Chapter Thirty Six

Jamie stayed by Eddie's side. Sydney came and left very upset to see such a setback for both Jamie and Eddie. Henry had kissed the girl's head then headed home to prepare food for when she was ready to eat again. He left the lavender lotion by her bed. John lingered the longest, but seeing Jamie was not relinquishing his place, he left. "I'll come back to see her tomorrow." John dropped a kiss on Eddie's head.

Jamie took several deep breaths watching Eddie as she slept.

"Eddie please wake up," Jamie sighed when she didn't respond.

Jamie knew she was on powerful medications for pain and to combat any infection. Still he hoped after five hours she'd come around.

Jamie fell asleep with his head next to Eddie's hip. He wasn't sure if it was two hours or two minutes before he heard a very soft and gentle, "Jamie..."

Jamie sat up like a shot, "I'm here, Eddie. How do you feel?"

"Really tired, sick to my stomach...what's in my nose?" Eddie moved her head to try and see.

"An NG tube, you had a bowel obstruction, you're NPO but if your lips are dry I have some glycerin."

Jamie dropped the moist drops on Eddie's lips and under her tongue. "There, that's better."

"What happened with my bowel? I have been going, I've been good..."

"The doctor said sometimes even with all the treatment things just don't do what they should. It's all right, you're going to be fine." Jamie ran his hand over Eddie's hair. She relished the feeling of it and the sound of his voice. Lately she was beginning to feel like she didn't need another person in the entire world but him. She had always had a special feeling but lately it was worse. Eddie swallowed and coughed a bit on the tube, it was hard to breathe around it.

Jamie noticed her discomfort, "I know it's sore, maybe tomorrow it can come out. What can I do for you?"

Eddie sighed, "Can you sit up here with me?" She so wanted Jamie's arms around her.

Jamie smiled, "Yeah, I will sit until you are asleep then I'll let Syd, Pop, and John know you woke up. They'll all be so happy."

Eddie turned three shades of red, "John knows? He knows this happened because I can't..."

"John knows and even though I don't like it much, he understands Eddie. He's good with it."

Eddie smiled, that's what she would do. She'd transfer her growing feelings for Jamie to John, then everything would be all right again.

"Well, can you let him know when I'm feeling better I will be happy to have him visit?" Eddie asked.

Jamie nodded, "Let's wait until you are a little stronger all right?" Jamie kissed Eddie's cheek. "I'm going to call the family and let them know you are doing better. You look tired, why don't you rest?"

Eddie sighed, "Will you come back? I still feel really sick."

"Of course I will, Eddie," Jamie smiled. "I'll be right back, I'm just going to call Syd and Pop."

Jamie gave her a smile kissing her head before getting up and stepped into the hallway to make phone calls.

He decided to call Henry first dialing the number and sighed while he waited.

"Hello," Henry answered after the third ring.

"Hey pop, just wanted to let you know Eddie woke up a few minutes ago," Jamie smiled turning to look back at her through the open door.

"Oh good, I'm coming with broth. Make sure you put the cream on her feet, it helps her, she feels better."

Jamie laughed, "Of course Pop. See you in a little bit."

The call with Sydney went just as well, she promised to come and visit Eddie soon. Before heading out to visit her sick friend, Sydney made a call. "Hello, John, it's Sydney Reagan. Eddie is awake and feeling much better if you want to visit her again."

"I'd love to, but I'm not sure how your husband will feel about that."

"Jamie is just over protective, don't worry. I'm going over in an hour, I'll try to be there when you are so he's not so jumpy. Eddie really liked you, this is not on you."

"Some of it is," John replied. "I didn't know about the hydration. I won't make that mistake again."

"Listen, I'm going to get ready to go but I'll see you soon." Sydney hung up and dressed to go to the hospital.

When Sydney arrived an hour later, Jamie was laying with Eddie in her hospital bed. She was coughing a little bit, Jamie was feeding her ice chips. "Take it easy, I am so proud of you. You did great!"

"It burns, where the tube was," Eddie replied. "My side is burning too."

"You used a lot of muscles. You want me to rub it a little bit?"

"Yeah, maybe," Eddie began when Sydney made her presence known. "Hey, Eddie you look so much better! How are you?"

