Getting to The Truth-67
"Well....You look like you've been in a war zone," John Jacks voice boomed into Jax's hospital room.
"Dad!" he said, straightening up in his bed, "How is Mel? They won't tell me anything around here!" He scowled at a nurse.
"She's going to be just fine, Son," he said. "Don't you worry about that woman. She's a tough one, that Mel."
"She's not as tough as she likes to think she is," Jax mumbled, then slammed his fist down on the bed, "I want to see her," he tried to swing his legs out of the bed, but the nurse pushed him back into bed, only to have him try to get out of bed from the other side.
"Mr. Jacks! You must stay in bed," the nurse demanded.
"Jax get back in bed," John said, rushing to Jax's side when he saw his son start to sway.
"I need to see Melanie...I need to see that she's okay," he said, grabbing his head and shutting his eyes.
John gently pushed him back into bed, "You've had a serious blow to your head, and you won't be able to walk 2 feet without falling flat on your face. I'm telling you, boy, she's going to be fine. The doctor said that the break in her leg was a clean break and should be out of the cast in 6-8 weeks, and the bump on her head isn't nearly as bad as yours. They are just going to keep her over night as a precaution."
"Are you sure?"
John nodded and awkwardly tried to tuck his son back into bed. He turned to the nurse, "Can you leave us be for a few minutes?" The nurse nodded her consent and quietly left the room.
Jax looked warily at his father, "Why do I have a feeling I'm not going to like what you are going to say?"
John shook his head, "What you and Jerry did was damned foolish. You could have gotten yourselves killed."
Jax looked him squarely in the eye, "We had our reasons."
"Melanie and Libby"
Jax nodded, "And Bethany"
"You should have let the police handle the situation."
"And if it had been Lady Jane? Would you have just sat back and let the police handle it? We had the commissioner of the police with us...he wasn't exactly holding us back, Dad."
"That bumbling idiot? He doesn't have the sense God gave a turnip...."
"Dad? What is this really about? Because I don't think Jerry trying to save his wife, or me trying to help out the woman I love is really what is bothering you."
John looked out the window, "I nearly lost you, boy. In one awful moment, I nearly lost both my sons, my daughter-in-law that I love as much as any daughter I might have had." He turned back to look at Jax, tears in his eyes, voice choked, "I nearly lost my world. I don't know what I would have done if that had happened."
"I'm okay, Dad. Jerry and Libby are okay..."
"I know that...but it could just have easily gone the other way. I've put up with my boys' adventures and mishaps...and I've done it without any complaint...but no more." He wiped his brow in frustration, "I'm an old man...and maybe I've become a bit wiser with age. I encouraged Jerry and you to face life with gusto...but I think in doing so...I also gave you a disregard for that life. You both take too many risks. And one of these days your luck is going to run out."
"Dad..."
"Don't Dad me...it's time all of you settled down. Give your mother and me some grandchildren. But for God's sake, quit scaring the life out of us. Neither one of us can handle it any more."
Jax raised his eyebrow at his father, "So we should become stick in the muds?"
"Hell boy! I'm not saying that. I didn't say you couldn't have fun...but do you have to put your lives on the line to have that fun?"
Jax laughed, "I don't know. But in our defense...this wasn't our idea of fun. Jerry's wife is the one that pulled us into this."
"No she didn't...Melanie Langley did." John spit out.
Jax's smile disappeared, "Do not even think about blaming Mel for this. Let's put the blame where it belongs...and that's with Sonny Corinthos."
"That girl is going to be trouble. It was Corinthos this week...who will it be next week?"
"Be careful what you say Dad...I love Melanie," He swallowed hard, "And if she'll have me, I'm going to marry her. But she has made it abundantly clear that she plans on keeping her job. And I'm not going to stand in her way. And...if that means I might feel the need to help her out every now and then, then so be it."
"Don't get your hackles up Boy...I know you love her. It's as plain as the nose on your face. But you need to think long and hard if you are going to be able to live with her being a cop."
"I have thought long and hard about it. Being a cop is part of what Mel is. And she's damn good at what she does. And I accept and support what she is. But that's not all she is. She's sweet, loving, loyal, supportive, smart, funny, sexy..."
