Awakening
Carol was snuggling against Doug as they were sleeping in their hotel bed. The last days were calm, as it was a routine already, going to the hospital and going back to the hotel room. Emery had a CT-scan the day before and everything looked just fine. She was breathing on her own most of the time already and hopefully they could let her wake up and wean her soon. She didn't need the catecholamines anymore and that was a really good sign. In the evening they met with Mark and Elizabeth and they had a lovely evening together, talking about old times in Chicago, about their kids and about everything that came to their mind. It was a nice distraction from all the bad stuff that was happening lately. Doug and Mark even played some basketball, just like in old times. Carol was so glad that they still had a strong friendship and it was always nice when they got together.
She was still away in dreamland, when suddenly her phone rang. Groaning she turned around and Doug shifted in his sleep.
"Hello?" she moaned, rubbing her eyes.
"Mom? Is that you?" she heard on the other side and she finally opened her eyes.
"Yes Liam, it's me…sorry, we're still sleeping", she answered smiling.
"Oh, damn time difference, I'm really sorry", Liam apologized.
"No problem. How are you?" Carol asked, hoping that everything was ok.
"I'm good, I'm good…but how's Emery? Is she awake already? I haven't heard any news for two days", Liam complained.
"Ah…sorry about that. She's okay…still sedated though, but she doesn't need the catecholamines anymore. They'll try to wean her today. Yesterday they did a CT-scan, which was bland. Everything seems to get better", Carol told him.
Liam sighed on the other end. "That's good news, thank God", he said smiling.
"Yeah, we're happy. So, what's new with you? How's Alex?" Carol asked then.
"She's good, already doing her first rotation", he told her.
"Sounds great…does she like it? Which rotation?" Carol asked again.
"She started with surgery and she really likes it, said her mentor is a good teacher", Liam said.
"That's good, I wish her the best. So, what about you? Everything ok?" she asked.
Liam chuckled. "Yeah, everything's okay. I didn't fail any exam until now", he told his mother.
"Wow, that's great, Liam! Is it hard?" Carol asked.
"It is…especially the Latin…but Alex helps me a lot, thank God. It's good to have her as my roommate", Liam chuckled.
Carol smiled. She was happy that her son did ok. "That's good to hear", she answered and yawned then.
"Ok…I won't bother you any longer, but please keep me up to date with Emery ok? I love you" Liam said.
"We will. Talk to you soon, baby…love you too", Carol smiled then and they hung up.
Carol turned to Doug who was still asleep. Not even her telephoning woke him up. She snuggled closer to him and he put an arm around her. Smiling, she fell back to sleep again.
"Susan!" Carol called, as they found the busy working doctor down at the ER. Susan turned around and smiled. "Hey you two", she answered and went to them. "Busy today?" Doug asked and Susan nodded. "A typical Monday…you know how it is…how's Emery?" Susan answered. "Better. We are just on the way upstairs…maybe they'll let her wake up today", Doug said and Susan smiled. "Good news…hey guys, maybe we can catch a coffee later", Susan said and Carol and Doug nodded. "Would be great…see you later", Carol said and Susan went off to a patient. "What?" Doug then asked Carol when she smiled. "A typical Monday at the ER", she said and shook her head smiling. "It itches in the fingers somehow, right? I still could see us working here", Doug chuckled and Carol nodded. "Yeah, but…so much changed here. I miss the old ER", Carol said and reached out for his hand. "Come on, let's go to Emery", she added and he nodded.
"Good morning, Dr. Miller", Doug said as he found Emery's anesthetist at the nurses station. "Good morning…you're coming right in time", Dr. Miller answered as he greeted Doug and Carol. "Is she awake already?" Carol asked, now getting nervous. "Not yet. We increased the sedation in the morning and stopped it just now. She's now on remifentanil only", Dr. Miller said. Doug's eyes sparkled, hearing this news. "Is she breathing properly?" he asked and Dr. Miller nodded. "She's on PSV and stable", he answered. "Can we go in?" Carol then asked and Dr. Miller nodded. "Sure, I'll follow you", he said and guided them to Emery's room.
She looked much better than the last days. Her skin wasn't that pale anymore, the casts on her arm and leg were gone, only the central line was still there. "I guess it's best for you to be here when she wakes up, she knows you. If you need any more information, you can find me at the doctor's lounge", Dr. Miller said and both Carol and Doug nodded. "Thanks, Dr. Miller", Carol said and the doctor left again.
