After Tina was released from the hospital, Big Bob brought her back to the apartment. To collect clothes and a few other essentials for the rest of the family. Big Bob packed for Bob and Gene and instructed Tina to pack for herself and Linda.
Tina sat alone in her room. Her bag opened and half packed. She had packed several days clothes for her mom and the family's toiletries. Packing for herself was much harder. She had no idea just how much to bring. If Louise pulled through, Gene and she would surely be sent home as soon as she stabilized, but if Louise died. The extra clothes would just be a cruel reminder. A reminder that the only reason Louise was in such critical condition, the only reason she might die. Was because of her. If Tina had been paying attention to the road. Instead of obsessing over that stupid football game. She would have never stepped off that curb and she certainly wouldn't have let Gene or Louise make that step. Even if they had it would have been her who shoved her siblings to safety. Instead, Louise was in the hospital and never going to be the same. All because of her. She was going to be sick. She was making her way back from wrenching in the bathroom. When she heard a frantic pounding on the door. Expecting it to be Teddy or Gayle. She reluctantly made her way downstairs. Instead, she found Jimmy Junior standing on the sidewalk, looking completely furious.
"How could you, Tina?" Jimmy demanded.
"How could I what?" Tina asked miserably.
"Miss the game!" Jimmy snapped.
"Jimmy. Gene, Louise, and I were in an accident." Tina explained.
"Yeah, I know and look. This is all that wrong with you!" Jimmy spat, grabbing Tina's injured wrist.
"Jimmy! You're hurting me!" Tina cried.
"Oh boohoo. My dad's new car is totaled, and he still did everything he was supposed to do today! And he has court on Monday!" Jimmy hissed.
"Jimmy, please. You don't understand. Yes, I am OK and yes Gene is OK, but Louise. Jimmy she is hurt really bad. She could die. If she lives, she is going to be blind and paralyzed! She has severe brain damage too!" Tina sobbed.
"So? You aren't paralyzed! You aren't blind! You don't have brain damage! You are just being selfish!" Jimmy bellowed. Again, grabbing Tina by her wrist, but this time he forcibly shoved her.
Tina stumbled backwards, completely shocked by what was happening. Jimmy Junior could be a flake and sometimes he yelled when he didn't get his way, but he had never laid hands on her before. To make matters worse, suddenly Tina was no longer in her home. They were on the street. She was walking along having a good time, when suddenly she was shoved. She pulled herself upright and saw Louise's broken body. Her entire body was shaking, and she was sick again. Jimmy didn't care. He kept screaming and hitting her. Suddenly Tina was yanked away from Jimmy and carefully set several stairs up. Big Bob stood between her and Jimmy looking furious. The older man grabbed Jimmy by the collar and drug him outside, slamming the door behind them.
Bob Belcher Senior could not believe what he had just witnessed. He hadn't thought anything of the knocking on the door. Seymour's Bay was a small town and news of the children's accident had spread fast. He assumed it was just another well-wisher. Until he heard yelling. More specifically a boy. Yelling at his granddaughter. He was already halfway down the stairs. When that little jerk shoved, shoved Tina into the stairs and told her she was being selfish. Selfish for being in the hospital with a panic attack, selfish for being more concerned about her sister than a football game. The older man pulled Tina to safety and then handled the boy.
"What's your deal, old man?" Jimmy spat.
"My deal is that I saw you push my granddaughter. I saw you punch her. I heard you call her selfish. Do you have any idea what she has been through, today?! She was hit by a car! She saw her sister's mangled body in the street! For a while she, her brother, and sister were in three different hospitals! She told you that if Louise lives, she is never going to be the same! That's a lot for a fourteen-year-old to go through!" Big Bob yelled.
"Oh! Like she's the only one with problems! My dad might be going to prison! Because these communists don't want us Americans to speak their minds! Then today on the way back from his lawyer he got into a car accident! His new car is totaled!" Jimmy snapped.
"Well, I am sorry about your dad, but that is no excuse to treat a lady or anyone for that matter the way you just treated my granddaughter. In fact, when my son was your age. If I had heard him talk to a lady, the way you talked to Tina. If I saw him lay his hands on her! I would have beat his ass so hard he still would have trouble sitting down and then I would have turned him over to the authorities. The only reason I haven't had you arrested is because I don't want to stress Tina anymore. That being said. If I ever! Ever see you around this house again. I will call the cops immediately!" Big Bob barked.
