T held her friend in a hug in the back seat of the car. Her Daddy was driving. Sara seemed so little to her now, silent tears running down her freckled cheeks as she cuddled up close to T.
Not even 15 minutes ago, they were clambering out of the pillow fort so Sara could answer the phone. She was in shock. Her sad eyes wide, and hand held over her mouth. Chris had been in a car accident. Hit by a drunk driver on his way home from dropping her off. He was in ICU, stable, but unconscious and the doctor's were doing tests.
Sara crumbled to the floor after hearing the news. Her eyes filled with tears as she rocked back and forth. T and J held her in a hug and told her that everything was going to be Ok. They helped her get dressed (in some borrowed sweats and a tshirt), got dressed themselves, and they all hopped in the car to go.
So there they were. T felt horrible. If Sara hadn't come, none of this would have happened. She felt like a terrible friend. She had been excited! EXCITED, to see Sara. That translated in her mind was that she was excited for this to happen to Chris. She blamed herself, cried, and held Sara close and they rocked back and forth in the back of the car like that till they got to the hospital.
They dealt with the paperwork, and the waiting, together. The way friends should. They quietly talked, and hoped, and sat in the sanitized purgatory of that hospital waiting room.
Sara and T had finally dozed off on the uncomfortable pleather couch. J, bleary eyed, wandered over to grab a coffee. He wasn't sure if they could legally call it coffee. It was black, and thick and tasted burnt, but it was hot and a little comforting so he sipped it quietly and waited.
The doctor came in at about 3:30am. J woke up the girls and they all stared quietly, hopefully, as he spoke.
"The accident was pretty severe Mrs. Goodman. Christopher was unconscious upon arrival, and we ran some tests. He came around about 45 minutes ago and we had him under observation. It looks like a pretty bad concussion and some soft tissue damage to his neck, but that's the extent of his injuries. Your husband is very lucky. He's awake, but he's still recovering in room 221 if you'd like to see him. He shouldn't be alone for a few days, but he should be fine and back to normal after that, if he has any new symptoms, take him to your family doctor and we'll go from there."
Sara tearfully thanked the doctor and the three of them made their way to Chris's room.
His room had 3 other beds, 2 of them empty, and the last was wrapped in a privacy curtain. The alien beeps of the medical equipment softly playing the soundtrack of their reunion.
Sara wrapped her arms around him and wept. "Oh Chris! I'm so glad you're ok I was SO scared!" He smiled, "Shhh, it's Ok baby girl, I'm okay! Cross my heart!"
T snuggled her Daddy and smiled, tears still ran down her cheeks but she was SO relieved. She looked up at J and made a decision.
"Daddy," she whispered, "Can I talk to you? It's important... "
J gave her a confused look and said "of course, princess. Let's go grab a coffee. I'm sure Sara wants some time with her Daddy."
They sat in the hospital cafeteria, sipping their coffee, and T took a deep breath.
"Ok. I'm not saying this because of what happened with Chris. Well, sort of, it was the catalyst, but I've been thinking about it for a while now. You have a small apartment, with roommates, so we always stay at my place when we're together anyway and I don't think your roommates would want another person crowding up things... So... I was wondering... Do you want to... Maybe... Come live with me and be my Daddy ALL the time? I know it's a big question and I don't want you to feel pressured, and you can totally take your time to answer, and I'm ready now, so you can move in whenever you want, but only if you want, and I have the room, but... "
J chuckled, "princess, baby, slow down! It's okay! I'd love to move in!"
T heard "Slow down," and her heart sank and said "But...Da..." Then she paused. "Did you say... Yes?" She looked at him with wide, hopeful eyes.
He smiled. "Yes. I'd love to."
T squealed and planted a big kiss on his lips and clapped her hands.
J chuckled and kissed her back.
T said, "There's something else too..."
Her Daddy tilted his head quizzically.
She continued, "Well, the doctor said Chris shouldn't be alone for a few days... And if things get any worse for him I know that Sara will need breaks sometimes and now with their car broken they won't have any way to get around..."
J smiled. "That's a good idea baby. Your house will be a little crowded for a little while though..."
T interrupted "OUR house, Daddy. OUR house."
J smiled and couldn't help but wipe his eyes. "Our house...Yeah I'm ok with it. Are you sure you want to?"
She smiled and nodded. "I want to help them."
They kissed, finished their coffee and came back to see Chris and Sara.
