I can't believe I have power. This storm is INSANE!

Jim returned several minutes later, finding Leonard sitting alone in the waiting room.

"Where did everyone go?" he asked, sitting down next to him.

"Chris took Mel home and Hikaru and Scotty went home too,' he said, yawning. "You should go too. Get some sleep in a real bed and not in these damn chairs."

Jim shook his head, "Nah, I'll be fine," he said, resting his feet against the table. "Hikaru's a light sleeper to begin with and we all came here in Scotty's truck."

Leonard was too tired and stressed to argue, simply nodding at Jim. "I'm gonna head back there and see her," he said, sitting up. "Wanna come with?" he asked.

"Yeah," Jim nodded, surprised that Leonard was okay with having Jim around. "Yeah, I'd like that."

Together, both men stood from their seats and headed over to the nurses station, retrieving Joanna's room number, before heading down the hallway to her room.

"Do you think she'll look the same?" Jim asked, as they walked. "Like, the surgeon didn't go and turn her into a raging green monster or a superhuman that will end up saving the world while wearing spandex?"

"JIM!"

…..

Melanie groaned as the alarm clock went off in full force, pulling the blanket up over her head. She felt the bed shift as Chris sat up, reaching over her to turn the alarm off. The sudden darkness from under the blankets turned into light, as Chris pulled the sheet down to look at her.

"Hey," he greeted her, the exhaustion apparent on his face. "Time to wake up."

"Hmmmm, five minutes?" she asked, rolling over to curl against him. "Come here, I'm cold."

Chris chuckled as she burrowed further under the blankets and against him, "Five minutes," he agreed, wrapping his arm around her. "Then I'll make breakfast while you shower and get dressed."

True to his word, after five extra minutes, Chris had Melanie out of bed and in the shower. Heading down to the kitchen, Chris started on a simple breakfast of eggs and toast, while setting the table for two. He was pouring coffee into two cups, when Melanie came into the kitchen.

"Food," she smiled, moving to the table. "I'm so hungry."

Chris set a cup down next to her plate, before taking a seat next to her. "Did you call your brother?" he asked, as she picked up a piece of toast.

"I sent him a text before I got in the shower," she chewed. "Didn't get anything back from him though."

"He's probably with Jo," he nodded. "And you know how hospitals are with cellphones."

Melanie nodded, "I have to pack a few things for him and Jo," she sighed. "And then I have to clean up the house that way when she starts moving around she doesn't trip and fall and hurt herself."

Chris reached over and took her hand in his, "Mel, don't stress out," he said. "You and Len have a lot of people who care about you guys. Let us help you guys."

"I know," she nodded. "It's just hard for us; with Jo's mama being out of the picture."

They finished breakfast and placed the dishes into the washer, before moving back upstairs to the bedroom. While Chris checked his messages, sending a text out to Jim and Leonard, Melanie dried her hair in the bathroom and got dressed.

"Jim's with your brother and Jo," Chris said, as she stepped out of the bathroom. "She woke up for a little bit before the nurse came in to give her some morphine."

Melanie nodded as she pulled her hair back into a bun, glancing at the clock on the nightstand. "Maybe we'll head there around eleven-thirty? I wanna clean up a bit before they discharge her."

Chris nodded and moved towards her, "I'll clean up downstairs while you fix up her room," he said, as she shook her head to protest. "Mel, I'm not leaving you alone to do it yourself."

"I just don't want you to think I'm taking advantage of you," she sighed, as she cupped her face in his hands.

"You're not," he assured her, before kissing her. "I want to help you."

She nodded, "Okay," she sighed. "Do you want to stop at your place so you can shower and change? Unless you want to get some more sleep before work tonight."

"I'll come to the hospital with your for a while. I'm sure the guys will come by to see Jo before work and I can catch a ride back with them."

Melanie nodded and sank against him, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he kissed her forehead. "Come on, we have a house to clean and a little girl who's being subjected to Jim's corny jokes."

…..

By mid-afternoon, after cleaning the house and stopping at Chris' apartment, Melanie and Chris arrived at the hospital twenty minutes after Hikaru, Scotty and Nyota. Joanna was awake when they stepped into the room, laughing lightly as Jim, Scotty and Hikaru cracked jokes.

