Disclaimer: The characters in this story don't belong to me, they are owned by Erle Stanley Gardner's pen. I don't receive any economic good for them. I only write for the pleasure of doing it.
Many thanks to the incredible to tengland2 for helping correct this story and for staying by my side helping me.
All the errors are only mine.
Chapter Twenty Five
Nearly a half hour later, Andrea had completed the necessary paperwork, there was still no word for the three friends. Finally, a young doctor was seen leaving the treatment room, stopping at t he nurses desk to inquire about family for Elizabeth Street. John recognized his old faculty friend, he got up to approach internist Liam Hopper, Andrea and Ken right behind him.
"Liam," says John, the internist turns around, they shake hands. "We are the family for Elizabeth Street."
"Johnny, I know you two were once involved." Replies a bewildered Liam, who knew John's only relative was his father.
"We are still very dear friends. This is Andrea Steiner, her roommate, best friend, contact for medical emergencies, their parents are each other's godparents. Please could you tell us how she and the baby doing."
"Please tell us, I need as much information as possible, as I have to call our parents very soon." Begs Andrea.
"We have finally gotten her stabilized, as she has lost a lot of blood. The baby is running out of time, as labor has started and we will need to do a caesarean soon. We have started a unit of blood for replacement." Says Liam, "may I suggest you contact her parents, there is one decision that needs to be made and I think it should be them that makes it." Pauses Liam, "I have spoken with Dr. Cooper, who is on her way, from what I gathered this has become a bit of a high-risk pregnancy, due to outside stress."
"Yes, there are several issues that affect Lizzie's overall family and her pregnancy." Replies Johnny.
"I know you mentioned," Dr. Hopper, nods at Andrea, "that you're her emergency contact, but may I suggest you contact her husband. I am hoping it doesn't come to this, but should the decision need to be made of whose life to save, the mother or the child, should be his."
"Liam, she's not married and by choice there is no involvement of the baby's father. I think for the moment, the only one to make the choice is Lizzie." Says Johnny, "least until we can contact her parents and inform them of the decision."
"Alright, look she is conscious and I suggest at least one of you goes in an explains the choice to her." Dr. Hopper nods and leaves the three friends.
"Andrea, perhaps you should be the one, Ken and I will be right outside the door." Says Johnny, "if you need either of us just call."
Andrea stepped away entering the room where Lizzie was. She paused as the door closed quietly behind her, looking at her friend, eyes closed, very pale, once again hooked up to several devices and two IVs. Lizzie opened her eyes slowly, her gaze was one of shock, staring at her partner in crime. Andrea tried to smile, "Hey little sister, how do you feel?"
"Like I've been used as a punching bag." Taking a breath, "truth or dare, Andrea, how is my baby doing?"
"No choice, truth is alive, but not doing to well. They are waiting for Dr. Cooper, planning an emergency caesarean section." Responds Andrea, trying to control the urge to cry, wiping a tear away.
"ANDREA, please, they can't be serious, I'm barely eight months along. I know what it is to be born early, I know what my mother went through." Lizzie screams in anguish, brining Johnny and Ken into the room.
Johnny leans over the bed next to Andrea, "Lizzie please calm down, being upset anymore than you already are won't help. The doctors here are going to do what is best for you and the baby. You've got to control your breathing, getting your pressure stable."
"Andrea, please promise me, if you have to make the choice between my baby and me," she lets out a sigh, "I want you to choose my child. Promise me, promise"
"I can't do this Lizzie, I can't choose for you." Said Andrea.
"Call grandma Mae, get her here now, she'll make the decision." Says Lizzie. "Call mom and dad as well."
"I'll go call her now, then your parents." says Andrea, Johnny and Ken steppe out into the corridor, Bethany went.
"Well, well, well, there you are." The friends turn around seeing Grandma Mae standing just feet away from them, with a large cop right behind her. "Andrea, why did I have to hear from Capt. McDonald where the four of you were?"
