Hey! Sammy here, with a new fanfiction. I hope you enjoy and please review and let me know what you think. I got this idea from the movie, 'Life As We Know It' (hence the title) however this is (obviously) quite different.
It hurt. Everything hurt. Her mind, her heart; everything. Her whole being hurt as she drove along the road. She didn't want to be driving, she didn't want to have to drive to and from the prison every week for twenty years. It wasn't fair. She shouldn't have to do it.
Her precious baby boy, named after the uncle he'd never know, was asleep in his car seat. He was so unaware of the pain his mother was in. She glanced at the 'Welcome to Summer Bay' sign and completely lost it, tears streamed down her face, dripping onto her t-shirt as she sobbed.
Ricky wasn't sure when it happened, or what happened exactly but suddenly through blurry eyes she realised she'd swerved up off the road. Panic filled her as she grabbed the handbrake. A startled scream left her as she realised that the car was headed for a tree.
An elder woman driving behind the red jeep, witnessed the car strike the tree. The collision causing the tree to crash down on top of the vehicle. She gasped. She glanced behind her, where the traffic seemed to have come to a halt, in shock of the incident that had just occurred. Thinking quickly on her feet she pulled off the road, parking her car and reaching for her mobile.
The driver of the car behind her followed in her lead, hoping out of the car and rushing to the crashed car. His eyes widened at the sight of the unconscious women. "Quick, send for help!" Suddenly becoming aware of the cries coming from the back of the car, he shouted, "Oh my word! There's a child in the car! I can't see him though!"
It didn't take long for an ambulance to arrive, with police cars in tow. They quickly removed Ricky from the vehicle, she was unconscious. Blood seeped from cuts all over to body, mostly on her face and arms.
"There's damage to her ribs, she needs to get to Northern Districts. Now." The paramedic shouted. They lifted her stretcher into the ambulance. He made his way over to where the baby, found in the car was being held by another paramedic.
"He seems to be okay. Obviously he needs to be checked out by a paediatrician." She informed her colleague.
"Are we alright to go?" The witnesses the accident asked him. "You're going to make sure the little one's okay?"
"Yes ma'am. We will. If the police have your details for further contact, then you should be alright to go about your day."
When the first ambulance arrived at the hospital and Ricky was rushed inside the hospital, Nate was just beginning his shift.
"Ricky!" He gasped, seeing the blonde lying on the stretcher. Instantly springing into action he began sending for other hospital staff. He wasn't sure how severe her injuries were but she didn't look great.
When Hannah entered the hospital room she seemed worried, "Nate? What happened? I heard about Ricky?"
Nate glanced at the nurse, before back at his colleagues. He decided that the three were doing the best they could and quickly made his way over to her.
"I don't know, a car crash. We've placed her in an induced coma. Call Kyle. Now." Nate rushed back to Ricky's bedside.
Hannah followed his instruction and dialled Kyle's number. "Kyle its Hannah. Ricky's been bought in, there was a car crash. You need to get here, now." Hannah said as soon as he answered.
Panic rose in the male's voice, "A car crash? What? Oh my god, the baby. Where's the baby? She went to the prison, to introduce the baby to Brax. Where is he? Is he okay?"
Hannah listened to his panicked words, before cutting him off. "She had the baby with her? I'll go find out, right now. But Kyle, you need to get here."
"I'm on my way." He told her instantly, hanging up.
Hannah rushed to the reception, "Sarah. Has a baby boy been bought in? Involved in a car crash?"
The receptionist clicked on her keyboard quickly, "In the past hour. There's been one. He's in the children's ward and has no substantial injuries." She looked at Hannah after reading the information from her computer screen.
"Thanks Sarah! Can you page me when Kyle Braxton arrives?" Sarah nodded and went back to her work.
When Kyle arrived, flustered and panicked. Hannah rushed to him, "Kyle. The baby's alright. He's in the children's ward and has a few, light bruises but that's all."
Kyle felt sick to his stomach, thinking about a newborn baby with bruises. It wasn't right. "But he's okay?" Hannah nodded.
"What about Ricky? Where is she?" Kyle asked glancing around the sterile hospital, he'd never liked the smell of hospitals and while Northern Districts wasn't as bad as some he'd visited, it still made him feel queasy.
"They've placed her in an induced coma. If you'd like to come with me, Nate will know more." Hannah offered, Kyle nodded and followed her down the hall into an elevator.
"Kyle, you're here. You're wanting to know about Ricky?" Nate asked as soon as he saw the pair.
"Yes." Kyle snapped, tapping his foot nervously.
"Come into my office," Nate motioned for Kyle to enter the small room. He did. He sat down and glared at the doctor, he seemed to be in no rush to inform Kyle of Ricky's condition.
