Desperation

(Chapter Twenty One: On The Mend)

Olivia opened her eyes and groaned a bit as she looked around her hospital room.

"Elliot?"

"It's okay Liv," Kathy said as she sat up from the chair she had fallen asleep in.

"Kathy?" Olivia looked a bit confused.

"El is in a room down the hall. He is going to be fine. He has a few bumps and bruises, a couple of broken ribs and a concussion. The doctor's want to keep him another night just to make sure things are okay."

"Where are the girls?"

"Maureen took them in to see Elliot as soon as they would let her. McKenna has been crying all night that she wants to see her daddy."

"This whole thing has been horrible on her," Olivia said feeling the large bump on the back of her head and looking under her gown at she bandage over her bullet wound.

"The doctor said you should recover quickly. You had lost a lot of blood and they had to wait for you to stabilize before they could do surgery."

"Surgery?" Olivia asked.

"They went in and removed a small part of the bullet that lodged in your shoulder. But the doctor said there didn't seem to be any nerve damage."

"Just a lot of pain," Olivia groaned as she pushed the call button on the bedrail. "I have delivered two babies and I don't remember either of those experiences being half this painful. Of course the epidural didn't hurt," she said laying back in her bed as the nurse entered the room.

"She is in a lot of pain," Kathy said. "Can you get her something?"

The woman nodded and walked back out of the room.

"Thanks," Olivia said adjusting herself in the bed trying to get comfortable.

"Would you like another pillow?" Kathy asked.

"No, I'm fine. Thanks. So, I don't mean to sound…." Olivia paused for a moment trying to think of the right way to put this, "well, rude. But, why exactly are you here?"

"Elliot couldn't be in here when you woke up from surgery. McKenna refused to leave the hospital last night, so the kids slept scattered around the waiting room until the doctor finally let them in to see Elliot a few hours ago. Maureen and I have been taking care of the girls and when we went in to see Elliot, he asked me if I would sit with you until you woke up so you wouldn't be alone."

"There was no one else?" Olivia asked raising an eyebrow at the oddity of the situation.

"It had to be a family member."

"I didn't realize that you and I were related," Olivia thought out loud. "That was rude. I'm sorry. I get really bitchy when I am in pain."

Kathy laughed.

"It's alright. I would probably be a bit confused myself if I had been through what you have and were in your situation. I am the ex-wife of your husband and probably the last person you expected to….or wanted to see for that matter when you woke up from surgery."

"I didn't mean it like that. It is just that you and I have never been close. Civil, yes. We get along, but we have never really been what I would call friends. You know what, I am just making things worse. I am just going to stop talking now."

"It's alright," Kathy said once more as she sat down in the chair beside the bed. "You must be exhausted."

"I am. But I would really like to see my girls."

"I'll ask the nurse when she comes back in," Kathy replied.

Things were quiet in the room for a moment, then Kathy let out a small laugh.

"What? Do I look that bad?" Olivia asked.

"No, no. Actually, You look amazing considering they just pulled a bullet out of your arm an hour ago."

"Then what is so funny?"

"Elliot told the doctor that you and I were sisters. That is why they let me in here to sit with you. It was immediate family only."

"Sisters?" Olivia asked wondering where he got that harebrained idea.

"Step, maybe," Kathy said with a smile and Olivia laughed.

"He is a bit crazy, but I love him anyway."

"I know you do," Kathy said with a small smile. "I'm really glad that you are both going to be okay, Olivia. I know that we're not exactly friends, but I kind of like having you around."

"I like having you around, too."

"I'll go see where that nurse is with your pain medication," Kathy said making her way to the door."

"Kathy….thank you. For sitting here with me and for taking care of the girls. There aren't many people I would trust to watch them, especially in times like this. But I trust you."

"You're welcome," Kathy said forcing a smile as both women fought off tears.

About an hour later Olivia got a big surprise as Elliot entered with both McKenna and October.

"Mommy," McKenna squealed as she ran across the room and climbed into the hospital bed beside her mother.

"Oh sweetheart, mommy missed you so much," Olivia said hugging McKenna tight.

"Careful, Kenna. Mommy's arm is hurt."

