Cat and Mouse
Chapter 5
A Time to Heal, A Time to Hope
…
…
"Let's get her stable first, before we deal with that letter," Adam said to his shocked team. He cleaned up Emma's arm. "Shal, get me the suture tray in the 3rd drawer."
Shal opened the drawer and quickly handed him the tray. Emma, don't die, she thought over and over. She kept telling herself to breathe in, breathe out. It had been a difficult time at Myra's, but she should've realized how much it hurt for Emma. But then, Emma did a good job of hiding from them, even while being in the same room sometimes.
Adam exhaled loudly. "Well, she missed the artery." He packed the wound and stitched it up quickly.
After looking again at the monitors, he continued, "We'll have to wait the rest of this out. There's nothing in her stomach to pump out. I don't want to risk her heart by giving her any stimulants or adrenaline." He ran his hand through his hair as he looked at the three before him and perched on a stool.
"Ok, Shal. Read her letter."
Shalimar read Emma's letter aloud: Shalimar, I can't handle a 2nd broken heart. I went off the deep end when I thought she had died. I roamed the streets, drinking, shooting up, and sleeping with whoever offered me enough money for the next bottle, the next fix. I got pregnant as a result. I have a daughter out there who doesn't know me. They took her away from me. I thought I was over that. I blocked her out of my mind. I don't know where she is. I couldn't take care of her. Loosing Myra twice and my baby girl and I'm going out of my mind right now. I wish I could find my baby girl. I imagine she's better off where she is now. I don't know if I did any damage to her, as far along as I was when I finally realized that I was pregnant. I'm sorry, Shalimar. It's better this way…Thanks for being you…Emma
Each one of the team reacted strongly, disbelieving what they heard.
"No!
"Emma's a mother?"
"No way."
"Poor thing."
Adam cleared his throat and said, "I knew she had had a child from her scans, but I was waiting her to bring the subject up."
"Now what do we do?" Brennan asked.
"We have to wait until she wakes up and talks about it," Adam said quietly.
"I'll stay with her," Shalimar volunteered.
The rest of the team left reluctantly, telling Shalimar to call them if anything happened to Emma.
Shalimar paced around the med-lab for awhile. She was full of questions, questions that only Emma could answer. Only Emma was not in any condition to answer them, just yet.
"Emma, please wake up. Come back to us," Shal pleaded. She sat on the chair beside the medi-bed, wishing Emma awake, to talk to her. She laid her head down beside Emma's and held onto her uninjured arm.
A few minutes later, Shal fell into a restless slumber.
…
Adam checked on them periodically. Shal shifted every time Emma did, but still Emma slept on.
…
Hours later
Emma opened her eyes and closed them quickly against the glare from the overhead lights. Her head was hurting badly. She squinted around and recognized the medi-lab. Damn, I hurt. She groaned and shifted her weight. Her throat was dry and parched. She could feel where her wrist was bandaged and wiggled it experimentally. Ow!!!!! I did a good one there.
Shal heard and felt Emma shifting around again. "Emma?" she whispered.
Emma swallowed, trying to get enough saliva to talk, but was unsuccessful. She groaned again.
"Emma?" Shal asked again.
She nodded and opened up her eyes. She moved her undamaged arm out of Shal's grasp and shaded her eyes. Shal left her side briefly to dim the lights and to call Adam on the com-link. "Adam, Emma's awake."
"I'll be right there." Adam hurried up to the medi-lab.
Emma tried to sit up. Shalimar hovered around her in case she fell. Emma groaned and pantomimed pointed at her throat. Adam handed her a small glass of water when he came in just then.
"Is that better?" He asked.
"Yeah!" She hoarsely answered.
"Are you hungry yet?"
Emma nodded, not quite trusting her voice yet.
Adam activated his com-link. "Jesse, could you make some of that soup and bring it to the lab."
"What? Emma awake yet?" Jesse asked.
"Yes, she is."
