He smiled. His hands waved the guns. He was on top of the world. He looked down at the table below him. From atop the ladder he could see almost every set of eyes in the crowd. they were cheering him on. roaring in excitement. In his eyes, nothing could go wrong. This was the best feeling in the world. They encouraged him. They chanted "hardy!". His heart pounded in his chest. He shrugged his shoulders and in a swift moment jumped, curling into the swonton and landing through the table. The crowd roared. They stood on their feet. This was extreme. This is what they lived for. The table shattered, the opponent crumbled. But in the front row, one kid fell silent. Jeff was unmoving. A crumbled heap in a broken table. His head thrown back. The kid had heard the sickening thud the loudest….and then one by one, the crowd fell silent...
He never felt it. He never heard it. He couldn't remember the landing. Couldn't remember the sound. And light had faded. He lived in a dream. Just pictures, flickering. Nothing real. Yet still there. And she sat beside him….her hand entangled in his, the tears falling from her eyes, her body trembled. He never felt her. He never saw her. But she never left him. Just like the dream, she was still there.
"How is he?" Matt asked as he walked into the hospital room. Beth hadnt moved. Her hand still held jeff's. Her eyes still fixed on his closed eyes. Jeff hadnt moved either. The machines beeped, the tubes in a tangled mess around him. He was pale, he was cold, almost frozen. His expression peaceful, but his face not looking quite the same as it once had. The neckbrace made him look trapped. Beth turned to face Matt. Her tear stained cheeks red. Her eyes swollen and glistening with emotion in the bright hospital lights. "No change" she replied, her face moved back to Jeff. She stared at his pale face, and his colored hair, bright against the white pillow and sheets. Fragments of facepaint still evident near his right ear. She closed her eyes and tried to picture how he used to be. The brightness in his eyes, that sparkle. The colour in his face, sometimes overtanned, yet still beautiful. The dimples when he smiled a toothy grin. His lips….how she missed those lips on hers. If she thought hard enough, she could almost still feel them. Her eyes opened, and tears leaked out once again. He wasn't like that anymore. But he was still the same person.
Matt pulled a chair beside her and glanced at his brother. The image destroyed him inside and he didn't like to look too much. He put on his brave face and turned to Beth. She looked at him and her face curved into a sad look. Matt put his arms out, and pulled her into a hug. She sobbed and her body rose as she cried like she had never cried before. Each breath was an effort. Matt rubbed her back trying to assure her, but looking over her shoulder at Jeff lying there, he knew there was nothing he could do to make her feel any better…there were no guarantees that the man she knew would ever come back to them.
Shannon walked in and sat down in the armchair beside the bed. "Hey jeff!" he said confidently. In his heart he knew it was still jeff, and jeff was his best friend. "I planted some more of them shrubs today, when you get home you'll be able to see them….the yard's looking good. I thought when im done i could get some of the cuttings off for you and beth to plant outside the crib. That would look pretty cool…." everyone talked to jeff like he was already gone. Not Shannon. Shannon looked at his friend. he surveyed the damage. Even under the neckbrace, the bones of jeff's neck jutting out were still evident. Broken in 3 places they had said. Jeff lay straight, as if he were tied to an ironing board. His tailbone, completely cracked. His ankle, even through the bandage still lay in an awkward way. The archilles tendon snapped when he had hit the table. The doctors hadnt bandaged his arm, but the cuts were evident. The shafts of the table had sliced it up. Cuts and bruises made their way up his pale arm, darting through his tattoos. They no longer bled, but still looked deep. And then came the concussion. a "coma" the doctors had told them. and had said they were 'unsure at this stage' how much damage had actually been done. There was no guaranteeing he would wake up, but there was an ounce of hope. There was also no guaranteeing that he wouldn't wake up….and thats how shannon saw it.
