[Quick Note: Yes, Lucas was at the party. He is, after all, Chloe's half-brother.]
Chapter Forty-Five
(A little bit later.)
The small group in the waiting room had been joined a short time later by Jennifer, Hope, Shawn, and Mimi. Nobody had said a word to Brady at first, as he was still in the throes of his breakdown. His tears finally dried up, and he retained an eerie sense of stillness and calm as the group waited in silence for any word on Chloe and the baby.
Everyone jumped slightly when the silence was broken by the ringing of Jennifer's cellphone. She quickly grabbed it out of her purse and quietly answered whoever was on the other end.
"Hi... Yes. No, nothing yet... Good... Okay... Yeah, we'll see you soon." Jennifer sighed and turned the phone off, slipping it back into her purse.
Brady cleared his throat and uttered the first words he had spoken since before he had started to cry. "Who was it?"
"It was... It was Lucas. He had to drop Will off at Sami's, but he's on his way over."
"Good... Chloe needs her family right now. All of her family."
Brady ran his hands through his hair and sighed in frustration. Now he understood exactly what Chloe and his family had been through just eight months ago. Only now the stakes were doubled. Not only did he have to worry about the woman he loved, but he had to worry about the future of his child. A child that all of their hopes and their dreams were built on. A child that was supposed to be the perfect symbol of their love for each other.
He searched the faces around him, none of them could find the words to comfort them. Nobody could even begin to build a sentence that would make the pain and fear vanish. They were well intentioned, all of them, and just as afraid as he was. But, they all helpless to fix whatever was wrong with his wife and child.
The doors that Chloe had been taken through earlier flew open, and Craig came bustling towards them. He immediately hugged Nancy, and kissed her on the forehead as they all waited for him to say something. He sat down, still holding tightly to his wife, as Brady stared at him anxiously.
He took a deep breath in before breaking the news to them. "She has... a placenta abruption."
Brady stared at him in confusion. "And what exactly is a placenta abruption?"
"The placenta is prematurely detaching itself from the uterus. That's where all the bleeding is coming from."
"And how bad is that?"
Craig sighed and looked towards the floor. "It's bad. Both her and the baby are losing a lot of blood. She's still unconscious, and the baby's heart rate is very low. We're going to have to deliver the baby by C-Section as soon as possible."
Brady shook his head and frowned. "But... It's too early. She's not due for another five weeks."
"I know, Brady. But, it's close enough. The baby should be at a good enough weight for it to come out. It's the only choice we have if we want to save them both."
"If we want to save them both? Craig... This is a lot more serious than you're letting on, isn't it?"
Craig nodded slightly and looked Brady in the eyes. "It can be, but that doesn't mean it will be in this case. There is a chance that we could lose them both. But, I'm not going to let that happen. I swear to you I will do everything I can to save them both."
Jennifer looked at him sadly, and interjected. "Dr. Wesley... What can we do? There has to be something that we can do."
"Donate blood. We've already given her one transfusion, but she'll need a few more before she's out of the woods. You're Chloe's sister, you should be a match."
"Of course, I'll do anything I can. And, Lucas is on his way over. He can give too."
Craig stood from his chair and smiled at Jennifer in appreciation. "Great, we need all we can. Just in case. And, the rest of you... please, just pray. And, I'll be back out as soon as I can."
Craig kissed his wife and went back through the doors to the emergency room. Brady turned his head away from the sad eyes of the friends and family surrounding him. All of them were so deeply affected by what was happening, and Brady wanted to be strong for them, he wanted to take care of them like he always took care of the people he loved. But, he just couldn't do it. He couldn't find the words or the strength to be the hero anymore.
He stood from his chair and everyone looked up at him in surprise. "I... I need to take a walk."
Brady didn't wait for a response, he just took off down the hallway, leaving the others in confusion. He walked down the long corridors of the hospital, his hands thrust deeply into his pockets. This wasn't like him at all, and he knew it. Brady had always been the strong one, the rock to lean on for the people he loved, and he felt a sudden pang of guilt for walking away from them right now. Especially when he was needed so badly, and not just by his wife and child, but by the other people in that waiting room counting on each other for strength.
