Chapter Nine

It was 1am and Jack was sleepin' in the chair when he woke with a start.

"Ennis are ya awake? I swear ya just squeezed my hand."

There was no response.

"Damn it, I want ya ta come back to me so bad that my dreams are startin' ta feel real." Jack lowered his head in his hands and cried.

"Jack." Ennis whispered.

Jack's head snapped up and he looked at Ennis, his heart poundin'. He was sure his mind was playin' tricks on him.

Ennis slowly opened his eyes and looked at Jack. He tried to talk but nothin' came out.

"Ennis yer back! Don't say a word I'll get the doc." Jack ran out the room to the nurses station and told her that Ennis was awake and to call Dr. Kinney. Jack then went to the waiting room to tell Junior. She was asleep curled up on the chair when Jack woke her up.

"Sweetheart yer daddy's ok. He just opened his eyes." Jack couldn't stop smilin'. His heart was burstin' and he was so excited he couldn't sit still.

Junior couldn't say anything she was so over come with emotion so she reached up and hugged Jack.

Jack headed back to the room to wait for the doctor.

Ennis had his eyes closed and for a split second Jack's blood ran cold. He thought maybe he had imagined it all, but then Ennis whispered "don't do that."

Jack just stood there and grinned. He was so glad that he had his Ennis back.

Dr. Kinney entered the room and said "hello Ennis, it's nice to finally meet you."

"Hi doc." Ennis whispered.

"I'm goin' to have a look at you ok?"

Ennis nodded.

Jack waited outside for the doctor to finish.

Five minutes later Dr. Kinney came out to talk to Jack.

"He's a very lucky guy. There doesn't appear to be any memory loss. Everything seems to be fine but I'd like to keep him a couple of days for observation."

Jack let out the breath he didn't even know he was holdin'.

"That's fine, thank you."

"Right now he needs rest and plenty of liquids. He is still a little disorientated but that'll pass. I'll be back later to check on him. Try not to keep him awake too long." Dr. Kinney winked at Jack as he walked away.

Jack went to tell Junior what Dr. Kinney had said.

"Thanks Jack fer carin' enough 'bout daddy to never leave. Ya never gave up on him and that means a lot ta me."

"No need ta thank me. It's what ya do fer the ones ya love."

"Can I see him?"

"Yes but not too long."

Junior nodded and went to see her dad.

When she walked in he was sleepin'. She walked over and placed a kiss on his forehead. Ennis opened his eyes.

"Hi darlin'."

"Try not to talk too much daddy. I'm so happy yer awake." Junior couldn't stop the tears of joy from fallin'.

Ennis just reached out and took Junior by the hand. He remembered what he had saw in the future and he made a promise right then and there ever ta put his baby girl through that.

"Thanks fer bein' here." Ennis said.

"I always will be daddy. Now get some sleep." Junior kissed him once more before she left.

Jack took his usual place and said a silent prayer.

"Thank you God fer givin' me back my Ennis. I promise not to let anythin' happen to him ever again. He is my life and I'm not givin' him up, not now not ever. I hope ya can help me out here. I know how stubborn he is and I was just hopin' that maybe ya could give him a little push. Anyway, thanks again. Amen." Jack feel asleep and when he woke a few hours later Ennis was starin' at him.

"Yer suppose ta be restin'." Jack said as he sat up.

"From what the doc told me I've slept enough." Ennis voice was startin' to sound normal and he was lookin' good.

"Four weeks to be exact." Jack said.

"Have ya been here the whole time?"

"No, it took be a few weeks ta find ya. But once I did I never left yer side."

"And Junior, how long has she been here?"

"I called her as soon as I found out. She came the next day and has been here ever since."

"I'm sorry to have worried ya all." Ennis said. There was so much more he wanted to say but he thought this was a good place to start.

"Just next time ya decide to run off and clear yer head can ya please tell someone where ya goin'." It wasn't a question.

"Ok. Jack there's somethin' I need ta tell ya." He swallowed hard. He didn't know how to say it.

"What?"

"I'm sorry fer all the fights we had. I never meant any of it. I never wanted ta hurt ya."

"It's ok Ennis we can talk 'bout this later. Besides it wasn't all yer fault."

"Jack please I need ta finish. I said some things that I never shoulda said. Yer right, I always push ya away because of my fears. You had it all figured out and I didn't want ta listen. I was afraid of what others would think. Hell I don't blame ya fer what ya did I would've done the same."

"We can talk later, please get some rest now." Jack didn't want Ennis to get upset. They had plenty of time to talk things over once he was out of the hospital.

"Will ya stop interruptin' me."

Jack didn't say another word.

"Thank you. What I really want ta say is; I love ya." There he had finally said it and there was no turnin' back now.

Jack just sat there in a daze. He was sure it was the meds talkin'.

When he didn't say anythin' Ennis asked "did ya hear me?"

"Yes." Was all Jack could say.

"Well, don't ya have anythin' ta say." Ennis tried not to laugh. The look of total shock on Jack's face had him wantin' to burst out laughin' but he knew better. He didn't want to ruin the moment.

"Sorry I wasn't expectin' ya ta say that." Jack had never felt more alive in his life. He never thought Ennis would say those words ta him.

"I love ya too." Jack said as he bent down a placed a gentle kiss on Ennis' lips.