1 But real life is different
Four hours later, around 4.30 a.m., she wanted to wake her husband to check on him.
"Honey, wake up, darling", she whispered in his ear, but Leo didn't stir. Piper shook him a couple of times, slapped him lightly against his cheeks, but without any success: He was just lying there, breathing somehow irregularly and didn't respond to her tries to wake him up.
"Leo, come on, wake up now. Sleeping time is over, sleepyhead." Piper tried to sound cheerful but it was useless. Her husband didn't wake up and showed no sign of hearing her.
"What can I do now? I must take him to hospital! But how without a phone? I must wake the neighbors!"
Piper rushed out of their apartment and over to the next door. She hammered at it and after some minutes the door was opened and a women around 55 dressed in a bathrobe was standing in front of Piper.
"Mrs. Rutherford, you must help me, please. You must take me to hospital!"
"Young woman, if you are in labor, you'll have to ask Leo to take you there. Um, Leo is still with you, isn't he?"
"Of course, he is. But I'm not in labor, that's not the problem", Piper cried, "Leo's ill! He's just lying in bed, I can't wake him up, he doesn't even stir and I know he's not breathing normally!"
Mrs. Rutherford turned to her husband who was just coming out of the bedroom, also dressed in a bathrobe.
"Anthony, please take our neighbors to hospital. It will be faster than calling the ambulance first!"
Piper was sitting in a chair in front of the room Leo had been taken into. The doctors were still with him and they had said that she should wait outside until they would have finished the examination. She was very afraid. Leo hadn't regained consciousness till half an hour ago - the last time she had seen him and she felt that this wasn't "just a little cold".
She didn't know if she should call her sisters or just wait here until morning. But only five minutes later she dialed her sisters´ number since she realized she couldn't deal with that situation by herself.
After what seemed like an eternity to her, she heard Phoebe's sleepy voice: "Halliwell."
"Phoebe, this is Piper. I'm sorry for calling at this time but Leo's at hospital and I really don't know what to do. He's been unconscious for at least one and a half hours.... Please come here. I don't want to be alone right now."
"Leo's at hospital?" Phoebe's voice was suddenly concerned. "Do you already know what's wrong with him?"
"No, the doctors are still examining him and nobody told me how bad it is so far."
"Don't worry, Piper. Leo's young and strong. He will win this fight, I know. But, of course, Prue and I will come immediately. We'll be at the hospital in half an hour at the latest."
Somehow Piper felt better at the thought of her sisters coming soon and she knew that it would be easier for her to take the truth about Leo's sickness with them at her side. They had always had a very good relationship since their mother had died soon after Phoebe's birth and although their father had left them not much later and they had to grow up at their grandma's, they had had a great childhood with a lot of joy and fun.
Piper knew that she could always count on Prue and Phoebe and that they would help her with everything, but they were "only" sisters. Not her husband whom she loved even more than them.
Suddenly the opposite door was opened and one of the doctors came out of the room. Piper stood up, she was trembling as the man approached her.
"Good morning, lady. My name is Ben Jacobson. You are related to Leo Wyatt, aren't you?" the doctor wanted to reassure himself.
"Yes," she answered, "I am his wife, Piper Wyatt. How is he?"
"Well, Mrs. Wyatt, I'm sorry that I have to tell you that your husband is suffering from pneumonia. It's not sudden, it must have had time to develop, and now it's quite late to treat it efficiently. Of course, we will do our best to help him and to heal him, but I really cannot promise that he will get well again soon... and I can't even tell you that he is certain to survive."
Piper was shocked. Pneumonia. He must have hidden that from her for quite a long time. Why hadn't he said anything? She could have helped him, at least she could have taken him to a doctor. Didn't he trust in her? No, that hadn't been his reason, for sure. ´and I can't even tell you that he is certain to survive...` The doctor couldn't have said something like this some moments ago, could he?
"Dr. Jacobson, you haven't just said that my Leo might die, have you? I think, I misunderstood you...."
"No, Mrs. Wyatt, you haven't misunderstood me. I said there could be the possibility that Mr. Wyatt might die, but we're not expecting the worst, since he is a strong young man who...." the doctor glimpsed at her belly, "...certainly has every will to fight. How far along are you already?"
Piper smiled. "Eight months and one week. Leo and I can hardly expect the baby's birth. Well, can I see him now?"
"Yes, you can. But although he regained consciousness about 15 minutes ago, I want you to be prepared: He is very weak at the moment due to the high fever, which hasn't gone down much till now, his breathing is labored - thus we have given him an oxygen mask to make it easier for him to get enough air, and he will be very tired - so don't try to keep him awake. Sleeping is the best thing for him at the moment. And of course, he's getting all the required medication to improve his condition quite soon."
