Barbara Knight sat by Lucy's side, watching her sleep. It was still early in the morning, and she didn't want to wake her daughter. The tube was out of her throat, and John had explained some things she hadn't really listened to about Lucy's oxygen level and how it meant she was doing better. All she could think of was that Lucy was awake...or she had been, and she would be again. John entered the room, smiling when he saw Lucy sleeping.
"Still asleep, huh?"
"Yeah...but I like watching her sleep now. As long as she's breathing, you know?"
"I know." He put a hand on her shoulder and she looked up into his warm brown eyes. "Hey sleepyhead, you have a visitor," he said, tapping Lucy's fingers gently.
"Oh John, you should have let her sleep."
"Mom...John...hi."
"Well hi yourself Miss Luce, hope you slept well."
"Oh wonderfully." She said sarcastically, and John shot her a warning look.
Barbara had yet to say anything. She was staring at Lucy and grinning.
"How's the pain, do you need more morphine?"
"Try saying that one ten times fast...just 3 more, please."
"I can only give you...2" He replied, consulting her chart.
"Only 2?"
"Yes, only two. Then you can have more later if you still need it."
"Oh fine, fine. So, guess I missed graduation. They gonna hold me back?"
"You'll have to do another semester, yes. Probably next spring, unless you want to try for the fall."
"Think I'll be ok?"
"Depends on how hard you work in therapy, you know that."
"Yeah yeah yeah."
"You're young, you'll bounce back."
"That's right, I'm not an old man like you."
"Ouch Luce, ouch. That hurt."
"Baby!"
"First I'm an old man, now I'm a baby, make up your mind already."
"Do I have to separate the two of you?" Barbara grinned.
"No mom, we'll be good." Lucy winked at John.
"And I have a shift anyway, I'm just on a break, so goodbye, fair Lucy, I'll see you in a few hours."
"Goodbye sir John of Cook County."
"And here's your morphine, M'lady." He bowed and injected the morphine into her IV, scribbled it on the chart and left.
"You two are cute together."
"Mo-om, he's my teacher. Besides...he's Carter."
"Yeah, sure. Besides, he's not Carter...he's Sir John."
"You'd better feel lucky that I can't get up right now!" Lucy joked, laughing.
"I'm serious, Lucy!"
"Are you trying to make me sorry I woke up? Because it's working."
"Fine, Fine. I'll change the subject. Dating anyone?"
"I'm going back to sleep."
"I was kidding!"
"Mom, really. I don't like Carter...and he doesn't like me. He's just bending over backwards to be nice to me because he can't order me around."
"It's fine if you don't like him, but...he definitely likes you, Lucy."
"Him? No way."
"Way. He's been sleeping in an extra cot, on call all night, just because it's the only way he can get enough time off to come see you when you get out of here."
"You mean when I go home?"
"Are you really coming home, Luce? I thought you loved this city."
"I do...of course I do. And I love the hospital. But...it's just..."
"I know. Maybe we can get you set up to finish the spring semester in San Fransisco, and you could stay with me until then."
"Maybe. I don't know."
"Well, think about it. I can't believe it...I didn't know if we'd ever have to make these decisions."
"Did you really stay here for two months?"
"Yeah, the first two....and Christmas, when I get time off, a week here and there last summer...mostly just the weekends though."
"Bet that made old Jimmy pretty mad."
"My boss didn't mind, Lucy. He's really a nice guy."
"Yeah, I bet."
"Lucy!"
"Mom, I'm kidding. So, when do I get out of this joint?"
"Lucy, I haven't asked yet. Concentrate on getting better. Does your chest hurt?"
"Yeah...where they opened it up. It's not so bad though. I've had patients who've got it worse...I healed while I slept."
"I think I need some coffee. You want anything? Can you have anything?"
"Yeah, just get me a milkshake."
"Try again, missy."
"Mom, I'm not going to spoil my dinner or something!"
"Just eat something real."
"OK, um...the chicken is pretty mild. Unless you want to run to Doc's and get me something."
"Whatever you want."
"Turkey sandwich. Some chips maybe. And a milkshake."
"Lucy..."
"Fine, I'll make Carter get me one later. Orange juice, I guess."
"Alright. I'll be back in a little bit."
"Thanks Mom." She patted her daughter's hand lightly, grinning as she went, both of them knowing that she'd end up buying Lucy a milkshake. She'd buy a million milkshakes if it would make her happy. She'd do anything for her daughter, simply because she could ask.