Chapter 15
Gunner woke up the next morning but instead of feeling ready to tackle the day ahead, he felt totally defeated. With all of yesterday's events he had dreamed that he was back working at the club as a bouncer and Becca was still the bartender. It had felt like he had gone back in time but he knew it was a dream when her dad had come to the bar to tell him to stay away from Becca. He understood that her dad was protecting her but he loved her so much that he couldn't and needed to fight for her. He showed that he was serious about Becca and her dad had finally agreed to step aside. He woke up and realised that he had to given Jason a chance but he knew why he was so bothered yesterday.
It was another reminder that his little girl was almost an adult and now had another man in her life besides him. Since she was a baby she was the apple of his eye and Cleo was convinced that the sun rose and set with him. When he got to Houston to visit Becca and Cleo, as soon as he opened the front door, Cleo ran at him like a bullet from a gun and flung herself into his arms. She was so happy to see him and tell him everything that she was doing with school and sports as Gunner hung on her every word. Each time he left to go home for a job, her petted lip and teary eyes cut through his heart with Becca left to comfort Cleo. They had stayed close throughout the years but last year had brought them even closer together but Gunner could still feel her slipping though his fingers. It started when she got her provisional driving license. He had always driven her to school and sports arena's but when she got her license she wanted to drive herself. He was proud of her for wanting to drive but he felt like he had lost his importance in her daily life. Seeing how happy she was, he slowly learned to let go but getting a boyfriend was something different than driving.
Having a boyfriend would mean that Gunner may not be the one that she confided in as much or turned to for comfort if she was upset. He would have to watch as she went into another man's arms when she needed comforted and that would be the hardest thing to watch her do. He had to remember as well that even though she was only 16 Cleo had the maturity of someone in their early twenties meaning she wouldn't put up with any shit from a guy and could handle it if they had an argument. Cleo was ready for a boyfriend but Gunner wasn't ready to let her go just yet. He still wasn't happy that it was Jason Ross and that Cleo was only sixteen while Jason was twenty seven but even he had to admit that the kid had changed in the past few months and the little speech he gave yesterday was genuine.
Gunner rolled onto his back and stretched his arms above his head and yawned. As he brought his arms back down, he checked the time on his watch and saw it was 9am. It felt like it was earlier than that but it may have been how the dream was making him feel. He rolled over to his other side and propped himself up on his arm as he stared at Becca's picture.
"Morning baby." Gunner said as he traced her face with his finger.
He lay and looked at her for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh. "I know that if I was Jason I wouldn't have given up on you but she's still my little girl." He said to her picture knowing what she would say to him.
"I do trust her and know how mature she is but what if he breaks her heart. I couldn't handle that." Gunner said again to Becca with a heavy sigh.
He was silent again for a few moments again as he heard Becca's voice in his head. "I'll try. Ok I'll let them be together but there's going to be rules."
He gave a chuckle knowing what Becca's response would be and leaned back on his back to stretch his arms again. Just as he was brining his arms back down, his phone buzzed and he turned to pick it off the nightstand. His eyes adjusted to the bright light of his phone and seen it was a text from Cleo. He thought she would still be sleeping but maybe after his reaction she hadn't slept well. The message said.
From: Cleo
Hi dad. I know you'll still be mad about yesterday but can you please be here for 12. Tool and I have been working on a secret plan and need you to be here then to see the end result.
Gunner had no idea what she was talking about but he was intrigued to see what they had been up to. He text her back quickly.
To Cleo:
Hi. I'll be there before that. See you soon.
Once the text was sent, he placed the phone back on the beside table and got out of bed to get ready for the day. He went to the bathroom to shower and brush his teeth before returning to his bedroom to get changed. Once ready, he went downstairs to quickly brag some breakfast before heading back to the hospital but he just hoped that Cleo would talk to him again this morning.
It was just after 11:30am when Gunner walked through the doors on the hospital ward that Cleo was in. As much as he wanted to see her, he was anxious to see her as well. He hadn't left her on good terms last night but he was ready to move on from their discussion last night and hoped that when he told her he would given Jason a chance that she would be happy. Then again she might not be happy when he heard the rules that would be set for them.
