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The Afters

Chapter 23

"Just a reaction," Sara proclaimed, "Her system was still under the effect of the poisoning, should be fine in a few hours, but unfortunately she'll have to stay overnight."

"Thanks Ms. Load." Jacob walked into the bright hospital room to see Holly hooked up to a heart rate machine and an IV in her arm. "A Polaroid moment." he joked

"Hah..." Holly stuck her tongue out, "Where are my parents? And Andy?"

"Um...Andy's kind of talking to someone..."

Holly raised her eyebrow, "What kind of someone...?"

"A girl..."

"WHAT!"

"Holly, calm down, I don't think he's flirting with an old woman who says she knows everything about old home remedies."

"Don't mess with my mind Jason Hanson."

Jason sighed and sat down on the bed, he held her now warmer hands and spoke: "If I'd asked you out earlier, you wouldn't be in this situation. You wouldn't have fallen in love with Jeff, he wouldn't have poisoned you, and you wouldn't be in the hospital...oh and your families hospital bills wouldn't be so high."

"Trust me, we have the money, more than enough of it. But Jacob I, this feels so much better. More right. And I don't care if I almost died, it's worth it, just to be in your arms."

His cheeks turned a bright pink and he smiled.

Meanwhile...

"Hey Ron." Kim walked into the waiting room.

"Oh!" Ron dropped a pile of paper all over the shiny white floor, "Uh h-h-h-h-h-hi Kim..."

"How's Holly?"

"F-f-fine..."

"Are you alright?" Kim squinted her green eyes at him. He nervously shook his head up and down. "Wow, imagine how jumpy you'll be at her wedding, or when she has a baby."

"LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALA! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

"She and Jacob would be wonderful parents..."

"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!"

"Oh how they grow up sooo fast..."

"Mom, dad okay your starting to make me feel queasy." Andy poked his head behind them.

"Well, at least Jacob is better than the Jeffery kid, a repeat I suppose. Right Kim?"

"Huh?" Kim tilted her head in question, this made Ron's heart sink lower.

"Never, never mind then."

Kim touched Andrews shoulder, and whispered to him, "Andy why don't you go see your sister, I have to talk to your father for a second."

Andy sighed and got up, "Okay but if they're kissing, it's going to be your funeral..."

Kim smiled and waited for him to be out of sight, and when he was, she leaned in to Ron.

"Ron, I know it's going to be hard living with me now, but I'm still Kim.. I'm still your best friend and your wife. Just because I'm going to have trouble with my memory and doing tasks doesn't mean I still don't love you, I'll never stop loving you."

"Kim, it's not that I believe that, it's just, I don't see why you of all people had to get it. I would have preferred myself to get it than you. If there was anyway to stop this then-"

"I know." she lowered her head, "But for as long as I live, I'm going to never waste a single moment with you."

"And I'll never take any moment for granted." he took her hands. They leaned and kissed each other sweetly, "Come on, lets see Holly."