IV
Chiquitita, tell me what's wrong
You're enchained by your own sorrow
In your eyes there is no hope for tomorrow
How I hate to see you like this Chiquitita, tell me the truth
There is no way you can deny it
I can see that you're oh so sad, so quiet
I'm a shoulder you can cry on
Your best friend, I'm the one you must rely on
You were always sure of yourself Chiquitita, you and I know
Now I see you've broken a feather
I hope we can patch it up together
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they're leaving
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving
Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before So the walls came tumbling down
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
And your love's a blown out candle
All is gone and it seems too hard to handle
Chiquitita, tell me the truth Chiquitita, you and I know
There is no way you can deny it
I see that you're oh so sad, so quiet
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they're leaving
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving
Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Chiquitita, ABBA
Boots St. Clair was still under Federal protection after her father, Anthony St. Clair, had put a contract out on her the year before. As with any case-especially involving someone with virtually unlimited financial means, the St. Clair trial had been delayed more than once, his high-priced stable of attorneys throwing different roadblocks and procedural maneuvers to delay the trial for as long as possible.
His day was coming. Boots St. Clair knew she would have to face her father, not only for what he had done to her, but the evidence that had been mounting against him for the assault of Robbie St. Clair some years before.
Boots didn't want to hide anymore. She wanted to live life again. Actually she wanted to change how she lived life, having found some strength from Jo Polniaczek and Blair Warner, who had stepped up and helped her when she was in need. When Boots had found out about Blair's accident, she had been stunned beyond belief, and followed the story in the news. It was so unfair, she thought, that good people like Blair and Jo got handed shitty hands, while her father and his associates still had not faced justice.
She had not made many requests since going into hiding, but she demanded something from the Federal agents keeping an eye on her. Those agents called the agent in charge, and he agreed to let Boots have this one request granted.
Boots had been so appreciative that Jo and Blair had had her back when she was in trouble, both indicating that she was part of their extended family, and that family looked after each other. Before the trial began, she needed to return the favor, and go to Jo, showing her that even in her own personal crisis, she would have Jo's back.
Richard, Dwight, and Charlie all did yeoman's work getting some furniture in the home to make it comfortable for Jo and David. That was their first priority, with the guest rooms secondary. Jo needed a place where she could unwind and spend alone time with David, not dealing with the pervasive oppression of sitting in the hospital all the time. The home was five minutes from the hospital, and Jo would still spend the bulk of her time there, simply sitting near Blair, talking to her, and having David with her.
Charlie and Rose had made sure that Jo and David would never be alone in the house or the hospital, with someone staying with them. Monica had agreed to be part of the rotation, as had Edna, at least on her days off. Even Dorothy had said she would help out when she could. No one said it, but in the back of everyone's mind-including Jo's-was the thought that if things got too heavy for her, even with David around, she might turn, in desperation to seek some "relief" via heroin. No one wanted that to happen.
Everyone knew the best medicine for that was for Blair to show some marked improvement.
Jo had made sure that everyone who needed it had the address of the place in Peekskill, which had included Dennis Levine, who had been so instrumental in helping the girls over the years. A byproduct of that was a week after she moved in, while Edna was with Jo, they received an unexpected visitor.
Jo was playing with David. His broken leg was healing nicely, but the doctor advised her that it would probably set him back in starting to walk by a few extras months, but that she should still try to get him some exercise while the cast remained on for another few weeks.
The doorbell rang. "I'll get it", Mrs. Garrett said, getting up from the kitchen table. She walked over to the door and opened it. Richard was there when it swung open.
"Richard? It's nice to see you, but we weren't expecting you!"
Richard Sennet smiled. "Hi Mrs. Garrett. I know that, but I was advised that someone wanted to visit Jo, and I volunteered to drive them here."
He stepped aside, Edna Garrett seeing a face she hadn't seen in many years. "Boots? Boots St. Clair?"
Boots nervously smiled. Despite Jo assuring her that Mrs. Garrett was on her side, she was still a little wary about other people at the moment. "Hey Mrs. Garrett. It's been a long time."
Edna Garrett wrapped the young women into a warm hug. "Oh, Boots, my goodness, it's so good to see you! You're right, it's been a long time. Let me look at you?"
Boots had gained some weight since being in protective custody, and looked much healthier than the day she frantically called Blair. Her eyes were clearer, but there was that hint of fear still noticeable in her deportment.
"You look wonderful, my dear. I'm so sorry for everything you've been through. Oh", Edna said suddenly, realizing they were still at the door. "Where's my manners? Come on in, dear." She led Boots and Richard into the main area of the home. "Jo, we have some visitors."
Jo looked up, first seeing Richard. "Richie, what the hell are you doin'..." Then she saw who was behind Richard and Mrs. Garrett. "Boots?"
Boots gave a warm smile to Jo. "Hey Polniaczek", she said shyly, "I asked if I could come by and visit, and meet your son. I hope it isn't much trouble?"
Jo stood up, Mrs. G. taking David, and she gave a hug to Boots. "No trouble at all, kid", she said quietly, then like Edna, looked over the woman. "Wow, you look so much better than last time I saw ya, Boots. I'm proud of you, kiddo."
Boots blushed. "They've simply been stuffing me like a Thanksgiving turkey", she said with a laugh, the others joining in. "But I'm feeling better. With my father's trial about to start, I wanted to return the kindness you showed me. I'm so sorry for what's happened to Blair. I wanted to show you that, even in a small way, I have your back."
