Brenda quietly opened the door to Jax's hospital room. She looked quickly around the door to make sure he was still sleeping, which he was, then closed the door again and turned back to talk to the nurse. "He's still sleeping. Should we wake him up or give him his surprise later?" Brenda looked like a little girl on Christmas morning. Jax always teased her about her inability to keep a secret when it came to surprises, and today was no different.

"Normally I'd say we should wait, but considering the surprise, I don't think Dr. White would mind if you woke him up. We usually wake patients around this time anyway. Go ahead." The nurse gave Brenda's arm a quick squeeze and headed back to the nurses' station.

During the four days Jax had been in GH, Brenda had gotten to know all of the nurses on all of the shifts taking care of him, as well as all of the guards who watched over him. At Brenda's insistence, Dr. White had made arrangements for her to either visit at any time or spend the night with Jax every day that he had been a patient. Usually she spent most of the day and even a couple of the nights with him. It was only when Jax and Thomas had ganged up on her to convince her that she needed to get some rest in her own bed for the baby's sake that she had finally agreed to go home to sleep. But even then she would only leave after she was sure that he was sleeping soundly. She always managed to be back before he woke the next morning as well.

Today was no exception. Brenda had left about 10:00 last night, after she was sure that Jax was sleeping soundly and would probably not wake during the night. She had gone home to sleep for a few hours, but had awakened several times during the night to call the hospital to check on him with the nurses. When she arrived at the hospital a little while ago, the nurse at the desk had informed her that Dr. White intended to release Jax today. Brenda couldn't wait to get him home so she could spoil him properly. She immediately called Benton to have him get things ready at the house. Since a security guard had escorted her as usual this morning, she also called Thomas and asked him to arrange a car to bring them home when Jax was discharged. Thomas had promised to meet them at the house when they got there. Brenda agreed to call him when they were ready to leave the hospital.

Brenda opened the door to Jax's room again. This time she quietly stepped inside and closed the door behind her. She walked over to the bed and looked down at her sleeping husband. As she did, she thought back to all that he had been through over the past several days. She reached to brush back a lock of hair that had fallen onto his forehead as he slept. She was so grateful that he was recovering so quickly and was coming home today. She fully intended to pamper him, whether he liked it or not! She was just so relieved that he really was going to be okay! Brenda could not stop the tears that began to run down her cheeks. She tried to wipe them away several times with the back of her hands. The last thing Jax needed to see when he woke up was her crying!

When Jax began to stir Brenda quickly wiped the tears away one more time and then bent down to kiss him softly on his lips. Jax opened his eyes slowly, looking up into her beautiful face. He didn't say anything, but he could tell that she had been crying. Why shouldn't she, he thought, with everything she had been through the last several days? He had been amazed at how strong she had been. Never once did she let him see her cry or be upset or anything else, other than supportive to him. He looked up at her, realizing how much he loved her. She truly was the center of his world. When all of this was finally over, he had every intention of taking her somewhere special (maybe it was time they went back to Malibu) to show her just how much he appreciated all she had done and continued to do for him.

"Hello, beautiful. How are my girls today?" Jax reached over to place his hand on Brenda's abdomen. He couldn't resist the urge to gently run his hand across it to let the child she carried there know how much he loved both of them.

"Your son and I are just fine. No morning sickness today." Brenda sounded almost proud of that fact. "How are you feeling?" She gently rubbed her hand along the right side of his face. The swelling was quickly disappearing and the bruises were starting to noticeably fade. In fact, this morning Brenda was sure he had opened his right eye almost completely for the first time since the accident. Luckily, the bleeding in his eye had stopped soon after the accident, so now that he was able to open it, the eye appeared just about normal. "Still having much pain?" She leaned closer and placed a kiss on his right cheek.

"Not much -- especially now; in fact, that made it feel a whole lot better!" Jax said with a smile. He pulled her back to him for another kiss, this time he placed it fully on her mouth. "So what brings you here this early? Did you get enough rest last night? You were still here when I fell asleep last night. You did go home didn't you, Brenda?" The last question brought a look of concern to Jax's face.

