A Friendly Hand
By Didi
Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters. John Wells and his friends do. Let's not get into the debate as to who owns the ideas and all that; cause let's face it, you'll lose. Enjoy the story anyways.
Summary: Time to clear the air and express one's self.
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: Okay, I hadn't realized that I was writing the ending to this story until I was pretty much done. I hope you all enjoyed the story as much I've enjoyed writing it.
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Chapter 22
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"Someone want to explain?" Jules tossed her keys onto the counter and began to shrug off her coat slowly, eyes going from one face to the next studying them with her doctor's eyes. They looked alternatively triumphant, guilty, smug and... ill to the point of turning green. "Matt, you all right?" concerned etched deeply on her face. "What did you guys do to him?"
Jeffrey, Jeremiah and Joshua sputtered for a moment before beginning to protest, loudly, of their innocence and their sister's bad judgment of the situation. To which Jules argued just as vocally as she moved to check Matt for any physical injuries she could horde over her brothers' collective heads.
Matt's eyes studied her adorable face, memorizing each inch of it down to the last freckle the decorated her cute little upturn nose. She smelled of baby powder, sterilized hospital gowns and lavender lotion. Her bluntly cut nails were painted a soft shade of coral pink that highlighted each narrow finger as her hand ran over his shoulders, arm and ribs to make sure no bones were broken. The read highlights in her brown hair shown in the light and she looked... perfect. Radiantly beautiful.
"And exactly what in the world are you even doing... How did you guys even get in?" She asked, her voice coming rather shrilled in her agitation.
"Relax Jules," Matt murmured softly, taking hold o her hands. "You're agitation will upset the fetus. Let's not forget the risk factors here."
She stared at him, a little bemused by the fact that he looked... calm. Eerily so.
"Gentlemen," standing up and turned to set Jules into his vacated seat before turning to her brothers, who had grown quiet when Jules did so. "Thank you for the unsolicited advise and comments, but it's time you took your leave." He pointed one finger. "There's the door, use it."
If the brothers were the least bit surprised or offended, they didn't show it. Well, except Josh who protested but was quickly hushed up by his brothers. They departed with a quick kiss for their sister and a meaningful look for Slinglerland.
"We'll be seeing you at Christmas," Jeffrey said to Jules though his eyes included Matt who nodded his head imperceptibly.
"I hope it's a girl," Jerry added with a grin and squeezed his sister's hand. "Laura and I will wait for news. Love you always, kiddo."
Jules nodded mutely, unsure of what's going on now but wise enough to know that it was for the best.
"Call if you need anything," Josh said pressing his lips to her cheek. "Anything at all."
"Good bye, Josh," Slinglerland responded shoving the annoying brother toward his elder brothers. "You're the one I won't miss."
"There's one in every family, and I'm it." Josh replied easily as Matt walked the three to the door. "I like you, Slingerland," keeping his voice down so Jules doesn't hear. "Despite everything, I do like you. But if you hurt my sister, I won't hesitate to kill you."
Matt nodded. "You'd have my blessing if it ever happens."
"Go on," Jeff said as he waited for Josh. "Get in there and make this right."
"Nite boys," Matt said before closing the door in their faces.
Josh grinned at the door. "Our little sister's going to be married."
"Think she'll wear white?" Jerry asked as they headed down the street.
"No exactly appropriate under the circumstances but Mom would have a heart attack if she doesn't," Jeff answered pulling his coat on. "Coffee?"
"Yeah," Jerry glanced at his watch. "I guess I'm staying the night. Can't drive this late."
"Better call your wife," Jeff suggested.
"Let's get coffee first."
"Right."
"Good."
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"Nick, what are you still doing here?" Jackie called as she dropped the last of her clips into the sorting bin. She wanted home, bubble bath and dinner.
"Post-Op case that decided that he wasn't going to wake up like normal people," Nick answered with a tried smile. He finished off another chart and moved onto another.
"Ouch," wincing with sympathy.
"And what's your excuse?" Nick asked glancing over as his smile sent the hearts of the nearby nurses fluttering. He's state of pathetic pining for the unattainable Rae has got to stop. It hurt his heat to think of her but he's got to in order to heal. And having easy friends like Jules Keating and Jackie Colette made it easier.
"Would you believe an emergency liposuction," she made a face of disgust. "I'm all for beautiful skin deep and all but god..." she made a face and threw up her hands as Nick laughed. "Sometime people's vanity surprises even me."
"Well if it's any consolation, it's better than some of the cases some of have to handle. "Keating got a teen suicide today. Lenning got a third strike IV childless couple. Slinglerland had twenty-two year old manic-depressive that took a knife to his eighty-year-old grandmother. Jordon and her husband got a car wreck that killed three and has a fourteen-month baby as the sole survivor with a nicked heart."
Jackie shook her head and sighed. "Okay, give me fat women with disposal incomes and want to look good for their high school reunion."
