Here's a quick update for my amazing readers/reviewers. :)
I hope it's passable.
On we go...
(Sunday)
"Look at them, Jase," Kim said softly the next morning.
Kim had only gotten a few hours of sleep the night before. Karen had stayed with Jade for the night and Jason had slept in the chair in Kim's room. Anyway, he'd wheeled Kim to the NICU fifteen minutes earlier and they were studying the tiny newborns sleeping in the incubators.
Jason nodded. He couldn't really say much of anything. The twins seemed smaller than he'd initially believed. They looked so fragile. He just hated to see his children with tubes up their nose. He gripped the handlebars on Kim's wheelchair as a lump began forming in his throat. 'Oh, God.'
Tears filled Kim's eyes. "I wanna hold them, but, they're so... . I'm scared I might... I hate this. I hate this so much, Jason." Her voice was thin. "I had a nightmare last night, you know."
Jason's eyebrows shot up. Usually, whenever Kim had a bad dream, she'd scream bloody murder. He hadn't woken up once last night. "You did?"
"Yeah. I dreamed that you and I were standing at their graves, Jase. It was so horrible," she said tearfully.
Jason's stomach clenched. He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Kim, that is horrible. But it was only a dream. The twins are gonna be fine."
"I know it was just a dream, but, it just felt so real. And there was more awful stuff, too," she said.
"Like what?" he asked.
Kim took a deep breath and shook her head. "Well, in the dream, the scene shifted to a courtroom. Gina had won sole custody of Jade. She looked at us and started laughing. She would not stop. Then, she transformed into an actual witch and just disappeared."
Jason chuckled at the "witch" part. "I can definitely see that. As for the custody thing... that'll never happen."
Kim looked up at him. "How can you be so sure? I know she's a horrible excuse of a human being, but, courts usually tend to favor the mothers in custody cases."
"True. But I don't think any sane judge would ever award her custody. Especially when they find out that she not only abandoned her young daughter, but, also endangered two unborn children," he said.
Kim thought for several moments, then, nodded slowly. "You're right. Tell me something, Rex. How often does "what the hell was I thinking when I married her" go through your mind?" she asked with a slight laugh.
"About eighty billion times a day," he said dryly.
Kim squeezed his hand, then, sighed and looked at the babies. They had plump cheeks. Headful of dark brown hair. Kim stuck her hand in one of the incubator's round openings and gently touched her baby boy's arm. The little boy made a small movement and she smiled.
Jason smiled as well and turned his focus to Amy. He reached into her incubator to touch her tiny hand. Kim looked over and smiled at the look on Jason's face.
About a half-hour later, Jason suggested they get breakfast. Kim really didn't want to leave, though. She wanted to stay by her children's side.
"You can come back after we've eaten, angel. I'm gonna head home for a shower after breakfast, then, come straight back to the hospital," he said.
"I don't wanna leave. Jase, what if something does go wrong? I have to watch them as much as possible. They need us," she said.
"Yes, they do. But what good are we gonna be without strength?" he asked quietly.
Kim looked at him, then, sighed several moments later. "All right. We can eat. And you should go home for a little while- for Jade's sake. Tell her I love her."
"You got it," he said with a half-smile.
"And, hey... I love you, too. I fall in love all over again everytime I look into those eyes," she said.
"Isn't that supposed to be my line, Hart?" he quipped- causing her to laugh. "I love you, too, Kimberly. And everything's gonna be all right. These kids are natural born fighters."
"They're also beautiful," she murmured.
"It's kinda hard not to be with a drop-dead gorgeous former pink ranger for a mom, don't ya think?" he said, playing with a lock of her hair.
"Can't argue with that one," she joked- causing them both to laugh.
A short while later, Jason- who'd just showered and gotten dressed- headed for the front door. He was about to head back to the hospital. His mother and Jade were at his mom's. Jason opened the door to find Gary there. What? What was he doing here? How'd he even know where Jason lived?
'Oh, yeah. Mom, probably,' Jason thought. He just stared at the other man.
Gary cleared his throat. "Hey, s- Jason."
"Hey," Jason said simply.
"I take it you're about to go back to the hospital," Gary said, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"Yeah," Jason said. He just didn't know what to say to him right now. And he really wasn't in the mood to try thinking of something. He still wasn't entirely certain about the "I'm dying" thing. 'My plate's loaded right now.'
