It was the next day. Polly woke up ready to spend the day at the hospital. At least she wasn't alone throughout this. She knew Jessica would be there every step of the way with her. It was comforting knowing there was someone who could actually feel what she was feeling, comforting knowing she could confide in someone who could actually help her. She packed a bag of sandwiches and snacks. She wasn't even sure if Jessica had left last night. Polly walked the hall towards Michael's hospital room. Outside she could she 2 huge men watching the door. She could tell they were Janik's men. As she approached the door, "Good morning Mrs. Gray," one man said. She opened the door and quietly walked in. Jessica had been asleep on a couch. Polly stood there puzzled wondering if that couch was there yesterday. She didn't remember seeing that. Then she looked at Michael. Again, confused. His bed looked so much bigger than a normal hospital bed. And the blankets that had been covering him looked very expensive. She was confused but placed her jacket on the table and quietly walked over and held his hand. She began to quietly pray.
"Mom," she heard come out of his mouth. "Michael the doctors said you would be out for awhile." She started to lean forward and kiss his face. "Shh mom be quieter, Jess just went to sleep." He opened his eyes and looked at her. "You scared me Michael. I thought I'd lost you." Polly began to cry. "Mom please stop. I am ok and I will be ok." He squeezed her hand hoping it would help. "What time did she get here?" Polly questioned. Michael laughed, "She hasn't left. Do you know she convinced her father to get a bigger bed moved here so I could be comfortable? And then on top of it had him deliver a couch because she said she isn't leaving and refuses to sleep in a hospital chair for days that it will ruin her posture. How many girls do you know would do that? She's crazy, I love her." He suddenly got really quiet. Polly could see in his eyes he was thinking hard. "What is it Michael?" He took a deep breath, "When I got shot, the last thing I saw before my eyes closed was her face smiling at me. Her voice is what got me through the past nights. She talked to me as if I was awake. She talked about her trip to New York. She talked about paintings and fashion and everything. She spoke to me as if nothing was wrong and we were ok. Do you know what it feels like to hear her tell me she loves me?" Michael started to get emotional. "The worst thing I did was tell her I didn't think we should be together. I didn't even mean it. I couldn't even look her in the eyes and tell her that. And this is what she has to come home too? Me in a hospital bed shot three times with some asshole running around town ready to fuck with her and I'm in here unable to protect her."
He winced a little as he sat up. "Don't move," Polly said. "No mom, I need to get out of here so I can protect her. I need to get out of here because I am taking the shot to Greg." He reached into his pocket and pulled something small out, "Arthur wrote out the bullet and gave it to me. I will finish this." Polly knew she couldn't change his mind. She didn't want Michael to be the one to take the shot, but she wasn't going to fight him. Polly looked over at Jess and laughed. "What?" Michael asked. "That girl over there loves you so much she convinced her father to get an actual couch in your hospital room for her. She's too funny. Ive never seen this before." Michael laughed, "I pretended I was asleep when she got into the argument with him about it. She said if he didn't bring her a couch she would be hunchbacked and I wouldn't want to be with her. Where does she come up with this stuff? Remind me to never piss her off again." Talking about Jess made Michael sad. Polly could see it in his face. She held both his hands and looked over at the sleeping girl, "You two will be alight. You know that right." Michael glanced over at her. "How are you so sure mom? I wouldn't want to take me back after what I did." He was embarrassed and ashamed. "You want to know how I know?" Michael looked up. "I know because you guys love each other. I know because she hasn't left your hospital room in 2 days. Michael I know because while she was in New York, she called me to talk about business, but the conversation turned to be about you." Michael looked at his mom surprised, "Really?" he questioned. Polly nodded her head, "She was talking about how beautiful the city was during this time and maybe next Christmas you will be there with her." Polly refused to tell Michael about the phone call originally. She wanted him to suffer a little bit for being so ridiculous before Jess had left.
