Please, remember that Liz hasn't slept with Zander again or anything. This is about a month after she left Jason. Emily is around, no cancer…. Things like that. Zander is obviously alive, and still has no memory. Thanks for all the replies to the last chapter! You all rock!
Brenda wrapped her arms around herself as she watched the doctors and nurses work on her daughter through the glass. It was times like this that she almost wished she had just taken Elizabeth and walked away long ago. It was times when her daughter was laying in a hospital bed unconscious that she wished she had left the mob when Elizabeth was born. Not that she was the one in the mob. Nope, that was her husband. Brenda looked over her shoulder. Courtney was asleep, resting her head on Jax's shoulder. Sonny was pacing back and forth. Alexis and Ric had taken Hope, and Kristina to Ned and Lois's gatehouse. They had agreed to watch the girls for as long as needed.
Jason had disappeared right after they had brought Elizabeth in. He had found her, rode in the ambulance with her, and then vanished. Brenda knew their history. Her daughter talked to her. She knew the effect it had on her when he would leave town, or when they hid Sonny's death from her. It WAS her father for god's sake. She had done it right along side them though. She knew that Jason's feelings for Elizabeth were as strong as Elizabeth's feelings for him. And that's saying something. She couldn't imagine how Jason had dealt with all the feelings. She knew Jason, and she knew that he didn't like to deal with his feelings. He would go out, and get drunk. Or get into fights. Or bury himself in work until he was beyond exhaustion. He had been doing all three lately. It hurt Brenda to see her best friend, and her daughter in so much pain. But she was powerless in the situation. Just like she was powerless in this one. There was nothing she could do to help Elizabeth right now.
"Mr. And Mrs. Corinthos?" A young girl stepped out of the room. The doctors were leaving, and Brenda felt Sonny's arms wrap around her.
"That's us," She whispered, scared of what she might be told.
"You can visit your daughter now. She's stable, but she's in a coma. I'm going to be her primary physician, Dr. Brittany Moon. A drug was injected into your daughter through the vein in her left arm. We have failed to identify the drug. Unless we can ID the drug, we can't find a counter drug. Right now, we have her on basic antibiotics, and IV fluids. Her heart, and breathing is being monitored, along with any brain activity. We're hoping to run more tests, and find out what the drug is. If we can, we'll know what to use to over-ride it. If we can't, we'll have to discuss other options," Elizabeth's doctor kept an even tone, and never lost eye contact with Sonny and Brenda.
"You said that I could see her now, right?" Brenda asked, her voice trembling. The doctor nodded.
"Yes, you may. I need one of you to fill out some forms," Sonny nodded, and the doctor led him towards the desk as Brenda slipped into her daughter's room. Brenda quietly sat in one of the red, uncomfortable, plastic chairs. She hesitated before taking one of Elizabeth's motionless hands.
"Hey, baby girl. It's mom. You knew that though, didn't you? Yeah, I'm scared Liz. I'm so scared. Your so full of life, and you have such a beautiful life ahead of you. I wish I knew who did this to you. I'll kill them with my own hands for doing this to you. You're an angel, Elizabeth. You're my angel. Why would anyone want to hurt you? I know why. I know why they hurt you. They hurt you because of the business. Your father's business. I'm not going to blame your father. He'll blame himself enough for the both of us. I love him. You know that I love him with every fiber in me, but it's so hard. When I found out I was pregnant, I was going to leave Sonny. I was just going to walk away, but I didn't. I loved him to much, and I knew he'd love you. He does, and so do I. When you were born, and I first saw your face-- I was mesmerized, Liz. Your were captivating. You still are. I held you in my arms, and I knew I had to keep you safe. I told Sonny that I was leaving, and he told me to do what I thought was best. I stayed. I knew you needed Sonny, and me. I knew you would be happy, and you told me so many times that you were. Elizabeth, please. Wake up, honey. Please, wake up. I'm begging you to open you beautiful eyes. Baby, please," Brenda kissed her hand, and stood. Wiping at the tears that flowed down her cheeks. As soon as the door opened, Courtney held her tightly. Brenda gripped Courtney, and sobbed. At first she hadn't liked her sister in law, but she learned that she was a person who had made mistakes. She was trying to be different.
"Sonny, why don't you go in? I'll sit out here with Brenda, ok?" Courtney nodded her encouragement at her brother who had just finished filling out papers. Sonny touched Brenda's shoulder gently before going into see his daughter. He looked over his shoulder out the glass window. Courtney had led Brenda over to the couch in the waiting room. Jax was handing them each coffee, and Brenda was still crying on Courtney's shoulder. Sonny sat down in the same chair Brenda had, and didn't hesitate as he took Elizabeth's hand.
