CHAPTER 122

Stephanie's POV

Sometimes, I hate reality. And right about now, I really hate the reality of my life. I wish I could just drop into my own coma and let them park me in a bed next to Carlos until he wakes up, all healed and healthy again. Or maybe I should just get really drunk so I can forget the terrible images that keep playing out in my head.

Ever since I talked to Mateo this morning and he told me that Carlos had been injured, all I could think about was that I couldn't lose Superman. He was invincible, right? Faster than a speeding bullet, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Oh, Carlos…we haven't even had a chance to really be together and the thought that I might lose you…

Rosa reached across the aisle and squeezed my hand. She seemed to know just when I needed some support. We'd already made the flight from Oahu to San Francisco and we were now on our way to Philadelphia. We only told Melinda and Amanda that Rosa had a family emergency and they were very understanding about my accompanying Dawson's wife back to the mainland. I had confided to Tina the real reason we were returning to the mainland and she was full of questions, the first of them, "Was Lester involved?" I had no answers for her.

Five days ago, Dawson, Rosa and I, along with Tina, Amanda and Melinda, had flown to Hawaii together to meet with representatives from the three major Japanese department stores we felt would be best to carry the Babe! line. We'd all been enjoying the tropical paradise and then Mateo had called and told me about Carlos. Immediately, my world narrowed into a single thought: get to Carlos' side as soon as possible.

Rosa and I had secured the last two seats on the next flight back to the mainland. Worried about Lester and unable to reach him, Tina was anxious to get home, too. She hadn't been able to get on our flight, but she was scheduled on one a few hours later. After much debate, Rosa and I'd finally convinced Dawson to stay in Hawaii with Amanda and Melinda and finish the negotiations. After signing the contracts, Dawson would meet us in Philadelphia while Amanda and Melinda returned to Newark.

The day before Mateo contacted me about Carlos' medical condition, Rosa had taken me on a little excursion to one of Oahu's state parks. It was a beautiful place, but the trip was really an excuse for Rosa to get me alone so she could ask me about my good mood. Ever since my recent rendezvous with Carlos, I had worked hard to convince my friends and co-workers that my current happiness was due to the overwhelming success of the Babe! line and that I was overjoyed with the way the business negotiations were going, but Rosa wasn't so easily fooled. She said she knew that all my smiling and humming to myself meant only one thing: I had heard from Carlos. Of course, she was able to wheedle a few more details out of me, but I didn't – couldn't – tell her everything.

And now we both knew that Carlos was not only back in the States again, but that his mission's dreaded fatality prediction was close to coming true. I knew Rosa was just as worried as I was about her grandson. I had only been able to get a little information out of Mateo and Rosa hadn't gotten much more out of Ricardo. And that worried us even more. We knew Carlos was in a coma, but that was about it. We took turns trying to reassure the other that he was fine, that everything would be okay, but neither of us was buying it. It just wasn't right to have Carlos survive the dangerous overseas part of his mission only to come home to this…

It seemed like we'd been flying forever and my mind was racing the entire time. Somewhere over Kansas, it dawned on me that all of Carlos' family would be there at his bedside. I touched Rosa's arm to get her attention.

"How am I going to explain to the rest of the family about Carlos and me? His sisters are going to feel so betrayed by me for hiding our relationship."

"Do not worry about that now, my dear. When Carlos wakes up and his sisters see how in love the two of you are, all will be forgiven. My granddaughters are good, loving women and they only want to see their brother happy. This little secret so many of us have hidden will be a source of good-natured ribbing for the rest of your years together."

Rosa gave a small chuckle. "The night that never happened became the night that love happened, and love is always a good thing. I would imagine after Carlos is back on his feet, Celia and probably Pilar will give him, how do you say, a 'what for'. But, that is only because they do not like to be kept in the dark. They pride themselves on their nosiness and knowing everything before their sisters do."

"Do you really think they will accept me as Carlos' fiancée? How do I explain how we met? When I put it into words, it sounds so tawdry, even to me. What if they think I'm just some bimbo who sleeps around?"

Rosa got quiet and I felt a moment of panic that she was judging me. Her next words allayed my fears. "I admire you for going after what you want. Men have always been able to satisfy their urges and the world thought nothing of it, but women were supposed to behave like ladies and ladies are not supposed to have urges. Well, let me tell you, as a lady I have the same urges as a man, I just never had the…" and she gave a wicked chuckle, "…cojones to act on them. That is, until I met my sexy husband." And then she let out a throaty laugh and she didn't even blush. Rosa had definitely 'come into her own' since she met Dawson Books.

