"I am sorry; I know this is distressing for you" his face softens a little "would you like me to have someone sit with you?"
"Yes please, could you see if Kate is here or Mia if not" I dab my eyes with a tissue. He leaves the room and returns a few moments later with Kate. Thank goodness I say to myself.
"Hi sweetie, I wondered where you had gone" Kate hugs me.
"Thank you Kate" I smile.
"Are you ok to continue?" The detective asks. I nod and continue…
"I didn't realise what had happened, I felt a warm liquid hit my face and saw my husband and Mr Taylor begin to fall before Mr Sawyer pushed me backwards into the lobby area. I then realised when Sawyer got up that he had been shot and that it was blood splattered across my face. He asked me to stay where I was so he could assist my husband and Taylor. My PA and my husband's PA came over to me, called for medical attention and that's it really. I didn't hear any shots and had no idea who had pulled the trigger until I was told after having my babies"
"I see, I believe you had had some issues with Mrs Lincoln prior to this incident. I have read the reports filed over the last 9 months or so and see she was suspected of causing some incidences but nothing proven" he says.
"I knew her, that is to say we met on two or three occasions and each meeting was just as unpleasant as the others but I never suspected she would go to these lengths" I tell him.
"It appears she obtained a weapon on the black market and used a location near Aspen to improve her technique, secluded, sheltered with no one around to question" he informs me.
"How do we know she worked alone and there isn't still someone out there to try and finish off the job?" I start to cry again and Kate grips my hand tighter.
"We questioned Mrs Lincoln's husband, business colleagues and friends; we don't believe she used anyone other than Mr Hyde to help her but we would obviously suggest you keep security in place and report any suspicious incidences but my feeling is that nothing else is going to happen" he tries to reassure me.
"What will happen to Mr Hyde?" Kate asks which makes me jump, I hadn't thought about him.
"Mr Hyde is being detained whilst we investigate but I know he is being charged with aiding and abetting attempted murder, trespass and public affray so regardless he will be going to jail" Good I think to myself but for how long will he be locked away for?
"Thank you detective, you will keep us informed?" Kate says.
"Of course, if you think of anything else please call me" he proffers a business card with contact details on.
"Thank you" I reach to shake his hand and he warmly shakes it.
"How is Mr Grey? And I understand you became parents" he says as he walks out of the door.
"The twins are doing great and Mr Grey seems to be holding his own" I smile "thank you for asking" I add.
The detective leaves and Kate and I return to Christians room.
"Everything ok Ana?" Grace asks.
"Yes fine, he just wanted to get my version of events, to tell me Jack Hyde is in custody and he is being charged with various things" I sound more confident than I feel.
"That's good, he is out of the picture for now" Grace says a she is adjusting one of Christians machines.
"Is everything ok with Christian?" I ask Grace.
"Yes, I am just altering a few things to take into account the gradual withdrawal of his sedation" Grace explains.
"So will he wake up soon?" I say in anticipation.
"It's a slow process Ana, reducing sedation increases blood pressure, intra-cranial pressure and the risk of bleeding increases. We can't do too much too soon and risk undoing the good work done so far but I hope he will start responding to external stimulus in the next 24 hours" she brushes her hand over his face "and when he realises he has become a father, a whole plethora of emotions will flood through his body and mind"
"I so want him to see the babies, I will just burst telling him" I extoll. Grace smiles with pride.
"He is a very lucky man to have you Ana, I hope the influence of the twins will in the long run aide his recovery, give him something to work towards" she tells me.
"What will I need to do Grace?"
"You are going to have your hands full with Max and Melissa dear and with the surgery you have had it's not wise for you to be doing anything except caring for them and yourself. I suggest that, if it's alright with you Ana, that Carrick and I come and stay for a while and then perhaps private nurse care for the remainder of his recovery. I know Gail has offered to help you but with Jason being injured, her time will be short so I thought the two of us would be useful"
"Oh that would be wonderful Grace, are you sure? You have your hands full with work, home, Gramps and Nana, I don't want you to stretch yourself in too many different directions" I say.
"Mia is at the house so she can keep an eye on everything and call if she is worried, I have taken leave from work as soon as Christian is discharged so it's all in hand" she smiles "Elliot is not far either so he can be of use" she winks at me and laughs.
"Ok, time to go and rescue my children from Grandma, well it's feeding time anyways so I shall be back later" I chuckle and wave as I leave to room.
Mom is nowhere to be seen and I ask Nurse Diane if she knows where she went.
"She went to get something to eat and drink, she has only just left" Diane tells me.
