Chapter 10


Dorian’s day started off badly. Clint had turned off the alarm and forbade the staff from waking her. He had been worried about her not taking care of herself and after the two glasses of wine and the foot massage while she discussed her day at the hospital she had slept soundly until 10 am. She was now trying to make up for lost time and had just arrived at the hospital. She was annoyed to yet again see Viki sitting just outside of ICU. She didn’t bother to even look at her and went right back to River.

“Mother,” Cassie smiled and kissed her cheek. “You look so rested. Did you finally sleep?”

“Yes, more than I had planned thanks to my bossy husband.” Dorian turned to look over River as she did every time she entered the room.

Cassie laughed, “Well I’ll have to THANK him because we need you and we don’t need to be worried about you.”

Dorian noted River’s color which was indeed the best it had been since he arrived. He had also been shaved and noting the bottles that held the fluid pumped from his lungs she looked at Cassie and asked,

“When was the last time they replaced these?”

Her daughter smiled, “He’s down to one and that’s been in since about midnight.”

Dorian smiled back. “That is a good sign.”

“Michael said so too and he’s up on the coma scale.” Cassie reached for her Mother’s hands, “He responded to stimuli today and Michael said he’s going to ICU stepdown or lesser or whatever.”

“Excuse me?” Dorian did not want that. “That’s less care.”

“He doesn’t need as much care.” Cassie protested, “He’s waking up and soon we’ll be able to take him home and….”

“Cassie it’s only been a week.” She looked at her daughter who had put on the face of bravery but was not coping well with her sons prognosis. “A coma for a week alone is months of rehab. You aren’t considering that.”

“Mother can’t you just be supportive?” She said as she pulled Dorian somewhat out of the room. “Viki was very happy for us.”

Dorian tried to ignore the slur. “There are certain neurological milestones that River needs to meet before….”

“I should have known you wouldn’t be happy for us.” Cassie’s eyes grew narrow. “I thought maybe because it was River you could find it in your heart to be happy about his progress.”

“I’m very happy about his progress Darling, but it’s only the beginning.” She realized Cassie was beyond reason and decided to look up Michael McBain and discuss it with him directly.

Andrew was going in as Dorian left. “Hey Dorian how’s our boy?”

She smiled, “Your son is making slow and steady progress. He’s really doing well Andrew.”

His face lit up and he leaned over to kiss Dorian’s cheek. “We knew it all along didn’t we?”

“Yes, why don’t you go on in with Cassie.” She noted Andrew had brought her food and some books.

“I thought he might like it if I read to him.” He shrugged, “Cassie’s supposed to go rest and I hate to just sit there and watch TV.”

“It’s a wonderful idea Andrew,” Dorian squeezed his arm. “He needs the sound of all our voices.”




Dorian was again displeased to see Viki yet. “Just why may I ask are you haunting my grandson?” She raised at eyebrow at Viki.

“I wanted them to know that I’m here.” She looked around. “Dorian I remember his grandfather. Well I mean, I think I do.”

Dorian looked at Viki skeptically, “Either you remember him or you don’t Viki.”

“I think I do okay?” Viki looked around, “Sloan, I remember meeting him he was doing research on my father.”

“Well you remember him alright.” Dorian sneered. “You had me sent to death row over a book he wrote on your beloved father Victor Lord the world class pervert.”

Viki looked away and shook her head, “You never stop.”

“Stop? Well why would I hold it against you for sending me to death row for the murder of your beloved Daddy when he was indeed ALIVE the entire time?” Dorian tried not to raise her voice.

“Is Clint here?” Viki asked. “I want to discuss this with him.”

“My husband is not your therapist. Discuss your mental illness with him.” Dorian snapped and headed off.



She found Mc Bain and giving him a piece of her mind and reminding him that if River did not continue to recover unencumbered by complications she would hold him personally responsible. She wanted him kept in ICU longer. She wanted him to have the best and the most care possible. Leave it to some young know it all to call her an alarmist! She realized things were only going to get worse and went upstairs to see CJ in hopes his good condition would buoy her spirits. He was watching TV and smiled at her as she walked in.

“Hey Dorian how’s my driver?”

