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Diamond: Damn, that hurt. | Diamond: Damn, that hurt. | ||
=====Family Crisis===== | |||
((Runabout)) | |||
::Paul felt the transporter effect take hold as the inside of the | |||
runabout was replaced with the crisp cool air of the Nebraska | |||
climate. Paul turned around where he stood and saw the hospital. | |||
It was a tall modern building with a large medical insignia on the | |||
side. He walked through the double doors and made his way to the | |||
lift. He took it to the Administration Floor and located the office | |||
he was looking for. Walking up, he was stopped by a young man.:: | |||
Secretary: May I help you? | |||
Diamond: Yes, I would like to see the Personnel Director. | |||
Secretary: I'm sorry but she can't be disturbed. If I may have your | |||
name, she will contact you when she is available. | |||
Diamond: I'm only in town for a few days, now is the best time for | |||
me. | |||
Secretary: I'm sorry sir, but like I said… | |||
Diamond: Let me make this easy, I'm her son, Dr. Paul Diamond, I'm | |||
on leave and came to take her to lunch. | |||
Secretary: ::turning white:: Can you prove this? ::Paul handed over | |||
his identification card and as the secretary read it, he turned even | |||
whiter.:: I'm sorry Lieutenant, I didn't recognize you. You can | |||
find your mother on Floor 18, Room 1820. | |||
::With the look on the secretaries face, Paul didn't ask anymore | |||
questions. He dropped his things and took off for the lift. Sheila | |||
stuck her head out of the bag and started to follow.:: | |||
Diamond: Sheila, STAY! | |||
::Sheila landed on the desk of the secretary and laid down and | |||
waited. Paul entered the lift, gave it the proper floor and room, | |||
and waited. It seemed like forever but the lift finally arrived. | |||
Paul stepped out as soon as the doors opened and headed for the | |||
room. He was soon intercepted by a Nurse that tried to stop him.:: | |||
Nurse: I'm sorry sir, you are not allowed here, this is only for | |||
family. | |||
::Paul pushed past her and headed for room 1820 at the end of the | |||
hall. The nurse followed him emphasizing the fact he wasn't suppose | |||
be there until a woman stepped out of the room. At first she was | |||
surprised, then relieved to see Paul.:: | |||
Margret: It's ok Maryanne; this is my son. ::hugging Paul:: Paul, | |||
what are you doing here? You should be on your ship. | |||
Diamond: I have some leave and I decided to visit. What's going on? | |||
::Paul's mother didn't say a word, tears started to roll down her | |||
cheeks as she looked into the room. Paul disengaged himself from | |||
his mother and walked in. The sight he found was one he would never | |||
forget. Tubes and wires going to and from the patients body to | |||
various machines told him all he needed to know. This was one time | |||
he wished he wasn't a doctor, that way he wouldn't know that this | |||
patient had just had a massive coronary. He fell to his knees and | |||
took the man's hand into his. | |||
Diamond: Dad… | |||
((Time Warp)) | |||
::The piece of wood that was held in the small vice had ceased being | |||
a branch of ash and was shaping into a fine bow under the hands of | |||
Paul. Ever since Paul had left the hospital four days ago he had | |||
hidden in the workshop that he had built when he was young making | |||
bow's for both his friends and one special bow in particular. Paul | |||
had created around six bows of good quality, but his energy went | |||
towards the special bow. This one he took his time sanding, | |||
notching, and varnishing than the others. He had also made around | |||
twenty arrows and a carrying case for it as well. He was almost | |||
finished with the finishing touches when he was interrupted.:: | |||
Charles: There he is, hiding in his little room playing with his | |||
sticks. What's the matter can't face the inevitable? | |||
Diamond: ::ignoring the remark:: Charles, what brings you here? | |||
Where are Janet and my little niece, Samantha? | |||
Charles: They are in the house. I was sent to find you for dinner. | |||
Diamond: Didn't realize that time had flown like that. | |||
::Paul reached down and removed the bow from the small vise and gave | |||
it one last once over. The bow was smooth and strong. Paul had | |||
chosen the best branch out of the bunch and transformed it into one of the best bows he had ever made. The crowning point was the crest that | |||
he had found from some research that he had engraved above the handle. | |||
Paul carefully laid the bow in its case and closed it.:: | |||
Charles: I don't understand you. You pay more attention to | |||
your "sticks" than you do your family. | |||
Diamond: ::disgusted:: This is for a fellow crewmate. | |||
Charles: Oh yeah, that's right, you're going to run away to your | |||
ship instead of helping here. | |||
Diamond: ::slamming the lid close:: What are you getting at? You | |||
have a problem with my choice of careers? | |||
Charles: It just seems that when the way get's tough Paul runs away | |||
to his ship. You never want to face trouble, you… ::moves his first | |||
two fingers in a running motion:: run away. No wonder your mother | |||
is talking of selling the farm. | |||