Starting to cry, Andrea went to Mae's extended arms, which were quickly wrapped around her.
"Sorry, we were leaving Mario's, there were a group of reporters and photographers, that got rather pushy, causing Lizzie to fall hard on the ground." Says Johnny.
Mae steps back from Andrea, "Tell me all of it."
The group goes over to the waiting area, to sit, Capt. McDonald turns around waiting in the corridor.
"Capt. McDonald, found you?" Questions Andrea.
"Be thankful he did. I was waiting for the two of you to come home, I assumed you were having a good time, so I wasn't really worried. Then I hear on the news there was a shooting near the restaurant you all went to and one person was taken to Tufts Medical Center." Replies Mae. "I was about ready to call Tufts, when the door bell rang, opening the door there stood Capt. McDonald, saying he'd come to take me to the hospital. He knew I was here and suspected that I didn't hear the news or heard from you."
"If it made the news here, could it have made the LA news? Did they mention Uncle Perry?" asks Andrea.
"I'm afraid they did, it wasn't a very detailed story, but one of those reporters knew who she was." Says Mae, wiping the tears from her eyes. "How is my girl doing?"
"Not very good. She has lost a lot of blood and the baby is in a bit of trouble, But I know your granddaughter is a strong woman." says Johnny. "They will be preparing her for emergency surgery shortly. Lizzie once told me that she was a preemie and she is just fine."
Mae smiles, "yes she was and she turned out to be a very healthy, stubborn young woman."
"Grandma Mae, Lizzie, wants me to make the choice, that if it comes down to her life or the baby's. I can't do that." cries Andrea, leaning on Mae's shoulder.
"Don't worry, the choice will be mine, if it comes down to it. I won't put that bit of responsibility on you. May I suggest we find a phone somewhere and call Della and Perry."
"I know where you can call from and have some privacy." Says Johnny.
"Oh, your all coming with me, I may need some questions to be answered by medical personnel. Perhaps I need to see Lizzie first." Says Mae.
"Come with me, Bethany just went in to her room." Smiles Johnny, "yes I know her and I'm sure she'll let you have a couple of minutes."
"I'll settle for enough time to see how Lizzie is doing, good or bad." Says Mae, getting up she and Johnny walk to the treatment room, where Lizzie was.
Johnny holds the door open for Mae to enter, telling Bethany she was Lizzie's grandmother. Bethany stepped out into the hallway telling Mae it would have to be short visit.
"Hey there my girl," leaning over to kiss Lizzie's forehead.
"Grandma, how did you find out? Mom and Dad?" Lizzie asks.
"Capt. McDonald came and got me, figuring your partner in crime and company had not had a chance to notify me. And no, you parents haven't been notified yet." Mae attempts to smile. "We're going to call them in a minute or two. I just wanted to be able to tell them that I saw you."
"Then Grandma, please the choice becomes yours to make. If it comes down between me and my child living, save my child. Tell Mom and Dad I love them both." Says Lizzie.
"I'll tell them that much, as for the rest, not happening my young lady. Your going to raise this child, I'm going to be around to spoil you and this great grandchild more than I did before." Smiles Mae. "Now relax, let everyone do their jobs, no trouble from you. I will see you both in a couple of hours." Leaning over she kisses Lizzie's forehead again and leaves, she wiping away her tears.
Mae re-joins the three friends in the corridor, Bethany comes through the ER doors.
"They are on the way to take Lizzie up to surgery. It will be a couple of hours before we can be sure of anything. May I suggest you go across the street, it's a small 24-hour diner and get something to eat. If anything happens I will come get you."
The doors open a stretcher and several hospital personnel take it into Lizzie's room. Within several minutes Lizzie is wheeled out of the room, they stopping stretcher so that Andrea and Mae could have a moment with her. Lizzie repeated her request to Mae, who again told her nothing doing, she and her child would be just fine.
"Alright Johnny, now tell me. Where is this phone we can use?" Asks Mae.
