A Deeper Level
Written by: Juana
Story Summary: Eli and Ben are headed towards a startling discovery. Lyssa’s deception is on it’s last breath which guarentees that Ben will once again be a free man. And Felicity’s men are both in limbo while she is in recovery.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in the story. They belong to the brilliant writers and creators of the hit WB show.
ELI GETS OUT OF A CAB ABOUT A BLOCK FROM THE DEAN AND DELUCA BECAUSE THE POLICE HAVE BARRICADED THE STREET OFF FROM TRAFFIC. ELI WALKS DOWN TO THE DEAN AND DELUCA AND APPROACHES JAVIER WHO IS STANDING OUTSIDE.
ELI: Wow did you see it happen?
JAVIER: No….but it is so tragic.
ELI: Yeah…I agree. Um…is Ben Covington around.
JAVIER: No…Ben had to go to the hospital.
ELI: The hospital?
JAVIER: You know the accident.
ELI: Ben went to the hospital because of the accident?
JAVIER: Yes….he did.
ELI: Oh my god….What hospital?
JAVIER: To the St. Vincent on Victory.
ELI: Thanks. (Eli takes of running back down the street and hails a cab.)
CAB PULLS UP AND STOPS FOR ELI. ELI JUMPS INTO CAB.
ELI: St. Vincent’s….and please hurry.
CAB DRIVER: Did you know someone involved in that? (points to two cars from the accident)
ELI: Yes. My roommate.
CAB DRIVER: Don’t worry buddy….I’ll get you there.
CUT TO BEN IN THE WAITING ROOM OF THE HOSPITAL. HE IS DIALING THE PHONE AT THE NURSES DESK.
BEN: It’s a recording. (looks at nurse) This isn’t the kind of thing you leave on a recording…is it?
NURSE: I’m sorry…. I don’t know sir.
BEN: Never mind….Hi Mr. And Mrs. Porter….this is Ben Covington…I…I…um…I’m calling because Felicity has been in a….accident. I don’t know any details yet….but I’m going to leave you the phone number for the hospital….it’s area code 565-232-9090. We’re in the emergency room right now…so please when you get this message if you could call….I would appreciate it….Okay…goodbye. (hangs up phone) (to nurse) Can you tell me where the cafeteria is?
NURSE: You go down the hall to the first set of elevators. Go down two floors and immediately after you get off the elevator take a quick right and go three…no wait….four doors down and that’s the cafeteria.
BEN: Okay….thanks.
BEN HEADS DOWN TO ELEVATORS AND WAITS FOR ONE. THE DOORS ON THE RIGHT ONE OPEN AND HE ENTERS AND PUSHES THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE DOORS. JUST THEN ELI EXITS THE ELEVATOR ON THE LEFT AND HEADS OVER TO THE NURSES STATION.
ELI: Excuse me can you tell me where they have taken Ben Covington?
NURSE: Is he a patient?
ELI: He was involved in an auto accident about 45 minutes ago. Someone at the scene told me they brought him here.
NURSE: (typing on her computer) I’m sorry…What was that last name again?
ELI: Covington.
NURSE: I’m sorry but I don’t show a Covington in our computer.
ELI: Really? Could you please check that again?
NURSE: Certainly sir. Covington…that’s C O V I N G T O N….no I’m sorry sir….nothing.
ELI: Huh…that’s weird. Is their a payphone around here that I could use?
NURSE: Over by the elevators.
ELI: Thanks.
ELI WALKS OVER TO THE PAYPHONE BY THE ELEVATORS. AS HE IS ABOUT TO PUT HIS MONEY INTO THE SLOT. THE ELEVATOR OPENS AND BEN WALKS OUT.
ELI: Ben?
BEN: Eli? What are you doing here?
ELI: I thought you had been in a car accident.
BEN: What?….why?
ELI: Um…your boss actually. He said you had to go to the hospital….and something about the whole thing being tragic.
BEN: Okay….we’ll as you can see…. I’m fine.
ELI: So why are you here?
BEN: For Felicity.
ELI: (confused) Felicity?
BEN: Yeah…she’s the girl I’ve been telling you about….she was in an accident.
ELI: Felicity? That’s the name of the girl you’ve been talking to me about?
BEN: Yeah…didn’t I tell you that?
ELI: No…no you didn’t. (concerned) Is she okay?
BEN: She was unconscious when they first brought her in. I haven’t heard anything new yet.
ELI: So….How did you and Felicity meet?
BEN: We went to school together in Palo Alto.
ELI: You did? So how is it that you both are here in New York.
BEN: (slightly smiling) She followed me here.
ELI: Here….to New York? I think I don’t feel very good.
BEN: Man…what’s wrong….are you sick?
