I don't own any of the characters in this story and no copyright infringement is intended.
This fic is an alternate timeline and features a totally different resolution to the "Who Shot JR?" plot.
The timeline breaks at episode four of season four of "Dallas."
***
Shot Through the Heart
Part Twenty-nine:
***
JR stopped on his way from the bedroom to the kitchen, allowing himself to admire the view of his wife's backside as she bent over to help John Ross stack up his blocks.
"There you go, baby," she straightened and smiled at her son. She turned around and nodded at her husband. "Good morning, JR. How are you feeling?"
"A little hung over," he told her truthfully.
"Yes. Well, that's to be expected. Coffee is ready and your breakfast is waiting on the table, along with your newspaper."
"Thanks," he grunted and moved to the kitchen. He sat down at the table, poured a cup of coffee, and glanced at the front page of the paper. There was a huge picture of Kristen and Patricia being led into the police station along with the screaming headline, "JAIL BABY!"
"I don't want to read that," he pushed the paper away from him and rubbed his temples.
"Well, it's not going away," Sue Ellen sighed, taking a seat across from him. "The good news is that the article makes it clear that you're not the father of her baby."
"Does it mention your cowboy?"
"No. But you know Kristen will make that public the first chance she gets."
"Yes," he growled. "So when are we going to see him?'
"What? Who?"
"Don't play games with me, Miss Texas. I know you're going to want to see Farlow. If you think I'm letting you go alone, you're out of your damn mind."
"I… I don't expect you to go, JR. I thought maybe Pam…"
"No," he cut her off. "Me and you, honey. That's the way it has to be. I have to see with my own eyes you don't love him as much as you love me."
"Alright, JR. Let's go this morning and just get it over with. We can drop John Ross at the ranch."
They were silent for a few minutes while JR ate his breakfast. He cleaned his plate and pushed it away from him. "Yesterday before all hell broke loose,you said you and Mama had talked. What was that all about?"
"Oh. You and I are going to have to find a bigger apartment. John Ross needs his own room."
"Hell, Sue Ellen, I have plenty of condos we can use, but wouldn't you be happier if we just bought a house?"
"We're not buying a house, JR. We're building one. We'll only need an apartment or condo until it's done."
"What are you talking about Sue Ellen?"
"Remember back in the old days when we had our own little house on Southfork? Before we moved into the main house?"
"Yeah. But those houses are being used by the servants now."
"Yes. That's why we're going to build a new one. Miss Ellie is giving us three acres so we can stay on Southfork, but don't have to live under the same roof as your father."
"Really?" JR was surprised. After all, it had been Miss Ellie who had insisted they give up their little homes and move into the main house in the first place. "That's interesting."
"Is the arrangement acceptable to you?"
"It's more than acceptable. But you need to make sure it's what you want before we go through all the trouble of building. You'll still be on Southfork."
"Yes. But we will have our own home, JR. Just me and you and John Ross. And you and John Ross belong at Southfork. It's your home."
"You belong there too," he told her. "You're my wife."
"Yes," she smiled at him. "And I'm not going anywhere."
"Damn straight you're not," he growled.
He watched her clear his breakfast plate and move to the sink. "Sue Ellen?"
"Yes?" She didn't turn around to face him.
"I probably won't like the answer to this question, but I have to know…"
"What?" She asked, still not turning around.
"Last night...what you did to me...on the couch…" he squirmed uncomfortably and forced himself to continue, "with your mouth...who taught you how to do that?"
Sue Ellen laughed and finally turned around. "No one taught me how to do it, JR."
"But you...I mean we never…"
"I read it in a book," she told him.
"A book?"
"Yes. Pam gave it to me. It's sort of a manual on how to please your man."
"Why in the hell would Pam give you something like that?"
"Because I thought you didn't want me...that I wasn't pleasing you."
"And what you did last night, you learned it from that book?"
"Yes, JR," she sighed. "I have never done that with any other man."
JR shook his head and stood up. "What else is in that book, Sue Ellen?" He walked up behind her, trapping her body between his and the sink.
"Lots of interesting things," she moaned as he began trailing hot kisses along her neck. "Want to read it?"
"No," he gave her one last kiss on the top of the head and let her go. "Surprise me."
"Oh, I think you're going to be very surprised. And very pleased."
JR laughed out loud and smacked her playfully on the behind. "I would never admit this to another living soul, but I think I'm starting to have a whole new appreciation for that Barnes woman."