beth sat in the cafeteria. Her coffee sat untouched. Her eyes stared at the floor, focusing on the tiles. Her mind was blank. She couldn't comprehend anything. She was just empty. her face was tear stained and her eyes dark from sleep deprivation. Like a zombie, she sat in silence. Matt and Shannon bought their trays over and sat down beside her. They both looked at her, worried. "have you eaten anything?" asked Matt. She jumped at the sound. She shook her head, her eyes still locked on the floor. "Have you slept at all?" asked Shannon. She remained silent, and she once again shook her head. Her hair was wet from crying and messy. She hadnt left the hospital for 3 days now, alternating between jeff's side and the cafeteria if matt and shannon could manage to drag her down there. "Maybe you should stay at mine tonight. Theres always spare rooms there. We can just have a quiet night, watch some movies maybe….." suggested Matt. his voice trailed off when he noticed beth was still focused on the ground. "Beth?" he said quietly. She looked at him, her face pale, her eyes darting around matts face. She blinked as if she was completely oblivious to anything. "beth i think you need to get away from this place. Its not healthy to be here all the time." he told her. She blinked again and opened her mouth but no sound came out. Shannon turned to Matt. "We need to get her out of here" he said. Matt agreed.
Jeff was dreaming. Images projected through his mind. He was in the field back home. Sitting amongst the yellow flowers that grew there. He was watching a kid run around in front of him. The kid had dark hair, he looked to be about 2yrs old. The little boy picked up a dandelion and blew the fluff off it. The seeds trailed in the wind, and jeff watched them with his eyes. He smiled. He heard a voice. "Look at the camera for Mama….good boy". Beth stood a few metres away, her hair blowing around in the wind. her face bright and smiling. She held a video camera out in front of her and filmed the little boy, who danced around the flowers, before stumbling and falling to his feet. A grin spread on the child's face. "Mama!" he shouted. Beth's laugh echoed through the meadow. She ran over and sat down beside the child, her face beaming. She picked up a flower with a butterfly sitting on it. its colours bright even against the yellow of the petals. The child looked on with amazement as the butterfly spread its wings and flew towards jeff. Jeff held out his hand and watched as the butterfly landed on his finger. He looked at the creature with admiration. The little boy jumped up from beth's side and ran over to jeff. "Butafy!" the child yelled. the butterfly flew away from jeff's hand, and jeff watched as the child ran after it in delight. beth looked on from across the meadow. her eyes landing on jeff, filled with light and laughter. Together they watched as their little boy jumped up into the air trying to reach the colorful creature. Jeff watched as Beth smiled and pulled herself up from amongst the flowers "im ganna getcha!" she shouted playfully as she ran after the little boy. jeff pushed himself up too, and ran after his family. As he caught up to Beth she stopped, watching the little boy run and play. Jeff wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck lightly. "thats our boy" he whispered….the dream faded.
A blanket covered her shoulders, she sat on the couch, coffee in her hand. her hair wet from the shower. matt walked into the room. "Are you alright?" he asked. They were at his house. She looked at him, "yes and no" she replied. her voice, quiet, but clear. A glimpse of a smile passed her face. "he's ganna come back to us" she whispered. Matt nodded. "Hes ganna come back because theres one more journey he hasnt taken yet….because our baby needs a father. Jeff always said, you only stop when you've gone as far as you can go. he's not finished yet." she looked to Matt. He looked at her confused. "you mean you're…." Beth's eyes grew glossy. Her hands moved to her stomach. "hes gotta come back and be a dad." she said. Matt smiled, then looked away. sadness washed over his face. Beth was right, Jeff wasn't finished yet….but was he going to carry on?
it was day 8. No change in jeff, and Beth sat in the armchair, one hand on Jeff's and the other placed on the chair. She leant forward slightly, moving her engagement ring on her finger. She remembered the day he had proposed. Out by the lake at sunset. It had been a calm night….just Jeff and Beth. Jeff didn't have any work the next day and they were spending a weekend at home just enjoying each other's company. He'd been nervous popping the question and presenting her with the diamond ring. She remembered the way he had wrapped his arm around her, and how they had just looked into the sunset and watched it fade in the sky. Suddenly something gripped her hand. Beth was shocked back into reality, where she stared down at her hand under jeff's. He had moved. She was positive it wasn't just the memory. He had gripped her hand. A smile spread across her face and she called for the nurse. "He moved. his hand, it gripped mine!" she said excitedly. The nurse smiled slightly but replied "it was probably just a muscle reflex". But beth was positive, he was coming back to her. She felt him.
