This is the 8th Part in my Facts of Life: Fire and Rain series. As with my other stories, I have created a Soundtrack to go with it. Enjoy the story, and the music. Your comments are appreciated!
I
Chapter Song
Themes to Terms of Endearment, Michael Gore
Instrumental
Five Hours Later
It had taken both Jo and Monica a considerable amount of time to recover from their first view of Blair after her auto accident the day before. There had been good reason why Dr. Chidi had suggested that Bailey not be allowed in for the time being: Blair was literally unrecognizable.
Her head looked like one giant bruise. Her broken jaw was mended, and while it couldn't be wired shut because she was intubated, the doctor said that was the least of their worries. Her eyes swollen and shut-even if Blair were conscious, she couldn't have seen a thing. Her beautiful blonde mane that Jo loved to run her hands through was gone, a surgical cap over her skull, where several holes had been drilled to relieve pressure on her concussed brain.
Further down, her left arm was in a cast from fingers to shoulder. Her pelvis had broken in two places. Fortunately, it had broken cleanly, and by some miracle had not damaged any organs. Even so, Blair's left kidney had been removed, as it had been too severely damaged by the impact of the other vehicle. Her left leg, many of the bones literally crushed, was being held together by titanium pins, screws, plates and other hardware.
And finally, the concussion and the severe bruising of her brain had rendered her in a deep coma, her ability to breathe compromised.
At the moment, Jo was sitting in one of those not-very-comfortable recliners that peppered so many hospital rooms across the world. At her request, Dennis Levine, who had arrived about two hours earlier, had brought Jo's laptop, so Jo could listen to music on YouTube and other platforms and try to find some peace when not feeding or holding DC.
Jo was facing the window in Blair's private room, her laptop open. She didn't hear the arrival of Edna and Monica behind her. When the two women entered the room, they were surprised to hear singing, then, looking at Jo and over he shoulder, they realized they were listening to a recording.
Edna started to leave, but Monica stopped her, transfixed by what she was hearing and seeing: it was a video of Blair and Jo, obviously when Blair was pregnant with D.C. A video camera had been set up, while the two leaned against each other on the couch in their living room. What transfixed them both was the song they were singing in harmony.
Dream, dream, dream, dream
Dream, dream, dream, dream
When I want you in my arms
When I want you and all your charms
Whenever I want you
All I have to do is dream
Dream, dream, dream
When I feel blue in the night
And I need you to hold me tight
Whenever I want you
All I have to do is dream
I can make you mine
Taste your lips of wine
Anytime night or day
Only trouble is
Gee whiz
I'm dreamin' my life away
I need you so, that I could die
I love you so and that is why
Whenever I want you
All I have to do is dream
Dream, dream, dream, dream
Their voiced blended so well. The look on their faces as they gazed at one another was one of pure joy and love-even Monica could see it. They do adore each other, Monica thought, almost bringing her to tears. At the end, they softly kissed, then they had laughed. Still unable to move, they heard Jo speak.
"You've gotta come back to me, Princess", she said, clearly weeping and in another emotional nosedive. "You know I'll take care of DC, but, God, I need you so bad, babe. I'm just nothin' without you." They heard Jo give a self-deprecating laugh. "You're so damn beautiful, and I'm just a tomboy. What you've ever seen in me, I dunno, but it means everything to me." They both saw Jo's body rack with sobs. "I need you, blondie."
The sobs became uncontrollable. It was at that moment that Edna Garrett and Monica Warner departed, Jo never realizing they were there.
Three Hours Earlier
Natalie and her mother Evelyn arrived in Peekskill just after 6:30am. Jo and Monica were currently holding vigil with Blair, DC being fed by both of them at one point or another. Edna Garrett met the two Green women on their arrival, Natalie giving her dear friend a tearful hug.
"Why can't I visit on happy occasions any more, Mrs. G?"
"It may not be a happy occasion, my dear", Edna noted, "but you're where you need to be-with your family here in New York." Edna turned to "Evie" Green. "Evie", Edna said with a sad smile, extending a hug to her as well. "It's been far too long since I've seen you. As Natalie said, I wish it were under better circumstances, but I'm so happy to see you."
"I would have driven her from Denver if I had needed to, Edna", the woman said, as they clasped hands. "Can you give us the latest?"
Edna knew nothing had changed much with Dorothy, as she had groggily waken a few times, but still was out of it. When Edna ran down the overview of Blair's injuries, which weren't known when Natalie had left Denver, both women were aghast. The bright spot was DC, but Natalie almost broke down worrying about Blair.
Edna introduced Bailey to both women, Natalie walking up to the younger woman, who wasn't much shorter than she was. Natalie instantly gave her a hug. "I've been wanting to meet you Bailey, I'm just sorry it's under these circumstance. Blair and Jo have both told me so much about you."
"Thank you, Natalie", Bailey said with a small smile, growing more impressed by the day with the size of her extended family. "Actually, Jo told me to call you Aunt Natalie, if it's okay with you."
Natalie gave her one of those warm smiles the reporter was known for. "It's perfect, Bailey. Thank you."
