Jackson and Matthew
"Whoa what? Back up a little. What you are asking for doesn't make any sense. Won't your family want to take her if? After all, I am the man who... At your first wedding, remember?"
"April is the only mother she has ever known, and Harriet is her sister. I don't want that taken away from her too, and she already knows you. She's always raving about uncle Jackson every time you come around, wondering why she can't sleepover with Harriet when you take her. It's the only time she throws temper tantrums, drives me crazy... She already advocates for you anyway, so..."
Jackson keeps quiet, not sure he wants to make the deal but deciding to stay hopeful he won't have to do his end of it because he knows what it's like to grow up without a dad...But willing to agree to anything at this point if it means Matthew will help him to fight.
"Sure, but you will be up and about in no time. You do know that, right? And you have it wrong, Harriet is the one who has been raving about you every time she comes over to my place. She makes me do her sandwiches over, asking why I can't make it like you. It drives me crazy..."
Matthew lets the last part sink in. "Really? That actually makes me feel better.'' Matthew says dryly.
"I thought I was losing both my daughters to your charm..." Matthew starts to laugh, and Jackson joins in, realizing they both had the same fear about the other.
Jackson continues to speak. "At first I was fighting, because it's my job, you are a good guy and all, and well mostly for... for our family..."
Jackson thinks about them all. Especially about Ruby growing up without her father. He saw her today when April came here. He had to leave the kids with Catherine when he had to come back to work.
They start video chats for the kids tonight. Before today, Matthew was in no state to talk to them.
With Ruby in mind, Jackson pleads with him. "I know it's a lot to ask when you only have me most days as company, but if you can still promise me to hold on for them, then I give you my word to take good care of them for you, especially Ruby... If after everything we still lose," he promises, meaning it this time.
"Agreed," Matthew says, and the longest couple of months of Jackson and Matthew's life start.
Jackson spends most of his days and nights by his side, and Matthew fights at times with nothing but murmurings and groanings as prayer in his lips that Jackson can hardly make out and tears that he doesn't bother hiding in his eyes.
Most days, the video chats get canceled because of a new complication, and those are usually the hardest for Matthew. That's when Jackson gets tempted to say he can let go, but Matthew never gives up or loses heart again and only looks at him. Without needing him to say anything.
He sees his disheartened thoughts and says. "You gave me your word..." Not sure how the patient became his motivator after a while, Jackson lets Matthews' enthusiasm lead them both. The times that the video chats do come through become what Matthew looks forward to most.
