Chapter 3

After dinner, Beth got Jack settled into the recliner in the living room, letting him watch some TV. Taking the remote that Beth handed him, he quickly found the Nationals baseball game. Walking back into the kitchen, she found Zach putting away the deep pan she had used to cook the pasta. "I said I'd help you dry the dishes you were washing," she smiled.

"You got Jack settled; I've got this," he smiled. The doorbell rang. Zach winked at Beth. "More female love and attention for our patient."

Mudgie, lying by the recliner keeping an eye on his wounded young charge, joined Beth as she walked to the door, on guard as usual. Beth laughed, rubbing his head as she looked through the peephole of the door, just to make sure. "It's all good Mudg," she smiled as she opened the door. "Hi you two," she smiled at Caleigh and Rachel.

They entered and Mudg, rather than wanting his usual loving, turned towards the living room, looked back and loudly barked. "Got it Mudg," Caleigh laughed, scratching his back.

Rachel looked at Beth. "How's he doing," she asked, handing Beth a plate of Rice Krispie bars.

"He's hurting," Beth said. "That's hard on me; I hate to see him in pain."

Rachel smiled. "Welcome to being a mother," she said, putting her arm around Beth, rubbing her back. "It's the toughest part. But trust me; he's an active boy and plays sports. This isn't the last injury."

Beth smiled. "That, I get." Rachel rubbed her back more. The two walked into the living room with Caleigh kissing Jack's head.

"How ya doin' bro," she asked.

"The ice and Advil is working; I had a nap and my belly is full," he smiled.

Caleigh ruffled his hair. "Good thing you're a lefty," she smiled. She and Zach shared a kiss. Jack rolled his eyes.

Rachel walked up. "I like that report," she smiled. "Jack, I'm just going to check your fingers for swelling with the cast." She carefully looked at his fingers. "Jack, can you bend your index finger for me. Just a little until it hurts," she added. Jack complied.

Rachel looked at Beth. "When he can bend that finger over with no pain, he'll be ready to go back to school." She gave Jack a look. "No fudging on that test," she said, wagging a finger at him. Jack laughed.

"Doc Schmidt said he could probably go back Thursday," Beth smiled at her.

"I have no doubt," Rachel smiled back. "He's a good man."

Zach looked at his future mother-in-law. "Is there anyone in the health care system that takes care of us that you don't know?"

Rachel smiled. "I've got my sources."

Zach wrapped his arm around Caleigh's shoulder and shook his head. "Damn, that's comforting," he snarked.

Beth showed Jack the plate of goodies. ""Thanks Rachel," he smiled. "You didn't have to do that."

Rachel laughed. "I've still got my own over-sized one that likes sweet stuff. Caleb said considering the circumstances, he'd share with you."

"Caleb rocks," Jack smiled.

Caleigh looked at Zach. "You sure you don't want me to help you tonight so Beth can sleep?"

Zach shook his head with a smile. "With the timing, Jack's next Advil is at eleven. I'll still be up watching baseball highlights. You've got a game on Friday. I've got this. But thanks for offering babe." He kissed her.

Rachel looked at Beth. "How's Aaron handling this, being away?"

"Thank God for Uncle Dave," Beth, Zach and Jack said together.

The two Graystone ladies laughed. Caleigh rubbed her mom's shoulder. "That's a no brainer mom," she smiled.

-00CM00—

Less than two hours later, Beth and Jack walked into Zach's den. While he couldn't take a shower, it was obvious that Beth had him cleaned up and into his p.j.s "No futon," Beth asked Zach.

He smiled. "He can bunk in my bed."

"Zach," she questioned.

"I don't have school tomorrow," he smiled. "And Jack will be more comfortable and I can keep a better eye on him."

They got Jack into Zach's bed with Mudgie hovering around. Zach's cell buzzed. He pulled it out of his shorts pocket. "Gee, I wonder who that is," he said with a smile. "Hey dad."

"Zach put me on speaker phone."

"Go dad."

"Hey buddy; how you doing?"

"I'm OK dad; I'm just heading to bed."

"Buddy, I love you and I'm sorry I'm not there. But I don't have much time to talk. We just got a major break."

"It's OK dad," Jack said with a smile at Beth and Zach. "That means you'll be home soon."

'That's what I hope too buddy. Uncle Dave sends his love as well."

"I love you dad. Uncle Dave too. Just be safe."

"Promise buddy. I love you too."

"Dad," Zach said. "Go; Beth and I've got this. Love you."

"Love you Aaron," Beth added.

"I love you all." The call ended.

Beth rubbed Jack's head as she tucked him into Zach's bed. His wrist was iced down again. "I think dad and Uncle Dave will be around for dinner tomorrow night," she smiled, kissing his forehead.

Jack eyed his brother. "You got that covered?"

"Dinner?" Jack nodded. "All over it bro," Zach smiled. His prayers said Jack blissfully conked out. Zach put his arm around Beth, leading her out of the room. "Get some sleep; we'll be fine," he smiled, kissing her forehead. "He'll need more Advil at seven tomorrow morning. I'll let you handle that."

"Thanks Zach," she smiled, kissing his cheek. "It's been a long week with work. I could use some sleep."

"I heard you up late last night," he smiled. Beth eyed him. "What? I'm a profiler's son," he smiled. "And I worry about you as much as you worry about me."

Beth hugged him. "Please just don't burn yourself out helping out around here with your studies."

Zach kissed her cheek. "You let Mudg out, I've got the alarm."

Beth rubbed his bicep. "Deal," she smiled. "Good night Zach."

"Night Beth," he smiled. "Love you."

"Love you too," she smiled. 'Come on Mudg." Mudg sprang up the steps in front of her.

Ten minutes later, Mudg came down the steps and Zach heard Beth head down the hallway to her and his dad's bedroom. He smiled at Mudg heading into his bedroom to curl up next to Jack. Keeping an eye on ESPN's SportsCenter broadcast, he typed into his laptop more thoughts on his engineering project.

Around ten-thirty, he heard Jack starting to stir a bit. He looked at the time in the bottom corner of his laptop. Figures he thought.

A little bit later, Jack walked out of Zach's bedroom. "Is it time?"

"It's starting to hurt that much again?" Jack nodded his head. "Close enough bro," Zach smiled.

"Zach, I gotta whiz first."

"Go," Zach smiled.

Giving Jack his next dose of Advil and tucking him in, he went upstairs into the kitchen. He pulled out another Ziploc bag of ice he and Beth had prepared from the freezer. Coming back down the steps, he dropped the bag on the concrete floor that was below the deep pile carpeting in the den. With the ice bag broke up, Zach pulled off the nearly melted bag from Jack's cast and applied the new one. "Get some sleep bro," Zach said, rubbing his brother's head.

"Night Zach," Jack yawned. "Love ya."

"Love you too bro." Zach took the old bag up to the kitchen, emptied the contents into the sink and replenished it, putting it into the freezer. He pulled out his cell, clicking on two addresses. Hey! Hope you're safe. Jack tucked in for the night. Beth sawing logs which she needs. Luvs ya he typed, sending the text. He went back downstairs and worked a bit more on his project thesis and let Mudg out one more time. When Mudg came in, Zach set the alarm, padded upstairs to re-check the doors. He climbed into bed a bit later to Jack sleeping soundly again.

When Zach woke up around three to Jack becoming restless, he repeated the ice process, yawning as he read the text on his phone as he pulled a new ice bag from the freezer.

Bagged our bad guy; looking forward to dinner tomorrow. Luv, Unc D. PS I've got dad. ;)

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