The Long Road Home
by Terry

Chapter 11

Another day passed without any visible response from Alexis and Johnny was concerned. He and Joy were sitting together at the table trying to work a crossword puzzle and finding it to be more trouble than it was worth. He voiced his concerns regarding Alexis and Joy tried to reassure him. To take his mind off Alexis for a while, Joy had suggested they try the puzzle.

Sitting back, he lifted his coffee cup and let his eyes fall on Joy.

"You know, you're actually quite attractive."

Looking up in shock at what she heard. Joy saw the sincerity on Johnny's face and knew he didn't meant it the way it sounded. Deciding to have a little fun with him she allowed a serious look of offense to fall on her face.

"Well, thank you. I didn't realize that you were having a problem deciding if I were or not."

Covering his face with his hand, Johnny turned a beautiful shade of red, embarrassed that he had failed in his attempt at a first compliment for a woman he wanted to get to know on a more personal level.

"I... I... wasn't. I... just... Oh, hell, that didn't come out right."

Laughing outright at his obvious discomfort Joy reached over and lay her hand on his arm.

"It's ok, Johnny. I'm just teasing you. And thank you for the compliment. You're not very practiced at this sort of thing are you?"

"My tendency to be shy around women is always getting me into trouble. My grandmother used to try to fix me up with some of her friends daughters to try to get me more comfortable with them. It never worked."

"Why are you so shy around women, Johnny?"

"I'm always afraid I will offend them."

Sitting back a bit, Joy decided that his answer was just too interesting to let go. She was very attracted to Johnny and up until this moment he had not shown any interest in her other than what was expected or needed as Alexis' nurse.

"What do you mean... offend them? I can't imagine you would ever be able to offend a woman given how absolutely generous you are with them."

"Generous?" The word immediately caught Johnny's attention. Generous...

"Yes, generous. You cater to women. I can see by the confusion on your face that you have no idea what I am talking about. Ok, let me see if I can explain this... "

Joy reached to pick up her own cup of coffee and bringing it to her lips looked at Johnny over the rim of it, studying him, trying to figure a way of explaining what she meant.

"Over the past few days, I have had the opportunity to observe you not only where Alexis is concerned, but with the other nurses around here and with me as well. There is an ever-present respect for women that is very evident in the way you treat them. It is always there. You hold doors open for them, you wait until they are seated before you sit, you never speak unless it is invited, and you never interrupt a conversation. If you see a woman coming towards you, you stop and move to the side of the hallway until they pass slightly bowing your head in recognition of their worth. You are the most considerate man I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. When I am around you, I feel like I am someone very special. And this is not something you do on purpose. It is not manufactured. It is who you are and to be perfectly honest I would love to meet the woman who raised such a beautifully compassionate, considerate and respectful man."

"Joy, please stop. You're embarrassing me."

"I'm sorry, Johnny. I really didn't mean to. I just wanted you to know that I appreciate the kind of man you are."

"It was my grandmother."

"I beg your pardon."

"It was my grandmother who raised me. She was such a treasure. She meant everything to me. I try to treat women with the same respect I had for my grandmother. She taught me that every woman, no matter who they are, deserves a measure of respect. I have only come across one woman in my lifetime that I have found it impossible to find anything worth respecting. And because of that, I feel like I have failed my grandmother. And that's not something I deal with very well."

"She must be a real piece of work for you not to be able to find any redeeming qualities in her at all. And if that is the case, then Johnny you have to know that there are some women in this world who are not worthy of the slightest hint of respect. But, it is something they have chosen for themselves and you cannot let their inadequacies disturb your grandmother's faith in you. That would not be fair to her and it certainly wouldn't be fair to you."

Ducking his head slightly, Johnny shot a shy glance toward Joy and saw not only her beauty, but the compassion in her eyes as well.

"You're pretty generous yourself, Joy. I've watched you too. You take your responsibilities as a caregiver very serious. You really do. I watch you with Alexis... you touch her constantly as though you expect her to feel you and hear you. You don't treat her like she’s sick. You've never once lost your patience with her. You're always constant with her. I admire that."

"Thank you, Johnny. That means a lot to me."

