Chapter 27
Michaela is sitting at her desk at the clinic looking at some of her medical books. She is looking to see if there is anything that she can do for Katie that she hasn't already done. She had to give Katie something to help her sleep. When she first woke up and saw her leg, she was very upset. Michaela couldn't calm her down. She knew Katie would be upset at seeing her leg.
Sully comes into the clinic to check on things and sees Michaela asleep with her head on her desk. She has an open medical book underneath her head. He just smiles as he places his hand on her shoulder.
"Michaela?
She doesn't stir. She is very tired because she hasn't gotten much sleep and she's pregnant. He's not the least bit surprised. He does it again.
"Michaela?"
This time she begins to stir, sits up, and yawns.
She looks around the clinic, confused at first and then she begins to comprehend everything.
"Sully?"
"Yes, it's me."
She yawns again.
"I must have been tired."
She stretches and then stands up but before she can completely stand up, she gets lightheaded and almost faints. Sully catches her and sits her back down in the chair.
"Michaela you are going to need to slow down for the baby's sake. You're trying to do too much."
"I need to take care of Katie, Sully. Her leg is not going to heal itself, you know."
"How about we talk to Dr. Bernard and see if he can take over taking care of Katie. You need to start taking it easy and resting more."
"Sully, Katie is my daughter and I want to take care of her. Only I know what's best for her. Dr. Bernard doesn't know how to take care of Katie the way I do."
"What about the baby, Michaela? Are you thinking about the baby at all?"
"Of course I am. How could you ask me such a thing?"
"You don't seem to be thinking about the baby at all. Since Katie's accident, you have thought about nothing but her. All your time is spent taking care of her. You aren't taking care of yourself. You need to rest more and eat more."
"Byron Sully! I don't need you telling me that I need to take care of myself! I know I need to!"
"Then why don't you?"
Michaela starts to cry.
"Katie's leg is in very bad shape, Sully. She may die. I cannot lose her. I lost a baby to miscarriage and I refuse to go through a loss like that again."
Sully gets down on one knee and comforts his wife.
"I know you don't want to lose Katie. I don't want to lose her either. I know how hard that miscarriage was on you."
Sully puts his hand on Michaela's still flat stomach.
"I don't want to lose this little one either."
Michaela looks down and places a hand over Sully's.
"I don't either. This baby is our second chance."
"Then please consider getting some help taking care of Katie."
"Okay, I'll think about it."
"Good."
They smile at each other and hug.
They finish hugging as Michaela wipes her eyes and then gets up to go check on Katie. Sully leaves the clinic to go get the others so they can come and see Katie. She was too upset before to have any visitors.
Michaela gets upstairs to Katie's room and sees her lying there. She appears to be sleeping until Michaela approaches the bed.
Katie turns her head towards her mother, her face wet with tears.
"Katie, I thought you were still asleep." Michaela says as she sits on the edge of the bed.
Katie shakes her head as she reaches up and wipes the tears away.
"No. I heard you and Papa arguing and it's all my fault, Mama."
"Why do you say that, sweetheart?"
"You were arguing because I hurt myself and you are taking care of me. Papa is worried about the baby because you are working so hard taking care of me. I will never forgive myself if you lose the baby, Mama. I don't want you and Papa fighting."
"Oh, Katie. It's not your fault."
"Yes it is. I went out in the middle of the night after you and Papa not to have told me not to and I got hurt. I deserve to lose my leg."
"Katherine Sully! I don't ever want to hear you say something like that ever again!"
A fresh set of tears roll down Katie's cheeks.
"Why not? It's true."
"You do not deserve to lose your leg. You are my daughter. You did make a mistake but you also learned your lesson. I am going to do everything I can to keep you from losing that leg. I don't care what it takes. Do you understand?"
Katie nods.
"Yes, mama."
"I love you, Katie."
"I love you too, Mama."
Michaela reaches out for a hug from her daughter. Katie gives her one. They sit there and hold one another until they are interrupted.
"Are we interrupting something?" Sully asks as he sees his wife and daughter hugging.
They both pull out of the hug and look at Sully. He's holding Aimie and Matthew is next to him holding Angela. Behind Matthew are Brian and Maggie and next to them are Grace and Hope. Cloud Dancing is behind them and he has Morningstar with him.
Michaela smiles and stands up and approaches Sully.
"No, not at all. Come on in."
Michaela looks over at Katie and smiles.
Katie smiles back at her mother.
"Look who came to see you, sweetheart."
"How ya doin', Kates?" Sully asks his daughter.
"I'm doing as well as I can, Papa."
"It's good to see you awake."
Katie smiles and nods.
Matthew speaks up.
"Yes, it is little sister. The twins wanted to come and see their Aunt Katie. They have missed ya."
Katie looks at Aimie and then Angela and smiles.
"I'm glad they came. I'm happy to see them."
Matthew puts Angela down and Sully does the same with Aimie.
They both are hesitant at first to approach Katie.
Michaela is there to make them comfortable. She leans over and grabs their hands.
"Girls, would you like to say hi to Aunt Katie?"
Aimie, who acts more shy than normal hides herself in Michaela's skirt. Angela looks up at Michaela.
"Is it really okay to talk to Aunt Katie, Gramma?"
Michaela starts to say something and then Katie interrupts.
"Its okay, Angela. You don't have to be afraid to talk to me. I may be hurt but I'm still the same person I always was."
Angela grins as Katie reaches out to her for a hug. Angela runs to the bed and jumps on it to give Katie a hug but the impact of Angela landing on the bed causes it to move. It moves Katie's injured leg and she cries out in pain and grabs it.
Angela sits on the bed shocked and scared.
"I'm sorry Aunt Katie."
Katie doesn't answer because she's still in so much pain. She continues to hold her leg and has her eyes squeezed shut to the pain.
Angela climbs down off the bed and runs to Matthew. He picks her up as she hugs him.
She feels bad for "hurting" Aunt Katie.
Aimie still has her face half buried in Michaela's skirt.
Sully comes over and relieves Michaela of Aimie as Michaela goes and grabs her bag. Everyone is just standing there not saying anything. They don't know what to say. It's really hard for them to see Katie like this. They just didn't know what to expect.
After Michaela has gotten what she needed out of her bag, she goes over to the bed and gives Katie something for the pain.
"It should start working almost immediately, sweetheart."
Katie just nods her head as she continues to hold her leg in pain.
When the painkiller finally kicks in, Katie is finally ready to greet everyone. She gets a chance to talk to everyone.
They are all happy to see her awake and are glad that she is doing as well as she is, considering.
When she is done, talking to everyone Grace gives her some of her stew that she likes so much. They all leave her alone and let her eat.
Angela keeps asking if they can come back and see Aunt Katie later. They tell her yes. Angela is just as happy as everyone else to have Aunt Katie back even if she can't get out of bed.
Aimie is still a little scared yet. She just needs some time to get used to the change.
It appears things are finally starting to look up…or are they? Things aren't always what they seem…
Chapter 28 coming soon…stay tuned!
