Warnings and Disclaimers:
I don't know any of the members of NSYNC or any celebrity mentioned. I don't know anything about their sexual orientation or the orientation of any other celebrities in this story (even though I wish some of them were gay). This story is fiction and you shouldn't take it for anything else but that. This is only for entertainment value only folks. Hope you enjoy the show oh I mean reading.
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If I Ain't Got You
Chapter -- 33 by JT Poole and Nicole Brown
// Early Thursday Morning -- Mark and JT's Bedroom //
--- JT's POV ---
What am I going to do with my husband Mark? This is getting tiresome. I am so fucking tired right now I don't know what to do. We didn't get to sleep until after twelve, after I heard Aaron leave. Lord am I making the right decisions concerning my boy? Is his life going to be screwed up like this forever or will things get better for a change? I hope this is just short spell of bad luck, because I don't know how much more of this I can take. I don't think I can deal with Mark's anger issues right now or anything else bad that can happy to my baby. This is really funny Lord, you gave me the ability to help other people with their problems and I can't even help myself with my own.
"Baby are you awake?" Mark asks, rolling over to face me.
"Yes I'm awake Mark." I say, waiting for whatever he wants to throw at me as I look at the clock to see that it was a little after six.
"Baby I'm sorry for all the things I said tonight. I was really upset." He says, reaching under the covers, searching for my hand. "Baby I hope you can forgive me for the horrible things I said."
"Should I be forgiving you Mark? Should I even bother having this conversation with you?" I ask him, sitting up in the bed now. "I didn't lie to you about anything Mark. I can't believe you got all bent out of shape again as usual and had another one of your damn temper tantrums and throw a fit for no fucking reason."
"I'm sorry baby. You just have to see it from my point..." He says as I cut him off.
"I don't want to see nothing from your twisted point of view Mark. It's like you do this shit to get on my fucking nerves. Are you trying to push me away from you? You are really doing a good fucking job of that. I have had it with all of the arguments Mark and I am not going to have another one with you." I say to him as he pulls his hand back and I could see a tear fall from his eye.
"Baby I'm sorry, I really am." He says.
"You are always sorry. When aren't you sorry Mark Wahlberg?" I ask him turning the light on by the bed. "Is there any day or night that we are together that we are not arguing?"
"My name is Mark Wahlberg-Poole." He says, slinking back on the bed. "We don't argue everyday and night baby."
"That's a lie and you know it Mark!" I shout as he grabs my hand.
"Baby it's early in the morning. People are still sleeping." He says, trying to calm me.
"This is my fucking house! If I want to shout, I will fucking shout!" I shout, pushing him out of the bed as he falls to the floor.
"Owwww!" He says with a thump. "That hurt JT."
"Good, I'm glad it did." I say as he stands up, walks around the bed and kneels in front of me.
"Baby please stop this. I am really sorry. Please...please give me another chance." He says, holding my hands. "I know I've been a fool and I have overreacted to some things...baby just please give me another chance."
"You've been more than a fool Mark." I say, snatching my hands from him, getting out of the bed and walking away. "I can't deal with this no mo. Imma call Judge Mablean and see if she can divorce us. I have had enough of all the drama we have gone through."
"Baby no!" He shouts.
"Hell yeah Mark! I am tired of this, I'm not gonna put up with this any longer!" I shout at him. "I want a fucking divorce! Get your shit and leave! Get out right now!"
"What the hell is going on in here?" Angie asks, walking into the room with a sleepy-eyed Kevin and a drunk smelling Chantal.
"Can you keep the fucking noise down? I'm trying to fucking sleep!" Chantal says, bumping into Angie on her way out of the room.
"Hold on ho!" Angie screams, grabbing Chantal's arm. "This is all your fucking fault bitch!"
"What's my fucking fault?" Chantal says, snatcher her arm away from Angie.
"If you would have kept your fucking mouth closed, they wouldn't be arguing and fighting right now! All because of you they are arguing about something that doesn't really matter. I heard the word divorce and you are the fucking cause bitch!" Angie says excitedly, as Chantal pushes her into Kevin.
"Baby are you okay?" Kevin asks as reaching for Angie as she moves away.
"This shit ain't my fault! I say it's about fucking time." Chantal says, as Angie raises back and knocks the hell out of her ass, laying her out on the floor.
"Like hell it is!" Angie shouts as Chantal slides back along the floor, trying to get away from her. "This wouldn't be going on right now if you kept your fucking mouth closed!"
"It's JT's fault! He should have said something before fucking now!" Chantal says, as Kasai walks into the room.
"Daddy J, Daddy Mark what's going on?" Kasai asks, looking at all of us in the room.
"Ahhh son why don't you go back up to your room." I say, walking around to him.
"No daddy, I'm staying right here. I want to know why you two are fighting. You are always fighting!" Kasai shouts, backing away from me. "Why are you fighting daddy?"
"Son you don't need to..." I say as he interrupts me.
"No Daddy J! Why...why are you and Daddy Mark fighting?" Kasai asks, again. "You have been fighting all day and night. Tell me!"
