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A little over a month passed.
Jamie still hadn't returned home or seen anyone in the family, outside of Beth coming to get his truck and bank card anyway. He had reached out to Lexi a few times and things were thawing between them slowly. Kaycee wasn't talking much about his marriage troubles but was going often to visit Tate; Monica had just started a teaching position at the college. Beth had started buying up land through her work in a bid to keep the ranch safe. Lexi was finally able to start at the hospital in Bozeman, working days in the ER.
That night, she was preparing to go meet up with Jamie for a drink when she noticed movement down in the corral. Seeing the table and chairs she knew what they were up to; cowboy poker.
"If it makes you feel better Jimmy," Lloyd was laughing at him. Jimmy, Ryan, Colby, Avery and a new day worker, Cowboy, were set up to play. "There's a doctor right here."
"Ah, no scrubs," she called as she got closer to them. "So, I'm off duty." She was wearing her deep blue dress and gray sweater again, though this time she swapped the heels for flats. She stopped along the fence where Walker had propped himself up to sit and watch.
"Hm, wonder who she's heading out with," Cowboy commented to Ryan, who didn't know; he did look annoyed at the older ranch hand though. "Watching you pine is exhausting," he informed him.
"Amen," Colby agreed, taking a drink.
As they were talking about this, Lexi and Walker were having their own conversation. She wondered how he knew about what happened to her before anyone else but never had the chance to ask him yet. He said simply yet sadly he had seen his mom go through the same thing; she apologized for even asking.
"Who's idea was this?!" she called into the corral and both Ryan and Colby pointed in the direction of Avery and Cowboy.
She just shook her head as they called for Jake to let the bull out. She also could barely look, grimacing as the bull ran in and hit the table; Avery was the last one sitting, the others already taking off. Adrenaline running high, they were laughing as they came back towards Lloyd, with Lexi coming over to meet them.
"You're all crazy," she told them, though she did laugh too. Rip came out soon, furious, yelling at them to go to the bar if they wanted to get drunk. "That's my cue," she said with a laugh, turning to go.
"Hey," Ryan said, catching her hand. "Come to the bar with us," he invited her.
"I can't, I have plans with Jamie," she told him.
"Blow him off," he shrugged. "Not like you don't owe him one there."
"Ryan," she laughed but also complained.
"Your brother, right, sorry," he apologized. He didn't know why she would want to forgive Jamie just yet after everything but it wasn't his place to say.
"Well," she bit her lip in contemplation. "You know he's only gonna be up for one, maybe two drinks. How about I meet you there after," she compromised, smiling.
"Deal," Ryan smiled back.
…
"So, where are things at with you two?" Colby was asking as they were shooting pool that night; Jimmy and Avery were sitting at the bar.
"You've about seen it," Ryan shrugged, taking his shot. "I'm not pushing her," he continued, grabbing his beer now.
"I get it," Colby agreed. "Just feels like you've been waiting for her a long time," he said, reminding him of the two years before she even came home from California.
"She's worth it," Ryan said simply, though their conversation was now interrupted by Avery calling for their help as Jimmy was now in a fight.
…
Lexi stood outside the wine bar, waiting for Jamie to show up. Part of her was still raw over everything that happened and she hoped that tonight they could get past it. She knew her dad and Ryan weren't super crazy about her trying to make up with Jamie but they weren't going to stop her.
"Hey," Jamie greeted her with a hug on the sidewalk before leading the way inside. He gave his name for the reservation and they were led to a table with four seats. Lexi noticed there were plenty of two seat tables available but didn't think too much of it, figuring it had to do with whatever person's section they were getting seated in.
"So," she laughed awkwardly after they were silent at the table for a moment.
"So," Jamie agreed. "Lexi, you have to know how sorry I am."
"I know," she assured him. Obviously, he never meant for anything to happen like it had. She was upset though that he didn't get her things done in time when he knew what the risk was. "That's why I'm glad we-"
"Sorry I'm late!" she was cut off by a young woman about her age coming over to their table quickly, kissing Jamie as she greeted him. "Hi, I'm Christina," she greeted Lexi warmly, offering her hand.
"….hi," Lexi said, shaking her hand from where she still sat, confused as Christina sat down. She thought she and Jamie were meeting up to talk about the issues between them; Jamie thought they were already worked out.
"I thought it was time for my two favorite girls to meet," Jamie was saying as he rested a hand over Christina's.
