Standard disclaimer-I do not own Bridge to Terabihia and/or anything from it or about it.

Chapter 7.

Finally going home

As he woke up, he discovered that he was still in there and that it wasn't just a dream. A few days passed and nothing changed. He was just lying in there, fixed to the bed; unable to do anything without the help of others. At least now he had someone to talk with; Ben maybe wasn't the right person for Jesse to talk with and they probably didn't have much in common; except that they both liked some sport; but at least he wasn't alone. Watching the ceiling and waiting till someone, anyone came in. They mostly talked about their families or school. Ben was still trying to befriend some pretty nurses; the youngest was 8 years older since he was 16 and she was just a trainee. But he didn't have much success. Jesse was still thinking about Leslie. He didn't know what to do or even what to think about her. From the moment he first time understood his strange dream, he discovered that he feel much more for Leslie than for some friend. Her behaviour made him even more uncertain.

'Is it just her way of saying thank you? Does she feel something for me?' He couldn't find an answer. He wasn't sure if he really loved her and even when he considered it as possible, he was still worried that it may ruin their friendship they had built in last few months. 'And what would happen if we broke up? Could we still be able to be friends? Or could we still go to the same class and meet each another after that?'

As Jesse even thought through this, more questions started to pop up like 'and what if she loves someone else? What if she doesn't want anything more than to be friends? And what if I won't be good enough for her?'

He didn't know what to do if he did manage to ask her out. And what was Leslie thinking about? Almost the same; she also didn't know what kind of reaction could she expect from Jesse if she would tell him what she felt. She was afraid that he wasn't ready for having a girlfriend and more afraid of his refusal to meet her if he didn't want to date her. She was trying to show him her feelings. She had just two conclusions: he's blind or he doesn't want me. So, they both decided to wait.

Soon nurses interrupted Jesse's thinking. They brought breakfast and did a small check if they are ok, ask if they could go to cafeteria or if they should bring them food, and then they left. They didn't ask such a question; they did so just because Jesse was unable to get even on toilet and Ben had a plaster on his leg. Mostly they asked just because of Ben; Jesse's answer was known.

"So, do you have any plans for today? Any dates?" asked Ben his average question.

"Well, in fact, my whole family's coming," said Jesse.

"Whole family? You mean that your sisters will came also, am I right?" asked Ben, full of delight.

"Yup, but nothing worth excitement, I would be much happier if I could at least go to the toilet on my own," added Jesse.

"Well, I can move a little and I don't have girls visiting me regularly like you so I am rightfully excited. Will you introduce me to them?" pleaded Ben.

"If you insist," Jesse rolled his eyes and started to fight with his breakfast.

In the meantime, Leslie was awoken by nurses and breakfast. She wasn't thinking about anything before that because she was fully asleep. They haven't such option like Jesse and Ben had - to have lunch in their room. They had to get to cafeteria on their own. They told Sarah that she would be going home before end of the spring holidays since her injury didn't require much treatment. Leslie was going to stay there at least for one more week for further observation. She was sad because she would be separated from Jesse but on the other hand, she was going to home.

After the lunch both couples watched morning shows on TV and then Leslie spoke up.

"I am going to visit Jesse," said Leslie and was getting up from her bed.

"What's this Jesse all about? You are still talking and thinking of him; can I finally get to know him?" asked Sarah seriously.

Leslie was stunned by her unexpected request, but she agreed.

As they went there, they had met Ben leaving their room, greeted each another and entered Jesse's room. They found Jesse finishing his battle over breakfast. Most of his food ended on the ground instead of his mouth. As the girls saw it, they were a little disgusted but much more amused.

"I am sorry for interrupting you while you are playing with your food but I came here to introduce you my roommate," said Leslie, giggled a little more at Jesse's unsuccessful attempts to eat by his own and stepped aside so Jesse could see Sarah better.

"Hi, I'm Sarah, I'll be probably going to the same school as you do," said Sarah with huge smile.