He walked along the corridor and turned into Cleo's room but she wasn't there.
"Good morning Mr Jensen." A nurse greeted him as she walked in behind him.
"Morning. Where's Cleo?" Gunner asked as she slid past him and picked up Cleo's chart.
"A nurse was taking her to shower and change. She's just coming back down the hallway now." The nurse replied as she looked up from her clipboard.
"Thanks." Gunner replied as he walked over to the bed and took up his usual seat.
The nurse finished writing on her chart, put it back its holder and left the room as an alert went off in another room. Gunner let out another heavy sigh and waited for Cleo but he didn't have to wait to long. Just after the other nurse left, another nurse wheeled Cleo back into the room in a wheel chair and stopped by her bed.
"Hey Cle." Gunner said as the chair stopped by the bed. She was changed out of her hospital gown and was now in the tracksuit bottoms, socks and a plain t-shirt he had brought for her.
"Hi dad." Cleo said quickly glancing at him as she got out of the chair and got back into the bed.
"There you go." The nurse said to Cleo as she pulled the sheet up to her waist. "You did well standing for so long but we don't want to push it. We'll try a small walk later to get you up and about."
"I could have walked back." Cleo said to the nurse.
"Cle you gotta take it easy." Gunner said softly to her, hoping to appease her.
The nurse shot him a quick smile as if to say thank you. "You're dad's right. Each day we'll add more walking and you'll be running again in no time. I'll be back later." The nurse said as she turned and walked out of the room.
As the nurse left, an awkward silence soon filled the room. Something that had never happened between them before.
"Can I have a hug?" Cleo asked breaking the silence.
Her words shocked Gunner. She had never asked him for a hug before but always just walked up to him or held her arms out to him. To ask for a hug sounded like Gunner didn't like hugging her, which was not the case. Gunner was off the chair in a flash and pulled her into his arms.
"You don't ever need to ask Cle." Gunner said as he held her tightly without hurting her.
Cleo didn't reply but hugging him tighter. Happy that he didn't seem as angry as he did yesterday. Jason had text her to say that he had come to the house but didn't go into detail about what happened. As they stayed in each other's arms, a small knock at the door interrupted them and they turned to look at the door.
"Sorry to interrupt but these have just arrived for you and along with something special. Aren't they lovely? You can eat the chips if you want to as well." A nurse said as she walked into the room.
She was carrying a vase with a huge beautiful daisy bouquet inside and two bags of family size cheese Doritos. The nurse placed the Doritos on the tray so Cleo could eat them and then placed the vase of flowers on her bedside table before she turned and left again.
"Aw dad, their lovely but you didn't have to." Cleo said with a big smile.
"Cle I didn't buy you those." Gunner said as he released her in his arms and walked over to the bedside table to see the flowers. "There's a card here." Gunner gently pulled the card from the flowers and handed it to Cleo.
Cleo took it from him, opened the envelope and took the card out to read it. As she read the card, her smile got even bigger and she blushed slightly.
"Who are they from?" Gunner asked.
Cleo handed him the card so he could read it himself. He took the card from her and brought it up to his face. The message read:
Your smile makes my day but I thought these would brighten your day and when you look at them, you'll think of me. I know daises are your favourite as they remind you of sitting on the soccer field in Houston making daisy chains during practice breaks in the spring. Most girls want chocolates with flowers but you're not most girls. You hardly ever eat chocolate but love Doritos. I'll see you soon. Love Jason x
The kid seriously didn't take no for an answer but it was nice to see how well he knew Cleo and cared enough to send her gifts. He tucked the card back in the envelope and placed it back in the flowers.
"See! He is a better person than you think." Cleo said broaching the subject that they left last night.
Gunner turned and walked back to his chair and sat down. "We'll talk about that later Cle. What have you and Tool been working on?"
A look of disappointment flashed across Cleo's face and she dropped her head. "You'll find out soon."
The look on her face broke Gunner's heart and he knew that he had to speed up his plan as well. He dug his phone out of his pocket and pushed send on the text that he had typed earlier. Happy that it was sent, he stuffed the phone back in his pocket.
"Cle." Gunner started to say but then stopped himself not knowing what to say and not wanting to upset her more.