Shalimar kept trying to catch Emma's eyes and Emma kept avoiding her. She didn't want to look at Shalimar, just yet. Shalimar decided another tactic was in order, and crawled up behind her and just held on. Adam took the silence in stride and ran the scanner over Emma carefully.
When Adam was done, he cleared his throat loudly. "Ok. Emma we know why you did it, but why? We need to talk this over. We're all family here. What each one does affects the others in many ways."
Emma shook her head, drew her knees up and hid her face against them.
Jesse came in then with the soup. He had many questions in his eyes and looked at Adam expectantly. Adam shook his head. Jesse looked crestfallen.
Brennan came into the lab a few minutes later, while Emma quietly ate the soup. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. She felt the love and concern from all of the team. Finishing the soup, she just sat there holding the cup and rubbed her thumb over the handle several times, not wanting to talk.
Adam cleared his throat again. Emma looked up at him, eyes wildly moving around the room, ready to jump into the corner if she had to. Adam felt the wave of fear coming from Emma.
"Is there some place here that you would be more comfortable talking about this? You can't expect us to ignore what just happened or what has happened," Adam quietly asked.
Emma looked around at them, assessing their actions. Nope, they weren't going to back down before they had answers. "The Tranquility Pool," she finally answered.
"Ok, Jesse and Brennan, go get sodas and glasses and meet us there." They left the room.
Emma stood up and almost fell if Shal hadn't of grabbed her elbow when she wobbled. She flashed a little smile at Shalimar. Adam walked over to her other side.
"We'll take it at your pace." Emma and Shalimar nodded.
They walked slowly down the hallway. Jesse and Brennen had placed extra cushions around the pool. Emma headed straight for her meditation spot. She drank some soda while she carefully arranged her thoughts, rubbing her eyes in some frustration. She then trailed her hand in the water, while holding onto Shalimar's proffered hand tightly.
"After the accident, I stayed alone in my apartment until I got evicted. I roamed the streets." Emma swallowed hard. "It started innocently enough. I used drugs, pills, and alcohol to become numb so I wouldn't feel all the pain that the accident left inside me. I worked the streets and whatever bars would let me in, so I could get the next fix, the next numbness, or the next bottle. I was lucky that I didn't get sick."
She sipped some more soda. " I had miscarried the first baby before I even realized that I was pregnant. The second time I got pregnant, I figured it out when I was about four months along. One of my regulars had heard about the Keller home and took me there. By the time my mind cleared up, I had signed the paperwork to give the baby up for adoption. I knew I was carrying a girl though." Emma's voice trailed off, while she thought about that year, I wonder how she is doing, my baby girl.
The team kept silent, seeing her struggle to tell them about those extremely dark days of her past. Emma was silent now, exhausted by keeping her emotions in check.
Shalimar squeezed her hand. The questions from the group started.
"When did you have her?"
"May 4th, 1999. They had me knocked out to keep the transition smoother. I never got to see her."
"I left the Keller home about a week later, after I finished up my GED classes. They found the job at JCPenney's for me. The rest you know."
Emma finally looked up at Shalimar's face and promptly burst into heavy sobbing. Shal held out her arms and Emma fell into them, seeking reassurance. Jesse and Brennan went around and hugged her from the sides. Adam looked down with concern at his youngest team member. He had no idea the depth she had fallen to before joining the team. No wonder she tried to suicide earlier today. The team let her cry herself out, knowing it was a step to healing.
…
Adam soon left to go look up something. He admonished all of them that Emma should not drink any alcohol or take any painkillers until he said she could have them. Emma didn't argue back.
Brennan headed off to bed. Shal and Jesse pulled Emma along into the kitchen to eat some more. She meekly followed, deep in thought. She knew Shal and Jesse wouldn't let her drink anymore, not that she wanted to just now. Not with the ache she was fighting, in her head and heart. Taking those pills and drinking all the alcohol was not the best idea in the world that she ever had, but it made sense at the time.
They sat in silence around the table for a while.
