No Time to Waste
by TheRealXenocide
`
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer, and this variant since Henry Ford. However, this is the first I've seen it applied to Lizzie.
`
A/N: Here is the chapter many of you have been waiting for. Before we begin, however, I wanted to point out something. I don't know how many of you have had loved ones in CICU. In my case, my father, a former G.I., developed heart trouble in his mid-forties. He'll never admit it, but I believe that was a major reason he retired from the service. Anyway, thanks to that, as well as my rather expansive extended family, I've been to more than a few. Most I've been to only allow one visitor at a time, and most of those only allow family. However, there was one in Virginia I remember that allowed all three of us (mom, sis, and I) in there together. And it wasn't just our ages, as I remember groups of three adults in some rooms. I remember thinking how weird it seemed, but now I think that place may have been on to something. So, I decided to give a similar policy to the hospital in this story. I'm just going to cut the number to two, but allow non-relatives with the families written permission.
`
Chapter 16
Phoenix Rising
`
At approximately 9:30 Saturday morning, the CICU ward was very quiet. Not that it was ever a particularly rowdy place, but weekend mornings were almost spooky, even for the staff. So everyone at the desk heard the elevator chime, and those that could turned to see who it was. Two figures, one male and one female, in their late teens. That was odd. Teens were a rare sight in here. The male was in hospital cloths and a wheelchair, so he must be a patient. The girl looked nervous. They came to the desk, gave their names, and the name of whom they were there for. After checking her list, the head nurse asked for them to sign in before she saw the notice about the boy's condition, but he insisted on trying. That done, the pair headed for the room. They got to the room, and settled in at the corner directly away from the door, so as to be out of the way if something happened. That put them on the occupant's cast-incased right side.
The girl spoke. "Are you sure we should be here?" She was clearly nervous.
The boy answered calmly. "We have his father's permission, remember? He asked me if I wanted to visit, and I told him only if you could, too. He agreed."
"That's not what I meant."
"I know. But do you know how unlikely it is he'll wake with us here?"
"But if he does, I doubt we'd be welcome. He has no idea what's happened this past week. He'll still believe he has reason to be jealous of you. And I'm not exactly one of his favorite people."
"But he won't be able to do anything drastic. We will have the chance to tell him want we can. It will be up to him listen, but for all of our . . . eh . . . issues, I've never known him to be without reason."
"Yes, well, I still think she should be the one here."
"She will be here, but not without family. We both know she's strong, but everyone has limits. If I think of how I might be if this were you," the boy's face paled at the thought, "being blind wouldn't change the fact I would know you were there, like that. I don't think I could face that alone, and I would never ask her to."
"I guess you're right. Nobody ever told me trying to be nice to them would be so uncomfortable."
"Any regrets?"
"The only thing I regret with you," she whispered seductively, "is that our first time together was only physical. I hope we find out what it's like when the heart's involved, soon."
He blushed, but played along. "Why, ma'am, how you do talk."
The kissing that followed was interrupted by . . .
~~
His head felt like it was floating and falling at the same time. 'Ugh, this can't be good. Maybe this is what it's like to be Ethan.'
He tried to open his eyes. He snapped them shut again, regretting the attempt. 'Where's a bucket? Okay, settling down. Am I on the sun? No, I'd be hot, not cold. It's too bright in here. Where's here? Wasn't I in the car? I'll rest. I'll wait for someone.'
A few minutes later, he heard footsteps and 'squeaking? That's weird. I'll wait until I know who it is. If my head stops swimming.'
He heard their voices, but at first couldn't place them. Then he heard her say "he'll still believe he has reason to be jealous of you. And I'm not exactly one of his favorite people." He would have been disappointed, if his curiosity didn't take hold. 'Kate? Why is she here?' As soon as he heard her companion's reply, he knew who it was. 'Ethan? Stranger by the second. I think I'll listen in.'
When they were talking about "she," he assumed they meant Lizzie. Before he could question his assumption, he heard Ethan say something about, 'BLIND? Oh, man.'