The awkward silence soon returned but Cleo turned away to look at the flowers that Jason had sent her. The fact that he had remembered why they were her favourite flower was so nice but for him to send her a huge bouquet along with her favourite snack was amazing. She reached forward, opened the first bag and happily started eating.
"That good after six days with no food." Gunner asked as she happily munched on the Doritos.
"So good. You want one?" Cleo replied as she offered him the bag.
"No thanks." Gunner said. It was good that she was eating as Adam had said she'd lost a few kilos with the surgery and being unconscious for 5 days.
They went back to silence but now the sound of Cleo's soft crunching was filling the room. They weren't sure how much time had passed but soon another knock on the door interrupted them.
"Howdy everyone." Tool said as he walked in with Mandy behind him.
"Hi Tool. Mandy." Gunner said trying his best to say Mandy politely.
"Gunner." Mandy said back matching his tone. She walked over to Cleo and gave her a hug. "Hi honey."
"Hi." Cleo replied as she hugged her back.
"How are you feeling?" Mandy asked her as she took a seat on the other side of Cleo's bed.
"Yeah a lot better. Amazing how much a shower can refresh you and make you feel more human." Cleo said as she lied through her teeth. She felt exhausted, as she had only slept for a couple hours last night as she tossed and turned thinking about her and Jason being together whilst also thinking about her dad as well. She grabbed another Dorito out the bag and faced Mandy. "Finally aloud to eat again."
Mandy laughed at her. "I think you have Doritos in your blood Cleo."
"Quite possibly." Cleo said as she kept munching.
Mandy smiled at her as she kept munching before her gaze shifted to Gunner and her smile quickly dropped.
"Cleo I'm so happy that you're feeling better but we still need to talk about you coming back to San Diego." Mandy said as she turned back to Cleo.
"She's not going anywhere." Gunner snarled at her.
"I wasn't talking to you!" Mandy snapped back at him before she turned back to Cleo.
"I'm staying here." Cleo replied to her. As anxious as she was with Gunner because of the Jason situation, it was a relief that he wasn't planning to send her away.
Mandy leaned forward and took her hand. "I'm just worried about you. I know you're very mature for your age but you're still only 16. Your dad gets called away at any time and can be away for days, meaning your left alone with no one to look after you."
"I can look after myself and I can drive." Cleo said as she hoped their plan would still work.
"I know that you can but it's nice to have company and have an adult that you can rely on encase something goes wrong. That's why I wanted you to come back with me so that I could give you that reassurance." Mandy paused as she snuck a glance at Tool. "However having spent a few hours with Tool, getting to know him and seeing his residence, I feel a lot better knowing that he is there for you when your dad's away and that you can depend on him. So I'm not going to drag you back to San Diego if you don't want to or fight your dad for custody. "
Cleo could see how hard this was for her but their plan had worked and there would be no more talk of custody battles or dragging Cleo back to San Diego.
"Thank you so much." Cleo said as she leaned forward and hugged her aunt. As she hugged her she gave Tool a thumbs up and he did the same to her. "I know that you miss me but I'll still come and visit you. You're my aunt and I love you."
"I know honey but I still see you as my baby niece and you're almost an adult now. Soon you'll be graduating from high school, then off to college and into the big wide world. I wish time would stop." Mandy said as she sat back on her chair
"Amen sister." Tool shouted from his chair.
Mandy smiled at his words but her eyes had shifted to the flowers on Cleo's bedside table.
"There beautiful." Mandy said as she stood up to see the flowers closer. "Who are they from? A boy perhaps?"
"No dad got me them." Cleo said.
Luckily the card was hidden so she couldn't see who they were really from. If Mandy found out that she had a boyfriend who was 27, it could undo all the work they had just down and then she really would be going back to San Diego.
"They're lovely." Mandy said as she shot Gunner a look without making eye contact and sat back down on her chair. "It's about time you got a boyfriend anyway. Beautiful girl like you deserves someone to spoil her."
"Yeah maybe." Cleo said as she shifted awkwardly in her bed.
"I'll take you shopping soon. A new wardrobe might attract the boys. Maybe playing less sports would help as well." Mandy said with a pleading tone in her voice.
