Aidan leaned forward in her chair trying her best to put on a pair of slippers so she could take a walk around the hospital. She already succeeded putting her right shoe on and was working at putting the other on - which just happened to be the same leg that was injured - when the shoe slipped from her hands and skidded across the floor.
"Damn… stupid slipper," Aidan huffed as she saw the wayward shoe slide under the bed. She also rubbed her ribs, which were also a bit sore from the attempt. Leaning back in her chair, she realized even with the brace and a rehab cane, her simple walk round the hospital would not be so simple especially with her injured knee.
Straightening out her knee slightly, making a face, she remembered what the doctor said what happened to it. While it had appeared to be dislocated when she arrived at the hospital, Tony had been right and there had been a torn ligament in there - the anterior cruciate ligament. At first they considered doing surgery on it while she was in a coma, but didn't want to risk putting her health and safety in further danger at the time.
Later on, when the group was told that she'd have to have surgery on it, Aidan grew terrified at what it would entail. The thought of being in a state of total nothingness like she was when she was put in stasis made her nearly refuse to have the surgery. Aidan did not want to be defenseless and have no say in what happened to her care.
Not only that, she also was terrified that when she woke up from the surgery, she would be in that reality - where her parents were alive instead and the doctors felt she was crazy.
Ralph at first was confused as to why Aidan would risk permanent and debilitating injury to herself ... until he noticed she would squirm slightly and fidget with her pendant when they mentioned she'd be put under general anesthesia.
Realizing that Aidan was fearing she'd regain consciousness and find this wasn't real, he was dead and she was again in the sanatorium, spent time with the woman and the doctor, discussing a way to get Aidan to agree to have the surgery.
Dr. Ulvalde, remembering what happened when she woke up from the coma, agreed to have Ralph stay near Aidan when the anesthetist put her under in the side theater next to the OR.
After a little more discussion, Ralph and Pam also came up with an idea to have Aidan wear a bracelet made out of their and Misha's silverware patterns the couple gave her as a get-well gift, which she would later find on her wrist when she woke up in recovery - ensuring that they were all OK - and she was in the right time.
The doctor agreed to it, with the stipulation that Ralph hold on to it when Aidan was in surgery so it wouldn't get lost or broken, which the young woman agreed to. On the day of the operation, however, it was difficult for Ralph to see his goddaughter be put under and have to leave the room afterward. But, when he saw Aidan show very little fear and nervousness during that process, was glad that he was able to help her get over another fear from the reality.
So, while her knee had been repaired a few days after waking up from the coma, Aidan was thankful that it wasn't hurt nearly as bad as it could've been. "It could've been a hell of a lot worse," she said softly, remembering what the green guy said to her in the ship and that alternate time.
Deciding it was better to let the slipper stay where it was under the bed rather than trying to retrieve the slippery item, Aidan leaned back and relaxed, closing her eyes. Other than the delayed walk, the day was turning out good. Her doctor had visited earlier, announcing that she would be going home the next day. This to her, after nearly a month in the hospital, was like telling her she won the lottery.
Aidan smiled softly, thinking about what was ahead. She knew it was going to include continued visits to the therapist to strengthen her knee, working on the rest of this and next semester's schedule, accommodating it to fit some of the doctor's restrictions, but most of all, it was going to be a long process healing from what happened - from everything.
The door opened, snapping Aidan out of her thoughts. She turned her head to see Ralph and Pam walk in. Both chuckled when they found that Aidan had only one slipper on.
"Hi Ade," Ralph greeted then pointed to her feet, "deciding to be two left feet again?" he said, smiling.
"No," she said dejectedly with a slight pout and pointed toward her bed. "Its partner in crime is hiding out under the bed again."
Ralph chuckled at the comment and went to retrieve the missing slipper under the bed "I thought you said you'd quit playing shoe hockey," he teased, waving the shoe near her face. He then kneeled in front of her, slipping the shoe on Aidan's foot
"I did... but the slipper didn't get the memo …"
"So what is the score Aidan?" joked Pam.
"The score is Shoe 3 - Aidan 0," she said chuckling as she gave the couple a hug and a kiss. "Hey guys, I was going to try and go for a little walk around the corridors. I wanted to try and catch most of the nurses who've helped out the past few weeks and say goodbye before they got off tonight."
"They have helped out a lot, though one said to us they'd miss your telling your stuffed rabbit bedtime stories," said Pam, chuckling at how Aidan had kept that old habit. Even now, Aidan still would make up stories when she was in the hospital to pass the time. Given the hospital wouldn't let do her beadwork for safety reasons, it also helped break up the inevitable boredom of watching TV, drawing and dealing with the doctor's or nurse's visits to check on her. This time, however, Aidan also had another toy to talk to as well - a stuffed toy Himalayan cat that Rodney gave her as a get well present.