"Yes, dear, I went home last night. I left about 10:00, when I knew you were sleeping for the night. I just got back a few minutes ago." Brenda sat back from him and took his hand in both of hers. "How would you feel about a little surprise?" she asked with that little girl waiting for presents look that Jax so loved.

"Oh, I don't know. I guess it would be okay…" Jax couldn't resist the urge to tease her, especially when she had a secret she was anxious to tell. "Okay, what's the surprise?"

"I'm not sure I want to tell you now." Brenda began to pout. Jax reached over and started to tickle her. "Okay! Okay! You win! I'll tell you the surprise!" She held up her hands in surrender. She got up off the edge of the bed, where she had been sitting, and walked over to look out the window. "How would you feel about going home today?" she asked.

Jax didn't say anything at first, just staring at her. "What did you just say?" he asked.

Brenda couldn't resist the urge to smile as she turned back to face him before answering, "I asked how you'd feel about going home today."

Jax nearly jumped out of bed. "Are you serious? When? Is now too soon?"

Brenda ran quickly back over to the bed and put her hands on his chest to restrain him. "Slow down! You can't get up without help, you know that!" She sat down next to him to try to calm him down, but she could see how eager he was to go home.

Jax had once told her that he hated being in the hospital. Shortly after she had been hit by that car at Luke's, he had told her that he had only been in a hospital once and that was only overnight, but that he hated the thought of being somewhere and not being able to leave. It was very much the same thing he had told her when he was released from jail during that horrible time. Since the fall, he had been cooped up here at GH for four days, pleading with her every time she came to visit to get him released. He kept insisting that he could recuperate much quicker at home with her than in the hospital. Each time he asked, she told him the same thing -- no. He had to stay here. That was one of the major reasons she had insisted on spending so much time with him. She hoped he wouldn't feel as trapped if she were constantly with him. When Dr. White had finally allowed him out of bed for the first time, she had insisted on being the one to help him, but had been loudly refused by both Jax and Thomas. Thomas always insisted on helping Jax move around whenever he was around (which seemed like an awful lot, now that she thought about it).

"Okay, okay, so when DO I get out of here?" Jax settled back on the bed with a slight grimace, proving to her that he was still in some pain.

"Are you okay? You know you can't move that fast yet!" Brenda said in the sternest voice she could muster. "To answer your question, Dr. White will be in to see you in a little while. If things check out the way he expects, he'll sign your discharge papers and you'll be free to go home."

"I'm fine -- just still a little sore, that's all. Did you bring me something to wear, or do I have to go home in my underwear?" Jax smiled at her and tapped his finger on her chin, letting her know that her playful Jax was indeed back.

"Well, not that I'd mind the view, but I definitely don't want to share it with the rest of the world, so, yes, you have clothes here. As soon as Dr. White says it's okay for you to leave, I'll help you get dressed." Brenda leaned over and kissed him quickly on the tip of his nose and then tapped it with her finger. Jax pulled her close to him again, and she quickly curled up next to him on the bed, wrapped in his arms. Before either of them realized it, she had drifted off to sleep. Jax looked down at her with a smile and softly rubbed her back as she slept, holding her close to him.

Dr. White came in about an hour later. Jax signaled him to talk quietly and pointed to Brenda sleeping peacefully next to him. Without disturbing her, Dr. White conducted his exam of Jax and declared him ready to be discharged, with restrictions. When it was time to give him the restrictions, Dr. White insisted Jax wake Brenda. He had come to know his patient quite well over the past four days and knew just how well he would follow instructions if Brenda were not watching him. He insisted on waiting until Jax woke her to give him the instructions.

Jax gently shook Brenda's shoulder. She stirred slightly and snuggled deeper into his side. Jax smiled at the doctor and shook her again, this time he leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Brenda, wake up, honey. Dr. White needs to talk to us. Brenda? Come on, sleepyhead, wake up." He smiled down at her as she slowly opened her eyes and looked up at him, trying to focus on him.

