Chapter 67- Skye's Prayer

After Kendall's pleas to let her take her to the hospital, Skye decided to let AJ and Elizabeth take her instead. If she let Ryan take her then all she'd be thinking about was Jax and Kendall when she needed to focus on her mother.

When they arrived outside of Rae's room, they found Erica and Stuart there.

"What's going on?" Skye asked.

Stuart frowned. "Your mom is really sick, Skye."

"Y—y—you mean it's more than j—just the flu?" Skye asked.

Erica nodded. "It's called Intestinal-pseudo-obstruction."

"What the hell is that?"

"Her intestines are losing the ability to push food through," Elizabeth explained.

"So… so, what you're saying is that—that they can just give her some laxatives or—or medicine or whatever and then—then she can come home, right?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "It's not that simple."

"She just had a procedure done to bring down the swelling," Erica explained. "And now she's on a feeding tube."

"Just temporarily, right?" She turned to Stuart. "Right, Uncle Stuart? Erica just means for the night, right?"

Stuart frowned and squeezed Skye's arm.

"It'll be a lot longer than tonight," Erica said. "John is sitting with her now."

"Well… where's Grandma?"

"She's in the chapel," Stuart said. "She sat with Rae for about an hour. I offered to go with her, but she wanted to be alone. You should go in and see Rae."

Skye swallowed hard, then made her way in.

Rae was hooked up to an IV and some tubing, and John was at her side kissing her hand.

"Rae, you can beat this," John said. "You're the strongest woman I know. I need you. Myrtle and Skye need you. And you should see how worried Erica is about you. She'll never admit it, but she really does care about you."

Skye started to cry, and it didn't take long for her to flee from the room. She didn't even acknowledge Stuart, Erica, AJ, or Elizabeth, she just kept going. She made her way to the hospital chapel and pushed the door open.

"Please God, please just let her beat this," Myrtle pleaded from the pew. "After all these years we finally found each other, and she just found Skye. Please don't let her suffer. Please…" She looked up when she noticed Skye.

Skye rushed to her side, plopped down beside her and wrapped her arms around her waist.

Myrtle rubbed her back as she cried into shoulder. "Oh, darling, it's all right…"

"No, it's not all right," Skye said. "It's not at all. It's just not fair. And my instincts suck and are pure selfish."

"What are you talking about?"

"I was so certain Mom was kidnapped or killed when she simply walked down the street by herself. And then when she gets sick, first I assume she's pregnant, then I shrug it off as a stomach flu."

"Oh, utter nonsense. There's no way you could've known. Yes, you still have work to do on your insecurities and your attitude, but your mother getting sick isn't your fault."

Skye pulled away from her and lowered her gaze. "Yes, it is."

"How on earth is Rae developing a condition in her intestines your fault?"

Skye turned to her. "How do you do it, Grandma?"

"Do what?"

"Pray so selflessly like that?"

Myrtle smiled. "All you do is talk to God like you're talking to me right now. Say what's on your heart."

Skye sighed. "I prayed once. It was earlier this year. And I'm learning that God does answer prayers."

"Of course, He answers prayers. What did you pray for?"

Skye stared at her feet again. "I asked God to strike Mom with a bolt of lightning or set her house on fire. I basically asked God to kill her, so now it's happening."

"Oh dear."

"See? It is my fault."

"Skye, dear…" Myrtle reached for her hand and squeezed it. "God doesn't kill people on someone's orders. He's not a hitman. Was this around when you found out she is your mother?"

"Yeah. It was immediately after Todd dropped the bombshell at his wedding."

"Rae said you didn't believe it at first. Were you really asking God to kill her or were you just very emotional and not knowing up from down in those moments?"

Skye sighed. "Well, technically I asked for a sign that she wasn't my mother. And I listed a couple options He could give me. Then I found a half-drunken bottle of vodka on the ground next to a passed-out Jen Rappaport. So, I guess she was my sign not to drink, even though I did anyway... Not the sign I was expecting."

