who was calling Eve. Why do I have a feeling that it's the real robber trying to rent Paige's old room?

Chloe's here! Yay. I don't know why, but it made me hopeful that maybe this whole Parker illness will lead to finding out that Daniel isn't Parker's father. Oh wait, that's a different story altogether. Sorry.

[fluffysmom]

I'm glad Marissa wants to help Rory. I hope the police will listen to her.

I'm glad Chloe is back.

[heroicmuse]

Chloe and Daniel stood in a corner of the room, talking quietly, while Parker slept. “He’s gonna be fine,” Daniel told Chloe. “It’s just hard to get good sleep in a hospital, that’s all, plus we just had to take blood.”

“If you say he will be, I’m sure he will. You know more about these things than I do.” Chloe sighed as she walked over to Parker’s bed and ran her hands through his hair. “Mommy’s here, sweetheart,” she said softly. She turned back to Daniel. “I just have one question.”

“I’ll give it my best shot.”

“How did this start?”

Daniel sighed. He turned away from Chloe so she wouldn’t see the emotions fighting to take over his face. “I don’t know,” he said softly. “He was fine when I sent him off to preschool. Kayla, she seems to think it’s his heart, but you’ve got to know that it could be anything. Maybe he picked up a bug at school, maybe he had an asthma attack… we just don’t know yet.”

“But what if it is his heart?” Chloe’s eyes widened. “I mean, you didn’t say it wasn’t, so is it?”

“I can’t, Chloe, I can’t lie… I think the chances are it’s not, I think there are too many other possibilities, but if I say no, and I’m wrong... “

Chloe sat down next to Parker and took his hand in hers. “It’s funny, the other day I was telling someone how big he’s getting… but now he seems so small.” She looked up at Daniel. “If it’s okay… can I just spend a few minutes with him by myself? That way you can get a break and I can… I can make up for not being able to be here sooner.”

Daniel nodded slowly.


Marissa stormed into the police station, followed by JJ. “Where’s Rafe Hernandez?” she demanded.

“Young lady,” the front desk sergeant said, “you’re going to have to calm down if you want to see Detective Hernandez or anyone else.”

Marissa took a breath but she said, “I’ll calm down when you guys stop locking up the wrong people and get the animal who attacked me.”

Hope came out of her office. “I’ve got this,” she told the desk sergeant. She smiled at Marissa and said, “What can I do for you, Marissa? Did you remember something else about the night you were attacked?”

“Kind of,” Marissa wrung her hands, suddenly feeling nervous. “Um, the guy who did this... He’s not the guy I just saw get arrested right in front of me.”

“Come into my office,” Hope said, putting her hand on Marissa’s shoulder. Marissa flinched. “I… um, please don’t touch me.”

“Sorry. Follow me.” Hope looked over her shoulder at JJ. “If you’re here to see Rory, you’re going to have to wait, JJ. I’m sorry.” She walked off with Marissa before JJ could say anything else. He sank down in an empty seat and put his head in his hands.


Kayla was in her office doing some paperwork when her phone buzzed. She glanced at it and saw the notification that Parker’s blood tests were ready. She turned her chair around so she could sign into her computer and see what was going on.

Kayla scrolled slowly through the lab report, taking notes by hand at the same time. Suddenly, she stopped and stared at something on her screen. “That can’t be right,” she said under her breath. She picked up her phone and dialed a number. “Dr. Collins? This is Kayla Brady over at University Hospital. Yes, Parker Jonas’ doctor. We did just get the blood panel back; actually, that’s why I’m calling. I think you’d better take a look at this and tell me what you think.”


“So,” Hope asked Marissa once they were settled in her office. “Tell me exactly what you remembered.”

Marissa fidgeted with the charm on her necklace. “The guy wasn’t too much taller than me,” she said slowly, “and he had kind of a deep voice.”

Hope wrote that down. “But you still don’t remember anything about what he looked like?”

Marissa shook her head. “I told you, I never saw him. But I know one thing--that boy you arrested had nothing to do with it. So can you please let him go?”

