Chapter Fifty-Seven

Amelia climbed onto the couch with John and Claire, watching as Allison popped a Disney tape into the VCR player. She crawled behind the bend in John's knees, knowing that she had to be careful of his side. She'd seen the new cut on his ribs when he'd been changing into a t-shirt after they got home. She watched as Claire ran her fingers through his hair, noticing that John's eyes were still a little unfocused. "John?" She asked, waiting for him to shift his gaze to her. "Are you still hurting?"

He shook his head, still feeling to tired to talk.

Claire chuckled, rubbing the little scar that went through his eyebrow. "I think he's just really tired."

John closed his eyes, letting Allison adjust the blanket over his shoulders.

Andy shook his head, looking at the larger teen being babied by the girls. "John, I think you're the most loved man on the planet right now." He laughed, ignoring John's sorry excuse for flipping him off.

Dominic handed John a coffee with a straw in it making sure it wasn't too hot for him. "At least he's being quiet for once." He ruffled John's hair, taking a drink of his own coffee as he settled into his chair for the movie. "What're we watching?"

Cody tossed the movie case too him, wincing as he noticed John's flinch. "The Aristocats." He chuckled at Dominic's reaction. "You and John are dog people, aren't you?"

Dominic nodded. "Yup."

Brian awkwardly looped his arm over Kaylie's shoulders, unsure of how to hold a woman. "Let's just watch the movie guys."

Kaylie snuggled into his chest, wrapping her hands around his chest as she felt his chest swell with his breath. "Yeah, I haven't seen this one yet."

John took a sip of his coffee, letting Claire draw little patterns on his cheek. "Me either."

Claire smiled, settling back to watch the film. "You're all so deprived."

John closed his eyes, letting his hand rest on Claire's knee as he listened to the movie. He felt Amelia shift against his butt, loosening his ankles to let her have more room in her little nest she'd made of his legs. He cracked his eyes open as he felt the presents of one of the adults before him, groaning as he noticed that it was Kathrine. "No…" He moaned, feeling her move the blanket and start to lift his t-shirt. "I don't want it looked at."

Kathrine rolled her eyes, picking at the tape around his bandage. "I'm just going to change it." She peeled the cotton pad off of his side, looking at the orange skin around his new incision. "Besides, you've got a nice spray tan there." She rubbed her hand over his waist, feeling the bones of his hips under his muscles.

Claire smiled, holding his shirt away from the scab as Kathrine taped the new dressing onto his side. "If he gets any darker he'll look like he's from Northern Africa." She chuckled, brushing her hand over the white bandage happy that he was okay after the scare he'd given them.

John took her hand in his, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "Well, then you're my Irish princess." He smiled, reaching up to tug on her red hair.

She laughed, playing with his earring. "And you're my Greek Hero."

He closed his eyes again, readjusting as Amelia shifted again. "I'm a tired hero."

Claire rolled her eyes, kissing his ear that was just starting to become hidden by his hair. "I bet you are." She traced her fingers over an old scar on his jaw where the hair refused to grow. "Why don't you take a nap?"

John nodded, letting her adjust the blanket over his side as he began to dose off. "I think I will…"