True Love Never Goes Away Ch. 16-17

"I don't think I touched the pouch when I pulled it out of my pocket. I used a tissue to drop it into a plastic bag after I spoke with my son in law," Jack told them. The officers nodded and took the bag Jack pointed to.

"Can you tell me what you know about Karen?" Officer Davis asked. Jack pursed his lips. "I met her at a group grief councilor meeting. I can't revel where, but it was run by Doctor Sampson. She lost her husband a few years ago, she has two boys and a girl. I think their names are John, Shawn and Dawn. They range from 28 to 24," Jack said. He told the officers the rest of what he knew and they thanked him before leaving. Jack returned to living room and flipped through the channels on the television.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Jason was led into Melanie's room where she was just coming around. "Mel?" Jason said quietly. Melanie opened her eyes groggily and smiled when she saw Jason. "How do you feel?" Jason asked. Melanie shifted in the bed and winced.

"Like I lost a marathon," Melanie admitted. Jason chuckled and took Melanie's hand.

"I thought I lost you," Jason admitted. Melanie rubbed her eyes. "What happened?" Melanie wanted to know.

Jason sighed. "It looks like Karen poisoned your water with aspartame. You stopped breathing in the ambulance on the way to the hospital," Jason told Melanie.

Melanie's eyes widened. "Is the baby okay?" Melanie wanted to know.

Jason sighed again. "They had to do an emergency C-Section because they couldn't get you stabilized," Jason said. Melanie started to panic until Jason smiled. "She's fine Mel." Melanie stared at Jason.

"A girl?" Melanie whispered. Jason nodded. She weighs 4 pounds, 18 ounces and is 18.75 inches long," Jason said.

Tears filled Melanie's eyes and Jason kissed her gently. "I love you," Jason murmured.

Melanie smiled. "I love you too," Melanie said as Jason wiped away a tear from her cheek. "How are the kids?" Melanie asked after taking a drink of water.

"They're fine, Jack's with them," Jason said, rubbing his thumb along the back of Melanie's hand. Melanie nodded and yawned. "Go back to sleep love, you'll feel better soon," Jason murmured.

Melanie's eyes closed and Jason stood up. Melanie's eyes shot open again. "Don't leave me!" Melanie exclaimed.

Jason smiled. "I'll be right back Mel, I'm just going to the bathroom and to talk to Leigh," Jason promised. Melanie smiled and closed her eyes again and drifted off to sleep.

:: Chapter Seventeen ::

"Hurry Julie!" Leigh exclaimed, taping a balloon to the wall as Julie and Paul put up a banner across the door way. "Jason will be back with Mel any minute!" Leigh added. Steve and Carol finished getting the food onto the table when the boys came running in.

"Mama and Dada home?" Seth asked. Carol smiled. "Not yet boys, go sit in the living room and we'll tell you when to hide," Carol told her grandson. Marine came running into the room. "Dad and Mom are back!" she exclaimed, grabbing Seth and David by the hand. "C'mon, I'll show you were to hide," she added. The kids ran into the living room and Marine helped the boys hide behind the couch before hiding behind the chair. Leigh and Paul opened the door and headed out to the van as Jason pulled into the drive way. "Hey," Leigh greeted her sister with a smile. Melanie smiled back as Jason helped her out of the van before opening up the sliding door. "Ohh, you got to bring her home!" Leigh squealed.

Melanie smiled and nodded. "She's gained almost a full pound in the last three weeks," Melanie told her sister. Melanie shuddered at the thought of how long it had taken for her system to fully be rid of the aspartame and to be able to breathe without a struggle. The baby began fussing as Jason unbuckled her from the car seat. Jason calmed the baby down quickly.

"Can I hold her?" Leigh asked. Jason smiled and nodded, carefully sliding the baby into Leigh's arms. The baby stared at Leigh with big blue eyes and Paul suddenly looked very nervous. Jason laughed and Melanie smiled.

"You'll get used to that," Jason promised. "You can carry her in," Jason told Leigh. Leigh smiled. "Paul, can you carry the bag in please?" Jason asked. Paul nodded and took the bag from him. Carefully, Jason helped Melanie into the house where once inside, Leigh gave Jason the baby again. "Come sit down, the kids are anxious to see you," Leigh told Melanie, taking her sister's hand and leading her towards the living room.

Jason and Paul hung back and exchanged grins. Melanie was surprised to see Steve and Carol in the living room. "Hey Mel," Carol said with a genuine smile.

The boys and Marine popped up from their hiding places and yelled, "Surprise!" Melanie smiled as Leigh helped her to the rocking chair. Seth and David ran to Melanie and tried to jump on her. Seth got there first and jumped into Melanie's lap making her cry out in pain.

"Easy there Seth," Jason said, coming into the living room.

"Mommy hurt?" Seth asked.

Jason nodded and Seth climbed out of Melanie's lap. David and Seth walked to where Jason was crouching on the floor. "Mommy had to have an operation on her tummy. Do you know where the tummy is?" Jason asked. David nodded and pointed to his belly. Jason nodded. "That's right. Mommy's going to be really sore for a little while, so you can't jump on her okay?" Jason said.

David and Seth nodded and peered curiously at the baby in Jason's arms. "Baby," Seth said.

Jason smiled. "That's right. This is your little sister," Jason told the boys. "Her name is Jessica," Jason said.