"I've got one for you," Nick said handing her a chart. "Jules's patient. Fifteen-year-old girl that took a fall from a eighteen person pyramid that landed in the worse possible way."
"Bone protrusion?" Jackie read with a sickened look.
He nodded. "Little Miss America is going to need a good plastic surgeon if she wants that leg looking anything near normal."
"She said anything yet?" reading the surgical notes.
"First thing she asked when she woke," Nick added.
"Speaking of Jules," Jackie hit him lightly on the arm. "Heard anything lately on that front?"
"Only that that a fight broke out, Jules's brothers hit town and Matt's brother did something bad."
"Really?"
"Yeah, Slingerland stormed out of here pretty peeved earlier."
"Anything interesting?"
"Only that the brother created some sort of rift between Jules and Matt."
Jackie raised a brow, having never seen Slingerland lose that charming smile of his. "Oh man, I've got fifty bucks riding on them being married before the end of the year." She wrinkled her nose. "How bad?"
Nick thought it over, remembering the thunderous look on Slingerland's face stomped down the hallway. "If Mr. Slingerland is smart, he would stay away from his brother for the next... year or two."
"Ouch!" Jackie laughed.
"There is something going on there that neither one is telling, which given the pitrie dish of breeding ground for gossip around here, I suppose it a wise decision."
"But what would we have to entertain us if they didn't share," Jackie complaint teasingly.
Nick laughed, a deep comforting sound that turned more than one head and brought a smile to Jackie's face. Putting the last of the charts away. "You had dinner yet?"
"No," she complained with a pout.
"I found a great fish and chip place near the wharf. I'd really like some company if you are not busy."
Surprised, flattered and definitely interested, just look at those dark soul-eating eyes, she smiled and nodded. "Just lead the way."
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"Should I be concerned that you're getting along with my brothers?" Jules asked as Matt came back in and sat across from her. His looked tired, a little more than disturbed and there was something hesitant in his eyes. She had rather sickening feeling as she tried to review what kind of damage her brothers could have done. "Matt? Are you all right?"
"Don't worry about your brothers and me," he assured her, taking her hand and studying her palms for a moment. She had soft hands, gentle hands... doctor's hands. "I need to speak with you on a couple of issues."
She nearly groaned out loud. "Okay, shoot."
"First of all," looking up he at her... and became distracted. "Anyone ever tell you that you're eyes have this amazing ability to hypnotize a man? It's so fascinatingly pretty. Kind of a green with specks of brown and gold mixed in there so that one cannot tell the color from a glance." He shook himself off. "Sorry, that wasn't what I wanted to talk about."
More confused then ever, "Matt, what's going on?"
He nodded to himself for a moment. "Well, I would like to inform you that I would personally have my brother committed if he ever does something so insane as to offer you money to go away again."
She didn't know why she blushed but she did.
"George is an ass," Matt told her in no uncertain terms. "And he will never bother you again."
She smiled but said nothing, not sure what would be appropriate at this point.
"Second," forging forward since he doesn't seem to be doing a great job of this so far. "I need to ask you something."
Jules looked at him expectedly.
The hesitation was there, fear too but he knew that he was going to have to do this. "Jules, how do you feel about me?"
That was... unexpected. "What?"
"How do you feel about me?" he asked watching her face flutter from confusion to uncertainly to bewilderment. His heart pounded in his chest cavities, making breathing a little difficult. And for the second time in less than half an hour, he felt as if he was about to pass out. But determination had him staying calm and waiting for an answer. "It's not a difficult question, or at least I don't think it is."
Making a helpless gesture, Jules rubbed her eyes with her knuckles. "I don't know what you want me to say, Matt. I don't know how to answer that. I... How does anyone describe how he or she feels about someone else? It's like trying to write a baby's first cry."
"Okay, okay," taking hold of her fluttering hands to calm her agitation. "Let me just ask you this," he wet his lips, realizing this was the reason he has always steadily gone after women that could never have a hold of his heart. This discomfort of not being in control, it's nerve wrecking. "Do you... do you want me around?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"Do you want me around? Around you? Around the baby? Do you feel that you can let share your life?"
To say that she was confused would be an understatement. "Matt, you're important to me. This baby is yours and... unless you don't want to part of... I would never make you stay if you don't want..."
"No, no, no, I want to be a father to my child. I... I want this... this... I want everything that involves my child." His inability to express himself was creating a mountain of frustration. "Please don't think that I would ever abandon you with a child to take care of."
"I didn't think that, Matt," she said quickly, seeing his concern. "I just..." she shrugged. "Look, I'll be honest. A lot of men, men that I see at the hospital, don't necessarily welcome a baby into their lives, no matter how remotely. I'm saying that if you feel that this isn't something you want, you don't 'have' to be part of it. I won't force you to be a father if that's not something you're interested in."
