Page 103 of One Tough Love

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.

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