A Baby Changes Everything Part II
Rating: mild T
Summary: A night of drunken mayhem changes the lives of JT and Rock forever.
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing....really.
A/N: Part II!! ^0^ Yay! Oh and new tittle thanks to langstonlover! ^^
Four months later....
JT stared out the window next to the bed he was sitting on. Placing a hand on his expanded belly. There wasn't a single doubt now that was a tiny life inside him.
The young brunette sigh for what felt like the hundredth time that day. Four months. It'd been four months and still no one had heard anything from Rock. JT hated the doc for telling Rock and everyone without him there or letting him do it!
The cowboy had been upset about finding out he was gonna have and baby then he heard someone leaving only to have Ann come in a minute later that it was Rock leaving and no one knowing if he was coming back. After that JT barely ate or slept. He just wanted Rock back. Ann was the one to end his plan of not eating. She was surprisingly strong when she needed to be and force feed him some soup after a failed a temp by Rafe. Afterwards JT broke down and told Ann everything. What happened that night - the parts he remembered- how he felt about the Irish cowboy.
Ann had been understanding. Rafe on the other hand didn't try to figure out what how it happened. In his mind Rock had gotten his little boy knocked up and then took off. He really tried not to show JT how pissed he'd been at the Irishman. But JT was the closest thing to a son he had and Rock had hurt him and no one, not even someone Rafe had thought to be a friend, could get away with hurt his boy.
What upset JT even more was after the doctor left and Ann had gotten him eating again, Rafe had banned the youngest cowboy from helping out around the ranch. Even though it was very difficult for the two oldest men neither wanted the boy to hurt himself or the baby.
It was nice to just sit back with Ann and not have to work his butt off every day from dawn to dusk. But the downside was making Rafe, the man who pretty much help rise him, do all his work. And without anything for him to consecrate on, all he thought about was Rock.
JT missed the Irish bastard so much it hurt. Ann told him that's what it feels like when your other half is gone. But that didn't make it hurt any less. He just wanted Rock there with him even if it was just as his friend. He wanted him there for the baby even if it was just as "Uncle Rock" and not Daddy or whatever. He just wanted Rock back.
"Ya know if ya keep sighing like that yer gonna make people think yer a woman." Joe tried to joke as he came into the room.
JT glared and stuck his tongue out at the older man. He knew he was being childish, but he couldn't help it! His mood swings were all over the place and scaring everyone. One second he'd be okay, almost happy and the next he was crying for no reason. It scared Rafe and Joe more then once, but Ann told them it was fine and stop being children. Even with that, it didn't help when at one point JT asked Rafe if he thought he was fat and not pretty anymore. The older man nearly bit off his tongue, before he could even try to answer JT had started crying and yelling that he was ugly, fat, and no one cared about him anymore. Luckily Ann had come in and got JT to calm down enough to stop crying. But Ann still scolded Rafe for making the poor kid cry like that. The older man still didn't know what he did nor how to avoid doing it again.
Before JT could say anything to Joe, Rafe and Ann come into the house arguing.
"I just think its not a good idea, Ann. What if something happens? I couldn't live with that if something happen'd to ya." Rafe pleaded.
"Nothing will happen Rafe. I'll be with a group of men from town and with a gun of my own. Nothing will happen to me. And you know that this needs to be done and your needed here more then I am." Ann replied.
"What'd goin' on?" JT asked coming into the front room with Joe coming in behind him. Ann turned to the pair before pulling out a chair for JT to sit down.
"There's someone up at Fort Laramie that wants to make a deal with us fer the oil here and Ann thinks its a great idea fer her to go up there to make the deal herself." Rafe explained, his voice clearly showing how much he liked the idea.
"Rafe," Ann glared at Rafe as she crossing her arms. "This is still my land. Therefore, it my choice to make deals for whatever is here. And you need to be here. Not just to take care of the ranch, but JT as well. He's close to the end of his pregnancy and he needs you here more then me now." the blond-haired women finished with a tone that almost daring the older man to say anything right then.
JT watched as Rafe tried to think of something, anything, to say to get Ann to stay. After a minute of silence though, Rafe dropped his head with a sigh of defeat, nodding to the only woman of the house.
