Hi guys!

Update time! This chapter is shorter so apologies for that. The next one will be longer. Thank you everyone who has reviewed, it means a lot to me!

Chapter 32.0

The blizzard died out in the early hours of the morning, the sun rising on a crystal white landscape covered in a thick blanket of snow. Everything was white, the ground, the trees, the buildings. It looked so beautiful, if that beauty didn't come with such a cost. Jack, Lisa and Jessie all could have lost their lives the night before in the storm, they ha.d been lucky to make it through back to Heartland.

School was obviously out of the equation for the two girls since there was no way anyone was going anywhere till the roads had been cleared which was going to take most of the day at best. When Mallory and Amy had emerged from their rooms, Lisa and Jack were still sleeping in the living room, falling asleep after keeping close vigil over Jessie all night. Quietly they helped themselves to some breakfast, giving some to Lou when she joined them and they took up a seat at the kitchen table to eat so they didn't disturb them.

It was Lisa who woke first, teased back to reality by the soft chatter of people talking in the kitchen and she sat up with a soft yawn. Gently she covered the girl again with the blankets, having moved them off her so she could get up since she had slept by her side for the night. Jessie was still asleep and as she glanced over at Jack on the couch she could see he was asleep too. He was exhausted, she could tell. Quietly she left the room, heading into the kitchen to join Mallory, Amy and Lou. 'Morning guys.' She whispered as she walked in, glancing at the clock. It was almost ten in the morning. They whispered a greeting back to her as she went to the kettle to prepare herself a cup of coffee.

'How's Jessie this morning?' Lou asked, handing her an empty mug as she grabbed herself another piece of toast.

'She's still sleeping but she's improving.'

'I don't get why she would do something so stupid to get caught in a storm like that.' Mallory remarked as she shuffled the cards her and Amy were playing a game with. 'Why was she even out there to begin with?'

'She ran away.' Lisa poured the hot water into her mug and took a place at the table across from them. 'She doesn't want to go to the foster home so when Clint arrived yesterday she panicked and took off.'

'Can't say I blame her.' Amy sympathised as she looked at the cards Mallory had given her. 'Jessie's been through a terrible time, it's no surprise that she doesn't want to leave here.'

'Have you heard if they've made a decision about if you and Grampa get her guardianship or not?' Lou questioned as she took the last empty seat at the table. 'Surely they'd have made up their minds by now.'

She shook her head. 'We're still waiting and until they make a decision Jessie has to be in foster care.' Her shoulders slumped as she sighed. 'It's going to be so hard for her if they don't come through before Clint comes again. There's nothing we can do about it either, the authorities were already lenient in letting her stay here this long they won't go changing their ruling now. Regardless, she has to go to foster care by the seven-teenth, it was the date agreed upon when they let Jessie stay.'

'It just doesn't seem very fair.' Mallory commented, placing a Uno card down on the pile. 'Your turn Amy.'

'No, your right. It's not fair.' Lisa agreed as she placed her mug down. 'It's not fair for her at all but laws are laws, even if we don't like them very much.'

'We've almost finished with her room.' Amy interrupted, changing the subject as she played the game with Mallory. 'There isn't much left that needs to be done now is there Lou?'

'No, everything is pretty well in place. We just need to give it a coat of paint and finish the last few things off and then its done.'

'We can't have Jessie around though while it's getting painted if it's to be a surprise.' Mallory picked another card to place on the pile. 'So how can we finish it off if she's still around?'

'Let me figure that out, once I know what's happening with her.' Lisa replied, standing up. 'I'm going to go see if she's awake, excuse me.'

Quietly she walked back into the room, smiling as she saw the mountain lion lying next to the girl where she had been, her head resting on the girl's chest. She still didn't quite know what to make of this bizarre occurrence but they certainly seemed to be close to each other. Cougar was purring like a kitten, her eyes blinking sleepingly in contentment as she looked up at her.

'Cougar, you're squishing me.' Jessie declared, waking up to the lion sleeping half on her. Cougar purred louder, licking her face as she tried to push her away. 'Cougar, it's too early to wake me. Let me sleep.' She moaned, closing her eyes again. The mountain lion purred louder, snuggling up to her face and nudging her with her damp nose. She squealed softly as the cat effectively ended all ideas of getting back to sleep with her wet nose. 'Alright, alright. You can come under the blankets.' The cat purred louder as the girl lifted the blanket with her elbow, winching as it touched her painful hands. Cougar crawled down under them, resting her head on the girls thigh as she got herself comfortable. 'You woke me up for that?' She complained, looking at her. Cougar purred louder and she rolled her eyes. 'Typical cat.'

Lisa couldn't help the smile on her face. Jessie was just too cute as she tried to get back to sleep but the cat wasn't about to let that happen. She came over to them, kneeling down beside her as Jessie looked her direction. 'You're finally awake I see.'