It had been a week since Beth had felt Jeff grip her hand. The nurses, doctors and even Matt didn't believe her. they were all sure it was some kind of reflex. Something normal for people in comas. But Beth was sure. She went back to the hospital and sat with jeff and began to talk to him. At first it seemed stupid. The nurse on duty was always in the room watching and listening, but beth wanted jeff to know that she was okay. "Matt's maid cleaned the house the other day, and shannon is going to give us some new shrubs for out the front….the dogs are good. Kirby and TJ are looking after them until we get home. And the baby…." he hand moved to her stomach, "the doctors say that the baby's healthy." she smiled, but it faded quickly. She hoped with all her heart she could hear him. Her eyes moved across his body. She lay her head beside his hand, feeling his cold touch. 'i miss you" she whispered. She rose her head and looked him over once again, her eyes flicked to his face, then back to his hand. but something wasn't right. She looked back to his pale face. His eyes were open! his green eyes, stared at the ceiling. They were dull, but open. "jeff!" she shouted. His eyes moved to look at her. But his body lay still, and his mouth never moved. He blinked, but his eyes remained fixed on hers. She moved the back of her hand down his face, softly. He was still cold and expressionless. "Can you hear me?" she asked, almost in a whisper. Jeff did nothing, but his eyes darted around the room, before resting back on her. He closed his eyes for a few seconds and opened them again. His mouth opened, but no sound came out. The nurse came over and wrote on her clipboard. 'Why cant he talk?" beth asked, panicked. Her eyes fixed on jeff's. The nurse flipped over her paper. "Because of his concussion and being in the coma….his body is only just waking up. This could take days, weeks, maybe longer." for the weeks after, beth never left jeff's side.
Jeff lay staring at beth. She was asleep in the armchair beside his bed. He hated not being able to talk to her. He opened his mouth and tried to say her name "b b b" he closed his mouth. His face annoyed. "beth" it came out in a tiny sound. "Beth" he repeated it in a whisper. he kept saying it, until it was clear. Her eyes slowly opened, and in a sleepy, fuzzy way she looked at jeff. "beth". He was saying her name. "baby, wake up" he said in perfectly clear speech. He went to lean towards her, but felt his neck crack and the neckbrace rub his chin. The pain kept him lying straight. he reached his hand for her. She blinked a few times before fully focusing on him. "baby?' she questioned. He looked at her, and a smile spread across his face. "Oh jeff!" she squealed. She hugged him in delight. he winced in pain. "im sorry" she said quickly, drawing back. "What happened to me?" he asked. tears bubbled in beths eyes. "you swontoned off the ladder, and hit the table and landed awkwardly. Your neck and tailbone and ankle…" she began. She looked over at him. Jeff couldn't move much, but he knew they were broken. He could feel it. "….you've been asleep for a month" she whispered. Jeff's eyes told the story. They widened in shock, his face crumpled in sadness. "i was dreaming….i had so many dreams" he told her. He tried to move his head to fully face her, but the pain engulfed him. "don't move, baby. Its ok" beth comforted him. Sadness washed over her as well. It pained her to see him this way. Of course, it was better than seeing him in the comatose state he had been in, but now he was awake and trapped in his own body, and there was nothing she could do. "Tell me about the dreams" she whispered as she sat down beside him. Her hand grabbed at his, instinctively. He smiled. "we should just about get them sewn together" he told her. "what?" she asked. "Our hands. You're forever holding mine." he laughed slightly. Beth withdrew her hand quickly. "sorry" she said. he smiled and lifted his hand to stroke the side of her face "you're not meant to undo stitches" he told her, and grabbed her hand in his. He told her of the dreams. Of the little boy in the flowers. She smiled, and tears flowed down her cheeks, freely. Her man was back…but was his body?
