Touching Sky *Animals MC book five.*

Chapter Twenty one.

After being stitched up Sky changed his clothes and went straight to the hospital, Jenny's father was already there by his daughters bedside and she was still asleep. Even though he promised Jenny not to tell her father about her being kidnapped the bank had told him about the fire and her injuries.

"Greg...."

"Sky, my dear boy."

Instantly her father stood, embracing Sky in a tight hug. Sky didn't remember his real father but after going years with no male role model it had been hard at first to adjust to Greg and his overbearing affection. Sky tried to keep the man pushed away but Greg only ever loved him and eventually Sky came around and allowed himself to feel deserving of his love.

Greg pulled away first giving Sky a small pat on the cheek before turning back to his daughter, he looked tired and every bit his sixty years.

"Have you eaten?" Sky asked gently.

"No, I can't bring myself to leave her. Every woman I've ever loved just....seems to whither around me. Jenny's mother, your mother, now my sweet baby girl."

"Come on, let me get you dinner."

At Sky's urging he turned and followed the younger man out of Jenny's room, down the hall and to the elevator. They rode in a comfortable silence to the cafeteria. Sky directed Greg to take a seat at a small table then went to get them both some food. As he settled the tray in front of the older man and sat down he felt guilty. He'd put Greg in this place, he'd put Jenny in danger.

"Sir....there's something I need to tell you," Sky said gently.

"Well, let's have it. You know you can tell me anything."

"Jenny....the bank wasn't just a random robbery. They were sent there by a man I owe money to. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Greg."

He tried to put on a tough face, his day to day life required him to be tough and sometimes emotionless but sitting across the table from the man he most admired and loved, knowing that he may have permanently hurt Jenny was more than even Sky could take. He started to cry, he waited for Greg to lash out, waited for the screaming, shouting, tears, maybe he would walk away and leave Sky once and for all.

"Oh, son. Calm yourself," Greg said gently.

Greg reached stood, his chair sliding on the floor and on instinct Sky winced away when Greg reached for him. Greg had never laid a hand on Sky, even when he deserved it. When Sky was just a troubled teenager acting out Greg had used sweet, gentility to get through to him. Greg had never hit him, but if he did now Sky wouldn't blame him, wouldn't even try to fight back.

"Son, have I ever once laid a hand on you?" Greg asked from his side.

"No, sir."

"Right, so you stop that right now."

Greg eased down into the seat next to Sky, gently putting a hand on the younger mans shoulder. He obviously intended to comfort Sky but the turmoil and emotion that he had been fighting so long finally boiled over and Greg's forgiving touch only made it worse.

"There now, calm down. It's alright."

"No, it's not."

"No....you're right it's not. You screwed up and Jenny....but she's a fighter and I love you like you were my own. I'm disappointed but that doesn't chance how I feel about you."

"I didn't mean for Jenny to be a target, I never thought....I wouldn't do anything to ever put her in danger."

"I know that, I know you'd never let anyone hurt her if you could prevent it. So does she and when she wakes up she'll say the same thing."

Sky took a deep breath, calming down somewhat. He glanced around the cafeteria embarrassed to have a break down in a public place, the room had several nurses and doctors but they weren't paying attention. He supposed that they were probably used to seeing people break down in every room of this terrible place. Deciding if he was coming clean with Greg he might as well go all the way.

"There's something else," Sky said carefully.

"Go on."

Sky swallowed and stared at a far off space on a wall across the room, this was harder than he thought but he knew Greg had a right to know.

"Jenny and I......we.....the other day, we've....." He trailed off, he just couldn't bring himself to say the words.

"Go on, what about Jenny?"

"I....I'm in love with her."

"And?"

"And....what do you mean and? Greg, I'm in love with your daughter."

"I knew that, son."

Sky sat back in his chair, flabbergasted. Greg stood and moved back to his own seat across the table digging into his pasta dish.

"How long have you known?" Sky asked.

"I suspect a lot longer than you."

"So, you're not upset?"

"No, I don't think that Jenny could ever find someone better."

He felt like a weight had been lifted and it was only then he realized how long he had been carrying that weight. They ate in a comfortable silence after that before returning to Jenny's room.

When they entered the small room Jenny was awake, a doctor standing over her listening to her lungs. Greg hurried to her side and she turned her head to offer a timid smile to Sky.

"My baby," Greg kissed her forehead, gripping her hand in his.

"Da....d...dy," She managed the word with a slight stutter and Sky winced.

"Shh, don't speak. Just rest," Her father replied.

The doctor stepped back looping his stethoscope around his neck and Sky turned his attention to him.

"Well?" Sky asked.

"Well, this is the second time she's woke up which is good. There is definitely some permanent damage to her lungs but in time she should barely notice, maybe a little weak but they'll be fine. As for brain damage I think it's pretty obvious her speech is effected, possibly her fine motor skills. With therapy we should be able to get all of her speech and most of her motor skills back. Although, she may still have moments of confusion or sometimes even loss of motor skills but they should be temporary and not often."

"But she'll be okay? She'll live a normal life?" Sky asked, almost begging.

"Not tomorrow, not next week maybe even not in a few months but eventually....yes."

Her father was busy fussing over every tiny detail, pushing her hair from her face, kissing her fingertips, muttering soft insignificant words but she looked passed him to Sky and smiled, letting her head fall back against the pillows.

She wanted him, he could see it in her eyes. She wanted him to say something, to reassure her, to make her feel better about the situation like he always had since they were young. He should go to her, sit on the bed, take her in his arms and promise her the entire world, but he couldn't because he was a coward.

He turned and left, leaving her alone with her father.