"It is, and I don't know how many ways I can tell you that," he replied with a frown. "What I want to know if would you welcome my presence in your life. Sooner or later, we're going to disagree on something or other. Are you going to resent my interference because this is your body and..."
"No," she replied without hesitation. "I wouldn't. I probably be annoyed, maybe even angry but I would never resent your need to protect me and our child from myself and my stubbornness."
Matt smiled at that. "It's nice to see that you can admit to your own defects."
She chuckled gently. "There aren't many, you know."
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "So you won't mind my being here for the long haul?"
"Sure," she smiled with a smile. Glad that they clear the air there. She'll have to remember that men have their own insecurities too. "Plus it's nice to find someone that likes overly buttered popcorn."
Slingerland nodded his head, his mind already moving six steps ahead. "Jules?"
"Yeah?"
"I change my mind about you moving in," he said tucking a lock behind her ear.
Jules froze, unable to respond.
He nodded again, "Let's get married instead."
That unglued her. "What?"
"We should get married," he said quietly. "I'll have a realtor look into houses, nice ones closer to the hospital. Wouldn't that be nice?"
She managed to get her mouth closed. "Matt, what are you saying?"
"No saying, asking." Bringing her hand up to his lip, he kissed the fourth ringer on her left hand. "Will you marry me?"
She blinked at him.
"I know I suppose to have a ring and everything but this came about rather unexpectedly plus I've always been a big believer that a woman should be allowed to choice her rings. This way, you can pick something that you'd like."
Jules eyed him suspiciously. "What exactly is it that my brothers said to you?"
"Don't worry about what..."
"No," she stopped him. "I want to hear it."
He nodded not quite understanding the importance of it but not wanting to argue the point either. "Jeff asked me whether or not I loved you."
Her heart caught in her throat.
"And I said yes." He smiled, feeling rather foolish. "Well actually, I kind of blurted it out in frustration over what a mess things were. It was nevertheless true." He blinked at the absolutely blank look on Jules's face. He would have expected... well, something other than nothing. And completely colorless cheeks were not a good thing either. "Honey? Are you okay?"
She held up a finger to stop him when he leaned forward. "When exactly were you planning on tell me you loved me?"
"Well I didn't rightly know until just half an hour ago. I figured sometime during the honeymoon I'd tell you about it."
"So my brothers knew before I did."
He nodded. "Well actually, I think your brothers knew before 'I' did. Rather embarrassing really."
She gave a soft chuckle and leaned forward to rest her forehead against his shoulder, promising herself that it would be just for a moment. Her heart felt like it was going to burst with... whether it was fear or delight she was experiencing she was unsure of. Until now, she hadn't realized that she had been waiting for those words. The romantic in her had been hoping...She shivered as the implications of it all set in.
"Are you all right, luv?" Matt asked quietly as she wrapped herself around him and he gathered her in his arms. She folded into him, curve for curve, line for line, two pieces of a puzzle that clicked together. Sliding onto the floor, they simply sat there in a tight embrace for silent moments as they allow the tension of the day to wash away.
When the silence finally got the better of him, "You didn't answer me."
The sigh was heartfelt and deep. "A baby isn't a good enough reason for marriage."
"But love is," he replied, not the least put out by the answer. "I love you."
Her heart fluttered once more and held on tighter.
Slingerland could almost feel her fear in the embrace. "Are you saying that you don't feel the same way?"
"No, that's not what I'm... I..." She leaned back to study his face, so close to her own that she had to lean by more not to go cross-eyed.
A lock of the rich mahogany hair had fallen forward onto his forehead, making him a rakish with his handsome English nose and jaw line. She rested her hands on his biceps, running her palm against the muscles there that held her with such gentleness. Those rich brown eyes were watching her, soft and full of concern and uncertainties. And the absolute conviction that he loved her... it weakened her knees to know that.
She understood. "I love you too."
The smile that bloomed on her face was brighter than the sun in mid July... in the Sahara desert.
"But I still think that marriage is not the answer," she added quickly when he opened his mouth to speak.
That certainly brought a frown. "Why not? It's the perfect next step to take in this..."
"Matt," covering his mouth with her hand. "I want you to listen to me and not interrupt, okay? I need to explain something to you and I need you to listen." He nodded his head slowly. "Okay." She let her hand fall into her lap. "You and I have had kind of a roller coaster ride in our relationship, a rather short and interesting one mind you. I know, I know, we've known each other for some time now but not always romantically as we've been experiencing in the recent months."
"But..."
"What happened to not interrupting?"
"Sorry."
She sighed. "Look, I don't want to rush into marriage simply cause I'm pregnant. Sure I want the whole husband, kids, dogs and station wagon..."
"Station wagon?"
"Matt!" she warned.
"All right, all right."
"But I'm not willing to jump into it half cocked cause you had a revelation while talking with my brothers. You're not ready for marriage yet."
