DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to Mark VII and NBC Universal. I own Julianna.
A/N: Sorry it took so long to update. Between vacation and that awful wind storm that hit the East Coast, I had no access to the Internet for weeks and without electricity for days. Things are slowly returning to normal so I have been able to work on this story. Thanks for your patience. I will try to update again very, very soon. I was able to write, but not post what I had written, so I have stuff to go through..
The first conscious thought Johnny had was pain. The second was of his wife. He looked down and saw his wife sitting in the chair next to his bed, eyes closed. Her hand was intertwined in his and Johnny managed a small smile.
"Hey, you're awake. I'm going to give you some pain medicine and it should take that edge off," Sally said, injecting the morphine into his IV line. Johnny immediately felt the warmth of the pain medicine hit him and his pain quickly faded to a dull aching.
He slowly swallowed, his throat raw from the endotracheal tube that had be inserted during surgery.
"Juli's been here since you came to recovery. Dr. Brackett said to leave her with you and we haven't had the heart to wake her. I'm going to let Dr. Brackett and Dr. Early know you're awake. I'll let Dixie know since Roy's been calling every hour since you've been out of surgery," Sally said.
"Thank you," Johnny whispered.
He watched Julianna sleeping and knew the lines creasing her forehead were worry for him. He saw her slowly awaken and gave his wife a small smile as her eyes focused on his face.
"Hey, tiger. Are you having pain," she asked her husband, leaning forward so she could stroke his hair with her free hand.
He shook his head slightly. "I...lo...ve...you," he managed to whisper before trying to swallow again.
"I love you, too. But don't try to talk for a while. You're throat is probably raw because of the tube. I'll get you some ice chips. Is that OK," she asked.
Johnny released her hand and Julianna took it as a sign that he wanted the ice chips. She placed a quick kiss on his forehead and slipped out of the room.
Johnny watched his wife walk out of the room and closed his eyes against the pounding in his head. He figured it was from, not only the surgery and battering his body had sustained by the car, but also the pain medication itself. He felt himself slip into a dreamless sleep and was relieved to find Julianna sitting by his bedside when he had awakened.
Julianna came out of the room and leaned against the wall. She took a deep breath, but couldn't stop the tears that rushed down her face. If anyone had asked her why she was crying, she could have given them any number of reasons. She was relieved Johnny was awake; happy that he was going to recover; angry at the driver of the car; mad because, as much as she didn't want to admit it, his job put him in danger daily and sad because she didn't want him to have to go through the pain. Again, she knew he'd ask her if she wanted him to give it up and Julianna knew, without hesitation, that she would tell him no. It was part of who he was and, while she knew he'd do anything to make her happy, she knew he'd lose some of what made him Johnny if he gave up being a firefighter/paramedic. 'You have to be strong, Juli,' she thought to herself. She heard voices coming down the hall and quickly turned to wipe the tears from her face. She turned back around and saw Drs. Early and Brackett heading toward his room.
"Juli, everything OK," Early asked.
"Yeah. Just glad he's awake. Just seems too crazy," Julianna said.
"We're going to check on him. I imagine Roy and the rest of the guys will be over here shortly," Brackett said.
Julianna nodded her head. The relief she felt because Johnny was out of danger, left her drained. "I'm just relieved that he's OK. I can only imagine how he felt when I had that accident. He was awake when I left, but he might have fallen asleep the minute I left the room," she said.
"Take your time, Juli. We'll take care of him while you're gone. We'll get the ice chips in his room," Early said.
Julianna headed back down the hall toward the elevator. She stopped at the nurses station and pulled the doctor schedule from the drawer. Dixie came down the hallway as Julianna started reading the schedule.
"Julianna! How are you? How's Johnny," Dixie asked.
"He woke up a few minutes ago. Kel and Joe were going to check on him and I'm supposed to take a break. I wanted to check the schedule and see if I need to do any juggling and then I'll call Roy and Mike. I'm sure the entire station will be by to see him by this afternoon," Julianna said.