Weeks passed. Jeff was now fully alert. He could sit up with support from the bed, but his broken bones in his neck and tailbone along with his torn archives tendon meant that walking around was near impossible. Jeff was restless. He hated hospitals. The white linen, the sterile smell. The restricted view out the window. he wanted to be at home, digging holes, playing with the pups, enjoying life. He was frustrated. Beth walked in and sat a coffee down beside Jeff's bed. He looked over at her. "How are you today?" she asked, sitting down beside him. He looked out the window, then back to her "how do you think?" he asked, in a slightly harsh tone. Beth looked at the ground. "its just the same old shit. Sit here, look out the window, they bring me my meds that do fuck all. I cant move around, i cant even go for a walk down the hallway. How do you think i am? Shit! thats how i am." he was angry now. His eyes tilted, his forehead forming lines. His attention turned back to the window. Beth sat in silence. "not even enough meds…" jeff muttered under his breath. Beth looked up at him. "don't say that" she whispered. Jeff turned back to her. "Why fucking not? you try sitting here all fuckin day". Beth looked at him with concern, she refused to leave. Not when he was like this. "jeff…." she started. He placed his hands on the other side of the bed, so that she couldn't reach them. "Baby, i cant stop whats happened to you. I cant take away the pain, believe me, i would if i could. But the drugs aint ganna help…and you know what i mean by that" beth told him. her voice was serious, but at the same time, filled with worry. jeff shot a look at her, that told her that he was still annoyed. "they always help" he mumbled under his breath. Beth shot him a pained look back. Jeff reached for the vase beside him and went to knock it over. he stopped at the last second, and banged his hand against the wooden bedside table instead. Matt walked in. "woah, whats up with you?" he asked. Beth looked at Matt, water in her eyes threatening to poor out. Jeff was tearing at his hair, wanting to hold his head in his hands, but his neck wouldn't allow him to. "i cant…" beth whispered as she walked towards the door, brushing tears out of her eyes as she went. "Im not ganna top myself, if thats what you're worried about!" Jeff yelled after her. She left the room and found a chair nearby. She sat down, and cradled her own head in her hands and cried.
The next day, Beth leaned against the door frame. Her eyes looked at Jeff, he was sitting up, gazing out the window. He heard her, and turned to look at her. She stood there, unsure if she should enter or not. "its ok" Jeff said calmly, "im not ganna bite your head off". She smiled slightly and went over to the chair beside him. She almost lived in that chair for weeks on end now. She relaxed into the familiar creases. "im sorry" jeff stated. His hand found a part of the white sheet over him, and he busied himself twirling it round his finger. "its ok" beth replied quietly. He looked at her, and for a moment stared into her eyes. She looked away, feeling self conscious. "I asked them to take them away" he told her. His hand gestured towards the white tray where his medication was usually set out. "im sorry about what i said…i shouldn't have said that. I shouldn't have bought it up. It just…this sucks being here everyday. I've hated hospitals since the day Mom passed away. I just…don't wanna be here. But i shouldn't have said the things that i did". His voice was calm, and apologetic. His eyes begged for forgiveness, and Beth gave in. "its ok" she repeated. Jeff shook his head. "no its not" he looked towards the window for a moment then back to her "im an addict….addicts aren't meant to have friends and family….and a kid on the way. And everyones just waiting for me to give in and have my next fix…" disappointment and disgust in himself passed his face. he felt physically sick. "Nobody's waiting, jeff." said Beth, calmly. Her hands moved to her stomach. Jeff's eyes moved there. "im not there for him. Im not looking after you, you're looking after me. Its not how it should be". Beth reached out her hand. "it doesn't matter how it 'should' be. It matters how it is. And its ok. You're ganna get out of here soon and do everything you wanna do. Things are ganna go back to normal…everythings ganna be fine." she assured him. There was a crack, as Jeff moved his head to look at her. He winced in pain, and moved his hand up to the brace. Beth winced too, she felt for him. Jeff reached out his other hand to her, she grabbed it and moved to sit on the bed beside him, being careful not to bump his neck, foot or move him enough to hurt his tailbone. She examined his arm, just faint cuts now, but bruises still evident. Jeff moved his arm to feel her stomach. For a moment they sat in silence. "think he'll grow up to be able to swonton like his dad?" Beth asked. Jeff laughed, "well if he does, lets hope he can land it better." The two smiled at each other, and beth leaned back to lie beside him. Jeff moved a single finger over beth's lips. "When i get this brace off…you gotta promise me something" Beth looked up at him, "whats that?". "You gotta let me kiss you for every second that you've waited for me". Beth shook her head "i told you that nobodies waiting". Jeff looked into her eyes, "no, but you waitED for me for the last 6wks and never left once. even when i was throwing my toys out the cot. And IM sick of waiting to thank you."
