We'll be Here
What if Drew had left TC on his own at the bar and was at Brianna's side before her surgery?
Note: I researched as well as know a person with CF (sadly she's no longer alive.) Most experience delayed puberty and some girls don't get their first period till age 16 even with medical advances.
Brianna had waited so long for this. Still she was more scared than she had been in her life. The blur of people and activity around her heightening her fear. Drew gripped her soon-to-be dad's arm more tightly.
"Drew, I'm afraid!" She cried, her already difficult breathing becoming quicker and her heart rate rising to dangerous levels. "Daddy, what if I don't wake up?"
Drew had the same fear but couldn't tell her. Without this operation, Brianna was going to die. Soon. With it, there was at least a chance of survival. Swallowing a lump in his throat, he stoked the girl's blonde hair.
'You will, baby girl," he told her, praying he wasn't lying. "Scott and Paul will take care of you. They won't let anything bad happen to you, okay?"
Brianna nodded, tears rolling down her checks.
Drew knew Scott needed to sedate and intubate Brianna now. Scott also realized Drew did not need to see that.
"Bri, look at me," Drew said, taking the child's face into his palms, tears clinging to his eyes. "I love you. Dad loves you. You're our daughter. We'll be right here when you wake up."
Syd Jennings pulled him from the room as the drug took effect and Brianna was quickly intubated and rushed to the waiting operating room.
Drew broke down.
Syd allowed Drew and Rick to watch Brianna's surgery for a short time before forcing both of them to wait with her in Brianna's room.
"Neither of you can help her by standing here. It's going to be a long night. If you want to be there for her when she wakes up you have to at least sit down, and not here," she said.
Both men had managed to achieve some state of unconsciousness during that time, they were jolted out of it before the arrival of their daughter on a stretcher. Paul told them she had briefly woke in the recovery room and was stable. Brianna stirred and moaned as she was lifted to the bed. Drew didn't know if she was aware right now but he said "it's okay, Bri. We're here."
When the child didn't respond both knew the anesthesia hadn't totally worn off.
"We just gave her something to wake her. When she opens her eyes in a few minutes, she'll be aware. I'll be back in a few."
Each dad held a hand as the girl wake up. The first face she saw was Drew's.
"Dad," she said hoarsely. "You're here. Both of you."
"Of course," Drew said.
"How do you feel, sweetie?" Rick asked.
"I can breathe!" she said, shocked at the feeling.