She returned the smile. “He’s doing a lot better today.” She saw the notes and flowers and cards everywhere. “It seems that he’s turned a corner.”

“Oh I’m so glad.” CJ said, “I went yesterday and I felt like I bummed Cassie out.” He looked apologetic. “I mean he got the worst of it.”

“CJ you were broadsided and you were a passenger.” She walked closer to the head of his bed, “There’s no one to blame except the inattention of the other driver.”

“I guess he paid enough.” The young man said as he looked out the window. “Uncle Bo said he didn’t even survive the accident.”

“Let’s just be grateful you and River are with us and will hopefully both be home and well soon.” She as she did with River, looked at him critically and walked around the bed reading his vital notations and checking on his IV.

“Poor Grandpa,” Clint’s grandson grinned at her.

“Excuse me?” Dorian pursed her lips. She and CJ had a rather joking yet adversarial relationship.

“I bet its torture to be sick around you.” He smirked at her. “Do you take vitals hourly or what?”

“Do you really want to know how often I take your Grandfather’s vitals?” Dorian teased.

“OH GOD NO!!!!” CJ covered his face with his sheet and burst into familiar peals of laughter. “I surrender! You are a wonderful wife and an even better Doctor and he doesn’t deserve you in the first place.”

“Now that’s more like it.” She patted his arm and then stopped in the doorway. “Please don’t feel like you shouldn’t go down to River. He looks up to you CJ he’s been so happy to join your big family. Just knowing your there to see him makes a difference.”






Dorian spent a nerve wracking afternoon with River and Andrew but was happy to see he did indeed respond to stimuli and opened his eyes and closed them a few times. Andrew commanded he move his fingers and he did. She couldn’t have been happier. It was indeed the proof he was coming up out of the coma. It could have been so much worse. Cassie arrived rested and in a better mood. They spoke; pretending the earlier conversations had not happened and Dorian offered they move into the mansion when the time arrived. Andrew thanked her and hated the idea but she could see the idea relieved Cassie. She decided not to press it further…. until the next day. After a trip back up to find CJ in OT she gave up and headed home.




She was unhappy to arrive home and find Jessica and Bree eating dinner with Nash and Natalie who were as usual, bickering. Dorian entered the room and inquired about her husband.

“I think he went over to Mom’s.” Natalie responded, “She’s having partial recall or whatever.” She managed between mouthfuls.

“Really?” Dorian tried not to sound alarmed. “She mentioned that she thought she might remember Sloan at the hospital today.” She joined Clint’s children at the table. “I had noticed she seemed glued to the waiting area outside River’s unit.”

Jessica looked concerned. “I talked to her about it Dorian but she wouldn’t confide in me. She told you about Sloan hum?”

“Well she said something about remembering him coming to the house and about the biography of your grandfather.” She replied.

“Sloan wrote a biography about Grandpa?” Natalie seemed confused. “Why didn’t I know that?”

“About Victor Lord, Natalie.” Dorian told her. “Not your grandpa.”

“Ewww, well I am not interested in reading anything about him.” Natalie emphasized and grinned at Bree who reached for a roll.

“Well that’s a nice attitude about your Grandfather.” Nash screwed up his face, “Leave it to you to think that.”

“Listen moron he was a pervert first class. Only a freak would be interested in learning about him.” Natalie defended. “The monster tried to steal my heart.”

Nash looked around as if she must certainly be lying.

Jessica replied. “She’s totally serious. Why do you think Uncle Todd is a Manning and the rest of us RUN to the name Buchanan?”

Nash raised an eyebrow and downed his glass of wine. “All of a sudden the orphan thing looks good.”

Dorian couldn’t help but laugh neither could the girls. They shared a companionable evening if you could call her explaining River and CJ to them and discussing why she married Victor Lord in the first place pleasant.





It was after midnight when Clint came through the door. She had drifted off to sleep once but sat reading and rereading the same page when he walked through the door. She put her book down and peered at him,

“And?”

“I’m sorry,” he leaned over and kissed her sitting on the bed next to her. “I went to the hospital and smuggled some pizza in for my boy and then Kevin called about Viki so I went over there for a spell.” Clint pulled his boots off and threw them. “Then I remembered I hadn’t seen River so I doubled back to the hospital and Cassie and Andrew were going at it.”

