Wes settled into a chair that he pulled right up to Jo’s railed bedside. He took her hand in his and caressed her arm lovingly. He then remembered he needed to tell Jace and Andy where he was so he sent them a quick text.
A few minutes later both men appeared in Jo’s room.
“Wow she looks so much better.” Jace said.
“She’s going to be out for a while.” Wes informed them.
“Wes you need to let her family know.”
“I know. Will you stay with her while I call Auggie?”
“Of course.” Andy smiled at her friend.
Wes left the room and passed the officer he knew would soon be sitting outside of Jo’s room. He went into the waiting room that he’d just left and called Auggie. He could have stayed in the room but he did not want to disturb Jo. Now that she was being cared for he knew that sleep would help Jo to heal.
“Wes?”
“We have her Auggie.”
“Oh my God, yes.” Wes heard Auggie mumble to who ever he was with that Jo had been found.
“Where? Is she okay?”
“I don’t want to go into it on the phone. She was pretty bad and we probably got to her just in time, but you don’t need to alarm her family with that. The most important thing is that physically she’s going to be okay. She’s in Riverside in Toms River.”
Wes heard Auggie tell who ever was in the room with him the details and then he knew they were already heading to their car as Auggie’s voice became thready.
“Auggie tell Lou to bring some things for Jo. Toiletries, pajamas, slippers that stuff okay.”
“Will do see you soon.”
Wes walked back to Jo's room and introduced himself to the officer stationed outside of her room. He made sure the young man understood that no one went into Jo’s room unless he, Andy, or Jace said so. Wes stepped into the sterile room taking in Jo's battered body. She was hooked up to the blue monitor tracking her heart rate and Wes thought back to when he had been hooked up to one. He smiled thinking of Jo and how she had taken such good care of him.
Andy nudged Jace indicating for him to watch Wes. They gave each other knowing smiles. Wes was so in love with Jo they didn’t even want to think about how he would have reacted had they lost her. Wes sat down in a chair that he pulled close to her bed and lowered the metal safety rail. Andy and Jace were sitting on a small couch against the far wall. Jace had Jo’s cell phone out and he and Andy were busy downloading things from her phone to theirs. Andy knew the FBI was working on a warrant for her phone. Andy told them they had it and when they had to turn it over to them they wanted to make sure it was completely backed up.
A low moan escaped Jo’s lips and she started to thrash her head from side to side. Wes sat up alarmed. Her moans became louder, more guttural and her little body began to shake. The arm that was not in a sling was clawing at the air in front of her and her wails became pitiful pleads. “No! Stop! No!”
Wes stood and listened as her cardiac monitor began to signal an alarm. Her blood pressure and her heart rate were climbing quickly and Wes heard a nurse running down the hallway. Even the cop came to stand in the doorway. Jo was wild eyed and screaming uncontrollably. Andy and Jace moved to stand by Wes. Wes leaned down and tried to hug Jo, whispering to her that she was okay, that she was safe, but Jo kept screaming as she batted against his solid chest, and then she screamed, “Wes!” in such a horrific high-pitched shriek that even Jace and Andy were shaken. The nurse who looked a bit unnerved herself, hastily pressed a syringe into Jo’s IV and Jo quickly settled back to sleep.
Wes had never heard anything so bone chilling in his life and he’d seen plenty of bad shit. To hear his woman scream like that shook him, badly. He slumped back into his seat and placed his forehead on Jo’s now still arm and quietly sobbed.
Jace and Andy knew he was crying because of how his shoulders were moving up and down. They stood behind him and placed their hands on his shoulders to let him know they were feeling his pain. The cop sat back down in his plastic chair, but he looked anxious. The nurse made a note on Jo’s chart and left the three friends, one of them weeping, alone.
Wes regained his composure and wiped his eyes. He had felt so helpless when she was screaming in terror and he knew it was undoubtedly connected to what she had endured.
“She probably hates me.” He said so quietly Jace wasn’t sure he’d heard him correctly.
