Emergency Time-out
part four *****
"Hey!" John said suddenly. "I almost forgot. Bryan says hi and get well soon."
"Bryan knows?" Chloe asked. "You played hockey last night?"
"Yeah. I needed to blow off some steam." He smiled at her. "Hospitals make me tense."
"Me, too. Did you win?" She laughed as he made a face at her. She guessed he really didn’t need to answer that one. "Did you get any penalties?"
"Who me? Of course not. I never get penalties."
"Uh huh." She frowned at him. "How many did you get?"
"You don’t believe me?"
"No." She knew he was teasing. He always got penalties.
"You’re just like your mom," he laughed. "She never lets me get away with anything either. I got two."
"Two! You weren’t paying attention, were you?"
"Amazing, isn’t it? You don’t even have to be there and you distract me."
Chloe smiled. For a grown-up John was pretty cool. Usually he treated her like she was a grown-up, too. She didn’t always understand everything he said, but at least he didn’t talk down to her. It was nice not to be treated like a little kid all the time.
*****
Visiting hours were almost over, Coop knew. But he figured he had enough time to say hi to Chloe and catch a few minutes with Sam. There were a couple of things he wanted to talk to her about. Ever since his Valentine’s date with Sam had been screwed up by a badly timed bomb threat she seemed to be distancing herself from him. Surely there was something he could do to fix this…
As he approached Chloe’s room he could hear the kid talking. His smile vanished as he entered the room and saw who she was talking to. Grant sat on the far side of Chloe’s bed. Sam was nowhere in sight. Coop stared at him in bafflement before focusing on Chloe.
"Hey, kiddo!" he said, forcing the irritation out of his voice. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," she replied. "Mom’s not here. She went home."
He frowned. Did she think Sam was the only reason he had come? But home? Sam had gone home? "That’s okay," he said, ignoring John. "I came to see you." He smiled to himself. Grant had probably come up here looking for Sam. Too bad he had apparently missed her as well. "I wanted to bring you something, too." He showed her the flowers he had brought.
She smiled up at him. "Thank you, Uncle Coop. They’re really pretty."
"You’re welcome." He set them on the table beside her bed. It blended in with all the other "Get Well Soon" bouquets. He pulled up a chair and sat down opposite John. "So, when’s your mom coming back?"
Chloe shrugged. "I don’t know. Tomorrow sometime, I guess. John told her to go home. She really needed sleep."
Coop stared at her. The kid looked like she thought it was funny. What did Grant think he was doing around here?
"Excuse me," a nurse interrupted. "Visiting hours are over. I’m afraid you’ll have to leave, now."
Coop nodded, still slightly stunned. "Well, quick visit, kiddo. Guess I’ll see you tomorrow," he said.
"Good night, Uncle Coop." She gave him a careful, one-armed hug.
He was headed toward the door when he realized that John was making no move to leave. "You coming, Grant?"
The man shook his head.
"Visiting hours are over."
"I know." John grinned. "See you tomorrow."
Coop stared at him. The arrogant bastard really thinks he’s staying, he thought.
"I’m sorry," the nurse interrupted again. "You’re going to have to leave, sir."
He looked back at John then scowled at the nurse as she ushered him into the hall. "You people do understand that he isn’t that little girl’s father, right?" he asked, pointing back into Chloe's room.
"Look, Mr... Cooper, isn’t it? I don’t care who he is. Dr. Waters has authorized him to stay. Now, visiting hours are over," she said firmly. "Good night."
*****
John kept his expression neutral for Chloe's sake. When Coop left, however, he couldn’t stifle his sigh of relief. He had seen how ticked Coop had been and frankly, he was surprised that Coop had managed to control his temper as well as he had. John knew that if their positions were reversed he would have been furious that Sam had left Chloe alone with Coop. He had a hunch that Coop was probably feeling the same thing right now. He didn’t doubt that Sam would be getting an earful just as soon as the other man found a phone. And not long after that, he realized, he’d probably be getting a call of his own.
Sure enough, the phone beside Chloe’s bed rang less than an hour later.
"Hey, Sam."
"I’m that predictable?" she asked.
"Hardly ever."
"How’s Chloe?"
"Same as when you left," he said. "Fine."
"Good," she said. She paused and he knew what she was leading up to. "So... did you behave?"
