This Too Shall Pass
Chapter 11
Jess sat in the chair next to her husband's bed and watched him sleep. He had looked so peaceful when she had come in, she didn't have the heart to wake him. Shep had reassured her that Derek looked far worse than the injuries he incurred. She had seen the fiery crash in her dreams a week ago. Ordering the new bumper put on the truck hadn't even raised an eyebrow so she didn't need to explain herself to anyone.
"Did Cody make it back?" Jess looked up to see Derek's eyes open.
"He's going to live to see another day." She stood and sat gently on the bed next to him. "I knew I shouldn't have trusted him to have your back."
"Jess that's not only unfair, it's a little childish." Smiling Jess touched her husband's cheek.
"I'm just messing with you. I know my brother did everything in his power to make sure you were safe. I did my part by having that bumper installed."
"How long have you known about what was going to happen today?"
"I woke up a few days ago to the explosion in my head." Jess stood and walked to the window and looked out. "I called Spencer and he talked me through it. I saw the first scenario where Cody didn't chase the car as it left the park. He hit electrical pole which fell and ended up the road. It started a chain reaction that sent more people to the morgue than to the hospital."
"So Reid told you to get a real strong bumper and pray?" She chuckled.
"He told me to do everything I could to keep you safe but I couldn't tell Cody not to stop the guy coming out of the park because if I did, he would second guess himself and things might turn out worse."
"Since when does Spencer Reid believe in ESP?"
"He doesn't, but he has a theory about my birth mother's illness and my premonitions. He thinks because I spent most of my life with the Hawke's, I got a positive type of Hale's disorder."
"So he's saying that your premonitions are a form of bipolar disorder?" Jess sat back down in the chair and curled her legs up and rested her chin on her knees.
"I guess. I just go with what my gut tells me and my gut told me I needed a scientific second opinion." She looked at her husband. "I'm glad the truck didn't explode."
"You and me both, baby girl. You should go see the girls. "
"Are you trying to get rid of me Ranger Morgan?"
"Don't ever think that I wish you anyplace but here with me. Well not here, in the hospital but you know what I mean. It's been a long day and you need to decompress. Tomorrow you can fill me in on Kitrick's meltdown."
"You're about to pass out on me again aren't you?"
"Shep knows how to throw a party baby." Derek smiled. Jess stood and leaned over and kissed her husband.
"Sleep tight Ranger Morgan."
"MMM you too baby, you too." His eyes closed and he was out for the count. Jess grabbed her jacket and headed out the door. Cutler was waiting for her.
"You got the short straw?" They walked down the hall.
"I volunteered. How are you holding up?"
"I've had better days. On the bright side Kitrick is going to be in jail for a very long time just on the attempted murder charges alone."
"He admitted to trying to poison you?" Jess nodded. "How's that working out for you?"
"I feel like a weight has been lifted but the rock is still there." Cutler understood her better than anybody. She still felt guilty about that sometimes, other times she was so glad that things between them were the way they were.
"Sooner or later that rock will tumble off a cliff and you'll be free of that bastard." Cutler opened the door for her and they went out into the cool afternoon air. He always knew what to say. "How's Derek?"
"Sore." They got into Cutler's truck. He looked at his friend. "What?"
"You just seem oddly at ease your husband's in the hospital."
"It could have been worse. I guess at my advanced age I'm starting to look at the bright side of things instead of the dark side. Less chances of me getting an ulcer and going insane." Cutler put the truck in gear and pulled out of the lot.
"It's about time you got back to being the Mary Sunshine we know and love." Jess smiled.
"She has been gone a long time, hasn't she?"
"Too long." Jess pulled her sunglasses off the top of her head and put them on. She closed her eyes. "Welcome back sunshine." Jess smiled.
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Her house smelled incredible when Jess walked through the door. Her mother and dad must have decided she needed a home cooked meal after the day she had. Hanging her jacket on the hook by the door she went into the kitchen to find her mother at the stove and her dad and Devin were sitting at the table holding the girls.
"Smells great mom." Jess went and the table and took Skylar from her father. "How is everyone?"
"We should be asking you that." Her dad looked at her.
"I'm…good. Kitrick is safe and warm in his five by five, my husband recovering nicely from what might have been a much worse scenario, and my babies are well." She blew a raspberry on the little girl's tummy making her smile. "How were they Devin?"
"Complete angel's Jess. Except for the minor blow out we had at lunch. I was lucky Derek and your brother decided to stop by or I might still be trying to get the smell out of here." She stood. "They both ate about a half hour ago so they should be good till bed time."
"Are you staying for dinner?" Jackie asked the nanny.
"I would love to Jackie but my sister and niece are coming over." She handed Sierra to Jesse. "What time do you need me tomorrow Jess?"
"I talked to Shep and he said that Derek would be ready to go home after breakfast so how about nine." The younger girl smiled.
"I'll be here." She kissed both the girls on the head. "See you princesses in the morning." Jess sat next to her dad and looked at her daughters.
"She did a good job today."
"So did you Jess. Matt told us that Kitrick is going away for a long time because of you."
"He's going away because of his haltered for me." Jess stood and hugged Skylar close and paced the kitchen.
