Chapter 224 – Continued Care for Jack

"I am glad that you are close to Jack and are here for him." Elizabeth said. "It wasn't until I came out here that I found true friendship. I never knew if people liked me for me or for what I could do for them. I think that was part of why I never really had anyone close to me. I mean I was close to my sister who is not that much younger than I am. Or at least I was, we were closer when we were younger. Our relationship has changed since I became an adult and went to college.

I take that back. I did have one friend that I could count on. Sadly he is no longer on this Earth. Given our age difference and family obligations, we didn't get to spend a lot of time together, but when we were together it was like nothing had ever changed. We could pick up our conversations and just carry on no matter how long we had been apart. What I wouldn't give to have one more conversation with him.

As much as I love Jack, I loved Andy. No matter what other people thought, those feelings for Andy were never romantic, at least on my side. I think that Andy had a crush on me for the longest time. Anyway, our bond was so much deeper than romantic feelings. It was like we were connected to our souls, but not soulmates. If you understand what I am trying to say.

Jack is my soulmate and life partner, that I have absolutely no doubt about that. I honestly think that Andy would have been a great addition to our friend group, but sadly that won't happen this side of heaven. The only reason that I said anything, is because I can see that you have a similar type of bond with Jack. I am not jealous, I am in awe watching you with him."

"Thank you." Doug said softly.

"I have seen Jack and Joe together." Elizabeth said. "They are close, but not as close as you two. I have seen Jack make friends here over the last year, but I have also seen him struggle. I think that part of that struggle is that no matter how many friends Jack makes, he will always feel responsible to protect them and therefore he has kept a piece of himself back.

As much as I have pushed him to be open and honest with me, I also see that same struggle when he is opening up to me about things. I get that he will never be able to tell me everything that he sees on the job and I am grateful that he has Joe, Dee, you and others to talk to about those things. Just like no matter how much Jack reads, he will never understand some of the things I go through as a woman. I am sure that he is grateful that I have Abigail and others to talk to.

My point is that I am glad that you are here and if there is ever anything that you need, I hope you feel comfortable asking. Just as you have been here for Jack the last day or so, I want to be there for you. I am not just talking about money, but that is also what I am talking about."

"I could never take your money." Doug said.

"Yes, you will." Jack rasped.

Both turned to look at Jack. His eyes were still closed, but he was fighting to open them. Jack cleared his throat twice and turned his head to look over at Doug. His one eye opened a bit.

"If you absolutely needed something." Jack said. "I expect you to ask."

"I do as well." Elizabeth said. "We don't talk about this with people, but money is not an issue. And it will never be again. I come from a very wealthy family back east. I stand to inherit the bulk of the fortune from both my father, mother and aunt. Just as we don't talk about it with people, but are sharing with you. We ask that you don't talk about it to people. I think you know how Jack values his privacy. Well just as much as he does, I do even more. I have lived my whole life not knowing if people only liked me for my money.

I know that Jack has had a hard time wrapping his head around the money, but he does know that if he wants to spend some of it on something, he is more than welcome. Especially if it is someone as close to Jack as you are who needs something. Please at least think about it. You said that your mother is a widow and you struggled for years. So please let us know if there is something we can do to help."

"I mean it." Jack said.

"We will talk more about that later." Doug said. "Lets access your pain right now. I am sure that Nurse Carter and/or Jacobs will want to get back to town."

"No morphine." Jack rasped.

"Jack." Elizabeth said.

Doug put his hand on Elizabeth's arm.

"Look at me." Doug said.

Jack blinked a couple of times and then focused on Doug.

"If I sit you up right now." Doug said. "Will you be able to tolerate the pain? How about walking upstairs?"

Jack closed his eyes and pounded his head against his pillow.

"I get that you don't like feeling out of control with the morphine." Doug said. "But you need it to rest. How about a half dose tonight and then we see about not using it tomorrow."

Jack kept his eyes closed, but nodded his head.

"Thank you." Doug said. "Remember I know the kind of pain that you are in. I also know that you are worried about nightmares among other things. But if you are thrashing in your sleep, you are not going to get the restorative sleep that you need. So please, please listen to your body and let Nurse Carter give you a dose of medication tonight and then we can talk tomorrow about reducing the morphine."

Again, Jack nodded.

"Also I promise that I will be here all night." Doug said. "Dee and I will be staying downstairs here. Besides us, there are the two guards outside. You are safe. You can relax and not have to be the protector of everyone at the moment."

"Will you get Nurse Carter or Jacobs?" Doug asked. "I will help Jack slip his pajama pants back on. I will get him as comfortable as I can here on the cot. I know that being dressed will help Jack to feel more comfortable."

"I can do that." Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth stood up, leaned over and gave Jack a kiss. He brought his hand up and placed it on her baby bump.

"I love both of you." Jack said.

"And we love you." Elizabeth said. "So you are going to listen to Doug here and do what he says. We need you to be healed."

Elizabeth gave Jack another kiss and then left to get Faith. She pulled the door shut. Doug quickly helped Jack slip his pajama pants back on. Jack hissed in pain a couple of times as Doug helped him. When Doug had him dressed, Jack rolled over and hugged the pillow to his chest as the pain shot through his hip. Jack's head and arms felt heavy and he knew that was from the chloroform. Jack also knew that the last thing that he wanted was something more in his system, but he also knew that there was no way that he was going to get to sleep if he didn't get some pain relief.