"Hi, I'm Jesse and I would appreciate if your roommate will help me with this," said Jesse, gave a small smile to Sarah and then looked at Leslie and pointed at his plate.

"As you wish, my master," giggled Leslie and did as he ordered to.

"So, when did you move to Lark Creek?" asked Jesse as Leslie was feeding him.

"Just two days before spring holidays, we were unpacking when some dog bit me and I ended in here," answered Sarah.

Leslie was enjoying feeding Jesse and she also made fun of it, like if he was a small baby. "Here comes the plane, tower, requesting landing permission."

"You two are nice couple, do you know that?" asked Sarah as she was watching their behaviour.

"Yeah, we know it, don't we, Jesse?" asked Leslie.

"Well..."

"I won't say anything else than yes if I were you till I have fork in my mouth," said Leslie with mischievous grin and continued with feeding him.

"So, Sarah, you can see how it works," said Jesse and took another bit.

"Yeah, I can see who is in charge in there," said Sarah with giggle.

They talked a little more and before they noticed anything, lunch was being served. Leslie had departed with a sad mood and went to cafeteria with Sarah. They had found Ben eating already, so they picked up their plates and went to sit with him. They were having just a short rest after their lunch at their rooms when Jesse's family came in and Ben quietly asked again if Jesse will introduce him to his sisters.

As they came inside, Jesse saw that Brenda was looking directly at Ben and then Jesse spoke.

"So, Brenda, this is Ben. He wanted me to introduce him to you," said Jesse and at this both Ben and Brenda looked at him, Brenda smiled and Ben wanted to kill him with his eyes.

"There is a small park in front of this building; do you want to go there?" Ben asked, directing his question to Brenda. She agreed and they both disappeared. His parents had asked him the average question about how it's going there, they told him what's new at home and so on.

"Look what we brought to you," said Maybelle as she gave him new sketch and pencil, "and we have bought you more painting stuff; it's all at home!''

"Wow, thanks, but I can't use it now; but how..." asked Jesse with disbelief.

"Well, the manager of store I work at was ran down by car... terrible accident... and more worse is that that car was drove by his assistant so they have fired him," started Jack to explain.

"But what does it have in common with my paints?" interrupted Jesse his father.

"Let me finish. The owner said something like he didn't want to give management positions to some stranger and there wasn't anyone with proper qualifications to take their job, so he had made a selection procedure in our shop for their positions;..." continued Jack.

"You are the new assistant manager?" asked Jesse in amazement.

"Will you let me finish or you don't want to know it?" now Jack was starting to get annoyed.

"Ok, I won't interrupt you anymore, I promise," said Jesse.

"Well, I knew everyone in our shop and I was getting along with everyone quite well, I had a respect between them, I was reliable, I knew something about running a shop and how it works and I worked there for quite long so..." now Jack was interrupted by his wife, "so will you tell him or I have to?"

"Ok, so... then I got the position of manager in our shop! I'm our new boss!" said Jack with excitement.

"So that's why you all wanted to visit me?" asked Jesse.

"Yes, as Jack was promoted, he will earn much, much more!" added Mary.

"But how's it possible? To jump from shop-assistant to manager?" asked Jesse as he couldn't believe.

"Well, all of us in the shop were on the same level, so we all had an opportunity. I will be in the probational period for two months. But still I will earn more in those two months than I have before. And so I and Mary decided to buy some gifts for everyone." said Jack and smiled at his son. "Things will be better now if I don't bungle anything during those two months."

They talked about Jack's promotion and even started to make plans for future. After they left, Ben came in and started conversation.

"Your sister is amazing!"

"Pity that I haven't discovered it yet," joked Jesse as he couldn't believe it.

"No, really. She's the most interesting person I have ever met."

"If you think so..."

"I think I love her."

"NO WAY! What did you say?" asked Jesse as he tried to turn on side to see into Ben's face, "you're joking!"

