Chapter Forty-Six
"Craig... Tell me. Tell me what's going on."
Craig motioned a few feet away to where the others were sitting. He laid his hand on Brady's arm and led him over to the chairs, so that everyone could hear what he had to say. Craig looked to Brady, as the others stared up at them anxiously, a small smile formed over his lips.
"It's official, Brady. You're a father."
His family and friends elicited gasps of joy, and Brady's eyes widened with surprise. "So, the baby... is okay?"
Craig's smile faded and he cast his eyes downward. "He's alive. He has all of his fingers and toes, and he's at a pretty good weight for being premature. But, his heart rate is very low, and he's very weak. We had to rush him to the neonatal intensive care as soon as we got him out."
"It's a boy. Oh my God... I have a son. When can I see him?"
"I don't know. He's not very strong right now, and we can't bring in any visitors until we get him somewhat stabilized. His case is still classified as critical, but we're very hopeful. And, as soon as I get the go ahead, I will run out here and get you. I promise."
Brady nodded gratefully. This should have been the happiest moment of his and Chloe's life. They should be sharing the birth of their son together. But, Chloe was unconscious and Brady was out here, while their child was still fighting for his life in another part of the hospital.
"Chloe... How is Chloe?"
Craig sighed softly, his eyes clouding over slightly. "She's still in the operating room, they're trying to fix the problems in her uterus. I'm not going to lie to you, she's lost a lot of blood, and her vital signs are very weak. The transfusions help, but it might not be enough."
Brady's eyes narrowed and he stared at him in confusion. "Enough for what?"
"If they can't stop the bleeding, they'll have to do a hysterectomy."
Brady exhaled sharply and absentmindedly ran a hand through his blonde hair. Nancy looked at her husband with concern, her eyes filling with tears. "A hysterectomy? Craig, she's only eighteen. She's so young. What if she wants to have another baby someday?"
Craig nodded and laid his hand on his wife's shoulder. "I know, Nanc. But, it might be the only choice we have if we want our daughter to live."
Brady firmly gripped Craig's shoulder, the fire and resolve behind his eyes burning brightly. "Craig, you and your staff... Do whatever you have to do to keep her here with us. It doesn't matter, as long as Chloe is okay."
"I will, Brady. I'm not ready to let her go either."
Brady let go of him and nodded. Craig looked around at everyone else and gave them a smile of reassurance. "I'll be back out soon. Just sit tight and keep praying."
Craig quickly gave his wife a kiss and then jogged back through doors from whence he came. Brady returned to his seat between Belle and Nancy and slouched down in his chair with a sigh. He looked around at the faces surrounding him, all of them sharing the same confused feelings he was.
He cleared his throat slightly and spoke to them all at once. "Before I forget... I have to thank all of you for being here, for standing by Chloe and me."
Jennifer smiled at him and nodded. "There isn't anywhere else we would be. I think I speak for everyone here when I say how important Chloe is to all of us."
Hope nodded in agreement. "Which reminds me... I need to call Gran and give her an update. She'd be here herself, but sitting around here all night isn't good for her health."
Hope excused herself and took her cell phone outside to call over and give the news to Alice, Mickey and Maggie. Belle grabbed her brother's hand and smiled hopefully at him.
"I know what Craig said doesn't sound like good news. But, they're alive... they're breathing, and their hearts are still beating. So, it seems like good news to me."
Brady nodded and kissed his sister on the forehead. "You're right, Tink. It is good news. It means they are both still fighting. It's just... this wasn't how we planned on things happening, not even close to it. The birth of our son should have been a happy day for all of us, not a day like this."
Marlena smiled at her stepson and interjected. "Sometimes life doesn't work out the way we planned on it. We just have to accept it, and be grateful for the blessings we do have."
"I know, mom. I know. And, I am grateful... for all of you. For all of the joy that Chloe has brought to my life. I'm very blessed and very lucky."