"Yes, ma’am."
Sam snorted. "Right. Let me talk to Chloe."
He laughed as he handed Chloe the phone. Mother and daughter talked for several minutes. From the half of the conversation he heard it was clear that Sam was simply reassuring herself that Chloe really was still all right. When she was finished Chloe handed the phone back to him.
"Sam, I thought you were supposed to be getting some rest, too."
"I am. I’m trying… You’re sure you’re okay with this? I feel terrible about…"
"Yes, I’m okay with this. We’re fine. Honest." His tone became gentler. "Now, go to bed, Sam."
*******
Sam hung up the phone then simply sat at her desk. She was too tired to even move. She knew that she would have fallen asleep on the sofa if she had used the cordless in the living room. As it was, she still found it difficult to pry herself out of the chair. She turned quickly, however, at a sound behind her. Angel returned her startled stare.
"Sam! I thought you were still at the hospital."
"I was… I mean, no… I…" She sighed. "I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore. I guess that’s probably why John sent me home."
Angel stared at her. "John… sent you home?" The tension in her expression increased. "You left him up there with Chloe?"
"It seemed like a good idea at the time." Sam tried to smile.
"I’m sure a lot of things seem like good ideas at the time."
Sam could hear the pain and anger in the other woman’s voice. She knew it wasn’t today’s decisions that were to blame. "Angel… He was there," she began. "I didn’t know how long it would take you to get there…"
"I understand that, Sam. He was there. Fine," Angel snapped. Sam could tell her anger had probably been building for quite a while for it to spring to the surface so rapidly. "What I don’t understand is *why* he was there to begin with. Why did the school call him? Why did they let him pick her up?"
"He’s on their list," Sam explained. "He and Bailey are both on it for emergencies."
"But I’m still the primary contact after you, right? So, why did they call John?"
"I don’t know," Sam said. "Chloe must have…" She stopped as both women realized what she was going to say.
"Chloe chose him," Angel said softly. "Over me… Over Bailey… And you don’t even see what’s going on, do you?"
"What are you…?"
"You’re letting him get too close, Sam. You’re letting Chloe get too attached to him."
"How can she be too attached?"
"How is she going to feel when he gets another girlfriend and doesn’t have time to come play with her anymore?"
"He won’t…"
"Won’t what? Won’t get another girlfriend? Or won’t abandon Chloe? I know him, Sam. I dated him…"
"And I work with him."
"He quit on you, too," Angel reminded her. "He won’t stick around. It’s not in his nature."
"We’ll take our chances," Sam said. She understood Angel’s bitterness, but she was getting tired of arguing. Angel had apparently come to the same conclusion. Sam silently watched her pick up her jacket and head for the elevator. Neither woman said goodbye.
As the sounds of the elevator died away Sam slowly headed for her bedroom. She was beginning to think that maybe staying at the hospital might have been more peaceful. An argument with Angel on top of her irritation at Coop had set her stomach churning anxiously. At least Angel has cause for anger, she thought. She still couldn’t believe that Coop had called to complain about John, too. He had to have known that she had come home to get some rest and still he had called. She couldn’t figure out why he had been so annoyed that John was doing her a favor. She shook her head wearily.
Although she valued the opinions of both Angel and Coop she didn’t regret any of her decisions regarding John. She knew she had made the right choice in allowing him to act in her name. She trusted his judgement. She trusted him with Chloe’s life and she trusted him to watch over her for a few hours. Angel and Coop could think whatever they wanted.
None of it mattered, anyway, Sam thought. Chloe was okay. That was the important thing.
******
Sam slept surprisingly well. In fact, she felt almost guilty about how well she slept. She hoped that Chloe and John had spent a similarly restful night. Despite her utmost confidence in both John and the Egleston doctors, however, she was on her way back to the hospital before sunrise.
As she approached Chloe’s room she could see something on the door. When she reached it she saw that it was a drawing. Chloe’s signature was in the corner. Stepping into the still dark room she could see several pictures on the wall beneath the television and on the bathroom door. They were all firmly affixed with surgical tape.
Chloe was propped in a half-sitting position but curled up to one side. She seemed to be sleeping comfortably in the narrow bed. John, however, did not look comfortable. He had shoved two chairs together and was sprawled across them in a horribly awkward position. Sam wasn’t surprised, though, to see that he was sound asleep. The ability to sleep anytime, anywhere was one of his more unusual talents.
