Chapter -- 6



~*~

The doctors informed Ruth and Bridgette a few days later, that the grafting and debrating was going very well. At that point there was no sign of infections, and they were done with his entire right arm, and both of his hands. They had also put pressure burn garments on those areas that were finished. Doctor Hanson informed them that they would be able to wake him up within a few days, which was right on schedule with what he had originally told them. It had turned out as well, that the burns on his face were only flash burns, which weren't as severe as the 3rd degree ones. They would however, need the same treatment as the others, including a plastic pressure mask. Bridgette would stay at least an hour each day, in the ICU room talking to him until then. Ruth decided that she didn't want to go in until he woke up. Figuring Bridgette would be enough, and she didn't want to remember him that way. She would wait until he woke up, to talk to him.

~*~

"Where are you heading now honey?" Wendie smiled to Bridgette, as she took off her gown and threw it away along with the gloves and mask.

"I have to go to class, but I'll be back after." Bridgette replied.

Wendie smiled, "Well I'll see you later then."

"Bye." Bridgette replied walking out the door, and back down the hallway to the waiting room. Upon opening the door, she found DK sound asleep in the chair resting his head in his hand. "Hey." Bridgette said shaking him quietly, "Get up sleepy head or you're gonna be late."

DK opened his eyes, "I wasn't sleeping."

"Liar." Bridgette replied, sitting down next to him.

"He look any better?" DK asked stretching.

She shrugged, "Yeah, I think so."

DK nodded, "Good"

Bridgette paused for a few seconds before she sighed, " DK, I need your opinion on something."

DK raised his eyebrows, "I don't care if the guy swears he's still a virgin, don't believe him, they all lie."

Bridgette gave him a blank look, "Ok, that wasn't what I was looking for, but I'll keep that in mind."

DK smirked, "What's up?"

Taking a deep breath she replied, "I'm uh, sorta thinking about dropping my classes."

DK's face fell, "Alright. I'm not going to ask why, because I already know why. You think that's a good decision?"

"I dunno," she answered, "That's why I'm asking what you think."

DK sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, "How much longer do you have to go?"

"A month." she replied.

"That's not too bad. I mean I know it's hard and all, but you took a leave from work which means you won't be doing anything besides sitting around here all day. You'll go nuts." DK explained.

"That's true." Bridgette agreed.

"What do you think your dad would say?" DK asked.

"He would kick my ass." Bridgette replied.

"And mine for telling you it was alright." DK added.

Bridgette grinned, "That would be funny to watch."

DK winked, "I think you'll be alright."

"Yeah I guess so," She answered, as Walsh walked in carrying 2 coffee's and a Mountain Dew, "Look, someone woke up."

"I wasn't asleep!" DK joked.

"Sure." Walsh snickered, making Bridgette giggle while he handed her the Mountain Dew, and DK the coffee.

"Thanks." DK and Bridgette said at the same time.

"You two heading out?" Walsh asked.

"Uh huh," Bridgette answered, "I've gotta make up test to do, or I wouldn't be leaving this freaking early."

"I think you'll live." Walsh replied.

"Most likely." Bridgette smiled, picking up her bag.

"Alright, I'm getting out of here too." DK said, standing up and stretching.

"Yeah acting Lieutenant, get on outta here." Walsh teased.

DK gave his best friend a daring look, before he walked towards the door, "I'll remember that."

Bridgette snickered, "Damn you guys fight like an old married couple."

Walsh raised his eyebrows, "I'm going to disregard that last comment."

She smiled, and headed out the door, "See ya in a few hours."

"Bye." Walsh replied as the door shut and he sat down.

~*~*~*

Several hours later, Bridgette returned to the hospital. Upon entering the waiting she became slightly alarmed, seeing her mother sitting there with Walsh, "Hey, I thought I was staying tonight. Is something wrong?"

Her mother smiled, "He's awake."

"HE IS?!" Bridgette exclaimed.

Ruth nodded, "For about 2 hours. The doctor said he's been in and out, he's not really with it yet."

"Just like that he woke up?!" Bridgette asked.

"They told us yesterday they would be waking him up, and it would take up to 18 hours. We didn't want to tell you because you'd be a nut." Walsh explained.