"But seriously, my dear, I have spent a considerable amount of time with you and you have impressed me not only with your artistic talent and business skills, but also with your personal integrity and loyalty to your friends. I am proud to call you my friend and I will be even prouder still when you become my granddaughter. And I know every member of my family will come to love you just as much as I do."

I was in an emotional state and Rosa's kind words brought tears to my eyes, but I was still concerned that me showing up at Carlos' bedside and probably sobbing my heart out might upset some of the family and I did not want to cause any more stress for them. When I told Rosa this, she was thoughtful for a while and then said, "What if you stay back at first? The family will assume you simply escorted me from Hawaii and will not question your presence. And then, when I find out more about Carlito's condition, I will ask you to sit by his bedside with me, to support me."

I thought about it and wondered if I could hold back and not immediately rush to Carlos' side. I was freaking out with worry and fear. I had so many questions about the coma Mateo said Carlos was in. I wondered how serious his injuries were and how he had gotten hurt. I didn't pray very often, but I'd been saying little prayers every few minutes since we'd left Hawaii. And now the thought of having to wait to be allowed to see him, let alone hold his hand and tell him how much I loved him had me reeling.

Mateo's POV

Finally, some good news! By early evening, Dr. Livingston reviewed with us the radiologist's report on Carlos' latest CT scan. The conclusion was the brain swelling had decreased to the point Dr. Livingston felt that Carlos could be taken off anesthesia and allowed to wake up naturally. He warned us that sometimes when a patient is coming out of an induced coma he could be confused and even belligerent at first and that Carlos may have to be sedated if he started thrashing around too much. Dr. Livingston didn't want to take any chances that Carlos' brain would start to swell again.

So, it was with trepidation that the family gathered in Carlos' room as the anesthesiologist removed the propofol drip. My mother had stayed with Lena in the maternity ward so the rest of the family could be with Carlos. Tía Teresa sat in the chair next to the bed and the rest of us lined the walls of the ICU room. We all held hands and Tío Ricardo led us in prayer, "Oremos…" [Let us pray.]

I think we all expected Carlos to immediately sit up in bed and greet us, but that didn't happen. After about thirty minutes of watching Carlos sleep, most of us adjourned to the waiting room leaving Teresa alone with her sleeping son. Eventually, Tío Ricardo took my cousins to the maternity ward, as much to be with Lena during her labor as to take a break from the nervous tension in the ICU.

About twenty minutes later, bells went off and I saw nurses rush to Carlos' room. I got to the doorway in time to see Carlos struggle against the three nurses who were trying to hold him on the bed. His face was contorted in anger and he was yelling, but his words were unrecognizable. My aunt stood frozen in the corner of the room with a look of horror on her face. I pulled her to me and we both watched as Carlos finally quieted down after one nurse injected a sedative into his IV drip. Before he fell asleep, I heard him utter, "Babe."

When the nurses left, my aunt pulled the chair back up to the bed and began stroking Carlos' forehead. After a while she began talking, her voice just a whisper, "He woke up slowly and when he opened his eyes and saw me I was so happy, thinking our Carlito had come back to us. Then, a look of rage filled his face. I called his name, but he struck out at me and if I hadn't dropped to the floor, he would have hit me. My own son didn't know who I was and nothing I said would quiet him down."

The pain in my aunt's voice told me she thought she'd failed him. I tried to reassure her by telling her, "I don't know that there is anything anyone can do for Carlos right now. The doctors said he might be confused and aggressive when he first woke up. He just needs time to let the drugs leave his system. Carlos would never knowingly hurt you, Tía Teresa."

She briefly glanced up at me. "I know that, mi sobrino, but I have never seen him like that. I know Carlos' job puts him in dangerous situations and he must always be ready to defend himself or… to attack. It must be second nature to him by now." Her hand trailed down Carlos' cheek and traced his strong jawline. "He was so… so fearsome. I was terrified. It is just so hard to reconcile that side of my son with the gentle man I know he truly is."

We were both silent for a few moments and then my aunt turned to me with a worried expression on her face. "Carlos kept calling out to someone and I distinctly heard him say 'Babe' before the sedative took effect. Could he have met someone else after Ms. Plum?"

Ricardo had told me that he had had to confide in Teresa about Carlos and Stephanie's relationship and gratefully, she had kept the deception to herself, but clearly, she didn't know everything.

I chuckled at her question. "Hardly. That's what Carlos calls Stephanie. She wouldn't tell him her name at first, so that was his nickname for her. Why do you think she calls her lingerie line Babe!?"

