Now, I read through the nominations list today and I see that I got enough votes to be on the nominations list. Well, I've never been nominated before... ever... so I'm both honored and flattered.
Best Supporting Portayal of Isabel Evans
Have fun reading. I hope the next part will come sooner
Part 21
"Hello… Isabel James", Isabel said, answering the phone on the first ring, which was more or less normal for Isabel when she was at work.
"Iz… it's Tess. I need to talk to you", Tess whispered on the other end of the phone.
"You are talking to me… and you sound a little strange. You are still in bed, right?", Isabel asked cocking her eyebrows.
"Well… not exactly. I'm kinda calling from the restroom", Tess said, a small amount of panic evident in her voice
"Okay Tess, please… don't ever call me from there again", Isabel said, a little disgusted at the idea of calling with someone on the restroom.
"I have to. It's the only place I can go where Kyle can't hear me", she whispered
"Already so much trouble in paradise that you had to go into hiding?", Isabel laughed, amused at the situation, "So what happened?"
"He said he loved me… and I don't think I handled it that well", Tess said.
"He said what?!", Isabel shouted and then glanced around the office. Nobody seemed to have heard her. “What’d you say?", Isabel whispered, intrigued now
"Well… surprisingly little. Someone interrupted us and I've been avoiding the subject after that", Tess explained, "What the hell am I gonna do?!"
"Okay… so do you love him?", Isabel asked
"I don't know Iz… I mean I really really like him and maybe I do love him… but I'm so not ready for this", Tess said in a panic.
"Okay okay, I'll come by at the end of the afternoon", Isabel said, her voice betraying the fact that she found the situation rather funny.
"Do you think this is funny or something?", Tess shrieked
"Well… yeah!", Isabel admitted
"Well it's not! If I say something stupid, I'll ruin everything", Tess sighed
"Oh no! If only you had some control over what you say…", Isabel laughed and she didn't have to see Tess to visualize the scowl that would undoubtedly be on her face, "…but okay, I'll stop by this afternoon"
"Okay, thanks Iz… I'll see you later", Tess whispered, disconnecting the call and tucking the phone in her pocket. When she opened the restroom door, she looked right in the eye of Michelle; the nurse who accompanied her there.
"So… had an important call to make?", she smirked.
"Uh... what do you mean?", Tess said innocently
Michelle smiled widely at her again and then decided to drop the subject. "Not a thing. Anyway, I heard one of your friends is going to a wedding with Max Evans"
Tess smiled. "Yeah, I actually heard that… she told me like, four times in the half hour she was with me", she said
"And I also heard that Michael Guerin is dating one of your friends too… you know, your friends are taking away all the gorgeous guys from here", Michelle exclaimed
"Aaaaw, that must be so hard on you", Tess mocked
"Shut up", Michelle exclaimed in a friendly tone
"What? I'm just saying!", Tess said with a smile
~~
"Uh… is anybody here?", Alex loudly queried as he peered through the large double doors into Nasedo’s workplace. Alex had knocked but nobody answered.
“What?!”, a skinny middle-aged man said in an annoyed tone as he jumped in front of the double doors, startling Alex.
“I’m Alex… I … have an appointment with Nasedo”, Alex said cautiously, obviously taken aback by the man’s offensive attitude.
“Nasedo, I am”, the man said as he opened the double doors widely, allowing Alex to step inside, which he quickly did. “Your problem, you will tell me”, he said
“You know, I think you’ve seen Star Wars one too many times”, Alex joked but by the look of his expression, Nasedo didn’t seem to appreciate the joke. Alex then took the damaged painting out of the bag he was holding and showed it to Nasedo.
Upon seeing the painting, Nasedo held his hands over his heart as if he was having a heart-attack. “Holy Yoda!”, he said loudly before grabbing the painting from Alex and examined it closely.
“Is it fixable?”, Alex cautiously asked after a few seconds
“Of course! You didn’t come to me because I’m such a charming person”, Nasedo said with a small smile
“You’re right about that”, Alex said very softly
“I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that. Come back in an hour!”, he said and rudely waved his hands towards the door, making it very clear that he wanted Alex to leave.
