This is going to be an ongoing story A LONG ongoing story! Title: And He Smiled Author: Anne Category: Jack/Jo Summary: Jack and Jo have been married for five years and have two children, Lucy who’s five and Michael who’s three. Jack is still in the wheelchair. Tess and Ben are married and have a two year old son called Thomas. Tom and Chris are dancing around each other. PJ has a girlfriend named Marie. There is a new operational member (although Jack still works there) called Georgina (although she prefers to be called George or Gina) This story revolves mainly around Jack and Jo, and their struggles when Jack may be able to walk again. Disclaimer: I don’t own anyone except the children, Marie and Georgina Lucy ran into her house, Jo following her. ‘Hey sweetheart,’ Jack smiled, wheeling out into the hallway. Lucy grinned and crawled up onto her father’s lap. Jo smiled and kissed Jack. ‘Where’s Michael?’ she asked. ‘Tess brought him back about half an hour ago. He’s in having a nap.’ Jo nodded. ‘I’ll be back soon. I need to have a shower!’ ‘Want to see my picture first Mummy? We had to draw our family at school,’ Lucy said, waving a picture around. ‘Okay, let us see it,’ Jack said, hugging her. ‘Okay. That’s Mummy, that’s you, that’s Michael and that’s me!’ Lucy smiled, eagerly pointing out all the drawings. Jack stopped. She’d drawn him standing up. Jo noticed it too. ‘Okay, Lucy. Go and wash your hands and you can have your afternoon tea okay?’ Jo said. Lucy nodded and scampered off to the bathroom. Jo sat down on the couch. ‘Jack, she doesn’t mean it.’ ‘I know that,’ Jack said, placing the picture on the coffee table. ‘But I also know that everyone would rather I could walk again.’ He moved over and sat next to his wife. Jo sighed. ‘You should know by now why I love you. And you should know it’s not because of what you look like or because you can’t walk.’ ‘I know that too. But you would like me to walk again, wouldn’t you?’ ‘You know that I would. But that’s not the point, Jack.’ ‘It is the point!’ he cried. ‘It is the point,’ he said quietly. ‘Mummy?’ Michael asked, rubbing his eyes. Jo smiled and held out her arms. ‘Hey baby. How was kindy?’ ‘Fun,’ Michael said, and climbed onto her lap. ‘Guess what?’ ‘What?’ Jo asked him. ‘Daddy said that tomorrow he’s going to help me make a plane model,’ he grinned. ‘Really?’ Jo smiled, looking at Jack, who shrugged, a slight grin taking over his face. ‘I’m starving,’ Lucy said, coming into the room and pretending to faint. ‘What a little actress,’ Jo said, shifting Michael to Jack and shepherding Lucy to the kitchen. ‘Takes after her mother,’ Jack whispered to his son. ‘I heard that!’ Jo called. Michael cuddled up to his father and giggled. *********************************** ‘Jo! Phone for you! It’s Mel Carter,’ Tess called. Jo’s eyes widened and she took the phone. ‘Hi Mel. What? I’m on my way.’ She hung up. ‘Serg, I have to go. Jack was just taken to hospital by an ambulance.’ ‘What happened?’ Tess asked. ‘I mean, of course you can go, but what happened?’ ‘I don’t know,’ Jo said, grabbing her keys and heading to the hospital. ******************************************************** ****** ‘What happened?’ Jo asked, dashing into see Mel. ‘You’re lucky you taught both your kids about triple 0. Apparantly Jack fell out of his chair and started siezing. Michael was there and got a scare and rang the number.’ ‘Are they alright?’ Jo asked. ‘Michael’s in with Jack now. In fact, you could say this fall has been a godsend.’ ‘How so?’ ‘It moved the bullet away from the spine.’ Jo barely allowed herself to hope. ‘How far?’ Mel smiled. ‘Far enough that we could get rid of it and Jack might have a good chance at walking again.’ Jo broke out into a smile. ‘Can he feel anything at the moment?’ ‘Ask him yourself,’ Mel said, pointing towards the room. Jo nodded and headed into the room. She kissed her husband and hugged her son. ‘I’m very proud of you, Michael.’ Michael puffed out his chest. ‘The amblance men said I was a hero!’ Jo laughed and looked at Jack. ‘Mel told me about the bullet.’ Jack grinned and pulled his wife a bit closer. He kissed her gently. ‘I felt a twinge in my leg earlier.’ Jo smiled and kissed him firmly. Georgina entered the room with Lucy. ‘I thought someone ought to pick her up.’ ‘Thanks George,’ Jo said. ‘I’m fine, Lucy,’ Jack told her. ‘Promise?’ she asked, about to get up on the bed. ‘Absolutely,’ Jo answered. TBC ‘Will Daddy be okay?’ Michael asked Jo, as they sat outside in the waiting room. It was the day of Jack’s operation. ‘Of course he will,’ Jo told him, ruffling his hair. ‘Daddy’s tough. And he will be fine.’ ‘Hi,’ Tess said, walking in, Thomas perched on her hip. ‘Hi, Tess. Hi, Thomas,’ Jo smiled. ‘Hi Aunt Tess! Thomas!’ Michael grinned and hugged her. ‘I was wondering if Michael wanted to stay with Thomas today,’ Tess said, glancing at Jo. ‘Yeah! Can I Mummy?’ Michael asked. ‘Sure,’ Jo nodded. ‘Just behave yourself.’ ‘Great,’ Tess said. ‘How about you boys go and grab a snack from the vending machine and I’ll be with you in a minute.’ ‘Okay!’ Thomas yelled, dragging Michael off with him. Tess sat down next to Jo. ‘Listen, I don’t want to drag Michael off, but I just thought it might be easier for you.’ Jo nodded. ‘Thanks. It is easier without someone else to ask me questions. I know it sounds terrible but..’ Tess rested a hand on her shoulder. ‘It’s okay. I understand.’ Jo smiled. ‘Thanks.’ ‘Where’s Lucy?’ ‘Staying with a friend. I wanted to keep their minds off this.’ ‘Jo, if you need to talk...’ Tess trailed off. Jo turned to face her, a stray tear running down her face. Tess was amazed, she’d never seen Jo cry before, except when Jack was shot. ‘I just want to see him walking again. Playing with the kids. What he wants.’ Tess nodded and hugged her. ‘I better go get the boys.’ Jo nodded. ‘Thanks, Tess.’ Tess squeezed her shoulder. ‘Anytime, Jo.’ And she was gone. ************************************************ Jo rubbed her eyes. It had been three hours so far. Mel had told her that it could take a very long time. She felt a familiar hand rest on her shoulder. ‘Hey, Joanna,’ PJ said, sitting next to her. ‘Hi, PJ. I thought you had gone on a trip with Marie to Melbourne,’ Jo quizzed him. ‘We came back. Ben rang me and told me what was going on. You should have rung me.’ Jo nodded. ‘I know. But, everything was so crazy and I knew you were really happy to have time off and all that.’ ‘Family comes first Jo,’ PJ reminded her. Jo smiled. ‘Thanks, PJ.’ He hugged her. ‘Everything’s going to be fine. Everyone’s going to help.’ Jo looked up and saw Chris coming down the hall, her red hair flowing behind her. ‘Jo,’ Chris said, embracing Jo. ‘Jo, I just heard.’ ‘That’s a first,’ PJ said. He turned to Jo. ‘I’ll just get some coffee. I’ll be back.’ Jo smiled. ‘Thanks, PJ.’ Chris sat next to her. ‘George and I are going to go shopping for you guys this afternoon. Make sure your house is well stocked. Anything particular I can get for you?’ ‘How about a perfectly mobile husband?’ ‘I wish I could,’ Chris told her. ‘How are the kids doing?’ ‘Fine,’ Jo replied. ‘They’re okay.’ Chris checked her watch. ‘I better be off. Good luck.’ ‘Thanks,’ Jo smiled. Jo accepted the coffee that PJ handed her when he came back. ‘Get that into you,’ PJ said. ‘Hopefully it might make you feel a bit better.’ ‘Not much chance,’ Jo replied, sipping the coffee. PJ nodded. ‘Understandable.’ A very tired looking Mel Carter emerged round the corner and Jo rose quickly. ‘Well?’ she asked. Mel broke into a smile. ‘We got the bullet out and there seems to be no damage.’ Jo grinned and hugged her, tears of relief running down her face. ‘When can I see him?’ ‘He’s in recovery, and he’ll be out for a while. I’ll get a nurse to come and get you and you can go sit with him.’ Jo nodded. ‘Thanks Mel.’ ************************************************ Jo sat next to Jack’s bed, who hand covering his. He was still out, but she wanted to be near him. She felt him stir and she looked up quickly. ‘Jack?’ she asked, stroking his hand gently. His eyes opened slightly and he turned to her. ‘Jo?’ Jo smiled. ‘Hey, sleepyhead. I’ve been waiting for you to wake up.’ ‘Did it work?’ She nodded. ‘The bullet’s gone. Mel says its up to you now.’ Jack smiled. ‘I love you.’ Jo moved and sat next to him on the bed, mindful of his legs and tubes. ‘I love you too.’ ‘Where are the kids?’ he asked. ‘Lucy’s at a friend’s house and Michael is with Tess and Ben.’ Mel came in. ‘I had a feeling I would find you here,’ she said to Jo. ‘How are you feeling, Jack?’ ‘Better,’ Jack told her. Mel nodded. ‘Good. Now, we’re going to give you a couple of days to recover and then we’ll start you in rehab. It’s going to take a while, but the fact that you kept excerising and kept these muscles strong is a point highly in your favour.’ ‘When can I go home?’ Jack asked. ‘Steady on.You’ve only been out of surgery a couple of hours. When we’re comfortable that you can get yourself to the bathroom in your house without half killing yourself then, you can go home.’ Jack sighed and Jo hugged him. ‘Never mind, Stretch. I’ll come up and visit you everytime I can and so will the kids. And we will be there, helping you, every step of the way.’ ‘Literally,’ Mel smiled. ‘Okay, Jack. Tomorrow we start.’ ‘Can we start today?’ Jack asked. ‘Tomorrow,’ Mel said firmly. ‘Visiting hours end at eight, Jo.’ Jo nodded. ‘Okay, Mel.’ ************************************* ‘When’s Daddy coming home?’ Lucy asked, as Jo tucked her into bed that night. Jo lay on the bed beside her. ‘Hopefully soon sweetheart. Hopefully very soon.’ ‘I miss him,’ Lucy said, snuggling up to her mother. ‘Me too,’ Michael said, coming in. Jo looked at her two children. ‘Alright. Who wants to sleep in Mum and Dad’s bed?’ ‘Yeah!’ they cried in unison. Jo picked up Michael. ‘Come on then. What a softie I am.’ ***************************************************** ‘Anyone heard any news about Jack’s progress yet?’ Tom asked, coming into the station. ‘He came out of surgery fine. Jo was up there with him last night,’ Ben told him. ‘I don’t know what it’ll do to either of them if this doesn’t work,’ Tess commented. ‘They’ll weather things like they always have...together,’ Tom said, going into his office. TBC Feedback would be great. If you didn't like it, please don't send anything. ANNE(The insane one) ‘Okay Jack,’ Mel said, entering the room. ‘All we want you to do today is to move your legs.’ ‘Why can’t I stand up?’ Jack asked. ‘Jack, you try and stand up now, you’d collapse on the floor,’ Mel explained to him. ‘Don’t stand up,’ Jo told him, worried. ‘Right, Jack, this is Luke Gregory. Luke is our rehab specialist.’ ‘Hi, Jack,’ Luke smiled, shaking Jack’s hand. ‘Jack, we want you to try and lift your left leg off the bed okay?’ Mel asked. Jack nodded. He concentrated very hard and did his best. The leg moved a little bit off the bed. ‘Yes!’ Jo cried and kissed her husband. ‘It wasn’t very good,’ Jack said, glumly. ‘Jack, considering that a few weeks ago you were confined to a wheelchair, that is a massive improvement. It’s going to take time,’ Mel said. ‘Mel’s right Jack. But don’t worry. We’re going to get you walking again,’ Luke told him. *********************************** Jo practically flew into work, her face bright, flushed and happy. ‘I know I’m late Boss but..’ ‘Never mind that,’ Tom said. ‘How did it go?’ Jo grinned. ‘He lifted his leg off the bed.’ ‘That’s wonderful!’ Tess smiled, hugging her friend. ‘When can we go see him?’ Ben asked. ‘Well, I’m taking the kids up tonight, you can come then I guess.’ ‘Can we take him a drink up?’ Tom enquired. ‘Sounds great,’ Ben said. Tom sent him a withering look. ‘I asked Jo.’ ‘Sure,’ Jo replied, still smiling. ********************************************** ‘Daddy!’ Lucy cried, as she and Michael scampered over to his bed. ‘Daddy, can we get a puppy?’ Michael asked. ‘A puppy?’ Jack asked. He looked at Jo, who looked exhausted. ‘They’ve been talking about it all day,’ she replied. ‘Yeah, Jeff’s labrador had puppies and he offered us one,’ Lucy said. ‘Can we?’ Michael asked. Jack looked at Jo again. ‘Your mum and me will have to talk about it.’ ‘Okay,’ Lucy agreed. ‘How are you Daddy? When can you come home?’ Michael inquired. ‘Well, Dr Carter wants me to be able to get around on crutches before I can come home.’ ‘So how long will that be?’ Lucy asked. ‘A couple of days?’ Jack glanced at Jo, who had sat down. ‘Maybe not for a couple of weeks sweetheart.’ ‘But that’s ages away!’ Michael cried. ‘I know it seems that way. But you can come and visit me.’ ‘It’s not the same,’ Lucy said glumly. Jack looked at his children and began to wonder if he was doing the right thing. But he soon brushed such thoughts away and asked them to tell him about school. ‘Hey!’ Ben said, as he led Tess, George, Tom, PJ and Chris in. ‘Hi everyone,’ Jack smiled, sitting up a little further. ‘You look well,’ Tom told him, sitting in one of the chairs. ‘I feel great,’ Jack replied, moving Michael over a little. ‘A drink?’ PJ asked, pulling a beer out of his case. Tess went and sat next to Jo, who was cuddling Lucy. ‘How are you holding up?’ Jo looked up. ‘Me? Fine.’ Tess gave her a look. ‘Okay. But anytime you need to talk, I’m here.’ Jo nodded. ‘Can we go for a walk?’ Tess smiled. ‘Sure. Let’s go.’ ‘Mel says you’re doing really well,’ PJ told Jack. Jack nodded. ‘She says that there is an extra incentive to get better now.’ ******************************************* Jo opened her eyes slightly as she felt a movement on the bed. Michael crawled up to lay beside her and he hugged her. ‘Did you have a bad dream?’ Jo asked him. Michael shook his head. ‘I thought you might miss Daddy.’ Jo smiled and hugged her little boy tight. ******************************************** 3 Weeks later Jack had been moving his legs around per the doctor’s orders. Now Jo stood beside him, waiting for the big moment. Jack was going to stand up. ‘Okay Jack. Are you sure you’re ready for this?’ Mel asked. ‘Absolutely,’ Jack said stubbornly, glancing at Jo. ‘Right. Now, just ease yourself up off the bed and try to stand up,’ Luke said, smiling. Jack nodded. He moved to the edge of the bed and swung his legs over. He placed his feet on the floor and leaning on the bed, raised himself up. He looked over to his wife, and found to his suprise, that she was crying. ‘Hey,’ he said slowly. ‘It wasn’t that bad was it?’ He softened and held his arms out to her. Jo walked into his embrace and he kissed her deeply. ‘We’ll leave you alone for a bit,’ Mel said, dragging out Luke. ‘What’s that matter?’ Jack asked her, pulling her close as he sat down again. ‘Nothing. Really. It’s just..I haven’t seen you stand up in six years. I’m just so happy that you’re up,’ she told him, moving in closer. Jack smiled and hugged her tight. ‘Let me tell you, Jo. When I’m walking around again and I come home, we can start work on making a third baby. Together.’ Jo’s eyes widened and she looked up at him. ‘Really?’ Jack nodded. ‘Sure. We both talked about having more than two children, and this time, I want to do some work.’ Jo smiled slightly and kissed him gently. ‘I love you.’ Jack held her close to him. ‘I love you too, Jo.’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jo yawned as she went into Mel Carter’s office. ‘Hi Jo,’ Mel smiled. ‘Have a seat.’ Jo nodded and sat down. ‘Taking it’s toll huh?’ Mel asked. ‘You have no idea,’ Jo answered. ‘Okay, well Jack is progressing really well. He stands up every day now, which is great. I think, tomorrow, we might start getting him to take a couple of steps.’ Jo widened her eyes. ‘Are you sure its not too soon? I mean, these past few weeks have taken a lot out on him and I don’t want him to fall and end up back at square one.’ Mel waited until Jo had finished her babbling. ‘I think he’s more than ready to do this. I think it’s you that is not ready.’ ‘Me? I’m fine. Jack’s the patient here remember?’ Jo said. ‘Jo, you and Jack have been married for six years. For those six years and the year before that, he’s been in a wheelchair, having to depend on you for some things. You’ve been used to him like that, you doing a lot of the work, your love life being slightly one sided. And now you’re scared of everything changing, of how life will be and how will you cope. Am I right?’ Jo shifted slightly and nodded. ‘I’m just worried about everything changing.’ Mel nodded. ‘Okay. I do want to start Jack walking tomorrow. And I can guarantee we won’t let him fall. Do you want to bring the kids up?’ Jo nodded. ‘I think Lucy will insist and Michael will probably want to come.’ ‘Great,’ Mel said. ‘See you tomorrow then.’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jo lay awake most of the night, trying to fathom having Jack able again. The past six years had just fallen into a pattern. Jack not being able to participate in the kids games, and other activities. And their life together. She hugged the pillow to her stomach. She was scared to death. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ‘Is Daddy really going to walk today?’ Michael asked, as his mother attended to his mop of brown hair. ‘He’s going to try,’ Jo replied. ‘He’ll do it,’ Michael said proudly. ‘And how do you know stupid?’ Lucy asked. ‘Don’t call your brother stupid,’ Jo interjected. ‘Yeah,’ Michael said. ‘And I know, because he’s my Dad and he can do anything.’ Jo sat the two children up on the bed. ‘Now, I want you guys to listen to me okay? Daddy’s going to try today and we have to support him. But I don’t want you two to be too disappointed if he can’t. Alright?’ ‘Okay, Mummy,’ Lucy said, kissing her. ‘We can be brave. Right, Michael?’ Michael nodded but as they exited the room he turned around. ‘He’ll do it,’ he smiled, following his sister downstairs. Jo sighed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ‘Is Daddy really going to walk today?’ Michael asked, as his mother attended to his mop of brown hair. ‘He’s going to try,’ Jo replied. ‘He’ll do it,’ Michael said proudly. ‘And how do you know stupid?’ Lucy asked. ‘Don’t call your brother stupid,’ Jo interjected. ‘Yeah,’ Michael said. ‘And I know, because he’s my Dad and he can do anything.’ Jo sat the two children up on the bed. ‘Now, I want you guys to listen to me okay? Daddy’s going to try today and we have to support him. But I don’t want you two to be too disappointed if he can’t. Alright?’ ‘Okay, Mummy,’ Lucy said, kissing her. ‘We can be brave. Right, Michael?’ Michael nodded but as they exited the room he turned around. ‘He’ll do it,’ he smiled, following his sister downstairs. Jo sighed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ‘Okay Jack, you know what to do,’ Mel told him. ‘Now just try, and if you can’t, don’t worry. We can try again soon.’ Jack nodded. He looked at Jo, who had Michael on her lap and Lucy was sitting in the chair next to them. He stood up, something he was getting quite good at. Jack took a deep breath and placed one foot in front. He felt weak and sat down again. ‘I can’t do it,’ he growled, punching the bed. Michael squirmed out of his mothers grip and dragged his sister about two centimetres in front of Jack. ‘Come on Daddy. We know you can do it!’ ‘Michael,’ Jo said. Jack stood up again. ‘Come on Dad!’ Lucy grinned, getting into it. Jo moved to talk to the children but Mel stopped. ‘Let them go,’ Mel said. ‘Who knows what will happen?’ Jack looked determined and put one foot ahead. He moved his weight onto the foot and quickly put the other one in front. ‘Yeah Daddy!’ the kids cried and Mel went to grab Jack before he fell over. Jo smiled broadly and hugged her husband. ‘I love you,’ she said. ‘I love you too,’ Jack answered, sitting down. Lucy and Michael clambered up onto the bed and hugged their father. Mel smiled. ‘Well, Jack, if you do that well on crutches, you can go home sooner than I thought.’ ‘Yeah!’ Lucy and Michael cried. ‘Although you might prefer the peace and quiet here,’ Mel added. Jack looked at his wife and children. ‘Never.’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Weeks Later Jack was moving around on the crutches quiet well. PJ, Marie, Ben, Tess, Thomas, George, Tom and Chris had prepared a welcome home party. Michael and Lucy were running around the house with Thomas, all bursting with excitement. Ben had gone with Jo to help bring Jack home. ‘You’re not bad on those things,’ Ben smiled, as he helped Jack out of the car. ‘Plenty of practice,’ Jack answered. Jo held tightly onto his arm as they walked in the house. ‘Surprise!’ called everyone. Michael and Lucy ran up to hug their father and the new labrador puppy Jessie jumped around everyone. ‘Good to see you around again, mate,’ PJ said, handing him a beer as they sat down. ‘Good to be around again,’ Jack answered, gently kissing his wife. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Later that night, Jack awoke. He glanced at the clock and discovered it was 4 am. He felt a strange pressure on his legs and looked down. Lucy and Michael were curled up at the bottom of the bed, sharing his legs as pillows. Jack looked at his wife who was snuggled up to him and wondered if there was a new baby growing inside of her. And he smiled. I really hope you liked it and please send a little note if you did! ANNE (the insane one)