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Perry and Della having returned home after work and a quiet dinner at Angelo's, they went into the kitchen where she prepared tea for both of them, Perry settling onto one of the stools. Perry smiled as he enjoyed the view of this beautiful woman he loved more than his life, who still maintained a youthful appearance and she was about to become a grandmother in about a month. That thought made him smile, he let out a soft laugh at the thought that he would be a grandfather then as well. Della glanced over her shoulder raising an eyebrow at her husband, who just smiled at her. In spite of how he found out that his daughter was pregnant and her choices, he was excited about the upcoming event. He thought about the most wonderful moments of his life, Della coming to work for him, their involvement, marriage, birth of Lizzie and Tom's adoption. Perry was leaning towards wanting another girl in his life, a granddaughter, Della wanted a health grandchild.
It was nearly 9:00pm when the phone rang, which was strange, as their services took all the calls and would rarely call, unless the client had been insistent. But they didn't have any clients needing that much attention at the moment, so it had to be someone they knew. Della sighed as she reached for the phone, there was a quick flash in in his memory of the day Lt Tragg reported Tom's accident.
Perry's reach was quicker, "Mason", he smiled at his wife as she poured the tea. For a brief moment all he could hear was someone struggling to breath.
"Uncle Perry, its Andrea," she says, "you and Aunt Della need to get to Boston right away, Lizzie's been hurt."
Perry stopped breathing for a second, glancing at Della with fear and anguish in his eyes, "Andrea, what is going on." He heard the phone being dropped than a voice he wasn't expecting.
"Perry, its Mae, let me talk to Della, NOW!" Mae nearly shouted. Perry handed the phone to Della.
"Andrea, what is it?" Della asks.
"Its me Della, Andrea dropped the phone. Lizzie, Andrea, Johnny and Ken were out for a friendly dinner, when they left the restaurant, they were mobbed by photographers and reporters. Lizzie was knocked to the ground and several hurt." Mae stops taking a deep breath.
"Mae, where is MY GIRL? Is she and the baby alright?" Asks Della, reaching for Perry's hand.
"We're at Tufts Medical Center, Lizzie's been stabilized, but there is an issue with the baby. Let me give the phone to Johnny he can explain it better." Says Mae.
Perry gets up so Della could sit on the stool. "What is going on? Are Lizzie and the baby alright?" He asks.
"Go get the portable phone," Replies Della.
"Hello Mrs Mason, this is John Richards," Says Johnny.
"Hello John, please wait a moment, my husband has gone to get the portable phone." Says Della, Perry returns with the phone in hand, she switches phones with him. "Alright John, please tell us what happened?
Johnny proceeded to tell them what Mae had already told them. "There was a fire department with an ambulance around the corner, so it took no time to get her help. I don't know how to put this any way except the way it was Mrs. Mason."
"John, please go on."
"When she got here they had to stop the bleeding and get her stabilized. The baby was in distress because of the fall. They didn't have much of a choice, they are in the process of delivering her baby, then going to take care of the haemorrhaging issue, that wouldn't stop completely." Says Johnny.
Della took a deep breath, Perry reached across to wipe the tear off her check. "John thank you. Would you please stay with them as long as you can."
"Sure, Mr. Mason, one of the nurses already suggested we go across the street for a bit." Says Johnny.
"Now would you please put Mae or Andrea back on the phone please." Says Perry.
"Uncle Perry, I'm so scared, even with grandma being here." Andrea still crying.
"Andrea, get ahold of yourself. We'll be there as soon as possible. Just remember your partner in crime is going to be fine and so is her child. Remember I've done one preemie."
A few minutes later, Perry went over to the Drakes, while Della found them a flight to Boston. She made four reservations, knowing that Margaret and Paul would probably be going with them. Perry returned home finding Della standing in their bedroom trembling, he reached out to her, pulling her against him. She looked so pale and could barely speak.
