Chapter Fifteen
He rushed back in to his body and felt Kimberly's hands on his arms, holding him down. Why was she holding him down? What had happened? He remembered the Command Center taking him. He remembered sitting with her on the couch and talking. How long ago had that been? He felt that some time had passed, but also that no time had passed.
"What day is it?" Tommy choked out and he took a good look at her. Her waist was already thickening and he shook his head. No. This couldn't be real. For her to even look pregnant, it must have been months. Had it been months? "Kimberly- please."
"We're on month two," Kimberly whispered and she forced a small smile. He had been in a fitful coma as best as she could tell for the last two months. He had started moving more over the last few days and she hoped. She continued to hope that he would wake up.
The Command Center had provided a place where she could film segments and she had convinced her show to allow her to do that. To anyone watching- it looked like she was just in another studio. She had crafted herself as more of the color news anchor now than she had ever been before. She was doing fun pieces on music, pop culture- things to distract her. She had explained that she would need to take another leave of absence at some point in the future and they seemed willing to deal with that. The things that she was producing right now were giving them such amazing ratings that they seemed willing to overlook so many things.
"Have I woken up…at all…since…"Tommy trailed off as she shook her head no and the tears spilled over. He forced himself to sit up and pulled her into his arms. He felt weak. He felt tired. He also knew that he was himself again and that this was the repercussion that the Command Center had not been willing to speak of.
"The Command Center has provided everything that I needed to take care of you, but you're going to be weak," Kim said and he nodded. He knew that he was weak. He knew that it was going to take time for him to get back to himself. "I've managed to answer what I could for your university, but…"
His lips crashed against hers and he pulled her in to him as strongly as he could. He felt her settle next to him and the relief flooded him. He had made it through the repercussions that were there for them. He had made it and now he had to make it for her. He had to do what was necessary to care for her and their child.
"Have you found it?" Tommy asked and he watched her laugh. He knew that he had a one track mind at moments and he most definitely had that at the moment.
"Yes- but let's see if you can walk first, before we even start thinking about going after that blade," Kimberly replied and he smiled up at her. She was handling this far better than he expected. Although, he was only seeing a small glimpse. He knew that things must have been rough over the last two months.
He gingerly swung his legs over the side of the bed and he realized how much smaller they were and he felt his stomach drop. It could take months to build his body back up from what had happened, but he knew that he could not focus on that. He scooted to the edge of the bed and he felt Kimberly's hands grab his. There was concern in her eyes, but he could tell she wanted to let him try this. She needed him to succeed at it.
His muscles protested as he forced himself to stand and he felt unsteady on his feet. He looped his arm over her shoulder and he tentatively took a couple steps. He did not feel the jolt of strength that he normally felt after one of these phases. He also had never been in a coma for two months. Other than the missing time and the muscle atrophy- he felt fine. He felt like he could do research and all of the other things while he rehabbed. He knew that he must rehab before he could go after Billy's brother.
"Think you're up for a trip to the kitchen? I was just going to start myself dinner," Kim said and he barely nodded. His steps were unsteady, but he did not feel like he lacked the strength to complete them. He surprised himself as he removed his arm from her shoulders and quietly grabbed her hand. He had missed a lot. He knew how much could change in two months.
"What's happened?" Tommy asked and he watched as she clammed up. That let him know that even though this was not his fault, that she was not happy with everything that had gone on.
"I'm not sure that I can talk about it right now. I just want to enjoy that you're awake for a bit," Kim whispered as she looked up at him and he nodded. He opened his arms up to her and she stepped in to them. He felt her trembling and gently ran his hands up and down her back. He hoped that this would give her comfort. He hoped that this would give her reassurance that this was not a fluke and he was truly back. He had to hope that was the case because he could see just how much this had hurt her.
"Let's get you two some dinner," Tommy muttered as he gently pulled away from her and he saw the relief in her eyes. What else had gone on in the last two months? What was she not telling him?