"So, is he gonna be okay?" Marshall asked, concerned. He was sitting on a chair in the waiting room next to a quietly humming vending machine.
"Yeah, I think he will be in a while... Marshall, we need to talk." He caught a look in Eric's eye that made him uneasy.
"Let's go somewhere and talk then." He stood and followed Eric to the parking lot.
******
"Rachel, I don't know what to say. I can't pretend that I'm in love with you anymore. You have to understand..." Jack strained to hold the phone comfortably next to his ear.
"Oh, I understand all right... you don't need me to help you keep up the straight act anymore! I can't believe you did this to me! I loved you, Jack! And on top of that, we were close friends! Damn you! Damn you and you can go to hell!" The phone clicked and was silent. Jack lay there, motionless. A tear escaped and trailed down the side of his face. He stared at a pad and pen lying on his nightstand. He struggled to grab them and began writing furiously.
******
Rachel slammed the phone down and paced around her apartment. Absorbed in thought, she subconsciously ignored the subtle knocking on her door. She came to and answered it only to find Eric and Marshall standing in her hallway.
"C'mon on in," she said shakily. She kept her back turned while she wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks.
"Hey, Rach. I'd ask how you're doin', but I can already tell," Eric offered wistfully.
"How are you doin' Marshall?" Rachel assertively changed the subject.
"So far, so good. I have a feeling that I can't expect fair weather for much longer though," he smirked ruefully at Eric.
"Both of you sit down for a minute... please." Rachel and Marshall sat down next to each other and looked up at Eric. "Basically what it boils down to is this: Jack and I are still in love with each other..." Marshall exhaled sharply and slumped back into the couch while Rachel shook her head and chuckled sarcastically.
"Tell me something I don't know, Eric," Rachel echoed dryly. She began to knead her face with the palms of her hands. Marshall rubbed her back comfortingly.
"Just hear me out, all right? Jack told me the morning of his accident that he was in love with me and that he was just in denial about it and that he wants to be with me. Just me. I told him that it was unfair to hurt the two of you and I rejected him." Rachel and Marshall looked at each other then back at Eric, astonished.
"Did you say you turned him down?" Marshall inquired.
"Yes. I told him that I really like you. I didn't want to ruin our friendship or anything else that might potentially be."
"But I lose either way, right," Rachel glared bitterly.
"I'm sorry Rach, I don't know what I or anyone else can do about that. I can't speak for anyone else, but this isn't something that you can just flip a switch and feel one way or the other. If Jack's feelings are like mine, it's difficult to accept, but still a part of who we are." Eric watched Rachel's face as she slowly resigned herself to the developing circumstances.
"I hope you don't find this inappropriate, Rachel, but I would love to set you up with my brother. He's only two years older than I am and he's single. He's a really great guy, if you'd be interested." He put his arm around her and hugged her gently.
"I don't know why, but that sounds like a great idea," Rachel laughed while rubbing her eyes. "A rebound relationship is just what the doctor ordered. Besides, if he's half as good looking as you are..." Marshall and Rachel shared a smile. Eric smiled a little too. Marshall looked back at Eric.
"Well now that Rachel is taken care of, what about me?" he looked at Rachel then at Eric.
"Well, that's up to you and I. Jack's gonna be in the hospital for at least a few more weeks. He's still my friend and I feel it necessary to be there for him. I want to continue seeing you as long as you want to see me." Marshall nodded and looked down thoughtfully. This time, Rachel offered him some comfort in the form of a hug.
"As upset as I am, I still know everything is gonna be alright. Eric, you tell Jack that he and I are still friends, but that it'll take me awhile before I feel comfortable coming around. But I will." Rachel smiled gently at Eric, her eyes filling with tears again.
"That's very brave of you Rach. I'm sure he really needs us right now. He really needs you." Eric smiled warmly.
******
Eric stood up when Jack entered the room. The nurse wheeled him to his bed and lowered the bed railing to help Jack into it.
"I'll do it," Eric offered. Jack put his arm around Eric's neck as he cradled Jack's body in his arms. Their eyes met as Eric lifted him into bed. Jack hesitated a moment before unhooking his arm around Eric's neck. He could still see the hurt in Jack's eyes.
"So where did you go?"
"Physical therapy." Jack looked out the window, staring blankly.
"How's that going?"
"Painful and slow, how are you?" his expression remained sullen.
"Jack, I have some good news for you. Rachel says she's sorry and she still wants to be friends." Jack looked over at Eric.
"Really?" Eric nodded in response. "I'm glad she's not mad at me anymore, I don't like it when she's upset with me."
"Well, I think she's still a little upset, but she's coping. She says she'll be comfortable enough to visit you very soon." Jack smiled gently at that.
"So how are you and Marshall doing?" Jack watched Eric's face for his response. Eric thought a moment.
"Fine."
"Good." Both were silent for a few minutes. Finally Eric stood up.