DOCTOR COMES OUT OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND APPROACHES BEN AND ELI.
DOCTOR: Are you Ben Covington?
BEN: Yes…is she going to be all right?
DOCTOR: It looks good. She regained consciousness about twenty minutes ago. She is still a little groggy though….She goes back and forth between asking for you….and someone named Eli. Do you know Eli?
ELI: (uncomfortable) I’m Eli.
BEN: (looks at Eli) Him? Why would she be asking for him?
DOCTOR: I’m not sure….sometimes in trauma cases like this the victims can become easily confused.
ELI: She’s not confused….I know her.
BEN: What are you talking about?
ELI: I don’t know exactly how to tell you this Ben….but Felicity….she’s my girlfriend.
BEN: What? I don’t understand…..your girlfriend?
ELI: She’s the girl I’ve been telling you about.
BEN: That’s impossible…..she can’t be.
DOCTOR: I can only let one of you in at a time….(to Eli) Why don’t you go first?
ELI: Thanks.
ELI WALKS AWAY WITH THE DOCTOR TOWARDS FELICITY’S ROOM….LEAVING BEN IN A DAZE. ELEVATOR DOORS OPEN AND JULIE AND ELENA EXIT.
BEN COLLAPSES IN A WAITING ROOM CHAIR AND DROPS HIS HEAD INTO HIS HANDS. JULIE SPOTS HIM AND GOES OVER.
JULIE: Ben?…it’s Julie are you okay?
BEN:(very upset) You know….somebody up there(points towards heaven) must really hate me.
JULIE: Oh my god….is it Felicity? Ben is she okay?
BEN: She’s awake….and with her boyfriend.
JULIE: You met Eli?
BEN: Yeah….about three weeks ago…When he moved in to my apartment.
JULIE: I don’t understand.
BEN: It’s pretty much just my luck…..Eli….Felicity’s new man….he’s my new roommate.
JULIE: Eli’s your roommate?
BEN: Yeah….ain’t that just the best?
JULIE: Ben…I’m so sorry.
BEN: Julie…I’ve been giving him advice about her….telling him to go for it…..how could this have happened?
JULIE: I don’t know….it’s definitely….odd.
BEN GETS UP AND STARTS WALKING AWAY.
JULIE: Where are you going?
BEN: To check on Lyssa.
JULIE: Lyssa?
BEN: Yeah…she was in the cab with Felicity.
JULIE: Lyssa was?….why?
BEN: I don’t know….I can only imagine. I’m gonna go find her doctor. I want to make sure everything is okay with the baby.
JULIE: Oh…I forgot about the baby.
BEN: Yeah…we’ll it’s pretty much all I’ve got left to look forward to.
ELENA WALKS UP AS BEN IS WALKING AWAY.
ELENA: Is he okay?
JULIE: Long story.
CUT TO ELI SITTING NEXT TO FELICITY’S BED. FELICITY IS SLEEPING WHILE HE HOLDS HER HAND.
ELI: You know….I should have stuck to my first instinct. I just knew your life was complicated….but it was okay with me then…because I wasn’t involved. I don’t even want to think about the repercussions of today. Why did it have to be Ben?
AT THE SOUND OF BEN’S NAME FELICITY STIRS AND MUMBLES HIS NAME.
FELICITY: Ben….(opens her eyes)
ELI: No…it’s me Eli.
FELICITY: Eli?
ELI: How are you?
FELICITY: Everything….hurts. What happened?
ELI: You were in a car accident.
FELICITY: I was?
ELI: Yes. I’m glad you're okay.
FELICITY: Thanks….I’m pretty glad too. Was anyone else hurt?
ELI: I don’t know….I’ll have to ask Ben.
FELICITY: Ben?
ELI: Yeah….he’s outside.
FELICITY: You know Ben? Did you meet him here?
ELI: No….Ben’s my roommate.
FELICITY: Ben is your….roommate?
CUT TO BEN APPROACHING LYSSA’S DOCTOR.
BEN: Excuse me.
DOCTOR: Yes….what can I do for you?
BEN: It’s about your patient…Lyssa Parker.
DOCTOR: Yes…Miss Parker…are you a relative?
BEN: No…I’m her boyfriend.
DOCTOR: I see. How can I help you then?
BEN: I was wondering about the condition of the baby.
DOCTOR: The baby?
BEN: Yes….didn’t you know she was pregnant?
DOCTOR: How far along?
BEN:Eight weeks…maybe eight and a half.
DOCTOR: If you’ll please excuse me.
DOCTOR WALKS OVER TO THE NURSES STATION.
DOCTOR: Nurse I need a sonogram machine in room 516 Stat. Her boyfriend has just informed us that she’s roughly two months pregnant.
CUT TO FELICITY’S ROOM. JULIE IS IN WITH HER NOW.