"Whatever old man! I don't need Tina! She won't even put out. Whatever that means!" Jimmy cried before taking off down the street.
Tina sat on the steps still in shock. She could not believe what she had just heard. Jimmy didn't care about her at all. He had told her grandfather they were broken up. She didn't want to stay with him after tonight anyway, but she couldn't believe her relationship was over. She was probably going to lose her baby sister and now her boyfriend had dumped her too. It was all too much. She sat on the steps sobbing. Big Bob entered her room and took a seat beside her.
"Are you OK? Did he hurt you?" Big Bob asked.
"He didn't hurt me, but I am not OK." Tina admitted.
"Yeah, that goes without saying." Big Bob replied.
"It's just not fair! I might lose my little sister. Even if she lives, she will never be the same! Now I lost my boyfriend too! It's just not fair!" Tina cried.
"Look there is nothing I can say about Louise, but that little punk didn't deserve you. I made a lot of mistakes raising your father. Especially after your grandmother died. The one thing I did right was make sure he knew how to treat a lady, and when he was around your age and told me he liked boys too. I told him the same went for men. You do not hit. You do not kick anybody when they are down." Big Bob explained.
"What do I do now?" Tina asked.
"Go upstairs, get cleaned up, and then finish packing. Louise needs you." Big Bob replied.
Big Bob watched Tina walk upstairs. He hoped he had handled everything well. Dealing with emotions was never his strong suit. Even before his Tina died. He still couldn't do it. She had always been the one to comfort Bobby when he was upset. Once he was sure Tina was OK. He made his own way back upstairs to finish packing. He heard a phone ringing and for a moment dreaded the worst. It wasn't his phone. It was the emergency phone. Still Bobby could be calling Tina to break the news. He reached for the phone and checked the screen. It was somebody named Zeke who was apparently a friend of Tina's.
"Hello?" Big Bob greeted.
"Hello? Is Tina there? Is she OK? Is she in still in the hospital?" Zeke asked.
"This is Tina's grandfather. She is out of the hospital. She is getting cleaned up and then we are going to drive down to Philadelphia to be with Louise." Big Bob explained.
"Is there anything I can do? My family doesn't have much money. So, I could only put fifty cents in the donation box." Zeke explained.
"Young man every little bit helps. As of right now I can't think of anything. We are going to Philadelphia. We will be gone at least until Louise stabilizes or until she… I mean if she you know." Big Bob explained.
"Yeah. I could check their mail and keep an eye on the house." Zeke offered.
"Their neighbor is doing that, but when Tina gets home. She is going to need a distraction big time. Maybe you could take her out somewhere. The beach is free. Even if you just came over and talked with her." Big Bob explained.
"That sounds nice. Oh, could I get you guys on the prayer list at my church? It can be anonymous." Zeke offered.
"I don't believe in God, and I don't know what my son believes, but you do whatever makes you feel comfortable. This family needs all the support they can get." Big Bob replied.
Teddy drove Linda and Gene to Philly. With the exception of a brief period where she fell asleep, Linda wailed the entire drive. She could not believe her baby. Her littlest baby was in critical condition. That her older two children had been hurt as well. Tina and Gene were OK physically but were completely destroyed mentally. Tina with her panic attack and Gene being practically catatonic. How could somebody do something so horrible? How could somebody plow through three innocent children and not even stop? Not ever care.
Gene rested his head on the window. Normally Bob would be telling him not to do that, because it was dangerous. Apparently, it could give him brain damage. Even Bob didn't know if that was true. It was just something his mom said. Louise would always laugh and say she wasn't going to change his adult diapers if he broke his brain. For a moment Gene almost smiled. Until he remembered that Louise actually had brain damage. That if she lived, he may actually have to change her diapers. He yanked his head away from the window and leaned against the headrest. He was crying again. He was already sick of crying.
Calvin Fishodor sat alone in his living room. The eleven o'clock news played in the background. He was only half paying attention nursing a bourbon and thinking about his weekend plans with Felix. Shopping, booze, and women of the night. Maybe a morning run to the bank to look at all their money. It truly was a wonderful life. His attention was suddenly drawn to the news when one of his buildings popped up on the screen. Strange nothing had burned down, no sinkholes, no bodies found. Yet Bob's place now flicked on his screen.
