One Tough Love

by Zanne Sweeney

  "I'm glad Jo, but I have to tell you." He said repeating her words. "I would have found you. I'll always find you Jo."

  Jo snuggled into Wes side and yawned." You know you make me a little crazy sometimes, big guy?"

  “Yeah, back at you baby.” He chuckled.

  Wes lowered the head of the bed and held her so she was lying next to him.

  “I want you here Jo. I need you here. I can’t explain it but that’s how I feel. Thank you for staying.”

  Jo nodded and Wes continued talking. “I know you’re giving me all of your time and if you want to go home just tell me. But please, please don’t ever think I want anyone else with me but you.”

  Jo had her head on his good shoulder and her arm was draped over his firm stomach.

  “I’m not good at this Wes. I don’t handle jealousy well. I guess I’ve been burned one too many times. Your so, well so desirable, it's hard for me to believe that you like me."

  “Believe it Jo. It’s not going to change.”

  Jo nodded and she was soon fast asleep. Wes lay awake thinking of the woman he held in his arms. 'Like' was a friggin' understatement he thought to himself. When the nurse came in he put his finger to his lips requesting her to stay quiet. The nurse smiled and exited the room tuning the lights off and shutting the door behind her. Wes held his Jo close to him and finally drifted off to sleep.

  Jo woke up feeling rested and safe. Wes still had his arm around her and when she stirred he kissed the top of her head.

  “Morning beautiful.” He said softly.

  “Your voice is getting better.” She said as she tilted her face up, keeping her head on his chest.

  “I feel better too.”

  Jo got off the bed and used the bathroom and then she helped Wes get out of bed to use the bathroom himself.

  “You’re moving better Wes.”

  He smiled at her playfully. “Does that warrant another sponge bath?”

  Jo blushed and then laughed.

  “Oh you are definitely feeling better.”

  Jo waited to hear what the doctor would say. He always came by in the mornings. Wes had been shot five days ago, but his strong body was mending and she could tell he was starting to feel better.

  Wes ate all of his breakfast and he tried to give some to Jo but she told him she was content with her yogurt. When the doctor arrived he looked at Wes’ chart and then examined his wounds and changed the bandages.

  “Mr. Tobin you look remarkably well for someone who was shot twice.”

  “Can I go home?”

  The doctor laughed. “No son, not quite yet. You had surgery and we need to keep you here for another two days at least.”

  “But doc I really feel fine.”

  “How about we give it one more night okay?”

  Wes grumbled and Jo told the doctor thank you.

  “One more day. I really hate hospitals.” Wes' voice broke and Jo gave him a sideways look.

  “Wes you need to stop talking so much, your throat isn’t healed yet. Play with this breather thingy.” She said handing him the clear plastic tube that had a blue ball in it. Wes blew into the mouthpiece and held the ball at the top for a few seconds. He put the apparatus down and smugly looked at Jo.

  “Happy?” He said.

  “You are a difficult patient mister.” She teased.

  “I want to shower today. I feel disgusting.”

  “Hey, you had a bath.” She said saucily.

  “One I will remember for a very long time, I assure you.” He sent her a sexy wink and Jo rolled her eyes.

  “Okay I’ll go ask the nurse.”

  Jo got permission for Wes to shower but his wounds had to be covered with plastic wrap. A pretty young nursing assistant took a little too long and definitely too much pleasure securing the wrap to Wes’ bare upper body, Jo felt a familiar insecure tug building in her belly. Wes watched Jo chewing on her bottom lip. He remembered the first time he’d seen her do that and recognized that as a sign of her being stressed. As the young nurse chatted away smoothing the wrap over his chest Jo had to turn away, so she walked to the window.

  “I think it’s good.” Wes told the nurse.

  The nurse was smiling up at him. “I should add some over here.” She said laying her hands on his chest.

  “No, if I need anymore I’ll have my girlfriend do it. Thank you.”

  Wes sent the little nurse away and watched Jo as she looked out the window.

