Ch 13
Same disclaimer applies. :: Ping-pong balls rattle around in the lottery:: And this chapter is dedicated to Kaz456!
"OK Class, we'll go over reactions on Friday. Prepare for that quiz on Monday as well."
Cassie picked up her Chemistry books and tried to make a beeline for the door. It felt kind of odd being a college student on top of her other responsibilities. Her meeting this morning with the president went very well. The Hork-Bajir population was healthy and growing. They were growing so fast, they might need to move out of the valley.
Great. On top of Orgo, another thing I need to worry about.
But still, she enjoyed being able to have a semi-normal college experience. Of course, there was still the occasional autograph-seeker who bugged her for a picture from time to time.
But that's what you get for saving the world.
Cassie started to walk across the green. Most of the other kids were going back to the dorms, to get ready to have some fun this weekend. Instead of joining them, she had to go pick up Rae from daycare.
That's what happens when you have unprotected sex.
"Hey Cass," A couple people from her class called out.
"Oh! Hey Dom, hey Malik and Amanda! What's up?"
"Hey, we were gonna play some Frisbee out here, than we were going to pick up a bite to eat at the food court. Do you wanna come?"
Cassie looked at her watch.
"Aw guys, I'm sorry, but I have to run and pick up my little girl. I really wish I could though."
"Maybe next time Cassie. Don't worry about it."
They waved and walked away.
Cassie looked back at them. IN their collection of tank tops, jeans, baseball caps, and khaki shorts, they looked like the stereotypical college students, enjoying the best years of their lives. Cassie loved Rae to death, but sometimes…NO! She could never wonder about the most important thing in her life. She looked down at the black business suit she was wearing.
Still, just a day being normal would be fun.
She walked to where the campus daycare was. After entering the gate, she looked around for Rae. She finally spotted her playing in the sandbox with some of the other kids and a teacher. Before Cassie could even say a word, Rae put her bucket down and ran over to Cassie.
"MOMMY!" Rae's overalls and yellow shirt were covered in sand.
Cassie knelt down and kissed Rae."Hey honey! I missed you!"
"Miss Mommy!" Rae attached herself to Cassie's upper body.
"Ugh, you get bigger every day, I swear."
Rae batted her light brown eyes and smiled.
"Okay Rae, let's get you checked out, and then we can go."
Cassie walked into the building and went up to the teacher at the front desk.
"Hello Ms. Branch! How are ya?"
"I'm fine, Ms. Parker. How was Rae today?"
"That's what I was going to ask you about. She slept a good while today, and sort of kept to herself. That's not like the Rachel I know. She only woke up for art, lunch, and playtime this afternoon. Has she been sick lately?"
"No, she hasn't been sick. We've just been going through some major changes lately, with the wedding and all," Cassie said, partially telling the truth, "It's nothing we can't handle, right Rae?"
Rae looked up and smiled.
"Well, here's some of the artwork she did today. She'll make the prettiest, and and most talented little flower girl at the wedding. Take care now."
"You too, Ms. Parker."
Cassie gathers Rae's things from her cubby, and headed out the door.
As Cassie and Rae made their way across campus, they saw people relaxing, studying, tossing footballs & Frisbees, and basically lounging in the beautiful sunshine. People were just chilling, living normal, relaxing college lives.
Good, no autograph seekers.
She waved to Dom, Amanda, and Malik, who had joined a bunch of other kids in a furious game of ultimate Frisbee.
They all waved back.
I just wish I had one day…
________________________________________________________
It was only 3:30 when Cassie finally got off campus. She wanted to head straight home, but something in her mind told her to take a detour.
At the interstate exchange, she took the on-ramp that would take her to the base where Jake was.
The drive was very long, but it didn't seem to matter because Rae was asleep. Cassie used the time to think and reflect about how different her life would be in two months.
I'll be married…jeez…
The long ride seemed to calm her nerves. In fact, when she got to the base, she was pretty relaxed, given that she was going to see her seriously injured her ex-boyfriend in the hospital.
As she pulled up to the base, the MP waved her though when he saw her driver's license.
"Anything for an Animorph, ma'am." The MP said with a smile.
Great, but I'm not an Animorph anymore. I'm just Cassie.
She pulled around to the base hospital, got out of the car, put a sleeping Rae in her stroller, and made her way to the intensive care unit.
At the nurses' station, she requested to see Jake.
"I'm sorry, he's not here anymore."
"Where is he?" A hint of panic overtook Cassie's voice.
"Berenson? Oh, he got moved to North Wing. That's where they send the people who are physically challenged"
A slight wave of relief washed over Cassie's face.
"It's out this door, down the hall to the elevator. Take the elevator to the 4th floor. Walk to the left again, and then turn right when you see the receptionist. Berenson's in room 4720." The nurse told her.
"Thank you."
Cassie, stroller in hand, started the long and complicated journey to the North Wing. She was glad that Rae was napping in the stroller, because she saw soldiers in all types of conditions. Burned all over, in wheelchairs, missing legs, arms or even both. Some were blind, disfigured, and deformed. There were even some mentally disturbed people wandering the halls.
