(A/N: Sorry for not updating for a while, I was off-line due to an accident I was in. But I'm back and hopefully as good as new.)
(A/N: I redid this chapter because it sounded like anabuhnahnuh's story: "IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT" I apologize, because it looked like I was copying her story, after I reread this chapter I realized it was very, very close. what I did was purely unintentional and my mistake, and I offer my sincerest apology to anabuhnahnuh.)
Methodist Hospital– January 26
At 8:00 am, Gordon and Alex arrived at the hospital with Melissa and Christina; Walker had stayed at the hospital the night before with Angela, since Walker and Alex didn't want Angela to have to be alone.
After Angela had woken up from her coma, her whole personality had changed, for most of the time Angela didn't say anything unless she was forced to answer a question. Walker or Alex had to almost force her to eat because she would only pick at her food and look at it like it was something from outer space. Over the past few days she had slowly began to talk more without being forced to answer a question, but Angela maintained a state of detachment and her tone rarely anything more than monotone.
At nine o'clock that morning, Dr. Emerson arrived and asked to see Walker and Alex outside while Gordon stayed with the girls.
After closing the door Dr. Emerson turned to face Walker and Alex, "We've just had some of your daughter's blood work come back; I'm not going to lie to you, one of my main concerns was that there was a possibility of Angela testing positive for the HIV virus." Dr. Emerson could see the panic cross their faces, as she continued to speak. "However, the test was not only negative, but her blood work shows that she is actually immune to the HIV virus…."
Alex let out the breath she didn't realize she had been holding; as she welcomes the relief like a warm blanket on a cold night. After a few moments Alex realizes the doctor is still talking.
"…Angela's injuries will heal in time; I don't think any of them will leave any scars. I am, however; worried about her healing emotionally from this. But physically she is going to be just fine."
"When can we take her home?" Alex asked knowing that no matter how soon the doctor told them it wouldn't be soon enough.
The doctor smiled and asked, "Is tomorrow morning soon enough for you?"
"Yes I can live with that. Thank you Doctor Emerson." Alex said as she let Walker wrap his arm around her shoulders and walk her back to Angela's room.
"So what did the doctor say?" Gordon asked as Walker and Alex came back into the room.
"Well, she said that Angela is going to be fine and if everything checks out she can go home tomorrow." Alex said as a smile formed on her face.
"Really!" Christina asked excitedly as she jumped up and down.
"Yes" Walker said smiling at the little ball of energy that was his youngest daughter.
That night Gordon volunteered to stay with Angela so Walker and Alex could spend some time with Melissa and Christina.
"We need to have a family meeting." said Walker as he sat down on the edge of Melissa's bed. After the girls were tucked in, Alex sat across from him on the edge of Christina's bed.
"Since Angela is coming home tomorrow, I wanted you two to know that I know you think that everything is just going to go back to the way things were, but you each have to understand that it isn't going to be easy. We will all have to make adjustments. It won't be easy, and I do mean all of us will be making adjustments; you girls, me, your mom, and especially Angela."
"Like what?" Christina asked looking over at Walker.
"Well, like Mel, I know you like to sleep with Angela, but it might be best if you stayed in you own bed for a while. And Chris, I know you love asking questions, but it would be better if you didn't ask Angela about what happened to her while she was gone. And that goes for you too, Mel," Walker said as he looked down at Melissa who was laying back against her pillow as she was listened to what her father had to say.
"I don't want the two of you to be asking Angela a lot of questions about what happened to her while she was gone; if there is something Angela would want to tell you, then she will tell you. And asking a lot of questions about it will probably make things more difficult for her than they already are. Do you understand that?" Walker waited while the girls thought through what they had just been told, getting a nod and 'Yes sir,' from both girls Walker and Alex tucked the girls in, kissed them both goodnight, turned out the light, and headed for their bedroom.
Bright and early the next morning the Walkers were at the hospital, ready to take Angela home. Shortly after they got there, while the doctor signed Angela's release papers, the nurse took the I.V. out of Angela's arm so she could change into the clothes that Alex had brought for her. When Angela stood up, Alex noticed that Angela was a good inch taller than what she had been before she was abducted, and had lost a lot of weight.