But, what else could he do?, he thought to himself. He was the happiest he had ever been, happier than he even thought was possible and in one fell swoop, it was all being taken away from him. Brady stopped walking, and looked towards the floor. Her face flashed before his eyes. The way her lips would curl up into a smile whenever he walked into the room, the sound of her laughter that was more beautiful than any song he had ever heard, and most of all her eyes. When Brady looked into her deep blue eyes, he saw his future. And, since the day they had met she had way of using them to stare straight through whatever mask he was wearing and right into his soul.
Brady looked up and towards the door in front of him. He didn't even know how he got here, but somehow it must have meant something. The sign on the door read just one word in white block letters, "CHAPEL". He sighed softly and pushed his way inside. The room was dim and Brady moved to sit on the front pew. He stared up at the crucifix hanging on the wall and then looked downward again, resting his head in his hands.
He didn't think it possible, he didn't know he had any tears left, but somehow a few began to slowly fall from his eyes again. So many moments, memories of Chloe, crossed his mind as he sat there. But most of all, he thought of the way she had stood by him nearly eight months ago.
She had been so strong. Chloe had never given up or given in, trusting in faith, hope and love to bring him back from the dead. And more than anything, she had believed. Chloe believed that the power of their love had saved his life, and so had Brady. He had come back because of her, she had been his anchor on a stormy sea, holding him to the earth and never letting him float away.
Brady ran his hands through his hair and wiped the tears away with his fingers. His words were quiet, and really, they didn't even need to be said out loud. He knew that the heavens above could hear his anguish loud and clear, even without his muttered prayers and tears.
"Dear God... I guess I've never been a religious man, or spiritual. Not like other people. But, that doesn't mean I don't think you're there. I think you are. And, I don't mean to only speak to you when I need something. But, I have to ask you to do this one favor for me. Please do not let my wife and child suffer any longer. Please let me keep them, I can't lose them, not like this."
Brady took a deep breath in, trying to calm himself and prevent another breakdown. "Believe me, I understand why you might want Chloe up there in heaven. Because, if ever a person was an angel that walked the earth, it has to be her. She has been my heart, my soul, my protector and the light of my life. Chloe is my angel, but I am not ready to let go of her. I need her, more than any words could ever say. And, I want, more than anything, for us to raise our child together. Please don't take them away from me. Please, God..."
Brady shut his eyes, blocking out the lights around him. He remembered his mother, who in some ways had been a lot like Chloe. She had been beautiful, vibrant, funny, intelligent, strong and a little bit quirky. And, she had left him before he ever got a chance to know her. But, her presence and her love had remained in his heart throughout his life. His mother had always believed in angels, and Brady knew that if she was right, than surely Isabella had been the angelic hand that guided him to Chloe.
"Mother... Wherever you are, I need you. I need you to watch over my family. Take care of them, keep them safe from harm."
The door to the chapel creaked open slowly, and Brady's eyes snapped open, his head turning to greet whoever was behind the door. His father stepped inside slowly and walked over, sitting in the seat next to Brady.
"I thought I'd find you in here, son."
"That's interesting, I was surprised to find myself here."
John nodded in understanding and sighed. "You probably ended up here, not even knowing how you got here in the first place. Am I right?"
Brady turned to look his father in the eyes, nodding slightly. "Exactly. I walked, and just kept walking, and when I looked up, I was in front of the chapel. It just felt like it was the right place to be."
"Brady, it's so tough to be a parent when life is like this. I can't fix everything and make it go away like I did when you and Belle were kids. I can't promise you that everything is going to be alright, and make you believe it."
"I know, dad. Nobody can promise that. Things aren't as simple as they were when I was eight. But, can I ask you something?"
John raised an eyebrow curiously. "Of course, you can ask me anything."
Brady breathed in deeply before speaking again. "When mom got sick... How did you deal with it? Knowing that she wasn't going to be able to survive the cancer, how did you go on? How did you stay so strong?"
"Love, Brady. Plain and simple. When we found out that the cancer was going to be fatal, and there was nothing we could do about it... It wasn't easy. Knowing that you only have a short time left with the person you love, is terrifying. But, your mother was an amazing woman, and she was strong and happy right up until the end. And, I... I accepted it, but part of me still wished for a miracle all the way up until she took her final breath."
