Jessica gathered her things as the boat docked. She was so thankful to be home. She was never going to do that trip alone again. She had never been so bored in her life. As she walked onto the dock her father, John, and Isaiah were standing there. There were about 15 men with guns surrounding the perimeter as well. She was confused. No one looked happy. They couldn't even look her in the face. This was not the greeting she imagined. She walked over slowly, "Not that Im not happy to see you all, but why are you all here." No one spoke and she was getting nervous. "Dad," Jessica hesitantly asked. He looked at her with tears in his eyes. "Dad whats going on why are you crying." She looked towards John," Someone tell me whats going on right now," she demanded. She started to get nervous, her heart started pounding. "Daddy, please tell me whats going on." Hearing her call him Daddy reminded him of all the times she would get hurt when she was little and he was able to fix it. This time he wouldn't be able too. Janik moved closer to her and grabbed her hands. "Sweetie listen to me. Your brothers called today. They were attacked in New York. They are fine," Janik took a deep breath and continued, "I need you to get in the car with John. He is going to take you to the hospital." He couldn't finish she cut in. "Dad what are you talking about is someone hurt? What happened in New York?" Janik was trying to find the strength to tell her, "The Blake's lawyer, his trip got cancelled and he was in the office earlier then they had anticipated. He saw what you wrote up. Greg didn't leave Birmingham. I need you to get into the car with John he will take you to the hospital," he said as he ushered her to the car. She started to fight her dad, needing to know whats going on. He grabbed her and held her, "Its Michael sweetheart. Greg shot him and I need you to go to the hospital. He will be ok, but I need you to go." Her legs crumbled beneath her, Isaiah and John helped her up and put her in the car. Janik turned to John, "I am going to go home. I need to call my sons. When I am done I will meet you all at the hospital."
It seemed like they were driving forever. Isaiah was in the back seat trying to console Jess. She couldn't stop crying. John beeped his horn, "Get out of the fucking way goddamit!" He was driving as fast as he could. He too was trying to hold his tears back. When they saw Michael in a pool of his own blood, they knew the war was starting. They knew something would happen, but they didn't anticipate this. They pulled up to the hospital and got out as fast as they could. Jessica was running towards the entrance not knowing where she was supposed to be going. Polly paced back and forth in the hallway waiting for Michael to get out of surgery. Tommy, Arthur, and Finn there as well. Tommy showed up at the office just like he said he would and told her what happened. He promised her they would kill everyone involved and she had to trust him. She just started to collect herself when she could hear someone yelling, "Someone tell me where Michael Gray is NOW!" It was Jess. She couldn't bear to witness how this girl was going to react.
Jess spotted Polly through her tears down the hallway. She ran towards the woman. "Polly! Polly what happened is he ok someone tell me whats going on." She looked in the door window and could see Michael on the operating table. She barged forward and Tommy and Arthur pulled her back. Jess started to scream and cry. "Not Michael. Polly no not Michael." Polly's heart broke with every cry that came out of her. She grabbed Jessica and slid to floor holding on to her back against the wall. She held the crying girl in her arms. Jessica shaking with each tear. "This is all my fault. I can't live without him." "Shh" Polly tried comforting her, "It's going to be ok Jess I promise." John and Arthur looked on with tears in their eyes. They got to know Jess and love her like a little sister. The agony her and Polly were feeling was too much for them. John spoke first, "Poll we will take care of this." Polly nodded her head, tears falling down her chin on to Jess who had moved her head onto Polly's lap. Arthur spoke too, "Poll, Greg Blake will not be making it out of Birmingham alive." Tommy put his hand on her shoulder and gave her a light squeeze.
