Chapter 9 - 'Home without P.J."

Amy was awakened by a delicious smell coming from the kitchen. "Bob?" She questioned as she got up and walked down the hallway towards the wonderful aroma. "Bob, are you cooking?" She opened the kitchen door to find Ivy and her mom, Mary Lou, preparing dinner.

"Oh, Amy, did we wake you?" Mary Lou exclaimed as Amy came in the kitchen.

Amy shook her head. "No, no you didn't, but what are you doing here? What's going on?"

"Well, Ivy was talking to Teddy and she told her that P.J. had wrecked and was in the hospital and Amy, honestly, I never know what to do for people in times like these, except, well . . . cook. I love to cook and you good people need to eat." Mary Lou explained.

Amy smiled at her friend and engulfed her in a hug. "Thank you, Mary Lou. Thank you so much."

"How is P.J.?" Ivy asked. "Teddy was sleepy and really didn't tell me much."

Amy sat down at the kitchen table. "Well, he was injured pretty badly." She went on to explain the details of P.J.'s injuries and then glanced at her watch. "Ooo, I'd better call the hospital and check on him."

Bob caught her as she was getting up from the table. "Easy there. I've already called. He's still asleep, but his vitals are great. Amy, he's fine."

"When can we see him?" Amy asked.

"Visiting hours are over at 8:00 tonight." Bob replied.

Amy looked bewildered. "Well what are we waiting for?" She sat her coffee cup down.

Bob stood quietly and laid his hands firmly on Amy's shoulders. "They're pretty sure he's going to sleep most of the day."

Amy shook her head. "I don't care if he's sleeping. I'll watch him sleep. Bob, I have to be there."

Bob guided her to the couch and sat down beside her. "Amy, he's fine." He smoothed her hair. "You know that, right?"

She nodded. "I know. I just need to see him. I need to hold him and feel him breathing." Fresh tears sprang to her eyes.

Bob pulled her close to him. "I know, honey. I feel it too. We came too close to losing him."

Gabe bounded down the stairs. "Did I hear someone say something about going to the hospital? That's great!" Gabe exclaimed as he joined his parents. "Believe it or not, I actually miss P.J."

"Uh, Gabe," Bob started. "About that," he paused. "With the recent N1H1 breakouts, the hospital isn't letting any visitors under 16 in." He stared at his son. "You and Charlie won't be able to see P.J. until he comes home."

Tears were forming in Gabe's eyes. "That's not fair!" He shouted and left the kitchen.

Bob ran after Gabe, only to have his bedroom door slammed in his face. Bob knocked and turned the doorknob at the same time. "Gabe, son, I know this isn't fair to you, but it is the hospital's rule and it's to keep you safe and even to keep P.J. safe."

Gabe lay on his stomach across his bed. "How?" He asked.

"Well, it keeps you safe because children are sometimes for susceptible to germs and with H1N1 present in the hospital, it's better for kids like you and Charlie to stay out. And as for P.J., he has a deep cut on his leg. It's very important that the cut stays clean and germ-free."

Gabe sat up and wiped his face. "He has a cut on his leg?" He asked. "What else?"

Bob's eyes locked with Gabe's. He knew in some ways his son needed to know P.J.'s injuries, but he wasn't completely sure he was ready to hear them. He put his hand on Gabe's shoulder. "P.J. also had a punctured lung; he has two broken ribs, a broken arm, broken collar bone, and a concussion."

Gabe's mouth dropped. "But he's OK?"

Bob nodded. "He should be home in a week to 10 days." He could tell that answer didn't set well with his youngest son. "I tell you what. As soon as P.J. is up to it, you can talk to him on the phone."

Gabe's face lit up. "Really? When?"

Bob held his hands up in defense. "I don't know yet, Gabe. Wait until he's a little stronger and we'll see, OK?"

Gabe nodded. "Thanks, dad."

Teddy was sitting in the kitchen when Bob returned. "Did you get any sleep?" He asked.

Teddy smiled and nodded. "I feel pretty good. When are we going to see P.J.?"

Amy, who was now dressed in jeans and a tee shirt, looked at her daughter. "About that, would you mind if just your dad and I went today?"

"No, that's fine. He probably doesn't need too many people around anyway." She replied and turned away from her parents.

"You're upset." Bob stated.

Teddy shook her head. "No, not really, it's just . . ."

Amy sat down across from Teddy, reached across the table and took her hand. "It's just what, honey?"

Teddy looked down as she spoke. "It's just . . . don't you get it? It's my fault P.J. was out there on the road." Large tears fell as she continued. "If he hadn't have had to come to the mall to get me, he wouldn't have been in the path of that truck, and he wouldn't be in the hospital right now."

Amy stood up and pulled Teddy into a hug. "Honey, this is in no way your fault. It wasn't even supposed to snow, let alone be as treacherous as it was."

Teddy shook her head. "How can P.J. ever forgive me?" She sniffled.

"Teddy, your brother loves you. I'm sure he doesn't blame you for this." Bob said as he made himself a BBQ sandwich. "Where did Ivy and Mary Lou go?"

Teddy pulled away from her mom. "They said they would come back later. I think I'll stay here with Gabe and Charlie and maybe call Ivy to come over, if that's OK?"

"I think that's a good idea." Amy said as she kissed Teddy's forehead. "And stop blaming yourself.

TBC