A Fight For Life
Chapter 2.
After their hug Benny and Marissa go back outside again to the waiting area, while Leah remains with Bull as she takes a seat by his side taking his hand and saying some silent prayers for his recovery. As they take seats with Izzie in the waiting room Benny says "So what are we going to do and what about explaining it to the others?"
Marissa replies "We go in there and see Bull for a while, you go in there first Benny and while you're in there I'll call them into the office and we will then go to tell them. We most certainly can't make any arrangements about what to do at this hour of the night when we're tired and worried; it's fortuitous that we're practically at the conclusion of this trial as I think I might be capable of getting you through the last of it from Bull's notes. Then I think we should have just a brief pause and then start again, I realize it will be hard without him, but I know that we will need to keep TAC going for his sake. I was thinking about seeing if Leah would take over some of his job, I know that she only minored in psychology, but it might be adequate to keep us going. I likewise think that it will be the best way to keep her going and to also make certain that she looks after herself, as we've assured her that she won't be alone and that we'll be there for her, but in many ways I know that she is just like Bull and given the chance she will refuse to leave his side until he's back here with us and that won't do her any good in any way."
"I concur, and I also don't think that she should actually remain on her own, so I think that she should come back to TAC with us, but I also think that she should stay with one of us at least. I mean I don't wish to make her feel under control about the times she can be here staying with Bull, but she does need to also take care of herself."
Izzie then cuts in and asks "What is it, what's going on with Leah?"
Benny replies "When we were listening to her speaking to Bull and she was telling him that she's pregnant. I learned that they were trying because Bull had mentioned it to me, but also know that the both of them weren't expecting it to develop as quick as this, they thought they had time, but evidently not. I know something of her past from what Bull has said and know that in some ways she did a bit like Bull has done now, she over worked when she was a physician and came very close to having a breakdown. If she finishes up being resolved to remain by his side through this, even if she recognizes that she has to take care of herself I'm apprehensive of what could happen to the baby."
Marissa answers "I could say that she could stay with me, but I'm not certain that she'll want to be out of her apartment and I'm not sure that she'll accept one of us offering to stay with her because she'll think that we're trying to take over things too much."
Izzie says "Look I know that we've only just met, but why not let me try and have a talk with her. I know that he's my ex, but I do nevertheless care very much about Bull and you never know us having a talk might be the thing that helps us."
Benny says "It might be worth a shot, I tell you what, while I'm in with him Marissa go off someplace to make the call, then when I come out of there I'll go off and get some coffee or something to give you a little bit more privacy."
Izzie replies "That's a good plan, but Benny if you get coffee for us all make sure that it's a tea or something like that for Leah because coffee isn't a good idea with her being pregnant."
"I will do."
-AFFL-
As she sat there miles away in her thoughts with Bull's hand in hers she says softly to him "I'll have to go shortly, as I'm only allowed to stay for a brief time, Benny and Marissa are here to see you as well, so I have to let them have a turn too. I promise you that I will be back soon." It then causes her to smile because of the way he had uttered those same words during the lunch as they got to know each other, as they'd been happily chugging along with their discussion when his cell had rung, when he got it out of his pocket and looked at what was on the screen he had said to her "I need to take this, I promise you I'll be back soon." What had caused her smile even further was the way he had given her a peck on the cheek as he stepped out of the booth they were in and then strolled off to take the call. Then a few minutes afterward he had been true to his word and had been back so that they could keep going with their discussion.
A little while later Benny did come in to take her place, he gave them some privacy though as she told Bull that she was going because of it now being Benny's time and she then got up brushing his forehead, as she kissed his cheek. As Benny came into the room and they passed each other once again Benny gave her a hug and told her that everything would be ok.
As he then took his place by Bull's side, he took his hand and said "Why did you let things get so far Bull? You've got a woman who loves you very much and you can't want to leave her or your baby, most of all we all need you because we care so much about you. I will make this promise to you though that until you get back here with us I will make sure that we will look after Leah for you and make sure that she looks after herself and the baby for you, because I haven't seen you as happy as you have been with her for a very long time." He then sighs and remains mute as he starts doing just as Leah had been doing and praying that he would come through this ok.