Belle wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. "We're just as blessed to have you, you know. And, when Chloe wakes up, and the baby gets healthy... that just means we'll have even more to celebrate than. It's just another bump in the road that we'll get over, like we do everything."
Brady smiled at Belle and squeezed her tightly. She wasn't the only one filled with hope and optimism. His thoughts were getting clearer, pushing the bad thoughts away and filling up with hope. He had faith in Chloe's strength and will, and he had to believe that a child they created together would fight just like his parents did.
***
(A few hours later.)
It was late, very late. Brady didn't know exactly what time it was or how much time had passed since they had last seen Craig. He would have checked his watch, but his sister's petite hands were currently gripping on to his left arm tightly. Her head was still resting on his shoulder, and she was quietly asleep. Most of the others were dozing off as well, or at least they looked like they were.
Brady looked at his sister for a moment, her blonde hair falling over her face as she slept. She looked so fragile sometimes, but he knew better. Sure, she had times when she was weak and scared like everyone else did, but she was as strong as steel deep down inside. Ever the optimist, Belle always found a way to put a positive glow on some of their worse moments.
He sighed deeply and tried to turn his head to adjust the kink that was developing in his neck. Brady was shocked when he saw Craig come through the doors and head towards him. He nudged Belle until she woke up, and groggily rubbed her eyes.
"Craig..."
Craig stood in between the chairs, and the others began waking up slowly. He politely waited until everyone was awake and ready to hear the latest news.
He smiled and rubbed his hands together. "I've got some really good news. Chloe is going to be just fine. It wasn't easy, but we pulled her through."
A loud sigh of relief was issued from every mouth in the waiting room. Brady's heart nearly leapt out of his throat and he stared at Craig in disbelief. "She's okay? Chloe's okay?"
Craig nodded proudly, and Nancy practically flew out of her seat to wrap her arms around him tightly. "And what about the hysterectomy?"
"She didn't need it. We saved her without having to take her uterus."
Brady stood from his chair and walked to Craig, shaking his hand firmly. "Thank you, thank you."
Craig nodded slightly and Brady couldn't help himself, he gave his father-in-law a firm hug in appreciation.
Mimi chimed in, also smiling from the first piece of truly good news in several hours. "What about the baby?"
Craig sighed heavily. "He's still considered critical, but stable. Which means, he's not getting any worse..."
Lucas spoke up, finishing Craig's sentence for him. "But he's not getting any better."
"That's correct, Lucas. But, Brady... you will be able to see him soon. Through an incubator, and covered in hospital scrubs and a mask..."
Brady smiled and interrupted him. "That doesn't matter, as long as I get to see my baby and my wife."
"You will. As a matter of fact, they're just putting Chloe into her room now. If you come with me, I'll take you to her. She should be waking up soon, and I have a feeling yours is the first face she'll want to see."
In the past, Brady would have never been accused of being a touchy-feeling kind of guy. But, at this moment he felt the sudden urge to hug everyone around him. He quickly embraced his parents and sister. Mimi, Hope and Jennifer joined in as well, hugging him tightly. Bo, Shawn and Lucas patted him on the back happily as he passed by. He finally stopped and hugged his mother-in-law, her eyes filled with joy.
"Brady, tell my daughter I love her, please."
"I will, Nancy."
Craig smiled at his wife and gave her a quick kiss. "You'll be able to tell her yourself very soon, sweetheart. She can only have one visitor at a time right now, but once Brady has had his turn, you are next in line."
Nancy nodded and watched as the two men walked away. Craig hit the 'up' button on the elevator, and when the doors slid open, Brady stepped inside with him. The doors closed, and Brady leaned against the wall of the elevator with a sigh of relief. Chloe was going to be okay; she had been saved. And, it took all of his willpower not to want to scream it from the rooftops for the whole town. He knew it was far from over though. Their son was still fighting, but the good news of Chloe's condition was more than enough to reassure Brady confident that their son would make it through this just fine.
