**GETTING TO THE TRUTH** Chapter 41

by HollyJo

**GETTING TO THE TRUTH**
Chapter 41

Jax walked slowly down the hospital corridor, his mind thinking back to the telephone conversation he had overheard by the nurse. The nurse looked familiar and the conversation had been menacing, to say the least. He couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen. So deep in thought, he didn't pay attention to where he was going, and was surprised out of his thoughts and brought back to the present, when he ran into someone. He apologized and righted the person. He was shocked to find the nurse who had been in Mel's room earlier, helping to get her settled, after she had fallen out of the bed. The nurse smiled at him and hurried on her way. Jax watched as she walked away. Suddenly, his heart started racing and he recognized her back as that belonging to the nurse that had been on the phone earlier. He ran after her and grabbed her arm, just as he heard a code blue alert over the hospital speakers. He whirled around, with the nurse firmly in hold, and headed to Mel's room.

"Let me go," the nurse yelled. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

Jax ignored her and half-dragged and half-pulled the woman with him. As they circled the nurses station, Jax saw people crowded into Mel's room. His grip tightened on the nurses arm and dragged her closer.

"What's going on Jax?" Mac's voice startled him from behind.

Jax swung around and thrust the nurse at Mac, "Something has happened to Mel...and this woman had something to do with it....don't let her out of your sight." He said as he turned away from them and made his way to Mel's room.

"What's this all about?" Mac asked the woman.

"I have no idea." She said innocently. "I was just walking down the corridor and that mad man grabbed me and started dragging me every which way."

Mac looked at her suspiciously, "UhhhhHuhhhhhh," he drawled, getting a tighter grip on her arm. "I may not be a big fan of Jax's, but I know him well enough to know that there must be some reason for his behavior. I suggest you sit on this couch and don't move until we can sort this whole thing out."

"I have no intention of just sitting here. I'm off duty, I intend to go home," the woman spit out.

Mac pushed her down on the sofa and got in her face, "You move one muscle, and I'll have you arrested."

"For what?"

"For obstruction of justice. Stay put!" Mac said as he motioned for the officer that had come with him to watch over the woman. He, too, headed for Mel's room.

"What did she put in the i.v.?" Mac heard Tony ask Jeff as he entered the crowded room.

"I don't know...she said it was something to make her sleep better. She injected something into the thingy on the back of her hand, then left." Jeff said anxiously to the doctor.

"Somebody find that nurse," Tony yelled, looking at Mel, who's heart was beating again, but erratically.

"I found her and handed her over to Mac," Jax said, turning back to the door and spotted Mac. He frowned fiercely at him, when he noticed that the nurse was not with him, "Where is she? Don't tell me you let her go?"

"No, she's outside on the couch. Being watched by a cop," Mac said, hurrying to reassure the angry man facing him.

Tony pushed passed them and headed to talk to the nurse. After a few moments, he came back holding a vial and barked out an order to inject some medicine.

"What is it Tony?" Jax asked.

"It's insulin," Bethany piped in. "She tried to kill her with insulin. Oh God! Mel was right, someone tried to kill her and we just thought she was hallucinating." Bethany started to cry, "How could I be so stupid?"

Jax wrapped his arms around her, "I know, I thought the same thing."

"I believed her, but that didn't help, someone still got to her. Don't blame yourselves." Jeff said, his worried glance on Mel.

Tony watched as Mel's heart and breathing rate regulated then turned to see all the people in the room. "Okay, everyone out. She's going to be alright. Let her get her rest."

"I'm not leaving her," Jax said. "Never again."

"Me either," Jeff said.

Tony went to the two, "Listen, I know what happened scared you, but this is ICU, we need some semblance of order in here. I'll let one person stay with her at all times, if that will make you feel better. But it has to be a family member."

"I'm staying," Jax said firmly.

"Me too," Jeff said.

"Listen..." Tony began.

"It's okay, Tony," Bethany said, "They are family. But only one of us will be in the room at a time. Okay?"

