Chapter 21
When they got to the hospital Maureen was quickly rolled away to an operating room, with Collins and Joanne chasing after it.
"Is she going to be okay?" Joanne asked with tears falling from her eyes.
But no one answered her as the doctors and nurses pushed her between double doors, where another nurse turned around to stop Collins and Joanne from entering.
"You two have to wait out here." The nurse said.
"But we're her family." Collins affirmed.
"You can't be in there while they are performing surgery." The nurse explained. "Just have a seat in the waiting room, and someone will be out to talk with you as soon as they're done in there.
The nurse then processed to walk away, while Joanne and Collins sighed and slowly made their way over to the waiting room. They both sat down in silence not saying a word, both taking in what had just happened.
It was long before the rest of the bohemians showed up, Angel went straight for Collins, quickly pulling him into a comforting hug, Mimi pulled away from Roger, sitting down next to Joanne to give her some kind of support.
"How is she?" Benny asked coming a little closer, with an arm around Alison.
Joanne shrugged, while Collins answered. "They took her to the operating room."
"She'll be fine." Mimi said while she rubbed Joanne's back.
Alison nodded. "Yeah it's Maureen we're talking about here, she's to stubborn to die."
"I'm surprised she even let them take her to the hospital." Mark said with a small smirk.
Everyone let out a small laugh, which quickly went back to silence a moment later.
"What a bitch." Roger blurted as he slowly sat down.
Everyone glared him.
"Jessica." Roger cleared up. "Isn't there a way we can get her for something like that?"
Joanne nodded. "It is possible, but she has a lot of money, it's hard sending someone away when they are rich and successful."
"We'll just send Maureen after her when she gets better." Angel said with a small laugh.
Collins chuckled while leaning back in his chair. "She kicked her ass already, think of what she'll do the second time around."
"We'll probably have to send Maureen to jail." Roger joked, while everyone laughed.
As everyone laughed at the joke a doctor with long red hair came out from the double doors, catching Joanne's eye, which obligated her to stand up, along with Collins, as the rest of the group stayed seated looking on with their eyes.
"Maureen Johnson?" The doctor asked.
Collins and Joanne both nodded as they followed the doctor down the hall, and away from the others.
"Hi I'm Dr. Stone." The women said.
"How is she?" Joanne asked with urgency, trying to read her expression.
"She's up right now." The doctor answered. "But I'm afraid she isn't going to make it through the night."
Joanne let the waterfall behind her eyes fall, as Collins put an arm around her shoulders.
"Are you sure?" Collins asked trying his hardest to keep it together.
"We tried everything we could, but the bullet was to close to her heart and…" Dr. Stone continued, but all Collins saw was her mouth move, as tears began to fall from his eyes.
"I'm really sorry." Dr. Stone said. "If you want to go visit her, I suggest you do it now."
"Isn't there something else you can do?" Joanne asked. "Please try anything!"
"I'm sorry…" Dr. Stone began but was cut off.
"Don't tell me you're sorry!" Joanne yelled. "You're a fucking doctor go do your job!"
Collins pulled Joanne into a hug leading her away from the doctor, and back to the group who had worried expressions since they heard Joanne yell.
Angel stood up reading Collins face, knowing quickly the news wasn't good. "Collins?"
Collins looked up, his arms still around a sobbing Joanne. "You guys better go say your goodbyes now."
Mimi gasped. "What do you mean?"
Collins just shook his head, not able to say the words the doctor told him, but everyone knew what was happening. Mimi walked over to Roger, letting him pull her into a hug; Alison shielded her eyes on Benny's chest, while Mark stayed seated in his chair not able to say a word.
"We can go see her?" Roger muttered out.
"Yeah." Collins answered. "Go now."
Everyone nodded as they left for the room, leaving Collins, Joanne and Angel alone in the waiting room.
Mimi was the first to walk in; she held back her tears when she saw Maureen. She looked fine, besides all the stuff she was hooked up to. "Hey…" Mimi said her voice cracking a little.
Maureen slowly opened her eyes and smiled. "Hey."
The smile grew bigger when Roger, Mark, Benny, and Alison all entered
"We having a party in the hospital room?" Maureen asked in a raspy voice.
Mimi giggled a little while she walked around, sitting on the edge of Maureen's bed. Roger followed standing next to Mimi, while Mark took a seat in a chair next to her bed, while Benny and Alison stood at the end of the bed where Maureen's feet where.
"How you feeling?" Mark managed to ask.
"Besides the hole in my chest, pretty good." Maureen answered in a tired voice.
