My Life Closed Twice
Chapter 19: Miles To Go Before I Sleep
Disclaimer: General Hospital and all its characters belong to ABC, Disney, etc.
Author's Notes: Thanks to my faithful beta reader. Please read and review!
"You told me to wait at Mrs. Strumen's for you."
I don't know why I said that. I didn't know then; I don't know now. I watched the words hit my mother like a punch to the gut. I didn't want to hurt her. She was my Mom. Still, somehow I couldn't take it back, couldn't apologize.
I could see the shock on the faces of the other Quartermaines. I don't know who shocked them more, Mom or me. They had no warning that Mom had been waking up from her six-year nap. As for me, I never discussed that night with anyone. Not with the Qs, not with the Cassadines, and not with any of the grief counselors I was sent to after it happened.
So we all froze. None of us knew what to say or do to make things better. It was almost like being at Dad's funeral again. Only the minister and the Cassadines were missing.
I have to stay in control. I have to stay in control. I have to stay in control.
"I hope everyone wanted coffee," Uncle Zander said as he once again arrived on the scene.
I had something to do, an interpreter deal to broker with the Michael's parents. Slowly I turned back around. I forced one foot to move in front of the other past Uncle Zander, past Dr. Collins and Mr. Spencer, around the corner of the nurse's station, down the hall, and over to where Michael's family sat.
Ms. Spencer jumped up and gave me a quick hug. "Are you all right," she asked as she stepped back.
I'm in a hospital after bringing your grandson in with a gunshot wound to the chest, the police have questioned me, and to top my day I verbally attack my mother. I'm doing great!
"I'm fine," I re-assured her. "I wanted to see if it was OK for Uncle Alan to come over and translate for you when Dr. Cooper comes out of sugary."
"Don't you think we are smart enough to understand the doctors without Quartermaine help Miss Davis-Ashton?" Mrs. Corinthos spat.
"Carly," Ms. Spencer said.
Well, obviously the kid gloves were no longer required. "No, I thought it was the most reasonable and peaceful way for everyone to get the information they are waiting for. I thought that there was one adult in this town who wasn't crazy," I gave back.
"Hey, I'm not crazy," Mr. Spencer offered up from behind me.
I didn't even bother to respond to him. "Well I was obviously wrong. I guess I will just have to wait for Michael to wake up before I can talk to somebody reasonable," I continued. That said I turned to return to the other side's camp.
"We would love to have Alan's input when Dr. Cooper gives us his report," Ms. Spencer said.
"Mom," came Mrs. Corinthos' outraged gasp.
I turned around and waited while mother and daughter vocally battled it out. It wasn't long until Ms. Spencer won. Well not long, or even particularly loud, by Quartermaine standards. I graciously accepted the victor's decision and headed back to report to the Q's.
Mr. Spencer followed me, "You handled my niece from hell like a pro."
"You Spencers are hardly a challenge," I told him.
"We Spencers can take anything you Cassadines dish out," he smirked.
"I hope you can," I said thinking of Michael still on an operating table.
"Don't you fret darling, Michael was giving you Cassadines lessons in survival long before you were born." Mr. Spencer reassured me.
I gave him a smile in thanks. We had reached the Q camp by then so I confirmed with Uncle Alan that the deal had been made.
Then I went and sat at the foot of my mother's chair. I leaned against her legs. It was my way of apologizing to her and maybe trying to draw a little of the strength she seemed to be regaining in recent days. She rested a hand on my head, occasionally letting her fingers play with my bangs.
We just stayed like that letting the conversation flow around us. I don't know how long we waited. Then it got too quiet. Uncle Alan had disappeared. Everyone was silent; as if they could eavesdrop on the report being given down the hall. Then Uncle Alan and Ms. Spencer came around the corner. We didn't even need Uncle Alan's report. The look of relief on both his and Ms. Spencer's face was all the information we needed.
Uncle Alan gave his report. Michael was out of surgery, everything looked good, recovery for few hours, and then a few days in ICU with full recovery expected. It was quickly decided that since there was nothing we could do that everyone should go home and get some sleep. I said good-by to Dr. Collins and headed out with the Spencer contingent.
When we got back to the brownstone Ms. Spencer paid the twins' emergency baby-sitter and Mr. Spencer left to take her home. Before Ms. Spencer headed off to her bed she gave me one last hug. "Thank you," she whispered in my ear.
Mom and I checked in on the twins first. They were both sleeping. They looked so peaceful with no cares in the world. We quietly slipped from their room and returned to our own apartment.
I was so tired I could hardly see straight, but there was no way I was going to bed without a shower. "I'm going to take a quick shower," I told Mom, more out of habit than expecting a response.
I was just about to close the door when I heard my mother. "I love you Kristina."
It was so soft I almost thought I had imagined it. Goodness knows I had imagined it often enough. "I know, I love you too Mom," I replied. I waited to see if she would say anything else.
When she didn't I closed the bathroom door and started my shower. I finished washing my hair and was just reaching for the soap when I noticed that I still had some of Michael's blood on me. It must have soaked through my shirt while I was hugging myself in the waiting room. My legs were suddenly weak and I had to sit down. The great thing about taking a shower is you can't tell the water from your own tears.
It was a long time before I finished my shower and went to bed.
