Once in A Lifetime Love
Chapter 10
MJ didn't get better, only progressively worse and by the next day, was on life support. He had become septic. Kara had gone home, taking Hannah with her. It was just Maddie and MJ. There had been no word from Mike and Maddie wished she knew what Mike's wishes for his son would be. Dr. McGuire had asked several times about Mike, and Maddie finally gave him Mike's number, more out of frustration, after explaining what was really going on. She was thankful that Dr. McGuire didn't judge it, and just said he would personally call Mike.
One of the nurses had given MJ a stuffed dog while he was still conscious. MJ had developed quite the attachment to it, mostly because he missed Ace. The little boy didn't understand why he was sick, missed his sisters and had asked for Mike several times. As much as Maddie loved Mike, she even was becoming angry with him. He should be with his son. MJ would probably respond if he heard his voice. Susie, the nurse that had given MJ the stuffed dog came in and began assessing MJ. She looked over at Maddie and smiled.
"He's doing good. His fever is down a bit. You should get some rest. It isn't good for you or the baby." Susie said.
"I…how did you know about the baby?" Maddie asked, she knew she hadn't said anything and knew Kara hadn't either. Dr. McGuire knew but had promised not to say anything to anyone and Maddie wasn't showing yet.
"Ms. Rawlings, have you heard anything from MJ's dad?" Susie asked, not answering the question.
"No. He's in Georgia." Maddie said.
"He's a lot closer than that and asked that we watch out for you and the baby too. The stuffed animal is from him." Susie said.
"Then why isn't he in here? Where is he?" Maddie asked.
"Ma'am, I don't have the answers to those questions, but I promise, he loves you and MJ very much. He's also been the one to have the food delivered in." Susie said.
"Does…Dr. McGuire know? I just gave him Mike's number this morning. If Mike loved us so much, he'd be here. MJ needs him, I need him and our baby needs him." Maddie asked.
"He has been here and he met with Dr. McGuire late this afternoon." Susie said.
"So, where is he?" Maddie asked, out of frustration. Susie just smiled at her and adjusted the stuffed dog that was tucked under MJ's arm.
"He'll be here. Just, MJ's fever is down and his vitals are getting better." Susie explained before leaving. Maddie rubbed her face in frustration and sat down next to the hospital bed. The soup and sandwich that had been mysteriously delivered had been from a deli that Maddie had taken Mike to. It was her favorite place and the soup and sandwich had been the same that Maddie had eaten that day. The stuffed dog even looked a little like Ace. What was Mike waiting on?
Maddie must have gone to sleep. She was exhausted and must have laid her head down on the bed. She didn't hear the door opening or closing until she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She figured it was a nurse and just kind of shook the hand away until she heard a voice.
"You were asking for me?" Mike said. Maddie immediately raised up and looked at him in shock.
"You're here?" Maddie asked as she began crying. She jumped up and fell into Mike's waiting arms. She was sobbing into his chest and the anger she felt had all but dissipated. Maddie didn't know how long she stayed like that until they both heard a small voice coming from beside them.
"Daddy?" MJ asked. He had apparently woken up. Mike dropped his arms from around Maddie and immediately knelt next to the bed.
"I'm here, buddy. How are you feeling?" Mike asked as he brushed a hand through MJ's hair.
"I'm tired but my body doesn't hurt so much now." MJ told him. Maddie walked around to the other side of the bed and smiled down at MJ. Mike looked terrible. He looked like he hadn't slept or shaved all week. His eyes were reddened and his clothes were a little wrinkled. Maddie didn't care. She just wondered what his story was.
"I'm glad to hear that. You like that dog?" Mike asked, pointing at the stuffed dog.
"Yeah but it isn't Ace. I miss Ace." MJ said.
"You'll see him soon. Are you hungry or thirsty?" Maddie asked.
"Yeah. My tummy is empty." MJ said.
"I'll tell the nurse he is awake and asking to eat and drink. Feels like his fever has broken." Maddie said as she felt MJ's forehead.
