Chapter 105 Jason's Wound
JASON'S Pov
My shoulder was killing me. It had been over a week since the raid and the wound was healing but slowly. Too slow. Every time I moved wrong it would start bleeding again. Every time I tried to lift something it would hurt.
I was in the bathroom changing the bandage when Caitlyn walked in.
"Let me do that," she said.
"I got it," I said. "It is fine."
"No you do not get it," Caitlyn said. "You are doing it wrong. Sit down."
I sat on the edge of the tub and let her take over. She carefully peeled off the old bandage and examined the wound.
"It looks better," she said. "Not as red. Not as swollen."
"Yeah well it still hurts like hell," I said.
"That is because you keep using it," Caitlyn said. "You are supposed to rest it. Let it heal."
"I am resting it," I said.
"No you are not," Caitlyn said. "I saw you lifting that box yesterday. And I saw you working on your bike. You need to stop."
"I cannot just sit around doing nothing," I said.
"Yes you can," Caitlyn said. "That is exactly what you need to do."
She cleaned the wound with antiseptic and I winced. It stung bad.
"Sorry," Caitlyn said. "I know it hurts."
"It is okay," I said. "I have had worse."
"That does not make this better," Caitlyn said.
She put on a new bandage and taped it down. Her hands were gentle. Careful. She was being so careful not to hurt me.
"There," she said. "All done. Now promise me you will take it easy today. No lifting. No working. Just rest."
"Fine," I said. "I promise."
"Good," Caitlyn said.
I stood up and pulled my shirt back on. Caitlyn was still looking at me with that worried expression she got whenever she saw the wound.
"Stop worrying," I said. "I am fine."
"You are not fine," Caitlyn said. "You got shot. You almost died. You are not fine."
"But I did not die," I said. "And the wound is healing. So I am fine."
Caitlyn shook her head but she was smiling a little.
"You are impossible," she said.
"You love me anyway," I said.
"I do," Caitlyn said. "Even though you are stubborn and reckless and do not know how to take care of yourself."
"That is why I have you," I said. "To take care of me."
"Someone has to," Caitlyn said.
We went to the living room and I sat on the couch. Caitlyn sat next to me and put her feet up on the coffee table. Her ankles were swollen. Her stomach was getting bigger every day. The baby was growing fast.
"How are you feeling?" I asked. "Besides tired."
"Okay," Caitlyn said. "The baby has been kicking a lot today. Like the baby is doing gymnastics in there."
"Can I feel?" I asked.
"Yeah," Caitlyn said.
She took my hand and put it on her stomach. I felt a strong kick right away. Then another one. The baby was really moving.
"Wow," I said. "That is strong."
"Tell me about it," Caitlyn said. "Sometimes the kicks hurt. Especially when the baby kicks my ribs."
"Sorry," I said. Like it was my fault somehow.
"It is okay," Caitlyn said. "It is worth it. Knowing the baby is healthy and strong."
We sat there for a while with my hand on her stomach. Feeling the baby move. It was amazing. Every time I felt the baby kick I fell more in love. With Caitlyn. With the baby. With the idea of being a family.
"What are you thinking about?" Caitlyn asked.
"About how lucky I am," I said. "About how I almost lost you. About how we get a second chance."
"We are lucky," Caitlyn said. "Both of us."
"I cannot wait to meet this baby," I said. "To hold them. To see what they look like."
"Me too," Caitlyn said. "Although I am also terrified."
"Of what?" I asked.
"Of everything," Caitlyn said. "Of labor. Of being a mom. Of messing it up."
"You are not going to mess it up," I said. "You are going to be amazing."
"How do you know?" Caitlyn asked.
"Because I can see it already," I said. "I can see how much you love this baby. How you talk to them. How do you protect them? How do you make sure to eat healthy and go to all your appointments? That is what makes a good mom."
"I hope you are right," Caitlyn said.
"I am right," I said. "Trust me."
The baby kicked again and we both smiled. It never got old. Feeling the baby move. Knowing there was a little person in there. A person we made together.
"Do you think we are ready for this?" Caitlyn asked. "For being parents?"
"I do not think anyone is ever really ready," I said. "But we will figure it out. Together."
"Together," Caitlyn repeated. "I like the sound of that."
"Me too," I said.
My shoulder was starting to throb again. The pain medicine was wearing off. But I did not want to move. Did not want to get up and get more medicine. I just wanted to sit here with Caitlyn. With my hand on her stomach. Feeling our baby move.
"You are in pain," Caitlyn said. She could always tell. "Go take your medicine."
"I am fine," I said.
"Jason," Caitlyn said. She gave me that look. The one who said she was not going to argue about this.
"Okay okay," I said. "I will take the medicine."
I got up and went to the kitLeo. Took two pills and swallowed them with water. When I came back Caitlyn had moved to lie down on the couch. Her eyes were closed.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Just tired," Caitlyn said. "The baby kept me up most of last night kicking."
"You should nap," I said.
"I should," Caitlyn said. "But I do not want to. I am scared I will have nightmares."
"I will be right here," I said. "If you have a nightmare I will wake you up."
"Promise?" Caitlyn asked.
"Promise," I said.
She closed her eyes and I sat in the chair across from the couch. Watched her breathe. Watched her hand rest on her stomach. She looked peaceful when she was sleeping. Like all the worry and fear went away.
I loved watching her like this. Loved seeing her here in my home. In our home now. I loved that she was carrying our baby. That we were going to be a family. It was everything I had ever wanted.
My shoulder throbbed again but I ignored it. The pain would pass. Everything would pass. As long as I had Caitlyn and the baby nothing else mattered.
I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew Caitlyn was shaking me awake.
"Jason," she said. "Jason wake up."
I opened my eyes. "What is wrong? Are you okay?"
"I am fine," Caitlyn said. "But you have been asleep for three hours. You need to eat something."
"Three hours?" I said. "Really?"
"Really," Caitlyn said. "Come on. I made soup."
"You did not have to do that," I said.
"I wanted to," Caitlyn said. "You take care of me. Let me take care of you."
We went to the kitLeo and she served us both bowls of soup. It was chicken noodle. Simple but good. We
ate together at the table.
"This is nice," I said. "Having meals together. Being domestic."
"It is nice," Caitlyn said. "I could get used to this."
"Me too," I said.