John paused thoughtfully and sighed. "It hurt so much to lose Isabella. And, even now, all of these years later, there's a tiny piece of me that's missing and always will be. But, I had to be strong, and I had to think about other people besides myself. The ones who needed me and loved me. The people I loved. And, that's what kept me from losing my mind. I kept myself together out of love for you, for my friends, for all of the people I care about. Your mother wouldn't have wanted me to fall apart, so I didn't. And, Chloe wouldn't want you to fall apart either."
Brady nodded and managed a weak smile. "You're right. I... can't let Chloe down. She's never let me down in the past, and I can't give up. I can't feel this way anymore."
"You have the right to feel whatever is in your heart, son. But, you can't let it destroy you. Not when Chloe and the baby need you to believe in them."
Brady nodded at his father's words, but did not reply. He was right. Chloe had believed in him even when it didn't seem likely that he would ever wake up. And, now it was his turn to repay the debt that he owed her. He owed her his whole life, and he owed it to her to have faith that she would hold on and come back to him.
He stood from the pew and John stood with him. It was simple as a promise that they had once made to each other. He would never walk away from her, and she would never walk away from him. And, giving up and losing faith would essentially be what he promised he would never do.
John motioned towards the door and Brady nodded. They walked out together, and Brady stole one last glance at the chapel before closing the door and stepping out into the hallway. He had made her a promise, and as many mistakes he had made in his life, he would never break a promise to Chloe.
***
(An hour later.)
Brady had rejoined the others in the waiting room directly after leaving the chapel with his father. Jennifer, Lucas and Hope had all donated blood, thankfully being the same blood type as Chloe, a type that was apparently in short supply at University Hospital.
He had spent an hour sitting between Belle and Nancy. His little sister passed her own strength and love on to him, as Brady comforted Nancy in Craig's absence. It was exactly the way Chloe would have wanted it to be.
Brady stood to stretch his legs and get a cup of coffee. He passed by the doors to the emergency room, wondering what exactly could be going on behind them.
He had only taken a few steps past them when the doors opened and Craig stepped out. Craig tapped him on the shoulder and Brady turned to face him. Brady tried to read the emotion on his father-in-law's face as he stood there quietly, trying to form sentences.
Brady raised his eyebrows in expectation of what was to come. "Well, Craig... How are they?"
(TO BE CONTINUED!)
***
Chapter Forty-Five
(A little bit later.)
The small group in the waiting room had been joined a short time later by Jennifer, Hope, Shawn, and Mimi. Nobody had said a word to Brady at first, as he was still in the throes of his breakdown. His tears finally dried up, and he retained an eerie sense of stillness and calm as the group waited in silence for any word on Chloe and the baby.
Everyone jumped slightly when the silence was broken by the ringing of Jennifer's cellphone. She quickly grabbed it out of her purse and quietly answered whoever was on the other end.
"Hi... Yes. No, nothing yet... Good... Okay... Yeah, we'll see you soon." Jennifer sighed and turned the phone off, slipping it back into her purse.
Brady cleared his throat and uttered the first words he had spoken since before he had started to cry. "Who was it?"
"It was... It was Lucas. He had to drop Will off at Sami's, but he's on his way over."
"Good... Chloe needs her family right now. All of her family."
Brady ran his hands through his hair and sighed in frustration. Now he understood exactly what Chloe and his family had been through just eight months ago. Only now the stakes were doubled. Not only did he have to worry about the woman he loved, but he had to worry about the future of his child. A child that all of their hopes and their dreams were built on. A child that was supposed to be the perfect symbol of their love for each other.
He searched the faces around him, none of them could find the words to comfort them. Nobody could even begin to build a sentence that would make the pain and fear vanish. They were well intentioned, all of them, and just as afraid as he was. But, they all helpless to fix whatever was wrong with his wife and child.
The doors that Chloe had been taken through earlier flew open, and Craig came bustling towards them. He immediately hugged Nancy, and kissed her on the forehead as they all waited for him to say something. He sat down, still holding tightly to his wife, as Brady stared at him anxiously.
He took a deep breath in before breaking the news to them. "She has... a placenta abruption."
Brady stared at him in confusion. "And what exactly is a placenta abruption?"
"The placenta is prematurely detaching itself from the uterus. That's where all the bleeding is coming from."
"And how bad is that?"
Craig sighed and looked towards the floor. "It's bad. Both her and the baby are losing a lot of blood. She's still unconscious, and the baby's heart rate is very low. We're going to have to deliver the baby by C-Section as soon as possible."