It was as if a light bulb went off in my aunt's head and her face broke out in a huge smile. "Stephanie named her line after Carlos' pet name for her? How romantic! I never knew, but then there is so much I don't know about my son's life," she sighed.

Celia, Pilar and Maria joined us shortly after that and convinced their mother to take a break and go downstairs to be with Lena as her labor progressed. Lena's husband, Marco, had arrived an hour earlier, but young Lena also needed her mother at this important time.

Worried that Carlos might become aggressive again and strike out at one of his sisters, I stayed with them. Several times Carlos started moving around, noticeably agitated but still asleep. During these restless periods, he'd thrash around and mumble a barely discernible 'Babe.' One by one, my cousins would try to soothe him, speaking quietly to him and caressing his brow, but nothing worked. Eventually, he settled down and dropped into a deep slumber, but I knew it bothered his sisters not to be able to calm him.

It was late evening and Carlos still had not awakened fully. The family refused to leave the hospital until they were sure Carlos would be all right and that Lena had a healthy baby. Between my mother and me, we convinced them to take a break for dinner though they insisted on only going as far as the hospital cafeteria. Doing something so ordinary as eating a meal together would help settle everyone's nerves. Tío Ricardo was showing signs of strain and I was worried about him.

I'd read that families of soldiers who were repeatedly deployed to a war zone often showed signs similar to post traumatic stress disorder. The strain of worrying and waiting to hear from a loved one who is in constant danger can take its toll on anyone. When Carlos first joined the Army, he could contact his family regularly, even when he was overseas. But after he became a Ranger, his missions were top-secret and he couldn't talk about where he was going or what his assignments were. And when he transferred to Delta Force, nearly all communication between Carlos and his family ceased. My cousin learned to control not only his speech and emotions, but his facial expressions too, which distanced him even farther from his family.

About two years ago, when Carlos was overseas on a top-secret mission, the family was celebrating several of the grandkids' birthdays, including my youngest daughter's birthday. It was a festive happy day until a man in a military uniform arrived at the Mañoso home. As soon as Tía Teresa saw the man in an Army dress uniform at the door, she screamed and then fainted, and several of my cousins started crying.

Responding to his family's distress and his own fear, my uncle became angry, even aggressive toward the soldier. I knew they were thinking the soldier was there to tell the family that Carlos had been killed. In reality, he was just an old Army friend of my cousin's who had simply stopped by in hopes of hearing some news of Carlos and to ask him to be his best man at his upcoming wedding. The family quickly recovered and welcomed the soldier with open arms, but their initial reaction showed me how stressful a soldier's career could be on his family.

Rushing to Carlos' side during this latest injury was bringing out heightened signs of stress from all family members, but especially from Tío Ricardo. I'd watched my uncle when he was under duress and knew that his initial reaction was anger and I was seeing that reaction now. With a deep sigh, I made a mental note to keep an eye on my uncle.

Rosa's POV

As I paid the cab driver his fare, I could see my hands were trembling. Even though it was the middle of the night, I draped my sweater over my hands so Stephanie would not see how troubled I was over Carlos.

My heart had been in my throat since Mateo had told Stephanie about Carlos being in the hospital. On the flight here, I tried to put on a brave face and lend all my love and support to Stephanie, but what I really wanted to do was curl up into a little ball and cry. I had not even had time to go to church and pray. I could not bear the thought of Carlos badly injured, let alone in a coma. Oh, mi Carlito, what had happened? What were you doing here in Philadelphia? How did you get hurt?

Stephanie and I had talked about Ricardo, Teresa and their children, because this was now her family too, even though Stephanie's role in it was still a secret to many. While Carlos had started the deception, Ricardo had compounded it with his lies and pride. It was time to put a stop to all the secrets and come together as a family. Carlos needed all of us now.

The one thing I had asked Stephanie to keep between us was my English. Despite my husband and my son's attempts to keep me sheltered and living in Old World ignorance, I had worked hard to learn the language of my new country. It was a personal achievement and it was mine alone. Besides, a woman needs to keep a secret or two underneath her skirts, or is that up her sleeve? It is hard for this old brain to keep the sayings of two languages straight sometimes.

The hospital was quiet this late at night, but Stephanie and I found our way to the Intensive Care Unit. We had agreed beforehand that I would go in to see Carlos first while Stephanie stayed in the waiting room. I knew how hard this would be for the dear girl not to rush to her novio's side, but neither of us wished to add additional stress to the family. And having all the family suddenly realizing Stephanie's true relationship to our Carlito, and the fact that several of us had been keeping it a secret, would do just that. Secrets like that needed to be revealed slowly.

