A Friend in Need

By Marilyn and Atonia




Toni & Richie
“Richie put your pants on I just got a call from Jim Braddock, Ivy’s husband they’re at the boarding house and Ivy’s sick.” Toni ran a brush through her hair and looked for a jacket
“What happened?” Richie pulled on his trekkies
“I don’t know, she got sick on the plane that’s all he would say. I hate this, she was so excited about coming, and Jim’s all upset. Are you ready?”
“Shoes, have to tie my shoes.”
Richie parked in the car park and took Toni's hand as they went inside the boarding house.

Ivy & Jim
Hearing footsteps in the hallway Jim opened the door as Toni and Richie approached, concern written all over his face.  Ivy was where Jim placed her on the bed, looking pale. Hearing people come in she raised her head from the pillow. Seeing Toni Ivy burst into tears and buried her face back in the pillow. Jim sat beside her on the bed and rubbed her back to soothe her. "Ivy honey do you need anything" he whispered to her. "Ivy? Ivy honey your friend Toni is here."
Jim looked at Toni, not knowing what else to do. "How about I go downstairs and see if they have ginger ale and crackers? Toni could you stay with Ivy for me?" Toni could see it in his eyes. Jim Braddock was a man at a loss, he had no idea how to help his wife and he was asking for help. He gave her and Richie a nod as he left the room.

Toni & Richie
"Ivy honey what's wrong?" Toni went to the bed and sat down and gave her friend a hug. "Richie go in the bathroom and get me a wet cloth love. Now then what is it a bit of air sickness, tummy all turned upside down? Hey nothing can be that bad."
Richie brought a wrung out cloth and she placed in on Ivy's forehead. Ivy took the cloth and wiped her face with it only to start a fresh flow of tears.
"Now Ivy Braddock, you are here among friends, safe and sound and you've got your gorgeous husband all upset, you wanna tell me what's brought all this on?"
Richie feeling a little out of place found a chair and sat down, women in tears always made him feel helpless. He was thinking about Jim, he'd seen him box he was sure of it. Jim Braddock...yeah.

Ivy & Jim
Ivy breathed deeply trying desperately to calm her stomach, while letting the coolness of the cloth seep into her skin. Breathing deeply in and out trying to gain control over her tears. "Toni. Toni, I feel so awful. And Jim. Jim he's been so patient. I don't know what I'd do without him. " Ivy stopped talking as her head began to spin and a new wave of nausea came.
Jim returned bearing a glass of Ginger ale and some crackers. "She hasn't eaten since we left Jersey, and she didn't keep that down long" Jim said as he handed them to Toni. He bent down and kissed Ivy's forehead and whispered, "Baby I'm going to just be downstairs." He then turned to Toni, "if you need me for anything don't hesitate to call me."
As he turned to leave he saw Richie. "I gotta get the bags from downstairs," with a quick glance towards Ivy he went down the hall. 
 A slight smile came to Ivy's face as she slipped the cloth from her face and she looked at Toni.. "He is something isn't he?"

Toni & Richie
Richie got up and followed Jim figuring he might be a little more help in that direction.
"He is something Ivy, now he's brought you some crackers and soda, just take small sips until you can keep it down. There you go, I'd forgotten you've never flown before no wonder you're sick. Now a bit of this cracker. Richie's gone after Jim he'll be glad to have somebody from New Jersey to talk to it's not quite so easy for him yet everything is so different here.
Toni held the soda while Ivy nibbled on the crackers and thought she looked awfully pale and wondered if it might be more than air sickness.
"Do you think you might need a doctor Ivy?"

Ivy & Jim
Ivy looked at Toni wide eyed. "You don't think this is something more than travel sickness or a 24 hr bug? Do you? " Ivy turned her gaze to the cloth in her lap and bit her lip. " Jim and I never really talked about... well you know...kids. I do feel a little better now though. Maybe Jim was right maybe I did need to eat something. I'll tell you something though if I had any clue that flights were like that I never would have thought to come here. Toni I don't know how I am going to make it back. " Now that her stomach was somewhat calmed down Ivy began to feel exhausted. Her eyes began to close and she was struggling to stay awake.  "Toni do you think Jim is upset with me? I mean I have put him through so much already."