They all left the hospital on Saturday morning, T usually sat in the back seat, even when it was just her and J, but she could tell that Sara wanted to cuddle with her Daddy so she took shotgun. They pulled into the drive of T and J's place and J turned in his seat when the car was off, the engine making those little pings as it cooled.
"Ok you two," he said to the back seat. "Chris needs supervision while he recovers and Sara won't be able to do that alone. You don't have a car to get around the city, you'll need prescriptions filled, doctor appointments to get to, and of course all the other every day little things like shopping. So, T and I have some news. She asked me to move in with her and I accepted." Sara and Chris smiled and she gave a little "YAY!" and clapped. J continued, "AND, we've decided that you're living here, with us, while Chris recovers."
Chris opened his mouth to say something but J waved him off. "This isn't a question, it's a statement. You're going to need help, you're not imposing or putting us out, and we've already decided. I took off the next week from work so I can be here to help and next weekend I'm going to move my stuff from the apartment. So, you may as well just accept it now, and don't bother with the 'Are you sure's?' or the 'we don't want to be a bother's,' you're staying."
Sara smiled and looked at her hands, thankful tears dripping down onto them. She whispered "Thank you. Thank you so much. For everything."
Chris repeated her sentiment and they finally all clambered out of the car and into the house.
J and Sara left again a little later to grab clothes and toiletries and the things they'd need for the week from their house, they left T at home to help Chris. On the drive back, Sara looked at J and asked "Sooo... With our whole... Dynamic... Thing..." she blushed, "I'm not sure what to call you. I have been using 'Mr. J' or 'Sir' buuuuut... They seem so... stuffy and formal. I can keep using them, if you want, but I was thinking I'd like to go with 'Uncle J' if that's OK with you?"
J thought she looked adorably flustered and chuckled, "you know... I think like that hunny. Uncle has a wonderful ring to it, and I'm willing to bet that T will love to follow suit with Chris."
Sara smiled the whole way back to the house.
That evening they all sat down to a spaghetti dinner, and after everything was cleaned up, Sara couldn't seem to stop yawning. Chris gave her a little pet and said "I think it's time for you to head to bed princess. I'm going to have a bath, and maybe read for a bit, I'm still a little wound up."
Sara frowned. "But Daddy I'm not..." She was interrupted by another yawn "I'm not sweepy."
J chuckled. "It's Ok lil one. Uncle J will tuck you in and read you a bedtime story, and T will help your Daddy with his tub."
T glanced at her Daddy. He gave her a knowing smile with a wink. T blushed and then smiled back. Sara kissed her Daddy and hugged him goodnight and then kissed T and hugged her too.
J took Sara's hand and led her to the spare bedroom where she and Chris would be staying. He opened the suitcase and rummaged till he found her nighty and sat on the bed. "Ok princess, let's get you into your jammies." Sara stood in front of him and nervously fiddled with her shirt.
"Arms up please," he said. She looked at him shyly but did as she was told. J peeled the shirt up over her head and smiled at her. Then he reached behind her and unclasped her bra, she brought her arms down letting the bra fall to the floor and freeing her heavy breasts. She flushed but kept her arms at her sides.
J untied her sweatpants and slowly tugged them over her hips and they fell to the floor, pooling around her feet. J couldn't help but notice that her white cotton panties were soaking wet between her legs, and he slipped his fingers into the waistband and tugged them down as well. He gave her stubbley kitty a little pat and chuckled, "We'll have to make sure to give you a shave in the tub tomorrow!"
Sara turned beet red and groaned, "UNCLE J!!"
He chuckled again and said "Ok hun, arms up again!" She complied and he stood and tugged the nightgown over her head and she let him pull the elastic from her ponytail she'd worn at the hospital. He stroked her cheek and tucked her hair behind her ear. He pulled the covers back and said "Ok sweetie, crawl in."
Sara crawled up on all fours and then rolled and flopped onto her back on the bed. J smiled and grabbed "Where the wild things are," and layed beside her. Sara snuggled up to him, resting her head on his chest and he began to read.
T sat on the edge of the tub as it filled. She tested the water every few minutes and adjusted it so that it was nice and warm. When it was full she called out "UNCLE CHRIS! YOUR TUB IS READY!" She smiled to herself at the term 'Uncle,' and thought to herself "I like it."
Chris came in and stood just inside the door. He was smiling, but looked a little uncertain.