"Well, I'll pop up and visit him. You should go and get a shower and grab something to eat," Dixie said.
Julianna nodded at her friend. She saw that Joe and Kel had adjusted the schedule so she would be off until Saturday. She was going to have to thank those two for pulling the extra shifts and arranging for general practice docs to fill in while she was out.
"Johnny's going to be here for about two weeks before going home and coming back for physical therapy. Looks like Joe and Kel have me working during his final week and then working a shift and being off for two days. That should coordinate with A-shifts off days. I'll find out from Roy," Julianna said.
"Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you guys. You know I'll do anything to help you both," Dixie said.
Julianna smiled at her friend. "I know. I'll let you know if I need any help. I'm sure I'll need some of that tough Dixie McCall talk when he gets frustrated with PT," she said.
"Well, I'll make sure I park myself in the therapy room and give him a lecture...or two," Dixie said.
Julianna went down the hall to her office. She sat down at her desk and called her brother. She wasn't surprised when Barb answered the phone.
"Hey, Juli! Is everything OK," she asked.
"Yeah. Johnny's awake. I was going to head home and shower and get something to eat. That will give Joe and Kel some time to evaluate him and get him set up for PT. I wanted to let Mikey know so he could come by if he wanted," Julianna said.
"That's great news! I'm sure Mike will be by the hospital to check on him soon," Barb said.
"Is that Juli," Julianna heard Mike ask.
Barb said it was and soon Mike was greeting his sister.
"Hey, Juju. How is he," Mike asked.
"He's sore, but he's awake and he's probably trying to bribe Kel and Joe into letting him go," Julianna said.
"How long will he be in the hospital," Mike asked.
"Two weeks. I'm off this week and then I'm working a few hours during the second, but my schedule is pretty good for the next few weeks. If PT goes well, Johnny should be on his feet in about a month. He should be able to go back to work in two, if he listens to the therapist," Julianna said.
"I can see that happening," Mike said, laughter in his voice.
"You and Barb doing wedding stuff," Julianna asked.
"Yeah. It is nine weeks away, you know," Mike said.
"I know. I still think Barb should ask her sister to be her matron of honor," Julianna said.
"Juju, she wants you. You both are extremely close and she wouldn't want it any other way," Mike said.
"You still want Johnny as your best man," she asked.
"If Johnny wants to. Doesn't matter to me if he can't walk down the aisle or stand for that matter. I just want my family around when I get married. Just like they were when you and Johnny got married," Mike said.
"OK, I'll see you later this afternoon," Julianna said. "Love you, bro."
"Love you, too, sis," Mike replied before ending the call.
Julianna quickly dialed another number.
"DeSoto residence," the unmistakable voice of her husband's best friend said.
"Roy, Johnny's awake. You can come and see him. I'm certain he'd like it.," Julianna said.
"Really! Is everything OK," Roy asked.
"So far. He'll start therapy next week. I wanted to know if you'll be staying with him when I have to be at work. Kel arranged it so I'd be on a day and off two. My work days would never coincide with your work days, so someone from the station could stay with him, if they wanted," Julianna said.
"Great idea. Our shift is on tomorrow, so I'll talk to them and work on a schedule. I'll shower and change and come by the hospital to see him," Roy said.
"That's great! I'll see you when you come by. I'm going to head to the cafeteria and get some coffee. I'll see you in a bit," Julianna said, hanging up the phone.
She got out of her chair and headed back out into the hallway. Dixie waved to her and Julianna stopped at the nurses' station.
"Juli, why don't you come with us to get some coffee," Dixie said.
"Sure," Julianna said. Dixie and Mike Morton headed toward the cafeteria.
Dixie and Julianna sat at a table and Mike came over with their coffee.
"So, Julianna, how are you," Mike asked.
"Better. I still feel drained but I know Johnny's going to be all right, it's just going to be slow going," she said.
"That will frustrate Johnny," Mike said.
Julianna chuckled. It was amusing that everyone knew how frustrated her husband could get when he couldn't do what he wanted, when he wanted. She hoped this incident would teach him a little patience.
