"No, I'm still in the waiting room."

"I really wish I could be there with you."

I shook my hair out so that I could try to hide my blush from the other people sitting near me. My voice got unconsciously lower as I nearly whispered into my phone, "I know you do and that's what counts. Keep your focus on what you're doing so you don't get hurt, okay? Because if you do, I'll have to kick your ass."

"Deal. But full disclosure? I might end up at the hospital today."

"Alight. Consider my curiosity piqued."

He let out a beautifully masculine chuckle that made me wish I could see his face. I loved the way his cheeks dimpled and the skin around his eyes crinkled when he was happy and laughed without abandon. Those occasions seemed so rare that I really cherished them whenever we could have them.

"I volunteered to shadow Tara."

"Oh shit… Shit."

"Yeah. I'll get into it more when I get home, but long and short? She faked her pregnancy and the miscarriage all as part of a scheme to divorce Jax and leave with the boys."

"Fuck," I breathed out barely over a whisper. "That's why Dad was freaking out yesterday."

"But Jax just told us today."

"Dad was at Diosa with Jax and Gemma. How much do you want to bet that's where he first heard the truth?"

"Shit. Yeah, that makes sense. Fuck so does this…?"

"No," I interrupted. "No, it doesn't change anything. I…"

He started his bike and then I heard him yell out, "SHIT!"

"JC?"

He must have dropped his phone because I heard a crashing sound. That was then followed up by him exclaiming from somewhere in the distance, "Crazy bitch!"

"JC! What's happening? JC!?"

A couple of the people in the waiting room gave me dirty looks, but I ignored them. I really didn't care if they thought I was crazy. They had no idea what I was hearing, so they could take their judgements and shove them somewhere really uncomfortable.

"JC?! Are you…?"

"I'm okay. Fucking bitch just ran my bike over."

"But you're okay. I mean, you aren't hurt?"

"No, I'm fine. Really."

"I'll come and get you."

"No," He countered in a very firm tone. "You need to see your doctor. I'll call Rat. It's fine."

"But…"

"Ms. Lowman?"

I turned to look at the nurse with my phone still pressed to my ear. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be so loud, but I have a bit of a family emergency."

She smiled then politely answered, "No, it isn't that. You're fine. It's just… The doctor will see you now."

I got up and started to follow her. "I guess that means that I have to go."

"I'll call you later to see how it all went."

"Sounds good. Stay safe. I love you."

"Love you too."

XXXXXXXX

I stuffed the pamphlets I was given into my backpack as I walked out the door, but froze when I heard Tara's angry voice demanding, "Just tell me where he is, asshole."

"Diosa… Stockton…" I could just imagine the look on JC's face because he had been trying to be polite, but her insult would have squashed any kindness he had left for her. "Meeting with his partner… Colette. Here… let me get you the address."

I had ducked into an alcove in the hallway so that the only thing anyone could see was my backpack. That also meant that I couldn't see anything. But I could definitely hear them. After JC gave her the address, she cursed out a couple of choice words and names in his direction before stomping away.

To his credit, JC didn't react to her venom beyond a quiet scoff. By the time he was done scrolling through his contacts to my name, I was already beside him saying, "She better watch her mouth or I'll have to teach her some manners."

He huffed out a laugh replying, "No, you won't."

"Oh… you think not?"

He hugged me then replied against my hair, "You and I both know what Jax will do if you touch her. She can call me whatever she wants, I don't care. But you getting hurt…?"

"Alright… fine… I won't do anything."

"Good to hear. So? How'd it go with the doctor?" He released me from his embrace then turned my head by my chin so he could see the left side of my face. "It looks red. Does it hurt?"

"Not really, it's just a little irritated. But all things considered, Doc says my condition is good."

"That's good. So? What's next?"

I pointed to my backpack with my thumb answering, "Doc suggested a few things to pick up at the pharmacy. Gemma told me I didn't have to go into work today, so I thought I'd just take it easy at home. How 'bout you?"

"I'm on kid duty at the hospital until Jax relieves me of it."

"Oh? Yeah… I guess that makes sense. Dad said he probably wouldn't be making it home tonight. I could cook us dinner… if you want."

He leaned in to kiss me then answered, "I'll call you when I have an idea of when I'll be home."

"Okay. Sounds good."

I moved to step away from him, but JC was still holding my hand. He pulled me against his chest again then almost tearfully asked, "You're really okay? No complications?"