"I think I would know if I am or not."
"I'm not sure if you would. You've had a bit of a shock realizing that..."
"How did you know I had a shock?" surprised as hell over that little tad bit.
"You'd have to have one. You are not the kind of guy that goes looking for love. In fact, I'm pretty sure that you won't know one unless someone pointed it out to you, like my brother did. It must have come as a shock considering you weren't prepared for an actual commitment in the sense that it was going to...."
"Were you?" he wanted to know.
She tiled her head and stared at him for a moment. "I guess I was for a moment or two. I wasn't really looking for it when you and I hooked up." She kissed his cheek, feeling his five o'clock shadow. She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck, clung to him tightly. Her heart ached painfully even as it matched its rhythm with that strong beat she could feel through his thin shirt. "Matt, I want to say yes."
"Then do so."
"But I think it would be wiser if we give ourselves some time to think things through a little more."
His arms tightened around her. "Are you saying no?"
She pressed her lips against his neck, just below his ear. "I want you to be sure."
"I am sure," he assured her urgently. "Jules..."
"No, wait," she held on tighter when he tried to pull back to look at her face, to assure her of his sincerity. "I know that you believe what you're saying now. I know that you love me. I know that you truly want to marry me now. But you and I just went through what feels like am amusement park of emotions and we really do need to process these thoughts and emotions first."
"But I..."
She rested her cheek against his shoulder and didn't say a word.
Mat held her, inhaling the soft smell of the lavender and rose shampoo she uses. "Nothing I say now will change your mind, will it?" the resignation was there, heavy in his tone.
Jules shook her head regretfully. "Don't be mad."
"I'm not," he replied softly, and pressed his lips against her head. "Disappointed maybe, but definitely not mad. I guess I do understand in a way. You've had a bit of a jolt as well and probably need to process this somewhat before you can make a decision." He ran a hand over her hair, taking a deep breath to work things in his head. "I'm giving up though."
She smiled and snuggled. "I'd be disappointed if you did." The comfort in which she felt was so... incredibly perfect that she was almost tempted to give and in just say yes. "We'll take this slow?"
"Hell no," he replied with a laugh. "I'm going to bug you until you say yes." Leaning back, he managed to capture her face with his hands and kissed her firmly on the lips for a long lingering moment. "Okay, since I don't get to have you as wife for the moment, you are still moving in with me. And no arguments."
"Do I look like I was going to argue with you there?" she asked, slowly unfolding herself from around him.
Slingerland helped her to her feet slowly. "Let's go get food, I'm hungry and I'm sure you are too. Then we'll head back to my place since I don't have anything here at the moment." He grabbed his jacket and then helped her into hers. "Jules?"
"Yeah?" lifting the collar and looking at him.
"I do love you, very much. And I would like to spend every morning waking up to see your face."
She smiled. "You're going to get to do that anyways with me moving and all. I assume I'll still be sleeping in your bed?"
"Yes, I won't have it any other way," opening the door. "But I wanted to be able to do so with all the legal rights behind it. I like to know that you are legally obligated to sleep in my bed and wake up in my arms every day."
"Now how the did the law get involved here?" she asked as she followed him to the car.
"Are we about to begin one of those unending arguments where neither one of us can really win and we end up mentally frustrated and physically naked on my bed?" he asked as he opened the door for her and ignore the startled and curious looks from the passing people on the sidewalk.
Dr. Keating gave it some thought as Matt go in behind the wheel and eased the car out onto the busy street. "You know, I think you may be right."
"Oh good," he said reaching over to lay a comforting hand across her still flat belly and gave a brief moment's thought to their child that lay within. He made a mental note to himself to call his mother about that antique cradle probably sitting somewhere in the attic of his parent's home in Kent. "I just wanted to make sure.
Jules smiled and placed both her hands over his on her stomach. Leaning over to kiss him on the cheek while he was distracted by a red light, she wondered what her parents are going to say when she brought this perfectly British gentleman home with her for the holidays. "Matt..."
"Yes, luv?"
"I love you."
He smiled without taking his eyes off the road. "I love you too, Jules."
"Hey, did you know that the nursing staff has a pool going as to whether its going to be a boy or a girl?"
"Oh course," he answered easily. "I've got fifty dollars down for a girl."
"Really?" surprised clearly written on her face before she busted into laughter. "I've got a hundred for a boy."
Matt laughed and lifted one of her hands to his lips as he drove one handedly. "What a pair we make?"
"Yeah, but a pair of what is the question."
"Look what lending a friendly hand brought about for us? Now aren't you glad you said yes to the date?"
"Should I be sending Debra Jankins's a thank you note?"
"I don't think she'd appreciate it."
"Hum... I think you're right."
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The end...
Note: I'm currently finishing up the epilogue to hopefully wrap the story in a more satisfactory manner, so stay tuned.