Marine glanced at the baby, wrinkled her nose and looked away. "Why'd you bring a girl home? You already have me!" Marine whined.

Melanie tried not to laugh and Jason shook his head. "We don't pick what baby to bring home," Jason told Marine.

Marine pouted. "Don't you love me anymore?" she asked.

Melanie sighed and rolled her eyes. "Of course we do Mari. Just because daddy and I had another baby doesn't mean that we've stopped loving you, or the boys," Melanie told her daughter. Jessica started to fuss and Jason gently handed her off to Melanie. "Leigh, can you help me into the bedroom?" Melanie asked softly. Leigh nodded and helped her sister to her feet and followed her to the bedroom.

"You okay?" Leigh asked, closing the door behind her.

Melanie smiled and nodded. "She's hungry, but I'm going to need some help. Can you fix the cushion on the rocker?" Melanie asked, gently placing the baby in the center of the bed before pulling the sweat shirt over her head. Melanie pulled a button down shirt off of the dresser and set it on the bed next to the rocker before picking Jessica up and sitting down in the rocker and helping the baby to latch on.

Leigh couldn't help but watch for a minute before looking away. "Doesn't that hurt?" Leigh asked. Melanie shook her head. "Sometimes, but usually it feels a lot better than being completely full of milk," Melanie answered.

There was a knock on the door before Paul opened it and stepped inside. Melanie reached for the shawl on the back of the rocker and Leigh grabbed it and gently covered her sister. Paul was beet red and Melanie chuckled. "What's going on?" Melanie asked.

Paul shook his head in hopes of clearing it. "Your dad's here. He wants to see the baby, and you," Paul answered, opening the door wider to reveal Jack. Melanie shifted in the chair carefully as Jack walked in and sat on the bed. Leigh and Paul headed for the door. "Stay here you two, this concerns you as well," Jack said. Leigh sat on the ottoman by Melanie's feet and Paul lounged against the dresser.

"What's wrong?" Melanie asked.

"They caught Karen and she admitted everything," Jack said. Melanie breathed a sigh of relief. "And her children would like to meet with you," Jack added.

"Absolutely not," Jason said from the doorway. "After what their mother pulled, how could they possibly think that we'd allow it?" Jason asked. Jack sighed. "They seem genuinely upset," Jack told Jason. "In fact, it seems that Karen was wrong about her kids. John got a girl pregnant while at school but refuses to acknowledge the child," Jack said shaking his head. "Which I know neither of you boys would ever dream of doing," he added.

Jason and Paul exchanged glances and rolled their eyes. "Why do they want to meet me?" Melanie asked. Jack shrugged. "Dawn is out in the car waiting, why don't you ask her yourself," Jack suggested. Jason looked at Melanie who sighed. "Show her in," Melanie said finally. Jack walked out to the car and returned a moment later with Dawn who gasped when she saw Jason. "Jason?" Dawn asked in surprise.

Jason looked just as surprised and shifted uneasily as Melanie studied their reactions carefully and worriedly. "How have you been?" Jason asked carefully. Melanie cleared her throat and Jason flushed. "Mel, this is Dawn Carsons. She was dating Mark when he had his accident. Dawn, this is my wife Melanie, her sister Leigh, Leigh's husband Paul and of course, you know Jack," Jason introduced.

"What happened between you?" Melanie asked curiously. Jason shook his head. "Nothing," he assured Melanie.

"We just haven't seen each other since Mark nearly lost his face," Dawn added. "I wanted to apologize for my mother's behavior. She's lost her mind since dad died. When John got his ex pregnant, it tore my mother apart; it went against everything she tried to teach us. Then, well, Mark and I started seeing each other again a few months ago, and since I was with Mark in the Chem lab when his experiment blew up, my mother has never trusted anyone to be near me, unless of course, she's met them first," Dawn rambled on. Melanie studied the girl carefully as Jessica finally stopped suckling.

Melanie gently pulled her nipple out of Jessica's mouth who began protesting angrily until Melanie could switch her to the other breast. Dawn looked surprised at the noise. "I didn't realize you were pregnant when my mother did this," Dawn said softly.

Jason nodded. "Your mother slipped aspartame into Mel's water. Melanie nearly died as a result," Jason said, his surprise dissipating and his anger returning. "Jessica was born nine weeks premature and is lucky to be alive," Jason added. Dawn flinched at the look of anger on Jason's face and she took a step back.

"Jason, enough," Melanie said softly, taking pity on Dawn.

Jason sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "You say you're back with Mark?" Jason asked. Dawn nodded, relieved that Jason changed the subject. "How's he doing?" Jason wanted to know. Dawn smiled. "He's doing really great. He's teaching finally, and we're getting married next month. I'm surprised your parents haven't received an invitation for you," Dawn said. Jason studied Dawn for any signs that she was lying and Melanie yawned.

"Are you alright?" Leigh asked Melanie, causing Jason to look at Melanie in concern.

Melanie nodded. "I'm just exhausted. If it's all the same to everyone, could everyone but Leigh leave? We need to discuss a few things," Melanie said as politely as possible.

Jack gave his daughters each a gentle hug before following Dawn and Paul out of the room. "I love you," Jason said softly before giving Melanie a gentle kiss on the lips. Melanie kissed him back and smiled.

"I love you too," Melanie murmured as Jason walked out of the room and closed the door.