She's losing track of the days. Is it Day 10 or 11? She a teacher and she can't even count how long they've been in this hospital anymore. Days are merging together. Katie looks over at Quentin, constantly keeping my eye on him. Mothers are meant to be protective of their children, but in this environment she can't help but be overprotective of him. He's all she has.
At that moment Jake walks through the door and gives her a soft smile before setting down his gear and sitting on his cot. She sighs wondering if Quentin is really all she has.
"You ok?" he asks her, his brow frowning. A constant ritual for him. Every day, probably every time he sees her he asks her that.
Katie nods, clasping her hands in her lap, "I'm fine, just thinking. What day is it?"
Without asking what she means, because no one asks what the date is or the day of the week, the all mean how many days its been, "11" he responds.
"Right," she pauses and notices the sweat over him. Its hard not to look at him when he comes back from...that Room. She shakes the visual out of her head, seeing those bodies in there is not something you can forget, and he's there everyday.
"How about you? Are you ok?" Katie asks sincerely. His gaze has dropped to the ground, almost lost in his own world.
His head moves up again, he shrugs, "As good as I can be. I managed to get everything done" he looks over at the children to make sure they aren't listening. She knows what the job is that he's referring to, then back to her, "no more came in past 5. So I called it a day"
A loud screech comes from one of the girls, which draws their attention to the children. They play running around. Happy. Both smile and look back to one an other.
"You know, I don't have much experience with kids. I think this is the first time I've actually been around them for a good amount of time" Jake tells her.
"Well, maybe once this is all over" she stops, its not often she's optimistic since being in here, Jake looks at her pondering what she's going to say, "maybe you can come to my class, teach the children about the ways of the Police"
Jake chuckles a little, "Yea but I'm pretty sure they've heard a lot from me already, another lesson from Officer Riley about the dangers of guns and knifes might fall by the wayside"
Katie lets out a little laugh. Its rare, but it almost always happens around him, "Good point" she agrees and they catch each others gaze. His face softening. Her stomach turns in knots.
"Hey Jake your back!" Quentin runs over with glee.
Jake quickly loses his gaze on her and turns to Quentin.
"Yeah hey bud" Jake smiles.
Katie stares at them both. Jake is able to make both of them smile with happiness when he's back from his rounds.
"Want another game" Quentin holds up the board they made together.
"Yea just give me 10 minutes to shower and I will be right with you" Jake nods standing.
"Awesome!" Quentin says and runs to the other children.
Katie watches as Jake gives one more look to her and heads out the door. Katie runs after him into the hallway.
"Jake!"
He quickly spins round, worry on his face, "Everything alright?"
She pauses, both of them standing in the hall way staring at each other, "Thank you"
He looks confused, "For what Katie?"
The way my her name rolls off of his tongue isn't helping this 4-6 feet rule. Never before in her life has she wanted to hold someone's hand as much as she does right now.
"Quentin. You probably already gathered this, but his Dad isn't really in his life. Now having you..." She stops, realizing how it sounds. They aren't dating. They haven't spoken about any of it. God they haven't even touched. She doesn't miss the recognition on his face either. But it comes with a slight smile. He knows.
He puts his hand up, "Stop. Its nothing. He's a great kid. I love spending time with him," he stops catching his words, "and you"
Its caught her off guard. Before she can speak again he carries on.
"To be honest, his Dad" he states with disdain, looking down and his jaw locked "is crazy not to want anything to do with either of you"
Speak Katie she tells herself, "Yea well it never would have worked" she responds. Shrugging off any thought of her ex.
"His loss my gain" Jake whispers. Its almost inaudible, but Katie hears it. The sounds of the slight words echo in the hall.
She purses her lips together. He doesn't wait for a response, just gives her a soft smile and heads to the showers.
/
"So Jake..."
He looks over at Quentin as the sit on the floor playing the board game. Passing the time until dinner. Jake finds comfort in this. Bonding with Quentin is starting to become a daily ritual. He leans over to his can of soda and takes a sip.
