Invitation

Jesse shook his head, letting go of her hand to run his hands through his blond hair. "I shouldn't have said anything right now. You're fragile… but I need you to get this. To hear me! All you needed to do was tell me."

Pearl knew he was right. She should have told him how she'd felt getting out of the car at her house.

"Your life matters to me, Pearl," she heard him say. "Do the tests for us tomorrow. When the results come back, we create a new treatment plan and you stick to it. You have to want this and to let me help you." Pause. "If you don't need or want me, let me know so I don't have to put Pablo through any more distress. This can't become a habit, taking you to the hospital."

The idea itself made Jesse sad, but he said it anyway. Pearl needed to know that her health was important to him and he could not watch someone he cared so deeply for hurt themself. He was already kicking himself for not making better decisions or acting as a doctor instead of a patient boyfriend.

"Jesse," Pearl was barely audible, "I'm sorry. I do need you and I know I should have said something sooner. I'm so sorry."

Closing his eyes, Jesse sat still for a moment and then placed a feather light kiss on her knuckles. Before he could say anything a knock sounded at the door. When it opened, Sam stuck his head in.

"There you are." Relief and shock struggled for dominance on his face.

"Sam…" Pearl said softly. She coughed slightly and Jesse put the paper cup to her lips. She accepted gratefully.

"Where's Pablo?" Jesse asked, as soon as he'd put the cup down.

"In the hall, with Dana and Mom."

"I'm going to see him," Jesse said, letting go of Pearl's hand again. He got up and kissed her forehead.

Pearl didn't want him to go but she let him leave without protest. Pablo needed him, too.

Jesse was gone moments later.

When he stepped out into the cool hallway, he heard Pablo shout 'papa'. The little boy darted off his seat and in Jesse's direction. Sinking to Pablo's level, Jesse opened his arms and hugged the boy to him. Whispering his own apologies, he let the boy touch his face and hug him tightly.

"You're okay," he told Pablo. "Papa needs you to be strong."

Pablo whimpered a bit but drew back and looked into Jesse's face where he only saw gentleness and patience.

"Do you want to see Pearl?" the man asked softly.

At first Pablo shook his head, frightened but Jesse assured him that she a little was better now.

As he stood up, holding Pablo in his arms, Dana and Vivienne came over. The two women asked him half a dozen questions about Pearl, which he answered willingly, the entire time rubbing Pablo's back in an assuring, calming motion. When the adults asked him a second time, Pablo agreed to go in and see Pearl.

Jesse could feel the little body he carried tremble as they sat on the edge of Pearl's bed.

When Pearl said 'hello, carino' Pablo cried a little but she told him she would be okay. For the length of their short visit, Pablo was subdued, but he caught the kiss she sent him and said 'see you soon' when it was time to leave.

Sam and Dana got ready to take Pablo back home with them and Jesse promised his little boy he'd been there when he woke up.

He stayed in the room with his mother and ailing girlfriend.

"How are you feeling, honey?" Vivienne asked her.

She turned her face away. "Not so great."

Jesse's jaw ticked again. "We should let her rest, Mom. She needs to get her strength back."

"I couldn't agree more," she said carefully, eyeing her son.

As upset as he was about the whole situation, he catered to Pearl every time she moved. Pulling up the covers that had slipped, giving her sips of water, holding her hand when all he wanted to do was separate himself for a little while.

"Pearl, have you considered going home for a respite?" Vivienne wondered. "I think the air there might help."

"It might just," was her faint response.

Jesse knew his mother meant to Hawaii but he didn't like the idea of her travelling alone after what happened in Bolivia.

As if his mother was reading his thoughts, she said, "After you recover, you two could take Pablo on a trip- it's been too hectic for you to think of going alone but I'd feel better if Jesse was near."

A wry smile lit her features. "Okay."

A satisfied nod of the head and Vivienne said "Great." She turned to her son. "Looks like you and your little boy are going on holiday. I'll call Pearl's parents right now to arrange the details."

Without waiting for a reply, Vivienne Teab Murray floated out of the room.

Pearl opened her mouth but Jesse raised his hand. "I know you had no real choice there. My mother can be presumptuous just like the rest of her family," he finished in a self-deprecating tone.

She reached out and squeezed his hand. "It'll be nice."

His green eyes searched her face tenderly. "You really want me to come with you?"

She nodded.

"Even though I just made you cry?"

Pearl couldn't help smiling. "You only told the truth. The conviction and guilt made me tear up."

Green eyes sparkled now, making little butterflies awaken in her belly. "You weren't crying, then?"

Pearl made a face. "Nah."

He chuckled and the warm sound tickled her.

"I am really sorry, Jesse. I know I should have spoken sooner but I thought I'd be okay with rest. Really."

Jesse nodded then kissed her hand. "Now is the time to rest." Pause. "I'm sorry too. My frustration at not being there came across as anger. I'm not angry. I just need you to get better."

"And I need you in order to get better."

An eyebrow rose.

"No one knows how to help me relax like you do."

"When you say it like that!" he groaned. He leaned close to her face and seductively murmured, "I can do more than relax you."

He didn't expect her to pull down the apparatus over her nose and mouth to bring his head closer for a kiss, but when she did, he responded.

Not for long.

With steely self-control, he broke off the kiss.

"Not here, not now," he said softly. He smiled wickedly and, again, Pearl felt it in her belly. "Get better so I can make out with you on a beach in Hawaii."

She could feel the blushing rising but she rolled her eyes. "You're so inappropriate."

"And you," he said kissing her nose, "are so cute."

"Even connected to oxygen?" she asked wryly.

"Yes, even now."

Pearl couldn't deny the tenderness she saw in his eyes. That made her smile. He blinked twice and then a slow smile spread across his face.

Before either of them could say anything, Vivienne re-entered the room.

"It's all settled! Corra and Franklin are so excited that you'll be coming home, Pearl. Pablo and Jesse are also welcome- so you don't have to hide out at a hotel, honey. You'll be staying with the Guthrie's."

His dark blond eyebrow rose but all he said was, "Alright, Mom."

The two of them stayed with Pearl a while longer but Jesse was anxious to get back to Pablo so they said good night, Jesse leaving her with a soft kiss on the lips.

Jesse fell asleep in the chair next to Pablo's bed. The child woke up in the early hours of the morning.

With a gasp, he looked around him in a mild panic. His little heart threatened to jump between his ribs until he saw his papa asleep in the chair close to him. Without giving it a second thought he climbed down from the warm bed and onto his Papa Jesse's lap.

Automatically, Jesse's arms wrapped around him and Pablo snuggled closer to the man who had been the first to see and love him the way he had.

When Dana walked in a few hours later, tears filled her eyes at the sweetness of the scene. Quickly she left the room again and searched for her camera. Her husband saw her slip in and out of their room but didn't stop her.

Returning to the little guest room, she snapped away at the way Jesse was reclined in the plush armchair with his young and vulnerable charge curled up in his strong arms. Both of them asleep, with the sun streaming in through half-open blinds.

Taking a light quilt, she covered the two of them and quietly left the room.