"Elizabeth, I'm not going to demand that you wake up. None of this is your fault. It's not mine either. It's whoever injected that drug into your system. Normally, I'd blame myself. I'd say it was my fault because I'm in the mob. Because of all the mistakes I've made. You taught me not to do that, Elizabeth. You taught me that my job doesn't make me a bad person, because I can love. I love you, more then you'll ever know. You understand what I do, and you love me despite it. Your always by my side. I can always depend on you. My baby girl. My only child. I remember how you listened, and understood about Lily. You comforted me, and told me that you didn't want me sad. Liz, I wish you'd wake up. You were only five then, but it makes no difference. You were there for me. Your always there for the people you care about. Your honest, and caring. You understand people's pain, and you don't sugar coat things. Your upfront, and loyal. You don't pretend to be someone your not. Your you, and that's all there is to it, right? You're my daughter and I love you. I'm not good with words…. Not like you or your mother. Just know that I love you, and I'll always be there for you. It's getting late, baby. I'll see you tomorrow," Sonny stood and kissed her head as there was a knock on the door. The door slowly opened to reveal Emily Bowen-Quartermaine. Recently Divorced-- Again.
"Mr. Corinthos, I was wondering if I could sit with her for just a minute. I won't be late, I swear. I know that it's late, and it's been a hard night. I was at Ned and Lois's when Alexis and Ric came to drop off the girls. They told me what happened, and brought me over. I just want a minute," Emily blinked back tears and bit her lip. Sonny could easily see that she was fighting as hard as she could not to cry.
"Of course, Emily. Take all the time that you need," Sonny kissed Elizabeth's hand and shut the door quietly behind him. He hugged his brother, and sat next to his wife. Brenda clung to him like a life line. Emily slid into the seat Sonny had just sat in.
"Oh, Lizzie! I don't know what to say. I mean, there's nothing I can say to bring you out of this. If there was, your parents would have said it. I'm sure of that. I need to confide in you-- I still love Zander. I know that I just got back in town, and I'm trying to let him have his life. He doesn't remember me, and that kills me. I've tried to help him, but he says that he apparently made to many mistakes in his life, and he's starting over. I don't think he'll let me part of his new life. When I first saw him outside of Kelly's, I hugged him so tight. And for a minute, he hugged me back. Listen to me rambling about my dead love life, and you're here in a coma. I'm a horrible best friend, aren't I? I just-- I have no one else to turn to. Your mother is so close to my family, and you were the first person to really break through my walls. I love you so much, Elizabeth. Look, I'm going to go. I'm going to take your advice and find Zander. I love you," Emily wiped away her tears, and walked out. She heard Courtney, Alexis, Ric, and Jax trying to get Brenda to go home and sleep. She approached the group, and found Sonny missing.
"Hey, Bren. They're right, you should go home. Elizabeth wouldn't want us to exhaust ourselves. She'd probably yell at us, and we all know it. Look, I need a ride home. Why don't we all go," Brenda nodded, stood, and hung her daughter's best friend. They both cried on each other's shoulders. Sonny emerged off the elevator, and his cell phone rang.
"Corinthos," Sonny's voice was raspy, and quiet.
"I'm going out of town for awhile," Jason's voice matched Sonny's.
"Take care of yourself, Jason," Sonny whispered, and he looked over at the group.
"Take care of her, Sonny," Jason whispered back. The call disconnected, and Sonny rubbed a hand over his face. His family, and Emily stared back at him, curious about the call. Hoping it was good news for Elizabeth. Answers to their questions. It was the opposite.
"Jason left town," Sonny's voice was still incredibly raspy, and he cleared his throat. "Bren, I think he's finally broken," Brenda nodded at her husband, and clutched Emily's hand. Courtney wrapped an arm around Brenda's shoulders, and her other arm around Sonny. Jax wrapped his arms around his wife. Ric wrapped his arms around Emily and Alexis, and Alexis placed her arms around Sonny and Ric. They stood there in a small circle, holding each other. Each praying for Elizabeth. Some crying and sobbing, some comforting. All of them were equally upset.
Jason waited for the nurse to check Elizabeth's stats for the last time that night, and for the hallway to empty. He closed the curtain over her window, and sat next to her bed. He actually hadn't left the hospital at all. He was shocked that there wasn't a guard on her door, but he figured it was just because Sonny was to out of it to think about it. Usually Jason reminded him, but not this time. Jason needed easy access to her room, and would always be lurking in nearby shadows. He'd expose himself if he needed to for her safety. Till then he'd see her only at night. He'd stay with her until morning, and then slip out.
"Hey, Princess," Jason sat by her side, and talked. He talked until his voice was beginning to disappear, and morning came.