Disclaimer: I don't own What Dreams May Come
Chris and Annie sat in the waiting room of the hospital. They were both in shock. There'd been a major accident and Marie was hurt really badly. Ian had gotten off with just a few broken bones. Marie on the other hand had flown through the windshield and was in very bad shape.
"Chris," Annie whispered, "We can't give up on her."
Chris kissed his wife gently.
"One step at a time," he said, "We don't even know her condition yet. The doctors are operating."
"I'm so scared," Annie admitted.
"So am I," Chris replied, "But right now we have to be calm. We have to stay positive."
Annie nodded. She knew Chris was right.
After what seemed like forever Dr. Lansbug came out.
"You can see her," she said, "but I should warn you it's not going to be a pretty sight. Your daughter broke every bone in her body. She is in a full body cast. We had to stop a lot of the bleeding, but she's still swollen, and it will take a long time for her to be rehabilitated. We're talking about at least a year."
"But she's going to be okay," Annie asked.
"She'll live," the doctor said, "But there are a lot of complications. She'll have to have PT every day for an hour a day. She'll be-"
Annie couldn't listen to another word. All she wanted was to see her baby and make sure that she was okay.
"Chris come on," Annie said.
The doctor led them into Marie's room. Annie nearly gasped at the sight.
Marie was bandaged like a mummy. The only thing that was visible was her head.
"Oh, my baby," Annie whispered.
Marie couldn't smile even at seeing her parents. She was in a tremendous amount of agonizing pain.
"How's Ian," she asked.
"He's just fine, baby," Chris said.
He smiled to himself. Even this badly injured Marie's first thought was of her little brother.
"The accident was my fault," Marie said, "Nanny let me drive. I saw the car coming but I got scared and accidentally pressed the gas instead of the brake."
Chris stroked his daughter's hair.
"The important thing is that you and your brother survived," Annie said firmly.
"It wasn't your fault," Chris added, "Nanny had no business letting you drive."
Marie struggled to sit up. Chris adjusted the controls on her bed.
"That's better," Marie said.
"You're going to get better," Annie promised her.
"So, I'm out of the woods?" Marie asked.
"That's going to take a long time," Chris admitted, "You've been hurt really badly."
Nanny came rushing in.
"How is she?" Nanny asked.
"I'll be okay," Marie assured Nanny.
No thanks to you, Chris thought quietly to himself, what were you thinking letting her drive?
"I didn't realize that-"
Annie and Chris took Nanny out in the hall to talk to her. They stayed calm but were firm.
"What were you thinking letting a twelve-year-old drive," Chris asked.
"She wanted to drive," Nanny answered.
"If Ian wanted to drive, would you have let him?" Chris asked pointedly.
"He's only seven," Nanny said, "Besides Marie told me that you've taught her to drive-"
"In an empty parking lot," Chris interrupted.
"I guess you don't want me around anymore."
"You're just lucky that we didn't turn you into the cops," Annie said.
"Your services will no longer be required," Chris added.
Nanny nodded and left. She wasn't surprised about being fired. She was just sad about it. She loved Marie and Ian as well as Annie and Chris. They'd treated her like family. She hoped one day they would forgive her. She had no family besides them.