This is the true horror of war.
Finally she made it to the north wing. She checked in with the nurse on duty.
"I'm here to see CPT Jake Berenson, please."
"I'm sorry, but he's on psychiatric watch. No visitors. Especially kids." The nurse looked down with a sneer upon Rae.
"This is his daughter." Cassie said loud enough for everyone on the floor to here.
The nurse paused.
"Ok, let me check. And are you her nanny?"
"No, I'm her mother." Cassie was a kind soul at heart, but this lady was really making her mad.
"I was going to say. I knew she was a mulatto, I've never seen a black baby with that color hair. Another nurse will be by shortly."
Almost instantaneously, another nurse appeared to take Cassie to Jake's room.
"Roger, help her out. Take her to Berenson."
"No prob,"
Cassie was VERY glad that she was away from that woman. Five more seconds, and she wouldn't be responsible for her actions.
I hate ignorant people…
The nurse held the door open and Cassie pushed Rae into the room.
Jake wasn't in the bed. He was in his wheelchair, sitting, looking out the window. Most of the machines that were attached to him were gone. He was off the ventilator and breathing on his own. Besides a couple machines, some IV's and the bandages around his head and eye, he looked fairly normal. He had a robe on over his hospital gown, there was a blanket across his legs, and his feet were in slippers. When he heard her come in, he turned the wheelchair around and gave a sad smile.
"Cassie! Rae!" he exclaimed weakly.
"Hey Jake!" Cassie gave him a small hug."Ssh. Rae is sleeping."
"How has she been?"
"Her usual, wired self. I swear she takes after your side of the family. All she wants to do is play."
Jake smiled a weak smile.
"I don't know if taking after my family in anything is good. See, we Berensons are all crazy. We better hope that Rae doesn't follow her namesake-"
"Jake! Don't say things like that! We came all the way out here to see you and everything. Here, let me wake her up. Rachel, wake up sweetheart."
"Mngh…" the small girl mumbled,"Tiwed…"
"Don't be tired, Rae. Your Daddy's right here."
"Daddy!" she looked up and smiled.
"Hey Rae," Jake gave a small wave.
Cassie picked Rae up out of the stroller and gave her gently to Jake.
"Are you being a good girl for your Mommy?"
Rae smiled mischievously.
"Yah!"
Jake kissed the top of her head. Just seeing Rachel today had made his entire day so much better.
"She's been fine, Jake. In fact, she has a little present for you,"
Cassie reached into her briefcase and reached for the pictures that Rae did in daycare.
This past day had been very rough for him, to say the least. After he passed out, the doctors pumped him full of tranquilizers and antidepressants. They thought he was a 'danger' to himself after he exploded. It was probably his Dad's idea. They didn't want to hear the truth. No one did.
At least they took me off these damned machines…
He looked at the pictures Rae drew. Being the typical preschool pictures, he couldn't make out what they were, but Rae did them. That was enough for him.
"They're perfect."-Jake was beaming. He was so proud of his little girl.
"I'd knew you would like them,"Cassie said. She tried to smile a warm smile and took his hand.
"So how are you doing?"
"Just peachy. My parents hate me and everyone thinks I'm crazy." He sighed and stroked Rae's hair.
"Why? What happened?"
"THEY wanted me to live with them after I get out of here. No, they didn't want me to. They said that I will be living with them after I get out of here. I have no choice, no choice at all." Jake sulked. "They don't care about me at all. They hate me."
"Jake, I'm sure that they just want to do what's best for you. Your parents don't hate you."
"They can leave me alone! That's what's best for me!"
Cassie sighed. There was a lot of pain in Jake's relationship with his parents. She didn't want to get into an argument with him about it now, but people who hated their children wouldn't fly up to see them in the hospital, or take to their granddaughter so fast...
"So what do YOU want to do?"
"Marco says that I can move in with Tobias in his apartment in San Fran when I get released in 2 weeks, but…who knows…I really don't. I don't care…as long as I'm not with them. I just want to be able to be around for her."
And I want to be with you.
"No matter what happens, we'll be here to support you. Whenever you want to spend time with Rae, you can. I'll never deny you your right as a father."
"Thank you," Jake managed to say, choking up.
Cassie and Jake continued to talk to each other for a couple minutes more, mostly about Rae and how they were going to set up their visits. Cassie could sense that he was ecstatic about his daughter, but still upset about his parents, and being treated differently because he was in a wheelchair.
Let's just hope he gets the help he needs. For everyone's sake
Another nurse came in to the room, cutting short their conversation.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but it's time for Berenson's Physical Therapy."
Cassie got up and took Rae from Jake's grasp.
"Well, we'd better get on the road before it gets too late. Thanks for seeing us."
Cassie gave Jake a hug.
"I'll give you a call when we get in tonight. Take care of yourself. Say goodbye to Daddy Rae!"
"BYE DADDY!" Rae screamed and waved.
Cassie put Rae in the stroller and then left.
Jake watched the two best things in his life walk out of his room.
I'll try to take care of myself Cassie, I'll try…