Ch 24
Same disclaimer applies. Silent Bob 456…STAND UP!
The first rays of sun poked through the blinds of Cassie's bedroom, illuminating the peaceful scene inside.
Cassie and Jake were cuddled together in her bed, sleeping off their eventful night.
Jake awoke, breathing in her sweet scent.
This was the first day in a long time that he was happy to be here, happy to be alive. He was with the woman that he wanted to give his heart and soul to. He gently moved some stray curls off of her forehead, so he could see her beautiful face.
I hope that I can wake up to this every morning…
He could hear her stir, and Cassie slowly came to.
"Mmmm…" Cassie mumbled, waking to Jake's touch.
"Hey there, sleepyhead" Jake said softly.
She looked at him bleary-eyed,
"Good Morning, Jake," she said while nuzzling closer to him. "How are you feeling?"
"Mmm…a little hungry, a little tired…"
"Are you still worn out from last night?" Cassie tried to joke.
At that statement, Jake pulled away. Cassie had to do a lot of the work for the both of them last. He was embarrassed that he couldn't do more.
"What's wrong?"
"It probably wasn't the best you've ever had," he said, cheerless.
"Oh Jake, don't worry about that. You of all people should know that I don't care about things like that. Well, I sort of care, but not with you. You're big compared to most guys, anyway. Trust me, you were fine."
He was silent.
"There's something else you aren't telling me."
"Did I ever tell you how…now I lost…it? I was drunk, and I met this chick named Misty in a bar…the next thing you know, I'm in bed with her…there was no love there…no love at all. It seems like, every woman I've been with, it's been…"
He started to cry
"I'm no good. I'm no good for you Cassie."
"Jake-"
"I'm not what you need Cassie! I can't even get on top! How can I take care of you and treat you the way you deserve to be treated?"
"Jake, JACOB, listen to me! I don't care that you're in a wheelchair. I don't care that you can't do some of the things that you used to do. I don't care about the past. All I care about is right now. And right now, we're together. That's all that matters."
She turned his face slowly to him.
"Jake, I love you. I really do. I love you like no other person on this planet. But you've got to get some help for your problems. You can't have the weight of the world on your shoulders."
She wiped the tears from his face.
"I don't want to see you locked up in a hospital somewhere. If you don't do it for me, than do it for Rachel. I don't want her to grow up without her father. I know it'll be hard, but, we CAN get through this. I love you too much for you to fail."
Jake hugged Cassie tight.
"I'll try Cassie, I'll try my best. I love you too."
She noticed that Jake was smiling his slow smile. The smile that made her fall in love with him all those years ago. The smile that still captured her heart.
"Mommy! Da-ddy!"
They were interrupted by Rae running into their room and jumping on the bed.
Cassie scrambled to get her robe on, while Jake slinked under the covers.
"Mommy, what you and Da-ddy do?"
"Um, Daddy, and I were doing grown up things, honey." Cassie tried to explain.
Jake chuckled.
"Oh, and would YOU like to explain, mister?" Cassie said, chucking a pillow at his head.
"Uhh…"
"That's what I thought," Cassie said, smirking.
"DA-DDY!" Rae squealed.
"Hey princess." She went straight to his arms." Read me a story daddy!" she gave him a book. He looked at the title.
"The Six Who Saved the World…Cassie?" he gave her a suspicious glance.
"Mommy say you do good things! You save world! You brave! I want to see Daddy, but he save world again. Mommy cried, but lady told me you come back. I gla you here." Rachel hugged him.
"Don't worry Rachel, I'll always be here." He wrapped his arms around his daughter.
"If anyone wants breakfast, I'll be in the kitchen." Cassie started to sneak out, leaving the two of them to bond.
"Waffa!" Rachel leaped out of Jake's arms and draped her body around Cassie's legs.
"Space Waffa! One for Daddy!"
"You heard her honey. Get dressed, and come have breakfast with your family." She kissed him on the head and took Rachel to the kitchen
"Wait Cass, do you have anything I could wear? I can't exactly go out like this…"
"Yeah, I think Ronnie left a pair of his old sweatpants around." She threw a pair to him
Family. I haven't had that in a while, he thought to himself as he put the pants on and started the next chapter in his new life.
"Okay. We're all out of waffle mix, so we'll have to have cereal. Do you want some granola, Rachel?"
She nodded her head and smiled.
"Great. One less thing to worry about. Now if your father would just come out here-"
Jake interrupted her by rolling out to the kitchen in a pair of old sweatpants, with a tired smile on his face.
"Well, look who finally decided to join us! Hey baby," Cassie came over and kissed the top of his head.
"Yay! Daddy here!" Rachel yelled. She attempted to drink her tall glass of orange juice.
"No sweetie, don't do that. You'll spill it all over yourself." Jake rushed over and helped Rae straighten out her cup.
"Jake, don't be so overprotective, Rae's getting to be a big girl."
"Big Girl!" Rae echoed.
Cassie went back to the task of preparing breakfast for the three of them.
Something she looked forward to doing for a long time.
"Jake, do you want chopped fruit in your granola?"
No answer.
"Jake?"
She whipped around. Jake was leaned back in his wheelchair, his eyes rolled in the back of his head.
"Jake, ohmigod, what's wrong?"
"DA-DDY!" Rae screamed, upset.
"My…meds…I…need…them…"
Cassie looked through the overnight bag that was still in the living room from last night's commotion. Jake had an extra pillbox filled with his meds.
"Alright baby, I have your meds, just stay with me…" she gave him the pills.
"I'll try…" He then fell in and out a feverish sleep.
Cassie gently moved him over to the couch, where he could stretch out.
"I'm not …war-criminal…Yeerk-killer…" he mumbled.
"Shhh, baby, it's all right…it's all right…Is there anything you need?"
"I…I want Rae…" he whispered.
Cassie got the baby and placed her in his arms. She curled up on his chest.
"Be ok Da-ddy,"
A couple of hours later, Jake awoke.
"Cassie," he whispered.
"Hi," Cassie put her hand on his forehead. "Are you feeling any better,"
"A little,"
He leaned his head against a throw pillow. He still felt miserable; the medications hadn't hit him yet. He felt so weak, and tired…
"Are you sure, are you sure you want to deal with someone….someone like this?" he asked her. The self-doubt that he had was starting to creep back into his mind…
Cassie silenced him with a kiss.
"Jake, I don't care how many bumps there are on our road. We'll make this work, and this'll last forever."
"Ever." Rae added for emphasis.
That's what family does. They stick together. Through sickness and health. Through the good times and the bad. I'll always be there for you. We'll all be there for you."
She held his hand, and they embraced.
Yes, I'll always be there…