By Didi
Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters. John Wells and his friends do. Let's not get into the debate as to who owns the ideas and all that; cause let's face it, you'll lose. Enjoy the story anyways.
Summary: Time to clear the air and express one's self.
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: Okay, I hadn't realized that I was writing the ending to this story until I was pretty much done. I hope you all enjoyed the story as much I've enjoyed writing it.
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Chapter 22
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"Someone want to explain?" Jules tossed her keys onto the counter and began to shrug off her coat slowly, eyes going from one face to the next studying them with her doctor's eyes. They looked alternatively triumphant, guilty, smug and... ill to the point of turning green. "Matt, you all right?" concerned etched deeply on her face. "What did you guys do to him?"
Jeffrey, Jeremiah and Joshua sputtered for a moment before beginning to protest, loudly, of their innocence and their sister's bad judgment of the situation. To which Jules argued just as vocally as she moved to check Matt for any physical injuries she could horde over her brothers' collective heads.
Matt's eyes studied her adorable face, memorizing each inch of it down to the last freckle the decorated her cute little upturn nose. She smelled of baby powder, sterilized hospital gowns and lavender lotion. Her bluntly cut nails were painted a soft shade of coral pink that highlighted each narrow finger as her hand ran over his shoulders, arm and ribs to make sure no bones were broken. The read highlights in her brown hair shown in the light and she looked... perfect. Radiantly beautiful.
"And exactly what in the world are you even doing... How did you guys even get in?" She asked, her voice coming rather shrilled in her agitation.
"Relax Jules," Matt murmured softly, taking hold o her hands. "You're agitation will upset the fetus. Let's not forget the risk factors here."
She stared at him, a little bemused by the fact that he looked... calm. Eerily so.
"Gentlemen," standing up and turned to set Jules into his vacated seat before turning to her brothers, who had grown quiet when Jules did so. "Thank you for the unsolicited advise and comments, but it's time you took your leave." He pointed one finger. "There's the door, use it."
If the brothers were the least bit surprised or offended, they didn't show it. Well, except Josh who protested but was quickly hushed up by his brothers. They departed with a quick kiss for their sister and a meaningful look for Slinglerland.
"We'll be seeing you at Christmas," Jeffrey said to Jules though his eyes included Matt who nodded his head imperceptibly.
"I hope it's a girl," Jerry added with a grin and squeezed his sister's hand. "Laura and I will wait for news. Love you always, kiddo."
Jules nodded mutely, unsure of what's going on now but wise enough to know that it was for the best.
"Call if you need anything," Josh said pressing his lips to her cheek. "Anything at all."
"Good bye, Josh," Slinglerland responded shoving the annoying brother toward his elder brothers. "You're the one I won't miss."
"There's one in every family, and I'm it." Josh replied easily as Matt walked the three to the door. "I like you, Slingerland," keeping his voice down so Jules doesn't hear. "Despite everything, I do like you. But if you hurt my sister, I won't hesitate to kill you."
Matt nodded. "You'd have my blessing if it ever happens."
"Go on," Jeff said as he waited for Josh. "Get in there and make this right."
"Nite boys," Matt said before closing the door in their faces.
Josh grinned at the door. "Our little sister's going to be married."
"Think she'll wear white?" Jerry asked as they headed down the street.
"No exactly appropriate under the circumstances but Mom would have a heart attack if she doesn't," Jeff answered pulling his coat on. "Coffee?"
"Yeah," Jerry glanced at his watch. "I guess I'm staying the night. Can't drive this late."
"Better call your wife," Jeff suggested.
"Let's get coffee first."
"Right."
"Good."
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"Nick, what are you still doing here?" Jackie called as she dropped the last of her clips into the sorting bin. She wanted home, bubble bath and dinner.
"Post-Op case that decided that he wasn't going to wake up like normal people," Nick answered with a tried smile. He finished off another chart and moved onto another.
"Ouch," wincing with sympathy.
"And what's your excuse?" Nick asked glancing over as his smile sent the hearts of the nearby nurses fluttering. He's state of pathetic pining for the unattainable Rae has got to stop. It hurt his heat to think of her but he's got to in order to heal. And having easy friends like Jules Keating and Jackie Colette made it easier.
"Would you believe an emergency liposuction," she made a face of disgust. "I'm all for beautiful skin deep and all but god..." she made a face and threw up her hands as Nick laughed. "Sometime people's vanity surprises even me."
"Well if it's any consolation, it's better than some of the cases some of have to handle. "Keating got a teen suicide today. Lenning got a third strike IV childless couple. Slinglerland had twenty-two year old manic-depressive that took a knife to his eighty-year-old grandmother. Jordon and her husband got a car wreck that killed three and has a fourteen-month baby as the sole survivor with a nicked heart."
Jackie shook her head and sighed. "Okay, give me fat women with disposal incomes and want to look good for their high school reunion."
