Thanks for the reviews! Obviously no one wants Morgan to die! Anyhow, I hope this chapter is okay. I wrote this over the weekend so I hope it's not too bad.
Please, please, please review, I am SO busy, and I love to know that people read what I write.
Any mistakes are mine.
Read. Enjoy. Review.
Chapter Twenty # When You Wake Up #
Above a chocolate ocean hung a large wooden cross, with an angel tied to its beams. Morgan Brody's forehead was pulled back against the cross with a piece of soft red ribbon, and her hands were tied to the arms of the cross with the same red ribbon. Her feet were propped up on a small wooden block, also tied with ribbon.
They entered as those under a spell, slowly, labouredly.
She just hung there, dangling over a vat of molten chocolate. The delicious aroma assaulted their nostrils like a divine power mocking them.
Ha ha! Ha ha! Ha ha!
For protection purposes, Catherine had stayed with the children. Alyssa had escorted the CSIs to the scene, officially, at least.
Why wasn't I faster? Greg screamed in his head, barely feeling the tears on his cheeks. He stumbled forwards and walked closer, staring up at his nightmare. She was so beautiful as she swung, her swings staccato and slow. No, just her chest was moving.
In, stutter, out, stutter, in, stutter, out, stutter...
"She's breathing..." Greg mouthed.
"Greg?" Sara asked. "Did you...did you say something."
"She's...she's breathing..." Greg repeated, louder this time. "She's breathing!"
Nick stepped forward, a pained look on his face. Greg was going into denial. "G, man, come on..."
Greg bent his knees and sprung to the air, clutching the edge of the vat as he started to kick himself up.
"GREG!" Finn yelled. "You're gonna compromise the-"
Greg reached up and grabbed Morgan's ankle and felt the weakening pulse struggling through Morgan's veins.
"I need help, we have to get her down, now!" he yelled back. "I have a pulse!"
No one moved.
"Are you fucking serious? I need help!" Greg shrieked, shocking everyone. Greg had hardly swore at all since the twins started talking. And Greg never shrieked.
Alyssa ran to the other end of the room and climbed up a ladder against the wall, balancing along the rafters. In seconds she had reached Morgan. She slowly sat down and began to ease away the rope.
"Greg, you need to keep balance and try to help her down." She called, gritting her teeth as she started to let her down inch by inch. Greg grabbed Morgan's legs and they started to lower her down.
Alyssa grunted slightly and then cried out as the rope fell through her fingers.
Greg wrapped his arms around Morgan's hips as they plummeted into the viscous liquid. He struggled and swam up, dragging her up through the chocolate to the hope that lay just above.
CSIVCSIVCSIV
Finn smiled to herself sadly as she entered the crime lab's break room. Before the CSIs had left for the scene and Jamie's mother picked him up, the children had found out what was the matter with their parents. They were told by Greg that Morgan was dead.
Now Kristy was lying asleep in Catherine's lap, crystallised tears still on her cheeks. Eli was sitting by Catherine's feet, his head resting on her legs. He was staring into space, tears trailing down his cheeks. His arms were around Reuben, who was still sobbing quietly. Loeila was curled up in a ball in her grandmother's lap, sobbing non-stop.
"Knock – knock..." Finn said quietly.
"Finn!" Reuben sobbed, scrambling up and hurtling into her. She dropped to her knees in time to envelope the shaking little boy into her arms. "I...wan...daddy!"
"I know... But I have some news, for all of you, it's very important."
Everyone, including the adults, sat up. Catherine kissed Kristy's forehead. "Wake up, sweetie, Finn wants to talk to you."
Kristy moaned and woke up, looking around. "I had bad deam, I wan' Aunie Mogan!"
"It wasn't a dream." Eli murmured. "Morgan's dead."
"No." Finn said firmly.
"Whad?" Reuben asked from her hip.
"The badies...the badies tried to kill her, and the woman who found her thought that they did, but we got their in time, we got there and she's in hospital. She's going to be okay."
Reuben blinked. "Hopipal?"
"Yes. She's un...asleep right now, but she'll wake up soon. She's okay."
Not daring to hope, Eli frowned. "But Greg said-"
"Greg was wrong. She's safe, she's alive."
"Thank god..." Catherine breathed into Kristy's hair.
Loeila started to smile. "She's otay?"
"Yep."
"Weally?"
"Really."
Loeila squealed in delight, racing out of the room and straight into the trace lab.
"Odgie, Odgie, Odgie!" she called.
Hodges quickly wiped his eyes, sniffing and turning to his goddaughter. "Yeah?"
"Aunie Mogan's otay, da people on da phone were dust lying and she's in hospitatal an Finn says she's otay!"
"Really?" Hodges cried.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Loeila giggled excitedly. She climbed up onto Hodges' wheelie chair and onto the desk, cupping her hands to call to all of the adjoining, and eavesdropping, labs. "MOGAN BODY IS ALIVE! SHE'S DONNA BE OTAY!"