"What? Oh, God -- Jax, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to fall asleep! Wait! What did you say about Dr. White?" She sat up quickly and looked at him with confusion in her still sleepy eyes.

Dr. White spoke up from behind her, "He said I wanted to talk to both of you before I'll release your husband, Brenda." Dr. White couldn't resist the urge to chuckle at Brenda's embarrassment.

Brenda quickly jumped off the bed and tried to smooth her hair. She couldn't stop the blush that she could feel spreading over her face. "I'm so sorry, Dr. White! I can't believe I did that!"

"Don't give it a second thought, Brenda. I fully understand how exhausted you are. With all the time you've been spending here, in addition to the demands your pregnancy has been putting on your energy, not to mention the amount of work…" Before he could finish that last statement Brenda gave him a look that told him Jax was not aware of what she had been doing so he dropped the subject. "Anyway, the reason I insisted Jax wake you is that I wanted you to be aware of the restrictions I'm placing on Jax when he goes home."

Jax's curiosity had been aroused not by what Dr. White was saying but by what he had not said earlier about all the work Brenda had been doing. He fully intended to make sure that Matthew backed off on her workload for the design firm when he got home.

"What are the restrictions, Dr. White?" Brenda asked, as she stood next to Jax's bed and took his hand in hers.

When he saw the expression on Jax's face, he had to laugh. "Don't worry, Jax; there aren't really all that many. First and foremost, I want you to take it slow when you get home -- at least for the first week or so. That means lots of rest -- in bed, not on the sofa. It also means limit the number of times you go up and down the stairs. When you are on the stairs, I would prefer, at least for the first couple of days, that you are not alone. You'll find once you start walking around more that your balance may be off a little at first, so I don't want you taking any chances."

Jax looked up at Brenda and nodded his agreement. He squeezed her hand slightly to signify he intended to follow those instructions. "Okay, what else?" he asked, knowing it couldn't be that simple, or Dr. White would not have insisted on Brenda being awake to hear.

"I don't want you to even think about anything work related for the next three to four weeks. I want you to rest!"

Jax started to protest, but this time Brenda squeezed his hand. He looked up at her, and the expression on her face spoke volumes. She would make sure he followed doctor's orders. Jax realized that arguing was pointless, so he shrugged his shoulders and reluctantly agreed.

"Finally, on a more personal note, I would recommend that you take it slow in renewing your physical relationship. Jax, your body has been through a lot the last few days, and it needs time to heal. It'll let you know when it's ready, so just listen to it." Dr. White looked at Brenda, who could feel herself start to blush as he finished the last part of the instructions, a knowing smile on his face, before looking back at Jax. "Any questions from either of you?"

"Not that I can think of, Dr. White. If something does come up, can we call your office?" Brenda asked.

"Of course. Well, if there's nothing else, I'll get your discharge orders ready. I'll stop back in when they are done. Oh, Brenda, do you have a car here?" Dr. White had seen Jax had another question that it appeared he did not want to ask in front of Brenda, so Dr. White tried to think of a way to get her out of the room.

"No, I don't. I told a friend I would call when Jax was ready to be discharged, so he could send a car."

"Why don't you go ahead and do that? I should have the papers ready in about thirty minutes. Will that be enough time?"

Brenda nodded her agreement. "I'll go call Thomas, then I'll come back and help you get dressed, Jax." She kissed him quickly on the cheek and headed out into the hallway to call.

As soon as she was out of the room and the door completely closed, Dr. White walked closer to Jax and spoke softly, "What is it, Jax? I got the feeling there was something you wanted to discuss with me without Brenda hearing."

"You're right, there is. I was wondering how soon it would be before I would be able to fly."

Dr. White was surprised by Jax's request. "Well, that all depends on how far and what type of plane you plan on being in" he said cautiously.