"Baby boy come here." Angie says, reaching her arms out to Kasai as he walks over to her.
"Why are they fighting Aunt Angie?" Kasai asks, tears streaming down his face. "Why are my daddies fighting? I don't want them to fight."
"Seems your Auntie Chantal doesn't know how to keep her mouth shut." Angie replies, as Chantal stands up.
"You can't blame this on me. Blame him." Chantal says, pointing at JT.
"Daddy what's she talking about? What did you do?" Kasai asks, hugging Angie now.
"Go on tell him JT, tell him why we are fighting." Mark says, walking closer to Kasai and Angie.
"We are arguing because Mark believes I told him a lie." I say, walking over to him too.
"Told a lie about what daddy?" Kasai asks. "Stop looking at me like that and just tell me already."
"He lied to me about you son." Mark says, turning away from everybody.
"I didn't lie! You believe I lied, I just didn't tell anyone." I say, getting up in Mark's face.
"Lied about what? What about me?" Kasai asks.
"He's upset that I didn't tell him that you are my son." I say, caressing Kasai's face.
"Duh hello, I call him daddy Daddy Mark. You know he's my daddy." Kasai says, as Angie lets a giggle slip out.
"That's not what I meant." I say, stepping away from Mark. "He's upset that you are my real son. You see Mark thought you were adopted."
"What! I am not adopted!" Kasai shouts, pulling away from Angie. "You mad at daddy because I'm his son? That's whack!"
"That's what I was thinking to son." I say as Angie looks at me, shaking her head `no' at me. "But Mark is just angry because I didn't tell him you were my real son. He feels that I have lied to him because he didn't know this information."
"So you are fighting like this?" Kasai asks. "I don't want you to fight. You love each other, you are not supposed to fight. If you keep fighting, you will split up or worse."
"Well son I think we are going..." I say as Angie shakes her head at me again. "What I mean is that..."
"Baby boy why don't you go on back to bed and get some sleep." Angie says as she turns around and shakes Kevin lightly. "You might need to go back to bed too handsome."
"No Aunt Angie I am not going. They are fighting. I don't want them to split up. Daddy has that look in his eye." Kasai says.
"What look?" I ask.
"That look that says you have had enough." Kasai replies, looking at me with tears in his eyes. "No daddy no."
"What son?" I ask.
"You two are over aren't you!" Kasai shouts, turning away from me. "Aren't you!"
"Son..." I say, touching his shoulder as he pulls away from me.
"No daddy!" Kasai shouts.
"Chantal, Angie could you all leave the three of us alone please?" I ask as she looks at me.
"Are you guys going to be okay?" Angie asks. "I don't wanna have to come down here and get physical."
"Stupid ass, I was trying to sleep." Chantal says, getting up off the floor and walking past Angie.
"Get on ho." Angie says, pushing Chantal out of the room. "I'm a few doors down. I don't mind coming back to whip all your asses. It's too early in the AM for this stuff. Kiss him and make up damnit."
"Mind yo bizness woman." I say to her as she walks out of the room.
"Daddy you can't break up, you just can't!" Kasai shouts.
"Son me and Mark are going through a lot of things right now..." I say as Mark starts to speak, cutting me off as he walks over to where the two of us stood.
"The main thing is you not being up front with me." Mark says, looking at me with a hint of mischief in his eyes. "We argue because you...you just don' t treat me like I'm your husband."
"Boy you must have fell and bumped your head or something!" I say heatedly.
"That's the point right there JT, you treat me like I was Kai's age, I am a full grown man, your man. You don't have the decency to treat me like that."
"I would treat you like a man if you acted like one instead of acting like a spoiled jealous fucking brat!" I say as he punches the wall behind me. "And your damn temper is just as fucking bad!"
"I wouldn't act that way if you didn't give me a reason to!" Mark shouts as Kasai turns around, tears streaming down his face.
"Stop it!" Kasai shouts. "Please don't fight no more."
"See what you have done!" I shout as I move away from Mark.
"It's your fault too daddy." Kasai says. "I'm not going to talk to either of you again until you fix this and stop arguing."
"Kai you can't do that." I say as he turns to look at me.
"Watch me! Fix this daddy or else!" Kasai says, walking out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
"That's your spoiled son." Mark says, walking over towards the window in the room and sitting on the sill. "Why couldn't you just tell me that instead of me having to find it out from Foul `Tal?"
"Mark get over it, that information never crossed my mind until `Tal brought it up." I say, walking over to the windowsill where he was.
"The thought never occurred to you to tell your husband that your son is really your son? All the conversations we have had in the past and that information never clicked in your mind to tell me? Mark asks, standing up and looking at me.
"No it didn't Mark, that's why we are arguing now it seems. I always thought you knew since I had him when we started dating." I say.
"I thought he was adopted baby. It's not everyday that you see a gay black man with a young boy that looks almost Asian." Mark says, sitting back down.
"Well he's my son, blood and DNA tested and all." I say, moving closer to him. "I just don't know why this upset you so much."