Chapter 19: Miles To Go Before I Sleep
Disclaimer: General Hospital and all its characters belong to ABC, Disney, etc.
Author's Notes: Thanks to my faithful beta reader. Please read and review!
"You told me to wait at Mrs. Strumen's for you."
I don't know why I said that. I didn't know then; I don't know now. I watched the words hit my mother like a punch to the gut. I didn't want to hurt her. She was my Mom. Still, somehow I couldn't take it back, couldn't apologize.
I could see the shock on the faces of the other Quartermaines. I don't know who shocked them more, Mom or me. They had no warning that Mom had been waking up from her six-year nap. As for me, I never discussed that night with anyone. Not with the Qs, not with the Cassadines, and not with any of the grief counselors I was sent to after it happened.
So we all froze. None of us knew what to say or do to make things better. It was almost like being at Dad's funeral again. Only the minister and the Cassadines were missing.
I have to stay in control. I have to stay in control. I have to stay in control.
"I hope everyone wanted coffee," Uncle Zander said as he once again arrived on the scene.
I had something to do, an interpreter deal to broker with the Michael's parents. Slowly I turned back around. I forced one foot to move in front of the other past Uncle Zander, past Dr. Collins and Mr. Spencer, around the corner of the nurse's station, down the hall, and over to where Michael's family sat.
Ms. Spencer jumped up and gave me a quick hug. "Are you all right," she asked as she stepped back.
I'm in a hospital after bringing your grandson in with a gunshot wound to the chest, the police have questioned me, and to top my day I verbally attack my mother. I'm doing great!
"I'm fine," I re-assured her. "I wanted to see if it was OK for Uncle Alan to come over and translate for you when Dr. Cooper comes out of sugary."
"Don't you think we are smart enough to understand the doctors without Quartermaine help Miss Davis-Ashton?" Mrs. Corinthos spat.
"Carly," Ms. Spencer said.
Well, obviously the kid gloves were no longer required. "No, I thought it was the most reasonable and peaceful way for everyone to get the information they are waiting for. I thought that there was one adult in this town who wasn't crazy," I gave back.
"Hey, I'm not crazy," Mr. Spencer offered up from behind me.
I didn't even bother to respond to him. "Well I was obviously wrong. I guess I will just have to wait for Michael to wake up before I can talk to somebody reasonable," I continued. That said I turned to return to the other side's camp.
"We would love to have Alan's input when Dr. Cooper gives us his report," Ms. Spencer said.
"Mom," came Mrs. Corinthos' outraged gasp.
I turned around and waited while mother and daughter vocally battled it out. It wasn't long until Ms. Spencer won. Well not long, or even particularly loud, by Quartermaine standards. I graciously accepted the victor's decision and headed back to report to the Q's.
Mr. Spencer followed me, "You handled my niece from hell like a pro."
"You Spencers are hardly a challenge," I told him.
"We Spencers can take anything you Cassadines dish out," he smirked.
"I hope you can," I said thinking of Michael still on an operating table.
"Don't you fret darling, Michael was giving you Cassadines lessons in survival long before you were born." Mr. Spencer reassured me.
I gave him a smile in thanks. We had reached the Q camp by then so I confirmed with Uncle Alan that the deal had been made.
Then I went and sat at the foot of my mother's chair. I leaned against her legs. It was my way of apologizing to her and maybe trying to draw a little of the strength she seemed to be regaining in recent days. She rested a hand on my head, occasionally letting her fingers play with my bangs.
We just stayed like that letting the conversation flow around us. I don't know how long we waited. Then it got too quiet. Uncle Alan had disappeared. Everyone was silent; as if they could eavesdrop on the report being given down the hall. Then Uncle Alan and Ms. Spencer came around the corner. We didn't even need Uncle Alan's report. The look of relief on both his and Ms. Spencer's face was all the information we needed.
Uncle Alan gave his report. Michael was out of surgery, everything looked good, recovery for few hours, and then a few days in ICU with full recovery expected. It was quickly decided that since there was nothing we could do that everyone should go home and get some sleep. I said good-by to Dr. Collins and headed out with the Spencer contingent.
When we got back to the brownstone Ms. Spencer paid the twins' emergency baby-sitter and Mr. Spencer left to take her home. Before Ms. Spencer headed off to her bed she gave me one last hug. "Thank you," she whispered in my ear.
Mom and I checked in on the twins first. They were both sleeping. They looked so peaceful with no cares in the world. We quietly slipped from their room and returned to our own apartment.
I was so tired I could hardly see straight, but there was no way I was going to bed without a shower. "I'm going to take a quick shower," I told Mom, more out of habit than expecting a response.
I was just about to close the door when I heard my mother. "I love you Kristina."
It was so soft I almost thought I had imagined it. Goodness knows I had imagined it often enough. "I know, I love you too Mom," I replied. I waited to see if she would say anything else.
When she didn't I closed the bathroom door and started my shower. I finished washing my hair and was just reaching for the soap when I noticed that I still had some of Michael's blood on me. It must have soaked through my shirt while I was hugging myself in the waiting room. My legs were suddenly weak and I had to sit down. The great thing about taking a shower is you can't tell the water from your own tears.
It was a long time before I finished my shower and went to bed.