Ann smiled to herself. "Good. Now JT," she turned to face the now slightly nervous cowboy. "The baby should be here in two weeks or so. The doctor is gonna come out here tomorrow to make sure everything is okay then his leaving town for the next week and should be back a day or two after I get back, okay?"
JT nodded, "Yes, ma'am." Looking down at his stomach, he placed a hand on it feeling the baby kicking again.
"He's kicking again." JT said quietly. He didn't even realized he said anything til Rafe was right there next him with his hand on the boy's stomach next to his.
"He's a fighter, that's fer sure. Takes after his mama." Rafe joked.
JT laughed, playfully smacking Rafe's hand. He remembered the first time the baby had kicked. It startled the young brunette so much that he thought he was having the baby right then and there. Ann had laughed at all three males, saying she wished that they could have seen their faces. After that she told them that it was just the baby kicking in the womb.
It still felt weird to have something moving inside of him.
Ann came over and put her hand on JT's belly. "Its gonna be a girl." her voice sounded so sure.
JT looked up at the woman. "How'd ya figure that? He's kicking so much its gotta be a boy."
Ann shook her head. "No, Taralee kicked up a storm for me. Girl's gonna be like you though. Trust me." she finished smiling at JT.
The younger man didn't know what to say to that. Ann just kept smiling then asked if he'd help her pack for her trip.
JT nodded, standing up from his spot on his bed, he followed the blonde to her's and Rafe's bedroom where it looked like someone had packed almost everything in it in one medium size bag.
JT looked at the already packed bag in confusion. “Um, Ann? Why'd ya ask me ta help if'n yer already packed?”
Ann closed the door before making her way to sit on the bed. “Because JT, I wanted to talk with you without Joe or Rafe just walking in at any moment. I want to ask you something that's a very sore subject.” she explained.
The young cowboy paled slightly. Worrying what she was going to ask. “Okay.”
“Did you love him, JT?” Ann asked in a very calm voice.
“Wha- NO! I don't love Rock, Ann! How could ya even ask that?!” JT hissed out at the woman, who sat calmly on her bed with kind warm eyes that never left the young man's face.
“I never said Rock, JT. And I asked because I'm not blind or stupid. I've seen you looking out that window everyday, eating only enough to feed yourself and the baby, and never being really happy. You slap on a fake smile for everyone but we all see that your hurting JT. And I want to know if you love him.” Ann said.
JT's knees started to buckle and his eyes start to fill with tears. JT fell into the bed next to Ann and starting sobbing into the woman''s lap. “I-I really lo-love him, Ann...*sniff*... He was n-nice to me and ma-made me feel like on-one of a kind...... A-And after that night at the sal- saloon I thought h-he hated me. Why, Ann? Why does God hate me that no one loves me?!” JT sobbed out.
Ann just petted his head through-out it all, humming softly to calm JT down. “Hun, now you listen to me. We all love you and I don't want you to ever think differently, got it? And God gave you that child so even if Rock doesn't come back and beg forgiveness from you then you still have a piece of him to love. Do you understand JT?”
The young man nodded, rubbing his wet nose on Ann's skirt. The blonde smiled. “Good. Now I really have to finish getting ready to go to Fort Laramiein the morning so, up.”
JT smiled at Ann. Cheeks wet with tears he leaned in and kiss the woman on the cheek. “Thanks. ma.” he whispered.
Three days later at Fort Laramie.......
Ann smiled as she went inside the saloon. The deal would be great for the ranch. They would get enough money to take care of JT and the baby comfortably with this. Maybe even Rafe could relax a little finally. No one thought about how much JT and Rock did around the ranch and house until either of them weren't there to do the work.
Looking around the room she gasped as she spotted a face she thought she'd never see again.
Rock really hadn't changed much in the last four months. His eyes were bloodshot like he'd been drinking too much and sleeping to little. He slouched over his drink looking like he'd lost the will to live with himself.
Ann clenched her fists tightly. JT was heartbroken over this man and here he was drowning his self in whiskey. Walking angrily over to the Irishman she punch him right in the jaw.
Rock hit the ground with a solid thud. “What the hell?!” he roared as he stumbled to his feet ready to fight whoever had punch him for no reason. What he wasn't ready for was to see Ann standing there looking like she was about to skin him alive.