Carol took a seat on Emery's bed and took her hand in hers. "Hey baby…" she said and stroke over her cheek. Emery's eyes winked. "She hears us", Doug smiled and Carol turned around to him smiling and nodding her head. Emery was finally getting better. "We are here with you, Em", Carol said to her daughter then and she felt Emery's fingers moving. Doug went to the other side of the bed and took a seat too. "Try to open your eyes baby", he said and smiled again, as he saw Emery's eyes roll. A single tear escaped her eyes, and they knew that she tried hard to open her eyes. "Don't be scared, we are here", Carol almost whispered and finally Emery's eyelids opened a little bit. Carol looked at Doug and they both had tears in their eyes. Emery was back to earth. It was only seconds later, when she looked into her mother's and father's eyes, struggling with the tube inside her throat but Doug and Carol were so happy to see their daughter awake. "Baby…don't be scared. You have a tube inside…do you want to have it out?" Carol asked and Emery slowly nodded her head. "Okay…I'll get Dr. Miller", Doug said and got up from the bed to get the doctor. "You've been in an accident…do you remember anything, Emery?" Carol asked and stroke over Emery's cheek again. Emery again nodded. That was a relief. Remembering was always a good sign that there was no brain damage or amnesia. "Good, baby…that's good. Everything is going to be alright. Are you in any pain?" Carol asked again and Emery shook her head. Carol wiped away her happy tears and smiled at her daughter. Only moments later Doug was back with a nurse. "Hello Emery, I'm Sarah. I'll release you from that tube now, ok? You know how it works?" Sarah asked and Emery nodded again. "Alright", Sarah said and got the air out of the cuff balloon. "Now, take a deep breath", Sarah said and Emery did so. "Now exhale", the nurse added and while Emery breathed out while Sarah pulled the tube out. Emery coughed and some tears ran down her cheek. "Mom", she tried to say in a hoarse voice and Carol never left her hand. "Shhh…don't speak now. It will take some minutes until you can speak again. We'll give you some oxygen", Sarah said and put a mask on Emery's face. Emery looked between Carol and Doug and smiled. "Connor?" Emery then managed to ask, still feeling pain in her throat. "Connor is ok. He just had a broken leg", Carol told her daughter. Emery nodded then and closed her eyes. "And I?" she asked. "You broke your left arm and leg, you needed CPR in the ER. Elizabeth operated on your spleen and kidney and you had a PE", Doug told his daughter and Emery nodded again. "Wow", she managed to say and laughed a little bit. "Indeed", Carol chuckled. She was so happy. "Can you move everything Emery?" Doug then asked and Emery tried. She put up her feet and her hands. "Ouch…that hurt", Emery said but then smiled again. "I'll get Dr. Miller now", Sarah then said and left the room again. "I'm…we're so happy to see you awake…you scared us there, young lady", Carol said and stroke over Emery's arm. "Sorry…" Emery apologized then and Carol smiled. "That doesn't matter now…you're awake and that's everything that matters", Doug said and Carol nodded. There was nothing that mattered more.
Hours later Emery was released from the ICU and got a room at the surgical ward. She was still on pain meds and very tired, but except of that everything seemed fine. "Can I see Connor?" Emery asked, now feeling better in her throat. "I'll see if he's around ok? He seems really nice", Carol said and Emery nodded. "He is. Sorry that you had to get to know him this way", Emery smiled a little. "Ah…no, it was ok. He told us everything. You shouldn't sing in the car", Doug chuckled, not able to hide his happiness. Emery yawned. "Wanna sleep now?" Carol asked and Emery nodded. "Thanks for everything", Emery said and closed her eyes. "Well come back later ok?" Carol said and her daughter nodded again.
Carol and Doug then left the room. Outside, Carol fell around Doug's neck and kissed him. "I'm so happy", she then said and looked into his eyes. "I'm happy too…thank God" Doug chuckled and kissed her once again. "Let's see if Susan is ready for that coffee", Carol smiled. "First, I'm going to call our other kids and Avery", Doug suggested and Carol nodded. "Good idea, Doug", she smiled.
Everybody was extremely happy to hear the news. Kate cried some happy tears on the phone, Mason yelled a 'yeehaa' into the phone and Tess said she would get drunk to celebrate the good news. Liam was so happy to hear the good news and said that he wanted to visit everybody soon. Avery yelled some happy phrases into the phone and Doug almost had a ruptured eardrum. Yes, it was finally time to celebrate again.
"She's awake?" Susan asked as she handed Doug and Carol a coffee in the lounge and took a seat next to them. "She's awake and she remembers everything. Still some pain, but she gets good meds", Carol smiled. "That's good news. I'm happy for you", Susan answered and took a sip of her coffee. "How are you, big Susie?" Doug asked. Susan smiled. "Big Susie…haven't heard that for a long time", she chuckled and leaned back. "I'm exhausted. I had three shifts, and one double shift today. I'm covering for Abby", she added and rubbed her eyes. "Ah, the good old ER", Doug chuckled and Susan nodded. "Don't you miss it? A little bit?" Susan asked. "We talked about that today", Carol smiled. "We miss the old ER…everything changed here", she added and Susan nodded. "Yeah…it's not the same anymore…I even miss Kerry yelling around here", Susan answered and everybody laughed.