Sue Ellen laughed along with him for a moment,then turned serious again. "So… I guess this means you can put my affair with Dusty behind you and stay married to me?"
"Yes," he sighed heavily. "I'll take you to make sure he's okay, but you have to say goodbye. You understand?"
"Yes, JR. I understand. I'm yours. And you're mine."
"Exactly," he bent his head to kiss her. "Exactly."
***
"What are the risks?" Pam asked the doctor.
"Multiple. The procedure itself has risks. Any medical procedure does. Then, if he isn't able to take liquids on his own after we remove the tube, we'll have to turn right back around and put it back. Mrs. Ewing, I strongly recommend against doing this."
"Cliff is a grown man and he's already made his decision," Pam told him."He knows the danger and he still wants the feeding tube removed."
"And you won't try to talk him out of it?"
"I've tried," Pam told him. "It's useless."
"Alright. We'll take him down in a bit. Just remember, he is doing this against the advice of his entire medical team."
"I understand," Pam said.
The doctor nodded at her and walked away.
"My God, Cliff," she sighed. "I hope with all my heart you know what you're doing."
***
JR and Sue Ellen sat silently in the car, both afraid to speak. JR turned his head to look at her and his eyes narrowed when he noticed she was shaking.
"What are you afraid of, Sue Ellen?"
"I'm afraid of losing you."
"Why would you lose me?"
"Because I don't know how Dusty will react to seeing me. I don't know what he'll say. I don't know if you'll get angry and storm away from me again."
JR saw a man approaching the car from the corner of his eye. "Do you love me, Sue Ellen?"
"Of course I do!"
"Are you going to say goodbye to this cowboy and come home with me?"
"Of course I am!"
"Then there's nothing for you to be afraid of."
He got out of the car and walked around to open her door. He took her by the hand and pulled her out of her seat. "I'm sure I'll hear things I don't like. And I might get mad. But I won't storm off, and you won't lose me."
"Promise me," she whispered shakily.
"I promise," he gave her a quick, firm kiss then turned to greet the man who had been walking toward them. "I'm JR Ewing."
"Yes," the other man said, offering his hand to shake. "I know who you are. And you must be Sue Ellen," he nodded at her. "I'm Clayton Farlow. I'm Dusty's father. He's waiting for you in the house. Please follow me."
Sue Ellen held onto JR's hand for dear life as they followed the man into the house. She prayed silently that JR would keep his promise not to leave her - because if he didn't, she wasn't sure she could survive.
***
Kristen waited patiently for her guard to uncuff her then walked over and had a seat across from her visitor. "Does anyone know you're here?"
"No. You told me not to tell anyone and I didn't."
"Good. Listen to me. If you want this baby, it's going to cost you."
"Cost me what?"
"A lot of money. And my freedom."
"Money I can do. Your freedom isn't on the table."
"Of course it is. Money doesn't do me a damn bit of good if I'm stuck in here and can't spend it."
"Your charges are very serious, Kristen."
"Don't make me laugh. All they have me on is fraud. You can make that go away.'
"Your mother's charge is attempted murder."
"So what? She isn't part of this deal. She can rot in here for all I care."
"You would feel that way, wouldn't you? She's only in here because of you and you don't give a damn.'
"That's right. I don't," Kristen snapped. "Do we have a deal or not?'
"Yes. But only if you can prove that Cliff Barnes is the father of your child."
"He is and I can. But listen to me. No tricks. No games. You try to double cross me, I'll have this baby adopted out to a family in Antarctica and your precious little wife will never see it. Understand?"
"Yes," Bobby sank back in his chair and nodded."I understand just fine."
*""
"What's wrong with you?"
Lucy looked up and pulled down her sunglasses to see Ray standing over top of her. "What makes you think there's anything wrong with me?"
"I've been working the horses up by the house. Been watching you. You're sulking."
"You've been watching me? No offense, but that's kinda creepy, Ray."
He laughed and sat down beside her. "That's long done," he told her. "You have no worries from me in that department anymore."
"I know," she told him. "And you're right. I am sulking."
"Thought so. What's up?"
"Don't get me wrong, Ray. I mean I'm glad that Bobby and JR are getting along better and standing up for each other to my grandparents. But…"
"But what?"
"I guess it just burns me that no one ever bothers to stand up for my daddy.'
Ray grimaced and pulled his hat down low over his eyes. "Told your uncles or your aunts how you feel?"
"No."
