AN: I'm back on scheduled!
He looked up at the clock again and realized what time it was, as it was nearly 6:30.
"Who's going to pick up the girls?" Alex asked looking back at Jo and not wanting to leave her, but not wanting to leave the girls in daycare longer than necessary. Given that it was open 24 hours the workers wouldn't protest. Although, his daughters might have something to say about it if they didn't get picked up soon.
"Link already went to go get them and he'll bring them up when Jo wakes up if she's up for it," Meredith said with a little smile as Alex nodded and looked back at Jo.
Waiting again, he traced patterns in her belly with his fingers and rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. Finally, he felt Jo's hand squeeze him and she reached up and brushed his hand away from her belly. His anxiety turned to excitement. He was up in a second and standing over her bed. She was awake, it was all okay now.
"Alex?" Jo whispered, not opening her eyes.
"I'm right here Jo," Alex said as he leaned over her, kissing her forehead and she hummed, but it turned into a groan as she frowned.
"Jo, are you in pain? Can we get you some meds?" Alex tried not to sound too worried, but Jo just groaned.
"Can you just get the baby to calm down, I'm so tired and they're on my kidney again."
"Yeah, Alex said before he leaned down and spoke to her belly, rubbing his hand up and down. "Hey you, can you please move and calm down a bit? You're Mama's trying to rest, okay?"
The baby moved and quieted down as they seemed to fall asleep again. Jo smiled, but her eyes remained closed. Alex leaned over her again and brushed his fingers across her forehead. A few minutes later, her eyes finally opened. Alex just smiled as he looked down at her honey eyes again.
"You're okay and so is the baby."
Jo gave him a little smile, and put a hand over her belly and the baby kicked for her. But her lips trembled and her eyes closed again before she devolved into tears. Alex quickly got up and gently wrapped his arms around her as gently as he could, he slipped an arm around her and crowded into the bed next to her as he pressed his body up to hers. Then he leaned in and kissed her forehead as his lips brushed her cheek. She turned and curled into his shoulder as she cried.
"I know, I know, but it's over and you're okay, I promise, you're okay Jo," Alex whispered to her as he kissed her cheek again. Jo placed her hand over her heart as her chest heaved with sobs.
"Are you sore?" Alex said, pressing the nurse's button on the bed.
Jo nodded as she squeezed her eyes shut, her face full of pain. "It hurts."
Alex nearly cried as he watched her cry in pain looking over at Cristina and Meredith. "Cristina."
Cristina got up in a rush and went to the IV poll next to her increasing the morphine drip as Meredith fished up the button and handed it to Jo. As the morphine started Jo scowled at the metallic taste in her mouth. Meredith poured her a cup of water and handed it to him as Alex held the straw to her lips. Jo took a few sips before she spit out the straw.
"Do you want any more?" Alex asked, holding the straw so it wouldn't move, but Jo shook her head.
No," she said as she relaxed back and the look of pain was gone.
Jo turned her head and curled back into him again, her tears had dried up and she opened her eyes and looked up at him. Alex smiled for the first time that day. Meredith left, leaving them alone although he knew Jo wouldn't have minded if she stayed, but there were some moments that were supposed to be just for the two of them. He pressed a kiss to her lips. They both put their hand over the baby as they moved around and stared at each other for a minute. They had an unspoken conversation of love as they caught up from the surgery. Jo settled against him, she closed her eyes and she turned into him again. He grabbed her favorite grey knitted blanket and pulled it up around her.
"What happened," Jo asked, looking up at him as her eyebrows knitted together. "I remember talking with Meredith and then not feeling good. Then you were holding my cheek and that's it."
"You're, you're heart…" Alex got choked up to speak as a lump filled his throat. "Gave out. Meredith said you were talking with her then got up to use the bathroom and fainted. Your heart rate dropped and Cristina rushed you into surgery. She did the valve replacement through your femoral vein and that part of the surgery went well."
"What went wrong then?" Jo asked, reading the look on his face.
"One of the leads got caught on a vein when they were retracting it. You bled and they had to cauterize it. You have to be on bed rest for a week," Alex said as Jo sighed but nodded.
"Do I have a catheter then?" Jo asked looking back up at him.
"Yeah, but It's only for a little while," Alex said, running his hand across her face and Jo nodded.
"What about the girls," Jo asked, her eyes opening again.
"Link picked up the girls and they're going to have a sleepover with him and Scout tonight," Alex assured her as Jo nodded again and closed her eyes.
She rested and Alex ran his fingers threw her hair. Just like that, he realized it was all over and the worst was behind them. They were in the recovery period and rest and healing from now on. His wife would be okay and she would recover. It's all over and soon enough he would be back home with her again. Jo soon fell asleep again and he did too, as they slept peacefully in each other's arms.
Day one was good. Jo's recovery was slow but sure. She slept a lot and lazily watched TV while Cristina kept a close eye on her. They all wanted to give her time to recover and relax, despite how much Jo wanted to get up and see the girls. However, she was too tired and loopy from the Morphine to protest. She did relax and let it go for the day.
Day two and three were better, Jo was more alert, but still in alot of pain. Still, she was also asking for mac and cheese and wanting to see the girls. Cristina allowed the mac and cheese, so long as it was made with low fat milk. However, the girls were having a rough day and Jo fell asleep before Link could bring them in. Alex set up a video chat with the girls that night and Jo got to see them before they went to bed. The girls had no idea that their mom just had surgery and both of them wanted to keep it that way.
Day four was tiring for her, Cristina and Carina both did a lot of tests and ultrasounds and while the baby passed with flying colors, Cristina was not as satisfied with how her heart was recovering.
"So there's been some delays. Your valve is working great, but because of your blood loss and the damage to the vein, the healing is just taking longer than we expected."
"Is that way she's in so much pain?" Alex asked, looking back at Jo as he squeezed her hand.
"It's not that bad," Jo insisted but her eyes and the hand on her heart told a different story. It was getting close to the time for her next dose and she counted down the seconds to it. Alex knew she was determined to get back to normal, but also still weary from her heart failure and the surgery.
"Yes," Cristina said with a sad smile. "So although you're off the Morphine, you're still on Oxy around the clock, but I'm hoping you'll be on over the counter pain meds by the weekend, in another two days. The good news is that, so long as Carina agrees, I think you should be able to go home by next week," Cristina said, giving her a little bit of hope as Jo smiled.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Alex asked, although he was relieved she was on track to go home soon, he was more cautiously optimistic.
"I want to go home," Jo said with a sigh. "I've been in the hospital for over two weeks. I missed my bed and our couch and being in something other than a hospital gown. I want those black sweatpants I left in the hamper and I'm sure there's a pile of laundry and dishes in the sink."
"Actually there's not," Alex said with a small smile. "About a week after you got officially admitted to the hospital. I hired a cleaning service to come in and do our laundry and clean the house. They go in every Saturday now and it looks fine. But you don't have to worry about the dishes or the laundry and I'll go and see if I can find that pair of sweatpants you wanted, okay?"
"I love you," Jo smiled at him with a look of adoration.
"I know," Alex said as he leaned in to kiss her and she smiled into his lips.
"Okay," Cristina said, rolling her eyes and catching their attention again. "So let's continue with this course of treatment and I'll check in with you tonight."
"What about having the girls visit, I miss my babies," Jo pleaded with her and Alex as she placed a hand on her belly. She had been video calling with the girl several times a day, but he knew she wanted to hold them again as she hadn't seen them since before her surgery.
"I know, but I want to wait for you to recover a bit more before we introduce toddler germs to your new valve," Cristina said with a reluctant smile.
"Well, what can I do to help my recovery?" Jo asked with a determined look across her face.
"I know I've had you on bed rest, but given that you've healed enough not to risk rebleeding, I'd like for you to try getting up and moving," Cristina said with a smile as Jo nodded.
To his surprise, Jo threw back the blankets and started to get out of bed. She was still a fall risk and hadn't gotten out of bed yet. Surprising them both, she got up on her own and stood tall.
"I'll try that now."
"Are you sure?" Alex asked, holding on to her waist, ready for her to lean into him, but she didn't.
"Yes," Jo said as she took a step with a smile, sure on her feet.
"Alright I'll leave you to it," Cristina said with a smile as she left.
Jo started to take small steps and Alex put a hand on her back and held onto her IV poll. She made one to the bathroom before Alex made her rest. He helped her sit on the chair in the shower. Jo smiled at her victory and pulled at her gown before reaching for her catheter.
"Jo," Alex warned her, grabbing her hand and stopping her.
"I can walk to the bathroom now so there's no need for it. I want it out, Alex," Jo insisted and he wouldn't win this.
"Okay, I'll go get the supplies," Alex said, getting up and going to get it.
After that she insisted on a shower, but Alex knew it would be too much for. He delayed it, but telling her he'd set it up with the nurse's help and go to her locker and grab her favorite shampoo and soap. He helped her back to bed and by the time he got back she was asleep.
Day five, Jo pushed herself too much. She got her shower with Alex's help, but tried to walk a lap and overexerted her heart much to Cristina and Alex's worry. She was on bed rest for the rest of the day, but was restless.
Day six she completed the lap with a smile of pride. Each day she walked more and more on her own. She would do circles and circles around the Maternity Ward. Cristina, Meredith, and Link were a constant support as was everyone else who stopped by to visit and walk with her. Step by step things slowly got back to normal. Alex was finally happy to have his family back, even if Jo made him eat mac and cheese every night.