***
"Craig... Tell me. Tell me what's going on."
Craig motioned a few feet away to where the others were sitting. He laid his hand on Brady's arm and led him over to the chairs, so that everyone could hear what he had to say. Craig looked to Brady, as the others stared up at them anxiously, a small smile formed over his lips.
"It's official, Brady. You're a father."
His family and friends elicited gasps of joy, and Brady's eyes widened with surprise. "So, the baby... is okay?"
Craig's smile faded and he cast his eyes downward. "He's alive. He has all of his fingers and toes, and he's at a pretty good weight for being premature. But, his heart rate is very low, and he's very weak. We had to rush him to the neonatal intensive care as soon as we got him out."
"It's a boy. Oh my God... I have a son. When can I see him?"
"I don't know. He's not very strong right now, and we can't bring in any visitors until we get him somewhat stabilized. His case is still classified as critical, but we're very hopeful. And, as soon as I get the go ahead, I will run out here and get you. I promise."
Brady nodded gratefully. This should have been the happiest moment of his and Chloe's life. They should be sharing the birth of their son together. But, Chloe was unconscious and Brady was out here, while their child was still fighting for his life in another part of the hospital.
"Chloe... How is Chloe?"
Craig sighed softly, his eyes clouding over slightly. "She's still in the operating room, they're trying to fix the problems in her uterus. I'm not going to lie to you, she's lost a lot of blood, and her vital signs are very weak. The transfusions help, but it might not be enough."
Brady's eyes narrowed and he stared at him in confusion. "Enough for what?"
"If they can't stop the bleeding, they'll have to do a hysterectomy."
Brady exhaled sharply and absentmindedly ran a hand through his blonde hair. Nancy looked at her husband with concern, her eyes filling with tears. "A hysterectomy? Craig, she's only eighteen. She's so young. What if she wants to have another baby someday?"
Craig nodded and laid his hand on his wife's shoulder. "I know, Nanc. But, it might be the only choice we have if we want our daughter to live."
Brady firmly gripped Craig's shoulder, the fire and resolve behind his eyes burning brightly. "Craig, you and your staff... Do whatever you have to do to keep her here with us. It doesn't matter, as long as Chloe is okay."
"I will, Brady. I'm not ready to let her go either."
Brady let go of him and nodded. Craig looked around at everyone else and gave them a smile of reassurance. "I'll be back out soon. Just sit tight and keep praying."
Craig quickly gave his wife a kiss and then jogged back through doors from whence he came. Brady returned to his seat between Belle and Nancy and slouched down in his chair with a sigh. He looked around at the faces surrounding him, all of them sharing the same confused feelings he was.
He cleared his throat slightly and spoke to them all at once. "Before I forget... I have to thank all of you for being here, for standing by Chloe and me."
Jennifer smiled at him and nodded. "There isn't anywhere else we would be. I think I speak for everyone here when I say how important Chloe is to all of us."
Hope nodded in agreement. "Which reminds me... I need to call Gran and give her an update. She'd be here herself, but sitting around here all night isn't good for her health."
Hope excused herself and took her cell phone outside to call over and give the news to Alice, Mickey and Maggie. Belle grabbed her brother's hand and smiled hopefully at him.
"I know what Craig said doesn't sound like good news. But, they're alive... they're breathing, and their hearts are still beating. So, it seems like good news to me."
Brady nodded and kissed his sister on the forehead. "You're right, Tink. It is good news. It means they are both still fighting. It's just... this wasn't how we planned on things happening, not even close to it. The birth of our son should have been a happy day for all of us, not a day like this."
Marlena smiled at her stepson and interjected. "Sometimes life doesn't work out the way we planned on it. We just have to accept it, and be grateful for the blessings we do have."
"I know, mom. I know. And, I am grateful... for all of you. For all of the joy that Chloe has brought to my life. I'm very blessed and very lucky."