Janik started to walk down the hospital hallway. Tommy noticed him and walked towards him. "Do you have an update?" Tommy asked. Janik shook his head. "Travis said a car rolled up to the house and began shooting. Maybe 5 guys? They killed 4 and kept one alive. He said Greg is still here and they had some cousins and another brother as well come. Mr. Blake is home and so is Gina. We have surveillance going on at their residents. Nothing too suspicious right now, but my sons are having their cops friends bug their house." Tommy nodded his head. This was good information they needed. "Janik, Travis didn't say how many the man said were here did he?" Tommy questioned. Janik shook his head no. "How is Michael?" Janik was afraid to ask he didn't want to hear the bad news. Tommy rubbed his head, "The doctor said he will make a full recovery. He took 2 bullets to his chest, 1 to his shoulder. He's lucky." He looked down the hall and could see his daughter in Polly's arms. Tommy too turned around to see the sad sight in front of him. Tommy walked with Janik down the hall, "When Michael gets out of surgery, I want to have a family meeting. I would prefer if Jessica were to be there, if not, can you at least have men here watching. I don't want to leave her alone here, and I don't think she will leave." Janik nodded I will talk to her.
A few hours had passed and many family members and friends had been in and out of the hospital checking on Michael. Polly just had gone home to wash up knowing she had to attend the family meeting. Jessica didn't move from the same chair for hours. The doctors had just come out to let her know Michael was out of surgery. Her father called Tommy to let him know. Family meeting would be in 20 minutes. Now was the hard part trying to convince Jess to come. "Sweetheart, lets go to the office and ill bring you back after." She never broke eye contact with Michael's lifeless body. "No I'm not leaving him." He heard her voice start to crack. "Jess.." she immediately cut him off and looked at him tears streaming down her face, she began to beg to let her stay. He knew anything he said to her wouldn't change her mind. He gave orders to his men and told her he would be back. Janik walked into the office where everyone had been sitting around the table. The vibe was off. Everyone was not right. He sat down and Tommy began. "This morning, I had received a phone call from Greg Blake. The Blake family lawyers trip had gotten cancelled and found Jess's paperwork she had written up. He said since we fucked with his family, hes going to fuck ours. Michael was shot 3 times, he just got out of surgery and the doctors said he will make a full recovery." Tommy then turned to Janik to continue. "This morning, my sons were attacked at our family home in New York. A van of 5 men shot into the home. They killed 4 and kept 1 for information. They said Greg is still here with another brother and cousins. Mr. Blake and Gina are in New York and we have surveillance on them. Nothing too suspicious at their house yet. The phone will be bugged by our police connections in New York."
Tommy started to speak again, "We need to be prepared. This family has been here for over a month. They are no stranger to our city. But this is our neighborhood and we know it better. No one goes anywhere alone, and no one goes somewhere without telling anyone do I make myself clear?" everybody nodded. "They started a war and we need to finish. What they did to Michael does not go unpunished." Silence in the room. They knew what they were about to do. The phone began to ring. Their hearts stopped hoping for no more bad news. Tommy picked up. "Yes this is he. Ok. Every nurse? Yes, I'll be there shortly." He looked at the group. "That was the hospital. Jessica told the doctors and nurses from America and who have gotten there from America within the past 2 weeks are not allowed near Michael. She has gotten into an argument with every single person she thinks is American and is telling them she is an American and knows one when she sees them." Arthur laughed, "Thats our girl," the whole group started to laugh. For the first time all day they had smiles on their faces. Tommy stood up and put his jacket on, "Janik and I are going to the hospital. We will be back later."
Tommy and Janik walked the hall towards Michael's hospital room. They could hear yelling. "I will tell you this one more time. You are American. You're not fooling me. I am from the states. You cannot come in my boyfriends room. I will find a new nurse." The nurse threw her arms in the air and huffed off. Jessica stood in front of the door with her arms crossed. She saw her father and Tommy walking towards her. She softened her body language. "Daddy I am sorry the hospital called. You just cant be too cautious. These are smart people and I just don't know what measures they will go too.." she rambled on and on. Tommy stopped her, "Jessica you are 100% right and we will screen every hospital employee here." She smiled triumphantly. She was then moving to her next argument and turned to her dad, "Daddy I need one more thing from you." Janik rolled his eyes wondering what request would come out of her mouth. "Do you see these hospital beds they have him sleeping in? No, I need him waking up feeling good not like a truck hit him. Daddy can we get a new bed brought in for him?," Janik tuned her out and looked at Tommy, " Let me go address my kid's issues before she drives everyone crazy and gets banned from this place."