"Jess, Kitrick is a horrible man. He's done horrible things to you, this family and our friends and it wasn't because of you. Cole Kitrick never wanted to be the good son his father wanted and did everything to become the opposite of what his old man wanted. Clark wanted him to be a firefighter, Cole became a cop. His dad wanted him to stay in Lake Tahoe, he moved to DC. If there would have been an opening on the Maine and Canada border I'm sure Cole would have taken it." Jesse looked at his daughter. "Don't ever think Cole Kitrick did any of the things he did because of you." She looked at her father holding her daughter and smiled. He always knew what to say to make her feel better or feel like she had made the right choices in her life. She reached over and touched her daughter's cheek.
"Thank you for being here for me daddy." She turned and looked at her mother. "You too mom. I don't what I would do without you guys." Jesse expertly shifted his granddaughter to his left arm and hugged his daughter.
"We'll always be here for you sweetheart." Jess knew she had taken the long way home more than once but every time she made it back they had been there for her with open arms and they always would be.
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"I don't need a babysitter." Derek looked at Cutler sitting in the chair across from his bed.
"No one said you needed one. " The older man continued reading the magazine.
"Then why are you sitting in my hospital room?"
"Randa had some girly things to do with Robin and Tonya so I thought I would come a visit my injured friend in the hospital. Is there a law against that?"
"How is she?" Derek knew that Cutler knew exactly who he was talking about.
"I drove her home. She seems okay with the whole Kitrick confessing to trying to kill her in front of the jury thing."
"How about the 'me almost getting killed thing'?" Cutler chuckled.
"Oddly enough she's making lemonade out of lemons." Derek chuckled and winced.
"Thanks for making sure she was okay."
"I don't know why you people think I have some miracle soothing power over Jess. It's like you believe I'm the Jess whisperer or something. Apparently you haven't seen her pissed at me."
"You know how to get her to talk when she doesn't know she needs to talk." Derek never understood why he didn't object to his wife's ex-boyfriend being in their lives but it worked so who was he to make waves. "I never thought I would be friends with anyone who knows my wife better than I do." Cutler looked at the younger man.
"You know that she loves you, that she's IN love with you. That's all the matters." He sat back. "The rest will come in time."
"See, you have all the answers."
"I wish. If I had all the answers I wouldn't be single at forty-three sitting at the hospital visiting my ex-girlfriends husband." Shep came in just then.
"Visiting hours are over Cutler." The doctor looked at the chart and came around the bed. Cutler stood.
"I'll leave you in the capable hands of Doctor Feel Good, then." He grabbed his jacket. "See you tomorrow."
"Yeah, take care of yourself." Derek watched his friend go as Shep checked his vitals. "Don't they have nurses who do this sort of thing?"
"They have boycotted your room." Shep smiled as he put his stethoscope back in his pocket.
"Boycotted? Can they even do that and why would they?"
"Because your wife carries multiple weapons and no one wants to be accused of lingering too long in your presents. Except Martha…Jess likes your overnight nurse so she will be coming in every two hours after ten to check up on you." Derek chuckled and it really hurt to do so.
"The nurses are afraid of my wife?"
"Whether she's in here for an injury or someone she cares about is in here the whole floor tries to stay clear." Shep wrote in Derek's chart and put it away. He looked at the younger man. "You already know how passionate the whole Hawkes family is about things they believe in and love so I don't have to tell you that you are a lucky man for winning that girls heart. Just don't get on her bad side."
"I've heard that about her." Derek smiled. "I also heard making up is a hell of a ride too." Shep chuckled.
"I leave that up to you. Have a good night Derek."
"You too, man." The older man headed out the door just as the phone rang. Derek picked it up. "Missing me already baby girl?"
"How did you know it was me?" Jess's voice calm and quiet.
"Who else would it be? How's my girls?"
"Skylar is a little needy tonight. Every time I lay her down she gets fussy."
"Sing 'Amazing Grace' to her, she'll sleep like a log."
"Have you heard my singing voice Ranger Morgan?" He chuckled.
"You'll do just fine."
"I haven't had to do this alone."
"You have repelled down mountains and flew into hostile territory to rescue your brother, I think you handle a couple of babies for a few hours."
"You have more faith in me then I have in myself." Derek knew it was going to be a long night. He wished he could be there with her. Maybe if he talked nice Shep would release him. "I'm sorry I just…damn it Derek what the hell is wrong with me."
"Why don't you call Cody or Matt?"
"And let them think I'm weak? Not happening honey."
"Your are the strongest woman I know and I know some damn strong women."
"How many of them have you dated?"
"I thought we discussed this back in DC. The list is long but distinguished." Jess giggled.
"I love you Derek Morgan. More than I ever thought I could love someone."
"The feelings mutual baby. " Derek knew that his wife was feeling better about everything by the tone in her voice.
"I'll be there by ten to pick you up. Devin is coming at nine."
"I love you." His voice was getting quiet and Jess knew his meds were kicking in.
"I love you too. Tell Martha I said hi." Jess hung up and looked at the little girl in her arms. She had yet to fall asleep after her ten o'clock feeding. She was fussy and not liking life. Skylar was her father's daughter. Derek always put her to sleep after her last feeding. "It's just you and me Princess Skylar. Your sister is down for the count and all your loyal subjects have gone home for the night."The little girl frowned at her mother. "I know. I miss him too. He has a way with us doesn't he?" Jess started to hum 'Amazing Grace', know her singing would not only keep the baby awake, it would also wake her sister. Soon the rocking and the humming soothed the infant and she curled against her mother and fell asleep. Jess smiled. "Daddy knows best." She whispered and put the little girl in the crib. Taking a deep breath she headed to bed and hoped tonight was the night the girls slept at least till dawn.