He then heard Kate trying to whisper about, 'FIRST TIME?!? Now I've got to break this up before I really hurl.' He felt around for something. Getting hold of something that felt plastic and rectangular, he moved his hand until his knuckles felt metal, then . . .
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
~~
Kate and Ethan nearly jump out of their skins when they heard the noise. Kate looked, and at first couldn't see anything. She got up and walked around the bed. That was when she saw it. The hand opposite them was banging the call button casing against the bed's guardrail. His hand was moving. "Ohmygod! Ethan, his hand, it's moving!"
"That would explain the noise. Are his eyes open?"
"No."
Gordo tried to talk, but his throat felt as bad as his head, and his scratchy voice could only manage a barely audible "too . . . bright" before giving up.
Ethan's reply came in a chiding tune. "Don't talk, man, your voice sound like hell. Hurts my throat to hear it." He then spoke in a more kind tune. "Look, we're going to get the nurse at the desk in a minute. But first, I wanted to get something clear between us. Please do yourself a favor and just listen."
Gordo decided to try once more. "K." He had tried to say okay, but pain and lack of use wouldn't allow it.
"Good. First, we were in a crash, but everyone fine. Well, I guess that depends on what you call fine. You'll hear about everyone later, but we need to be clear about Lizzie. I broke up with her. The crash, and something else, helped me face my fears. I had left Kate because I was too scared of how deeply I had fallen for her. But now, I know I can't waste time being afraid of that. So Kate and I are back together. There's more to the story, but I let others tell you their stories first. But now you know. Lizzie is available. Don't make my mistake. Kate, let's go." Gordo heard footsteps, followed by the same footstep/squeak sound as before. He spent the time until the staff descended on him wondering at what he had just been told.
~~~~~~~~
By 1:00 p.m. that afternoon, Gordo's throat was starting to accept small amounts of fluids. However, doing so still made his stomach feel like he'd throw up, so he kept a bedpan ready. The lights in his room had been dimmed some, but it took a pair of those cardboard sunglasses they give after eye exams before he could open his eyes without pain. The head nurse explained that his eyes and throat were both reacting to being unused for so long. 'Problem is,' he thought, 'she won't say how long. Why? And why am I here?' The staff didn't want to say where he was either, until, after he had his shades, he saw and pointed to the sign visible though his room's window, about halfway down the hall: CICU Nurses Station.
His doorway darkened. He turned his head, and saw his parents standing there. They looked nervous. That unnerved him. He waved them in slowly. His mother couldn't help herself, and she rushed in to hug him. When she was done (for now), she sat in a chair near the door, and his father walked toward him. He was carrying something. "The nurse told us your eyes and throat were giving you trouble. I can't do much for your eyes, but I brought this so you can communicate without hurting yourself." He lightly placed it in his son's left hand. It was a digital notepad with mini-keyboard. "I know typing one-handed will be tough, but you shouldn't talk unless your doctor tells you to." Gordo's started to type, but his father took his hand. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions. But, I'd like for you to wait until tomorrow to ask. There are some things I expect you'll want to know that I can't answer yet. I'll try to find those out for you this afternoon. Can you wait?"
Gordo thought, then nodded slowly. When his father let go of his hand, he held up one finger. He then started typing. ~ HOW LONG OUT ~
His father looked at the screen and smiled, but his eyes were grave. "Not going to let this chance go without something? I guess I can understand that. David, you were in a crash on your way home . . . 8 days ago."
Gordo's eyes nearly left their sockets. ~ 8 ~
"Yes. You were the last of your friends to recover. Miranda was first, on Monday. Lizzie and Ethan both came back on Wednesday. No, don't ask. I'll tell you what I can. Miranda's body is almost fully recovered. Lizzie," he tapped lightly on his son's arm cast, "has casts on her right arm and leg, too. Ethan. He's alive, but . . ."
