Tears of Crimson

Faith kisses the top of Mort’s head. “I will be here first thing tomorrow morning. Get some rest,” she whispers to the sleepy Mort.

“I will miss you.”

“I will miss you, too.” Mort’s eyes grow heavy and he drifts into a dress sss slumber.

Faith is escorted out of the building. While Faith had rested beside Mort night had fell. The sky is clear and the stars are bright. Everything appears different to her now. Faith sighs happily as she walks to her car. She hops in and drives home.

Twenty minutes later she is peacefully sleeping while visions of Mort dance through her head.

*

Faith awakes to the bright, warm sunstrokes flowing through the balcony window. They softly caress hece. ce. Faith smiles. Never has she appreciated the sun as much as she does now.

The ring of her hotel phone disturbs her thoughts. “Hello?” Faith answers.

“Hello, Ms. Walsh. This is Dr. Ghent, Mr. Rainey’s doctor. Whenever you are ready, Mort is set to go home.” Faith smiles.

“Thank you, Doctor. You’ve just made my day.”

“Your welcome.” Faith can hear the smile in his voice.

“I will be there in ten minutes. Buh-bye.” She hurriedly hangs up the phone and jumps out of bed. She throws on sweats, a tank top and flops and runs out of the door. She reaches the elevator and laughs at herself. She runs back into her room and grabs her keys.

Ten minutes later she is running up the stairwell with a fat policeman trying to keep up. Not caring about her weeble-wobble escort, she rushes into Mort’s room. He smiles at her.

“Hi Mort!” She says rather loudly.

“Hi.” Mort smiles. “A little anxious are we?”

“How did you know?” Faith laughs.

“Nice hair, Sweetie.”

“You are one to talk, Mr. Rainey. Look at that mop. When is the last time that was combed?”

“You are forgetting one little detail…”

“And what detail is that?”

“My head has been wrapped in gauze for two days.” Mort chuckles.

“So, are you ready spaghetti?”

“Spaghetti?” Mort gives her a quizzical look.

“Yep, that’s right. Well, are you?”

“Ready for what?”

“To go home, silly.” Mort looks at her strangely. “The doctor didn’t tell you?”

“I guess not.”

“You can go home today!” Mort does not seem to be very enthusiastic. “Now try to contain your excitement there, Mort.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I just don’t know if I really want to go back home. Wherever home may be.”

“Why? It will help you remember.”

“Nothing kills your excitement does it?” Mort smiles at her admiringly.

“Nope! Now get your lazy butt out of bed and into this wheelchair!”

“I was wondering what that was for.” Mort says as he slowly gets out of the bed. “I thought maybe they were going to take me for a walk today.” He softly laughs at his own joke. Faith smiles.

“Um, Mort?”

“Yes?” His voice is strained from the effort of pulling himself into a standing position.

“Don’t you want to put on some underwear?” Faith stifles a laugh as his backside is fully exposed. Mort blushes. “Although, you do have a very nice fanny.”

“Thank you.” He laughs. “I don’t have any underwear to put on.”

“Looks like you are going home bare-ass.”

“I guess so.” Faith laughs as she stares at his toned back. “Like what you see, darling?” Faith’s cheeks turn crimson.

“No need to be smug, Mort. I was just inspecting.”

“Oh, that’s what they call it now?” Faith lightly slaps him on the arm as he finally sits down in the chair. “I’m ready spaghetti.” Faith laughs softly. She begins to push him out of the room.

“How am I supposed to get you out of here without an elevator?”

“Well, you could carry me.” Mort looks up at her with innocent eyes.

“Oh, no. You are no damsel in distress, Mister.” Faith looks around for a police officer. “Do you feel up to walking?”

“I would love to. But, there is just one itty-bitty problem.” Faith looks at him questioningly. “I don’t have any underwear.” Faith laughs.

“Sorry, babe, it looks like your bum is going to be putting on a show.” If looks could kill, Faith would be dead right now. “On second thought, let me check with a nurse to see if they have any.” Faith walks up to a nurse pushing a cart of food. “Excuse me, Ma’am? Do you have any underwear?” The nurse gives her a dirty look. “For Morton Rainey, I mean. He is wearing one of those hospital gowns and he is set to go home.” The nurse nods her understanding.

