C8 Branch Eight

Jessica stepped out of the elevator on the hospital's private VIP floor and made her way to Dawson's room. She was healthy and never had the chance of going to hospitals talk less climbing up to the private floor. Marrying a billionaire overnight has its perks. She pushes open the door and sees Dawson eating cut-up apples while watching the television absentmindedly.

"Hell sir," Jessica said trying to get his attention on her.

"I've told you that you can call me Dawson," he said as his face lit up.

Dawson was bored at the hospital. His grandson had to run things around since he had been hospitalized for almost six months. He had a caregiver but she was mostly rigid and afraid and refused to talk probably because it was not in her job contract.

"How are feeling today?" Jessica asked ignoring his statement. She felt weird calling him by his name. He was old after all.

"Waiting to die," Dawson said joking.

Since the doctor had told him that he would definitely die he had been making jokes out of his situation. He felt better if he made the joke and others laughed at it.

"Don't worry you can laugh" he added when he saw the troubled expression on her face.

"I don't find it funny," she said voicing he opinion.

She barely knew him but she just unconsciously became family with him and losing him may be too much for her. After all, she always left family less, and come to think of it she was going to be left without one once more when she gets divorced.

"Here, Ms. Roselle made this delicious meal for you," she said putting down the lunch bag in her hand on the bedside cabinet.

"Is it something I would enjoy?" Dawson asked.

Since had been there they had been forcing a healthy diet on him. He knew that they mean well, he was just exhausted from eating bland and colorless food.

Jessica smiles and starts unwrapping the lunch bag. Inside is a plate of plain oats, a plate of salad and some fruits too. Jessica wondered why he had to eat such.

Immediately he saw the content he scrunched his nose upwards. He wasn't expecting anything better than what he had received. It was Roselle after all she would make sure to make a meal that would make him go mad.

"Be a darling and get me a hamburger and coke" Dawson said.

"Are you allowed to eat it?" Jessica asked.

She knew that she would not be able to survive eating this kind of meal so she was moved to get him something she would enjoy. She knew from her own experience that when she was having a tough time eating what she wanted was a good thing and it cheered her up.

He may be dying but at least his food should have color and life.

"Of course sure." He answered immediately.

Jessica sensed foul play in his words. She knew now that he was not allowed to eat them but she still wanted to give it to him so badly.

"Why would an old man like myself lie to you?" Dawson asked. He knew that using his age would get him what he needed. She was new and she knew nothing about his situation so getting what he needed should be a piece of cake.

"Okay then," Jessica said and left the room.

She came back a few moments later with a burger and a small Coke. She began to unwrap the burger and then gave it to him.

"What do you think you are doing?" A voice behind them screamed and charged at them. It was Xavier.

"What are you doing?" Xavier asked entering inside.

He had left the office on his lunch break and decided to come to see his grandfather only for him to realize that someone who happened to be his wife was giving his grandfather some oily treats.

"Are you okay papa?" he added rushing over like his grandfather was involved in some accident that could claim his life.

"How could you?" he said harshly to Jessica who seemed confused. She had only caved in because the old man had assured her that it was okay and also because he seemed to need something to take his mind off the depressing atmosphere of the hospital.

"I asked her for it," Dawson said jumping to her rescue. He knew his grandson and he knew that he would be berating her for no big reason.

"And you should have been wise enough to refuse him," Xavier said.

Jessica didn't know what about the sentence pissed her off but she could feel her eyes becoming heavy from his words. It was like he washing her face in onion juice.

"I'm sorry" she muttered gently. She could feel her voice shaking and she was holding herself back from crying.

"I would prefer if you don't make that mistake again" Xavier added.

"Okay," she muttered looking upwards and sniffing.

Her vision was getting blurry and she could feel the years threatening to fall.

"He is sick and I don't feel like we should be worsening the situation"

"Are you always a jerk?" Jessica said dropping her head and giving away to allow the tears to fall down her cheek from one eye.

"Wh...att....tttt?" Xavier stammered in response.

"I get it. I made a mistake. I even apologized but you have just refused to let it go" she said with annoyance obvious in her voice.

"I just wanted to make sure you got what I was saying," he said more humbly when he saw the tears on her cheeks.

"Even a deaf man would have gotten what you were saying," she said walking to the door.

"I just go outside and have this," she said holding up the burger pack to him.

"When you are leaving I'll come back. I can't stand to be in the same room with you now" she finished and left them.

"You were very foolish," Dawson said as soon as Jessica stepped out.

"Papa" he cried out to his grandfather. He was just afraid that his having such oily for would accelerate his death. He was not ready to deal with the loss of his grandfather yet.

"Go out and apologize to her immediately," Dawson said.

Dawson knew his grandson was barely a human. He had turned himself against everyone and shut them out which was a major reason he wanted him I get married before he left. He thought that Xavier would at least try to get someone he would love.

He was shocked to see him appear out of the blue with a stranger and he was even more shocked to see the stranger stand with him.

He had not known Jessica for long but she seemed nice enough to him.

"Get out there and apologize NOW"