Author's Note: Guys, your comments seriously make my day! Okay, you've waited long enough. Here's what happens to Maya.
*Suggested Song: "Doxology" - Joel Rosenberger
**Suggested Song: "Heal" - Tom Odell
*The breeze lifted the tips of her long blonde curly locks. Maya rotated her body in a full circle, confused by the strange atmosphere. The sky was a vibrant shade of blue she had never seen before. The bright green grass rolled for miles on end. It tickled when the wind blew the grass against her legs. And the air - the air was crisp and fresh, much different from the polluted air back in the city.
"Maya?" A faint voice asked from behind her.
Maya turned to see the source of the sound. Her eyelids jutted open at the sight before her. "Mom?" She let out breathy while looking over the woman in front of her.
"Maya!" Katy ran to her daughter and held her in a tight embrace. Maya, on the other hand, stood paralyzed in puzzlement.
"Mom? Mom, what is this?" She questioned breaking away from her mother. Katy avoided Maya's gaze. "You're dead. Am I- dead?"
"I'm not sure, sweety." She paused to recount her personal experience. "The last thing I remember was hearing your voice and then I ended up here myself."
Maya lowered her eyes. That comment rehashed the painful memory of losing her mother. Forgetting everything else, she looked back up at her mother and finally hugged her back tightly. "I missed you so much, mom!"
"I missed you, too!" After a long three minutes, they begrudgingly pulled away from each other. Katy began stroking the sides of Maya's hair.
"Why did you have to go? Why did you leave me?" Maya cried.
"I am so sorry, baby girl. I didn't want to."
Maya pressed her hand against her damp cheek. "Who knew you could cry here?" The two went silent. Maya took in a deep breath. "I have so much to tell you!"
"Wait, let me take you somewhere first."
Katy lead Maya to a stream and sat her down on a flat rock. The water from the stream glistened, sometimes blinding one of the two blondes. However, the trees that bordered the stream prevented this for the most part. The water trickled down the stream occasionally crashing against the banks that contained it or some rocks that stood in its way. Maya dipped her toes in the warm water before unloading every detail of the past month without her mother. Katy listened attentively. Though she had been able to watch these events herself, it was nice to hear her daughter's perspective and emotions. She talked about the painful events with her father. She talked about Riley and Lucas and Shawn. For the most part, she remained calm. She spoke of the events as if she was reminiscing moments of her life fifty years later. The more she talked about it, though, the more she grew sad and angry.
"I don't wanna die, mom!" Maya finally burst out, in greater tears than before. "Despite everything I've been through, I don't want to die! I'm not ready to! I want to get to know Shawn better. I want to live to be 104. I want to go to prom and get married. I want my art to be seen around the world. I want to see the world! I want to see Riley again and Farkle and - and Lucas. It's not fair! I shouldn't be here, and neither should you!"
Katy stared at her daughter with hot tears running down her own face. "Then leave."
"What?"
"Go back to Shawn and Riley and Farkle and Lucas."
"But -"
"It's too late for me, Maya, but you can still go back. You're can pull through this."
"I don't-"
"Go have a long life. Go have fun with your friends. Go fulfill your dreams. Go fall in love. Go live, Maya. Live."
"I don't want to lose you again, mom. I can't lose you again."
"I will be waiting right here for you after you've lived to be 104. I'll always be watching over you, Maya. Don't stay here because of me."
"Mom, it hurts."
"I know, baby girl."
"No, my chest, it hurts." Maya winced.
Katy's eyes grew sad, but she knew she had to make the next few seconds count. "Tell Shawn I loved him and that he deserves to be happy, but if he ever hurts you, I will haunt him for the rest of his life. I approve of Lucas. He seems like a nice boy, but the same goes for him, if he ever hurts you..."
"I know, mom."
"I'm so proud of you, Maya. I'm so sorry for the pain you've had to endure, but you are the strongest person I have ever met. You are going to do great things in life. You have something to say, so share your art with the world. I love you, Maya."
"I love you too, mom."
Maya slowly faded from the paradise, leaving a tear-filled Katy behind.
"You're going to pull through this, Maya!" The doctor yelled as he shocked her heart one last time. His final efforts were a success, bringing her back into conscientiousness, allowing them to complete the last leg of surgery. They moved her to her own room in the ICU and attached a multitude of lines that each served different purposes.
It took a couple of hours before friends and family were given the all clear to go in one at a time, eight hours for Maya to regain conscientiousness, and another three hours before she felt rested enough to interact with visitors. Riley was the first to go in. Maya was still groggy, but she was desperate to see her friend.
