Reliving The Past
Chapter 29
As Elizabeth and Franco enter Audrey's room, Elizabeth affixes her fake smile on just for Audrey.
"Hi Gram. How are you feeling?" Elizabeth uses her nurse voice.
"I'm doing fine Elizabeth. How are you dear? Bobby told me they had to put you on a breathing tube because of a blood clot. Good heavens, if it's not one thing, it's another." Audrey gets her worried Gram face going.
"Gram, stop it. I'm fine. I'm sure I will be out of here in no time. As will you. I am so sorry about your house Gram. I am just sick about it." Elizabeth is just about to say that she will pay to have everything done to fix it. When there is a knock at the door.
"Come in." Audrey says, curious as to who it is. The door opens and Carly walks in.
"Hello Audrey. Elizabeth. Franco." The last part sounds as if she might get sick.
"Hello Carly dear. What might I do for you?" Audrey says, trying to stop a fight before it starts.
"Audrey, this is the paper work for all the renovations to your house. Sonny had men working 24/7 to get it done before you would have to go home. Everything looks as it should. We even tried to replace the broken glass items in the house. But there were a few things we couldn't. I'm sorry. But if there is anything wrong that we didn't see, this is the paper work. You just call them up and they we come fix it and no cost. I'm so glad you are doing better. My mother was worried sick about you. She just thinks the world of you Audrey. She always says you were he role model for nursing. I think a lot of young nurses look to you as a guide to be the best they can be. And they all strive to have the love you and Mr. Hardy had." Carly says with a smile.
"Oh thank you dear. You know, you and Sonny didn't need to have that done. That's what insurance is for. But thank you for thinking of me. And all the kindness you and Sonny has shown my family." Audrey is crying.
"Gram, it's ok. Thank you Carly. You and Sonny have done so much for our family. I can't even begin to repay you. It's a load off my mind to know that my boys are safe and sound. I…" Elizabeth stops all of a sudden. She gets another flash of the bonfire. The girl screaming.
"Is she ok?" Carly asks, looking confused at Elizabeth.
"Dear heavens, she used to do that when she was having flashbacks of the rape." Audrey watches her.
"She was talking to Sonny when this started. She's had a few of these episodes. She said no fire. But she said something about a girl screaming. She said she gets so terrified. She dropped the phone when talking to Sonny." Franco says.
"DON'T!" Elizabeth stands up real fast and reaches out like trying to stop something. Then she passes out. Franco catches her and sets her back in the wheelchair.
"Carly, could you find a doctor." Audrey asks. She tries to get up and go to Elizabeth.
"Sure, if you well stay in bed. You won't help if you hurt yourself." Carly leaves the room.
"Poor child. She's been through so much in her life. More than most. I don't know where she finds the strength to keep going like she does. After being shot and a blood clot. And here she is coming to see me after a mild heart attack. I told her when she first got to my house all those years ago that she minds me of me when I was her age. But she is so much stronger than I ever was. Her grandfather Tom would be so proud of her. Over coming all that she's been through and still happy. I know I owe you a lot for that recently young man. My Jakey love you. He idealizes you. You are all he talks about. He always asks me to come over so he can make me toast in the toaster you got him." Audrey smiles at him.
"Thank you Mrs. Hardy. I love those boys like they were my own. Jake seems to have found a kindred spirit in my and I in him. I would do anything for any of those kids. And Elizabeth. I know I have a past that people still fear and are not sure if I can be trusted. But Elizabeth and Jake give me the drive and hope that I can be the real man I was meant to be. I am very sorry for all the stuff that I did when I had that tumor. But I can' only apologize so much. Elizabeth is the first to forgive me for kidnapping Aidan. Well having him kidnapped. I apologize to you for any heart ache you might have felt do to my crazy behavior. I hope you can see I am not the same man I was then." Franco says, praying that she can see and believes him.
"Franco, I believe whole heartedly that people change. If you would have known My Lizzie before she had been raped, you would have seen a different girl. She smoked. She had an attitude that just was abrasive. She took my car without a license and would sneak out at all hours of the night. I could barely keep up with all her shenanigans. Everyone compared her to Sarah. Then told her to be more like Sarah. She HATED that with a passion. But when she thought Lucky and she had a date for the Valentine's Day dance, she became the granddaughter that was fun and let me fuss over her. She came home a shell of my Lizzie. She was quiet. Didn't want to leave her room or the house. Sarah later told me of the awful bruises on her arms. ALL of her arms. She had cuts and bruises in more places than not. That poor child needed me and she felt she couldn't tell me. Afraid of disappointing me. I lent her a bracelet my late Tom got me when we first started dating. But she hadn't given it back. So I asked for it. I should have known right then. She was shaking. And nearly crying. She said that the clasp broke and she took it to get it fixed. But I heard Lucky bring the bracelet back. I overheard that he found it in the park. So when he left, I called her on it. That poor child was just beside her self. She couldn't even put a sentence together. Then she slowly told me. My heart dropped right there. But I never had to worry about her smoking again. And most of the time she was with Lucky if she wasn't home. But she changed. So if you care for her, but gentle with her and the boys. I will forgive you of you watch over them. I won't be here forever. And someone has to be good to them." Audrey looks at an unconscious Elizabeth.