She sat down on the edge of Chloe’s bed. She was pleased to see that her color was much better. As she straightened the wrinkled sheets Chloe woke and smiled at her mother. The girl started to sit up but the action put too much strain on her side. At her muffled wince John’s eyes immediately opened. He looked at Chloe in concern then relaxed when he realized she was okay. He squinted at Sam.
"Morning?" he asked.
"More or less," Sam answered. "It’s six-fifteen." She smiled as he scowled and closed his eyes again.
"At least I waited until a decent hour," he muttered.
"Did you bring me a milkshake?" Chloe looked at her hopefully.
"Strawberry." As John reopened his eyes at the mention of food Sam handed him a paper bag. "Hot tea and an egg McMuffin. And, yes, it has cheese," she said before he could ask.
"Did you see my pictures?" Chloe asked between sips.
"Yes, I did. They’re beautiful." Sam glanced around the room at the drawings again. "I bet you’ve really worn down those pencils. Did John let you stay up late drawing?"
"No. He read to me for a little while then he made me go to sleep." Chloe frowned. "I don’t see why. I don’t have to go to school today. Even if I was home I wouldn’t have to go today. It’s Saturday."
"You need your rest, sweetheart."
Chloe heaved an exaggerated sigh. "Rest. Rest. Rest! I’m *tired* of resting."
Gee, I wonder who she got that from, Sam thought. John ducked his head as he tried to hide his smile. He really was a terrible influence on Chloe. "How’s the Hamlin case going?" she asked him.
John looked at her in amusement. "You were completely out of it yesterday, weren’t you? You didn’t hear anything I said. She never listens to me," he said sadly to Chloe. "The Hamlin case is not only going… it’s gone. Bailey and Marcus went out to Memphis yesterday and arrested one Richard M. Shelley. Pretty open and shut." He turned to Chloe again. "You remember all this, right? Hamlin… Memphis… Shelley…"
"Yesterday," Chloe nodded obligingly.
"You didn’t go with them?" Sam asked.
"Boy, nothing gets past you, does it? And just what exactly is so funny, Miss Waters?"
The little girl was trying not to laugh. "You and Mom," she giggled. "You tease her like you tease me."
"Too bad she doesn’t think I’m as funny as you do."
Sam sighed. Sometimes she wondered what it would be like to have another child. Sometimes she had the feeling that she already knew. "I think you’re both just hysterically funny," she told them. She smiled as John continued his gentle teasing. She was as amazed as always by how at ease the two of them were with each other. She would never have suspected that John was so good with children and she certainly never could have guessed that Chloe would become so attached to him.
******
Sam collapsed wearily on the sofa. She and Chloe had both been home for a few days now, but things weren’t quite back to normal yet. Chloe was still very weak and they were still being very careful with her stitches. Sam hadn’t been back to work yet and probably wouldn’t go until Chloe was ready to start back to school. They were spending their days quietly. Chloe finished her take-home work and Sam caught up on some reading of her own. The rest of their time was spent playing board games and occasionally the video game that John had somehow slipped into Chloe’s possession.
Concerned friends of both Chloe and Sam called frequently. Even Sam’s father had phoned, although he hadn’t come by again. George had brought them dinner one night. Sam was impressed, but she didn’t have the heart to tell him that Chloe hated meatloaf. Grace had come by to visit and Sam hadn’t been able to decide whether the new mom was there to offer professional advice or receive it.
Despite all the attention Chloe was receiving Sam knew that the girl was missing the presence of someone who had become very important to her. John had been sent to Indiana with Marcus on a case. Chloe had been disappointed but John called to check on her at least once a day. In fact…
Sam smiled as the phone rang. She knew before she looked at the display that the number had a 317 area code.
"Hi, John."
"I’m that predictable?" The laughter was clear in his voice.
"Hardly ever."
"How’s Chloe?"
"She’s doing fine."
"And you?"
"Doing okay. How’s the case coming?" Sam pulled her feet up onto the sofa and pulled a throw blanket over her legs. As John began filling her in on the day’s investigations she settled more comfortably. It occurred to her briefly, as it did every night, that he was going to have a nasty long-distance bill from his calling card this month. But she wouldn’t bring it up if he didn’t.
******
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