Thank you so much for all the reviews and support. I'm into the difficult part of the story now. The gritty facts are easy to write, the emotional fall out is much trickier…
Denise sat with Jackie for several minutes while she sobbed. Finally Jackie pulled away slightly. "I'm sorry."
"Jackie. Please. Do not apologize to me." Denise took Jackie's hand. Her voice broke when she spoke. "I'm so happy you're okay. When I heard you were in there, I was so scared for you." She pushed Jackie's hair behind her ear and looked at the ugly bruise still forming on her jaw. "Are you in any pain?"
Jackie sniffled. "No. I'm fine." She looked around. "How long have I been here?"
Denise saw how she claimed to be fine and then changed the subject. Jackie had pulled that on her before. A year ago when Denise asked about the pills she was taking. She knew better than to believe Jackie, but she wouldn't challenge her for now. "A few hours. Do you remember being in the ambulance?"
Jackie thought hard and slowly shook her head. "Not really. I guess I passed out?"
"Yes. You came to in the ambulance and panicked. They gave you a sedative."
Jackie looked around. "I'm not in the Emergency room. Why?"
"The doctor wants to keep you overnight, just as a precaution." Denise was getting ready for the fight that would come next.
Jackie climbed out of the bed and pulled the hospital gown tightly around her. "No. That's not necessary." She turned to face Denise. "I feel fine. I think I can handle a busted lip on my own."
Denise stood up in front of her. "Jackie. You've been through something very traumatic. You had a full-blown panic attack in the ambulance. The doctor just wants to make sure-"
Jackie ignored her and went to the small closet in the room. She opened it to find it empty. "Where are my clothes?" She turned around to Denise waiting for an answer.
"Your clothes were given to the investigators." She walked to Jackie and took her hands again. "Jackie, please. Just sit down-"
"Denise, no." Jackie pulled her hands away. "I want to go home. I need to go home." She paused and then looked at Denise with wide eyes. "Oh my God. Kevin. He called… I need to call Kevin!"
Denise put her hands on both of Jackie's shoulders to get her attention. "Michael called Kevin. He knows you're safe."
Jackie started shaking, her eyes got teary, and she wrapped her arms around her middle. Denise saw that she was close to losing it again. "Please. Just sit down here for a few minutes." She angled Jackie toward the bed and helped her to sit. Denise sat next to her. After a few minutes, Denise spoke. "Michael is here. He spoke to Kevin a little while ago and told him you would call once you could talk to him."
Jackie took a deep breath and sat up straighter. "What did Michael tell him?"
"Well, he told him what happened and that you were in the hospital."
"Oh God." Jackie crumpled over and put her head in her hands. "He doesn't need to worry like that Denise."
"I understand, believe me. But Michael didn't want to lie to him and Kevin knew something was wrong, so…" Denise held on to Jackie's forearm and squeezed.
"He needs to know that I'm okay. I need to go home Denise. If I'm going home, he'll know everything is okay." Jackie was pleading with Denise.
"Jackie, he all ready knows about the panic attack and that they want to keep you over night."
"Ugh." Jackie ran her hands through her hair in frustration. "I'm doing what I swore I would never do Denise."
"I know, but it couldn't be helped." She squeezed Jackie's arm again. "It will be okay Jackie. We'll get you on the phone with him and he'll hear that you're doing fine." Denise bent forward to catch Jackie's eye. "It'll be okay."
Jackie looked at her and nodded as if she was trying to convince herself that what Denise had said was true. "Okay." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
When Denise brought Michael back in the room, Jackie was standing and staring out the window. She had wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. She didn't appear to know they were there. Denise approached her and spoke softly. "Jackie?"
Jackie jumped slightly and turned to Denise. "Hey." She saw Michael and walked toward him. "Michael. Thank you for calling Kevin."
"You're very welcome, it was no problem." He gave her a brief hug and then held onto her shoulders. "I'm so sorry this happened to you. If you need anything…" Michael didn't know what else to say. He knew she wasn't happy to be stuck in the hospital and Denise had said she was upset that he had told Kevin she would be staying over night.