"That had to be awful for you both. I can see the pain in your face right now. So I can only imagine how hurt you were back then. Elizabeth never told he exactly what happened to her. Just that she had been raped. I have a better understanding how it affected you both. But maybe when she trusts me enough she will share that experience with me." Franco says. Elizabeth starts to wake up.
"Elizabeth dear, are you ok? What happened darling?" Audrey asks.
"Was it like before Franco?" Elizabeth looks to him for an answer.
"Yeah. Carly went to get a doctor." Franco squats down and looks into her eyes.
"Stop that!" Elizabeth shoos him away. "I hate when people do that to me." Elizabeth says, feeling on edge.
"I'm sorry Liz, I was just trying to see if you were ok." Franco is taken aback at her reaction.
"No, I'm sorry. I just feel like there is something making my skin crawl. Like something really bad is about to happen." Elizabeth looks around. Almost like she is looking for an escape.
"Darling, you are just nerved up. When the doctor gets here, let him look at you and see how you are doing. Maybe he can give you something to relax you." Audrey says, trying to comfort Elizabeth.
"No! Gram, I think my body knows when something is about to happen. I can't be on meds. I can't protect myself if I'm drugged up." Elizabeth seems a little frazzled. Just then, Carly and a doctor come in. Elizabeth is a little skittish about the doctor. She didn't recognize him. "Who is this?" She eyeballs him suspiciously.
"I'm Doctor Burns. Doctor Henry Burns. I'm just here for a few weeks. There is a new program that started. Visiting Doctors come to evaluate the way each hospital does with procedures and techniques. Mrs. Corinthos says that you had an episode and then passed out. That you are recovering from a gunshot wound and a blood clot. Why are you out of bed? And out of your room. This is the cardiac wing." Doctor Burns seems a little irritated.
"Well Doctor Burns. This young lady right here is my Grandmother. She had a mild heart attack. I came to make sure she was doing ok. And I didn't faint from my GSW or my blood clot. I was a little stressed. I blood pressure could have been elevated or my heart race elevated. But I'm fine know. And please make sure you don't treat all the patients like they are little kids or a waste of your precious time! Excuse me! Gram, I love you. Feel better. If you need anything call my room number." Elizabeth hugs Audrey and then turns to look at the doctor. "Excuse me, you won't be bothered by me again. Thank you for your concern Carly. Franco! Let's go." Elizabeth looks away as Franco rolls her out.
"By ladies. Doctor." Franco says, smiling as they leave the room. Once far enough away, Franco starts to laugh. "Boy that was funny. I wish I had got that on video." Franco laughs. Elizabeth smiles. It felt good to fight back and not be so polite.
"Well, the jerk had it coming. To act like I don't know how to take care of myself is just plain out obnoxious. And he's a guest here. He should be more polite. I don't trust him. If he comes near my room, call security. Something just feels off about him. And when did we start this program. I don't recall getting that memo." Elizabeth starts to think about how many new people she has seen. She starts to feel like she's getting a little paranoid.
"Elizabeth, maybe we should stop by and talk to doctor Maddox. Maybe he can help you with these flashbacks. Maybe he can also help with the anxiety you are feeling. Maybe just see what he has to say. I mean you did get shot. Aidan almost got shot. You have been under a lot of stress. When your wound heals maybe we can let you get your frustration out on the punching bag. But until then, let him help you please." Franco says, putting a hand on her shoulder. This triggers another memory. A man. He put his hand on her shoulder. Then told her she better forget what she saw or she was next. This freaks Elizabeth out enough that she stops the wheelchair and gets out of it.
"Don't touch me." Her breathing increases. She grabs the lapels of her robe and hold them closed as if she didn't want anyone to see her chest.
"Elizabeth, calm down. You know I won't hurt you. What's wrong?" Franco at first feels a little hurt. Then more concerned. The memory and the voice keep playing back in her head. She reaches out to Franco. He puts his hand under hers. "What is it sweetheart?"
"I know something I wasn't supposed to. Please, get me to Doctor Maddox office." Elizabeth says, looking like she was blind. Franco gets her back in the wheelchair and heads to Doctor Maddox office.
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Hope you liked the chapter. Can't wait to hear what you all think. Take care and the next chapter is soon to come.