"I'll see but I am happy Aunt Mandy with or without a boyfriend." Cleo said smiling as she hid her lie. She didn't want to lie to her but she knew that she had to.
Gunner's phone buzzed in his pocket and he took it out to see what was happened. He read the message that he had just been sent and motioned to Tool that he needed to see him outside.
"Excuse me ladies." Tool said as he followed Gunner out into the hallway.
"How long are you staying in New Orleans for?" Cleo asked as she wondered what her dad and Tool were up to.
Mandy let a heavy sigh. "I'm heading home tonight. Now that I know you're ok and you've got a great group of people around you, I'm not as concerned if it was only your dad that you had to rely on. You're a beautiful, smart and strong young women and I know you'll be fine. Your mom would be so proud of the women you're becoming."
Cleo's eyes welled up with tears at her last words. Mandy's eyes had welled up to and she moved to sit on the bed and pulled Cleo in a hug.
"Thank you. I miss her so much." Cleo said as she tugged Mandy.
"So do I honey but thanks to her I still have you." Mandy replied as a tear fell on Cleo's shoulder.
"I love you Aunt Mandy." Cleo said as a tear fell on Mandy's shoulder.
"I love you to." Mandy said as she let go of Cleo and moved to face her. "I'm only a phone call away and I'll see you before Christmas."
"Sounds good to me." Cleo said as she wiped her tear away.
Gunner and Tool came back in the room.
"How about I take you for some Gumbo before your flight and take you to the airport?" Tool asked Mandy as he leaned against the wall.
"Yeah that sounds great." Mandy said as she blushed slightly and turned back to Cleo. "I'll text you when I land. I'll see you soon."
Mandy leaned in and gave her another hug and a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Have a safe flight and I'll see you soon." Cleo said as Mandy stood up.
Mandy grabbed her bag and turned to face Gunner as her smile disappeared. "Look after her or I'll be back here again."
"I always do. She's my world." Gunner snarled back at her.
Cleo smiled again at his words but it could disappear when they left if they couldn't resolve the Jason situation.
"Bye Gunner." Mandy said as she walked to the door.
"Bye." Gunner replied as she left.
"I'll back later tonight." Tool said as he followed Mandy out the door and left.
Once they were gone, Gunner let out a sigh of relief and turned back to Cleo. "Nicely done, Cle."
"Thanks. No more custody talk. No more talk of moving to San Diego and Aunt Mandy has gone for a while." Cleo said as she finally looked at him.
"How did you do it?" Gunner asked feeling so relieved that he didn't have to fight Mandy for custody.
"I could tell that she liked Tool the way that she blushed at his name so I asked him to turn on his so called charm and convince her that I'm safe here. Once she heard that I stay with him sometimes and hang out with him while you're away, she was sold and agreed to drop the custody talk." Cleo said hoping that she was now back on his good side.
"That's my girl. I'll thank Tool later." Gunner said as he smiled at her.
"Anytime." Cleo sighed awkwardly again in her bed. "Dad can we please talk about Jason. It's never been like this before with us and it's killing me."
"Cle." Gunner said as he moved to sit beside her on her bed. "It's killing me to but I want to talk to you and Jason together. He and Barney are on their way just now."
"Ok." Cleo said as she dropped her head.
"Come here" Gunner as he pulled her into his arms and held her.
Cleo held onto him tightly and just hoped that they could move pass this just as they had moved on from the incident that brought them here.
"Knock Knock," A voice interrupted them.
They broke apart and seen Barney standing at the door.
"Hey Barn." Gunner said as he got off the bed and moved over to Barney and patted his shoulder.
"Hey Gun. How you doing sweetheart?" Barney asked as he moved over to Cleo and hugged her.
"Yeah I'm ok." Cleo asked as she hugged Barney.
Barney finished hugged her and turned his attention back to Gunner. "You gonna be nice?"
"Yeah." Gunner replied as a look of guilt spread across his face and Cleo knew he had done something to Jason last night.
"Ok." Barney said as he turned back to the door. "Jason get in here."
Jason appeared around the corner and he looked nervous as hell. As he walked in, he nodded to Gunner, as he didn't want to say the wrong thing and be pinned up against another wall. Once Gunner nodded back, Jason turned his attention back to Cleo. She had more colour in her face today and the bruising around her eyes had come down. It didn't matter to him. She was still beautiful.
