Ray&Donna
Telly Talk Star
Since I had requests for more writing and I don't currently have anything else available, I have decided to repost some of the things written on the "Ray and Donna Challenges" thread in 2007-2008. I know @Ms Southworth was interested. And probably @Mrs Bobby James Ewing and @Karin Schill @Ray's Lady was my writing collaborator back in the day so if I repost something not originally written by me, it was definitely hers The first thing I'll share was a challenge to expound upon Ray's feelings in the season eight episodes "Close Encounters" and "Suffer the Little Children". It's probably the only one of a non-sexual nature.
***
Close Encounters/Suffer the Little Children
Their baby was dead.
The doctor's words kept echoing in Ray's ears. "I'm sorry. We did everything we could."
As Miss Ellie hugged him, the day's events replayed through his mind like a filmstrip. It was one of Ray's favorite days of the whole year--the day of the Annual Ewing Rodeo at Southfork. But the joyousness of the day had quickly turned to panic and then sorrow.
He felt lightheaded and sat down next to Jack. Everything seemed like a blur. In one day's time he'd lost his son and nearly lost Donna too.
He felt guilty. He's wrestled with feelings of not wanting the baby and after he'd changed his mind he'd begun to plan to for the future, to build dreams for them while he built their new house. He wanted a child so badly, and now he wondered if he'd ever have one.
When Donna had been knocked to the ground, his world stopped--he felt like his head was spinning. He'd been powerless to stop her pain. Now there was no way to ease the pain they were both feeling. When she finally came to, he would have to be the one to tell her about their shattered dreams.
***
He was alone now--the rest of the family had gone home. He needed this time to collect his thoughts. The time ticked away. People came and went. Pam stopped by to see them, but with Donna still unconscious she still sat with Ray for a few minutes, holding his hand. He knew that she was one of the only people who could possibly understand the pain they shared at that moment.
He readied himself. He waited beside Donna's bed for her to wake up. As she looked into his eyes he tried to find the right words but couldn't. He tried to say he was sorry, tried to apologize, tried to take the blame, but she only placed her hand across his mouth as their tears flowed together and he embraced her. They still had each other but their world had been turned upside down.
***
A day passed. Donna's prognosis was good but Ray still felt empty inside, as he imagined she did too. He tried to talk to her but she had bottled up her feelings. He needed her but she was going to need some time to come to terms with their loss, on her own. He wanted to be selfish but he knew deep down that he couldn't, that they would have to come together in their grief when they were both ready.
It was evening now, two days after the accident, and he had come home to pack away the baby's things. Donna couldn't see them when she came home, and he couldn't bear to look at them as reminders. It would be too hard for her--too hard for the both of them. As he packed away the clothes, the bibs, holding each one in his hands, he was overcome. He sat down on the bed and began to cry. He cried for himself, for Donna, for the baby--for everything they'd lost and would never have. He cried for his guilt and he cried out for the pain they were feeling. His heart was shattered; it was though he'd lost his mother, Jock and Mickey all over again, but at the same time. The sobs were uncontrollable, the loss too great, and he couldn't do anything but wonder if he'd ever feel whole again.
***
***
Close Encounters/Suffer the Little Children
Their baby was dead.
The doctor's words kept echoing in Ray's ears. "I'm sorry. We did everything we could."
As Miss Ellie hugged him, the day's events replayed through his mind like a filmstrip. It was one of Ray's favorite days of the whole year--the day of the Annual Ewing Rodeo at Southfork. But the joyousness of the day had quickly turned to panic and then sorrow.
He felt lightheaded and sat down next to Jack. Everything seemed like a blur. In one day's time he'd lost his son and nearly lost Donna too.
He felt guilty. He's wrestled with feelings of not wanting the baby and after he'd changed his mind he'd begun to plan to for the future, to build dreams for them while he built their new house. He wanted a child so badly, and now he wondered if he'd ever have one.
When Donna had been knocked to the ground, his world stopped--he felt like his head was spinning. He'd been powerless to stop her pain. Now there was no way to ease the pain they were both feeling. When she finally came to, he would have to be the one to tell her about their shattered dreams.
***
He was alone now--the rest of the family had gone home. He needed this time to collect his thoughts. The time ticked away. People came and went. Pam stopped by to see them, but with Donna still unconscious she still sat with Ray for a few minutes, holding his hand. He knew that she was one of the only people who could possibly understand the pain they shared at that moment.
He readied himself. He waited beside Donna's bed for her to wake up. As she looked into his eyes he tried to find the right words but couldn't. He tried to say he was sorry, tried to apologize, tried to take the blame, but she only placed her hand across his mouth as their tears flowed together and he embraced her. They still had each other but their world had been turned upside down.
***
A day passed. Donna's prognosis was good but Ray still felt empty inside, as he imagined she did too. He tried to talk to her but she had bottled up her feelings. He needed her but she was going to need some time to come to terms with their loss, on her own. He wanted to be selfish but he knew deep down that he couldn't, that they would have to come together in their grief when they were both ready.
It was evening now, two days after the accident, and he had come home to pack away the baby's things. Donna couldn't see them when she came home, and he couldn't bear to look at them as reminders. It would be too hard for her--too hard for the both of them. As he packed away the clothes, the bibs, holding each one in his hands, he was overcome. He sat down on the bed and began to cry. He cried for himself, for Donna, for the baby--for everything they'd lost and would never have. He cried for his guilt and he cried out for the pain they were feeling. His heart was shattered; it was though he'd lost his mother, Jock and Mickey all over again, but at the same time. The sobs were uncontrollable, the loss too great, and he couldn't do anything but wonder if he'd ever feel whole again.
***