After pulling nearly an all-nighter the day before, Maggie opted to take a night shift the next day. She had clocked a near 20 hour shift so she was in no condition to get back to work the next morning. Jackson watched her as he got ready for his day not wanting to disturb her. He was just scribbling down a note for Maggie when his phone rang waking Maggie up. He stepped out taking the call for a few minutes and walked back in finding Maggie still trying to sleep.

"Hey, didn't mean to wake you" he said bending down giving her a kiss

"That`s okay, I am taking the night shift today so I have all day to rest"

"Oh, what time did you get home yesterday?"

"Just before 4 this morning I think, my surgery took long"

"I just got off the phone with Stanford; they need me in San Francisco"

"Is everything okay?" Maggie asked sitting up with her back on the headboard.

"Yeah, it's better than okay actually, it`s about my spray on skin project but more so about the merman" Maggie couldn't help but smile upon hearing his words. She remembered the first day Jackson had used the fish skin to heal a burn victim and how proud she had been that day.

"Wow, Jackson this is big"

"I know, the meeting is tomorrow and if everything goes as planned they want me to give a presentation at their conference the day after"

"Jackson that is amazing" Maggie said with a beaming face

"Yeah, it is"

"You don`t sound like you are happy about this, don`t tell me you don`t want to do this"

"I do, I just wish circumstances were different, this is not the best time to go away "

"Jackson you cannot put your career on hold just because the timing is bad, I know we are not in the best of place right now but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and you can`t let anything destruct you from it" he stood there looking at her. She was right, she often is "I mean it, not even me" Maggie continued.

"Okay, I am gonna go to the hospital and work on it, will fly out to San Francisco later today, I want the meeting to be early in the morning and please don`t tell my mum or anyone yet"

"Wait, she has to bring Harriet tonight so what will I say"

"Will tell her I am working late so she can drop Harriet at day care/night care then you will get her there after your shift"

"Okay I will have to go in during the day then, I will push through if that is what it takes for you to go then I will be more than happy to"

"Okay, get rest I will see you later before I leave. I will also need to talk to Mitchell seeing she is my partner in all this" he said kissing her forehead while Maggie just gave him a warm smile getting back to her sleep

The next day

Jackson`s meeting had gone well so he now had to stay for the conference as well. He called Maggie letting her know about how impressed they were. Maggie was by the nurse`s station after finishing her phone call when she heard Catherine calling her down the hallway. She tried to ignore her but she walked over to her.

"Maggie, I am looking for Jackson. Have you seen him?" Catherine asked

"No, I haven't seen him, he is probably busy I will let him know you were looking for him"

"Walk with me"

"I am kind of waiting for an important call for a possible heart from Portland"

"This won`t take much of your time and anyone can answer a damn phone call" Catherine said looking at nurses close by. She had no choice but to follow her as she opened Richard`s office and closing it behind her.

"Where is Jackson, he isn't answering my calls and don`t lie to me because I saw you walking in with Harriet this morning" Maggie said nothing avoiding Catherine`s eyes "You are such a terrible liar Maggie"

"I can`t tell you because he asked me not to"

"Maggie, I am his mother and you can`t keep my son`s whereabouts from me" Maggie shot Catherine with a look without responding to her

"Fine, he is in San Francisco, and in as much as it is killing me that I am breaking his trust I think you deserve to know even though he asked me not to tell you"

"Is everything alright and why would you go ahead and break his trust?"

"Because I know Jackson will forgive me eventually" Catherine gave her a look without saying anything sensing some shade in Maggie`s statement "he had a meeting today with Stanford and they were impressed with the work he is doing with his spray on skin such that they offered him all the man power and everything to fast track the whole project and tomorrow he will be presenting at a conference so as his mother I thought that would something you would want to hear" Catherine stood there speechless. She was a little hurt that her son didn't tell her but her face couldn't hide the pride she felt in her heart. She let out a little smile which made Maggie not to contain herself either

"Wow, what time is the conference" she said sitting in one of the chairs

"Not sure when it`s starting but he is presenting at 11 in the morning "

"Good, you and I are going to San Francisco tomorrow morning"

"I don`t think that`s a good idea, he might not be thrilled to see me because we are not in a great place right now"

"Why, what`s wrong?"