"Christina," Lexi was saying now as it was occurring to her where she heard that name before. "As in your campaign manager?"
"I know," Christina was giggling. "But we were spending so much time together…" She trailed off, unable to read Lexi. "Your brother has told me so much about you," she continued. She was the only one in Jamie's family she was hoping to meet.
"You too," Lexi told her. "You're the one that decides which phone calls are important, right?"
Jamie had previously explained that Lexi's calls after the license issue went ignored because Christina had his phone. If Jamie had answered maybe she still had to go to California, but it might not have been alone.
"….right," Christina acknowledged, looking to Jamie; he squeezed her hand and Lexi felt like punching him in the face. How was he comforting her in this situation? "About that, it's just…things with the campaign and everything…it totally slipped my mind when it shouldn't have. If I ever knew what happened would have happened…"
"I didn't need my brother to get me out of a speeding ticket," Lexi stopped her. "My ex-boyfriend put me in the hospital."
"Ok," Jamie cut in. "I thought this would be ok," he was saying to his sister; she felt like screaming.
"You know what," she decided instead. "I'm sure you two have had a long week and want to enjoy your night so," she said as she got up from her chair. "I'm just gonna head home."
Lexi made it through the restaurant and out to the sidewalk before she heard Jamie calling her name. She ignored him, much like he had ignored her after the fight with Ryan and her dad.
"Lexi, wait," Jamie said, grabbing her arm above the elbow. That triggered her in a way she didn't expect.
"Don't touch me!" she snapped as she jerked away from him.
"I'm sorry, sorry," he repeated, realizing he made her think of Matt by grabbing her like that. Lexi couldn't help but think of earlier when Ryan stopped her and how he softly grabbed her hand. "Just stop, please."
"I thought we were going to talk about what happened," she informed him. "Not dive into how blatantly unprofessional you two are."
"And I thought we were meeting up because we were ok," he explained. "I'm sor-"
"You think a few text messages and phone calls fixed what happened?" she asked him. "You were so worried about you that you forgot about helping me," she said, blinking back tears. "Then you walk off that night all pissed off like what happened with dad was my fault."
"Lexi, I cannot tell you how sorry I am," Jamie continued. "I'll never be able to tell you how sorry I am about what happened. And I wasn't mad at you over dad, I was just so thrown off after the fight-"
"You wanna tell me about the trauma of being punched in the face?" she asked dryly.
"Lexi, I'm sor…." He stopped when he saw her face. "I thought you would like Christina, I thought you two would get along."
"Yeah, I'm always pro ignoring your family's calls," she agreed sarcastically, turning to go.
"You two actually have a lot in common," Jamie tried, getting her to stop.
"Yeah?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. "Because I don't care what Ryan or Matt or anyone does for work. What do you think is gonna happen with your little political groupie in there if you lose?"
"I'm running unopposed," Jamie countered.
"That's not what I hear," Lexi informed him.
"You know what," Jamie found himself getting annoyed now. "You're the only one in our family that will even talk to me after what happened. And it would mean a lot to me if you two could be friends."
"Oh," Lexi laughed cynically. "Oh, ok, I want you to repeat that slowly so you can hear how hypocritical you are."
"That," Jamie started, but he had no argument. "That…."
"See that right there is," Lexi started then stopped herself. She was going to say that's why John kicked him out. "You know what, never mind. I'm heading home before one of us says something stupid."
And with that, she got in her car and took off for the bar where she knew the guys would be. Unfortunately though, they were already gone.
…
"The one night I need you all to drink like crazy," Lexi was accusing as she pushed the bunkhouse door open that night. She stopped when she saw the four of them sitting at the table, looking like hell. Lloyd had just tossed Colby something from the freezer for his jaw; Ryan was holding something to his head, just above his eye; Avery had her ice on top of her head while Jimmy kept feeling his eye.
"I think it's broken," he had been saying.
"What happened?" she asked worriedly, checking him first. She sat in the chair next to him, feeling along his eye.
"They went to the bar without me," Lloyd informed her and she shook her head.
"It's not broken, but if you don't get some ice on it you won't be able to open it tomorrow," she told Jimmy, standing up now and peeling off her sweater so she was just in her sundress; she had some work to do. "You," she nodded at Avery.
"I'm fine," Avery protested, head resting on her hand, elbow on the table.
"Yeah, the bull, now this?" Lexi countered, sitting next to her. "We're checking you for a concussion."
