Chapter Six Starts Now

Jess was well enough to leave the hospital three weeks later. Luke wasn't surprised at how long it took for him to be released. Luke had 'accidentally' stumbled upon Cat Kirk and returned it to the real Kirk. Mark had bought a futon couch/bed with the money he earned in tips while working at the diner and had set it up in Jess's room. Luke had known when he first watched Mark and another man struggle up the steps with the large furniture that Mark was going to see this threw til Jess was 100 recovered.

Luke had visited Jess very frequently. Jess never said much, and most of their conversations consisted of small talk. But even while Jess's injuries recovered, his general health seemed to decline. He was thinner, weaker. He fell asleep often and didn't look well in general.

Luke headed down the apartment stairs. He had come up several times that morning to make perfectly sure everything in Jess's room looked right. He wasn't sure why he was so obsesed with how comfortable the room was, but he was and that's what mattered. He had made Jess's bed, and cleaned up the small mess that Mark had left behind that morning.

When he arrived, he rolled his eyes at the sight that met him. Mark was leaning against the counter, smirking at Lane Kim, blatantly flirting with her. Lane was talking a mile a minute, never once taking her eyes off the clock above Mark's head.

"Ok, well, I have 30 seconds left, so can I have that CD now?" She asked quickly, twitching all over the place. Mark handed it over with painful slowness, smirking. Luke rolled his eyes again at their games. Her hands clasped it and she took off, shouting "Thank you so much, you are God! Give me a call at 2:34 and 47 seconds. Say hey to Jess for me, bye!"

Mark smiled and nodded. Luke gave himself a second to decipher the message before giving up, shaking his head.

"C'mon Romeo." Luke said, jerking his head towards the door. Mark grinned at him. "Time to get your little brother."

They walked with a barely constrained skip in their step to Jess's hospital bed. The boy was paler than there last visit, and was in a strange half-sleeping state. Their buoyant mode faded, and Mark solemnly leaned over Jess.

"Kid? You awake?" When Jess's eyes fluttered open, he continued. "Are you sure your up to coming home?" He asked in concern, doubt flooding his face. Jess's eyes widened.

"Yea, I'm up to it. I'm just a little tired. I didn't get much sleep last night," He explained. At Mark's frown, he suppressed a sigh and forced his look to be clear and bright. And enter lie, stage left. "I was excited about finally getting out of this place. I am really starting to hate hospitals."

"I've always hated them, too." Luke said, probing Jess. The kid seemed off. "I'm gonna go talk to the doctors," He left, glancing over his shoulder as Mark pulled out a paper back novel and handed it to Jess, who grinned and took it in his shaking hands.

"Mr. Danes, your nephews injuries are at the point of healing without hospital assistance. His recent decline in health is just a normal cold, or more likely just being due to being bed ridden for this long." At Luke's still doubtful face, the doctor continued. "In fact, I think being out of this hospital will do him some good. If you're still worried after a few weeks, you're welcome to have him looked at."

Luke accepted the crutches and various medicines, and headed back to Jess's room. Jess was clothed in his regular clothes, and was sitting on the edge of his bed. Thankfully, he had always worn baggy pants, and his cast was invisible. Jess's clean green t shirt hung off him slightly, making Luke frown at the new evidence of weight loss. Jess had his head in his hands.

"Jess?"

"Just dizzy." He sat for a moment longer, getting his bearings. Luke got the impression that Jess had just tried to get up for the first time in a while.

Mark swooped down upon his hunched over brother, giving Luke a look. Luke came over and got the other side of Jess and helped Mark haul him to his feet. Jess swayed at first, but soon was still again. Luke frowned as he felt Jess tremble beneath him. Jess leaned on Luke a bit, and the helped him to the truck.

"Alright," Luke began to help Jess into the truck when Jess froze. "Jess? Get in."

Flashback

"Get it!" Bobby ordered a fourteen year old Jess from his position inside the drivers side. He was messing with the wires underneath the steering system.

"Bobby. I. Am. Not. Stealing. A. Car. With. You." Jess said firmly, walking away from the beat up old Chevy angrily. In a flash, his blonde friend was in front of him again, holding a knife extremely close to his neck.

"Goddamnit, Mariano. GET IN!"

"Get in, Jess." Marks friendly, concerned tone broke into his revere. Jess shook it off and swallowed his pride. He allowed himself to be half carried into the vehicle.

Mark frowned at his brother, concern finding its way inside his chest and nesting there. He climbed into the back seat with Jess, getting as close as he could to him. Luke got in on the drivers side, and started the truck. They pulled away from the hospital.

End Chapter

R & R