"He knows I am hiding something and I can`t exactly tell him what it is"

"I will tell him if you agree to go with me. He won`t be pleased with me either but if you are there maybe he will hate me a little less"

"He won`t hate you and even if he does at least he would know the truth"

...

"...and it was all just a little competition with my fiancée Dr Margaret Pierce. Once I found that tilapia skin has moisture, collagen and disease resistance at levels comparable to human skin, and can aid in healing, I tested it on rodents to study its healing properties. The results were mind blowing that I went ahead and did my first human trial on a human being as you can see on this picture. The use of tilapia skin on burns is unprecedented; we all know the fish skin is usually thrown away, so I am using this product to convert it into something of social benefit. The treatment can speed up healing by several days and reduces the need for pain medication. I used interns to harvest the skin and we used it while it was still fresh and smelly can you believe it. Gosh I remember how much they complained that day." He said letting out a little chuckle "as at now I am treating the fish skin with various sterilizing agents, packaging and freezing it; I sent it for irradiation to kill viruses. Even though the one that I used was still fresh and smelly, you will be surprised that once cleaned and treated, it can last longer and does not smell at all. The oldest I have is about 6 months and I have used quiet a number that has been frozen and it works as good as the one that is a day old. I am still trying to see how long it can stay in the freezer before I tell you its life span. I have used this on about 4 patients to treat second- and third-degree burns, back home in Seattle they are even calling me the ruler of Atlantis, that`s because they see patients with limbs covered by fish skin. As of now I believe the tilapia skin treatment is more effective than bandages that need to be changed every two days because it has high levels of collagen type 1, stays moist longer than gauze, and does not need to be changed frequently. It is also applied directly onto the burned area and covered with a bandage, without the need for any cream. After about 10 days you can remove the bandage, the tilapia skin which has dried out and loosened from the burn, can be peeled away. I also found that the tilapia skin treatment costs way lesser than the sulfadiazine cream typically used on burn patients, as it is a cheap fish-farming waste product. My hope is that the treatment will prove commercially viable and encourage businesses to process tilapia skin for medical use" Jackson said finishing up his presentation while everyone gave him a standing ovation. He took a few questions from the floor and after a few minutes walked backstage where he found Maggie with his mom and Harriet. This was quite a surprise as he wasn't expecting them at all. His mum had pulled some strings to get them in that conference and he couldn't be happier. Maggie was beaming with pride looking at her man while everyone backstage kept wanting a piece of his brain. He quickly introduced them to those who were at the back; Maggie then offered to take Harriet for sightseeing while Catherine opted to remain with Jackson for the rest of the conference. He gave Maggie his hotel room key.

A few hours later Catherine called Maggie to bring Harriet so they could head back to Seattle. Maggie headed down stairs to the hotel lobby with Harriet in her arms. Catherine told Maggie that he had told Jackson and Jackson was angry with her for keeping that from him. She nevertheless thanked Maggie for everything and she told her that she had been proud of Jackson and that was all that was important. She hugged Maggie while Maggie kissed Harriet goodbye. Catherine had always been a strong woman but Maggie could see the hurt she had in her eyes. She knew that a lot of people misunderstood her intentions many at times but the one thing she had learnt after being with Jackson was that Catherine wouldn't hesitate to do anything even if it cost more than her life for her son. She always admired their relationship from afar and it broke her heart to see Catherine like that.

...

Jackson was so tired from the day he had, he had given Maggie his key so he had to go ask for another key since Maggie wasn't answering her phone. He walked up to the receptionist who greeted him with a warm smile and said

"Oh yes, here is your key sir"

"Thank you" he said going for the lift to his designated floor. Upon scanning the key card it took him straight to the upper penthouse. He shook his head as a warm feeling came upon him, he was tired but all the tiredness started fading. Jackson had always been the one pulling off surprises and special moments for her so this time she wanted to turn the tables and surprise him. Maggie had thought about going all out but remembered on how tired he might be after a long day and she had no idea on how he had taken the news only that he wasn't pleased with Catherine so she figured she wouldn't pressure him and just make it light. Once he walked in, he was greeted by a magnificent scent, some soft music and the whole suite was lightly dimmed. Maggie had bought some sexy lingerie which she wore under a robe on as she walked over to him. He gave her a slight kiss while getting his bag and his jacket.

