Jackson stopped a passing nurse and asked her to inform the doctor that Sharon was awake. Brenda looked up to find that he was right. Sharon was still laying on her side, her back to the glass wall, but you could see her arm moving ever so slightly. It looked like she was pulling Ally close while she rubbed her back. Rusty was on his feet, standing at the foot of the bed. Jack pushed through the door and left it propped open but stayed at the threshold.
"Oh my silly goose," Sharon hummed. "Everything's okay now."
"You scared me Mommy," Ally offered.
"I know baby, I'm so sorry but, I'm alright now. And I wasn't hurt at all, see?" Sharon pulled Ally tighter and the girl giggled brightly.
"Mommy! That's too tight!"
"Too tight?! But bear hugs are supposed to be tight," Sharon laughed before she blew a raspberry on the girl, making her squeal.
"Gees Sharon," Rusty offered. "She's gonna break the glass in this whole place."
The girls settled down but Sharon held out one hand to Rusty. Slowly he stepped forward and took her hand before he sat on the side of the bed by Ally. "Rusty honey, are you alright?"
"I'm fine Sharon, I told you that already."
"Mm, you told me you weren't hurt … that's not what I'm asking now Rusty." There was a moment of silence as the two watched each other. After a moment Rusty just shrugged before he looked down at their joined hands. "Oh honey, come here," she offered as she tugged on his hand gently. Rusty went willingly as he hugged her, trapping Ally in between them.
"I can't breathe," Ally half laughed, half cried.
"That's okay," Rusty mumbled as he continued to hold the two. "We're making an 'Ally sandwich'!"
"NO," Ally laughed. "I don't wanna be a sandwich. Mom!"
"Ally," Jackson said as he finally stepped into the room. "Do you think you could go let Uncle Eddie know Mom's awake?"
Ally sighed dramatically before agreeing. "Come on Rusty," Ally said once she was standing by the bed.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Rusty huffed with a smile. He leaned down and kissed Sharon's cheek before he followed Ally out of the room.
Just as Rusty stepped out Jack moved further into the room and rounded the bed so that he could see Sharon's face. "Hey," he whispered gently. If Sharon said anything Brenda couldn't hear it and really, she didn't want to. She looked behind her, debating on whether or not she should step away …
"The Chief is here for your statement," Jack continued to speak gently as he tucked her hair behind her ear and this time Brenda heard the familiar hum of acknowledgment from Sharon.
"Jack," Sharon spoke hesitantly. "The baby?"
"The baby," a woman said as she stepped past Brenda. "Is just fine. But you, Sharon, are another story." The doctor moved further into the room and helped Sharon to sit up with several pillows behind her. "We talked about your blood pressure. Given neither of us expected your psycho father to come back into the picture it doesn't change anything. You, my friend, just earned yourself bed rest for the foreseeable future."
"Well, it won't be the first time," Sharon smiled.
"That's my girl," the doctor smiled. "Now, I'll let you talk while I go get the ultrasound. I'll let you hear the heartbeat so that you can actually stop worrying instead of pretending to."
Sharon's smile grew as the doctor offered her hand and Sharon gave it a tight squeeze. "Thank you Charlotte."
"Remember this in a month when you want to shoot me," the doctor offered with a wave before she left the room.
Jack leaned forward just enough to kiss Sharon before he got up from the chair. "Jack, you should have one of her Lieutenants join us."
"I'll send one back, Chief," he said as he looked up to Brenda. "You ask whatever you need to but do me a favour, keep an eye on the machines okay?"
Brenda nodded, finding her mouth suddenly dry. For so long all she wanted was to give this woman a taste of her own medicine. And then she realized the Rulebook Raydor really was just doing her job … sometimes Brenda really hated it when she got what she wished for.