"That could've been a sign. But the Lord works in mysterious ways. Sometimes He gives big signs, and sometimes they're more subtle. Maybe a sign he sent you was how your mom has proven herself to you over time. Or maybe how much you don't want to lose her is your sign. Or maybe He hasn't given you a sign at all and He's just letting you figure it out yourself. God always answers prayers, except sometimes the answer is no."

"So far this isn't helping… so you're saying there's no point then? Why did you even bother praying?"

"I'm not saying that at all. Of course, there's a point to it. We can pray together."

"Do you think… do you think Mom will beat this?"

"What I know is that your mother is a very strong woman and can beat anything. And she knows how much you need her."

Skye frowned. "Do you think she really knows that?"

Myrtle nodded. "If you're worried she doesn't, then you can remind her."

"I—I can do that. I don't know about the prayer thing though… at least not now."

"Then come. I can go with you if you'd like."

Skye gave Myrtle one last hug, then they made their way back towards Rae's room. But when arrived, they found Kendall in the hallway talking to AJ and Elizabeth. Skye balled her hands into fists.

"You have the gall to show up here!?" Skye gritted her teeth.

"Skye, I wanted to make sure you were okay," Kendall said.

Skye scoffed. "Where's your new boyfriend, huh?"

"What's going on?" Myrtle asked.

"Skye, Kendall was very concerned about you—" Elizabeth started to say.

"Concerned about me?" Skye laughed. "Oh, tell me a new one."

"I thought you and Kendall were becoming good friends—" Myrtle started.

"Were is the key word," Skye said. "But I'm not going to be friends with a lying, stealing, slut like her!"

"Skye!" Myrtle scolded. "That is enough!"

"Listen, Skye," AJ spoke up. "We all feel really bad about your mom and I wish you weren't going through this, but no one is going to stand for you talking to Kendall that way—"

"I don't want her here!" Skye shouted. "Someone get her out!"

"Can't we talk about this?" Kendall asked. "I want to be here for you—"

"I'm going in to see Mom," Skye said. "If she isn't gone when I come out, then I'm calling security!" She whipped around and headed into the room.

Myrtle sighed heavily. "Do you want to tell me what that was all about?"

Kendall crossed her arms. "Skye is mad at me."

"Everyone and their mother can see that," Myrtle said. "Why?"

Kendall looked over at AJ, then back to Myrtle. "That's between me and Skye."

"Well whatever it is, make up already!" Myrtle groaned. "Skye's too stubborn to admit it, but she needs a friend."

When Skye walked into Rae's room, Erica was at her side this time.

"Look, for some God-forsaken reason Myrtle loves you so you have to beat this for her sake," Erica said. "And just to clarify, she is the reason I'm here." She looked up when she noticed Skye. "Your daughter is here now. So, I'm going to check on Myrtle."

Erica eyed Skye up and down as she passed by her and out to the hallway.

Skye wrapped her arms around herself and stood at the end of the bed for several seconds, just looking at her mother. Finally, she took the seat at her side and swallowed hard. "You look so pale. I'm supposed to be the weak one, not you." Skye frowned. "You're the strongest person I know, Mom. This isn't right. You shouldn't be here. Grandma says it's not my fault, but it is. I wish I never said that stupid prayer. But even more than that, it's just what I've known my whole life. As soon as I love someone, they're taken from me or they just leave me. So, this is one thing Grandma is wrong about. It is my fault. Grandma says that prayer does work. Well… I don't know… maybe it wouldn't hurt." She looked up at the ceiling. "God, I know I'm the worst daughter ever. But I'll try harder, I will. I'll be nice to John. I'll—I'll try not to lose my temper on Mom. I'll try not to feel so insecure. I'll even try to accept that she shrinks little girls like Starr, I will. Just please… please don't take her from me. I'll do better. I promise." She reached for Rae's hand. "Please Mama, please wake up." She started to tear up again. "I need you. I really really need you. I love you."

She suddenly felt Rae's hand squeeze hers. "I love you too."

Skye smiled widely through her tears and gently hugged her. "Oh, Mom."