“Ann? What in the hell are ye doin' here? Is everything okay?” He wanted to ask about JT, but something told him that it was not a wise subject to bring up just yet.
Pushing the pain in her hand from her mind, Ann glared hotly at the older man. “Brendan Mullaney! How dare you! You left that poor boy to go though something he was afraid of by himself! How could you do that to JT! He loves you and you ran away when he needed you the most! If anything you should have stay with him as his friend!” Ann didn't screaming things at the flustered man as she reach up and grabbed him by the ear, as a mother would to a misbehaving child, and dragged him out of the saloon and back to the room where she was staying. Once they were in the room Ann let go of Rock only to pull him into a tight hug.
Rock was lost. He thought Ann was madder then a rattle snake that got it's tail step on for leaving. To be truthful, he was pretty mad at himself for leaving. But shame made him stay away. “A-Ann? I thought ye were mad at me?”
The blonde pushed the Irishman away. “Oh, I'm furious with you! But I'm just glad to see you. Now your going to tell me why the hell you left.”
Rock sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. “ I really don't know why I left, Ann. I just needed a minute to think and then I was half way here. I was afraid if I went back JT wouldn't even want me near him. And I don't wanna think 'bout Rafe.” He finished lamely, letting he head hang.
Ann felt bad for Rock. He was worrying about JT even though he had left. “Rock, you know that JT will forgive you if you really mean it. His got a big heart and cares about you a lot. Heavens know why.” Ann smiled at the man.
“Why would he, Ann? I can't even forgive meself for leaving him and the baby. I want to be there for them. I just didn't know how much I needed to be near the lad before now,” Rock looked up at Ann. “I thought when I left after we got off that damned boat that I came back just for Charlie, but it didn't feel right. I missed him too much to stay away. I-I..... I love him, Ann.” Rock felt a weight lift finally telling someone.
Ann smiled softly at the Irishman. “Rock, your going to have to tell him that. And if you love him your going to have to come back with me to Crazy Woman and face whatever may come,” she paused, “and Rafe.
Rock wanted to argue, but stopped himself. 'This maybe me only chance to make it up to JT' he thought. “Okay Ann. I'll go back.” Rock tried to smile, but it came out looking pained.
Summary: A night of drunken mayhem changes the lives of JT and Rock forever.
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing....really.
A/N: Part II!! ^0^ Yay! Oh and new tittle thanks to langstonlover! ^^
Four months later....
JT stared out the window next to the bed he was sitting on. Placing a hand on his expanded belly. There wasn't a single doubt now that was a tiny life inside him.
The young brunette sigh for what felt like the hundredth time that day. Four months. It'd been four months and still no one had heard anything from Rock. JT hated the doc for telling Rock and everyone without him there or letting him do it!
The cowboy had been upset about finding out he was gonna have and baby then he heard someone leaving only to have Ann come in a minute later that it was Rock leaving and no one knowing if he was coming back. After that JT barely ate or slept. He just wanted Rock back. Ann was the one to end his plan of not eating. She was surprisingly strong when she needed to be and force feed him some soup after a failed a temp by Rafe. Afterwards JT broke down and told Ann everything. What happened that night - the parts he remembered- how he felt about the Irish cowboy.
Ann had been understanding. Rafe on the other hand didn't try to figure out what how it happened. In his mind Rock had gotten his little boy knocked up and then took off. He really tried not to show JT how pissed he'd been at the Irishman. But JT was the closest thing to a son he had and Rock had hurt him and no one, not even someone Rafe had thought to be a friend, could get away with hurt his boy.
What upset JT even more was after the doctor left and Ann had gotten him eating again, Rafe had banned the youngest cowboy from helping out around the ranch. Even though it was very difficult for the two oldest men neither wanted the boy to hurt himself or the baby.
It was nice to just sit back with Ann and not have to work his butt off every day from dawn to dusk. But the downside was making Rafe, the man who pretty much help rise him, do all his work. And without anything for him to consecrate on, all he thought about was Rock.
JT missed the Irish bastard so much it hurt. Ann told him that's what it feels like when your other half is gone. But that didn't make it hurt any less. He just wanted Rock there with him even if it was just as his friend. He wanted him there for the baby even if it was just as "Uncle Rock" and not Daddy or whatever. He just wanted Rock back.
