Hi all, this is a shorter chapter featuring a green-eyed monster known as John Reagan. A little background: Bruce Wellington is Ian's son Alex's grandfather who kept Alex from Ian for years. Next chapter is ring shopping. I hope you enjoy.
LOVE UNDERCOVER – 13
Joss watched as Ian paced the floor of the hospital waiting room. It didn't take her detective training to figure out he was worried sick. "Ian," she called gently, "why don't you sit down for a minute? Driving yourself crazy isn't going to help Alex. "
He nodded and took a seat beside her. "I should have brought him to the hospital the second he said he had a stomachache. If Wellington finds out about this he's going to try to take him away from me."
"You couldn't have known. Kids get stomachaches all of the time." She patted his shoulder. "You're doing a good job with him. I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it."
Ian looked at Joss and smiled. She was a good friend. He was glad she was there. "Thank you so much for dropping everything to be here with Alex and me. It means a lot." He patted her hand and after a second allowed his hand to rest on hers.
Joss pulled her hand from beneath Ian's, gave his a quick squeeze and then returned her hand to her lap. "Ian, it's hard for all new parents. There are so many things that can happen, but the good news is that kids are pretty resilient."
"Something tells me I'm going to need you to remind me of that when we have our baby." John's voice seemed to come from nowhere. Joss jumped at the sound of it.
"Joss, are you pregnant?" Ian looked like a deer in headlights.
"No." She gave John THE eye. This was not the time for a pissing contest. Leave it to John to decide to mark his turf when poor Ian was worried about his son.
"She's not pregnant yet." John corrected. "I hope to change that fact very soon." When Joss's eyes remained fixed on him in an unyielding fashion, he decided he should play nice. "Ian, I was very sorry to hear about Alex. Is there any word on his prognosis?"
Ian simply shook his head, no. He looked again at Joss. He didn't know that she and John had gotten back together. And now, they were planning a family? It was a lot to wrap his mind around.
John took a seat on one of the nearby chairs and crossed his leg over his knee. He then focused his laser-like focus on Ian. This caused Ian to squirm a bit.
Joss decided to make small talk with Ian while she continued to give John the eye. "Ian, Alex will be ok. Taylor had an appendectomy when he was a little older than Alex and he's now a healthy, happy 17 year old boy."
"Thanks," he looked at her and then noticed John's stare. "Hey Joss, you…and John don't have to stay here. You're right, Alex will be fine and I'll be fine on my own."
"No. You and Alex are here in the city alone. And we're friends…" Joss punctuated the words friends as she looked at John. "I'm staying."
"We both are." John smirked after he released the words.
Ian sank back into the sofa. Joss patted his hand before standing. "Excuse us for a second, Ian. I want to talk to John."
John and Joss walked just outside of the waiting room. Joss took a deep breath in order to remain calm. She knew that she and John were coming off of a bad week and she knew how he felt about Ian. Still, she was only trying to help a friend and she wanted John to trust her.
"John, what are you doing here?"
John smiled. "I'm just making sure you're safe."
"Safe from what? Ian?" She shook her head.
"He's a tie to your past. You never know who might be following him…especially since he followed you to Chicago and is seemingly refusing to go back home."
Joss started to laugh. "Oh my gosh, John, you're jealous. You're so jealous that you can hardly stand it."
John suddenly felt a bit irritated that Joss thought his reaction to her rushing to Ian's side was humorous. "Joss, this is not about jealousy, this is about your safety. You ran off with a man, who when we met him, we weren't sure we could trust him. And you did this despite the fact that your son is waiting to spend time with you." John knew this was a low blow, but Joss needed to remember where her responsibilities lay. "You took a taxi, so you have no way to get out of here quickly if you need. And we both know, Ian is not capable of protecting you."
Joss smirked as John's jealousy reared its head once more. "I think I'm pretty good at protecting myself. And what about Taylor? You left him alone in a strange city."
John smirked. "He's with Bear…who's tougher than Ian."
Joss smiled and took John's hands in hers. "Admit it John, this isn't about my safety or witness protection. Like I said, you're jealous of Ian. You have no reason to be. I love you. I want to be with you. Ian is a friend who is very worried about his little boy and your death stares aren't helping."
"Would you be so understanding if the shoe was on the other foot? What if it was Zoe who had a sick child in the hospital? Would you want me to be glued to her side?"
Joss felt the hair at the back of her neck stand up. She wouldn't give John the satisfaction of an angry response. "I doubt that a piranha like Zoe would want to spawn any children, but if she did, I would understand you offering your friendship." She looked at the way John was smirking. Perhaps she hadn't sounded as disinterested as she had intended. "Do me a favor, go get us all some food. By the time we finish eating, Alex's surgery will be finished and we can go home."
"Home. I like the sound of that." He bent to give her a quick peck on the cheek. "Fine, but Murphy better watch himself."
"John, go." She poked him in the stomach and then turned to head into the waiting room. She took a seat next to Ian. He looked tired. The rumpling of his clothes indicated that this had been a long day for him.
Ian looked at her, started to speak and then just shook his head. A minute or so later her started to laugh.
"What?"
"I was just thinking that if you had only indicated that you wanted a guy that acted like a pit bull in your dating profile, I wouldn't have tried so hard to be charming."
Joss smiled. She knew John could be intense, but she loved his intensity. It made him who he was. "Ian, I love him."
"I'm guessing you loved him before Chicago." Ian frowned a little bit.
"Yes, not that I can admit that to anyone except you, John and my son. That's kind of ironic." She dropped her head. She felt as tired as Ian looked. Even though the hospital was nice, new, state of the art, it wasn't home and there was nothing she wanted more than to get some rest in her own bed.
"Can I give you a piece of advice?" Ian searched her eyes to see if she would hear him. "Embrace your new life. You are so happy that you are practically glowing. I hate that it's Mr. Tall, Dark and Menacing that makes you this happy, but since he does, I guess I'll have to throw in the towel."
Maybe she didn't look as tired as she felt. "Well, Ian that's very honorable of you." Joss winked at him.
"No, it's just safer." The two both began to laugh.
John walked in with bags of sandwiches, chips, cookies and drinks from a local restaurant. Ian thanked John but was unable to eat more than a few bites as he continued to worry Alex. Even John attempted to make small talk.
Alex's doctor came out a short time later and informed all three that Alex would be just fine. He should be back to normal in a few days. Figuring that she had tempted fate long enough by having John and Ian in the same room, Joss stood to get ready to leave.
Ian spoke first. "Joss, thank you for waiting with me. I really appreciate it." He turned to John. "Thank you as well, John. I appreciate the dinner."
"Don't mention it." John hoped Ian got the message that Joss was off the market, but just in case he didn't, John decided he would help him understand once and for all. "In fact, if you and Alex are free on Saturday, you should feel free to stop by our house. Joss and I are having a BBQ."
"Yeah, uh, I'll think about it."
As John and Joss walked into the elevator, Joss squeezed his hand. "Inviting Ian to your house was above and beyond the call of duty."
"Joss, it's our house…or it will be eventually and trust me, I'm more than happy to have your friend over."
Joss looked at John curiously. He was up to something. Joss just wondered what.