"Mommy's arm feels fine," Olivia said smiling at her husband. "Kathy got me the hook up with some good pain medication."

"She did, huh?" Elliot laughed.

"Yeah. I'm feeling much better now. How did you manage to escape?"

"I didn't so much escape as get a pass for good behavior. We can't stay long. But I had to see you."

"I'm glad you came," she said kissing him tenderly.

"Is that where the bullet shot you?" McKenna whispered pointing to the bandage sticking out of Olivia's hospital gown.

"It is."

"But the doctor did a operation and taked it out?"

"Yes. The doctor operated and took the bullet out. Mommy will be all better really soon. I'm just going to be sore for a couple of weeks. And I will probably need you to help me out with your baby sister. How are you doing?"

"I'm okay. I'm not scared no more. 'Cause I know you and daddy are okay."

"Mommy and daddy are going to be just fine. And you were so brave," Olivia said softly holding back tears as McKenna laid her head against her mother's chest and stared up at her. "My big girl. You took your baby sister to safety and got help for mommy and daddy," Olivia said kissing Kenna's forehead.

"I was scared then. But I told October don't cry it will be okay. And she just cried a little. I ran real fast to the light and pushed the button to ring the bell until Laura opened the door. Then I told her call 911 'cause there's bad men in our house with my mommy and daddy."

"And she called 911?" Elliot asked.

"No, she maked Mike call the police and she got a blanket for me and October to sit on the couch. October cried because she wanted mommy and daddy, but I told her don't be scared. And Laura gave me cookies, but I only ate one because I already brushed my teeth."

Elliot smiled at his daughter as Olivia's eyes flooded with tears.

"Then the police man taked us to see Uncle Munch and Aunt Kathy and Maureen came to get us at daddy's work."

"What you did was very brave," Elliot told her. "If you hadn't went for help then the bad men may have hurt you and baby October, too. Mommy and daddy are so proud of you."

"Kenna, mommy and daddy have to stay the night in the hospital tonight. You and October are going to go home with Aunt Kathy tonight and spend the night with Eli. Maureen is going to stay there too, I think. I need you to be a good girl and help Aunt Kathy out with October, okay?"

"Okay, mommy."

"That's my girl. Now give me a kiss. It is getting late and you guys have had a long day."

McKenna leaned forward and kissed her mother.

"I love you, mommy."

"I love you too, baby."

McKenna smiled and climbed down as Elliot handed the baby to Olivia.

"Oh my baby girl," Olivia said as she hugged October and kissed her. "Mommy was so worried about both of my girls."

October smiled and cooed as she placed her hands against Olivia's face. Olivia played with the baby for a few minutes then kissed her and handed her back to Elliot.

"I told Kathy I have some frozen breast milk at the house. But I'm not sure if they will let them back in."

"I had Munch run by and grab it."

"You got Munch to get breast milk from our freezer?"

"I may have left out the part about it being breast milk. I just told him it was milk for the baby and he was happy to do it."

"I wont be able to nurse her or pump for a while because of the medication I'm on. So she is going to have to switch over to formula. There is a can of formula in the diaper bag. She will hesitate, but she will take it eventually. Maureen knows what kind we use if they should need more. She will need money for diapers."

"It's covered. I gave Kathy some cash incase they needed anything for the girls. Maureen said she is going to put McKenna in bed with her, just in case she gets scared."

"She will like that."

"Uncle Munch also bringed me Maggie from my room, mommy. That way she wont be scared either."

"That was very nice of him. Did you say thank you?"

"Yes."

"Okay ladies, we need to tell mommy goodnight so she can get some rest."

Elliot leaned October in for another kiss and McKenna gave her mother another hug.

"You can probably come back and visit mommy in the morning."

"See you tomorrow mommy," McKenna said waving.

"See you tomorrow, sweetheart."

"I want to hand them off to Kathy so she can take them home and get them in bed. I'd probably better get back, too before they send out a search party."

"Okay," she said with a smile.

Elliot kissed her tenderly then backed up for a moment and stared into her eyes.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

Olivia wiped tears from her eyes, refusing to cry as she watched her husband walk the girls out of the room. She exhaled deeply as she slid down in the bed and closed her heavy eyes in an attempt to get some sleep.