There was a moment of silence, of disbelief.
Finn cupped her hands around her own mouth and shouted even louder. "MORGAN BRODY IS ALIVE!"
After another moment of quiet, Archie whooped from the AV lab. "All right!"
Like an unexpected wave breaking on the shore, the lab erupted in an explosion of whoops, cheers and claps.
CSIVCSIVCSIV
Sara smiled as she left Morgan's room, with the promise of returning tomorrow. She paused when she entered the waiting room.
"Greg?"
The younger man was sitting in the waiting room, his head in his hands.
"Aren't you going to see her? Everyone else is gone...She wants to see you." Sara edged.
"I can't. I can't...I can't..."
Sara sat down on the seat next to him. "Why not?"
"I couldn't... I didn't protect her, Sara, I didn't protect her..." Greg murmured quietly.
Sara sighed. "Greg, you did everything that you could, you-"
"I-"
"No, Greg. Morgan needs you right now, so stop wallowing in self pity and get into that room." Sara shoved Greg's arm.
"I'm being stupid, aren't I?"
Sara smiled. "Just go..."
Greg took a deep breath and knocked on the hospital door. "Morgan?"
The tired looking blonde in the bed smiled as Greg entered. "Hey..." she whispered hoarsely.
"Hey..." Greg choked back.
"I owe you a thank you." Morgan smiled, massaging her throat gently. She frowned slightly when Greg didn't move from the door. "What's wrong?"
Greg laughed humourlessly. "What's right?"
"What do you mean?" Morgan frowned, propping herself up.
"This...this whole thing. Jesus... Morgan, I thought you were dead, we all...the twins did, everyone... I thought..." Greg broke off. "I just...this is my fault, it's my fault that you got caught up in all of this..."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, what do you mean?" Morgan winced.
"Nick and Sara found evidence of the Martinez brothers."
"That's not your fault. We're all in this together, Greg..."
Greg turned away.
"Greg...there's only one thing I'm angry about..."
"What's that?"
"I thought I told you that if I ever fell into a vat of molten chocolate not to save me."
Greg laughed a little. "I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be..." Morgan coughed slightly. "Uh...that nurse, the one that was there when Reuben was shot...she's here. She asked if my fiancé and his children are coming."
Greg smiled a little more. "Would you like that? If I brought Reubs and Lola?"
"I'd love that." Morgan nodded. "Please, Greg, please sit down."
Greg sighed and sat down at the side of the bed. "I'm sorry, Morgan."
"If you say that one more time, I will kick your ass."
Greg raised an eyebrow. "From the bed?"
"From the bed." Morgan nodded.
"How're you feeling?" Greg asked gently.
"I've been better, but it beats being in a helicopter crash." She joked weakly, before stopping. "It was the same feeling."
Greg frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The feeling...the feeling like I was going to die...that there was no way out." Morgan's eyes dropped to her lap, tears that she had hidden from the others filling her eyes at last.
Greg instinctively touched her arm. "You're safe now... I promise."
She smiled weakly at him, wiping her eyes. "It just feels so..."
"Hopeless?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
"Been there?"
"When you were beat up?" Morgan asked.
Greg nodded. "They...they were everywhere. I was on the floor, and it didn't stop. You know, Nick's been there too. You're not alone. And none of us are gonna let anyone near you. I know I won't."
Morgan's heart fluttered and she smiled. "Thanks. Can I...can I talk to you about something?"
"Sure."
"When I...when the cross started going up, I...I was...I was thinking about all of the things that I would never get to do. Things I could never say... Things I wanted to tell everyone..."
Greg swallowed. "When they...when Brass said that you were...that you were dead...there were so many things that I wanted to say..." he took a deep breath. "Morgan?"
"Yeah?"
"Would you perhaps like to have dinner with me sometime?"
Morgan looked shocked. "Like a date?"
Greg bit his lip. "Yeah..."
Morgan's face exploded into a smile. "You look...terrified."
"Thanks." Greg snorted.
"I would love to have dinner with you sometime. Like a date."
Greg exhaled, grinning widely. "Great. Thanks..."
Suddenly his phone rang, making them both jump. "Hello? Yeah...I think she's doing okay. No, it's not too bad. Oh really? Okay...Hey baby girl...Yeah, I'm with her right now. Oh, I don't know about that...okay, okay, I'll ask. I said I'll ask." He turned to Morgan. "Loeila wants to know if she, Reuben and Hodges can visit before closing hours."
Morgan smiled. "I would love that."
"She says yes. Okay, Lola, I'll see you in a minute." He hung up. "Hodges said that the twins won't stop bugging him. They wanna see you. Kristy and Eli are both at Nick's; they were told straight out that they could come in the morning, but the twins apparently won't let it go."
