Healing

Early the next morning, Stef is moved from the surgical intensive care unit to the regular surgical recovery wing. According to the doctors, because Stef's blood pressure was stable on its own, that meant that she was getting closer to being out of the woods. Lena still wanted the damn tube out of her throat. And she desperately wanted to see those gorgeous hazel green eyes that she had fallen in love with almost a year ago.

Being in the regular surgical recovery wing meant that Stef could have more visitors. Sharon was the first person to barge her way through the nurses to her daughter's side. Frank followed behind Sharon, standing in the doorway of the room and observing. Lena could see the resemblance between the retired cop and the young cop. They were both so stoic most of the time, but with hot tempers that would flare at a moment's notice.

"Oh my baby," Sharon tells Stef as she kisses her daughter's cheek. "You better wake up soon so I can yell at you for scaring me half to death. I had to fly out here so fast I didn't have time to do my hair. I look like a mess with all these cute doctors running around." Sharon's familiar jabbering brings comfort to Lena. With the morning sunlight streaming through the blinds of the hospital window, Lena is beginning to feel that maybe things will turn out okay. If Stef would just open her damn eyes.

"Are you sure you don't want to go home and get some sleep?" Sharon asks Lena as late morning turns to early afternoon.

"I'm sure." Lena says. "I don't want to leave her. I can't."

"Okay," Sharon replies. "I'm going to get a few hours of sleep at my hotel. I will be back." The older woman kisses Lena on the cheek and strokes her daughter's blonde hair once more before leaving the hospital room. Frank had left hours ago after barely visiting his daughter. Lena understood that this was hard for him, but it was hard for her too. And she was here, by Stef's side, hoping and praying that she will wake up soon. Lena is so lost in her thoughts that she almost doesn't hear the soft knock at the hospital room door.

"Come in," She calls softly, not taking her gaze off of her unconcious girlfriend.

"Hey Lena," Lena recognizes her co-worker Timothy's voice. "How is she?" He asks, resting his hand gently on Lena's shoulder. In his other hand is a vase of bright yellow tulips.

"They took the bullet out and repaired all the internal damage yesterday. But she hasn't woken up yet." Lena informs Anchor Beach's high school English teacher.

"She's strong," Timothy says. "She's going to wake up."

"Everyone keeps telling me that." Lena scoffs, fresh tears stinging the back of her eyes. "But I just don't know if I believe it anymore. I'm just so scared; scared that she'll never hear me tell her I love her again." Lena strokes Stef's blonde hair, remembering the anger she felt towards the cop the night of her birthday, before she knew what had happened.

"She knows you love her, Lena. Anyone with eyes can see it when you two are together." Timothy tries to reassure her.

"I was so angry with her. She was supposed to meet us at the Laurel for my birthday. I just thought she was late. I was so pissed off. But I had no idea that-" Lena can't finish her sentence as a sob racks through her chest. Timothy wraps Lena into a tight hug, her face resting on his chest as tears stream down her cheeks.

"You had no way of knowing what had happened." Timothy tries to reassure her.

"I should have felt it somehow," Lena tries to argue.

"That's preposterous and you know it," Timothy disagrees.

"I know. I just. . . I just want her to wake up so much." Lena says, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

"She will," Timothy tells her without any doubt in his voice. The two sit in silence together for a while, with only the sounds of the whirring ventilator and the beeping heart monitor filling the hospital room. Lena had thought that she could do this alone, but she had to admit that it was a relief off of her shoulders to have someone here to share her burden with.

Over the next few hours, Timothy fills Lena in on what she's missed at Anchor Beach over the last couple of days. Nurses come and go, checking Stef's vitals and changing IV fluids. Sharon returns from her hotel and chats with Timothy, making sure that the Indian man knows she thinks he's cute. Leave it to Sharon to flirt while her daughter is lying unconscious in a hospital bed in the same room. Lena doesn't mind though; it's a nice piece of normalcy.

"I really think you should go get some sleep," Sharon once again pesters Lena. It was clear to anyone that looked at the curly haired woman that she was exhausted.

