Bonds of Blood |A Heartland Fanfic

Chapter Twenty Four

Lisa closed her eyes as he rubbed her back, he was relieved that he could soothe her. This cycle was done, and it had been hard on her, but the delay served one purpose. After the nurse had placed a bandage over Lisa's IV Dr. Siddal joined them; laying a sheet of paper in front of Lisa.

"This is a summary of Katie's bloodwork, you should recognize the dates; we had you in a day or two before. Look at this column." Lisa's doctor shared certain information with Katie's, each had paperwork to that effect. "This is the healthy or normal count range; this row is the latest test result."

"It's close." Lisa murmured, glancing back at him.

"Her levels have held steady, her body has done that and while the delay might not be what we planned it does show us that she is healing." Dr. Siddal pointed a few things out to Lisa. "She will receive the transfusion tomorrow, and then only one more. That is not to say we will not need to revisit it someday, but we can discuss those details later."

It was good news, but it did not change the aftermath of her medications, she was feeling it and would continue to for the next several days. And Georgie rode the day after tomorrow, it would be the first event for Lisa's young horse and he wasn't confident that she was going to be at full strength.

Jack rose carefully, trying not to disturb her. She hadn't slept much last night, and if she could get some now it would help. However, he had cattle to see to, and Mitch couldn't do it alone. The ranch was quiet, Georgie was at school and Lou had taken Katie to her appointment, only Amy worked in the round pen and he paused to watch her.

She smiled to him, working with a new horse, having gotten through to her roper a few days before. It was a relief to know that horse was home, that it and everyone involved had gotten through it without injury. When he went in to get Buddy, he found Ty at the desk doing paperwork; Lyndy sat contentedly on a little rocking horse.

Mitch was already tacking up as he began to brush Buddy, the younger man seemed to understand that he didn't want to talk. They rode out to check the herd, ensuring that the cattle had hay and that the water was clear. Debris from winter storms could cause obstructions and ice had to be broken, they pulled tree branches from the shallow banks where the cattle drank.

As spring drew closer so did the time to move the cattle, preferable before calving began; until then they had to have what they needed here. Mitch brought it up as they rode back, making plans for the coming months and the work that would need to be done as warmer weather came.

He took Buddy back along his own fences, with snow packed in the ditches it could push a fence down and he did not need their horses going adventuring. The barn was quiet when he got back, and he untacked Buddy, brushing him out; taking a few extra moments to relax them both.

"Grandpa." He turned at his granddaughter's voice. "You didn't tell me Lisa had changed her mind."

"Lisa's choice never changed." He sighed, they were home; Katie must be tucked up in the house already. "Dr. Siddal put Lisa's medications on hold, when the hold was over, she resumed the program."

"They cancelled Katie's treatment, what was I supposed to think? But we didn't know that Lisa had started taking the medications, we could have helped. We thought we were going in for some tests and Katie got the transfusion." Lou drew closer.

"Lisa doesn't need help." He felt his gut tighten as he said it, that was only partially true; but she needed it on her own terms. She needed comfort and rest but mostly she needed to feel safe. "What have you said to her? Have you listened to her?"

"Grandpa, she wouldn't even talk to me!"

"Lou, it was the pain killers that put her in the hospital, we were warned about the risks when she received them; before you brought Katie home. I don't know what happened when she got home but it still bothers her." He closed his eyes, knowing it wasn't what Lisa wanted; but she needed to understand.

Lou opened her mouth and then closed it without saying a word; taking a step back. Jack sighed and pulled her into his arms, she had never intended to hurt Lisa, she hadn't realized what had happened and he had to wonder if his wife had been right.

His granddaughter was strong, and she was doing her best to hold onto her family; she only wanted the best to him. Jack knew both women, his wife had withdrawn because it was what she knew; but she wouldn't hold a grudge against Lou. It wasn't her way. "You don't need to talk to her Lou, you need to listen, and you need hear what she is saying."

"But…"

"Nothing else, she doesn't need help, but our support, just being there means more than any action." He walked her back to the house, he did want to spend a few moments with Katie before going back to Fairfield.

He swallowed hard when he found her working on a picture, Lisa's name carefully printed on the top. Jack promised he would take it to his wife, and when Katie asked if they would be home soon, he only nodded. They needed to come home.

Jack found his wife in the barn at her computer, she was pale, and he knew she was sore but perhaps the distraction helped. He folded her into his arms, pressing her cheek into his chest; needing to hold her. She didn't argue when he suggested going up to the house.

Katie's picture brought a smile to her face, it didn't matter that she had a stack of them; Katie had made it. She was quiet, and he knew they were watching each other, he never did well at hiding from her. "You want to go home."

It wasn't a question, she knew how he felt about being away from Heartland; being away while being so close was stranger. But it was better than being away from her right now, he didn't like to think of her taking those medications and being alone; yet if they had kept fighting a part of him knew she would have.

"I think we should go home. I think you should be near your family, and I know they miss you, Katie especially." He hesitated to reply because he did want to go home, but he would only push her so far on that matter. Jack frowned as he felt tension run through her shoulders. "Lisa?"

"Nothing." He squeezed her thigh, that reaction wasn't nothing. "It will just be confusing for her, all of this."

"No, it will be something going back to normal; for all of us." Why did it bother her so much? Lisa rose moving away from him and filling the kettle. She handed him a mug but didn't sit; instead she went to her laptop set up on the kitchen island. She worked more when she was here, but she didn't start typing, she just sat.

Jack sighed, he crossed and laid his hands on her shoulder, thumbs rubbing the back of her neck. He didn't know what she was thinking, but it clearly bothered her; either she didn't want to answer him, or she didn't know her own answer.

"Let's go home." Lisa whispered, covering his hand with her own.