"You must be tired" Maggie said looking at him

"It was a long hectic day, how did you get this?" he said as his eyes wandered all over the place opening every cabinet "wow tequila"

"I am full of surprises but I had no idea that was there" she said putting his bag away

"Wow" he said looking at the table that was nicely set.

"Why don`t you take a shower and then we can eat"

"Don`t you want to join me?" he said with a smirk

"I would love to but I am waiting on an important call and I don't want to miss it" she said smiling at him. Jackson went ahead and took a shower and moments later Maggie`s phone rang. She walked out to the balcony while Jackson put on a T shirt and some shorts. He walked towards Maggie who was wrapping up her call and hugged her from behind. She could feel his warmth while he breathed her in with his head buried in her hair.

"You were amazing today" Maggie said

"Was I?" he said turning her to face him

"That was hot, the way you delivered your presentation. It was incredible"

"Thank you even though I was actually nervous" he said kissing her neck and boxing her in with his hands holding the balcony "I am so glad you came" he said untying her rope

"You are welcome" she said with a smile and putting her hands around his neck. She stood on her tippy toes kissing him. She could sense that something was weighing heavily on his mind but she did not want to ruin the moment by asking him. He continued slowly opening her robe and running his finger in between her breasts while kissing her all over her neck

"Babe, I think we should eat first" Maggie said

"What is wrong with a little dessert before a meal?"

"Okay, I like that but we need to eat" she said playfully dodging all the kisses and his hands that were all over her body

"You are such a tease do you know that?"

"Well, it's always worth it when you got to work for it a little" Maggie said playfully

"Apparently my father is sick" he said changing the subject. Maggie knew Jackson was trying to avoid talking about his conversation with Catherine. She knew his MO very well, using sex to avoid dealing with things so she played hard to get so he could talk

"I know" Maggie said as she moved her hands from his neck and wrapped them around his waist

"He is dying and she doesn't even tell me, who does that? She says he reached out to her long back and she has been taking care of his medical bills and everything because he is broke. She also told me about how she had asked you not to tell me"

"Jackson, I want you to know that I really wanted to tell you, I really did but your mum...'

"Babe I am not mad at you, I was hoping that at this point in our relationship my mom wouldn't still be meddling in my life, especially with you"

"She might have been wrong but come on she was probably just trying to protect you"

"I know but that doesn't give her the right to make you keep things from me, if that is how they operate in their marriage that's fine but that is not how I want mine to be"

"Jackson, I think you are overreacting"

"How can you be on her side after what she did to you and Mer?" Jackson was getting agitated by how Maggie was responding.

"I am not trying to take sides, I am just trying to understand her reasoning, she did that because she loves you" she said holding him tighter.

"Oh yeah, she loves me so much but she hides the fact that my father is sick?"

"Jackson you are who you are because of her and of all the people you should know that. Yes she might not have told you but what difference would it have made if she had told you earlier?"

"Here I was hoping we would have a nice quiet evening" he said removing Maggie`s hands walking back inside living Maggie by herself. She quickly tied her robe and followed him

"I get that you are angry but I think you are projecting your anger to the wrong person"

"You know what Maggie, you need to stay out of this okay" he said grabbing a glass pouring some alcohol that was in the cupboard.

"Are you being serious right now?" Maggie said looking at him taking the drink

"Like I said, stay out of it" he said drinking some more and walking away from her.

"No I am not going to stay out of it if you are going to act like an entitled brat"

"What did you just say?" he stopped and walked back a little towards her

"I said you are acting like an entitled brat, Catherine might not have told you but she is your mother Jackson and right now you are acting like she crucified someone. Have you asked yourself why your father didn't tell you?" Jackson said nothing as he took a swing at the whole bottle. Maggie stood there looking at him. She shook her head and made her way to the bedroom and started getting dressed. He followed her moments later; he was already getting tipsy since he had almost finished the whole bottle. He watched her as she packed her things without saying a word. After she was done she walked towards him and said "I am gonna go home, I will see you back in Seattle"

"I think that's a good idea" he said looking at her while Maggie just shook her head and walked out.

Whhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeewwwww this is messy!