CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Website where all photos of all outfits mentioned is on my profile.

Walking through the double doors into the NICU area I'm surprised when someone that's not Anne comes out of Abel's room, the nurse meets us mid-way down the hall and holds her hand out for us to stop.

"Sorry, family only in here." We're told in a snobby voice that instantly makes me want to jam her head into a toilet bowl and flush.

"Well, that's fine then. I'm Abel's aunt and this is his mother." Donna steps up to the nurse and peers at the name tag "So if you'd like to move Jan, we'll be out of your way."

Jan's eyebrows almost hit her forehead when she looks over at me "But, I thought Abel's mother died during child birth."

I snort "No, the walking, talking, inadequate womb is dead, I however am his mother. And we both know what will happen if you try and stop me from going in there to see my son. If you have an issue, well go check with any of the other nurses, or even look on Abel's notes. You'll see that Jackson Teller, Abel's father, very helpfully added me as a 'next of kin' right beside him."

I brush past her leaving her scrambling to head to the nurses station and Donna follows me down the hall chuckling under her breath till the door to Abel's room is closed behind her when she erupts into laughter. "Oh my god, I thought she was going to have a heart attack."

I giggle as I lean over the incubator, Abel's arms and legs waving in the air as he bats at things only he can see.

Donna smiles down and after the obligatory scrubbing of hands we both stand on opposite sides of the plastic box talking and watching the tiny miracle.

"When does he get sprung?" Donna asks, glancing up at me.

"He's out of the incubator on Friday. " I reply absently, watching the monitors beeping and flashing in their regular rhythm that I've become so used to.

It takes Donna several attempts to get my attention, my gaze has been drifting between the monitors and Abel, counting fingers and toes, running my fingertips over his skin and watching his arms bat at things till they dropped down and he fell asleep.

I shake my head "Sorry D, what?"

"I said it's time to go." Donna giggles pointing at the clock. Glancing over my shoulder I shake my head.

"How did I lose an hour?" My gaze keeps flicking between the clock and my watch, but they both agree that it's been over an hour since we pulled into the hospital car park.

Donna shakes her head, coming over and threading her arm through mine "It's easy to do. I'm sure I lost entire days when the twins were babies. Granted, they were days at home, not here."

I allow her to pull me through the door and down the hall, completely ignoring the nurses standing around as we head for the door "So, Gemma errands now?"

Donna nods "Yep, otherwise she'll be chasing us for where we've ended up."

I giggle "And Clay will have a heart attack if we don't follow orders. I'm almost tempted to be late, just to find out how red his face will go. If it wasn't for the fact that I miss Jax I would."

"Aww, how sweet." Donna mutters with a snort as we get into the elevator.

I wave my hand in her direction and mutter "I'll remember that, I seem to recall someone who couldn't go an hour without talking to her boyfriend."

Donna giggles "Okay, okay. I give. No more smart ass comments."

I grin as we coast to a stop on the ground floor "Good. Shopping now."

Donna nods "Do you seriously enjoy even this sort of shopping?"

I shake my head "Nope. What we're doing for Gemma isn't shopping, it's collecting."

The trip to Stockton and back takes over two hours, getting trapped behind an accident between two cars on the way back held us up for 20 minutes but once we got back onto clear road we made up most of the time we'd lost. Stopping by the hotel that Al's still staying in I jump out of the car and run up to her door, knocking until she opens it with a scowl.

"What?" She snaps and I ignore her, brushing past her into the room I pick up a few things off the floor and shove them into her hands.

"Get dressed; if you want to wear something else do it fast. Party at the clubhouse tonight, attendance is mandatory." I sit on the edge of the bed and wait, staring up at her until she shakes her head.

"Why do I have to be there?" I feel sorry for her, she genuinely looks confused.

I shake my head "Well you don't have to be there, but Juice has to be there, and there will be plenty of women there to keep him company if you're not."

Al's eyes widen and she drops the clothes I'd handed her picking up some others and shoving them into a bag "Can I shower there?"

I nod "Sure. Gotta make a stop to get clothes for me and Donna then we'll head straight to the clubhouse. Speaking of, D is in the car with a whole lot of booze and meat so we gotta motor."

Al shoves her feet into a pair of sneakers and opens the door "Well then get off your ass."

I laugh and go through the door, hearing her close and lock the door behind me and follow me down the stairs to the waiting truck.

The stops for Donna's clothes and my own don't take long and we're pulling back into the lot at the garage just as the clock on the dash hits 6, giving us an hour to get ready and back out to join the masses, and keep the herds away. We jump out of the Caddy as Gemma comes out of the office.

"Good, I was about to ring you. What happened?"

I shake my head "Some asshole decided to do a U-turn on the highway and smashed straight into another car."

Gemma shakes her head "Well go get ready. I'll get the stuff unloaded. Keys?"

I drop the keys into her outstretched hand and pull Al and Donna towards the clubhouse, passing the guys just inside the door. "Be back soon."

Opie snorts "Sure you will."

I poke my tongue out at him and keep pulling Donna along the hall, avoiding the bag she's carrying that she's attempting to smack Ope with "No time to beat him up yet. Do it later."

Donna groans "But I want to do it now."

I shake my head, opening Jax's dorm room door and shoving her inside. "No. Later."