Chapter 152

Gwen was at the hospital to cover my release, so I planned to catch a ride home with her. "So what are your plans for the rest of the day?" she asked while we waited for my release. She really had only a professional interest. Most likely she hoped to stay one step ahead of me.

"My plan is to watch the episodes of my favorite TV shows that I have missed. Then I think I will go to dinner somewhere. I might take a shot at the Barbecue Pit. After dinner I will most likely swing by the Cop Out to let them know I'm still alive. I don't know if anyone cares or not, but I want a beer with people who don't plan to kill me afterward." I said.

"I hate to admit it, but I'm developing a taste for grease," Gwen admitted. "Are you up for the drive or should I chauffeur you around."

"I took the hit in my left leg, so I can drive I think. If I get in trouble. I will take you up on your offer." I replied.

"Okay but for God's sake be careful, we have a lot invested in you." Gwen said.

"Ah, so I'm the meal ticket now. That's okay you guys earned your keep on the last couple of jobs ... I would rather have had Mike on the last one though."

"I know, I told mike you didn't care for Bobby. He said he will try someone else next time. You do know he won't be coming back. He is going to be editing the show continuously from now on." Gwen informed me.

"No I didn't know, but I'm not surprised. It seems people constantly come and go from my life. It usually has nothing to do with me, they just seem to drift in and out. I guess their own real lives get in the way of their life with me."

"Hello, Ms Stone?" the nurse asked, saving me from any further self pity.

"Yes Ma'am that's me." I replied.

"I have your written instructions here and your file has been called in to the Administration office. Someone should be up shortly to do the paperwork and sign you out." she informed me.

"When is that going to happen," I asked.

The middle aged washed out blond nurse looked up to see a chubby brunette enter the room. "That would be right now," she said with a big smile.

"Ms. Stone, I'm Lois from the business office," she said. "I just need to see that all the paperwork is complete. Is this your insurance carrier?" she said pushing a paper to me.

"If that is the information my lawyer gave you, then it is right," I suggested.

"Don't you know, if that is your carrier?" she asked just a hair on the snippy side.

"Actually, I don't have a clue about that kind of thing. Jen takes care of it all. Would you like for me to get her on the phone for you?" I asked. I knew that she really didn't want to talk to Jen. She might think she did, but she really didn't.

"No that's fine, if she provided the information, I'm sure it is correct." Lois said.

"Okay, then what do I need to sign?" I asked.

"Well, first of all, how will you be handling the copay on the insurance?" she asked.

"How much is it?" I asked.

"The copay, and the uncovered items come to 1181.12, " she informed me.

I knew better than to argue, but I had to know. "What exactly is the total bill for an overnight stay." I asked in a tone I am sure she had heard a thousand time, disbelief.

"Your bill came to a little over $7,000," she informed me.

"Oh well, I'm sure if Jen put me in here, she had a reason." I said it reaching into my pocket for the card case, which I had personally made from leather well over a hundred years old. It held a few dollars in cash, my driver's license, and my debit card.

"Just a minute Maxine, I think you are covered under the TV network's policy. I'm pretty sure you are, since you were hurt on the job, more or less," Gwen said.

"Gwen honey, I just want to get out of here. I'll pay the bill and you check with the TV people. If they want to send me 1100 bucks I will take it."

Thirty minutes later, outside the end unit of my apartment building, Gwen said, "So you are really going to watch old TV shows?"

"Yes for a couple of hours, then I am going to just hang out in a chat room or something. If you want, I'll call before I leave for dinner."

"No need I'm monitoring you. I will know." Gwen said with a smile.

"That is one thing I won't miss when the contract expires for this show." I said.

"The Network people have seen episode one. Mike says, they will be offering you an obscene amount of money not to quit."

"Nice try Gwen, but I know bullshit when I hear it," I said laughing.

"Just wait, they are rushing like hell to get it on the air as a summer season show. That means it has to be ready to go June 1. she said.

"So it's April now, that gives Mike two months to get it edited,"I said.

"Ordinarily it wouldn't be a problem, but this is Network TV. You can't say fuck every other word, like you could on the Internet series..."

"I have faith in you guys to do it. Besides the rule was, I act as if you weren't here, and you guys are supposed to film, and then fix it. After that, it is what it is, nothing more.

"Oh hell, go watch TV. Do you want to order pizza delivery for lunch?' she asked.

"Gwen you aren't supposed to interact with me," I said.

"Screw them all, it's just a fucking pizza." she said.

"Okay, then make mine hamburger and onion," I demanded.

"I'll call them around 12:30. It should be here by 1PM and I'll bring it down." She said. "I'm going to get enough for Cheryl, she will be off around the same time. She is working 4AM till 1pm week days. I'll call to be sure she is okay with it."