Over three weeks had passed since Jack and Kate had the worst fight of their young relationship and everything had been going smoothly since the night she told him the truth about her past. Conner recovered quickly from his illness and grew closer to Kate every day. Jack spent more time at home since he wasn't able to perform surgery. With his hand close to having the splint removed and another two weeks after that of regaining his normal mobility he was becoming difficult to live with, bored and antsy and frustrated at only being able to supervise recommended treatments and surgeries.
Tony had undergone the surgery on his hip and leg and had been moved to the pediatric wing of a nearby rehabilitation hospital. Jack stopped by every day to monitor his progress as well as spend some time talking to the boy and letting him know he hadn't been forgotten. Jack had not only grown to care about the child, but as a physician he also knew that keeping Tony's spirits up was critical to a fast and full recovery. Ms. Andrews, the boys' school teacher, also visited Tony every day. She helped him with his school work and kept him caught up with the rest of the class so he could test out and be promoted to the first grade.
Jack stood at the nurses' station looking over Tony's chart when he heard the boy screaming. He looked at the nurse behind the counter with questioning eyes.
"I have no idea. He woke up cranky today." She said.
"He's been stuck in a bed for over 3 weeks. I'd probably be cranky too. Let's get him up." Jack said.
"On crutches?" She asked.
"Let's just start with some rail walks, teach him how to keep the leg up. His hip should be strong enough now. He should be ready for some crutches in about a week." Jack said.
Jack finished writing the orders he'd just verbalized into the chart and handed it back to the nurse. He followed the sound of the screams into Tony's room and stopped just inside the door. The nurse that was attempting to put clean clothes on him shot Jack an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry doctor. He's having a rough day. I'll be through here in a few minutes." She said.
"Why don't you let me finish that for you." Jack offered.
"Are you serious?" She asked.
"I've got a boy his age at home that likes to put up a fight when he's cranky and not feeling well. It's fine." Jack said.
The nurse handed Jack the child's shirt and left the room. Jack walked to the bed and carefully sat on the edge of it. Tony's shorts were hanging off one leg and he looked mad and frustrated. Jack carefully bent the leg that wasn't in a cast and guided it into the open leg of the shorts and carefully pulled them up. He put his hands out for Tony to hold onto.
"I want you to sit up. Pull on my hands." Jack said in a non-threatening tone.
"The people always sit me up." Tony whined.
"I know, but if you want me to take you outside you have to show me you can sit up." Jack said.
"Outside? Really?" Tony asked with a hint of a smile.
Tony gripped Jack's hands tightly and pulled himself up, his upper body weakened from the spleen injury and from lack of use, but he was determined to go outside and battled his way through it.
"Good job. Let's put this shirt on. Don't want to drive the little girls crazy now do we?" Jack teased.
"I hate girls." Tony said.
"That'll change." Jack chuckled.
"Nuh uh, girls are icky." Tony argued.
"Okay, but you have to be nice to the girls Tony." Jack told him.
"Why?" Tony asked.
"Because they are sweet and pretty and you will appreciate them some day. Now sit right there while I go find a wheelchair." Jack told him and left the room.
Jack returned quickly with a wheelchair that would swallow the child's small body, but it would allow him to get out of the bed. Jack carefully lifted the child out of the bed and sat him in the chair. He propped a pillow next to his hip for support and propped both legs up. He wheeled the child out into the hallway and stopped by the nurses' station.
"I'm going to take him outside, see if we can't improve his mood a little bit." Jack told her and headed for the elevator.
Jack wheeled the child outside and strolled up and down the sidewalks around the facility with him. After about 20 minutes he stopped by a bench and sat down. He looked at Tony to see how he was holding up.
"You okay bud? Not getting too tired are you?" Jack asked.
"No, I'm not tired. Can I have one of those?" Tony asked and pointed at a small building set up along the sidewalk.
Jack looked in the direction Tony was pointing.
"A snow cone?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, are they good?" Tony asked.
"You've never had a snow cone?" Jack asked.