"Well, I want to take Brenda out to our house in Malibu for some rest and relaxation. She needs it, don't you think? I was planning to take our private plane. Why? Does that make a difference?" Jax couldn't figure out why the type of plane would matter.

"I'm sure she could use the rest, especially since she is pregnant. Well, I'd say it would probably be okay if you went in about a week. As long as you don't plan on flying the plane yourself. That I will not certify you to do yet!" Dr. White made sure Jax understood that he would not budge on that point.

"I can live with that. So one week you said, right?" Dr. White could have sworn he could see the wheels turning in Jax's brain as he started to make plans.

"Tell you what: come in to see me a week from today. If you continue to progress the way you have been, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to take a flight to California by then. Just promise me you won't overdo while you are out there." Dr. White looked to Jax for reassurance.

"I promise, Dr. White. I intend the time we're at Malibu to be strictly relaxation for both of us, especially Brenda!" The look in Jax's eyes reassured Dr. White of what he said.

"Okay, I'll go get your discharge papers ready. Oh, I take it Brenda knows nothing about this trip?" Dr. White asked.

"Absolutely not! I intend it being a surprise for her, kind of a payback for all of the attention she's been paying me. I think she and the baby need some pampering at this point, don't you?"

"I couldn't agree more. You have quite a wife there, Jax. She won't hear about your plans from me. Just follow my instructions, and I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be ready for the trip in about a week. I do still want you to stay out of the office and away from work for at least three weeks!"

"That won't be a problem, Dr. White. I plan on staying in Malibu for at least a week, maybe more. I have a perfectly reliable staff who can run my office with very little input from me, if necessary. Can I at least check in with them by phone, if I promise not to go to the office?" Jax looked expectantly at the doctor.

"I'd rather you didn't. I want you to take this time to let your body heal, Jax. Let the office run itself. Give your staff a chance to prove their worth. Okay?"

"Okay! Can I get dressed now?" Jax pushed back the covers of the bed and swung his legs over the side.

"Sure, I'll have the nurse come in to give you a hand, or is Brenda going to take care of that?" He looked at Jax with a smile on his face, already knowing the answer before he finished the question.

"I'll take care of that, Dr. White, thank you." Both Jax and the doctor were startled by the sound of Brenda's voice from the doorway. She walked quickly into the room, letting the door close behind her. "Is there something wrong?" She looked from Jax to Dr. White, but could see nothing out of the ordinary on either of their faces.

"No, not at all. How long have you been standing there?" Dr. White asked.

"I just got back. I'm kind of surprised to see you still here. Is everything okay?" Brenda relaxed noticeably after she came over and wrapped her arms around Jax. "Is there anything else I should know about?" she asked with a sudden concern obvious to both Jax and Dr. White in her voice.

"No -- nothing, Brenda. I was just reinforcing my instructions to your husband, that's all. I'm sure that he'll behave himself though. Right, Jax?" Dr. White looked down at Jax.

"I promise, Dr. White. I'll follow your instructions to the letter," Jax smiled as he answered the doctor's question.

"Brenda, I told Jax I want to see him in my office a week from today. I'll have my secretary call you later today to schedule the appointment. Until that appointment, I don't want you driving either, Jax."

"That won't be a problem, Dr. White. I don't intend on letting him out of my sight until he's 100% again." Brenda snuggled in closer to Jax as she spoke. Jax wrapped his arms around her and smiled at Dr. White over the top of her head.

"In that case, I'll leave you to get ready. Your paperwork should be ready shortly. I'll have the nurse bring in your wheelchair when they are ready." Dr. White left quickly, making his final notations on Jax's chart as he left.

After the door closed, Brenda released her hold on Jax and headed to the closet to get his clothes. It only took a few minutes for him to dress. They were both getting nervous, sitting around, waiting for Jax's discharge papers to be ready. After what seemed like hours, there was a knock at the door, after which the nurse came in, pushing a wheelchair.