"No, Sharon, I can't." Lena refuses. "I can't leave her."

"Well, I'll keep you company tonight." Sharon says, making herself comfortable in the chair on the other side of Stef's hospital bed. Well, as comfortable as anyone could get in hospital chairs.

As the midnight moon gives away to early morning sunlight, Lena's long, slender fingers are still wrapped around Stef's motionless hand. The curly haired woman finally passed out from exhaustion just over an hour ago - her body at such an angle that would definitely result in muscle pain upon her waking. In the dimness of the hospital room, pale fingers twitch against the darker ones holding them. Lena startles awake; her eyes flashing to where her hand is clutching Stef's. Trying not to get her hopes up - and failing miserably - Lena squeezes Stef's hand tighter. The curly haired woman's heart almost beats out of her chest when she receives a weak squeeze in response.

"Stef," Lena whispers, not wanting to wake Sharon but also filled with excitement. "Stef, baby, I'm here. Can you squeeze my hand again?" Another weak squeeze to Lena's hand makes her gasp.

"That's really great, baby." Lena says, stroking Stef's pale cheek. "Can you open your eyes?" Lena clutches Stef's hand firmly, staring expectantly at her girlfriend's closed eyes. Stef's eyelids flutter - once, twice, three times - before opening the tiniest bit.

"Hi, sweetheart." Lena says gently as she takes in Stef's hazel green orbs for the first time in over two days. Groggily, Stef's eyes try to take in her surroundings. Lena watches as panic seizes those gorgeous eyes. "You're okay, babe. There's a tube down your throat so you can't talk right now. You're in the hospital, but you're okay." Lena tries to calmly explain to her girlfriend.

"What's going on?" Sharon asks, waking up in the chair on the other side of Stef.

"She's awake," Lena says, lovingly stroking Stef's face. "Can you go get a nurse?"

"Of course," Sharon replies, shooting up from her chair and rushing out of the room.

"You're okay." Lena repeats to Stef. "You're okay." A nurse and a doctor hurry into the room, Sharon hot on their heels. Lena quickly moves out of the way as the doctor begins checking Stef's pupils and other neurological parameters.

"Okay, so I'm going to remove this tube from your throat, Officer Foster." The doctor tells Stef. "Lena, why don't you take her hand. Stef, I want you to take a deep breath. And, when I say so, I want you to blow out as I pull the tube out. Okay, deep breath in," the doctor takes hold of the breathing tube in his gloved hands. "And blow." Stef sputters and coughs as the doctor removes the tube from her throat, her hand clutching tightly to Lena's. The doctor gives Stef a quick exam and the nurse changes her IV fluids and the bandage on her side before leaving the hospital room.

"I'll give you two a few minutes," Sharon says before ducking out of the hospital room as well. Lena barely registers what she says though. Her focus is completely on Stef; her heart thundering against her ribcage.

"Stef," Lena says quietly, resting her forehead against the blonde's, cupping her still pale cheeks.

"You're crying," Stef says, her voice still hoarse from being intubated.

"Tears of happiness," Lena reassures her. "I didn't think I'd ever see your beautiful eyes again. Or hear your sweet voice."

"I'm sorry," Stef croaks. "I missed your birthday."

"Oh Stef, that's the farthest thing from my mind. I could have lost you." Lena says, pressing a soft kiss to her girlfriend's lips.

"I didn't mean to scare you," Stef apologizes, tears welling in her own eyes.

"You didn't do it on purpose." Lena replies. "I know that. But you need to get some rest." The curly haired woman pulls the thin hospital blanket up to Stef's chest.

"I love you, Lena." Stef tells her curly haired beauty, stilling her hand with her own.

"I love you so much," Lena tells Stef, pressing another kiss to her pink lips.

"Don't leave," Stef's voice is small, her hand clutching at the hem of Lena's shirt.

"I'm not going anywhere," Lena assures her, sitting down beside the hospital bed and intertwining her fingers with Stef's.

A/N: Sorry, this wasn't my best work. I had a lot of trouble writing this chapter for some reason.