August 28th, 2004
John rubbed his eyes. Would this workday never end? He wanted to curl up in bed with his wife. Maybe even read the kids a book or two. Relaxation. Ah that sounded perfect.
"John." Kerry walked in.
"Hey. I'm off so whatever it is ask Luka." John yawned.
"It's Josephine." She said. John looked at her.
"What about Josie?" he asked.
"She's in the ER. Split her chin and needs a couple of stitches." Kerry said.
"My baby." John frowned and rushed out of the lounge. It was loud in the ER, but John could hear his daughter's cries. Jing-Mei and Josie sat on a gurney. "What happened?"
"She slipped in the bathtub." Jing-Mei said, "She won't let me do anything. Daddy needs to do it."
"You hurt your chin, babydoll?" John asked as he grabbed some gauze to clean the wound. Josie nodded.
"Daddy fix." She cried softly.
"Daddy will make it feel all better, Darling." John looked at her chin, "Yeah, she needs some stitches. Come on." He picked her up and they walked to the suture room. "Where are the others?"
"April is watching them." Jing-Mei said. "You should have seen how much blood there was, John."
"She'll be fine." He said, "Okay, Baby, I need to use a needle."
"Bad." Josie whimpered.
"I know." John mumbled as numbed the area. Josie winced and closed her eyes tightly. "Good girl."
"We'll get you some ice-cream or something when we go home, Josie." Jing-Mei said as she watched her husband begin to stitch up Josephine's chin.
"I hate this." Jing-Mei said softly. John nodded.
"Yeah, But she'll be fine." He said as he finished the stitch. "Do you want snoopy or Winnie the pooh band-aide?"
"Poop." Josie whispered. John chuckled softly.
"Okay, Winnie the pooh." He said.
* * *
John carried Josephine into the house. She was sound asleep.
"I'll put her to bed and then we can do what grown ups do." John said. Jing-Mei laughed gently.
"I think I can handle that." She said going into her bedroom. Seeing one of her daughters like that had really freaked her out. She pulled off her clothes and got beneath the blankets. It was starting too cool off, but it was still a tad sticky. John walked in.
"She's all tucked in. Josslyn and JT are sound asleep." He undid his shirt.
"Good." Jing-Mei smiled. "Guess what I'm wearing underneath this bedspread."
"Let me guess. Is it your birthday suit?" He asked her.
"Hmmm…It could be." She said, "Come look."
"Let me see what we have here." John crawled beneath the blankets and ran his hand down her naked body. She shivered.
"Well?" She arched her eyebrow.
"I think I like what I see." John said as he crawled between her legs. Jing-Mei took in a deep breath and nodded.
"I like what I see also." She said wrapping her arms around his neck. "John…Make love to me while the kids are asleep."
"We have a small window of opportunity." He leaned down and kissed her softly, "I love you, Deb." He whispered as they entered a night of pure bliss.
September 14th, 2004
Jack unlocked the front door. He was glad they hadn't changed the locks. He quietly closed the door and looked around. It didn't even look like the house he had seen a few years ago. Toys, clothes, shoes were thrown all over the place.
"Hello?" Jack called out. JT peeked his head around the corner.
"Hi." He whispered. Jack smiled.
"Hi there, big guy." Jack said walking up to him.
"Who you?" JT frowned. Jack chuckled.
"I'm your grandfather." Jack said, "Where is your mom and dad?"
"Kitchen." JT said taking Jack's hand, "Come on." JT led Jack into the kitchen. John and Jing-Mei were wiping off the girls after they had made a mess out of jelly.
"John." Jack said. John jumped and spun around.
"Dad, Christ, what are you doing here?" John asked.
"I wanted to see the kids and check up on you guys." Jack said, "And this little guy showed me the way to the kitchen."
"JT, go into the living room and turn the TV on." Jing-Mei said as she put Josephine on the ground.
"Usually people call." John said as he looked at his father.
"I tried, but it was always busy." Jack said, "Who do you have there?" John looked at Josslyn. She giggled softly and buried her face in his shoulder.
"Josslyn." John said putting her down, "You girls go find JT." The girls ran out of the kitchen. Jack hung his jacket up over the back of the chair.
"How is everything here?" Jack asked.
"Fine." John said, "You still have a key to the house huh?"
"Yeah I do. I can give it back to you if you want." Jack said.
"Keep it." John said glancing at Jing-Mei, "Can I get you something to drink, Dad?" Jack nodded.
"Coffee if its not too much trouble." He said. Jing-Mei nodded.
"So tell me," John said, "Why exactly are you here?"
"To see the kids. Don't they have the right to see their grandfather?" Jack asked. John nodded.
"Yes, but they're almost two years old and you've never made any effort to really get to know them. Why now?" John asked.
"I um…I've been thinking a lot about Bobby and your cousin-"
"Chase is fine. I saw him yesterday and don't bring Bobby into this." John said. Jack held up his hands.
"I come in peace, John." Jack smiled, "I just want to talk, okay?"
"If I let my guard down, you're going to hurt us." John said.
"I wont." Jack insisted as he sat down. "I promise."
"All right." Jing-Mei smiled softly, "You have five minutes before the kids start whining and wanting us." Jack chuckled.
"I don't mind that, I really do want to see them." He said.
"Then come here." John got up ad led his wife and father to the living room. The triplets were all sitting on the couch watching the television. John reached down and shut it off. They started to moan. "No TV right now. Grandpa is here and he wants to play."
"We play." Josslyn jumped off of the couch, "Paint?"
"Ah…I don't know." Jack said looking at Jing-Mei.
"You four can paint as long as you don't make a mess." She said.
"No mess." Josephine grinned taking Jack's other hand.
"We won't make a mess." Jack chuckled leading them out into the kitchen; "I'll clean up after them if they do." John and Jing-Mei exchanged looks as they sat down on the couch.
"This visit is very random, don't you think?" John asked.
"Maybe." Jing-Mei said, "But he has them and we have some peace for a few minutes." John chuckled as he wrapped his arm around his wife. She was right. He was entertaining the kids while they could just sit here and rest.
