Jenny: I've made a few changes, read and find out... tell me what you think.
Princess Pinky: Ok dude, I'm here, and I've fixed things...lol, you're cool, thanks for reviewing and sorry for the delay.-------Peanut 2lb: Yeah my friend, IthinkI'mgoing for a twist now, let's see what happens,stay tuned, and don't worry. I wouldn't kill Lexie. Dude, thanks a lot for those hughs, i really needed them.------ PrUeAnDAnDy: Eww! Imagine a married corpse!... thanks for reviewing dude.--------Orion H.: Thanks Orion for reviewing, but if you don't mind, I'm sticking with Andy. Maybe I'll try something differente in the near future just to meet your request. Stay cool.------- JC: Long time no see dude, so honored to be reviewed by you. Thanks for reminding me about Victor, I wasn't really planning toinvite him, but I think I'll find a way to squeeze him in.-------Ruthy: Sorry to make you wait this long. I hope you like it. T.F.R.--------FaithKingsley: Dude...Here it is, finally, an update, I hope you're not mad for killing Lexie...read on...TFR.--------AlyssAs:LOL, Dude, I know you're just pulling my leg... (ouch!) Yeah, I think you're absolutely right,there are few tears coming your way soon, and Yeah, I wasgone too long for some major problems, but I'm back. Thanks for reviewing! ------...now...Read Everyone...and be nice!
CC McKenna
Earthquake
Chapter Ten
"Wait a minute" The Doctor slowly walked to Piper; immediately realizing the enormous mistake he'd just made. He just stood in front of her, pretending not to be aware of Darryl's piercing eyes. Even though his voice was completely unemotional, he knew he'd acted without any consideration at all. He was very nervous. "I'm sorry, but I guess I didn't make myself clear"
Piper wiped her eyes with a tissue that Darryl quickly placed on her hand and slowly turned around to face the doctor. "W-what?" She tried to steady her voice but it came out shaky anyway. "What exactly did you just say?" She softly mumbled as a small sparkle of hope blazed inside her eyes; the same sparkle that forced the doctor to divert his gaze.
"Your sister…uhm…the young one; the donor, that is…she uh…"
"She what!" Phoebe spat.
"She's not dead, well, she went into cardiac arrest during the operation,; it took us a few minutes but we did get her hart back in track again." The doctor stated with an almost smugly tone of voice. "She's in a comma" He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry if I made you think that she was…uhm…"
Phoebe was quick on her feet, nervously standing in front of the doctor. "That means she still has a chance, doesn't she?" She reflexively wiped her tears from her eyes, totally ignoring the doctor's stupidity, and immediately feeling how her soul returned to her body. "Right Piper?" She asked, swiftly turning to her sister, looking for some kind of support, any kind, but Piper remained quiet, trying to assimilate the doctor's words. "Doctor?" Phoebe looked at him with pleading eyes.
The doctor took a chair and slowly sat down, he leaned forward and stared at his hands. He wasn't just sitting, he was thinking. He was trying to decide whether he should give them hope or not, but after a short while he decided to be honest.
"Yes; but very little. Listen, I don't want to mislead you again," He cleared his throat. "If by some…miracle, your sister is able to survive, and maybe get a new heart, I'm afraid we don't know how much damage has been done to her brain…there was a considerate lack of oxygen and…we could never expect any sort of real recovery" He paused, letting those words sink in. Neither Piper nor Phoebe said anything. There wasn't anything to say. That was that.
The doctor slowly got on his feet and straightened his white coat. He took a deep breath, "Right now she's artificially being kept alive, and carefully supervised, we're doing all we can for her, she's having the best of cares thanks to the advanced technology that we have in this hospital, the rest…the rest is up to her now"
"Oh, wow, now that's a relief!" Andy spat, glaring at the man in front of him, and somehow wanting badly to strangle him. "Now I'm sure you're about to say how lucky she is, aren't you?"
"I d-didn't mean it to sound like that, what I meant is…"
"Save it, I don't care what you meant, we want to see them" Andy raised his voice almost to a shouting point, upsettingly running his fingers through his hair, still trying hard to keep himself under control.
The doctor nodded, tossing the stethoscope around his neck. "Of course you can see them, but right now is not the time" He walked towards Piper, "You can't because the recipient will …"
"Prue, her name is Prue" Piper glared at him. She bit her lower lip to avoid spitting what she really wanted to say and decided instead to wheel Andy towards the elevator, deliberately ignoring the doctor's words.
The Doctor turned to Phoebe and quickly held her by the arm, preventing her to leave as well. "Your sister…Prue, will be in the ICU for a while, she'll be then transferred to a private room, you can not see her until then"
"Yeah?" Phoebe wiggled her arm free from the doctor's grasp. "Just watch me," She stated coldly as she quickened her pace to catch up with Piper.
Darryl glared at the doctor for a quick moment. "I strongly suggest you go along with them" He winked and ran after Phoebe.