Belle wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. "We're just as blessed to have you, you know. And, when Chloe wakes up, and the baby gets healthy... that just means we'll have even more to celebrate than. It's just another bump in the road that we'll get over, like we do everything."
Brady smiled at Belle and squeezed her tightly. She wasn't the only one filled with hope and optimism. His thoughts were getting clearer, pushing the bad thoughts away and filling up with hope. He had faith in Chloe's strength and will, and he had to believe that a child they created together would fight just like his parents did.
***
(A few hours later.)
It was late, very late. Brady didn't know exactly what time it was or how much time had passed since they had last seen Craig. He would have checked his watch, but his sister's petite hands were currently gripping on to his left arm tightly. Her head was still resting on his shoulder, and she was quietly asleep. Most of the others were dozing off as well, or at least they looked like they were.
Brady looked at his sister for a moment, her blonde hair falling over her face as she slept. She looked so fragile sometimes, but he knew better. Sure, she had times when she was weak and scared like everyone else did, but she was as strong as steel deep down inside. Ever the optimist, Belle always found a way to put a positive glow on some of their worse moments.
He sighed deeply and tried to turn his head to adjust the kink that was developing in his neck. Brady was shocked when he saw Craig come through the doors and head towards him. He nudged Belle until she woke up, and groggily rubbed her eyes.
"Craig..."
Craig stood in between the chairs, and the others began waking up slowly. He politely waited until everyone was awake and ready to hear the latest news.
He smiled and rubbed his hands together. "I've got some really good news. Chloe is going to be just fine. It wasn't easy, but we pulled her through."
A loud sigh of relief was issued from every mouth in the waiting room. Brady's heart nearly leapt out of his throat and he stared at Craig in disbelief. "She's okay? Chloe's okay?"
Craig nodded proudly, and Nancy practically flew out of her seat to wrap her arms around him tightly. "And what about the hysterectomy?"
"She didn't need it. We saved her without having to take her uterus."
Brady stood from his chair and walked to Craig, shaking his hand firmly. "Thank you, thank you."
Craig nodded slightly and Brady couldn't help himself, he gave his father-in-law a firm hug in appreciation.
Mimi chimed in, also smiling from the first piece of truly good news in several hours. "What about the baby?"
Craig sighed heavily. "He's still considered critical, but stable. Which means, he's not getting any worse..."
Lucas spoke up, finishing Craig's sentence for him. "But he's not getting any better."
"That's correct, Lucas. But, Brady... you will be able to see him soon. Through an incubator, and covered in hospital scrubs and a mask..."
Brady smiled and interrupted him. "That doesn't matter, as long as I get to see my baby and my wife."
"You will. As a matter of fact, they're just putting Chloe into her room now. If you come with me, I'll take you to her. She should be waking up soon, and I have a feeling yours is the first face she'll want to see."
In the past, Brady would have never been accused of being a touchy-feeling kind of guy. But, at this moment he felt the sudden urge to hug everyone around him. He quickly embraced his parents and sister. Mimi, Hope and Jennifer joined in as well, hugging him tightly. Bo, Shawn and Lucas patted him on the back happily as he passed by. He finally stopped and hugged his mother-in-law, her eyes filled with joy.
"Brady, tell my daughter I love her, please."
"I will, Nancy."
Craig smiled at his wife and gave her a quick kiss. "You'll be able to tell her yourself very soon, sweetheart. She can only have one visitor at a time right now, but once Brady has had his turn, you are next in line."
Nancy nodded and watched as the two men walked away. Craig hit the 'up' button on the elevator, and when the doors slid open, Brady stepped inside with him. The doors closed, and Brady leaned against the wall of the elevator with a sigh of relief. Chloe was going to be okay; she had been saved. And, it took all of his willpower not to want to scream it from the rooftops for the whole town. He knew it was far from over though. Their son was still fighting, but the good news of Chloe's condition was more than enough to reassure Brady confident that their son would make it through this just fine.
***
