It had been a few weeks since Christine's last hospital visit, and Jenn had been keeping a close eye on her. They had exchanged messages often, and Christine's health was improving, or so Jenn had believed. But today, the phone call from Christine's brother, John, shattered that sense of calm.
Jenn had been sitting with Krystal, chatting quietly about the upcoming tour when her phone rang. It was John. As soon as she answered, she could feel the tension in his voice."Jenn," John's voice was tight. "I wanted you to hear this from me first. Christine's back in the hospital."Jenn froze, her heart sinking. "What? What happened?" Her voice trembled slightly, though she tried to stay composed."She's having some complications. Nothing too serious, but we need to keep an eye on her," John explained. "I'd like you to wait before you visit."Jenn's stomach twisted in frustration. "Wait? Wait? You've got to be kidding me. She's my boss, John. I—""Jenn, please," he interrupted. "You can't come yet. I'm telling you this because I know how much you care. But she needs rest, and it's better if we hold off. I'm just doing what's best for her right now."The words felt like a slap. Jenn could barely keep the tears in as she struggled to hold it together. "You don't get it. She's *my* boss. I have a right to see her, to be there for her."John's voice became sharp. "I don't care how you feel about it, Jenn. Just wait."The words felt like a knife to the chest. Jenn wanted to scream, to argue, to beg. But she couldn't. Instead, she closed her eyes, her breath shaking as she pulled herself together enough to say, "I'll wait, John. But don't expect me to just sit here and pretend I'm okay with this."Before he could respond, Jenn hung up. The phone slipped from her hand, and she collapsed into Krystal's arms, tears streaming down her face."Jenn?" Krystal asked, her voice full of concern. "What's going on?""Christine's in the hospital again," Jenn whispered, her voice cracking. "And John—he told me to wait. He doesn't even care that I want to be there for her. He told me I had to wait, like it's nothing."Krystal's brow furrowed, but she said nothing at first. She simply held Jenn as the tears flowed. After a long moment, Krystal spoke, her voice soft but firm. "You know he means well, but it doesn't make sense. You should be there."Jenn shook her head. "It doesn't matter what he means. He's her brother. I'm just... *her assistant*."Krystal sighed and gently pushed Jenn away to look her in the eye. "You don't have to be just an assistant. You're her friend. You've been with her through everything. That's not something he gets to take away from you."Jenn wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I know, but I can't just sit here. She needs me. And I need to be there."Krystal gave a tight smile. "I know. I know. But for now, let's take a step back. You need to breathe. You need something else."Jenn pulled herself off the couch and made her way to her room. She threw herself onto the bed, grabbing the old journal she kept—one that had started back when she first began traveling with Christine on tour. She opened it up and began flipping through pages filled with memories. Some were hilarious, others were bittersweet.---There was the memory of the time Christine had been so stressed before a show that she'd accidentally spilled an entire bottle of wine on her favorite leather jacket—her reaction had been so intense that they'd all thought she might cry, but instead, she'd started laughing hysterically. And then there was the time when, on a particularly difficult tour stop, she'd made everyone sing "Sweet Caroline" at a karaoke bar, and it became their bonding anthem for the rest of the tour.But then there were the memories that weren't so funny. The late-night conversations, the breakdowns, the moments when Christine had struggled with her health. The notes Jenn had written herself in the margins, hoping that whatever happened, they'd always find a way through it. It was those moments that stuck with her.Jenn sighed, closing the journal and setting it aside. She didn't have all the answers, but she knew one thing: she couldn't just sit by and wait.---
Krystal, not knowing what to do, reached out to Eilynn, Stevie's hair and makeup artist, who then contacted Maryelle, who in turn reached out to Becca from the crew. The news spread through the team quickly—there was no way they could just let Jenn sit and wait.Soon enough, the word made its way to Karen, who wasn't sure how to handle it either. She felt just as helpless as Jenn. After talking it through with Stevie, Karen got the idea to call Krystal. She had a suggestion—a plan that might help Jenn feel better.Stevie quickly got Krystal's number from the crew and called her."Krystal," Stevie said, her voice soft and caring, "I know things are tough right now. But Jenn needs some kind of break. She's been through a lot. I have an idea, but it's non-negotiable—Jenn's going to need to relax, and you're going to help her."Krystal hesitated, not sure if Jenn would be up for it. "But—Stevie, she's... she's upset. I don't know if she'll go for it."Stevie's voice became more insistent. "I'm telling you, Krystal. It's happening. Jenn needs this, and it's not up for debate. Think of it as a pseudo spa night. A break from the stress. We'll take care of her favorite comfort food, get her out of her head."Krystal agreed, and the plan was set in motion. Jenn had no idea what was coming.---
Krystal managed to get Jenn out of the house, though it took a little convincing. Jenn wasn't thrilled about leaving, but Krystal assured her that it was for the best. When they arrived at Stevie's house, Jenn still had no idea where they were going until Krystal rang the doorbell.Stevie opened the door, pulling Jenn into a tight, comforting hug. "Honey, I'm so sorry to hear what you've been going through. You okay?"Jenn, a little taken aback, hugged Stevie back. "I... I'm fine. Just... been a lot to process."Stevie led them inside. "Come on in. Let's take care of you."The group sat down for dinner, Krystal, Jenn, Karen, and Stevie. As they ate, the conversation flowed lightly, though Jenn could feel a sense of calm settling over her. It was exactly what she needed.After dinner, Stevie ushered them into the hot tub, where the steam from the hot water relaxed Jenn's tense muscles. It was exactly what she had needed.