"Are you ready, Mr. Jacks?" The nurse asked as she stood near the bed with the wheelchair. "Do you need any help getting in?"

"Why do I need that? I can walk perfectly fine, especially with my support here." Jax reached over for Brenda's hand.

"It's hospital policy, Mr. Jacks. You have to be wheeled out the door of the hospital by a staff member. After that, you're on your own." She said with a smile, but it was obvious to both Jax and Brenda that she was not about to be talked out of this.

"Jax, just do as she says, okay? The sooner you do, the sooner we can go home." That was all Jax needed to hear. He got up from the bed, where he had been sitting, and slowly sat in the chair.

Dr. White came in with Jax's chart in his hand just after Jax was settled in the chair. "All set? Good. Here are your discharge orders. It's just a written copy of what I explained to you both earlier. I want you to follow them!" He looked directly at Jax. "No exceptions!"

Jax nodded his agreement. "I promise! Now can I get out of here?"

"I just need your signature on your chart, and you're free to go." Dr. White handed Jax the chart and indicated where he needed to sign. Once he signed the chart, Dr. White shook hands with Jax. "You're a very lucky man, Jax -- don't forget that. You could have been injured a lot worse than you were. In fact, considering the length of the fall you took, I have to admit I was very surprised that your injuries were not more extensive. Just take it easy and let your body heal." Dr. White extended his hand to Brenda, who surprised him with a hug instead.

"Thank you, Dr. White, for everything you did for my husband. I promise you he'll behave." Brenda hugged him again and went back over to Jax. "Are you ready to go home?" she asked as she looked down at him.

"You know it! Let's go!" Dr. White opened the door for them and held it while the nurse pushed the chair. The guard stationed outside the door walked slightly ahead of them, looking around the area as they headed toward the elevator. When they got there, Brenda reached for the handles of the wheelchair, "Would it be okay if I push him the rest of the way? I promise not to do any wheelies on the way out!" she said with a laugh.

Dr. White started to object, but thought better of it. "I guess it would be okay. Are you sure it won't be too much for you?" Before Brenda could answer, the elevator doors opened and out walked Travis. "Oh, I see you've got reinforcements. I guess I'll say my good-byes now then. I'll see you in a week, Jax. In the meantime, take it easy and listen to your wife!" Dr. White squeezed both Jax and Brenda on the shoulder and headed off to finish his rounds.

"What are you doing here, Travis?" Brenda asked. "I asked Thomas to send a car for us. He didn't need to disturb you."

"He didn't disturb me -- I volunteered. When he called to let me know Jax was being released this morning, I decided to escort you two home myself. There is a limo waiting downstairs." With that said, Travis pushed the button for the elevator and walked behind Jax's wheelchair, leaving Brenda free to stand next to Jax. Brenda reached for Jax's hand as they waited for the elevator.

When the limo pulled into the driveway, Thomas, Benton, and Mrs. Kelly came out to greet them. Jax could not believe how good it felt to be home. Brenda had noticed as soon as they got into the car that he seemed to relax. Even though it was cold outside, Jax had insisted on opening his window for a few minutes just to feel the wind on his face. It wasn't until Brenda became concerned that he would get chilled that he had reluctantly closed the window.

The driver opened the door for them as Thomas came toward the car. Brenda got out first and held out her hand to Jax. He was surprised when he tried to get out of the car how weak he felt. He couldn't quite get out of the car on the first try. When he saw the concern on Brenda's face, he squeezed her hand and tried again, this time using both of his hands on the edge of the car seat. The grimace on his face showed that he wasn't going to make it this time either. Thomas stepped forward and offered a helping hand. With Thomas's help, Jax easily got out of the car. He reached for Brenda and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, giving her a reassuring hug. They headed up the short walk to the front stairs. They stood at the foot of the stairs looking upward. Brenda looked over at Jax to see if he was able to make it up the stairs. He looked down at her with a tired smile on his face and squeezed her shoulders.