"Well, you should," he told her, standing up. "They can't read your mind and with everything going on around here, I doubt Gary has even crossed their minds recently."
"Exactly. They have enough to deal with right now without worrying about my hurt feelings."
"You're wrong, Lucy. They all love you. If they knew you were hurting, they'd want to do something about it."
"Maybe…"
"You have two choices, young lady. Keep sitting out here by the pool all alone baking yourself in the sun and wallowing in your misery, or grow up and talk to your family. I strongly suggest you choose option number two."
Lucy watched as he sauntered away without another word. She sighed heavily and decided Ray was right. It was time for her to tell her family how she really felt. Either they cared or they didn't, but she needed to know one way or the other.
***
Sue Ellen and JR followed Clayton Farlow into a sitting room and waited to be invited to sit.
"Wait here," he said to them, indicating they should sit on a couch. "I'll go get Dusty."
They sat down together and JR grunted. "Loosen your grip, honey," he flexed his hand, "you're cutting off my circulation."
"Sorry, JR," she whispered shakily.
"You don't need to hold on so tight. I promise I won't try to run away."
"Sue Ellen?"
Her whole body stiffened at the sound of the familiar voice. "Dusty!" She gasped. "You really ARE alive!"
"I am," Dusty told her as Clayton pushed his wheelchair into the room, positioning it directly across from JR and Sue Ellen. "Mr. Ewing," he nodded at JR. "I'm surprised to see you here."
"You can call me JR," JR growled. "And I don't know why you're surprised to see me. I told you on the phone I was coming with her."
"You did," Dusty agreed. "But I really didn't think you'd have the nerve to show."
"Do you have something to say to my wife or not?" JR snarled.
"Yes," Dusty's voice turned gentle. "Sue Ellen, I'm sure the news of my death shook you. And I know you were probably heartbroken and scared. So, you ran back to JR. I want you to know I understand and I forgive you."
"Forgive me?" Sue Ellen repeated. "For what?"
"Taking him back. Letting him back into your bed. Shaming yourself by standing by him after that awful trial. I want you to know I understand why you did it. But you're free now, sweetheart. I wanted to be stronger before I saw you, but circumstances forced me to come forward earlier than I wanted. But I know I'm strong enough to take care of you."
Sue Ellen felt the stiffness in JR's body and she was acutely aware of his heavy breathing. He was struggling mightily to keep his temper in check and remain silent. She put her free hand on his knee and squeezed it lightly. "Dusty, I care for you very much. And I'm so happy to see you alive and recovering. But JR is my husband. I love him. I'm staying with him."
"You don't love him, Sue Ellen," Dusty told her. "You think you need him. I'm telling you that you don't. I'll take care of you."
"How're you gonna do that from that wheelchair?" JR asked, his voice low but furious. "You're a damn cripple."
"I won't be in this wheelchair for long," Dusty snapped back. "And I can take care of her better than you even in this chair. In EVERY way."
"Why you piece of…."
"JR, please!" Sue Ellen sounded panicked. "Please let me handle this."
JR took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
"Dusty, you and I met at the absolute lowest point of my life. You were a godsend - or so I thought at the time. But I love JR. I always have, and I always will. I DO need him. And if I need to be taken care of, he'll be the one to take care of me."
"He'll hurt you again."
"Maybe. And maybe I'll hurt him again too. I hope not, but no one knows the future. What I DO know is that he is my first love, my true love. He is the father of my child. I'm his. And he's mine."
"Be sure, Sue Ellen," Dusty warned her. "I won't give you another chance."
"I know that," Sue Ellen whispered softly. "And that's why I'm so sure. JR will always give me as many chances as it takes. Isn't that right, JR?"
"That's right, honey," his voice was even softer than hers, "no matter what."
"Then there's nothing more to say between us," Dusty shrugged. "I'm sure you can see yourselves out."
JR and Sue Ellen stood and moved to leave. "I wish you well, Dusty," Sue Ellen told him. "I truly do."
"I wish the same for you, Sue Ellen. Good luck. I hope you're right about JR and I'm wrong. But I wouldn't bet on it. Not even a penny."
"Farlow.."
"Please, JR," Sue Ellen tugged at his hand. "Please let's just go."
JR nodded at her and led her from the house. They walked to the car in silence and he opened her door and helped her inside. "Sue Ellen?"
"Yes?" She looked up at him with wide, questioning eyes.
"You can bet your life on me. I hope you know that."
"I do, JR," she gifted him with a brilliant smile, "and I already have."
***