"Really. No complications."

"Thank God. I love you, Mia."

"You better."

"Mia," he sighed out into my neck.

I pushed out of his embrace so that I could look him in the eye. "I love you with all my heart, JC."

XXXXXXXX

"Mia!"

I smiled when I heard his voice and some of the tightness in my chest started to ease up. "In the kitchen."

He snuck up behind me, but he was careful when he placed his hands on my hips. I couldn't blame him because I was standing in front of the stove stirring a pot with boiling water and cooking pasta in it. Surprising me at a time like this could end very badly for both of us.

"Smells delicious," he commented before he kissed the side of my neck.

"Me or the meal?"

"Both."

I chuckled as I turned in his arms and kissed him. "Good answer. Now you get washed up while I finish with all of this."

He made no move to comply and just kissed me instead. Normally I would have no issues with letting him change plans from eating to other activities, but tonight was anything but normal. I had put off eating until he got home because… well… in all honesty with everything that was happening, I felt so nervous that I was nauseated until I heard him walk through the front door.

I pushed gently on his stomach until he released my lips. "The sauce is going to burn. We both need to eat to keep our strength up. You have a big day tomorrow."

"Okay, okay. As long as I get to have you for dessert."

"Oh my God!" I nearly shrieked out as I laughed loudly. "Do those cornball lines actually work on girls?"

He smirked then asked at the doorway, "I don't know. Do they?"

XXXXXXXXX

JC flopped onto his back while he tried to catch his breath. I used every ounce of energy I could muster to roll over and snuggle into his side.

"I really have to stop rewarding your bad behavior."

"Oh yeah?" JC asked as he combed my hair so it would fall down my naked back. "What'd I do this time?"

I kissed one of his new tattoos on his chest then answered, "First I go home with you after you stalk me. Now, I gave into you after you offered nothing but corny lines. My rewarding you is just going to encourage this bad behavior."

"If I apologize and say I'll never do it again, will I be forgiven?"

"That's a good start. But you helping me to the bathroom to clean up is even better."

"That I can do."

He then stood up off the bed and picked me up bridal style. Once we made it to the bathroom, I hugged his neck then said, "On second thought, I don't want to ruin the afterglow. There's dessert in the fridge. Could you start the kettle while I finish up in here?"

He set me down on my feet and kissed me before answering, "Of course."

XXXXXX

After I finished using the facilities and cleaned up, I picked up JC's hoody form where we had left it on the floor and put it on. It was big enough that it landed past my butt cheeks when I was standing up, so I didn't bother putting anything else on. Plus, I could tell from what was left on the floor that he was wearing his boxers and I really didn't feel like wasting time finding something else to wear. There was no need for modesty because I knew my dad wasn't coming home tonight, so the hoody would be enough to keep me comfortable until JC took it off again.

"I knew you didn't really want to give that back the other night."

He leaned down to kiss me after he poured the boiling water into a tea pot. I moved over to the fridge answering, "But it was a damn good excuse to drop by unannounced. I think it all turned out pretty well."

"Me too," he agreed as he met me at the table, tea pot and mugs in hand. "Are you keeping it now so you'll have an excuse to drop by another night?"

I placed the mini cheesecake I had bought on the table answering, "Nope. Just trying to make sure I get as much as my perfume on it as possible to mark my territory."

"Are you really worried about me stepping out on you?"

I lifted a forkful of cake to his lips and fed it to him. "I know you aren't that stupid. But tomorrow is going to be a tough one. I can only be there in spirit, so this way when you're wearing this, you can smell my perfume and think of me… and remember that I have your back. I don't just want, I need you to get home safe."

"Mmm… I like the sound of that." He poured our tea and kept his eyes turned to his hands as he hesitantly started, "Speaking of getting home safe… your dad… Happy… he's…"

"Entertaining the Chinese because Galen pissed them off."

"Yeah… Wait! How did you…?"

I lifted another bite to his lips to silence the rest of his question. "He talked them into letting him call me. Lin wants me to do some custom work for him, so Dad used that as leverage."

"Damn. He IS a good negotiator."

"Yes, he is. But huge bonus for us? We have the house to ourselves tonight."

He leaned over and lifted me off the chair to sit me in his lap. My lips immediately found his as his hands slipped under the hem of his hoody to massage the flesh of my inner thigh. "Where do you want to mark your territory next?"