"Baby you have to see my perspective of things to know how I feel right
now." Mark says. "How would you feel if I had a child and after ten years of being married to me, I tell you that the child wasn't adopted, that the child was my own flesh and blood?"
"I don't know how I would feel Mark. That's a hard one for me." I say, thinking about what he said.
"Baby I'm not joking. I am being honest here. How would you feel?" Mark asks, standing up in front of me, holding me.
"I told you Mark, I don't know how I would feel." I say.
"Well I will tell you again how I feel. I feel like you left out very important pieces of your life to me. Like you didn't feel I was important enough to tell me about this." Mark says.
"Well I wasn't trying to do that Mark. That never crossed my mind that I was doing that to you." I say as he hugs me.
"I love you baby, but that's how I felt. It seems that everyone but me knows a little bit more about your life than I do." Mark says, pulling back and looking at me. "I'm your husband. I am supposed to know everything there is to know about you, not have everyone else around us know these things."
"I don't know what to say." I say, looking at him.
"Say that you will remember to include me more in your life and don't leave me out." Mark says, kissing me on the cheek.
"I never forget you Mark." I say looking at him. "I would never leave you out, besides Kai, you are my life, my joy, my greatest inspiration."
"You mean that baby?" Mark asks me, pulling me down to sit in his lap as we both look out the window as the sun starts to rise.
"You know I do Mark." I say to him, running my fingers through his hair. "If I ain't got you in my life, I don't know what I would do... I love you Mark."
"Baby I love you." Mark says, as we kiss again.
"Some people want it all But I don't want nothing at all If it ain't you baby If I ain't got you baby Some people want diamond rings Some just want everything But everything means nothing If I ain't got you..." I sang to him with tears in my eyes.
// Up in Kasai's Attic //
"Baby wake up." Kasai says, shaking Aaron awake.
"What's up Baby?" Aaron asks, sitting up in the bed yawning and stretching.
"I'm really scared now. I think my dads are going to get a divorce." Kasai replies as a tear rolls down his cheek. "I don't think daddy is going to put up with Daddy Mark's arguments anymore."
"Why don't you tell me everything that happened? Why did you have me come back so early?" Aaron asks, wrapping his arms around Kasai.
"They were fighting bad this morning. I thought daddy was going to through Daddy Mark out." Kasai says, crying on Aaron's chest.
"I don't want them to fight. I don't want them to break up. If they break up, what will I do?" Kasai asks, looking around as he hears footsteps coming up the attic stairway. "Oh my God, I think my dads are coming up here."
"Oh shit." Aaron says, getting out of the bed and running around the room, trying to pick up all of his clothes as Mark and JT walk into the room.
"What the hell!" JT shouts, as Aaron freezes in place where he was standing.
"Oh shit." Aaron says again, turning around to look at JT and Mark.
"What the hell you doing up here?" Mark asks, walking over to where Aaron stood. "What the hell were you two doing?"
"Daddy Mark please. We didn't do nothing." Kasai says, jumping up.
"The hell you didn't! The both of you are fucking naked!" Mark shouts, scaring Aaron.
"Daddy we didn't do anything, honest." Kasai says, looking at JT.
"Get your clothes on boy!" Mark shouts, grabbing Aaron by his arm, pulling him towards the stairs.
"Daddy please don't hurt him." Kasai says, standing in place as Mark and Aaron disappeared down the stairs.
"Boy what did you do?" JT asks.
"We didn't do anything." Kasai responds. "When I left your room this morning...I called him and he came over to make sure I was okay."
"Boy..." JT says as Kasai cuts him off.
"Daddy I promise we didn't do anything. You said that I shouldn't do anything until I was ready and I am not ready for that. We were just laying in bed, that's all daddy." Kasai says, looking at JT with tears in his eyes. "Please believe me daddy."
"I believe you son." JT says, hugging Kasai. "Ah son, please put some clothes on. You are scaring daddy."
"Ah, sorry daddy." Kasai says, blushing realizing what his daddy was referring to.
"Get dressed and see me downstairs. I just hope Mark hasn't killed Aaron." JT says, walking out of the room.
// Downstairs -- The Kitchen -- 20 Minutes Prior //
"What's going on in here?" Nick asks, walking into the kitchen, hearing the sound of someone arguing. "Aaron what are you doing here so early?"
"Your brother was upstairs in bed with my son." Mark says, looking at Aaron who was scared to move.
"What? Aaron what were you doing?" Nick asks.
"Ah hello, what do you think he was doing Nick? They were having sex." Mark says, trying to stay calm, not wanting to upset Nick.
"Having sex? Aaron are you out of your mind? You are too young to be doing that kind of stuff!" Nick shouts, walking over to Aaron who just looked at him like he was crazy.
"Nick calm down." Aaron stutters out.
"I am not going to calm down bro. You have been acting like a wild child lately! You act like you don't have no fucking responsibility!" Nick yells, grabbing Aaron by his shirt and starts shaking him.
"Nick stop!" Aaron screams, trying to get away from Nick.
"I am not going to stop!" Nick shouts as Mark pulls the two of them apart.
