Jenna was woken up by a gentle pressure on her shoulder. She raised her head from where it lay on her crossed arms and peered through squinting eyes in the fluorescent lighting at Dawn, crouched next to her. Lulu was in her arms, smiling at Jenna and holding her little arms out, wanting to be picked up. Jenna instinctively reached for her and Dawn relinquished her grip. Lulu was warm and clean and smelled of baby powder. Immediately, she started rutting at Jenna's shirt, hungry.

"Sorry, I was going to feed her what you had pumped, but I realized you didn't pump, and she just wouldn't take the formula," Dawn apologized.

"Shh, it's fine," Jenna glanced at Jim's sleeping form in the bed next to her; he had graciously moved over so she could rest against the bed. "I forgot to pump earlier, I've been getting mighty achy."

She lifted her shirt and obligingly took the nursing blanket from Dawn, getting Lulu adjusted. She realized as she did so how good it felt, how natural and sweet and warm Lulu felt nestled up against her. When was the last time it felt that good?

"How is he? What happened?" Dawn whispered pointedly, glancing at Jim. Jenna sighed, eying his bandage. When they had moved him a few hours ago to the private room, the nurse instructed Jenna to press the call button whenever she noticed blood seeping through the bandage. It had gradually slowed over the course of the evening, thankfully, and the gauze was still snowy white now.

"I'm not gonna say he's ok, because that would be a lie, but he will be," Jenna whispered back. "It was Earl."

"Oh my god," Dawn whispered breathlessly.

"Yeah. He did a number on him."

"Why?"

"It's a long story, Dawn,"

"I've got time," Dawn shot back, her little chin jutted out, putting her dimples on full display.

"Well, Dr. Pomatter and I, we had, I guess you would call it, an affair? When I was pregnant."

"You what?!"

"We slept together. A lot. It was a whole thing, but it's over now. I ended it."

"You slept with your gynecologist? What were you thinking!?"

"I was lonely and miserable and Earl. . . Please don't ride me on this, I've already tortured myself enough about it."

"I'm just surprised."

"I ended it," Jenna defended. "Didn't matter anyways though, we've gone well and ruined things now anyways."

"What do you mean? Or—wait, is that why his wife isn't here?"

"He did that, but, yeah, I guess. She knows. And I guess Earl does too, though I have no idea in hell how he found out," Jenna shifted Lulu to the other breast, adjusting the blanket and taking a deep breath. "So, Francine—his wife—found out and made them call me instead, some sort of vindictive joke or something."

"What are you gonna do? What's wrong with him, I mean?" Dawn asked, glancing again at Jim's mangled body in the bed, his chest rising and falling unevenly.

"Earl burst his spleen, for starters. Broke a rib or two, they're not sure yet on that. He's got a whole list of things wrong with him."

"And so you called his parents?"

"No," Jenna hesitated.

"Why not?"

"Well for starters, I don't have their number. When he wakes up I'll ask, but I think they're not—well, I don't think they're involved. In his life."

"Well then what are you gonna do?"

"I'm gonna take care of him! It was Earl that did this after all; it's my fault."

"What Earl does is not your fault, Jenna. That's the kind of thinking that got you trapped in that marriage to start with!"

"No, Dawn, it's not like that—"

"Then what is it like? You taking responsibility for what that jerk does to others?!"

"Shh!" Jenna glanced at Jim in alarm. She paused. "Earl's been coming to the house still. I didn't want to tell you and worry you."

"He what? For how long?"

"Ever since those few times when you were there. Every week at least."

"Jenna! Why didn't you tell us?"

"I didn't want to burden y'all with it. You were never home when it happened, so I didn't have to worry. Plus, what would the cops even do if I reported him? He never got violent."

"Was he threatening you?"

"Well yeah, but he never does anything about those."

"Well he clearly did!" Dawn stared pointedly at Jim again.

"Yeah, but that wasn't to me."

"Did the police talk to you?"

"Yeah." Lulu started fussing and Jenna pulled the nursing blanket off, putting it over her shoulder and starting to pat Lulu on the back, waiting for a burp.

"And?!"

"I told them he had been coming to my house, but they didn't seem to care. When Jim wakes up they have to talk to him, ask what happened and if he wants to press charges and all that. We'll find out more then."

"You oughta talk to them again, see what you can do."

"I'm sure this will teach Earl his lesson, whether or not he gets charged. He's in jail right now and I can't think of a person in the world that would post bail for him."

