Jackie woke up when they were about thirty minutes from Bloomington. "Looks like the drugs worked" Catherine smiled.
"Looks like it," Jackie said, as she rubbed her eyes. Catherine saw her wince, she'd assumed she'd be in pain considering the time. "Need some pain meds?"
"Yes please."
Catherine unbuckled her seat belt and went to grab the pills from her bag, holding on to the overhead compartments as the plane rattled.
"Looks like someone is becoming more comfortable on airplanes."
Catherine smiled as she handed her the pills, "Here you go. Missing the IV yet?"
"Sadly yes, these pills have nothing on that morphine drip" Jackie said, swallowing them down.
"Junkie" Catherine teased. "Good news is we should be landing soon."
"Did you sleep at all?" Jackie asked, as she stretched out her leg and back.
"A little bit," Catherine lied.
"I bet you're as happy to get back here as I am. I bet you've been dreaming about that bed."
Catherine just smiled at her, not wanting her to know how draining it's been living in that hospital. The last person she wanted any sympathy from was Jackie.
Since it was a private jet, they would thankfully be landing directly in Bloomington, which would save them them the hour drive from Indianapolis. Due to the time difference, it was already 7:30 p.m. After landing, a car was waiting for them and the driver came aboard to help Jackie out of the plane. "Welcome Miss Kirk, it's my honor to drive you to your destination this evening."
"What's your name?" She asked.
"Curtis."
"Nice to meet you Curtis. The formality ends here, alright?"
He traded looks with Catherine and they both laughed. Once Jackie was seated in the car she looked around, "who knew all it took to be treated like an A-lister was to survive a deadly car crash," Jackie commented.
"I'm glad to see your humor's back," Catherine laughed. Curtis went through the drive-thru for them since they hadn't eaten all day. McDonald's, Jackie's choice of course. Catherine hadn't dared to judge her considering she had eaten nothing but what was either provided through her feeding tube, or what the hospital offered for the last week. Once they arrived at Catherine's house, Curtis helped her get Jackie out of the car and inside.
"I think we're all good here, thanks Curtis!"
"It's been my pleasure. Take care and let me know when you need me next."
Catherine shut the door once he left and turned to Jackie. "Home sweet home!" She said, raising her arms dramatically.
Jackie smiled and looked around before turning her direction to the sitting room. "Is that for me?"
"Ah, good it came! Yes, that's your bed," Catherine replied.
"Oh..." Jackie said, suddenly looking distraught.
"Don't worry, I'll be camping out down here with you until we can get you back upstairs."
Jackie didn't say anything for a minute then asked where Ethan was.
"He'll be here tomorrow. I thought we could use the night to settle in first, so had the dog sitter keep him at her house. Now let's eat, I know you're starving." She pushed Jackie's wheelchair into the kitchen and pulled her up against the table. Jackie insisted on trying to eat her hamburger herself, one-handed, which became quite the show. She moaned in ecstasy after taking her first bite, ketchup dripping down her mouth. Catherine couldn't help but laugh at the site.
"Don't judge me. This is the greatest moment of my life thus far," Jackie said through a mouthful of hamburger.
Catherine attempted to wipe her face when she was finished but she grabbed the napkin from her. "Did I get it all?" She tried her hardest to keep a straight face, knowing Jackie's independence was crucial to her, but her entire face was still covered in ketchup.
"Almost. Can I?"
After wiping the remnants of her dinner off of her face, Catherine kissed her to make it seem more like a loving act than just her being her caregiver. Jackie smiled with a look of pride for the first time since the accident, any little act Catherine could do would go a long way she realized. It was definitely the little things.
Once getting Jackie situated on the couch, making sure she was comfortable with plenty of pillows, Catherine handed her the remote and went upstairs to unpack and begin laundry. "Catherine!" she heard Jackie call from the living room, and went running.
"Oh I'm sorry, it's nothing serious, I just need help getting into my chair. I need to use the bathroom." After getting her to the bathroom and helping her stand and get her balance, she reached for her pants.
"No, don't. I can do it."
"Jackie I don't mind."
"No, please" she begged. "I promise I will be okay."
Catherine looked at her reluctantly, but agreed after seeing the desperation in her eyes. "Fine, but I'll be right outside." Several minutes later, Catherine started to become concerned and knocked on the door. "Jackie, are you okay in there?"
