Stitches of Survival

At Last

Chapter Sixty-Five: At Last

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"Hey!" I heard someone call out as I made my way through the hospital lobby, heading towards the elevators. I paused just long enough to spot Jackson hurrying towards me with his bag slung over his shoulder, just arriving for his own shift as well. However, his eyes weren't looking at me but rather at the takeout bag in my hand. "Please tell me that you have something in there for me?"

"Not unless Joel wants to split his breakfast sandwich with you." I shook my head as we both continued towards the elevators. "You've been stuck in here before, you know how bad the food is."

"Yeah," a frown filled his lips at the memory. "I was just here for a day, can't imagine being stuck on that crap for two weeks. He going stir crazy yet?"

"I think he's been focusing more on the bright side of things. Like the fact that he's been able to miss two weeks of school so far," I chuckled. It felt nice being able to laugh again, the gray cloud that seemed to always be hanging over my family and friends finally drifting away and allowing the sunshine to return.

For a majority of the last two weeks I had been a nervous wreck, tightly wound and focused only on my kids. Between Joel's accident and recovery, working with Mark and Arizona to get Sofia settled into a new routine, and taking care of Chris and Mellie things had been stressful. For the first week I had spent every night in the hospital, worried about Joel's recovery despite Owen and Alex''s countless reassurances that he would be okay.

"Any idea when he's getting released yet?" He asked me as he pressed the up button for the elevator.

"Tomorrow afternoon," I smiled at my own words. "You should've seen Mellie when Mark and I told her, she insisted on making him a 'welcome home' banner. She had Sofia help then had us help Chris finger paint on it so she could say it was from all of them."

"That sounds great," he commented as the elevator doors opened. We both easily slipped inside, offering Webber a smile as we slipped into the empty space behind him. Just before the doors closed both Bailey and Ben hurried in themselves, the estranged couple standing on either side of the older doctor. "Maybe I could come over tomorrow night, make a family night out of it?"

"I'll have to make sure Joel's up for it, but that sounds great." I nodded.

"Catherine's back in town next week," Webber spoke up once the elevator doors had closed. "Thought it'd be nice to have some people over. Well, nothing fancy-- just dinner. Who's in?"

"Mark and I would love to go," I spoke up when no one else did, elbowing Jackson in the side as I did so.

"Oh, sorry," Jackson apologized as he looked up from his phone. "Yes, yes, yes. Thanks. Absolutely."

"Okay. The Sloans and Avery said yes," Webber smiled before turning his attention to the short woman beside him. "Uh, how about you?"

"Yeah, I'll be there," Bailey agreed. "I'm not sure about Dr. Warren's schedule, though."

"Okay. Um, Warren?" Webber turned his attention to the suspended resident. I simply pursed my lips as I stood behind the trio, silently praying that the elevator doors would go ahead and open so I could escape the awkwardness.

"Uh, yeah, I'm in," Ben nodded in agreement. "Uh, what can I bring?"

"Um, I wouldn't say no to that artichoke dip you brought to the resident mixer," Webber suggested.

"Well, that's, uh-- that's Miranda's secret recipe," Ben admitted as he glanced over at his wife.

"Okay. I see," Webber cleared his throat.