Beth pulled the suitcase out of the car. Jeff opened the door and stood on one leg, just staring at the yard, taking in the air that he had missed so much. Everything seemed so bright and colorful after living in a white room for over a month now. He pulled the crutches out from the back of the car, and slid his arms into them. Beth smiled at him "you right?" she asked, as she shut the trunk of the car. Jeff nodded. Beth wheeled the suitcase behind her, up to the front steps. Jeff hopped along behind her. As she opened the door, Lizzie rushed out. The little dog ran down the steps to greet Jeff. Her little tongue hanging out in excitement. Jeff smiled, and carefully balanced himself so he could bend down to pick her up. The little dashhound wriggled in his arms, licking his arms and face. Beth laughed "looks like someone missed you" she stated as she walked into the house. Jeff let the dog jump out of his arms, and he carefully made his way up the steps into the house. The familiar warmth and scent of the home, instantly took over. "Home sweet home" he said to himself. Beth put the suitcase in the lounge before putting her own bag down on the bench. "You want a coffee?" she asked, flicking on the jug. Jeff sat down on the couch and busied himself patting Lizzie. "Na im fine. Wheres the other pup?" he asked. Beth took a mug out of the top cupboard, and jeff heard it make the light tap as it hit the bench. "Oh shes at Kimo's. He offered to look after her for the day" she said simply. Jeff nodded. Beth finished making her coffee and moved to the couch to sit down beside Jeff. She took a sip from the mug before putting the cup on the table and resting her head on her hand against the couch. "Its good to have you home" she told him. Jeff put Lizzie back down on the ground, and watched as she ran off into the kitchen. 'its good to be home" he replied. He leaned over and kissed beth lightly on the cheek. His neck now free of the brace, but still slightly sore. "what was that for?" she asked, surprised. Jeff smiled, "coz i love you" he stated matter-of-factly. Beth laughed and took another sip of her coffee. "I wanna go on the bike" Jeff thought out loud. Beth laughed again, almost spitting out her coffee. "On crutches? With your neck the way it is?" she asked. Jeff laughed too. "maybe not. But cant wait to get back out on the track". He became distracted with a strand of his hair. "we need to dye it again" he told her. The dark blue had now faded to a sky blue. "want me to do it? or do you want me to ring up Stace and see what shes doing?" asked Beth. She reached out and examined his hair for herself. "You can do it. Stacey's busy with the new salon and everything. I've got some dye there". He shook her hand off his head "don't touch the hair" he said sarcastically. beth moved her hand and laughed. "its been quiet without you here" she laughed. Jeff tilted his head, "Im sorry" he said. Beth pushed his arm playfully. "you don't have to apologies!" she laughed. He pulled her over to him and lay her over his lap. She looked up at him and smiled "what are you doing?" she asked. He brushed her hair out of her eyes and leaned down to kiss her. 'making up for it" he replied.
Beth's baby bump was starting to show now, and Jeff barely needed the crutches anymore. The two were enjoying their down time. This was the longest amount of time they'd had at home for ages as jeff was always working. Jeff had begun to busy himself, painting the nursery. It was baby blue with white furniture. Shannon and Kimo were helping him out with the painting. After finishing the second coat of paint, and having tea, Jeff sat down to relax with beth. "you've got paint all through your hair…and im not meaning the dye" she pointed out. Jeff ran his fingers through his red and orange hair. "ill wash it out soon. The nursery's looking awesome. Cant wait to put up them photos we talked about." he placed a hand on Beth's stomach. Beth placed her hand on top of his. "i cant wait either. But wish that this fatigue would go away. Im so tired all the time from doing nothing. I hate it!" she stated. "Only 5months to go" Jeff laughed. Beth sighed but smiled at Jeff. "We haven't worked out a name for him yet." she pointed out. Without further question, jeff grabbed his pen and notebook and sat down on the bed, beside Beth. "lets get going, then." Beth laughed, she looked at the list they had written a few weeks ago. "I like Ben" she told him, pointing at the name. "Yeah ben's cool, what about Max?" stated Jeff, pointing his pen at the name. "i like them both" replied Beth. Jeff laughed, and circled the two names. "So ben or max? …and max jumps from the ladder….the crowd cheers!" Jeff put on an overly exaggerated jim ross voice. Beth laughed. "Ben's got the brass ring….hes climbing the