Bonds of Blood |A Heartland Fanfic

Chapter Nineteen

Lisa smiled as Jack started the truck, his hand slid across to her knee as they headed home. He was adamant that she come home to Heartland, Lisa was less convinced. For now, she was going with it.

He'd had a scare too, and she could feel it in the way he was watching her. He was worried enough without anymore details. "Have you thought about continuing the trial?"

She sighed. She would call the doctor in a few days and set up the next cycle; and by his face she knew what he was hoping. "We'll talk about it later."

Lisa was going to talk to the doctor and then she was going to speak with Lou; how well that chat went would have a lot to do with what happened next. But she had been patient, and she had been cooperative; or at least she had tried. Jack's granddaughters were a big part of her life, of their lives and that meant working together; they were all coping with a lot just now. But the adjustment period was over.

Jack hovered but Lou was surprisingly quiet as she crouched to greet Katie and then settled with the little girl on the couch. They read stories and played board games, Katie enjoyed the attention and that she was helping, it all felt nice; and normal.

Long before Katie got sick many rainy days had been spent with stories and games when they babysat while Lou and Peter traveled for work. She didn't know whether Jack had words with his granddaughter or not, but Lou was keeping some distance, while it was surprising it was also nice.

…

He could still feel some tension between them, Lisa had been uneasy, but she seemed content to be at home. Jack still wasn't sure what exactly had happened with her meds, but Lisa didn't want to talk about it. If it was easier for her this way, he would let it be for the moment.

As Lou took Katie to bed they slid back to their room for a bit of privacy; everyone had come for dinner and Katie had been glued to them all day. They'd had very few moments alone since they'd gotten home from the hospital, and finally alone he pulled her close; holding her tight.

"What have you got on tomorrow?" Lisa asked, stretching out as his hands slid gently along her sides; finally, she was starting to relax.

"I have a couple things to look at, but nothing that can't be moved. And I've got to make some time for Amy; that horse is giving her a hard time." Jack commented as they both changed, silently agreeing to make it an early night.

"I've got some paperwork to do, I need to get the details in order for the transport next week." She sighed, tossing back the blankets on her side; he knew two days in the hospital had messed with her schedule.

But as she snuggled in Jack pulled her into his side, after the roller coaster of the past few days it felt good to hold her close. And in sleep she turned into him reflexively, Jack lay awake, brushing her hair off her cheek; it was good to have her here. But he still sensed she was holding something back, it was now that she felt at ease.

Lisa rose with him in the morning and had a good breakfast on the table when he got in from chores. The house was still quiet, Georgie had disappeared, claiming the bathroom first before everyone else rose. He sipped his coffee and his eyes rose to meet Lisa's, she had said nothing about the treatment yet; but she was still following the guidelines.

As Lou came in, starting on breakfast for her family as they finished up, Lisa cleared out quickly and set up with her laptop in Amy's old room. Lou was in a mood this morning, but Mitch arrived, and he didn't have time to find out why.