Finally, after six days in the peds ICU, John was discharged to go home. Jack had already taken two loads of things down to the truck, and Lisa was getting John dressed so they could leave. With paperwork in hand, Jack returned to the room and found her putting him in his car seat.
"All set?"
"Absolutely," she sighed. "Let's get out of here."
"The nurses at the desk," Jack hooked his hand over his shoulder, "thanked us again for all of that food."
"They are going to get a huge basket of goodies for Christmas too," Lisa told him. "I'm ordering that once we are home and settled. I feel like I've missed a huge part of December already being here. I can't believe I've not left this building."
"Well, it's cold, not that it should surprise you. John," Jack said, gesturing for Lisa to hand him the car seat, "let's go home finally."
Once they were on the road, Lisa let out a huge sigh of relief and put her head back to rest on the headrest. She shook her head and sighed. "I can't believe I haven't been outside in almost a week, and I wasn't even the one sick."
"Yeah," he grumbled, glancing at her, "I know what you mean. That week I had to stay in the hospital for my heart attack," he paused and frowned. He hated talking about that. Lisa shifted in her seat to look at him.
"I know that was a rough time for so many reasons," Lisa sighed and gave him a sad smile, "but it killed me seeing you like that. I've never told you that getting that call in France from Tim," she paused and took a deep breath, the emotions rising to the surface again, "it was the worst flights home." Her voice wavered. "I hated being so far away, not knowing how you were doing, and then rushing to that same stupid hospital. I've had about enough trauma there," she said with a sigh. Jack continued to glance at her as she spoke. "Then, finally getting there, seeing you in the cardiac ICU," she shook her head at the painful memories. "You were so out of it, but I'd leave you side for the first 24 hours after I arrived. I only finally let because just like with John, they were limiting family in the CICU, and I'd taken up so much of the time. I'm thankful the girls were okay with me staying so long, but finally, Tim took me home. On top of it, I was carrying around this secret and needed to tell you I was pregnant, thinking that Arizona would be the right place after you'd had some time to rest, but-"
Jack pursed his lips, "I'm sorry, Lise, and yeah, I really didn't realize all that. I remember waking up at one point and you being there. I didn't know you'd stayed so long at a spurt like that. Tim never mentioned taking you home. I guess when I started to be with it, I just remember you being there each day."
She gave a small shrug, "Where else would I have been Jack? Then, we made those plans to go to Arizona as your doctor requested, but," she nodded and closed her eyes, "we both know that fell apart."
He reached over for her hand, squeezing it, and he gave her a small smile. "I'm glad we both fought and clawed our way to where we are now, and rest assured, I'm not going anywhere, and," he said with a wink, "I'm not letting you go anywhere either. Your stuck with me."
"Okay," she smiled finally, patting his hand. "I like being stuck with you."
Jack had called Lou when he'd finished loading the truck, and when they pulled into Heartland, Lou, Amy, and Tim were there waiting for them. They came out of the house as he and Lisa were getting out of the truck.
After a chorus of 'welcome homes,' Tim helped carry things into the house, and Lisa, even with Jack offering, wanted to carry John. They all let Lisa enter first, anxious for her to see the kitchen surprise. She was focused on John as she walked in, with Jack right behind her, but she quickly looked around, her mouth wide open.
"How long was I gone?" Lisa asked right away, and Jack laughed, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
"Thought this would be a nice Christmas surprise. I called the granite company to see if they could move up the installation. I told them it was helpful for a couple of reasons, one being we weren't here for a few days, and I knew the rest of them could fend without the full kitchen. The appliances were scheduled for next week, and luckily, they were ready for delivery."
Lisa walked around the kitchen inspecting everything. Lou and Amy were now at the kitchen entrance, smiling at the changes.
"Lisa, great job on the appliances," Lou told her. "Nothing has caught on fire in the oven."
Jack turned to Lou, "Why do you assume she picked out the appliances?"
"Umm, hello, we've lived here our whole lives," Amy gestured. "Grandpa, we know you."
"She's got a point," Lisa, standing by the new stove, looked them and offered a playful shrug. "Jack, this looks great. I love the updates. Are you okay with it?"
"Yeah," he shrugged, pointing to his good old, trusty coffee pot. "As long as I have a coffee pot with one button and not needing some manual to operate or with foams frothing options-I think those are the right phrases for those fancy coffees, I'm perfectly happy." The ladies all laughed at that, and Lisa walked over and opened the fridge to inspect it.
"Wow," she nodded happily to the girls, "this is much better."
"There's an ice maker," Amy grinned. "I'm excited about that."
"Umm, I love the fancy freezer with the drawer on the bottom. So much space," Lou told Lisa with a big smile and nod.
"Question is, Lise," Jack asked her, "do you like it?"
She flashed a bright smile, "I love it. There's something about it now, it has the cozy charm with the older wooden cabinets, but a slightly modern , sophisticated edge with this beautiful granite and appliances."
"Kind of like us," he winked at her, and she chuckled, "the old with the sophisticated." The girls groaned at Jack's attempt to flirt, and all attention turned to John, still there in his car seat on Lisa's arm but crying out with still a little congestion.
"John, hi," Amy gestured. "How's he doing?"
"Much better," Jack told them. "He's finishing some antibiotics the next few days, and we just need to keep an eye on him all winter since he was hit so hard with it, but nothing too crazy. He's allowed to be out and about, but we just need to always watch him."
"As if I'd let him out of our sight anyways," Lisa told them.
"Well, let's get you settled," Lou encouraged. "There's chili I made if you are hungry. I need to get going. Katie and I are headed to the diner and ballet."
