Mockingbird: a Songbird Sequel

Twenty-Five: Colt

The nurses kept trying to chase me out, but I didn't let them. One would come in and tell me visiting hours were over, and I'd flash them the sweetest smile I could muster and tell them I'd leave in a few minutes. An hour later, another would come in and I'd do the same thing. Finally, after the fourth nurse made her attempt, they gave up and brought in extra blankets and pillows. It was for the best. There was no way in hell anyone was going to get me to leave anyway.

"You're ridiculous," Lennie laughed as I stripped down to my undershirt and kicked off my boots. Given the fact that we could have guests at any moment, I decided to keep my jeans on, but I definitely wasn't happy about it.

"What?" I asked with a laugh. "You wanted me to leave?"

"I'm probably just going to go to sleep, Colt. You can go home."

"I am home," I stated, leaning forward, and pressing my lips to her forehead. "The only place I have to go back to right now is a place I don't want to be. So... tomorrow I'll find a hotel for us..."

"We don't need a hotel. We'll just go home."

"Baby, you heard the doctor. She wants you to rest a few days and then have another checkup before we head back."

"It's a four-hour drive, Colt. I'll be fine."

"Babe, it's not negotiable. We're staying here."

Lennie sank back into her hospital bed with a huff, folding her arms over her chest. "I don't want to be here. I don't want to be anywhere near her or her stupid lies or Carter... I just want to go home."

I sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. "Hey, listen to me," I pleaded softly, reaching to cup a hand around her jaw. "I know it sucks, baby. All I want is to go home too, but this isn't about what we want right now. It's about what's best for you and the baby. And if you don't take a beat, if you don't let yourself recharge, you're gonna end up right back here, okay?" She just nodded meekly. "I know it sucks and I know you're uncomfortable as all hell, and I wish I could fix it, but this how it's gotta be for a little bit, okay? Just a few days."

"I know," she said, softly.

"And I promise I ain't leaving your side. You're sleeping in a shitty bed, I'm sleeping in a shitty bed." She laughed a bit as I resituated myself into the bed next to her and pulled her into my arms. "This is a really shitty bed, by the way."

"You better get a real nice hotel if I'm just gonna be stuck in bed the whole time."

"Hey, last time I kept you in a hotel bed all weekend, I got very few complaints."

"No, you got a kid."

I laughed and snuggled my face up to the side of her head. "Yeah, I did. I knocked you the fuck up..."

"Stop," Lennie laughed. "You make it sound so gross."

"We... did some pretty gross things that weekend if you think about it..."

"You're the worst!" Lennie giggled, trying to push me away. It didn't work. Not like there was real far for me to go. "Get away from me!"

"Nope. You're stuck, sweetheart. First you married me, then you let me put a baby in ya... kinda sealed your own fate..."

"You're so gross."

"You love me."

"Unfortunately, the heart wants what it wants."

"UNFORTUNATELY?!" I shouted, poking my fingers into her belly, and momentarily forgetting she was connected to an IV line as I caused her to squirm.

"Ow! Ow! My hand!" This time she practically jumped away from me, nearly climbing over the side rail to escape.