Hours. Hours seemed like days. Months even. The agonizing wait for her eyes to open again was worse than enduring the let down and withdrawal of a drug addict's high. Tommy sat in the same chair for what seemed like forever. Friends came and they left. Katherine and Jason had to push back their wedding date. The doctor's said that the longer it lasted; the longer she was comatose the less likely it was that she would wake up. He needed her to wake up. He needed her to know that there was a reason to live and that he was it.
"If it's a baby you want, Kim-we can do that," he thought, "Whatever you want….whatever you need….But you just have to open your eyes. Please open your eyes."
It was a ridiculous notion when he really thought about it. A baby? That was probably the last thing she wanted now. Most definitely when she found out she was pregnant. There was something that he did want to know. Something that had been eating away at him since Jason had told him everything about Kimberly's past since she'd sent him that God-awful letter. What made her want to keep that baby? After everything that bastard did to her, why on earth didn't she throw herself down a flight of stairs rather than carry a baby that she would probably resent. But even before he had realized it, he knew the answer.
Kimberly was such a loving person. Someone who cared with every ounce of her being. She would never hold the things that her baby's father had done to her against an innocent child. He knew that she was trying to escape and find a safe haven where she could have raised that baby right. Without fear of it being abused or hurt or broken. Without fear of it growing up learning that treating some one that way was okay. It just wasn't right. She knew that and he knew she wanted to make sure her child had a good start to life rather than a dark and painful one. The unfortunate thing about it was that, that poor baby would never have that chance. And he wished he could change it. He wished he could give that baby the life it deserved.
"Frustrating isn't it," a dark voice at the door said, causing Tommy to turn. It was Derick.
"You've got a lot of crass showing up here," Tommy said darkly, rising out of his chair.
"Frustrating wondering what kind of woman; one that has run away, one that fought-and man was she a fighter-why on Earth would she want to keep a baby that would only remind her of me," Derick said, completely ignoring Tommy's remark.
Derrick was well dressed. Hiking boots, light jeans, dark button down shirt, new haircut, but Tommy could still see the gold chains underneath.
"The kind of woman that wouldn't see the monster that you are. She would have seen an innocent child and she would have done everything to protect that child from you," Tommy said, keeping his tone as even as possible, "Please leave."
"No," Derick said, "I think I'll stay. I want to see her when she wakes up."
"I wasn't asking," Tommy said, "You aren't welcome here."
"Oh, I'm not," Derick said, matter-of-factly, "See I was under impression that I was because the hospital called me. My guess is that's because I am her only emergency contact." Tommy smiled smugly and nodded, still standing at her side and still holding her hand.
"You seem to misunderstand a lot," Tommy said, watching the two Reef Side police officers standing outside the room and waiting for the FBI agents to make their silent entrance from the door at the other end of the large room. Kimberly didn't have a roommate yet, but there was plenty of room for one.
"Really," Derick said, "And why is that?"
"I don't know, maybe all that grease on your head blocks the oxygen from getting to your brain," Tommy said, "But the hospital contacted you because you are a wanted felon in three states over the past five years and you were caught on video physically abusing a pregnant woman which is a felony and attacking someone without reason. Now my guess is, your mind is just now starting to figure out what's going on here, but let me get you up to speed. My whole property is under surveillance and I'm very good at finding things. So if you're thinking you're just gonna walk out of here, you are sadly mistaken. But let's get one thing straight you son of a bitch, you will never see her again and years from now when you're screaming in your jail cell because of the agonizing pain some lowlife is causing you; you're gonna look back on this and all the pain you put her through and something's gonna hit you like a cold wet slap in the face…."
"Oh yeah," Derick said, breathing heavily, "And what's that?" Tommy stepped closer to Derick until they were almost nose to nose.
"Karma is a bitch," Tommy said, very low in his throat.
The Police officers guarded the door as the FBI moved in and handcuffed Derick.
"Derick Richards, you are under arrest for drug possession, drug trafficking, felonious assault, aggravated burglary, aggravated assault of a police officer, and I could keep going but I think you get the idea," the female FBI agent said, "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you can not afford an attorney one will be provided for you…."
Tommy stood and watched them walk Derick Richards out of the hospital room and out of their lives. For the first time in days, he smiled. He turned back to his chair, only to find wide, frightened, doe eyes piercing him.
"Its okay, Kim," he said, rushing to her side, "Its okay. He's never going to hurt you again." She just nodded, but it didn't calm the expression on her face.
"Are you in pain," he asked, "Do you want me to call a nurse or the doctor?" Again, she nodded. Tommy reached for the nurses button and called her in.
"Ms. Hart, your body has suffered a lot of physical stress. I think that once you were in a position to relax and get comfortable, your body experience an extreme tension release which caused the injuries you may have thought were not as bad as you thought to become more severe. I believe that may have also contributed to your miscarriage," the doctor told.
It had been a few days and Kimberly was finally feeling well enough to stay awake and even eat. She sat listening to what the doctor was telling her. She didn't remember a lot but she did have an awful lot of questions.
"Was there any physical damage to the baby," she asked, "Did what….did what happen to me cause my baby to….to die?"
"Ms. Hart, I'd really like to spare you the details," he said.
"I want to know, dammit," she growled and then winced. She had caused herself more pain that she wanted.
"The fetus had probably passed before you knew," the doctor said, "There was a lot of bruising and we've put you on antibiotics in case of infection. I'm terribly sorry for your loss, Ms. Hart but…"
"Can I still have children," she interrupted.