Gordo had been typing. ~ BLIND ~
"How do you know? Wait, I remember the nurse said you had visitors when you woke. Ethan and Kate?" Gordo nodded. "I would have preferred to tell you myself, but . . . that's a story for later." His father's face looked sad again. "There is something else you probably want to know. I can see the sign, too. Why are you in CICU? I wish we had a solid answer. But you deserve to know. David, the crash left you with a severally broken pelvic bone, and a bad break near the ball joint of your hip. They needed to operate to fix those breaks. But because you were so weak, they waited until yesterday. They . . . had a lot of trouble with your heart."
~ Y/N DID I DIE ~ Gordo's face bore a look of challenge even through the shades.
His father swallowed, then decided to answer. "For about 20 seconds, yes. But you came back, son. Now please, no more questions. No parent expects to outlive their child, but we nearly did. Please, let's just spend this time together. Just family."
Gordo couldn't recall the last time he saw his father this close to tears. He turned off the notepad, and nodded.
~~~~~~~~
It was 7:30, after dinner, when Dr. Gordon returned to the Sanchez home to talk to Miranda. They chose the later time so the Gordons could check on their son. He arrived after dropping his wife off at home. When he arrived, he was greeted at the door by Mr. Sanchez. "You look surprisingly chipper. What's going on?"
Dr. Gordon smiled. "I'll explain when everyone can hear. Where are the ladies?"
Mr. Sanchez looked tense. "EVERYONE is in the living room." He turned to lead the way.
When they got there, Dr. Gordon realized the reason for the man's manner. The McGuires were there, which meant Matt was with Miranda. Tonight, they had taken over the love seat. And, to the doctor's great amusement, they were eating ice cream from a shared bowl. "At least you two aren't sharing a chair."
That got their attention. Matt was feeling good enough to play along. "Hey, now that sounds like a good idea." The look from Mr. Sanchez sent Matt into a laughing fit. "I'm kidding!"
Jo had a hard time not laughing with him, but managed to ask Dr. Gordon. "You're in a good mood. What brought this on?"
"If I can have everyone attention," he said over Matt's laughter. Once Matt calmed down, he told them. "When I got home to take my wife the hospital, I received some news from the hospital." He had them on the edges of their seats. "We rushed over, and spent the afternoon with our AWAKE son."
After several sound of joy and inquiries into his health, Dr. Gordon raised his hands. Smiling broadly, he told them, "I'll tell you how he is as soon as you let me." Everyone sat down, and he began. "David only just came around, but he's doing fine. His eyes are bothered by the lights, but that is to be expected. His stomach hasn't had anything for days, so he's on fluids. That, too, will improve with time. His throat is too sore to speak yet, but I've given him something to help him communicate until that improves. These are all normal things, so I expect he'll be fine."
"Sir," Miranda asked in a small voice, "I hate to ask this, but have you heard anything about what happened?"
Dr. Gordon's smile fell slightly. "No, but he's been stable since the operation. I'm hopeful he's safe now, especially since he's awake." He saw the apology in her body language. "No need to be sorry. I'm worried to. But we should focus on the positive."
"And you've brought excellent news" Mrs. Sanchez said. "However, I'm sure you want to be home as soon as you can, so I wonder if you'd like to start with Miranda. I thought that the patio would be a good place for tonight."
"Unorthodox, but I agree if Miranda does."
"Yes." She looked at Matt, who had her hand. "I know you're worried, but I need to do this. I need to know I'll be okay if you can't be there. You understand, don't you."
"I know you need to, and I know you can. Just remember what we talked about."
"I will." She released him and playfully took a mothering tune. "Now you go home and get some rest."
He shook his head and grinned. "Yes, ma'am."
"Congratulations," Jo said smiling, "you've already got him trained."
Nobody was sure which was funnier, Jo's remark and Matt's shade of red.