Jo was obviously touched by the words. "That means a lot to me, Boots", Jo said, hugging the girl again. "By the way." Jo glanced at Mrs. Garrett, "I want you to meet Blair and my son, David Charles Warner."
Mrs. Garrett smiled broadly, holding the toddler out to Boots, who stared in amazement at the child. "My God, Jo, he's...he's so absolutely beautiful! I don't think I've ever held a small child."
Jo chuckled. "Come here and sit on the couch, and Mrs. G. can had him to you."
Boots looked at the others, and giggled, doing as Jo asked. Once seated, Edna, leaned down and handed David to a still-nervous Boots.
"Hello, David", Boots said, her eyes misting up, "Everyone in a large family has that crazy Aunt, so I guess I'm it." The others laughed delightedly. "I'm Boots, but you can call me by my real name if you want, which is Barbara. I know", she said, looking at the others with a blush, then back at David, "I think Boots fits better. I'm so glad to meet you."
Boots played with David, being a little nervous because of the cast on his leg, Jo assuring her that he hardly noticed it. The three women and Richard talked about different subjects, from the girls' days at Eastland, and Boots filling them in on the approaching trial of her father.
"From what I've heard, the prosecution has a pretty solid case, on both what happened to me, and, I think more importantly, what happened to my cousin Robbie. He's a sweet guy, and even though he's paralyzed from the waist down, he's still so full of life. I haven't talked to him yet. I wanna give him some space."
"That might be a good idea", Jo agreed. "He's got to come to terms with what his uncle did to him, and even though you weren't involved, well, it just may trigger him. Kinda like when Jesse's perfume triggered somethin' in me." Boots had heard the short version of what had happened to Jo, and was very glad that the woman had come out as well as she had from the ordeal.
"Jo, I don't want to pry", Boots said, still playing with David, "but would it be okay if I visited Blair and just...well, talk to her for a little bit? I owe her-I owe both of you-so much. I know she can't hear me, but I'd like to visit just the same."
Jo gave the other woman a warm smile. "Yeah, I don't think that's a problem, Boots. I think Blair would appreciate it. You're part of our crazy family, and it would mean a lot to me if you visited her."
An hour later, Boots was talking to Blair, with Jo in the room, Mrs. G. watching David at the Peekskill residence. Like everyone else, Boots had been in tears seeing Blair. Even thought her visible injuries were healing, Blair still didn't look like the beautiful Blonde that she was.
If only Blair would come out of this damn coma, and start getting better, Jo thought with weary anger. She knew her Princess was there, somehow, lost in the fog of her injuries, Blair had to find her way back.
One Month Later
Even as occupied as Jo was with taking care of David, in giving him as normal an existence as she could while still being close to Blair, she was following the trial of Boots father, Anthony, as closely as she could. Jo was worried about what would happen to Boots if her father was found not guilty, but she was thinking positive-with the hands she had been dealt over the years, she couldn't think any other way, lest she go out of her mind. Yet despite the riveting news from New York City, Jo still had her own hands full.
Jo was with DC in Blair's room. Dr. Chidi had advised her earlier that day that Blair's injuries were healing. They had performed a third operation on her pelvis to insert more compression screws and side plates. He informed Jo that the pelvis was healing properly. They still had work to do on Blair's left leg, but even there, they had made great strides. One benefit of Blair's coma is that it was allowing her broken bones and other injuries to heal.
The swelling in Blair's brain was going down, but at an achingly slow rate. The ventilator would stay in until the swelling went down some more, then they would try to see if she could breathe on her own for an extended period of time.
Jo was reading to DC, when all of a sudden one of the machines that were monitoring Blair gave a loud, ghastly monotone sound, Jo looking up startled. She had learned what most of the readings meant-the BP, heart rate, an electronic EKG reading showing her heart beat-and right now the EKG was flat-lining.
"Blair!" Jo screamed louder than she could ever remember, a nurse literally flying into the room, seeing that Blair's heartbeat had stopped.
Within moments, Jo could hear the PA system in the hall. "Code Blue, ICU, room 215, repeat Code Blue, ICU, room 215."
Within a few more moments, more nurses and Dr. Chidi had entered the room. It seemed like chaos to Jo, but it wasn't. It was a dance medical teams all over the world did far too often.
"No pulse, doctor", one of the nurses yelled.
"1 milligrams epinephrine IV, every 4 minutes, STAT", the doctor ordered, a nurse with a syringe ready in moments, pushing the medicine into one of Blair's IV lines. A few moments later another nurse was heard.
"Nothing yet, doctor."
Another nurse had already started CPR, rhythmically compressing Blair's chest to try and start the heart and get her breathing.
Chidi ordered another medication put into her IV.
"No change, doctor!"
"Defibrillation immediately!"
Jo knew what that meant. Holding her son in the room, out of the way of the medical staff, Jo fell to her knees. "Blair, hold on baby", she said sotto voce. "You can't leave me and David. I love you, Princess, keep fighting, goddammit!" The sobs started to become uncontrollable, her body shaking.
An orderly in the room saw Jo's distress, and bent down next to her. "Ms. Polniaczek, please, sit in the chair if you can with your son. No one is gonna ask you to leave, sweetie."
Jo nodded, the woman helping her into the chair, nodding, then turning back to the crisis at hand. Jo hadn't noticed that they had Blair's top ripped off, her breasts visible to everyone in the world. Jo simply stared into nothing, not knowing what to do.
She was brought out of her trance when she heard a nurse yell, "clear!" loudly, then the sound of the defibrillator sending an an electrical charge through Blair.
"Princess!"