"So little drama queen Maureen is a hero." Roger said with a sly smirk.
Maureen nodded with tired eyes. "You know I'm going to milk it for everything it's worth right?"
"I wouldn't think other wise." Roger stated as he grabbed Mimi's hand for some kind of support, to help him stop the tears that were forming.
"So…" Maureen began as she took a ragged breath, turning her head to face Mimi. "When am I allowed to leave?"
Mimi tired to answer but her throat wouldn't work, as the need to cry snuck up on her. Thankfully Benny answered, by rubbing his hand softly on her foot.
"They didn't say yet." He lied, knowing Maureen didn't know the outcome of her situation.
Maureen just closed her eyes, nodding slightly, while mumbling, "Well I hope its soon…I hate hospitals…"
Not able to take it anymore, Mimi leaned down pressing her lips against Maureen's cheek, kissing it softly, before whispering, "Goodbye."
Maureen mumbled something, Mimi assumed it was goodbye, and after it was said she hurriedly made her way out of the room.
It was then Roger's turn to say goodbye, knowing Mimi needed some kind of support. "I'm leaving now Mo, you were great tonight, you definitely proved to have bigger balls then me, jumping in front of a gun to save Joanne." He paused for a second not knowing what to say next. "I guess this is goodbye." He kissed the top of her hand softly, and then was out of the room, where Mimi was crying in the hallway.
"It's not fair." Mimi said once she saw Roger. "She doesn't even know."
Roger didn't say anything and just wrapped her in a tight protective hug, feeling his shirt get soaked as she cried on his shoulder.
Back in the room Benny and Alison were now by Maureen's bedside, Maureen opened her eyes this time, looking up at the couple.
"You are one crazy girl Mo." Benny said with a smirk, Maureen smiled weakly.
"Yes you are." Alison said. "I think I was mostly scared of you, when I was first coming into your family, but you accepted me…after a couple of months, but you still accepted me as one of the gang…thank you."
"Thanks for accepting my wife." Benny added his eyes watery. "Also thanks for making the loft an exciting place to live."
Maureen let out a low laugh; so low you could barely hear it. "You're welcome, but don't worry, I'll still be making your life exciting."
"I bet you will…" Benny said while kissing her forehead, Alison adding a kiss right after him. "We have to head out now." He stated.
Maureen only nodded, watching as the two stood up, and headed for the door.
"Goodbye." They both said, leaving Mark and Maureen alone together.
Maureen turned her head to face Mark. "You leaving too?" She asked, her voice sounding tired.
Mark only smiled as he leaned in, taking one of her hands in his own. "Soon."
"Can you wait until Joanne or Collins comes?" Maureen pleaded, her eyes slipping closed. "I don't want to stay here alone."
"Sure." Mark said, somehow keeping himself calm and collected.
After a few moments of silence, Mark was finally able to muster up enough courage to speak.
"I'm sorry." Were his first words, causing Maureen to open her eyes, which landed on blue ones, asking the filmmaker to explain with out saying a word.
"For not being there." Mark began. "After you left me for that girl, I was just so mad at you, and I was happy she broke your heart, it was what you did to me." Mark explained as water started to build up behind his eyes. "I was being selfish, and when I would hear you cry in the bathroom, or in the middle of the night, I felt bad and I wanted to comfort you, but then all my anger towards you would come back, and I couldn't bring myself to soothe you…" Mark paused for a second taking in a small breath. "I didn't realize how much she hurt you, and I'm sorry…"
Maureen squeezed his hand, smiling up at him. "It's okay…I'm sorry too, lets just call it even."
Mark weakly smiled pushing his tears back. "Fair enough."
At that moment the door creaked open, and Collins and Angel entered.
"I'm going to get going." Mark said giving her a kiss on the cheek. Before he could pull away, Maureen kept him eye level.
"I forgive you, if you forgive me?" Maureen asked.
"I forgive you, I had a long time ago." Mark answered giving her another kiss, before turning around giving Angel and Collins a hug, and leaving the room.
"Hey chica." Angel said with a bright smile as she took one of Maureen's hands, and sat on her bed.
Maureen smiled towards Angel, then her eyes shifted to Collins who was walking around to the other side.
"Hey Mo." Collins said taking her hand in his.
"Where's Joanne?" Maureen asked.
"She's coming." Angel assured her. "How are you feeling?"
Maureen slowly turned to face Angel. "I'm tired…"
Angel tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "Just rest up."
"Hey Collins we going to party it up once I get out of here?" Maureen asked.
Collins chuckled. "You're already talking about partying?"
