After making their way through the chaos and finally getting back to Jackie's room, they were greeted by her mother.
"What's wrong with you? Where have you been?" She asked.
Jackie was still physically upset, so Catherine decided to speak up for once.
"I took her to get some fresh air and the paparazzi spotted us as we were passing the lobby. It's complete mayhem out there and they're all after getting a shot of Jackie."
"Well, what did you expect Jackie? This is the lifestyle you chose."
"I don't think she signed up to be almost killed in a car accident that she had no control over. She deserves some privacy as she is still recovering."
"I beg to differ. She had control over getting in that car with a drunk man."
"Do you hear yourself right now? Look at your daughter," Catherine said pointing to Jackie. "Look at the condition she's in and look how upset she is."
"I do see her and I see you. The question should be have you seen each other? What on earth does a professor, who is ten years older, want with her? Is it money you're after? Or the fame?"
"You don't have any idea what you're talking about. You don't know me, you don't even know your own daughter. I'm not getting into this though because all I care about right now is getting her better. Jackie, I'll be back in a minute. I need to go and take care of a couple of things."
Catherine made sure to kiss Jackie on the forehead before leaving to allow her mother to know her opinions had no affect on her.
When she got out into the hall, she took a deep breath before calling Rachel.
"I have an idea and I need your help."
****
After talking with Jackie's doctors, Catherine's phone rang and her heart skipped a breath when she saw it was Rachel. She needed her plan to work but mainly Jackie needed her plan to work.
"They agreed!" Rachel said with excitement.
"Are you serious?"
"Yep! They just faxed me the papers. I'll be there shortly."
Catherine couldn't believe it actually worked. Everything that could go wrong, had in their relationship, and it was about time they caught a break.
She couldn't get back to Jackie's room fast enough to tell her. When she entered the room, Jackie's mother was attempting to help her into bed but Jackie was arguing with her to stop. Catherine could tell she was obviously hurting her.
"I've got this," Catherine cut in, hurrying over and reaching her arm around Jackie.
"She's just being stubborn," her mother insisted. "You're going to need to drop this attitude before coming home or it's going to be an even longer road to recovery."
"I need to talk to Jackie alone for a minute," Catherine replied and looked at her straight into her eyes; letting her know she wasn't threatened by her.
After acting bothered by the idea, her mother finally exited the room and Catherine sat on Jackie's bed.
"I need you to be completely honest with me."
"What do you mean?" Jackie asked.
"Do you really want to go and stay at your mum's?"
"I don't have a choice. My apartment-"
Catherine cut her off, "Do you trust me?"
"Of course, Catherine what are-"
"Come to Bloomington with me," she blurted out.
Jackie just looked at her with confusion.
"I talked to the doctor. He said you're okay to fly and Rachel spoke with Tommy's lawyers. They are willing to pay for a private jet to take you to and from Bloomington as needed."
Jackie's face lit up but then turned solemn again.
"Are you sure you want to? I don't want to be a burden. I know I'm a lot right now but I promise I'm going to push myself to-"
Before Jackie could babble on anymore, Catherine took her face in her hands and kissed her. Their kiss was interrupted when they heard Jackie's mother clear her throat from the doorway.
"Are you finished here?" She asked and was agitated. "We have a lot of arrangements to make before tomorrow."
Catherine looked at Jackie and smiled.
"I'll let you two talk," Catherine said.
"No, stay. Mum, I appreciate the offer but I've made other plans."
"What do you mean?"
Jackie looked at Catherine.
"Catherine's going to Bloomington tomorrow and I'm going with her."
"You can't be serious."
"I am."
"Jackie, this is absurd. She can't take care of you. She's brainwashing you."
"She's been here with me every minute since I was admitted. She took care of me all week."
"Because no one called me! She's trying to take you away from me!"
"Why? Because she's the first person to show me what it really means to love someone!"
Jackie's mother just glared at her before softening her voice a little.
"You can't travel. You need to be close to doctors and what about your rehabilitation? Put our issues aside and be reasonable for a minute."
"I've taken care of all of that," Rachel said as she entered the room.
"You're in this as well?" Her mum said annoyingly.
"I'm supportive of whatever's in Jackie's best interest and right now, that's with Catherine in Bloomington. It's not good for her health to be in Los Angeles until this blows over."
"This is ridiculous. Jackie, don't expect any help from me if this is what you choose."
"It is. I don't need your help. I didn't need it for a long time."
Jackie's mother stared at her for a moment and then looked around the room at each of them before leaving.
"I love you both more than you would ever know, but how is this possible?" Jackie asked.
"It wasn't hard. Tommy's lawyers leapt at the idea of getting out of the public eye until you're healed. Them seeing you like this would only worsen Tommy's image," Rachel explained.
"Jeez, do I look that bad?" Jackie asked, touching her face.
"No, you're beautiful. But seeing you bandaged up like this would break anyone's heart and want to crucify Tommy. Trust me, I know from first hand experience," Catherine replied.
****
The next morning, Jackie's doctor came in to go over her medicine regime and a list of referrals for doctors and physical therapists in Indiana.
Jackie watched as Catherine paid close attention and couldn't help but smile. She would never be able to repay her for making such a sacrifice to help her.
By mid afternoon, Rachel had arrived with all of Jackie's belongings packed up. All ready to go to Bloomington. Wanting to avoid the media, they were exited through a back door. Getting into their vehicle wasn't as difficult as Jackie imagined, but the car ride was much worse. Every bump they hit on the road, she felt the pain throughout her entire body; despite taking her pain medication right before leaving.
When they approached to the airport, they were driven right onto the Tarmac to their private jet.
"Fancy Neptune," Catherine winked.
Before being rolled onto the plane, Jackie hugged Rachel hard to thank her for making this all possible.
"You call me if you need anything, and I mean anything. I'll see you in a couple of weeks. Take care of our girl, Catherine. Also, you call me if you need anything too," Rachel said to both Jackie and Catherine.
Catherine hugged Rachel as hard as Jackie did.
"You'll never know how much we appreciate this," Catherine whispered in her ear.
"Go on. Go and fly go into the sunset," Rachel teased.
****
After loading Jackie onto the plane, Catherine gave her the medication her doctor supplied. It was a sedative that would help her sleep during the long fight so she wouldn't be so uncomfortable. Fortunately, the fancy jet had luxurious leather recliners to make the ride a little more tolerable.
Catherine studied the medicine bottle and saw Jackie smiling.
"Medicine kicking in, I assume?" Catherine asked.
"Yes," Jackie giggled.
"Think I could get some of these for my fear of  flying?" Catherine joked.
"Take some," Jackie insisted.
"No way. I'm all you've got now. I gotta stay sober."
Jackie reached her handle across the aisle.
"Thank you so much. I'll never be able to repay you."
"Repay me? This is supposed to be me repaying you."
"For what?" Jackie asked.
"How about this. How about we stop keeping score and just be happy for once."
"You got it," Jackie smiled.
After taking off, Jackie slipped into a semi coma state of sleep and Catherine just watched on. She should take advantage of the opportunity to sleep. Considering the lack of sleep she got since Jackie's accident, but the fear of being her sole care giver with everyone else across the country scared her more than she would ever let Jackie know.
Despite her fears, Catherine knew it would all be worth it and she never wanted Jackie to be so far from her again.
A/n Thanks for reading my story. Please vote and drop a comment. Comments will help me a lot more than you might think. â¤ï¸