"You don't have to point out her good points...." John sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, "I like her. She's feisty." He grinned at Jax, but then the grin slowly faded. "But you've lost one wife to violence, I don't want to see you lose another. I don't want to see you hurt...whether it's by her getting hurt or killed from her job...or by you trying to save her from her latest case."
"I'm not going into this blindly Dad. I know what she does for a living is dangerous. But I also know she's good at what she does. And she loves what she does. I've thought about it...a lot...and I've come up with the fact and certain knowledge that...I'd rather have her for whatever time is allotted for us...whether it's 2 years or 50 years...than to not have her at all. I need her Dad. More than I've ever needed anyone. I don't have rose-colored glasses on...I don't have stars in my eyes...and I'm not doing this or wanting her on a whim. I love her...and I want her with me."
John nodded slowly, took a deep breath, "Than I want her for you. I just want you to know the risks going into it."
"I do"
John patted Jax's hand and stood up, "Then she will be welcomed into this family. She will be loved as my daughter."
Jax smiled at him, "Well....she hasn't exactly said yes yet."
"What?" John's voice boomed in astonishment.
"Relax Dad....I haven't asked her yet."
********************************************************************************
"Honestly!" Libby said in disgust, "The man is an overbearing idiot..."
"Who happens to love you to death..." Mel laughed.
"Please don't mention the word death to me. We all came a little to close to that last night."
Mel laughed again, "Sorry. So what did Jerry do this time?" "He lectured me for over 2 hours on the appropriate behavior of a wife...how I shouldn't scare gray hairs on his head because I'm off sticking my nose into things that are none of my business...can you believe that?"
"Well...."
"No....don't even think about starting in on me too," Libby said in disgust. "Besides, Jerry knew what I was like when he married me. He's not about to start trying to change me now."
Mel laughed again, "I don't think Jerry wants to change you....I think you just scared the pants off of him. Come to think of it....you scared me pretty bad too."
"I know, I know...and I'm sorry. But if I had it all to do again....I'd still follow you. I just wouldn't get caught this time," she laughed.
Libby looked around the hospital room and then checked out Mel's cast that was now covering her leg from just below her knee. "Does it hurt?"
"Nope...they've got me on pain pills. I'm actually surprised I'm not floating around the room."
Libby's eyes crinkled with laughter, "So where is Bethany?"
"Jeff dragged her out of here about an hour ago. After he, of course, made me relate all his heroics to a disbelieving Beth. He said something about a surprise for her."
"I have a feeling about those two."
"Ummmmm.....me too. Don't be fooled by Jeff's sarcastic personality....he's in love with Bethany, and has been since the minute he met her. When you and Beth got caught by Corinthos' thug, Jeff nearly died. And his first thought was how to get her out of the situation. And it's taken some time, but, I think that Beth is finally realizing she's in love with him too."
"Should be interesting to watch..."
Mel laughed, "Yep...talk about fireworks...those two will fight like cats and dogs...but I think...underneath their surface differences...they are the same."
Libby grinned at her, "I'll have to take your word for that. So...did anyone tell you yet that Jax is going to be fine?"
Mel's smile disappeared, "Yeah, Jane stopped by a little while ago. She said that he had a concussion."
"Yeah, he's fighting the nurses to come see you though."
"Well, don't let him. For once the man should think of himself..."
"He loves you..."
Mel shut her eyes and leaned back against her pillows, "I know" she whispered.
Libby sat on the side of her bed, being careful of her leg, "Do you?"
"Yes, he told me."
"But you don't believe him?"
Mel opened her eyes and looked at her friend, "I want to..."
"But?"
Mel took a deep breath, "But I don't want to be second best. I know how much he loved...loves Brenda."
"You had it right the first time. He loved Brenda. He loves you now."
"But if Brenda were to come back..."
"Stop it right there....first of all, Brenda won't be coming back. She's not pulling a Miranda here. She's dead. Second, even if that weren't a fact...Jax has changed. He's grown up. Yes...he loved Brenda. And he will always love her. But if Brenda should miraculously show up...I'd still bet, he'd pick you."