'Yeah, thanks to her.' She shot the mountain lion a dirty look. 'I was enjoying my sleep.'

'How are you feeling?'

'Better.' Jessie yawned again, trying to stretch. 'Can I get up now?'

'Just because you're feeling better doesn't mean you're out of the woods missy.' She playfully tapped her on the nose and the girl giggled. 'Let me have a look at your hands.'

With an exaggerated eye roll she begrudgingly let her check her over, wincing as Lisa moved her fingers. 'They're a bit sore.'

'Frostbite does that.' The girls hands were still red and warm but her skin hadn't started to blister which was a very good thing. It meant that the frostbite was only mild and not more severe like they had been afraid of. 'Can you move your fingers on your own?' The girl demonstrated that she could, grimacing slightly from the pain however. 'Alright, that's enough.'

'Are you going to make me go see the doctor again?'

'Should I?'

'It'd be good punishment. You know how much I hate doctors.'

Lisa chuckled. Yes, Jessie didn't like anything at all to do with hospitals or doctors. 'Well, you'll be relieved to know that until the roads get cleared from the snow you won't be going anywhere. I will ring up Barbra though and ask for some advice for you though.' She tucked the girls fringe back behind her ear. 'You really have to look out for yourself and start looking after yourself honey. I don't like seeing you like this anymore then you like being like this.'

'I hate it.'

'Well, I can say I hate it too then.'

'Can I get up and about? I'm already going crazy being stuck here.'

'Slow down Jessie, slow down.' She shook her head. Nothing kept her down for long, unless it was her own demons in her mind. 'I need to check your feet too but you're going to be staying in bed for today. You're getting over hypothermia and frostbite, you're going to rest.'

'Ugh.' Jessie sighed, rolling her eyes. 'How thrilling.'

'Hey, I wouldn't be complaining you. Things could have turned out a whole lot worse.'

'I know, I know.'

'Can a guy get some sleep around here without you two cackling like a pair of hens?'

'Sorry Jack.' Jessie apologised.

'Hi Sleepyhead.' Lisa smirked teasingly, looking over at him. 'I was wondering if I'd have to get Mallory in here to get you up.'

'Well, you don't. You two effectively solved that.' Jack got up and came over, kneeling down beside the girl. 'You feeling better?'

'A bit. Lisa said I'm stuck on bedrest for the day still.' She stuck her tongue out at her defiantly. 'Not fair.'

'You need to rest Jessie, so I'm siding with Lisa on this one. Your staying put till we say otherwise.'

'Spoilsport.'

'Yeah yeah, I am.' He looked at her feet then covered her legs up with the blanket again. 'You want something to eat now?'

'I'm not really hungry.'

'Your going to eat Jessie.' Lisa replied firmly but not harshly. 'You need to keep your strength up. How about Jack makes some of his stew up for you?'

'I guess I don't have much of a choice.' Jessie sighed in defeat, secretly enjoying however being slightly difficult with them. What else was she going to do to amuse herself? 'Fine.'

'Good girl.'

'He's here.' Lou announced, walking in with the phone. Jack looked up and she motioned to the phone mouthing 'Clint' to let him know who it was. 'I'll put him on.'

'Morning Clint.' Jack stood up as he took the phone, glancing back down at Jessie as he walked out of the room to speak with him in private. 'I was about to ring you-'

'Guess he'll be shipping me out on the next plane after all the trouble I've caused.' Jessie looked down at the blankets then at Cougar snoozing peacefully beside her. 'What are you guys going to want to do with my girl?'

Lisa shrugged, schooching over next to her. Jessie sat up, learning against her as she placed her arm around her. 'I have got no idea honestly. Technically, Cougar is a wild animal. I don't know what laws there are about keeping big cats in captivity but there's bound to be something.'

'I know. That's why I was trying to keep her existence a secret.' She sighed, looking at the cat. 'I never had these problems when I lived in the mountains by myself. I didn't have to worry about things like this. Cougar isn't a problem but there'll be someone stupid who says she is. She's been hanging around here since I came into the lower country and as far as I know, she's never been a problem.'

'I didn't even know she existed till last night, you certainly kept the secret of her well hidden.'

'I had to, I had no idea how people would react and what chain of events those people finding out might put in motion. The only person who knew of her was Mallory, she looked after her for me while I was unable to.' Jessie rested her head on Lisa's shoulder. 'I don't know what'll happen to her now though. What's going to happen with her?'

'I don't know Jessie but I'm sure something can be figured out.'

'That was Clint.' Jack exclaimed, walking back into the living room. 'He's coming to pick you up tomorrow, if the roads are clear.' He saw the look on her face and placed his hand on her shoulder. 'I'm sorry Jessie.'