Chapter Five

Jack spent the night watchin' Ennis sleep. Every time Jack fell asleep he had the same nightmare. He kept seein' Ennis lyin' in the casket with no one at the funeral but the girls and him standin' at the far back hidin' so no one could see him. He would wake with tears rollin' down his cheeks and a heavy weight on his heart.

It was noon when Jack decided he better go and give Junior a call. She needed to know what was goin' on and maybe with her help they could bring Ennis back to both of them.

"Hi Junior it's me, Jack."

"Hi, did you find daddy?" Junior was glad Jack had called but she wondered why Ennis didn't call to let her know he was ok.

"There's no easy way to say this. Your dad had an accident and he was hurt pretty bad. He's in a coma."

The phone went dead for what seemed like hours. Junior didn't speak. She was in too much shock.

"Junior you ok?" Jack was worried that maybe she had passed out.

"I'm here. Where is he?" Junior asked through the tears she couldn't stop.

"He's at Lander General."

"Ok I'll be there as soon as I can. Thanks for callin' me." Junior didn't even say good-bye she hung up the phone grabbed her coat and purse and headed for the car.

Jack went to the cafeteria to grab a bite to eat even though he wasn't hungry.

When he returned 30 minutes later the doctor was there.

"How is he doc?" Jack asked.

"There's no change yet. I have asked Dr. Michael Novotny to come and have a look. He is a brain specialist." Dr. Kinney said.

"You told me there was nothin' wrong." Jack started to raise his voice.

"Nothin' that I could see, but I would prefer to be 100 percent sure."

"When will he be here?" Jack could barely talk around the lump in his throat. He felt like his whole world was crashin' down around him and there was nothin' he could do to stop it.

"He said sometime after 4."

"Thanks." Jack walked over to Ennis and once again took his hand.

"He's not yer brother is he?" It wasn't a question.

"What da ya mean?" Just great the last thing he needed right now was for the doctor to find out the truth. If that happened he wouldn't be allowed anywhere near Ennis.

"It's ok, ya don't have ta worry. Dr. Novotny and me are more than just friends if ya know what I mean. Don't worry I'm not gonna say a word. Just get him back here." Dr. Kinney said with a smile as he turned to leave.

"Thanks doc."

The doctor just nodded and left Jack alone with Ennis.

"Come on cowboy opened those eyes. We've got a lot ta talk 'bout you and me. I need ta fix this Ennis 'cause I can't stand it, but to do that I need ya ta wake up. I need ya period." Jack sat there too scared to move. So many thoughts were goin' through his head and none of them good.

"Why are ya doin' this ta me God? What have I done so wrong? All I did was fall in love with someone, why am I bein' punished fer that? I ain't perfect and never said I was but if ya really want ta do somethin' ta me than so be it, but leave Ennis alone. He never asked fer any of this and I can't walk away anymore than I can stop breathin'. So I'm askin' ya please save him. I don't care what happens ta me but save him, he's a better man than me." Jack was pleading. He didn't know what else ta do.