Bridgette felt her temper rise for about 5 seconds, before she let Walsh's explaination sink in, "Well can I go see him?!"

"Of course." Ruth replied.

"Did you go see him yet?" She asked.

Ruth shook her head slowly, "Can't yet."

Bridgette nodded, before dropping her purse and then taking off out of the waiting room and down to the nurse's station. Wendie was smiling brightly at her, as she buzzed Bridgette in. She practically sprinted over to the sinks, and proceeded to scrub her hands and arms, put on a gown, gloves and mask before heading towards his room. She took a deep breath, slid the door open and stepped in, closing the door behind her. Hearing the door open and close Lt. Johnson slowly opened his eyes, his right one more painfully than his left.

"Dad?" Bridgette asked softly, as she walked over.

"Hey......Princess." He replied clearly straining.

"Daddy don't talk if it hurts." Bridgette instructed, reaching out and putting her hand on his arm.

He swallowed, "Everything hurts."

She nodded trying not to cry, "I know. It'll get better though."

He didn't answer her, as tears were clearly starting to form in his eyes.

"Don't start crying," She said, "If you start crying then I'm going to. I've been crying for 3 weeks, and I'm tired of it."

"Ok," he said quietly, as she wiped away a tear that escaped down his face, "You still have those blonde things."

Grinning she replied, "Yeah. I was buying hair dye when they called me, and told me you were hurt."

"Keep them. I like them." He said.

"Dad, I think the meds are making you a little loopy." she smirked.

"Nah." He said while his eyes became heavy.

"Why don't you try and get some rest ok?" She suggested.

"Yeah...." he trailed off.

"You want me to stay here?" She asked.

His eyes opened back up, "Will you?"

"Uh huh." She answered, reaching over and sliding the chair next to his bed, "I'll stay."

"Ok...." he said as his eyes closed again and stayed that way.

~*~

Bridgette rubbed her eyes, while she walked down the hallway into the waiting room the next morning. Still tired and overwhelmed by emotions, she pushed open the waiting room door getting the attention of her mother and Walsh.

"Mom." Bridgette yawned.

"Yeah baby?" Ruth replied.

"Dad said that if you don't go in there and talk to him, he's going to divorce you, take custody of me, and move to Ireland." Bridgette stated.

Ruth sighed heavily, she had been putting it off out of pure fear. She looked at her daughter knowing full well she was serious. Her husband was crazy enough to do it. Then she looked at her daughter again, seeing the confidence in her face that made Ruth realize it would be ok.

"Ok." She said standing up slowly, "Will you walk over there with me?"

"Uh huh." Bridgette replied, giving her mother a small grin.

They both turned and walked out of the waiting room, and to the nurse's station, where Bridgette introduced her mother to Wendie. Bridgette then quickly filled her mother in on what she had to wear. Wendie buzzed open the door, and Ruth walked towards it alone. She paused and looked back at her daughter, who gave her that over confident look, that it would be ok.

Ruth stood outside of the room, staring in through the clear window for a few moments. Every step she took closer to the room made her want to break down and cry more. Somehow she found it in her, to open the door and slowly step inside. Looking at him, she had no concept of how the doctors could possibly say his wounds were 'healing nicely'. Nicely was the describing word that was furthest out of her dictionary at that time. She slowly walked over to the left side of his bed, taking in a quick breath she leaned in and kissed him on the un burned side of his forehead through the mask she was wearing.

His eyes opened slowly and he looked up at her, before he mumbled, "Took you long enough."

She grinned, and carefully rubbed the unburned side of his face with her thumb.

Clearing his throat he quietly spoke, "God I miss seeing your beautiful face."

Ruth smirked as tears started to form, "Shush."

He gave her the best grin he could, "So, when did our daughter get so tough?"

"That's what I wanna know." Ruth replied pausing for a minute, "How do you feel?"

He groaned, "Like hell."

Ruth nodded, "They're moving you out of here soon."

"I know." he answered starting to feel tired again.

"Go back to sleep. I'll come back later." Ruth said said giving him a small grin. Before he had the chance to answer, he was already asleep again.

"I love you." she whispered before she exited the room and went outside to find her daughter.