My three older granddaughters and Mateo were pacing in the waiting room. Before I could even ask a single question, I found my arms filled with three sobbing women. As I comforted my granddaughters, I looked to Mateo for answers. And then I realized that all eyes in the room were suddenly focused over my shoulder.

A small quiet voice sounded behind me, "I'm so sorry to intrude…"

My granddaughters left my arms and ran to Stephanie, who embraced them all in a group hug. Mateo watched on, concern and worry in his eyes. He knew as well as I did what this was costing Stephanie emotionally. Mateo escorted me to a chair and then gently brushed off his cousins and led Stephanie to the chair next to mine.

"I'm glad you are here, Abuela Rosa," Mateo began in Spanish and then turned to Stephanie and said in English, "and I'm glad you are here, too, Stephanie. Thank you for traveling with Abuela Rosa on her trip here. The family appreciates your kindness." He looked at me again and continued in Spanish. "I know you must have many questions. We don't have all the answers yet, but I will fill you in on what we do know." Celia touched my arm and told me she would translate for Stephanie.

Mateo told me about Carlos' injuries, the need for the doctors to induce a medical coma, and Carlos' difficulties in coming out of that coma. The doctors had discontinued the anesthesia more than eight hours ago and Carlos was still unconscious. Mateo left unsaid the last thought on his mind, but his silence struck fear in my heart nonetheless. I could tell he was gravely worried about his cousin. I was holding Stephanie's hand as we listened to these horrible facts and I was not sure whose grip was tighter – hers or mine.

Mateo then added that his mother Carmen was with my youngest granddaughter Lena who was under such great stress that she had started labor contractions early. He said that Lena was now resting as best she could in the maternity ward. Her husband Marco was also sitting with the about-to-be mother. So much difficult information to digest!

"Let me take you to Carlos now, Abuela Rosa." He offered me his arm, which I gratefully took and, with one last glance back at Stephanie, we made our way down the hall. When I entered the room, Ricardo had his arm around Teresa's shoulders as they sat next to Carlos' bed. The grieving looks on their faces told me everything. They were rapidly losing hope.

I clutched Mateo's arm tightly upon seeing my beloved Carlito lying so pale and motionless with tubes and wires trailing from his body. How he would hate this! He would hate the weakness of his body, but even more so, he would hate all of us huddled around him with pity on our faces.

AN: As always, when Rosa is present, all Mañosos revert to speaking Spanish in deference to their matriarch. Of course, someone must then translate if a non-Spanish speaking person, such as Stephanie, is also present.

I put on a forced smile and strode into the room. "My dears, I am here now. Mateo has told me all that has happened. Ricardo, take Teresa down to the cafeteria and get some food into her. I imagine she has not eaten much today. And you do not look so well either. Maybe a bowl of hot soup?" Teresa wore such a long face and it was streaked with dried tears. When I hugged her she began crying again. Mateo helped her from her chair and walked her toward the door, leaving me to face Ricardo alone.

"It was nice of you to cut your vacation short, Mama, and to look in on your grandson. I have been dealing with all of this," he announced dramatically swinging his arm around the room, "while you were frolicking in Hawaii with your new husband."

Teresa immediately called out from behind us, "¡Cállate! I'll have no disagreeable words spoken in front of Carlos while he lies in that bed." [Be quiet!]

My son ducked his head at his wife's harsh admonition and then glared at me. Closing his arms across his chest, he asked, "I suppose you have heard that you missed your granddaughter's trauma, too? Lena has gone into premature labor with all the stress of this, but of course it is Carlos that you are concerned about."

"Ricardo…" Teresa warned.

My son and I had not seen each other much since our argument before Christmas and each time had been strained. Even now, my son could not put aside his anger. Teresa was right, this was not the time to get into it with each other and I was in no mood to deal with his petulance.

"Tend to your wife. She needs you and, surprisingly, she finds your attentions comforting." I told him, before turning to Teresa. "Go to Lena, my dear. She needs her mother at a time like this. I'll watch over our Carlito. And please, tell Lena I will see her soon."

Brushing my son aside, I moved to Carlos' bedside and stroked his face. He was warm to the touch, but so pale and still that I needed physical contact to reassure myself he was breathing. I sat in the chair vacated by my daughter-in-law and grasped Carlos' hand in mine.

"Mi Carlito, I am here. I came as soon as I heard. They tell me you were injured doing battle with the enemy and that the enemy is no more. I am so proud of you, my brave soldier." I was close to breaking down as I watched him remain so still, so unresponsive.

