Chapter 2: Meet the Parents

The next morning...

Needing a break for a few minutes, James walked out of Charisma's room. He walked over to where Erin and Dave were sleeping. He shook Erin a bit to wake her. He talked to her for a few minutes until Dave woke. Seeing Dave, James walked over to him.

"So." James started. "You're Dave?"

Dave stood tall. "Yes, sir. I am."

James nodded his head. "Charisma has told us about you." He paused and placed his hands in his pockets. "She has said nothing but good things about you. She seemed really happy when she talked about you to us."

Dave nodded. "She's told me about you and your wife too."

"How long have you been dating her?"

"A few months."

"Really."

"Yes, sir."

"I'm impressed."

Dave shot him a look. "I'm sorry?"

James smiled. "I'm impressed that you've lasted this long with her." He paused. "She is really tough and she is very picky, stubborn and temperamental. She got that from her mother."

"I admire you for bringing up such a very beautiful and level-headed woman."

"Thank you."

"But I want you and your wife to know, that I love her and would do anything for her."

"I respect you for that and I have a feeling that if you stuck by her side this long, you will make it with her."

"Thank you sir."

"Please, call me James."

Few hours later...

Dave and Erin walked into Charisma's room, as her parents were outside. James filled Elsa in on what he had talked to Dave about. After asking questions, Elsa agreed with her husband's assessment - until she talked him for herself. But that would have to come later. Right now what was important was Charisma.

Dave sat down in the chair alongside Charisma's bed. Looking at her sleeping face, Dave realized just how much he loved her. He would die before he would let anything happen to her. He fought back tears as he kissed her forehead. "I love you, Sweetheart." He kissed her again. "Dave's right here."

As he looked at her, Dave swept his finger across her face. I'm so sorry baby. I wish there was something I could do. Dave closed his eyes and swallowed the lump in his throat. He opened his eyes as tears began forming in the ducts of his eyes. Letting them fall, he held Charisma's hand up to his lips and kissed it. Still holding it, he placed her hand on his face. I love you baby. You know this. I love you so much. And I'm so glad you pulled through for me - for us. I don't know how I would have made though this world without you, and that beautiful smile to make my day. Now all you have to do now is wake up and tell me who did this to you.

Erin put her hand on his shoulder as Dave held tight to Charisma's hand to his lips. After dousing her hand in kisses, he pressed it to his face.Closing his eyes and tears forming, he savored the moment and her touch. He and Erin silently continued to watch her.

After Dave, Erin sat down by Charisma. Looking over at her, Erin wondered impatiently when her friend -the woman who she often referred to as her sister - would wake up. "Come on Chris, wake up."

Erin was watching television as she was holding Charisma's hand. She would glance over at her often - watching for something - anything. She continued watching television when she felt the slight movement of Charisma's hand squeeze her hand in return. Turning sharply to her, Erin watched Charisma's facial expressions as she talked to her. "Chris, can you hear me," Erin started. "if you can, squeeze my hand or open your eyes."

While she was trying to shake off the effects of the anesthesia, Charisma opened her eyes and looked back at Erin. Although she still couldn't really speak, she just held her hand and squeezed it. Erin cried as she ran her hand over her head. "Charisma." Charisma responded to her by squeezing her hand a little harder

Dave walked back into the room with some coffee for he and Erin. Instead of watching television like she had been before he left, Erin was totally focused on Charisma. Thinking that something might have been wrong, Dave instantly went to her. There lying before him with her eyes wide open was Charisma.

Erin slid aside as Dave moved closer to Charisma. He sat down in the chair and brought her hand to his lips. Tears ran down his face as he couldn't believe his very eyes. "Oh baby, I thought you would never wake up."

Still too disoriented from the anesthesia to really comprehend what was going on, Charisma watched as tears streamed down both Erin's and Dave's faces. As Dave doused her hand in kisses, Charisma squeezed his hand a little more. Erin hurriedly ran out to the waiting room where Charisma's parents were talking to Dr. Fischer. "Come in here, Charisma's awake."

Dr. Fischer, Elsa and James walked into the ICU. Elsa ran to her daughter's side. Dave moved so that she could have ample room. She took Charisma's hand and squeezed it. "My Bambina...Mama's here." James looked over Elsa's shoulder to see his daughter's beautiful brown eyes staring back at him.

Dr. Fischer could also see that Charisma was completely awake. Taking out his stethoscope and checking her vitals, he asked if they would step out of the room briefly. Immediately, the four of them became worried for her. After walking out of the room, James, Elsa, Dave and Erin were rightfully and equally concerned for Charisma. They watched through the window nervously and impatiently. About ten minutes later, Dr. Fischer came out of the room to talk to them.

"How is she?" Elsa asked nervously.

"Yes, how is she, Dr. Fischer?" Dave asked also.

"She is fine, she is coming out of it, but don't get too excited just yet," Dr. Fischer started. "She is not completely out the woods."

"But you just said she was fine." Dave said.

"Yes, she is fine, but she has had alot of anesthesia and she is gonna have to sleep it all off before she will be totally conscious."

"But her eyes were open and she responded."

"I know, and she responded to me too, but she is expected to drift in and out until she is completely free from the anesthesia." Dr. Fischer started. "But as of now, she is asleep and it would probably do you all some good, if you got some sleep too."

Dr. Fischer turned and walked away while Dave and Erin stood and stared back at Charisma in the window. Erin looked over at Dave. She could see him start to tear up again as he put his hands on his hips. He looked up at the ceiling and shook his head. Erin leaned over to him and placed her hand on his back, running her hand up and down. "She is gonna be alright, Dave."

Soon after standing and watching her for a few more minutes, Dave and Erin went into the ICU waiting room for a few hours.

Later in the evening...

Erin, James and Elsa fell asleep in the ICU waiting room while Dave went back into Charisma's room. He approached her door and entered. He pulled the chair as close to the bed as he could and sat down. He watched her sleep as he took her hand in his and kissed the palm of it. He laced his large fingers with her slender ones. Taking in a deep breath, Dave spoke to her. "Charisma, baby, I'm so sorry." Dave began "I wish to God it could have been me - instead of you. I love you so much and I need you to come back to me. I want you to wake up so I look into your beautiful eyes. Please, Charisma, wake up." Dave closed his eyes, bit his bottom lip and focused all his attention on her warm hand on his skin. "But no matter what, I promise you, I'm gonna find the no good, sorry, son of a bitch that did this to you."

While his eyes were still closed, Charisma opened her eyes, and spoke. "Dave?"

Opening his eyes shockingly, Dave looked up to see Charisma's eyes locked on his. "Charisma, baby, can you hear me?"

"Yes, Dave, I hear you just fine, why?" Charisma's voice whispered soft and raspy. "What are you talking about? What happened?"