CHAPTER 11

"Thank God you're alright," T.C. said hugging Christy. He had just arrived at the hospital, having gotten on the first flight back to Santa Monica along with Cory; who was also at the hospital.

"Mom wasn't waking up," she cried against T.C's neck, "I tried Daddy, I really did," she continued still crying.

"I know you did, "T.C. said trying to calm her with words of encouragement, "Everything will be okay," he said letting go of her so he could wipe away her tears.

"Can I go with you to see her?" she asked.

"I'm sorry but you can't do that, at least not right now," he answered. Having seen the wreck on his way there he knew Chris would be in bad shape.

"Why not?" she inquired

"You've had a hard night I think it'll be best if you go home and get some rest," T.C suggested knowing that Christy would be free to leave since she escaped with only a cut on her forehead.

"But....," she started.

"Mr. Callaway?" Dr. Adanna Lewis asked

"Yes that's me." T.C. answered facing the doctor. She was a mixture of African and Caucasian. She was light brown, with long curly hair and green eyes.

"I'm Dr. Lewis; you're wife's doctor," she said out stretching her hand.

"How is she?" T.C asked urgently.

"Can I talk to you alone?" asked Dr. Lewis.

"I'll take Christy home if you need me too," Cory offered speaking for the first time.

"But I don't wanna - - -," she started.

"Thanks a lot Cory. I'd be very grateful if you did," T.C. said cutting her off, "I'll see you at home okay sweetie," he said kissing the top of her head. "I love you."

"I wanna stay with you," she argued again.

"Please don't argue with me Christy," T.C. said almost begging her.

"Okay fine then," she said folding her arms.

"Cory will get you some to eat and then you'll go to bed," he stated

"Whatever."

"And I love you too," T.C. said kissing her head once more. "Goodnight. Thanks again Cory."

"No problem," Cory replied, "Bye."

They both left with Christy walking a considerably good distance ahead of Cory.

"You're wife and daughters are very lucky to be alive Mr. Callaway," Dr. Lewis began.

"Excuse me?" T.C. asked.

"I said your wife and daughters...."

"Daughters? I'm sorry but there must be some kind of mistake. I only have one daughter."

"Correction. You had one daughter, not anymore. We had to do emergency caesarian on Mrs. Callaway. The baby's heart rate was dropping gradually. She wasn't getting enough oxygen. Chris was unconscious so we couldn't induce labour. So to save the baby we had to do emergency surgery."

"My God. We have another daughter," he said trying hard to believe it. He and Chris had a baby....together. A daughter of their own. Christy had a sister. She would be disappointed though because she had prayed for a brother. "How are they doing?" T.C. asked a moment.

"The baby is in the Intensive Care Unit (I.C.U.) she's having respiratory problems. She's in serious condition right now and being monitored closely."

"And Chris?" T.C. asked. That was the question he had wanted to ask all along but was afraid of the answer he'd get.

"You're wife is in critical condition. She's still unconscious, has a concussion, two broken ribs and a fractured knee. There's a strong possibility that she may not regain consciousness but there's no reason not to hope.

"This can't be happening," T.C said more to himself than to the doctor. He held his head in his hands and just sat there. The only thing he didn't do was cry. He knew he had to be strong for his wife and daughters. "Can I see them?" he heard himself asking.

"Sure. Follow me," Dr. Lewis replied.

"You're gorgeous," T.C. whispered standing over his baby daughter. He had decided to visit the baby first ..... further prolonging his visit with Chris. She was small. She weighed just five pounds two ounces. She was attached to a ventilator, which was helping her to breathe since she couldn't do so on her own. A tube ran down her throat which was giving her food. There were also other tubes attached to her little body. But despite all that T.C. thought she was the most beautiful baby he had ever seen. She took his breath away.

"Look at your little fingers. And that little nose. You're so beautiful. Your mom loves you and your sister does too and so do I. You're our precious little angel," he finished with a single tear rolling down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away and kissed her slightly. "I love you," he whispered. He took one last look at his and Chris' creation and left to see his wife.

He entered her room slowly almost afraid of what he'd encounter.

The sight of Chris had him numb. He lost all control right there and then, broke down and cried. Could this really be Chris? His Chris; the mother of his children. The same Chris he had seen good and well just a couple of days before. He felt like someone had taken a sledge hammer to his heart and done serious damage. She had multiple cuts and bruises about her face and hands. She too just like her daughter was hooked up to a lot of machines. He pulled up a chair next to her bedside and held her limp hand gently in his.

"Hey sweetheart," she said softly, his voice shaking. "Guess what?" he asked rhetorically. "We have another daughter. And she's so beautiful just like her mom," he said raising her hand to his lips. "I think she got my father's hair though," he went on, saying anything that came to his mind. "She's as bald as an egg. Who knows maybe she won't be a blond like you and have hair like me instead," he finished laughing a little. "You have to make it through this Chris," he said after a moment, breaking down again. "I can't imagine my life without you. I can't raise two girls on my own, I don't want another mother for them and I certainly don't want another wife. All I want is you. You have to get through his Chris. You hear me? We're all counting on you."

He left the hospital a while later and drove home slowly with his thoughts going at miles per minute. When he finally got home he met Cory sitting on the couch, with Christy surprisingly - - asleep upstairs. Cory lost her composure when she heard the news and T.C offered his support by holding her in his arms. And when he told Christy in the morning she too held T.C. and cried.

It was going to be a hard time for them all.

END OF CHAPTER 11

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