Piper opened the door to the room Leo was lying in. Seeing him, she came to a dead halt. Although Leo had an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth, his breathing still sounded labored - like the doctor had said. He was looking pale and appeared to be sleeping. An IV was going into his right hand and the heart monitor was beeping - about 60 beats per minute.
Lying within all those machines, he looked small and thin. But still like the angel she had met 5 years ago.
It took a great effort to make the few steps towards his bed and she could hardly stop herself from crying. Leo had always been such a strong man and now this! The thought that he could really die came to her mind for the first time.
She sat down next to him and took his left hand. His skin was clammy and she discovered beads of sweat on his forehead. His fever was still high. With her free hand she brushed a few strands of his blond hair out of his face. It crossed her mind that he would need a haircut when he was out of hospital again.
´... and I can't even tell you that he is certain to survive...`
This sentence just wouldn't get out of her head! Why couldn't she simply forget that?
Suddenly she felt a slight movement of his fingers against her palm. Immediately she looked at his face. Leo was waking up! Piper saw that it was a great effort for him to open his eyes but finally he managed. His eyes were wandering around the room and then focused on his wife. Leo gave her a weak smile and tried to say something, but Piper couldn't understand anything since the oxygen mask still covered his mouth.
"Honey, wait a moment. I´ll help you." Piper stood up and took the mask off his face.
"How are you feeling? You're tired, aren't you?"
Leo nodded slowly, his voice was rough as he answered. "Yeah, I am. But how ... are you and the baby? ... I would never be able ... to forgive myself if something ... happened to you both because of ... me."
"Don't worry, darling, everything's okay. Nothing's wrong. Now, try to sleep again. Don't tire yourself."
He nodded again and closed his eyes. Piper leaned forward and kissed him on his lips. Then she put the oxygen mask over his mouth again and he fell asleep some moments later.
Piper felt somehow relieved. There had been no sign to be worried and she believed he would get well soon. She settled back in her chair, kept holding his hand and was ready to sit there for the next hours till he would wake up again.
Five minutes later she glimpsed at her watch. "Well, Prue and Phoebe must be arriving soon. I wonder why they aren't here already. They might have needed more time than they had thought."
But then her thoughts turned to her peacefully sleeping husband again. She had no doubt that he would be able to come out of hospital soon and that they both would raise their child together. Piper chuckled. It had come to her mind that they still didn't know if it was going to be a boy or a girl. They hadn't even chosen a name yet.
About 10 minutes later she suddenly felt a sharp pain ripping through her.
"No, not now!" she cried. "Leo should be at my side when the baby comes!"
Four hours later, around 4.30 a.m., she wanted to wake her husband to check on him.
"Honey, wake up, darling", she whispered in his ear, but Leo didn't stir. Piper shook him a couple of times, slapped him lightly against his cheeks, but without any success: He was just lying there, breathing somehow irregularly and didn't respond to her tries to wake him up.
"Leo, come on, wake up now. Sleeping time is over, sleepyhead." Piper tried to sound cheerful but it was useless. Her husband didn't wake up and showed no sign of hearing her.
"What can I do now? I must take him to hospital! But how without a phone? I must wake the neighbors!"
Piper rushed out of their apartment and over to the next door. She hammered at it and after some minutes the door was opened and a women around 55 dressed in a bathrobe was standing in front of Piper.
"Mrs. Rutherford, you must help me, please. You must take me to hospital!"
"Young woman, if you are in labor, you'll have to ask Leo to take you there. Um, Leo is still with you, isn't he?"
"Of course, he is. But I'm not in labor, that's not the problem", Piper cried, "Leo's ill! He's just lying in bed, I can't wake him up, he doesn't even stir and I know he's not breathing normally!"
Mrs. Rutherford turned to her husband who was just coming out of the bedroom, also dressed in a bathrobe.
"Anthony, please take our neighbors to hospital. It will be faster than calling the ambulance first!"
Piper was sitting in a chair in front of the room Leo had been taken into. The doctors were still with him and they had said that she should wait outside until they would have finished the examination. She was very afraid. Leo hadn't regained consciousness till half an hour ago - the last time she had seen him and she felt that this wasn't "just a little cold".
She didn't know if she should call her sisters or just wait here until morning. But only five minutes later she dialed her sisters´ number since she realized she couldn't deal with that situation by herself.
After what seemed like an eternity to her, she heard Phoebe's sleepy voice: "Halliwell."
"Phoebe, this is Piper. I'm sorry for calling at this time but Leo's at hospital and I really don't know what to do. He's been unconscious for at least one and a half hours.... Please come here. I don't want to be alone right now."
"Leo's at hospital?" Phoebe's voice was suddenly concerned. "Do you already know what's wrong with him?"
"No, the doctors are still examining him and nobody told me how bad it is so far."
"Don't worry, Piper. Leo's young and strong. He will win this fight, I know. But, of course, Prue and I will come immediately. We'll be at the hospital in half an hour at the latest."