"Nick buddy calm down man." Mark says as JT and Kasai enter the kitchen.
"What's going on in here?" JT asks, hobbling past Nick. "Nick are you okay?"
"I'm fine, but he won't be when I get my hands on him." Nick replies, struggling with Mark to get free.
"Stop that now. Why are you struggling and what did Aaron do?" JT asks.
"Haven't you heard? He and your son were having sex." Nick says as he stops struggling.
"They didn't have sex." JT replies.
"How do you know that?" Nick and Mark ask in unison.
"Kai told me so." JT answers, walking over to the refrigerator and pulling out the juice bottle. "I think we all just need to calm down and take a breath."
"They didn't have sex?" Mark asks.
"He says they didn't baby, I'm gonna take his word for right now." JT says, looking at Kasai. "The only thing that I don't about the whole matter is that you two were naked in the bed together."
"We didn't do anything Mister...ah...Poole." Aaron stutters.
"We have already established that Aaron, but the point of things is that you were upstairs, in bed and naked to-gether. I don't know how long you two were like that, I don't know if this has happened before, but it won't happen again. "Until further notice, you two are forbidden from going into your room. Got that boy? Do I make myself clear?" JT asks, throwing a glance at Kasai, then at Aaron.
"Crystal." Aaron answers as Kasai looks at JT then at Mark.
"I understand daddy." Kasai answers.
"This has been a long day already and I haven't even left for work." JT states, taking a sip of his juice. "Baby deal with him more if you need to, I am going to get ready for work."
"Okay baby. Do you need help getting back upstairs?" Mark asks, looking in JT's direction as he walks to the kitchen door and stops.
"I'll be fine." JT says, turning back around and walking through the door.
// Angie & Kevin's Room //
"Hey wife... are you okay?" Kevin asked softly, rubbing his wife's back as she lay face down on the bed, her face buried in a pillow. Angie looked up, tears threatening to spill. "Come here."
"It's a-all fallin' apart Kevin," Angie cried weakly, her shoulders shaking. "Our fa-family is goin' to hell and there's n-nothin' I can d-do about it!"
"Baby, you can't blame yourself for JT and Mark's problems," Kevin stated, rubbing her back. "It seems like Mark's feelings are just hurt because JT kept something that major from him for almost ten years. Hell I'd be upset too."
"I told him he shoulda told him when they first got married," Angie replied, her mood swinging from sad to angry in the blink of an eye. "Damn them! I told them I am not bringin' my baby into this house with all this craziness goin' on. They have to make up!"
"They will... JT just needs to give Mark some time to cool off. Speakin' of Sweet Pea... how are you feelin'?"
"I'm okay I suppose," Angie replied, resting her head on his chest, then loo king up at him. "I have my first prenatal appointment tomorrow. Do you wanna come with me?"
"Are you crazy? Hell yeah I wanna come!" Kevin exclaimed, kissing her soundly and then looking into her eyes. "I wanna be involved in every aspect of this pregnancy."
"Okay," Angie replied, lying down again. She traced circles on Kevin's chest, sighing loudly. After the third time, Kevin couldn't resist messing with her.
"I wonder what Angie's sighing about?" he wondered aloud, grinning when she turned to him with a look of annoyance. He kissed her again, the grin spreading. "Come on darlin'. Tell me what's botherin' you."
"I don't know... I guess I'm just tired of all the drama in this house," Angie replied, her eyes sad. "I mean, JT and Mark are gonna kill each other... my baby Kai is still having issues... Chantal is making me crazy, and Mablean is being evil. What the hell did I do to deserve all this insanity in my life?"
"Baby this isn't about you," Kevin said with a sigh. He tugged on Angie's hair, forcing her to look at him. "You can't take all this stuff personally. Most of it has nothing to do with you at all. This is just people dealin' with their own fucked up issues."
"I know... but I just feel like I should be able to fix it," Angie replied in frustration, getting out of the bed and pacing the floor.
Kevin simply lay there and watched her, not wanting to intrude on her. When there was a knock on the door, Kevin got up to answer it since Angie was sitting in the easy chair by the window staring out into the back yard. Chantal stood in the doorway, a surly look on her face as she barged past Kevin.
"Angela, we need to talk," she said imperiously, dismissing Kevin with a glance over her shoulder. "This is private, so why don't you go talk to one of your little friends or something."
"Don't talk to Kevin like that, you little ingrate!" Angie snapped, so furious with Chantal that she was shaking. "How fuckin' dare you come into our bedroom and talk to my husband like that!"
"Baby please calm down," Kevin said softly, his arm around Angie. Angie glared at Chantal, not noticing Nick standing in the doorway, a silent witness to the whole scene.
"Who the fuck is you callin' an ingrate you bitch!" Chantal shouted, slapping Angie so hard her neck snapped. "The only reason he married you was so that Mablean wouldn't disown yo scanlous ass!"
"You bitch!" Angie screamed, lunging for Chantal but being held off by Kevin. Chantal saw her opportunity and went to slap Angie a second time, but Nick caught her arm midswing and pinned it behind her body.