Thomas came up on Jax's other side and grabbed his elbow. "Thought you might need a hand, mate," he said matter-of-factly. With both Thomas and Brenda helping him, Jax made it up the front stairs without a problem.

Once he was in the foyer, it was obvious to everyone how tired he was. Brenda took off her coat and helped Jax take his off. She suggested they go into the parlor, so Jax could relax for a while before going up to bed. Jax, Brenda, and Thomas headed into the parlor, while Mrs. Kelly went back into the kitchen to finish her preparations for lunch. Benton followed into the parlor to see if he was needed for anything. Once Jax was settled comfortably on the sofa, Benton excused himself and took Jax's bag up to the bedroom to unpack.

As Brenda, Jax, and Thomas sat talking, they were all startled when Benton came in carrying a large, covered tray. "Benton, what have you got there?" Brenda asked.

"Since none of you said anything, I took it upon myself to serve lunch. After all, it is nearly 1:00!" Benton set the tray down on the table in front of the sofa as he spoke. He lifted the cover to reveal a tray full of some of Jax's favorite foods. "Mrs. Kelly thought you would enjoy a treat from that hospital food. She seems to think that she is the only person who can feed you properly. She was mumbling something about you having lost weight, when I went into the kitchen earlier." Everyone in the room laughed at that remark. "Well, if there is anything else you need, just let me know. Enjoy!" Benton left the three of them to enjoy their lunch.

"I never realized how late it had gotten. I think when we finish lunch that it might be a good idea if you head up to bed, Jax. You do look awfully tired," Brenda said, between bites of her lunch. She had not realized how hungry she was until she started to eat. It seemed that Mrs. Kelly had expected her hearty appetite and made large amounts of everything. Brenda suddenly felt like she could eat everything on the tray.

Jax didn't say anything at first; he was too busy eating his lunch. Mrs. Kelly was right, he had missed her cooking! They sat eating in silence, all of them too hungry to do much else but eat. When he had eaten as much as he could, Jax tried to stifle a yawn. He looked over at Thomas, "Would you mind giving me a hand getting up the stairs, mate? I think I'm a lot more tired than I thought."

Brenda had come over to the sofa and sat on the arm next to him. "Are you okay, Jax?" she asked as she ran her fingers gently through his hair.

"I'm fine, Brenda -- just a little tired. I think I'll go upstairs and take a nap. Will you come keep me company?" Jax reached his arm around her waist and pulled her close.

"In a few minutes I will. I need to call Lois and tell her you're home. I also have to call Matthew and let him know I plan on getting back to work on the house with him." She gently tousled his hair again. "Why don't you go on up. Benton has the bed all ready for you. Your pajamas are laid out on the bed. I'll be up in a couple of minutes." She kissed him softly on the top of the head.

Thomas came over and helped Jax get up from the sofa. Brenda watched the two friends walk out of the room. As soon as she heard them on the stairs, she headed into Jax's study to follow up on the business calls she needed to return for him. Unbeknownst to Jax, Brenda had been keeping an eye on things going on at the office ever since the accident. She knew that Jax had complete trust in his staff, and she was sure that Travis would be keeping an eye on things for them as well. But she also knew that Jax preferred a hands-on style of management, so she had been reading daily reports from his staff every evening as well as handling his calls. No one, except for those people concerned, knew about her involvement, and she intended to keep it that way!

It had taken a while, but Jax and Thomas finally made it to the bedroom. Jax sat down on the edge of the bed, totally exhausted. "Boy, I never knew climbing a flight of stairs could be so exhausting!" Jax said with a sigh. He quickly changed into his pajamas and lay down on the bed. Before Thomas had a chance to leave, Jax cornered him with questions. "Can you stay for a few minutes, Thomas? I need to ask you about something."

"Sure, what's up?" Thomas said, as he pulled the chair up next to the bed.

"Did you ever talk to your grandfather about my dream? You know the warning voice?"

