While Jessie got her chest x-rays Robert sat outside in a small waiting area, thumbing through a magazine. He looked up when the door opened and smiled at the nurse as she was coming out.
"Everything go okay?"
"Yes, perfectly. She's a very good patient. There's an emergency down the hall I have to assist with, so it will be a few minutes before I can take her back to her room. You can go inside and wait with her if you like."
"Thank you. I will."
"I shouldn't belong." The nurse told him and started down the hallway.
Robert pulled the door open and stepped inside the x-ray unit. A tech was sitting behind a large desk, signing off on charts, he looked up when Robert came in.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm here with Jessie O'Doyle. Her nurse said I can wait with her until she gets back."
"Oh, sure, no problem. Miss O'Doyle's in Room B, down the left hallway, second door on the right."
"Thank you."
"I've already spoken to Dr. Buccannon, her x-rays looked great, both lungs are clear."
"That's good to hear, thank you."
"Your welcome. Giving good news is my favorite part of the job. I'll be out here if you need anything."
Robert nodded, smiling, and headed towards Jessie's room.
Jessie was lying on a gurney with her left arm draped over her eyes when Robert walked into the room. If she heard him come in, she didn't acknowledge him. He stepped up to the gurney and tapped her arm.
"Hey, you okay?"
Jessie moved her arm away from her eyes and smiled at him. She sat up, letting her legs hang over the side of the gurney, so she could face him. "Yeah, I'm okay. I have a headache and the lights are bright in here. The nurse had to leave, she said she'll be back as soon as she can."
"Yeah, I know." He studied her for a moment and could see that her headache was making her uncomfortable. He put his hand behind her head and rubbed gently. Leaning down he kissed the top of her head. "Stop thinking so much. We're okay."
"How'd you-"
"I know you."
"I'm sorry."
"I know. I'm sorry too." He sat next to her, put his arm around her, and pulled her to him, so her head rested on his shoulder. "I love you, Jessie, there's nothing you can say or do that will change that."
"I love you too. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"For as long as I'm around that's something you'll never have to worry about, understand?"
Jessie grinned. "Yeah." She moved away from him a little so she could see his face. "About Friday...I know your upset with me for leaving, maybe before I should-"
"Jess, all I want is for you to be healthy, okay...physically, mentally, and emotionally. I should have talked to you before Dr. Buccannon did, I'm sorry, but after I heard what happened I wasn't really thinking clearly, I just wanted to help. They really could help you, you know."
"Maybe, but I can't stay here much longer...I just...please, don't be mad."
Her eyes pleaded with him and he pulled her closer. "I'm not mad, Jessie. If anything, I'm worried and scared...I'm worried that you're never gonna give yourself a break...and scared of what it's going to do to you."
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to worry or scare you. I'll try not to, I'll try to be better...to deal with everything better-"
"Hey, don't worry about how you deal with things, okay? Just don't try and deal with them alone. You don't have to, you know that, don't you?" She nodded against his shoulder. " Good, don't ever forget it. Don't worry about Friday, it's okay. We'll go home and take things one day at a time. We'll get through this, kiddo..." He kissed the top of her head. "All of us. Together."
The nurse had taken longer than expected, so by the time they got back to her room Joey was there with dinner.
"What took you guys so long? Did everything go alright?" John asked as the nurse wheeled Jessie into the room with Robert close behind them.
"Sorry, it was my fault I had an emergency and they had to wait for me. Is her dinner cold, I can heat it up?" The nurse answered before Jessie and Robert could.
"No, it's fine. I haven't been here that long." Joey told her.
The nurse nodded and handed Jessie two pills. "Motrin, for your headache. If there's nothing else I could do, I'll be back at twelve to give you your antibiotics."
"No, I'm good, thanks." Jessie sat down on the side of the bed, poured herself some water, and took the Motrin.
"Then I will see you at midnight. Enjoy your dinner."
After the nurse left Joey moved to Jessie's side and kissed her softly on the lips.
"Hey." He smiled. "I brought Longhorn Steakhouse for dinner."
"Chili cheese fries?"
"Absolutely."
"Mmmm...I knew there was a reason I loved you." She kissed him. "How long have you been here?"
"Not long, a half hour maybe." He nodded towards John and Brian. "They were watching The Tick when I got here...John looked pretty confused."
"Hey, that was not confusion you saw...I was repulsed." He looked from one person to the other and began explaining himself. "The Tick had a cold and the alien used his snot-filled tissue to clone him. He wound up fighting a cloned version of himself made out of phlegm...it was disgusting."
They all laughed at him.
"Damn, that was my favorite one. We'll have to watch it again later, with dessert...maybe we could get some green Jello." Jessie grinned.
"Green Jello, cute." John wadded up a Dunkin Donuts bag and threw it at her. "You're lucky I like you."
"Okay, guys, what do you say we leave them here and go to Ray's for dinner, drinks, and pool?" Brian proposed.
Robert nodded. "Sounds good."
"Yeah." John agreed. "I'm hungry...donuts are not very filling."
Brian laughed. He stood up and handed John his crutches. "Alright, let's get outta here and leave these two to their dinner."