"No, my mom and sister got them, but I wasn't allowed cuz I'm too lazy to get up and go to the bathroom." Tony said.
Jack felt his blood pressure rise and an unbelievable feeling of sadness overcame him as he visualized this little boy getting to watch while the rest of the family enjoyed a snow cone. He couldn't do that to a dog and couldn't imagine how anyone could be so cruel. He pushed the wheelchair over to the snow cone shack and stopped in front of it. He patiently read the different flavors to Tony and let him take his time deciding.
"Which kind do you like?" Tony asked.
"I like Watermelon." Jack said.
"I want that." Tony said.
"Give me the biggest Watermelon snow cone you make, extra juice." Jack told the man.
Jack handed the large cup full of the frozen flavored ice to Tony and smiled as he tasted it and a large grin spread across his face.
"Pretty good huh?" Jack asked.
"Uh huh, thank you." Tony said.
Jack wheeled him back over to the bench and sat down again, watching him enjoy his snow cone and listening to him chatter about everything that was on his six year old mind. He was a beautiful child, very bright and very sweet and definitely not the bully that was terrorizing Conner. The bully was just the battered child screaming for help and Jack couldn't stand to think about what was going to happen to Tony because he'd catch himself considering taking him in and he knew that this one of those times when his head had to rule over his heart.
"Do you know Jack?" Tony asked snapping Jack out of his thoughts.
"Do I know what?" Jack asked.
"Where my daddy is?" Tony asked.
"I don't know Tony." Jack asked.
"Can he come see me?" Tony asked.
"No Tony, he can't." Jack answered.
"I'm never going to see my dad again?" Tony asked, his bottom lip quivering and his eyes tearing up.
"It's going to be okay Tony." Jack lied.
"Where am I gonna live?" Tony asked and wiped the tears off his face trying to suck it up and be brave.
"Tony there are lots of grown ups that are going to worry about your dad and where you will live so I don't want you to worry. Promise me, you will only worry about getting well." Jack said.
"I'm scared." Tony cried.
"I know you are, but I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you." Jack promised before he could stop himself.
"Can we go inside now?" Tony asked.
"Are you getting tired?" Jack asked.
"Yeah." Tony said softly.
Jack pushed the chair back into the hospital and up to Tony's room. He set the snow cone on the table beside the bed and lifted the child out of the chair, gently placing him in the bed. He sat on the side of the bed and looked into the child's sad eyes.
"Did you not like being outside?" Jack asked.
"Yes, thank you for the snow cone." Tony said softly.
"Hey, Conner is having a birthday party on Saturday. How about I come and get you and bring you to the party." Jack suggested.
"Can I come live with you Jack?" Tony asked.
Jack couldn't stand it. The child was completely alone, frightened and sad, had nothing and no one and Jack had everything. How was he supposed to tell this boy he didn't want him.
"Tony, let's see what happens okay." Jack answered.
"Why?" Tony asked as his eyes filled with big crocodile tears.
Jack hugged the child's upper body into his own. He didn't have an answer for him, but he figured he could at least try to comfort him.
"Everything is going to be okay Tony." Jack told him fighting his own emotions.
Jack felt the child relax and laid him back into the mattress. He looked so sad and lost that it took all the control Jack had not to cave in and promise him room and board until he was 25. He finally stood and turned to leave the room. Ms. Andrews was standing in the doorway. She shot Jack a sympathetic look.
"Hey Tony, your teacher is here and I've got patients I need to see, so I'll see you tomorrow." Jack said and hurried out of the room.
Jack spent a few hours at the hospital, taking a half hour to get his hand x-rayed and rewrapped. When the doctor called him to let him know the fractures were healed, he stopped what he was doing and sat in his office unwrapping his hand. He heard a light knock on the door and then it opened, his father stepping into the room. Jack waved him in, still focused on his hand. Christian sat on the other side of the desk and watched Jack finish the task, dumping the splint and the bandage into the trash can. Jack began slowly making a fist with his right hand, wincing slightly at the stiffness, but continuing to work it.