Tony looked at all three of them and slowly nodded, "Okay, just stay out of our way if we need to work on her."

All three nodded and Tony patted Bethany's arm, then left the room.

"I'm going to sit with her," Bethany said in a tone that meant no arguing. The two men nodded their agreement, then left the room.

When Jax and Jeff stepped out of the room, they saw Mac talking to the nurse, her wrists now in handcuffs. They watched as an officer led her away. Mac turned to Jax and motioned him over, Jeff followed.

"How did you know?" Mac asked Jax.

"I heard a phone conversation of her's and put 2 and 2 together. Unfortunately it took me some time to put it together." Jax explained. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Miranda came to see me. Seems that she came across some information incriminating Del, another police officer, in the robbery. She also said that she knew that there was a hit out on Mel."

"Miranda came across this information, huh?" Jax asked suspiciously.

"Yeah, seems she was at a bar, heard enough to figure out what was going on, then befriended Del. He was taken in by her and spilled the beans on her. Taggert just arrested him. The 3rd man is still at large. Which is why I think we should put a guard on Mel, until he's caught."

"I agree," Jax said.

"So nice to know we finally agree, but I wasn't asking for your approval," Mac said sarcastically.
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2 Days Later --

"Get that off me," Jerry growled, as he pushed the blanket off him that Libby had just spread over him.

Libby sighed in frustration, "You just said 5 minutes ago that you were cold," she said.

"And now I'm hot...what's the big deal?" he said, then coughed.

Libby threw up her hands, "Fine, it's there if in another 5 minutes you're cold again," she said as she swung around and headed for the bedroom door.

"Where are you going?" he asked after he controlled his coughing fit.

"I'm going to get you more orange juice. Is there anything else you want?" she asked, tapping her toe impatiently on the carpet.

"Some hot tea? With honey?" Jerry said. Libby nodded and started out the door, "And some lemon!" Jerry yelled as she disappeared out the door, then collapsed in another coughing binge.

Libby rolled her eyes as she headed down the back stairs to the kitchen.

"How's the baby?" Janet asked with a chuckle as she squeezed more juice out of an orange.

"Being a baby...what else is new?" Libby said with disgust, "You'd think the man was dying the way he's carrying on. All he has is a cold."

Janet chuckled again and handed her the orange juice, "Here you go, dear. Just remember that men are big babies when it comes to being sick. They can't stand it, you know. Makes them feel as if their manhood has been taken away from them."

"Yeah, I know....which is why I've been patient with him for 2 days...but my patience is wearing kinda thin." she said as she snagged a piece of bacon off of a plate that Janet had just filled.

"What else does the Lord and Master want?" Janet said, laughing at her own description of the sick man upstairs.

Libby grinned at her, "Hot tea with honey....oh and lemon....must not forget the lemon."

Janet grinned at her and went to make the tea, while Libby ate her breakfast hurriedly.

"Haven't you ever seen him sick before?" Janet asked over her shoulder.

"Yes, a couple of times. But back then, we were just friends, he didn't require that I wait on him hand and foot."

Janet laughed and put the tea on a tray, "And now that you're engaged, he expects it huh?"

"No, more like I think I need to. What is that anyway? Where is it written, that just because I've agreed to marry the idiot, I have to become his personal slave?" Libby said in disgust. "I might have to rethink this whole marriage thing."

Janet patted her hand, "Now don't do that, otherwise I know three other patients that you'll have on your hands. Namely your grandmother and soon-to-be in-laws. I think they want the marriage as much as you two do."

"Yeah, I know....this whole wedding is turning into a 3-ring circus."

Janet patted her hand again in sympathy, "Just remember that on your wedding day, all this nonsense will seem like it never happened." Her eyes glazed over at the thought of a wedding, "I do so love weddings, and you are going to be one of the most beautiful brides I'll have ever seen."

Libby smiled at her fondly, "I bet you say that to all the brides."