"Yes," he answered, "I don't think it would be a wise idea anytime soon, but yes you can still have children."
"Thank you," she said and turned her head towards the glass window that showed her the hallway.
"Do you have any other questions," he asked.
"When can I get out of here," she asked, "I'm really not a fan of hospitals."
"In a few days," he said, "We'd like to keep you here a little while longer for observation."
"Thank you," Tommy said and the doctor nodded and left the room. Kimberly continued to stare out the window. She didn't have much interest in anything.
"Maybe I could talk them into letting me take you for a walk in the court yard," he suggested, "Let you get some fresh air?"
"You don't have to cater to me, Tommy," she snapped, "You have a life. Go home."
"Kim, I want to be here," he said, reaching for her hand, which she promptly pulled away.
"I don't want you to be here," she replied, finally looking at him, "I know you haven't left this place since you got here. Go home."
"I get that you are afraid that I'll be just like him," Tommy said, "And I get that you don't want to get attached to anyone because you don't want to be hurt anymore, but I'm not him and I'm not leaving. Whether you like it or not." She turned back to the window and continued to watch people walking around out in the hallway. Tommy stood and kissed her forehead and went to find a nurse.
Tommy returned about twenty minutes later to find an empty room. Panic rose in the pit of his stomach. His first thought was that Derick had somehow escaped custody and kid-knapped her. He ran out of the room and began his search for her. Panic growing with each place he checked and didn't find her. Running down the hallway to the elevators on the eighth floor, something caught his eye.
There she was, standing in front of the nursery window alone. Just watching. He walked over to her and stood silently beside her as she watched a couple standing at their baby's glass crib.
"That could have been me," she said, tears pooling in her eyes.
"It still could be," he said.
"You don't understand," she said, "I wanted this baby, Tommy. I wanted to know that something good could come out of that hell. I wanted to know that something good could survive it."
"Something good did," he said, touching her face, "You did."
"I know, Tommy," she said, "What I mean is, I wanted to know that I made something good and pure and I made it out of that. I wanted to know that it wasn't all a complete waste. Now, all I know is that I survived the worst years of my life with what to show for it? I have no job. No degree. No family. I've got nothing."
"You've got me," he offered, "And you've got our friends. We're going to do everything we can to help you get on your feet. We're here for you."
"I know, Tommy," she said, "You know, the only person I really want right now is my mom."
"I know," he said, softly.
"But its been so long," she said, tears apparent in her voice, "I wouldn't even know where to look."
"I'll help you," he said, "Kim, I want you to get your family back. I want you to have the life you should have had."
"Thank you," she whispered, still watching the couple in the nursery. Suddenly she turned to him and touched his hand.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you," she said.
"Its okay," he replied, giving her a smile.
They stood there a long time, watching the babies in the nursery. She really shouldn't have been out of bed, but if it helped her cope then Tommy would stand with her as long as she needed him too. They didn't touch, except for her hand on his. They just stood and watched.
"Excuse me," a nurse asked after a long while, "Do you have a little one in there?"
"Oh, um, no," Kimberly said, her eyes falling, "We were just walking and I wanted to stop. I'm sorry."
"You're the young woman that came in a few days ago, aren't you," the nurse asked her, "The one with the miscarriage and internal bleeding?"
"Yes," Tommy answered, he could tell the nurses questions were upsetting her.
"I'm sorry, I don't want to upset you," the nurse said. She was a short, round woman with a cute little girl voice. She was older and seemed nice enough.
"Its just," the nurse started, "Oh, wait here." She disappeared around the corner and went into the nursery. Kimberly turned to Tommy and just looked heartbroken and lost.
"Do you want to go back to your room," he asked.
"I think…." She was cut off when the nurse tapped her on the shoulder and she turned. Tommy moved to her side to see what the short, round woman wanted with Kim.
"She has nobody," the nurse said, holding a pink bundle in her arms and smiling down lovingly, "She was abandoned here. They found her outside wrapped in bloody sheets, just two days ago. We didn't think she'd survive, but she's a fighter." The nurse turned so that Kimberly could see. She had a cute little wrinkled face and tiny little fingers poking out from underneath her blanket and quite a lot of dark hair.
"She's perfect," Kimberly whispered, gently touching the tiny little fingers, "Who could abandon something so perfect?"
"I wish I knew," the nurse replied then looked at Kimberly, who couldn't tear her eyes away from the baby girl in the nurses arms, "I know that you must be going through such a hard time and I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you," Kimberly said, giving a little smile.
"I just saw you and I have a good feeling about you," the nurse said, "She needs somebody and, well, you look like you need somebody too." Kimberly quickly looked up at the nurse, the smile fading.
"If nobody wants her, she'll become a ward of the state and be put into foster care," the nurse explained, "and that's a sad life for anybody. Including an infant. I just thought maybe there might be a chance…." The woman's voice trailed off at the disappearing smile on Kimberly's face and turned away. Kimberly dropped her hand.
"I'm sorry to have bothered you," the nurse said softly, "I just thought…."
"May I," Kimberly asked, holding her arms out.
"Of course," the nurse said, her hope clearly rekindled. Tommy had walked over to the wall and came up behind Kimberly with a wheel chair. She sat down and the nurse laid the baby girl in her arms.
"She's beautiful," Kimberly whispered, touching the baby's forehead.
"Yeah, she is," Tommy said, reaching down and slipping his index finger under the baby's tiny little hand. She curled her hand around Tommy's finger and stirred. Both Tommy and Kimberly smiled.
"What do you think, Kim," he asked, "Can we keep her?"