“Not up to me,” Hope told her. “But tell you what. How about we put him in a lineup and if you don’t recognize anybody - “

“No.” Marissa got up. “Detective Brady, I don’t need a lineup to tell me who did and didn’t attack me. I was sitting right there when they arrested that kid. Your officers treated me and JJ like we were criminals, like we were in cahoots with him, when the only thing any of us did was have a cup of coffee together! So don’t waste my time asking me if I can ID someone who I know is innocent. Let him go and get back to looking for the creep who really did this to me.”

“Wait, you were with JJ?”

“Yeah. I happened to run into him and his friend at the coffee shop. Why? Is something wrong with him?”

“Of course not. I just didn’t - “

Marissa held her hand up. “You know what, never mind. I don’t want to hear it. After seeing the way your officers treated us, I already know that you all make up your minds about people first and get to know them second. If there’s anything about JJ I should know, I’m sure I’ll find out for myself.”

Marissa’s glare seemed to be daring Hope to argue with her. Hope closed her tablet and said, “I was going to say that I didn’t know you knew each other.”

Marissa crossed her arms. “I told you before, Detective Brady. I know you’re not my friend. So why would you know anything about me, or want to, that doesn’t have to do with finding the creep who attacked me?”

Hope raised her eyebrow. “You’re right. I’m not your friend. But believe it or not, I think I can be.”

“Can I go?”

Hope nodded. “If it doesn’t offend you too much, ask JJ to step in here for a minute. I need to get his statement about Rory’s whereabouts last night on record.”


There was a knock on Kayla’s office door. She looked up and took her glasses off. “Dr. Collins,” she said to the tall woman standing in her doorway. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”

“Any time a child’s health is involved, I try to make time,” Dr. Collins said as she came in. “What are we looking at?”

Kayla turned her computer screen. “We ran preliminary blood tests prior to - “

“Do you have a print out? My eyes can’t take too much of staring at a screen all day.”

Kayla’s lips thinned. She forced a half smile. “Of course.” She pressed a button to print the results and handed the printout to Dr. Collins.

Dr. Collins scanned it quickly and said, “I’m guessing you’re concerned about these elevated protein levels.”

Kayla nodded. “Is there any chance the test is inaccurate? Cross contamination or anything like that?”

“Unless the lab mixed up this boy’s blood with someone else’s, that’s just wishful thinking. Come on, now, if you didn’t know the boy’s name and you were just looking at test results, would you even ask a question like that?”

“I guess not,” Kayla admitted.

“I didn’t think so. No, unfortunately this is exactly what it says it is. Bring the parents in here and let’s tell them so that we can get on with it before it’s too late.”

[heroicmuse]

Jan 7, 2015 10:06:59 GMT -5 Kpatch said:

Chloe's here! Yay. I don't know why, but it made me hopeful that maybe this whole Parker illness will lead to finding out that Daniel isn't Parker's father. Oh wait, that's a different story altogether. Sorry.

I think I read a great story like that somewhere recently

That would be a bit cruel at this moment in time...but although that's not quite where we're going, Phillip's existence has not been forgotten.

[Kpatch]

Thanks heroicmuse for answering my question. Philip should never be forgotten. See now I'm wondering if Philip was the "someone" Chloe was talking to when she said Parker was getting so big.

Great update. I have no idea what elevated protein levels mean but it sounds like it's not good.

Marissa said one of the best lines I've ever heard/read: After seeing the way your officers treated us, I already know that you all make up your minds about people first and get to know them second.

Thanks for posting this great story here. I look forward to reading a new chapter each day and you do such a good job bringing the drama and the characters to life!

[fluffysmom]

I'm glad Marissa was able to talk to Hope. Hopefully her statement will reinforce Rafe's belief that Rory is innocent.

Poor Parker. I hope the doctors can help him to recover.

This is a terrific story heroicmuse. I am always eager to see what will happen next.

[heroicmuse]

Thanks Kpatch and fluffysmom! Your compliments mean a lot to me. Glad you're enjoying the story.