Part 9
'Dreams'

-Pine Valley Hospital-
-August 4, 2006-

"Kendall? Kendall?" Greenlee hung up the phone and turned to look at Anna. "I have to go. I'll be back." She left the hospital room in a hurry.

Anna watched the younger woman leave. She wondered what had happened with Kendall to make Greenlee run out that fast. Anna would ask the woman when she came back, for right now she'd wait. Jamie and Maggie were in Maggie's room sleeping. The doctors had given her a clean bill of health, again. They blamed the seizure on improper nutrition. Now they had her on watch and on the bill for a more substantial diet, which Maggie would be thrilled about. Anna smiled and turned toward Maggie's bed, watching as Maggie slept in Jamie's arms. After she was satisfied that Maggie was once again all right, turned and left for the night. Jamie had everything under control.

Maggie opened her eyes when she was sure Anna was gone. As the door closed Maggie sighed. She turned her face towards Jamie once again and squeezed him. Needing contact, needing an anchor. He was perfect. After all he was her Jamie; her best friend, her confidant and right now, her everything. He'd be there for her. He understood, somehow he understood. She'd seen it in his eyes when he looked at her. He wasn't going to laugh at her, or turn her away. He was going to stay with her even if that meant postponing his own dreams and life. Which wasn't fair. It wasn't fair at all. None of it was.

Maggie sighed and looked out at the room. She was still in the same one. After everything, they hadn't moved her. Posters and flowers littered the room while stuffed animals occupied the long table. Maggie's eyes stared at the small teddy bear that started this domino affect. She hadn't asked for anyone to hand it to her. Afraid that if she touched it she'd find herself stuck in her own mind again. Right now she just stared at it wondering if Bianca was right, if Miranda would hold her matching bear close every night. If Miranda would let her teddy bear comfort her like Mr. Pig had for her. Maggie smiled as she saw Mr. Pig sitting right next to…she hadn't a name for the new bear yet. With a moment's thought she smiled the name she now thought of sound fitting. M&M. After all it was what the bear would read when placed next to its mates. Miranda and Maggie. A small token of affection Bianca left for her that now laughed and taunted her showing what she could never have.

Maggie moved her eyes from the bear. The sound of her heart monitor beginning to lull her into a sleep she feared. Sleeping would bring about something she wasn't sure she could handle. Fearing sleep was something new for Maggie. She used to eagerly wait the days she could sleep in, curl up in her warm blankets and remain there for a few extra hours. Sleep had always been a comfort for her. In her dreams her life was different. In her dreams anything she wanted could be hers. Her heart's deepest wish could be met. Now, the sanctuary she once found in sleep was gone. Fear had taken its grip of her heart and warned her of what was to come during sleep. It'd never be the same again, not now. Not when she was finally aware of what she could see, what she could do. Which, confused her even more because what was it she could do while dreaming? When had sleeping or dreaming become a part of this living nightmare? Why was it that sleep had to change along with the rest of her life? Why? Maggie's eyes fell shut and her leg twitched.

Screeeeech….

Maggie's head spun around at the sound of rubber burning against the pavement. The smell of it clogging her nose as it wafted through the air. A ray of light flashed before her eyes and Maggie instinctively closed her eyes and tightened her muscles, waiting for the impact. A heartbeat…then another, nothing happened. Maggie felt her heart slamming against her chest as she opened her eyes and found herself standing in what looked like a child's bedroom. The walls surrounding her were covered in a deep indigo blue and a dark teal. Pictures from coloring books and hand drawn pieces of art adorned the wall along with shelves of toys and books. There was a toy chest leaning against the far wall with a child's desk to its left and a dollhouse to its right.

She was asleep. Shit. Maggie felt a shiver run up her spine. The hairs on the back of her neck stood at attention as she remained as still as a statue. Maggie waited…and waited. When nothing happened she turned around slowly, sure someone was behind her. When she stood now facing the left of the room Maggie saw a little girl standing by her bed staring at her. Staring wasn't the right description. The girl looked like she was ready to attack, her menacing glare rather odd for a child of her age, which, Maggie presumed, was no older than three. Maggie put her hands up slowly in surrender.

"Who are you?" Maggie was surprised to hear the question when the girl's mouth didn't move.

"My name's…"

"Ma-ey." Now Maggie was confused. She didn't know the child.

"You know me?" The girl's menacing glare fell. She smiled while nodding her head happily. Maggie noticed the girl tighten her hold on a stuffed animal. That's when she knew. Her eyes widened. She was helpless to stop the gasp that left her mouth as she took an involuntary step backwards. "Miranda…" The child smiled and nodded her head.