“What are you saying Wes?” Jace encouraged him to talk.
“Jo has to hate me.”
“Wes, man you’re not thinking clearly.” Andy said already knowing what was coming.
“If I had been supportive of her investigating maybe she would have told me more. I could have helped her. This could have been avoided. She’s so hurt. She's suffered so much.”
“Wes…” Jace said exasperated but sympathetic.
“No listen.” Wes continued. “If I hadn’t been so pig headed and had just let Jo explain about Chicago I wouldn’t have gone to Italy. Maybe…”
“Stop man.” Andy said forcefully garnering Wes’ and Jace’s attention.
“You cannot beat yourself up over this. Wes you found her. You’re the reason she’s alive. We would have never linked Nick and Mann.”
“She was crying; you heard her Andy. I have caused her so much pain.” Wes’ anguish was palatable.
Noise at the doorway had both men standing. Lou was trying to run through the open door and the cop had her by the arm. Pete was ready to punch the cop for touching his wife and Auggie was bringing up the rear.
“Dez, it’s okay.” Jace told Artie Destri the police officer.
The young officer dropped his hand from Lou and she burst through the door. Pete shot Dez a nasty glare and entered followed by Auggie. Wes, Jace and Andy backed up from the bed to allow her family and friend closer access.
Wes watched as Lou wept on Jo’s small chest. Auggie had tears in his eyes and had to keep looking away and Pete was stroking Lou’s back to calm her.
“Unbelievable.” Andy whispered, seeing Lou for the first time.
“Yeah, weird huh?” Jace answered knowing he was freaked out by Lou’s resemblance to Jo.
Lou stood up her tears still clinging to her face and Wes once again had that gut check moment of how his woman looked when she was crying.
“Wes can you tell us anything?” She asked as she reigned in her tears.
Wes looked to Pete. He had no idea what he should say.
“Baby she’s alive and right now let's just be thankful for that.” Pete said as he gathered her tenderly in his arms. Lou melted into him and wept uncontrollably.
Two men dressed in suits appeared in the doorway. “Andy?”
“Hey Josh.” Andy crossed to the two men.
“Can we talk to you out here please?”
Andy was in the hallway for a minute and when he came back in he motioned for Jace and Wes to join him.
“Guys this is Josh Roberts and Mark Anderson, FBI.” The men shook hands.
Josh turned to Wes. “I’m really happy you found her. You understand why we couldn’t go in?”
“Yeah.”
“So for the record you heard her scream?”
“Yeah.” Wes said.
“Good enough.” Agent Anderson turned to Andy and handed him a folded piece of paper.
“Warrant?” Andy asked.
“Yeah, sorry, but we need it and Mann has lawyered up. If Ms. Ross’ phone can shed any light on this…”
“I appreciate what you guys are doing and of course you can have Ms. Ross' phone.” Wes was in total control mode now and Jace and Andy just kept quiet and let their friend do his thing. “However, I’d like to ask that a professional courtesy be extended to her.”
“Go on.” Agent Roberts said.
“Jo almost died for the story that’s going to come out. She’s worked on this for months. No one would even have known about it if she hadn’t begun the investigation. She’s had a brick thrown through her window
, her purse was stolen, her car's been vandalized, she was pushed off a bridge, and now add kidnapped and tortured to that list.” Wes voice had gotten stronger. “My point is, give her seventy-two hours to break the story.”
“Mr. Tobin.”
“Wes.” He said letting the FBI agents that he wanted to work with them.
“Wes, we can’t just sit on this.”
“I’m not asking you too, nor would I ever expect you too. What I am asking is that you do not share what you discover with the media. I guarantee Jo knows everything you will need and more, and you won’t be able to close your case without her anyway. Let Jo write her story. Let her be the one to break it in the press. You don’t care about credit. You want the truth and you want the bad guys to be caught and prosecuted. Jo will be handing them to you. I promise. Just let her recover a few days.”
