CHAPTER 50

Just as Martha was about to leave work for the day her phone rang. Glancing at her watch, she realized that she still had three minutes left before she could leave. Sighing she answered the call, "Metropolis Insurance, Martha Kent speaking." She said, picking up a pen and pulling her notebook towards her.

"Martha, it's Jonathan. I'm at the hospital. Dad collapsed a couple of hours ago and Mom and I are here waiting to find out what's wrong with him. I wanted to warn you before you left work."

"Oh, my! What happened?" Martha gasped in shock.

"We were in the barn, changing the oil in the tractor, when he just keeled over. We got him to hospital as fast as I could drive and they're now running tests on him. I don't know how long we'll be here."

"I'm leaving right now; I'll be with you in fifteen minutes." Martha said.

"Martha, I'm really worried." Jonathan said, his voice breaking with emotion.

"Sweetheart, I'll be with you as quickly as possible. Just hang on in there and pray for good news. How is Jessica holding up?" Martha asked.

"Mom's been really calm; she just keeps saying that we should wait until we've heard what the doctors have to say before panicking."

"That's good advice, after all it might be something minor and you'd have put yourself through all this torture for nothing. Honey, I'm on my way and I'll be with you real soon. Try and be strong for Jessica, even though she's acting calm she must be worried sick."

After finding out exactly where she had to go once she reached the hospital, Martha grabbed her purse and ran all the way to the parking lot. As she drove towards the hospital, Martha prayed that Hiram was okay. He had become her second father and she loved him dearly. The thought that he could be seriously ill made her feel sick with fear.

After arriving at the hospital it didn't take Martha long to find where Jonathan and Jessica were waiting. As she walked towards them she could clearly see how worried Jonathan was looking. As soon as he caught sight of Martha, Jonathan hurried towards her and hugged her tightly to his chest.

"How is he?" Martha asked.

"We're still waiting for news. Darn it! What the heck can be taking them so long?" Jonathan asked sounding worn out and frustrated.

Martha looked over to where Jessica was sitting. Although she appeared calm, Martha could see that she was repeatedly turning her wedding and engagement rings round and round on her finger. Leaving Jonathan, Martha went and sat next to Jessica and asked, "Is there anything I can do? Would you like me to get you a drink?"

Jessica smiled at Martha, "No thank you, I don't need anything at the moment. It was kind of you to come."

"You and Hiram are very special to me, of course I came." Martha replied softly, taking Jessica's hand and squeezing it.

Jonathan came and sat down next to Martha and the three of them sat waiting for news. Each one taking strength from the others and all of them glad that they were together.

After what seemed like an eternity, but was only about thirty minutes, a doctor came through the swing doors and approached them. "Mrs. Kent? Mr. Kent is asking to see you."

All three of them stood up and stepped forward.

"No, only Mrs. Kent at the moment." The doctor said kindly, but firmly.

Jessica turned to Jonathan and Martha, "I'll come back and give you any news as soon as I can." She said before leaving with the doctor.

Martha and Jonathan sat down again and Jonathan put his head in his hands. Martha rested her head on his shoulder and gently stroked his back. She knew how worried he was and didn't want to give him false hope by pretending that everything was going to be okay.

After a while Jonathan sat up and put his arm around Martha, "I'm so glad you're here, honey. I don't think I could have coped with this wait without you." He said.

"Yes, you could have. Jonathan you are the strongest person I know, not only physically but mentally as well. I know this is a difficult time, but whatever the news is, together we'll get through this. At least Hiram is conscious and able to talk, that must be a good sign." Martha replied.

"I hope so. I honestly thought he was going to die when he collapsed in the barn."

"But he didn't die and he's able to talk to Jessica. We'll just have to hope and pray that he makes a full recovery."

"Dad's always been so strong. I remember when I was little and he'd sit me on his shoulders, I felt like I was the king of the world. He wasn't afraid of anything and if ever I was scared as soon as I saw him I knew that everything was going to be okay. I know we've had our differences in the past, but even when I was mad at him I always knew that he loved me. He's got to get better … he just has to get better, I don't know what I'd do if I lost him." Jonathan said, the anguish he was feeling clearly showing in his voice.

Martha squeezed Jonathan's hand; she had never seen him like this before. Jonathan was always so sure of himself, so strong, so capable. Seeing him fearful and anxious was so new to her she didn't know what to say to make him feel better.

Silently they waited for Jessica to come back. They were both in the uncomfortable position of desperately wanting to know what was wrong with Hiram, but at the same time dreading the thought that it could be bad news.

When Jessica came back she looked far more relaxed and confident. Sitting down next to them she said, "Hiram wants to see you both, but before you go in there's something I want to tell you. Hiram has had a mild heart attack. Now don't panic, he's gonna be okay. However, it will mean that there are going to be some changes made back at the farm. When you see him, I don't want you bombarding him with lot of questions. Questions can wait until he's feeling better. Jonathan, I want you to reassure him that the farm won't run to rack and ruin without him. Don't stay too long and don't wear him out. Now off you go and put your minds at rest."

"Mom …" Jonathan began.

Jessica interrupted him, "Jonathan, I know you have lots of questions, but now isn't the right time. Just go see him and let him know that you'll look after the farm."

"Okay, mom." Jonathan said as he stooped and gave Jessica a hug. "I promise I won't ask him any questions."

Jonathan and Martha held hands as they walked towards Hiram's room, just before they reached his door Martha said, "Would you like to go in alone?"