"You wanted to see me?" Christian asked.
"Yeah, I need a favor." Jack said.
"Okay." Christian said.
"Kate's got this big birthday party planned for Conner on Saturday and she wants to surprise him. Can you pick him up Friday and keep him overnight?" Jack asked.
"Your mom has a surprise at the house for Conner so that will work. What time do you want us to bring him home on Saturday?" Christian asked shocking Jack into a moment of complete stupidity.
"What?" Was all Jack could manage to say.
"Kate did invite us to the party Jack, but I wasn't sure how big of a surprise you wanted it to be." Christian said.
"Um, actually I was going to come pick him up because I need another favor." Jack said.
"Okay, what else?" Christian asked.
"Tony, the boy I've been rehabbing, he's getting pretty depressed. I thought he might enjoy leaving the hospital for a day and coming to the party, but if I miss one minute of my son's party Kate will….well, let's just say it won't be pleasant. Do you think you and mom could pick him up and bring him with you? I'll make sure he gets back." Jack asked.
"I don't mind doing that Jack, but I have to ask if you are considering taking that child in." Christian asked.
"No dad, I wish I could, but he needs more attention then I have to give. Conner needs my attention especially with a baby on the way. I'm just hoping they find a decent place for him. Right now I just want to try to keep his spirits up so he can heal." Jack said a twinge of sadness in his voice.
"Does Conner know about the baby yet?" Christian asked.
"No, why?" Jack asked.
"He's very excited about having a mother Jack. He asked me if I could make you hurry up and get married so he could call Kate mom. Kate having a baby of her own before he gets to claim her as his mother could get tricky son." Christian said.
"Dad, is everything okay?" Jack asked.
"Yes, why do you ask?" Christian asked.
"Because you're acting like my father instead of my boss and you have been for the last few weeks and I really like it, but you aren't dying or anything are you?" Jack asked making Christian chuckle.
"No son I'm not dying. I can't undo all the past mistakes Jack, but I can try to improve the present and I want my family back, my wife, my son and my grandson." Christian explained.
"Okay. Does this mean you aren't going to interfere anymore?" Jack asked.
"Don't go crazy Jack. A zebra doesn't ever completely change his stripes." Christian said and Jack smiled.
"So you can help me out with all the party stuff?" Jack asked.
"Yes and think about what I said about the baby Jack. Conner wants a mother. If you two don't plan on getting married any time soon the perhaps you need to come up with a solution that suits his current needs." Christian suggested.
"We were planning on getting married after the baby gets here, as in a year or two after the baby gets here." Jack said.
"Why so long?" Christian asked.
"Weddings are a hassle and neither one of us wants to plan one." Jack said.
"Vegas is a five hour drive son." Christian said.
"Vegas? I hadn't considered getting married with Elvis as our witness, but I'll run that one by Kate." Jack said with a grin.
"You do that. We're having a team meeting next Monday to start mapping out the twin separation. I'm going to put Brandi on your team, is that going to be a problem?" Christian asked.
"No, she knows I'm engaged." Jack said.
"I wasn't worried about Brandi. Is it going to be a problem for Kate? I don't want you distracted by a jealous fiancée." Christian commented and Jack laughed.
"Thank God. I knew my condescending, interfering father had to still be in there some place. Kate's fine with my working with Brandi." Jack assured him.
"Good. I'll pick Conner up around 6 PM on Friday." Christian said.
"Okay, I'll see you then. Thanks dad." Jack said and with his ink pen back in his dominant hand he refocused on the paperwork in front of him.
Jack spent the evening with Kate and Conner. They cooked dinner together, ate together and cleaned up the dishes together. Kate had already helped Conner with his school work so there was nothing left for Jack to do but play with his son. They played a game of HORSE in the driveway. Jack had the basketball goal lowered to six feet so Conner could make the shots and he let Conner win the game, purposely missing most of his shots.