Maya tried to clear her throat, but that resulted in a small spurt of coughing. It was then she realized how dry her throat was, probably from that tube that was previously stuffed down it or from the respirator that was keeping her alive just hours ago.
Riley jumped up to get her water and ice to which Maya was extremely grateful. She quickly lapped up three cups of it.
"Thanks, Riley." Riley responded by giving her a gigantic hug.
"How are you feeling?" Riley said softly.
"I think I would have preferred to have been hit by a bus." Maya joked, but Riley didn't find it funny. "Oh come on, I was kidding. It's okay. I'm okay. I'm here aren't I?"
"Barely! Don't ever do that to me again! I thought I was going to lose my best friend!" She cried.
"I'm alive, Riles. I'm - alive." Maya said for the first time out loud. "Besides they've got me on some amazing pain meds."
Maya changed the subject the first moment she could. The topic conversation quickly became all about Riley's Farkle drama. Something about how Cory disapproved, even though they had made great strides to even get to the point of Farkle asking Cory for his permission to date his daughter. Then Riley went on about the all the details of how they got their. Including Farkle's many attempts to ask her out and then his date with Smakle which made her jealous enough to realize she really liked him like that. Honestly, it was hard for Maya to focus. She was trying to be strong, but it was hard to just push aside everything she had been through. Though, she didn't think talking about it would be any easier for her.
"And then he got all angry and jealous when I got all angry and jealous when I found out you and Lucas went on an official date, and -"
"Wait, you're not okay with Lucas and I?"
"Well, I wasn't, but it was only momentarily. I just heard the way Lucas talked about you and saw the way he looked at you, and I just - I guess I just missed when he looked at me that way."
"Why didn't you say something sooner?"
"I don't know. I was being crazy. I think I was just stuck in the past. But I really am happy for you two, Maya. I want you to be together. And I am really happy with Farkle, that is if my father would agree to let us become official!" And just like that, Riley continued on her rant. Maya, however, was haunted by the word father.
Riley went on for another good hour, until Lucas knocked on the door and proceeded to enter.
"Hey Clutterbucket." He cut in.
"Ranger Rick." Maya painfully saluted.
"I think you've had enough time. My turn." He ushered the brunette out.
"Fine, I guess that's fair." She stood up from the chair stationed next to her friend's bed. Riley paused halfway out to stare at her friend one last time. "I'm glad you're finally back, Maya." Then she took her exit.
"Finally?" Maya looked to Lucas. "How long was I gone?"
He shook his head as he went to take his seat. "It's not important." He smiled as he went to grab her hand gently, but her hand automatically recoiled. She wasn't ready for physical touch yet, which thankfully he picked up pretty quickly. "Take as long as you need." He assured.
"Thanks." She paused noticing a skin colored band-aid on the joint of his elbow. "What's that for? Riley had one too."
"Don't worry about it."
"What about about your hand?" She said this time noticing the white bandage wrapped around his knuckles.
"Don't worry about it." This time emphasizing each of his words a little more. He would never tell her, but his knuckles were still very much bruised from when he punched her father.
She yawned as her eyelids started to grow heavy.
"Why don't you get some rest. You must still be exhausted."
"Are you sure?"
Lucas nodded. "I'll be right here when you wake up."
"Okay." She yawned. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." He smiled.
Lucas sat their caressing her hand lightly. Tears came to his eyes as he examined the many bruises that covered her body.
19 Hours Ago...
Lucas agreed to let Shawn ride in the ambulance with Maya, but that didn't mean he wouldn't be inches behind. Lucas tailed the ambulance all the way to the hospital. He watched them unload her from the emergency vehicle, still hand pumping oxygen into her body as they had when they first left the scene. He ran with the stretcher all the way to the last set of automatic doors before the operating room, crying out her name the whole time.
"Sir, this is as far as you can go." The nurse said restricting him from going any further.
"Maya!" He continued to cry.
Shawn pulled him in for a man hug. He embraced him tightly, as if Lucas were his own son. "She'll be alright." Shawn whispered into Lucas's shoulder. Despite his words, the two continued to sob.
A beeping from the machine sent Lucas into a panic. He stood up from his chair beside the bed and immediately started looking for assistance.
A middle-aged nurse with dark hair pulled into a ponytail and hot pink scrubs entered the room. "It's okay," she said noticing his discomfort, "that alarm just tells me that the liquid in her iv bag needs replaced."
"That's not cool. I thought..." He trailed unable to voice his concern.