Looking surprised at the question, Jonathan said, "Don't you want to see him?"

"Of course I do, I just thought that you might want to see him by yourself. I don't want to intrude."

"You won't be intruding. In fact, Dad would probably be offended if you didn't visit him." Jonathan reassured her.

Smiling at her, Jonathan opened Hiram's door and then stood aside and gestured for Martha to enter the room.

Martha was shocked when she saw Hiram; he looked pale and drawn as lay resting against his pillows. Wires were attached to his chest and connected to various scary looking machines. Walking forward she kissed him on his cheek. "You scared us!" she teased him.

Hiram smiled at her, "I'm sorry. Just as soon as they let me out of here I'll make it up to you."

Jonathan stood at the end of Hiram's bed, the feeling of relief he had experienced when he had entered the room and seen his Dad was temporarily robbing him of the power of speech.

"Son, Jessie told me how if it wasn't for your prompt action in getting me here things could have been a whole lot worse. I'm real grateful to you, son."

Jonathan grinned, "I'd like to be able to take all the credit, but it was mostly lucky guesses on my part. Well, that and the fact that there weren't any police cruisers between the farm and here. I don't think I took my foot off the gas pedal the whole way here!"

Hiram smiled, "Well, I'm real grateful anyway. All I can remember is Jessie telling me off! It wasn't until she just told me that I realized that we had both traveled here in the back of your truck."

"I could hear her yelling at you as I drove! However, I was more concerned that she wasn't getting thrown about too much, but every time I tried to slow down she wouldn't let me." Jonathan said, remembering hearing his Mom in the back of his truck shouting repeatedly 'Don't you dare die on me now, Hiram Kent! Don't you dare!"

"Good heavens, she must be covered in bruises!" commented Martha as she sat in the chair next to Hiram's bed listening to their conversation.

Hiram chuckled, "That's what I said and she replied that her bruises were nothing compared to the bruises she was going to inflict on me for scaring her so badly! It almost makes a person glad that they're in hospital."

"Don't worry, Dad, the hospital will soon have had enough of you. They probably don't realize just how cantankerous you can be when you're confined to bed!"

"Huh! Just look who's talking! You're just as bad!" Hiram retorted.

"I've heard so many horror stories about Jonathan being an impossibly bad patient; I'm dreading him ever getting sick." Martha said.

"Ask Jessie, she'll tell you just how bad he can be." suggested Hiram.

"I already have, that's why I'm dreading it!" Martha said glumly.

"Hey, I'm not that bad!" Jonathan retorted.

"Yes, you are son. In fact, I think you're worse than me." Hiram informed him.

Just then a nurse entered the room and checked Hiram's monitors, as she was leaving she looked at Jonathan, "You can have five more minutes and then you have to leave." She informed them as she left the room.

"Son, about the farm …" Hiram began.

"Dad, don't worry I have everything under control. Bob and Billy Ray will help and between us we'll keep everything running until you get back." Jonathan reassured him.

Hiram didn't look convinced and just as he was about to reply, Jonathan said "It's no good Dad; you'll just have to trust me. If I have any problems I'll come and discuss them with you, apart from that you are to concentrate on getting better. The farm will still be there waiting for you when you leave here and I promise you that I won't do anything stupid."

"I guess I don't have an option. Just make sure you come to me as soon as you feel out of your depth." Hiram said grudgingly.

"I will Dad, I promise. I'll come and see you everyday and answer all your questions. I just want you to get better; I don't ever want to be scared like that again."

"Our time is nearly up, so I'll say goodbye before we're thrown out." Martha said, getting up and giving Hiram a hug. "I'll be back to see you tomorrow. Just make sure you do as you're told, I don't want to hear any complaints about you being a bad patient."

As she walked to the door Martha glanced at Jonathan, "I'll wait for you outside, honey." She said, knowing that Jonathan would want a private word with his Dad.

Jonathan walked down the side of Hiram's bed and stood by the chair that Martha had been sitting in. "Dad."

"Yes, son?"

Jonathan swallowed, trying to shift the lump in his throat, "Dad, when I was driving you here today I realized that I haven't told you how much I love you for a long time. I guess I've been taking you for granted. So I just wanted you to know that I really do appreciate everything you've done for Martha and me and that I think you are a great Dad and I love you very much."

"Son, I love you too. I think Martha is the perfect wife for you and I'm real proud of the way you've grown into a man. I'm real sorry I scared you today, but don't worry I have no intention of dying just yet. I want to live to see my grandchildren running around the farm and to be able to laugh at you when you try and teach them not to chase the chickens!"

Jonathan grinned, "I'd like that. You, sitting in your rocking chair on the porch …"

"I never said anything about any rocking chair! Now stop being cheeky and go find your wife!" Hiram ordered.

"Yes, sir!" Jonathan said with a grin, giving Hiram a mock salute.

Leaving the room he saw Martha waiting for him in the corridor and walked over to her and hugged her closely to his chest.

"Are you feeling better now that you've had a chance to see and speak to Hiram?" Martha asked as she hugged him back.

"Yes, it was a huge relief. I feel like a great weight has been lifted off me." Jonathan replied burying his face in Martha's hair and holding her tightly to him.

Martha waited a few moments and then said, "Come on, we need to find Jessica, she must have been to hell and back these last few hours."

As they began to walk down the corridor Jonathan said, "To hell and back. That's exactly where we've been and I never want to go there again!"

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