Leonard stood up to greet his sister, as Chris set a duffle bag down on the chair against the wall. "Hey," he hugged her.

"How is she?" Melanie asked, looking over at her niece.

"She's doing good," he nodded. "She ate a little and the doctor plans on dischargin' her around two, hopefully."

Melanie nodded and took in the colorful display of flowers and stuffed animals that covered the tables. "So this is how you get flowers and stuffed bears? A little surgery and everyone buys out the florist?"

Chris snorted as he moved past her while Leonard rolled his eyes. "You get flowers all the time," he retorted.

"I'm the one that buys them!" she exclaimed, before moving past him to greet Joanna.

"Aunt Mellie, I have a boo-boo," she said, as Melanie sat down next to her. "The lady said I have to keep it covered for a while."

Melanie pushed back her hair, "I know baby," she cooed. "How do you feel?"

Joanna yawned, " "mtired," she mumbled. "Did you see my flowers?"

"I did," she nodded. "We're gonna have to clear off your dresser and table to put all these flowers in your room."

They talked a little longer, before Joanna fell asleep again. The nurse came in to check her vitals before kicking half of them out, claiming that they were taking up room for anyone to do their work. Leonard stayed behind at Joanna's beside, while Melanie followed the others out to say goodbye.

Nyota hugged her, "I wish we were seeing each other again under different circumstances," she said.

Melanie smiled and nodded, "I agree," she sighed. "Hey, I'm thinking about having Thanksgiving at our place and you guys are more than welcome to come by if you don't have plans. Len and Jo aren't going to Georgia until Christmas and I don't plan on leaving."

"Yeh cook, lass?" Scotty asked, as he pulled his coat on.

"Yes," she blushed. "I mean.. I can boil water?"

Jim snorted, "Does Bones know that you're signing him up to cook an entire meal?" he asked.

Melanie frowned, "He's going to take care of Jo," she insisted. "Thanksgiving is in a week and I can manage cooking a meal for everyone. How hard can it honestly be?"

"As long as you leave the dessert to me, I'm down," Nyota said. "I'll make something light for Jo."

Hikaru and Scotty agreed to come, as long as they could bring a side dish and the liquor. "We can't show up without brining something, "Hikaru said. "What kind of guests would we be?"

The three of them hugged her goodbye and made her promise to keep them updated on Joanna, before leaving.

"I'll wait for you two downstairs, "Nyota said, looking at Jim and Chris, before following the Hikaru and Scotty to the elevator.

Jim hugged her, "I'll come by and help out," he said. "We'll have to ban Bones from the kitchen at all costs because he's too bossy."

Melanie laughed, "I know," she nodded.

"I'll see ya later," he said, ruffling her hair. "Meet ya downstairs, old man."

Once Jim left, Chris turned to her. "Thanksgiving is in a week," he said. "You sure you know what you're getting yourself into?"

"I am capable of cooking, Chris," she insisted, folding her arms across her chest. "I've been cooking for myself since I was eighteen and look at me! I'm still alive."

Chris pulled her against him, "Boxed macaroni and take out do not qualify as do it yourself cooking," he chuckled.

"But you put the macaroni in the pot and stir it with a spoon!" she said. "See, do it yourself! You stand, stir and strain."

"You are too much, " he shook his head.

She grinned, "But you find me irresistible anyway."

"You're right," he nodded. "I do."

They kissed quickly, just in case Leonard decided to peep out into the hallway, before pulling apart.

"I'll call you later," he said. "Let me know if you need anything."

Melanie nodded, "I will," she kissed him again. "Make sure you take a nap before work. I don't want you setting the place on fire because you fell asleep at the stove."

He chuckled, "That's why I have Jim," he said. "He's supposed to keep that from happening."

She laughed, "Well, lets hope he keeps his eyes open tonight."

Another quick kiss and Chris was heading towards the elevator, turning around to wave goodbye as he stepped inside. Melanie smiled to herself, thinking of how lucky she'd been the last few weeks.