What If

[CeeCee72]

I don't own any of the characters in this story and no copyright infringement is intended..


This is a "What if?" fanfic. What if in the season eleven episode "Top Gun" Sue Ellen had changed her mind at the last possible moment and instead of teaming up with Kimberly and Wendell to beat JR she voted her Weststar shares to make him CEO?


***


What If


Part 5


***

"What the hell is he doing?"


Sue Ellen turned away from the window and began pacing angrily in front of her bed.


JR's car was still parked in the driveway, but she hadn't seen him. He'd been at Southfork for hours, but hadn't spared one minute to come speak with her. She knew he had to be furious about Cliff and she had expected him to come straight to her room and explode. Instead, he seemed content to ignore her presence in the house all together.


"What are you up to, JR?" she.muttered to herself. "Why haven't you confronted me yet?"


A sickening thought stopped Sue Ellen's pacing cold. What if he wasn't going to confront her? What if he didn't come see her at all? Is it possible that JR would leave Southfork without even speaking to her? And what if he did? Why should she care? She asked him to leave her alone. Shouldn't she feel relieved that he was respecting her wishes for a change?


"Oh, Sue Ellen," she admonished herself, "what the hell is wrong with you?"


"That's a damn good question, darlin'," JR's silky voice broke through her thoughts.


Sue Ellen jumped in surprise and whirled around to face him. "JR, don't you know how to knock?"


JR grinned and shrugged. "A man shouldn't need to knock to enter his wife's bedroom."


Sue Ellen lifted her chin and stiffened her spine, "I won't be your wife for much longer, JR."


"Is that so, darlin'?" he drawled. "I don't know about that. You've had the separation papers for a while now but you haven't signed them. Doesn't seem like you're in much of a hurry to get that ring off your finger."


"Don't read too much into that, JR," Sue Ellen breathed out. "I'm simply considering my options."


"Your options?" JR asked lazily, moving to stand directly in front of her. "What options, Miss Texas? As far as I can tell your only choices are to leave or stay."


Sue Ellen swallowed hard and backed away from him. "I'm leaving, JR," she informed him coldly. "I'm just doing it on my own terms this time."


JR made no reply. He just stood there, letting his eyes sweep over her body, clad only in a thin, silky red nightgown.


"Anyway," Sue Ellen finally broke the awkward silence, "I assume you had a reason for barging into my bedroom uninvited. What do you want, JR?"


"That's a loaded question, darlin'," JR replied. "Nice nightgown. Should I be flattered you dressed so sexy for me?"


"What makes you think this is for you, JR?" Sue Ellen softly challenged.


"Oh, come on, Miss Texas," JR mocked, "you knew I'd come up here raising holy hell about Barnes. Oh yes, that get up is just for me."


Sue Ellen stiffened her body and lifted her eyes to meet his. "Maybe I just wanted to remind you of what you gave up."


"Mmmmm hmmmm," JR growled, "you don't have to remind me. I see you everytime I close my eyes. I dream about your body, Sue Ellen, I make love to you every night in my dreams."


"JR…" Sue Ellen's voice broke.


"About Barnes," JR changed the subject, breaking the sexual tension between them, "stay away from him."


"You can't tell me what to do, JR," Sue Ellen spat.


"Can't I? You're still my wife Sue Ellen."


"Oh please," Sue Ellen laughed. "I suppose you are being a paragon of faithful virtue! Tell me, JR, what was the emergency that took you into the office on a Sunday? Your new receptionist need some attention?"


JR narrowed his eyes to dangerous slits, "I told you, Sue Ellen, I'm not sleeping with my receptionist."


"Oh, sure you aren't JR. Don't forget how many years I have spent waiting for you to come home from an 'emergency at the office.' If I remember correctly, you had quite a few weekend emergencies when my little sister was playing receptionist."


"Sue Ellen, I have regretted my affair with your sister every single day since it ended. I can't change the past, but I can promise you that right now I'm not sleeping with any other woman."


"Then what was your supposed emergency, JR?" Sue Ellen demanded. "What was so important that you blew off our son?"


JR sat down heavily on the edge of her bed. "A rig in the gulf exploded early this morning, Sue Ellen. Three of my men were killed."


"Oh…." Sue Ellen felt a wave of guilt wash over her. "Oh, JR, I'm so sorry. Do you know what caused it?"


"Not yet," JR told her. "I spent all day cleaning up the mess."


Sue Ellen was at a loss. Part of her wanted to go to him, wrap her arms around him, comfort him. Another part of her rebelled against giving him any sympathy at all. This was how it always happened between them. He'd lie and cheat and she'd run away from him. Then something bad would happen and he'd come to her vulnerable, like a lost little boy and she'd melt and take him back. It was a sick, vicious cycle.


"I'm truly sorry for your problems, JR," she finally said. "It's late and I'm tired. Was there anything else you wanted?"


JR's eyes widened with surprise. He wasn't sure what he had expected from her tonight, but it wasn't a cold dismissal.


"What if there was something else I wanted, Sue Ellen?" his voice was low and taunting, "would you give it to me?"


"No," Sue Ellen choked out the single word response.


JR's eyebrows raised at her refusal. "Really? You sure about that, Miss Texas?" He stood up and walked to her, standing so close their bodies were touching. "You went to an awful lot of trouble to get me here, Sue Ellen. Using Barnes to make me jealous, getting all dolled up in sexy lingerie. Well laid plans." He put his hands on her hips and pulled her close against him, "You wanted me here, Sue Ellen," he breathed against her ear, "don't lose your nerve now that you got what you wanted."


He bent his head and captured her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. Sue Ellen offered no resistance, wrapping her arms around his neck and reveling in the feel of his embrace. JR moved his hands to cup her bottom, he deepened his exploration of her mouth, tasting every part of her delicious mouth with his tongue.


"Sue Ellen" he growled when he finally broke the kiss and lifted his head, "my God, I've missed this."


"Don't talk, JR," she urged, bringing her hands down between their bodies to stroke his chest. "Just make love to me."


JR groaned deeply and backed her up against the bed. They fell together, his lips never leaving hers. She fumbled desperately with the buttons on his shirt, needing so badly to feel his bare skin against hers.


"JR....please," she begged breathlessly when he pulled away from her to remove his clothes.


"Don't worry, darlin'," he chuckled lowly, "I'm not going anywhere."


Suddenly, the quiet around them was shattered by a loud crash and the sound of a little boy's scream. JR froze and Sue Ellen shot up off the bed. "John Ross?" she whispered fearfully.


"No," JR answered, quickly buttoning his shirt back up. "That was Christopher."


***


"Did you see anything, JR?" Bobby asked anxiously when his brother came through the door.


"Not a thing," JR sighed. "Ray and Clayton are still out there looking."


"I don't know, JR," Bobby sighed. "Maybe he was dreaming."


JR shook his head, "whatever smashed that vase in the hallway was no dream, Bobby."


"But how could anyone get in and out of the house so fast?" Bobby asked doubtfully.


"I don't know, Bob. But Mama and Clayton were asleep. Lucy was in her room reading. Teresa and Raoul were retired for the night. John Ross was in bed. Sue Ellen and I were...occupied. Unless you knocked over the vase and scared the hell out of your son, someone else was in this house."


"You think we should call the police?" Miss Ellie asked, coming into the room.


"Yes, I think we'd better," JR replied. "I really think we'd better."


***


"Are the boys alright?"


Sue Ellen opened her eyes and saw her husband standing over her bed. "Yes," she answered. They're both sleeping in John Ross's room. Are the police gone?"


"Yes," JR answered. "I get the feeling they aren't taking this too seriously. They think Christopher imagined the whole thing."


"Are you sure he didn't, JR?"


"I don't know Sue Ellen. I don't see any way that vase got broken unless someone was in this house. Christopher didn't have time to break it and get back into bed before Bobby and I got to his room."


"What should we do, JR?"


JR sighed and sat down beside her on the bed. "Change the alarm security code. Change the locks. Get some of the ranch hands to keep watch. Other than that, I don't know."


"Are you staying here tonight?" she kept her gaze fixed on the bedspread. "I would feel better if you did."


"Would you?" he asked softly.


"Yes," she answered, "but happened between us earlier, JR...that was a mistake."


"Was it?" he reached out and stroked her cheek gently. "We both wanted it Sue Ellen."


"Yes," she admitted reluctantly. "We both always want it, JR. But it never really changes anything between us."


"Sue Ellen…"



"Please, JR," she interrupted him, "you and I...well, it's always the same story. You want me, but you don't want to be committed to me. If I give in now, it'll be the same as always. There'll always be another Kristin, or Afton, or Holly, or Mandy, or Kimberly. Always, JR."


"The past is the past," JR ground out. "I can't change it. I know, Sue Ellen, I know how many times I promised to change. The last time you took me back.."


His voice trailed off and Sue Ellen finally looked up into his eyes. "What, JR?"


"I was happy, Sue Ellen. I was so in love with you and so content in our life together. But then…" JR shrugged. "I lost Ewing Oil. I lost everything to Wendell. All I could think about was getting it back. The only way I could figure to do it was through Kimberly. Hell, Sue Ellen. I didn't really want her. I just needed her to get my company back."


"You could have come to me, JR," Sue Ellen said softly. "We could have figured it out together. Instead you threw me and our marriage away like garbage."


"I never meant for it to be permanent, Sue Ellen," JR confessed. "I thought I'd get what I wanted from Kimberly then win you back."


"Just like always," Sue Ellen muttered. "Not this time, JR. I can't live my life wondering when the next woman, the next fight for Ewing Oil will destroy my happiness."


"You're going through with the divorce?" he asked her sadly


"Yes, JR. It's the only way I'll ever have any peace."


JR sighed heavily and stood up. "I never thought there was anything I could do that would cause me to lose you forever. Guess I was wrong. I'll stay across the hall tonight," he said, moving to the door. "I'll be gone when you wake up in the morning. Goodnight, Sue Ellen."


Sue Ellen choked back a hurt cry as she watched him leave her room and shut the door behind him.


"Goodbye, JR."


***

 

[zephiey]

Why do I have a feeling whatever is going on involves either Pearce or Wendell? As for Sue Ellen and JR, I'm patiently waiting for them to realize they are better together than apart.

 

[Miss Texas 1967]

Another great update. A little bit of romantic tension and some drama suspense, I'm hooked!

