Standing Still - Chapter Sixteen
I'm heading to work but I just want to stop by and see Ana once more before I start my shift. I walk to her room and open the door only to find Gail sitting beside Ana's bed.
"Oh Gail, I didn't think anyone would be with Ana at this hour. I was just checking to see if she needed anything before my nightshift."
"Grace," Gail says oddly, like she's snapping out of a trance.
"Is everything alright," I question seeing the hesitancy on her face.
"No, not really."
"What's wrong, is it Ana?" I wonder as I look over at my sleeping daughter in law.
Gail slowly nods her head then looks down at the floor. I don't like what I see in her eyes so I move to sit beside her.
"Whatever is the matter."
"Ana told me something, something upsetting. I haven't told Mr Grey yet and I'll admit I'm anxious to do so."
"What did Ana say," I ask somewhat fearfully.
Gail looks to Ana as if she's debating whether to tell me or not. She pauses, takes a breath then lets it all out in a jumble of words.
I listen, the shock coming in waves and then anger that Ana has kept this a secret for so long.
"What did Doctor Stephens say," I ask once she has finished.
"He took her down for an X-ray but said nothing untoward was could be found. Then he mentioned something about tests and finding out in a few days time."
"Did Ana fall asleep?" I wonder surprised she could sleep with everything that's just happened.
"No, the doctor gave her something for the pain, it knocked her out."
"Oh."
"I should have gone home awhile ago to start dinner but I couldn't leave her, she was so upset before the doctor came."
"It's okay Gail, you can go. I'll stay and call my son, I'm sure he's just waiting for you so he can come back here."
"But you have to work Grace and I want really want to be here when she wakes up."
"Compromise, you go back now and let Christian come here. I'll stay and tell Christian what's going on. Once he calms down I'll call you and send Carrick to say with the children. You can come back and Ana will probably be awake by then."
"Okay, thank you Grace. I won't say any thing to Mr Grey when I get home, it will only upset him and he still has to drive to the hospital."
"Good idea now don't worry I'll tell him and I'll stay right here with Ana."
"Thank you," Gail says again as she picks up her purse. I watch her kiss Ana's cheek before she leaves then walk swiftly from the room.
God what a mess, I should have know there was something wrong with Ana. She's been so quiet but I just put it down to the accident and her limited mobility.
I step out briefly to call paediatrics and explain that I can't work tonight. I tell my team that I'm still at the hospital encase I'm really needed but that I've been caught up in a family emergency. Thankfully my team seem to understand as they all know about my daughter in law and the freeway accident.
Walking back inside I look at Ana and sigh, why did she keep all this to herself. I sit down and wait for Christian, fearful myself of the reaction I'm about to get from him.
Less than fifteen minutes later and he's coming though the door. Smiling and happy after his afternoon with the children, unaware of what waits for him inside.
"Mom, I didn't think you would be here," he exclaims as he sees me in Ana's room.
"Something came up sweetheart so I thought I'd wait for you."
"What?" Christian questions, looking over at his wife.
"Christian honey sit down."
"No, what's wrong," and again he looks over at Ana.
"I need to tell you something but first I you need to calm down."
"NO," Christian snaps causing me to jump.
"Christian please, sit down and shut up," I say firmly.
Christian stares at me weighting his options, he pauses looks at Ana once more, sighs then finally sits beside me.
"Christian, Gail told me something just before she left about Ana."
"WHAT!" he snaps cutting into my sentence.
"Ana's been hiding something from us," I explain quickly.
"What?" he repeats only whispered this time.
"Ana's been in a lot of pain since the beginning, it's been constant I'm afraid."
"Pain," my son murmurs.
"Yes, it seems it finally came out when Gail was here. She told her she didn't want to worry anyone, but I think she was scared too."
"Constant pain," he just repeats.
"Christian I understand it's difficult but you can't let yourself fall apart over this."
"Fall apart. Mom she lied to me, she's been lying for days. I've asked her a million times if she's in any pain and every time she's said she isn't."
"She was trying to protect you."
"PROTECT ME, I can't do this. Damn it I can't do this anymore."
Christian pulls on his hair pulling some out in his anger. He paces the room a few times then without warning bolts to the door.
"Where are you going," I shout out to him.
"AWAY FROM HERE," he snaps then briskly walks away.
I watch him leave with my jaw open, shocked by his outburst. I want to follow him but I also don't want to leave Ana alone.
I call Elliot and ask him to look for Christian, I explain roughly what's happened and where his brother was last seen. If anyone can find him it's his brother, I just hope Christian wants to be found.
Elliot's POV
Kate, Ava and I have just had dinner when my Mom calls. She wants me to go looking for my brother who's apparently just gone AWOL.
Leaving the house I try calling his cell but of course he's not going to make it too easy for me so he doesn't pick up. I drive to the hospital first to see if I can spot his car. It's pretty obvious when I catch a glimpse, because it's the flashiest one in the lot.
Parking beside it I take a peek inside but it's empty, so I decide to take a walk around the grounds. Thirty minutes later of looking for my dumb ass brother I see him sitting on a bench in the park across the street.
He's staring down at the ground and based on his face I know he's been crying. Creeping towards him I slowly take a seat beside him then lightly tap his shoulder.
"Hey, man these grounds are massive. I've been looking for you forever," I exclaim.
Christian fails to respond so I try again. "Will you come back with me, Mom's sure to be having a cow by now."
"I'm not going back," he says softly.
"Not ever," I smirk not believing him.
"No, I can't do this," he replies.
"Do what?"
"This, it's too hard. It's going to be something bad and I can't face it, not again."
"What's going to be bad?"
"Ana, there's something wrong with her."
"Of course there's something wrong with her. She married you," I say trying to lighten the mood.
"I can't talk to you," he snaps and stands to leave.
"Hey wait up, I'm sorry. What's wrong with Ana, Christian."
"I don't know, I don't want to know. It's going to be bad news and I don't think I can take anymore of it."
"Christian, you don't have much of a choice. You're going to find out and whatever it is you're going to be there. I know you and I know how much you love your wife, you would never walk away from her."
"I just did," he mumbles.
"You needed to get your head straight, I get that. But never going back, I could never understand that."
"I'm scared," he admits and his honesty takes me by surprise.
"I'd be scared too, it's a lot to deal with but think about how Ana's feeling."
"Mom said Ana was scared too."
"Then she need you, will you go back?"
Christian nods his head and together we slowly make our way back to the hospital. He doesn't say much on the way back but he seems calmer.
As we pass Ana's room I open the door and he hesitantly walks back inside.
"Oh Christian, are you okay," Mom asks softly.
He nods his head but doesn't linger as he walks towards the bed. I watch him sit down and take Ana's hand between his two.
"I'm sorry," he exclaims. "You should have told me but I understand why you didn't. You were protecting me but that's not your job to do."
Ana seems to be sleeping but Christian certainly seems lighter after his speech. He stares at his wife with a strange look on his face, then reaches over and softly kisses her lips. I smile knowing my brother is here to stay, then bid my mother goodnight as I leave them. I want to get home and kiss my own wife and daughter and tell them how lucky I am that they are both safe and well.