The nurse looked at him motherly. "She's made it through the hardest part."
He shook his head. "You don't understand what she's been through, what she's coming back to..."
"Doesn't matter. She made the decision to fight for her life. She fought alone to make that decision, but now she's got you guys. I've seen that waiting room, or should I say rooms? I bet she doesn't even know half the people in there."
Lucas smiled at the thought of all the people who came out to support his girlfriend.
"Oh yeah, she's gonna be just fine." The nurse smiled and patted his back. "You need anything else, you ask for Nurse Jasmine."
"Thanks." He replied, taking his seat next to Maya again.
The rest of the group had funneled into the waiting room joining the two men.
Eventually a man in mint green scrubs emerged holding a clipboard.
"What's going on? How is she?" Shawn questioned.
"Are you the parent or guardian?" Shawn nodded. The doctor breathed deeply. "Maya's lungs endured a period of time where she wasn't getting enough oxygen. So, we are treating her for hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. However, we need your consent for a rather major surgery. There was a slight tear in Maya's aorta. In addition, many other organs sustained damage from the electricity. We need to remove a kidney and repair part of her liver. I need you to read over this carefully and sign when you are ready."
"No, no, there is no time for that." Shawn yanked the clipboard out of the doctor's hand and signed and dated every highlight box. "Do what you need to do to save my daughter."
"Okay." He replied rather mundane and monotone, considering everyone else was kind of freaking out. "The hospital is currently experiencing a shortage of 'o' type blood, which Maya is going to need. You can help Maya by being tested and donating."
"Done." Shawn said without missing a beat.
Maya's eyes began to flutter open.
"Hey beautiful." The country boy sang.
"Lucas,"
"Yeah?"
"Why me?" Maya asked with skepticism in her voice.
"What?"
"Why did you choose me over Riley? I mean, Riley is gorgeous and kind and optimistic and smart and always sees the best in people. She's happy and full of life - and fight. So, why did you choose me?"
Lucas took a minute to take in her question. "It's true, Riley is all of those things. But you are smart too. You are strong. You are gorgeous. You are full of life - and fight. You are caring, loyal, fierce, independent, bold, and talented. But most importantly, you are you. And you won't change you for anybody - not even me. I love that about you. I lo-like you, Maya, a lot. Riley is great, but she is not you."
"Thanks. I lo-like you a lot, too." She teased.
"Hey!"
~~~ยงยงยง~~~
**A knock on the door signaled the end of the couples alone time. This time it was Shawn.
"Hey man, visiting hours for friends are over."
"Okay." Lucas understood. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight Lucas." Maya said softly.
"Goodnight, Maya." He replied.
After Lucas left the room, Shawn awkwardly shifted into the very warm seat.
"I was wondering when you were going to come in." Maya said half jokingly.
He let out an uncomfortable laugh. "Well, I-uh..."
"It's okay."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Go on." She motioned.
"Why didn't you just tell me?"
She waited to answer. She couldn't say if she needed time to form an answer or decide if she wanted to say it. "I was scared." She finally said. "Those bruises that I got from "slipping on ice" were just a warning. It was okay if I got hurt, but if there was any chance you, or Riley, or Farkle, or Lucas could get hurt, it wasn't worth it."
"I would have protected you. I should have protected you." Shawn couldn't help but let a little drop of water escape from his eye.
Neither one of them knew what to say. Shawn didn't know how to comfort Maya, he could barely hold it together himself. And Maya didn't know how to comfort him for the same reason. So, they just sat there being still.
Maya finally decided to speak. "You know, Rich and those thugs kept calling you my guardian."
"Oh yeah?"
"I kind of liked it. It gave me hope. Like every time they said it, they were unknowingly calling for my guardian angel. I don't know it's kind of stupid..."
"No. It's not, not at all."
"Hey Shawn, thank you - for saving me."
"Of course, that's what guardians are suppose to do."
The edges of her lips curved slightly upwards. Her gaze moved downwards to her twiddling thumbs. "Can I ask you something?"
"Anything, kiddo."
"Why don't you have any pictures in your apartment? I mean, you are a photographer and all."
Shawn had never thought about it before. "I guess I've never had anywhere or anyone to settle down with to decorate with candles and picture frames. I've never had a home or a family long enough to put them out."
Maya looked right into Shawn's eyes. "A home sounds really nice. Maybe it's time we both had that. "
Shawn grinned. "I am way ahead of you."
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Things are starting to unwind now.
By the way, Happy Mother's Day to any of you mother's out there!
Have I mentioned I love your comments, criticisms, and cookies?