Chapter 6: Chapter 6: A Heavy Weight

Chapter 6:

A Heavy Weight

"So...My mother," Jace asked again, "Where is she?"

Marian glanced over at him, seeing his gaze on her and the soft look in his eye. "What is it about him?" The thought passed through her mind as she pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. Leaning forward, she rested her chin upon her hands. This was something she had to figure out, but for now she answered him.

"Safe," She said simply, "In order to keep my promise to you, I had her moved to a more secure room. I apologize for not telling you in advance."

"Yeah...I made quite a scene, didn't I?" Jace laughed dryly, sighing after a moment.

"You were upset," Marian stated, furrowing her brow as she didn't quite understand why he seemed distressed by it, "It is only natural to react the way you did."

"Is it?" Jace attempted to sit up, but a stern look from Marian was enough to make him simply adjust in his current position.

"You seem doubtful."

"Well..." A melancholic smile appeared on his face as he spoke, "My mother means everything to me. She's the only family I have left. I lashed out, but my mother always told me I was hotheaded. To be honest, she'd be furious at my actions. Probably make me apologize to everyone too..."

Jace laughed lightly, a look on his face and a tone to his laugh that rippled through Marian's heart. She felt it stir once more. "Why is he different?" Marian saw and heard many sob stories. Saw people die in her line of work. Saw families grieve. Yet, not a single one of them moved her to action. Until now.

"A curious thing..." Marian was once again confronted with this but chose again to ignore it. To suppress it as she has always been taught. After all, whatever this was, it was beginning to cloud her judgement.

"You really love her," Marian noted, cursing herself for continuing to pursue this line of questioning, "You said she was your only family. What about your father?"

Jace's face immediately darkened at their mention. Marian heard about his father from Doctor Gerard, but she saw now just what his father meant to him, and he was soon to tell her.

"That...thing is no father of mine," His words were edged in steel, his jaw clenching before he took a breath to calm himself, "I have no father. Though...no. Well, I don't know..."

Marian's ears perked up at his sudden bashfulness. He never seemed one to falter, but perhaps she had read him wrong. All she knew is that, with the current state of her thoughts about this kid, she was now curious.

"What is it?" She saw that Jace was reticent to say, as if he was unsure, "I apologize, you don't-"

"No," He shook his head, a soft smile on his lips, "It's alright. I brought it up."

Marian didn't say anything after this, and simply waited. He looked to be mulling things over in his head, and indeed he was. There was a lot of emotions inside of Jace that he had a hard time dealing with. Especially when it came to those who could be considered family.

"Balek," Jace finally said, "Him and his wife Nadine were friends of my mothers. I grew up with their daughter, Liana...they're like a second family, but..."

"They're not blood?" Marian questioned, unsure why her heart felt so strange suddenly.

"No, they're not," Jace sighed, shaking his head, "But that's not...They've done so much for us. Liana, she..."

Jace went silent suddenly as he remembered her most recent words. Marian's ears honed in, waiting impatiently.

"She said we were family," Jace sighed, looking up at the ceiling, "Yet, I don't know if I deserve being called that..."

Marian understood now. He felt unworthy of those around him. The guilt that Gerard told him he held towards his mother's condition. That was the cause, she was sure of it. "What a soft heart...underneath that bravado." Marian found herself almost smiling before catching herself.

"Sounds like they're family then," Marian stated, pushing herself up from the table.

Jace watched her as she turned to head towards the door, stopping with one hand on the frame.

"I'll go check on the Doctor," She told him, glancing back at him, "I'm not sure if it's my place or not, but...blood isn't what always makes family."

Her words resonated inside of him as the glint in her eye told Jace that there was something more to it. A deeper meaning that he had no chance to ask about before the door opened, and she was gone. Left there with his own thoughts, he wondered why he told her all of that.

He had never been so open with anyone before, but something about this situation sobered him up. Thinking of his mother and those around him, he was now even more determined than ever to do what he had to. To ensure that his mother survived. Whatever it took.

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"Well, good news is I talked them into not removing your mother," Gerard told Jace as he sat backwards in a chair before him.