"No I don't...why I remember old lady Williams granddaughter that got married a couple years ago. I just couldn't bring myself to say what a beautiful bride she was...because she wasn't. Luckily the groom wasn't so great to look at either, otherwise my tears that day would have been for the pity I might have felt for him. But fortunately since they were both ugly as sin, I just cried for the ugly children they will most likely have."

Libby laughed and hugged the housekeeper that had become a part of the family so quickly. She tossed a last piece of toast in her mouth and carefully picked up the tray that was loaded down with orange juice, breakfast, and the important tea, and headed up the stairs.

"What took you so long?" Jerry complained as soon as she opened the door.

"I took a trip to France to buy me a new wardrobe," Libby sarcastically said, "What do you think took me so long? Janet had to make the tea, and while she did, I wolfed down my breakfast. Just so I could hurry and get you your tea," she said as she sat the tray on his lap.

"You could have brought your breakfast up here and ate.....ate....a....a....ACHOO!....ate with me," Jerry said.

"Yeah, like I want even more of your germs." Libby said and flopped down on the end of the bed, picking up the scattered newspaper.

Jerry took a sip of his orange juice and wrinkled his nose in distaste.

"What's wrong?" Libby asked him.

"This juice is too warm. You know I like it with ice."

"It has ice in it."

"Not enough," Jerry complained, holding the glass out to her.

Libby sighed and stood back up and reached for the glass. She noted several ice cubes floating around and looked at Jerry with raised eyebrows.
Jerry shrugged his shoulders, "I want more ice."

"I see," Libby said, then tipped the glass and poured half of it, ice included, over his head. Jerry yelped and sprang from the bed, knocking the tray, tea, and food all over the bed and floor.

"What the hell did you do that for?" Jerry asked glaring at her, wiping the orange juice from his face.

Libby walked to the door, saying over her shoulder, "I needed to make room in the glass for more ice." Then left a sputtering and coughing Jerry to clean the mess up.

She made her way to the kitchen, and without saying a word handed the half-empty glass to Janet.

"Should I ask where the orange juice ended up?" Janet asked.

Libby looked at her in surprise, "On his head, how did you know?"

Janet laughed, "You had that look in your eye when you left here. Knew it was bound to happen sooner or later."

Libby grinned at the elder woman and left the kitchen to make her way to the living room. Hazel and Jane were neck deep in wedding plan lists and John was on the phone. She flopped down on the couch opposite of them.

"Libby, dear, I'm so glad you're here. Hazel and I were just trying to decide what flowers should be in your bridal bouquet. Hazel likes the traditional roses and baby's breath, while I like lilies and gladioli. Which would you prefer?"

"Well, I..." Libby began, but John interrupted her.

"Libby, we should really start looking for a house for you and Jerry. Something with lots of rooms for all my grandkids. I'm sure the two of you want to start having a family as soon as possible. Neither one of you are getting any younger." Libby looked at him stunned, "Now I've made an appointment with the Realtor tomorrow...do you think that rascal son of mine will be better by then?"

"And Libby," Hazel piped in, "We really need for you to make the final decision on the dress. The designer really needs to have enough time to finish it."

"And we should really make the decision on the reception...what food, music...that sort of thing. We only have a couple of weeks. And while having money does get things done in a hurry, we still need to give the caterers some time." Jane said.

Libby listened as the three continued with their barrage of questions, suggestions and opinions. She finally got up and walked out of the room, making her way back up to her bedroom, where Jerry had taken up residence. She walked in the door just as the maid was leaving with an armful of sheets. Libby smiled at her and closed the door after her.

"Anymore orange juice to spill on my head?" Jerry asked as he climbed back under the covers and made himself comfortable.

Libby shook her head and climbed onto the bed next to him, laying her head on his chest. Jerry sighed and put his arms around her and pulled her closer, "What's wrong?"

"I'm hiding from 3 crazy people in the living room." Jerry chuckled hoarsely at her answer, "I mean it Jerry. Two of them are making wedding plans as if it were their wedding and the other, your dad, is giving me lectures about starting a family. I think we should just elope."