"No, and I think she loves me," added Ben with huge smile.

"This day is full of unbelievable discoveries," said Jesse.


Next week was much better for Jesse. His treatment was going on very well, they had removed some plaster to let it move a litte better and he had been told that if everything went well then they would start removing the rest of the plaster from him in the end of next week. But, on the other side, plaster wasn't the only thing which was going away. Leslie's departure was tomorrow, right in the morning, so this was his last day with her. He was happy that he would soon leave, but much more sad that she would go home in the next day without him.

"What are you up to?" asked Leslie as she entered his room, "you know that I am here, not on the ceiling, don't you?"

"What? Oh, yeah," answered Jesse, as he has noticed her.

"So, how is it like to move again?" asked Leslie teasingly.

"Well, it is not as good as being with you, you know," said Jesse and looked sadly at her.

"Well, I'll be visiting you from time to time."

"Yeah, but most of the time I'll be here alone. Well, not completely alone; I will be here listening to Ben's daydreaming about Brenda... yeah, that is much better," said Jesse with disgust and sarcasm.

"But you won't be here forever, just few more weeks. And I promise to visit you as often as possible."

The next week began badly; all his fears became true; Ben was mostly talking and asking about Brenda and Leslie wasn't visiting him as often as he would wish. Of course, she had missed too much in school so she wanted to catch up with classmates, not like Jesse which it was not bothering. The only thing, on which he could look forward to was that he will get rid of plasters in the end of that week; they have removed it just in the middle of next week, but at least he has finally got rid of them; but, when it came to the rehabilitation, he was afraid that he was not in rehabilitation room but in torture. The first moves after such a long time really hurts; he thought that he won't withstand it, but at least he was doing rehabilitation with Ben, so Ben's talking about Brenda made him forget about all of the pain. Ben was really mad about her; they have met few times from the start, but near the end it seemed to Jesse that Brenda was there more often than Leslie and that really freaked him out. At least Jesse was doing very well and he was going to leave hospital really soon; to the end he even managed to draw something, but he still missed his precision, which has been widely affected by month in plaster and now this terrible treatment, which was much more painful than useful, Jesse thought.

As these terrible weeks passed, he was finally going home.

"So Jesse, ready to go?" asked Jack with such smile which wasn't really common in past months, "or do you want to stay here for few more days?"

"NO! Get me out of here! I hate this place!" pleaded Jesse.

"Oh, cool down; just grab your things and let's move."

Jesse was so happy about leaving that hospital and returning to home like never before. All those wasted days in bed, that rehabilitation and now he would see Leslie much more often. So many things to look forward to; or at least one thing to look forward to. They said goodbye to nurses and went to the car.

"Why are you just here for me? It's Sunday, nobody has to go to school."

"Well, Leslie, if you are talking about her, has some work to do at home."

"Oh, ok then," said Jesse and leaned his head against the window. Outside was raining and the sky was grey. It looked more like if something sad happened; not like if something good is going to happen to him, thought Jesse, as they were going home.

It took around 20 minutes to get home.

"I'm going to say hello to Leslie," burst Jesse out and jumped from car, but Jack stopped him.

"No, wait, first bring your things inside," ordered Jack and picked up the heaviest bag. Jesse did as ordered to, picked the rest of things and went to their house. He just wanted to see Leslie, but no, he had to bring things at home first, he thought. So he just opened their front doors and when he went inside, all jumped out and shouted "Welcome!"

He was so surprised that he even nearly fell on the floor, not knowing if from the noise or surprise. He noticed a huge banner with the same words, probably written by Maybelle. He just exchanged greetings, stayed there for a few minutes and then he went up to unpack and Leslie with PT following.

"Hi Jesse."

"We already met downstairs, Leslie."

"Yes, but... never mind. Can I help you?"

"Yeah, of course. You can bring those dirty clothes to bathroom near the washing machine," said Jesse and gave her mischievous grin.