Brady shook his head and frowned. "But... It's too early. She's not due for another five weeks."
"I know, Brady. But, it's close enough. The baby should be at a good enough weight for it to come out. It's the only choice we have if we want to save them both."
"If we want to save them both? Craig... This is a lot more serious than you're letting on, isn't it?"
Craig nodded slightly and looked Brady in the eyes. "It can be, but that doesn't mean it will be in this case. There is a chance that we could lose them both. But, I'm not going to let that happen. I swear to you I will do everything I can to save them both."
Jennifer looked at him sadly, and interjected. "Dr. Wesley... What can we do? There has to be something that we can do."
"Donate blood. We've already given her one transfusion, but she'll need a few more before she's out of the woods. You're Chloe's sister, you should be a match."
"Of course, I'll do anything I can. And, Lucas is on his way over. He can give too."
Craig stood from his chair and smiled at Jennifer in appreciation. "Great, we need all we can. Just in case. And, the rest of you... please, just pray. And, I'll be back out as soon as I can."
Craig kissed his wife and went back through the doors to the emergency room. Brady turned his head away from the sad eyes of the friends and family surrounding him. All of them were so deeply affected by what was happening, and Brady wanted to be strong for them, he wanted to take care of them like he always took care of the people he loved. But, he just couldn't do it. He couldn't find the words or the strength to be the hero anymore.
He stood from his chair and everyone looked up at him in surprise. "I... I need to take a walk."
Brady didn't wait for a response, he just took off down the hallway, leaving the others in confusion. He walked down the long corridors of the hospital, his hands thrust deeply into his pockets. This wasn't like him at all, and he knew it. Brady had always been the strong one, the rock to lean on for the people he loved, and he felt a sudden pang of guilt for walking away from them right now. Especially when he was needed so badly, and not just by his wife and child, but by the other people in that waiting room counting on each other for strength.
But, what else could he do?, he thought to himself. He was the happiest he had ever been, happier than he even thought was possible and in one fell swoop, it was all being taken away from him. Brady stopped walking, and looked towards the floor. Her face flashed before his eyes. The way her lips would curl up into a smile whenever he walked into the room, the sound of her laughter that was more beautiful than any song he had ever heard, and most of all her eyes. When Brady looked into her deep blue eyes, he saw his future. And, since the day they had met she had way of using them to stare straight through whatever mask he was wearing and right into his soul.
Brady looked up and towards the door in front of him. He didn't even know how he got here, but somehow it must have meant something. The sign on the door read just one word in white block letters, "CHAPEL". He sighed softly and pushed his way inside. The room was dim and Brady moved to sit on the front pew. He stared up at the crucifix hanging on the wall and then looked downward again, resting his head in his hands.
He didn't think it possible, he didn't know he had any tears left, but somehow a few began to slowly fall from his eyes again. So many moments, memories of Chloe, crossed his mind as he sat there. But most of all, he thought of the way she had stood by him nearly eight months ago.
She had been so strong. Chloe had never given up or given in, trusting in faith, hope and love to bring him back from the dead. And more than anything, she had believed. Chloe believed that the power of their love had saved his life, and so had Brady. He had come back because of her, she had been his anchor on a stormy sea, holding him to the earth and never letting him float away.
Brady ran his hands through his hair and wiped the tears away with his fingers. His words were quiet, and really, they didn't even need to be said out loud. He knew that the heavens above could hear his anguish loud and clear, even without his muttered prayers and tears.
"Dear God... I guess I've never been a religious man, or spiritual. Not like other people. But, that doesn't mean I don't think you're there. I think you are. And, I don't mean to only speak to you when I need something. But, I have to ask you to do this one favor for me. Please do not let my wife and child suffer any longer. Please let me keep them, I can't lose them, not like this."
Brady took a deep breath in, trying to calm himself and prevent another breakdown. "Believe me, I understand why you might want Chloe up there in heaven. Because, if ever a person was an angel that walked the earth, it has to be her. She has been my heart, my soul, my protector and the light of my life. Chloe is my angel, but I am not ready to let go of her. I need her, more than any words could ever say. And, I want, more than anything, for us to raise our child together. Please don't take them away from me. Please, God..."