Jerry hugged her tightly, "It's our wedding, don't let them take over. Tell them what you want, and make them stick to it. And as far as the making babies, well I'm all for that. You wanna try now?"

Libby laughed and punched his stomach, "You couldn't even if you were serious....you're too sick, remember."

"I'm never too sick to make love to you." Jerry said, stroking her back. They lay there for a few minutes in silence, then Jerry spoke again, "What kind of wedding do you want?"

"I don't know," Libby grumbled into the comforter.

"Of course you do, all women have been dreaming of their wedding day since they were in their cribs. I know you have some idea what you want."

"Honestly Jerry, I don't. I've never really pictured the wedding details...I've only imagined us, before a pastor, saying our vows. All I see is us. I don't know what the flowers looked like, or even what we were wearing. All I saw was your eyes, and your smile. How am I supposed to have a wedding of my dreams, when I've never really dreamed one?"

"Libby, honey, that's all a wedding boils down to....the man and the woman....you and me....looking at each other and telling each other our vows. All this other stuff will be forgotten, but not that. So if it's not that important to you, let the old folks have their fun planning it. We'll know what we're there for that day."

Libby raised her head from his chest and looked at him, "Since when did you become an expert at weddings?"

"I believe it was the day I decided I wanted you in my life forever. All I saw was you and me before an alter, telling each other we would be husband and wife. I didn't see all of this fluff either. That's why I know it's not important. And that's why you know it's not important."

Libby laughed softly and tenderly kissed his cheek, "I think I like you sick...you get very mushy. Next you'll be writing me love poems and trying to sing them."

"Are you making fun of me?" Jerry said in a threatening voice.

"Never," Libby grinned at him. Jerry couldn't resist and kissed her suddenly.

"Oh germs, germs, germs," Libby complained laughingly as she tried to pull from his arms. But Jerry pinned her under him and kissed her again, slowly and tenderly, "ahhhhh, germs, germs, germs," Libby moaned as she gave into the kiss.
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Chapter 41

HollyJo


**GETTING TO THE TRUTH**
Chapter 42

"Hello Mel, you're looking much better than the last time I saw you."

"Libby?" Mel asked as she scooted herself up into a sitting position on her bed.

"Yep, it's me." Libby said in a bright voice. She went to Mel and plumped up her pillows behind her. "There you go, is that comfy?"

"Yes, thank you. You seem to be an expert at it."

"Ummmmm, don't I know it. I've been plumping pillows and fetching tea and orange juice for a few days now. Jerry's been sick you know, or else I would be here more." Libby said as she sat down in the chair next to Mel's bed. Mel had been moved to a private room the day before. She was fast recovering from her injuries and 2nd attempt on her life. But she still couldn't see. Jax and Bethany had told her that the doctors had determined it was psycho-somatic. Mel wasn't ready to face the world yet, so her body had taken the form of blindness to shield her from it.

"So how are they treating you in this place?" she asked.

Mel smiled, "Like a princess. A girl could get used to it, if she liked being drained of blood every couple of hours."

Libby laughed, "I have no idea why hospitals are so fond of drawing blood."

"So what are you doing? You should be out planning your wedding." Mel said.

"Oh, I'm leaving that to the old folks. They seem to enjoy doing it and as long as I show up for fittings and nod my head when they show me what they've picked, they're happy. So I'm here to see you and to invite you personally to our wedding. The doctor's think you'll be out of here in a couple days, which leaves you a few more days to recuperate, so you should be in fine form to come to my wedding."

"I don't know Libby. I love to see your wedding, but since I can't see, what would be the point? I'd just be in the way."

"No you wouldn't. We'll sit you on the front pew, so that you can be sure to hear every word. Besides, you might even have your sight back by then."

Mel frowned and squirmed in the bed, "They told you, didn't they?"

"Told me what?"

"Told you that I'm faking this blindness."