"Okay, I just had my tube out so I'm a little sore…"

Jamie smiled at Sydney and paused to give her a kiss. "I was about to rub the muscles in her stomach and put lotion on her feet like Pop says to do. Sydney, can you call Pop and tell him that Eddie is allowed liquids so he can bring some of the broth?"

Sydney nodded, "Yes and then I'm going to fix Eddie's face and hair a little bit because John is going to stop by." Sydney tried not to gloat about that, she really did but it was irking her more and more lately to see Jamie so hands on with Eddie. It was funny, if he was giving her a bath or a shower, it didn't bother her at all, but the hugging, the rubbing, the cuddling…that got her goat.

Jamie visibly stiffened at the sound of John's name, part of him blamed himself for Eddie's plight but the other part, the jealous part, blamed John. "I'm not sure Eddie is up for too many visitors. We're family, Pop is family…" The look on Eddie's face stopped Jamie's words, she had lit up at the thought of seeing John again.

"You want this, Eddie?" he asked softly. "You want to see him?"

Eddie nodded, "Yes, I'd like it if John came to see me, but if you'll be upset at me I…"

Jamie sighed, "I won't be upset with you, Eddie. I just want you to be safe. I do. I will get used to John like I got used to Paul."

Eddie laughed, "If you do that, I might as well not see him. You never got used to Paul. You never accepted Paul."

"I will try harder. Paul was a jerk, but if John is a good man and he is good to you…" Jamie smiled. "Let me get your lotion on and Syd can pretty you up before he comes."

Jamie softly massaged the lavender lotion into Eddie's feet. They were actually smaller now, they shrank from her injury and had no muscle tone at all, but the atrophy in her legs made them protrude. These little things pulled at Jamie's heart.

An hour later, Sydney had put Eddie's hair up and added a little make up to her face. "There, how's that?"

Eddie smiled. "It feels good…I'm really tired though…" Eddie shut her eyes just as John arrived.

"Hey," John entered with his slight limp and bright smile. "How are you feeling?"

"A little better," Eddie replied. It was clear to Jamie she was trying to stay awake.

"Eddie is really tired right now," Jamie said trying to keep his voice polite. "She really needs to rest up."

"I won't keep her," John replied. "I just want to say hello. Can I have a minute with her?"

Jamie nodded, and reluctantly exited the room. John took a seat next to Eddie's bed. John touched her shoulder, knowing now that her arms and hands were hypersensitive and required a practiced touch. "I'm so sorry this happened," John said quickly. "I had no idea that you're not drinking water and stuff was bad for you."

Eddie blushed. "It's not on you. It's on me. I was worried about drinking. Sometimes I have to go a lot but I don't know it so when I'm out I have a collecting bag on my leg. For some reason, I was worried it would…"

"Overflow?" John finished. "I understand, I had one too when I was first injured and couldn't really get around. I felt it but I had a hard time getting the tube in so…"

Eddie smiled, "Normally I don't worry about it but it was our first date. I'm sorry about Jamie too. He was always a protective partner but since the accident…"

"I'm glad he's taken such good care of you and I promise I will be slow and learn from him and Sydney so you're safe when you are with me. I had a good time and I was scared when I heard you were sick. I want to keep coming to see you and when you're strong enough I want to take you out again. I know if things got serious they would be hard, that I'd have a lot to learn and a lot of responsibility, but I think it's worth it."

Eddie looked at John, he was handsome and caring. She could learn to love him. "I think it could be too. You're welcome to come see me. They said it would be four or six weeks before I feel myself again, and I admit I do feel pretty weak."

"Well, I won't keep you now. Get some rest and I'll come by tomorrow early evening." John took a breath and leaned over. "I'd like to kiss you goodbye."

Eddie wasn't sure what to say or do about that, but she nodded allowing John to place the softest of kisses on her lips. "Until tomorrow then." John left with a wave.

Jamie stepped back into the room going to Eddie's side smiling gently glad John left. He still wasn't sure he could trust him with Eddie. Eddie looked up at Jamie, her smile bright and her eyes twinkling. Returning the smile, Jamie gently laid his hand on top of Eddie's and took his place by her side, where he belonged.

A/N: Well, John is definitely in for the long haul with Eddie and she may be in for the long haul with John. Jamie is absolutely not ready for that.

Next Update – July 19th – Eddie continues her recovery at home surrounded by several men that want to see her get well.