"I brought you some magazines and the book that was on your nightstand at home."
"Thanks." Eric put the stack of magazines on the bed and handed the book to Jack. Jack stared at Eric intently. He stood there looking at Jack. A moment passed before Jack slipped his hand into Eric's. He held Jack's hand tightly.
"I don't think... I'd make it through this if you weren't here."
"It's gonna be okay. Everything is gonna be alright." Jack's eyes filled with tears.
"You really think so?" his voice shook as he spoke. Eric leaned over and hugged him tightly. Jack began to sob in Eric's arms. He missed how comfortable and safe Eric made him feel.
"I promise you, it will all be all right." After a few minutes, Eric lightly kissed Jack's neck and stood up. They smiled at each other.
"You hungry? Let me bring some food back for you." Jack nodded.
"Where you goin'?"
"What do you feel like?" They both chuckled at the beginnings of the age-old argument that always ensued when they wanted to get a bite to eat.
******
As anticipated, Rachel clicked with Marshall's brother, David. They had only dated a few weeks when Rachel confessed that it was becoming fairly serious. David had also confessed to Marshall that he thought that Rachel was very special. Occasionally, Eric and Marshall double dated with Rachel and David. It was obvious that both couples were becoming quite attached to each other.
Eric continued to visit Jack in the hospital. He would stay with Jack most of the day, including the evenings that he wasn't out with Marshall. Jack's frustration with himself, his paralysis and the emotional connection to Eric grew quietly. Eric could feel it too, but was so caught up with Marshall that he silently lamented for Jack's predicament. Everything had a delicate balance that remained suspended for a time, until an early Tuesday morning changed everything. For everyone.
******
"How're you feeling today?" Eric asked a starving Jack.
"Better if you hand me my breakfast," Jack chided. He smiled at Eric who returned it, as faithfully as he had returned to the hospital to encourage Jack day after day.
"So what do you want to do today?"
"Leave this place, what do you want to do?" Jack winked as he stuffed another fork full of fruit into his mouth. Eric looked at him quizzically.
"Unless you've had some miracle therapy session this morning..."
"Actually, I stood up... by myself." Jack continued to eagerly down his orange juice and start in on a bran muffin.
"You're kidding? You got up and stood by yourself?" Flabbergasted, Eric sat down in the chair he had been sitting in for over two months now.
"Yep. I can't walk yet, but the doctor promised me that when I could stand, I could go home."
"Wait, so you can leave anytime?"
"This morning, unless you have something else to do..."
"No, no, no... I... that's great! You're comin' home!" Eric jumped up and yelled excitedly. Jack started laughing at him, happy to see Eric wanted him home as much as he wanted to be home.
"All right, amigo, chill out long enough to pack my clothes and help me into my wheelchair. I still have to come back here three times a week for physical therapy. I'm not 100% yet." Eric detected a hint of disappointment in Jack's voice. As great as it was the Jack could stand, he still didn't have full use of his legs and it would be months until he did. Eric cleared the breakfast tray and lowered the bed rail. He picked Jack up and set him lightly down into his wheelchair. Jack smiled all the while. He gave Eric a quick peck on the cheek.
"Thank you. For everything." Eric grinned ear to ear at Jack.
"You're welcome for everything." Eric leaned down and gave Jack a gentle kiss on his cheek and hugged him tightly. Eric stood back up, "I can't wait to tell everyone, they'll be so psyched!" Jack laughed to himself and at Eric's exuberance. He was relieved to be going home.
******
Eric pushed the apartment door open wide and wheeled Jack inside.
"Where do you want me to unload ya?" he quipped. Jack thought for a moment before noticing the ramp that Eric had lovingly prepared for his arrival home.
"How long has that been there?" Eric looked at the ramp and thought for a moment.
"About a month. I've been expecting you home for awhile, but I didn't want to rush you."
"Driver! To my bedroom!" Jack called out playfully. Eric wheeled him gently up the rail and into the bedroom. Jack struggled to pull himself out of his wheelchair to a standing position. He stopped Eric when Eric tried to help him up. After a few moments of pain and strain, Jack finally stood. He turned enough to let himself fall back on his bed and he lay there feeling the comforter under him. He looked around the room, missing it more than he had realized. Eric smiled, enjoying the moment.
"ERIC! Eric are you home!?" They heard Rachel's voice from the living room. Eric stepped to the bedroom door.
"Rachel, come here! I've got a surprise for you!" Eric gave her a devilish look that faded quickly when he saw the tear stains on her face and heard the raspy, tired strain in her voice.
"Eric, come here," she sobbed. Eric ran to her and held her. She cried into his shoulder, shuddering as she wept.
"Rach, what's the matter? What happened?"
"Sit down, Eric. I have to tell you something. I'm so sorry... I'm so, so sorry..." Rachel continued to cry as she and Eric sat down on the couch together.
******
Next chapter will be coming forthwith, so be PATIENT!
=P
