Jack couldn't do much right now, but he needed to do something to ease his wife's worry. He knew Lisa wouldn't leave the hospital, not without John, and he understood that. He'd tried to send her home the second night, but she wouldn't budge. He knew telling her she looked awful, in need of some decent rest, would only make matters worse, so he'd driven home a couple of times now. It was now the fourth day, and John was finally starting to turn the corner. The third day had been rough. They'd had to put him on some oxygen, and Lisa almost lost it. For an hour or so, the doctor had even talked about intubating him, but thankfully, that had not happened. Jack had stayed all night then too because John wasn't doing very well, but he'd started to improve dramatically around 8:00 AM the fourth morning. Jack was now driving home, just after lunch to get some fresh clothing and a hot shower. He was struggling staying awake, but he knew a hot shower, some food, and a cup of coffee would help before he went back to the hospital. Lisa had tried to convince him to just stay at home, now that John was off oxygen again and improving, but he wasn't going to just leave her there.

As he pulled the truck into his usual spot to park at the house, he climbed out of the truck very weary. It felt like he had bricks on his feet as he made his way up the stairs and into the house. He was greeted by Tim at the kitchen table.

"Jack," Tim stood like a kid caught doing something, but Tim was just worried. "How's he doing?"

"Finally starting to improve," Jack sighed, shaking his head. "Rough few days, yesterday the worst. Sorry I didn't call anyone on the way home. I just needed some silence, no machines beeping, no talking, nothing."

"Yeah, sure I get it," Tim said, gesturing to the seat. "Sit down. You look terrible. Here," he moved toward the coffee pot where Jack noticed Tim had an almost full pot on, "have some coffee, and Lou made a chicken casserole last night. I'll put a plate in the microwave to warm it up."

Jack looked around, "It's looking good in here. I hope Lisa will enjoy her surprise."

"Yeah, well, glad I could supervise the countertops. You're lucky they could move up your installation. Oh, the appliances are being delivered tomorrow. They called earlier about that."

"Good," Jack nodded, sipping at his coffee and sighing. "I think I could fall asleep right here."

"Well, get something to eat first. How's Lisa?"

Jack made a face and shook his head, "Stressed, not sleeping, looks terrible herself, but probably not the best idea she hear that from her husband. I know she'll be okay when John's home, but it's going to be at least a couple more days."

"Grandpa," Jack heard, and Amy walked in and hugged him from behind, sitting in the chair. "How is John?"

"Finally turning the corner," he nodded, his face still showing concern. "Yesterday was rough. I'm finally home to shower and get some clean clothes."

"I can't believe Lisa hasn't left the hospital. I mean, I can, but wow, she's got to be exhausted."

"Just telling your dad that," Jack nodded. "I'be got an idea to cheer her up a little," he told them. "I'm going to eat, shower, and drive back. Hopefully, she's getting a little sleep right now. Before I go, tell me how things are going here."

Three hours later, Jack quietly opened the door, hoping Lisa was still sleeping. He'd sent her a text, and it was a good sign she hadn't replied. He noticed she was curled up in the chair, right next to John, and he stepped in and quietly closed the door, hoping he wouldn't wake her. He should have known that wouldn't work. The woman could hear a door creak on a neighboring ranch while she slept; he found that out very quickly, and the plan to get John's room moved needed to happen sooner than later. She heard every move he made each night, and Jack knew this hospital stay would only heighten her worry at home.

"Hi," she said quietly as he put things down on the ledge across the small room. "Gosh, I think I got an hour of sleep, more than I have in a sitting," she told him, looking at her watch.

Jack nodded, "Good. How's John?" He walked over to him and looked down at his sleeping son. He did hate seeing him so sick. John sounded terrible, still, but the doctor said he was sounding much better. John was at least peacefully sleeping with his arms above his head and legs sprawled out. Lisa stood at Jack's side, leaning her head on his arm and wrapping her arm around his.

"I've decided that's his 'under arrest' pose," she smiled and whispered to him. Jack chuckled, putting his arm around her back and pulling her tight. He kissed her head and reached down with his other hand to very gently touch John's foot. Something about the contact settled him, like he needed to confirm John was there and going to be okay.

"I have a surprise for you," Jack said, turning them away from John to step toward the chair to speak. She looked up, surprised, thinking this wasn't the time or place. "If you sit down, I brought you something."

She shook her head and chuckled slightly, "Okay, I'm a little worried."