“Going at it?” Dorian asked him.

“I guess you invited them to live here or something?” Clint made a face and walked over to his chair to drop off his jacket and tie. Then he began working on his cufflinks as he looked at his wife.

“Yes, I did.” She acknowledged, “Cassie’s going to need help and he is my grandchild. I didn’t think you’d mind but if it’s some sort of imposition….”

“Oh don’t get like that with me!” Clint stopped and gave her an exasperated look. “Andrew is the one who doesn’t want them here-- not me. I being ‘Cord’s father’ the obvious reason for Andrew’s discomfort, only made things worse walking through the door.”

“You are Cassie’s stepfather.” His wife corrected him. “The Reverend will just have to deal with you.”

Clint raised a hand. “He didn’t say a word but damn Dorian I’m sure this situation will make him uncomfortable.”

“Like I said,” She reiterated. “He’ll just have to deal with the situation. It is what’s best for River and Cassie.”

Clint shook his head. “Well darlin’ whatever you say.” He went into the bathroom and she could hear the shower running. If he thought the conversation was over he had another thing coming. Dorian went and retrieved him some bourbon and herself a Sherry stopping only briefly to say goodnight to Nash who was leaving dejectedly.

“Something wrong?”

“No, just I always hate going that’s all.” He smiled, shrugged and left.



When she returned upstairs her husband was watching ESPN and smiled at her when she entered the room. “Aren’t you sweet?” He reached for the bourbon and she turned off the TV. “I take that back.” He groused and slouched down.

“What went on tonight?” She asked.

“I told you why I’m late.” Clint seemed confused. “Geez I’m amazed I made the time I did.”

“I meant at Viki’s” Dorian asked him. “Natalie told me you went over there and I had an ‘experience’ with her myself.”

“You did? Why didn’t you say something?” Clint asked.

“I was waiting up to talk to you about it.” She said and climbed into bed. “Now what was her story?”

“She called me all,” he made that wave off notion with his hand. “So I went over after work and she’s getting everything jumbled up but does seem to remember some things that happened.”

“And how recently?” She asked. “She told me about Sloan or at least knowing who Sloan is and that he’s River’s Grandfather.

“Hmmm that’s not news either.” Clint wondered, “Seems like she’s remembering things she’s been told but she didn’t prove to me that she knows anything else.” Clint seemed to be trying to sort it out. “I guess I don’t really believe she actually remembers anything new.”

Dorian put her glass down. “I hadn’t thought about it that way. I guess I was truly hoping she would remember.”

“Honey I know.” He stroked the side of her face. “I’d like to think she could remember and just be done with all this myself.”

“I know,” She snuggled into his arms. “And you’re okay with River coming?”

“Well gosh there are only 44 rooms he might kind of cramp my style.” Clint teased, “I mean how am I supposed to bring home chicks with your grandkid around?”

She took his drink out of his hand and leaned over him to put it on the bedside table. “And you wonder why I don’t trust you?”

“Ohhhh that’s so wrong.” He admonished and happily took her into his arms. “I believe I was trying to resist you and we were still trying to figure all that out between us when the boys decided to scare the daylights out of us.”

“I thought we had figured it all out.” Dorian leaned in and kissed him. She then pulled away and looked him in the eye. “I hope my behavior tonight proves to you that I DO trust you and I don’t want you to ever think I don’t.”

He looked at her searchingly.

"I did not go over there,and I did not jump to conclusions. I just sat here in this little black nightgown in this great big bed and waited for you to come home." She smiled innocently and earned a look she loved from her husband.

He traced the straps on her nightgown, “You’ve really got nothin’ to worry about.” He kissed her shoulder. “I love you Dorian,” Clint pulled her down into his arms. “I only love you,” and went about convincing her.

Val! The show hasn't given us much Dorian and Clint so I appreciate this little treat of another chapter of your terrific fan fiction! Anyway, I highlighted some of my favorite parts.

Lastly, I loved the way Dorian and Clint found a way to patch things up. It was so nature. Dorian simply showed him trust and he showed her love.

That was my favorite.

Thanks for not letting them get interrupted this time.