“As I say he is stable at the moment, but he isn’t out of the woods just yet,” the doctor replied honestly.
“I see.” Jason looked sad and lonely as he absorbed the meaning of the words.
“But he isn’t in any immediate danger as things stand?” asked Jon smiling at Jason while he took Steph’s hand in his again.
“No, not as things stand,” Chris agreed.
“Thank you, doctor. I am sure we should let you get on.” Despite Jon being a visitor here, he managed to make it sound as though he was dismissing the doctor.
“Yes, but I can probably let you have a couple of minutes with your dad if you’d like. I know you haven’t had much time with him,” offered Chris.
“Not me,” cried Jason. “I don’t really do hospitals and sick people.” He looked as though he was about to vomit, or cry, or both.
“Please, if it’s not too much trouble,” said Steph gratefully.
“Nothing is too much trouble for you, Steph, never was.” Chris was already leading her out of the office and onto the ward.
“Smarmy bastard!” hissed Jon as the door closed behind them making Jason laugh.
“That’s what I thought about you,” said Jason honestly.
“Really?”
“Yeah. Can we go and wait outside? I have seen enough of these places to last a lifetime,” he said, but was already heading for the door and once sat out in the waiting area continued talking openly to Jon.
“When we were little, Steph and I were inseparable. We were each other’s closest sibling in age. The others were all older and had their fill of younger siblings I think. She was the kind, sensitive one and I was the mischievous, slightly wilder one, so we complemented each other I suppose. Mum was sick for most of our lives so that was normal meaning when she became terminal it knocked us for six because she had always been ill, but kept going, and then our roles reversed. I became more introverted and Steph became wilder, and it coincided with boyfriends, drinking and stuff which she did to the extreme. Now the good doctor in there was one of the better ones really because he seemed to care about Steph and didn’t take advantage, like you, but also like you he was a bit full on which scared Steph. I suppose this makes him unlike you because she proper likes you, like as in love,” said Jason laughing. “Even if you are a bit flash.”
Jon laughed too. “Me? Flash?”
“Aren’t you?” asked Jason returning a question with a question.
“I can be, but this is me seriously toned down,” said Jon and really meant it.
Jason laughed and explained, “Steph told me you’re her big, big boss and the boss of all the other bosses so I suppose you could be flasher.”
“Ah, I understand the private jet dig now.” Jon nodded as Steph appeared with Dr Patterson.
“If you need anything just call me.” Chris kissed Steph gently, low on her cheek, almost on the corner of her lips, immediately infuriating Jon who was struggling not to get up and hit him, but he was smarter than that, but one way or another the good doctor would get the message, loud and clear.
Jason was obviously aware of this because he placed a reassuring hand on Jon’s shoulder and whispered, “He’s in the past, unlike you.”
The three ofthem had just left the exit and were standing together on the car park.
“Do you need a lift?” Jon asked Jason.
“No thanks, I’ve got my car here,” he replied and shook Jon’s hand before kissing Steph and heading towards his own car.
“Are you okay? Will you come back to mine or shall I come to yours?” Jon asked Steph who shrugged.
“I don’t know, although I would rather stay here, just in case, but you should go home,” Steph said as Jon wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly against his chest.
“No. If you want to stay, that’s fine, but we’ll both stay, together,” he replied as he led her back into the hospital and up to the waiting area on the fifth floor.
“Coffee?” Steph fished some change from her pocket to put into the coffee machine.
“Yes, but I didn’t think you had any change, hence me being sent off to get some. Or was that just to get rid of me?” Jon already knew the answer.
“Sorry, I just thought that you and Jason probably needed a little breather from each other,” she confessed.