She didn't wait for an answer as she used the flashlight on her phone to check Avery's pupils. Avery was cleared of a concussion as something else caught Lexi's eye; the rag Ryan was holding above his eye was covered in blood.
"Jeez, come here," she said as she went over to his chair at the end of the table. He reluctantly removed it, knowing she was going to freak. "Oh my God, Ryan," she exclaimed. "You need stitches!" She hurried over to the counter where she had been keeping a first aid kit she stocked from the hospital; the guys got hurt a lot around here.
"Catch a whiskey bottle to the face?" she asked as she stood in front of him, having him tilt his head back.
"I think it was gin," he commented lightly.
"Good Lord," she shook her head though she was fighting a smile; it was a little funny. "Hold still," she told him, resting her knee on his chair between his for balance; she was practically in his lap.
"Hey Doc," Walker was saying from the couch.
"Hm?" she asked as she continued to stitch Ryan's eyebrow.
"You sure Avery doesn't need stitches too?" he asked with a grin and a few of the guys laughed. Avery chucked something from the table at him; Lexi gave him the finger.
"You gotta admit," Ryan said, keeping his voice low. "No one expects stitches to be hot."
"Don't make me laugh," she said seriously, though she was smirking. "I'm literally holding something sharp near your face."
"Right, sorry," he continued to grin at her and she rolled her eyes playfully. "Rough night with Jamie?" he asked, referencing her drinking comment before.
"I thought we were gonna talk things out," she explained. "He thought we were already better and brought his new girlfriend."
"Oh man," Ryan agreed.
"Who is his campaign manager," Lexi went on.
"The one who," he started, knowing about the phone calls.
"Yeah," she stopped him, nodding. "Oh, and he has the audacity to tell me when I was trying to leave that it would mean a lot if I could get along with her." Ryan didn't say anything but he had a look that said you're kidding me. "Exactly," she agreed with his expression as she finished the stitches. Kaycee was coming into the house now.
"Get a room," he informed them as he saw them first; Lexi turned to give him a look and he saw Ryan's eye and then everyone else. "What happened?" he demanded and they told him about the fight. He said they were going back before going to get Rip from his cabin.
"Get me if you get into any more trouble," she told Ryan, squeezing his hand before heading up to the main house; she hoped they didn't get themselves into too much trouble. As she went inside she noticed the light in her father's office.
"Hey dad," she said as she stopped in the door.
"Hey sweetpea," he greeted her from his desk. "How was your night?"
"Ah, I need a break from Jamie for a little bit," she admitted.
"Sorry to hear that," he told her. "What did he do?"
"Brought his new girlfriend," she said though she didn't get into who it was. "Thought we were gonna be friends and….go shopping and get our nails done or whatever you do with brothers' girlfriends," she shrugged and John laughed a little.
Lexi and Monica got along fine but they weren't exactly best friends. Lee hadn't had a serious girlfriend in years and Jamie's last serious girlfriend was when he lived in Boston. She really didn't know what Jamie wanted.
"Maybe some space is a good thing," John agreed with her. "Goodnight sweetpea."
"Goodnight dad," she said, kissing his cheek.
…
A couple days passed and the guys were all working around the corral. The vet was there to help in inseminating the cows; Jimmy, as low man, was the unlucky one that day. John was standing with Kaycee as Lexi came down from that house that morning, dressed in her scrubs.
"You heading to work?" John asked her as she came to stand with them.
"Just getting back," she told him. "Good to know I was missed," she joked. John honestly thought she had been out with Ryan the night before.
"I told Keith I didn't want you working nights," John said. He was her dad, it didn't matter how old or capable she was; he would always worry.
"I volunteered for a shift this week," she explained. "One of the night doctors is on their honeymoon."
"Mmm," John nodded, though he still didn't seem thrilled.
"I've worked my share of nights, daddy," she told him. "And lived in San Francisco for two years." He just nodded. "I think I'm gonna need to borrow a truck though-"
"What's wrong with your car?" Ryan asked now as he was nearby. She was awful about taking care her of her cars, always had been, from basic maintenance to telling someone when something was going on.
"It's making this noise," she started to explain. Her dad and Kaycee, knowing her habits, didn't look thrilled at her either.
"For how long?" John asked and she just smiled sweetly at him. Ryan held his hand up and she tossed him her keys.
"I'm gonna go get some sleep," she excused herself, heading back towards the house.
"Don't have girls gentlemen," John informed the group to a few laughs. "Daughters will be the end of me," he continued as he turned to go.
