Chapter 15: Joey and Lauren's recovery.
Last time:
"Will she be okay?" John asked.
"Yes, giving her an IV so she can get hydrated. She needs rest i'm also taking her blood to see what they knocked her out with. Shaw and Joss I know you have Medical experience so I will need you to take this bag and replace it with a new one. After the second bag has emptied the needle can come out. She'll still need plenty of water." Dr. Tilman replied. The moment she laid eyes on Lauren she knew that this teen was Johns daughter. The next couple of days will test the team. Lauren's life is still endangered. With Joey still off from duty, who will replace him for the next week.
John watched Joey as he watched Lauren. She was still receiving fluids through the IV that Dr. Tillman gave her and was on her last bag. Peter should have died for almost killing her for dehydration. Joey wanted revenge on Peter for kidnapping Lauren and shooting him in front of her. Teen already lost her mum now she would have to lose her love.
John watched him, he knew the two gotten close and wouldn't act on their feelings until she turned 18. He approves of Joey already. The kid as in Joey served three years in Iraq was going to be a Seals but came home to take care of his mum after his dad died. Joey is 6'2, baby blue eyes, athletic built, brown hair, obviously works out since being in the military. He went into private security and got hired by one of Finch's many private company's he owns. There is no he would trust with Lauren other than Joey.
"You should try to get him to sleep in the other room." Joss said as she walked up behind John and wrapped her arms around him.
"No. He's the one she needs to see, when she wakes up. Joey said she saw him get shoot from behind." John said placing his hands over Josses.
"I know, Lauren screamed so loudly according to a few uniforms who asked on looker. She had tears down her face. I knew they liked each other for the moment they met." Joss said unhooking her arms as the last drip from the bag empty. She got over to Lauren and pulled the needle out.
"She's awake yet?" Joey said in a half yawn. Joey was a tune to anything Lauren when she was being touched by someone, even if its her feature Stepmother taking out a needle.
"No, you should try to sleep in the room next door. I'll come and get you when she wakes up." John said giving him 'you need it and you know it' look.
"Don't even try arguing with him Joey. Lauren will still need you when she wakes up." Joss said as she finished putting a band-aid on the needle womb.
"I don't want her waking up alone. In the Marines we are told no one gets left behind. I felt like I failed her yesterday." Joey said looking at Lauren. He felt like he failed her by getting shoot and not paying attention.
"Joey, you were shot from behind and bleeding almost to death. Lauren was taken from us all of us. There was nothing you can do at that point. Son I understand what you mean by no one gets left behind. I was in the Army, the best thing we can do now is wait and see. Lauren will... No Lauren knows you did your best to protect her. soldier up and be there for her when she wakes up. Youre not going to do her any good-by sleeping in a chair. Do I have order you to that bed in the other room?" Joss said in her Army voice and giving him the interrogator stare down, the one that has everyone doing anything she wanted them to do.
"No Ma'am." Joey got up and walked over to Lauren and kissed her forehead. That alone should have shocked John and Joss but it didn't. Emotions are running high on Team Machine. And they now have to watch the teen twenty-four seven. Which wouldn't go nicely with her when she finds out.
"We'll come and get you when she wakes up." Joss said tucking Lauren in and taking the seat next to her bed. John followed Joey out to have sorta if you ever so much hurt my daughter talk.
"You don't have to hear this right now. But if you hurt her in any way which I know you wont. I will kill you. I know you two have feelings for each other but wont act on it till she turns 18. I want you to escort her to her Quinceanera. Theres no other person I will trust with her but you. I want you dressed in your full Marines dress uniform that day. I will be there with everyone. So behave. If you think someone or something is going to harm her. Locate me or signal me and get her to safety. Right now her, Taylor and Joss staying alive are all I care about. We will go over this again in 6 months when she turns 15. Do not play hero. Understood." John said in his Reese/father voice.
"Yes, I understand John I wouldn't dream of hurting Lauren. I don't know from the moment laid eyes on her I liked her. Then we got to know each other more and I knew I found my other half. We've talked and talked and hoped that you and Joss would figure it out on your own. And let us continue to hang out. Nothing has happen and it wont till she turns 18. To know we have your blessings already I'm grateful John." Joey replied he was relieved that John and Joss both approved of him already and the possible relationship that he could have with Lauren when she turns of age.
"Go get some sleep so you can be there for my daughter. If anything happens to me or Joss I want you to take care of her Joey. I mean it. Protect her." John said watching him go in to the room he and Joss had prepared for him earlier. John liked Joey and he wanted the best for his daughter. She was still young to date but he knows the two wont act on it till she turns 18.
"Tell me he's a sleep." Joss said hearing John come in. John stepped behind her wrapping his arms around her. Kissing the top of her head.
"He should be falling a sleep as we speak. Gave him the 'speech' and he got it loud and clear. I wanted to kill Peter. I'm worried that Joey will want to retaliate against him for putting Lauren in danger and almost putting her health at risk." John said looking at his daughter. Hell he would walk in to the 8th precinct right now to kill the bastard himself.
"John he wont. If he knows Lauren the way we do; he knows she will hate him forever for killing Peter. I hope we have quiet months a head of us we still have Taylors 17th birthday and Laurens 15th birthday/Quinceanera." Joss said leaning back into John. She still wants Lauren to have a 'normal' life. At that moment Joss stomach grumbled she hasnt eating much since Lauren was taken.
"Chinese?" John asked knowing his love was starving. He notist something has changed in Joss in the past month but couldnt pin point what.
"Yeah, get something for Joey and Lauren to. I'm sure Shaw and Fusco is feeding Taylor as we speak." Joss stomach growled one more time. She's thinking its something more but not about to reveal that soon. They didn't use a condom a month ago. And she is late. Though she's not about to reveal that anytime soon. Not yet, Dr. Tillman needs to do a test and keep it between them.
He order the food for the five of them, yes five just incase Taylor came home hungry. About an hour later the food was delivered to the Cater/Reese house. Joey was waking up to the smell of food and Lauren was stirring in her sleep. She woke up startled and scared.
"Lauren clam down." Joss said pushing the teen back down to the bed. She checked hr vitals. John and Joey came rushing in.
"She ok?" John asked knowing she was he just wanted to make sure.
"Yes, she's fine John. How you feeling sweetie? What was the last thing you remember?" Joss asked she wanted to know if she felt Joey catching her.
"I was talking to daddy, feeling light-headed and I fainted. I think Joey caught me." Lauren said and her stomach growled at the same time. She looked at Joey and the expression on his face said that he did caught her and that he felt guilty for getting shot. They need to talk about what happened alone with out the eavesdroppers of her father and Joss.
"Why don't we eat and talk about it later. Lauren you still need to sleep and drink plenty of water." Joss spoke up John had left to get Laurens Orange Chicken meal with Dumplings knowing that its his daughter favorite meal.
They all ate in Laurens room made small talk. Joey and Lauren were talking to each other through there eye's hoping to pour their love into each other. Joss and John saw this and knew they made the right choice in letting Joey protect Lauren still. He still needs to recover from the gun shoot womb. John notice the teen getting sleeping again. And motion Joss to leave the room with him. They watch Joey kiss her cheek as she laid back down and he tucked her in. She felt a sleep looking at him knowing she was safe.
Author's Note: Thanks for all the condolences, I didn't know my birth mother very well but it was nice to hear that she was love and that she did find Christ. Could Joss be pregno with Johns kid? Well they never really had a normal relationship *giggles*. So a baby before getting hitch is possible with these two modern Romeo and Juliet.