Chapter 19

After twenty minutes which seemed like a millennium to Ash, Lester's car finally jerked to a stop in front of a residential building. Children were playing on the sidewalk, and some homeless people sat around with tins, begging for money.

Ash regarded Lester suspiciously as he held Jo close, "What the hell are we doing here? I asked you to get us to the charity clinic!"

Lester didn't seem fazed, "The clinic is in that building."

He got out of the car and opened the door for Ash who carried Jo out. People gathered to watch, and Lester called a five-year old girl to show them the particular flat where the clinic was situated.

The girl stuck her tongue out at him, "I ain't helping no copper. It'll ruin my cred."

"Hey!" Ash commanded the girl's attention, "Do I look like a cop to you?!" He asked harshly.

The girl shook her head and looked cowed. Ash didn't like raising his voice on children, but he needed the girl to understand how dire the situation was.

"I'll show you." She said as she ran into the building. Lester and Ash quickly followed her.

The climbed the dark stairs until they reached a door with the word 'clinic' hastily scrawled on it. Ash thought it must be illegal to situate a clinic in a residential building, but at the moment, he couldn't care less. The clinic could be situated in a meat market for all he cared.

Lester knocked on the door and immediately, Sia opened it looking every inch dishevelled and tired. She pursed her lips at him, "I've settled the cops for the month."

Before Lester could reply, Ash shoved him out of the way, "Please doctor. We got here as fast as we can. You've got to do something."

Sia's hand flew to her mouth when she saw Jo's unconscious form in Ash's hands, "What happened?"

"She got shot! The bullet is still in her." Ash said as Sia cleared the way and he entered the flat. It was divided into two by a transparent tarpaulin. One side was a tiny waiting room with two plastic chairs, and the other side was a makeshift theatre with an operating table.

An assistant rushed to swab the table with a disinfected towel before Ash laid Jo on it. Sia put on her scrubs after scrubbing and her assistant did the same. Before she started, she looked at Ash, " She's lost a lot of blood. She's going to need a transfusion after the surgery."

"I'll do it." Ash said.

"What's your blood type?" Sia asked as she selected a pair of forceps.

"AB." Ash said.

She shook her head, "She's O+"

"I'm O+, and I'm clean." Lester volunteered.

"Good. Now you two go wait outside." Sia ordered.

"But-" Ash started to protest.

"Outside. Now!" Sia snapped. Ash considered the kind of stress she was under. She was about to operate on her very good friend. Moreover, Ash didn't want her to waste time bickering with him when she could be saving Jo. He nodded and walked outside with Lester. He leaned against the whitewashed wall and began to pray.

An hour later, Sia's assistant poked her head out of the door, "The doctor needs you."

Ash made to enter, but the young woman shook her head, "Not you, the cop."

Lester hurriedly entered and the door closed behind him. Ash sat on the floor, his heart beating wildly. He wanted to be with Jo, to be the one who'd provide her with any and everything she wanted. He didn't want to be outside, but he had no choice. Ash wondered if she was fine, if the surgery had been successful, without any hitches.

Ash didn't want to consider that something had gone wrong. He hadn't even told her he loved her, he thought. He should have given her the words that first chance he'd gotten, but he'd been too much of a coward. He promised he'd let her know he loved her the first chance he got.

Some minutes later, Sia opened the door and stepped out. She saw Ash sitting cross-legged on the floor and joined him. Ash didn't think it was possible but she looked even more tired. His heart flew into his mouth and he became speechless with worry.

Sia turned to him, "I was able to remove the bullet successfully. She was fortunate the bullet missed the vital organs. She's receiving a blood transfusion now. When that's over, you can go in."

Ash was so happy he didn't bother to wipe away the tears of joy flowing freely down his cheeks. He hugged Sia, "Thank you! Thank you! Is she awake?"

Sia shook her head, "She's still under the influence of the anaesthetics, but she'll be out of it very soon. Jo's a fighter."

"My fighter," Ash said with pride, "I still can't believe she took a bullet for me."

Sia regarded him for a moment, "She'll do anything for the people she loves. Now, Jo's my friend and I love her a lot, so I'm going to ask you this question; what's your plan for her?"

Ash placed his hand on her shoulder, "I love her a lot. I want to be in her life. Permanently."

Sia seemed satisfied with his reply. She stood up and said, "Come with me."

Ash quickly got up and followed her in.

He saw Lester with a cotton swab on his harm talking to the assistant. He acknowledged him with a nod and turned his attention on the woman lying on the operating table. She looked pale and troubled, and her eyes were still closed. She wore a hospital gown that was too large for her.

Not minding who saw, he leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. Then he proceeded to whisper silently in her ear, "Jo, I know you can hear me. I love you, a lot. I love your hair, your tattoos, your body and your smile but more importantly, I love your heart, your compassion, your kindness. Jo, I want to be with you. Just know you're stuck with me and I'm never leaving your sight.

This just proved to me that I can't bear to lose you. When you recover fully, I'm going to give you a talking to about doing stupid things like taking a bullet for me. I'll do whatever I can to keep you safe, and I'll make sure you don't have to worry about anything. In fact, I'm going to eliminate any potential threats to you." Ash promised her as he took her hand in his and brought it to his lips.

"I love you." He repeated.

• • •

Jo felt a huge ache in her head when she came to. Her mouth felt like it had been stuffed with cotton and she still felt woozy. She cracked open her eyes and felt a moment of panic before she realized where she was. When her eyes were able to make out the people in the room, she recognized Sia, and her longtime assistant Liv.

