Author's Note~ Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed the last chapter!
I've never done something like this before, but I got such amazing
feedback for the last chapter that I felt I had to:
candaceFABULOUS: Thank you so much for your insight into the story. It really means a lot to me.
Lu Delgado: Hmm.maybe I'll use that! Thanks for the idea!
adpi24: That's it, Brianna! You get the 'worst fanfic reader of the year' award for not reviewing! lol.Don't worry about it.I'm the worst with reviewing stories! And what's not to love about dogs? lol
cRaZyPiXiE: Sorry to disappoint, but it's going to be a lot of Carrie in these next chapters. lol.but don't worry.I won't forget about N/S!
MissyJane: Thanks so much for your continued support of all my stories. It means a lot to me.
A Bloom: Ain't it the truth. Pitts are so sweet.they're just easily trained, so that's why they have such a bad rep.
Padfoot1979: That was probably the last happy chapter in this story. lol Had to squeeze it in while I had the chance! Lol
LynnM: Thanks so much! I had to do something for her.she's the best!
SisterBear: lol Thanks! Glad you enjoy my little ramblings!
To everyone else who reviewed, but who I didn't mention here, thank you so much! Your reviews mean so much to me!
Also~ This chapter starts off where the prologue ended. So, everything before this has kind of been a flashback, and this chapter brings us back to the present, with Nick and Lexi in the hospital. If you're confused, or if you understood it but I confused you with this note, just go back and reread chapter 1, and you'll get it. Sorry for any confusion.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Nick Stokes rushed into the hospital with a look of worry and fear etched across his handsome face. Glancing around the room, he spied the person he was looking for. He walked up to a little girl of about seven years and sat down next to her. She was silently sobbing into a rag doll but looked up when he entered the room.
"It'll be okay, Lex. Everything's going to be okay." At that, she turned to face him, her tiny hands wiping her eyes.
"No it won't. Daddy, I don't want Mommy to go yet." She looked up at him, her big chocolate-brown eyes breaking his heart in two.
"Couldn't you ask God to let her stay for a little longer?" Her request startled him. They had talked about this. She knew that there was nothing any of them could do when the time finally came. Which, inevitably, it had, but it seemed all too soon.
"Come here, shortcake." He pulled her onto his lap and she wrapped her tiny arms around his shoulders. "You know I can't do that, sweetie." He hated that feeling of such helplessness. That feeling of wishing so hard to be able to soothe his baby girl, his little angel, and knowing that all the wishes in the world would never amount to anything. Carrie was going to die, and there wasn't a single thing he could do about it.
As his daughter cried into his shoulder, he thought about the events that brought him here. It had been six months since the whole ordeal began, but it still felt just like yesterday.
From Carrie showing up on his doorstep and introducing him to Lexi, to the days spent at the park and the night at the carnival when he proposed to Sara, to where he was today, he had been through a whirlwind of emotions. From elation and love whenever he was with Lexi, to the heart-wrenching feeling when Greg revealed the paternity test results, to the terrifying, sickening feeling when she run away, to the joy of the wedding and Lexi's birthday party, everything had been leading up to this day, this moment. The moment when losing Carrie forever and taking full responsibility for Lexi became a reality.
He had been leaving the bakery and heading towards the car, Lexi's cake in hand, when the vibrating of the phone alerted him to Sara's call. After placing the white cardboard bakery box on the passenger seat, he had flipped open his phone and answered it.
"Stokes," he had said, sliding into the driver's seat of the Tahoe and closing the door.
"Nick it's me," Sara's voice had said, breaking up slightly, "I'm on my way to Desert Palm."
"What happened?"
"Carrie fainted, and we couldn't get her to wake up. The ambulance just took her to the hospital, and Lexi and I are on our way there now," Sara had explained, and Nick could hear the strain evident in her voice through the bad reception.
"I'm on my way," he had said, turning the key in the ignition and pulling into the street, "How's Lexi?"
"She's good," Sara had said, her voice breaking up even more as Nick drove through the streets of Las Vegas, "But Nick, you have to hurry."
"I'll be there as soon as I can," he had replied, "Sara?" He could hear a crackling sound in the background but that was it. "Sara, you're breaking up. Tell Lexi I love her and that I'll be there soon," he had said before they were disconnected.
He had driven there as fast as possible, going well over the speed limit. He was just lucky he hadn't been pulled over.
"Hey," Sara said, breaking into his thoughts as she walked down the hall, a coffee and a bag of M&M's in hand.
"Hey," Nick said, trying to force a smile but failing. Lexi untangled herself from Nick's arms and looked up at Sara, sniffling and wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"How're you doing, munchkin?" Sara asked softly, handing the young girl the bag of candy.
"Okay, I guess," Lexi replied forlornly, staring at the candy in her hands. "How's my mommy?"