With a deep breath Maggie felt her legs give out. Miranda. This was Miranda. Maggie felt her chest heave off a great burden as she laughed deeply. She covered her mouth with both hands as she laughed into them. How could she not have seen it? Bianca's eyes stared right back at her in a littler version. Tears fell from her eyes as she stared at the little girl. Bianca's little girl, Bianca's baby girl was right in front of her. Smiling at her as she held onto her teddy bear tightly, the thumb from the arm she used to smother the bear against her chest placed firmly in her mouth.

"No cry." Maggie couldn't help it, she cried even harder at the little girl's plea. Miranda became upset when Maggie continued to cry. She moved over to the woman and patted her shoulder gently. When that didn't help she kneeled down beside her and rubbed her back and did what her mommy did all the time, she told her it was going to be all right.

Maggie calmed down. She looked up at Miranda and smiled through her watery eyes. Miranda, Bianca's child, was alive and in front of her. For the first time since waking up Maggie found peace. Since waking from her informative lesson she felt that perhaps this gift wasn't a curse. After all it allowed her to see Miranda, hear her voice, smell her shampoo, feel her hand rubbing along her back, be with her. How could she not find these abilities anything but a gift?

Miranda and Maggie stayed as they were, kneeling beside each other for a long while. They looked and smiled at each other but said nothing more. The quiet was comfortable and Maggie feared as soon as it was broken whatever she was experiencing would end and she'd lose Miranda again.

"No fe-er." Miranda spoke and Maggie turned to see that this time Miranda had actually spoken the words. She hadn't just heard them, Miranda had spoken them and her soft sweet voice was precious.

"I'm sorry, Miranda. I just, well I don't know where we are." Maggie answered simply.

Miranda seemed to think about this for a second before laughing and laying her head on Maggie's shoulder. Maggie felt her heart swell and wrapped her arm around Miranda's shoulder and held the little girl to her.

"We ast home." Maggie couldn't help the sob that left her at hearing this. God, how right Miranda was. She was where she knew she was supposed to be. The only one missing was Bianca. "Mommy…tere." Miranda pointed at the bed along the wall.

Maggie looked at the bed and saw a figure lying on it sleeping soundly. Maggie looked down at Miranda and then over at Bianca again. With a small smile Maggie lifted Miranda into her arms. Miranda wrapped her arms around her neck and rested her head on her shoulder and yawned. Maggie wanted to know why Miranda felt so comfortable with her, if she was this friendly with everyone. She probably was but knew not to speak to strangers. Yet, Maggie was a stranger to her and here she was trusting in her to take care of her to keep her safe.

"Yous ma-ake mommy warms…" Miranda whispered against Maggie's shoulder. Maggie wondered what that meant and smiled when Miranda repeated that she made Bianca warm. Odd, hadn't Frankie—her own mind—told her the same thing? She mentally shrugged it off, she'd think about it later. Right now she had to put a sleepy mermaid to bed. "Mermaid…" Miranda giggled happily at the nickname. Yes, she liked it.

Maggie sighed, she never got used to people in her dreams being able to read her mind.

Maggie moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Miranda moved out of her arms to snuggle with Bianca and Maggie felt her heart swell.

"Sleep…" Miranda said as she yawned and pulled her bear closer to her as her thumb found her mouth.

Maggie smiled down at the little girl and ran her hand along her cheek to brush the hair behind her ear. Maggie sat on the bed staring into Miranda's eyes, her fingertips barely touching her skin until Bianca stirred beside Miranda. Maggie felt tears come to her eyes again as she watched Miranda wrap herself around Bianca while Bianca's arm draped lightly over Miranda.

Frankie—no herself forgive her but she wanted this. She'd give up everything she had to actually be sitting on this bed watching Bianca and Miranda sleep. She'd give up this gift happily if this were what she could have. For no matter what she might feel when finally fulfilled by the gift, this feeling, right now in her heart, she was sure surpassed it by millions.

"Nite nite Ma-ey." Miranda groggily whispered, her hand squeezing onto the hand of her bear before it loosened as she drifted off to sleep.

Maggie wiped at the tear falling from her face and stood from the bed. She turned to the end of the bed and found the blanket she was looking for. With a little tug the blanket came up and she wrapped it around her two girls, tucking them in for the night. Maggie stood there for a moment, watching mother and daughter sleep and she felt whole and hollow at the same time. She was here in spirit only. Maggie laughed at how right that was, she was literally only here in spirit. She wasn't here with Bianca and Miranda. She was across the Atlantic Ocean in a hospital bed lying next to Jamie.

With a sigh Maggie stepped over to the bed aware that she couldn't remain. She wouldn't be here for much longer and she wanted to do one last thing before she left. She bent down and placed a gentle kiss on top of Miranda's forehead. "Goodbye little mermaid." She looked at the bear in Miranda's arm and ran a fingertip along its soft surface. "Your mother's right. As long as you have this bear I'll always be there for you if only in spirit. I'll be there whenever you need me. You just hold onto that bear and hug it for all its worth and I swear as long as it stays with you, I will too." Miranda smiled and hugged the bear. Maggie laughed gently before placing another kiss atop Miranda's head.

