Disclaimer: I own the 30 Rock DVD's, but nothing else.
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The Truth Comes Out
Ch. 12
"Honestly Jackie, you couldn't wait five seconds after seeing me before ya hit the sauce?" The older woman scolded as Jack physically tensed up, gripping the glass so tight it nearly shattered before he took a deep breath, regained his demeanor, and faced her, eyes narrowed.
"Coll, er...Mother. What are you doing here?"
Jack asked, reminding himself to fire the live in care worker he'd hired to keep his mother down south for the rest of her life.
"Got that prison guard posing as my aide back home to let me leave if I stopped calling him my nursemaid in front of his girlfriend. There was only so much teasing poor Pat could take."
Colleen smirked as Jack cringed, before downing one shot and then pouring another.
"How did you even get in, or past the doorman?"
"Best break in method out there, the spare key I had some nice fellow make for me last time I visited."
"Remind me to get the bellman fired too."
Jack grumbled before turning to face her trying to keep from losing his mind.
"Mother, in case it wasn't clear, I'm not up for company at the moment so..."
"Oh I wonder why."
"Look I apologize for you flying all the way up here but, right now I'm far too occupied to, give your visit the, time and effort it requires."
Jack sighed, his patience worn down to the bone.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, which is why I didn't come all this way to pay you a visit, just thought you'd like to know I'll be in town for awhile."
"Oh, but I--"
"Or as long as it takes for Shark Eyes to quit playing Sleeping Beauty, whatever comes first."
Colleen said simply as Jack struggled to pick his jaw off the rug.
"Wait, you came all this way because of Lem--"
"What, I'm not allowed?"
"But...but I..."
'You know Jackie, even though you and I don't have the warm fuzzy milk and cookies relationship, thank the Lord, what's to say I can't show a little compassion towards a woman that's been nothing but kind towards an old broad like me. When I heard about the stunt that jackass pulled on her I couldn't believe it and hopped the next flight out. Had to come and see how Lemon was doing for myself. You know quite well that girl made an impression on me, sweetheart."
"Yes I sensed that."
"And clearly she made one on you too, you making her your contact at the hospital and all."
"Mother, honestly it makes sense that we, that I..I mean we..we're colleagues. We, see, interact with eachother daily. I..."
"So that's the only reason you trust her enough to have a say in pulling the plug on you? Because she hikes up to the 52nd floor to see you every day? God, you may as well have given that odd fella stalking you in the hallway the job. I'm sure it'd make his life worth living."
"What are you trying to say here?"
"Just that I'm not blind, Jack. And I was born at night but not last night. I know quite well there's more to you and Liz then meets the eye, and for you to keep trying to convince me otherwise is just an insult. Like it or not I am your mother boy. And I saw it in your eyes the second you walked in here, you're scared to death for Lemon. Because you know deep down without her, your life would be a hell of a lot emptier."
"Well Mother did you ever stop to think emptier is better, for everyone involved?"
Jack snapped bitterly before he took a seat, taking Colleen aback, and sighing a bit she turned to leave only to stop short when she heard him clear his throat.
"Mother if..if you stop by the hosp..."
"Can I what, Jack?"
Colleen asked curiously as Jack glanced up at her with more emotion in his eyes than she'd ever seen, before his gaze dropped to the floor and he shook his head.
"Never mind..."
Jack said softly, wringing his hands as he stared at his shoes, so lost in thought he didn't even hear the door close. He kept on reliving the scene at the hospital in his mind. It terrified him to think that Leo's assumption could actually be true. What if Liz had been upset and her vitals had spiked because he was there? What if he'd let his ego convince him she needed him when in reality he was the last person she wanted or needed?
She had been calling his name in the thick of what looked like a nightmare. And looking back it didn't seem out of the realm of possibility it could be about him. Everything that Pete had confronted him with had been the absolute truth. Going back and reflecting on every snide or condescending remark he made towards Liz since the day they met, just added up to make him feel like a jerk.
All he knew was if he was the reason Liz had a setback, he'd be the most selfish man alive. And to top it all off, he'd been the reason that she went to the platform in the first place.
Racked with guilt and fear of the unknown, Jack regretted ever going in and speaking to her at all. He'd put his heart on the line completely back there, something he'd never done before. And for the first time since this nightmare started he found himself frantic over not just her not waking up, but what would happen when she did.
***
"Alright where is she, where's Shark Eyes?"
Colleen asked impatiently as she walked into the hospital lobby.
"I..I'm sorry ma'am can we help you?" Kenneth asked kindly as he approached the old woman, hoping to be some help.
"You work here?"
"No ma'am, I'm part of the NBC page program, but I dunno..I think I could be of service here too. Did you know they have candy striping here?"
The page chirped innocently, eyes wide completely in awe, as Colleen looked at him dumbfounded.
"I know I couldn't believe it myself when I heard, course I'm not sure what it involves, heard people saying some downright ugly things about it so...color me a confused baboon I guess."
Kenneth said only to sigh sadly and sniffled a little as Colleen looked on warily.
"What's eating at ya sweetheart?"
She asked, concern in her gruff voice as she led Kenneth over to a nearby bench.
"No it's just..Ms. Lemon calls me that sometimes, when I really mess something up for her ya know."
"Oh I see...how, is Liz doing?"
"Last I looked she was still off in dreamland. I...I'm just worried for her I guess ma'am. It can't be good she's down for the count this long."
"Well...she did take quite a fall dear but...Liz is young, she's tough, she'll pull through this."
"Gosh I hope so. I mean...Ms. Lemon and I, we...we don't talk too much, most of the time she's running around talking to Mr. Donaghy. She can actually do that walking and talking thing without thinking about it!" Kenneth said as Colleen chuckled.
"Ah, yes I...I sort of knew that. So um, if you don't mind my asking er.."
"Oh, the name's Kenneth ma'am."
"Kenneth. Um, how often do you see Mr. Donaghy talking with Sharkey..er, Ms. Lemon."
"Oh, almost every day ma'am. No they're closer than a fattened up pig is to being ham. I even wonder some times if they're..."
"They're what?"
"Together. In the, um... biblical sense."
Kenneth whispered as Colleen struggled to keep a straight face.
"But...they are quite close as all can be. Ms. Lemon even made Mr. Donaghy her emergency contact."
"Really?"
"Yep. Personally I didn't think he really earned the job, I mean, he did seem scared to be around her and such. Course I just walked right in and talked to her..I heard that helps some."
"I've heard that too Kenneth."
"I've also been, talking with Him alot."
"Him?" Colleen asked confused as Kenneth gave her an appalled look leading her to catch on.
"Oh...Him..."
"Yes, I just...I don't know what we'll do if she's shut eyed much longer ma'am. I just don't know..."
Kenneth said nervously as Colleen, feeling an unusual need to comfort the upset page, took his hand in a gesture of affection that even surprised her. Both unaware that Dr. Spaceman was coming around the corner to tell them their worrying would soon be over, after all signs were pointing towards Liz coming out of her sugar coma, but to the doctor's dismay with a certain familiar name on her lips.
