Disclaimer: I do not own 7th Heaven or its characters. I only own my own characters and ideas.
A/N: I hope I still have some loyal readers out there. I am really sorry that I haven't updated in the longest time. The summer just sort of got away from me a bit. Hopefully at least some of you will pick it back up. Now, on with the next chapter!
Chapter 9: Savannah's Men
Ruthie stared out the window at the rain coming down. It didn't rain very often in California, but the weather seemed perfect for the type of day that lay ahead of her and Nick. She would be leaving the hospital without her two new children. They were still too sick to take home. Sarah had sounded hopeful that Josh would be coming home in a few days. He just had to gain a little more weight and be able to maintain his temperature after a bath. Maddie on the other hand was still not even breathing on her own. Other doctors in the NICU had talked to Ruthie and Nick about Madison. She had fluid in her lungs when she was born and it turned into pneumonia.
Matt came into his little sister's hospital room with her discharge papers. She looked so sad and he could understand why. Her two little ones weren't in her arms and going home with her. He and Sarah had talked to Nick the night before about how to prepare Amelia for the new babies. She was old enough to understand that mommy went to the hospital to have two babies and would want to know why they weren't coming home. Nick was taking his two kids to the park and then swinging them by his parent's condo where they were staying for a while before picking up Ruthie.
"Hi Ruthie. I brought in your discharge papers. You are all set to go whenever Nick gets back." Ruthie didn't even look up at him. "Hey, why don't I go get a wheelchair and take you up to see Maddie and Josh?"
Ruthie turned to look at her brother with a smile on her face. "I would love to see them before I leave them here. And you can bet I will be here every day to see them."
Matt was so happy to see his sister smiling again he wheeled her into the NICU first to Joshua. He was no longer hooked up to machines and the feeding tube had been removed. He smiled up at his mother at the sound of her soothing voice and soft touch. "Hi Josh. It's mommy. I have to leave for a little bit, but I will be back to see you and Maddie tomorrow. Keep getting stronger and keep out of trouble while I am gone." Tears were now flowing freely from Ruthie's eyes and she didn't try and stop them. Matt stepped away to give her a bit of privacy. Sarah came up behind him.
"This is going to be a roller coaster ride for everyone in the family, but with so much support, she will pull through." Matt looked at his wife of almost fifteen years. She looked so hopeful and happy.
"Let's go Eagles! Yeah! Go for the gold!" Savannah was screaming her head off and clapping in time with the cheers. It was the huge swim meet against the rest of the county. Aaron was a star swimmer and most of the girls really crushed over him. Many cheers from her fellow cheerleaders, most of who were sending out praises for the tan, blonde, Camden.
Kevin and Simon were watching the matches while their wives were with the younger kids at the playground on the other end of the park. "Aaron sure has talent. I wonder what type of records he is going to smash by his senior year?"
"I know what you mean Kev. I don't want him to swim for that reason though. I want him to do it because he enjoys it." Simon sat up straighter as his son, wearing the red of the middle school Eagles, got onto the diving board of lane number five. "Oh look, there he goes!" An air horn shot out and seven divers went into the water to complete the 200 meter butterfly.
"Alright Aaron! All of the cheerleaders were clapping and cheering for him as he touched the side of the pool seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. Aaron got out of the pool and ran over to Savannah. He gave her a huge hug, which caused jealous looks from girls all around.
"That was so awesome Aar. I can't believe it. Wow."
"Thanks Vannah. Hey, good luck on the stunts coming up. It is fun to watch before the girls' races."
The spunky teenage girl had almost forgotten that she was about to show off some new tricks. This was the first time she was going to be a flyer. The whole family had come for the outing. She could see her mother and aunt walking over with a parade of little cousins. They were going to stand far enough away to not be an embarrassment. People talked as it was on the number of children in her family.
Lucy sent up a little prayer to keep her little girl safe. Savannah had mentioned to her the other day that she may be one of the flyers. That could be a dangerous position. A catchy beat was pumping out of the boom boxes and cheers were starting to come from the bleachers. The swimmers including Aaron were watching from the side of the pool.
As if in slow motion, Savannah felt her teammates lift her up. Derik Lancaster held on to her tight which gave the teen butterflies. What she didn't know was that Derik felt the same for the petit blonde. He was hoping to get to know her better and maybe even ask her out in a while.
Savannah was counting out the time keeping in beat with the music. She didn't want to screw it up. This was her audition to be a regular flyer next year. Suddenly one of the girls holding up her leg slipped. She went falling into the air. She wasn't screaming however. She kept her cool even though she could hear her mother's piercing scream. A steady pair of hands grabbed her waist and she fell on top of him causing him to fall to the ground. She landed on her side. That was sure going to hurt in the morning. Aaron was above her asking her if she was okay. The worry was evident in his clear blue eyes. That was something the two of them shared.