 

[Crazy For Sue Ellen]

This is great!

 

[CeeCee72]

I don't own any of the characters in this story and no copyright infringement is intended..


This is a "What if?" fanfic. What if in the season eleven episode "Top Gun" Sue Ellen had changed her mind at the last possible moment and instead of teaming up with Kimberly and Wendell to beat JR she voted her Weststar shares to make him CEO?


***


What If


Part 6


***


"Dammit!"


JR slammed the phone down hard on it's cradle and pounded his fist on the desk. The police were getting nowhere finding out what caused the rig explosion or who had broken into Southfork the night before.


"Useless bastards," he growled. He pushed the intercom button forcefully, "Sly," he barked, "get Harry McSween on the phone!"


"Right away, JR," came Sly's reply.


JR sat back in his chair and rubbed his aching temples. He was no closer to getting answers today than he had been last night. The explosion was bad enough, but knowing someone had broken into his home and threatened his family was chewing him up on the inside. What kind of a man couldn't protect his family in their own home?


His family… he frowned when it occurred to him that soon his family would be leaving Southfork for good. Harv Smithfield had called him earlier and told him Sue Ellen's lawyer had accepted the separation agreement and he expected to have the signed papers delivered to his office later today.


Sue Ellen…


What he had said to her last night was true. He really never believed it was possible for him to lose her for good. All his schemes, all his affairs...she'd always taken him back. When he took up with Kimberly, he'd only done it to get back Ewing Oil. Oh, he'd promised Kimberly he'd divorce Sue Ellen and marry her, but he'd never intended to follow through. Even when he set Sue Ellen up to catch him in bed with Kimberly, it was only to make her mad enough to leave him temporarily. He'd always planned to win Sue Ellen back once he'd gotten everything he wanted from Kimberly.


"The best laid plans," he.mumbled to himself.


"JR?" Sly poked her head into his office, "Detective McSween is on line three, and Ms. Cryder is here. She doesn't have an appointment, but she said it was important."


What does that awful woman want with me, JR thought to himself. "Give me a few minutes to talk to Harry then send her in," he instructed. Sly nodded and disappeared.


JR snatched up the phone, "Harry? You find Lisa yet?"


JR had asked Harry to track down Christopher's biological paternal aunt. She was at the top of his list of suspects for last night's break in.


"You're sure?" JR snapped. "Alright, fine. Any luck locating that crazy Wentworth bitch?" Pam and Cliff's little sister also had a motive for terrorizing Christopher. "Right. Well, keep trying, Harry."


JR hung up the phone just in time to see Kimberly Cryder sashay into his office. "Did I catch you at a bad time, JR?"


"Anytime I have to deal with you is a bad time, Kimberly. What the hell do you want?"


"Oh come on, JR," she laughed, gracefully sitting in a chair across from his desk, "I seem to recall the two of us having some good times...some VERY good times."


"They weren't that good," JR snapped. "I was only with you because I wanted your daddy's company."


"Oh, I know, JR," she laughed bitterly. "You never really intended to marry me. How ironic it is that after all your scheming it was your wife who gave you control of Weststar and not me?"


JR said nothing, letting his stony silence speak for him.


"How is Sue Ellen, by the way?" Kimberly asked sweetly. "Or do you not know? Rumor has it you moved out of Southfork and filed for divorce."


"Sue Ellen is fine," JR shot back, not wanting to give Kimberly the satisfaction of knowing the truth, "I was with her last night. And I haven't filed for divorce, regardless of what you've heard. Now, I'm not going to ask you again. What do you want?"


"I just wanted to see if you were enjoying sitting in my daddy's chair, and to tell you not to get too comfortable there," she replied cooly. "I still own a large chunk of stock in this company and so does Jeremy Wendell."


"So?" JR replied, "between my stock and Sue Ellen's I control more than enough shares to keep the two of you from causing me any trouble."


"That's true, JR," she conceded, "but the key is Sue Ellen, isn't it? I'm guessing it won't be too long before you cross her again, and when you do, who knows what she'll do with her Weststar stock? Honestly, JR, I'm surprised you're okay with any woman - even Sue Ellen - holding that much power over you."


"Sue Ellen already proved where she stands on this, and it's by my side."


"Yes...for now…" Kimberly stood up and moved toward the door. "Just remember, JR, women are unpredictable. You never know what they're going to do and when they're going to do it. Oh, one other thing, JR, as a major stake holder, I expect you to provide a full report about Sunday's rig explosion. We lost three men, a lot of equipment, and a lot of money. The board expects to know what happened and how you intend to ensure it doesn't happen again. You're not running a small independent oil company anymore, JR. You have stockholders to answer to, and we won't look the other way on your incompetence.


JR watched her leave his office and close the door behind her. "Bitch," he growled, turning back to the phone on his desk. He picked up the receiver and violently punched numbers. "Harv Smithfield," he growled. "I don't care how busy he is. You tell him JR Ewing wants to talk to him right now." He had to wait only a few seconds before Harv came on the line. "Has Sue Ellen's lawyer sent the signed papers over yet?" JR paused as he listened to Harv's response. "Good. Don't accept them. I want some changes made. How quick can you get over here?"


***


"Sue Ellen? Sue Ellen?"


Sue Ellen snapped out of her daze and looked up to see Ray standing over her. "I'm sorry, Ray. What did you say?"


"I said the locksmith is done changing all the locks. Here's your new key."


"Thank you, Ray," she reached out and took the key from his outstretched hand.


"You get the new code for the alarm?" he asked.


"Yes, thank you, Ray. Clayton gave it to me this morning."


"Good," Ray replied. He lifted his hand and moved his hat further back on his head. "You know Sue Ellen, I sure would feel a lot better about things if JR was staying here at night."


Sue Ellen looked up at him and shrugged. "JR is free to come and go as he pleases."


"Can I sit down?" Ray asked her hesitantly.


"Of course," Sue Ellen smiled, gesturing to a chair across from her at the patio table.


"Listen, Sue Ellen," Ray began cautiously as he took a seat, "I don't want to get into your personal business, but Miss Ellie said JR wasn't staying here because you asked him not to."


"When have you ever known JR to do anything simply because I asked him to?" Sue Ellen asked. "It's true I told him I didn't want to live under the same roof as him, but last night I asked him to stay. Truthfully, I'd feel better if he were here too."


"Good," Ray nodded. "I'll give him a call and tell him he needs to come home."


Sue Ellen laughed.


"Something funny?" Ray asked harshly.


"Just that you think JR will come home just because you call him."


"I don't think he'll come home because I call him, Sue Ellen. I think he'll come home because he loves his family and wants to keep them safe."


Sue Ellen shrugged her shoulders and turned away from him. "Yes. He'll want to keep a close eye on John Ross."


"On John Ross," Ray agreed, "and on Christopher and Miss Ellie and on you too, Sue Ellen. I know JR is a real bastard sometimes, but he DOES love you. And it's not like you've always behaved perfectly in regard to your marriage vows either."


Sue Ellen's head snapped around and her eyes jerked up to meet his.


"Don't worry, Sue Ellen," he laughed bitterly, "I've never told a single soul about that long ago night between you and me and I never will. I just want you to remember JR isn't the only one around here with a pile of dirty laundry."


Sue Ellen was too shocked to respond. In all these years, neither she nor Ray had mentioned their night of wild sex. They both had moved on with their lives and their relationship as inlaws as if it had never happened.


"Hell, Sue Ellen," Ray sighed, "I don't hold it against you. I know you were drunk and lonely and desperate for attention. I wouldn't be bringing it up now if I didn't think you needed a little shove in the right direction."


"What direction is that, Ray?"


"The direction of letting JR live peacefully in this house until we catch whoever broke in here last night."


"So...you don't think it was Christopher's imagination?" Sue Ellen asked, grateful for the chance to change in subject.


"No. I agree with JR. Christopher screamed and him and Bobby both got to his bedroom within seconds. There wasn't enough time for Christopher - or anyone else to have made that mess and get back in their beds."


"Maybe," Sue Ellen sighed, "but how could an intruder get out of the house so fast? JR took off as soon as we heard the crash."


"Think about it Sue Ellen. All he had to do was turn and run down the stairs. He probably waited for JR and Bobby to get inside Christopher's bedroom then calmly walked out the front door."


"That's a terrifying thought," Sue Ellen chewed at her lower lip.


"Yeah it is," Ray agreed. "And I'll tell you something else. Whoever it was has been in this house before. He knew exactly where Christopher's room was."


"Oh, Ray…" Sue Ellen's hand flew to her mouth.


"Whoever it was didn't steal anything, didn't touch anything. Seems like he came in the house and made a beeline for Christopher's room. So do you understand why it's important for JR to come home?"


"Yes, yes," Sue Ellen nodded her head. "I promise I won't make any trouble."


"Good," Ray stood up. "I'll call him now and tell him to get his tail home."


***


"Don't worry, Christopher," John Ross said solemnly, "you can sleep in my room with me until they catch the bad man."


"Thanks, John Ross," Christopher was trying hard not to cry. "I wish my daddy believed me. He thinks I was having a bad dream."


"MY daddy believes you! And he'll catch the bad man. Uncle Ray believes you too."


"I promise I wasn't dreaming, John Ross. Somebody was in my room last night."


"I know Christopher."


"Do you think Aunt Sue Ellen believes me?"


"Sure she does. Mama knows you wouldn't lie about it. She'll help keep you safe. She stayed with us 'til we fell asleep last night, holding your hand, didn't she?"


"Yeah," Christopher looked down at the floor. "I miss my mommy, John Ross," he whispered.


"I know. But I'll share my mama with you until your mama comes back, okay?"


"You'll have to share her forever then, 'cause Daddy said my mommy is never coming back," Christopher's bravery failed him and tears rolled down his cheeks.


"Hey, don't cry," John Ross moved to awkwardly hug his younger cousin.


"You two okay in here?"


"Christopher's upset."


"I don't blame him," Lucy said, moving from the doorway into the room. "Last night was really scary."


Lucy sat down on the floor and held her arms out. Christopher let go of John Ross, climbed into her lap, and let her wrap her arms around him. "Everything will work out," she promised, stroking his hair.


"Thanks, Lucy," John Ross said.


"Hey, no worries"" she winked at John Ross. "Us cousins gotta stick together."


***


"I have several of the hands watching the house," Ray said, coming into the living room where the rest of the Ewings had gathered for pre-dinner drinks. "I think we have all our bases covered."