Morgan nodded with a smile. "No, I'd like to see them." By the last word her voice dropped to a barely audible level.
"Are you sure you're well enough?"
She nodded, coughing. "I want to see them, Greg."
"Incoming!" Greg warned with a smile.
"I wan' see Aundie Mogan now! Odgie, kick!"
They next thing either of them knew, Loeila's head popped around the corner, Reuben's next to it. They tip toed into the room, having been warned that Morgan was tired and sick.
"Aundie Mogan." Reuben whispered, his face breaking. Suddenly he started to cry.
"Hey, hey..." Morgan reached out with her hand. "Come here, Reuben."
The little boy ran to the bed and climbed straight up, grabbing onto Morgan tightly and nestling his head into her neck. Loeila followed, sitting on the other side of Morgan, leaning onto her, holding onto her with her little hands.
Morgan leaned her cheek onto Reuben's soft hair, rubbing circles into his back gently with her hand. "Shh, shh, it's okay. I'm here now, I'm here."
"I...I fought..." Reuben sobbed brokenly.
"I know...I know..." Morgan soothed. "I'm okay..."
"Awe you loosin' youw voice, Aundie Mogan?" Loeila asked timidly.
"You know, I think I am." Morgan smiled softly.
"We will look awfter you." Loeila said decisively, burying into Morgan's side, before she too started to cry. "Aundie Mogan don' eber get huwt aden, otay? Please don'."
"I'll try." Morgan murmured, smiling at Hodges and Catherine who were lingering by the door.
"Hey."He nodded, sighing.
"Hey to you too. How're you coping with babysitting duties?"
"Well, if I had a handle on it I'm not sure I'd be here until tomorrow." He joked weakly, before smiling. "I'm very glad your okay."
"Thanks." Morgan grinned, still comforting the two distressed toddlers.
"Me too." Catherine smiled. "I would have been here sooner, but...you know..."
They all chatted for a little while, before the nurse said that visiting hours were over.
"No!" Reuben wailed, grabbing a hold of Morgan and crying again. "No, I don' wanna go!"
"I'm sorry, young man, but you have to leave..." the nurse said softly. "You're already over the time limit."
"No, I don' wan' go, I don' wan' go! Please, Daddy, I no wan' go! I do wan' leave Mogan." Reuben begged.
"Reuben...you gotta go with Catherine and Hodges, I'll be back soon, okay, I just need to finish some things off." Greg said softly but firmly.
"Aundie Mogan? Peese don' make me go?" Reuben pleaded tearfully. "I don' wan' you to get hurt adain."
"I'll be okay, Reuben, I promise." Morgan kissed the top of his head, messing up his messy light brown hair. "You gotta go with Hodges and Catherine."
Loeila sighed angrily. She kissed Morgan on the cheek and scrambled down from the bed, kissing her dad before going to take Hodges' hand.
Reuben squeezed Morgan tightly. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Reuben sighed and clambered out of the bed, hugged his dad and went to take Catherine's hand.
"B-bye!" the four called in unison.
"I love you both." Reuben called.
"Me mowe!" Loeila added. "I love you mowe."
When they were gone, Greg turned to the nurse. "I'd like to stay for a while."
Having been read partly into the situation, the nurse nodded.
"Thanks for staying." Morgan whispered.
"No problem. You should sleep."
"I can't." She pouted.
Greg bit his lip and pulled out his phone. "There's something I want to tell you. I uh, I would sing, but we'd get a lot of complaints from the neighbours."
Morgan laughed, taking the earphones Greg offered and putting them into her ears before listening to the music, letting it flow over her.
"When you wake up I can see your hurt, see your sorry I'm awake to be watching over you Try to forgive, try to forget I'm awake to be watching over you Keep fighting every day, it takes a lot of time I'm awake to be watching over you
When you wake up
I know the phase, I know the story
When hope is fading out, you can trust me, I'll be there
When pain is screaming loud, I'll...
Don't you worry, I'm never taking my eyes off of you
Fall asleep now, I will be there when you wake up
Don't you worry, I will be there, yeah yeah yeah
When you wake up
Try to move on, try to live
When hope is fading out, you can turn to me and say
"This is more than I can possibly take"
I'm awake, I'm never taking my eyes off of you
Fall asleep now, I will be there when you wake up
When you wake up
And it's only in your mind
Keep fighting every day, look inside yourself, be strong
Because from here it won't take long
Until you wake up, until you wake up
Until you wake up, hey
I'm awake, I'm never taking my eyes off of you
Fall asleep now, I will be there when you wake up
Don't you worry, I will be there, yeah yeah yeah
When you wake up
When you wake up."
Morgan smiled at Greg as she drifted into sleep.
Any good? Please do tell.
Song = when you wake up - dead by april :-) Love that band!
Let's get lots of reviews for chapter twenty, if your enjoying it please say so, only if you just say good, bad or ugly :-)