"I wish I were as confident as you."
"Let me ask you this....Bethany's husband died, but yet you have no problem with the fact that she's falling in love with someone else. Why is it so hard to imagine Jax falling in love with someone again?"
"That's a little different. Paul died a few years ago...Brenda hasn't even been dead a year."
"Oh don't give me that hooeeey. A heart doesn't know time. It only knows love. And I'm telling you...Jax loves you. It's a grown up kind of love. It's a lifetime love. I'm not saying that if Brenda hadn't died that they wouldn't still be together...or they might be divorced. I liked Brenda, but she was a child in so many ways. What you and Jax could have....well....it could be so much more. I've seen the way that Jax is with you. He treats you like an equal...and as much as he loved Brenda, I don't think he looked at her as an equal. I could be wrong about that...but I'm not wrong that I see something different with the two of you. It's just as strong...even stronger in some ways."
Libby patted her hand, and stood up, heading to the door, "Think about it. I think you two have something special. And I would hate to see you throw it away because you are scared of what may or may not or would have happened." She smiled at Mel, then left the room, leaving a quietly contemplating what had been said.
*****************************************************************************
"Mrs. Jacks?"
Libby turned to the doctor who had checked her out early that morning before sending her home.
"Yes?"
"Could I speak with you a moment?"
"Of course"
The doctor motioned for her to follow him to his office. Once there, he walked around to his desk and opened up a file. "I thought you would like to know the results of some of your tests."
"Is everything okay?"
*******************************************************************************
Mel opened one eye when she heard her door being opened and closed. Both eyes sprang open when she saw Jax leaning against the door. His hand to his brow.
"Jax!" she exclaimed struggling to sit up.
Jax held up a hand to her, "Don't move. I'm okay. Just a little dizzy." He walked towards her, swaying a bit, "I felt like a damn spy sneaking in here."
"You shouldn't be out of bed," Mel scolded.
"I wanted to make sure you are okay."
"I'm sure that someone told you that I'm going to be fine."
"I wanted to check and make sure..." Jax looked at her cast, "Does it hurt?"
"Does your head hurt?"
"Damn right it does."
"Then why are you out of bed?"
Jax leaned against the bed and looked sheepish, "I can't sleep without you by me."
Mel's heart melted as she scooted over a bit and held her arm up to him. Jax smiled and collapsed on the bed next to her. He reached up and turned out the bed light, wrapped his arms around her, and sighed as he slowly drifted off to sleep, "I'm home".
******************************************************************************
End of Chapter 67
HollyJo
----------------------- Headers --------------------------------
Received: from relay23.mail.aol.com (relay23.mail.aol.com [172.31.106.69]) by air09.mail.aol.com (v34) with SMTP; Wed, 15 Oct 1997 23:59:16 2000
Received: from uhura.concentric.net (uhura.concentric.net [206.173.119.93])
by relay23.mail.aol.com (8.8.5/8.8.5/AOL-4.0.0)
with ESMTP id XAA10727 for <greekgypsy@aol.com>;
Wed, 15 Oct 1997 23:59:15 -0400 (EDT)
Received: from marconi.concentric.net (marconi [206.173.119.71])
by uhura.concentric.net (8.8.7/(97/09/12 5.7))
id XAA23175; Wed, 15 Oct 1997 23:59:14 -0400 (EDT)
[1-800-745-2747 The Concentric Network]
Errors-To: <HollyJo@concentric.net>
Received: from crc3.concentric.net (ts003d06.okc-ok.concentric.net [206.173.130.66])
by marconi.concentric.net (8.8.7)
id XAA11567; Wed, 15 Oct 1997 23:59:10 -0400 (EDT)
Message-ID: <34459098.5E8D@concentric.net>
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 1997 22:57:12 -0500
From: Holly Whiteside <HollyJo@concentric.net>
Reply-To: HollyJo@concentric.net
X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01Gold (Win95; I)
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: Freida Soulis <greekgypsy@aol.com>
Subject: Getting To The Truth - Chapter 67
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit