Rick brought Lesley home early the following morning as promised but had the paramedics wait to bring her inside because he wanted to make sure that everything that was set for her surprise was ready and that the downstairs side room was ready with his private surprise that he knew she was gonna love. " Alright she can be brought in now everything is ready and set." Rick called out and everyone was quiet and ready to welcome her home.
" WELCOME HOME LESLEY!!!" every one of their friends with the exception of a few who were still having to be at the hospital but had sent their love, had said as she was brought in from outside… and Lesley being as stunned and surprised as she was was lost for words but felt her eyes start to fill because of the amount of love and support that came from everyone that loved her. " Rick….. How did you…. When…" Lesley couldn't hide how she felt or hide the tears that were streaming down her cheeks as she was trying to find the words to the surprise that she came home to.
" Lesley it wasn't just me, everyone here pitched in to bring you home. Robert and Tiffany, Jessie and Audrey, everyone here to include the kids.. Lesley sometimes you forget just how much you're loved around here…. But no one's love will ever stick out more than mine for you" Rick finished his response and kissed her before going up to check on Riley and later bring him down from his nap and Lesley was settled on the couch with the help from her friends.
A few hours after Lesley was brought home and had gotten settled, Lesley had finally fallen asleep on the couch after everyone had left and Rick had just put Riley down in his crib, Rick had just gone back downstairs to see if Lesley needed or wanted anything when he saw that Lesley was sleep on the couch. " Lesley honey… l'm sorry sweetheart, would you like me to take you the side room so you could get some sleep?" Rick said as he lightly and gently rubbed on her arm.
In response of Rick's question, Lesley slightly nodded and started to doze back to sleep. Luckily It wasn't much with carrying Lesley and her portable ventilator for him that was easy, he only wanted to focus to help her get on to bed so she could get a good night's rest.
Rick made sure the main ventilator was on when switching so everything was fine before setting up the side futon couch so he could be by her side throughout the night. For Rick to have the chance to watch Lesley asleep or to be able to see her with the kids, he truly couldn't describe how it felt when he was able to bring Lesley home again because Lesley wasn't just some friend or colleague he worked with. Lesley was more than that to him. That was another point that Rick couldn't feel that he could describe.
Over the following week of being home, Lesley took it slow with interacting with the kids especially in the mornings before she had therapy because she wanted it to go smooth. While checking on Lesley, Rick made sure that the girls made their bus for school and shortly after he changed Riley's diaper before he went to see if Lesley needed anything.
" The kids are alright…. The girls left for school. They told me to tell you they love you and they'll see you later this afternoon and Riley's okay. He's waiting for me to come get him so he could see his stubborn, but beautiful mother." Rick eased beside Lesley after giving her a kiss and hoped he took care of her fears
" I've always loved how you know what I need or how I feel about something. You have always been able to know before I'd get a chance to talk…"
" I have always made it my job to know Lesley… I look at how life could've turned if I had lost you in the accident with Laura it didn't sit with me. Just a little while ago before bringing you home, I had to see it again and I almost wanted to go crazy because to think if I were to have to be here but without you…. I wouldn't be able to get through that." Rick admitted while helping Lesley sit up more.
" Rick, I'm gonna be okay. I'm in Physical therapy and now I'm in respiratory therapy too and that has been going well so far. I think I've made good progress with it and I have you right by my side… Please don't get afraid that something could change. I'll be okay." Lesley responded just before Rick stepped out to get her something to eat as well as going to get Riley from upstairs
Lesley and Rick spent alittle time together before she had to spend the rest of the morning with the therapy team. Rick went to check on the baby for alittle bit before he wanted to check in about his bypass patient in CICU with Monica who covered for him while he was home to take care of Lesley while she needed him home for awhile.
" Monica l appreciate you looking after my patients while l'm home with Lesley." Rick said while checking in on the phone about his patient and Lesley is with the therapist
" It's no problem Rick. So far everything is stable and it doesn't look like Mrs. Wakem will need to be rushed back into surgery. Which reminds me to ask if it comes to that would you want me to call you right away or have Cunningham just assist me?" Monica asked before she had to head to emergency.
" Call me right away and if it does come to that then we'll figure it out just keep Cunningham on standby incase." Rick replied and got off the phone before going back downstairs to attend with Lesley.
After a few hours of finishing physical and respiratory therapy, Lesley relaxed with Rick while they had the rest of the day to spend together and later after the kids had gotten home, Rick noticed that Lesley was asleep on the couch with Riley by her side. Smiling as usual when he would look and watch Lesley sleep, he picked up the baby and headed upstairs to put him to bed before he was gonna ask Lesley if she wanted to head up to bed for the night. However, just when he thought that things were settled for the night both of the girls were arguing over whatever it was while they were downstairs and knowing that Lesley wasn't always gonna have it easy with therapy and trying to recover made Rick upset enough that he was about to nip and end the whole issue altogether.
" Both of you enough right now. Now your mother is trying to sleep the best she can and it's no walk in the park with both of her therapies back to back. I don't know what this was all about and I don't care to know but what I'm gonna tell you is if you both don't knock it off right now I will ground you for a month especially if you wake up your mother." Rick demanded
" So you'll ground me over something Jesslyn started? How is that fair? All I gave was an opinion on something and she went off on me." Genesis spoke up
" Genesis I don't care who started anything the point is I said enough is enough and it's now almost bedtime and you both have school. So both of you upstairs and get ready for bed and now." Rick ordered and shortly afterwards he finally went to see if there was anything Lesley needed before he helped her to head for bed
" Lesley sweetheart…" Rick started to rub her hand alittle " is there something I can get for you or do you just want to head to get some sleep?" Rick asked while sitting beside near the couch
" Hmm… I ju-just… I'm just so tired." Lesley replied while drifting back to sleep "I know you are, how about I take you up to bed in the morning I'll surprise you with whatever you want" Rick smiled and soon carried Lesley over to the side room so she could sleep for the rest of the night.
" l'll be right back sweetheart okay? I'm gonna go and check on Riley make sure that he's okay. Is there something I can do for you before I go up?" Rick sat down beside Lesley on the side next to her.
" Rick I'm okay tired and alittle sore from therapy but l'm okay… would you stay with me tonight after you check on Riley?" Lesley asked.
" Lesley don't think for a minute that I would skip on the time to be right here by your side right here…" Rick gave Lesley a kiss before going upstairs to check on Riley for the night.
Through the next month and a half, Lesley started to make tremendous progress in her recovery where Mark, Steve and Martinson all were pleased to determine with respiratory care that Lesley was able to permanently come off the ventilator where she was able to fully breathe on her own without assistance to the extent of a ventilator. Monica however wanted to keep her on moderate oxygen at night specifically as a precaution and Rick didn't think twice especially as it wasn't just about someone's health, it was Lesley's life he personally made sure to take care of.
" Rick really I'm fine… tired and hoping to maybe rest alittle later, but I'm okay would you stop worrying about me?" Lesley insisted while moving to relax on the couch
" Lesley if you think it's easy to not worry about you… it's not easy not by any means it would absolutely kill me if something were to happen to you. I don't think I could ever make it or survive without you."
" Rick, I'm not going anywhere. I'm gonna be here for a very long time to come. Besides I wouldn't want to miss out watching you with the kids and seeing you as a parent for the world or anything else." Lesley started to smile at Rick large grin
As if on cue, Riley started to cry at his usual time that Lesley normally would be ready to feed and change him before he would be ready to just chill out with everyone else downstairs while Lesley wasn't scheduled for anything on the weekends and Rick was there incase there was anything that anyone needed. " I'll get him you just relax for alittle while" Rick offered
" Rick l appreciate that but l'm okay to get him you've had to do it for far too long with what has gone on so now it's my turn to let things go back to normal while we can… but l will ask for you to do one thing, if you would make up a bottle for him while l get him changed, l would love you for it." Lesley asked but didn't wait for Rick to answer and had gotten up to hug him while she also gave him a kiss before heading upstairs to take care of Riley.
Lesley headed upstairs for the first time in what looked and felt like forever but to her she pushed herself to do it while Rick attended to get Riley's bottle together so when Lesley came down it would be ready. " Riley it's okay mommy's right here kiddo. You're okay." Lesley repeated a few times while she had picked him up and had changed his diaper before getting ready to take him downstairs.
Rick waited in the livingroom while Lesley was upstairs and the girls were playing in the den. Alittle uptight Rick decided to go upstairs to check and make sure Lesley was okay and to his surprise Riley and Lesley were playing alittle bit or rather Riley was playing with one of his teething rings while Lesley took a couple of moments to catch herself as it was still somewhat difficult to do everything she was always doing before everything that happened just under 4 and a half weeks before. " Lesley, are you sure you're alright? Maybe you better relax and just take an easy." Rick suggested and asked when walking into the nursery.
" l'm alright Rick l just needed a minute but i'm alright. Later though I would like for you to help with his bath when the girls eat their dinner and Jessie and Gail come by, I asked them to come by for me to talk to them about some stuff for when I go back to work next week." Lesley took a seat in the rocking chair hoping for the slight dizziness to go away.
" I thought maybe you'd prefer if I brought his bottle up here so that's what l've done for you so you don't have too much more of anything in the meantime come and get some sleep Les. please?" Rick asked as Lesley had slight trouble during the day.
Rick carried Lesley to bed hoping she would rest while she hadn't been feeling good during that day and later had made a call to set an appointment with Monica to check her medical over before Lelsey was to eventually return to work and get her life back to a normal routine again; something though in Rick bothered him about Lesley because sure recovery time and that wasn't always easy for anyone, but the fact that Lesley had a difficult time before he helped her to lay down it concerned him that she may need to be seen sooner rather than later and by that he meant " Sooner not later" Rick thought to himself and immediately made a few calls before he was gonna make lunch for the girls.
" Steve, thank you for setting this up to have her seen. She's alright for the moment I got her to get some rest but it took alot out of her when she attended to the baby." Rick explained to Steve the concerns he had about Lesley's condition but was hopeful that things were gonna stay in the right direction.
Over the following week, Rick maintained his schedule between Lesley's follow up appointments and her light workload for her first week back as the kids were in summer camp and Riley was home with Alice during the day. Hoping to finally catch a break, Rick decided that he was gonna surprise Lesley for a light lunch while they both had the chance and opportunity.
" Mrs. Morrison I can assure you that we have everything under control here at General Hospital and I have also kept your daughter's cardiologist on call incase of any kind of complications. If you have any questions or you'd like to speak to my husband in regards to your daughter's surgery I would be happy to have him paged." Lesley closed her patient's chart as she spoke to the patient's parent while unaware that Rick was nearby waiting to surprise her
" That won't be necessary, Dr. Webber, I trust your judgment with my Daughter's care."
Lesley took a few moments to finish up her last patient chart for her rounds not aware of Rick watching from a short distance. " I could've sworn I have never seen anyone or anything else more beautiful than when I get to see you finally back on your feet and being able to do again what you do best." Rick said simply with a straight grin on his face after he unintentionally startled Lesley
" Richard Webber don't you ever scare me like that again I thought you were about to have to tell me something was wrong." Lesley pointed a finger in his direction but went into his arms for a hug. " Everything is okay Lesley, in fact being able to see you back on your feet makes me very happy." Rick kissed Lesley before suggesting to get something for lunch.