  “Baby come here.”

  It took a few seconds before she turned.

  “Andy told me you took Ginger's head off in the waiting room and I heard you do it again in here. Why her? Why did that nurse bother you so much?”

  “How did you know?'

  "Mad PI skills." He said with a grin.

  "I don’t know.” She told him honestly. “With Ginger, it was because you had been hurt protecting her and she had caused us such problems.”

  “It’s hot that you were looking out for me.” Wes teased.

  “As for the nurse, you handled it and I'm glad you did, thank you. If I had said something I think it would have come off as snarky. Anyway, it’s not my usual M.O., so don’t get used to it.” She sulked.

  “Honey if you don’t understand something or you don’t like something I need you to speak up. How else will I know if you’re getting upset?”

  “I’ll try Wes, but usually I just keep my mouth shut…”

  “And run.”

  Jo nodded sheepishly. ”You don’t even recognize when women are flirting with you do you?” She sighed.

  “Jace says that to me all the time. I went through a rough patch, and well it’s a story for another time, but no I don’t see it all the time. When the nurse was wrapping me I didn't realize she was flirting until I saw you chewing on your lip.”

  Jo grimaced and Wes tipped her chin up so he could kiss her.

  “Okay my Jo care to walk me to the shower?”

  “Yeah, if I don’t Nurse Touchy-Feely would be right back in here.”

  Wes chuckled.

  Chapter 23

  Wes

  The next day Wes was taking short walks down the hallway and eating regular food. His voice had returned and except for the white gauze bandages covering his wounds one would never know he’d been shot. Jo was starting to feel the effect that care-givers often experience. She was tired from not sleeping and she hadn’t had anything other than sandwiches, yogurts, and jello to eat. She really needed a good nights sleep. She also needed to get her car and belongings from the lake.

  She was sitting on the couch texting Auggie when Wes came in from his tenth walk that morning.

  “Hey.” He said looking at her. For the first time he saw the fatigue that was evident on her face.

  “Baby you looked tired. Get in my bed; I’ll sit up for a while.”

  Jo smiled at him. “Wes that’s sweet, but I think I need to go home.”

  Wes looked crushed and sat down next to her.

  She put her hand on his bare thigh. “I am tired, and I also need to get my stuff from the Lake house.”

  Wes nodded he knew she was right and he felt guilty that he had monopolized all of her time.

  “Okay, how can I help? Want me to get Jace or Andy to drive you up there?”

  “No thank you. Auggie’s on his way.”

  Wes’ face took on a hard edge, but Jo watched as he smoothed it out.

  “I’m sorry Jo I wasn’t thinking about what you needed.”

  Jo took his hand. “Oh Wes believe it or not I needed to be here, with you, while you heal. You’re better now, so I thought maybe with you staying one more night in the hospital, it would be a good chance for me to go get my stuff. I’ll know you’re safe while I’m gone.”

  “Are you coming back?” Wes asked softly his anxiety came through in his voice.

  “Yes, I’ll sleep here one more night then I’ll pack up and drive home.”

  Wes smiled but it was sad. “I have gott
en rather used to being with you all the time.”

  “Same here.”

  “When will Auggie get here?”

  “A couple hours, why?”

  “I’ve been thinking about something and I’m hoping we can talk about it.”

  “Okay, what?”

  “Your investigation.” Wes watched Jo fiddle with his hand that was holding hers.

  “What about it?”

  “How about you fill me in on what you’re working on?”

  “I don’t really operate that way Wes.”

  “I know Honey, but you have had a brick thrown through your window, your purse snatched, your car vandalized, and you were pushed over a bridge.” Jo smiled at his recap. “I won’t get involved unless you want me to or unless I’m afraid for your safety; but I think you should tell me what you’ve discovered. Maybe I can shed some new light on it and at the very least; someone else will know what’s going on.”

  Jo nodded. “Your right. All those incidents I’m pretty sure happened because someone isn’t happy about me poking around. Did I tell you Henry offered me a job?”