Suddenly Jackie remembered the young woman and her two children. "There was a woman, with her kids, in the back-"
"They're fine. They got out shortly after we got there." Michael slid his hands down to Jackie's forearms.
Jackie's shoulders relaxed and she nodded at him. 'Thank God they got out okay.' It was obvious she was trying not to get too emotional.
"You protected them Jackie. That woman is very grateful." He squeezed her arms and then let go. He pulled his phone out, pulled up Kevin's number, and handed it to her. "You ready to call?"
"Yes." She took the phone from him. "Thanks."
"I'll be in the hall. Take your time." Michael headed out the door.
Denise stood beside Jackie. "Do you want me to stay or…"
"No. I'll be fine." Denise went to turn and walk out but Jackie grabbed her arm. "Thank you. Really."
"No thanks necessary." Denise squeezed Jackie's hand then turned and left the room.
Jackie sat in the chair beside the bed and stared at the phone. She swallowed once, took a deep breath, and hit the call button.
Kevin answered on the first ring. "Jackie?"
Jackie felt her heart swell and her eyes get moist just at hearing his voice. "Yes, it's me."
"Oh God, it's good to hear your voice. I've been so worried."
"It's good to hear your voice too. I'm sorry for worrying you." She was barely holding in her emotions.
"Jackie, no apologies please. I'm just so damn glad you're safe." His voice cracked with emotion.
When Jackie heard the break in his voice she couldn't help the sob that escaped.
"I wish I was there to help you. I'm so sorry I'm not." Kevin had his head in his hand as he leaned over his desk.
"Kevin, it's okay. I'm okay." She wiped the tears from her face.
"I can hear you're not okay. I wouldn't expect you to be after what you've been through." He knew his wife. She would be stubborn about this. She always kept everything in check while he was away so she wouldn't worry him. "I need you to let people help you, Jackie. Can you do that for me?"
"Kevin, you don't need to worry. I'm fine-"
"Hon, you're not fine. I talked to Michael. I know what you went through. I know they want you to stay in the hospital tonight and I know you'll fight them on that. I need you to not fight it. I'll feel better knowing that you're safe, and that you're being cared for."
"I understand that, but I would feel so much safer at home, locked in our house-"
"Jackie. It's not just about safety. You had a panic attack, and I know you feel calm now, but I would feel better if a doctor was around just in case it happens again." He hoped he was getting through to his stubborn wife. "Please? For me?"
"Kevin…" She was torn. She didn't want to stay there, but she had all ready caused him so much worry. "Okay. Just for tonight. But, then I'm going home."
"Thank you." Kevin let out a breath in relief. "I talked to Michael about replacing your cell phone. He's going to take care of that. I'll call you tomorrow morning to check in. Okay?"
"Okay." She wiped another tear away and sniffled quietly.
"I love you Jackie-" His voice was breaking again.
Jackie heard the emotion in his voice and she covered her mouth to stifle the sob that was trying to get out.
"-and I can't wait to get back there to hold you and take care of you." A tear slipped down Kevin's cheek. He swiped it away. He hated feeling so helpless and he was afraid for Jackie, for so many reasons.
Jackie took a deep breath before responding "I love you too. And I can't wait for you to come home." More tears fell.
"I'll call you in the morning. Please try to get some rest, okay?"
"I'll try. You don't need to worry about me. I'm going to be fine." Jackie was nodding to herself.
"I know you will. I love you."
"Love you too."
As soon as they disconnected, Jackie wrapped her arms around herself while tears slid down her face.
Halfway around the world, Kevin set his phone down and rubbed his eyes. He had never wanted to go home so badly.
TBC
Not quite sure I'm satisfied with the Jackie/Kevin phone conversation. They have had so little positive interaction on the show it's hard to judge how it would go. I hope it didn't sound too farfetched…