Facts Of Life: Terms of Endearment

Chapter 1

I

Chapter Song

Themes to Terms of Endearment, Michael Gore

Instrumental

Five Hours Later

It had taken both Jo and Monica a considerable amount of time to recover from their first view of Blair after her auto accident the day before. There had been good reason why Dr. Chidi had suggested that Bailey not be allowed in for the time being: Blair was literally unrecognizable.

Her head looked like one giant bruise. Her broken jaw was mended, and while it couldn't be wired shut because she was intubated, the doctor said that was the least of their worries. Her eyes swollen and shut-even if Blair were conscious, she couldn't have seen a thing. Her beautiful blonde mane that Jo loved to run her hands through was gone, a surgical cap over her skull, where several holes had been drilled to relieve pressure on her concussed brain.

Further down, her left arm was in a cast from fingers to shoulder. Her pelvis had broken in two places. Fortunately, it had broken cleanly, and by some miracle had not damaged any organs. Even so, Blair's left kidney had been removed, as it had been too severely damaged by the impact of the other vehicle. Her left leg, many of the bones literally crushed, was being held together by titanium pins, screws, plates and other hardware.

And finally, the concussion and the severe bruising of her brain had rendered her in a deep coma, her ability to breathe compromised.

At the moment, Jo was sitting in one of those not-very-comfortable recliners that peppered so many hospital rooms across the world. At her request, Dennis Levine, who had arrived about two hours earlier, had brought Jo's laptop, so Jo could listen to music on YouTube and other platforms and try to find some peace when not feeding or holding DC.

Jo was facing the window in Blair's private room, her laptop open. She didn't hear the arrival of Edna and Monica behind her. When the two women entered the room, they were surprised to hear singing, then, looking at Jo and over he shoulder, they realized they were listening to a recording.

Edna started to leave, but Monica stopped her, transfixed by what she was hearing and seeing: it was a video of Blair and Jo, obviously when Blair was pregnant with D.C. A video camera had been set up, while the two leaned against each other on the couch in their living room. What transfixed them both was the song they were singing in harmony.

Dream, dream, dream, dream
Dream, dream, dream, dream

When I want you in my arms
When I want you and all your charms
Whenever I want you
All I have to do is dream
Dream, dream, dream

When I feel blue in the night
And I need you to hold me tight
Whenever I want you
All I have to do is dream

I can make you mine
Taste your lips of wine
Anytime night or day
Only trouble is
Gee whiz
I'm dreamin' my life away

I need you so, that I could die
I love you so and that is why
Whenever I want you
All I have to do is dream
Dream, dream, dream, dream

Their voiced blended so well. The look on their faces as they gazed at one another was one of pure joy and love-even Monica could see it. They do adore each other, Monica thought, almost bringing her to tears. At the end, they softly kissed, then they had laughed. Still unable to move, they heard Jo speak.

"You've gotta come back to me, Princess", she said, clearly weeping and in another emotional nosedive. "You know I'll take care of DC, but, God, I need you so bad, babe. I'm just nothin' without you." They heard Jo give a self-deprecating laugh. "You're so damn beautiful, and I'm just a tomboy. What you've ever seen in me, I dunno, but it means everything to me." They both saw Jo's body rack with sobs. "I need you, blondie."