"See ya in a couple hours," Robert told Jessie and Joey as he followed John and Brian out of the room.
"I heard you had a bad morning," Joey said when the door closed and they were alone. "You okay?"
"I'm fine. Look, I've been talking about it all day, I need a break, okay? Let's eat, I haven't had anything but a Boston Creme donut all day."
"Okay, we'll eat." He put his hand under her chin and guided her closer to him. He leaned in and put his lips to hers. His tongue parted her lips and when she accepted him, he put his hand behind her head, pulled her closer, and deepened the kiss.
They came up for air and Jessie sat, catching her breath, looking at him. "Whoa." She smiled a big goofy smile. "What did I do to deserve that?"
He pushed hair from her face. "I told you I'd make you forget everything when I came here...and I always try to keep my promises. Did it work?" He winked, grinning from ear to ear.
"Well, I definitely forgot about everything that happened today...now all I'm thinking about is getting you naked." She raised an eyebrow and grinned devilishly.
Joey's face immediately felt hot and he blushed, he looked around nervously, forgetting that the others had left and it was just the two of them. He breathed a sigh of relief. "You love doing that to me, don't you?"
"Yes, I do...but I'm totally serious."
"Jessie..."
"I know, I know, c'mon let's eat. If I can't have you, I'll settle for food." She slid off the bed, walked over to the tray-tables and started to unpack the take-out containers. When everything was set out between the two tables she turned to Joey, who was still sitting on the bed, watching her. "You staying over there or comin' over here?"
He pushed himself off the bed and walked over to her. She fed him a french fry covered in cheese and chili. "Thanks."
They sat and had dinner. Joey kept the conversation lite and comfortable. He told her about the new band that was playing at Ray's on the weekend and that he was thinking of buying a new car. He liked the new Toyota FJ Cruiser and Brian knew someone who could get him a decent deal on one.
Jessie listened. Thankful that he didn't ask about the nightmare she had and the problems that it caused afterward. If he was concerned about her being discharged on Friday, he didn't mention it, in fact, he was acting as if the entire day didn't happen. She wondered if he was doing it for her or if he had been warned by the others to not bring it up unless she did. She had told him earlier that she didn't want to talk about it, but it wasn't like him to give up that easily. For whatever reason he was doing it, she was grateful.
She ate half her meal and quite a few Chili Cheese Fries before calling it quits. She pushed her tray-table to the side and stood up. Joey looked at her plate and frowned a little.
"Hey, I thought you were hungry? You practically lick your plate clean when we eat at Longhorn, you okay?"
"I'm fine...and it was good, I just had enough, that's all. I guess my appetite's not what it use to be...maybe I'll feel like havin' more later." She covered her dish and sat down on the arm of her chair. "You finish eating, don't worry 'bout me, I'm fine."
Joey smiled and nodded. When he was done he pushed his tray-table away and sat back in his chair. "Damn, the steak was good tonight...or is it because we haven't eaten there in a while?"
"Probably a little of both." Jessie laughed as he patted his, now full, belly. "You sure you're done? You could have mine if you want."
"God, no. If I eat anything else, they'll have to take me outta here in a wheelchair." He sat up and pulled her into his lap. "I'm gonna have to start bringing you breakfast and lunch too, we need to fatten you up, you're getting too skinny here."
"Are you kidding? And ruin my chances of becoming a Super Model? No way, buddy." She tried to be serious but wound up laughing at the end.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against him. "Super Model, huh? Uh-uh..." He started nibbling on her ear, then moved to the back of her neck. "The only guy who gets to gawk at you is me." He whispered.
The warm wet trail he was leaving down her neck was causing goosebumps and heat to run through her body at the same time. She turned slightly and without missing a beat he moved to the side and then to the front of her neck. A fluttering sensation started in her stomach and spread throughout her body, which was now aching to be touched. "You better not be starting something you can't finish." She breathed heavily into his ear.
"I can't help it." He sighed into her neck, barely breaking his concentration as he continued the assault of his mouth on her neck, shoulders and along her collarbone.
'He's torturing me...' She thought and smiled inwardly. '...what a great way to be tortured.' She put her head down and he knew what she wanted. He moved his mouth from her neck to her chin, and then covered her mouth with his. She moved slightly, straightening out the slight angle their bodies were in, and practically crawled up his chest to be closer to him.
Lost in the kiss she had just deepened and overwhelmed him with, Joey's hands, guided by his want, started to travel over every part of her body within reach. He slipped a hand under her t-shirt and he groaned when he felt her quiver at his touch. He moved his hand slowly upward, thankful she didn't have a bra on, he cupped her left breast and squeezed gently. When he felt her body stiffen, he pulled away quickly, thinking that he had hurt her somehow.
"Jesus, I'm sorry!" He tried to calm himself and catch his breath. "Did I hurt you?"