“An hour? You can fix that in an hour?”, Alex said
Nasedo looked at him sternly. “Why are you still here?”, Nasedo asked
~~
"So whatcha watching?", Kyle asked Tess. Tess was sitting on her bed with the laptop on her lap, but instead of typing, she was intently staring at the screen.
Tess didn't reply and stared at the screen as if the great mysteries of the universe were described there.
"Tess?", Kyle asked again
"Gilmore Girls. This is a good one", Tess said quickly, not taking the time to look away from the screen.
"Hmmm, I saw you more as an Alias kind of girl", Kyle commented
"That's boring", Tess commented, again without tearing her eyes away from the screen.
"You're calling an undercover CIA agent who saves the world boring and two women who talk too much is exciting?", Kyle asked in a confused voice
Tess pushed a button on her laptop to pause the movie en turned her head towards Kyle. "No, I'm saying that real women who deal with real problems are more interesting than some mentally disturbed girl who flies from one location to another to kill people… not to mention the fact that the plot that is so far-fetched it makes Star Wars seem like a true story", Tess countered
"Far-fetched?!", Kyle said indignantly
"Don't tell me you're an Alias fan", Tess said, raising her eyebrows
"Well… I wouldn't say fan…", Kyle stammered
"You just watch three episodes every night before you go to bed", Tess stated
"No!… more like two", Kyle said softly
Tess laughed at his expression. "Kyle, you have to be the most transparent guy I ever met", she laughed
"Is that a good thing?", Kyle asked, looking at Tess expectantly
Tess gave herself a mental slap. She could almost feel it sting. She had tried so hard to avoid these kind of topics. "Yeah, I guess it is", she admitted
"You… guess… it is?", Kyle asked, tilting his head and smiling at her
"Uh-huh, now be quiet and let me continue watching two women who talk too much", Tess said before quickly turning back towards the laptop.
At that moment, dr Max Evans walked into the room. "Good afternoon", he said cheerfully
"Mornin", Tess said, her gaze focussed on the laptop
"Yeah, mornin…", Kyle added
"Let me guess…”, Max said with a smile on his face, “… Gilmore Girls?”
Tess looked away from the screen at Max. “You know, Liz talks way too much”, she said
“She also mentioned your favorite movie”, Max said, barely able to keep from laughing. He wasn’t doing a very good job at hiding it however.
“Don’t you dare say it!”, Tess said sharply
“Oh come on! Now I wanna know”, Kyle complained
“Yeah, he wants to know”, Max said with a big smile
“You know, I can tell you a thing or two about Liz that she doesn’t want you to know”, Tess said, eager to get back at Liz
“Oh… like what?”, Max said, suddenly very interested
“Don’t change the subject, Tess”, Kyle interrupted, “… if it makes you feel any better, my favorite movie is American Pie. It can’t get much worse than that”
“Oh my God!”, Max said loudly before laughing his ass off
“I should really learn to keep my mouth shut”, Kyle mumbled
“Oh, don’t sweat it Kyle; Tess here likes Legally Blonde… see, it actually can be worse”, Max said, still laughing
“Are you always ridiculing your patients like this…?”, Tess asked
“… because that would explain all the empty beds”, Kyle added
Max took a few seconds to stop laughing and then regained his composure. “Sorry… I’m just… I don’t know, I’ve been like this all day”, Max admitted
“And does this overly cheerful and secret-spilling mood have something to do with a girl you suckered into going to a wedding with you?”, Tess asked
“Suckered?!... Well, I have to admit I’m a little nervous”, Max said
“A little? You’re like Santa on crack”, Tess added
“You don’t think Liz is gonna notice, do you?”, Max asked nervously
“Probably”, Tess said with a big smile, “I mean, you didn’t seriously expect me to say that she wouldn’t notice this lalala-attitude, did you?”