"Thank you, Ray," Miss Ellie said. "Will you be staying for dinner?"


"No, Miss Ellie, I better get on home."


"Did you talk to JR?" Sue Ellen asked.


"Yeah. He should be home any minute."


"Just great," Lucy rolled her eyes. "I was enjoying the break."


"Lucy!" Miss Ellie gasped.


"What?" Lucy asked innocently. "Come on. I'm sure I'm not the only one!"


Clayton burst out laughing, then cleared his throat and looked away from Miss Ellie's disapproving glare. "I didn't say a word," he told her.


"Good evening," JR said, sauntering into the room and heading straight to the bar. "How's everyone doing tonight?" He addressed the question to the whole family, but his eyes were fixed on Sue Ellen.


"Everyone's fine, JR," Bobby told him. "Was your guy able to find out anything?"


JR finished making his drink and shrugged. "Lisa is still in California. Her presence last night is accounted for. No luck finding Katherine, but he's still trying."


"Any other suspects we should know about JR?" Ray asked.


"No, no. None that I can think of."


"Just asking. It's not like this would be the first time you brought a dangerous problem home from the office."


"Now Ray," JR drawled, never taking his eyes off Sue Ellen, "if I thought what happened last night had anything to do with my business, I'd say so."


"Sure you would, JR," Ray said sarcastically.


"Well, I have to wonder if we all aren't over reacting," Bobby said. "It's very possible Christopher dreamed the whole thing."


"He didn't dream that mess in the hallway, Bob," JR replied, sipping on his drink.


Sue Ellen suddenly became very aware that JR was staring at her intently. "Something wrong, JR?" she asked breathlessly.


"No, no," JR answered sheepishly, "just wonderin' how your day went."


"It was fine, JR."


"Did you go to the office?"


"No. I thought it would be best to stay here for Christopher."


"Fine, fine," JR said distractedly. "You certainly look lovely tonight, Sue Ellen."


"Thank you, JR," Sue Ellen blushed and looked away.


Ray cleared his throat to remind JR there were other people in the room. "Well, now that you're home JR, I'll be heading back to my place."


"Oh, I'll walk you out Ray," JR said, "I want to talk to you about the new security system."


Sue Ellen felt a little dazed. Why had JR been watching her so closely? Was he worried she would make a scene about him being back at Southfork? She was snapped out of her daze by the sound of a ringing phone.


"Excuse me," Teresa appeared in front of her. "Miss Sue Ellen, there's a call for you."


"Thank you, Teresa," Sue Ellen stood up and glided gracefully to the phone in the foyer. JR watched her from the corner of his eye while he and Bobby and Ray talked about security. He saw her eyes narrow and her back stiffen and he tensed his body for the scene he knew was coming.


Sue Ellen slammed down the phone and turned her angry glare on him. "How dare you, JR!" she hissed. She stalked over to him and before he had time to react, lifted her fist and socked him right in the jaw. JR cried out as he lost his balance and tipped over, landing squarely on his backside right at Ray's feet.


"You bastard!" Sue Ellen screamed, kicking him in the shin for good measure before turning to run up the stairs.


"What the hell, JR?" Ray asked, too shocked to give into the laughter he felt bubbling up in his throat.


"Well," JR grinned in spite of the situation. He rubbed at his jaw where Sue Ellen had punched him, "I guess her divorce lawyer finally got around to calling her."


"JR, what did you do?" Bobby growled.


"Nothing that didn't need doing, Bob," JR said ruefully, "nothing that didn't need doing."


***

 

[Justine]

I love these new chapters, I wonder what J.R.’s done to make her so mad?

 

[CeeCee72]

I don't own any of the characters in this story and no copyright infringement is intended..


This is a "What if?" fanfic. What if in the season eleven episode "Top Gun" Sue Ellen had changed her mind at the last possible moment and instead of teaming up with Kimberly and Wendell to beat JR she voted her Weststar shares to make him CEO?


***


What If


Part 7


"Sue Ellen!" Lucy protested, watching her aunt pull clothes out of the closet and fling them into an open suitcase on the bed, "you can't leave now!"


"Oh, no?" Sue Ellen snarled, "just watch me!"


"But, Sue Ellen, think about Christopher!" Lucy begged. "He needs you!"


"He has his father and his uncles and Miss Ellie. He'll be fine."


"No he won't!" Lucy stomped her foot. "I am SO SICK of you and JR blowing through this house like tornadoes, tearing apart everyone else's lives because all either of you care about is getting to each other!"


"Lucy, you have no idea what you're talking about!"


"Don't I?" Lucy narrowed her eyes and put her hands on her hips. "Today I overheard a conversation between John Ross and Christopher. John Ross promised him that he'd share you until Christopher's mom came home. Those boys both needed a mother today, Sue Ellen, but instead they got me, because you were out lounging by the pool! Now look at you. Okay, so JR did something crappy to you and now you want to make him suffer. Never even occurred to you how you leaving will affect John Ross. Do you EVER think about him, Sue Ellen?"


"Of course I do!" Sue Ellen defended. "I always try to do what's best for John Ross!"


"You mean like when you had a nasty little affair with his counselor? Or when you drank yourself into an oblivion and wrecked JR's car? Or when you kicked his father out of the house?"


Sue Ellen stopped packing and turned her full attention on Lucy. "You really have a low opinion of me, don't you?"


Lucy shrugged. "I lost Micky because of you. And I was really starting to like Peter before I found out he was sleeping with you. Truthfully, there are times I hate you, Sue Ellen."


"Lucy…"


"But most of the time I just feel sorry for you. I can't imagine how awful it must be to love someone so much that you'd give up your pride and dignity just to get his attention."


"Please," Sue Ellen whispered, unable to bear hearing any more.


"Sue Ellen, I think you are a really decent woman who loves a very indecent man. I can't do anything to help you with that. But I CAN try to make you see that for ONCE in your life, everything can't be about JR! Just this once, let it be about those two little boys who so desperately need you."


"Alright, Lucy," tears were streaming down Sue Ellen's face, streaking her makeup and leaving a trail of mascara under her eyes, "you've made your point."


"So you'll stay?" Lucy asked hopefully.


"Yes," Sue Ellen breathed out. "I'll stay for the boys."


"Whew," Lucy sighed with relief. "I'm glad."


Sue Ellen nodded and walked over to her vanity, grabbed a handful of tissue and wiped angrily at her face. Lucy walked up behind her and put a hand lightly on her shoulder.


"I don't know what JR did to you this time, but I'm really sorry he hurt you again."


Sue Ellen covered her face with her hands and sobbed violently.


"It'll be okay, Sue Ellen," Lucy patted her shoulder and let Sue Ellen lean against her and cry, "everything will be okay."


***


"So much for you and Sue Ellen living together in harmony," Bobby sighed.


He and JR were sitting in the kitchen drinking beer. JR was using an ice pack to help with the pain and swelling in his jaw where Sue Ellen had slugged him. "You'd never know it just by looking at her," JR laughed, "but my wife packs one hell of a punch."


"JR, there's nothing funny about this," Bobby sighed. "Why can't you ever let Sue Ellen have any peace?"


"Now hold on, Bob," JR protested."I did my best to make up with her, but she made it clear she wasn't backing down from the divorce. I had to protect myself."


"Why couldn't you have just talked to her like a normal person, JR? Why not just tell her you wanted to amend the separation agreement so you could keep all the Weststar stock? Why let her find out in a phone call from her lawyer?"


"Believe me, Bob, if I had told her myself the consequences would have been a lot worse than a punch in the jaw and a kick in the shin."


"JR, I can't understand…" Bobby was interrupted by the phone ringing.


"Bobby Ewing here," he said, picking up the line.


"It's McSween," Booby said, handing the phone to JR.


"What do you have for me Harry?" JR was quiet as he listened for a few minutes. "You're sure? Okay, thanks Harry."


JR hung the phone up and looked at his brother. "Katherine checked out of a suite in Munich four days ago. She cleaned out her bank account and there's some evidence she may have chartered a plane to the States."


"You think it was her in the house last night, don't you?" Bobby asked.


"Seems like she's the most obvious suspect, Bob," JR said, standing up and walking toward the door. "You'd better call Barnes," he said thoughtfully. "If that crazy woman is in the area, he better be on the lookout too."


***


"Alright, Bobby, thanks, a lot."


Cliff put the phone down and walked back to the couch.


"Something wrong"? April asked, sipping her glass of wine.


"Bobby thinks my crazy little sister is on the loose again," Cliff told her.


"The one who tried to kill him a few years ago?" April gasped.


"Yeah," Cliff sighed. "She shot him and tried to frame me for it. Bobby said they think someone broke into the house and threatened Christopher last night and they think maybe it was her."


"Oh my God, no wonder Sue Ellen cancelled lunch with me today!"


"Yeah, Bobby said the whole family was pretty shook up," Cliff picked up his chopsticks and shoved some noodles into his mouth.


"I wonder if I should call her?"


"Call who?"


"Sue Ellen! And please, Cliff don't talk with your mouth full!"


Cliff laughed and washed down the noodles with a gulp of wine. "I wouldn't bother her tonight. Bobby said everyone was on edge. The two of you seem to be getting pretty friendly though."


"Don't worry, Cliff," April grinned, "I'm capable of having more than one friend at once. I won't let Sue Ellen take your place."


"Ha!" Cliff laughed out loud. "Seriously though, I'm kinda surprised, given your former relationship with JR. Sue Ellen can be a very jealous woman."


"Maybe she knows she doesn't have anything to be jealous of from me," April said. "Her and JR weren't even together when I was with him."


"Let me tell you something, April. JR and Sue Ellen are ALWAYS together, even when they're not."


"What is that supposed to mean?"


"It means don't let them catch you in their crossfire, April. I learned the hard way that those two only care about each other and they don't care how much they hurt anyone else around them."


"Spoken like a scorned lover," April shrugged.


"Just take it from me, April. JR and Sue Ellen live to fight, but they ALWAYS make up; and when they do, they leave a path of destruction around them a mile wide."


***


JR sat up in bed and snatched his watched off the end table. He sighed when he saw it was only a few minutes past one. He felt like he'd been struggling to sleep for hours now.


He sighed heavily and got up. He figured he may as well check to make sure everything was okay and secure since he couldn't sleep.