A few hours had passed and Polly left. She wanted to give Jessica some alone time. The girl was still asleep. Polly could only imagine all the crying she had been doing the past few weeks with Michael breaking up with her and now this. It definitely took a tole on her. Polly could tell she was thinner and more frail. She must have lost her appetite from being so sad. There was a family meeting at 7 that she needed to attend. She told Michael if he could, he needed to convince Jessica to come. Her not knowing what was going on could be a liability. Michael had his eyes closed and heard a long yawn. Jessica got up from the couch and went to the bathroom. His heart was racing. They needed to have a conversation. He was nervous, what happens if she didn't want to take him back. She came back from the bathroom and sat down pulling the couch closer to his bed. She grabbed his hand and kissed it. She then took her hand and caressed Michael's cheek, "I can't wait for you to wake up Michael," she whispered. He felt a wet drop on his cheek. Her voice started to choke up, "I can't imagine my life without you." Michael decided to take the plunge. He opened his eyes to see her wiping hers eyes away with tears. "I'm sorry," he let out broken. Jessica's head shot up, "You're awake?" She started to cry even more. "Baby please don't cry," he put his hand up to her cheek to wipe away the tears. "Listen, I have a lot to say and I want you to listen ok," he asked her gently. She nodded her head; her face tear stained. "The day I got shot," he began to choke up and she cut in, "We don't have to talk about it." Michael shook his head no," I need to get this out. The day I got shot, I counted down the minutes at work to when I could leave to meet you at the docks. I was going to beg you to forgive me. Beg you to take me back because the worst thing I had done was end things with you. It was stupid and I was dumb." He paused for a minute, "The last thing I remembered before my eyes closed was seeing your face and hearing your voice telling me you loved me. I couldn't die there knowing I needed to make things right with you." He looked into her eyes, "I love you Jessica Ann Swavorski, please take me back as your boyfriend." Through her tear stained face he could see her smile, she got up and kissed his lips, "I don't want to do life without you Michael." He patted a spot next to him in bed, perks of having a queen bed as a hospital bed. They laid there in silence just holding on to each other. Although in a little pain, Michael felt the best he had felt in weeks.
It had been about an hour and somehow Michael convinced Jess to go to the family meeting. It took everything from him to convince her and listen to what Tommy and her father needed him to do; she didn't want to leave and neither did he want her to leave. She promised she would call once she made it to the office. The phone began to rang. Michael thought that was quick, "Hey babe you made it already?" The person on the other line laughed. Fear shot through Michael. "Well hello Mr. Gray, I guess you weren't expecting my phone call." Greg. "What do you want," Michael asked. "Well its funny what I want I can see from this window. Who I want is currently walking down the street by herself. I'm confused, why isn't anyone with her?" Michael's heart started to pound and he yelled, "Don't you fucking touch her. Don't you fucking go near her. I'll kill you!" Greg laughed. "You see Michael, what are you going to do from that hospital bed? Nothing. I will tell you one thing. American girls no matter what they are going through they always look good. Purple does bring out her eyes doesn't it?" Greg hung up the phone. Michael started to panic. Jess left here wearing a purple dress.
He dialed the office phone, Pick up pick up, he was yelling to himself. "Shelby and Company," Lizzy picked up the phone. "Lizzy its Michael give the phone to Tommy now!" Michael could hear Lizzy telling Tommy it was Michael and it didn't sound good. Tommy grabbed the phone, "Michael whats wrong?" "Tommy he fucking called the hospital he was following Jess. He told me what color dress she was wearing when she left here. You need to go find her. She was walking to the office from the hospital. Tommy he fucking knew what she was wearing!" Michael cried out. "We are going now and sending someone to the hospital Michael. Don't move we will take care of this," Tommy yelled. Jessica was walking towards the office. The fresh air was great even if it was freezing. She hadn't left the hospital in days. It was nice to stretch out her body. She went to turn the corner when she was pulled back into a side alley with a hand over her mouth unable to scream.