BARDEN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
4:30 a.m.
Aubrey POV
I leaned my head against Jesse's shoulder as I hummed to myself softly. It had just turned 4 in the morning and there was still no progress towards Beca waking up. One of the nurses had mentioned how it may take a few hours for the anesthesia to wear off, but even that had been close to 2 hours ago when we first were allowed to see her in the I.C.U. room.
I felt Jesse place his hand on my thigh and squeeze softly, reassuringly. He turned his head, and kissed the top of mine, his lips lingering. I opened my eyes as I looked over to the where the small alt girl was resting in the bed, an exhausted redhead right by her side. Chloe was fast asleep, I think her mind finally caught up with her body. She was on the right side of the bed, Beca's good side, her back to the window that shown Barden's skyline. Jesse and I sat against the plastic chairs on the wall opposite of the bed, right in front of the curtain that provided privacy to the room.
I looked over the redhead as the constant beep of Beca's monitor was the only sound emitting from the room. Chloe had her head resting on her right arm that was propped up on the bedrail beside of Beca. Her left hand was still placed in between Beca's, careful to avoid the IV. Dark circles were apparent under the redhead's eyes, and her skin a paler tint compared to normal. The sight looked like something out of a movie.
I heard footsteps approaching, followed by a soft knock against the door. Jesse and I sat up straight as Dr. Bradley peeked his head around the curtain before stepping in. He caught sight of Chloe, still asleep and unaware of his presence.
"Just wanted to stop and check in." He said softly, as to not disturb the redhead. He looked over the pair as a soft smile graced his lips.
"We're fine. Chloe was finally able to relax enough to fall sleep for a bit." Jesse whispered to him all eyes were on Beca and Chloe. Dr. Bradley nodded as he flipped through a few pages of his clipboard. He took his pen out of his pocket and began to write.
"According to her charts, Beca should be waking up soon, the anesthesia should have worn off by now. I stop back by in 30 minutes." He said professionally as he tucked his pen away.
"Thank you doctor." I told him sincerely as he nodded and walked back out of the room.
3RD PERSON POV 5:15 a.m.
It had been roughly 20 minutes after Dr. Bradley had checked in. By now, everyone but Beca was awake. Chloe was still at Beca's side, her hand entwined with the brunettes, her thumb tracing circles against Beca's skin. Aubrey had pulled up a chair beside of Chloe, her arm wrapped tightly around her best friend's shoulders. Chloe watched on, her eyes locked with Beca's closed ones, silently praying for her to wake up soon and to be able to look into her eyes. Until the moment when Beca opened her dark, sapphire blue eyes, when the familiar recognition flashed across her beautiful face as they met with Chloe's, the redhead would not be able to relax.
Until Beca smiled, until she laughed and spoke, Chloe wouldn't get her hopes up, she couldn't. Facing the reality of the situation, the very real prospect that Beca could have died, Chloe put everything into perspective. She wasn't sure what Beca's reaction would be when she woke up. Would she still be angry with Chloe? Resentful? Would she blame Chloe for her fall? Chloe knew the topic had to be approached with a high caution.
"She's a fighter Chlo." Aubrey spoke up, breaking the silence of the room. "You and I especially would know that. The little hobbit always had to have her way with everything."
Chloe smiled softly at Aubrey's words. She was right. Beca Mitchell was not one to back down from confrontation. She fought for what she wanted, what she believed in, and for those she loved. It was one of the many traits that Chloe loved about Beca; the amount of determination the girl possessed.
Chloe's head shot up as she felt a light squeeze to her hand.
"What's wrong?" Aubrey questioned from her seat, sitting up straight, more alert. "Chloe?"
"Did you see that?" Chloe questioned as she forced herself to her feet and gazed intently at Beca's face "She squeezed my hand!" Chloe said as her eyes swept over her girlfriend's form, looking for some kind of indication that she was coming to.
"Are you sur…?"
"Look!" Chloe exclaimed as she watched Beca's eyes began to flicker. "I think she's waking up!" She placed her free hand on Beca's cheek as she caressed her cheekbones.
"I'll go get a nurse!" Aubrey said hastily as she was out of the room in a heartbeat, Jesse following just as quickly on her heels. Chloe looked to the door anxiously, hoping that someone would get here quickly.
"Becs…" Chloe began looking back down to her girlfriend and stopping instantly as her eyes met the dark blue of her girlfriend's.
"Chloe…" Beca's voice replied, hoarse and quiet from not being used.
Chloe laughed despite her tears and kissed Beca gently on the forehead, her lips lingering there for a moment before she pulled away to look at her girlfriend more closely. Beca's eyes were fluttering closed, as she fought to stay awake. Chloe brushed the side of her face gently with her hand, causing Beca's eyes to open once more. The redhead squeezed her girlfriend's hand gently before brushing the back of it lightly with her lips as she kissed it.
"I'm here babe," Chloe said, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm right here."
"Ah Miss Mitchell, glad to have you here with us now." Dr. Bradley entered the room with a young nurse who instantly went over to Beca's monitors. "How are you feeling?" Jesse and Aubrey stood behind him as all eyes were on the small brunette.
"Like shit." She mumbled out as Chloe frowned, Beca shut her eyes again as she winced.