-AFFL-
When Leah got into the waiting room once again it was to discover that it was just Izzie there, as she sat down feeling utterly drained with it all she sighed and started to rub her temples, as Izzie said "Headache?" she just nodded and with that Izzie disappeared off and came back with a nurse, after asking her some questions she then disappeared off and came back with some pills telling her that they would be safe for her to take, so she did do just that. She then thanked Izzie for doing it as Izzie then said "It's ok, I know that you're very worried about him, but you do need to think about yourself as well."
She does a small smile and says "I know I do. You know this was meant to have been a happy time, I was just thinking about what to do tonight when he got home so that I could tell him the news, and I know that I've got to be strong, but at this point I certainly don't feel it."
She's then surprised when Izzie then moves closer and hugs her "I've never been in this position, but I can fully understand it, and I also know that Bull is also a very complex man to love, but even so he is nevertheless a very special man, and I know that most probably I'm the person that you least expected to be here for you, but I promise you that I will be here for you whenever you need it, principally because I know how you feel at the moment excluding the worry you're going through, you feel happy, but you're also feeling nervous about what could happen and in a way because of what's happened you're feeling guilty that perhaps you shouldn't be feeling happy."
She acknowledges "You're right he is a complex man to love, but I do love him so much and I'm truly trying so hard not to let myself so worried about him, but I'm terrified about what I could end up doing to this baby if I let things get to me. I know that it's probably foolish, but he did tell me a while ago about the reasons behind your marriage break up and I don't think that I could go through that, and I don't think that he'd be ready to go through it again either, as he said that he wouldn't be able to get through it again himself, especially as even though we'd had the odd conversation about it, it did nevertheless take him a while before he agreed that we should start trying. Then in a way we were both a bit relieved I think when the physician said that it would take a while before anything would happen."
Izzie says "Look I know that it may sound a bit strange being friends with his ex-wife, but I mean it anything you want or need I will only be a phone call away and at the moment I will make sure that I am around because I do want to know that he's ok and will be ok."
She responds "I know that you care very much about him, as I know that in a sense you could say that it's too little too late, owing to what has happened, but whatever it was you said to him a while ago did have an effect because after it he'd cut out alcohol altogether and was spending less time at the office as well. So it will be good if you stay around for him."
Izzie replies "Thank you, and you know if you don't want to be alone after you leave any night because you do need to get as much rest as you can, you can come and stay with me or I can be with you, whatever you want. I could see how happy he was when he came to see me and he told me about you. I learned from Benny that he was still being the same as he consistently was with being very much a workaholic, so I told him that he should really start taking better care of himself if he wanted to make sure that he kept you and to have the family that he really wished for and not push you away, because that was what he could very easily end up doing."
She responds "Well thank you again for doing that, I guess that he needed it. So where did Marissa disappear too?"
"She went to make a call to the others, she's not telling them what has taken place because she and Benny have called a meeting at TAC so that they can explain it to them altogether about what has transpired. I think that they may wish for you to be there as well, but it's up to you if you wish to go or not."
She answers "I probably will do, but then I will need to go home because I'm exhausted and need to eat as I've not had anything since lunch and I'm starting to feel sick because I haven't eaten." After a pause she then continues "Izzie would you come home with me tonight, as I really don't feel like I want to be alone tonight."
"I will do and when you all go back to TAC I'll go home and get some stuff and then I'll see you there."
-AFFL-
When they leave the hospital and head to TAC, as they walk in both Leah and Benny seem to have shivers down their spine, for Benny it's because of getting the vision of finding Bull in the position he was earlier on and for Leah it's because with them being the first there she spots Bull's cell on the floor and probably not that far away from where he had collapsed, then as she picks it up and it turns on there's the picture of the two of them together on the screen. Then as she goes to place it in his office a wave of sadness hits her as she looks at the different picture of them together sitting in it's frame on his desk. As everyone starts to arrive Benny comes to find her in the office and asks if she's ok, she just sadly nods her head to the affirmative with an added shrug of her shoulders, so as they head out he places his arm around her shoulders, then after giving her a chair he makes her a cup of tea as well as a sandwich, which even though to start off with she really didn't think she'd be able to manage to eat it, once she started she found it most welcome.