"Actually, I did. He called me back the night of your accident. He told me he had talked to several of the elders about it, and they all had the same opinion. Why?" Thomas wondered why that dream was so important to Jax, considering all that had happened.

"You're going to really think I'm nuts, but right before I fell, I heard that warning again, clear as a bell, just like the woman was standing behind me. Then suddenly when I turned to look around for the voice, I could have sworn I felt someone shove me. The next thing that I knew, I was rolling down the stairs. But you know, Thomas, I actually felt like someone was holding me as I fell, trying to slow my fall down. Even Dr. White was surprised that my injuries were not more severe, considering the length of my fall. I don't remember anything after I started to fall until I woke up at GH." Jax looked shaken by his memories.

Thomas didn't say anything at first. He just sat and listened to what his friend was saying. When Jax finished, Thomas thought for a minute before answering. "That does not really surprise me, considering what my grandfather said. He told me the reason you could not remember the dream was because there was no dream. You were hearing the warning of a spirit; a spirit intent on protecting Brenda from some danger that it felt in the house. The fact that you heard the voice again right before you fell and that you felt like someone pushed you only reinforce what he said." Thomas was beginning to believe much more of what his grandfather had told him now. "Before you fell, did you see anyone besides Brenda at the top of the stairs with you?"

Surprised by the question, Jax looked at Thomas for a minute, "No, no one. Why?"

"Well, now, don't laugh -- when Benton and Mrs. Kelly came running into the foyer after they heard Brenda scream, Benton was sure when he looked up at Brenda that there was a woman standing next to her, with her arm around Brenda's shoulders. He said he looked over at you for a second, and when he looked back up at Brenda, the woman was gone." Thomas expected Jax to laugh or at least make a joke of what he had said, but he didn't. He just listened.

"What does all of this mean, Thomas? Is that ghost -- if there really is one -- a threat to Brenda or her protector?" Jax yawned as he was talking, suddenly realizing that he needed a nap.

Just then Brenda came into the room. "Hey, what are you still doing awake? I thought you'd be asleep by now!" With that said, she pulled the covers up around Jax and kissed him on the forehead as he snuggled into the pillows. It seemed like as soon as he snuggled in he was sound asleep. Brenda and Thomas quietly left the room, Brenda closing the door behind them.

Once they were in the sitting room, Thomas took a good look at her; she looked exhausted! "I think Jax is not the only one who needs a nap, Brenda." He could not resist smiling at her feeble attempt to protest. "How long do you think you can keep up this pace? You've been running back and forth to the hospital at all hours, working on your project with Matthew, and running things at Jacks International! Add to that the fact that you're pregnant, and I cannot imagine how you keep going!"

Brenda could not believe she had heard him. He KNEW she was handling things at Jacks International! How could he? "What did you just say?" she asked incredulously.

"What? Oh, about you running the company? I've known about it from the start." Thomas smiled at her with his best, big brother smile. "Brenda, did you really think I wouldn't find out?" he said as he hugged her quickly and then let her go.

"You haven't told Jax, have you? Please, Thomas, don't tell him! I don't want him to know! He'll just get upset with me and make me stop! He'll say that I'm doing too much!" She looked at him on the verge of tears.

"He'd be right, too! Brenda you ARE doing too much!"

"You don't understand, Thomas! The company is very important to Jax! I knew that the first thing he'd want to do when he got home was to check up on it, correct any problems, and make any last minute decisions! You saw for yourself this afternoon that he's not ready to do that yet! This way, even if he checks in at the office, everything will be running smoothly -- nothing for him to worry about. Please keep my secret!!!" she begged.

Thomas thought for a minute, "Okay, on one condition -- you stop NOW! Brenda, let the people that Jax trusts run the office. You spend the next few weeks enjoying your time with your husband! I already talked to Matthew this morning, and he's going to take over things at the house that you guys are working on. He said to tell you that he's got your sketches to work from, and until the furniture arrives, there really isn't anything either of you can do, so relax and forget about work. He promised he'd get in touch with you if he needed you. Those are my conditions. If you don't agree, I'll tell Jax what you've been up to while he's been in the hospital!" Thomas looked at her, waiting for an answer. He could see the defeat come across her face as she stood before him.