Gary nodded and looked around. Then, he refocused on his eldest son. "Your mother told about the twins. I'm sorry."
"Me, too," Jason said.
"Yeah," Gary said. Then, he rubbed his hands over his face. "Listen, Jase... I know this is way too much to be asking right now, but... could you please consider- at least- taking it one step at a time with me?"
"I don't know. You're right... it is a lot to ask. I've got a lot of stuff going on and- look, all I can give you is a "maybe", all right? That's all," Jason said, suddenly feeling really, really tired for some reason. He just didn't have the time to argue or fight or anything. Not right now.
"That's good enough for me," Gary said.
"Well, I've gotta get going, so..." Jason said.
"Right. Right. Would it be okay if... well, I'd really like to see..." Gary's voice trailed off and he looked away.
"Are you trying to say you wanna see the babies?" Jason asked calmly.
Gary looked at him. "Yeah. If it's okay with you. I'll drive myself and-"
"No, it's... fine. We can go together. And... a little bit later, we can come back here and... talk more about your situation," Jason said. It was painfully obvious how difficult it all was for him.
"Thanks, Jason," Gary said quietly.
Jason simply shrugged. He wasn't trying to do the man any favors or make it easier for him because, truthfully, he didn't deserve it. Jason was just trying to be mature and sensible. He was doing this for himself.
"Maybe your brothers can come over as well," Gary said.
"Jeff would. I really don't know about Todd," Jason said honestly.
"Well... I can't and don't blame him," Gary said.
Jason rubbed his chin. "We better head. Kim's waiting for me." Then, he stepped outside of the house and locked the door. As both men silently headed for Jason's car, Jason tried hard to ignore the little voice in the back of his head that wouldn't stop going: "What if he really is telling the truth?"
"I can't believe him, Chad! I just can't believe him!" Gina exclaimed for the sixth time in five minuites.
She and Chad were in their hotel room and Chad was sitting on the bed, watching as his girlfriend paced back and forth, an enraged expression on her face. He'd never seen her so completely pissed.
"He doesn't get to just kick me outta that child's life! Who the hell does he think he is anyway? Love it or hate it, I am her mother. Me!" Gina said angrily.
"True," Chad said, nodding.
"Kim was trying to take my place and he was letting her! I'm not paranoid. I know exactly what was happening there. Jade is way too attached to her. It's not natural," Gina said.
"Well, Gina, I love you and all, but... you did set it in motion by leaving in the first place," Chad said.
"I know that, all right?" Gina snapped. Then, she sighed. "I'm sorry. It's just that... oh. You have no idea how much hatred I'm feeling towards Jason Lee Scott right now. He can't keep me away from Jade. He just can't."
"What are you gonna do? If you guys go to court, he has a huger chance of winning and you know it," Chad said.
"I don't need a court. We're gonna take Jade back with us to Sacramento," Gina said fiercely.
WHOA! Chad's eyes widened. "Say what? Suddenly you wanna do the full-time mom thing?"
"Jason can't win," she said, shaking her head.
"Win? What the hell are you talking about? This isn't a competition, Gina. If you only want her because you don't want Jason to have her, then-" Chad was saying.
"Then, what?" Gina challenged. "Look, Chad, he has two new kids now! He won't have time for Jade anyway."
"Far be it for me to defend your ex, but, he really doesn't strike me as the type to ignore his kids," Chad said dryly.
Gina bit her lower lip for several moments, then, began speaking again. "No, not purposely, but... look, I just think we should take her back with us."
"What are you gonna do- kidnap her?" Chad asked incredulously.
"There's no such thing as kidnapping your own kid!" she exclaimed.
"Well, you don't actually think he's really gonna let-" Chad was saying.
"I'll get Jade. I can be pretty clever when I wanna be," she said.
"Gina, this spells "trouble", all right?" he said.
"It'll be fine. Jason's preoccupied right now, so, it'll be easy. I have to do this," Gina said.
"It's craz-" Chad began.
"I'm doing it. With or without your help," she said, looking into his eyes.
If you really wanna see what happens next, stay tuned. I can say that nobody's gonna snap and try to kill anybody or anything, though, LOL. Cya.