Sleep eluded me as it usually did. Three hours later I found myself standing in front of the hospital, her face dancing in my visions. I looked through the waiting room window. She was the only person there. She still had on my cubs jacket. It was zipped all the way up, with the hood pulled on. She had laid on one of the most uncomfortable looking couches I had ever seen. Her legs were tucked behind her with her small jacket covering as much of them as it could, while her hands were tucked under her head as a makeshift pillow. Despite the circumstance, I couldn't help but smile at the peaceful look on her sleeping face right now. I quietly opened the door, but somehow she heard it and bolted up. It took her a minute to realize where she was, then the peacefulness faded. She looked at me and I saw that soft smile, before she glanced at the clock.
"What are you doing here? I told you to get some rest." She said.
"Yeah, I think that was you're way to get me out of here so you could keep my jacket." I smiled.
"Oh, I'm sorry." She said, starting to pull it off.
"No. Keep it on. You can always have Lawler give it back to me when he comes back to work." I said.
"But take care of it, it's one of my favorites."
"Good choice in teams." She smiled.
"You're a Cubs fan?" I asked. She nodded.
"He's always hated that." She said.
I couldn't keep it in any longer.
"Not to sound crude, but honestly, he's twice your age. What do you see in him?" I asked her. The smile on her face turned into laughter.
"I didn't think you recognized me, Phil." She said.
I looked at her.
"Should I?" I asked.
"We met a few years ago. After I graduated from college." She said, laughing.
"Wait, what did you think I was? His wife?" She laughed.
"I'm still not making the connection here." I confessed.
She held out her hand. "Tessa Lawler, Jerry's daughter." She said.
"Shut up." I said. "Tess?" I felt my face get red. It took a lot to embarrass me, but I had made a complete ass out of myself.
"You look so different."
"Oh please. I don't look that different, and you wouldn't remember, you were stuck so far up Maria's ass to even take a second glance at another women."
"Well, I wish I wouldn't have missed you." I smiled at her. Her eyes were torn from mine as she saw a nurse walk by.
"How is he?"
"Nothings changed. He's still under sedation, still on a ventilator. They say he's stable, but there's so much to worry about, so much that can go wrong." She said. "He went without oxygen to his brain for a long time. They don't know how bad the brain damage could be." She took a deep breath, and looked at me.
"What if he wakes up and doesn't remember things, his girlfriend, his sons, me?" Tears flowed from her eyes.
"Oh, Tess. I'm so sorry." I said, pulling her into my chest. She let herself fall into me. My career depended on me to always have the next word, but I was at a loss. I knew there wasn't anything I could say to make her happy, to make things better. I let my hands rub over her back as she sobbed. I pulled her into my side, as I leaned back against the back of the couch. She curled up into my side, fitting perfectly. Her arms were wrapped around me, her head laying on my shoulder. She seemed peaceful again. I let my tired head lay on hers. She smelled amazing. I don't know how much time had passed. I had fallen asleep as I held her.
A shaking woke me up.
"What are you doing?" Orton's voice asked quietly.
"I was sleeping comfortably, for the first time in a few nights, thanks." I answered, finally opening my eyes, looking up at him, his eyes went from me to Tess, then back to me. I looked over at Tess, who was sleeping against my side, and smiled.
"What are you doing here?"
"Tess is good friends with Sam. Sam made me come and check on her before I went to the next town. Have you been here all night?" He asked.
"No, I just got back, well I guess it's been a couple hours ago. I couldn't sleep, and I ended up back here."
"Don't you need to get going?" He asked. I looked at my watch.
"Nah, I can spare a couple hours." I smiled, kinda liking that I was getting under Orton's skin.
"Her stomach has been rumbling since I got here. The cafeteria opens soon. I'm gonna see if I can talk her into getting something to eat." I smirked.
"You need to catch your flight." He grumbled.
"I can get a later flight." I smirked. "I'm not on the show tonight. I have time."
"Fine." Randy said. "Tell Tess I stopped by." He walked out turning and giving me a dirty look. A couple minutes later I felt Tess squirming, as she woke up. She looked at me as she wiped her eyes.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep." She said.
"It's ok. I did too, until Orton showed up and woke me up. He stopped by to check on you before he left town." I told her.
"I keep thinking it's a dream. I'll wake up in my own bed." She said, her stomach growling.
"What do you say we find some grub?" I asked.
"I don't know if I can eat."
"Come on." I said pulling her up. "You have to eat something." We walked down a few halls until we found the cafeteria.
Tess finally settled on a bowl of fruit and a bottle of water, while I piled up on eggs and bacon.
"This stuff isn't as awful as I thought it would be." I said, with my mouth full, putting a smile on her face.
When we were done eating, her phone started buzzing. She smiled when she looked at the screen.
"My brother's are here." She said. "Their in the waiting room."
"I'll walk you back." I said, glad there was someone to be here with her, but sad that I could leave.
Her brother's greeted her with a huge hug.
"Hey Punk." Brian said towards me. I grinned and waved.
"Tess, I'm going to head out. If I go now I can still make my flight home." I said, turning and walking out of the room.
"Phil." Her voice made me stop, as she walked up behind me.
"Thank you for staying with me. For making me smile in such a bad time. I needed that." She wrapped her arms around me and kissed me on the cheek.
"Anytime Tess." I said, breathing in her scent. She pulled away and I turned to leave.
"Phil, your jacket." She said.
"I told you to have your dad give it back to me. They keep it cold in here, and that little piece of material you had won't help." I winked at her and left the hospital.