Chapter 8
EYES WIDE OPEN
It's ten pm, and approximately six hours after Dr. Amelia Shepard administered the experimental drug to Charlotte. Cooper had called that afternoon and given her the green light to do it before he fell asleep at Charlotte's desk.
At the same time Violet Turner's in search of her best friend. She's more than slightly worried he'll be upset she called his parents and told them about Charlotte's accident and the pregnancy. Violet pokes her head in Charlotte's hospital room. She's surprised Cooper's not in his normal spot sitting vigil next to Charlotte's bed. Violet decides to go in anyway and visit with the comatose blonde. "Hi Charlotte. It's Violet." She gently rubs her palm up and down Charlotte's right arm. Violet backs up with surprise and gasps when the blonde unexpectedly opens her eyes. "Charlotte? You're awake. Charlotte. It's Violet. You're at St Ambrose. You were in a coma. Hold tight I'm going to call someone to check on you." Violet goes out in the hall and calls for a nurse and then goes straight back to Charlotte's bedside.
Violet holds Charlotte's hand and speaks in her soft therapeutic voice, "Charlotte. Cooper's going to be so happy you're awake. I don't know where he is at the moment but he has been sitting at your bedside since the accident. You were hurt in an earthquake that struck LA. Do you remember?"
Charlotte blinks her eyes at Violet as if she is trying to answer.
"Can you try and talk to me Charlotte?" Violet asks softly.
Charlotte swallows and makes unorganized movements with her mouth but can't form any words.
Violet pats Charlotte's shoulder. "It's okay. You just woke up after a month in a coma. It's going to take time for everything to return to normal."
Two nurses walk in the room. "Hello Dr. King. We need to examine you. Dr. Shepard is on her way in. We've been waiting a long time for this." A chipper nurse tells Charlotte as she shines a pen light in her eyes.
Charlotte lets them examine her and focuses her eyes on Violet.
Violet asks her, "Would you like me to stay or go find Cooper?"
Charlotte squeezes Violet's hand.
Unsure of the answer Violet tells her, "Let 's try this again. Squeeze my hand twice if you want me to leave and find Cooper."
Charlotte gives Violet two tight squeezes before Violet pulls her hand away.
"You got it. Wait until he hears you're awake." Violet smiles at Charlotte before leaving in search of Cooper.
Violet finds Cooper in Charlotte's office still asleep at her desk. "Good news Coop!" She shouts and wakes him up.
"What?" Cooper lifts up his head, rubbing his eyes with his right hand.
Violet looks straight at him smiling. "The experimental drug worked. Charlotte's awake!"
Cooper pops up out of the seat. He hugs Violet. "Oh my gosh Violet! When? How is she?" He asks as he rubs his right hand over his scruffy chin.
"Just now." Violet answers. "And she's fine. I explained what happened to her..."
Cooper cuts her off from talking."I've gotta go to her." Cooper hurries down the hall towards the elevator. It figures, he's normally at Charlotte's bedside this time of night, reading to her. The one night he falls asleep elsewhere she wakes up without him.
Violet chases after him trying to keep up in her high heels. As they reach the elevator Violet catches up to him. Cooper turns to tell her, "I shouldn't be talking to you."
"Why?" Violet steps into the empty elevator with Cooper.
"You called my parents. You told them everything."
"They're your parents Cooper. You need them now."
"No. I don't." Cooper tells her. "And it wasn't your place to tell them anything especially about the baby."
The elevator comes to a stop and the door opens. Cooper runs down the hall towards Charlotte's room leaving Violet behind. He bursts through the door. Amelia's already there examining Charlotte.
"Charlotte," Cooper's sighs out loudly excited to see his wifes' eyes wide open. He's never been so happy to see those hazel eyes in his life. He swiftly approaches her bedside and gently places a kiss on the top of her head. He grasps hold of her hand. "Always and forever." He squeezes her hand. She squeezes back looking into his eyes. Her lip turns up on one side until it forms a smile.
"How are you feeling Chief?" he asks.
Charlotte shrugs her shoulders up and then down again.
Amelia declares explaining to them both, "Charlotte doesn't have her speech back yet . It's not uncommon for people to lose their speech after a coma. It's called aphasia."
"We're doctors Amelia."
"Charlotte's my patient and you're my patients' husband." Amelia answers back. "I'll leave you two alone for a little bit. I'm going to make some calls and be back."
Amelia leaves Cooper's alone with his bride. He explains the events of the last month to her. "There was an earthquake Chief and you were hurt. You have a head injury. I called your mother and your brother, Duke. They're staying at a hotel. Our apartment was demolished. But that's okay Chief." He smiles at her. "Now maybe we can buy a house in the Palisades like you wanted."
Charlotte focuses intently on him and nods her head to show she understands.
Cooper gently hugs Charlotte. "I've missed you Chief. You've been in a coma for five weeks." In a high pitch voice he squeezes her tight and says, "I'm so happy you're awake." He can't contain his excitement.
After he lets go of her he stares at her with a big smile like a child on Christmas morning. Charlotte tries to talk. She moves her mouth muscles until she makes some noise. The words come out all jumbled.
Cooper senses she's trying to to ask him something. "What's wrong Charlotte?" Cooper scans the room for a pen and paper. Maybe she could write it for him. He finds a sheet of paper and hands it to her with a pen from his pocket. "Write it for me."
Charlotte takes the pen and uses the bedside tray next to her to lean on and write. After a few seconds it's apparent to Cooper she's frustrated. He looks down at the paper and understands why. All she can do is scribble. She can't write. Charlotte throws the pen first and then crumples the paper throwing it across the room in frustration.
Cooper sits down next to her on the bed putting his hand on top of hers. "I know this is hard. You have to understand you've made huge progress today." He emphasizes the word huge. "The rest will come. Soon you'll be your old self again. I promise you." He taps the tip of her nose with his finger.
Charlotte nods that she understands. She looks him in the eyes then she takes Cooper's hand and places it on her belly just below her naval.
"Does your stomach hurt?" Cooper asks.
She shakes her head no.
"What is it then?" He asks gently. She can't be asking about the baby can she Cooper wonders. Addison told him Charlotte probably wasn't aware she was pregnant yet, since it was early. Why else would she be holding his hand on her belly he wonders. Cooper's not sure what he should do or say. If she doesn't know she'll be shocked and maybe not happy since she wasn't completely on board with the idea yet. He decides to say nothing for now. She just woke up. He'll give her some time.
Tears start to form in her eyes. She wants to know about the baby. She thinks she lost the pregnancy but she's not sure. She never got the chance to tell Cooper she was pregnant. She was going to tell him at dinner but the earthquake spoiled her plans. She wonders if he found out about it while she was in the coma. She decides to give up on asking him for now. A tear leaks from her right eye.
"Don't cry Char." Cooper hugs his wife. "We'll get through this. We can get through anything together. Okay?" He pulls away from the hug to wipe the tear from her face.
She nods her head yes and pretends to be happy for his sake.
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