"We've placed Ricky in an induced coma. She's broken two ribs and her left leg, she's received deep cuts over her face, neck and arms." Kyle's stomach flipped as he heard about Ricky's injuries.
"But she's going to be alright yeah?" He asked quietly.
Nate said nothing for a minute, "We've sent her in for scans and her brain movement isn't what we'd like." Kyle's eyes widened. "But we're hoping that it will increase over time, and tomorrow we'll look at lowering her sedation levels."
"And then she'll wake up?" Kyle asked, desperation laced his voice. "Nate she has a baby. She has to wake up."
"I can't guarantee anything, I'm sorry Kyle. If she wakes up, there are no guarantee's she'll recover."
"What do you mean?" Kyle was obviously becoming distressed. Hannah stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Kyle is there anyone you want me to call?" She offered. He shook his head. "Do you want to go and see your nephew? I'll take you to him."
Kyle looked at her blankly. "Come on. He could probably do with a familiar face."
Kyle reluctantly stood up. "He could probably do with his mother." He muttered following her out.
Hannah watched as Kyle's façade fell away as soon as he saw his nephew. "Hey little man. How're you doing?"
The baby who was lying awake looked up at his uncle, content in just staring up at him. Kyle smiled and ran finger over his cheek, before the baby latched on to it with his tiny hands.
"She'll be alright. I know she will be." He whispered.
"Does he have a name yet?" Hannah asked softly. Kyle looked at her with sad eyes.
"Ricky wanted to be with Brax to choose."
Hannah nodded, "Is someone going to let him know what happened?"
"She'll alright. There's no need to worry him." He told her, without looking away from his nephew. The baby oblivious to the seriousness of his surroundings, continued to watch his uncle as he laid in the cot.
"Kyle. It's not looking good."
"Don't say that. She's going to wake up." He growled, clearly in denial.
"Can I call anyone for you? Ash, Billie, Denny?" Hannah asked, genuinely wanting to help him. She wasn't sure of anyone else that Kyle was close with.
"Why would I want Billie here?" He snapped. The last thing he wanted was her harassing him.
Hannah paused, she only knew about Billie from what Phoebe had told her. "Okay. What about Phoebe? Should I call her?" She asked cautiously.
Kyle didn't respond. He was obviously very hurt, confused and worried and it pained Hannah to see him like this. "You can pick him up if you'd like. He'd be fine to home if, Ricky weren't…" Hannah trailed off, mentally kicking herself for mentioning her.
"What's going to happen to him, while she's in here?" Kyle asked as he handled the baby carefully.
"Actually that's what I'm here for." A females voice interrupted them. "This is baby Braxton?"
Kyle and Hannah turned around to see an elder female, with greying hair. Smiling at them both, her smile seemed genuine as she looked towards the baby being cradled in Kyle's arms.
Kyle nodded, unsure of who this woman was. The woman registered his confusion and chuckled lightly.
"Oh I'm sorry, I'm Julia Simpson. I'm a social worker, the hospital have informed of the situation." She said kindly.
Kyle's eyes widened, "You're not going to take him away, are you?" He'd never really liked social workers. The ones he'd met when he was a teenager were never kind to him.
"Julia, this is Kyle. He's this little one's uncle." Hannah introduced them.
"Hi, Kyle." Kyle nodded lightly, still unsure of the woman. "If I can help it, I won't be taking him away."
Kyle protectively held the baby closer to him.
Julia watched him with soft eyes, it was evident that he was very protective of the young child.
"Julia, I see you've met Kyle." Nate said as he walked into the room and over to where the other's stood.
"I was telling Julia," Nate looked at Kyle, "That it would be beneficial for your nephew to be taken home by yourself." Nate knew how much help Kyle had been to Ricky in the week that he was born and how great of an uncle he had been.
"Dr Cooper was saying you live with Ms Sharpe and her son?" Julia asked him.
"Yeah, I do." Kyle told her, he wasn't really sure how to react to her comment.
"Well, if he's been given the all clear then would you be willing to care for the little one until Ms Sharpe's condition changes?" Julia asked him.
"Of course. I'll do whatever you, he, and Ricky needs. Julia you just can't take him away." Kyle said firmly, getting slightly worked up towards the end.
Julia nodded quickly, "I'm not taking him away from you, Kyle. It's okay. There's no need for you to stress."
Kyle nodded, "Is it alright if I go and see Ricky?" Nate nodded and offered to show him the way.
Hannah watched as the two left, and turned to Julia. "That baby is in the best possible hands, I'm sure of it."
Julia nodded, "He seems to be. Alright, well if there's any change on Ms Sharpe's condition, I'll be in touch."
Hannah nodded and the two left the room, Julia to return to her office and Hannah returning to the nurses station to make a call.