The next night, Dick released the good news that Jordan Knight would live, although he was in intensive care. The next day when JJ got up, Sam was frantically making herself a lunch. She had just gotten the ingredients out when the doorbell rang.
"What are you doing?" JJ asked, looking sleepily at her roommate.
"I'm going to the hospital. That's Danny, I have to go." She looked in panic at her roommate.
"I'll bring you a lunch. I have time. Don't let him in," JJ added, glancing down at her pajamas. Sam grinned.
"Thanks, JJ. I'll see you this afternoon."
"Have fun." She saw her roommate off, and put the sandwich stuff away. "Time for a shower, first, then I'll make her something to eat." She walked back into her bedroom.
At the hospital, still immersed in the music she'd been playing earlier, she realized that she didn't know where his room was, and if she'd even be allowed up there. Nervously holding onto the bag with Sam's lunch, she walked over to the desk. "Hi. I'm looking for Samantha Knight. She's here visiting her cousin, Jordan Knight. Could you tell me where that is?"
A large man appeared next to her, and she looked at him in some dismay. "Can I help you?" he asked.
"I'm trying to get my roommate her lunch. Her name is Samantha Knight."
The man looked at her impassively, then reached over the desk and picked up the phone. "What's your name?" he asked her.
"JJ Brogan." She hadn't thought of the security that would be involved with Jordan. Weird! Neither had Sam, obviously. She heard her name and snapped back to attention as the man hung up the phone.
"She's coming down to get it."
"Thank you." She sighed in some relief, but stood nervously under the man's watchful gaze until Sam appeared. "Hi. Any news?"
Sam sighed and hugged her roommate. "No. He's still unconscious. The doctor says there's no damage, but his mother is a nervous wreck."
JJ nodded. "I bet she is." She gave Sam a wry smile. "It must be hard on her."
Sam nodded. "Thanks for lunch. See you tonight?" JJ nodded and left again, breathing a sigh of utter relief as she felt the man's eyes leave her back. She shuddered as she stepped into the warm sunlight.
The next day, Sam left her a note asking for a lunch again. JJ didn't mind; she wasn't really working, and she knew Sam was worried about her cousin. This time, the same guy was there, and he asked only to see her ID, and sent her up. He still looked foreboding, and she felt his eyes on her until the elevator doors closed behind her.
Up on the floor, she found her way to the right room. With Sam was Danny and another woman she figured must be Jordan's mom. She gave Sam her lunch, then realized that no one else had any food. When that was the case the next day as well, she made a casserole for lunch, grabbed some paper plates and plastic forks from a grocery store, and took that up for everyone. She didn't stay for lunch, explaining to Sam that someone wanted to hear her audition tape. She could barely contain her excitement, but did so, not wanting to disturb the others there.
"JJ, the casserole was great," Sam said when she got home that night. "It helped Marlene a lot. She hates to leave him there."
JJ grinned. "Good. I'm glad it helped. How is he?"
"They say he's getting better, but he's still not conscious." She sighed. "It's so hard. Marlene said they caught the guy, and it was someone Jordan knew. Or the father of one of his friends." Her shoulders slumped. "I can't imagine why he would do that."
JJ patted her shoulder, and went to get ingredients out of the cupboard. "How's Danny holding up?"
"I think he's doing okay." She seemed to like that topic better.
"Does anyone else ever come?"
"Yes. All the others except Jonathan come in at least once during the day. Donnie comes in about three times. It's funny." She paused. "Or it would be if it weren't so serious."
JJ nodded. "I can imagine." She turned to look at Sam. "You look beat. Go to bed." She turned back to the casserole, conscious of her friend's eyes.
"Yeah, I think I will. Good night."
JJ waited until the bedroom door closed, and paused, her shoulders slumping. It had to be hard. She had always talked of her cousins, and this was a difficult thing. Then she shook off the mood and grinned. "I'm actually working!" she said softly, and did a little dance in the kitchen before settling down and finishing the casserole.
The next morning, she made sure she had time to take her contribution to the day, complete with note, to the hospital. The room looked empty and a little forlorn with only Jordan, hooked up to multiple machines. She set the food down and left as quickly as she could. JJ continued this pattern, trying to help any way she could. She often worked off her frustrations from her new job in her cooking.
Jon found himself keeping the house going. He rarely saw his mother, and never seemed to have time to go visit Jordan. He didn't want to, anyway, not yet. He still had nightmares, seeing him collapsed on the stage like a broken doll, only dolls don't bleed.... He pushed the thought away each time it came. The work, he had discovered, took his mind off his brother, and he threw himself into it even more once he discovered that, and every time he had the nightmare.