"That's enough!" Nick shouted, grabbing the still struggling Chantal and slinging her over his shoulder. "I'm not gonna let you hurt Angie or the baby!"
"Put me down you asshole!" Chantal shrieked as Nick dropped her on the floor in the hall and slammed the door in her face. Nick turned back to his friends, ignoring the continued pounding on the door.
"Angie, are you okay?" he asked softly, his hand touching the slight swelling on her cheek while Kevin went to get an icepack out of the bathroom.
"Yeah Nick, we're fine," Angie replied with a smile. Nick returned the smile briefly, and then his eyes clouded over.
"Is it true?" he asked, his bottom lip trembling.
"Is what true Nick?" Angie asked, accepting the disposable icepack from Kevin and then sitting down on the bed with it on her cheek.
"Are the two of you married?" he asked, noticing the look that passed between the two of them. His eyes wandered briefly to Angie's left hand, and his face turned red with rage when he saw the gold band there.
"What the fuck is goin' on here Kevin?" Nick shouted, startling Angie. "You promised me that you wouldn't get married before my big day! How could you?"
"Nick please... let me explain," Kevin began but Nick cut him off.
"No fuck you Kevin Richardson! You lied to me! You said that you two hadn't even set a date yet! I fuckin' hate you for this shit!" Nick screamed, running out the door.
"Baby, go after him!" Angie cried, tears pooling in her eyes. Kevin looked down at her and after kissing her cheek, took off after his friend.
"This is all my fault!" Angie said softly, the tears finally falling. "Now Nick hates me too! God, how did all this happen?"
She got up to go after Nick and Kevin to explain, but a sudden pain in her stomach made her stop in her tracks. She tried to make it back to the bed, but a second, sharper pain made her head spin. "Oh God... my baby!"
"Now that that fuckin' man is... Angie? Are you okay?" Chantal asked when she saw the tears in Angela's eyes. Angie opened her mouth to answer, but no sound escaped as her eyes rolled and she collapsed to the floor. "Angie!"
Chantal pulled Angie into her arms, rocking her back and forth. "Come on Angie... you gotta wake up for me! Come on girl! Open your eyes!! Somebody help me! Angie please don't die... I can't loose you! Help us somebody!"
"What the hell are you screamin--- Oh God Angie!" Kevin screamed pushing Chantal away and cradling his wife's limp body against his chest. "Baby, wake up! Chantal, call 911! Come on sweetheart; open your eyes for me! Nick! I need your help!"
"Kevin what's wrong... Angie?" Nick said softly, dropping to his knees next to his friend. He whipped around to face Chantal, fury written on his face. "What the hell did you do to her?"
"N-nothing! I- I j-just came back to talk to her a-and she f-fainted," Chantal said frantically, her heart twisting a little as she watched Kevin talk to the woman that if she was honest with herself, she would admit she was still in love with. She breathed a sigh of relief when Angie's eyes opened.
"K-Kevin... it hurts," Angie whispered, grimacing in pain. Kevin's face paled as he thought about their baby. "She h-has to be okay! I-I don't wanna loose m-my baby!"
"You're not gonna loose the baby Angie," Nick said fiercely, clutching her hand in his. "She's gonna be fine."
There was a pounding on the downstairs door, and when Chantal ran to get it, Nick and Kevin tried to keep Angie calm and still. Angie was totally panicked, trying to keep her mind off the pain ripping through her body. The paramedics checked her over carefully, looking worried when they saw how high her blood pressure was.
"We need to get her to the hospital!" one of them said, rolling Angie out into the hall strapped onto a stretcher. Kevin and Nick hurried behind them, neither wanting to be left behind. "We only have room for one of you."
"You can drive yourself over in her car," he said over his shoulder, tossing the keys to Nick. "Meet me in the ER!"
By the time they got into the ambulance, Angie was unconscious again. Kevin held her hand, tears pouring from his eyes at the thought of loosing either his wife or child. When they arrived at the hospital, the doctor's took Angie back, leaving Kevin to his own devices. Nick arrived a few minutes later, and they both settled down to wait for word about Angie and the baby.
// Florida Hospital -- The Gymnasium //
"Good morning everyone. How is everyone doing today?" JT asks, as he and Kasai walk down the court waving at the few patients sitting around working out.
"Good morning Mr. Poole. Can I ask you something quickly?" Eric, one of the patients asks.
"Sure Eric, what's up?" JT asks, stopping in front of Eric.
"Can you talk to my PT and ask her to increase everything and like try to speed things up?" Eric asks.
"Well I would have to look at your chart and see what progress you are making and see if there is any room for an increase in the regiment you are currently put through." JT answers the young man. "Let's go into the office and I can get your information and we can talk."
"Okay Mr. Poole." Eric says, climbing into his chair and following JT into the office.
"Kai you can go hang out with Steve." JT states, kissing Kasai on the forehead and sending him on his way as picks up the phone. "Sheila, JT here. Good morning to you too. Could you get Eric Johnson's chart and bring it down to the gym please?"
