"Saving Grace"
I own nothing, yada, yada, yada...
This is the sixth chapter. For those of you just reading for the first time the story is LG centric. Adam is no longer working after finding a body on the job. The body was one in a string of strange suicides that Kevin's paper is blaming on the police department. Luke and Grace have introduced their families to each other. Grace's married and pregnant sister, Faith is working with Kevin and the two have a sort of chemistry. Grace's oldest sister, Hope is in town and proves to be an interesting addition. Joan has finally worked out her issues with God and is helping Him by helping Kevin with Faith who just lost her husband and is headed to the hospital because she passed out at the Girardi's after an argument with Kevin.
-------------
Hope Polanski stands outside the Emergency Department of County Hospital smoking a cigarette. The petit brunette's tear stained face has been washed, but she appears completely frazzled. In the waiting room, Grace and Luke hold hands and stare at the doors to Faith's room where doctors are performing tests on her. Kevin and Joan sit next to each other rigid and frightened as they watch hospital staff enter and exit the room with suppressed anxiety. They are all so focused that no one notices when Helen sits down next to Grace and puts her hand on her leg, in comforting gesture.
Grace jumps into a standing position eyes wide and filled with fear. "What the Hell!" she shouts at Helen. Clutching her chest at the sight of her boyfriend's mother she sighs, "God you scared me..."
Helen covers her mouth, "Sorry Grace, I didn't mean to."
"Yeah well, lay off okay. I'm not into touchy feely," Grace explains sitting back down and putting her head on Luke's shoulder.
Helen sighs at the contradiction and sits next to Joan. "What have you heard?" she asks Kevin with concern.
"Nothing," Kevin shrugs. "They're waiting on some tests and the asked us to stay out here. Other than that, we know squat."
Joan snuggles next to her mother. "Mom, do you know what could happen to Faith if her condition is really bad?"
Helen shakes her head. "I know that she could be forced to deliver her baby early. But I really don't remember much else about the disease. I haven't read any of my pregnancy books for fifteen years now, sorry."
Luke looks at his mother. "Faith's eight months along though. That means that she can deliver a viable fetus." Grace smiles at Luke for his reassuring words.
Joan looks at her brother with irritation. "Viable? What does that mean?"
"That the baby could live," Hope answers from behind Joan. Everyone turns to face her and realizes that she is flanked by Rabbi and Mrs. Polonski. The three walk around the chairs and sit across from Joan, Kevin and Helen quietly. Mrs. Polonski is visibly intoxicated and angry.
Within minutes, a doctor arrives next to the Girardi's. Addressing Kevin, the doctor asks, "Are you the husband of Faith Cooper?"
Kevin blanches, "No, I'm a friend."
"Are any of her relatives here?" the doctor asks.
Rabbi Polonski stands. "Yes, I'm her father."
The doctor sighs. "Good. Mrs. Cooper will have to be taken to surgery and I need you to sign some consent forms for her."
The Rabbi clutches his chest. "Surgery?" he asks with concern. "You mean she has to deliver the baby today?"
The physician nods. "Yes. I'm afraid her blood pressure is too high because of the pregnancy and it is damaging her kidneys. If we don't operate soon, she and her baby could die."
Grace and Hope both jump up to the doctor. "Can we see her before the surgery?" Grace asks impatiently.
The physician smiles. "Yes. I'll take you back to see her now. I ask that only two of you go in at a time and that none of you upset her. We need to keep the external stimulus low to keep her blood pressure down."
"Okay, lets go then," Hope faintly says. Grace and Hope follow the doctor to the room and the rest of the group stare at Rabbi and Mrs. Polonski who appear shocked.
Mrs. Polonski reaches into her purse and pulls out a flask, taking a sip of amber liquid. The Rabbi shakes his head with disapproval as Helen, Luke, Kevin, and Joan stare at them. A nurse walks up and hands papers to the Rabbi.
"Sir, I'll need you to read and sign these consent forms," the nurse explains leading the older man away from the waiting room.
Mrs. Polonski shakes her head and glares at Kevin. "Stupid doctor! Thought my daughter would be married to a cripple..."
Helen's eyes grow wide with fury and she moves to defend her son, but Kevin places a soothing hand on her arm. "Let it go," he instructs as the drunk sniffs with disgust.
Joan and Luke ignore the outburst and gape with agony at Faith's door where Grace and Hope have disappeared.
--------
In the darkened room, Faith lies with her feet in the air and an IV inserted in her arm. She smiles at the sight of her worried sisters and reaches a hand out to them as they cautiously walk towards her.
"Hey girls," Faith whispers.
"Hey Faith," Grace responds. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I'm gonna have a baby," Faith smirks.
Hope shakes her head, "Only you would joke about this."
Faith smiles reassuringly. "Hey, it's going to be alright. I'm going to get to see my baby soon and I can't wait to meet her." Faith's eyes well up with tears. "She's my link to Abe, my little reminder, his gift to me."
Hope shutters and starts to cry as Grace sits next to Faith and takes her hand. "Are you scared?"
"Naw," Faith reassures her. "I've got too many doctors looking after me to be afraid."
Grace smiles as the physician returns to the room with a nurse. "I'm afraid we have to take you back to surgery now, Mrs. Cooper."
Faith nods and Grace stands and kisses her sister's forehead. Hope follows her and the two leave the room and head to the waiting area.
-----------
In the waiting area Grace collapses on Luke's lap burring her face in his neck as she quietly sobs. Luke is surprised, but quickly wraps his arms around her to comfort her. Hope straggles behind and heads outside for another cigarette. Kevin, Joan, Helen, Will, Rabbi and Mrs. Polonski all timidly watch and wait as the surgeons begin the cesarean section.