Sara sighed and sat down on the chair next to Nick and Lexi. "I don't know, sweetie," she said, tucking a stray strand of blond hair behind the girl's ear.
Nick looked at Sara, his eyes asking the question his heart couldn't. One look into her eyes confirmed his worst fears: this really was the end for Carrie.
"Where's everyone else?" Lexi asked, "Aren't they coming?"
"Krista and her mom went to their hotel. And everyone else is coming by later," Sara explained, "They were going to clean up and take care of Simba before they came."
Lexi nodded and sniffled again, tearing open the bag of M&M's. "This is a pretty crummy way to spend my birthday," she said, gaining a small smile from Nick and Sara.
"It sure is, shortcake," Nick agreed, kissing his daughter's forehead.
"Mr. and Mrs. Stokes?" a masculine voice called, and they both looked up to see the familiar face of Dr. Williams.
"Yes?" Nick said, rising from the chair while still holding Lexi. "How is she?"
"Not too good," the doctor said sadly, "This." He paused, glancing at Lexi before deciding it was safe to continue. "This is going to be it. I'm sorry."
"Can we see her?" Sara asked.
Dr. Williams bit his lip as he contemplated the situation. "Technically only the child is family."
"Please?" Lexi begged, the tears pooling again in her eyes.
"Alright," Dr. Williams said, offering a soft half-smile, "Room C326. Her sister's already in there." The doctor turned and headed down the hallway while Sara eyed Nick curiously.
"Sister?" she asked as they headed for the elevator, "I thought she was an only child?"
"So did I," Nick said, just as curious as Sara. "Lexi, do you want to push the button?"
The young girl nodded and pressed the round button on the elevator, and they stood back while they waited for it to come. When the doors opened, they stepped inside, and Lexi pushed the button labeled 3.
"Lexi, does your mom have a sister?" Nick asked, and Lexi shook her head.
"No," she said as the doors opened again and they walked down the hallway to room C326, "But he might mean Aunt Katie."
When they reached the room, Lexi wriggled free of Nick's arms and rushed into the room, wrapping her arms around Carrie, who was extremely pale and hooked up to numerous machines.
"Mommy!" she called, and then turned to the corner, where a tall brunette was leaning against one wall. "Hey, Aunt Katie."
Nick's eyes grew wide and the color drained from his face as he saw the other woman who stepped forward from the shadows. "Oh my God. Kate?"
~*~*~*~*~
A/N~ I wasn't planning on leaving it there, but I have to build up some suspense! Don't worry.the next chapter will be up tomorrow, but only if you review!!
~Emily
candaceFABULOUS: Thank you so much for your insight into the story. It really means a lot to me.
Lu Delgado: Hmm.maybe I'll use that! Thanks for the idea!
adpi24: That's it, Brianna! You get the 'worst fanfic reader of the year' award for not reviewing! lol.Don't worry about it.I'm the worst with reviewing stories! And what's not to love about dogs? lol
cRaZyPiXiE: Sorry to disappoint, but it's going to be a lot of Carrie in these next chapters. lol.but don't worry.I won't forget about N/S!
MissyJane: Thanks so much for your continued support of all my stories. It means a lot to me.
A Bloom: Ain't it the truth. Pitts are so sweet.they're just easily trained, so that's why they have such a bad rep.
Padfoot1979: That was probably the last happy chapter in this story. lol Had to squeeze it in while I had the chance! Lol
LynnM: Thanks so much! I had to do something for her.she's the best!
SisterBear: lol Thanks! Glad you enjoy my little ramblings!
To everyone else who reviewed, but who I didn't mention here, thank you so much! Your reviews mean so much to me!
Also~ This chapter starts off where the prologue ended. So, everything before this has kind of been a flashback, and this chapter brings us back to the present, with Nick and Lexi in the hospital. If you're confused, or if you understood it but I confused you with this note, just go back and reread chapter 1, and you'll get it. Sorry for any confusion.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Nick Stokes rushed into the hospital with a look of worry and fear etched across his handsome face. Glancing around the room, he spied the person he was looking for. He walked up to a little girl of about seven years and sat down next to her. She was silently sobbing into a rag doll but looked up when he entered the room.
"It'll be okay, Lex. Everything's going to be okay." At that, she turned to face him, her tiny hands wiping her eyes.
"No it won't. Daddy, I don't want Mommy to go yet." She looked up at him, her big chocolate-brown eyes breaking his heart in two.
"Couldn't you ask God to let her stay for a little longer?" Her request startled him. They had talked about this. She knew that there was nothing any of them could do when the time finally came. Which, inevitably, it had, but it seemed all too soon.
"Come here, shortcake." He pulled her onto his lap and she wrapped her tiny arms around his shoulders. "You know I can't do that, sweetie." He hated that feeling of such helplessness. That feeling of wishing so hard to be able to soothe his baby girl, his little angel, and knowing that all the wishes in the world would never amount to anything. Carrie was going to die, and there wasn't a single thing he could do about it.