Maureen nodded.
"Oh man Maureen." Collins laughed. "Nothing can stop you can it?"
Maureen shook her head, her eyes slipping closed again. "Nope."
"That's why you're my best friend." Collins said squeezing her hand. "You always know how to make me laugh, and keep me young."
"You always know how to keep me sane." Maureen said her eyes still closed. "If it wasn't for you I bet Joanne would be in Chicago right now."
"Where's Joanne?" Maureen asked again.
"She's coming chica." Angel answered once again.
"Angel?" Maureen called out in a whisper, tightening her grip on Angel's hand.
"I'm right here." Angel said.
"Thank you." Maureen said.
"For what?" Angel asked with a slight smile.
"Keeping Collins company, and taking care of him. If Collins deserves anyone I'm happy it's you." Maureen said. "I'm happy he found you, I didn't think it was possible but that huge grin on his face, got bigger the day he met you."
"No problem." Angel said. "I'll cover him for the rest of my life." She added while placing a kiss on her cheek.
"I'll be watching…" Maureen warned with a slight smile. "I have eyes on the back of my head."
"I promise." Angel said as a sad expression hit her face, sad one because she realized Maureen had no idea what was going on.
Angel then looked up, noticing tears coming down Collins face, reaching over she wiped them away before Maureen could see them.
"We are going to get going." Collins said his eyes still on Angel, he wasn't able to stay any longer and watch his best friend talk as if she was free after tonight. "I love you Mo you're like a sister to me, and you're so stupid for jumping in front of that gun, but I understand why you did it…just…just make sure you save a spot for me, I'll be seeing you soon."
Maureen opened her eyes with a small confused look. "I don't know why you're getting all gushy, I'll be seeing you tomorrow."
Collins leaned down again, not able to say anything, kissing her on the forehead this time. "Goodbye."
Angel said her goodbye, and her and Collins reluctantly left the room. Once the door was shut Collins fell apart, Angel holding him up in a compassionate hug.
"How is she?" Joanne asked Benny before going in.
"Tired." Benny answered.
Joanne nodded and walked up to the door, taking a deep breath before entering. She was quickly by Maureen's side once she was in the room, seated in a chair, and holding her hand.
"Hey honeybear." Joanne said as she rubbed up and down Maureen's arm.
Maureen slowly opened her eyes, a grin hitting her face when she saw Joanne. "Hey."
"Thanks for saving me." Joanne said.
"It was nothing." Maureen answered in a hoarse voice. "It's something we can celebrate later…"
Joanne smirked, tears now building in her eyes. "Definitely."
"I'm tired." Maureen said.
"Do you want to sleep?" Joanne asked even though she knew Maureen probably wouldn't be waking up from it.
"With you by my side." Maureen answered as she tried to make room on the bed.
"I don't know if there is room." Joanne stated as she tried to hold back the tears that were sure to fall after Maureen spoke their little phrase.
Maureen pouted. "I want you to hold me."
Joanne nodded as she stood. "Okay." She said while she slowly and carefully climbed into the bed next to Maureen.
Once Joanne was in a comfortable position, she wrapped her arms around Maureen and pulled her close. Maureen sighed happily, resting her head on Joanne's shoulder, as her eyelids grew heavy.
Joanne stroked Maureen's hair, as Maureen began falling asleep. "Thank you so much Maureen, you saved my life, in more way then one. If it weren't for you I'd probably still be trapped in my old life, I'd also probably be the one lying in this bed right now. I love you Maureen I love you so much."
Maureen just mumbled something as her breathing evened out, and she was soon asleep in Joanne's protective arms, while Joanne let silent tears fall from her eyes.
Everyone was still in the waiting room, some sleeping, while others were still wide-awake. An hour later they saw Joanne exit Maureen's room, slowly shutting the door behind her. Collins watched as she talked to a nurse, and then as she gradually made her way over to the group.
Collins had a pained expression on his face, which caught Angel's eye, and it wasn't long before all the bohemians were up and watching as Joanne walked towards them.
"She's…" Joanne began once she reached to group, tears now following freely from her eyes. "She's gone."
After the last word she broke down, Mark being the closest pulled her into a hug before she hit the ground, letting her cry on his chest, as he somehow stayed strong. It wasn't long until everyone else broke down practically flooding the waiting room, with tears, and sobs, mourning the lost of one of their family members.
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I'm sorry! I know, I know...I can't believe I did it either, trust me it was hard to write this chapter, I had to take breaks because my eye's were getting watery...
Don't worry Jessica will get what's coming to her!