Libby stood up, went to the bed and took Mel's hand in her's, "Mel, they aren't saying you are faking it. They know that you can't see. They are just saying that because of all you've been through, you're body has shut down in the form of your eyesight. There's a big difference."

"Not to me."

"Listen, when you are ready to face what happened to you, I'm sure everything will be alright."

"I have faced it. I know that one of my best friends set me up to die. I know that he and another cop I trusted were in on the robbery and murder of several people. But I still can't see."

Libby patted her hand, then stood up and walked to the window to look out. "When I was a teenager, my parents died in a plane crash. They had been in Oklahoma visiting my grandmother and they were coming to Alaska to pick me up. I was visiting the Jacks'. Anyway, their plane crashed into a mountain in Colorado. I was devastated and yet I wasn't. I picked up the pieces and made all the arrangements for the funeral. I kept myself busy comforting my grandmother and trying to take over my father's business, and go to college. All at the same time. I never once cried. Jane and John Jacks were concerned about me. They sort of adopted me, and they kept telling me to cry. That was all I needed, just to cry. But I couldn't." Libby turned back to Mel, who was listening intently to her. "I didn't cry for almost a year. Then one day, Jerry and Jax came to see me. They were teasing me, like they always do. Nothing new in that, and instead of laughing and teasing them back, I started crying. I couldn't stop. I cried for 2 days straight. And Jax and Jerry stayed by my side, and let me cry. Then I stopped crying...and it was like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. For a year I had held it all in, the devastation, the loneliness, the emptiness, but when I finally grieved, I finally felt better." Libby walked back to the bed and took Mel's hand again. "So you see, even though you acknowledge what happened, and even though you say you understand, until you grieve for your loss, you haven't really accepted it. And you'll do it in your own time. In your own place. And in your own way."

Mel shook her head, "The difference is, you lost 2 people you loved and was your life. I didn't."

"Yes you did. You lost two friends, or at least two people you thought were friends. And you may not have lost them through death, but you lost them all the same. Not to mention, you've lost some faith in people. You don't know who to trust. But you can trust me, Mel. I promise I won't let you down. And you can trust Bethany, she's worried sick about you. And Jax, you can always trust Jax."

Mel smiled at the mention of Jax, "He's here all the time you know."

"I know," Libby said as she patted Mel's hand, "I wonder why that is?"

"I have no idea," Mel said.

"Ummmmhmmmm, well, we'll just have to see how this plays out," Libby said mysteriously.

"How what plays out?" Mel asked curiously.

"Oh nothing," Libby waved her comment off. " So, do you think you can make it to my wedding?"
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"Nice to see you stranger," Jerry said to Jax as he came into the office.

"I could say the same to you. Are you through playing sick and ready to work again?" Jax said as he took a seat across from the desk Jerry was sitting.

"Yeah, I've already looked over the papers for the Southwind take over. Everything looks like it's going along smoothly." Jerry said, turning back to the papers in his hand.

"Yes, it is. I thought maybe we could meet with the owners over dinner tonight." Jax said.

"You'll have to meet with them by yourself, I'm taking Libby out for dinner." Jerry said.

"Can't that wait?" Jax asked.

"Nope, it can't," Jerry said in a voice telling Jax he meant what he said.

"So how are the wedding plans going?" Jax asked, leaning back in his chair.

"Going along nicely from what I hear. Libby and I pretty much turned the whole affair over to the folks. Which reminds me, you will be my best man won't you?" Jerry asked.

"Well, seeming I am the best man, I guess I'll have to," Jax teased.

Jerry grinned at him, "Better not say that in front of Libby. She might tear into you. She knows she's marrying the best man."

"From what I hear, she's too busy pouring juice over your head to bother with me," Jax teased.

Jerry laughed, "Ahhhhh, I'm marrying a woman with a temper. Life will certainly be interesting."

"You're a lucky man," Jax said seriously.

"Yes, I am. Just as you were and just as you will be again."

"Again?"

Jerry nodded, "You've been spending a lot of time with Mel Langley. Don't tell me you aren't interested in her."