"Sure JT I can do that for you. Is there anything else you are going to need from up here?" Sheila, the desk clerk in the records room asks.
"That will be all for now." JT replies, hanging up the phone and logging into the computer at the desk. "Ok Mr. Johnson I'm going to look at the notes from Erica until I get your chart in front of me."
"Mr. Poole is there any other physical therapist here that can get me better quicker?" Eric asks.
"No Eric, the physical therapist isn't the factor to you getting better quicker, your body is." JT states, pressing some keys on the keyboard. "We can only help your body adapt to the movements and exercise your body, but we can't make your body heal faster than it is willing to heal."
"Then why am I here?" Eric asks. "What good are you all to me if I am not going to heal quickly?"
"Well Eric you are here so that we can get you back on track to walking and running and all the other things you like to do." JT replies.
"Fuck it man, I've been in this chair for almost a month. I want to walk again!" Eric shouts, as there is a knock at the door.
"Calm down Mr. Johnson." JT says, waving the woman into the room. "Thanks Sheila."
"No prob JT." Sheila says, smiling and then turning around and leaving the room.
"Lets see what we have here." JT says, opening the big folder with all of the information that hospital has for Eric Johnson. "Eric are you experiencing the pain in your legs and your lower back still?"
"Yeah I am." Eric answers him. "What does that have to do with anything? I thought if I was able to feel something in my legs and in my back, I was getting better."
"No Eric, that's not a sign of you getting better, that's a sign that something else is wrong." JT says, standing up and walking over to the door. "Steve, Erica come in here please."
"What are you doing Mr. Poole?" Eric asks, turning around to see what was going on.
"Yes Mr. Poole?" Erica, Eric's physical therapist asks as she walks over to the door.
"We need to have a small conference." JT says as Steve walks into the room and closes the door.
"What's going on sir?" Erica asks, looking at Eric and then at JT.
"Well Mr. Johnson here wants to increase the rate of his recovery." JT says, sitting down. "But looking at his chart, I see that there is some problems."
"What kind of problems?" Erica asks, taking a seat in front of the desk.
"The problem is he's overdoing things as it is." JT says. "Dr. Warrenton has prescribed extra pain medication for his pain, pain that is in his legs and in his lower back. I can only see that the pain is related to this extra exercise he's getting."
"You saying that all the exercise I am doing now is causing me to be in pain?" Eric asks, slamming his hands down on the wheelchair arm rest.
"That's right Mr. Johnson. You are pushing your body too quickly." JT answers him. "At the rate you are going, you are not doing your body any good. You actually need to take things a little slower."
"I don't want to take things slower." Eric says. "I want to get out of this wheelchair and walk on my own two fucking legs!"
"Well from the last MRI and CAT in your chart, the nerve endings along your spine, leading to your legs have no activity." JT says, turning the page in the chart. "Also, I see that you signed a waiver releasing the hospital and any of the staff working with you from liability in your treatment. That's okay with you, but it's not okay with me Mr. Johnson..."
"I want to get better." Eric says, tears running down his face.
"As of this moment I am terminating your therapy services until your body is balanced and managed." JT says.
"What does that mean Mr. Poole?" Eric asks.
"When Dr. Warrenton assures me that your pain management issues are taken care of, then and only then will your therapy services be restarted."
"This isn't fair! This isn't fair man!" Eric shouts, thrashing around in his chair. "I don't want to be in this fucking chair forever!"
"Mr. Johnson calm down, calm down right now." JT says, standing back up. "I am only doing this for your own good."
"No you are not! You are doing this to be fucking mean!" Eric shouts, his tantrum not waning.
"I am doing this for your own good Mr. Johnson. If you are not happy with my diagnosis for right now, I suggest you get a second opinion. I assure you the results will still be the same." JT says, sitting back down again. "The choice is all up to you Mr. Johnson."
"I...I don't know what to do. I don't want to be this way forever." Eric says.
"If you follow the plan we have for you, you won't." JT says as Eric looks up at him, still frowning. "I assure you. Do things my way and you will be up and walking again in no time."
"Can you promise me that?" Eric asks.
"No I can't Mr. Johnson, you have to promise yourself that." JT says as the phone rings on the desk. "Excuse me. Hello?"
"JT, Daniel Sylar here." Daniel Sylar says.
"Hello Mr. Sylar, what can I do for you?" JT asks.
"Well the hospital just hired a new physical therapist for your department." Daniel Sylar says.
"Okay sir. Is there a problem with the new hire?" JT asks, logging into the hospital staffing system.
"No no JT, there's nothing wrong. I called to ask you a favor." Daniel Sylar says. "The new hire is my sister's son. His name is Rhett Granger."
"Okay when does he start?" JT asks.
"Well he's here in my office now. I wanted him to meet you personally before he got to work. I know how you like to get to know the staff in your department and so before I actually start him working, I want you and him to get acquainted with each other first. Since I know how you like things ran down there in the department, I wanted him to work with you personally so he will do his job according to how you want things ran. While he's there you can show him some things he doesn't know and get him on task of how you run the show." Daniel Sylar explains.