He didn't know how long it had been since the concert when his mother came home from the hospital with a relieved expression. She had to take Jon's arm before he noticed her. When he looked at her, she saw the haunted look on his face and smiled.
"Good news. Jordan got off the intensive care this afternoon. He asked for you," she said.
Jon sighed and slowly straightened. His back cracked sharply. "I'll go see him," he said, reaching for the car keys.
"You'll go to sleep now," she said firmly, intercepting his hand and turning him towards the back of the house. "You're exhausted. You can see him tomorrow. Thank you for keeping us all alive," she added, gave him a kiss, then pushed him towards the hall.
He smiled tiredly over his shoulder. "I had a good teacher," he told her, then walked to the room he and Jordan shared when not touring and collapsed onto his bed. He slept in seconds.
Early the next morning, Jon drove to the hospital. He had to show identification to be told where his brother was, but he was used to security. Upstairs, he found Jordan awake, his dark eyes clouded with pain.
"Hey," Jon said, grinning as he sat next to the bed. "How are you feeling?"
"I've never been in so much pain in my life," Jordan whispered, but he grinned.
"Nice to know you've joined the world of the living again. The house is so quiet without you."
"Really?" Jordan asked, laughing slightly. Then his face twisted in pain. "Ouch."
"Don't laugh," Jon instructed.
"Right," Jordan scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Don't be ridiculous."
"Just smile right now," Jon told him, then he looked away from him. "This has been the hardest two weeks I think I have ever had." His voice sounded weird to Jordan.
"I guess that means it can only get better," Jordan said softly, knowing it had been hard on his brother. He held out his hand, and Jon clasped it in a fisted handshake, then rested his forehead on their clasped hands and let himself cry. Jordan closed his eyes to let him have his privacy, and quickly fell asleep.
The room was always empty except for Jordan when JJ arrived, and today seemed to be no exception. She set the casserole on the table, turned, and paused. She had been wrong; someone was there.
He slept, sitting in a chair on the other side of the bed from her, his dark head resting on his arm on the bed. He did look a lot like Jordan, although his features were more chiseled, his face longer. She thought he might be Jordan's brother, then a check of her watch drove him from her mind. A low moan stopped her just as she reached the door.
"Excuse me." The soft voice held a touch of pain. She turned. "That really smells good," Jordan told her.
"You're conscious," she said, surprised.
He looked confused. "I thought everyone would know by now. I woke up yesterday." He glanced at the still steaming casserole. "Please. I'm starving."
'And I'm late,' JJ thought resignedly as she cut him a small serving. He set his bed up, taking care not to disturb the sleeper at his side. She gave him the plate, and he ate slowly, but had to stop, unable to finish.
"You're Sam's cousin, right?" she asked as she put the plate by the casserole. Then she checked her watch. "I'm really late. He's gonna kill me. Good bye, Jordan. See ya later." She grabbed a large bag by the door and disappeared.
Jon slowly lifted his head. "Who was that?" he asked sleepily.
"I don't know, but the casserole was delicious. Go eat some," he instructed. He began to lay the bed back down, but stopped when his chest flared in pain. Jon finished moving the bed, then sat down. He decided he couldn't eat anyway.
JJ started bringing her food earlier, to give herself time to get to work, and she also started eating breakfast there. She ate alone only once; the other times Jordan was awake. It was a while before she finally met the other person who was always there.
"This is great," Jordan grinned one morning. He ate more now. "What's your name? It's been three days, and I don't know who you are." Neither noticed Jon lift his head.
"JJ Brogan," she grinned. "You can be none other than Jordan Knight, but who's that?" Her eyes met Jon's hazel ones for the first time, and he pushed himself up. JJ froze.
"Jonathan Knight, at your service," he smiled.
"But everyone calls him Jon," Jordan cut in. Jon glared at him. "How have you managed to get up here?"
"They know me by now... I'm Sam's roommate," she stuttered. "I used to bring her dinner... then I started cooking for everyone. I don't know half of the people who were here. He never was, though," she explained, indicating Jon, then checked her watch. "I've got to go. It was nice meeting you, finally. See you tomorrow, if you're awake," she teased, and left. Jon followed her with his eyes, then turned to see Jordan's knowing grin.
"Interesting," Jon commented neutrally.
"Right," Jordan agreed sarcastically, then closed his eyes. He didn't stop smiling, though.
Go on to Next Chapter | Grounds for Vengeance
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