Chapter 11

Nick spent a little while visiting with Jay - and his mom - with his trained eye seeing no obvious lingering problems from Jay’s injury. Looked like the kid was lucky and had gotten away with just a brief concussion, which meant he should be fit to get back in the game in a few weeks. Of course, the other lucky thing about this whole episode was that it had brought Mrs Kelsall - Billie - into the equation, he thought, and he set himself to carefully and subtly get into her good graces. Only as a way to get into her panties.

Billie would have been a liar if she’d said that the gentle attention of the handsome physio wasn’t enjoyable, but right now most of her attention was focused on her son, watching him closely as he chatted with the other man. After a little while, she excused herself, leaving them to talk while she went in search of coffee - an addiction that hadn’t waned over the years - and Nick watched her go with a speculative eye.

Lying back in the hospital bed, Jay’s eyes narrowed as he watched Nick. Like all of the guys in the team, he was well aware of Nick’s reputation for loving and leaving - or cumming and going as Mabry had put it one day - and he didn’t particularly want to see his mom on the receiving end. Before he could find the right words to warn him off, though, Jay watched his mom walk back into the room, a steaming cup of coffee in her hand.

“You must be desperate if you’re drinking that.” He joked, and Billie wrinkled her nose as she took a sip.

“Pretty much. At least it’s caffeine.”

“When Jay gets out of here, I’ll take you to the best coffee shop in Philly.” Nick promised with a winning smile, and Billie looked at him for a moment before smiling back.

“I’ll maybe take you up on that.” She said.

In the bed, Jay ground his teeth in a way so like his father, Billie recognising it and hiding a smile. Somehow, until she’d met Jon again, she hadn’t realised, or remembered, just how many of his mannerisms came from Jon, but now she could see the man in the boy. Boy? She thought suddenly. Wasn’t really appropriate any more. Her little boy was almost out of his teens, a professional athlete and becoming more independent with every passing week. Becoming stronger, too, which could only be a good thing with what lay ahead of him.

She realised that she’d fallen silent, gazing blindly at the white cover of the bed, and she raised her eyes to meet those of her son.

“Sorry.” She said softly. “I was miles away.”

“As I should be.” Nick said as he glanced at his watch, standing swiftly. “You may be able to get out of training, with the pathetic excuse of being in hospital, but Coach’ll kick my ass if I’m late to the session.”

Jay laughed. “Yeah, well, trust me - I’d rather be at training than lying here.”

“I’m sure you would.” Nick nodded. “Just enjoy having your mom here to look after you. I know I would.”

“Would what?” Jay snapped, and Nick backed off a little for now, raising his hands pacifically.

“I’d enjoy having my mom look after me if I was sick.” He turned a wink on Billie. “I turn into a little boy again when I’m sick, and all I want is my mom to come tuck me in.”

“Don’t all men?” Billie smirked, offering her hand to be shaken.

“I guess we do.” Nick agreed, shaking hands, then just slapping a hand on Jay’s shoulder. “I’ll see ya, Jay.”

“Yeah. Bye.”

The blue of Jay’s eyes followed Nick as he left the room, and Billie could feel the ice washing from them as he stared after the physio. Seemed like her son was as protective of his family as his father was. As he still stared at the now-empty doorway, she reached to flick her fingers against his bare arm.

“Hey! Remember me?” She joked.

“Sorry, mom.” Jay turned his attention back to her with that soft, smirky smile. “I was miles away.”

“I noticed.” Billie checked the time. Although he seemed okay, the nurses had asked her to not over-tire Jay, suggesting that she leave after an hour or so, and maybe come back later. Worked for her, because she still needed to find somewhere to stay, having just jumped on the first plane to Philadelphia without any real plans. “I should go, Jay. The nurse told me to not get you too tired, and I don’t have anywhere to stay yet.”

“My apartment’s empty.” Jay said immediately. “The keys will still be at Wachovia, I guess.”

“And how messy is it at your apartment?” Billie checked.

“Not too bad.” He shrugged. “I don’t really remember. When I went to play, I wasn’t intending sleeping at the hospital.”

“I could get a cab to Wachovia, I guess.” Billie mused. “Would they give me your keys?”

“Don’t see why not. Nick will recognise you for sure.” His eyes clouded a little. “He spent enough time staring at you….”

“Hey!” Billie flicked his arm again.

“Sorry. Yes, I’m sure they’ll give you the keys. If they say no, get hold of Coach and have him call me here, I’ll confirm that you’re…..you!”

“Okay.” Billie stood, gathing up her jacket and purse then leaning in to kiss his forehead. “I’ll be back later…….unless you’re expecting anyone else? Your girlfriend?”

“Nice try, mom.” Jay laughed. “I told you already I’m not seeing anyone. But the boss said he might stop by again. So cool that he visited!”

“Who? Your coach?” Billie didn’t realise who ‘the boss’ was, until Jay explained.

“No. Coach is just ‘Coach’. The boss is your favorite man…….Jon Bon Jovi.”

“Oh.” Billie flushed, Jay fortunately taking it just as embarrassment at finally meeting - again - her favorite singer. “Well, if he stops by you can tell him I said hi.”

“You mean I’ve not to tell him you’ve been in love with him for years?” Her son teased, and Billie bit on her lip. He was so much closer to the truth than he’d ever understand.

“No! Just behave yourself!” She grinned. “Okay. I’ll see you later, Jay. And please try to not hit on the nurses too much. They’re all kinda giggly over the whole ‘injured football star’ thing.”

“Oh, mom! I’m not a star!” Jay protested, and she ruffled his hair in a way she knew would irritate the hell out of him.

“You are to me.”

As Jay rolled his eyes, Billie grinned at him and walked out of the room, and as she disappeared he slumped back against the pillows. He’d never tell her, but her visit had taken a lot more out of him than he’d have ever expected, and his head and neck ached viciously. Not really surprising, he guessed, since he’d been given a blow-by-blow account of the Dallas tackle by his team-mates and knew that he’d been hit by a player, not a Mack truck. Still felt like the truck though.

He’d just closed his eyes when he heard a soft footstep, the unmistakable sound of a nurse’s shoes on the vinyl floor, and he opened his eyes to see a pretty redhead bearing a tray.

“I’m hoping that’s dinner?” Jay asked, grinning at her, the grin widening further as she blushed and shook her head.

“Sorry.” She lowered the tray so he could see the needles and tubes for taking blood. “I’m the vampire squad.”

“You can bite me any time you like, darlin’.” He purred, his interest piqued by her, and he pushed himself a little more upright in the bed.

“Later.” She winked, now past the initial blushing as she reached for his arm. “First I gotta work.”

“Well at least tell me your name?” His blue eyes were as seductive as his father’s, drawing her in and holding her there.

“Kadie.”

“Katie?” Jay asked, thinking he’d misheard, but she shook her head, the light bouncing off her hair making him wonder just how long that mane would be when it was released from the surgically-tight knot.

“No. Kadie. With a ‘d’.” She shrugged. “It’s really my initials. Kay and dee. My parents, for some reason only they know, decided to name me Karenza Desiree, which is just……ugh.”

Jay repeated the name silently to himself, then shook his head. “I think it’s beautiful.”