Parker and Catherine arrived at the hospital right before visiting hours.
"Any change?" She asked Emily.
"No. He's the same."
"Where's your parents?"
"They went home for a while."
"That's good. They need some rest."
"They are more worried about you."
"I know but..."
Catherine tucked on her mother's shirt. "When can we see him?"
"In a few minutes." She answered.
Jay walked in carrying a cup of coffee. He handed it to his sister. "Hey squirt, what are you doing here?" He picked on his niece.
"I came to see my dad."
Parker watched the clock on the wall. "Is that thing slow or what?"
"Yes. It should be time."
Catherine grabbed her mother's hand. "Can we go in now?"
"Yep." They walked down the long hallway. Parker pushed the button and the doors slid opened. They entered his room.
Parker walked over to her husband side. He was still asleep. She bent down and kissed his forehead. His eyes popped opened.
"Hey." His voice was still weak.
"Good morning. Did you go home?"
"Yes." She took his hand. "I brought you a visitor." She smiled down at him.
"Who?"
Parker turned her head to see Catherine still standing by the door. She motioned for her come over to the bed. Catherine shook her head no.
"Catherine." She answered Jarod. She moved out of Jarod's way. He saw his daughter standing there.
"Come here." He watched her move slowly toward them. "It's okay."
"Daddy." She rushed over to him with tears rolling down her cheek.
"Hey, don't cry." He wiped her tears. "Can daddy have a kiss?"
She kissed his lips. "I love you. Come home soon." She whispered in his ear.
"I will." He whispered back.
Catherine broke loose and headed out the door. "Catherine wait!" Parker went toward the door.
"Let her go." Jarod patted the bed. "She will be okay."
Parker obeyed his signal for her to join him. She sat down on the edge of the bed. "She is going to handful during this."
"She is hard headed like her mother." He laughed. "Ow. It hurts to laugh."
"Then don't. Let's talk about something else."
"How are the kids?"
"Fine." She looked down into his brown eyes.
"Have you told them?"
"Yes. They all wanted to come."
"And you only brought Catherine. I would hate to be you when you get home." He grinned.
"I had to. She knows I shot Lyle."
"You told her."
"She over heard Simone and me talking this morning." Parker turned her head toward the wall.
"Hey, isn't that my shirt?" Jarod was hoping to get a smile.
"Yes, it is. I hope you don't mind."
"No. I'm used to you wearing my clothes." He joked. Then he coughed.
A nurse came in. "Visiting time is almost over." Then the door shut again.
"I guess I'm going soon."
"Can I get a smile?" He asked.
"I'm not in the mood to smile."
"Come on, please, for me?"
"Jarod..."
"Wait...I know how to get one."
"Uh?"
"Remember that time I came to see you when you were working late."
"Which time?"
"The time you saw me in your chair."
A small smile formed at the corner of her mouth. "When you sat there naked?"
"Yeah, that's the time. See, I knew I could get a smile." He held onto her hand.
"You still amaze me." She whispered.
"I hope so. I would hate to see our marriage turn dull."
She looked down at her watch. "I better go before the nurse throws me out and I have to fight her." She kissed his lips. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"I'll be back at the next visit." She promised.
"I'm not going anywhere."
She got up from the bed side and walked over to the door. She turned back to get one more look at him before exiting.
On her way out she ran into the officer from last night. "Mrs. Russell?"
"Yeah."
"How's your husband?"
"The same."
"I just wanted to let you know that I filing it as an accident."
"Thanks for letting me know, Officer...?"
"Brent is fine."
"Brent, thanks." She muttered.
"Come on Brent, we have to go." The other officer came around the corner.
"I hope your husband gets better soon." He said as he walked off.
"Me too." She said to herself. She walked back to the waiting area to find Catherine sitting next to Emily. Emily got up so Parker could sit.
"Are you okay?" Parker asked as she took her daughter's hand.
"I think so." She gazed up at her mother.
"I love you, you know that, right." Parker pulled her into her chest. She kissed the top of her head.
"I know mom. I'm sorry..."