"Hi." Jason said once their eyes met.
"Hi. Thank you for the flowers. Their beautiful." Cleo said with a shake voice. If she hadn't been shot or her dad and Barney weren't standing 5 meters away, she would have thrown herself into his arms to show him how much she meant it.
"You're welcome. Not as beautiful as you though." Jason said as he smiled at her.
Cleo blushed at his words and tried to stop the smile spreading across her face. They talked almost every day but he never said anything like that to her before and it was strange but a good strange.
Barney cleared his throat as if to remind Jason that Gunner was watching him and not to say something stupid.
"Jason I want to apologise for last night." Gunner said, as his eyes didn't leave Jason.
"It's ok. No apology needed." Jason said knowing that he did deserve it.
"Thank you but you have to see it from my point. As my only kid I've always been protective of her and after what happened last year, she's all I have left and I can't lose her. I've known you pretty much you're whole life and know you pretty well, so you could imagine the shock when I find out you've been secretly dating my 16-year-old daughter. Given the way you brag and talk about women and your laid back attitude, I saw red when I found out what happened and knew I had to stop this before she got hurt."
Cleo wanted to protest but she knew Gunner wasn't done so stayed quiet.
"Last night I said that you couldn't see her anymore without another adult present but when you gave your little speech, I was impressed. I hate to admit it but I have seen you change over the past few months into a better man. You clearly know Cleo as well judging by the message in the flowers. So can you tell me that this is not a quick fling?" Gunner asked Jason.
"I promise. I'm in this for the long run and I would never hurt her." Jason said as he tried to sound confident but he did mean every word of what he said.
Gunner watched him for a moment and could tell he meant it. "Ok then. Then I won't stop you from seeing her and you can be together.
"Really?" Cleo and Jason both asked at the same time.
"Yeah but there will be rules." Gunner replied, as he turned serious again.
"Ok." Jason said knowing that there would be some rules.
"Rule number one. She's only 16 and underage so until that changes there will be no sleepovers at my house, Barney's or if you get your own place Jason. When she's 17, I'll maybe think about it. You can come over to my house and Cleo can visit Barney's but there has to be another adult there as well." Gunner said glaring at Jason.
"Understandable." Jason replied expecting that would be one of his rules.
"Rule number two." Gunner said as he turned to Cleo. "If your grades or soccer start to drop because you're distracted, your phone and laptop will be taken away until they improve."
"They won't, I promise." Cleo with a smile.
"Rule three. No date nights on a school night unless it's during school vacations. Texts or a phone call is fine." Gunner said as he moved back to staring at Jason.
Both Cleo and Jason nodded in agreement with his next rule.
"Rule four. On date nights I want her home by ten unless everyone is at Tool's, be back there for ten." Gunner said as looked at Jason.
"No problem." Jason said nodding his head.
"Rule five. Don't do anything to hurt her or I can and will kick your ass." Gunner snarled at Jason to show he was serious.
"So will I" Barney said as he glared at Jason as well.
"I won't. I'd never do that." Jason protested as clearly no one had listened to him earlier.
"Just making sure." Gunner replied as nodded in Barney's direction thanking him for the back up. "That's the rules just now until she's 18 but I will add more if needed. Break any rules and I'll change my mind about letting you near my daughter.
"I won't Sir." Jason said as he held his hand to Gunner.
Gunner didn't appreciate the Sir part. He didn't know if the kid was just trying to get on his good side but it hadn't worked.
"Don't get smart! It's still Gunner to you." Gunner snapped as he took Jason's hand and shook it.
As he shook Jason's hand he gripped it hard as a warning to Jason to take the rules seriously. Jason tried not to wince at the pain Gunner was causing him but he got the silent message he was sending him but it wasn't needed. He loved Cleo and would never hurt her.
Once Gunner was sure Jason got the message, he released his hand and turned back to Cleo. "If any rules are broken, you'll be grounded as well."
"Deal." Cleo said, as she couldn't wipe the smile off her face.
She was so happy that he was going to let her and Jason be together that she would say yes to any rules that he set for them. Her gaze slowly shifted to Jason and he had the same smile on his face.