He fastened his robe around himself tightly, put on his slippers, and crept out into the hallway. He went to Sue Ellen's door first, opening it silently.


Her bed was empty and was still made as if no one had slept there. JR felt dread like a punch in the gut. Had she left him? How had she gotten out of the house without him knowing? He closed his eyes and silently cursed himself. How could she have gotten away again? He took a deep breath and moved further into the room. He noticed her closet door was open. All her clothes were still hanging neatly in there. He glanced over at her vanity. Her brushes, makeup, and jewelry box were all right where they belonged. She wasn't in her bed, but she hadn't left the house at least.


He walked to the vanity, opened the jewelry box and ran his eyes over all the expensive baubles she had collected over the years. One piece in particular caught his eye. It was a simple, silver heart shaped locket John Ross had picked out and given her for Mother's Day a few years back. He picked it up and opened it. On the left was a picture of JR and John Ross. JR's raised his eyebrows with surprise as he looked at the picture on the right. It was Kristen, smiling wide and looking happy.


JR put the locket back where he'd found in and moved to the door. He shook his head slightly as he realized that as well as he knew Sue Ellen, she always managed to surprise him. She had deliberately wiped Kristen's memory from their lives, but she still kept her sister's picture in a heart shaped locket.


He walked down the hall and quietly opened the door to John Ross's room. The boys were both lying in sleeping bags on the floor, sound asleep. His eyes went to the bed and he smiled when he saw his wife curled up in a ball, sleeping like a baby.


He moved out of the room, shutting the door behind him. He turned to make his way down the steps and almost bumped into his niece.


"Is Sue Ellen still in there?" Lucy asked.


"Yes, they're all asleep."


"Glad somebody can sleep around here," Lucy said.


"I was just going down to get a drink," Jr told her. "You want one?"


"You're offering me alcohol?" Lucy's mouth dropped open with surprise.


"Hell, you're a grown woman, aren't you?"


"Took you long enough to notice that, Uncle JR," Lucy said sarcastically.


"Do you want a drink or not?" JR snapped, turning and heading down the stairs without waiting for her to answer.


Lucy followed her uncle down the stairs and into the living room. She flopped down on the couch while JR went to the bar.


"Bourbon and branch alright? he asked.


"That's fine," Lucy agreed, "heavy on the bourbon and.light on the branch though."


JR chuckled and handed her the glass. "Spoken like a true Ewing."


They were silent for a little while, both nursing their drinks. "Lucy," JR said finally, "do me a favor and stick close to the house for a couple of days."


"Why, JR?" Lucy asked. "If Pam's sister is the one causing all the problems, she won't be after me. I barely know her."


"We suspect it's Katherine Wentworth, but we don't know that for sure. Just humor me, Lucy. Stay close until we know it's safe."


"Why Uncle JR!" Lucy giggled, "I didn't know you cared!"


"Knock it off, girl," JR growled. "This isn't funny. I won't feel safe until whoever broke in her is caught and in jail!"


"Okay, okay," Lucy gave in. "I'll stay home."


"Thank you."


"She was going to leave you tonight, you know," Lucy said, abruptly changing the subject.


"What?" JR asked, confused.


"Sue Ellen was going to leave you. She was packing a suitcase and everything. I talked her out of it though."


"And just how did you do that?" JR asked suspiciously.


"I made her feel guilty about leaving John Ross and Christopher," Lucy shrugged. "See the thing is, Uncle JR, good people can be guilted into doing the right thing. Bad people...people like you for instance, they have no shame, so they have no guilt."


"You're wrong, Lucy. I have plenty of guilt."


"Really?" Lucy asked doubtfully. "Is your guilt what's keeping you awake at night?"


"It's none of your business, Lucy, and you…."


Three sudden loud bangs broke the quiet of the house.


"What the hell was that?" Lucy screamed, jumping off the couch and spilling her drink on the floor.


"Get down and don't move," JR ordered running out of the room. "Bob!" JR screamed up the staircase, "Bob, the kids are in John Ross's room with Sue Ellen!"


JR heard footsteps running, shocked yelling, and doors slamming upstairs. "JR!" Clayton came running down the staircase with two pistols. He handed one to JR and said, "JR, we can't find Lucy!"


"She's in the living room," JR told him. "Could you tell which way the shots came from?"


"Sounded like from the driveway," Clayton said.


"I thought so too. Is Mama alright?"


"She's with Sue Ellen and the boys. Bobby's up there too. They called the police."


"Good," JR said. "Ready?"


Clayton nodded, "As I'll ever be."


JR carefully entered the security code on the keypad and slowly opened the front door. He went out first, Clayton followed close behind him."See anyone?" JR whispered.


"Not a soul. Wait, JR, what's that?" Clayton asked, pointing to a.colorful heap on the ground.


JR walked over slowly and carefully picked it up. "It's a scarf," JR said grimly, "a woman's silk scarf."


***

 

[EASSS1928]

O.M.G this is amazing and exciting. I can't wait for an update.

 

[Miss Texas 1967]

 

[CeeCee72]

I don't own any of the characters in this story and no copyright infringement is intended..


This is a "What if?" fanfic. What if in the season eleven episode "Top Gun" Sue Ellen had changed her mind at the last possible moment and instead of teaming up with Kimberly and Wendell to beat JR she voted her Weststar shares to make him CEO?


***


What If


Part 8


***


"Oh, my word!" Miss Ellie grimaced. "It smells like a brewery in here!"


"Sorry, Grandma," Lucy said sheepishly. "I dropped my drink when the shooting started."


"You were up drinking alcohol in the middle of the night?" Miss Ellie gasped.


"Hey, JR gave it to me!"


"Leave her alone Mama," JR said, coming into the room with Harry McSween following close behind him, "she's well over legal."


"I'm posting officers out by the gate and around the house until we catch her, JR," McSween informed him.


"Thanks, Harry. I don't know how she got past Ray's ranch hands."


"So, we've all decided it's Katherine for sure?" Everyone turned their head to see Sue Ellen coming in from the kitchen."We're not even open to the possibility it could be someone else?"


"I'm open to everything, Mrs. Ewing, but Wentworth is our prime suspect and that was a lady's scarf JR and Mr. Farlow found in the driveway."


"JR has a lot of enemies," Sue Ellen shrugged, "and many of them are women. Hell hath no fury and all that."


"Sue Ellen," JR sighed, clearly annoyed, "not everything is a referendum on my character."


"Whatever you say, my love," Sue Ellen replied sweetly.


"Hang on," Clayton threw his hands up, "I agree with Sue Ellen. Anyone could have taken those shots at the house."


"Katherine has shown before she's not afraid to shoot someone," JR reminded them.


"Miss Wentworth is the prime suspect," Harry repeated, "but it would be a good idea for me to get a list of your other enemies." He pulled a pen and a small notebook from his suit pocket.


"Oh boy," Lucy laughed, "you're going to need a MUCH bigger notebook."


Miss Ellie gasped and Sue Ellen and Clayton both snorted.


"What?" Lucy asked innocently. "Everyone was thinking it, I just happened to be the one to say it out loud."


"That's enough, Lucy," Miss Ellie scolded.


"Just...uh, don't forget to put Kimberly Cryder's name on that list, my love," Sue Ellen shot JR a hostile look. "After all she has reason to want to kill us both."


"Cryder?" McSween asked, "how do you spell that?"


"Nevermind, Harry," JR scowled, "I'll have Sly send you a full list in the morning."


"That'll be fine," McSween nodded. "I have statements from everyone but Bobby. I'll need to talk to him."


"That'll have to wait 'til morning too," JR insisted. "He's upstairs with the boys."


"Alright JR. My men are still searching around the house, but we'll stay out of your hair until morning."


"Thanks, Harry," JR said. "I'll walk you to the door."


"The rest of us should try to get some sleep," Miss Ellie advised, "rising from her chair. "It will be morning before you know it."


***


Sue Ellen sat at the kitchen table and drank her tea. She hadn't even attempted to go back to bed; there was no way she would be able to sleep now.


Everyone was so upset about the shooting - and Sue Ellen was upset about it too; but it wasn't fear that was keeping her awake - it was hurt.


"JR did it to me again," she mumbled, taking another sip of her tea. She had stupidly allowed herself to believe that maybe he HAD changed. Maybe he really was sorry for all the years of damage and wanted to make things easy for her in the divorce. She had allowed him to lull her into a false sense of security and then he had brutally pulled the rug out from under her - just like always.


"I still don't understand how she got past my hands," Ray's voice broke through her thoughts. She turned her head and saw Ray and JR coming into the kitchen from the patio.


"Well, it was dark, Ray, it's a big ranch." JR moved to the kitchen counter to start a pot of coffee. "One person on foot could have come from almost any direction and not have been seen, especially if they're familiar with the lay of the land."


"That's what's bothering me, JR. I think whoever this is, she has been on this ranch and in the house enough times to know how to move without being detected."


"Well, Ray, Katherine was here at parties and such several times," JR reminded him. He poured them both a cup of coffee and they took seats at the kitchen table.


"You okay, darlin'?" JR finally acknowledged Sue Ellen's presence in the room.


"Fine," Sue Ellen told him. "Just can't sleep."


JR let his eyes sweep over her face. Her eyes were puffy and red and that damn bottom lip was swollen again.


"We're going to catch her, darlin'," JR assured her, reaching out to cover her hand with his. Sue Ellen pulled her hand away from his and turned her head away.


"I'm serious, JR," Ray shook his head. "I think we're making a mistake zeroing in on Katherine. Okay, so she's been here for BBQs, but how many times has she been in the house?"


"Sure she was here visiting Pam occasionally," JR shrugged.


"Okay, so how did she get the security code?"


"What?" JR's head snapped up.


"Whoever was in Christopher's bedroom had to have the code to the security system. When I lived here with Donna, Rauol set that alarm every night at 11:00 like clockwork. You can't really believe that the one night he forgot to set it happened to be the one night someone decided to break into the house."


"I hadn't thought about that," JR admitted. "But Ray, that code hadn't been changed in years. Pam could have given it to Katherine."


"No," Sue Ellen spoke up. "The last time the codes were changed was when BD Calhoun was terrorizing us. That was after Katherine shot Bobby. Pam had no contact with her at all after that."


"Damn. That's right, darlin'," JR sighed.


"Something about this whole situation just isn't adding up," Ray shook his head and stood up to leave. 'I need to get back over to my place and check on Jenna and the baby. I'll be back in a few hours."