His arms crossed over the back of the chair as he leveled with Jace. Marian had finally helped him to sit up, but she warned him not to move too suddenly.

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"So...what's the bad news?" Jace asked, knowing there was more to it.

Looking down at the floor, Gerard steadied himself before glancing back up to meet Jace's eye. The somber look on his face sent Jace's heart racing.

"What is it?" Jace insisted, clenching his jaw against the incoming news.

"Jace, look..." Gerard found the words hard to say, "Your actions...they've caused great concern among not just the staff, but the patients. While they understand your reaction..."

He trailed off again as he played with his hands. It was unsettling to Jace. What could be so bad that it caused such apprehension?

"Right...So, what is it?" Jace asked again, more insistent this time, "Do I have to pay more? Apologize in person? What?"

Exchanging a look at Marian, even she seemed to be uncomfortable with this news. That fact alone was enough to cause Jace to begin panicking. His mind raced with the multitude of things that it could be.

"No, Jace," Gerard shook his head as a grim expression settled upon his face, "It has been decided...that you're no longer welcome nor allowed in the hospital."

Jace was stunned. It made sense, but in his mind right now he was completely distraught. If he couldn't enter the hospital, if he was banned, then that meant one thing. It tore at Jace's heart as he realized it, and now he finally understood why even Marian was uncomfortable.

"I...can't see my mother?" Jace's words fell over them all as the reality of it settled in, "Ever? But...I...I'll pay more, I'll work harder. I'll apologize...I...Can't just not see her? I have to visit her, I-"

"Jace," Gerard's words were firm, calling his attention, "Stop. Breathe, please."

Marian was uncharacteristically silent. Usually, she had something clinical to say. Some kind of logic that ignored other's feelings. Yet, she said nothing. Jace could only look between the two of them.

"I...I'll pay more...I..." Jace repeated himself, this time his voice was softer, almost defeated, "Please...there has to be...something?"

Gerard shook his head solemnly, a look of sympathy on his face.

"That...can't be..." Jace muttered, slowly standing up.

Marian eased him up, the only thing she could do. Her hands felt...gentle. Though they barely registered to Jace as he slowly walked towards the door. Guided by Marian, his mind was completely blank. Stopping before the door, Jace looked up as he took a breath.

"What...am I supposed to do?" There was a choking to his words as everyone realized the tears he was holding back, attempting to be strong.

"I-" Gerard started, but Marian interrupted.

"Right now," She said, her tone unnaturally gentle, "Go home. Get some rest. I promise you, Jace."

He gazed over at her, his eyes glossing over with the wetness of tears. Her heart ached, a twang running through it. She had no idea why she felt this way, or what urged her to do this, but it felt right.

"I will take care of her," She told him, conviction in her voice, "You don't worry about that. As for visitation...It's not forever. So, for now, you focus on taking care of yourself. Your mother is in good hands."

"You..." Jace observed her, it was hard to read such an impassive face, but there was no other choice for Jace in that moment, "Thank you...I...I'll leave her in your hands. Please, make sure she is well. I'll...I'll transfer some more funds, so-"

A blush ran across Jace's face as Marian held a finger to his lips. Caught unaware, for a brief moment his mind became focused on one thing. "So...soft." Swallowing hard, Jace watched as Marian shook her head.

"Don't worry about that," Marian spoke quietly, "Go. I don't need anything extra."

"R-Right..." Jace flustered, wiping away the tears in his face, as well as trying to hide his blush, "Thank you...again."

Marian nodded, seeing Jace out of the room. She watched him go as Gerard looked on. As Jace disappeared around the corner, she turned back to the room, seeing the raised eyebrow of Gerard.

"What?" She asked curtly, sighing, "I'm just doing my job."

"Right, your job..." Gerard walked towards the door himself, "I'll leave you to it then."

Stopping as he passed her, he placed a firm hand on her shoulder. Glancing over at her from the corner of his eye.

"...Thank you," Gerards words were gentle, but held a weight to them.

Without saying a word, Marian simply nodded. Letting her go, Gerard left, and the sound of the door closing was her cue to collapse upon the floor. Her knees were weak, and a weight on her shoulders seemed to have lifted, only for another to replace it.

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