Reliving The Past
Chapter 21
In the art therapy room, Franco sets up the painting supplies for Jake to paint. But he just sits there. Franco is concerned. But he lets him sit there for a little while. Then after a while, he breaks the silence.
"Hey Jake. Do you want to tell me what happened? Or you can paint me a picture of what happened?" Franco asks, setting up his painting stuff next to Jakes. Jake starts to paint. There is a body that Franco assumes is Elizabeth. Then there is a pool of red he assumes is blood.
"Jake, you know your mom is ok right? You saw her." Then Jake starts to draw a castle. Then another body with a pool of blood around it. "Jake, this isn't about tonight is it?" Franco is unnerved. Jake looks at him. He shakes his head no. Turns his head back straight. Pauses for a moment. Then all of a sudden, Jake turns to Franco and smiles.
"Hey Franco, can I paint a picture for my mom?" Happy go lucky as always. Franco takes the painting down and puts a new piece of paper up.
"Sure. Paint away Picasso." Franco holds the paper and studies it. The only conclusion is that Jake witnessed at least two murders. Franco wonders if there was mind control like with Jason. As they were both gone for a while at the same time? He puts the painting aside and tries to enjoy his time with Jake.
Ric and Cam sit on a bench in one of the hallways.
"So, are you ok? You've been through a lot today." Ric says, trying to be there more to listen than talk.
"I was scared. Mom and I were talking in Gram Audrey's front yard. Next thing we knew a window from the car shattered. Mom grabbed me and jumped on top of me. Just before Kevin yelled for her to do it. Kevin somehow got us in the house and told us all to get as flat on the floor as possible. Gram had both Jake and Aidan. Mom said to see who could make the flattest pancake. Then somehow Aidan got away from Gram and went to the toy box. Mom told me to stay down then went to Aidan. We couldn't tell what happened. Just that Aidan was under mom. Mom didn't move. Kevin ran to here when he came in. But when he called her name, she didn't move. I saw the puddle of blood under her and Aidan. I couldn't tell if it was mom or Aidan." Cam just stares straight ahead as if he is watching a movie and giving a blow by blow. Ric can see the tears building up.
"Cam, you are ok. Mom and Aidan are ok. But it's ok to be afraid too. It's ok to cry. Crying isn't just for girls. So you cry if you need to buddy. It will stay between us if you want." Ric hugs Cameron. And Cameron cries. Ric can't help but tear up too. The poor kid witnessed a terrifying ordeal that day. Ric holds him tight. Trying to make him feel comforted and supported.
Back in Elizabeth's room, Sonny is alone with Elizabeth. Sonny sits next to Elizabeth's bed. He holds her hand. Dante went to check on Lulu and Aidan.
"Elizabeth, you have to get better fast. Your boys need you and you need to help me hunt this guy down. I hear that this Tom guy hurt you pretty bad. Emily too. So he hurt two of my favorite ladies. So we need to teach this punk what happens when he messes with you and Emily." Sonny looks at the monitors and all the tubes hanging from her. Then he feels a pretty tight grip from Elizabeth. She opens her eyes. She tries to say something. But it makes her cough and nearly hyperventilate.
"Hey there. Let's not talk. You save your strength. This one wasn't as bad as your last blood clot. Jason said that the last one your heart stopped. We thought it did. But it was the air to your lungs that was the issue. Your grandmother and Laura went out for a walk. Audrey was pretty fried. She was scared to death. So I had her order anything she wanted and had one of my men go get it for her. And when you are well enough to see the boys and say goodbye, I will fly Audrey and the boys to England for you. I will personally go to make sure they get there safely. That way the boys have room and can sleep if they want to. Then when we get this guy, I will fly with you to go get them so you can see your parents. I hear it's been quite a while." Elizabeth tries to talk. Sending her into a coughing fit. She holds her side. Sonny goes to the door to call for help.
When Doctor Monroe gets there, Elizabeth has passed out. But there was blood on her hand and the blanket. Her oxygen has gone down. He listens and detects that one of her lungs has collapsed. He calls for a breathing tube. And then tends to her stitches. He was worried that the blood thinner would cause issue with her bullet wound. But it wasn't as bad as her thought. They put the tube down her throat and get her breathing. But they put her in a medical induced coma until her lung got back to normal. Then they re-stitch her bullet wound.