"Jenna," Dawns voice was serious. Clearly, she didn't believe the threat was gone.

"It's not an issue to talk about now, Dawn." Lulu burped and Jenna cradled her in her arms, rocking gently. Lulu smiled up at her and gurgled happily, her cheeks rosy. Jenna smiled at her, feeling a warmth and connection she hadn't for a while. Dawn looked between the pair.

"Ok. I'll leave it," she finally whispered. "When did you last eat?"

"I'm not hungry," Jenna didn't take her eyes off Lulu as she rocked.

"You need to eat, Jenna. How about I stay with the doctor and Lulu, and you go get some food?"

"Fat chance I'm leaving him. They say his condition's still serious."

"Ok, you stay, and I'll go get you some food. I can take Lulu too," she held her arms out for the baby, and Jenna surprised herself by yanking her away. Dawn recoiled and Jenna looked down at her baby, Lulu's eyes wide with surprise at the sudden movement. She didn't cry though, just smiling at Jenna once more.

"I can keep Lulu," Jenna whispered. "I'll just get her to sleep. Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

"No, it's fine," Dawn replied. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Ok. I'll go get you some pie from the diner, ok? I think I've gotten the hang of that chicken pot pie by now, even though it's nowhere near as good as yours. I'll bring that back for you, ok? And I brought the pump, if you wanted to do that."

Jenna nodded, still looking at Lulu. "Wave bye to Auntie Dawn," she cooed at her baby, lifting Lulu's hand to wave at Dawn. Dawn smiled and left, leaving Jenna with Lulu and a sleeping Jim.

She stood and began to pace the room, rocking her baby, humming a song her mom used to sing to her under her breath.

"She's marvelous."

Jenna almost jumped out of her socks.

"Jim! You scared me half to death!"

"Sorry," he whispered, still smiling. "But this is the first time I've seen her since the birth. She's amazing."

"You want to see her closer? I don't think you can hold her."

"True," he chuckled and then winced. Jenna brought Lulu closer and cradled her in the space against his good side. He looked down at those blue eyes and Jenna watched him melt, as every other person did too. "Dear lord. Wow. That is the cutest baby I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot of babies."

"Aww, you're just saying that," Jenna grinned though, knowing hers was something special.

"Fat chance." Jim lifted a finger and brushed it over Lulu's cheek. Her dozing eyes opened at the sensation and she smiled, reaching for the finger that hovered so close, wrapping her tiny pink fingers around it, not even able to close her fist all the way.

"She likes you," Jenna whispered, her heart overflowing with some feeling—was that pride?

"I like her," Jim looked up at Jenna then, and she looked away quickly, unable to meet his eyes. "You're doing better," he said. It wasn't a question.

"Yeah." Jenna didn't say more, not wanting to talk about it. "You're not."

"I'm so sorry Francine made them call you. I'll be fine, you don't have to stay."

"I'm staying. It's not a question."

"Jenna. . ."

"Jim."

They stared at each other, a battle of wills, neither backing down. Until Jim coughed.

Jenna laid Lulu down next to him on the bed, then just like the nurses had instructed, she placed her hands on both his shoulders, holding him to the bed. His coughs wracked his body, and Jenna prayed as she held him down, hoping he wouldn't push Lulu off the bed in his spasms. As the cough faded and his ragged breathing commenced, he clenched his right arm around her little body, keeping her cushioned against his side and far from the edge of the bed. When Jenna finally backed away, Lulu was snugged against his side, smiling and waving at her.

"And that is why I'm not leaving."

"Jenna, I can't ask you to stay—"

"Jim, it was Earl who did that to you."

"I know."

"My ex."

"I know."

"I owe you—"

"You don't owe me anything."

"Jim! He wouldn't—"

"His actions are not your responsibility."

"Would everybody stop telling me that!"

"They're not!"

"They are! If I had never cheated on him with you he wouldn't have assaulted you, therefore his actions are my fault. And you will not convince me otherwise, Dr. Pomatter! Now please try and rest!" Jenna went to lift Lulu from her spot on the bed next to him, but Jim held her tighter.

"Can Lulu stay? I like her here." His voice was vulnerable.

"Sure," Jenna whispered, settling herself on that side of the bed and watching her daughters eyes flutter shut in time with Jim's. She stayed that way until Dawn showed up an hour later with Becky and a slice of chicken pot pie in hand.