"Ok I am sure she will be back but in the meantime I think some feeding is in order" I smile as I walk over to Max "Hi little guy, are you hungry?" and as if he knew what I was saying, lets out a very loud cry "I guess that's a yes then" I laugh as I settle into the rocking chair.
"Hey Max you will be able to see daddy soon, he should be waking up and will want to say hi to his very special little boy" I whisper as he contently feeds. I look over his face and am amazed at how little details have changed in such a short time.
"Ana, Max has been cleared to go home today" Diane tells me.
"Really?" I say "seriously?"
"Yes Ana really" she smiles "he is feeding well, has put on a little weight so the paediatricians are happy for him to go"
I can't help but beam but then remember that Melissa is still going to be here.
"What about Melissa?" I ask feeling a little upset.
"She is doing great Ana, feeding good too but she needs to put a little more weight on before she is released" Diane says.
"Ok" feeling a little gloomy.
"What's on your mind Ana?" Diane asks.
"Oh it's just logistics and things, my Mom is going home tomorrow, Dad will be here but no car, half my security team who have led on are injured and I can't drive myself at the moment" a single tear falls on to my cheek "I don't want to leave Melissa here on her own" I sob "and it will be difficult to spend time with Christian"
"I understand Ana, I can't help with transport but when you come to see Christian and Melissa we have a crèche that operates during day time. It's normally for staff children only but I think we can accommodate Max to help you" she smiles.
"You would do that for me?" I sob harder "Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help" I stand and hug Diane.
I dry my eyes, put max back in his cot and go to Melissa for feeding time. I sit in the rocking chair, she is feeding well and I rest my head back, close my eyes, I think I must have fallen asleep as a gentle hand wakes me.
"Ana, you fell asleep" it's Mom.
"Where's Melissa?" I frantically look around.
"Don't panic, she finished feeding so I winded her and put her back in the incubator so you could continue to sleep" Mom tells me.
Ok what has happened to my Mom, who stole her and replaced her with a considerate, nice Mom?
"Thank you, I guess I was more tired than I realised and I am famished too"
Mom reaches into her bag and pulls out a chicken salad, packet of crisps and a carton of orange juice. I must look astounded as Mom looks at me and smiles...
"I remember what it is like to be a new Mom and I didn't have to deal with what's happened over the past couple of days when you were born" she smiles again.
She must have taken something or sniffed some gas and air, this is not normal, she is being too nice and I wait for the change back to obnoxious and loud.
I finish my food, tell Mom I am going back to Christian and she offers to walk with me.
"Oh, they are releasing Max today but not Melissa for a while yet" I tell her.
"That is good news, what about Christian?" she asks.
"They are slowly bringing him out of the sedation so hopefully he will start to respond in the next few hours" I say
"Well let's hope it's sooner rather than later" We reach Christian's room and Mia comes bouncing out.
"Ana, Ana, he moved! He responded to Mom's voice, not much but it's a start"
"Oh Mia that's wonderful" I rush into the room and sit down beside him, grasp his hand as I always have and call his name…
"Christian, its Ana, Christian" I say hopefully and to my absolute delight he very slightly squeezes my hand. I am totally beside myself with excitement and feel like jumping up and down with glee.
"Calm down Ana, you look like you are going to burst" My Mom says as she comes in the room.
"He moved his hand Mom" and I fling my arms around her neck.
She responds with a warm hug and she whispers "Great news" in my ear.
Grace, Carrick, Kate and Elliot all come into the room, Mia has contacted and told everyone and they have all come to the hospital.
"Well hopefully not long now before he can respond to us all" Grace says and I can see the tears building, Carrick puts a comforting arm around her shoulders and she rests her head on his chest.
After the excitement has died down I take my seat again and begin telling him how Max is able to come home today, so I will spend the first night at Escala with only Max and how much I am looking forward to having him and Melissa home too so we can be a family together. I tell him Grace and Carrick are coming to stay for a while if that is ok with him before chuckling to myself, after all it's not like he has a choice and am rewarded with another squeeze.
The time has come to go home; I go to the Nicu to express for Melissa feeds before bundling Max up in his car seat, giving Melissa a cuddle and kiss telling her I will be back soon and that I love her very much. Elliot and Kate are taking me to Escala, Gail is there and Grace and Carrick will follow on later.
We pull up to Escala and park, the elevator rushes up to the penthouse and the doors open to home.
A/N Apologies for the delay in updates. Real life has been keeping me real busy and I have not been able to write as often as I like. I will stick to one update a week for now and if time allows, I may post two in a week. Thank you for all your continued support.