The Sunny Chronicles II: Resurrections: Chapter Twenty-Five
Leo does his best to tell Greenlee everything he can without letting her know about Frankie, but everything he says on the car ride to the hospital only brings up more questions. By the time Simone drops them off at the emergency room doors, Greenlee is asking him things so quickly that he doesn't even have time to respond. This is especially true once David meets them inside wearing an exhausted expression.
The weary doctor only shoots Leo a frustrated glare before going straight to Frankie.
He takes her small hands into his own and warmly smiles down at her. "We were able to make the transfusion in time, and she's going to pull through this soon," he tells her. "But, the bullet is lodged beneath her shoulder blade … it's going to be a tricky removal. We'll be moving her to an operating room shortly to take care of it. And, I will be supervising the whole time."
"May we see her now?" asks Sunny hopefully.
"Actually, she was conscious for a moment," David says. "She was asking for Maggie."
Frankie looks behind her at Leo, who says, "It's okay. Go in and see her. We'll be waiting right here."
"Is she conscious now?" Frankie asks David, turning back to face him.
"No," he replies. "She's out cold. And I expect she will be for some time. She's been given a lot of medication for the pain."
Frankie nods and steadies her nerves, walking past him with determination and disappearing into Bianca's room. Sunny watches on with disapproving eyes.
"Leo, is there a chance I could steal you away for five minutes?" asks Greenlee, looking up at him lovingly. "I know you want to be here for Bianca, but I have so many questions …"
"Sorry, Greenlee," says David, taking Leo by the arm. "But, I need a moment alone with my brother before I scrub up. Will you excuse us?"
Greenlee narrows her eyes at David menacingly.
"Come on, sis," Sunny implores, patting her gently on the back. "Let's go get a cup of coffee or something. We may be here for a while."
Frankie stands idly just inside the door to Bianca's room for a moment, staring at her old friend lying peacefully in her bed with wonder. All the memories … they give her a picture of Bianca that is much different than the vision before her now. She was little more than a child when Frankie last knew her, already brave and ready to take on the world, but too naïve to understand the path in front of her. Now, she is a woman with two children to care for … and a woman in love.
Frankie wonders if it could be dreams of Maggie that are causing the sweet smile to grace Bianca's otherwise still face. She feels horrible that she doesn't know where her sister is, that it could be her fault that she's disappeared. She can't bear the trauma she's caused to Maggie, or to Bianca. Looking upon the innocent beauty lying helpless in the hospital bed in front of her, she wishes she could reach in and rip her own heart out, offering it as a penance. She wishes that Maggie were here instead of her. She wishes that Vanessa had taken her instead, and left her sister in peace.
The guilt is overwhelming. And, she almost turns around and runs out of the room. But then, suddenly, the urge to purge herself of all these feelings becomes too urgent to ignore. She rushes to Bianca's bedside and looks at her for any sign of awakening. But, besides the smile, all else remains still.
"Bianca," she says softly. "How can I ever tell you how sorry I am? How … ashamed I am? I shouldn't even be here right now. I have no right. I don't even deserve to … look at you."
She begins to cry, but then sucks it back in reflexively.
Assassins don't cry.
"I have a lot to make up for," she continues. "And a lot to account for … starting with leaving you in the first place. I should never have listened to Vanessa. I should have trusted you and told you everything …"
She cautiously reaches out a hand and smoothes Bianca's hair back.
"You were always so much smarter than me," Frankie whispers. "You always knew exactly who you were and where you stood … I didn't have a clue. I never thought we would end up like this. God, if I had …"
She wraps both her hands around one of Bianca's and caresses it gently, tears spilling now uncontrollably from her eyes.
"I can't change all that I've done," she says. "But I can get Maggie back where she belongs, at your side. I can do one thing right in my pathetic life, Bianca. And if I have to kill one more person to do it … then … I will. But, I promise you, by the time you wake up, Maggie will be right here. And I will turn myself in … for everyone's sake."
"What the hell are you doing, Leo?" David demands to know once they are in his office behind closed doors. "Have you completely lost your mind?"
"David, I can explain …" Leo starts.
"I mean, you've done almost everything we agreed you would not do, under any circumstances!" he interrupts.
"Yes, but …"
"You know Vanessa will be looking for you now! You've led her straight to you!"
"David, Vanessa was already on her way here," he says. "That's why I came."
"What? But … why would she risk coming to Pine Valley unless it were for you?"
Leo takes a deep breath. "She came for Frankie."
"Frankie? our Frankie?"
"Yes. Vanessa followed Frankie to Pine Valley, and I followed Vanessa," Leo lies, looking him straight in the eye. "I'm sorry, David. I know we agreed I wouldn't come back, but I couldn't let Vanessa catch Frankie, not now."
"I don't understand," David says, taking a seat on his desk. "Why would Vanessa need to catch Frankie? I thought Frankie was still working for her."
"Frankie left Vanessa," Leo tries to explain. "She … started remembering some things … including Bianca. Then she heard that there was a hit out on Bianca's life, and well … she came here to protect her, thank God! I mean, can you imagine if Maggie had been there instead? I don't even want to think about it!"
"Wait. Are you saying …? Is Frankie the one I just let into Bianca's room?"
"Its okay, David," Leo reassures. "She remembers. She remembers everything. And she's here to help us."
"By attracting Vanessa straight to us?" David exclaims. "What a relief! And, if Frankie's the one sitting with Bianca right now, where the hell is Maggie?"
Leo sighs. "We're not sure. Frankie seems to think Vanessa might have taken her."
David leaps off his desk, eyes wide and jaw set.
"But, we're going to get her back," Leo continues. "I swear to you, David. Frankie and I will do anything …"
"That's what I'm afraid of," David tells him. "Do you two have any idea what you're up against? This woman is a monster! She would kill you and me both without even batting an eye!"
"I know, David …"
"Damn it!" David growls. "Why didn't you come to me with this earlier?"
"There was no time …"
"Well, I'm not letting you and Frankie take on Vanessa alone anymore," David tells him. "It's too risky, Leo. You've got to let me help you."
"David, Bianca is the one who needs your help right now," Leo says. "We can do this. Trust me."
"Another doctor can take care of Bianca."
"Is that what you really want?" asks Leo. "I know it's not what Maggie would want. She would want you to stay here and see Binks through this. I know she would."
David shakes his head in doubt. "I don't know …" he says.
A knock at his office door signals the arrival of Nurse Anita Santos. She opens the door after David grumbles, "come in," and offers him Bianca's file.
"They're taking Bianca into the O.R. now," she announces. "Are you ready, Doctor?"
He takes a deep breath and scowls at his brother. "Yes," he finally says, not taking his eyes off Leo. "I'll be right there."
Anita nods with a pleasant smile and leaves the room, shutting the door behind her.
"You're doing the right thing," Leo insists. "Bianca needs you here."
"Just promise me you won't be foolish," David replies. "Trust Frankie. Follow her lead. Vanessa trained her to be a professional killer … if we're lucky, maybe that decision will end up biting her in the ass this time."