Only a short offering – lots of interruptions!
Disclaimer: I do not own City Homicide or it's characters.
14.
Jen walked slowly back to her bed, pushing her IV pole beside her. She had been moved down to Surgical ward earlier that morning and had just had her first shower in days. The pressure of the hot water on her skin had felt unbelievably revitalising. Nick had spent the night by her side and had left early, to go home and change. He had then collected her mother from home and driven her back to the hospital, before leaving for work. He had kissed her softly on the lips, cradling her face in his hands, with promises to return later that evening. Jen knew that she looked awful, but Nick had still managed to make her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.
Katherine Mapplethorpe sat on Jennifer's bed, flipping through a magazine. She regarded her daughter with concerned eyes. "How was that love? Feel better?"
Jen slowly manoeuvred herself into a chair by the bed, wincing in pain. "The shower was great, but I'm feeling a bit dizzy."
"Well, that's because you've been flat on your back for a few days. Do you have any pain?"
Jen nodded.
"I'll go and ask the nurses to give you something".
"No mum, just leave it. I'm okay. I just want to sit." Jen sunk back into the chair and closed her eyes, grateful for the peace and to just be still.
"Nick's a lovely boy".
Jen opened one eye to peer at her mum. Here we go.
"He's been so nice to me. And he obviously thinks the world of you. Tell me again why you split up with him last time?"
"Mum..." Jen's annoyance was evident in her voice.
"I'm just saying, he seems like a wonderful young man. I can't see what the problem would have been, unless of course it was something of a personal nature in which case I don't really need to know..."
"Mum!" Exasperated, Jen opened her eyes fully and glared at her mother. "We both work in the same squad, it's difficult. It's not really the done thing".
Katherine closed the magazine and gave her daughter a somewhat discerning look. Jen braced herself for one of her mother's lectures.
"Jennifer. I know that you love your job, and that you're very good at what you do. Your Dad would have been really proud of you, love. " She smiled warmly. "But you're not getting any younger. You don't want to wake up one day and it's too late, do you?"
Jen rolled her eyes.
"You and your sister are the best things to have happened to me in my life, and I know that you both meant the world to your father. Just don't pass up the chance of having that sort of happiness if it's on offer. Okay?"
Jen gave her mother a slight smile and nodded.
"Now" continued Katherine. "You know that I promised to babysit the kids for your sister and Troy when they go to Bali? I have to be up in Brisbane in a week. I'd love to be able to stay and help you out at home, but I'd already promised Nicole. If you get out of here in the next couple of days, I can probably spend a couple of days with you at home, at least."
"Mum, it's okay". Jen knew that her mum tried to stretch herself as far as she could, wanting to please everyone. She also knew that her mum would love to spend time with her three grandchildren, and besides, Jen had Nick to look after her. She remembered his whispered promise to take her away somewhere when she got out of hospital and she felt butterflies in her stomach at the thought of spending a romantic weekend away with him.
Katherine took the opportunity to impart some more advice on her daughter. "And if he wants to spoil you and look after you and be all 'manly', you just let him. Okay?"
Jen chuckled softly, feeling incredibly lucky and blessed to have wonderful people in her life.