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Julia had gotten the medical report without a hitch this
time and holding the box Nick had given her with a wobbly smile she went a
little ways down the hall and to Rachel's room to check up on her -- that and to
give Kat and Nick some time.
In a way it was odd - neither one of them having had any
real experience with children, not even married yet, and yet both of them were
thinking of Kat before making some decisions and considering how things would
impact her if they were done or not. The term god daughter came to mind,
having had a god mother before she had passed away as a teen.
And unlike what Mitchell had tried to get her to believe,
Julia knew that had Kat been receptive to it or not, he still would have done
everything the same.
Because it involved Julia and him.
"You look deep in thought." Rachel spotted her as she
entered and Julia looked up, surprised she had reached the room without really
thinking about it "Did Kat find you alright?"
Julia quirked a grin and nodded "Mind if I have a
seat?"
Still feeling the medication but not out of it yet, Rachel
raised a hand at the one Kat had vacated "Front row, center. How're you
holding up?"
The question caught Julia off guard but she sat down and
nodded at Rachel's form "I would think that'd be my line, don't you
think?"
Rachel chuckled softly at that and closed her eyes before
explaining "I mean with what's happened.. and adjusting."
She opened her eyes and looked at the younger woman,
seeing a quick flash of emotion in her blue eyes.
"Hey," she tried to cajole her into talking "I'm drugged
up and I usually charge per hour.. take the free session while you
can."
It had the desired effect and Julia smiled, a little more
at ease with Kat's mother.
She also figured she'd get to the heart of the matter, one
of the things that was bothering her at the moment.
"Your daughter must hate me."
Rachel blinked and looked at the other, surprised "Why
would you think that?"
Julia sat back, chewing her bottom lip before replying,
holding the dark blue jewelry box in her hand as a reminder of the best things
that had happened and were to come "I saw her face, Rachel. Thanks to
Mitchell all the talks and trust we had between us -- she thinks I'm evil or
going to hurt ..."
It was obvious it was tearing the woman apart but Rachel
would have thought Kat would have talked to her already....
"She came to Nick's room and even then she was hesitant."
Julia went on to explain, missing Rachel's thoughtful expression and then the
understanding one after she finished "And I knew she wanted to make sure Nick
was okay so I left to go talk with the nurse and give them time
alone....
Julia looked at her, blue gaze troubled "What if she never
trusts me again? We had such fun on Saturday with her sneaking into our
room and waking me up..... she even learned how to flip pancakes."
The last was said with a quick but sad grin. Sad
because she was afraid it would never happen again.
"She got one stuck on the wall though..... "
Rachel started to chuckle, felt a twitch in her side and
raised her hand as she stopped, satisfied with grinning like a goof at the
picture that brought to mind.
"Julia -" she started.
But Julia was looking at the box and her tone was quiet
"Nick bought a ring. He snuck through the store and bought a ring, the
sneak." She then looked at Rachel "And I hid it when Kat came in because I
didn't want to see the look of horror on her face......"
Rachel reached over and took the empty hand Julia had
placed on her bedside and squeezed it gently "You and Nick care for Kat a great
deal. I saw how the two of you were ready and did jump in to defend
her. She was confused -"
The door opened and the doctor came back in "Visitor hours
are about to end." he said sympathetically, looking at the two before looking at
Julia and reading the paper in his hand, verifying it was her "Julia Walker and
or Walker-Boyle?"
"Um, okay." Julia frowned, confused as the Doctor shrugged
apologetically at Rachel.
"Sorry Doctor Corrigan.. the nurse couldn't make out her
own scribble and put a couple of variations so they wouldn't have a hard time
taking Kat home."
Julia looked at Rachel and the woman explained, grinning
crookedly as the medicine decided to really hit her then "They're keeping me
here o'ernight. Made 'rraingments for Kat..... don't
mind...?"
"No.. of course not." Julia answered, only to wonder how
this was going to work out considering Kat was scared to death of her.
Rachel's eyes started to fall closed, even as she tried
fighting sleep, knowing Julia still had doubts "... don' forget... Tuf...'ll..
be okay..."
Then she was asleep.
The doctor motioned for Julia to follow him as he headed
back toward Nick's room "We just need to get yours and Mister Boyle's signature
so we can finalize everything and you can be on your way. Here's his
release papers as well. You need to do the driving too."
They reached Nick's room and the doctor pushed open the
door.
Julia felt like she was being ran in a maze without a clue
as to where they were going.
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