"Doctor Monroe, how long will she be like this?" Sonny asks, worried the boys will want to say goodbye before they leave. And she wanted them gone that night. And he could understand why.
"It could be hours and it could be days. Every patient is different. With the clot and bullet wound I'm thinking a lot longer than hours. But Nurse Webber is almost as scary as Nurse Johnson. They are both pretty strong women. So I'm not sure. It's a shame that something so cruel happened to someone so sweet. Where is her Grandmother? I need to tell her what's going on."
"She went for a walk. She should be back at any moment." Sonny tells the young doctor.
"Ok. Well, when she gets back, have a nurse page me please. Thank you. And again, I'm sorry for your pain and Nurse Webber's. I'm putting a sign on the door that will ban her kids from being here. They shouldn't see her this way." Doctor Monroe leaves. Sonny's trying to think what Liz would want. He knows he would want his kids safe. Even if he couldn't say goodbye. So he thinks that's what he's going to suggest to Audrey.
When half an hour goes by and still has yet to hear from Audrey, Sonny calls Ric.
"Hey, I can't find Audrey. She went for a walk with Laura. But that was over half an hour ago. Elizabeth's lung collapsed. Her boys can't come in to see her. They had to put her in a medical induced coma. It could be days before she comes out of this. But she was very determined to get the boys out of the country. But I wanted Audrey to see her first before I take her and the boys to the airport and take them to England. Could you and Cameron go looking for her? I'm getting worried. She was pretty shaky before she left."
"Sure. You need to call Franco and tell him not to bring Jake back to the room. Have him meet us at the cafeteria. Say in about 15 minutes. We will look for her and if we can't in 10 minutes, we'll have her paged." Ric hangs up.
"What's wrong Ric?" Cam asks. Looking intently at Ric's face.
"I'm going to be honest with you Cam. But really listen to me. Your mother had a complication. She's ok. But she's got a breathing tube for now. They put her in a coma. She will be ok. But they had to put her in the coma to help heal her faster. You won't be able to see your mom. Not right now. But we have to go find your Grandmother Audrey and Grandmother Laura. So let's go find them and we need to get to the cafeteria in 15 minutes. Let's go." Ric and Cam get up and go in search.
"But Ric, I need to tell mom something. Is there any way that I can get in and just tell mom this one thing? Please Ric. I'm not a baby and mom needs to know." Cam says with urgency.
"Ok, we will find Audrey and then if she says it's ok, you can go in and see her. What does she need to know?" Ric says, walking a little slower for Cam's benefit.
"She has to know.." Cam is interrupted by Laura.
"Ric, I was looking for one of you. Audrey is in the ER. She had a spell. They can't tell if it was heart attack or stress. I wanted to inform you guys that I was staying with her. Can you tell Sonny and Franco?" Laura looks to him for reassurance.
"Sure. Tell Audrey we hope she feels better. I have my cellphone on me. Here's the number." Ric hands her his card. Ric then hugs Laura. "It's going to be ok. Just hang in there." Ric pats her shoulder.
"Thanks. I love you Cam." Laura hugs him. When she leave, Cam takes the time to work on Ric.
"Ric, can we just go see my mom real quick. I need to tell her." Cam is getting more despite. Ric can see it in his eyes.
"Ok. But you need to realize she will look very scary. Tube and stuff running from her to machines. But you know you can tell me anything. We will still be best buds. No matter what." Ric says, placing a strong hand on his young shoulder.
"I know. But mom needs to hear this first. I want my mom to know that we are going to start telling each other things. I just don't want my mom to hurt." Cam says, walking back to Elizabeth's room with Ric.
"Cam, is someone in danger?" Ric stops him and looks into his eyes.
"I don't know. But I know this has to do with my mom." Cameron starts to walk again, leaving Ric standing there alone for a moment. He catches up with Cam though.
A/N: Thanks for reading and all the reviews. Sorry this was delayed. I got sun burned and wasn't feeling well. I will try to get the next one up a little sooner. But please be patient with me. Thanks. Hope you liked this chapter and what's to come. Hope you all are staying cool.