"I thought ranching was going to be the end of you," Kaycee joked, turning to him. He looked in just enough time to see his father falling to the ground. "Dad," he said, rushing over. Ryan and Rip were rushing over as well, some others coming closer or just looking over. "Dad," Kaycee was saying again and John started spitting blood. "LEX!" Kaycee shouted up the hill and she turned, saw, and took off running back down.
"Sam, do you have an X-ray in there?" she asked the vet as Kaycee and Rip got her father from the ground. She nodded and they rushed him into the truck, Ryan helping Lexi with the table and Kaycee and Rip laid John on it.
"It's my cancer," John was saying weakly as she got the X-ray set up.
"You don't spit blood with colon cancer dad," she told him, making the others move back. "So it's either spread or…." She trailed off as she looked at the X-ray. "You have a ruptured ulcer," she said, moving fast.
"Let's get him to the hospital," Kaycee was saying.
"It'll bleed out too fast, get some gloves," she instructed, knowing her brother had medic training. "Rip hold him there," she instructed by his arms. "Ryan, get his legs, he can't move at all."
"You're gonna do this here?" Rip asked in disbelief. "Aren't you gonna give him anything?"
"You know, I must have missed the day they taught us how to dose cow meds for humans," she told Rip, a little annoyed. "I've gotta take care of this now dad," she told him as she poured iodine all over his abdomen. "Do you trust me?"
"Let's see this education I paid for," he said, his voice weak but light; he was always ribbing her, Jamie and Beth over the costs of school.
"Ok," she said, taking a deep breath before making the first incision. "Once I get in Kaycee, you're gonna have to hold the bleed until I can cauterize it," she explained.
"Got it," Kaycee nodded, the other two watching the Dutton twins work. Ryan had seen Lexi do stitches, set broken bones, do basic emergency care. He had never seen her do surgery though.
"You're gonna have to fly with him," Lexi continued. John had since passed out from shock but she had told Ryan and Rip to keep holding so he didn't move involuntarily.
"Shouldn't you?" Kaycee asked as she started to close their dad up.
"I have to call the hospital, I want them to have everything before he gets there," she explained. She was done now, peeling off her gloves. "I'll lose reception up there, go," she instructed and they worked to get John up, carrying him out as she pulled out her phone; thankfully, the helicopter was already ready; Lloyd had called while she was doing surgery.
"No, I want Simmons," Ryan heard Lexi yelling on the phone as she grabbed truck keys. "I don't want his third year resident, I want him, call him back. And get OR 2 ready, it's the closest one to the blood bank," she continued, taking off now.
…
Shortly after supper that evening, Ryan got a call from Lexi asking him to pick her up. She had given Kaycee the truck so he could go see Tate and didn't want him to have to backtrack all the way to the ranch with her. Ryan pulled up to the ER entrance and she hopped inside quickly so they could get out of there.
"How's your dad?" Ryan asked as he started back to the ranch.
"He'll be ok," Lexi nodded. "Got through the second surgery fine and got a blood transfusion." She couldn't read his expression. "What?" she asked with a small laugh.
"I never had a chance to see you work before," he told her. "You're…amazing," he settled on the only word he could come up with. He had always thought she was amazing but today was something else.
"Thanks," she grinned, settling in the seat. "Tell my boss that, because he kicked me out," she admitted as to why she was leaving her dad.
"Why's that?" Ryan laughed.
"He said I was micromanaging," she rolled her eyes but knew she had been.
"Not you," he laughed and she made a face at him. "Did you eat?"
"I'm not hungry," she shook her head. "I've been up almost 24 hours."
"Why don't you close your…." He trailed off as she was already asleep.
They got to the house and Lexi was still sleeping. Ryan scooped her out of the car, carrying her into the house. Beth's car was gone so it was just the two of them as he took her to her room, gently laying her on her bed.
"You know what I always used to do," she was saying, eyes still closed.
"Hm?" Ryan asked as he sat on the edge of her bed.
"Pretend to be asleep in the car so I got carried to my room," she laughed a little, opening her eyes sleepily and Ryan laughed, touching her hair. "Worked on dad then on Lee the whole way through high school," she continued.
"Why pretend now?" he asked as she sat up.
"Got you in here," she shrugged with a grin, going to kiss him. Ryan kissed her back before pulling away.
"You sure baby?" he asked. She answered by kissing him again and pulling him onto the bed with her.