Soon the doctor came back in with Angela's release papers, and a nurse came into the room with a wheel chair for Angela. When they got out to Walker's RAM; Gordon, Melissa, and Christina climbed into the backseat. Walker, then, helped Angela into the middle seat up in the front seat, Alex then climbed into the passenger seat; Walker got in the truck and started the truck.
As they drove through the city, Angela noticed the dark blue ribbons that hung almost on every tree, pole, and fence that they passed.
"What are the ribbons for?" Angela asked, as they drove past a house that had ribbons tied to every fence post.
"They're for you, Angel." Walker answered, glancing over at Angela as her eyes widened in surprise.
"ME?" Angela asked with mixed confusion and surprise.
"Yes, you Angel." Alex said as she began to tell Angela about the amount of public interest in her abduction, and how the case had even made national headlines.
As they drove up the driveway to the ranch Angela noticed the entire ranger family gathered out side of the house and a banner that said WELCOME HOME.
As everyone was getting the picnic table set up to eat, Gage went into the kitchen to find Sydney standing there staring out the window overlooking the backyard.
"Hey Syd, you ok?" Gage asked, noticing that Sydney jumped and it was obvious that she had been daydreaming.
"I'm fine, Gage. I was daydreaming I guess."
"You looked about a million miles away, you sure you're alright?"
"Yes Gage, I'm alright. You don't have to hover over me like a mother hen over her chicks." Sydney said, loosing her patience. She turned and walked out the back door without a look back. But not before Gage noticed the tears that were in her eyes.
Gage wouldn't admit it but he had been bugging her almost constantly since the day they had gone to where Angela had been held captive; but he knew something was bothering her.
After lunch, everyone said their goodbyes knowing that the Walkers would want some time together as a family.
That night after everyone had showered and changed into their pajamas, Christina had convinced Angela to play her harp. After making sure the harp was tuned, Angela sat down and began to play. Walker noticed that Angela was playing very slowly and was actually struggling to remember each cord. After Angela had finished playing, everyone sat down in the living room and watched one of Angela's favorite movies. Once the movie was over then Christina was sound asleep, Walker gently carried her upstairs to her and Melissa's room and tucked her into bed.
"I can I ask you something?" Walker asked as he got into bed that night
"What?" Alex said as she lay back against her pillow
"Is something wrong? You looked like something bothering you, and I know that you just didn't want to say what it was around the girls." Walker told his wife, hoping that she would tell him what was going on and what she was so worried about.
"It's just that I'm worried about Angela. I'm worried about her healing from all that went though; and will she be able to handle, the trial, or going back to school, or just living a normal life. I mean, we still have to practically force her to eat anything, I know it probably sounds silly, but I would never forgive myself if anything happened to her, Walker." Alex said as tears started to pool in her eyes.
Walker pulled Alex into his arms and held her as the tears continued to stream down her face. Even though Angela was back, Alex was still having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that her daughter had been kidnapped and she couldn't do anything about it.
Walker sat there and held Alex for several more minutes before he said anything. "Alex I know exactly how you feel. I was thinking the same thing. I was thinking that for once, I hadn't been there when one of my daughters needed me the most. And when we have to force her to eat, it tears me up inside because I know it has something to do with what that monster did to her. But the fact is she's home now, Alex. Angela is home, where she belongs; with you, me, Melissa and Christina. And no matter how hard this is I know that we will get through it together."
"How? How do you know that, Walker? How do you know that Angela will be okay? Would you be okay if you had gone through what she has?" Alex shot one question after another until Walker stopped her by lightly squeezing her shoulder.
"I know Angela will be okay because she has us. She knows we love her more than anything and as long as she knows that, she'll be okay. And as for, if I would be okay if I had gone through what Angela had, I honestly can't say. We don't know what all Angela has been through because she hasn't talked to us about what happened, we know some of what happened to her because of her injuries, but as far as what Angela went through personally, we don't know. She might not ever tell us everything about what happened, but for now we can't keep worrying about it. So let's get some sleep." Walker leaned over to turn out the light
TBC