"Ah… I was wondering why Nurse Jennings was talking about Fred the Elephant and Jake the Cat the other day, eavesdropper," said Aidan, grinning only to pause slightly when she saw the look on her godparents' faces. "Is something wrong?… Don't tell me the doc changed his mind and I'm stuck here for another two weeks?"
Ralph sat down on the edge of Aidan's bed, shaking his head. "No sweetheart, nothing's wrong. We're just soaking in seeing you happy and healthy… if slightly silly," he added with another grin. "You've got to understand, the past three and a half weeks have been hard for us too with you being in the hospital and rehab from this wreck."
Aidan groaned when Ralph mentioned rehab. "And I'll still be in rehab seeing Sam for the next few months," she said, making a pained face. "I know physical therapists are supposed to be tough on you, but sometimes… well, lets just say with the way he barks orders I swear he must have been a drill sergeant in a former life."
Pam chuckled and sat down next to Ralph. "I don't blame you in that one, but he also told you that you're one of the fastest healing patients he's dealt with," she said. Seeing Aidan chuckle, she continued. "But, Ralph and I are here for another reason too."
"OK… what?"
"Well, we were wondering, given that all of us are about to have a week for Thanksgiving break soon, if you'd like to go to Casper this year instead of spending it at home," said Pam.
Aidan looked at the couple, surprised, but confused. She had wanted to return for years - 18 to be exact. While Aidan had asked to return off and on over the years, before they could make arrangements to visit, she'd change her mind. She never knew why, but she guessed subconsciously there was something from the events that led up to her parents' deaths that kept her from wanting to go.
This time, however, it seemed that Ralph and Pam had been talking about it for a long time and were wanting to go there but wasn't sure why the idea. "Casper? I can't go there yet - not in this shape," she said, shaking her head slightly. "I bet I won't be able to safely fly in the suit for at least a little longer, and it'll be a pain to try and board a plane."
"Sweetheart," Ralph started, clearing his throat slightly. He could tell she was trying to talk herself out of going, but he knew after everything he was told this trip was what she needed - what they all needed, when they thought about it. "It won't be a pain, you'll get the royal treatment. You get to board first, and they'll have a wheelchair if you need it," said Ralph, only to get a playful bop on the head by his goddaughter.
"Ralph, you'll need one if you say that again," she said jokingly.
He then chuckled. "Well, OK no wheelchair. But, even if you don't, do you know how many handsome male flight attendants would be glad to offer you their arm to help you down the boarding ramp?"
Though Aidan knew Ralph was only kidding, knowing that she was dating Rodney, she chuckled. "OK, that could happen, but still… why Casper?" she said. "We could go just about anywhere."
The couple looked at each other then Pam turned to Aidan. "Well, we've heard you talk about wanting to go there for some time and just see the sights again," she said. "And, you could also visit the ranch and we could go anywhere else you want to…"
"… Not to mention visit Mom and Dad in the cemetery," interrupted Aidan, frowning at the implication.
"Yes… that too," said Ralph, and seeing Aidan shudder slightly, put a hand on her shoulder. "Ade, I know you went through a lot, but both Pam and I agree you need to go back there, but for many reasons."
"I do want to go, but I don't know given that alternate reality," she said quietly, thinking about her parents. "I can still remember everything from that time: How Mom and Dad looked in their 50s, how they smelled, felt. How can I face seeing the opposite side after that?"
Pam sighed softly, knowing it was hard for her goddaughter. While Aidan had told her a little about the alternate reality, Pam also had heard a little more from Ralph about what exactly happened to the young woman. The one thing Ralph didn't tell her truthfully, however, was that he was dead in that timeline. He opted to use a different explanation for his absence and that absence was what caused her seizure in that reality.
Aidan's godmother then cleared her throat. "It will be hard sweetheart, but we'll be there to give you a shoulder to cry on," said Pam. "But, it would help close the door to this as well, especially given where that timeline led you."
Ralph continued. "I agree Ade. You've told me a few times lately that you wanted to visit the gravesite so you could say a proper goodbye," he said, remembering that talk. "You didn't really get to the day of the memorial service."
Aidan nodded slightly. Ralph had told Aidan about her second, but fortunately for her health near fainting spell at the cemetery and how he had to carry Aidan back to the limo so she could lie down. He remembered that whenever he or Pam went to check on her she never looked up and he guessed she only sat there staring at her hands or anywhere but where the graveside ceremony was taking place, and by the end of the service, when Ralph and Pam returned to the car to return to the hotel, was asleep.
Ralph had always had a feeling that it did bother Aidan some subconsciously to not have been an active part of the graveside services, but not much given she had a spotty memory of the events back in 1989.