"I've got one for you," Nick said handing her a chart. "Jules's patient. Fifteen-year-old girl that took a fall from a eighteen person pyramid that landed in the worse possible way."
"Bone protrusion?" Jackie read with a sickened look.
He nodded. "Little Miss America is going to need a good plastic surgeon if she wants that leg looking anything near normal."
"She said anything yet?" reading the surgical notes.
"First thing she asked when she woke," Nick added.
"Speaking of Jules," Jackie hit him lightly on the arm. "Heard anything lately on that front?"
"Only that that a fight broke out, Jules's brothers hit town and Matt's brother did something bad."
"Really?"
"Yeah, Slingerland stormed out of here pretty peeved earlier."
"Anything interesting?"
"Only that the brother created some sort of rift between Jules and Matt."
Jackie raised a brow, having never seen Slingerland lose that charming smile of his. "Oh man, I've got fifty bucks riding on them being married before the end of the year." She wrinkled her nose. "How bad?"
Nick thought it over, remembering the thunderous look on Slingerland's face stomped down the hallway. "If Mr. Slingerland is smart, he would stay away from his brother for the next... year or two."
"Ouch!" Jackie laughed.
"There is something going on there that neither one is telling, which given the pitrie dish of breeding ground for gossip around here, I suppose it a wise decision."
"But what would we have to entertain us if they didn't share," Jackie complaint teasingly.
Nick laughed, a deep comforting sound that turned more than one head and brought a smile to Jackie's face. Putting the last of the charts away. "You had dinner yet?"
"No," she complained with a pout.
"I found a great fish and chip place near the wharf. I'd really like some company if you are not busy."
Surprised, flattered and definitely interested, just look at those dark soul-eating eyes, she smiled and nodded. "Just lead the way."
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"Should I be concerned that you're getting along with my brothers?" Jules asked as Matt came back in and sat across from her. His looked tired, a little more than disturbed and there was something hesitant in his eyes. She had rather sickening feeling as she tried to review what kind of damage her brothers could have done. "Matt? Are you all right?"
"Don't worry about your brothers and me," he assured her, taking her hand and studying her palms for a moment. She had soft hands, gentle hands... doctor's hands. "I need to speak with you on a couple of issues."
She nearly groaned out loud. "Okay, shoot."
"First of all," looking up he at her... and became distracted. "Anyone ever tell you that you're eyes have this amazing ability to hypnotize a man? It's so fascinatingly pretty. Kind of a green with specks of brown and gold mixed in there so that one cannot tell the color from a glance." He shook himself off. "Sorry, that wasn't what I wanted to talk about."
More confused then ever, "Matt, what's going on?"
He nodded to himself for a moment. "Well, I would like to inform you that I would personally have my brother committed if he ever does something so insane as to offer you money to go away again."
She didn't know why she blushed but she did.
"George is an ass," Matt told her in no uncertain terms. "And he will never bother you again."
She smiled but said nothing, not sure what would be appropriate at this point.
"Second," forging forward since he doesn't seem to be doing a great job of this so far. "I need to ask you something."
Jules looked at him expectedly.
The hesitation was there, fear too but he knew that he was going to have to do this. "Jules, how do you feel about me?"
That was... unexpected. "What?"
"How do you feel about me?" he asked watching her face flutter from confusion to uncertainly to bewilderment. His heart pounded in his chest cavities, making breathing a little difficult. And for the second time in less than half an hour, he felt as if he was about to pass out. But determination had him staying calm and waiting for an answer. "It's not a difficult question, or at least I don't think it is."
Making a helpless gesture, Jules rubbed her eyes with her knuckles. "I don't know what you want me to say, Matt. I don't know how to answer that. I... How does anyone describe how he or she feels about someone else? It's like trying to write a baby's first cry."
"Okay, okay," taking hold of her fluttering hands to calm her agitation. "Let me just ask you this," he wet his lips, realizing this was the reason he has always steadily gone after women that could never have a hold of his heart. This discomfort of not being in control, it's nerve wrecking. "Do you... do you want me around?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"Do you want me around? Around you? Around the baby? Do you feel that you can let share your life?"
To say that she was confused would be an understatement. "Matt, you're important to me. This baby is yours and... unless you don't want to part of... I would never make you stay if you don't want..."
"No, no, no, I want to be a father to my child. I... I want this... this... I want everything that involves my child." His inability to express himself was creating a mountain of frustration. "Please don't think that I would ever abandon you with a child to take care of."
"I didn't think that, Matt," she said quickly, seeing his concern. "I just..." she shrugged. "Look, I'll be honest. A lot of men, men that I see at the hospital, don't necessarily welcome a baby into their lives, no matter how remotely. I'm saying that if you feel that this isn't something you want, you don't 'have' to be part of it. I won't force you to be a father if that's not something you're interested in."