"Can you hold me, Daddy? I don't like when the nurse takes blood away." MJ asked, almost crying.
"You bet, buddy." Mike said before Maddie left the room. She let Susie know that MJ was awake and asking to eat and drink. Susie immediately ordered him food and then came in to check him over. Mike was sitting on the bed with MJ on his lap. They were talking about the stuffed puppy and as soon as MJ saw Susie, his eyes willed with tears.
"Its gonna hurt!" MJ said, struggling against Mike.
"Hey, not so much this time. I'll use your IV. Just have to be still for me." Susie said.
"Let's look at your puppy dog." Mike said, while maneuvering MJ to where Susie could draw the blood. Mike kept MJ occupied while Susie went to work. Maddie stood away, watching him. For all her frustration, he was amazing with MJ. It made her wonder how he would be with their baby. Given that Susie knew about the baby, Mike had to know.
A little later, after Susie had taken MJ's blood and all his vitals, the cafeteria showed up with a kid friendly meal of chicken nuggets and macaroni. MJ devoured the meal and fell into a good, natural sleep soon after, giving Mike and Maddie time to talk. Susie had come in and said everything looked good, and Dr. McGuire would be in early the next morning to talk to them. Maddie just didn't even know how to start.
"Mike, I hope you know how loved you are. What made you come back?" Maddie asked as they sat down on the couch in MJ's room.
"I…woke up this morning and was thinking about it. Then Dr. McGuire called me. I mentioned about not being there when Lucas and Kaitlyn died and he said that if I stayed away, I might not be here if MJ died. That just kind of stuck with me. Finally, about ten, I got in the truck and started driving. Drove really hard to get here." Mike admitted.
"Why did you stay away once you got here?" Maddie asked.
"I…was afraid that you hated me. Tom had told me that you're pregnant and I was too self-involved to jump in the truck then. I know I said before I left that by doing what I did, I would make you hate me. Then Susie told me that you were so tired and not handling all this well. I couldn't stay away. Part of me still wanted to, but I couldn't. MJ didn't deserve me not coming here and neither did you." Mike explained. Maddie reached over and squeezed his hand.
"And neither did Hannah or Lucy. Hannah never gave up hope that you'd come back." Maddie said.
"Where are they?" Mike asked.
"Al and Becky's. Hannah was here until this morning and Kara took her to their house. I couldn't just leave MJ, so I scrambled for childcare and Hannah was very determined to be here. It just become really critical this morning." Maddie explained.
"Its okay. Hopefully he'll be out of here soon." Mike remarked.
"So…how do you feel about the baby? We had kind of talked about it but not so quick." Maddie asked.
"I…I'll admit, I struggled with that. Maybe still do. Initially, I thought you got pregnant on purpose. Then I remembered the day that the baby must have been conceived. That was kind of my own fault. I'm not altogether unhappy about it. Still trying to wrap my mind around it." Mike admitted.
"The baby is doing good. Developing well. Although, I doubt you'll ever see me in a bikini again." Maddie teased.
"I would never mind if you wore one. I am glad the baby is doing good. Maddie, please understand, I know you think I should immediately be head over heels in love with this baby, or even these kids and you; but I have lost so many people I love that having you all means that I am just waiting on the shoe to drop. I am absolutely terrified that if I love you all, I will lose you. I don't think I could handle that." Mike admitted. Maddie squeezed his hand again as she searched for the correct words.
"I watched you with MJ while Susie was taking his blood and his vitals. The way you are with him shows how much you love him. I can understand why you would feel the way you do, I've lost people too, but I also refuse to close myself off to love because I am scared to lose my new people." Maddie said.
"You do have a point. Why don't you get some rest while he's sleeping?" Mike suggested after Maddie yawned. He held his arm out and leaned back so Maddie could lay her head on his chest and stretch out over the couch. Maddie had to admit; she had missed sleeping on Mike's chest. There was something so comforting about the strength of his arms, the sound of his heartbeat and she didn't even mind his whiskers tickling her skin.