"Ya know if ya keep sighing like that yer gonna make people think yer a woman." Joe tried to joke as he came into the room.
JT glared and stuck his tongue out at the older man. He knew he was being childish, but he couldn't help it! His mood swings were all over the place and scaring everyone. One second he'd be okay, almost happy and the next he was crying for no reason. It scared Rafe and Joe more then once, but Ann told them it was fine and stop being children. Even with that, it didn't help when at one point JT asked Rafe if he thought he was fat and not pretty anymore. The older man nearly bit off his tongue, before he could even try to answer JT had started crying and yelling that he was ugly, fat, and no one cared about him anymore. Luckily Ann had come in and got JT to calm down enough to stop crying. But Ann still scolded Rafe for making the poor kid cry like that. The older man still didn't know what he did nor how to avoid doing it again.
Before JT could say anything to Joe, Rafe and Ann come into the house arguing.
"I just think its not a good idea, Ann. What if something happens? I couldn't live with that if something happen'd to ya." Rafe pleaded.
"Nothing will happen Rafe. I'll be with a group of men from town and with a gun of my own. Nothing will happen to me. And you know that this needs to be done and your needed here more then I am." Ann replied.
"What'd goin' on?" JT asked coming into the front room with Joe coming in behind him. Ann turned to the pair before pulling out a chair for JT to sit down.
"There's someone up at Fort Laramie that wants to make a deal with us fer the oil here and Ann thinks its a great idea fer her to go up there to make the deal herself." Rafe explained, his voice clearly showing how much he liked the idea.
"Rafe," Ann glared at Rafe as she crossing her arms. "This is still my land. Therefore, it my choice to make deals for whatever is here. And you need to be here. Not just to take care of the ranch, but JT as well. He's close to the end of his pregnancy and he needs you here more then me now." the blond-haired women finished with a tone that almost daring the older man to say anything right then.
JT watched as Rafe tried to think of something, anything, to say to get Ann to stay. After a minute of silence though, Rafe dropped his head with a sigh of defeat, nodding to the only woman of the house.
Ann smiled to herself. "Good. Now JT," she turned to face the now slightly nervous cowboy. "The baby should be here in two weeks or so. The doctor is gonna come out here tomorrow to make sure everything is okay then his leaving town for the next week and should be back a day or two after I get back, okay?"
JT nodded, "Yes, ma'am." Looking down at his stomach, he placed a hand on it feeling the baby kicking again.
"He's kicking again." JT said quietly. He didn't even realized he said anything til Rafe was right there next him with his hand on the boy's stomach next to his.
"He's a fighter, that's fer sure. Takes after his mama." Rafe joked.
JT laughed, playfully smacking Rafe's hand. He remembered the first time the baby had kicked. It startled the young brunette so much that he thought he was having the baby right then and there. Ann had laughed at all three males, saying she wished that they could have seen their faces. After that she told them that it was just the baby kicking in the womb.
It still felt weird to have something moving inside of him.
Ann came over and put her hand on JT's belly. "Its gonna be a girl." her voice sounded so sure.
JT looked up at the woman. "How'd ya figure that? He's kicking so much its gotta be a boy."
Ann shook her head. "No, Taralee kicked up a storm for me. Girl's gonna be like you though. Trust me." she finished smiling at JT.
The younger man didn't know what to say to that. Ann just kept smiling then asked if he'd help her pack for her trip.
JT nodded, standing up from his spot on his bed, he followed the blonde to her's and Rafe's bedroom where it looked like someone had packed almost everything in it in one medium size bag.
JT looked at the already packed bag in confusion. “Um, Ann? Why'd ya ask me ta help if'n yer already packed?”
Ann closed the door before making her way to sit on the bed. “Because JT, I wanted to talk with you without Joe or Rafe just walking in at any moment. I want to ask you something that's a very sore subject.” she explained.
The young cowboy paled slightly. Worrying what she was going to ask. “Okay.”
“Did you love him, JT?” Ann asked in a very calm voice.
“Wha- NO! I don't love Rock, Ann! How could ya even ask that?!” JT hissed out at the woman, who sat calmly on her bed with kind warm eyes that never left the young man's face.