Diamond: WHAT? She wouldn't sell the farm without talking to me. | |||
Charles: Why? You're never home to have a say, let alone help run | |||
the farm. It was I that suggested it since it has always fallen to | |||
your sister and I to help around here and not you. | |||
Diamond: YOU have no say in the matter, you are not a Diamond, | |||
you only married into the family. This farm and all its land go to | |||
the oldest male DIAMOND, not "son-in-law", and that is me. I have | |||
MORE say in this than you. | |||
Charles: ::Laughs:: You? You will leave at the first chance you | |||
get. How do you expect your mother to run a farm this size and | |||
continue to work at the hospital? | |||
Diamond: You'd be surprised at what she is capable of doing. | |||
Besides, my father ISN'T dead yet, he's only laid up for a few weeks. | |||
Charles: Even so, he won't be able to handle a farm this size | |||
anymore. | |||
::Paul knew his brother in law was right, but he didn't have to | |||
believe it. There had to be a way to keep the farm in the family, | |||
there had to be.:: | |||
Diamond: One thing I've learned in Star Fleet is that there is more | |||
than one option and this isn't any different. ::looking at Charles:: | |||
And YOU will not have any say in this, this is for my IMMEDIATE | |||
family to discuss, tonight. | |||
::The two men stared at each other waiting for the other to make a | |||
move. Who knows how long it would have lasted, no one will because | |||
Paul's sister, Janet, walked in.:: | |||
Janet: There you two are, dinner is on the table. | |||
Charles: ::staring at Paul:: We were just coming, you go ahead and | |||
make sure Sammy is ready. | |||
Janet: She's is already in there with Mom and… | |||
Charles: ::turning on her:: DON'T TALK BACK, DO WHAT YOU'RE TOLD. | |||
:: Janet cringed from him, but before he could do anything, Charles | |||
stormed out of the room.:: | |||
Diamond: ::walking to his sister:: What was THAT about? | |||
Janet: Ignore him, he'll calm down. | |||
Diamond: How long has he been like that? | |||
Janet: Ever since he lost his contract with Star Fleet for cutting | |||
corners. He's been in a bad mood ever since because no one will | |||
hire him anymore. | |||
Diamond: ::moving Janet's face towards him and looking in her eyes:: | |||
Has he hit you or Samantha? | |||
::Janet pulled her face from his hand and walked away.:: | |||
Janet: Come on, dinners getting cold. | |||
::Paul let the subject drop but vowed to keep an eye on Charles. He | |||
followed his sister into the house they, and his father, and his | |||
father's fathers grew up in. The family was sitting around the | |||
table with his father sitting at the head, exactly where he had | |||
always been. He thought back four days ago and the words from his | |||
mother.:: | |||
((Flashback)) | |||
Diamond: Dad… | |||
Margret: He's resting comfortably. | |||
Diamond: ::turning to his mother:: What happened? | |||
Margret: He was plowing the backfield when he had a heart attack. | |||
Fortunately your sister stopped by for a visit and found him in | |||
time. ::starting to cry:: I've been telling him he had to slow down. | |||
Diamond: ::moving to his mother and hugged her:: Mom, you're not to | |||
blame, he's stubborn, no matter what you'd tell him, he would always | |||
do it his way. | |||
Margret: ::looking at her son:: Sounds like his son, don't you think? | |||
Diamond: ::smiling, he looked back at his father:: What does the | |||
cardiologist say? | |||
Margret: No permanent damage, he'll come home in a few days as long | |||
as he progresses like he expects. | |||
Diamond: So, he's going to… | |||
Margret: Live? Of course, he's stubborn remember? He just refuses | |||
to die. ::smiles:: But there will have to be changes, diet, work | |||
load, things like that. | |||
::Paul looked at his sleeping father and was relieved.:: | |||
((Present)) | |||
::That same feeling he had in the hospital room flooded Paul as he | |||
looked at his father sitting in his chair as if nothing had | |||
happened. His father tried to hide the fact he was sick, but Paul | |||
could tell, he could see the signs.:: | |||
Daniel: Are you going to sit down with us son or stand there all | |||
night? | |||
::Paul smiled and took his place. Dinner went off without an | |||
argument. Charles was even civil; the signs of his anger had | |||
evaporated. The conversations were of happy days gone by, and those | |||
ahead. This was why Paul had come home, to relax with family. | |||
After what he had been through since arriving on the Constitution, | |||
he needed to recharge not only his body, but his soul as well. | |||
Dinner was finished and the family retired to the living room where | |||
they all sat with their coffee and tea.:: | |||
Diamond: That was a wonderful dinner mother. | |||
Margret: Thank you, it was a special occasion, I had everyone home | |||
at the same time. | |||
Daniel: They're home for only one reason. | |||
Margret: Daniel, don't be cynical. | |||
Daniel: You know why we're all here as well as I do, so don't tell | |||
me not to be cynical. | |||
Janet: Daddy, calm down, you don't need to be upset. | |||
Daniel: Don't tell me what to do young lady, ::turning to Paul:: or | |||
you either young man. I don't care if you ARE a famous doctor, I'll | |||