TONI
"Upset with you," said Toni wide eyed, "no honey, I think he's worried sick about you, he's probably feeling somewhat responsible for having bought the tickets. It is a long flight and it takes a lot out of you, I know it took us a few days to figure out what time it was. Well if you're not preggers Ivy then you should be up tomorrow, sorry but I did go there." Toni smiled and squeezed Ivy's arm.
"I know you just got here and all but Ivy I wish you and Jim could settle here...I know Jim's got his business but...Richie said it was wishful thinking and not to mention it. I'm sorry for rattling on you're tired and if you want to sleep go ahead I'll be right here."

IVY
"I just hope that Jimmy's not disappointed with me. This whole thing was my idea...I think he would have been happy to go to Cape May for our honeymoon."
Noticing she still had on the dress she was wearing when they left New Jersey. Ivy scanned the room. "Where are my PJs?" she asked quizzically.   "Oh right, Jimmy went to get the bags.  Toni can you help me outta this? I'm sorry but I just feel so tired." Ivy was beginning to sway a little as she attempted to sit up more to try and remove her dress.
Richie
Richie caught up with Jim at the top of the stairs, "Hey, I'm Richie Roberts by the way, Toni's...um..."
What was he exactly boyfriend? It was more than that..."thought you might need some help with the bags."
He shook hands with Jim prepared for a bone crusher from the boxer and was surprised at the firm but gentle handshake from the man.

"Sorry about Ivy, she's in good hands with Toni...can I buy you a beer?"

Jim
James Braddock, but you can call me Jim and a beer sounds great Richie."
  Jim Braddock had already looked Richie over when he had come over with Toni. He had already decided he liked Richie otherwise he never would have left Ivy in there. He had a hunch that Toni wasn't the only one he could trust.
 "So Ivy mentioned you are a former cop from Jersey? She didn't seem to know too much seems the girls will have a lot of catching up to do once Ivy feels better."
Jim was going to look for Steve to locate the bags. But saw them behind the front desk when he got there. So he followed Richie to the bar to find a table. Richie ordered the beers and brought them to the table and sat down across from Jim.
 "Richie, I just want to say thank you. I am grateful that you and Toni came this evening. I really just didn't know what else to do for Ivy."




Richie
"Hey no problem, least we could do after pulling you down under. Kinda nice to hear the accent again you know." Richie took a sip of his beer. "I've seen you before at the Garden, can't remember who it was you were fighting that night, it was a few years ago, yeah I was a cop then passed the bar and ended up a public defender. Funny all those years with the force I got shot on the court room steps, sorta took the starch out of me. I never thought I'd leave Jersey, but hey I'm likin' it here." Richie looked over his beer mug and decided he liked Jim Braddock, liked him a lot.

Jim
" I've been at the Garden a few times. Did  I make or break you that night?" Jim smiled, yes Richie was definitely one of the good ones from Jersey. "Never really saw myself this far from the Garden State. But Ivy really wanted to come. Just wish she could be enjoying it more. Going to be interesting trying to get her back on the plane. She really did have a rough time of it. Speaking of which do you think we should go back upstairs? "




Toni & Richie
"Sure hope she's feeling better Jim, hell of a way to start a honeymoon. I'll help with the bags and we'll get out of your hair give you guys some time alone. Hey I notice you don't have a vehicle outside....give me a call we'll find you one."
Richie followed Jim out to the desk and retrieved the bags.
Toni helped Ivy get out of her clothes and under the covers, "now you need a good night's sleep Ivy and you'll be right as rain tomorrow and quit worrying I'll bet Jim would have gone anywhere in the world to make you happy...so be happy girl! I'll call you in the morning and see how you are as soon as you feel like it we'd like to have you for dinner one night and I want you to see our house, I've put down roots here literally."
Toni turned when Jim and Ritchie came in with the bags, "looks like your pj's have arrived Ivy."“Okay we’re outta here,” said Richie, “Jim I meant what I said about the car and anything we can do for you guys let us know.” “Night Ivy and Jim, I’ll talk to you tomorrow,”  Toni waved and was ushered out the door by Richie.
 Jim sighed as he closed the door. It had been a long day. He decided that Toni and Richie were good people and he was pleased that was the case.  He was looking forward to the opportunity of spend more time with Richie. “It’s a small world Baby. We fly half way around the world and I become friends with a guy from Jersey. “  Jim undressed and lay down next to Ivy, facing her. He gently gathered her in his arms and kissed her forehead. “Night baby”, he whispered as he drifted off to sleep.