Before Everything

Chapter 16

It was a hard week. The more Mike stewed on what Hannah said, the angrier he got. Not only at her, but mostly at her. He was also a little angry at himself. He did everything he could to distance himself for her and had made an appointment with Dr. Smith the day before his appointment with Hannah. As angry as he was at her, he didn't want to subject her to it. He wanted to protect her from himself.

Christine did her best to moderate and once Kaitlyn began feeling better, she helped. It was just hard. The girls had gone to play in the backyard and Christine was nursing Mason, when they both heard Kaitlyn scream.

"Mike; what was that?" Christine asked as she stood up. It was still a little cool out and Mike made the snap decision to check on the girls, leaving Christine and Mason inside.

"I don't know. I'll go check. You stay in." Mike said as he stepped through the French Doors. They had a large backyard with a bit of a forest. There were all kinds of areas for the kids to play in, including a stream. Mike didn't immediately see the girls until Kaitlyn raised up.

"Dad! Hannah slipped on the rocks. I can't wake her up. Help!" Kaitlyn yelled. Mike immediately ran towards them. Sure enough, Hannah was laying on the bank of the stream, face down.

"What happened?" Mike asked.

"I was picking flowers for Mom. I had my back turned. When I turned back around, Hannah was face down in the creek. I can only guess she fell in, because there's blood on her cheek." Kaitlyn explained.

"Alright, run in and tell Mom to call an ambulance. She is unconscious. I think she is breathing, but I'm not certain. She has a laceration on her temple." Mike ordered and Kaitlyn nodded before she ran off.

Mike had basic medical training. What he didn't tell Kaitlyn was that Hannah was not breathing. He would tell the paramedics later, but he didn't want to scare his wife or older daughter. He hit Hannah hard on the back three times, and on the third hit, she began coughing water up. He immediately turned her back over and began assessing her. Sure enough, she had a laceration on her forehead, and was coughing.

"It hurts!" Hannah cried out.

"I know, baby. Help will be here soon enough. Let me carry you inside where its warm. Your clothes are wet." Mike said as he gently picked Hannah up. He knew better because in her fall, she might have hurt her spine. "Does your back or neck hurt?" Mike asked before he had hefted her up completely.

"No. Just my head and it hurts when I breathe." Hannah said.

"Alright. Let's get you inside." Mike said.

"Why? You don't care?" Hannah asked. Mike paused for a second and shut his eyes in pain. He was still angry but that had not factored in when he was trying to make Hannah breathe again.

"I do, honey. Just relax." Mike said as he carried her inside. Christine was still on the phone with the 911 operator and gave her an update before she hung up the phone.

"Oh, Thank God!" Christine exclaimed.

"We need to get these clothes off her. Kaitlyn can you go upstairs and get her some warm pajamas?" Mike asked.

"Yeah." Kaitlyn said as she bounded up the steps, two at a time.

"My head hurts, Mommy!" Hannah cried out. Christine wrapped her arms around Hannah and began rocking her back and forth.

"Its okay. We'll get you to the doctor and they'll make it all better." Christine said.

"Chris, you can ride in ambulance. I'll follow you with Kaitlyn and Mason." Mike said as he walked to the front door to let the paramedics in and explained what had happened.

Within a few minutes, Hannah was changed into dry clothes, moved to the ambulance, and had an IV placed to relax her. Christine was able to ride in the back and Kaitlyn got Mason bundled up and in his car seat.

Mike's mind was racing all the way to the hospital and Kaitlyn could tell. Mason was fussy, never having been away from Christine and Kaitlyn was sitting in the back with him.

"I know Mom doesn't want to use a pacifier, but how do I calm him down?" Kaitlyn asked.

"Just keep talking to him." Mike answered.

"Dad, are you mad at me now? Like you are with Hannah?" Kaitlyn asked.

"No, honey. It was an accident." Mike said.

"Well, the Red Flu wasn't an accident, but it was hardly Hannah's fault that Lucas died, and she didn't. If you don't get this fixed, worse things will happen to Hannah then a fall in the creek, and I don't know if you could live with yourself if that happened." Kaitlyn said. Normally, sweet Kaitlyn was never so outspoken. She was even-tempered and had the sweetest heart. Mike and Christine often joked that she must have been exchanged for another baby at the hospital. Her personality was nothing like Mike or Christine's. They were blessed to have her.

"I know, sweetie. I just don't know how to fix it." Mike answered.