"Alright Ray. Thanks for everything," JR nodded at him.


"No problem. Sue Ellen," Ray tipped his hat to her and Sue Ellen nodded her goodbye.


JR got up and moved back to the coffee pot. "Listen Sue Ellen, you and the boys need to keep to the house for the next couple of days. I don't even want you in the pool, not with some maniac out there shooting at the house."


"I'll work from home, JR," Sue Ellen agreed, "but I have an important appointment in town this morning that I have to keep."


"Cancel it," JR ordered.


"No, JR," Sue Ellen's voice was defiant.


"Sue Ellen," JR tried to keep his voice calm, "what could be so important that you're willin' to get shot over it?"


Sue Ellen laughed bitterly. "I'm not going to get shot, JR. Whoever is doing all these things...well I don't think I'm the target."


"Sue Ellen," JR pleaded. "Please stay home. It would kill me if something happened to you."


Sue Ellen stood up, walked to the sink, and washed out her tea cup. "Nothing's going to happen to me, JR," she turned to face him. "And if it did, it wouldn't be any of your concern anyway."


JR said nothing. He watched her walk stiffly out of the room, head held high.


"You're wrong, Miss Texas," he finally whispered to himself. "Everything about you will always be my concern."


***


Sue Ellen turned off the car's engine and silently counted down from ten. "I won't lose my temper," she vowed to herself.


The truck had been following her for miles, since right after she pulled onto the main road from Southfork. She'd almost lost it in the Dallas traffic, but it had stuck with her, coming to a stop across the street from the parking garage she'd pulled into.


She pulled down her car's visor and took a quick look at her reflection, grabbed her purse, opened the door, and slid out of the car. She walked purposely to the street, looked both ways, and darted across. She sauntered to the window of the truck that had been shadowing her and tapped forcefully on the window.

The driver jumped with surprise and hastily rolled down the window "Ma'am?" he greeted her with a nervous question.


"I just wanted to be sure that you let my loving husband know that I made it to my attorney's office safe and sound," she said sweetly. "See you on the drive back to Southfork."


Sue Ellen turned and darted back across the street without giving him a chance to respond.


She wasn't surprised that JR had her followed, but she wanted him to know that she knew. She wasn't the same naive, scared little doe that had divorced him the first time. She was on to his tricks and she was putting him on notice that she wouldn't be easy to manipulate this time around.


***


"Thank you," JR grinned as he hung up the phone. Sue Ellen had spotted the tail he'd put on her as he had intended. He wanted her to know he was watching her; it might make her think twice before doing something stupid.


He wasn't surprised her "important appointment" had been with her divorce lawyer; after last night, he was sure she was over there plotting to take him to the cleaners.


"Play as rough as you want, Miss Texas," JR smiled to himself, "I always enjoy a good fight with you. I enjoy the making up even more."


"JR?" Sly's voice came through the intercom, "Bobby is here."


"Good, send him right in."


"JR, what is so important you had to drag me down here away from the house?" Bobby demanded, striding into the office. "I don't like leaving the boys there with just Clayton and Mama."


"Don't worry, Bob, this won't take long," JR assured him. "Besides Ray's over there too, along with about a dozen armed guards."


"Just make it quick, JR," Bobby sighed, taking a seat in a chair across from JR's desk.


"No problem, Bob," JR pushed a manilla folder over to him, "it's all in there."


JR sat back in his chair and rested his chin on his hands while Bobby flipped through the papers in the folder.


"JR…"


"It's everything, Bobby. Every single Ewing Oil asset that Wendell stole from us - including the Ewing building."


"According to these papers, you're signing it all back over to Ewing Oil. Why JR?"


"I have Weststar to run now Bob, but you have the Ewing Oil name back. Might as well have all the assets too."


"What's the catch, JR?" Bobby eyed him suspiciously.


"Forty percent," JR shrugged. "Forty for me, forty for you, ten each to Gary and Ray."


"Why not just keep it all, JR?"


"I have my reasons," JR told him


"And you're not going to share them with me, are you?"


"Not at the moment," JR confirmed. "For the time being, let's just say I want Ewing Oil back in Ewing hands."


Bobby studied his older brother carefully for a long time. "Alright, JR," he finally said. "Just tell me where to sign."


***


"It's still a very good offer, Mrs. Ewing," Mr. Marlowe said. "He's asking for the stock in Weststar, Everything else - the custody, the child support, the alimony, the division of assets - that all remains the same. Given that he isn't asking for half of your personal wealth but is offering to give you half of his, you'd still be coming out of the marriage with much more than you had going in. I think we should accept the terms."


"No," Sue Ellen said shortly. " I don't want any alimony. And I only want to leave the marriage with my personal assets. There's no need for me to take half of his. But that Weststar stock is off the table. It's mine. I bought it with my own money. He has no right to it."


"But, Mrs. Ewing…"


"No," Sue Ellen held up her hand and silenced him. "If JR wants a fight, he's going to get one. Draw up the papers just as I requested and send them over to Mr. Smithfield. I want their answer by the end of the week."


"Certainly, Mrs. Ewing. There is just one more thing though."


"What's that?" Sue Ellen asked.


"Well…" Marlowe shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Mr. Ewing may decide his best strategy is to delay the divorce, to wait you out so to speak. Since he has moved back to Southfork, he could make the argument that the two of you have reconciled."


"We haven't," Sue Ellen told him flatly.


"Well, yes, but a judge might not see it that way. If Mr. Ewing rejects your offer and decides to fight the divorce, the fact that you're both living under the same roof and raising your son together might give him ammunition."


"What are you saying?"


"Mrs. Ewing, I advise you to move out of the Ewing household as soon as possible. And…."


"And what?" Sue Ellen prodded.


"Under no circumstances should you resume your...marital relations with Mr. Ewing. Every judge in Texas will view that as a reconciliation and it will reset the clock on your separation date."


Sue Ellen's eyes widened with embarrassment. "Oh...oh, uh...alright. I understand."


"Mrs. Ewing, you haven't already…"


"No!" Sue Ellen said abruptly. "Of course not!"


"Good," Marlowe nodded his head. "I'll get the papers over to Mr. Smithfield this afternoon.


"Thank you, Mr. Marlow," Sue Ellen stood and reached out to shake his hand.


He walked her to the door, "Call the office if you need anything."


Sue Ellen nodded and hurried outside."You snake," she seethed as she made her way to the car. No wonder JR had been so hot and bothered to get into her bed the other night after weeks of only half-hearted seduction attempts. He was trying to delay the divorce! He just wanted to keep her under his thumb because she controlled so much Weststar stock.


"You won't win this time, JR," Sue Ellen muttered to herself as she slid behind the wheel of her car. "I am ending our farce of a marriage once and for all. And the sooner, the better!"


***

 

[zephiey]

I don't think JR is trying to delay the divorce for the reasons Sue Ellen thinks. If Sue Ellen gets hurt JR is going to come unglued. I wonder what she is going to day when she finds out Ewing Oil is back with the Ewings.

 

[Karin Schill]

Interesting twist with the threat coming from outside, of course JR had to move back into Southfork after that. I wonder who the mystery woman is though?

Something tells me it might not be who they suspect.

I also enjoy the interaction with the Ewing family and how Lucy made Sue Ellen stay at Southfork for the boys sake.
I love Lucy's character. Her wise cracks livens up the family scenes.

Of course JR put a tail on Sue Ellen and of course he's trying to delay the divorce. Still with the threat from outside it's not like she can just up and leave Southfork. So that's good.

I'm looking forward to find out what happens next.

 

[CeeCee72]

I don't own any of the characters in this story and no copyright infringement is intended..


This is a "What if?" fanfic. What if in the season eleven episode "Top Gun" Sue Ellen had changed her mind at the last possible moment and instead of teaming up with Kimberly and Wendell to beat JR she voted her Weststar shares to make him CEO?


***


What If


Part 9


"Ha!" John Ross shouted with glee! "You landed on Park Place and I have a hotel there!"


"Well, that wipes me out," Lucy laughed. "Bankrupt!"


"I win again!" John Ross gloated. "Want to play another game?"


"Oh no, John Ross," Sue Ellen laughed. "You've already beaten us at Monopoly twice. That's quite enough for one day."


"Yeah," Christopher piped up, "I want to play something else."


"No more playing," Sue Ellen told them. "It's time for two little Boys I know to go get cleaned up for dinner."


"Aw, Mama…" John Ross started to protest.


"Now, John Ross," Sue Ellen said sternly.


"Come on Christopher," John Ross sighed unhappily. "Let's go."


Sue Ellen watched as the boys retreated from the play room. She knew they were going stir crazy; they all were. John Ross seemed to be having a particularly hard time being cooped up in the house. He was starting to get sullen and demanding.


"You okay, Sue Ellen?"


Sue Ellen turned to look at her niece. "Just fine, Lucy," she answered. "I was just thinking about how much John Ross is like his father. It scares me sometimes."


"Oh, I wouldn't worry too much about it," Lucy smiled. "He plays a mean game of Monopoly and gets snippy sometimes, but he has enough of his mother in him to balance out the JR."


"I hope so, Lucy," Sue Ellen said, bending to put away the game.


"Evenin' ladies."


Sue Ellen felt her entire body go stiff at the sound of JR's voice.


"Well, if it isn't my third favorite uncle!" Lucy exclaimed brightly. "Have a good day raping and pillaging?"


Sue Ellen burst out laughing in spite of herself.


"Very funny, Lucy," JR growled. "Would you mind giving me a minute alone with my wife?"


Lucy hesitated and glanced at Sue Ellen. Sue Ellen nodded her head and Lucy shrugged her shoulders. "Sure, JR," she said snidely. "You just give out a squeal for help if she beats you up again."


JR rolled his eyes but said nothing as he watched Lucy practically skip out of the room.


"What is it JR?"


JR turned his full attention on his wife. "I had a meeting with Harv Smithfield today," he informed her. "He said your lawyer informed him that your stock in Weststar is off the table."


"Yes."


"He also said you declined alimony and your share of my assets."


"Yes," Sue Ellen said again.


"Well, now Sue Ellen, I want you to have everything you're entitled to."


"I don't need your money, JR. You forget I'm a very wealthy woman on my own."


"No, I haven't forgotten, Miss Texas," JR lowered his voice. "You managed to parlay that first divorce settlement into quite a fortune."