Now that she dealt with the alternate reality of him being dead and not being able to see him, he felt it was time for her to see the gravesite again and have some closure to what happened to her parents as well as that other life she experienced. Seeing Aidan look down, Ralph realized she had been thinking about that too.
The young woman cleared her throat. "Yeah... it would some. But like you said, that pain will never go away," she said.
"True, it never does," said Ralph, thinking about his sister.
Pam realizing that if they dwelled on this part too long Aidan might change her mind, decided to change the subject. "But, it would be more than just that Aidan. We thought of taking you to the places you like, that restaurant you always talk about with the huevos rancheros, and Fort Casper," she said. "If you heal fast enough, we might also drive over to Cheyenne or go walk around Devil's Tower. That way you can see everything you always love to talk about to your class and when you're remembering then."
The young woman smiled. "That would be fun, and I could have pics with both of you there as well to show my classes. It'd also be neat to go to the ranch again and see how it's doing. The company that runs it for me said they were doing well, and I'd love to see the old ranch house again," she said and looked at her godparents. She had to admit in her heart, they were right. After three weeks in the hospital staring at the white walls and friezes, it'd be nice to go visit a place full of color and beauty.
Pam and Ralph looked at each other and smiled when they saw Aidan's eyes light up - albeit slightly. They wanted their goddaughter to say yes, but also knew that she might say no.
Both also knew from the way she'd react to things at times when she was younger, that there were some memories of the ranch that weren't pleasant. There was one incident that stuck out in their minds - and it hurt worse when they remembered it was lost when she was injured so many years ago.
Shortly before her parents' deaths, there had been a huge fight over the ranch between the Onyxsards and Aidan's family over its ownership. The fight escalated to the point where Aidan was kidnapped to try and force M'Lynn and Austin to give the Onyxsards the ranch.
Unbeknownst to anyone save her godparents now, Aidan was taken to a deserted location to freeze to death regardless of her parents' decision. She was nearly unconscious from hypothermia when an "angel" - Aidan's words later - saved her. Ralph had been visiting to help the family with the dispute and had the suit.
While his goddaughter didn't suffer long-term effects physically, Ralph knew that Aidan had a tough time whenever her subconscious mind remembered it, but not her.
Seeing the young woman's eyes light up more at the prospect, this time they felt she really wanted to go. "So... I take it that it's a yes, huh sweetheart?" said Ralph, smiling.
Aidan looked at the couple and smiled. "Yes, and I mean yes. I want to go," she said. "It's time I went back there, and the change of scenery will be nice. The food will definitely be better - no more tomato soup and scrambled eggs for breakfast."
The comment got a laugh out of the couple before Pam spoke up.
"That's great Aidan, we knew you'd want to go," said Pam. Seeing Aidan quirk an eyebrow, curious at to how she "knew," she clarified. "Well... you have been in a monochrome world it seems for a while now."
"True, it'll be nice to see color everywhere," said Aidan, chuckling. "Of course at this point you probably could suggest just about any place and I would agree as long as it got me out of here…." The other two laughed again at her comments then Aidan continued. "But, I do have one question."
"What's that?" said Pam, hoping she wasn't going to ask about the possibility of changing her mind. They had already had the ticket reservations secured.
"Would it be all right if I brought the suit?" she said.
The couple looked at each other, frowning. "Aidan… part of this too is to let you take a break from suit scenarios," said Ralph gently. "You need the break, and even Tony's been ordered by Bill and Cyler to let you have one. Why do you want to bring it?"
The young woman ran a hand through her hair and closed her eyes. She had never told them this, but felt she needed to. "Well… you remember the plane crash Tony and I were in last year?" she asked, and the couple nodded. "Part of the reason we were in it was that I had been knocked out and couldn't fly the plane to safety when the pilot died. Now knowing the suit protects me from most drugs, I've put the suit on whenever I'm in a plane - flying it myself or in a commercial one."
Ralph and Pam chuckled, realizing she had a point, but still weren't sure. "Good point, but you'll also be recovering a little bit from the wreck too. The suit might not let you wear it," said Pam.
"I've thought about that, but we don't know. Besides, while I know I'll still be recovering, I don't want us to be out on a limb if something did happen. Better to be able to have some help than none."
The other two nodded. "OK, deal, and hopefully it won't be needed right?" said Ralph.
"Right," said Aidan as the two continued chatting about their plans. While Aidan knew the toughest part of the trip would be going to the cemetery, Aidan also knew that her godparents were right: It would bring closure to her experiences in the alternate reality, and she would be able to move on with her life. My real life - Pam, Ralph, Bill, Tony... and the stu- no, silly suit,she thought, smiling. It's good to be home.