Jesse soon stretched and headed off to bed.
Emma was content to sit there, yawning, until Shalimar got up and pulled her to her feet. "Come on sleepyhead! Let's go to bed."
Emma allowed Shal to pull her down the hallway. She started to turn at her door, until Shal put a hand in front of her. She looked up at Shalimar, confused. "Come with me, Emma. We haven't had a chance to go and clean up the desk yet…" Emma looked at her feet, embarrassed. Shal pulled her chin up. "Don't be embarrassed, girl. Just don't bottle up on us the next time things seem to be going out of control." Shalimar traced her fingers lightly along Emma's face and ended by tapping Emma's nose.
Emma smiled lightly. "Ok, Shal. Your bed it is. Just let me get a change of clothes and a nightie, though."
Shal pushed Emma's door open and leaned against the frame, trying to ignore the blood smell. Emma quickly grabbed her nightie and a change of clothes from the dresser. She wound her fingers into Shalimar's and they headed off to Shal's room.
…
Adam was still up. He had been going through all of Emma's new paperwork. He had remembered seeing the name of the Keller House when he looked through them earlier. He sat back while he checked that folder out carefully. There were two trust-funds started about 4 years ago for two Hunter girls. Adam remembered Shal saying that Myra had no relatives yet, so this was a surprise. He turned to the computer and keyed up the accounts. They were for a Chestina Miranda and a Jorianne Violette Hunter, both born May 4th, 1999. He then keyed up the Vital records on the two girls. He waited for the response.
While he waited, he studied more of Emma's inheritance.
The computer beeped that he had email. He opened up the email from the Vital Registry and scanned down the two documents. The mother was Emma De Lauro on both girls! So, their Emma wasn't lying about the baby. Twins in fact! He made copies of the birth certificates to add to Emma's file.
He noticed then a picture that fell out of the file. He picked it up and turned it over: "To Aunt Mariya from Chessy and Jori aged 1 year". He turned the picture back over. He could see Emma's eyes in the two girls.
Sighing, he turned off the light, knowing tomorrow was going to be emotional when he broke the news.
…
The next day
Emma woke up feeling sad all over again. When will the pain stop? She felt Shalimar hugging her in her sleep and felt more at ease with herself and all that was going on. She poked Shalimar awake.
"Morning, sleepy head."
"Mmph". Shal grunted.
"Last one in the shower is a rotten egg!" Emma challenged Shalimar as she left the bed.
Shalimar giggled and soon joined Emma in the shower. They had a good time, soaping each other and giggling all the while…
…
Jesse had been up for awhile and was already deep into the computer. Adam left a message for him to find the whereabouts of two young girls. Not realizing that he might be looking at Emma's daughters, he didn't say anything to Emma and Shal as they traipsed to the kitchen for breakfast.
Emma poured herself a cup of coffee and bowl of cereal. Shalimar lazily ate a banana in a suggestive manner. Emma gave her looks over the edge of the coffee cup. Shalimar giggled when she realized what she was doing with the banana. "I'll get you later for that."
Jesse called Adam when he found the address. Adam then called Myra's lawyer and explained the situation to him. The lawyer was familiar with the young girls. When asked if they were adopted, the lawyer told him, "No, the adoption didn't go through. Miss Hunt-Heinz had guardianship of them. Legally, they are still the mother's."
"Can you contact the foster parents and have them meet us at the Estate house before lunch? I'll bring Emma over to meet them."
The lawyer agreed to set up the meeting.
Adam then called the Estate house and told them to expect the two girls. He wanted everything in place before he subjected Emma to any more excitement, or before he gave her any false hopes. He scanned the picture from the file and made a copy.
When he walked through the halls, he saw that Emma was meditating and Shalimar was up in the dojo. He went up and showed the picture to Shalimar. Her eyes widened. "Those are some cute babies, Adam. Whose are they?"
"Emma's" he mouthed.
Shalimar squealed and then clamped her hand over her mouth. "Are you sure? Have you shown her this yet?"