"Stop overthinking it. I get the counseling, but you are holing yourself and Hannah into thinking that is the only solution. I don't think Hannah fell into the creek to get your attention, but why can't you use it to your advantage? Hannah was hanging onto you for dear life. Probably because you hadn't really hugged her or anything all week." Kaitlyn continued.

"I had hugged her." Mike argued.

"You hugged her, but you didn't hug her with your heart." Kaitlyn said. Mike looked back in the rearview mirror, in complete confusion and then it dawned on him what she was saying.

"And that is what I've been doing since I got you guys back?" Mike asked.

"With Hannah, yes. I think you've been okay with Mom, me and Mason." Kaitlyn said. They were pulling into the hospital parking lot and Mike was finally understanding something better than what the counselor said the week before.

"I see, sweetie. Thank you." Mike told her after he found a parking spot and helped her get Mason out of the backseat of the SUV. As soon as he was in Mike's arms, he calmed down and snuggled up to Mike.

Mike led them into the emergency room, and immediately caught sight of Christine. She was sitting on an exam bed with Hannah and holding her while the doctor stitched up the laceration on Hannah's head.

"No concussion and her lungs are clear of water. Just stitching her up now. Thankfully, they weren't busy and got her in immediately." Christine explained.

"That's good. Sweetie, how do you feel?" Mike asked.

"Tired and cold." Hannah said.

"I think tonight will be a cuddle night." Christine remarked.

"Please?" Hannah begged.

"Of course." Mike answered.

"That'll just be what the doctor ordered. Just keep an eye on her. Monitor her breathing and bring her back if she starts vomiting. The scans don't show a concussion. See, Hannah; all done. Wasn't so bad since I never let you see the needle, right?" The doctor asked and Hannah nodded.

"Mike; I can take him if you want to sign whatever paperwork?" Christine offered and Mike gave Mason to her. He signed the paperwork and went and got the SUV so Hannah wouldn't have to walk too far. He would have carried her, but Hannah was independent.

On the way home; Christine rode in the backseat with Mason and Hannah, while Kaitlyn sat in the front. By the time that they pulled into their driveway, Hannah was sound asleep.

"I hate to wake her up." Christine said as Mike helped her out of the SUV.

"I'll carry her." Mike said as he went to the other side, handed Kaitlyn his house key and very gently picked Hannah up. Like Mason had done at the hospital, she snuggled into his chest. Once they were in the house, Mike headed for the couch. "I want to hold her. I know you do too, but please?" Mike asked Christine.

"Of course. Just lay down with her. I'll cover both of you up and take your shoes off." Christine agreed. Within just a few moments, she had both Mike and Hannah's shoes off and a blanket over both of them.

"Thanks. I'm kind of hoping if she wakes up like this, it might prove something to her." Mike remarked.

"It will. Mason is also asleep. I'm going to start dinner. Kaitlyn will help me. You just relax." Christine said before kissing the top of Hannah's head and Mike's cheek.

Mike laid on the couch, holding Hannah all evening. She woke up a few times, but snuggled even closer to Mike, obviously needing to be held. Thankfully, Christine and Kaitlyn understood. Christine was putting dinner on the table when Hannah woke up again.

"Daddy; you're holding me." Hannah said into his chest.

"Yes, sweetie. How are you feeling? Mom is putting dinner on the table." Mike asked.

"Still tired and cold but you are all warm. It feels good." Hannah admitted.

"You need to eat, but once we get done, we can lay back down like this and Mom and I are already figuring you will sleep with us tonight." Mike said as he raised up. He could tell Hannah was a little dizzy and light-headed, so he took it slow.

"Why are you doing all this?" Hannah asked.

"Because…because I love you. Because your fall in the creek scared me. For a moment, I had to imagine what my life would be without you in it, and I didn't like it. Sweetie, I don't know how to fix all this between us, but this can't go on. Kaitlyn told me that I was hugging you, but I wasn't hugging you with my heart. That's a little confusing." Mike remarked.

"It feels like you're hugging me with your heart right now." Hannah said. She had cuddled back up close to Mike and wrapped her arms around him.

"I am. We'd better get up and eat though, before we both get in trouble with Mom." Mike said before giving Hannah a kiss on the cheek.

"What did she make?" Hannah asked while jumping off Mike's lap.

"Smells like soup and cornbread." Mike answered.

"Cornbread and syrup!" Hannah said. It was one of her favorite things and something Mike and she always shared.

"That's the plan." Mike agreed as they sat down at the table. Food was passed around and the blessing was said. Mason was in his swing, happily watching his mobile and for the first time in a while, the meal was eaten with no tension.