"And, I'm headed to the clinic. Scott has some immunizations I need to pick up."
"Oh," Lisa nodded with a smirk, "I'm sure Jack would love to watch you with the vaccines. He LOVED it when John got his." She chuckled and draped her arm around him, but Jack blushed, shaking his head. The girls gave them both a quizzical look.
"Nothing wrong with vaccines," Jack added, "just don't like my son suffering through that."
"Ahh, Grandpa with the soft spot," Amy smiled. "I am honestly not surprised."
"I'm going to run the west line and fix some fencing," Tim hooked his hand. "Good to see you all back home. Glad John is doing well."
They spent the next hour getting John settled again and fed before he was ready for a nap. While Jack fed him, because Lisa had been admittedly hogging him at the hospital, she got lunch ready, heating up the chili Lou had made. Once John was down for a nap, the two almost collapsed at the kitchen table, eating. Their exhaustion had caught up with them, and neither said much as they just tried to eat a decent meal. Lisa, still a bit anxious about John being back home, went to check on him while Jack cleaned up the dishes. She wasn't sure how long it would take for her to relax at the idea of his sleeping back at home again, but his illness had scared her. Life was precious no matter the age. Once she verified John was sleeping just fine, she closed the bedroom door to help Jack in the kitchen.
"Jack, what do you say to a hot shower and then joining me in the bedroom?" Lisa started to say, dreaming of a very long nap. She froze as she said that, stepping into the kitchen and running into Jack there with Val.
Realizing how her statement sounded and considering the last time she'd seen Val, Lisa's face turned bright red. Jack gave her a look, embarrassed herself, not sure what her intention had been, and she quickly tried to amend it, "For a nap," she gestured as she fumbled her words. "Ahh, Val, hi."
Val, who had heard every bit of it, pursed her lips and tried not to comment, although her flushed face told Lisa Val had taken that as it sounded, not as innocently as it had meant to be. It had been a very long week, and a long nap in her own bed was exactly what was needed.
"Lise," Jack, trying to recover from Lisa's comment, gestured to Val. "Val brought by a casserole."
"Oh," Lisa's eyes widened at the very surprising and kind gesture. "Val, you didn't have to do that."
"Lisa," Val nodded to her, "didn't expect to find you at Heartland, not with your such a grand home yourself." Lisa didn't comment. Val continued. "I heard John was in the hospital," she said, putting it down on the kitchen table, "and," she shook her head, "I do have a very soft spot for that. Ashley had horrible RSV as an infant. She was five months old. They had to intubate her, and it was very touch and go. I ran into Lou the other day at the market, and I asked how my good friend, Jack, was doing." Lisa tried hard not to roll her eyes. "Lou mentioned you have been at the hospital for a couple of days, and knowing Jack might be left here alone worried about that baby, I wanted to bring by a casserole."
"Six days, yes," Lisa said with a sad smile. "It's been quite the ordeal."
"Wow, six days," Val nodded in agreement. "Ashley was the same. She was horrible right away, and they intubated her the first day. I have never been so scared seeing her there looking so helpless. So," she pointed to the casserole, "I did want to do this and truly say I hope he is feeling better."
"Well, it's very kind of you to think of us. We just got home, and John is sleeping in our room," she hooked her hand toward the bedroom, making sure to use plurals when speaking to Val. "It looks like he's finally on the mend."
"Good to hear," she offered a smile at Jack, even though Lisa had just told her that. Val then noticed the kitchen and put her hands on her hips. "Jack Bartlett, did you update your kitchen?"
Lisa rolled her eyes; she might not even be in the room at this point with how Val was snubbing her. The kind gesture about John was now counterbalanced with Val's obsession with her husband.
Jack chuckled and gestured around, "Yeah, we did. Granite, new appliances-Lisa and the girls are very excited about it."
Val shook her head and glanced to Lisa, "Getting him to update and turn this place into Fairfield," she nodded, with a fake smile, "good luck with that."
Lisa, ready to strangle Val again, because good old Val was back, even with the soft spot for RSV apparent, smirked at her. She eyed Jack, and he was sighing and ready to intervene. "Heartland is its own special place, and there is no plan to make this Fairfield. Besides," she flashed another fake smile, "we're married and made the decision together."
"Val," Jack clapped his hand, trying to deflect any further comments, "thank you for stopping by. Forgive us if we need to get some rest ourselves. Lisa hasn't been home since John was admitted, and I've been driving back and forth each day. We are both exhausted, so you will have to excuse us."
"Sure," Val said, the fake smile returning as she looked from Lisa back to Jack. "Jack, just so glad that baby of yours is okay. You've had a lot thrown at you with all of this since Lisa showed back up."
Jack, realizing that as tired as Lisa was, she was about ready to get into an all-out brawl, stepped around behind Lisa and put his hands on her shoulders, nodding to Val.
"Thanks for stopping by," he said.
Lisa put her left hand to her chest, knowing her rings were on full display for Val again, "It's very touching you thought of our family. Thanks, Val."
Val just gave a nod and turned to leave. The two waited for the door to close, and Lisa put her head in her hands with Jack still standing there.
"That casserole is probably poisoned," Lisa grumbled. Jack just chucked right at her ear and rubbed her shoulders. "She attempted to be nice."
"Ugh, she really heard that, didn't she?"
"Oh, you mean the comment that sounded like you were trying to proposition me into fooling around all afternoon instead of you really being utterly exhausted and ready for a nap?" He questioned her, leaning toward her and kissing her cheek. She burst out laughing and nodded.
He just shrugged as he met her gaze, winked, and stepped away, leaving the kitchen. "You know where I'll be."