"On a scale of one to ten how would you rate your pain?"
"Seven" Beca croaked.
"Okay…We'll have to keep you on the mask" Dr. Bradley stated as he moved the elasticated band of the mask over Beca's head. "Are you experiencing any other pain in particular?"
Beca hesitated for a moment before holding up her right wrist that was wrapped in a cast.
"Our orthopedic specialist is coming by to re-examine your wrist soon." Dr. Bradley began, "You're on a low dose of morphine right now so that should kick in soon and help with the pain. I'll leave you alone for a few minutes and then I'll be back."
"I'm going to talk to him." Aubrey spoke up as Dr. Bradley left the room. Aubrey met Chloe's gaze and smiled softly.
"I'll be back in a couple of minutes" she was met with a nod before she turned and left the room with Jesse, their main intention being to give Beca and Chloe some time alone.
"Chloe." Beca gasped out as she lowered the oxygen mask.
"I'm right here." Chloe murmured as she pulled the chair closer to the bed. "But you have to put that back on." She took the mask from Beca's hand and placed it back over her mouth.
Beca shook her head and pushed the mask away "I'm sorry…about before."
"You have nothing to be sorry for." Chloe reassured her gently, her tears surfacing once again at the mention. "I'm just glad you're okay…you really scared me."
"I'm so sorry." Beca rasped as he eyes adjusted to the lighting of the hospital room.
"Shh, it's okay." Chloe leaned forward and kissed Beca softly, her hands lifting to cup her face. A brief moment passed as Beca returned the kiss before she was forced to pull away breathlessly.
"I'm sorry." Chloe said guiltily as she moved the oxygen mask back to Beca's mouth. "This is all my fault." Chloe whispered out as her eyes filled with tears. She could feel herself starting to get worked back up. Beca slowly reached up with her right hand and removed the mask so that she could speak properly. Chloe had put her head back down to rest on her arm, covering her face. She tried desperately to keep the tears from falling, knowing she had to be strong for Beca right now. She felt Beca move her hand to the back of her head, as she ran her fingers through Chloe's bright hair.
"Chloe. Look at me." Chloe quickly noticed the tone of the words and slowly looked up to see tears mirroring her own. Both girls shared a look before they both gave into their emotions and began to cry together, whatever Beca was going to say got lost as the two reconnected. It took several minutes of comforting and holding each other before either girl pulled apart.
Chloe sniffed as she thought about how to broach the subject that she so desperately wanted an answer to.
"Was this on purpose?" Chloe whispered, her voice shaky. Beca slowly shook her head as she took a deep breath and licked her lips.
"No."
Chloe stayed silent as she watch her. Beca had her eyes shut, the mask now rested against her chin. Chloe searched over her facial features for any sign that the brunette was in pain.
"Tell me the truth." Chloe's tone more firm now. Slowly Beca opened her eyes and for the first time Chloe noticed how dilated her pupils were. The concussion.
"Chloe you know me better than that." The simple sentenced filled the air as Beca reached out and placed her hand on Chloe's forearm.
"Then what were you doing?" Chloe breathed out and sniffed, her eyes never leaving her girlfriend's. Beca opened her eyes again, only this time she was looking anywhere but at Chloe. She locked eyes with the machine that was attached to the end of her finger, monitoring her heart rate.
"I don't know. I just…I needed…I just needed things to change." Beca mumbled out as she picked at the device.
"You could have died you know." Chloe told her seriously as Beca turned her head to look out the window, away from Chloe. "You could be dead." Chloe's voice broke on the last word as she sniffed again. Beca didn't say anything and laid still, thinking over Chloe's words.
"I'd never go off on anyone else you know that." Chloe breathed out. This brought Beca's attention back to her girlfriend as she looked back over. "You know that I love you." Chloe gasped out as she swiped at her eyes.
"I know." Beca said as she hung her head in shame. Chloe watched as Beca's jaw clenched and unclenched. "It's just…you could do so much better than me Chlo." Chloe looked at the girl incredulously as she reached forward and brushed some stray strands of hair out of Beca's face.
"That's not true. You are the most loving, caring, beautiful person Beca. Regardless of what you think about yourself. I know that I wouldn't want anyone else by my side but you. You're it. You're endgame for me Becs, there is no one else. I love you so much baby." Beca brought her hand up to cup Chloe's cheek and with her thumb wiped away the redhead's tears. Chloe entwined their hands as she placed a gentle kiss into Beca's palm.
"I love you too Chloe. So fucking much. I've been such an idiot lately and I just…" Beca was cut of as there was a commotion coming from outside the room.
"Where is my daughter at?!" Could be heard as Chloe's eyes looked back to Beca's in alarm and Beca's flashed of anger, her jaw already clenched tightly.
"Dr. Mitchell I-" The girls listened as Jesse tried to diffuse the situation before it got more out of hand. They watched as the shadows grew closer before the curtain was roughly pulled open to reveal a distraught, red faced Dr. Mitchell with Jesse an Aubrey falling in behind. The attempts to keep him out of the room failed as his eyes sought out his daughter first before falling on Chloe.
"What the hell have you done to my daughter?!" He spat angrily directly at the redhead.