At the announcement everyone of course does take things rather hard and in some instances there are some tears, once everyone starts to settle down they start to ask about visiting him, but they also start to ask about what they will be doing without him. Leah can't really explain it, but she somehow feels Bull's presence around her and announces "I know that he would want things to keep functioning without him, I really don't know if I could do this, but with what has taken place today and also because of the news that I received, as I was sitting by his side I was thinking about taking some leave from my job anyway. I know that I have only minored in psychology, but I am certain that with your support I should be able to learn how to do this job and keep things running until he's well enough to get back to his job once again. My only proviso is that once the present case is over I think I will need a few days to get myself into the proper mindset to do this, plus of course I will need time to rest, as well as go to visit Bull. For the rest of you before we left the hospital I made certain that your names were on the list to be able to go and visit him, although for now the visits are to be kept brief and only one person at a time can go in with him."
Marissa says "Are you really positive that you want to do this?" "I'm absolutely certain. Don't ask me how, but I know that he would want me to do this, I know that you all will do what you can to be of help to me, and I'll also do what I can to brush up on everything to bring myself up to speed."
Benny then answers "Well just make certain that you look after yourself and will shout at anytime that you need help in any way."
"I will do I promise."
-AFFL-
Not long after that Izzie arrives at TAC and Leah decides to leave with her straight away, as they do so Benny promises Leah that even though she is top of the list for the hospital to contact if anything arises, if they did end up calling him first, then he would immediately call her. Not merely that he's already planning that first thing in the morning he is going to go in for a visit before he heads to court and he would further call her with the news from overnight. She thanks him with a hug and kiss before the two women then leave.
As he comes back into the main area again he and Marissa look at each other and nod in the affirmative which Chunk notices and says "What's going on?"
Benny answers "When I had my visit with Bull earlier I vowed to him that we would make certain that we looked after Leah for him, I realize why she didn't tell you the news and that's because partly she wasn't supposing it to come so quickly, and you mustn't let on that you know what the news is, as I'm presuming that the other reason she didn't wish to was because of it not feeling right to say it when we've had the day that we have had... but she's pregnant and I know that she did tell Bull when she was in with him because that was how me and Marissa found out through hearing her tell him. So I presume that's why she likewise didn't say anything now about it, because of not knowing if he heard the news or not and wishing to tell him when he wakes up, before they then tell everybody else about it."
Marissa then continues "But we're going to have to keep an eye on her as well, because even though she has said that she wants to take over and help us as much as she can in between her own doctors appointments, visiting Bull and of course resting, I do know a bit about her background and at one point she was slightly like how Bull has been recently which of course brought us here, and I don't think we wish to see that happening to her, so without giving away what you know we're going to have to make certain that she does get the rest she needs and that she doesn't over work."
Chunk replies "We will make certain that we will keep an eye on her and that's a promise." Which everyone agrees that they will because they want to keep her going and make certain that nothing happens to her or the baby while he's not with them.
-AFFL-
Bull was feeling very odd because he couldn't open his eyes and he was just feeling really heavy all round, as well as having the feeling that there was something stuck in his throat, but for some reason he just couldn't get rid of it. The only thing that he was feeling happier about was not having the intense pain in chest that he had been having however long ago it was, because he had likewise lost the track of time and had got no indication how long everything had been,
even though the pain had passed he was feeling really sore in his chest and like there was an extremely heavy weight sitting on it. Then the more he struggled to become more aware of what was happening he started to get pictures of what he assumed were things that were going on around him. The first thing that he had a vision of was of Leah being extremely emotional and holding his hand, not only that he likewise had a sense that she'd been trying to tell him something truly important, but he just couldn't get a grasp on what it was she'd been telling him. After that he then had a vision of Benny being by his side and assuring him that he would look after Leah and the baby. With his mind being so befuddled he couldn't work out if that meant that Leah was pregnant, but then undoubtedly she would have told him if she was pregnant, then it occurred to him that was most probably that was what she was trying to tell him when she was sitting with him. As the darkness began to take him once again he made a pledge that if she was pregnant then he was going to be there for her and their baby, not only that he would make her his bride, the only thing that he hoped was that she didn't look in his desk drawer because he had concealed the ring there after having got it especially made for her and had collected it that day, as his intention had been that when the present trial was over he was going to tell everybody to take a few days off and he was going to take her away for a few days, where he was going to propose to her. As the darkness finally took him he swore that he would do just that as soon as he was well enough to do so.
