Lisa opened her eyes and saw the dark room. It took her a second to remember where she was, but the pitiful pillow brought her back to her senses, and she shifted slightly to look around the hospital room.

"Hello there," she heard Jack's voice from the corner of the room and as her eyes came into focus from her deep sleep, she registered he was standing and walking over to sit by her bed.

"Hi," she said, groggily. "What time is it?"

"3:30," he told her quietly. "You sure you weren't exhausted and needed some rest?" Lisa groaned and shook her head, a low chuckle escaping.

"Okay, fine, maybe the preeclampsia did force me to slow down a little. It's really 3:30 in the afternoon?" Lisa asked, now reaching for her phone in the dark. Jack lifted it and handed it to her, squeezing her arm after he did.

"Yeah, it is. Your nurse this morning said you were asleep when she checked on you at 8:15. I'd say you slept the day away, just what the doctor ordered," he said, now sitting and pulling the chair toward her. He switched on one of the lights and continued, "She's been in a few times, and I told her I'd get her if you needed anything. She said the best thing was rest and wasn't going to wake you to check anything."

Lisa squinted at her phone, and Jack chuckled again, reaching into his pocket and handing her his glasses, "Here," he nodded to her. "I took them back when I saw them sitting on the table here."

"Thanks," she said with a nod. She looked at her phone, glanced at her emails, and she checked to see if she had any messages. When she was satisfied, she put it down and handed his glasses back to him. "Well, it appears the world is still moving along okay even though I slept the day away."

"Seems that it is," he nodded. "How's your headache?"

Lisa thought for a moment, "I still have one, but it's not nearly as bad as it was yesterday. It feels tolerable and manageable. I can't believe I slept that long, especially in a hospital," she said, frowning and shifting to sit up more. Jack moved to help her, and when she was more comfortable, he sat back down. "How long have you been here?"

"Got here at 9:00," he told her, and with that, her eyes widened, and she returned a look of almost pure horror. "You've been here all day?"

"Yeah," he shrugged. "It's not been bad. It's been pretty quiet, I mean, with the exception of hospital announcements every so often. I might have dozed a little in the chair myself," he said with a wink and a shrug.

"Jack, by no means did you have to waste your day sitting here. It's not necessary," she said, sighing.

"Of course it is," he told her, now a sterner look on his face. "Lisa, I'm not just going to leave you here. I don't see others beating down the door, and that's our baby. I wanted to be here. What would I do at home-worry, listen to Tim complain about his latest scheme? No, I'm right where I need to be."

Lisa pursed her lips for a moment, planning to say more, but she finally nodded, made eye contact and said, "Thank you, Jack."

"My pleasure," he told her. "Now, I suppose you are hungry."

"Starving," she said, rubbing her stomach. "Before I eat, though, I would really like to freshen up. I need a bathroom, a shower, and well," she gave him a small smile, "you know how simple comforts like that can make me feel like a new person."

"That I do," he nodded. "Do you just have this IV drip?"

"Yes," Lisa said, sighing and with a sarcastic smile nodded to it, "I suppose I'll drag it with me as the nurse told me to yesterday. I've been doing when I've used the bathroom. If you could just help maybe roll me out of bed," she gestured and then closed her eyes. "I'm feeling like a whale."

Jack moved the chair back and gripped her arm as she used his to push herself up and out of the bed. He looked to her to see if she needed more help. She waved him off, and he stepped back, remembering he'd brought that bag for her.

"I picked up your things this morning on the way," he said, moving across the room as Lisa stood there to stretch. She winced slightly as he turned around. "What's wrong?" Jack eyed her, and she looked to be in pain, pressing on her side with her hand.

"Just Braxton Hicks contractions," she told him. "It's nothing. I've been having them. My doctor reassured me again yesterday it's perfectly normal."

Jack put the bag down and walked over to her as she continued to wince. She finally stood and let out her breath, "I'm okay now."

"I don't like the sound of that," he gestured at her. "You shouldn't be in pain like that. Lise, that's not okay."

"Actually, Jack," she looked up at him "it is, and it is normal. It's not fun," she said, holding the word as she said it and frowning, "but normal. I promise. Women have been doing this for plenty long. I just have to endure it."

"I've never heard of that," he shook his head.

"Well, Lou was dramatic about her entire pregnancy, if you remember, and you told me a number of times you were trying to tune out most of that. She did have a little toward the end. I've had mine for a few weeks, but again," she met his gaze and enunciated, "normal."

"Lindy never mentioned that," he grumbled. Lisa frowned as she turned more to look at him.