"Tragedy struck a local family this evening. When Tina, Gene, and Louise Belcher children of local restaurants Bob Belcher and his wife Linda. Were injured in a hit and run this afternoon on Thaddeus Fishodor drive. As of this newscast Tina and Gene have both been released from local hospitals, but youngest daughter Louise remains hospitalized. She was transferred to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia late this evening with life threatening injuries. We will have more on this story as it develops. In the meantime, a GoFundMe has been set up for the family and several local businesses will be collecting donations as well." Olsen Brenner spoke.
The glass fell from Calvin's hand. Surely this had to be some mistake. Not the youngest Belcher child. Not the vibrant and caring little girl who had saved his life and his livelihood just a couple of months ago. There was a stinging in Calvin's good eye. He reached his hand to his face. Tears. He was crying. He fell back into the chair his body shaking. The Belcher's certainly did not deserve this.
Sometime later morning had broken for the rest of the East Coast, but for the Belcher family. Whom had now all gathered around in the surgical waiting room of CHOP. For them it was still Friday afternoon. Only Tina and Gene had changed and only because their old clothes were covered with blood and vomit. Bob, Linda, Big Bob, and Teddy all remained in the same clothes they had worn the day before. Big Bob, Linda, Teddy, Tina, and Gene had all fallen into fitful sleeps at some point, but Bob could not even think about sleep. His baby had been in surgery for over twelve hours. On a cold table still thinking that he hated her. He didn't hate Louise, but he did hate himself. The door opened and a doctor approached them. Bob reached over and shook Linda awake. Linda bolted awake, confused for a moment but quickly remembering what happened. Linda woke Big Bob, who woke Teddy, who woke Tina, who woke Gene.
"Um it is family only." The doctor said eyeing Teddy.
"Yes, and this is my other son." Big Bob hissed patting Teddy on the back.
"Oh yeah!" Teddy cried.
"Very well but do you really want the children to hear this?" The doctor asked.
"They are going to hear it eventually!" Linda snapped.
"True but I still have to ask." The doctor sighed.
The Belcher's followed the doctor down a long hallway to a small office. Bob and Linda sat in the two chairs. Gene sat on Linda's lap; while Teddy, Big Bob, and Tina circled behind them. A box of tissues was placed on the desk, where they could be easily grabbed. A shiver went down Bob's spine. Suddenly he was in another office. Basically, the same tissues, similar desk. He felt his chest tightening and he held desperately to the bottom of the chair. Big Bob placed his hand on his son's shoulder and whispered for him to take long deep breaths.
"How is she?" Tina asked the first brave enough to speak.
"Louise is alive, and we were able to save her left arm. That is the good news. The bad news is the internal damage was far more severe than we anticipated. We had to remove part of her liver and her remaining kidney has begun to fail. She went into cardiac arrest as doctors were stitching her up. They were able to revive her, but she has now suffered a Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy. A brain injury that is caused by lack of oxygen or blood flow. This is on top of the injury she suffered when she hit her head. We will have to run some more tests, but more than likely the only thing keeping her alive is the machines. I am sorry." Dr. Moore explained.
"No" Teddy whispered.
"Louise" Gene gasped.
"My baby!" Linda cried.
"I'm sorry" Tina whispered.
"Bobby, Linda, Tina, Gene, Teddy" Big Bob started.
"NO! No! You have to save her! Louise can't die! She can't die thinking I hate her!" Bob cried lunging at the doctor.
'Bobby!" Big Bob cried grabbing his son.
"Aghhhh! Aggghhhh! NO! NO! NO! NO!" Bob screamed kicking and punching the air.
"Come on Bobby. I need you to breathe." Big Bob whispered.