JULIE: So how are you feeling?
FELICITY: I’m okay….just a little tired is all.
JULIE: Good…cause I need my exercise partner.
FELICITY: Julie…have you seen Ben?
JULIE: Um…yes…he’s checking on Lyssa.
FELICITY: Lyssa?
JULIE: Yeah…didn’t anybody tell you? She was in the cab with you.
FELICITY: She was?
JULIE: You don’t remember?
FELICITY: Sort of…it comes and goes….the doctor told me things would be fuzzy for a couple of days.
CUT TO LYSSA’S ROOM. THE DOCTORS ARE SETTING UP THE SONAGRAM MACHINE. LYSSA IS STILL HEAVILY SEDATED FOR HER PAIN FROM THE ACCIDENT. BEN IS STANDING AT THE DOOR…..WAITING.
DOCTOR: Do you see anything nurse?
NURSE: Nothing Doctor.
DOCTOR: Try the lower left region.
NURSE: No…nothing.
DOCTOR: (turns to Ben) Can I please speak to you a second son?
BEN: (starts to freak out) Is everything okay with the baby….is it the baby?
DOCTOR: Calm down son….let’s step outside.
THE DOCTOR WALKS PAST BEN AND MOTIONS FOR HIM TO SIT IN THE WAITING ROOM CHAIRS.
BEN: What is it?
DOCTOR: Son….there is no baby.
BEN: (starting to tear up) I don’t understand…are you telling me she lost the baby?
DOCTOR: No. I’m telling you there is no baby. She’s not pregnant.
BEN: What?
DOCTOR: I’m sorry…but the woman in that room is not going to have a baby.
BEN: She’s not pregnant?
DOCTOR: That’s right.
BEN: Was she ever?
DOCTOR: That I don’t know. You would have to check with the physician she was seeing. I’m sorry to have to break this to you.
BEN: Don’t worry. It’s been pretty much that kind of a day.
CUT TO ELI WAITING OUTSIDE OF FELICITY’S ROOM WHILE SHE AND JULIE ARE TALKING. BEN EXITS THE ELEVATOR. HE HESITATES BUT THEN WALKS UP NEXT TO ELI.
BEN: Hey.
ELI: Hi….so are you upset with me?
BEN: Pretty much the only thing I’m feeling right now is….shock.
JULIE WALKS OUT OF FELICITY’S ROOM. ELI STARTS TO GO BACK IN AND BEN STOPS HIM.
BEN: Would you mind if I visited with her for a little bit?
ELI: Um…no go ahead….sorry.
BEN: Thanks.
BEN APPROACHES FELICITY’S ROOM AND STANDS IN HER DOOR. FELICITY HAS HER EYES CLOSED BUT AS IF SHE CAN SENSE BEN’S PRESENCE OPENS THEM.
FELICITY: Ben….hi.
BEN: (starts to weep) Hey….I’m so glad that you’re okay.
BEN WALKS OVER NEXT TO FELICITY’S BED AND GENTLEY PUTS HIS ARMS AROUND HER UNTIL THEY ARE FACE TO FACE.
BEN: You are my world….I don’t know what I would do if I lost you.
FELICITY: I’m okay…you don’t need to worry.
BEN: Felicity…even when you’re not with me….I worry….I can’t help it.
FELICITY: (starting to tear up) That’s so sweet.
BEN: Don’t ever scare me like this again…Do you understand?
FELICITY: I won’t….I promise.
BEN GIVES FELICITY A KISS ON THE LIPS WHICH SHE ACCEPTS AND KISSES HIM BACK. ELI IS WATCHING THROUGH THE WINDOW AND GETS A SAD LOOK ON HIS FACE.
BEN: I love you Felicity.
FELICITY: Ben…I…
BEN: Just take that for what it is….I know things are complicated right now…but I could have lost you today….I need you to know how I feel.
FELICITY: I know Ben….I’ve always known…..I feel the same….and for what it’s worth….I love you too.
BEN: It’s worth plenty.
BEN GIVES FELICITY ANOTHER KISS AND ELI WHO HAS BEEN STANDING AT THE WINDOW WALKS AWAY.
SALLY: (Voice over recording to Felicity) Felicity…please be careful….don’t be destined to repeat the same mistakes. I know by now you have slept with Eli….sometimes it’s better to use the phone…it’s a lot quicker. I’m not saying sleeping with Eli was a mistake…But don’t kid yourself into thinking that you can erase the memories of Ben with sex….or a companion. Ben has created an indelible impression in your heart and mind one that you shouldn’t hope to erase with meaningless encounters. Again not the Eli was meaningless….just sudden. Sex changes a relationship….takes it to a deeper level….I just hope that’s really what you want from Eli.