"He wouldn't be Johnny if he didn't get a little frustrated," Julianna said.
The three made small talk over their coffee, before they were joined by Drs. Brackett and Early.
"Juli, Johnny's doing well. You can go back up whenever you want," Brackett said.
"Thanks. Roy should be arriving any minute," Julianna said.
She thanked Mike for the coffee and headed back to Johnny's room.
Julianna was waiting for the elevator when she heard her name.
"Juli!"
Julianna turned around and saw her friend coming toward her.
"Bob! Did you come to see Johnny," Julianna asked.
"No. Beth went into labor. I'm heading up to maternity," he said.
"Labor! Wow! You're going to be a daddy in a few hours, then," Julianna said.
"Just seems really weird. How's Johnny," he asked as they rode the elevator upstairs.
"He's out of surgery and awake. Now, we just have to see how his leg heals. He'll come home in two weeks, but he'll be out of work for at least two months. That's going to drive him crazy," Julianna said.
The elevator doors opened on the third floor, maternity.
"I'll come and get you when everything is over," Bob said, excitement in his voice.
"If I'm not here, I'm at home. I can't wait to see your child, Bob. You and Beth are going to be wonderful parents," she said.
Bob gave her a quick hug and headed out of the elevator. Julianna took a deep breath to keep from crying. She was genuinely glad for Bob and Beth, but she was also distressed because of what she'd lost.
She stepped off on the fourth floor and headed to Johnny's room.
She opened the door to his room and found him with his head slightly elevated, watching the door.
"Jules! Where have you been," Johnny asked.
Julianna quickly approached her husband and wrapped him in her arms. "Sorry. I was talking to everyone and letting them know you were awake. Did you get those ice chips," Julianna asked.
"Sally brought them," Johnny said.
"Good. Are you feeling any pain," she asked.
Johnny shook his head.
"Well, how about I sit right here and let you get some rest. I'm sure the guys from the Station will be coming by to see you pretty soon. I might go home and grab a shower and change clothes when Roy gets here," she said.
Johnny looked at his wife. He knew Julianna well enough to know something was bothering her.
"Jules. What's wrong," he asked.
"Nothing. Just tired and stressed. You had me worried," Julianna said, squeezing his hand.
Johnny turned his head and frowned. "Jules, I know you. What's wrong? Did Brackett tell you something? I know something happened, please tell me," he pleaded with his wife.
Julianna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She should have known that Johnny would know something was bothering her, but she hadn't counted on him picking up on it.
"I ran into Bob on my way back upstairs. He was on duty when Beth called. She's in maternity in labor. They'll probably be parents sometime today," Julianna said.
Johnny closed his eyes. He had known that, while Julianna was happy for her best friends, she was saddened at the happiness they were enjoying.
Johnny looked at his wife. "Sweetie, when you're ready, that will be us," he said.
Julianna gave a half smile. "You should rest. I'll stay until Roy gets here and then I'll head home. We'll talk later, OK," she said.
Johnny nodded his head. He closed his eyes again and fell into another drugged sleep. When he opened his eyes, his partner was sitting beside his bed.
Before he could open his mouth, Roy said, "She went home to shower and change. Can't have her falling apart while you're in here."
"Did Beth have the baby," Johnny asked.
"Yeah. Bob came down a few minutes ago and told Juli. They have a little girl they named Christina Grace Bellingham," Roy said.
Johnny's eyes went wide. "They named the baby after Jules," he asked.
Roy nodded. "Probably why Julianna was crying when she left to go see the baby."
Johnny closed his eyes again. He couldn't believe how that little conversation with Roy was tiring him out already. He was also thinking of how the news of Bob and Beth's baby would have on Julianna. He knew that she would be happy, but the wounds of the miscarriages would be brought to the surface. He heard the door open and Roy greet Sally. He didn't say anything, it took too much effort.
He closed his eyes and felt the pain that was creeping into his head slowly ease and he slipped back to sleep.
