| "Jamie, it looks like everything is okay.." the doctor stated, looking in her eyes with his pen sized flashlight. "CT isn't showing anything serious...that lump must hurt...." he grinned down at her as she squirmed and complained, trying to assure both the doctor and Taylor that all she needed was to go home and get back to normal. "I am an idiot, okay? I KNOW that Dr. Warren. I am just glad I was on the road alone." she sighed, turning her head to look out the window. "I will go to the required twelve step program if I must. But usually I don't drive like that..." she finished, keeping her gaze toward the window. Taylor squeezed her fingers between his, trying to reassure her. All looked up when John and Jamie's father came into the room. Jamie gave her father a bright reassuring smile. "Hey Daddy." Jamie chuckled as her father breezed past the doctor and gathered her into his arms. "You scared me, girlie. What were you thinking?" he said directly into her ear, once he was finished smothering her face with kisses. Taylor leaned back in his chair, he and John exchanging an amused glance as the Doctor stepped back and Jamie complained. "Daddy! I am ALL right. It's okay..see?" she waved her arm at him. "leg doesn't even hurt. It looks worse than it is." she told him. She planted a very loud kiss on her father's cheek. "I wasn't thinking, Daddy. I'm sorry to make you worry like that." she finished softly. "One more night here, Jamie." the doctor told her. "I wanna keep an eye on your head, and you need the rest. Something tells me once I let you out of here, you will completely ignore my orders." he smiled down at her, as her father perched on the side of her bed, stroking her hair off her face. "She'll follow orders, Doc. I'll make sure of it." he nodded in emphasis. "Yeah. And if she don't listen to her ol' man. I will make sure..." Mongo stuck his head in the door. "Feelin' more like yourself, squirt?" he grinned at his niece. "Yeah, get in here you beast..." Jamie giggled and held her arms out to her uncle. He gave her a quick hug. John, Tay and the doctor watched, bemused, while the three family members carried on as if they were at home. "All right, one more night Jamie." the doctor told her and left the room. John offered to get coffee for everyone and Tay quickly volunteered to help him, giving Jamie and her father a moment alone. "Daddy...I..." Jamie began another round of apologies to her father and uncle, but they quickly cut her off. "No no Jamiegirl. I am sorry. I have not been the best of Daddies since your momma...well..." he couldn't think of a way to finish the sentence, however Jamie's tight grip on his hand told him she understood what he was talking about. "Daddy...it's okay...I miss her too..." Jamie sniffled, looking to her uncle for help. Mongo took the opportunity to occupy the seat Taylor recently vacated. "We know you do squirt." Mongo told her, patting her good hand. "She'd be so proud Jameson. Johnny boy says you got a good gig coming up, if you want it. And doc says you can..." her father nodded at her broken arm. "I dunno, Daddy. What will you do? I mean..." she looked at her hands on her lap. "I will be just fine girlie. You spoil your old man, you know. And that apartment will be waiting when you get back. Your momma would have my head if I didn't encourage you to do it. And I can hear Jimmy yelling at you from here." he smiled down at her. Jamie managed a weak smile. "I'll think about it. Taylor and I..." she didn't finish what she was about to say, the expressions on both her father's face and her uncle's shocked her. Both were smiling so hard their faces could have split. "WHAT?" Jamie chuckled, feeling uncomfortable. "Taylor will want you to do it, Jameson," her father chuckled, "Now the boy knows where your heart is." he kissed her forehead. "Heh. Yep. Ya damn near killed him, girlie." Mongo told her, ruffling her hair. "The boy never left this room. I could leave this world tomorrow and know that you would never be alone, Jamiegirl. He loves you." her father told her, making Jamie blush and smile softly. "OH HO! Never thought I'd see the day... I do believe your blushin' little girl." Mongo teased. "Oh stop.." Jamie muttered, not knowing how to handle this conversation. "Just let him, Jamie." her father told her. "He's a good kid. He makes you happy. And I know he'll take care of my girl. You love him, babygirl. I know you do. Your momma would have loved him, too." he and Mongo nodded in agreement. Jamie stared, stunned at the finality in their expressions. "Never had to worry about you getting hurt, baby girl. Your brother thought you were HIS the day your momma and I brought you home. Never seen a kid so protective of his baby sister." he chuckled. "But Jimmy wasn't perfect, Jameson. No one is. You mother wasn't either." "Daddy?" Jamie squeaked, her throat starting to close. Memories flooded her mind. Memories of her mother and herself, her mother and Jimmy, the four of them. Her life raced through her mind in a split second. "Shh babygirl. Live your own life. Let the world hear what I hear when you write a song, when you sing...and let the boy love you. And you take good care of HIM too." he gave her a squeeze and kissed her cheek. Uncle Mongo leaned down and kissed her forehead as well. "Listen to your old man, Jamiegirl. he knows what he is talkin' about. And get your ass on that stage. Gimme somethin' ta brag about at the shop." his chuckle echoed through the room and out the door as Jamie rolled her eyes and groaned. At that moment, Tay and John were back in the door, four cups of coffee and a bottled water in hand. "Who needs caffeine?" John chuckled when Jamie wiped her cheeks, and both men quickly stood. Tay handed Jamie the water and sat at the edge of the bed, lacing his fingers through Jamie's as she thanked him and set the water aside with the hand wrapped in plaster. |