"You're getting too good, I think it might be time to raise the goal to 10 feet." Jack told Conner.
"I'm almost six daddy, you should raise it. I'm big enough now." Conner told him.
"I thought I'd wait until you're almost seven. Stop trying to grow up so fast kid." Jack said and picked him up, raising him above his head, making him giggle and beg to be tossed.
"Not tonight bud, my hand probably isn't strong enough to catch you yet. Give me a few days. Let's go inside so you can take a bath. You stink." Jack told him and brought him down, positioning him on his hip.
"You stink more. Can we play a video game after my bath daddy?" Conner asked.
"One video game and then it's bedtime." Jack said.
"When can I get a later bedtime?" Conner asked.
"Maybe when you're almost seven." Jack teased.
"That's too long daddy." Conner whined.
"Summer will be here soon and you can stay up a little later." Jack said.
Jack ran Conner's bath water and sat in the bathroom listening to him recount his entire day, his five year old motor not wanting to wind down. The warm water and the chatting seemed to calm him down eventually and the video game they played together helped him relax. Jack laid beside him in his bed and read to him, surprised when he looked over after just 15 minutes of reading and Conner was sleeping. He eased himself off the bed, kissed his son on the cheek and turned the lamp off.
Jack walked into his bedroom, stripping his shirt off as he entered the room. He heard her whistle and chuckled, pulling the shirt off his head and tossing it at her. She quickly threw it back at him.
"Gross Jack, it smells like you got your butt kicked by a five year old." Kate teased.
Jack looked at her lying in the bed wearing nothing but a t-shirt and panties and wished he'd taken a shower while Conner was taking his bath.
"I'm going to grab a quick shower." He said and entered the bathroom.
Kate lay on the bed reading her book, waiting for him to finish his shower so he could get busy making love to her. She couldn't remember the last time they didn't make love, but she knew it had been a long time ago and wondered if they'd ever tire of one another. He'd even come home in the middle of the day a few times, horny and hard and hoping she wanted him as bad he wanted her and she couldn't imagine not wanting him.
She watched him exit the bathroom, freshly showered, butt naked and aroused. He closed the bedroom door and crawled onto the bed with her, taking her book out of her hands and tossing it to the floor. He moved over her and kissed her, his mouth wet and warm, the heat from his body making her sweat. He pulled out of the kiss and made quick work of her clothes, her naked body lying before him, her pregnancy starting to be more and more apparent every day. He leaned in and kissed the small bump where their baby was growing before positioning himself between her legs.
He moved forward, lifting her arms above her head and brought his mouth down to her again, their heated, naked bodies touching slightly, making both of them moan. He began moving his mouth slowly over her neck, stopping and biting and attempting to mark her. She pushed him away.
"Jack, I can't walk into Conner's school with a big hickey on my neck." Kate objected.
"Sorry." He said in a breathy tone, his need and his hunger intense.
He moved his mouth down the center of her chest and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He reached behind his neck and unclamped her hands, moving them up above her head again and holding them there while his mouth moved over her breasts, finding a spot to mark and making her moan as he focused his all of hot, tongue-sucking energy on that one spot, finally releasing and covering her nipple, sucking gently, the tenderness in them not allowing him to get too rough with them and if he wasn't careful he'd end up with milk in his mouth before long.
He moved down her belly, letting go of her arms, her understanding his need to be in control and leaving them above her head this time. He moved between her legs and left soft kisses along the insides of her thighs and along the creases of her legs, while his finger traced lightly over her slit, grazing her clit briefly. His mouth was so close she could feel his hot breath on her and he could smell her sex as she grew wetter and wetter in anticipation.
"Please Jack." She moaned.
"Please what?" He asked making sure she could still feel his hot breath, his mouth and tongue so close she was squirming.
"Please make love to me." She pleaded.
He let go of a breathy laugh.
"You don't want me to make love to you yet. Say it Kate. Tell me you want me to taste you; that you want to feel my tongue inside of you." Jack ordered.