"Ah well...ah, I guess you can send him down to the gym." JT says, pressing keys on the keyboard.
"Okay JT, we will be down in a few moments." Daniel Sylar says as they disconnected the call.
"Sorry about that. Is there anything else we need to talk care of here?" JT asks, looking at Eric.
"No sir." Eric says.
"Good. Steve can you escort Mr. Johnson up to his room and notate his chart for another MRI to be scheduled." JT says as Steve stands up.
"Okay JT, anything else I need to do?" Steve asks.
"Where is Justin? Doesn't he have a session before he goes back home today?" JT asks, picking up a clipboard and flipping through the pages.
"Yeah he does. I haven't gone to get him yet." Steve says, pushing Eric out of the room.
"Okay get him and get him started as soon as you can." JT says, turning to look at Erica. "We are done here, you can get back to your other charges."
"Oh...okay sir." Erica says, getting up and leaving the room as JT turns off the light and walks out of the room.
"Hello JT." Daniel Sylar says as he and a nice looking young man walk over to JT.
"Hello sir." JT says, standing in front of Daniel and apparently the new guy. "Hi there, I'm JT."
"Hi, I'm Rhett, Rhett Granger." Rhett says, shaking JT's hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too." JT replies, turning around and leaning against the wall.
"Well I am going to let you two get acquainted, here is his working file." Daniel says, handing the file to JT. "I will see the both of you later on today."
"Thank you sir." JT says, placing the file under his arm. "Have you been given the official tour of this place?"
"Not the official one." Rhett says.
"Okay, this is our lovely gym. This is where all the magic takes place." JT says, laughing a little bit as he and Rhett walks toward the elevators.
// Up in Valgina's Office -- 20 Minutes Later //
"Girl let me tell you about the set up around here." Valgina says, leaning back in her chair, putting her feet up on the desk. "Since I've been here, I've done hardly nothing. All I have to do is sign some forms and tell people to work with these weirdos."
"So they paying you to sign papers and that's it?" The person on the phone asks.
"Yeah girl, that's all I do." Valgina says, as she spots JT standing in front of her door. "Girl I gotta go, my so called boss is at the door."
"Alright girl, I'll talk to you later." The person on the phone says, as Valgina hangs up the phone, gets up and walks over to the door, opening it.
"And here we have Valgina Williams. She's one of the psychiatrist we have on staff as well." JT says, glaring at the woman, making a mental note to talk to her about more of her work issues. "Valgina this is Rhett Granger. Rhett is a new physical therapist joining the hospital staff."
"Hello miss." Rhett says, kissing Valgina's palm as JT makes a gagging face. "Nice to make your acquaintance."
"Nice to meet you as well." Valgina says, using an eerie seduction like voice. "Where have you been hiding?"
"Well ah...I've been hiding no where." Rhett answers, trying to take his hand away from Valgina as she eases him into her office. "Ah...well...could I have my hand back?"
"Why don't you sit down and tell me about yourself...tell me about your work background." Valgina says, sitting down on top of her desk in front of the chair Rhett was sitting on as JT watched from the doorway.
"Well..." Rhett starts as JT walks into the room and interrupts them.
"Rhett this can wait, we have other things to do." JT says, looking at Valgina with an evil glare. "You can talk to Valgina later on about your past work history."
"I am quite sure he can stay awhile." Valgina says, spreading her legs open a little bit wider, exposing her upper thigh.
"Valgina! This is improper conduct on your behalf. Rhett could you step outside and wait for me please?" JT asks, looking back at Rhett, while trying to contain his anger.
"Yes sir." Rhett says, taking his hand from Valgina and walking past JT out of the room, closing the door behind him.
"How dare you do that to him. He's new here and his uncle is Daniel Sylar! Are you trying to cause problems?" JT shouts, looking at the woman as she pushes him back a little, moving around her desk and standing up behind her desk.
"I wasn't doing nothing to him that he wouldn't like. He's not like you JT. I am sure he's all man." Valgina says, sashaying back around the desk in JT 's face. "I bet he got that bomb ass shit."
"Valgina leave him alone." JT says. "He's new here, he doesn't need you ruining his life too damnit."
"I'm not going to ruin his life. Why do you always think the worst of me?" Valgina asks.
"Because you are you bitch. Have you ever thought about all the lives you have wrecked in your fucking life? Probably not because you are a heartless cow!" JT shouts, turning around, walking to the door. "My final word, leave him alone Valgina. Don't push this."
"Whateva JT. I always get what I want." Valgina says, as JT closes the door behind him.
"I am so sorry that happened to you. I didn't think she would go all out like that Rhett." JT says as he and Rhett walk down the hall to where his office was. "This here is my office and..."
"Daddy daddy something's wrong!" Kasai shouts, running up to JT.
"Boy calm down. What's wrong? Are you hurt son?" JT asks holding Kasai in place. "Take a breath and breathe."
"It's Aunt Angie, she's here in the hospital." Kasai replies. "She's hurt bad."