do what I want when I want. | |||
Margret: Daniel, stop it, they are trying to help. | |||
Daniel: I don't care, we are NOT going to sell the farm and that's | |||
final. | |||
Diamond: Dad, I agree, you shouldn't sell the farm. But you should | |||
find someone to help. | |||
Charles: See, what did I tell you, pushing his responsibilities off | |||
onto someone else. | |||
Janet: Charles, that's not fair, he has a responsibility to Star | |||
Fleet first. | |||
Daniel: And you don't talk about a member of my family like that in | |||
my house. | |||
Charles: I'm just telling the truth, if no one else can see that. | |||
Janet: That's my father you're talking to. | |||
Charles: And I am your husband, don't you forget it. | |||
::Charles lifted his hand to strike Janet, but before he could, Paul | |||
was on him in a blur before anyone could react. Paul had pulled | |||
Charles off the couch where he had sat by his raised arm, grabbed | |||
his throat with his free hand and started to squeeze. His anger had | |||
risen when his sister was threatened which lent to his strength. | |||
Part of him encouraged him to squeeze harder while another told him | |||
to let go. Charles was fighting at Paul's hand to get him to | |||
release but he was starting to lose conscientiousness.:: | |||
Margret: PAUL MICHEAL DIAMOND, you release him this instant! | |||
::The voice of his mother penetrated his anger and Paul released his | |||
brother in law. Charles fell to the floor wheezing, trying to catch | |||
his breath.:: | |||
Margret: ::walking over to Paul:: Don't you EVER choke someone like | |||
that again. "Do No Harm" remember? | |||
Diamond: But mom, he was going to hit Janet. | |||
Margret: That doesn't give you the right to hurt him like | |||
that. ::helping Charles up:: Are you alright? | |||
Charles: Yes, thanks. | |||
::No one saw her hand because it moved so fast as Paul's mother | |||
slapped Charles across the face. The look on both Paul's and | |||
Janet's faces were of shock, where Daniel's was of humor.:: | |||
Margret: Now, don't you EVER raise your hand to my daughter again, | |||
or next time I won't stop Paul. Gather your things and leave my | |||
house, you are no longer welcomed in this family. ::turning to | |||
Janet:: You and Samantha will stay here until everything is final. | |||
I will not have you near him again. | |||
Daniel: ::laughs to himself:: I told him not to piss her off. | |||
::Charles rubbed his face, looked at Margret, looked at his wife, | |||
and sulked out of the house. Margret moved to the comm. padd and | |||
called the authorities to report the incident. They informed her | |||
that everything would be handled. Janet left the room as well to | |||
put her own daughter to bed which left Paul with his father.:: | |||
Daniel: That was admirable what you did for your sister, even if | |||
your mother won't tell you. | |||
Diamond: He made me so angry. | |||
Daniel: I know, me too, but I couldn't… | |||
Diamond: Dad, don't do that to yourself, you will be able to soon. | |||
::Just then his mother entered the room again and his father shook | |||
his head to end the conversation.:: | |||
Margret: There, everything is taken care of. ::turns to Paul:: Now, | |||
about you young man, we have to do something about your anger. | |||
Daniel: I know the perfect punishment. ::looks at his wife:: The | |||
tickets, you know, to that concert? We can't go now, I have | |||
to "rest", and you know what they say, "music calms the savage | |||
beast". | |||
Margret: You will find any way to get out of going, won't | |||
you? ::sighs:: But you're right, you need the rest, and Paul needs | |||
to relax, and sunny California would be the best place for that. | |||
Diamond: What are you two talking about? | |||
Margret: ::moves over to bureau:: I was given two tickets to a Piano | |||
Concert in California just before you fathers attack. He can't go | |||
now, so I think you should go and represent our family. ::hands the | |||
tickets to Paul:: Front row seats and backstage passes to meet the | |||
pianist. | |||
Diamond: Pianist? ::looking at the tickets he couldn't make out the | |||
name of the performer, it looked Scandinavian or something:: Who is | |||
it? | |||
Margret: I can't pronounce his name well, Weylanndro or something | |||
like that. But that doesn't mean he isn't great, he is. The | |||
shuttle leaves tomorrow at noon, the concert is tomorrow night, and | |||
you have a room at the Walmount. | |||
Diamond: But there are two tickets, who is going with me? | |||
Margret: I don't care you just go and relax. No arguments. | |||
::Paul knew better to argue with his mother, so he accepted his | |||
fate, his punishment, and headed to pack. In the hall he ran into | |||
his sister coming from her old room. They just stood there looking | |||
at each other, Paul with a look of concern for her, Janet with | |||
embarrassment. Soon tears rolled down her cheeks and she rushed | |||
into his arms for a hug.:: | |||
Janet: ::whispering:: Thanks bookworm! | |||
::Janet then ran down the hall into the guest room and locked the | |||
door behind her. Paul, not knowing what to do or say, went to his | |||
room and went to bed. |
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