"Perry, why would they do that to Lizzie? Why hurt our daughter and grandchild?" cries Della.
"Calm down Della love. I don't know why they would bother her and her friends. Bust I suspect who may be the cause of it all. Come sit down for a moment. I need to call Tom, then we'll be on our way."
Getting her to sit on the edge of the bed, he sat beside her, picking up the phone he dialled Tom's number, waiting three rings before it was answered.
"Mason, Diana if this isn't you, who ever you are better have a good reason for calling and waking me up." Came the sleepy voice of Tom.
"Tom, its Dad, I need you full attention." Says Perry.
Tom sits up, "Dad there has to be something seriously wrong for you to be calling this time of day. Mom alright?"
"Your Mom is fine; the problem is your sister. She's been admitted to Tufts." Says Perry.
"Not sure what time the earliest flight might be, there is a train leaving at some point, that could take between 7 to 8.5 hours." Says Tom. "What happened do you know? She was fine when I spoke with her, mentioned going out to dinner with Andrea, Ken and Johnny."
"They were together, apparently there was a group of photographers and reporters waiting outside of the restaurant. She was knocked hard to the ground and is now having an emergency c-section." Replies Perry. "We really don't know much more than that, Andrea could barely talk when I answered the phone, John got on the line and told us what he could."
Tom takes a deep breath, "Dad, I'll start calling for a flight, then head to which ever airport will get me there the fastest. I'll call Diana as well, she may know of something. I know telling you to stay calm isn't worth the breath, but try to keep Mom calm. She's a Mason, stubborn determination runs on both sides. My newest little one is starting life just like its mother, a preemie."
"Drive carefully, I don't need you to be in an accident as well. When you get there hug Mae and Andrea, kiss your sister and tell her we are on the way, with Drakes in tow." Replies Perry.
After hanging up, he turned his attention back to where his wife was. He had to convince her everything would be fine, except they both knew what life could be like at the beginning of a preemie. Within a few minutes he heard the front door open, Paul and Margaret had arrived, the limo was pulling up to the curb as well.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It had been nearly an hour since Lizzie had been taken to the operating room and there was still no news. Mae had gotten Andrea to go to the hospital chapel, where they sat in silent prayer. Ken had gone across the street in search of fruit, muffins and coffee, while John leaned against the wall waiting for any news. Shortly Mae and Andrea joined John in the OR waiting area, Ken returned with a variety of items, coffee and juice.
Finally hearing a set of doors opening, John saw Bethany coming towards them. "Hi, I hope you have information for us." Says John.
"Hi to you to." She smiles, "I can tell you that Miss Street has had a beautiful 5-pound 5 oz, 21-inch-long girl. There was an issue with the first breath, but once she caught it, she nearly deafened those in the room."
"Family trait," smiles Mae. "What else? How is my granddaughter, their friend doing?"
"The baby will be placed in an incubator for at least 48 hours, for observation." Replies Bethany, "as for Miss Street, its going to take a bit longer, she is stable and there is repairs that need to be done. Your aware she lost a lot of blood and her pressure has been an issue prior to this evening's events"
"Is it possible for us to see the baby?" Asks Andrea.
"That will be awhile longer. We need to get her settled in the neonatal unit. It will be at least another hour." Bethany smiles again. "The paediatrician on duty needs to check her and Dr. Cooper as well. Once that is done I'm sure one of them will be out to talk to you." She turned walking in the direction from where she came.
John had disappeared from the group, making his way into the neonatal unit. He had changed into scrubs, stopping at the nursing station, he introduced himself.
"Hello, I'm Dr. John Richards and I would like to check on the Street baby." He smiles.
"I'm sorry Doctor, I do know you, but your not on the neonatal staff. If you will wait outside with the family, as soon as Dr. Cooper is finished I'm sure she'll be out to see everyone."
Johnny came out of the neonatology room afflicted for not being able to see the daughter of the woman he loved, but also convinced that this little girl would be the other most important woman in his life.