~~~~~~~~
A/N: Next Chapter, Gordo gets more visitors. And just what did Matt mean "what we talked about."? Stay tuned!
by TheRealXenocide
`
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer, and this variant since Henry Ford. However, this is the first I've seen it applied to Lizzie.
`
A/N: Here is the chapter many of you have been waiting for. Before we begin, however, I wanted to point out something. I don't know how many of you have had loved ones in CICU. In my case, my father, a former G.I., developed heart trouble in his mid-forties. He'll never admit it, but I believe that was a major reason he retired from the service. Anyway, thanks to that, as well as my rather expansive extended family, I've been to more than a few. Most I've been to only allow one visitor at a time, and most of those only allow family. However, there was one in Virginia I remember that allowed all three of us (mom, sis, and I) in there together. And it wasn't just our ages, as I remember groups of three adults in some rooms. I remember thinking how weird it seemed, but now I think that place may have been on to something. So, I decided to give a similar policy to the hospital in this story. I'm just going to cut the number to two, but allow non-relatives with the families written permission.
`
Chapter 16
Phoenix Rising
`
At approximately 9:30 Saturday morning, the CICU ward was very quiet. Not that it was ever a particularly rowdy place, but weekend mornings were almost spooky, even for the staff. So everyone at the desk heard the elevator chime, and those that could turned to see who it was. Two figures, one male and one female, in their late teens. That was odd. Teens were a rare sight in here. The male was in hospital cloths and a wheelchair, so he must be a patient. The girl looked nervous. They came to the desk, gave their names, and the name of whom they were there for. After checking her list, the head nurse asked for them to sign in before she saw the notice about the boy's condition, but he insisted on trying. That done, the pair headed for the room. They got to the room, and settled in at the corner directly away from the door, so as to be out of the way if something happened. That put them on the occupant's cast-incased right side.
The girl spoke. "Are you sure we should be here?" She was clearly nervous.
The boy answered calmly. "We have his father's permission, remember? He asked me if I wanted to visit, and I told him only if you could, too. He agreed."
"That's not what I meant."
"I know. But do you know how unlikely it is he'll wake with us here?"
"But if he does, I doubt we'd be welcome. He has no idea what's happened this past week. He'll still believe he has reason to be jealous of you. And I'm not exactly one of his favorite people."
"But he won't be able to do anything drastic. We will have the chance to tell him want we can. It will be up to him listen, but for all of our . . . eh . . . issues, I've never known him to be without reason."
"Yes, well, I still think she should be the one here."
"She will be here, but not without family. We both know she's strong, but everyone has limits. If I think of how I might be if this were you," the boy's face paled at the thought, "being blind wouldn't change the fact I would know you were there, like that. I don't think I could face that alone, and I would never ask her to."
"I guess you're right. Nobody ever told me trying to be nice to them would be so uncomfortable."
"Any regrets?"
"The only thing I regret with you," she whispered seductively, "is that our first time together was only physical. I hope we find out what it's like when the heart's involved, soon."
He blushed, but played along. "Why, ma'am, how you do talk."
The kissing that followed was interrupted by . . .
~~
His head felt like it was floating and falling at the same time. 'Ugh, this can't be good. Maybe this is what it's like to be Ethan.'
He tried to open his eyes. He snapped them shut again, regretting the attempt. 'Where's a bucket? Okay, settling down. Am I on the sun? No, I'd be hot, not cold. It's too bright in here. Where's here? Wasn't I in the car? I'll rest. I'll wait for someone.'
A few minutes later, he heard footsteps and 'squeaking? That's weird. I'll wait until I know who it is. If my head stops swimming.'
He heard their voices, but at first couldn't place them. Then he heard her say "he'll still believe he has reason to be jealous of you. And I'm not exactly one of his favorite people." He would have been disappointed, if his curiosity didn't take hold. 'Kate? Why is she here?' As soon as he heard her companion's reply, he knew who it was. 'Ethan? Stranger by the second. I think I'll listen in.'
When they were talking about "she," he assumed they meant Lizzie. Before he could question his assumption, he heard Ethan say something about, 'BLIND? Oh, man.'
