Chapter 42

Several hours later Liiani looked up at AJ's touch on her shoulder. He motioned to the glass window of the nursery. Her father and Adel were standing there. She and AJ took off their gowns and masks and went out to talk to them.

"Oh Pops!" she exclaimed as Gerald enfolded her in his arms.

"Are you alright, baby girl?"

"Yes, Pops. AJ is taking care of me."

"Okay then, how are my newest granddaughter and Collette?"

"The baby is stable and Collette is still in a coma."

AJ could see his sister's eyes being drawn again and again to the tiny baby in the nursery, so suggested, "Akaliiani why don't you take Adel to in to see the baby and I'll take Gerald over to see Vince and Collette?"

Everyone agreed and they parted.

Adel was fascinated by the tiny baby girl and couldn't help but touch her when Liiani showed her how. In the ICU they found Vince sitting beside Collette's bed with his head on their joined hands, sound asleep.

Gerald gently put his hand on his son's shoulder and softly said his name. Vince started awake and teared up when he saw his father. The two of them embraced and they left Collette's room so they could talk out in the hall.

"How is she, son?" Gerald asked.

"Not good, dad. Her blood pressure keeps going down, they are giving her fluids and medication for it, but they are having a hard time keeping it under control."

"Adel and I are here now and with your sister and AJ we will do anything we can to help you. Liiani tells me my new granddaughter doesn't have a name yet. We need to change that Vince."

"I told her to go ahead and name the baby if she was so worried about it. I have enough on my plate with Collette!"

"Vincent Jerome Benet! That is your daughter and you have family here now to help with Collette so let's go and see your baby. I'm sure AJ will stay here with Collette while we do."

AJ nodded his agreement even as Vince was starting to protest. His father was having none of it however, he took Vince by the arm and headed towards the nursery.

Liiani teared up when she saw Gerald and Vince putting on gowns and masks. They came into the room and she stepped back from the incubator. "Introduce me to my granddaughter," Gerald told his son.

"All we had picked out were boys names," he told his father.

"Well what did you have?" Gerald asked.

"Harlan, for Collette's father.

"What about Harley then?" asked Liiani.

Nodding, Vince said, "She's so tiny," he was unable to take his eyes away from her.

"You can touch her if you want," Adel suggested.

Vince gulped, "Show me." A few seconds later he touched his daughter for the first time.

The rest of the family melted away leaving him alone with his daughter. Gerald offered to take Adel to the ICU to visit Collette.

Over the next several days Collette continued to struggle. Her blood pressure kept fluctuating and her care team worked hard to keep her alive. Meanwhile, in the NIC U Harley Joy Benet began to improve. Her weight started to go up and everyone was encouraged by this.

Because Vince would not leave the hospital Liiani and AJ were staying at his apartment along with Gerald and Adel. The younger couple took over the master bedroom because of the king sized bed. Gerald and Adel were using the guest room that had a queen sized bed.

The only one of the four that was still working was AJ and he checked in with the office every few days. Adel did keep up with the ranch, but she trusted Clem and Brenda to take care of things while she was away.

AJ kept Vince's duty station informed on what was going on with his wife and child. At AJ's recommendation he was put on extended leave.

Two weeks later Collette was at last stable enough to be moved out of the ICU and into a regular room even though she was still in a coma. Baby Harley kept gaining weight and improving by the day.

To be continued…..