“I never said Rock, JT. And I asked because I'm not blind or stupid. I've seen you looking out that window everyday, eating only enough to feed yourself and the baby, and never being really happy. You slap on a fake smile for everyone but we all see that your hurting JT. And I want to know if you love him.” Ann said.
JT's knees started to buckle and his eyes start to fill with tears. JT fell into the bed next to Ann and starting sobbing into the woman''s lap. “I-I really lo-love him, Ann...*sniff*... He was n-nice to me and ma-made me feel like on-one of a kind...... A-And after that night at the sal- saloon I thought h-he hated me. Why, Ann? Why does God hate me that no one loves me?!” JT sobbed out.
Ann just petted his head through-out it all, humming softly to calm JT down. “Hun, now you listen to me. We all love you and I don't want you to ever think differently, got it? And God gave you that child so even if Rock doesn't come back and beg forgiveness from you then you still have a piece of him to love. Do you understand JT?”
The young man nodded, rubbing his wet nose on Ann's skirt. The blonde smiled. “Good. Now I really have to finish getting ready to go to Fort Laramiein the morning so, up.”
JT smiled at Ann. Cheeks wet with tears he leaned in and kiss the woman on the cheek. “Thanks. ma.” he whispered.
Three days later at Fort Laramie.......
Ann smiled as she went inside the saloon. The deal would be great for the ranch. They would get enough money to take care of JT and the baby comfortably with this. Maybe even Rafe could relax a little finally. No one thought about how much JT and Rock did around the ranch and house until either of them weren't there to do the work.
Looking around the room she gasped as she spotted a face she thought she'd never see again.
Rock really hadn't changed much in the last four months. His eyes were bloodshot like he'd been drinking too much and sleeping to little. He slouched over his drink looking like he'd lost the will to live with himself.
Ann clenched her fists tightly. JT was heartbroken over this man and here he was drowning his self in whiskey. Walking angrily over to the Irishman she punch him right in the jaw.
Rock hit the ground with a solid thud. “What the hell?!” he roared as he stumbled to his feet ready to fight whoever had punch him for no reason. What he wasn't ready for was to see Ann standing there looking like she was about to skin him alive.
“Ann? What in the hell are ye doin' here? Is everything okay?” He wanted to ask about JT, but something told him that it was not a wise subject to bring up just yet.
Pushing the pain in her hand from her mind, Ann glared hotly at the older man. “Brendan Mullaney! How dare you! You left that poor boy to go though something he was afraid of by himself! How could you do that to JT! He loves you and you ran away when he needed you the most! If anything you should have stay with him as his friend!” Ann didn't screaming things at the flustered man as she reach up and grabbed him by the ear, as a mother would to a misbehaving child, and dragged him out of the saloon and back to the room where she was staying. Once they were in the room Ann let go of Rock only to pull him into a tight hug.
Rock was lost. He thought Ann was madder then a rattle snake that got it's tail step on for leaving. To be truthful, he was pretty mad at himself for leaving. But shame made him stay away. “A-Ann? I thought ye were mad at me?”
The blonde pushed the Irishman away. “Oh, I'm furious with you! But I'm just glad to see you. Now your going to tell me why the hell you left.”
Rock sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. “ I really don't know why I left, Ann. I just needed a minute to think and then I was half way here. I was afraid if I went back JT wouldn't even want me near him. And I don't wanna think 'bout Rafe.” He finished lamely, letting he head hang.
Ann felt bad for Rock. He was worrying about JT even though he had left. “Rock, you know that JT will forgive you if you really mean it. His got a big heart and cares about you a lot. Heavens know why.” Ann smiled at the man.
“Why would he, Ann? I can't even forgive meself for leaving him and the baby. I want to be there for them. I just didn't know how much I needed to be near the lad before now,” Rock looked up at Ann. “I thought when I left after we got off that damned boat that I came back just for Charlie, but it didn't feel right. I missed him too much to stay away. I-I..... I love him, Ann.” Rock felt a weight lift finally telling someone.
Ann smiled softly at the Irishman. “Rock, your going to have to tell him that. And if you love him your going to have to come back with me to Crazy Woman and face whatever may come,” she paused, “and Rafe.
Rock wanted to argue, but stopped himself. 'This maybe me only chance to make it up to JT' he thought. “Okay Ann. I'll go back.” Rock tried to smile, but it came out looking pained.