He then heard Kate trying to whisper about, 'FIRST TIME?!? Now I've got to break this up before I really hurl.' He felt around for something. Getting hold of something that felt plastic and rectangular, he moved his hand until his knuckles felt metal, then . . .
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
~~
Kate and Ethan nearly jump out of their skins when they heard the noise. Kate looked, and at first couldn't see anything. She got up and walked around the bed. That was when she saw it. The hand opposite them was banging the call button casing against the bed's guardrail. His hand was moving. "Ohmygod! Ethan, his hand, it's moving!"
"That would explain the noise. Are his eyes open?"
"No."
Gordo tried to talk, but his throat felt as bad as his head, and his scratchy voice could only manage a barely audible "too . . . bright" before giving up.
Ethan's reply came in a chiding tune. "Don't talk, man, your voice sound like hell. Hurts my throat to hear it." He then spoke in a more kind tune. "Look, we're going to get the nurse at the desk in a minute. But first, I wanted to get something clear between us. Please do yourself a favor and just listen."
Gordo decided to try once more. "K." He had tried to say okay, but pain and lack of use wouldn't allow it.
"Good. First, we were in a crash, but everyone fine. Well, I guess that depends on what you call fine. You'll hear about everyone later, but we need to be clear about Lizzie. I broke up with her. The crash, and something else, helped me face my fears. I had left Kate because I was too scared of how deeply I had fallen for her. But now, I know I can't waste time being afraid of that. So Kate and I are back together. There's more to the story, but I let others tell you their stories first. But now you know. Lizzie is available. Don't make my mistake. Kate, let's go." Gordo heard footsteps, followed by the same footstep/squeak sound as before. He spent the time until the staff descended on him wondering at what he had just been told.
~~~~~~~~
By 1:00 p.m. that afternoon, Gordo's throat was starting to accept small amounts of fluids. However, doing so still made his stomach feel like he'd throw up, so he kept a bedpan ready. The lights in his room had been dimmed some, but it took a pair of those cardboard sunglasses they give after eye exams before he could open his eyes without pain. The head nurse explained that his eyes and throat were both reacting to being unused for so long. 'Problem is,' he thought, 'she won't say how long. Why? And why am I here?' The staff didn't want to say where he was either, until, after he had his shades, he saw and pointed to the sign visible though his room's window, about halfway down the hall: CICU Nurses Station.
His doorway darkened. He turned his head, and saw his parents standing there. They looked nervous. That unnerved him. He waved them in slowly. His mother couldn't help herself, and she rushed in to hug him. When she was done (for now), she sat in a chair near the door, and his father walked toward him. He was carrying something. "The nurse told us your eyes and throat were giving you trouble. I can't do much for your eyes, but I brought this so you can communicate without hurting yourself." He lightly placed it in his son's left hand. It was a digital notepad with mini-keyboard. "I know typing one-handed will be tough, but you shouldn't talk unless your doctor tells you to." Gordo's started to type, but his father took his hand. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions. But, I'd like for you to wait until tomorrow to ask. There are some things I expect you'll want to know that I can't answer yet. I'll try to find those out for you this afternoon. Can you wait?"
Gordo thought, then nodded slowly. When his father let go of his hand, he held up one finger. He then started typing. ~ HOW LONG OUT ~
His father looked at the screen and smiled, but his eyes were grave. "Not going to let this chance go without something? I guess I can understand that. David, you were in a crash on your way home . . . 8 days ago."
Gordo's eyes nearly left their sockets. ~ 8 ~
"Yes. You were the last of your friends to recover. Miranda was first, on Monday. Lizzie and Ethan both came back on Wednesday. No, don't ask. I'll tell you what I can. Miranda's body is almost fully recovered. Lizzie," he tapped lightly on his son's arm cast, "has casts on her right arm and leg, too. Ethan. He's alive, but . . ."