ladder….wow did you see that swonton!" she joined in. The two laughed together at the thought. When Jeff caught himself again, he looked at the notebook. "Whatever we name him, i don't think i want him to be a wrestler." Jeff stated. Beth looked surprised. "whys that?" she had always pictured the little boy growing up to be like his dad. Jeff looked at Beth in her pretty sparkling eyes. "Because being a wrestler means you don't get this life…" he waved a hand around the room "you don't get this downtime. You just get a life on the road, and injuries. When you jump from that ladder, for a moment you're on top of the world. Theres that crowd chanting your name…..but then after that rush…there comes the fall. And then you're left like this." he ushered to his still bandaged foot. "and i woulnt wish this on anyone". Beth frowned. "But you love them highs. you live off that stuff. for that thrill and excitement…if you didn't, then you wouldn't go every week and travel the world for months on end." Jeff shrugged. "I do love them highs. I love my job. How i can wow like a million people at once just by throwing myself off the scaffolding. or how i can get them to chant anything i want. How people will boo and cry when i get beaten up. Its a great feeling. I love my fans. But its what the fans don't see…what you see. It deffinately takes its toll. I cant do this forever. I could've died that last jump. And it would've been all for the fans, a sacrifice for entertainment - which i think is a pretty cool way to go. But its not a cool way for me to go in your eyes…The fans don't see what id leave behind. They see 'jeff hardy, the charismatic enigma!' they don't see just Jeff Hardy - brother, son, fiancee and soon-to-be father. They don't see that. Only you see that." Beth smiled knowingly. She could see that sparkle in his eyes. It was true, all the screaming fans that waited in queues and carparks for hours for an autograph or a photo, didn't see the man that she saw. they didn't know the jeff she knew. "I see a lot of things that they don't see." she said quietly. Jeff put a hand on her shoulder. "And thank god for that" he laughed.
Jeff was almost fully healed. His foot wasn't bandaged anymore, but he still wasn't medically cleared to wrestle. He was just enjoying staying at home with beth and the pups. He went over to Matts one night with a few of the boys, and came home drunk. After crawling into bed, he woke up to Beth yelling at him. "Look at the mess you left!" she told him. She was annoyed as he walked into the kitchen, just in his shorts. "sorry" he mumbled. He wasn't in the mood for arguing, he was still hungover. "What were y'all drinking? Theres something all over the carpet." she continued, in her pissed off tone. "i dunno" jeff mumbled. He watched as she got out the vacuum cleaner. "Ill do that" he told her. She plugged it into the wall "no you wont. you never vacuum" she told him, starting the machine up and blocking out the noise. As she was vacuuming, she noticed something on the floor. She picked it up. Examining the tiny container, her anger levels soared. She switched off the vacuum. "what the hell, jeff!" she thrusted the container of pills at him. He looked at her with wide eyes. "I can explain" he began. She poured the pills into her hand and looked at them in disappointment. "I dunno why i bother" she stated, pouring them back into the container. "They're not mine. We had them at the party last night. Everyone was having one just to get amped up. I only had one, whats the damage?" he asked. He was getting annoyed as well. Half because she had found them, and half because she was confronting him about it when he still had a hangover. "You know the damage! God, jeff. I just try and do whats best for you. I don't wanna find you in some gutter. You know what happened last time! how could you be so stupid!" she angrily coiled up the cord of the vacuum. 'hang on a minute! I dunno if its your hormones or whatever talking, but don't go bringing that shit up. You can ring Matt. He was there. Fuck, it was nothing. Don't be having a go at me first thing in the morning." his headache pounded. They argued for a while yelling back and forth. After a while, both got more heated. "Just fuckin' leave it. I do everything anyway!" yelled Beth. "Well if you fuckin gave me a chance. Don't get up me. Go and lie down or something!" Jeff argued back. Beth picked up a glass and in a wave of anger threw it to the floor. it shattered. "fuck beth!" jeff stated, instantly going to pick it up. "Just fuckin chill out!". She yelled back at him. "if you weren't such a fuckin druggy then i wouldn't have to worry!" That hurt. jeff looked up at her. "Don't like it? Fuck off!" he yelled angrily. He picked up a piece of the glass and threw it back at the cupboard. "But