  "No, that's great."

  "Well it would be a paycheck, but it's in the advertising department. I don't think I'm going to take it."

  "You know if you need money I'll help."

  "Thank you. I'm good right now. I really want to finish what I'm working on."

  “So talk to me Jo. I’m going to be out of commission physically for another week. It will give my brain something to do.” He nudged her with his shoulder.

  Jo sighed. The case had been weighing on her mind and Wes would be the perfect person to bounce her thoughts off of.

  “Okay, but I’m not sharing my by-line with you.” She teased.

  “I think you know me well enough by now to know that I don’t particularly like notoriety anyway so that is no problem.” He chuckled.

  So while they waited for Auggie to arrive Jo told Wes everything she knew so far. Wes asked some pointed questions and they made Jo start thinking about different avenues she could explore. She typed notes into her iPhone as she talked.

  Wes could almost see how her mind was working, piecing tidbits of information together that others might over look. He was impressed with everything she had accomplished. He leaned back on the couch pleased that she had finally confided in him, but now he was more concerned than ever. Her story was big and Wes had no doubt that the money involved in the project had attracted some big investors.

  Auggie arrived and the two men shook hands. “We good to go Jo?’ Auggie said.

  “Yes, can you give me a second to say goodbye?”

  Auggie said sure thing and walked down the hall to wait.

  Wes held Jo rubbing his large hands up and down her sides. He already felt heaviness in his heart. It was a foreign feeling to him. He was close with only a few people.

  “Jo, get some sleep baby."

  “I will and you get some sleep too, and don’t let Ms. Touchy Feely wrap you anymore and…” Her voice softened and cracked, she leaned her forehead on his chest. “I’m going to miss you.”

  Wes tilted her head up and kissed her lips. “Darling, I already miss you. If you get back early enough, want to bring me home from the hospital?”

  “Sure. You’re pretty sure that you’re going to be sprung from here tomorrow.” Jo laughed.

  “I’ve been buttering up to the nurses when I walk past their station.” He told her showing her a sexy grin that she knew he was using on the nurses also. Jo laughed again and Wes held her face in his hands loving how she looked so happy. His eyes found hers and Jo felt like she had entered a vortex. The air around them sucked out. His gaze was so intense it took her breath away.

  “Wes.” Jo croaked. She couldn't keep the raw emotion she was feeling from her voice.

  “I know baby. Be safe; let me know when you get there.”

  “I will.” Jo kissed him again and left the room. She couldn’t believe how hollow she felt the further from his room she walked. She stopped at the nurse's station and told them she was leaving. Jo noticed Nurse Touchy Feely perked up right away. Jo shot her a look before she left, mentally high fiving herself.

  The ride back to the lake was uneventful and Jo fell asleep for most of it. When Auggie dropped her home she thanked him.

  “I know you’re tired. How about I bring some dinner over and we can have one last sleep over.”

  “Oh that sounds good Auggie.”

  “Okay I’ll be back around 6.”

  Jo text Wes and told him she was at the lake house. She asked how he felt.

  Good - wanted to take another shower and guess who showed up with the plastic wrap?

  Touchy Feely?

  Yup!

  Bitch!

  Doctor said I didn’t need to wrap it anymore.

  Good and…?

  Sent her away?

  Aww poor nurse… that was sarcastic.

  Lol like I wouldn’t guess that.

  Miss you Wes

  Miss you Jo

  A warm gooey feeling melted over Jo. She really, really liked Wes.

  Auggie brought dinner from The Candlelight and they chatted comfortably like old friends do while they ate their burgers and fries. Then Auggie put on a movie and before the first scene was even over Jo was asleep on the couch.

  Auggie knew she needed a good nights sleep so he plucked her up and brought her into the bedroom where he gently placed her on the bed and under the covers.

  Jo awoke to the smell of coffee and when she ambled out to the kitchen Auggie was standing over the stove stirring scrambled eggs and frying bacon.

