Jack's sister arrived the following day. Claire had met Sara last summer when she and her family came to NY for a visit. Sara was a teacher in Bridgeport, CT. They kept each other company during the ICU visits and consultations with his doctors. Sara could stay but a few days. Claire promised her she would call her with updates on his condition.
Around the middle of the second week, his condition had improved enough to move him to a private room. This made Claire happy—it was more private and, in her mind, a step towards recovery. She brought in a boom box and some of his favorite CDs. Between the music, TV, and the books and magazines she read to him, his room was rarely quiet.
In the weeks that followed, Jack's friends and colleagues visited. As time passed, those visits became few and far between. She didn't blame anyone--he was still in a coma—no one home some would say. She didn't feel that way—she knew he was in there somewhere. No matter how long it took, she would be there for him. Adam still came by about every other evening for a short time. She wasn't sure if he came to visit Jack or to make sure she was OK—or maybe it was both. Anyway, his heart was in the right place. She saw a side of Adam she didn't know existed. He and Jack must have been cut from the same cloth.
The bastard that hit Jack pleaded guilty. It seems this guy had been driving on a suspended license from a previous DUI conviction. Claire was furious when she heard he only got a year at Edgecombe. Maybe if Jack had been there for the sentencing, the judge might have given him more time. It's funny, Claire thought, when something like this happens to you or to someone close to you; whatever punishment is handed out is never enough.
"I miss you!" With every passing day, Claire knows that the chance that he'll wake up becomes less and less. " I'd give anything to walk in this door and find you awake and smiling at me. The nights are the worst. I close my eyes, lying in the bed we share, and I can almost feel you next to me. I wake up holding the pillow that still has the scent of your aftershave. Adam said I should think about coming back to work—take time off when you get released from here. I don't know if I can do it. My body would be there but my thoughts would be with you. If the tables were turned, would you go back to work?" She played with the ribbon on one of the get-well balloons, as she thought about what he might do. "I guess you would." She kissed his motionless lips and said "I'll see you tomorrow. Good night my love."
She didn't go back to work. She applied for an indefinite leave of absence. She was so tired. The last couple of months had taken their toll on her. Most days Claire was lucky she knew what day of the week it was—never mind the date. She started this day as she did every day since the accident, whispering, "I love you", in his ear. She kissed his forehead, hoping today would be the day he would wake up, even for a moment, so that he could hear her say those words. She sat in the chair next to his bed and read to him from one of his biker magazines. Her eyelids began to get heavy. 'I'll just lay my head on his mattress—only for a moment she thought. I just need to close my eyes for a little while. Please God, if you're out there, don't let it be too late!' It was her last thought before her eyes finally fell shut and she loses herself in dreams of him.
About an hour later, she was awakened by the sound of moaning. It took her a few seconds to make the connection that it was Jack. It was the most wonderful sound she had ever heard.
His eyes were slowly adjusting to the light in the room and his mind was still in a fog.
"Jack? Hey, welcome back. I knew you'd wake up. There's so much I have to tell you."
In a very weak voice he said, "I know, I heard you talking to me."
"You heard me?"
"Yeah, ….I did. You were the light in my darkness. Thank you, Claire."
"I'd better get a doctor or nurse to look at you." She stroked the side of his face, and then kissed him.
He touched her hand as she started to leave. "No, wait please. I want you to know that I love you too! Claire, you are the love of my life. I'm sorry it took so long for me realize it."
"Me too!" As she made her way down the hall to the nurses' station, it dawned on her that she could have used the call button. 'Oh well, doesn't matter.' When she reached the station, a code blue alarm sounded.
Everyone at the station responded. "Room 203, get the crash cart! " she heard one nurse say. That was Jack's room. No, it can't be –I just left him. "Oh, god no!" She followed the emergency crew down the hall. They told her she should remain outside. She refused and promised to stay out of the way.
They worked on him for what seemed to be forever. He was having a heart attack. A blood clot had broken off from somewhere in his body and gone to his heart. She was told that this could happen to people who are bed ridden. They had been giving him blood thinners and used the compression stocking to prevent such a thing, but it still happened. He was gone—just like that. Claire was in shock. The thoughts in her head where spinning wildly. She was angry with herself for not staying with him. She was angry that she didn't say more than 'me too!' when he told her how much he loved her. He said that he heard her—but did he hear her when she said she loved him. She could never know for sure now—it was too late.
A hand on her shoulder startled her. It seems she had fallen asleep again. At first she thought it was one of the hospital staff. As her eyes focused, she realized that the hand belong to Jack. She pulled back--it freaked her out! 'Am I dreaming now or was I dreaming before.' She thought. She stood up and stared at Jack in disbelief. "Is that you? Is it really you?"
In a weak puzzled voice he said, "I think so! Everything hurts, so it must be me."
"Oh Jack, you don't know how happy that makes me."
"What??"
"I'll explain later. Let me push the call button." She didn't take her eyes off him—still unsure that this was reality. "Do you remember what happened?"
"Not really. I think I was on my way home on my bike…someone hit me ..after that,--nothing." He was in pain, but he had to tell her. "…….I do remember having a revelation before that." "I love you, Claire." He said fearing he might pass out before getting those words out. "That was my revelation."
"I love you too, Jack" She gave him a passionate kiss. "It's real!" She knew at that moment everything would be ok.
THE END
Incase you were curious--
"She Makes My Day" lyrics
I feel so lucky loving her
Tell me what else is magic for
She thinks it's better left unsaid
She makes her mind up in a glance
It really made a difference
I seem to be unconditionally hers
She's like a new girl everyday
And all the rest don't bother me
I'm far too busy loving her
I'll never be lonely now I know her
She fills my heart with joy, she makes my day
She just has to smile to blow my cares away
She just has to touch my hand, to make me stay.
She's all good loving at once
She's all good loving at once
She's all good loving at once
She's all good loving at once
Our love was unintentional
She says we're not responsible
She thinks with her chin up
She always makes uncommon sense
Always knows just what to say
She always takes me unawares
In less time than it takes to fall,
I'm here and there you are
We never fought it anyway
I'll never be lonely now I know her
She fills my heart with joy, she makes my day
She just has to smile to blow my cares away
She just has to touch my hand, to make me stay.
I feel so lucky loving her
Tell me what else is magic for
She thinks it's better left unsaid
She makes her mind up in a glance
It really made a difference
I seem to be unconditionally hers
She's like a new girl everyday
And all the rest don't bother me
I'm far too busy loving her
I'll never be lonely now I know her
She fills my heart with joy, she makes my day
She just has to smile to blow my cares away
She just has to touch my hand, to make me stay.
Please feel free to let me know what you think. This is my first attempt at a fanfic. I have another one in the works, but it's more like an episode—including the "Duh-dunk" in between scenes. Thanks for your time.