Page 68 of One Tough Love

"It's becoming very interesting actually." Jo said skirting the question.

"Well if you come back to the paper perhaps you can use me as a sounding board. Like old times." He said sounding wistful.

Jo nodded. "Thanks."

Henry paid for their drinks, stood up, and then patted her shoulder affectionately.

"We miss you Jo."

Henry turned and she watched him walk away.

Jo remained at the bar; thinking about the position Henry had just offered her. He was correct, she could use the paycheck, but Jo couldn't help thinking that there was an ulterior motive attached to the job offer. Jo hated what she was currently thinking about her old mentor.

A hulking figure appeared in the bar's doorway, blocking the sun from entering the dim room. Jo realized it was Andy walking towards her. Her stomach lurched.

Andy was at her side quickly. “Jo? Are you okay?”

"Andy? What are you doing here? Is Wes all right?"

"Wes is fine. Well he will be when I tell him I found you."

"Why? What's going on?"

Andy sighed deeply before speaking and Jo's insides clenched uncomfortably.

"Jace had to leave and Wes was asleep so Jace didn't think it was bad if he left Jill with him. When Wes woke up Jill was sitting on the bed holding his hand. When he asked where you were she told him you had decided to leave."

"Andy I left him a note. I had to meet with my old boss."

"He didn't see the note. He freaked out thinking you saw Jill holding his hand and bolted."

They were both hurrying out of the tavern heading back to the hospital.

"I wouldn't have left Andy." Jo said seriously, trying to keep pace with Andy's long stride.

"I didn't think you would, but Wes, well, he's still feeling the whole Ginger ordeal. Jo, that crap with Ginger; I swear I've never seen him so upset. When he realized what you saw on television and what you must have been thinking. It was bad, really bad."

"I know she played him Andy." She was jogging just to stay even with the large man.

"Well waking up with Jill holding his hand, and with you nowhere in sight, well guess is that my man's trying to leave the hospital to look for you."

"How did you find me?"

"He called me after he got Jill out of the room; I tried to calm him down and told him I'd find you. I called Jace and he told me where you were going. I came right over."

When they arrived at Wes' room he was bracketed by two nurses and one of them was talking sternly to him. Wes had taken out his IV and had somehow managed to pull his pants on. He was sickly white from the energy he was expending trying to dress himself and sweat dotted his forehead.

“Mr. Tobin if you don’t get back in that bed I’ll have to call the doctor and he will not be happy.” She implored.

When Wes saw Jo standing next to Andy in the doorway he froze and the frustrated nurses saw Jo.

“There you are.” One of the nurses said sounding enormously relieved. “Please tell him to get back into bed.”

Jo didn’t move towards him. She knew that he thought that she had seen Jill holding his hand and had left. What slammed into her was the realization that as hurt as he was, he was trying to go after her. The enormity of what Wes was putting himself through to find her hit her hard. Her heart ached that he thought she would leave and she hated that he was physically hurting.

“Jo.” He said. His voice sounded pained.

He stepped towards her and Jo saw how unsteady, yet determined he was to touch her.

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