Ghost of You

Part 1

It had been countless hours that seemed to blend all together into just a few minutes since they had arrived at the Hospital. Tracy felt physically and emotionally exhausted, not that she would admit it. So much had happened already. Dillon and Georgie got married, Luke had given antibodies twice already, and yet the night was far from over.

Tracy stood outside her youngest son's room and waited for a nurse or doctor to come by and check on Dillon so maybe she could put some worries to rest. After several minutes she became impatient and went to go find someone herself. She wasn't at the desk two seconds before she noticed a man on a stretcher being wheeled out of the elevator. He must've been extremely sick, she thought, since they were in a quite a rush.

In a quick flash they flew past her and she caught a glimpse of him. He was a much older man, grayed and wrinkled, very pale from the disease, and weak and feeble. He was her father.

Her heart started to beat fiercely in her chest as she hastened after them. They finally reached a secluded room and the doors were shut behind them, leaving Tracy out. She noticed Bobbie exiting another room and went up to her hurriedly.

"Bobbie! They just wheeled Daddy into that room. He's sick I think." Tracy managed to say with what little breath she had.

"Yes I know Tracy. I was just paged now calm down and I'll see what his condition is. Okay?" Bobbie said calmly. Tracy nodded her head and took a deep breath but it really didn't seem to help calm her nerves. Bobbie went into the room and out of Tracy's sight.

Half an hour had past and Tracy was still in the dark about Edward. Bobbie hadn't left the room yet and the other nurses that had left wouldn't tell her anything. She felt helpless and that was one thing she couldn't stand to be, especially when it came to her family. Just when she thought she was going to burst out screaming, Bobbie walked out into the hall and up to Tracy.

"How is he?" Was all she could manage to get out.

"I'm not going to lie, he's not doing well. Even if we had enough of the cerium, it doesn't look good." Bobbie said with a sad look on her face. Tracy felt stinging tears threaten her eyes but she didn't give in to them. "I told him you we're waiting and he wants to see you."

"Are you sure?" Tracy couldn't believe that Edward Quartermaine, her father, wanted to see her. But she nodded her head and went in anyway. Her legs felt like lead but somehow she managed to walk to his bedside. He didn't look like himself, she thought. She grasped his hand in hers and his eyes weakly looked up at her.

"Bobbie told me. How's Dillon?" He said in a raspy whisper that felt like a knife in Tracy's heart. Tracy closed her eyes and took a deep breath to compose herself.

"He's getting better it seems. You'll never guess what I gave him my consent to do." Tracy gave a small laugh that was more nervous than she would've liked. "He's married that girl Georgie right in the chapel here at the hospital." Edward gave a faint smile.

"That doesn't surprise me. He thinks with his heart, just like his grandmother." Edward said and gave Tracy's hand a squeeze, surprising them both.

"Yes he does and I'm very grateful to that, although I'm not thrilled about his new marriage."

"That doesn't surprise me either." Edward said and gave as much of a laugh as he could then paused and looked into his only daughter's eyes. "I've survived a fire and countless heart attacks, who would've thought it would be a little epidemic that kills me off." Tracy again felt the tears overflowing in her eyes.

"Daddy I'm so sorry." Tracy's voice cracked.

"Don't be. I was wrong." And then he was gone. A wave hit Tracy. Her legs felt weak, her heart sank into her stomach, and the tears in her eyes flowed like a river down her cheeks.

"No Daddy. Please don't leave me alone here. I'm not that strong Daddy, I can't lose you too." Tracy knew it was useless to plead with him but somehow it helped her. It helped her release all the pleas and tears she had built up over the years. Please and tears of the lost little girl still trapped inside of her.

Now that little girl was an orphan left alone with her memories and tears.