"Yeah. A little shaky, but fine. How is Derik?"
A shadow fell over her as his tender voice reached her ears. "I'm fine. Here, let me help you up."
Aaron watched as his cousin and best friend was lifted up tenderly by a big strong guy he knew she had feeling for. She winced a bit in pain as Derik's arms touched the side she landed on, and worry bawled up in the pit of his stomach.
Lucy ran into the area to her daughter. She looked more embarrassed than anything. Simon was pulling the car up close so that his niece could lay in the back. He was sure that his wife was on the phone with Sarah and they would be taking a trip to the emergency room.
"Thanks for catching my daughter Derik," Lucy said to the boy still holding her oldest daughter. "You look like you may have landed on your hand a bit hard as well and your knee may need some stitches." Derik looked down at his knee in surprise. He had been so worried about Savannah Kinkirk as she fell after one of the cheerleaders started laughing at a joke, that he had never noticed. "Why don't you come along with us. We are taking Savannah to see her aunt."
"I don't mean this as disrespectful Reverend, but which aunt of Savannah's are we going to see?"
"Her Aunt Sarah. She is the one married to Matt and the pediatrician at the hospital. She would be more than happy to take a look at you as well."
Derik gently placed Savannah in the back seat of the gray minivan and climbed into the middle seat after being handed a towel by Aaron. He climbed in the other side and Lucy climbed into to passenger's seat as Simon gave the wheel to Kevin.
Sarah had just gotten off of the phone with Sandy. It was a bit surprising to hear which of her family members was coming in this time to see her. It made her a little nervous that she had fallen that far from the ground even though she had been caught.
The call took her out of her funk as she liked to call it. She felt so bad that just yesterday, Ruthie had left the hospital. She was here this morning for hours just talking to the twins. It has been proven to help, and Josh was looking great. Probably be discharged the next morning. Maddie, on the other hand, had hit a plateau. She had not gotten any worse, but on the other hand, she was not getting any better. Tracy, the nurse assisting her for the day, gave her a nod meaning her family was here.
The sight Sarah saw when she walked outside to greet them made her laugh hardly. It seemed like Savannah had been surrounded by men. Lucy had gone inside to start on the paperwork that would be ahead of her even though it was free. Kevin and Aaron were arguing who would carry her into the hospital. Savannah was yelling from the backseat that she could walk on her own. Finally, a young man in a cheerleading uniform whom Sarah saw at church every week got out of the car and grabbed the girl swiftly, but carefully.
His leg was bleeding and Sarah guessed it would need about four stitches, but he seemed to be walking on it fine even with the extra weight of the girl. She directed them to an exam room and Tracy handed the teen, who introduced himself as Derik Lancaster, a towel to stop the bleeding.
"So Savannah, what happened sweetie?" A multitude of voices met her ears, but none of them came from the moody teen who just rolled her eyes. "Hey, I am talking to Savannah. Unless you are bruised or bleeding, you need to step out of the curtain area and go into the waiting room. I promise I will come and get you after I take a look over her." On a side note to keep Lucy busy Sarah added, "Luce, why don't you contact Mr. Lancaster's parents and have them come on up. I can't treat him until they give me consent because it is not an emergency situation." Lucy nodded and herded the arguing me with her.
"Okay, now that they are gone, why don't you really tell me what happened while you slip this gown on? I'm sure Mr. Lancaster will be a gentleman and keep his head turned while you do this." Derik had already turned his head and was waiting until he knew she had changed before he shifted his gaze back to the bed. White sheets were now hanging artfully around Savannah so he couldn't see anything as Sarah started examining her body.
"I was a flyer in the cheer. One of the girls let go of my leg and I tumbled down. Derik caught me and I fell on top of him before landing on my side. I really am OW!" Sarah had started gently touching the already bruising skin on her side.
"So I don't need to ask if that hurt. I don't feel any broken ribs, but I have a suspicion that you may have broken your collar bone."
Savannah turned as white as a sheet and Derik reached out his hand to comfort her. "It will be fine Savannah. My brother broke his collar bone while skiing with some friends over winter break in Vermont. It isn't that bad and all he had to do was wear a sling." His voice softened ever so slightly. "I am awfully sorry I dropped you Savvy."
Sarah was touched by the way the young man was treating her niece. She slipped out to give the two of them a moment to see if the Lancasters had arrived and to get Savannah up to x-ray.
"You didn't mean to drop me. If you hadn't caught me in the first place, I could have been hurt much worse. I should be the one thanking you." Savannah smiled for the first time since she had fallen. She felt very lucky to have had this time with Derik.
A/N: Please review. I will update faster if you guys tell me what you think, good or bad.
