CHAPTER ONE-HUNDRED AND THREE
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Gemma leads us all the way to the Neonatal unit where she suddenly slows and lets Jax go in before us, slinging her arm around my shoulders we drop back a couple of steps, leaning down to my ear she whispers, "Watch."
Following slowly behind him it's almost comical that I hadn't noticed the reaction he got the last time I was here, but being so worried about everything else a lot of external stuff vanished from my mind.
Stifling a giggle I follow slowly with Gemma and observe the reactions. The nurses' station is one of the first thing Jax walks past and the 3 nurses that are sitting there suddenly become very interested in what's happening in the corridor. I have to bite down on my lip to stop laughing when one of the younger ones tries, and fails, to subtly undo her top button. I can faintly hear the whispering that's happening, the interspaced giggles with the words 'hot', 'dreamy', 'sexy' and the older nurse muttering 'he could park his shoes under my bed' don't make it any easier for me to not explode into laughter.
Spotting Anne at the end of the hall Jax smiles brightly at her, "How's my favourite nurse today?"
The chorus of sighs from behind the desk make my attempts to not laugh out loud fail completely and a few giggles escape causing the heads of the ogling nurses to turn towards me.
Gemma waves as we walk past, "Come on, let go see my grandson." Dragging me along the corridor we reach Jax pretty quickly where he's standing with Anne and Dr Namid who I'm introduced to, again. I don't bother reminding Jax that I've already met the wonderful doctor who saved Abel's life so I just smile and shake his hand again, making a note to bake something to bring in for the staff of the neo-natal unit.
Dr Namid spends a while talking with Jax about what to expect and that even though Abel can come out of the incubator for short periods he will still have to sleep in there. Jax nods enthusiastically, his eyes barely leaving his son who's squirming around like a worm.
I'm standing quietly in the corner with my camera out, taking a few photos and listening with an ear to the information being dumped on Jax, knowing that he won't have absorbed half of it and will be asking later about what was said.
The doctor finally stops talking and he and Anne open the incubator and Abel is carefully lifted out before Anne turns to Jax and tucks the tiny baby into his arms.
Jax steps back a few inches and his knees hit the chair he'd just stood up from, his eyes not leaving the tiny face in front of him as he sits down.
Jax sits there talking softly to his son while the doctor and nurse both leave the room, telling Gemma as they go that they'll come back in half an hour or so to put Abel back in the incubator. Her distracted nod makes me turn the camera towards her and I manage to snap a single photo of her gazing at her son and grandson with the most amazed expression on her face.
Nudging her shoulder I push her towards the pair in the chair and continue in my snapping away, managing to zoom right in on the 3 of them.
Dropping to my knee right in front of Jax's chair I lift the camera and take a photo of the pair of them, Jax's eyes fixed on Abel's face where he's cushioned in the crook of Jax's arm and the adoration, amazement, love, stunned disbelief are all plainly written over his face.
Stepping back into the corner I put my camera away and let the 3 of them have their quiet meeting without the constant clicking my camera has been doing.
Leaning against the wall by the door I just observe the interactions, I know that Jax was worried about being a good father, but judging by the way his entire attention is fixed on the tiny being in his arms he has absolutely nothing to worry about.
Gemma eventually looks up and motions me over, but I shake my head, "I'm good over here."
Jax's head snaps up and he looks at me like he'd forgotten I was there, but a split second after his gaze meets mine he reaches a hand out towards me and I can't fight my feet as they carry me across the room, sliding my hand into his I'm yanked onto his lap and the tiny baby is nuzzled into my arms before my brain can even start processing the movements.
Looking down at Abel's face I'm amazed at the pure trust that exudes from him, his bright blue eyes stare straight up at me and it's almost like he can see straight into my heart. His eyes start drifting closed and before I can start to worry his entire body relaxes and a tiny little puff of air comes out. My heartbeat immediately starts racing and my eyes flick to Gemma but she's got a smile on her face and my camera in her hand.
"It's okay baby, he's just gone to sleep." She says, setting the camera back down and stepping over to me, running her hand gently over Abel's forehead which creases at the contact.
When the door opens a few minutes later I'm smiling down Abel in my arms but my attention is drawn to Anne who is crossing the room. "Time to put him back in sorry."
I nod and hand the sleeping boy to his nurse and watch as she puts him back into his incubator and closes everything efficiently.
"How much longer will he be in there?" I ask, standing up and letting Jax have the blood flow back to his legs.
"Probably another 2 weeks. He's doing really well now, and if it goes the same way it'll be a bit less than that." Anne says, noting the time on the chart and tucking it away again.
Jax asks Anne a couple more questions before we leave and go back to my house so I can pick up my car.
Jax pulls his bike up beside the car and turns the engine off; dropping the kickstand he waits till I'm standing beside him before leaning the bike on its rest and swinging his leg over it.
"Wanna tell me what's up?" He says, walking past me and over to the deck.
I shrug, "I'm just glad that everything with Craig is over. I can start trying to have a life again without being terrified every time I turn a corner." I drop down beside him and lean against the railing.
Jax nods, "I guess it's all been so life changing that it'll be a good thing having a few days to rest. I tell ya, it's certainly been interesting since you came back." He chuckles.
I shove him sideways, "I did offer to leave. But for some reason you bunch of crazies made me stay." I giggle a little. "And I'm glad I did."
Jax smirks, "Me too, plenty of baking since you've been back."
I decide while we're sitting there that it's a good time to talk about the living arrangements, with Craig gone I can move back to the Winston's and start clearing for the repairs and renovations.
"Ha de ha ha. If anyone asks I'll tell them you all only keep me round for my baking ability."
Jax nods, "Yup."
Laughing at him, "Well, least now I can go back to Donna's and you can have your house back."
Jax looks over at me and shakes his head, "Nah. I'm gonna keep you around till this place is done at least. Can't have my cupcake baker leaving."
Shaking my head, "Alright, but the least I can do is move to Abel's room."
Jax cocks his head, "I'll think about it."
"What's there to think about? Hap doesn't need to be at your place every night now, means that the daybed will be free and I can sleep there. Gives you back your bed, and keeps me in the house."
Jax smiles, leans over and brushes my hair over my shoulder, "Did it occur to you that I like you being in my bed."
With that he hops to his feet and strides over to his bike, throwing his leg over it and starting the engine before I even have a chance to gather my thoughts. "See you at the clubhouse."