“What size?” Faith looks at her in panic. “Never mind, I’ll guess.” Faith sighs in relief.

She walks back up to Mort who is patiently waiting in the middle of the hallway. “Do you think that you could’ve parked me somewhere else?” Faith laughs at his distraught look. “Some old hag tried groping me when I was attempting to stand up.”

“Sorry, Mort,” she says while laughing.

“Did I ever tell you that I love to hear you laugh?”

Faith stops laughing. “No,” she responds softly.

“Well, I do.”

The nurse with the underwear interrupts their gaze. “I brought large. It is just a ballpark figure.”

“Well, you just hit a homerun.” Mort smiles at the aging nurse.

“Would you please inform Dr. Ghent that Mort is leaving?” Faith asks politely.

“Of course,” she responds with matching politeness. She directs her gaze towards Mort. “Oh, how silly of me to forget, I also brought you some scrubs and your belongings.”

“Thank you,” Mort says.

“I hope you feel better, Mr. Rainey.” The nurse smiles as she hands Faith his belongings.

“Thank you very much, Ms. Turner,” they reply in unison.

Faith pushes Mort towards the nearest restroom.

“Enjoy your tighty whiteys.” Faith says while helping Mort up and into the bathroom.

“I sure will.”

Faith patiently waits while he changes into his underwear and scrubs. He slowly emerges. “How do I look?” he asks.

“Wonderful. Now let’s go, Mr. Charming.” Mort grabs Faith’s hand sending chills up her spine. She helps him down the stairs. “How is your neck?”

“Better. It still hurts a little. I have a bit of a headache, though.”

“I’ll give you some aspirin when we get to the hotel.”

“Thank you,” Mort replies softly. They fall into an awkward silence. “You’re still staying at the hotel?” He attempts to break the silence.

“Yes.”

“Well, I was thinking while you were getting me some underwear.”

“Thinking about what?”

“Well, seeing as how you are staying at a hotel and I need someone to take care of me…” he pauses. “Would you like to stay with me for a little while?”

Faith is suspicious of his reasoning. “Is that really the reason why you want me to stay with you?”

“Maybe.”

“Tell me the real reason, Mort.”

They reach Faith’s car. “I just…you are the only one I know. You are the only one that stood by me when I lost my memory. I don’t want to lose you.”

“Mort, just because you are going home doesn’t mean that I am out of your life forever.”

“I know. But, just in case.” Faith looks at him unbelievingly. “Okay, okay. I’m scared.”

“Scared of what?”

“I’m scared that I might remember things while you are gone.”

“What kind of things?”

“Like maybe I have a girlfriend or a wife or kids. If they exist and I see them I might lose feelings for you. Or I might lose you altogether. I don’t want that to happen.”

“For your sake, I hope you don’t have any of those.”

“Why for my sake?”

“Because if you do have them than they aren’t very good family members. They didn’t even pay a visit while you were in the hospital!”

“Maybe they went on vacation?”

“Well, let’s pray that you don’t okay?”

“Okay.”

“I’m still scared.” Faith laughs at him. He smiles. “Why are you laughing?”

“Because you are so cute.”

“Oh.” There is a moment of silence.

A look of remembrance comes about Faith’s face. “Yes.”

“Yes what?”

“Yes I will stay with you.”

Mort’s smile grows. “Thank you!”

“By the way, I’m scared too.” Mort looks over at her. He grabs her hand.

“No matter what, Faith, I am here and I’m not going anywhere.” Faith smiles.

“I’m falling hard, Mort.” Faith says meekly.

Mort look her her lovingly. “I’ve already hit ground, Faith.”


A/N: And that’s all for now folks! Sorry for that little ‘Night before Christmas’ thingy. That’s just the way it came out and I thought it was kind of cute. Hope you like my story so far. I want to thank my reviewers. You guys are awesome. Really you are. I forgot to thank yast ast chapter. Anyway, I want to ask you a question. A favorite author of mine, Captain Crimson, asked this question on one of her stories and it got me curious. Who are your favorite Johnny Depp characters and what are your favorite Johnny Depp quotes? Thanks to Captain Crimson for the idea. I hope you don’t yell at me. Hee hee.

Peace, love and cookies!