An uncomfortable silence fell between them. Neither one of them were ready to leave the cocoon they had woven around themselves. It was too soon. There was still so much to say, so much to share. Johnny wanted to know everything about Joy. She dazzled him and he was eager to know more.

"Uh... Joy? Would it be ok if I asked you to have dinner with me tomorrow night? I mean, it can't be like a real date, because I have to be here. I'll understand if you say no... because well... right now I have Alexis. And you have to know that she is my first priority, at least until she is well and I know that it would be hard for another woman to accept that and... "

"Johnny, shhh... hey... hush a minute. Johnny... "

Halting his explanation he looked up at Joy and saw the most beautiful smile he had ever seen before.

"Johnny, she is my first priority as well. You and I have a common goal and it is Alexis. But, that doesn't mean we can't have dinner right here and have her be a part of it. I've always wondered what it would be like to have a chaperone. Johnny, my answer is yes, I would love to have dinner with you."

Joy smiled as a new and more brilliant blush rose on the face of the most handsome and perfect man she’d ever met before. Today was a gift. A gift she waited for her whole life. Someone finally looked at her. Really looked. Not at just the way she looked on the outside. But, Johnny looked into her eyes, into her soul. Johnny was interested in her. Her heart filled with expectation and the giddiness of a schoolgirl quivering with anticipation.

Hearing a loud knock on the door Johnny and Joy both jumped guiltily and then laughed together at the ridiculousness of it. Joy stood to go since she knew it was again visiting hours and wanted to get out of their way. Feeling the warmth of Johnny's hand on her arm she felt her knees weaken a bit and looked up into his eyes.

"Please stay, Joy. I'll get it. If it's who I think it is, it'll be ok for us to stay here in the kitchen and talk while he's here."

"Ok, Johnny. I'd like that."

Applying just a touch of pressure before he released her arm he smiled a little more boldly at her and left to answer the door.

Stopping briefly to check on Alexis, Johnny opened the door to find Jasper Jacks waiting impatiently to be allowed in.

"Mr. Jacks. I wasn't expecting you. Please, come in."

Jax entered the room and looked around. Not seeing Alexis he turned back to Johnny.

"I hear you have so ingratiated yourself into Alexis' life that no one else can get close to her."

Shaking his head in absolute disbelief, Johnny shut the door.

"I think you have been misled about what is going on here. I really wish that all of Alexis' supposed friends would get together and finally once and for all understand that it's all about her. Not me. Not you. Not Ned. It's about HER. There is nothing going on here except one doctor, one nurse and one man doing whatever is needed to bring one woman back to life. That's all. Any one of you could have reached out to her. But, you didn't think it was necessary to come here until you found out I was here. In fact you have been conspicuously absent. Why is that?

"I've been busy."

"I'm sure you have been. But, I find it fascinating that the only time I see you is when you blow into her life for major events and then disappear again. I don't get it. She has called you friend for as long as I have known her. She needs her friends right now. All of them. And if you weren't so damned blind and unyielding you would see that we could use all the help we could get here. What can I do or say to you that will get through to you and everyone else out there that Alexis needs all of us. Including you."

"Ok, Johnny, I think you made your point. Can I see her?"

"She's just around the corner there. Stay as long as you like, but I must warn you as I did Ned. Nothing negative is allowed around her. Not words, not actions and no negative attitudes. Please."

Johnny watched as Jax walked into the room where Alexis was. He moved closer to listen and hoped he wouldn't have to intervene. Startled by a movement beside him he swung around to see Joy step up beside him.

"How do I get through to them, Joy? What do I say to make them understand that I won't hurt her, I can't? How can I make them see that they are just as important to her as what we are doing here?"

Joy watched the tears swim in the corner of his eyes and put her arm around him.

"You do just exactly what you just did. In time they will see that you have always had her best interests at heart and they will accept you. And Johnny, one day each one of them will thank you for what you have done for her. I promise you that."

Feeling comforted by the closeness of her and her words, Johnny lay his arm across her shoulder.

"Joy, I don't care if they thank me or not. I don't care if they ever accept that all I wanted to do was help. I just want her back any way I can get her, by any means."