"Well, maybe next time. Anything else up there?"

"Nope."

"What's this?" asked Leslie as she picked up his new sketch from his bag.

"That's nothing, I just tried something."

"It's good, Jess."

"I know, but I am modest," said Jesse and then quickly added when he saw her look, "no, just kidding. It would be much better if I haven't for so long fixed my hand."

"You should practice; you can make a hole in the world one day."

"Interesting, but I don't know what to draw. For the last few day's I was drawing everything around me."

"Well, you can draw me if you want," said Leslie and her face went red.

"You would like that?"

"Maybe."

They were interrupted by PT's barking, so they went out with him. They went to the forest, as usual.

"Anything new in school?" asked Jesse.

"Nothing much, just some new guy came to seventh grade. His name is Peter. He came to me and Sarah and joined us in cafeteria."

"Uh... so, do you like him?"

"What?" asked Leslie and stopped walking, completely stunned by his question.

"I... I meant... if he is ok and so on..." said Jesse and his face turned red.

"Ok? Yes, he is ok, I think. And I nearly forgot something. Hoager and Fulcher missed you."

"No way!"

"Yeah, they said it. And to quote them: 'we miss kicking his ass'," said Leslie.

"Oh, like that."

"You were thinking that they would change?"

"No, but miracles happens."

"Like what?"

"Like that what happened when you came first in our class."

"What was that miracle?"

"You."

"uh... me? how? what..." asked Leslie; flushed.

"I mean, I have never met anyone like you before."

"Oh..."

"Really, you changed my whole life; now I can't imagine it without you, you mean much to me, Leslie," said Jesse; stopped walking and turned to see in her eyes.

"I... I... thank you," she stopped and turned to him also, but she was looking to the ground, her face covered in red. Jesse stepped closer, picked her hands and continued talking.

"You're everything to me; Leslie, you are my best friend, and... and..."

"And?" asked Leslie, trying to ignore colour of her own face and looked deeply into Jesses eyes, wanting him to say it; whatever it will be.

"And... I..." Jesse started loosing words when PT came to him, picked his paw and done his work, "peed on me."

"What?" asked Leslie and she couldn't believe what he said.

"No, PT has peed on me," said Jesse, let go her hands and starting examining his shoes.

"Oh," said Leslie as she was disgusted at imagination of content of Jesse's shoes and mad at PT.

"I guess we should go to our place... I can't walk in those wet shoes."

"Ok," sighed Leslie and they both turned around and went to Jesses house.

"The imagination of school tomorrow is killing me," sad Jesse.

"It's not that bad, Jess."

"The early waking up and sitting in there? I missed so long that now I will have tests on each lesson."

"And what banned you from learning at hospital?"

"You know me, Les."

When they were at his house, her parents were leaving, so they just say bye to each another and Leslie went home with parent, while Jesse went right to his room. He sat on his bed and kept thinking about how would she react if he said what he wanted; 'Maybe this way is better, maybe I should wait a little more,' said Jesse to himself and lied on his bed. Leslie was mad about PT and nearly crying that he ruined such a great opportunity. 'Now I will never find out what he wanted to say... Maybe he wanted just to say something about being best friend and nothing more, but if... I will never find it out!'


A/N: I have such a long pause, I will also start writing next chapter today, but if I won't finish it today I don't know when will I manage to get back and finish it. I have written first half of this story about month ago and the other half I have been writing from early morning and finished it in afternoon. I started working on some other story and then I got some ideas for this one, so I immediately returned to this story and put my ideas in computer. This chapter is shifting between paragraphs which are telling what happened in whole weeks and dialogs so long like never before in my writings. I hope it was readable.

I also turned Jack into shop manager, since I want it to be a little happier story than story in which his best friend dies, they have lack of money, kids are bullying him, his sisters make fun of him and his father is mad at him. That story was showing how it works in real world, but anyway, I think some changes are ok.

Martin