The next morning Jennifer had been moved to a regular room, a private room upon Jonathan's request. He arrived to find her still sleeping, looking so peaceful and untroubled. He hoped she would understand what he was going to tell her. He didn't see any other way and the plan was already put in motion. He leaned down and kissed her sweetly and she awoke smiling broadly at seeing his face.
"Good morning, my darling." He said smiling back
"Hi." She said reaching out and running her hands through his hair noticing the dark circles under his eyes, "Did you sleep at all?"
"No, not really." He sat down on the edge of the bed, "I always have trouble sleeping without you next to me and Freeway was restless without you, too."
"I know." She said, "But at least you didn't have someone poking you every two hours."
"No, but Freeway hogs the covers" He quipped but then became serious, "Darling, I need to talk to you about something."
Jennifer became agitated. The doctor said so far it looked like the baby was fine, "You know something about the baby, don't you? Oh god, Jonathan. It's alright, isn't it?"
He ran his hand over her abdomen, "The baby is fine, sweetheart." He assured her, "And I want to keep it that way."
She arched an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, your part in this little escapade is over." He told her emphatically, "As soon as the doctor says it's okay for you leave, you're going to Maryland to stay with your father."
"Now wait just a minute, Jonathan." She replied, "I'm not a child and I will not be sent away."
"I'm sorry Darling." He told her, "But you don't have a choice. I've talked to Wainwright and he knows everything and he agrees you shouldn't risk it and I've already called your father to let him know."
Jennifer's amber eyes radiated anger, "How dare you." She muttered through gritted teeth, "You're just angry with me for coming in the first place. You blame me for the whole thing."
"Jennifer, that's not true." He said, "I just want you and the baby to be safe. You know this is the right thing to do."
"And what will you be doing exactly while I'm quarantined in Maryland?"
"Max and I will continue to try and find Olbermann but I think Wainwright may take us off the case since Olbermann has seen us." He informed her
"So I'm just supposed to hide away in Maryland until what…the baby is born?" She questioned, "And you'll be off who knows where? Jonathan I want us to be together through this."
"It will only be for a while, I promise." He pulled her in his arms and gently rubbed her back, "I love you, you know that, don't you? If you're in Maryland I won't worry so much. Please do this for me."
She sighed heavily against him and nodded, "Alright, but I am going on the record that I don't like this."
He pulled back, "I know but thank you for doing it."
TWO DAYS LATER
When Jonathan came to pick Jennifer up he knew she was still smarting from his decision to send her to Maryland. She didn't like feeling like she wasn't in control of a situation but he really believed it was the best thing for her and the baby. When he entered her room she was packed and dressed, looking out the small window, lost in thought.
"Darling?" He said
She turned around and gave him a halfhearted smile, "Come to whisk me away to prison?"
"Darling, please." He replied, "I don't like this any more than you do but I really believe it's for the best."
"Do I have to go right this minute?" She asked, "Couldn't we spend some time together before I have to leave?"
"I don't think it's safe. Olbermann may have fled Zurich but that doesn't mean he doesn't have someone trying to find us. It's a cat and mouse game, us trying to find him, he trying to find us."
She knew he was right but tears formed in her eyes, "I thought we could spend today and tonight together." She looked down, "You know, we've never been apart, even when we were working separate cases or having to pretend we weren't married and I need you with me now more than ever."
He came over to her and pulled her into his arms and she began to sob, "It's alright, we'll wait until tomorrow, okay?"
She pulled back, wiped her eyes and offered another smile, "Okay."
He returned her smile, "We'll stay in bed all day, order room service and watch old movies on TV. How does that sound?"
"It sounds wonderful." She replied, "But what about Olbermann?"
"Wainwright is trying to get a lead on where he might have taken off to so we're having to wait to hear from him anyway."
"Okay." She sighed heavily, "Now, can we get out of here?"
"I thought you'd never ask." He said picking up her bag off the bed
When they got back to the hotel Jennifer took a hot shower and toweled off gently as not to pop the stitches from her wound. They were dissolvable and she gingerly ran her hands over the two inch wound and then her abdomen thinking how just a few inches lower and she could have lost the baby. A pang of guilt washed over her for reacting as she had to Jonathan's insistence that she go to Maryland and if she hadn't been so insistent on coming on this trip none of this would have happened.
Jonathan came in and she quickly pulled on her robe, embarrassed at the scar, but he came over and took it off, "It's alright, let me see it." She couldn't look him in the eye as he looked down and ran his hand over it, "Does it still hurt?"
She shrugged, "No, not really." She took her robe back and put it on
He took his finger and placed it under her chin and lifted her head up so she had to look at him, "I love you. Nothing will ever change that." He told her as if reading her thoughts
She started to cry again and he held her tight, "It's alright. How about we get you into bed, huh?"
She nodded, "Okay."
After Jennifer got into bed she fell fast asleep. Jonathan quietly slipped through the door joining their room and Max's.
"Hey, Kid how is she?" Max asked puffing on his cigar
"Exhausted and full of quite a bit of guilt and anger." He explained, "But physically she's fine and as far as the doctors can tell the baby is okay."
"I'm glad to hear it." He replied
"Any word from Wainwright?" Jonathan asked sitting at the table across from him
"No, not yet." Max said, "Olbermann could be anywhere by now."
"Yeah, I know." Jonathan agreed, "I just don't feel like Jennifer should stay here. He probably has people watching us. She'll be much safer in Maryland."
"Why don't you go with her?" Max said, "I can handle this."
"Oh no." Jonathan replied, "After what he did I want the pleasure of finally bringing him down."
"You know she ain't gonna take too kindly to sitting around her father's house doing nothing."
"Yeah, I know that, too."
A MONTH LATER
Jennifer was still staying at the family home in Maryland and growing more resentful with each passing day. Jonathan called as frequently as possible but until Olbermann was caught he wanted Jennifer out of harm's way. She knew her tone was hardly warm when he called but she was going stir crazy. How many times could she ride her horse down to her secret spot and sit and think or read. She felt like she had probably read everything in her father's library twice over. Her pregnancy was progressing and at least that gave her an excuse to get out of the house and go shopping and she did frequent some museums in DC. She feared her resentment for being holed up here was going to spill over to the baby and she certainly didn't want that. She was reading in the drawing room when she felt someone's eyes on her. She looked up and saw Jonathan standing in the doorway.
"Hello Darling." He said smiling
She immediately put down her book and went to him, "Oh, Jonathan you've come to take me home." She kissed him hungrily; it had been far too long
He held her tightly in his arms trying to form the words to tell her she wasn't going home, "I'm sorry darling, I just came to see you for a few days." He looked her over and ran his hand over her abdomen which was beginning to take on an even more rounded appearance, "You look so beautiful, are you alright?"
"I'm fine." She said coolly, "So you're just here to ease your conscience and then leave?"
"I'm here because I miss you." He told her, "Look, I know this isn't easy for you but it's for the best right now."
"That's all I keep hearing from you, my father." She said, "I can't take much more of this."
"Jennifer, please, let's not fight while I'm here." He pleaded
Before Jennifer could answer Stephen appeared in the doorway, "Jonathan, my boy, I'm so glad to see you. I sure hope you can put a smile on my daughter's face. How long are you staying before you two head back to California?" He asked assuming as Jennifer had that he was there to take her back home
"He's not staying, Pa." Jennifer snapped, "I am, but he's not." She said storming past them out of the room
TBC