Sue Ellen took a deep breath. She wouldn't let him bait her. "Yes, I did."


JR sighed and moved closer to her. "I guess it doesn't matter anyway. Yours, mine, ours - John Ross'll end up with it all eventually."


"Exactly, JR," Sue Ellen agreed. "So there's no reason for you not to sign the papers."


"I can think of a few reasons," JR grumbled. "One of which is I need that Weststar stock, Sue Ellen. I can't have you holding it over my head for the rest of our lives."


"You know what your problem is, JR? You judge everyone else's character by the quality of your own."


"What's that supposed to mean, Sue Ellen?"


"It means that just because you would use the leverage of the Weststar stock as a weapon, that doesn't mean I will."


"Oh, come off it, Miss Texas!" JR mocked her. "The only reason you even have that stock is because you wanted to use it to destroy me."


"But I couldn't go through with it, could I JR? And that's what makes us different. I have a conscience."


"Sue Ellen," JR sighed, "I'm not trying to cheat you. I'll pay you more than fair market value for those shares. You aren't interested in the oil business. The only reason you could have to want to hang on to those shares is to spite me. I don't want to fight you, darlin', but I will if you force my hand."


"I'm not going to sleep with you," Sue Ellen said, out of the blue.


JR's eyebrows shot up with surprise. "I don't recall inviting you too, at least not recently."


"I'm just making sure we're clear about it, JR."


"Sue Ellen, I haven't been near you since the night someone broke into the house. Sexy as you are, I can manage to control my urges. Besides, I have other things on my mind."


"Other things?" Sue Ellen repeated icily, "or other women?"


JR's face darkened, "I told you there isn't anyone else, but what difference would it make if there was? You don't want to share my bed, so why should you care who else climbs into it?"


"I don't care, JR," Sue Ellen breathed out.


JR reached out and snatched her arm, jerking her roughly against his body, "Liar," he whispered in her ear as he dipped his head to nuzzle her neck.


"JR, let me go!" Sue Ellen protested.


"No," JR growled against her skin. "I've been taking it easy on you, Miss Texas. I want you, I want you to come to me. I've been patient, darlin'. But we both know," he brought his hand down to stroke her bottom, "I could have you whenever I wanted. I could take the choice out of your hands, Miss Texas."


"JR…" Sue Ellen moaned when he captured her sensitive earlobe with his mouth and sucked gently.


"Is that what you want, darlin'? Do you want me to seduce you? Make it impossible for you to say no to me?"


"JR, please!" Sue Ellen cried out.


JR realized suddenly that her voice was full of panic, not passion. He let go quickly and moved away from her. "What is it, honey?" His voice was soft and gentle. "You know I'd never hurt you."


"Never hurt me?" Sue Ellen was incredulous. "JR, sometimes I think you LIVE to hurt me! Please! If you EVER loved me, even just a little bit, please just stay away from me and give me my divorce!"


Sue Ellen turned and ran out of the room before giving JR the satisfaction of seeing her tears. JR stood in stunned silence as he watched her flee.



***


"I'm tellin' you, Bob, I'm really worried about her!"


"JR, Sue Ellen is under a lot of pressure right now. She's been cooped up in this house with the boys for days. That's enough to drive anyone to distraction. Add to that there's some crazy woman taking shots and the house, it would wear down anyone."


"Maybe," JR sighed. "I hope that's all it is."


"Good evening, boys," Miss Ellie greeted her sons as she and Clayton entered the living room. "Any news about Katherine today?"


"Nothing new, Mama," Bobby told her. "The police haven't been able to pick up her trail."


"Well, something had better happen soon," Miss Ellie sighed as she took the drink Clayton had fixed her. "We can't stay locked in the house forever."


"Amen to that," Clayton said.


"Good evening, everyone," Sue Ellen smiled, gliding into the room.


"You look lovely, Sue Ellen!" Miss Ellie gushed.


"Thank you, Miss Ellie," Sue Ellen smiled, "just because I can't go out doesn't mean I can't dress up. And I have a surprise for everyone. Come on in Lucy!"


"Lucy," Bobby sucked in a deep breath, "you're positively gorgeous!"


"You think so?" Lucy asked shyly. "Sue Ellen did my hair and makeup."


"She did a fantastic job!" Clayton praised. "Ellie, you should let Sue Ellen give you a makeover!"


"Are you saying I need one, Clayton?" Miss Ellie asked sharply.


"Oh, now….you know that's not what I meant…." Clayton stuttered, then burst out laughing when he saw the twinkle of amusement in Ellie's eyes.


Miss Ellie let out a deep laugh. "Call the boys down," she told Bobby, "we'll go on with dinner."


JR moved close to Sue Ellen and whispered in her ear, "You do look breathtaking, Miss Texas. Reminding what I'm losing again?"


"Oh...no JR," Sue Ellen stopped walking and turned to look at him, "we've been so bored and I just thought fixing myself and Lucy up would be fun. Honestly, there was no ulterior motive."


JR reached for her hand and brought it up to his mouth for a quick, chaste kiss. "I was teasing you, Sue Ellen," he told her softly. "But you are stunning tonight."


"Thank you, JR," she said breathlessly.


He dropped her hand and offered her his arm. "May I have the honor of escorting you to dinner, Mrs. Ewing?"


Sue Ellen turned away from him and dropped her eyes to the floor. "No, thank you, JR. I can find my own way."


***


"I just don't understand how someone can disappear into thin air," Ellie mused. "If Katherine chartered a plane, surely there has to be a record of it landing somewhere!"


"You can cover up anything if you throw enough money at it," JR shrugged.


"You would know, JR," Lucy cut in.


"Lucy, why don't you…" JR stopped in mid sentence when he saw the pleading look on Sue Ellen's face.


"Why don't I what, JR?" Lucy challenged.


"Why don't you make yourself a drink and enjoy the evening?" JR finished. He was rewarded with a genuine smile from his wife.


"This is nice," Miss Ellie smiled. "Having most of the family here together sitting around after dinner enjoying each other's company for a change. I wish it could always be peaceful like this."


"Excuse me, Miss Sue Ellen," Teresa appeared from the foyer, "there's a phone call for you."


"Thank you Teresa," Sue Ellen said, standing "excuse me for just a minute."


"Hey, JR," Lucy shot her uncle a mischievous look, "if you talked to any divorce lawyers today, you might want to guard your shins."


JR couldn't help but burst out laughing, the rest of the family joined in, surprised JR was taking Lucy's ribbing with such good humor.


"Oh my God!" Sue Ellen screamed from the foyer. "Who is this?!"


JR and Bobby ran out of the living room just in time to see Sue Ellen drop the phone and go running up the stairs.


"Christopher!" she yelled, "John Ross!"


"What the hell?" JR went tearing up the stairs behind her. "Sue Ellen!" he grabbed her from behind and stopped her on the landing.


"It's the boys, JR!," Sue Ellen cried out, "there's something wrong with our boys!"


***

"I've already told you everything I can remember!" Sue Ellen cried, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. "The woman on the phone asked me if I knew where my boys were. When I said they were upstairs she laughed and said they were gone!"


"And you're sure you didn't recognize the voice?" McSween asked.


Sue Ellen shook her head and blew her nose."No," she answered. "It didn't sound familiar to me at all."


"Well, whoever it was obviously wanted to give you a good scare, and she succeeded. I just need to go over a few more things with you…"


"Please, no," Sue Ellen sobbed, "I've told you everything and I just want to go upstairs and be with the boys!" Sue Ellen lifted her eyes to lock gazes with her husband, "JR, please…"


"That's enough for tonight, Harry," JR broke in.


"But, JR…"


"No buts, Harry. Sue Ellen needs to rest."


"Alright," McSween said reluctantly, closing his notebook.


"Lucy," JR waved his niece over, "will you take Sue Ellen upstairs and help get her and the boys settled?"


"Sure, JR," Lucy held her hand out to her Aunt and helped her off the couch.


JR waited for them to get out of earshot then turned his full attention on McSween, "This is out of control. I won't have my wife terrorized in our home. You need to get off your ass and find out who made that phone call and why."


"We'll pull the phone records to try to find the who, but the why is already pretty obvious," McSween said.


"How so?" Bobby spoke up for the first time.


"The caller specifically asked to speak to Sue Ellen. If the goal had been to spook all of you, she would have spoken to anyone."


"So?" Bobby asked.


"So, whoever this woman is, she specifically targeted Sue Ellen and it seems pretty personal."


"Personal how?" JR prodded.


"Calling a mother, telling her that her children have been taken and are in danger even though both boys were safe and sound upstairs, that's personal JR. I'm starting to reevaluate my opinion as to this psychopath's motive. I'm not sure the target was ever Christopher; I think he was just a way to get to Sue Ellen."


"My, God," Ray breathed out. "You know, that makes sense - more sense than the Katherine Wentworth theory."


"Wentworth is still a suspect," McSween said, "her whereabouts are still unknown…. but I admit if she were going to terrorize a parent, she'd more likely than not choose Bobby, not Sue Ellen."


"So, whoever is behind all this, you're telling me they're after my wife?" JR demanded.


"Sorry to say, JR, but it sure looks that way right now," McSween shrugged. "We're going to need to go back through that list of names you gave me and focus on the ones who have reason to be holding a grudge against Sue Ellen."


JR nodded, "first thing in the morning, Harry."


"Alright. We're putting a trap on your phone in case she calls back. My men will be here, and I'll be around if you need me."


"Thanks, Harry," Ray said,"let me walk you to the door."


"JR," Bobby said, his voice hard and angry, "if it turns out that all this is because of some tawdry affair or some smarmy business deal of yours, I'll beat you within an inch of your life."


JR said nothing, choosing to ignore his brother's warning. He walked to the bar and fixed himself a stiff drink. This was a nightmare. He had no idea why it was happening, but he silently vowed to himself that he'd figure out a way to put a stop to it and make sure his family was safe.


***

 

[EASSS1928]

Dang I love this fic it has everything. I haven't been this excited about a fic in a long time.

 

[CeeCee72]

Thanks so much for all the positive comments! ❤

 

[Miss Texas 1967]

Far fetched guess but could it be April? For being annoyed with Sue Ellen re the Nicholas situation? Nicholas and April were good friends. April and Sue Ellen are now friends, or frenemies?