The two FBI agents looked at each other and nodded. “That’s fine, Wes. She’ll break the story; we’ll work on loose ends while she recuperates. This works both ways though. When she’s able to talk we want access to her. She’s the only one that can tell us about the kidnapping.”
“Agreed.” Wes shook hands with both agents. Andy and Jace had huge smiles on their faces. The two agents left and Wes turned to his friends.
“What?”
“She’s going to love you man.” Jace grinned.
“God I hope so.” Wes said suddenly feeling drained.
Chapter 29
Jo
When the three men returned to the room it was to find Lou sitting next to a slumbering Jo talking to her like she was awake and Auggie and Pete sitting on the love seat talking quietly. Jo’s room was private but not big enough to house six visitors.
Wes huddled with Jace and Andy in a corner. It was now after midnight and Wes didn’t want to leave Jo and Andy didn’t want to leave Wes, so they decided to send Jace back to T.U.F.’s to handle business.
Jace said good bye to everyone and made Wes promise to keep him updated on Jo’s progress. Wes could see that Andy was tired too, but he knew he would never leave him until Jo was in the clear. Auggie stood up and said he was going to go across the street to the hotel.
“Lou, come on Honey she’s going to be sleeping for a few more hours. Come get some sleep.” Pete was rubbing her neck affectionately.
“No you go ahead Pete, I need to stay here. In fact why don’t all of you go? I’ll stay.” Wes looked at Pete and saw that he would never leave his wife. He liked the guy already.
Wes was suddenly uncomfortable. He wasn’t family and he wasn’t sure if Jo had told Lou about their argument. He knew they were close and if he had to guess he would have said that Lou knew everything about her beloved twin.
“Lou, if you don't mind, I want to be here. I’m not leaving her.”
Lou gave him a tiny smile. “I just wanted to offer.”
Auggie was the only one that left and only with assurances that they would call him with any changes with Jo. Pete and Andy settled themselves on the small couch. They discovered it was a two seater recliner and the two men high fived each other upon their discovery as they leaned back to relax.
Hours passed without Jo moving. Lou sat in the one cushioned chair at the foot of the bed, and Wes moved a chair to the spot he had occupied before near the head of Jo's bed. He slowly ran his finger tips down her cheek, shoulder and arm and then tenderly took her small hand in his. Wes rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb and for the first time in years really thought about his parents. He’d been young when they were both alive.
They’d been happy and he vaguely remembered his Mom sitting on his Dad’s lap at the kitchen table laughing. His Mom's face warped into Jo’s and his replaced his Dad. He could have that happiness with Jo. He had never even imagined having that kind of permanence with someone before; he was too damaged. He never wanted to be social with other people other than Jace and Andy and now Jo.
Fingers were running through his hair and it felt so good he thought he was dreaming. Sounds of feet on linoleum, hushed voices, and a crick in his back alerted him to the fact that he wasn’t in his bed. His hair was still being played with though and that's when he became cognizant of where he was and he knew instantly who was touching him. Jo.
He picked his head up and was met with a beautiful site. Jo was smiling down at him her arm was extended and her fingers were playing with his hair. Her head was partially elevated on the hospital bed and he realized that that he must have fallen asleep, and sometime during the night he draped his arm around her middle.
“Jo.” He whispered. She was so beautiful, even with all her bruises. Wes’ heart slammed into his chest.
“Hi sleepy head.” She teased him. Wes sat up and saw that Lou, Pete and Andy were still asleep.
“How are you feeling?” He asked quietly, rising out of the chair to sit on the edge of her bed. Jo’s hand fell to his thigh and Wes relished the contact. His arms bracketed her shoulders.
“I’m sore. I'm sure I reek horribly. Can I shower?"
"You went through a lot Honey."
Wes could see Jo was trying to remember what had happened.
"Can I have some water please?”
Wes helped her drink a few small sips before putting the plastic cup back on the stand.
“Do you remember anything?” He asked nervously. He didn’t want her to freak out again and he didn’t even really want her to remember anything but if she could talk about it, it might help.
“Yes.” She said so sadly. “Wes, I’m so sorry. Please don’t hate me.”