"Yes, I'm sure. And no, I haven't. I don't want to give her any false hopes just yet."
Emma heard Shalimar's squeal and wondered what they were talking about, but she couldn't hear anything from where she was sitting.
She didn't have long to wonder though.
Just before lunch, Adam called them all together. "Pack your bags for a few days. We're going to the Estate house for a change of scenery and to finish some of the modifications there."
They drove over there in expectant silence. Shalimar kept shooting looks at Adam that Emma couldn't miss. Clara met them at the door, smiling broadly. She told them that lunch would be served in the dining room. Then to Adam, "Your guests are in the parlor."
Guests? Wonder who they are. Emma thought to herself, thinking that Adam was being real secretive this morning.
Clara led them to the parlor. A young couple was sitting in there watching over two young girls, one brunette, one red head. They stopped short when the group entered the room.
Adam nodded at the couple and then turned to Emma. "Emma?"
She looked at Adam who was sending all these happy and proud emotions out. He introduced them around. "This is Bob and Carol and their foster daughters."
He paused dramatically for it to register correctly to Emma. "Chestina Miranda and Jorianne Violette Hunter."
Emma did not register the implications of the names. Shalimar started dragging her into the room and over to where the two girls stood. Jesse and Brennan realized who they were at about the same time.
"Myra was their guardian." Adam tried again.
Shalimar saw the girls still had Emma's eyes. She smiled broadly at them, and they smiled back.
"Emma, you lucky girl!" Jesse said, smiling too.
"Huh, what are you talking about?" Emma was getting questions in her head that she couldn't pinpoint the source of, just not yet. Is that her? Is that Mama? She looks different than Aunt Myra's picture.
Adam beckoned to the girls. "Chessy, Jori, how old are you?"
"Four." They responded in unison.
"When are your birthdays?"
"May 4th."
Emma still didn't comprehend what was going on.
"Come on, Emma, don't' you recognize them." Shal tried to help.
Adam took a hold of Emma's shoulders and walked her over to the girls. "Emma, meet your two daughters."
Emma looked at him like he was crazy.
"I don't have two daughters."
"According to their birth certificates you did." He pulled out the copies he had made earlier and showed her.
Emma sat down hard, "You're kidding me."
"No, I'm not. I wouldn't kid you after all that has gone on lately."
Bob and Carol encouraged the girls to go over. "That's your birth mom. Remember what we told you about her. Aunt Myra told you too."
Emma felt the two girls questioning her in her head, the same ones who were asking questions a few minutes earlier, and started crying. They ran over and gave Emma a big hug. She let go long enough to look at each one closely in the eyes. Mama, you came back. Why'd you leave us? We love you, we've always had.
Emma just held them harder. I had to leave. My mind wasn't working right when you two were born. She remembered briefly a comment that was made before she left the Keller Home. It isn't often that we have twins born here.
"Where's Aunt Myra?" They could not comprehend that Aunt Myra was gone.
Emma felt Shalimar's questioning hand on her back. "Chessy, Jori." She liked the names. She and Myra had talked about baby names at one point. "Meet your Aunt Shalimar." She shyly looked up at her teammate and lover. She asked with her eyes to Jesse and Brennan for permission. "This is Uncle Jesse and Uncle Brennan." She looked over at Adam, "And this is Granpa Adam." Adam nodded approval. The rest of the team came over to meet the two girls.
"Mama?" Chessy asked.
"What sweetie?"
"I was told to give you this message whenever I met you."
"What's that?"
"Katya apologizes for leaving you like she did. She'll be back later."
"Who's Katya?"
"Our big sister, only she'll be our little sister later on." Chessy explained.
"She said you wouldn't remember her exactly, but it wasn't the right time for her to be here." Jori added.
Clara rescued the uneasiness by announcing that lunch was ready.
Chessy and Jori held Emma's hands all the way to lunch. They didn't want to loose their Mama again, not so soon after just meeting her.
…
TBC