 

[CeeCee72]

I don't own any of the characters in this story and no copyright infringement is intended..


This is a "What if?" fanfic. What if in the season eleven episode "Top Gun" Sue Ellen had changed her mind at the last possible moment and instead of teaming up with Kimberly and Wendell to beat JR she voted her Weststar shares to make him CEO?


***


What If


Part 10


***

"I don't get it," Lucy said flouncing down beside her grandmother on the bed. "I could understand someone taking shots at JR, I mean even I've thought about it. But Sue Ellen? Why would anyone want to hurt her?"


"Sue Ellen has become a very successful business woman," Ellie answered, reaching out to stroke Lucy's hair, "Punk and Mavis said there were a lot of unhappy people in the oil business who were very angry when Sue Ellen helped JR take over Weststar."


"I don't know, Ellie," Clayton came out of the bathroom and stood at the foot of the bed, "I'd bet whatever this is about, it's all because of JR. If someone really wanted to make him suffer, they'd go after Sue Ellen and the boys."


"I'm scared, Grandma," Lucy admitted.


"Me too, Lucy," Ellie admitted, hugging Lucy tight, "me too."


***


"Can't you fall asleep, Aunt Sue Ellen?"


Sue Ellen rolled over onto her back and saw Christopher staring at her with wide eyes.


"I guess I can't," Sue Ellen whispered. "Is my tossing and turning keeping you awake?"


"No," Christopher said, "I just can't fall asleep either."


Sue Ellen sat up and glanced down to check on John Ross. He was sound asleep in his sleeping bag on the floor beside the bed. She held her hand out to Christopher. "Want to come up here with me and keep me company for a while?"


Christopher smiled and climbed into the bed beside her. He put his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. "Aunt Sue Ellen?"


"Hmmm?"


"Do you think my mommy left me because she wasn't my real mommy?"


"No! No, sweetheart. Your mommy loves you very much, but she was just too sick to take care of you."


"My real mommy left me too. She gave me away because she didn't love me."


"Oh, Christopher," Sue Ellen cupped his face in her hands, "your real mommy loved you very much too. She didn't give you away! Honey, she died when you were just a tiny little baby."


"I don't think so," Christopher was crying now. "Aunt Sue Ellen, you'll always love me and take care of me, right?"


"Oh, yes Christopher, always!"


"Promise? Even though I'm not a real Ewing?"


"You ARE a real Ewing, Christopher, same as Lucy and John Ross. And yes! Yes, I promise! I will ALWAYS take care of you and I will ALWAYS love you."


"I love you too, Aunt Sue Ellen " Christopher cried, hugging her close. "I love you bunches!"


***


"Sue Ellen? Are you alright? We missed you at breakfast."


Sue Ellen didn't reply, she just stood rock still and stared at the horizon through her bedroom window.


"Come on, darlin'," JR's voice sounded concerned, "you need to eat."


"I'm not hungry," she finally replied, moving away from the window and sitting on the edge of her bed. "I know we have to talk, JR. Let's get it over with."


JR sighed heavily and took a seat beside her on the bed. "Harry is meeting me at the office this morning. He wants to go over the list of names I gave him for anyone who has a personal grudge against you."


Sue Ellen raised her head and locked eyes with him, "Kimberly Cryder and Jeremy Wendell would be at the top of the list."


"Agreed," JR nodded. "Kimberly came to see me a few days ago," he confessed. "Your name came up."


"I'm sure it did," Sue Ellen laughed bitterly.


"Who else?" he asked softly. "Can you think of anyone else who would have reason to hurt you?"


"Mandy Winger."


JR closed his eyes. He hated the sound of her name on Sue Ellen's lips. "Why should she want to hurt you? You gave her fame and fortune on a silver platter."


"I manipulated her life, JR. I used her like a pawn to get to you. Then I took you away from her and fired her.The last thing she ever said to me was to warn me that I'd be hearing from her again."


"Alright. Anyone else?"


"Well, I fired Oswald Valentine. He has always been a little nuts...but he's a man."


"He could be working with a woman though. I'll pass his name along to Harry."


"Alright, JR," she nodded.


"Sue Ellen?"


"Yes?"


"What about Nicholas Pearce?"


"No," Sue Ellen's shoulders slumped. "He is very angry with me. He has every right to be. But he'd never hurt me, JR."


"Alright, Sue Ellen," he stood up and started to turn away from her, but she reached out tentatively and touched his arm. "JR?"


"I promise I'll keep you and the boys safe, Sue Ellen."


"I know you will," she sighed. "One thing I have never doubted is that you'd die protecting me and the boys from anyone else. It's such a sad shame you can't manage to protect us from you."


JR said nothing, his eyes stared into hers, searching for any sign of affection, any chance that it might not be too late.


"Do you know where I went after I saw you and Kimberly in bed together?" she finally asked after several minutes of silence.


"You went to Pearce," he ground out.


"Yes...but before that I went to a bar."


JR sucked in a deep breath, "Sue Ellen…"


Sue Ellen raised her hand and placed her fingers on his mouth to hush him. "I ordered a vodka straight up. I sat there at that bar, with that drink in front of me for what seemed like hours. I kept thinking...why, JR? Why would you do that? Catching you with Holly Harwood was the most traumatic event of my life. You KNEW that! You knew how much I drank, how I destroyed my life, how long it took me to sober again. You KNEW! Yet you re-created the scene with Kimberly almost down to the last detail."


"Sue Ellen I never…."


"Please let me finish," Sue Ellen pleaded. "JR...I walked away, and left the glass full on the bar. The only thing that made sense to me is that you WANTED me to drink. As weak as I was, as heartbroken as I was, the ONE thing that kept me sober was that you wanted me drunk."


"Sue Ellen, I swear to you I never thought...it never occured to me that you might.."


"Yes, JR" Sue Ellen interrupted him, "in time, I realized that it never crossed your mind that I might drink. And I think that hurt me even more. You were so wrapped up in your scheme to get Weststar that how it all would affect me, or John Ross….you never even gave us a thought, JR. That's when I decided to buy all that stock. You couldn't spare a thought for me, but I was consumed with you, with keeping you from getting your way. My anger kept me sober, JR. My need to make you take notice of me. That's why I did it, JR, that's why I bought all that stock and plotted with your little slut to take you down. I wanted you to suffer! I wanted to make you feel EXACTLY like I felt that day in the bar - disposed of, tossed away, betrayed by the one person in the world you loved the most. But, I couldn't do it, JR. I couldn't destroy you like you have destroyed me."


Sue Ellen paused to wipe a tear from her cheek. "I still need you to know my value, JR. I need you to have to live every single day regretting taking advantage of my love and devotion, for treating me like one of your whores instead of your wife. I won't give you those shares now, no matter what. You don't get to win this time JR. You tossed me away like a used piece of tissue. I won't let you have your prize for it. I'll stay at Southfork with John Ross until this nightmare is over, but then I'm gone, JR. I need you to accept the divorce peacefully so that I can still be a part of this family. The children need us both. I want peace more than almost anything; but I won't give you my last shred of pride to get it. You will never get those Weststar shares, JR. Never."


JR stood in stunned silence. In all their years together, this was the most honest she had ever been about her deepest feelings. There had always been secrets and games between them. In this moment, his heart was breaking for the pain he had caused her with his callousness. Suddenly Weststar seemed like a very small, unimportant thing.


"What if I told you there was something I wanted more than that stock, Sue Ellen?"


"I wouldn't believe you, JR."


"Well, darlin' that's too bad. Because I want you. I want you back in my bed, back in my life. I want it to be like it was before I made that awful decision to sleep with Kimberly."


"No, JR," Sue Ellen whispered.


"Yes, Sue Ellen," JR said lowly. "You're what I want. I won't let you go."


"It's too late, JR," Sue Ellen told him.


"As long as I draw breath, it'll never be too late. I'm a fighter, Sue Ellen. I'm going to fight like hell for you."


JR bent to place a soft kiss on her forehead. "Eat something," he ordered softly, "I'll see you later this afternoon."


***

 

[Justine]

Wow, I wonder who it is and if Sue Ellen is really the one they want to scare. Also, let me say I love Lucy in every scene, she's written hilariously

 

[CeeCee72]

One of my all-time favorite scenes in Dallas is when Lucy gives Sue Ellen a hard time about her aim for not killing JR when she shot him after Nicholas fell off the balcony.

 

[CeeCee72]

I don't own any of the characters in this story and no copyright infringement is intended..


This is a "What if?" fanfic. What if in the season eleven episode "Top Gun" Sue Ellen had changed her mind at the last possible moment and instead of teaming up with Kimberly and Wendell to beat JR she voted her Weststar shares to make him CEO?


***


What If


Part 11



×××


"Cryder and Wendell were having dinner together at the Cattleman's Club at the time the call was made. We can cross them off the list," McSween informed JR.


JR leaned back in his chair and leveled his gaze on the other man, "don't cross them off yet. If they're involved, they'd be paying someone else to do all the dirty work."


"Alright," Harry nodded. "Oswald Valentine is in LA. He's trying to get a new lingerie business off the ground. He's not too bright, JR. I can't see him masterminding a plot like this one."


"Agreed," JR nodded. "I don't think we should worry with him."


"Mandy Winger is back in Dallas," Harry informed him. "She's shooting a commercial for a new wine company."


JR's face broke into a dark grimace, "she have an alibi for last night?"


"No," McSween sighed. "Claims she was home alone."


"Check her phone records?" JR demanded.


"Waiting on them now. I still haven't gotten the phone logs from Southfork. Maybe you could make a call to my captain to hurry things up?"


"Yes," JR nodded. "Anything on Pearce?"


"Afraid not," McSween sighed. "He isn't home. Doesn't look like he's been there for days. His boss said he took a leave of absence, but there's no record of him being on any commercial flight."


"Keep on it, Harry," JR barked. "I want to know exactly where that man is and what he's up to."


"I will, JR." Harry promised. "Still nothing on Wentworth. It's like she vanished into thin air; but there is one other thing - about the rig explosion."


JR raised his eyebrows in a silent question.


"Well, you know it's not my case, but I managed to get a peak at the autopsy reports."


"And?"


"Looks like one of the dead guys was carrying the device, JR. That's why they couldn't find the source of the explosion, it blew up with him."


"You're sure?"


"Pretty sure, JR. The other two bodies were badly burned but intact. This guy was missing half his parts."


