Authors note: Hi all had time to finish this one off enjoy.
Chapter 33
Before I got to answer I looked up to see Roxy speaking to Emma and both of them turned to look at us. The color drained from my face and Houston grabbed my hand.
"CJ what's wrong."
I didn't say anything but kept looking at them. Houston turned to see what or who I was looking at.
"CJ it could be nothing, don't jump to conclusions."
I kept my gaze on them, "Remember what you promised me Houston, we will protect Star and Jake no one will keep us away from them I need to hear those words from your mouth."
"CJ I promise to do what is possible that they will not be taken from us."
I kept patting Jake's back but couldn't keep my gaze away from them. I could feel something bad was happening and I didn't know if I was strong enough to deal with it.
"CJ what did Carol tell you that she was supposed to tell me before we came in here but conveniently forgot to?"
Houston was trying to distract me and I wish he'd ask me anything else but this. I looked at him and tried to come up with a way that he wouldn't blame himself. He would be angry, I would be upset. if I lost Jake because one of his exes had an ax to grind. It was a no win situation but I needed to be honest with him.
"They know who the leak is and she is very good friend of Ashley Jacobs. That's how she knew about Jake being here and us taking care of him."
I didn't look at him. I couldn't. He would be able to tell that I was withholding information and I just couldn't go through that with him right now.
"What else CJ you haven't looked at me so I know there's more to this story so come on tell me."
I sighed and looked up at him. "The friend thought you treated her girlfriend badly and what better way to get back at you then to give Ashley enough information to hurt you by hurting me. It makes sense now why she wanted to interview me it was her way of getting back at you for the way you two broke up. I'm sorry Houston that's all I know."
He started to curse and stood up and started to pace looking at Roxy and Emma and back to me.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for having all my dirty laundry out in the open. This is all coming to bite me in the behind and I have no one to blame but myself. Now that I want to settle down and to commit all these past 'distractions' are coming out of the woodwork and I'm hurting you in the process. Maybe you are right CJ I should clear out my closet before I move forward with us. I will take the blame for this. If they need me to step back I will I don't want this to affect your ability to take care of Jake."
He had his back to me and Jake started to stir hearing Houston upset he was not happy and was letting us know.
I reached for his hand and he turned around and I pulled him next to me onto the stool he had been using. I looked at him and smiled, I wondered which family member had told him about what I called the women he dated. I'd have to ask him later.
I placed his hand onto Jake's back and started to hum a tune and Houston started to rub his back. Houston started to talk to me and apologize and I just shook my head. He had nothing to be sorry for I couldn't blame him.
I started to talk to Houston like I was singing. I didn't want Jake to pick up on our tone. Houston was still angry and it was making Jake anxious and not settling down to sleep.
"Houston, it wasn't your fault. What is in your past should not come back to haunt you in your present and if it does don't blame yourself. We are in this together and we will fight this together, you are in this with me and I should be apologizing to you for getting you involve in this mess. Please stop. We need to be a united front and Jake doesn't like quitters. We've told him to fight and if he could talk he'd tell you what happen to the cowboy way? A promise is a promise and you promise to watch out for us and if you step back then you are breaking this promise to Jake and me. After all he's been through and now you want to leave him behind. Not gonna happen Cowboy."
He looked at me, "CJ it's…."
I shook my head and told him we were in this together. Jake raised his head and waited for me to continue.
"Hey baby, I'm going to sing you one of Houston's favorite songs. It's from the movie the Wizard of Oz. He'll tell you that its not but I know for a fact that when this song comes out he stops what he's doing and listens to it. So when you get out of here we will all sit down and watch it together. I'm not as good as the original singer she sang it beautifully so I hope I do it justice."
I started to hum it and the just closed my eyes and sang.
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why, then, oh, why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh, why can't I?
I looked down and Jake was asleep. I looked to Houston who was just staring at me like he wanted to kiss me. I swallowed and started to lean into him when we heard someone clear their throat. It was Roxy and Emma and we could tell it wasn't good news.
Houston stood up, "How bad is it? We are sorry but we thought it would be best if we brought the leak to their attention before we where blame for being the leak, Dr. LeMaster spoke to you right?"
Emma sat on the stool next to me.
"We got your call thank you for the heads up it helped get us all on the same page. All the nurses, techs, doctors and anyone that had any business here the last two days where called in to speak to our security team, Human Resources and the IT department. They check who logged in and for the reason a record was retrieved. My team and Roxy's team are in the clear we have good people working here and fantastic doctors. We found the leak it was someone that access Jake's records outside of our unit here. They are trying to cover this up. They wanted somebody to blame but we all said the same thing. That Jake's care is the NICU priority and your assistance is necessary to ensure he recovers quickly and is able to be moved out of here. Everything you've done with him has been documented and have been reported to the proper departments. The Chief Medical Officer was the surgeon that performed Jake's surgery this morning and he read all the documentation he vouched for you both that it was medically necessary that you continue to care for Jake. He saw the Kangaroo Study and the comparison to other babies that have been brought in and Jake is doing better than what is the standard even for the little time he's been here he's improving by the hour."
Tears were flowing down my cheeks I didn't want to make a noise. Jake was sleeping and he looked so peaceful. I was waiting for the word I hated most in the English language.
Roxy put her hand on Houston's arm. "But"
There it was the word I hated. The word that would bring my world tumbling down.
"They are questioning why we allowed you to continue with his care once he was brought in. Emma got some heat for that and naming the baby. Yeah that didn't go over very well either. They are saying you are exploiting the child by using him as publicity. With your interview and now every news station outside the hospital. They are starting to listen to the leak and that 2 bit reporter that blond with the talent in her chest not in her head."
I felt sick how could they think I wanted to exploit Jake? I only wanted to help and they had made up their mind and hadn't even let us present our side of the story. My stomach was rumbling and I felt sick.
"That's a crock of sh…" I grabbed Houston's hand the motion woke Jake and he stared at me he started to look for Houston and I pulled him so he was in his line of view.
Emma snorted, "I agree with you Houston it is a crock of poop, and don't worry about me. It's not my first rodeo with these yahoos. They don't come down past the 8th floor our administration offices are the top three floors. They don't know us by names only by our employee number. They don't see what we see every day. What works and what is just them trying to be in touch with the community and staff. I stand by my decision of letting both of you help out with that angel's care. So does everyone else that works here. The long faces you saw CJ is that we have to come to tell you that they want to speak to you and Houston. Dr. LeMaster spoke to the head of HR and your other friend was with her I believe her name is Maureen, she's a lawyer and well she's a Pitbull she was not putting up with any of their nonsense. So I hate to cut your visit short but they want to see you and I've delayed this as much as I could. Your escorts are here to walk you up to the conference room. I think Jake fell back to sleep and it's early hopefully you will be able to give him his last feeding for the night he needs his rest he's had a busy day as you two have. CJ you need to get some rest and that goes for you too Houston you look like you've been burning the candle at both ends. Oh and one more thing Mr. Houston not that any of them where complaining but we don't want a stampede of all the married and single nurses working here coming down to see you gown less and singing to a baby it was the talk of the hospital. I believe their might even be a calendar in the works."
I looked at him rolled my eyes and whispered told you so. He apologized and helped me give Jake over to Emma. I kissed his forehead as did Houston promising we would be back. We went to change and walked by Jakes incubator. I turned on his musical horsey and Houston caressed his cheek and whispered to sleep tight and we would be back.
The security guards came up to us and asked us to follow them that the Head of the Hospital would like to speak to us. Houston grabbed my hand and I hesitated looking over to Jake one last time and hoping this wouldn't be the last time I saw my little man.