"I seem to recall my surprises are good, so no need to worry. Now," he walked to the bags he'd brought and started to pull out her surprise. They had quite a stack of things there now; Lisa had several changes of clothing and had been able to shower there in the bathroom. Jack had thrown together a suitcase for her, and he'd brought more today to replenish her things. She had her laptop and a huge stack of paperwork for Fairfield, and Jack had brought a deck of cards, making her play some over the last few days to take their minds off things.

"Something smells good," she told him. "Did Lou send something?" Lou had been sending some leftovers each day, and while appreciated, Lisa hadn't been eating much. She kept telling Jack she wasn't hungry, and he knew it was just her worrying. He hoped his surprise would encourage her to eat.

He brought a paper bag over and moved the chair he'd been sitting in right by hers, using the small tray table to put between them. He smiled at her, "Now, I know we didn't get to go to that Italian restaurant here in Calgary for our one-month anniversary a few weeks ago because we had a snow storm."

"Yes, it's like we aren't meant to go," she rolled her eyes.

"Well, I brought it here," he said and started to unpack the bag. "That lasagna I wanted to order a long time ago sounded really good, and I remember you had planned to get that seafood pasta."

Lisa gave him a funny look and shook her head, "You remember that? Gosh, that was when we found out John was a boy."

"Mmm hmm," Jack nodded. "I remember. I remember just feeling so proud, proud that we were going to have a son, but I also just felt like my whole world was falling apart because we just were a mess. Then, Val showing up," he chuckled. "Tonight, no Val," he winked, and Lisa flashed a smile at that, "but a nice dinner. Dinner by dim ICU lighting."

"Jack," she sighed, smiling at him. "Thank you. This is lovely." She stood enough to lean over and kiss him. He winked at her and reached to squeeze her knee. He gestured and moved back to the pile of things he'd brought. "Almost forgot," he winked to her, "and I thought this would go nicely with dinner but might also let you relax and get some sleep." He brought out a Thermos, and Lisa shook her head at him, wondering about the coffee. "Might have accidentally of course put a little wine in here," he winked to her. "Not a whole bottle or anything, but just a little something."

Lisa grinned and shook her head, "You rule breaker."

He shrugged, "I seem to remember calling you a juvenile delinquent a long time ago when you tried to make me jealous talking about all the young French men, so we are in good company." Lisa laughed, and quickly covered her mouth, afraid to wake John as she fondly remembered that memory.

It took just a minute to pull out the food, and soon, they were sharing the two meals and a loaf of garlic bread."

"You weren't kidding," he said after he'd eaten quite a bit. "That is some of the best food I've had."

"Really hits the spot," she nodded, eating more. He watched her eat and was so happy to see this was the most she'd eaten in days. Glancing at the bread, she'd had over half the loaf, and she was about to polish off the last of the seafood pasta.

"I told you I have good surprises," and she laughed at that. The nurse walked in and gestured for them to stay where they were, going to check on John's vitals. They both seemed to hold their breaths as she did so, and waiting for her to take her notes was agony. She looked over to them.

"Much better, airway sounding better."

"What a relief," Lisa sighed, sitting back.

"I'll be back again in an hour or so to check on him," she told them and gestured to the food. "That smells wonderful. Where is that place?" Lisa proceeded to tell her, and the nurse finally left. Lisa eyed Jack and pointed toward the door.

"You do realize we need to bring that entire staff food tomorrow, right? They've been just wonderful, and I know I would have lost it on possibly a few occasions," she sighed and raised her eyebrows, "had they not been here."

"I can do that," Jack said quietly, sitting back now, full from his meal. "That's a great idea, in fact. If you tell me all you want, I'll call it in and have some food brought up. Anyone who has to work all day and night on an ICU floor is a saint. Can't be easy."

With full stomachs, the two felt a lot better. Lisa grabbed a hot shower, and soon, the two settled into the routine they'd adopted, playing some cards while continually checking on him. The doctor stopped in before turning the service over for the night, and Jack and Lisa seemed to hold their breaths as he checked on John. They watched as he finished listening to his lungs and looked to them both with an encouraging smile.

"That's the best he's sounded," he told them. "I don't want to interrupt your card game," he nodded to the table where they'd been interrupted mid game, but if you're interested, you can hold him."

Lisa's face lit up, and Jack laughed, almost a nervous laugh after so much stress. Jack looked at Lisa and kissed her head, nodding to the doctor.

"I think we can take you up on that doc."