The Waiting Is The Hardest Part

Chapter 10

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Since getting the doctor's news that she may be coming out of her coma, Bosco had spent most of the weekend with Jennifer, talking to her, trying to get her to wake up. The only thing he'd received was the occasional crease of her brow and a squeeze of his hand. He'd taken a run home to get something to eat, check on the kids, and get them into bed. He was trying to give them some kind of normalcy in an all to abnormal situation.

He pulled into the driveway and saw Fred's truck. Faith, Fred and Charlie had come to pick up Emily to get her back home for school tomorrow.

He walked up to the door until he heard some noise from out back. Walking around the side of the house to the backyard, he saw all the kids outside playing. Jason was doing his best to keep up, grass stains on his knees from crawling and his squeals of delight heard throughout the neighborhood, no doubt. Faith, Fred and Jennifer's sister, Kathy, sat on the deck keeping an eye on the kids to make sure no one played too rough and got hurt. Kathy would take over watching the kids until Bosco got home from the hospital for the night. Now, he stood and watched his family enjoying some fun and relaxation.

Faith happened to catch sight of Bosco out of the corner of her eye and called out to him. "Hey, Bos. C'mon and join in," she said, noticing how tired he looked and thinking he could use some fun time with the kids as well. All heads turned toward Bosco and he smiled as Jordan and Jason's eyes lit up at seeing him. "I really do need to spend some more time with them," he thought to himself as he nodded in Faith's direction and headed over to join the melee.

As soon as reached everyone, he was immediately tackled by Charlie, Jordan, and Jason.

"Charlie, watch out for Jason. You almost kicked him," Emily called out as she stood to the side of the group, letting Bosco get his fill. She walked over to where her mother and father sat and took a seat on the brick wall that made up part of the deck.

"You've been really great," Kathy said to her. She'd pretty much let Emily take care of the kids, stopping in each day for a little while to give her a break and see if they needed anything. A couple of times, Kathy had brought the whole group to her house for dinner and a movie and brought them all back later. She kept Jordan and Jason over at her house one night, so that Emily could have some time to herself.

"I'm glad I could help out," Emily said, slightly embarrassed. Faith put a hand on Emily's shoulder.

"Well, we better head back down. You guys have school tomorrow," Fred said, standing up and looking at his watch.

"Yeah," Faith agreed, standing as well. "Charlie! We gotta get moving," she called to her son.

"Awww, Mom. Can't we stay a little while longer," he whined back at her, rewarded with Faith's 'get your butt moving' stare. "Okay, okay," Charlie said, slowly getting up.

Bosco managed to stand up despite having Jason in one arm and Jordan hanging off the other. Walking over to the group of adults, he was talking to the kids to get them to calm down. Reluctantly, Jordan let go and ran over to the swings. Jason, exhausted, was reduced to laying his head on Bosco's shoulder while he watched Jordan on the swing.

"Emily. I really want to thank you for all your help. I don't know how we would have managed if you hadn't come up here. Thanks," Bosco said, leaning over and giving her a hug.

"It's no problem. I had fun. I decided that I'm definitely not ready for a full-time family of my own yet, but it was fun," she said, everyone laughing.

"Well, that's good to hear," Fred said, looking at Faith.

"I mean it though. I really owe you big time," Bosco said, walking into the house behind everyone. He looked back at Jordan and after she saw that everyone was going in, she jumped off the swing as it was in mid-air, making Bosco flinch until she landed safely, and joined them. "I really hate it when you do that, Bug," he said as she reached him.

She gave him a big smile and said, "I know, Daddy. But, it's fun." Tousling her hair, he guided her into the house ahead of him.

"I checked on your apartment before we came up today. Here's your mail, even though its junk mail, and here's some paperwork from work. Swersky wanted me to ask what your plans are. He's probably gonna give you a call this week sometime, but he said don't rush back until you're ready," Faith told him.

Kathy took Jason from him. He was almost asleep on Bosco's shoulder, but needed a bath desperately before bedtime. "Thanks," he said to Kathy as she took him. "I'll see you in a little bit," he told Jason as he whined a little as Kathy took him.

"Thanks, Faith. I think I'm gonna take a run down this Friday. My Mom wants to watch the kids for the weekend and Jordan only has a half a day at school for conferences," Bosco told her. "Tell Lieu I'll stop in and see if he's around if he doesn't reach me on the phone."

"Will do. You got everything, Em?" Faith asked as Emily came out of the spare room with her bags. She nodded that she did.

"Okay," Fred said, reaching out and shaking Bosco's hand. "Let us know if you need anything. I put more food in the freezer for you, so you should be set for a little bit."

"Thanks, Fred," Bosco said walking the four of them out into the driveway to the truck, with Jordan tagging along behind with Emily.

"Let me know if you want me to come up for a weekend," Emily offered. "I mean it," she said when Bosco started to object.

"Em, you should be hanging with your friends, having fun. You did enough for a while, but I'll remember you if I'm in a pinch," Bosco said.

Bosco and Jordan stood in the doorway as the Yokas' pulled out and drove off. Turning to go back in the house, he looked back at Jordan who was still watching the truck drive off. "What's up?" he asked, walking back and squatting down beside her.

"Is Mommy coming home?" she asked, looking Bosco straight in the eye.

He quickly took hold of her by both shoulders and, looking her straight back in the eye and with a firm voice, said, "Yes, Jord, Mommy's coming home, but not yet. She's still sleeping."

"I want to see her," she said, her voice quieter and he saw her bottom lip tremble.

"Well, its not that you can't see her. I just thought that it would upset you if she didn't wake up while you were there. Because, we don't know when she's gonna wake up. Do you understand that?" he asked.