"What? Come on in." JT says, opening the door to his office as he, Kasai and Rhett go in.
"Call Andrew." Kasai says, pulling out his cell phone and dialing numbers.
"Who you calling?" JT asks,
"I'm calling daddy." Kasai says as Rhett looks at him strangely. "He would want to know what's wrong with her."
"Andy, JT here, what's wrong with Angie?" JT asks, tapping his fingers on the desk.
"She has Preeclampsia." Andrew says.
"Oh lawd not that." JT says, shaking his head. "She's too young to get something like that. Wait a minute what is that?"
"Preeclampsia is a condition with high blood pressure and the presence of protein in a pregnant woman's urine," Andrew replies. " Have you all noticed any symptoms, things she might have been complaining about like swelling, sudden weight gain or headaches?"
"Well in Angie's case Andy, that gal complains about headaches every day around our house. She claims Mark and me stress her out too much about
Kai." JT answers, looking over to see the reaction on Rhett's face. "Andy I'll be down in a few minutes."
"I'll be waiting for you." Andrew says as he hangs up the phone.
"Come on Kai lets go...ah Rhett...ah hell you can come on, it's part of the tour." JT says as he, Kasai and Rhett leave his office.
// Down in the ER //
"Baby what's going on?" Mark asks, running up to JT.
"It's Angie, something's wrong with her." JT replies as Mark hugs him.
"Where is she?" Mark asks, noticing a new face behind Kasai. "Hi there, I' m Mark Wahlberg...ah Poole."
"Hi there, I'm Rhett Granger." Rhett says, extending his hand to Mark. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you." Mark says, messing up Kai's hair.
"Watch the hair dad." Kasai says, as Rhett's expression changes to a shocked one.
Oh my God, they are in a relationship together and that's their son.' Rhett thinks, looking between JT, Mark and Kasai. Cool, this is going to be a cool place to be, as long as I stay away from that pussy lady."
"Come on, she's back here with Andy." JT says, as the four of them walks through the ER heading to where Angie was.
// Down in the Gym //
"Steve I'm tired man. Please, let's just call it a day." Justin says breathing hard as he did his last sit-up.
"Come on Justin give me two more reps man." Steve says, leaning up a little bit on Justin's legs.
"I can't Steve, I'm really tired. Just let me rest man." Justin says, lying back on the mat, closing his eyes, trying to catch his breath.
"Come on Justin don't wimp out on me now. Just two more reps man." Steve says, trying to coax Justin into doing more sit-ups.
"No Steve, I don't wanna!" Justin shouts, pulling his wheelchair closer to him, putting the brakes on as he pulls himself into it. "I'm done for today Steve."
"Justin you are not done yet. Come back here. Your session isn't over." Steve says, getting up off the mat and walking behind Justin.
"I said I was done Steve!" Justin shouts, continuing to head towards the elevators as other people in the room watches them.
"Justin get back here." Steve says, as Justin stops, turns his chair around, and looks at him as thought he could run him over.
"Blow it out your ass Steve!" Justin shouts, giving Steve the finger. "I am quite sure you know what that means!"
"Great, just great, like I need this damn drama today." Steve says as his beeper goes off. "Hmmmm, nine one one, I wonder what's wrong. Where's JT?"
// Up in Justin's Room //
"There you are." Nick says, standing up as Justin enters the room. "Where have you been baby?"
"I was down in the gym with Steve baby. What are you doing here?" Justin asks.
"Something happened to Angie today, so she's here in the hospital." Nick replies.
"Oh no baby. What's wrong with her? Is something wrong with the baby?" Justin asks.
"I don't know baby. I don't understand doctor talk much, but it must have been very bad based on Kevin's reaction when Andrew talked to him." Nick says, leaning down and hugging Justin. "I missed you baby."
"I missed you too my husband to be." Justin says as Nick's expression changes. "Nick what's wrong?"
"Baby I have something to tell you." Nick says, sitting down on Justin's bed.
"What is it baby?" Justin asks, rolling closer to Nick.
"Kevin and Angie are married. They got married before us." Nick says, tears streaming down his face now. "Kevin promised. He promised that they wouldn't get married before us. He lied to us."
"Baby calm down." Justin says, pulling Nick into his lap. "Did you talk to Kevin about this? About your feelings?"
"Yeah I did. He said...he said they wanted to do it so that he can have his loving family." Nick says, sniffling.
"They got married so that they can share their love for each other and raise their baby Nicky." Justin says, wiping Nick's tears. "Well will get married and do the same thing too."
"But we were supposed to get married first." Nick says, getting out of Justin's lap.
"Nicky get back here right now." Justin says as Nick turns to him and sits back down in his lap. "They had a perfect reason for getting married. You should be happy for them. I am."
"I am happy, I just wish that we had gotten..." Nick says, holding his head down.
"We will soon baby. Remember you are mine, mine forever." Justin says as he and Nick share a passionate kiss. "Come on, let's go down and see our friends."
"Okay baby." Nick says, leaning in and kissing Justin again before he got up again.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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