Chapter 36

Kim sighed and stretched lightly. She didn’t really have a recreative night. Thereby the evening started so nice yesterday. When the kids were asleep Jon and she were sitting snuggled up on the couch having a glass of wine. After a while Romeo came into the living room and looked for his dad.

“He’s on the phone right, now.” She told the sleepy boy. “Wanna sit with me until he comes back?”

Romeo nodded and climbed on the couch. Soon he was snuggled up to her just like his father minutes ago and sound asleep. She couldn’t take her eyes of him and softly stroked his dark hair.

“He’s a little heartbreaker, you better watch out.” Jon told her smiling when he enter the living room after finishing his phone call. It had something really peaceful seeing his youngest son sleeping in her arms and somehow he was relieved that Romeo trusted Kim already enough to stay with her without him being around.

She smiled. The little boy didn’t make a sound when they were carrying him back to bed.

Therefore her phone made a nasty sound and woke her up just three hours later. She didn’t stay at Jon’s place on purpose. She wanted to give the kids the chance to talk to Jon in the morning, before they all would meet at her place for the picnic.

Unfortunately she had to go to the hospital in the middle of the night. Tyson’s condition got worse and after talking again with her colleague Donald about it, she finally decided to call his family and tell them it was time to say good-bye. She hated it!

She hated taking the last bit of hope from his parents, but she had too. They deserved to be with him and so did his huge family.

Again she shook her head. Now Donald was with him again and she would go over tonight after she spend a funny day with Jon and the kids in the Park. She really hoped she wouldn’t bring them down with her mood. It was hard to be happy, when you knew that a little kid was slowly passing away at the same time.

She checked the two baskets again and realized everything was packed.

“Now we can only wait, boys.” She told her dogs. She kneeled down and pet them gently. “You promise me to be good when the kids show up. Don’t scare them!”

Sambo woofed softly as if he’d understood her.

Just minutes later her phone rang and Ed told her she had visitors. Smiling she opened the door and waited for Jon and the kids to show up. Her dogs were sitting right next to her.

“Oh, look Daddy…the dogs.” Jake clapped his hand happily as soon as they stepped out of the elevator. Jon smiled.

“Remember what I told you don’t rush to them all at once.” He told his kids in a rather strict voice. Kim looked at him surprised.

“I had no idea how they would react.” He pointed out.

“I think they are fine. Come on in, we can leave for the Park in a minute.” Kim stepped aside and the kids followed the dogs into the apartment. Jon stopped next to her and gave her a long kiss. She sighed and relaxed against him.

“Are you ok, honey?” he watched her concerned. She looked tired.

“I’m fine. I just had to go over to the hospital last night.”

“Ahh, shit and now we all show up here.”

“It’s ok really…you are a nice and welcome distraction.” She sighed.

“Tyson?” Jon asked. It was the only case he knew about that was affecting Kim that much.

“Yeah, it’s coming to an end.” She said shortly, not willing to really talk about it. Jon didn’t press. “Come on; let’s see whether all of them are still alive.

They entered the living room and Jon started laughing. The dogs were both lying on their backs and each one got pet by two kids or better four hands.

“They must think they are in heaven.” Kim laughed as well.

“And I had to buy my way into their hearts” Jon pouted lightly.

While the two youngest boys were totally focused on the dogs, Steph and Jesse looked around in the apartment after spending a couple minutes with them.

“Can you play all these instruments?” Steph asked while checking out some of Kim’s guitars.

“Yes, my mother was really into music. I was rather young when she started teaching me different instruments.” Jon looked at her surprised. He didn’t know that.

Jesse walked over to the patio doors. “Wow, what a great view. You sure have a little money.”

“Jesse James Bongiovi!” Jon couldn’t believe his ears.

“What?” his son asked. “This apartment is amazing. It’s even bigger than ours…don’t think I’m stupid. It sure costs lots of money.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to be so damn bold.” Jon told him off. Kim walked over to him and gently ran a hand over his back. He exhaled sharply.

Jesse shrugged his shoulders. “Whatever.” And walked out onto the patio, out of his father sight.

“Jesse!” Jon was really close to explode. Kim squeezed his shoulder.

“It’s ok Jon. He only pointed out the obvious.” She tried to calm him.

“I simply don’t like his new behaviour.” Jon said frustrated.

“I know.”

“Kim.” She turned her head when Romeo called her name. “Where’s the potty?”

“It’s right here…” she started to walk over to the bathroom, but Jon stopped her.

“I’ll show him; maybe you can find my oldest son out there. I’m not sure it’s a good idea I see him smoking right now.” He grabbed Romeo’s hand and vanished in the bathroom with him.

“I’ll be right back Steph.” The girl nodded and sat down next to Jake and the dogs.