don't fuckin get up me!" Beth screamed after him, yelling and cussing. jeff walked into the lounge. He heard further banging around in the kitchen. Suddenly there was silence. In relief, he turned on the TV and hoped that she'd calmed down. There was silence for a while and then a faint "….Jeff….." Jeff rolled his eyes. he got up and walked to the kitchen "whatya want now?" he asked angrily. As he entered the kitchen, he saw beth crumbled against the wall. Tears in her eyes. He stared at her for a minute. "…Jeff….somethings wrong" she whispered, tears streaming down her eyes. He walked over to her and bent down. "….i think…the baby. Jeff, it hurts…." she told him. Her voice broke and she clutched her stomach in pain. Jeff took a deep breath. "Ok….stand up for me and we'll put you on the couch" he told her calmly. She shook her head and grabbed his shoulder. Her eyes serious, but filled with tears. His mood changed drastically as he realized this was serious. "Beth, its ganna be alright. Im ganna lift you up and put you in the car and we'll go straight to the hospital." she nodded weakly. She closed her eyes to try and ease the pain, but it didn't help. Carefully, he lifted her up and grabbed the keys for the car. He sat her in the passenger seat of the car, and fastened her seatbelt. He went to close the door, but she reached her hand out to him. "Jeff….i didn't mean what i said. Im sorry" she told him. He shook his head "don't worry bowt it. Im sorry too". he jumped in the car, started it up and drove them to the hospital.
Jeff paced in the waiting room. He tried ringing Matt on his cellphone, but Matt was boarding a plane to a house show somewhere, and couldn't get off the schedule. He grabbed a coffee to calm his nerves and try and wipe away the hangover he still had hanging over his head. A nurse came out, "you can go see her now" she told him. He nodded and walked down to the ward. Beth was sitting up on the bed. "the baby's fine" she said as Jeff walked in. He sat down beside her and put his arm around her. "and hows the baby mama?" he asked. She leaned her head on his shoulder "tired…im sorry i went off at you this morning. I wasn't very well during the night so didn't get much sleep. I shouldn't have taken it out on you." Jeff rubbed her back in a comforting way, "Its ok. As long as you're okay and little man is okay. Im ganna lay off the partying and everything. You don't need to be stressed out right now. All that stuff doesn't matter right now." he held her close and kissed her forehead. "I don't expect you to give up the fun because of me. I just need to make sure i get enough sleep" she told him. "How about we go home, and i make the bed all nice and we can both catch up on some sleep" Jeff suggested. She smiled, and her eyes looked up at him. "i think that sounds good".
As Beth woke up she found Jeff looking at her. "what?' she mumbled, her eyes still closed. Jeff smiled "you're sexy when you sleep" he stated. She kept her eyes closed, but smiled. The phone suddenly rang. Jeff picked it up, and propped himself up in the bed. Beth opened her eyes, and listened as jeff talked into the phone. He put the phone down after a while. "I have to go to work" he sighed. Beth groaned. "Why? you're not cleared yet." she told him. He sighed. "Na they just want me to do a backstage segment because they wanna start filming stuff leading up to when i go back full time. It shouldn't take long. maybe a couple of hours." He rolled out of the bed and chucked some clothes on. Beth was disappointed. "I'll be back before you know it." He pulled his hair into a messy bun and pushed his feet into his shoes. With that, he grabbed his keys and walked out the room. When he got to the show, he was greeted by Randy Orton. "Hey, man" he said, high fiving him. "Hey, looks like we're doing an angle together when ya get back" explained Randy. Jeff smiled and flipped through the sheets of paper Randy had handed him. "Sweet. Should be fun." Randy's eyes moved to jeffs foot. "Hows the foot? You didn't look too flash last time i saw them wheeling ya outta here. The downtime's always good, though. I love being home with my girls." Jeff wriggled his foot round, "Its all sweet. A few more weeks before i can be back in action. Yep I've just been chilling at home with Beth. Ha we'll both be dads soon." he laughed at the thought. Randy chuckled too. "Yeah, how far along is she?" he asked. "A few months yet. We've been painting up the nursery." Randy smiled and patted Jeff on the shoulder, "thats cool, man. You haven't lived life until you have a kid. You'll be a good dad, im sure. Hey, well i'll catch you round. Say hi to the missus for me. see Ya", Randy walked off down the corridor. Jeff flipped through the sheets of paper, memorizing the script as best he could.