As his daughter cried into his shoulder, he thought about the events that brought him here. It had been six months since the whole ordeal began, but it still felt just like yesterday.
From Carrie showing up on his doorstep and introducing him to Lexi, to the days spent at the park and the night at the carnival when he proposed to Sara, to where he was today, he had been through a whirlwind of emotions. From elation and love whenever he was with Lexi, to the heart-wrenching feeling when Greg revealed the paternity test results, to the terrifying, sickening feeling when she run away, to the joy of the wedding and Lexi's birthday party, everything had been leading up to this day, this moment. The moment when losing Carrie forever and taking full responsibility for Lexi became a reality.
He had been leaving the bakery and heading towards the car, Lexi's cake in hand, when the vibrating of the phone alerted him to Sara's call. After placing the white cardboard bakery box on the passenger seat, he had flipped open his phone and answered it.
"Stokes," he had said, sliding into the driver's seat of the Tahoe and closing the door.
"Nick it's me," Sara's voice had said, breaking up slightly, "I'm on my way to Desert Palm."
"What happened?"
"Carrie fainted, and we couldn't get her to wake up. The ambulance just took her to the hospital, and Lexi and I are on our way there now," Sara had explained, and Nick could hear the strain evident in her voice through the bad reception.
"I'm on my way," he had said, turning the key in the ignition and pulling into the street, "How's Lexi?"
"She's good," Sara had said, her voice breaking up even more as Nick drove through the streets of Las Vegas, "But Nick, you have to hurry."
"I'll be there as soon as I can," he had replied, "Sara?" He could hear a crackling sound in the background but that was it. "Sara, you're breaking up. Tell Lexi I love her and that I'll be there soon," he had said before they were disconnected.
He had driven there as fast as possible, going well over the speed limit. He was just lucky he hadn't been pulled over.
"Hey," Sara said, breaking into his thoughts as she walked down the hall, a coffee and a bag of M&M's in hand.
"Hey," Nick said, trying to force a smile but failing. Lexi untangled herself from Nick's arms and looked up at Sara, sniffling and wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"How're you doing, munchkin?" Sara asked softly, handing the young girl the bag of candy.
"Okay, I guess," Lexi replied forlornly, staring at the candy in her hands. "How's my mommy?"
Sara sighed and sat down on the chair next to Nick and Lexi. "I don't know, sweetie," she said, tucking a stray strand of blond hair behind the girl's ear.
Nick looked at Sara, his eyes asking the question his heart couldn't. One look into her eyes confirmed his worst fears: this really was the end for Carrie.
"Where's everyone else?" Lexi asked, "Aren't they coming?"
"Krista and her mom went to their hotel. And everyone else is coming by later," Sara explained, "They were going to clean up and take care of Simba before they came."
Lexi nodded and sniffled again, tearing open the bag of M&M's. "This is a pretty crummy way to spend my birthday," she said, gaining a small smile from Nick and Sara.
"It sure is, shortcake," Nick agreed, kissing his daughter's forehead.
"Mr. and Mrs. Stokes?" a masculine voice called, and they both looked up to see the familiar face of Dr. Williams.
"Yes?" Nick said, rising from the chair while still holding Lexi. "How is she?"
"Not too good," the doctor said sadly, "This." He paused, glancing at Lexi before deciding it was safe to continue. "This is going to be it. I'm sorry."
"Can we see her?" Sara asked.
Dr. Williams bit his lip as he contemplated the situation. "Technically only the child is family."
"Please?" Lexi begged, the tears pooling again in her eyes.
"Alright," Dr. Williams said, offering a soft half-smile, "Room C326. Her sister's already in there." The doctor turned and headed down the hallway while Sara eyed Nick curiously.
"Sister?" she asked as they headed for the elevator, "I thought she was an only child?"
"So did I," Nick said, just as curious as Sara. "Lexi, do you want to push the button?"
The young girl nodded and pressed the round button on the elevator, and they stood back while they waited for it to come. When the doors opened, they stepped inside, and Lexi pushed the button labeled 3.
"Lexi, does your mom have a sister?" Nick asked, and Lexi shook her head.
"No," she said as the doors opened again and they walked down the hallway to room C326, "But he might mean Aunt Katie."
When they reached the room, Lexi wriggled free of Nick's arms and rushed into the room, wrapping her arms around Carrie, who was extremely pale and hooked up to numerous machines.
"Mommy!" she called, and then turned to the corner, where a tall brunette was leaning against one wall. "Hey, Aunt Katie."
Nick's eyes grew wide and the color drained from his face as he saw the other woman who stepped forward from the shadows. "Oh my God. Kate?"
~*~*~*~*~
A/N~ I wasn't planning on leaving it there, but I have to build up some suspense! Don't worry.the next chapter will be up tomorrow, but only if you review!!
~Emily