"GRACE!" Connie ran quickly, pushing aside the crowds as she glimpsed her daughter stood against a wall, searching frantically about her, for a person, for a door, anything that would help her to get away from all of these people. Connie enveloped her in a tight hug, manoeuvring her away from the waiting area and into the quieter corridor on which her office was located. She quickly sat her down on the sofa, before closing the door and sitting next to her, bringing her against her and rubbing her arms reassuringly. "It's okay, I'm here. You're safe in here, sweetheart, I know it's manic out there, I'm so sorry. What did you think you were doing, Gracie?"
"I... I came to find you, to tell you about Mia-"
"She's out of theatre?" Grade nodded in response before falling back against Connie's side. "Is she okay? Why didn't Jacob just-"
"It went well, and he did, Mum. You didn't answer." Connie looked at her daughter and sighed, before bringing her to sit with her legs over her lap, and she held her close as she stroked her hair.
"I'm sorry." Connie whispered, and Grace closed her eyes momentarily before swallowing and pulling back, her arms still wrapped around her mother.
"I'm sorry too, Mum."
"Oh Gracie⦠I've been so focussed on making you happy, and showing your father that I could look after you that I think I stopped seeing you, but I promise, from now on everything will be better. You're my baby girl, and I've messed you around so often that I just hope you can forgive me and let us try again." Connie spoke softly as she rested her head on top of her daughter's.
"It won't just be us anymore though, mum. It will be Jacob and Mia, too, won't it?" Grace asked, her heart rate finally slowing as her mother rocked her gently.
Connie wanted to deny it, to say Grace was her only priority, but now she took a breath before replying, "Yes, but I'll tell you what we'll do. Every night before you go to bed, we will have a proper talk, okay? You can tell me everything that happened in your day and anything that's worrying you."
"What about if you're working?" Grace asked quietly.
"Well, have you seen Elle, Jacob's friend?" Grace nodded. "She's agreed to help me with my job, so neither of us will have so much work to do. I will be able to get out of here as soon as my shift finishes." Connie replied with a smile, though when she'd yelled this at Hanssen earlier it had come as a shock to both of them.
"That sounds perfect, but we'll see how it goes." Grace offered softly.
Connie knew the only way she'd be able to prove to her daughter that she meant it was with time, so for now she just dropped a kiss to her head. "We will, but for now how about we go and see Mia? I know patients in recovery are only allowed one visitor, but I think the formidable Connie Beauchamp can get around that, don't you?"
"I heard Jacob telling Elle you're a pussy cat, really." Grace smiled.
"Oh, did he now?" Grace laughed at her mother's expression, before slipping off her mother's legs and helping her to stand.
"Mum... What about work now?"
"Oh Grace, they'll manage. I've already shouted at the Swede'-"
"The Swede?" Connie's eyes widened as she realised what she had said out loud. "I think I'll be needing at least ten pounds not to mention that to his face if I see him..."
"You're a cheeky madam, you are." She pushed Grace out of her office, giggling, and they took the stairs so as to avoid the crowds in reception. Jacob was waiting outside of the recovery room, the worry clearly evident on his face.
"There you are. You had me worried, firecracker..."
"I'm fine, J-dog-"
"J-dog?" Connie raised her eyebrows at Jacob and he shrugged, grinning. He pushed the door open, ushering Grace in before him, and as Connie made to follow her, he caught her hand and pulled her back.
"So?"
"Thank you." She whispered with a small smile, before reaching slightly to kiss his cheek, removing her hand from his. She then went into the room, moving straight around to the stand by the bed which held all of Mia's medication. Jacob closed the door behind him and took one of the seats, the only sound being the steady bleep of Mia's monitor and the occasional clicking of Connie's heels on the floor.
"Mum, when will she wake up?"
"Not for a while yet, darling. She might speaking tomorrow morning, but she's going to need a lot of rest before she's ready to come home." Behind her, Jacob smiled as she unconsciously spoke of her house as their 'home.' Grace noticed it too, and turned to smile at Jacob, slipping her thumbs up as a sign of positive outcome, and he mirrored the gesture back at her.
THE END
Thank you so, so much to everyone who has read/reviewed this fic! It was so much fun to write, and there may be more on the way... ;) x