Zeke walked through the backdoor of his uncle's body shop. The small shop on the edge of town is where he would now spend his afternoons and weekends. After hearing just how high the Belcher's medical bills were expected to be. Just Tina and Gene's mild treatments had racked up thousands of dollars. If Louise lived her care could cost over a million dollars. Of course, Zeke knew he could never make that much, but if he came here every day. He could give his paychecks to the Belchers. It would be better than nothing. He would mostly be doing secretarial work. Answering phones and whatnot. He would also be showing tow trucks and customers where to park cars. He had his store phone in his pocket and decided to explore the car yard. He knew it was sick, especially after what happened to the Belchers, but he had always been fascinated by wrecked cars. He came to a stop in front of a familiar car. It was Mr. Pesto's new Mercedes and Jimmy was right it was totaled. Jimmy Junior had said his dad had pinned a dog against a wall. Apparently, Mr. Pesto was quite shaken by the event. Because he locked the door and stared out the window all night, jumping at every sound. Zeke got down on his knees and took a closer look. His heart dropped to his stomach. He could not believe what he was seeing. A tiny foot still sitting perfectly in a shoe. God, Zeke would recognize that shoe anywhere. Until yesterday it had been attached to a leg and always running causing mischief. Now it was. Now it was. He couldn't help but let out a blood curdling scream. His uncle and the other mechanic came running.
"What's wrong, Zeke?" Uncle Daryl asked.
"Uncle Daryl, which is the foot my friend Louise lost in the accident, and this is my other friend Jimmy Pesto Junior's dad's car. Uncle Daryl. Mr. Pesto is the one who hit Louise and left her to die." Zeke sobbed.
"Mark call 911" Daryl hissed.
Bob sat alone in the ICU waiting room. This could not be happening. His baby was not dying. Louise was not dying. He had lost count of how many times he had cried in the past twenty-four hours. The rest of the family had shuffled in and out of Louise's room throughout the day. Gayle had come and Gloria and Al were enroute. Bob still could not face seeing Louise on what would be her deathbed. He didn't want to lose his chance to say goodbye, but maybe that would be better. She was going to die thinking he hated her anyway. Big Bob stood in front of him with a cup of soup.
"You haven't eaten in over twenty-four hours son." Big Bob insisted.
"What's the point?" Bob sighed.
"You need to keep your strength." Big Bob replied.
"For what?" Bob demanded.
"Son, you need to see Louise. If you don't it will make losing her even worse." Big Bob insisted.
"There's no point. She isn't in there and even if she were. She hates me and I don't blame her." Bob sighed.
"Why on Earth would she think that you hate her?" Big Bob questioned.
"This week is always hard for me. The week of mom's birthday. This year it's been especially hard. Yesterday Louise and I were fighting all day. It came to a boil when I wouldn't let her meet her friend Rudy at the park. Then I made Tina and Gene go with her on an errand. I didn't trust her. Dad the last thing I said to her was that she was a spoiled baby and that I wish I had worn a condom. I told her I wished she were never born and now she is dying." Bob cried.
"Bobby" Big Bob whispered.
"God, I fucked up so bad!" Bob cried.
"The last thing to go is hearing." Big Bob said.
"What?" Bob asked.
"When a person is dying. The last thing they lose in their hearing. Even though Louise seems like she is already gone. She can still hear you. She can hear you and even though she knows you love her. She needs you to apologize. You need it too, son." Big Bob explained.
"How do you know?" Bob sniffed.
"Your mother and I were fighting when she died." Big Bob admitted.
"You were?" Bob gasped.
"Yeah, it was when you were playing Little League. I guess the other guys on the team were allowed to walk to practice alone. You wanted to start walking alone too, but your mother and I had our doubts. Eventually your mom decided you were ready, but I still wasn't sure. We had a huge blow up about it in the diner. She told me she was going to get you and take you to practice. In reality she called the school from a payphone and said you could walk alone. Then she went to get stuff to make burgers for dinner. When I got the call. I thought I had lost you too. Then the coach called because it was raining, and nobody came for you. As angry as I was that she had gone behind my back. I am so glad she did. It was already raining when the accident happened. It was raining before practice even started. If she had listened to me. I would have lost you too." Big Bob explained.
"Oh dad" Bob gasped.
"Gene and I weren't hit by the car." Tina admitted.
"What?" Bob gasped.
"Gene and I didn't get hit. Louise pushed us out of the way. We were too busy getting ready for the game and didn't notice the car. Louise did and now she is going to die. It is all my fault." Tina sobbed.
Bob felt his chest tightening again. The room was spinning. He couldn't breathe and everything felt hot. He gripped his chest and collapsed against the wall. He knew he was kicking and punching, but he could not make his body stop. He was shaking and hot tears were falling down his cheeks. Tina and Gene were only alive because Louise had sacrificed herself. Part of him wished it had been Tina and Gene instead. As cruel as that sounded.
"Oh Louise! Louise! I am so sorry! Louise!" Bob sobbed.