I could not let my voice tremble as my body was doing; Carlos needed me to be strong. Using my imposing matriarch's voice, I commanded, in Spanish of course, "Carlos, I know you are tired and would prefer to sleep, but your abuela is telling you that it is time to wake up. Wake up, querido! Right now!"

I continued stroking his brow and cheek with the back of my left hand while my right hand squeezed his hand. I stared at his face for any sign – a twitch, a moan – anything. But when he squeezed my hand back, I was in shock. I looked over at the three people standing by the door and said with wonder in my voice, "He squeezed my hand!"

And then he started to move, just a little. When I heard him moan, I wanted to throw myself across his chest and hug him, but contented myself with a light kiss to his forehead. In a much softer voice, I begged, "Mi Carlito, despierta, querido." [My dear Carlos, wake up, sweetheart]

His eyes flickered and his head began to turn from side to side as if he were experiencing a nightmare. His legs thrashed under the covers and he jerked his hand out from my grasp. Mateo rushed to my side and I had the distinct impression it was for my safety and not because of his happiness at seeing his cousin begin to wake up.

Carlos' moans began to take shape as words and I heard him mutter, in English, things such as, "Watch out!" and "Bastard" and then "Babe." He said "Babe" many times, each time becoming more agitated and thrashing more violently in his bed. I reached out to soothe his troubled brow, but Mateo placed his arm in front of me preventing me from touching Carlos. Teresa and Ricardo had gathered at the foot of the bed and we all clearly heard Carlos crying out for his Babe. To my surprise it was Teresa who spoke first.

"He's asking for Stephanie Plum, isn't he? If only she were here. Maybe Carlos wouldn't be so restless if she was by his side?"

There… it was out… and she was right. It was time.

"Stephanie is here," I revealed. "She accompanied me from Hawaii, where she and Dawson were conducting very important contract negotiations with several foreign companies – not on some frivolous vacation." And I glared at my son for emphasis. "She is in the waiting room with the girls."

Teresa dashed from the room and within seconds she was dragging Stephanie through the door, with Celia, Pilar and Maria chasing after them. My heart ached for Stephanie when I saw the shocked look on her face as she gaped at Carlos, with all the tubes and wires flinging around him as he tossed to and fro almost hurling himself off the bed. I stood and gave her my chair.

She flew to Carlos' side and the minute she laid her hands on his body, he began to quiet down. Placing her mouth against his ear, she whispered soothingly to him and while he continued to utter "Babe," the tone of his voice changed from one of desperation to one of contentment.

Tears filled my glad eyes and looking around at the others in the room, I noticed their eyes were brimming with tears too, even Ricardo. However, my granddaughters had looks of confusion and their eyes kept darting back and forth between Stephanie and Carlos and the rest of us.

It was my first time seeing the lovebirds together, other than that infamous night at Rosa's, and even with Carlos still not fully awake, I could tell he knew Stephanie was here. His head was turned towards her and his hand held hers. He was now quiet and his face was relaxed.

Pilar was the first to speak. "What's going on here? Why is Stephanie with Carlos?"

Celia chimed in, "Mama, why did you drag Stephanie in here? I'm missing something. Papa? Abuela? Why…? What…?"

It was Maria who noticed Carlos' calm demeanor. "Carlos is quiet. Look! None of us have been able to calm him when he begins to wake. But he calmed down as soon as Stephanie touched him. It's like magic!" she exclaimed, a touch of awe in her voice. We all looked to Stephanie, some with knowing smiles, others with puzzled expressions.

It was then that Carlos finally woke up. His eyes slowly opened and he blinked a few times at the brightness of the room. Excited gasps came from several of us. But our Carlito had no interest in us, not when his Babe was cuddled up next to him. The look of relief and of love that filled Stephanie's face as their eyes met told the tale for anyone who saw them together.

Carlos seemed to struggle a little at first and then his mouth spread into one of his beautiful smiles, and we all let out a collective sigh. We watched as Carlos slowly reached up with his hand and cupped Stephanie's face. A tear rolled down her cheek and he brushed it away, saying, "Babe," as he did it.

Now, the gasps were loud and revealing. I think my granddaughters were beginning to guess the secret. Ms. Plum, well-known Babe! lingerie designer, was also their brother's love interest. When Stephanie leaned over and lightly kissed Carlos, their suspicions were confirmed. But, now was not the time to confront Carlos with this whole mess of lies and deception. I asserted my matriarch role and firmly ushered my protesting family from the room, leaving Carlos and Stephanie to get reacquainted in privacy.

TBC (aren't you glad it doesn't end here?)