"I want you to taste me. I want to feel your tongue inside of me. I want you to make me come with your mouth." She begged and squirmed beneath him.
She felt him glide his tongue through her slit and moaned loudly, bringing her hands down to his head, running her fingers through his short, cropped hair and he stopped and moved his mouth back enough so he could talk.
"Hands back up and if you move them again I'm going to tie them." He told her and she thought she came, his dominant tone making her want to fuck his brains out.
He felt and saw her wetness increase. She was enjoying this so he continued on, licking her and penetrating her with his tongue as she battled to keep her hands above her head, her hips coming up off the bed to meet his mouth and him gently pressing them back down. He pushed one then two fingers inside of her as deep as they would go.
"Please Jack, suck it hard." Kate pleaded.
He put his mouth over her clit and began sucking it hard while his fingers moved slowly in and out of her. He felt her clenching around his fingers as she began exploding all over his face. He kept his lips pursed gently over the now highly sensitive bundle of nerves and held them there, allowing her to fully enjoy her climax. She squealed and panted the way he loved to make her squeal and pant and when she was done he sat up and looked at her, her face flush and her eyes glassy, her brain still caught in the post orgasmic abyss. She was the most beautiful and most precious thing to him the world and he wasn't sure if he wanted to play tough with her anymore. He had every intention of straddling her and feeding her his cock as part of the experience, but looking at her, her sweet face with those adorable freckles, her soft beautiful, pregnant body sprawled out in front of him and he just wanted to hold her and love her in the kindest, most caring way possible.
He worked himself between her legs and pushed inside of her slowly, allowing her to adjust to him and them pushing in the rest of the way. He took hold of her hands and placed them around his neck, looking into her eyes and kissing her sweetly. He held his position and though he hadn't planned to talk to her at this moment in this position, something prompted him to go ahead and ask her what had been on his mind all evening. She could see it in his eyes and all over his face so she kissed him gently and spoke.
"What is it Jack?" Kate asked.
"How do you feel about Conner calling you mom?" Jack asked.
"How do you feel about it?" Kate asked.
"I'm fine with it. It's something that means so much to him, how could I not be fine with it." Jack answered.
"Exactly." Kate said smiled.
"I love you Kate and he loves you so much. I think getting a mom on your sixth birthday is pretty awesome." Jack said his voice cracking with emotion.
"I love both of you and I have a good idea of how we'll make the transition from Kate to mom." Kate said.
Jack kissed her slowly and deeply and began moving in and out of her, so in love with her that he felt like he could never adequately express it. He couldn't believe how quickly his life had gone from pathetic and lonely to perfect and it scared him. He was waiting for the other shoe to drop, for something to ruin the paradise he'd found himself living in all of the sudden complete with a father that wanted to be a father to him. He continued making love to her, bringing her to orgasm quickly and then carrying on, the next orgasm explosive and exhausting for her as he too let go and they shook and shuddered together, exchanging body fluids, sweat, tears and a lot of love. He stayed inside of her for awhile, kissing her and holding her, wanting to make her feel as special as she was to him. He finally moved off of her and spooned his body around her from behind.
"Kate did I die or maybe I had a car accident and I'm in a coma?" Jack asked.
"If you did then I'm dead or in the same coma with you. Why do you ask?" She giggled.
"It's all too good to be true. It's hard to believe it's real." He said.
"Yeah, I know, I pinch myself daily. Want me to pinch you?" She asked.
"You can do anything you want to me." Jack said.
He continued to hold her until they became chilled and then he grabbed the comforter and threw it over them. She was sleeping soundly and he planned on joining her. The door was locked and Conner wouldn't walk in and find them naked and he wanted to enjoy holding them together, flesh on flesh. They slept and made love on and off the rest of the night and by morning both recalled why they typically avoided going to sleep naked, but they were exhausted in a pleasant way, the slight soreness between her legs a nice reminder of all the times he'd loved her during the night and the passion he'd done it with every single time. She hoped she never tired of having him in as many ways as he was willing to give himself to her.