  “Oh that smells great.” Jo said

  “You slept over?” She asked looking at the couch.

  Auggie shrugged. “Yeah, I fell asleep on the couch.”

  Wes had actually texted him to remind him that she could still be in danger. Auggie hadn't forgotten and told him to rest assured he wasn't letting Jo out of sight.

  “Thanks for putting me to bed. I was exhausted.”

  “You’re welcome.” Auggie said buttering the wheat toast he’d just taken from the toaster.

  “You’re leaving today?”

  “Yeah, I think they will let Wes check out today.”

  “He’s good for you Jo.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He’s not a taker; he’s a giver, like you.”

  Jo thought about that and smiled.

  “Thanks Auggie.” Jo couldn’t hide the smile that exploded across her face.

  Jo packed her car up including her boxes and headed home. It was after lunch and Jo worried that she had missed Wes being discharged, but when she called him he said the doctor hadn’t come by yet. Jo could tell Wes was anxious to be released.

  When she got to her house she unloaded everything and texted Wes that she was home, but she wanted to clean out her fridge and do some laundry. She told him to call when the doctor gave him the all clear.

  Jo felt ten times better since she’d slept and eaten two good meals. So she used her energy to quickly finish her chores. Her phone rang and she saw Jace’s toad picture appear.

  “Hi.” Jo answered.

  “Hi I’m on my way to the hospital to spring your man, you want a ride?”

  “Sure I’m at my house."

  "Okay, I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”

  Just them Jo’s phone pinged with a message from Wes.

  Jace coming to get me will you come too?

  Yup just talked to Jace. C u soon. She added a kissy face emoticon.

  Jo settled into Jace’s Cadillac admiring his cushy ride.

  “I thought you could use a hand settling Wes in.” Jace said happily. He was glad his friend had not been hurt worse than he was and he was excited to bring him home.

  “I actually hadn’t thought about it, but yes that’s a good idea.” Jo's phone buzzed.

  “Hello?” Jo put the phone on speaker.

  “Jo this is Henry
."

  “Oh, hi Henry. You know I never asked. How did you get my number?”

  Jace shot Jo a look. He didn’t like how she seemed nervous all of a sudden. Jo put her finger to her mouth to keep Jace quiet.

  “Your Mom. I called your parents' house. I hope you don’t mind?”

  Jo looked up to Jace who kept shooting glances at her.

  “No, no that’s fine. What’s up?”

  “Well I’d like to have coffee with you this week. You know to discuss the job.”

  “Oh, thank you for reaching out again, but, I can't meet you. A friend of mine was hurt and I’m going to be taking care of him. I’ll call you when I’m free. How’s that?”

  “Sure Jo. I hope you are thinking about my offer.”

  "I have been."

  They said goodbye and Jo lowered the phone.

  “Who was that?” Jace asked concerned.

  “My old boss. The one I met with the other day.”

  "Everything all right?"

  "Yes, thank you."

  When they entered Wes’ room Jo saw that he was dressed in a pair of jeans and a long sleeve dress shirt. He was sitting on the couch reading the local paper like it was the most natural thing in the world. His hair was slightly mussed, like he had run his hand through it, and he looked adorable, yet very much in control and Jo’s heart swelled.

  “Hi.” He said to them as they walked in.

  “You get your walking papers yet?” Jace asked.

  “Not yet. But one of the nurses told me the doctor’s on the floor and will be here soon.”

  “Do you have the nurses on surveillance duty, Wes?” Jo said pretending to be stern with him.

  “Yes.” He said guiltily. Jo burst out laughing at his admission and Jace shook his head chuckling.

  Wes stood up and folded Jo into his arms. “I missed you.”

  The doctor walked in at that exact moment and Wes said 'finally' causing everyone to laugh including the good doctor. The doctor admitted he was pleased with Wes's progress, but he was not to push himself. The doctor then asked if Wes had a caregiver in place and that he would sign the discharge papers if someone was going to be with him.