Chapter Six

The next morning, Jacky got up extra early even though it wasn't needed. He wouldn't be seeing Steve until 10:15. He walked over to his suitcase sitting on the floor and dropped down to his knees and opened it. He wrote down the sizes of everything he owned just in case. He and Steve were going shopping for clothes. It was something he'd be needing. Once he was finished, he closed the suitcase, not even thinking about the fact that he hadn't even unpacked yet, and stood, straightening his pant leg.

He walked into the bathroom and brushed his teeth. When he was finished, he put everything back into his travel bag then put that bag with his suitcase. He was planning on staying here for a while, but felt as if unpacking meant this was a permanent move. He didn't want to feel that way. This way, it just felt as if he was on another vacation with his parents. He didn't know why that was, but seeing things still packed up and ready to go, it felt as if his parents were here in the hotel, right next door to his own room.

He sighed, missing them, but it was too early to call. After a graveyard shift at the hospital, Mom wouldn't be up for another few hours. And Dad had probably already left for work. Jacky sat down on the bed, hands clasped between his knees, then glanced over at the clock sitting on the night stand. It was only a little after seven now. He could always go back to bed and sleep till ten o'clock, but knew he wouldn't be able to get back to sleep now that he had been up and around for a while. He sighed once more.

Jacky got up and headed downstairs for some breakfast, thinking his mom cooking him something and putting it in the fridge the night before so he could have breakfast in the mornings whenever she couldn't be there. Getting breakfast here at the hotel made him miss his mom even more. He took a deep, shaky breath, then took his food to one of the tables and sat down. He just stared down at his food as other people came down for breakfast. He glanced up at the TV once, but it was only playing the news. He looked back down at his food.

And found that he no longer had an appetite. He hadn't even taken a bite. His stomach was nauseous at just the thought of eating this. He looked around then grabbed his plate and just threw it all away, not caring if anyone saw him throw so much food away. He placed his hand on the wall, leaning against his arm as he took a few deep breaths to let the nausea pass. He didn't know why he was feeling so sick. He hadn't ate anything bad. Maybe he had just gotten up too early. Yeah, that had to be it. He pushed away from the wall, planning on laying down for a while. He took a step forward...

Then passed out.

Emily got the call, but she sent Steve into town. She had probably gotten more details, but all Steve knew was that Jacky was in the hospital. Part of him had wished he had forced Emily to go, but seeing as how he would have been spending all day with the kid anyway, it made sense for him to go. Not the most sympathetic train of thought, but it was hard for him to worry about someone who was almost a complete stranger.

Steve walked into the hospital and asked about Jacky and was told that the doctor wanted to see him and directed him to Jacky's room. When Steve got there, the doc was waiting outside the room.

"Sorry for pulling you away from the ranch, Steve," the doctor said. He nodded toward the room. "The kid said he knew you when he came to."

"Came to?" Steve asked, glancing toward the room before looking back at the doctor. "What happened?"

"He had a severe episode of homesickness," the doctor said. Steve just stared at him. "I have seen it happen before. Mostly with people who have never been away from their parents for more than a couple of hours." He hooked a thumb toward the room. "This young man is very sheltered."

Steve nodded. He hadn't really gotten that feeling from Jacky yesterday, but the trip away from his parents probably hadn't fully settled in until today. "He's gonna be okay though, right?" he asked, glancing once toward the room. Why was he worried now? It was nothing to be worried about.

The doctor nodded his head. "I recommend that he stay with someone he knows," he said. "And since he knows you..."

Steve nodded once more. "I'll let him stay at the ranch," he said. It was the least he could do. And he was already going to do so much for the kid. Letting him stay at the ranch would make things simpler anyway. "Is he allowed to go?"

"After he finishes his food," the doc said. "He needs something in his system to settle his stomach or else he'll be right back where he is right now." He patted Steve on the arm then walked off.

Steve watched him go then stepped toward the door, opened it, and walked in. Jacky turned his head as he walked in and waved then went right back to eating. Steve walked over and sat down on the chair by the bed.

"Homesickness, huh?" Steve asked. Jacky's chewing slowly came to a stop. "But, I've got ya beat. Last time I was here, it was for massive exhaustion and a touch of heat stroke."

Jacky took a drink of milk then wiped his mouth. "Homesickness is the lamest reason for being admitted to a hospital," he said, his lips pouting just slightly. "My own fault. I kept thinking about home."

"Which is why you're gonna stay at the ranch while you're out here," Steve said. Jacky looked at him with surprise. "It's either that, or you have another case of homesickness and wake up here again."

"Waking up here wasn't so bad," Jacky said. He gave a slight smile. "The bed's are softer." He had an adorable way of talking and Steve quickly pushed that thought deep into the back of his mind. He looked at Steve. "Did the doctor say I get to go?"

Steve nodded. "Just as soon as you finish breakfast," he said, pointing at the tray in front of Jacky. "We're gonna have to postpone shopping for later tonight. I was pulled away from some chores that I need to get back to and you need to get some rest."

Jacky sighed, looking back at his food. "Would it be strange to admit that I was lookin' forward to shopping with you?" he asked, looking back at Steve. In his eyes was the essence of pure innocence. There was no deeper meaning behind his words. Just by that one question, Steve knew that Jacky didn't have any friends back in New York.

Steve smiled. "I was looking forward to it, too, pal," he said, seeing Jacky's face light up. "Hurry up and eat so we can get going."

Jacky looked at his food. "It's gonna take me days to eat all of this," he said. "I think this is just the doctor's way of telling you that I'm gonna be staying here for a long time."

Steve stood up and sat down on the bed beside Jacky across the food tray in front of him. "Good thing I didn't eat much breakfast then," he said then grabbed a slice of toast off the tray.

Jacky looked at him. He didn't say anything, just smiled.

To be continued...