"Any connection between the explosion and what's going on at Southfork?"


"Not that I can find," McSween shook his head.


"Alright, thanks Harry," JR stood up and extended his hand, letting the detective know the meeting was over.


"Sure, JR. Don't forget to call my captain about those phone logs."


"I'll get right on it," JR promised.


JR waited until Harry was out of his office and then pressed the intercom button on his phone. "Sly," he barked, "get Captain Clarke on the phone for me. And cancel my afternoon appointments. I'm going to be out of the office for a while."


***


"It was so thoughtful of you to come visit me," Sue Ellen smiled, "I really and glad for the company."


"Well, I know the past week or so has been rough for you," April said. "I thought you could use a friendly non-Ewing face."


"You're right about that," Sue Ellen laughed. "You know, April, this house is huge, but I still feel so trapped."


"Hopefully they'll figure all this out soon and catch whoever has been doing all those awful things."


"Yes, I hope so too," Sue Ellen sighed. "I can't leave Southfork until this is over and as long as I stay here JR has grounds to fight the divorce."


"So, you're still planning to go through with it?"


"Yes," Sue Ellen said sadly. "I...I love him so much, April. I'll love him until the day I die. But staying with him will slowly kill me. He loves me, but the only time he really wants me is when he can't have me."


"I'm so sorry, Sue Ellen," April sighed.


"Excuse me, Mrs. Ewing," Raoul interrupted. "There's a delivery for you."


"I'm not expecting anything…"


"I'll handle it," Bobby said, suddenly appearing in the room. "Where is it, Raoul?"


"In the kitchen, Sir."


They all followed Raoul into the kitchen. Bobby carefully approached the decorative gift box on the counter. He slowly unwrapped the bow and gingerly removed the top of the box.


"Don't worry, Bobby," Sue Ellen sighed with relief when she saw what was in the box, "those are from JR."


"How do you know?" Bobby asked.


"He always sends me yellow roses when he needs to apologize to me for something."


"Someone else might know that, Sue Ellen," Bobby told her. "I need to be sure."


Bobby lifted the flowers carefully out of the box and inspected them. "Looks safe," he said, holding the card up to the light to examine it before handing it over to Sue Ellen. "Guess you're right," Bobby said. He turned his attention to April for the first time. "Hello, April," he said. "It's nice to see you again."


"Nice to see you too," April smiled and blushed slightly. "I'd ask how you've been, but with everything going on lately, I guess the answer is obvious."


"Yes," Bobby sighed. "Way too much excitement around here these days."


Sue Ellen watched the exchange between her friend and her brother-in-law with piqued curiosity. Was there something going on between them?


April seemed to be aware that Sue Ellen was watching her. "Aren't you going to read the card?" she asked, hoping to distract the other woman.


Sue Ellen sighed and opened the envelope. "I'm sure it's just empty words of regret…" Sue Ellen went pale and the card and envelope slipped through her fingers and fell to the ground.


"Sue Ellen! What is it?" Bobby reached out and grabbed his sister-in-law by the shoulders. She was ghost-white and looked as if she might pass out.


"Oh, my God!" April cried out when she bent to pick up the card Sue Ellen had dropped on the ground. "Bobby…" she handed the card to him.


"Find Clayton and Ray," he ordered Raoul. "Tell Ray to get JR on the phone and to tell him to get home right now."


"Take her upstairs," Bobby told April, nodding at Sue Ellen. "Get the boys out of the playroom. Get Lucy to help you."


"Of course, Bobby," April nodded. "Come on Sue Ellen," she put her arms around the other woman and gently led her from the room.


"What the hell, Bob?" Ray and Clayton burst into the kitchen. "Raoul said it was an emergency!"


Bobby handed Ray the card. "Someone sent Sue Ellen a dozen yellow roses and a message."


Ray's eyes grew wide as he examined the paper. It was a picture of Su Ellen, Lucy, Christopher, and John Ross sitting around a table in the playroom playing Monopoly. There was a huge red X drawn over Sue Ellen's face and a smaller black X in the center of her forehead.


"That picture was taken yesterday," Bobby said solemnly. "I recognize Christopher's shirt. And it looks like it was taken from right outside the room."


***


"JR! What a wonderful surprise!"


JR removed his Stetson and nodded his head, "May I come in?"


"Of course!"


JR walked into the room and waited for her to shut the door.


"Can I fix you something to drink?"


"No, I.won't be staying long," JR answered. "You're looking well, Mandy."


"Well thank you, JR," Mandy beamed. "I guess Hollywood agrees with me."


"How long have you been back in Dallas?"


"A couple of weeks," she said. "Long enough to hear the rumors about you and Sue Ellen."


"What rumors?" he asked, his face expressionless


"That you moved out of Southfork and filed for a divorce," Many smiled. "If you ask me, it was a long time coming. I don't know how you put up with that manipulative bitch as long as you did."


JR's eyes narrowed to dangerous, glittering slits."I'm still living at Southfork," he informed her harshly. "And Sue Ellen is still my wife. I've always had a soft spot for you, Mandy, but don't make the mistake of thinking I'll stand here and let you disrespect the mother of my son."


"So the two of you aren't divorcing?" Mandy's voice sounded disappointed.


"Not if I have anything to say about it," JR growled.


"Then what are you doing here? Why seek me out if you're still happily attached to your wife?"


"There's been some trouble at Southfork," JR said. "Someone has been terrorizing Sue Ellen. When I heard you were back in town...well, let's just say if anyone has a motive to hurt my wife, it's you."


Mandy let out a bitter laugh. "I wondered why that detective came by this morning asking me all those questions. Listen, JR, I HATE Sue Ellen. But, I wouldn't do anything to threaten her."


"Why is that?"


Mandy looked up at him with wide eyes. "Because I still love you, JR. I still believe that you love me. Eventually, you'll get tired of being tied down to Sue Ellen and you'll come back to me. I'm just waiting it out, JR. But, I wouldn't hurt Sue Ellen because I know you would never forgive me for that. As much as I detest her, I know she'll always be John Ross's mother."


JR took a deep breath and put his Stetson back on his head. "I don't love you, Mandy. I love my wife. You need to move on and find someone else."


"I don't believe you, JR," Mandy said softly.


"I feel sorry for you then," JR said moving, to the door. "There have been many lovers in my life, Mandy, but there's only one woman I ever truly loved, and that's Sue Ellen."


"JR…"


"Finish your commercial and get out of Dallas," JR told her. "And stay away from my family."


***


"I can't believe this!" Ray pounded his fist on the wall. "How in the hell could someone get close enough to the house to get this picture?"


"The playroom is on the second floor," McSween sighed. "Had to be a high powered lens."


"That kind of camera is pretty high tech stuff, Harry," Bobby said.


"I don't know anything about cameras, Bobby. I'll have to call in some experts, but I'm pretty sure whoever took that picture has to be close by- very close by."


"Do whatever you have to do, Harry," Bobby told him.


"No luck finding JR," Clayton informed them. ""His secretary said he cancelled all of his afternoon appointments and left the office without telling her where he was going."


"Jack ass," Ray muttered. "What's our next move? Should we get Sue Ellen and the kids off Southfork?"


"I don't know, Ray," McSween said. "It's probably something that should be seriously considered."


"You just said whoever is watching has to be very close by!" Clayton said, "I don't think we have any choice but to move Sue Ellen and the boys. Maybe the rest of our women too."


"We can't decide anything until we find JR," Bobby signed. "But I want this ranch searched top to bottom, corner to corner. If whoever took that picture is still around, I want them found."


***


"Hello, everyone," JR said as he breezed into the living room, "glad to see you're all here, I have some good news."


"Where've you been JR," Ray practically spat at him. "We've been trying to find you all day."


"I went to check out a few leads and I managed to eliminate some suspects…" JR's voice trailed off as he slowly became aware of the thick tension in the room, "what happened?"


"THIS happened, JR," Bobby growled, tossing the picture of Sue Ellen on the bar in front of him. "Someone sent this to Sue Ellen with a dozen yellow roses."


JR felt a wave of fear wash over him. "Where is she?"


"Upstairs with Lucy, Mama, and the boys. She's okay for now, JR. But I think we might want to consider moving her off Southfork."


"This picture...damn Bob…" JR's voice shook, "this was yesterday."


"Yeah," Bobby confirmed. "Camera expert says it was taken from about 300 yards from the house."


"Where were you, JR?" Ray demanded again. "What kind of man takes off with no way to find him when he knows his wife is in danger?"


"Now, just a minute, Ray," JR warned, "I was out trying to find out who is responsible."


"And what did you find, my love?"


JR turned his head at the sound of Sue Ellen's voice. She was standing in the foyer just outside the living room with Miss Ellie. She looked so fragile, so tired.


"Sue Ellen," JR said softly. "You should be upstairs with the boys."


"Oh, no, JR. I want to hear what you have to say. I needed you today. I called the office over and over. Sly had no idea where you'd gone. If you were out playing detective, I think I have a right to know what you found out."


"Listen, Sue Ellen…"


"Where were you, JR?" Sue Ellen demanded. "And don't you dare lie to me."


"I went to see Mandy Winger," he said flatly.


"Mandy? Miss trash with class is back in Dallas?" Sue Ellen said with mock sweetness. "How wonderfully convenient for you, JR. Just when you're about to be rid of me for good, your favorite mistress rolls back into town."


"Now hold on, Sue Ellen," JR looked uncomfortable. He didn't want to have this conversation in front of the entire family.


"Tell me, JR," Sue Ellen goaded him, "how many times did she see you order yellow roses for me to placate me for not coming home after spending the night in her bed."


"Sue Ellen, Mandy doesn't have anything to do with what's been happening here. The only reason I went to see her was to rule her out as a suspect and I did."


"Really, JR? That's the only reason you went to see her? And that took all day?"


"No," JR answered. "After I left Mandy's I went somewhere else."


"Where, JR? Please enlighten us. Where did you go? Where were you when I needed you, JR?"


"Sue Ellen, I think it would be best for us to talk about this in private…"


"No, JR," Sue Ellen spat. "I want everyone to know where my loving husband spent his afternoon."


"Fine, then. We'll wash all of our dirty laundry right out here in front of everyone if that's what you want. I went to see your lover Sue Ellen."


"What?" Sue Ellen gasped out, shocked.


"You heard me," JR snapped. "I spent the afternoon with Nicholas Pearce."


***