Jax shrugged, "She's gone through a hard time. I just thought she needed some people around her that she could trust."

"MmmmHmmmm," Jerry said. "I think you are going above and beyond the duty."

Jax shoved his fingers through his hair, "I know. But I can't stay away from her. There's just something about her."

"Maybe it's the old damsel in distress syndrome. You've always wanted to be the hero."

"Mel can take care of herself," Jax said, "So I don't exactly view her as a damsel in distress."

"Maybe in her usual life....but you have to admit, she's not her usual self."

"I don't know what I feel," Jax said, "All I know is that when I thought she had died, my heart stopped beating. Isn't that strange? My wife just died a few months ago. A wife that I adored, and yet here I am.....having all these......strange feelings about a woman that isn't even my type."
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"We'll have the best champagne you have," Jerry told the waiter as he seated them in at a quiet table in the new French restaurant that had opened up a few weeks prior. The waiter nodded and left them.

"Champagne, huh? What are we celebrating?" Libby asked as she placed her napkin on her lap and looked at Jerry.

"I'm having dinner with a beautiful woman that has finally consented to be my wife...what other excuse do we need?" He said with a flourish. "Wife....I like the sound of that."

Libby looked at him for a moment, "You aren't going to get all mushy, now that we are going to get married are you?"

"Mushy isn't in my vocabulary," He grinned at her.

The waiter came back with their champagne, and made a big show of pouring the flutes full. Jerry tasted his and nodded at the waiter, who smiled at them and disappeared again. But when Libby lifted her glass to take a sip, Jerry stopped her and cleared his throat. Libby looked at him confused. But her confusion turned to wonder as Jerry made a big show out of getting out of his chair and dropping to one knee in front of her.

"Jerry, get off the floor," she said with a nervous giggle.

"Nope, I'm going to do this right," He said as he took a deep breath, "Miss Elizabeth Winters, will you do me the honors of.....OUCH!!!" Jerry exclaimed as a waiter, unable to see him on the floor, carrying a flambe dessert tripped over him. Libby watched in horror as the waiter did a somersault over Jerry. The dessert went flying over Libby's head, spilling cherry's everywhere, Jerry grabbed his napkin and started beating out the fire that was spreading on the carpet. Jerry put the fire out and scowled at the burnt carpet, then turned to Libby and burst out laughing. Libby was sitting in her chair stiffly, with sticky cherry's falling out of her hair. He swallowed his laughter and started wiping the gooey mess from her face. Libby's shoulders began to shake and he looked at her with concern.

"Libby? Honey? It's nothing to cry about....look it's coming off," he said, hurrying to wipe the rest of the mess off of her. Libby's shoulders continued to shake and suddenly laughter flowed from her lips. He stood back in amazement, "You're laughing?"

Libby nodded her head, unable to speak from laughing so hard.

"Dammit, Libby, this is nothing to laugh about. I had this traditional romantic evening planned where I was going to propose and give you this ring." Jerry said as he tossed a jewelry box in her lap.

Libby continued to laugh, wiping her tears mixed with cherry sauce from her face. "Oh Jerry, I knew you would find a way to pay me back for dumping orange juice on your head. And you might as well face it....nothing is ever going to be traditional with us," and she burst out laughing again.

Jerry grinned lopsidedly at her and enjoyed the sight of the beautiful woman in front of him, covered with cherry's and sauce, laughing her heart out. His own heart did flip flops.

Libby's laughter slowly stopped and was replaced with a grin as she opened the jewelry box still in her lap...she gasped as she saw the ring in the box. "Oh Jerry...I love it."

Jerry's chest swelled with pride as he took the box and removed the ring. Then he gently raised her hand and slid the ring onto her finger. Then he slowly brought her hand to his lips, his eyes meeting her's, and kissed her hand. Libby smiled brightly at him, "I love you," she whispered. Jerry leaned over and softly kissed her mouth, "I love you too" he whispered back.
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End of Chapter 42

HollyJo