The sight of her daughter lying in the hospital bed made her stomach churn. All the tubes and monitors and needles, all of them hooked up or connected to her baby girl. The thought made her sick. It reminded her too much of Judith all those years ago, being in a hospital room similar to this and watching as her best friend died. This time though it wasn't a friend. This time it was her daughter.
"She looks so small," whispered Adam and Joan nodded weakly, trying to steady herself as she walked over to Judith's bedside, tears slipping slowly from her eyes as she saw all the bruises, the places where they'd obviously stitched her up, her vibrant brown hair lying lifeless against a pillow, just as her body was also doing.
This was not her daughter. This was not Judith. Judith was lively and energetic, always talking and always moving around. Judith wasn't one to lie so still. She never had been. And yet, here her daughter lie so motionless and still. It scared her.
"I don't think I can do this," she whispered, her voice shaky, and Adam wrapped his arms around her thin waist, supporting her just a bit.
"We can do this. We have to stay strong, for Judith," he whispered into her ear and she nodded, wiping away the tears in her eyes.
She gently grasped her daughter's hand, tracing the lines gently. She watched the steady line on the heart monitor, her mind flashing to the night Judith had died, images flashing of the heart monitor going flat and beeping loudly. She had been so scared that night, terrified even. She didn't understand how Judith could have been alive and happy one moment and die the next. It had never really made sense to her, and now that feeling was coming back.
"It's ok Judith. Mommy and Daddy are here. You're safe now," whispered Joan, leaning down and placing a kiss to her daughter's forehead, moving slightly for Adam to do the same. She knew how hard this hard this must be for him. Judith was his daughter too and he'd been just as distraught as she'd been this past week.
"What's the evidence show so far?" asked Will tiredly, putting his hand to rub at his eyes.
"None. Whoever did this wore gloves because they left no fingerprints," said another officer, and Will sighed, not wanting that to be the answer. Judith was in no shape to answer questions like the one's he'd have to ask her, and no evidence only meant that she'd have to answer even more questions, difficult questions for someone so young like Judith, and he didn't even know what kind of emotional state she was in.
"Don't worry chief, we'll find something. That little girl won't have to do much work," said the officer, sensing Will's nerves and he nodded.
"Thanks officer, but let's get searching. I have a granddaughter to see in the morning," said Will, the thought of seeing his grand baby again bringing a smile to his face.
Joan stirred in her sleep, awakening quickly at the sight of unfamiliarity. She turned slightly, her eyes meeting Adam's sleeping figure and she smiled, the thoughts of the night before bringing a smile to her lips. She eased her way off the couch, going over towards Judith and taking her daughter's hand in her own, pulling up a chair.
She stayed there for awhile, her head resting on the edge of the bed, closing her eyes and beginning to fall asleep, re awoken when Adam woke up, he too walking over to the bed.
She opened her eyes again, smiling up at him.
"She's back. She's alive," she whispered and he smiled, kissing her lightly on the lips.
"That she is," he whispered, pulling up another chair and sitting by Joan, his hands gently brushing Judith's arm.
Joan sat up at a bit as she saw movement coming from Judith's bed, her eyes widening when a small whimper came from her daughter's lips.
"Shh, Judith it's ok. Mommy and Daddy are right here," whispered Joan, gently brushing back a few strands of hair from her daughter's face. Judith's eyes fluttered open slowly, staring for a moment at Joan and Adam before taking a deep breath, wincing as she did so.
"Mommy? Daddy?"