Then Maggie looked over at Bianca. If it were possible Bianca looked more beautiful than she ever had. Her hair was mussed, no makeup in sight, a small smile upon her full lips, her skin pale even in the feeble lighting, and her hand draped protectively over Miranda's midsection. It was a sight that could warm even a yeti's heart. Maggie sighed and ran her hand down Bianca's cheek. Her skin was cool from the air but as Maggie rubbed her thumb along her cheek it warmed. With a smile and a tear falling from her eye Maggie bent over and placed a kiss upon Bianca's lips. Not blaming anything but herself for this kiss, she wouldn't repeat that again. Not now. She pulled back, but not before a tear fell from her cheek onto Bianca's face. Maggie slowly pulled back and gasped in surprise when brown eyes opened and stared right at her.

"Bianca…" Maggie whispered softly her hand still on Bianca's cheek, her thumb now frozen as she waited. Her heart raced against her chest as the seconds ticked by and all Bianca did was stare at her. The only indication that she was seen was the brunette's widening pupils.

Bianca moved her hand up to her cheek, where Maggie's hand remained touching her skin. "Maggie…" Bianca's fingertips grazed over her skin.

Maggie gasped at the touch and sound of her name. "Maggie…"

Maggie's heart raced. She moved her hand to where a tear was falling from Bianca's eye. "Maggie…" Bianca mouth remained open as if she wanted to say more but couldn't. Maggie laughed lightly and sat back down on the edge of the bed.

"Is that all you can say?" Bianca nodded her head. Maggie laughed again and god the sound alone made Bianca's heart swell and constrict at the same time.

Maggie knew instinctively that she hadn't much time and by all the stars in the universe she was going to say this before she couldn't. "I love you, Bianca." Maggie whispered through a semi faltering thousand-watt smile. Then a thought occurred to her. Why not? "Come home…" Maggie watched as her hand literally started to faze out of sight. Shit. "Bianca come home, I need you!"

Maggie's voice echoed through the room after she was gone. Bianca looked around and touched her hand to the side of her nose where Maggie's tear had fallen before watching as the bed rose up now that Maggie's form was gone. Bianca's eyes widened and her heart continued to race against her chest. "Maggie…"

Maggie felt someone shaking her and groaned as she opened her eyes. "Maggie!" Maggie brought her hand to her forehead and groaned once again.

"No need to scream Jamie." Maggie saw Jamie standing beside her bed a worried expression slowly slipping from his face as a smile took its place. "What time is it?" Maggie asked groggily and coughed, her throat was as dry as the desert sand. "Can I have some water?" Maggie rasped and Jamie rushed to do as she asked. Funny, Maggie thought. As soon as she was well again she knew it was going to be hell to get Jamie to do anything for her. The thought made her smile. She wished that day would come sooner.

Jamie came back over and turned the straw from the cup to Maggie's lips and Maggie rolled her eyes. She wasn't completely helpless. She could hold her own cup and drink from it without a straw. She knew this, Jamie knew this but she also knew it made Jamie feel better to have her drink like this. Like the doctors told her to so she complied, if only to make Jamie feel better. She'd probably taken seven years off of his life with how many times she'd scared him these last few days.

"It's-" Jamie looked at his watch. "Nine twenty."

Maggie nodded her head and smiled lightly. "What are you smiling about?" Maggie's smile widened before it fell. "Greenlee…" Maggie met the eyes of the other two people standing in the doorway. "Jack-" the aforementioned man smiled as he moved into the room with his daughter.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Greenlee stated as she kissed Maggie's cheek before moving aside.

"Morning." Maggie greeted back, smiling as she listened to what Greenlee wasn't saying aloud. It looked like Greenlee had a good night and woke up with a new determination, a new hope, and by the looks of what Maggie could see, a new future.

"It's good to have you back, Maggie." Jack said as he kissed Maggie's forehead. Maggie smiled up at the man that was always kind to her. He had no secret motives and was genuinely happy to see her. It felt good to feel that kind of love from someone she admired.

"It's good to be back." Maggie answered as she smiled up at him before turning back to the door. "Erica…" Maggie greeted and watched the woman flinch as she spoke her name. Well, that would have been odd if Maggie wasn't aware of Erica's plans to keep Bianca from her. Funny, she hadn't known about Erica's plan until the moment she entered the room. It seemed to be the only thing that the woman could think about and

therefore was on the forefront of not only her mind, but Maggie's as well.

The other occupants in the room seemed to sense the tension between the two women but were unable to think of anything that would have caused it. After all, Maggie had been in a coma for two years. They hadn't the time to have a fight since she'd woken up and it was unlikely they'd hold over a grudge from two years ago, right? They had no idea what Erica was trying to cheat Maggie out of, by everything Maggie deemed holy she was not going to let Erica take her future from her.

TBC…