Gordo had been typing. ~ BLIND ~
"How do you know? Wait, I remember the nurse said you had visitors when you woke. Ethan and Kate?" Gordo nodded. "I would have preferred to tell you myself, but . . . that's a story for later." His father's face looked sad again. "There is something else you probably want to know. I can see the sign, too. Why are you in CICU? I wish we had a solid answer. But you deserve to know. David, the crash left you with a severally broken pelvic bone, and a bad break near the ball joint of your hip. They needed to operate to fix those breaks. But because you were so weak, they waited until yesterday. They . . . had a lot of trouble with your heart."
~ Y/N DID I DIE ~ Gordo's face bore a look of challenge even through the shades.
His father swallowed, then decided to answer. "For about 20 seconds, yes. But you came back, son. Now please, no more questions. No parent expects to outlive their child, but we nearly did. Please, let's just spend this time together. Just family."
Gordo couldn't recall the last time he saw his father this close to tears. He turned off the notepad, and nodded.
~~~~~~~~
It was 7:30, after dinner, when Dr. Gordon returned to the Sanchez home to talk to Miranda. They chose the later time so the Gordons could check on their son. He arrived after dropping his wife off at home. When he arrived, he was greeted at the door by Mr. Sanchez. "You look surprisingly chipper. What's going on?"
Dr. Gordon smiled. "I'll explain when everyone can hear. Where are the ladies?"
Mr. Sanchez looked tense. "EVERYONE is in the living room." He turned to lead the way.
When they got there, Dr. Gordon realized the reason for the man's manner. The McGuires were there, which meant Matt was with Miranda. Tonight, they had taken over the love seat. And, to the doctor's great amusement, they were eating ice cream from a shared bowl. "At least you two aren't sharing a chair."
That got their attention. Matt was feeling good enough to play along. "Hey, now that sounds like a good idea." The look from Mr. Sanchez sent Matt into a laughing fit. "I'm kidding!"
Jo had a hard time not laughing with him, but managed to ask Dr. Gordon. "You're in a good mood. What brought this on?"
"If I can have everyone attention," he said over Matt's laughter. Once Matt calmed down, he told them. "When I got home to take my wife the hospital, I received some news from the hospital." He had them on the edges of their seats. "We rushed over, and spent the afternoon with our AWAKE son."
After several sound of joy and inquiries into his health, Dr. Gordon raised his hands. Smiling broadly, he told them, "I'll tell you how he is as soon as you let me." Everyone sat down, and he began. "David only just came around, but he's doing fine. His eyes are bothered by the lights, but that is to be expected. His stomach hasn't had anything for days, so he's on fluids. That, too, will improve with time. His throat is too sore to speak yet, but I've given him something to help him communicate until that improves. These are all normal things, so I expect he'll be fine."
"Sir," Miranda asked in a small voice, "I hate to ask this, but have you heard anything about what happened?"
Dr. Gordon's smile fell slightly. "No, but he's been stable since the operation. I'm hopeful he's safe now, especially since he's awake." He saw the apology in her body language. "No need to be sorry. I'm worried to. But we should focus on the positive."
"And you've brought excellent news" Mrs. Sanchez said. "However, I'm sure you want to be home as soon as you can, so I wonder if you'd like to start with Miranda. I thought that the patio would be a good place for tonight."
"Unorthodox, but I agree if Miranda does."
"Yes." She looked at Matt, who had her hand. "I know you're worried, but I need to do this. I need to know I'll be okay if you can't be there. You understand, don't you."
"I know you need to, and I know you can. Just remember what we talked about."
"I will." She released him and playfully took a mothering tune. "Now you go home and get some rest."
He shook his head and grinned. "Yes, ma'am."
"Congratulations," Jo said smiling, "you've already got him trained."
Nobody was sure which was funnier, Jo's remark and Matt's shade of red.
~~~~~~~~
A/N: Next Chapter, Gordo gets more visitors. And just what did Matt mean "what we talked about."? Stay tuned!