“Oh Jesus”, Max softly cursed before walking out of the ward, bumping into Isabel as he left the room. He gave her a quick smile and then scampered off
“You don’t really think she’s gonna notice, do you?”, Kyle whispered to Tess
“Are you kidding? Liz is completely blind when she’s got the hots for someone… which, by the way, kind of explains how she ended up with Brad before”, Tess said with a big smile
“Then why did you tell him…. never mind, I got it”, Kyle quickly figured
“Hello children!", Isabel said cheerfully as she walked into the ward
“Oh my God, I think the lalala-attitude is contagious”, Kyle whispered to Tess
“Okay… me and Iz are going for a walk”, Tess quickly said to Kyle
“What?!”, Kyle shot out
Isabel smiled. “She meant that she’s gonna sit in a wheelchair and I’m gonna walk… on a side note, I don’t think I got the better end of the deal there”, she explained
“Oh… well why don’t you pick up something decent to eat downstairs then; this hospital food is making me sick… which is funny considering it’s their job to make me feel better”, Kyle ranted
“Yeah, I kinda have to agree with him there”, Tess said to Isabel
“Fine, we’ll pick something up”, Isabel said as she rolled a wheelchair from the corner of the room towards Tess bed and helped her in it.
“See you later honey, don’t wait up”, Isabel said loudly as she and Tess walked out of the room.
Neither one of them saw Peter Jackson standing around the corner, watching the two of them leave. “This is almost too easy”, he whispered with a small smile. He then walked towards Kyle’s room and cautiously peeked inside the room and saw Kyle lying in bed; trying to get to sleep.
“Can I help you with something?”, a male voice suddenly sounded behind him. He looked back and saw Michael standing right behind him
“I’m just here to visit someone”, Jackson replied
“Sorry man, but you’re gonna have to come back during visiting hours”, Michael said sternly
“Oh come on, I’m here now. Can’t you make an exception”, Jackson tried
“Sorry, but the patients need their rest. We didn’t come up with the whole visiting-hours thing just to annoy people”, Michael explained
“Okay, I’m gonna go then”, Jackson said, silently cursing. “Thanks anyway”, he added through gritted teeth but with a small fake smile on his face
When he left, Michael peeked into the ward he saw Jackson peek in. He just saw Kyle; sleeping. He then shrugged and walked three rooms ahead where he was due to visit one of his own patients.
~~
“Oh my God”, Alex said, looking at the painting with wide eyes.
It had been an hour later, down to the minute, that Alex knocked on Nasedo’s door. Nasedo appreciated the punctuality and let Alex in to show him what he did to the painting. It was amazing; he fixed the canvas so well that Alex couldn’t even see the cuts and holes anymore unless he looked very, very closely
“How did you… how did you…”, Alex stammered. He had expected some small touch-ups but he never expected the painting to look as new
“Tell you, I will not”, Nasedo replied, “Ava, I did not even tell”
“Well whatever… what do I owe you?”, Alex said with a big smile on his face
Nasedo shrugged. “Fifty dollars”, he said
“Fifty bucks?!”, Alex replied, “…no wonder you’re not a millionaire”
Nasedo smiled at the comment and took the fifty dollars that Alex handed to him. Alex in turn picked up the painting and put it in the protective bag he had with him.
“Well, it was a real pleasure doing business with you, sir”, Alex said unable to keep the smile from his face as he pictured Isabel’s expression when she saw it.
“Likewise. Now, out you go. Work, I have”, he said as he guided Alex outside and closed the door behind him.
“Weird guy… brilliant… but weird”, Alex muttered
~~
At Liz’ place, Liz was shifting through her wardrobe as Maria sat on the bed, looking at Liz with a smile on her face.
“Too depressing… too cold… too slutty… not slutty enough…”, Liz said as she found something wrong with each and every outfit that she had.
“How about that one?”, Maria said as she pointed towards a classy purple-colored dress.
“Yeah, I wore that dress on my first real date with Brad”, Liz said with a sorry expression, “It’s too bad though because the dress really is perfect”
“Are you going to blame the dress for your failed marriage?”, Maria asked, raising an eyebrow
“No, but I think it’s a little weird to wear the same dress now”, Liz replied
“I disagree but if it bothers you... why don’t you try the pinkish one?”, Maria tried
“Maria, no way on earth am I gonna wear that to a wedding!”, Liz sharply replied
“Liz, you’re impossible”, Maria sighed
“This one!”, Liz said excitedly as she pulled a long navy-blue dress out of the closet.