When Emery opened her eyes again, she saw Connor sitting on her bed. She smiled then and put her hand on his. "Oh my God, you're awake", Connor said, got up and kissed her. Emery put her hand on his cheek and a tear ran down her face. "Oh, I love you…I love you so much", he chuckled through his own tears and Emery rested her forehead against his. Did he just say that? "I love you too, Connor", she smiled and finally he looked at her again. "I'm so sorry, Em", he said and took a seat again. "Oh, don't be! Everything is going to be ok…I'm ok", she answered, still smiling. "But it could've been different…I mean…it's my fault, I was driving the car", Connor said. "Yes, but it doesn't matter ok? I'm alive…I feel more alive than ever", she chuckled again. "I'm so happy you're awake…I missed you", Connor now smiled. "Do you remember anything?" he asked. Emery nodded. "I was singing to Pink, right? And then…I think I was awake for some time, but then everything went black…but I remember voices…I think my mom was there, singing…and I remember touches…I don't know how to describe it, but…I felt far away but also here…I don't know", she answered. "Will you ever forgive me?" Connor then asked, looking down. Emery cupped his chin with her finger. "Hey…don't say that…I don't have anything to forgive", she said and smiled at him. "I love you", he said again. "And I love you", she answered and they kissed again.
"Ah…you found her", Carol smiled, as she and Doug entered the room again. Connor smiled then and got up from the bed. "Yeah", he said and smiled a little. "Good…how are you Emery?" Doug asked as he went to his daughter. "I'm ok…can I get the Foley out?" she asked, shifting in her bed. "I don't know, can you walk already?" Carol asked and Emery shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, I haven't tried it yet", Emery answered, getting impatient. Carol chuckled. "She's definitely the old again", she said to Doug and he nodded. "Mom?" Emery asked then. Carol looked at her. "Did you sing, while you were in my room?" Carol smiled and nodded. "I did…do you remember that?" she asked and Emery nodded. "Yes…I guess I do", Emery smiled. Carol took a seat next to Doug and grabbed his hand. "See, I told you she'll know that we're here", Carol said to him and he nodded smiling. "Oh…what day is it? I guess I missed my pharma exam", Emery said and closed her eyes. "Baby…I talked to your teachers. You can do your exams when you get back, it's no problem", Carol said and Emery nodded. "Thank God…I didn't learn anything", Emery then laughed and the others laughed with her.
Later that day Emery had physical therapy, which showed her how much pain she could feel in her extremities. It was awful. "It will take some time", Carol said, as she remembered how much pain she felt after her accident. Emery sat in her bed and cried. "Oh…it will be ok. Just give it some time", Carol tried to comfort her, stroking over her curls. "Can I come home, mom?" Emery sobbed, feeling absolutely helpless in that moment. "You mean Seattle?" Doug asked and Emery nodded. "What about Connor?" Carol asked. Emery shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe he can come with me", she said and wiped away her tears. "Well…I'll see if we can manage that", Doug said and Carol nodded. It sure was too soon to let Emery go from the hospital, but asking never hurt anybody. It would be wonderful to have her at home again, to care for her. "I'll go to talk to Dr. Miller", Doug said and got up from his seat.
There was no chance that they could take Emery home now. Dr. Miller wanted to have her on the monitor for at least two days longer, after all she had multiple traumas and was resuscitated. Doug understood this but would Carol and Emery? Stroking over his hair he entered Emery's room again. "I'm sorry ladies…no chance to leave this hospital bed", he said and both Carol and Emery nodded. "I thought so", Emery answered and leaned back. "But we'll stay as long as you need us", Carol smiled at her and Emery nodded. "Thank you both", Emery answered and smiled at her parents too.
"Wanna go downstairs to get something to eat?" Doug asked, as they came back to their hotel room. Carol smiled at him and hugged him tightly. She stood on her toes and kissed him slowly. Doug chuckled and kissed her back. "Make love to me", she then whispered, feeling so happy again. Doug picked her up then and carried her to the bed, looking deep into her eyes. "I love you", he said, as he let her down on the bed. "I love you too, Doug…so much", she answered and finally let down all the walls that build up inside her, since the day she arrived in Chicago. She felt free again, no chains around her feelings and thoughts…she finally was ready to feel Doug with all her senses again.
He was so happy. He probably was the happiest man, father on earth. His little bee was awake again, and he felt so relieved. It was so good to see her laugh again, to see her cry again. She was back and she was getting better. Doug felt his heart relaxing again, and with Carol in his arms every bad thing in his mind seemed to fade away. His muscles relaxed again, after they felt so sore all the time. It was an amazing feeling, to feel free again. He was finally ready to feel Carol wish all his senses again.
Everything was going to be ok.