"Come on Gunner. Let's give them a minute alone." Barney said as he gestured for them to leave the room.
Gunner didn't look like he was going to leave but he did. "Remember I'm just out here." He said as left the room and disappeared down the corridor with Barney.
They walked along to the end of the ward and Gunner slumped against the wall and wiped his face with his hand. Barney walked over and paced a hand on his shoulder. "I know how hard that was but you did good."
"You have no idea how hard it was but I'm just happy she's happy." Gunner said as he took his hand off his face. "I know he's your son Barney but if he hurts my little girl, I will make him suffer.
Barney laughed at him. "Don't worry I'll be right behind you but we gotta give them a chance."
"Yeah I guess." Gunner said as he let out another deep breathe.
"You never know, he could be your son one day and we might share grandchildren." Barney said as he lightly punched Gunner's shoulder.
A look of horror flashed across Gunner's face but he laughed at Barney secretly hoping that day was still some time away.
Meanwhile once their dad's had left, Jason let out a deep breathe as he walked over and sat down on Cleo's bed beside her. Once he sat down he crushed his lips to hers.
"Hey." Cleo said as she pulled away breathlessly
"Hey babe." Jason said as he kissed her quickly again.
"Well that wasn't as bad as what I thought it be." Cleo said as Jason took her hands in his.
"I'm still alive and nothing is broken. Best outcome possible." Jason said as he gently rubbed her hands. "Although the no sleepover and curfew rule does suck."
"Hey" Cleo said as he looked back up at her as she smirked at him. "We've snuck around for the past year. We can still do it. We just need to be extra careful now but that kinda makes it more fun."
"I like the sound of that. Plus it's so hot." Jason said as he moved in and kissed her hard.
"Thank you again for the flowers and the chips. Their beautiful but you didn't have to." Cleo said as their lips parted.
"Your welcome but anything you wish from now on is my command." Jason replied as he bowed his head to her.
"Luckily for you I'm not high maintenance or the demanding type." Cleo said as she took his hands this time.
"I know and that's one of the things I love about you as well. You're beautiful without make up anyway and you're not shallow. I wanna spoil you, so if you ever want anything, all you gotta do is say the word and it's yours. I'll be the man you deserve and get you everything you deserve." Jason replied as he leaned forward and rested his forehead on hers.
"Well there is something." Cleo said as she leaned onto his forehead.
Jason moved his headed so he could look at her. "Just name it and it's yours."
"Now that we're in an official relationship, promise me that there will be no secrets between us or if we have problems with each other, we talk about them. I know we'll argue at times but everything will be ok as long as we talk and don't bottle it up. " Cleo said as their eyes met.
Jason leaned in and kissed her. "I promise. I want this to work so badly. You're the one person I tell all my secrets to anyway."
"I want this to work as well and as long as we're honest and open with each other it will. That's all I ask." Cleo said as she leaned her forehead against him again. "Oh and there is one other thing."
"Anything." Jason said as he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'm only 16 so I can't brag that I have a 27 year old boyfriend but I can't keep this from Emily or Sam and the whole expendables team will eventually find out we're together." Cleo said.
"Yeah I was thinking the same thing if a lot of people know but what's wrong with the expendables, Emily and Sam knowing?" Jason asked her.
"Nothing wrong with it but I know you and Emily don't like each other." Cleo replied as she met his eyes.
"It's not that I don't like her. Just that mouth of her needs to learn to shut itself." Jason groaned thinking of Emily.
"I know that but it's her defence against all the shit she's been through and she is my best friend. She will say things to press your buttons and make jokes about us but please try and not rise to her comments. I can't have my boyfriend and best friend fighting all the time. If you don't like her it's ok but please try and be civil with her for me." Cleo said as she gently rubbed his forearm.
"I will baby but she has to do the same for me." Jason replied back.
"Thank you and I'm going to tell her the same thing." Cleo said as she leaned down and rested her forehead against his again. "I'm impressed you remembered the story of how daisy's are my favourite flower as well."
"Why thank you. If my dad ever says I don't listen can you tell him that I do?" Jason asked as he moved his head to look at her.