"It is, and I don't know how many ways I can tell you that," he replied with a frown. "What I want to know if would you welcome my presence in your life. Sooner or later, we're going to disagree on something or other. Are you going to resent my interference because this is your body and..."
"No," she replied without hesitation. "I wouldn't. I probably be annoyed, maybe even angry but I would never resent your need to protect me and our child from myself and my stubbornness."
Matt smiled at that. "It's nice to see that you can admit to your own defects."
She chuckled gently. "There aren't many, you know."
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "So you won't mind my being here for the long haul?"
"Sure," she smiled with a smile. Glad that they clear the air there. She'll have to remember that men have their own insecurities too. "Plus it's nice to find someone that likes overly buttered popcorn."
Slingerland nodded his head, his mind already moving six steps ahead. "Jules?"
"Yeah?"
"I change my mind about you moving in," he said tucking a lock behind her ear.
Jules froze, unable to respond.
He nodded again, "Let's get married instead."
That unglued her. "What?"
"We should get married," he said quietly. "I'll have a realtor look into houses, nice ones closer to the hospital. Wouldn't that be nice?"
She managed to get her mouth closed. "Matt, what are you saying?"
"No saying, asking." Bringing her hand up to his lip, he kissed the fourth ringer on her left hand. "Will you marry me?"
She blinked at him.
"I know I suppose to have a ring and everything but this came about rather unexpectedly plus I've always been a big believer that a woman should be allowed to choice her rings. This way, you can pick something that you'd like."
Jules eyed him suspiciously. "What exactly is it that my brothers said to you?"
"Don't worry about what..."
"No," she stopped him. "I want to hear it."
He nodded not quite understanding the importance of it but not wanting to argue the point either. "Jeff asked me whether or not I loved you."
Her heart caught in her throat.
"And I said yes." He smiled, feeling rather foolish. "Well actually, I kind of blurted it out in frustration over what a mess things were. It was nevertheless true." He blinked at the absolutely blank look on Jules's face. He would have expected... well, something other than nothing. And completely colorless cheeks were not a good thing either. "Honey? Are you okay?"
She held up a finger to stop him when he leaned forward. "When exactly were you planning on tell me you loved me?"
"Well I didn't rightly know until just half an hour ago. I figured sometime during the honeymoon I'd tell you about it."
"So my brothers knew before I did."
He nodded. "Well actually, I think your brothers knew before 'I' did. Rather embarrassing really."
She gave a soft chuckle and leaned forward to rest her forehead against his shoulder, promising herself that it would be just for a moment. Her heart felt like it was going to burst with... whether it was fear or delight she was experiencing she was unsure of. Until now, she hadn't realized that she had been waiting for those words. The romantic in her had been hoping...She shivered as the implications of it all set in.
"Are you all right, luv?" Matt asked quietly as she wrapped herself around him and he gathered her in his arms. She folded into him, curve for curve, line for line, two pieces of a puzzle that clicked together. Sliding onto the floor, they simply sat there in a tight embrace for silent moments as they allow the tension of the day to wash away.
When the silence finally got the better of him, "You didn't answer me."
The sigh was heartfelt and deep. "A baby isn't a good enough reason for marriage."
"But love is," he replied, not the least put out by the answer. "I love you."
Her heart fluttered once more and held on tighter.
Slingerland could almost feel her fear in the embrace. "Are you saying that you don't feel the same way?"
"No, that's not what I'm... I..." She leaned back to study his face, so close to her own that she had to lean by more not to go cross-eyed.
A lock of the rich mahogany hair had fallen forward onto his forehead, making him a rakish with his handsome English nose and jaw line. She rested her hands on his biceps, running her palm against the muscles there that held her with such gentleness. Those rich brown eyes were watching her, soft and full of concern and uncertainties. And the absolute conviction that he loved her... it weakened her knees to know that.
She understood. "I love you too."
The smile that bloomed on her face was brighter than the sun in mid July... in the Sahara desert.
"But I still think that marriage is not the answer," she added quickly when he opened his mouth to speak.
That certainly brought a frown. "Why not? It's the perfect next step to take in this..."
"Matt," covering his mouth with her hand. "I want you to listen to me and not interrupt, okay? I need to explain something to you and I need you to listen." He nodded his head slowly. "Okay." She let her hand fall into her lap. "You and I have had kind of a roller coaster ride in our relationship, a rather short and interesting one mind you. I know, I know, we've known each other for some time now but not always romantically as we've been experiencing in the recent months."
"But..."
"What happened to not interrupting?"
"Sorry."
She sighed. "Look, I don't want to rush into marriage simply cause I'm pregnant. Sure I want the whole husband, kids, dogs and station wagon..."
"Station wagon?"
"Matt!" she warned.
"All right, all right."
"But I'm not willing to jump into it half cocked cause you had a revelation while talking with my brothers. You're not ready for marriage yet."