Somehow Piper felt better at the thought of her sisters coming soon and she knew that it would be easier for her to take the truth about Leo's sickness with them at her side. They had always had a very good relationship since their mother had died soon after Phoebe's birth and although their father had left them not much later and they had to grow up at their grandma's, they had had a great childhood with a lot of joy and fun.
Piper knew that she could always count on Prue and Phoebe and that they would help her with everything, but they were "only" sisters. Not her husband whom she loved even more than them.
Suddenly the opposite door was opened and one of the doctors came out of the room. Piper stood up, she was trembling as the man approached her.
"Good morning, lady. My name is Ben Jacobson. You are related to Leo Wyatt, aren't you?" the doctor wanted to reassure himself.
"Yes," she answered, "I am his wife, Piper Wyatt. How is he?"
"Well, Mrs. Wyatt, I'm sorry that I have to tell you that your husband is suffering from pneumonia. It's not sudden, it must have had time to develop, and now it's quite late to treat it efficiently. Of course, we will do our best to help him and to heal him, but I really cannot promise that he will get well again soon... and I can't even tell you that he is certain to survive."
Piper was shocked. Pneumonia. He must have hidden that from her for quite a long time. Why hadn't he said anything? She could have helped him, at least she could have taken him to a doctor. Didn't he trust in her? No, that hadn't been his reason, for sure. ´and I can't even tell you that he is certain to survive...` The doctor couldn't have said something like this some moments ago, could he?
"Dr. Jacobson, you haven't just said that my Leo might die, have you? I think, I misunderstood you...."
"No, Mrs. Wyatt, you haven't misunderstood me. I said there could be the possibility that Mr. Wyatt might die, but we're not expecting the worst, since he is a strong young man who...." the doctor glimpsed at her belly, "...certainly has every will to fight. How far along are you already?"
Piper smiled. "Eight months and one week. Leo and I can hardly expect the baby's birth. Well, can I see him now?"
"Yes, you can. But although he regained consciousness about 15 minutes ago, I want you to be prepared: He is very weak at the moment due to the high fever, which hasn't gone down much till now, his breathing is labored - thus we have given him an oxygen mask to make it easier for him to get enough air, and he will be very tired - so don't try to keep him awake. Sleeping is the best thing for him at the moment. And of course, he's getting all the required medication to improve his condition quite soon."
Piper opened the door to the room Leo was lying in. Seeing him, she came to a dead halt. Although Leo had an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth, his breathing still sounded labored - like the doctor had said. He was looking pale and appeared to be sleeping. An IV was going into his right hand and the heart monitor was beeping - about 60 beats per minute.
Lying within all those machines, he looked small and thin. But still like the angel she had met 5 years ago.
It took a great effort to make the few steps towards his bed and she could hardly stop herself from crying. Leo had always been such a strong man and now this! The thought that he could really die came to her mind for the first time.
She sat down next to him and took his left hand. His skin was clammy and she discovered beads of sweat on his forehead. His fever was still high. With her free hand she brushed a few strands of his blond hair out of his face. It crossed her mind that he would need a haircut when he was out of hospital again.
´... and I can't even tell you that he is certain to survive...`
This sentence just wouldn't get out of her head! Why couldn't she simply forget that?
Suddenly she felt a slight movement of his fingers against her palm. Immediately she looked at his face. Leo was waking up! Piper saw that it was a great effort for him to open his eyes but finally he managed. His eyes were wandering around the room and then focused on his wife. Leo gave her a weak smile and tried to say something, but Piper couldn't understand anything since the oxygen mask still covered his mouth.
"Honey, wait a moment. I´ll help you." Piper stood up and took the mask off his face.
"How are you feeling? You're tired, aren't you?"
Leo nodded slowly, his voice was rough as he answered. "Yeah, I am. But how ... are you and the baby? ... I would never be able ... to forgive myself if something ... happened to you both because of ... me."
"Don't worry, darling, everything's okay. Nothing's wrong. Now, try to sleep again. Don't tire yourself."
He nodded again and closed his eyes. Piper leaned forward and kissed him on his lips. Then she put the oxygen mask over his mouth again and he fell asleep some moments later.
Piper felt somehow relieved. There had been no sign to be worried and she believed he would get well soon. She settled back in her chair, kept holding his hand and was ready to sit there for the next hours till he would wake up again.
Five minutes later she glimpsed at her watch. "Well, Prue and Phoebe must be arriving soon. I wonder why they aren't here already. They might have needed more time than they had thought."
But then her thoughts turned to her peacefully sleeping husband again. She had no doubt that he would be able to come out of hospital soon and that they both would raise their child together. Piper chuckled. It had come to her mind that they still didn't know if it was going to be a boy or a girl. They hadn't even chosen a name yet.
About 10 minutes later she suddenly felt a sharp pain ripping through her.
"No, not now!" she cried. "Leo should be at my side when the baby comes!"