"Not a problem. Anytime." Cleo said as she smiled back at him.
"Thank you." Jason said as he leaned forward and kissed her. "Oh when is your next soccer game?"
"I'm not sure. Not for another few weeks I think. Why?" Cleo asked him.
"Cause I've never seen you play and that's changing now. The next game you play, I'm gonna be watching in the stadium." Jason said to her.
Most girls would want jewellery or more flowers but Jason coming to a soccer game meant so much more than any jewellery in the world. She just hoped he wouldn't be like her dad and actually turn up.
"That would be awesome. I'll check my dates when I'm aloud home." Cleo replied trying to stop her smile getting any bigger.
"I'll be there." Jason said as he pulled her into his arms and held her "I love you."
"I love you to." Cleo replied as she snuggled into his arms.
Cleo loved being in his arms and felt just as safe in his arms as she did in her dad's arms. They had a long road ahead of them but they both wanted it to work and would play by the rules to make it work. They loved each other which was all that mattered.
"Ok time's up for today." Gunner said as he walked back into the room.
They broke apart and Jason practically jumped off the bed. Cleo knew he was doing it so he didn't piss Gunner off but it was hilarious how jumpy he got around him.
"You behave yourself son?" Barney asked as he appeared at the door.
"Always dad." Jason replied as shifted on his feet.
"You haven't behaved since you started walking." Barney said as he winked at Cleo as she held in her laugh. "Anyway we need to go if we're gonna sort out the hanger before dark."
"Yeah better get going." Jason said to Barney as he turned back to Cleo. "I'll speak to you later." He wanted to give her another kiss and cuddle but was worried about Gunner's reaction.
"Will do." Cleo said knowing why he wasn't saying goodbye properly.
"Bye Gunner." Jason stammered as he walked to the door.
"Jason." Gunner said as he left the door.
Once Jason and Barney were gone, Gunner let out a deep breathe and Cleo could see all the tension in his muscles drop knowing how hard it was for him to do what he did.
"Pappa." Cleo said to get his attention.
Gunner turned back to her and gave her a half smile. He could see how happy she was and that's all he ever wanted, no matter how hard it was for him. Cleo patted the side of the bed with her hand and he walked over to sit beside her. As he sat down, she smiled back at him.
"Du kommer alltid att vara den viktigaste mannen i mitt liv. Du tappar inte mig
och du kommer aldrig att göra." Cleo said to him as their eyes met. You'll always be the most important man in my life. You're not losing me and you never will.
Her words melted away his heart again and before she could see him tear up, he crushed her to his chest in a big hug. He just hoped that she knew what she was doing but if it did end badly, he would be there for her.
"Du lovar?" Gunner asked her. You promise?
"Löfte." Cleo said agaisnt his shirt as she held on tightly to him. Promise
They stay embraced before Cleo broke the silence. "I love you dad. Thank you for everything."
Gunner moved so he could look at her. "I love you more Cle. I'm just happy that you're happy. That's all I've ever wanted for you."
"I am happy dad but you being cool with it makes it even better." Cleo said as she kept smiling at him.
"Well I wouldn't say I'm cool with it but accepting it is a started." Gunner said as he laughed.
Cleo laughed as well but Gunner turned serious again. "I'm serious Cleo. If any rules are broken, you're grounded with your phone and laptop taken away."
"I know dad but I think you put the fear of god in Jason today. He'll have me home early from dates now." Cleo said with a sad look on her face.
"Good then my plan worked." Gunner replied.
They both laughed knowing that they were back to where they were a few weeks go and everything was going to be ok. Cleo let out another huge yawn and felt her eyes go heavy again.
"Ok sleep time again Cle." Gunner said he noticed her eyes change.
"Yeah I think I only slept for 3 hours last night. When can I go home?" Cleo replied as she lay back down in the bed and got comfy.
"The more you sleep, the sooner you can go home. The doctor's need you to hit a certain point and only sleeping and resting will get you there." Gunner said as got off the bed and moved back to the chair.
"Fine but don't leave me." Cleo yawned as her eyes started to close.
"I never will Cle. I'll always be here." Gunner said as he watched her fall sleep just like he had gone when she slept in her crib.
TO BE CONTINUED.