"Yeah just a minute!" She called out, her voice breaking.
"Are you okay, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, just give me a minute please!"
Jackie was inside the bathroom, her sling off and shirt lifted, staring at herself in the mirror. Although she had been up using the hospital's bathroom for the last couple of days, there was always a nurse in there with her so she was always rushing to get out, not having the time to look at herself. At first she started with her face, touching the disfigurement of it, she could hardly see her eyes. That's when she became curious about the rest of her body and slowly lifted up her sling and shirt. Catherine called into her and she could tell she was catching on, so quickly locked the door.
"Jackie, did you just lock the door?" Catherine asked, jiggling the door handle. "Jackie come on, don't play games right now."
"Just give me a minute!" She called out again.
"Jackie open the door, I'm not messing around."
She was silent inside the bathroom.
"I have a key, don't make me go get it."
"Catherine Please! Just leave me alone for a minute!"
As much as she wanted Jackie to have the independence she longed for, she was far too injured to give her this much freedom right away. Catherine searched through the desk drawer and found the key, running back to the bathroom. "Jackie, I'm coming in." She slid the key through the lock and unlocked it, slowly turning the handle and opening the door. Jackie was wiping her eyes with her good hand and her shirt and sling we're both lifted above her shoulder.
"What's wrong?" Catherine asked worriedly.
Jackie pinched the inside corners of her eyes, trying to stop the tears and shook her head no.
"Come here, sit down" Catherine said, as she closed the toilet seat and helped her sit. She knelt in front of her and carefully pulled her shirt back down over her shoulder and body, trying not to touch her bruised ribs. After it was in place, she slowly put her arm back into the sling. "What's wrong, was something hurting?"
"No" Jackie said quietly, keeping her head down.
"Then what was it? Do you want me to help you with a bath?"
Jackie swallowed hard and wiped another tear from her eye, not responding.
"What is it, let me help you" Catherine said, as she placed her hands on Jackie's knees.
"It's nothing, I was just looking at myself."
Catherine was relieved nothing was wrong but then realized it was probably the first time Jackie saw the extent of her injuries.
"Are you okay? I know it's probably scary, but you're going to return to normal in no time. You've already made so much progress."
"I don't know how you still look at me, let alone kiss me every day" Jackie said as she placed her hand back over her eyes.
"Stand up," Catherine replied, putting her arm around Jackie. "Come on." Once Jackie was to her feet she balanced her in front of the mirror and stood behind her, but Jackie wouldn't look in the mirror. "Look in the mirror." After a few moments she finally did, but did so self consciously. "You're alive. They literally cut you out of a car after it wrapped around a telephone pole, and you're alive. Not only that but it was one week ago and here you are standing and talking. Look at your eyes."
"They're swollen and disgusting."
"No, look closely at your eyes," Catherine instructed. "Are they the same eyes you've seen every day in the mirror for the last 23 years?"
"Yeah," she replied softly.
"That's all I see when I look at you. I was so afraid when I first saw you lying in that hospital bed, but the first time I saw you open your eyes I was overcome with happiness. You're still you, and after all of this you'll be an even stronger version of you."
Jackie smiled a tiny bit.
"Was that a smile? Don't do it, don't you smile" Catherine teased, copying Jackie's technique of getting people out of their head.
"You're gorgeous to me no matter how you look, because all I see is your eyes and heart. The only things that matter. And I hope you're prepared for how hard I'm going to hug you once these ribs and shoulder heal," she smiled.
Jackie dropped the sad demeanor and let a small laugh slip out.
"Was that a smile and a laugh?"
Jackie looked at her through the mirror and gave her a big smile.
"That's more like it. Come on, lets dope you up and get to bed, it's been a long week."
After she got Jackie situated in her fancy bed, she asked if she was comfortable.
Jackie nodded.
"Are you sure? I can get more pillows."
"Catherine I'm fine, come lay with me."
"Okay" she smiled, before turning off the lights and crawling into bed with her. "Jackie?" She whispered.
"Hm?" she replied, not opening her eyes.
"Are you happy?"
"Mmhmm" she murmured before falling asleep.
Catherine spent the next thirty minutes just staring at Jackie's face and appreciating every single breath she took, hoping Jackie would learn to as well.