"Were you home much? I remember you saying you weren't," she asked with a slight nod at him.

He met her gaze and then looked down, "Ahh, no, I wasn't. I was out on the rodeo circuit trying to earn some money, so no, I wasn't home, and all that women stuff back then," he tilted his head from side to side, "kinda made me squeamish."

"I see," she said, now almost ready to laugh. She gestured with her hand, "So, let me get this straight. You have no problem birthing a horse or a calf, but this 'women stuff' as you call it makes you squeamish?"

Jack's face reddened slightly, and he dipped his head briefly before looking back at her and nodding, "Ahh, yeah, it did. I mean, it does, but I am here. I'm dealing with it and not going anywhere. I don't like to see you in pain."

"I see," she said, now crossing her arms and chuckling to herself. "Alright, well, I mean, are you planning on being in the delivery when he's born?"

Jack's eyes widened, and he was almost tongue tied, "I mean, I've never done that, but yes, I can do that."

"You sure?" Lisa eyed him. "I assumed you would be there, but if you're telling me-"

"I'll be there," he told her firmly. "Just gotta let this old cowboy catch up with things. I told you that wasn't a thing when Marion was born, which was just fine with my squeamish side."

"Interesting, learning pregnancy and babies make you squeamish," she said smiling and nodding.

"I mean, that was a lot of pain there, Lise," he gestured at her, noting back to her Braxton Hicks contraction. "I hate seeing you like that. How do you know the difference?"

"Well," she shrugged, "since I haven't had a baby before, I'm not sure that I do, except that my doctor said I'd feel a lot more pressure rather than pain in my back. All of that earlier," she nodded to him, "pain in my back. Besides, it's too early, and he likes to let me know he's still there when I stand up. I often have those contractions then."

"Okay," he chuckled a little, seeing to enjoy her referencing the baby by his gender. "I suppose I like the sound of that, I mean," he made a face, "that's he's okay, that it's normal, not that it makes you so uncomfortable."

"Yes, well, let's just keep him happy in there for a few more weeks, yes?" Lisa said, patting her side. She looked to Jack, and he nodded with a warm smile.

"I really need to shower and all," she said, breaking their glances.

"Right," he turned back to get her bag where he'd ended up dropping it on the floor with his concern. "I'll just put this in the bathroom on the sink. How about I go get us something to drink?"

"Yes, that would be great," she told him. "I'd really like something to eat."

"I have that," he said, raising his hand and going to the corner where she hadn't noticed a pile of things. "Ahh, Lou sent over some food. I had a sandwich earlier. There's some chicken stew and meatloaf for later."

"Oh, meatloaf?" Lisa's eyes widened, and Jack nodded.

"Your recipe, the only one Lou can stand for meatloaf," he told her.

Lisa smiled, "That sounds heavenly. I'll freshen up."

"I'll get the drinks," he said, walking to the door. He chuckled as he turned back to Lisa who had almost shuffled across the floor to the bathroom. "I remember the first time you made meatloaf and brought it over for supper."

Lisa turned and thought a moment, "That was when Ben was in town, gosh a very long time ago."

Jack nodded, "Yeah, it shortly after we went to the fishing cabin. The girls said there was no way 'fancy Lisa Stillman' would make anything. They just assumed you would pick up dinner from somewhere. They were, we were," he winked at her, "all very pleasantly surprised to find that you love to cook and are a very good cook."

Lisa smiled at the memory, "I love to cook just good, comfort food. I don't need fancy things all the time," she shrugged. "Meatloaf has always been a favorite. I'm sure my racing circle would be shocked to know I'd take that homemade meatloaf and mashed potatoes any day to five-star restaurants each day."

Jack met her gaze, nodded, and he waved, "I'll be back soon. Take your time. I'll let your nurse know you're up."

Lisa walked into the bathroom, zipped open her bag, and found her toiletries there with her new reading glasses, and a note from Annabelle. She put on her glasses to read the note.

"I hope you are feeling better very soon. Mr. Bartlett was very worried about you and insisted I pack a cardigan instead of a robe. He said you hated robes because they were for when people are sick, and that even in the hospital, you wouldn't want it. I was going to pack both, but he thought it would irritate you to see the robe, so I just packed the cardigan as he asked. If you want the robe, just let me know, and I'll bring it myself."

Lisa closed her eyes and had to laugh. She could almost see the scene playing out at the house, Jack halfway arguing with Annabelle, but he was right; he knew her, and that was part of why this whole breakup was so hard. She knew him too, and neither had been able to see a way forward together.