Piper opened the door very slowly, nervously, almost as if she knew what she was about to witness. She stopped for a moment, gripping her fingers tightly on the wheel chair's handles as hundreds of vivid flashbacks of her sisters ran through her mind; She desperately wanted to see Prue, to hold her, but she knew it just wasn't going to be possible. She exhaled loudly and hesitantly poked her head inside the room, but she just couldn't convince herself to go inside. She was tense; She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to be brave for her and for Andy, but it obviously didn't work. She was petrified, simply terrified. She suddenly decided not to go inside; instead, she stood completely frozen just outside the ICU.
Phoebe arrived quickly to her sister's side; she was just a couple of steps behind her. She slowly reached for Piper's hand and softly clasped it; it was clammy and cold, but Phoebe knew it was going to be like that. She knew her sister very well. She took a deep breath and slowly helped her sister to wheel Andy inside. The three of them remained by the doorframe, unvoiced, unconsciously holding their breaths at the terrible scene before them; all three seizing their hands, all three completely in shock.
The steady beeping of the monitors suddenly became noticeable when a soft, muttered 'no' from Andy's lips was heard. Piper's hands quickly found their way to Andy's shoulders, gently squeezing them. Andy placed his trembling hand on top of Piper's and held onto it tight.
Phoebe blinked back tears as she stared, of course she was prepared to see Prue, and she even told herself over and over again that her sister was out of danger and that everything was ok, but she just couldn't get Lexie out of her head; the 'what ifs' were just too many to get rid of that easily. She was relieved to know that Prue was alive, but she was suffering for Lexie's critical condition. She wanted to scream and yell, but then again, she was also convinced that she would have done the same thing that Lexie did. She would have saved Prue's life as well. No doubt about that.
Yes, Phoebe was prepared, mentally prepared, but her heart was not, it almost left her body when she realized that Prue was not alone; Lexie was in there too; right in the same room. She never expected to find both sisters together, let-alone to see all the wires and tubes that were connected to their frail bodies.
Piper shared a look with Phoebe, while Andy unconsciously helped her make up her mind. She was hesitating about which sister to go to when she saw Andy wheeling anxiously towards Prue; Phoebe helped him a little, so he got there faster. Piper quickly lunged herself to Lexie's bed.
"Prue" Andy's words were barely a soft whisper. He reached out and carefully held his fiancé's unresponsive hand, very gently, feeling his heart abruptly come to live the moment he touched her again. "Thank God you're ok," He said, hoping that the love of his life could hear him, but she obviously did not. He rested his forehead on the chromed safety rail and started a silent prayer. He was not sure if he was doing the right thing, but his heart definitely was. Although the only time he'd said a prayer before was at his father's funeral.
"Oh my God, Prue…" Phoebe added as she bent down to kiss her sister's bruised forehead. "I thought I was never going to see you again" She softly ran the back of her hand on Prue's cold cheek, she gasped when she noticed her sister's unmoving form, so helpless, so vulnerable. Her sister was lying still on bed, unaware of her defenselessness.
"Lexie…sweetie, just hang in there, I promise you'll be all right. Piper's breath was caught in her throat when she took a closer look at her motionless baby sister. The exasperating slowness of the rise and fall of her chest was dreadfully frightening; and the beeping sound of the machine just made it harder for her to remain calmed. She held her sister's hand and squeezed it gently before bending over to kiss her temple. She shuddered slightly when she felt her sister's cold skin on her lips and held her breath when she saw her paleness. For a moment, she thought she was dead.
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"AUGH! Mom, I swear that if I don't get out of this place soon, I'm gonna go crazy" Karen pushed away the food tray with the remains of her dinner just holding on to the glass of cold milk. "I hate hospital's food" She anxiously pulled back her hair. "I hate Hospitals!"
"Kary, please sweetheart, calm down or you'll hurt yourself"
"Mom, I can't. Ok? I need to see Phoebe, I have to know how her sisters are" She spat, desperately kicking the sheets away with her healthy leg. They fell on the floor, by her mother's feet.
Jennifer picked the sheets up and placed them back on the bed, gently covering her daughter's legs. "I know sweetie, Michael and Brian went to see if they could find out something about them, and I'm sure they will; you just have to be patient"
"Patient, patient…you know it's impossible for me to be patient when my best friend's sisters are God knows where" She leaned back on the bed's board; staring at the ceiling; making her best effort to 'look' patient. "I need to get out of here" She insisted.
Jennifer sighed. "Drink your milk sweetheart"
Karen slowly sipped her glass, eyes fixed on the wall. "Sophie...I need to find about Sophie too" She thought but her words came out softly anyway.
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Phoebe knelt in front of Piper, gently running her thumb on the back of her hand. "I know what you're thinking Piper, and I swear I'm just as scared as you are, believe me, I know that Lexie is still in critical condition, we can loose her at any time; but we have to be thankful…we have to thank God because, because they're both alive, and because I know Lexie will get through this, but please Piper, please, just…just," Phoebe's voice broke down, as much as she wanted to be strong, she just couldn't. "Just be positive, please Piper, I need you" She said, allowing some tears to run freely down her cheeks.