" I think that's the best suggestion I've heard all day… Do you think maybe we should call and check in on Riley? I mean to see how he's doing." Lesley asked while turning in her charts and looked back towards Rick
" I think that our son is okay and is with Alice and it's gonna be fine that you are here working until it's time that we get to check out for later. Lesley I promised you I will not let anything happen to you or the kids ever again and I meant it." Rick pulled Lesley into a hug " it'll all be okay Les I promise you."
A few hours after getting home, Rick checked on Riley and the girls before seeing if anything else needed to be done.
" Jesslyn hand me Riley's diaper rash cream over there please." Rick asked while attending to Riley for alittle bit.
Rick finished up with changing and attending to Riley before checking on Lesley and later waiting to surprise her with something for Christmas as well as he was hoping to show her what he had planned for Riley's first Christmas. " Girls, have you both finished up in the living-room? It's important for when your mother gets home from the hospital… especially because it's also Riley's first Christmas." Rick asked while getting Riley ready.
" Yeah…. What time is Momma gonna be getting home?" Jesslyn asked shortly after finishing her own outfit.
" Ah she should be getting home around 5. And then she'll soon get ready for the Christmas party at the Hospital." Rick replied while getting ready to take Riley downstairs " We're right behind you dad… It's gonna be so cool to surprise mom this year especially with it being Riley's
first."
" Would one of you go and get his bottle and pacifier so when your mother is home and ready to go she won't have to worry about anything for your brother?" Rick asked
Shortly after Rick and the kids had settled down to wait for Lesley to get home, she was just in the driveway as she saw the lights in the kitchen and living-room go off and she knew right then that Rick had something up his sleeve for her that she would not be expecting when coming home.
" Oh Rick and his sneaky schemes; I hope he isn't teaching the kids anything." Lesley said to herself when getting out of the car. It didn't take long for Lesley to unlock the door to step inside when she somewhat heard the slight snicker from the girls as she had put her coat away for the time being.
" MERRY CHRISTMAS LESLEY; MOMMY" Both the girls and Rick shouted in tandem and Riley was smiling as usual when she would come home.
" Oh Rick you sneaky little snake… I knew you had something up your sleeve the moment I saw these lights go out." Lesley said in the minced of trying to hide her smile
" Merry Christmas Lesley…. To spend this year with you is something I will be forever thankful for..." Rick wasted no time in telling Lesley how he felt.
" Just as you are thankful Rick, I am blessed because you've stuck by me through alot that and we have our kids with us..." Lesley kissed Rick and later hugged him and the kids before they later left for the annual Christmas party at the hospital.
~~~
Throughout the party everyone was enjoying themselves, the kids were having fun, Riley had alittle fun before he was fast asleep in his stroller during and after Steve read the annual traditional Christmas story. Even Lesley was ready to head off to sleep from working during the day then having a good time out with Rick and everyone.
" Les, sweetheart, I think it's time that we get you and the kids home. Riley is asleep and you are just about asleep yourself."
" I think you're right…. It's time that we get the kids home and to bed.." Lesley replied through a yawn herself..
Rick took Riley out to the car as Lesley was saying goodnight to everyone and telling the girls to head out to the car so they could go back to the house.
" Let's go girl's your father is waiting for us and it's almost your bedtime. It's past Riley's bedtime and you know he's on a set schedule."
Rick and Lesley took the kids home so they could be put to bed as Lesley was exhausted but she still had a few things she wanted to finish before she and Rick finally went to bed.
" Lesley sweetheart, why don't you head up to bed and get some sleep."
" because these are for the kids and this was something that you were supposed to put together for Riley to be able to sit in when we go to video record him opening his first Christmas stuff."
Rick scooted over to help her put Riley's christmas chair together so he could finally get her to go up to bed… " Everything just looks so perfect…. Rick, thank you really.." Lesley burrowed her head as she always does when Rick carries her to bed.
" I love you Lesley more than anything…" Rick gave Lesley a kiss as she was dozing off for the night.