"I think I would know if I am or not."
"I'm not sure if you would. You've had a bit of a shock realizing that..."
"How did you know I had a shock?" surprised as hell over that little tad bit.
"You'd have to have one. You are not the kind of guy that goes looking for love. In fact, I'm pretty sure that you won't know one unless someone pointed it out to you, like my brother did. It must have come as a shock considering you weren't prepared for an actual commitment in the sense that it was going to...."
"Were you?" he wanted to know.
She tiled her head and stared at him for a moment. "I guess I was for a moment or two. I wasn't really looking for it when you and I hooked up." She kissed his cheek, feeling his five o'clock shadow. She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck, clung to him tightly. Her heart ached painfully even as it matched its rhythm with that strong beat she could feel through his thin shirt. "Matt, I want to say yes."
"Then do so."
"But I think it would be wiser if we give ourselves some time to think things through a little more."
His arms tightened around her. "Are you saying no?"
She pressed her lips against his neck, just below his ear. "I want you to be sure."
"I am sure," he assured her urgently. "Jules..."
"No, wait," she held on tighter when he tried to pull back to look at her face, to assure her of his sincerity. "I know that you believe what you're saying now. I know that you love me. I know that you truly want to marry me now. But you and I just went through what feels like am amusement park of emotions and we really do need to process these thoughts and emotions first."
"But I..."
She rested her cheek against his shoulder and didn't say a word.
Mat held her, inhaling the soft smell of the lavender and rose shampoo she uses. "Nothing I say now will change your mind, will it?" the resignation was there, heavy in his tone.
Jules shook her head regretfully. "Don't be mad."
"I'm not," he replied softly, and pressed his lips against her head. "Disappointed maybe, but definitely not mad. I guess I do understand in a way. You've had a bit of a jolt as well and probably need to process this somewhat before you can make a decision." He ran a hand over her hair, taking a deep breath to work things in his head. "I'm giving up though."
She smiled and snuggled. "I'd be disappointed if you did." The comfort in which she felt was so... incredibly perfect that she was almost tempted to give and in just say yes. "We'll take this slow?"
"Hell no," he replied with a laugh. "I'm going to bug you until you say yes." Leaning back, he managed to capture her face with his hands and kissed her firmly on the lips for a long lingering moment. "Okay, since I don't get to have you as wife for the moment, you are still moving in with me. And no arguments."
"Do I look like I was going to argue with you there?" she asked, slowly unfolding herself from around him.
Slingerland helped her to her feet slowly. "Let's go get food, I'm hungry and I'm sure you are too. Then we'll head back to my place since I don't have anything here at the moment." He grabbed his jacket and then helped her into hers. "Jules?"
"Yeah?" lifting the collar and looking at him.
"I do love you, very much. And I would like to spend every morning waking up to see your face."
She smiled. "You're going to get to do that anyways with me moving and all. I assume I'll still be sleeping in your bed?"
"Yes, I won't have it any other way," opening the door. "But I wanted to be able to do so with all the legal rights behind it. I like to know that you are legally obligated to sleep in my bed and wake up in my arms every day."
"Now how the did the law get involved here?" she asked as she followed him to the car.
"Are we about to begin one of those unending arguments where neither one of us can really win and we end up mentally frustrated and physically naked on my bed?" he asked as he opened the door for her and ignore the startled and curious looks from the passing people on the sidewalk.
Dr. Keating gave it some thought as Matt go in behind the wheel and eased the car out onto the busy street. "You know, I think you may be right."
"Oh good," he said reaching over to lay a comforting hand across her still flat belly and gave a brief moment's thought to their child that lay within. He made a mental note to himself to call his mother about that antique cradle probably sitting somewhere in the attic of his parent's home in Kent. "I just wanted to make sure.
Jules smiled and placed both her hands over his on her stomach. Leaning over to kiss him on the cheek while he was distracted by a red light, she wondered what her parents are going to say when she brought this perfectly British gentleman home with her for the holidays. "Matt..."
"Yes, luv?"
"I love you."
He smiled without taking his eyes off the road. "I love you too, Jules."
"Hey, did you know that the nursing staff has a pool going as to whether its going to be a boy or a girl?"
"Oh course," he answered easily. "I've got fifty dollars down for a girl."
"Really?" surprised clearly written on her face before she busted into laughter. "I've got a hundred for a boy."
Matt laughed and lifted one of her hands to his lips as he drove one handedly. "What a pair we make?"
"Yeah, but a pair of what is the question."
"Look what lending a friendly hand brought about for us? Now aren't you glad you said yes to the date?"
"Should I be sending Debra Jankins's a thank you note?"
"I don't think she'd appreciate it."
"Hum... I think you're right."
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
The end...
Note: I'm currently finishing up the epilogue to hopefully wrap the story in a more satisfactory manner, so stay tuned.