Thanks for the great response to this not-so-conventional take on the aftermath of Twelve Sharp. Here's a little upadate;)
Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE.
It only took me a second to see the life in her eyes. She was definitely awake. I just knew it. Frantically, and without removing my eyes off of her, I pushed the help button. Almost instantly, the nurse rushed in.
"She's awake." I said, not tearing my eyes off of Babe. I heard the nurse shuffle out of the room and I can't be sure how long I drowned myself in the deep blue of Babe's eyes when the room suddenly filled with people.
"You need to wait outside." The nurse told me as I was shoved aside by the medical professionals.
"No." I protested even though I had no choice. In the end, I was forced to step out.
As I paced the waiting area in the lobby, I called Bobby to get him up to speed. He'd have better leverage here that could facilitate a faster flow of information. I didn't have to wait for his reply before disconnecting. My next call was to Babe's family. They deserve to hear it from me before the news reaches them via someone else.
"Hello?" A groggy female voice answered. I cringed. I'd completely lost track of time.
"Mrs. Plum…" I cut right to the point, informing Helen that Stephanie had opened her eyes.
There was a loud thud as silence filled the other end of the line. "Hello?" I frowned into the phone, annoyance quickly setting in. Shuffling footsteps neared and then another voice came through the line.
"Who is this?" Edna Mazur asked, alertness evident in her tone.
"Ranger." I said a bit impatient. "Listen," Without preamble, I filled her in. There was a gasp followed by a screeching shout of happiness.
S&R
"What's taking them so long?" I muttered under my breath.
"Sit down." Bobby glared at me, saying I was making him dizzy with my incessant pacing.
"Why isn't anyone giving us information?" I growled, shooting a hateful look down the hall.
"Patience." Bobby sighed, knowing his efforts were futile. I'm not going to sit still. Not with this uncertainty eating me up inside. And just before my thoughts began consuming my mind, Bobby spoke up again. "You should be aware that she might be…different."
I snapped my gaze back to him, the intensity of it forcing him to look away for a moment. "What are you trying to say?"
At my question, Bobby exhaled slowly before looking at me again. "We've talked about this." His frankness suddenly shook my world.
"No." With a shake of my head I refused to believe that there was a possibility that Babe wouldn't come back to me entirely.
Thankfully, Babe's family chose that moment to arrive. Stephanie's parents and Grandma bustled in nosily, bombarding me with questions I didn't have answers to.
Bobby stepped up, explaining that we still didn't have additional information. And as if on cue, a doctor walked down the hall towards us.
We all turned to the older man, expecting the good news.
A dozen emotions rushed through me as it was confirmed that Babe was awake. Noise reigned once again as we all asked different questions. I wanted to see her again, but before I could voice it a bony hand tugged on the sleeve of my Rangeman tee. I only had time to turn my head to the side before Edna Mazur planted me one right on the lips.
So, Babe's awake and now there's the question of whether she'll be the same…
And don't worry. You'll know why Grandma Mazur kissed Ranger on the lips in the next chapter;)