"When are you going to ask out my Mom?"
Instantly the soda sprays from his mouth without realizing. Quentin starts giggling holding his stomach.
"Everything OK over here?" Katie comes over to them and crouches down. The quizzical smile on her face, is met with confusion.
"Err yeah, all good, you got a comedian on your hands, just told me a great joke" Jake responds and glares at Quentin.
"Oh really?" Katie smiles, "What joke was this?"
Quentin gets the hint and looks at this Mom, his pauses, obviously thinking of a joke on the spot, "What does a nosy pepper do?"
Katie crinkles her nose cutely, Jake doesn't miss this. She shakes her head, "What does a nosy pepper do?"
"Gets jalapeño business!" Quentin brings the funniest sass to it. This kid is good Jake thinks.
Katie starts giggling and shaking her head, "Honey if your plan to become a comedian then you need some lessons"
"Maybe I'm not cut out for it huh? Well Jake thought it was funny" Quentin points out raising his eyebrows at him.
"Obviously! Look at the board, its drenched in Diet Coke! I hope you plan to re-do this. A lot of time and effort when into making this" she stands smugly. He can't help but look up and smile.
"Ah yes of course Miss Katie" Jake salutes to her and he watches her walk back over to the other children.
He turns his head back to Quentin who is watching him, "Thanks for the save" he nods to him, rolling the dice in his hand.
Quentin nods, "She likes you too you know"
"I know bud, its just not easy in this place. Trust me I want to. Badly" Jake says looking over at her. He never thought he could feel this way about a women. When she smiles he smiles. Her beautiful smile. The pang of frustration hits him. He shakes his head. Releasing he's still talking to an 11 year old he carries on, "your a bit too young to understand still. Once this is all over. I'll get my chance"
"Good. Just want to make sure your not chicken and actually plan on asking her for dinner" Quentin nods.
Jake's mouth falls slightly open, this kid is great. "Am I that obvious by the way?"
"I may only be 11, but I see the way you look at her, my Dad never looked at her like that" he looks sad.
Unsure of the ground he could be treading on with his Dad, Jake step lightly, "See him a lot?"
He shakes his head, "No, Grandma gives me presents from him all the time, but I'm not stupid. He doesn't get them, or even pay for them. She does that" he shrugs.
"That doesn't bother you?"
He shakes his head again, "No I have my Mom. She's the best. She's great with me. So's my Grandma, although Grandma doesn't really like Mom"
"Yeah I've heard" Jake rolls his eyes without thinking. Hoping Quentin doesn't see. From everything she told him. Grace has no reason to dislike Katie. She just must resent her for getting clean unlike her son. How can you not like Katie?
"Mom told you huh?" he questions.
"Yeah some bits," he could be crossing a line. So he stops, "lets get some paper towels for this, or do we do as your Mom says and start this again?" Jake says pointing to the board with a smile.
"Yeah probably a good idea" he smiles and gets up, "i'll go to the supply closet. I'm sure that's where Mom got the last piece of cardboard"
Jake stands up as well, as Katie comes over, "Where's he off to?" she asks with concern.
"Another board to start" Jake smiles. She matches it with her own, "Hey so I talked to Lex this morning, he said they have more trucks of food coming in over the next few days. Maybe some more cans of the delicious tomato soup huh?"
The sarcasm isn't lost on her, but she carries it on, "Totally, you know we may even get string beans as well, because that's really missing from the feasts we have every night"
They chuckle together. Jake's mind flashes to when he told Lex he loved her. Its all gone so quickly. But he can't help it. He's never felt like this before. He wants to be near her all the time, she's on his mind when he's not with her and right now She's closer to 4-6 feet to him and all he wants to do is gently take her beautiful face in his hands and kiss her. He shakes the thought out of his head.
She purses her lips together, looking like she wants to tell him something, "I better go find Quentin" she tells him and heads out the door. Jake has a feeling that's not what she wanted to say.