She nodded. "Emily told me that her brain is making her sleep so that all her energy can go to getting better. But, I just want to see her," she said again, a tear escaping down her cheek.

Bosco pulled her close. "Okay then. After school tomorrow, I'll come get you and take you over to see Mommy."

"Okay," she said, giving him a hug. Bosco stood and took her back into the house to get washed up and ready for bed.

Bosco had gotten Jordan to bed and had just finished putting Jason down for the night. He walked back into the family room where Kathy had the fireplace lit. Sitting down heavily on the couch, he leaned his head back and let out a slow, deep breath.

"Any change?" Kathy asked him, as she watched him stare into the fire. He shook his head.

"No. Nothing yet. Just some frowns and a few squeezes of my hand," he said, the warmth of the fire making his body relax. Abruptly, he sat forward. He still had to go back to the hospital to check in and say goodnight. There'd been a few times that he'd fallen asleep in the chair alongside Jennifer and not come home at all. "Kath, I want to thank you for all your help. Between you and Emily, I haven't had to worry about a thing. You guys have done everything with the kids, with the house, with everything. I've been able to spend all my time with Jennifer. I really appreciate it," he said, looking over at his sister-in-law.

"Maurice," she said. "Why don't you let me go check on her and say goodnight. I have to go by that way on my way home anyway and you look exhausted," she said as he started shaking his head indicating that he was going back. "Give yourself a good night's rest. Jason's been waking up with bad dreams, I think. I think he needs you here tonight. And, you need to keep yourself from getting sick so that when Jen wakes up, you'll be there. That's when she'll really need you. Please, let me do this tonight," she insisted.

He looked from the fire back to Kathy and felt just how tired he actually was. "Alright. But, if there's any change I want you to call me."

"Of course I will. I'll stay for a little while and talk to her. If you want I'll even call you on the phone from her room before I leave," she said.

"Thanks, Kathy. And, thank Peter and the kids too - for sharing you with Jordan and Jason," he said, sitting back.

"That's what family is all about," she told him as they got up and he walked her to the door. He kissed her cheek and watched from the doorway as she pulled out and headed toward the hospital.

He turned back and walked into the kitchen, the growling of his stomach reminding him that he hadn't had anything to eat since breakfast. He opened the refrigerator and took out one of Fred's creations. Heating it up in the microwave, he sat down in front of the fireplace, turned on the television and ate.

Faith called about 9:00 to say that they'd arrived home safely. And, Kathy had called around 10:00, when the nurses were just about kicking her out of the hospital. Bosco made sure the fire was out, checked the door locks, turned off the lights and headed upstairs.

He checked on each of the kids and Jordan stirred as he tucked her in. "Daddy?" she said, groggily.

"Yes, Bug. Go back to sleep," he said as he kissed her forehead and watched her eyes flutter closed again.

After checking on Jason, he walked into his bedroom and took a shower. He threw on some sweats and a t-shirt and climbed into bed. No sooner had his head hit the pillow when Jason started crying - a shrill, 'scared to death' cry. Bosco jumped up and ran into his room to see him kneeling in the middle of the crib with tears streaming down his face. He reached in and picked him up.

"Ssshhhh, ssshhhh," he said as he held him tightly against him, rubbing his back. "It's okay. Daddy's here," he said, sitting in the rocker in his room and talking softly to him. Each time it seemed like he'd gone back to sleep, Bosco would start to put him back in his crib, but Jason would wake up and start screaming again. He tried everything. Changed his diaper, checked to make sure he didn't have a fever and then rocked him again. The same thing would happen each time he tried to put him to bed.

Finally, he started walking with him and ended up in his bedroom. He sat on the edge of the bed, exhaustion winning the fight that he and Jennifer had had about letting the kids sleep in their bed. "It just gets them thinking they can sleep with us all the time. I'm telling you, you'll be sorry," he remembered her saying the first time that Jordan had come into the room with a nightmare after they were together.

He moved to the head of the bed, leaning back against the pillows, and reached for the remote for the television in the room. Clicking it on and turning the volume down, he got comfortable against the pillows with Jason lying across his chest, his head snuggled closely under Bosco's chin.

After about ten minutes of fighting to keep from falling asleep, he gently slid down so that he was lying on the bed. He shifted Jason so that he was alongside of him and felt the child snuggle up closer. Pulling, the covers over them, he was just about asleep when he heard a soft knock on the door.

"Daddy?" Jordan said in a whisper.

"What's up, Hon," he said, turning his head in her direction.

"I can't sleep. Is it okay if I come in with you for a little while?" she asked, taking a few tentative steps into the room.

He carefully moved himself and Jason to the side and held the covers open for Jordan. "Careful of Jason," he told her as she climbed in alongside her brother. "Just this once. Mommy'd kick my butt if she knew I let you guys do this," he said as he threw the covers across her as well.

He didn't even remember pushing the button on the remote to turn off the television. The next thing he knew, he was awakened to the sound of the news coming from the alarm on the clock radio. He looked over at the two kids who still slept soundly.

"Hey guys," he said, gently nudging them. "Time to get moving. School today, Jord." The kids slowly started to awake and Bosco climbed out of bed and opened the curtains to let the sunshine in. That always got Jason up and today was no different. He crawled to the edge of the bed and Bosco picked him up. He was barely able to contain his excitement as Bosco carried him downstairs to get breakfast started. "Let's go, Jord. Move 'em out!" he called over his shoulders. "Pick out your clothes for school and I'll get you some breakfast."

"'Kay," she called after him, climbing out of bed and heading for her room.

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TBC...