"Okay, when you put it that way, what choice do I have? I promise I'll keep my nose out of Jacks International from now on." She gave Thomas a kiss on the cheek and then tried to stifle a yawn. "I'm sorry about that. I guess I'm more tired than I realized," she said with a soft laugh and another yawn.

"Boy, first your husband and now you, I must be one boring guy to have you both yawning in my presence. Don't worry; I can take a hint! I'm leaving!" Thomas laughed and gave her a kiss on the cheek before leaving. He closed the doors behind him, leaving Brenda standing alone by the window.

Suddenly she felt someone in the room with her. She turned around to see Madeline standing in front of her. "Madeline! I've been hoping to see you. We need to talk!"

"I know, Brenda. I've known since that horrible night that Jax fell. First, is he really okay? I know he's sleeping in the next room, but is he really going to be all right?" the concern evident on her face.

"Yes, he's going to be fine. I guess I have you to thank for that part of it, at least. If you hadn't slowed down his fall, he could have been hurt a lot worse than he was. What happened that night, Madeline? How did he fall? Did you know it was going to happen?" Brenda could not keep the tears from falling as she spoke.

"Yes, I knew it would happen, but Brenda, what you don't understand is that you were the one who was suppose to fall, not Jax! I tried to warn Jax the night before, but I was too late. The best I could do was try to place him between you and…"

Brenda could see Madeline shudder as she talked. "Between me and who? Why would you put Jax in danger like that?"

"I didn't mean to place him in danger! I figured that since he is such a large man that he would be able to resist the push. I didn't realize that he had one foot off the stair when he turned around, otherwise I would never have done it! You have to believe me, Brenda! I never wanted either of you hurt!" The desperation was evident in Madeline's voice.

"I believe you, Madeline. You still haven't told me, though, who it was that pushed Jax. Do you know?" She looked expectantly at Madeline, sure that she had an answer.

"Yes, I know who it was -- it was my husband, Everett! He was the one who pushed Jax!" With that Madeline started to cry. She knew she had to tell Brenda everything she had heard Everett planning in the library. When she was finished, she waited for Brenda's response.

"I don't know what to say! I don't know how to react! I mean, are you saying you want me to believe that your husband's ghost wanted to harm me so that Jax would make peace with his family and spend more time on work and less with me? But even if I accept what you just told me, that doesn't explain why he pushed Jax down the stairs!"

Brenda was very confused and also very tired at this point, making it difficult for her to understand what she was hearing. Madeline could tell it was time to stop. "Why don't we wait until you get some rest before we continue this? I promise you, Brenda, NOTHING like this will ever happen again. I'll make sure of it. You and Jax and your baby will be safe in my house -- ALWAYS!" With that said, Madeline gently stroked Brenda's cheek, and before Brenda could say anything, she was gone.

Brenda leaned her forehead against the window and took a deep breath. This was an awful lot for her to accept, and right now she was too tired to think straight. She'd think about all of this later, after she had some rest. She headed into the bedroom and stood, looking down at her sleeping husband, grateful to have him back where he belonged - sleeping in their bed! She took off her shoes, and, still dressed, gently climbed into bed next to Jax. It felt so good to have him next to her in their own bed again. As soon as she got in, she snuggled next to Jax, who, even in his sleep, reached over and wrapped his arms protectively around her. She placed her ear above his heart and quickly fell asleep, listening to her favorite sound in the entire world, Jax's heartbeat.

Madeline stood off by the window, looking at them sleep. She promised them that she would find a way to stop Everett BEFORE he did anything else to them in the name of business! She sobbed softly as she disappeared to keep watch over them, desperate to find a way to talk to Everett -- to stop him any way she could!