Kim stepped onto the patio and could see Jesse standing at the end of it close to her office. When she walked closer she could not only smell the cigarette but see it in his hands.

Without saying a word she leaned against the wall next to him. He looked at her shortly, surprised that she didn’t say anything about the cigarette. Her being a doctor he really expected she would tell him immediately to put it out. But she didn’t. Why?

“You and your dad clash often lately?” she asked staring down at the Park.

Jesse sighed. “Yeah, it kinda sucks.”

Kim looked at him. “Sorry…” he mumbled. She smiled.

“It’s not easy being a teenager. I know I always had problems with my mom.”

“I just don’t like that he is telling me all the time what I have to do…I’m not a little kid like Jake or Romeo…I can make my own decisions…” Kim looked at him sceptical.

“…well, at least some.” He clarified.

“Like smoking?” she asked softly.

“Dad is smoking too!” Jesse protested.

“I know…but I also know that he’s trying to stop. It’s just not that easy for him after all these years. You on the other hand could still stop from one day to another.”

“I don’t see the point. So many people are smoking and doing fine.” He said defiant. Kim watched him closely for a second. He sure was as stubborn as his dad.

“Do me a favour. Come with me, I wanna show you something.” She finally said and entered her office through the wide open patio doors. Jesse put the cigarette out and followed her slowly.

Kim walked along her huge bookshelf, which only contained medical books. Finally she pulled a huge blue book from one of the shelves and put the on her desk. Jesse gulped when he read the title. “The Human Anatomy – Illustrated and explained with the help of autopsy pictures”.

“Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as you think…it’s hardly as bloody as everyone imagines…” she told a lightly pale Jesse.

She knew it was a rather brutal way to stop a fourteen year old kid from smoking, but she had the feeling he would understand it better when he could see it with his own eyes. At least it was worth a try, but she needed to be careful. She turned a couple pages until she found what she was looking for.

“This is a perfectly healthy lung…and the heart in the middle.” She pointed at the picture in the book. To Jesse’s relief it really didn’t look so bad. You could only see the organ in the open chest, but not the face or anything else of the person it belonged to.

“I had no idea they were that big.” Jesse took a closer look at the picture. Kim smiled. Something told her Jesse would be fascinated by it. She always had the same feeling during autopsy classes. You reached a point where you no longer think of the person, but only of each single organ or tissue, its damage and the symptoms.

“How old was he or she?” Jesse asked without taking his eyes of the pic. Kim read the little explanation next to the picture.

“He was 69, non smoker, died of a car accident.” She paused shortly. “This Jesse…this is the way your lung looks right now.” The boy nodded and put his hand on his chest. Kim started turning the pages again.

“Here we have a not so healthy lung. The man was in his early forties, smoking since he was a teenager…just like you.” She added softly. Jesse stared at the pic. Again it was only the organ in the open chest, but it looked completely different. It was of a black-greenish color. Really didn’t look healthy at all.

“The color comes from the smoke?” Jesse asked with a little tremble in his voice.

“It comes from the tar which is in the cigarettes. It causes problems in the function of the lung.” Kim explained and watched Jesse rather carefully. The boy sucked nervously on his lower lip and ran his hands through his hair over and over again. He couldn’t take his eyes of the picture. Kim closed the book. Jesse turned to her a bit shocked.

“Jesse, I don’t wanna scare you. I just wanna show you the facts; show you what could be in your future. You can get emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma or cancer from smoking. The chances to survive five years with lung cancer are about 10% and believe me those five years aren’t fun at all.” She paused and watched him again. She could see the inner debate and was sure there was something else.

“How many of your friends at school are smoking?” she asked softly.

“Nearly all of them…” Jesse answered nearly soundless. Just what she thought.

“What would they say when you stop smoking?” She had a rather good idea, but she wanted him to tell her.

“They would probably say I’m un-cool, a coward.” The boy replied lightly desperate. Kim put a hand on his shoulder.

“Believe me, they are the un-cool-ones. I know it’s not easy to say ‘No’ to your friends, but in the next couple years there will be situations like this again. Maybe not about cigarettes, but about drugs or alcohol…and I know your parents raised you with enough…backbone ….to say no to all of it.”

Jesse nodded lightly and took the package of cigarettes out of his jeans pocket; he stared at it before throwing it in Kim’s wastebasket. She smiled.

Suddenly clapping came from the door. Jesse looked up shocked. His father was standing in the door with a smile on his face. “I’m proud of you, Jesse.” He said and walked over to pull him into his embrace. Jesse didn’t pull back and told him he’s too old for a hug, but literally pressed himself closer to his father. Jon smiled and kissed his hair.

“It’s ok, buddy.” He said and soothingly ran his hands across his son’s back when he felt him trembling stronger. “I know you can make it…you ain’t alone…Mom and I will help you with it.” Jesse turned lightly.

“And Kim too.” He whispered.