“Isn’t that the dress that…”, Maria started
“…that you tried to pull out of my hands when we went shopping together. Yes”, Liz finished
“No way, I clearly saw the dress first and you just grabbed it right in front of my eyes”, Maria squealed, “…but I think it’s perfect for tonight”
“Good. We both agree”, Liz said, satisfied with her choice.
“I still say the dress should have been mine though”, Maria clarified
“Of course you do”, Liz replied with a smile, “…so what are you gonna wear tonight?”
“What? What’s wrong with what I have on now?”, Maria asked with a puzzled expression
Liz looked Maria up and down. She looked good, as Maria usually did, but the short light-blue T-shirt, the dark blue jeans and black Nikes weren’t exactly dating material. “Maria, it’s not that you don’t look great… but if I have to dress up, so do you”, she said with a smile
“But I like these clothes”, Maria objected
“Maria, how many times did a guy cook dinner for you?”, Liz asked
“Are you trying to depress me?”, Maria asked
“No, I’m just saying; this could be the night”, Liz said excitedly, “Okay, first we need to decide on lingerie”
“Whoa whoa slow down, or better yet, stop completely!”, Maria shouted, “He’s cooking me dinner, it’s not like we’re gonna be doing it right after. Just cut it out, Liz!”
“Sorry”, Liz said softly
“And besides, are you sure you’re not just projecting on me what you want to do to that cute Evans guy?”, Maria countered
“That is so not true. He’s nice and all but I barely know him and I’m not exactly looking for a new husband on the same day I divorced my old one”, Liz said
“Who said anything about marrying? I know what you want; I can see it in your eyes”, Maria said knowingly, “You want Max Evans’ arms wrapped around you. You want him to undress you and you want him to look you in the eyes when he…”
“Stop! Please”, Liz yelled as her cheeks already started to get red, “Okay, you proved your point. But I do have some self-restraint”
“If you say so”, Maria laughed
~~
“Okay, I have to tell him something”, Tess said to Isabel as the two of them sat outside in the sun; Tess in her wheelchair and Isabel on a bench beside her
“It looked like you were doing great”, Isabel said
“Yeah, we are. He’s really great and he’s not pushing me or anything… but every once in awhile, he gives me one of those looks”, Tess said
“You mean a ‘God, you’re beautiful’-look”, Isabel asked
“More a ‘Please tell me you love me too’-look”, Tess clarified
“Then why don’t you just tell him you’re not ready to say all those things yet? If he’s really such a great guy he’ll understand”, Isabel said
“I don’t know”, Tess said with a sigh, “What if I hurt his feelings?”
“Are you sure it’s not because a part of you wants to tell him that you love him too?”, Isabel queries
“Stop watching so much dr Phil, Isabel”, Tess joked
“Tess, just be honest. You’re in love with him too, aren’t you?”, Isabel asked expectantly
“How can I be in love with him; I just met him”, Tess said
“Time means nothing, Tess. When it’s right, you can just feel it. I have the same thing with Alex”, Isabel admitted
“You mean you’re in love with Alex?!”, Tess squealed
“Well… I think so. But we’re talking about you now. If you think you love him why don’t you tell him? It’s obviously what you really want”
“Are you gonna tell Alex that you’re in love with him?”, Tess asked in return
“God no. I don’t wanna scare him away”, Isabel said wide-eyed
“It’s really been a crazy couple of days; me and Kyle, you and Alex, Liz and dr Evans, Maria and dr Guerin… maybe it’s destiny”, Tess suggested
“Maybe”, Isabel said with a smile
“So how do I tell him?”, Tess said softly
Isabel smiled. “I’m sure you can figure that out by yourself. You got plenty of alone-time together… why don’t you let him read what you wrote?”, Isabel suggested
“But, if he reads that…”, Tess started
“…he’ll know exactly how you feel. He’ll see the real you”, Isabel said
“Oh boy, I think I’m gonna faint”, Tess said softly
TBC
He's really going to keep Michael on his toes!
. That’s all the spoilers I’m gonna give. You’re all too good at guessing anyway.