What? Wes shook his head there was no way he had heard her correctly.
“Jo what are you talking about?” He said softly. Now he was worried that she had a head injury.
“I should have told you about Chicago. I know you saw the message on my computer. If I had told you…” Jo’s eyes welled up.
“Oh baby no, no.” His hand palmed her face lovingly.
“I’m sorry Wes. I just didn’t know how to talk to you about it.”
“I don’t understand Honey. What do you mean?”
“I was afraid to tell you about Chicago. If I told you about the interview, that I didn’t want to go to it because of how I felt about you. I thought you might… you know… get nervous that I was assuming too much about you and me…together, the future.”
“Oh sweetheart.” Wes said sadly.
“If you were happy for me about the interview, which would mean you didn’t care if I left. That would have killed me. I decided not to even interview and just not tell you. I’m so sorry.”
Wes took a deep breath and watched as Jo eyed him nervously.
“Jo I’m sorry I didn’t let you explain when you called me. I’m so very sorry.” His voice was hushed so as to not wake the others in the room, but Jo heard the small tremors in his voice and knew he was trying to hold himself together.
“I’m even sorrier that I didn’t support you when you needed me to. That we fought. That I let you leave. I know you must hate me and it’s tearing me up. I just couldn’t leave without talking to you first.”
“Wes what are you saying?”
“I just… now that I know you’re going to be okay I’ll…”
“You want to leave?” She asked so dejectedly that Wes was actually taken back.
“You don’t want me to leave?”
“Wes, no I don’t want you to leave. I…”
“Jo!” an excited Lou cried out hearing that her sister was awake and talking.
Jo looked beyond Wes and saw Lou jumping out of her chair. She gave Wes’ hand a squeeze and mouthed ‘stay’ to him right before she was covered by her twin sister in a wonderful consuming but gentle hug.
Wes got off the bed but remained close by. He couldn’t believe she still wanted him to stay with her. Pete and Andy had woken upon hearing Lou’s animated happy cry and Pete went to Jo’s bedside, but Andy went to stand by Wes.
“I think she wants me to stay.” Wes said, not
believing what he had heard.
“Of course she does man.” Andy said happily clasping him on his back.
“Maybe she just wants me to stay so I can tell her what happened?” Wes said nervously.
Andy sighed and shook his head. It amazed him that for all the smarts Wes had that when it came to Jo he was a dumb ass.
Andy sidled up to Jo’s bedside and bent down to whisper something in her ear. Wes had no idea what he was saying and he didn’t like the frown that suddenly appeared on Jo’s face.
“Lou, Pete can you give me a second with Wes please, alone?”
Wes looked to Andy but he’d already left the room followed by Lou and Pete to stand quietly outside the door.
“Wes come here, please.” Jo’s voice was so tender and her eyes were sparkling.
Wes walked to the bed and Jo patted the side so he could sit down.
“I’m going to tell you something and then the ball's in your court, so to speak.” Wes nodded nervously. “I love you Wes Tobin. I love you so much that when I’m not with you I physically ache.”
Wes couldn’t believe what she was saying and he knew his mouth had opened in surprise.
“The whole time I was being held….” She couldn’t bring herself to say the word and she teared up. Wes reached for her hand to comfort her. “Well what I remember of it anyway, all I thought about was how you were going to be so mad at me. Then I thought about not seeing you again. Do you know that thought alone hurt me more than all the… shit they did to me. I. Love. You.”
Wes was floored and his heart filled with so much love for her that he thought his chest might pop open.
“You love me?”
Jo nodded.
Wes bent down and kissed her lips softly. “Jo I love you so much. It nearly did me in when I thought you were leaving me for Chicago. When I got the call in Italy that you were missing I damn near lost it.”
Jo recognized he was emotional.
“We have a lot to talk about don’t we?" She said quietly. Wes saw that her eyes were starting to close.
“I love you Jo. You have no idea how much.”
“Don’t leave okay? Please don’t leave.”
One Tough Love Page 26