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Chapter 17

"You were right. Hospital Jell-O is alot better than hospital chocolate pudding," Iris confessed as she put her empty dessert container on the tray. It was early evening and she'd just finished her dinner. Barry smiled at her, satisfied that he'd won yet another discussion. What had started off as a friendly debate about the best ship on FRIENDS (they agreed to disagree with Iris being team Chandler and Monica and Barry being team Ross and Rachel) ended up becoming a continuous stream of debates that lasted till well after the sun had set. A nurse came into the room to take Iris's tray away and gave her, her medication. Soon the pills began to take effect and Iris settled into her hospital bed, preparing to sleep for the night.

"It's getting late, I should probably leave." Barry announced, standing up from his spot on the single sofa and Iris grew visibly dissapointed. She loved having him around and didn't want to be left alone with her own thoughts.

"Can't you stay a little longer? Just till I fall asleep?" she asked and he offered her a soft smile.

"Ofcourse I can," he answered and was just about to retake his seat when she called out his name and stopped him.

"Barry," she said. "Come lay with me. I want to cuddle again."

He smiled and his face flushed but he somehow felt completely comfortable with her request. He walked up to the bed and was about to join her when a knock at the door stopped him.

"Come in," Iris answered, looking past Barry to see Joe step inside.

"Barry, I...didn't think you'd still be here." He said surprised to see the young man at his daughter's bedside.

"Yeah I didn't want to leave her alone but it's getting late and visiting hours are almost over so... I was just about to take off." Barry explained, feeling like he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't. He didn't mind being with Iris, he just didn't want to *be* with her infront of her dad. Not without a formal introduction. It was a matter of respect for him. Unfortunately for him, Iris had other plans.

"Barry you were not leaving." She sold him out.

"Iris..." he started sheepishly but Joe interrupted.

"Please don't leave on my account."

"No, no it's not your fault. I..." poor Barry tried to justify. This time it was Iris who cut him off.

"Yes it is his fault. This entire situation is his fault. I'm sorry Joe but what ever it is that you have to say to me can wait till morning. Barry get in bed." She commanded with the same ease and force that she demonstrated in every business meeting and official event she attended. Barry looked at the man opposite him and his heart went out to Joe when he saw the heartbroken look on his face. He stepped closer to Iris but instead of laying down with her he wrapped his arms around her and gave her forehead a loving kiss.

"Just hear him out OK? He really seems to care about you." He whispered into her ear.  Barry knows what it's like growing up with out a father and if he could clear out every argument he had with his dad as a kid he would, but that was water under the bridge. Helping Iris see that there are more important things than whatever argument she was having with her dad wouldn't bring his father back but it would help him feel better that she wasn't wasting precious time bickering with hers.

He gave her a pleading look and she caved. She wasn't happy about it but for some reason the manner in which Barry made his request made her willing. She watched him leave heavy hearted and when the door clicked shut behind him she crossed her arms over her chest and stared Joe down.

"What do you want?" She snapped.

"Iris, I'm sorry. I really didn't mean for any of this to happen. I admit that it wasn't the most appropriate way to reveal such a life changing piece of information. I let my anger get the best of me and for that I'm sorry." Joe apologised. The genuineness in his tone made it hard for her to keep her guard up. He trully was sorry and the sad part was that, despite her earlier remark, it really wasn't his fault. If he was telling the truth and he didn't know she existed then he was every bit a victim as she was. As much as she wanted to be angry and have someone to blame she was sensible to know that it wasn't him. The person she should have been angry with was six feet underground, completely protected from her hateful gazes. It was frustrating but for once she decided to be the bigger person and forgive.