Brady shut his eyes, blocking out the lights around him. He remembered his mother, who in some ways had been a lot like Chloe. She had been beautiful, vibrant, funny, intelligent, strong and a little bit quirky. And, she had left him before he ever got a chance to know her. But, her presence and her love had remained in his heart throughout his life. His mother had always believed in angels, and Brady knew that if she was right, than surely Isabella had been the angelic hand that guided him to Chloe.
"Mother... Wherever you are, I need you. I need you to watch over my family. Take care of them, keep them safe from harm."
The door to the chapel creaked open slowly, and Brady's eyes snapped open, his head turning to greet whoever was behind the door. His father stepped inside slowly and walked over, sitting in the seat next to Brady.
"I thought I'd find you in here, son."
"That's interesting, I was surprised to find myself here."
John nodded in understanding and sighed. "You probably ended up here, not even knowing how you got here in the first place. Am I right?"
Brady turned to look his father in the eyes, nodding slightly. "Exactly. I walked, and just kept walking, and when I looked up, I was in front of the chapel. It just felt like it was the right place to be."
"Brady, it's so tough to be a parent when life is like this. I can't fix everything and make it go away like I did when you and Belle were kids. I can't promise you that everything is going to be alright, and make you believe it."
"I know, dad. Nobody can promise that. Things aren't as simple as they were when I was eight. But, can I ask you something?"
John raised an eyebrow curiously. "Of course, you can ask me anything."
Brady breathed in deeply before speaking again. "When mom got sick... How did you deal with it? Knowing that she wasn't going to be able to survive the cancer, how did you go on? How did you stay so strong?"
"Love, Brady. Plain and simple. When we found out that the cancer was going to be fatal, and there was nothing we could do about it... It wasn't easy. Knowing that you only have a short time left with the person you love, is terrifying. But, your mother was an amazing woman, and she was strong and happy right up until the end. And, I... I accepted it, but part of me still wished for a miracle all the way up until she took her final breath."
John paused thoughtfully and sighed. "It hurt so much to lose Isabella. And, even now, all of these years later, there's a tiny piece of me that's missing and always will be. But, I had to be strong, and I had to think about other people besides myself. The ones who needed me and loved me. The people I loved. And, that's what kept me from losing my mind. I kept myself together out of love for you, for my friends, for all of the people I care about. Your mother wouldn't have wanted me to fall apart, so I didn't. And, Chloe wouldn't want you to fall apart either."
Brady nodded and managed a weak smile. "You're right. I... can't let Chloe down. She's never let me down in the past, and I can't give up. I can't feel this way anymore."
"You have the right to feel whatever is in your heart, son. But, you can't let it destroy you. Not when Chloe and the baby need you to believe in them."
Brady nodded at his father's words, but did not reply. He was right. Chloe had believed in him even when it didn't seem likely that he would ever wake up. And, now it was his turn to repay the debt that he owed her. He owed her his whole life, and he owed it to her to have faith that she would hold on and come back to him.
He stood from the pew and John stood with him. It was simple as a promise that they had once made to each other. He would never walk away from her, and she would never walk away from him. And, giving up and losing faith would essentially be what he promised he would never do.
John motioned towards the door and Brady nodded. They walked out together, and Brady stole one last glance at the chapel before closing the door and stepping out into the hallway. He had made her a promise, and as many mistakes he had made in his life, he would never break a promise to Chloe.
***
(An hour later.)
Brady had rejoined the others in the waiting room directly after leaving the chapel with his father. Jennifer, Lucas and Hope had all donated blood, thankfully being the same blood type as Chloe, a type that was apparently in short supply at University Hospital.
He had spent an hour sitting between Belle and Nancy. His little sister passed her own strength and love on to him, as Brady comforted Nancy in Craig's absence. It was exactly the way Chloe would have wanted it to be.
Brady stood to stretch his legs and get a cup of coffee. He passed by the doors to the emergency room, wondering what exactly could be going on behind them.
He had only taken a few steps past them when the doors opened and Craig stepped out. Craig tapped him on the shoulder and Brady turned to face him. Brady tried to read the emotion on his father-in-law's face as he stood there quietly, trying to form sentences.
Brady raised his eyebrows in expectation of what was to come. "Well, Craig... How are they?"
(TO BE CONTINUED!)
***
