ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON ELEVEN

Episode 102

" The doctors say you can talk again with speech therapy," Joe said as he sat by the hospital bed watching Winston ignore his breakfast of congealing oatmeal and orange juice. " I can have a speech therapist come to the house when you are released. Every day if necessary. You will speak again."

Winston banged his hand on the food tray and opened his mouth but nothing would come out except for a slight gurgling noise. He slapped his face on the scarred side and grabbed the notepad to write out " I don't have insurance. Remember? What you offer at the club is shit. You need to offer better insurance, you dick. "

Joe read the words and swallowed hard. He was right. He ran his hands over his haggard face. " You don't need insurance. I will pay everything. The hospital bill. The therapy. I will pay. You are going to be my husband after all. "

Winston wrote on the pad the words " Husband? Why would you want to marry me? After this? "

He pointed to his head and then his scarred face. Then he pointed at Joe and swiveled his finger at the door.

Joe shook his head and leaned back in the chair. " I'm not going anywhere. Until you are released. Then we will go home. Any therapy you need will be in the house. I'm not going anywhere. So get used to it. I don't care about the scar or the not speaking. I care about you being alive. You almost died on me. I almost lost you. Least I can argue with you via paper. Nigel Norland is not as lucky as me. Richard is still in a coma. "

Winston scribbled on the pad , " He got shot because I screwed up. I should have shot the bastard. If I had none of this would have happened. My fault. "

He opened his mouth and roared silently, helplessly, before taking the food tray and throwing it across the room. Followed by the notepad and pen.

Tears rolled down his face as he pointed at Joe then the door with deep questions in his eyes.

Joe grabbed his hand and kissed it. " I'm not leaving you. You will get better. You'll talk again. And we will get married. I got the most wonderful book from the library. It's all about planning a fabulous wedding. I think we should have a guest list of maybe a thousand. Maybe it should be Halloween so we can all wear costumes. I may ask Angel to be my best man. He is my cousin after all. I assume you will want that half brother of yours to be your best man. It's fine as long as he doesn't run over my feet with that chair of his. "

Winston closed his eyes and listened to Joe talking about their wedding. Why did he need to talk anyway? Joe babbled enough for them both.

He smiled in spite of it all.