The first word that came out of her mouth was, "Ash."

Sia placed her hand in hers and shook her head.

"Where is he?" Jo asked, getting hysterical. "I heard his voice when I was coming out of the drugs, or was that a dream?"

"No. He was here." Sia answered.

"Then where is he?" Jo asked, trying to sit up. Sia placed her hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her back to a lying position.

"He left." Sia replied.

"Did he say when he was coming back?" Jo asked hopefully.

"No."

"For how long have I been here?" Jo asked.

"Two days." Sia answered, dreading the next question.

"When did he leave?" Jo asked.

"Shortly after your surgery."

"Oh," That one word was enough to convey the heartbreak and disappointment Jo felt. She remembered telling Ash she loved him. Obviously, she'd scared him away.

Sia saw the look of desolation on her face and said, "Whatever it is you're thinking, stop it. That man loves you."

"And how do you know?" Jo asked.

"He told me. Also, you should have seen him. He looked so helpless. It was as though he was hurting with you." Sia answered.

Jo couldn't believe Sia was taking Ash's side, "Then why did he leave?!" She snapped.

Sia remained silent.

Jo sighed. All of a sudden, she felt like she needed to get out of the confining clinic. What she needed, she thought, was her mother's apple pie. "When can I leave?" She asked.

"Tomorrow. I want to keep you overnight to make sure nothing goes wrong." Sia replied.

"Call my mum, tell her I'm okay and that I'd like her to come pick me up tomorrow, if it's not a bother." Jo said quietly.

"Jo, I'm-"

"Please, I want to be left alone." Jo said and turned her head away.

Sia nodded and left.

• • •

The next day, Ruth took a Uber to the clinic to pick her daughter. When she saw Jo looking forlorn in a hospital gown, she let out a gasp and began to weep. Since Sia wasn't around, it was Liv who helped Jo into the clothes her mother had brought with her.

Jo gingerly walked up to her and put her arms around her, "Don't cry, mum. It's not that serious."

Ruth gave her a glare,"Don't lie to me! I badgered Sia into telling me how bad it was!"

Jo looked abashed. "I made it. I didn't die. That's what matters."

Ruth hugged her tightly, "I'm so glad."

Jo winced, "Not so tight, mom."

Ruth released her, "I'm sorry." She looked around, asking, "Where's your young man?"

Jo looked down, "He's not around."

Ruth laughed, "I hope he isn't having the meet-the-parent jitters."

"No, mum. In fact, I don't think you'll be meeting him at all." Jo confessed.

Ruth looked at Jo in shock, "Why?"

Jo sighed, "Things didn't work out."

Ruth realized that her daughter needed comfort, not an interrogation, so she helped her up, "Not all things work out, dear. Come on, let's go home. I'll make you some apple pie."

Jo smiled sadly and they walked to the Uber waiting for them.

• • •

Jo decided to take a break from all Ganghaven related activities. She stayed with her mother, eating and moping into space. The bounty and the APB had been called off by the police, yet Jo lived in hiding. Andrea, Sia and Rex visited her, but she never tried to make conversation with them. Her silence made them leave.

During the day, she'd binge watch comedy shows without laughing, and at night, she'd cry herself to sleep.

Two weeks later, Ruth was fed up with her daughter's inactivity. That afternoon, she sat on the couch next to Jo, took the remote lying on the table and switched off the television.

"Hey!" Jo cried with indignation, "I was watching that!"

"No, you weren't," Ruth said calmly.

"Yes, I was."

"Fine. What's the lead character's name?" Ruth asked.

"I, uh, . . ." Jo was at a loss for words.

"Jo, don't you think you've moped around enough? Don't you have things to do? Gangs don't run themselves, you know." Ruth said.

"There's Rex," Jo said dismissively.

"What about me and your friends? We miss you."

"I'm right here." Jo said sarcastically.

"I meant the real you. The Jo who took disappointment the same way she took every other thing in life; with a smiling face and perseverance." Ruth said.

At her mother's words, Jo promptly burst into tears. Ruth held her, patting her back. She didn't say anything. She knew the crying was part of the healing process.

After a while, Jo looked up, "I'm sorry. You must be sick of hearing me cry all the time."

Inwardly, Ruth concurred but she said to Jo, "Not really."

Jo extricated herself from her mother's hug, "Mum, it's just so hard to imagine. For the first time, I fell in love only to have it snatched away from me. You know I've never been one to think about settling down, but if he'd ask me to leave my gang and build a family with him, I would have. I thought he loved me, but I was wrong. I guess I scared him away."

Ruth felt angry. She wanted to pummel the bastard who'd broken her daughter's heart, "If you telling him you loved him scared him away, then it's probably good riddance. You'll soon get over him."

"Is this how you felt when dad died? Like there was a gaping hole where your heart used to be? How did you get over his death?" Jo asked.

Ruth sighed, remembering her Gabe, "Yes, when your father died, I wanted to join him. The only thing that stopped me was you. You were so little, and you reminded me of him. And I haven't gotten over him. Not fully, I doubt I ever will, but the sadness I feel when I think about him has subsided greatly."

Jo nodded.

Ruth continued, "But this is not the same with your father. Your father didn't leave me. Ever. With time, you'll get over him."

Jo remembered all the good times and the bad times she had with Ash, and she wasn't so sure.