As they were continuing to talk, Diane Ramsey appeared in the hall. She saw Natalie, and immediately went to hug Dorothy's best friend, both of them crying. "Natalie", Diane said with warmth, "thank you for coming. Your friends need you."
"We're family, Judge Ramsey", Natalie insisted. "How's my fellow Snoop Sister?"
Diane hadn't heard those two words in a long time, and she chuckled. "She got her bell rung pretty good, so she's still in and out of it, but you and Evie can go and visit her whenever you want."
"I'd like that, Judge", Natalie said with a sad smile. "From what Mrs. Garrett told me, it'll be a while before I can see Blair."
Diane put her hands on both of Nat's shoulders. "But Jo will need you, God knows, Natalie. I guess when she and Monica saw Blair for the first time, they both broke down. I guess Blair is in really bad shape."
"But DC is okay, so that's a blessing", Natalie reminded the Judge. "I'm here for all three of them, but for now, if it's okay, maybe mom and I will visit Tootie."
Monica Warner had just left Blair's bedside. David was asleep in a small bed that Dwight and Richard had bought so Jo could stay close to both her son and her partner. Jo hadn't slept in over twenty-four hours, and she was beyond exhausted, so when she dozed off, Monica departed to give them some privacy.
Edna and Bailey were back in what were now one of the two room set aside for the group, the hospital advising them the rooms were there unless the hospital suddenly became insanely busy. Richard and Dwight were looking for a rental home or a large apartment on Jo's request. It was unlikely that Blair would be leaving Peekskill any time soon, and even a short-term rental so that people go have a place to take a shower, sleep, and have a meal away from the oppressive atmosphere of the hospital could do so.
Monica walked in the room they were in and without a word went over to one of the recliners placed in the room. She hadn't even retrieved a blanket or pillow, and in moments, she had fallen into a worried sleep. The hours of flying across the Atlantic, the worry on the trip, and the shock of seeing Blair's condition had left her beyond exhausted. She would wake up sooner than she wanted, but even the three-hour nap she got was blessed relief.
In Dorothy's ICU room, Natalie and Diane had held a silent vigil, waiting for Tootie to wake up. She had been in and out of it for hours, but about an hour after Natalie had arrived, Tootie started to come around. Natalie had made a quiet call to Mrs. Garrett, who left both Monica and Bailey asleep for the moment. Mrs. Garrett grabbed Evie on the way to Tootie's room.
Dr. Chidi was still on duty and he needed to examine her as she regained consciousness.
Dorothy saw the world coming back to her, bright lights overhead, confusion racing through her mind. She did notice she had a helluva headache, and it was hard to get anything to come in focus. When things did start to take shape, she saw a tall man in a white jacket, with a stethoscope around his neck smiling down on her.
"Hello, Mrs. Ramsey", he said in accented English. "It's good to see you finally coming around."
"My head is killing me." Why Tootie had said that first, she would never know, but it was the truth. "Where the heck am I?"
Dr. Chidi explained that she was in the hospital, and then asked her what the last thing she remembered.
"Blair picked me up at my apartment. We were gonna visit Bailey and Mrs. G at Eastland and..." The panic set on. "Oh, my God! What about Blair? What about DC? Are they all right, doctor?"
At that moment, Diane stepped forward. "Calm down, honey", she said reassuringly, bending over and giving her daughter a gentle hug. "We'll go into all that in a few moments. Let Dr. Chidi finish his exam, okay?"
"Mom? How long have you been here?"
"I came down late last night, Dorothy. I'm not leaving until you do, by the way."
Tootie smiled, a few moments later Dr. Chidi had finished his exam, giving the nurse some orders, then he departed.
"Mom", Dorothy said with alarm again, "what happened? How's Blair and David?"
"David is fine, sweetheart. He has a broken leg, but that's about all that happened to him. By the way, you have some other visitors."
Edna and Natalie moved forward, Tootie crying at seeing both of them, still not knowing what had occurred, but knowing if Nat had come from Colorado...
"Hey Snoop Sister Two", Natalie said, smiling through her tears, leaning over and hugging her best friend that she ever would have. The hug meant a little more for Natalie, knowing how tenuous Blair's condition was.
"Nat", Tootie said in the hug, "It's so good to see you. But why does it always have to be drama when you come here?"
"Well", Natalie said tongue-in-cheek, "you are an actress, aren't you? Drama is your forte! Besides, I said the same thing to mom when she picked me up."
"Your mom's here?"
"I'm right here, Tootie", Evie said with a smile, having never called the young woman anything else. Tootie beckoned her for a hug. "I've missed you so much, my dear."
"I've missed you too, Evie. A lot. But is someone gonna tell me what's going on with Blair?"
Diane turned to Edna, who stepped forward, leaning down over Dorothy, kissing her forehead and hugging her. "Hello, my dear", she said with concern still in her voice.
"Mrs. G?" Tootie by now was ready to jump out of her skin, unless someone told her something. "What is going on with Blair?" Her voice brooked no denial.
Edna slowly went through the event with Dorothy, the others filling in what they knew.