"It's okay. We are both feeling a little down." She held Catherine's face in her hands.
"Mom, will you go with me in there?" She pointed to the chapel.
"I'm..."
"Please."
Parker got up and followed her daughter into the chapel. They took a seat in the front. "Daddy came in here when you having the triplets."
"He did?"
"Yep. He prayed that you would be okay. He was scared that he was going to lose you." She faced her mom. "Can we pray for daddy?"
"I think we should." She took Catherine's hand. "It's been a long time since I have done this. I'm not sure where to begin."
"Just say what is in your heart. God will listen." Catherine bowed her head and began to pray. Parker did the same.
******
A few days later Jarod got stronger and they moved him to another room. Parker was there everyday just like she did when her youngest daughter was fighting for her life too.
Michelle entered Parker's office. "You look tired. Are you getting any rest?"
"More since Jarod is better. What can I do for you or did you just want to bother me?"
She laughed. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you."
"Oh...about?" Parker sat back in her chair and stared at the short hair woman that was sitting across from her.
"Well...I know that it is really none of my business but I have been worried about you."
"You worried about me?" She questioned.
"Yeah. I know a lot of things have been going on with you. I just wanted to let you know that if you ever needed to talk to anyone I will be free to listen."
"Thanks for the offer but...."
"Melissa."
"Mmm." She watched the lady stand.
"I know you miss Sydney. I wish he was still here so I could talk to him too but I feel like I know you well enough...."
"Michelle, thanks." She stood and walked over to her. "If I decide to talk to anyone I will keep you in mind, okay?" She placed her hand on her shoulder.
"Okay." She stood.
"Was there anything else?" Parker stood in front her.
"No, that's it." Michelle exited the room.
Parker went to her desk and gathered her things. She was on her way out when Sam entered.
"Sorry, I didn't know you were leaving."
"I'm on my way to the hospital to see Jarod." She hit the lights.
"Then I'll walk you out." He held the door open for her and let her go first.
"Thanks. What do you need?"
"Nothing. It can wait until tomorrow. How's Jarod?"
"He's doing better. I hope he comes home soon. I miss him."
Sam opened her car door. She sat down in the driver's seat. "Thanks for walking me out."
"You're welcome." He shut the door and watched her drive away.
******
Parker entered her house after staying a couple of hours with Jarod. She was hoping to to beat the kids home but didn't make it.
"Hi mom." Catherine came in the living room.
"Hi. How was your day?"
"Fine. Let me help you." She took the briefcase from her and sat it down next to the wall. "How's dad?"
"Better. The doctor said he should be coming home by the end of the week."
"Good."
Parker could smell something burning from the kitchen. "Catherine, what is that smell?"
"Oh." She took of running in the kitchen. Parker quickly followed. "I was going to surprise you and fix dinner but it looks like I burned it." She looked over at her mother. "Sorry."
"It's okay. Why don't we order out?"
Catherine picked up the phone book. "Pizza, okay?"
"Fine. You order it and I will change clothes and check on the others." She kissed her daughter on the top of the head.
******
Parker sat in the floor holding her four month old baby girl. She watched as her two sons played with each other under the play tent that was set up in the middle of the living room floor.
"Mom?" Her oldest entered the room.
"Mmm." Parker looked up.
"I cleaned the mess from supper and I'll get the others to bed soon."
"Catherine, come here." She sat down next to her mother. "Thanks for helping me out. I know it has been hard for you."
"Mom.."
"Wait...I'm still talking. I appreciate everything you have done and I wanted to thank you. I love you. You know that, right?"
The girl shook her head yes.
"I don't know if I tell you that enough but I do." She kissed her forehead.
"Mom, I love you too. Call me when you are ready to put them to bed." She got up and headed up the stairs.
Parker watched her daughter then turned her attention back to the three little ones in the floor.
******
Parker laid awake in the bed. She stared over at the empty spot where Jarod slept. "I miss you, baby." She whispered as she grabbed his pillow and breathed in the scent of her lover. She laid her head on his pillow and stared at the wall before closing her eyes.
The End!