Doug helped Jack get as comfortable as possible. He then took his seat again. His hand in the middle of Jack's back. Doug resumed his prayers for Jack. His head was still bowed when Faith knocked and came in. Jacobs was at the door. Jack didn't turn to look at them and Doug finished his prayer before he looked up.

"Jack has admitted that he needs something for pain to get to sleep tonight." Doug said. "I understand his desire to not take anything, but we both understand that he needs something at least tonight. I promised him tomorrow that we would look at trying to reduce his need for pain medication."

"We will talk about that tomorrow." Faith said. "Right now, he needs to get some rest. We are barely over twenty-four from the minor surgery. If he has a good night tonight, I won't be adverse to talking about reducing the morphine. Or even switching to something else. That is a conversation that we can have tomorrow morning."

"Okay." Jack rasped.

"Just so we are clear." Faith said. "Jack, do you want a shot of morphine for pain?"

"Yes, please." Jack rasped.

"Alright then." Faith said. "I will draw up the morphine. You know I need to give this to you in the hip or buttocks."

Jack responded by rolling more on his stomach.

"Jack." Doug said. "Do you want Nurse Carter to give you the shot in your other hip?"

Jack nodded his head.

"Okay then." Doug said. "I am going to move your pajama pants just enough to expose your hip for the shot."

Again, Jack nodded.

"Alright, Jack." Faith said. "Here we go. Small pinch and then a burn."

With an expert hand, Faith gave Jack the shot. It brought a hiss from Jack as he buried his face deeper into the pillow. Once Faith was done, Doug immediately made sure that Jack was covered up. He then put his hand back on Jack's back. He once again bowed his head and prayed. Faith and Jacobs watched Doug take care of Jack. They watched Jack relax under Doug's hand.

After giving the morphine a few minutes to work. Jacobs came over to Jack and Doug.

"Jack." Jacobs said. "Let's get you upstairs to bed."

"Help me up." Jack said.

"How about I carry you." Jacobs said. "Between the chloroform and now the morphine, I don't want you to fall."

"Let him do it." Doug said.

Jack nodded and sighed in resignation.

Doug rolled Jack back up on his hip and over onto his back, still propped up with the pillow. Jacobs picked Jack up and started moving toward the door.

"I am right behind you." Doug said.

Jacobs carried Jack upstairs to bed, with Doug following. The two of them got Jack settled for the night. They started to leave and Jack grabbed Doug's arm.

"I will stay for a moment." Doug said.

"Jack." Jacobs said. "Get some rest. Faith and I will be back between six and seven in the morning."

Jack nodded.

Downstairs Dee sat with Elizabeth on the settee again.

"Are you okay?" Faith asked.

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "Just thinking about some things."

"Well." Faith said. "I am here to talk if you want."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "But right now, the only person I want to talk to is Jack and he is a little too out of it to be helpful."

"If you change your mind." Faith said. "I will be here."

"Again, thank you." Elizabeth said. "I will see you in the morning. I will make sure that Jack is up and down here."

"Thank you." Faith said. "I will probably use the chloroform again in the morning, but probably will try to hold off on more morphine. Jack has requested we try to reduce or stop the painkillers. I am willing to listen under certain circumstances."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I leave for school at about seven thirty."

"We will be here between six and seven." Faith said.

While Faith had been talking, Dee had been staring at his cousin and he realized what was bothering her and he knew that she wouldn't talk to Faith about it, because it was just who Elizabeth was. He might get her to talk about it otherwise she would talk to Jack or more likely, just pour out her feelings in her journal. Dee knew that he was going to ask her about it after Faith and Jacobs left. He knew that he had to try and talk to her, especially with how Jack was at the moment.

Doug looked at Jack after Jacobs left.

"What do you need?" Doug asked.

"Help." Jack rasped.

"What do you need?" Doug repeated.

Jack pointed to the corner of the room and suddenly Doug understood. He helped Jack sit up, so that he would be able to use the chamber pot. Once Jack had relieved himself, Doug made sure that he was comfortable again. He put the chamber pot by the door so he could take it downstairs and empty it. He then came back and sat on the edge of the bed.

"How are you really doing?" Doug asked.

"Okay." Jack said. "Thank you for everything today. How long are you going to be here?"

Jack could speak, but his speech became increasingly slurred.

"You are more than welcome for today." Doug said. "I will be here as long as you need."

"Your post?" Jack said.

"Don't worry about it." Doug said. "You just worry about getting well. I will explain everything later. Just know that I will be here as long as you need me and as long as Elizabeth will let me sleep downstairs."

"Thank you." Jack said.

"You are more than welcome." Doug said. "I am only paying back what you have done for me over the years."

"You know it is more than that." Jack said.

"Let's not argue." Doug said. "You would be there for me and I am going to be here for you. It is what we do. Now is there anything else that you need? I am sure that Elizabeth will be up soon. I will check on you in a couple of hours."

"I am good." Jack said.

He then grabbed the pillow again and rolled into it. He closed his eyes and let his body relax from the morphine. Doug rubbed his back for a few minutes until he was sure that Jack had fallen back asleep. Once Doug was sure that Jack was asleep, he headed downstairs.

When he got downstairs, he saw Faith and Jacobs just leaving the house. He looked over to Dee who made a small motion to Elizabeth.

"I am going to go pick up what is left in the bedroom." Doug said. "Jack is sleeping soundly, so he is fine for the time being.

Doug set about cleaning up the bedroom downstairs and making sure Dee's cot was ready for him to go to bed. To keep busy, Doug also filled the wood box and water buckets.