Jessie never saw it coming. One minute, she was with Joey, enjoying his kiss and his touch, hoping that he would forget where they were, let go, and give in. Then in a touch, she was gone, her mind taking her back to the warehouse, taking her back to Roy Langston. It was no longer Joey's hand that touched her, it was his, and she froze. In flashes, like they were under strobe lights, Langston was standing in front of her, touching her, smiling that Piranha smile...she saw her father charge at him, threatening to kill him...she felt cold steel being pressed against the side of her head...she could feel Langston's hands all over her, his breath on her face as he moved closer, his mouth inches from hers...
Jessie was scaring him. She was looking at him, but she wasn't, not really. It was as if she was looking right through him. Joey put his hands on her shoulders and shook her gently. She blinked and he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that her eyes were focused on his.
"Jessie, what happened? Did I hurt you?"
She shook her head slowly. "No...you didn't...nothing...it's nothing."
"Nothing! Jessie, please, don't tell me it was nothing. Tell me what happened. Where were you just now?"
She was trying to wrap her mind around what happened. She thought about what she saw in the flashes and knew something was wrong. After Langston had touched her breast, except for holding her wrist to cut it, he had not touched her again and he never moved close enough to her to even try to kiss her. "What the hell am I doing?" She thought she had said it in her head, but she didn't, causing the worry on Joey's face to deepen. She took one of his hands from her shoulder and held it. "I'm sorry. It's okay."
"Please, tell me what's wrong." He said softly.
God, the look on his face was killing her. Jessie cursed Roy Langston and herself for letting Joey's touch remind her of him. 'Joey is gentle...and safe...and beautiful.' She told herself, over and over again. 'Don't let Roy Langston corrupt that. Don't let him kill that too.' She had to fix it. Now.
"Listen to me, okay?" She reached out to touch his cheek and he nodded in her hand. "I'm okay." He started to protest and she shushed him. "Just listen, okay? I promise, I'll tell you everything you want to know, it just can't be right now. Right now, I need you. I need to be with you. Please, be with me...and help me forget."
"Forget what? I don't understand...why can't you tell me now?"
Joey was scared and unsure. She was frustrated and angry, but not at him. Jessie moved from his lap to the chair across from him. Leaning forward, elbows on her knees, both hands moved to the back of her head and she rocked slightly. 'What're you gonna tell him, huh? What can you tell him that won't make him want to take out his phone and get Robert and John back here? Think! Think!'
Joey knelt down in front of her. He moved her hands away from her head and she looked up at him. "Talk to me, Jess." He leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. "I love you, please, talk to me."
'To hell with it.' She thought. She tried to keep the desperation from her voice, so she talked quickly. "I need to get this out of my head...to get him out of my head, now, before it's too late. I don't want anything you do to remind me of him. I don't want him to kill us too."
"Who are you talking about, Jess? He could only hurt us if we let him."
"Langston. Roy Langston." She whispered, not wanting to hear his name out loud.
Joey flinched visibly. Roy Langston. No one really knew everything that happened in the warehouse, no one but John and Jessie, and neither of them had volunteered any information. What had he done to her? He couldn't take the pained look in her eyes any longer, he hugged her fiercely. "Tell me what to do. I'll do anything."
Jessie studied the bed for a moment. No way, he'd never be comfortable with that. She pulled away from him. His chocolate brown eyes were bright with tears and her heart ached for him. What did she do to deserve him? She smiled, running a finger down one of his sideburns, and then kissed him.
"Shower with me." Whether he agreed to it or not, she needed to take a shower. Thinking about Roy Langston made her feel dirty.
He raised his eyebrows in surprise, that was not what he expected. "But, what if they-"
"Give me your phone."
He started to pull it out of his pocket, then stopped. "What're you gonna do? You're not gonna call and tell them-"
"Trust me. Give me your phone."
Joey reluctantly gave up his phone and watched as she began writing a text message. When she finished she showed it to him.
'Hey, it's Jessie. Take your time coming back here, okay? There's no rush. ;o) '
"You're sending that to Brian?" Joey asked after he read it.
"Yeah. Don't worry about Robert or John, Brian won't say anything." She pressed send and they waited for Brian to respond.
"Are you sure about this?" Joey asked nervously.
"I'm sure."
A moment later Joey's phone vibrated in her hand and she read Brian's response.
'No problem, kid. I'll keep them out until at least 10:30. K? Have fun! ;o)'
Jessie smiled and showed it to Joey, who couldn't help but smile also. Good 'ole Brian.
"That gives us over two and a half hours...we'll be okay...we have plenty of time. Okay?" Joey nodded. She texted Brian again, telling him 10:30 was fine and thanked him, then handed Joey back his phone.
They sat staring at each other for several minutes. Jessie knew Joey was nervous about doing what they were about to do, here in the hospital, and she didn't want to rush him. To her surprise, he took her hand and stood up. He pushed hair away from her neck, licking and then sucking the spot he had just cleared. Damn, he was good, in an instant, the fluttering sensation in her stomach was back.
"I love you." She breathed into his neck.
That was all the encouragement he needed. He moved from her neck to her mouth, devouring it passionately for several minutes. They were both breathing heavily when the kiss ended. He smiled at her, took her hand in his, led her into the bathroom and locked the door behind them.
Tbc...