Piper remained on the sofa, knees pulled up to her chest and arms tightly wrapped around them. "I'm sorry Phoebe, it's just that it hurts too much, and I don't know what to do, I don't want to loose them, and I'm scared" She whispered.
Phoebe rested her chin on Piper's shoulder. Tears filled her eyes when she felt that sisterly hug she'd been desperately longing for, and the warmth of her older sister's hand wiping her tears away.
"We're not going to lose them, you have to believe that" Phoebe gently pulled away from her sister's arms, wanting to look positive; she smiled, weakly, but a smile nevertheless, trying hard to believe her own words.
"I'm sorry Phoebe, I wish I could be as optimistic as you are right now, but I just can't". Slowly, Piper pulled Phoebe closer again and rested her chin on her forehead, eyes closed, jagged breath. Phoebe's closeness reminded her of that unusual, yet special bond they shared. She slowly opened her eyes when she experienced that old familiar feeling, the 'Power of Three Feeling' floating on the air. She blinked repeatedly, holding her breath, and slowly turned her gaze towards Prue. It took her a little while, but she finally realized that her sister was awake.
"Prue!" Piper jumped off the sofa and swiftly leaped over her sister's side. Prue slightly fluttered her eyes, blinking, trying to focus on the blurred figures in front of her; finally, she was able to stay awake. She looked at her sisters, and immediately knew something wasn't right.
"Hey" Prue's voice was barely audible but it quickly brought her sisters' hearts back to life again. "Y-you're here" She whispered softly as she tried to move, but a piercing pain on her back kept her in place. She frowned, trying to figure out why was she in bed, with both arms stretched down to her sides and uncomfortably facing down, she spread her gaze but didn't recognize her surroundings. Her mind was a complete blank.
"Hey yourself" Piper added with a huge grin, carefully leaning over her. "Yes, we're here, and we're not going anywhere" She caressed her sister's pale cheek, "Oh God, Prue, you gave us quite a scare"
Prue closed her eyes again, and slowly licked her dry lips. "Sorry" She whispered, making an enormous sacrifice in keeping her eyes open. She blinked a couple of times more, and at the same time, she unsuccessfully tried to smile. "What hap-ppened?" She asked, taking both sisters by surprise.
"Shhh" Phoebe gently ran her fingers through her sister's hair. "Don't talk, you need to rest"
Phoebe's words did not convince her big sister, and Phoebe knew it, but she had to try; she was perfectly aware that her big sister had never been stupid, and there was no reason to start being stupid right now. Bottom line here, no one could fool Prue and get away with it.
Prue smiled; confirming Phoebe's thoughts. "Uhu, just tell me where Lexie is, ok?" She said softly but sounded bossy anyway. "And Andy, I want to see Andy; why isn't he here with me? Where is he?" She frowned again, painfully holding her breath. "What the hell am I doing in bed anyway? And-and why on my freaking stomach!" She coughed, feeling as if her back was being viciously ripped open. "Piper, Phoebe, what's going on here? what's wrong with me? I need answers now"
"Prue, you need to listen to Phoebe, you need to rest; you just went through a very serious nightmare here and a quite complicated operation"
Prue frowned, narrowing her eyes as a sudden icy shiver ran down her spine. "Nightmare? Oh my God" She said as a couple of flashbacks filled her senses. "Y-you're t-trying to hide something from me aren't you? Where's Lexie, I-I need to know…is she… is… is, or is it Andy? Are they…?" She struggled to get her words out, afraid that they might become true. "I can't remember clearly, but the earthquake…the floor…Lex…Andy, he was hold-ding m-me, Piper, are they d…"
"No" Piper and Phoebe replied at the same time. "Lexie is right here" Phoebe slowly moved aside, allowing Prue to see her sister's bed, which was just a couple of feet away. "See?" Phoebe smiled, noticing Prue's slender release of air. "But she also needs to rest…she's been sedated; and Andy… A-andy is in his room, but he's fine…well, only a broken leg and a couple of fractured ribs, but he's in no danger."
"Are you sure?" Prue exhaled noisily; her mind still a little fuzzy and slow. "I want to see him" She slowly lifted her head, fighting against her blurriness, it took her a little while, but she was finally able to focus her sight on her baby sister, Lexie, which was completely knocked out. "You sure she's ok?" Prue slowly rested her head back, never breaking eye contact with Phoebe. Her brow shrugged as an obvious sign that she was in a great deal of pain.
Piper ran her fingers on her big sister's forehead. "Do you want me to get the nurse?" She asked sweetly. She knew that Prue was tough and if her tough sister had just made a gesture as a sign of pain, then she was absolutely convinced that the eldest was indeed suffering.
"What have they done to me? Why does it hurt like hell?" Prue's voice was still weak, but she somehow managed to make herself sound a little bit tough.
Piper swallowed hard before she gathered enough courage to answer. "They uhm…you were…"
"What? I was what!" Prue shouted nervously, trying hard to control the shakiness of her voice. "I need the truth. Piper…Phoebe?" Her mouth was dry and her heart pounding stronger than ever. Piper was speechless.
"Damn it Piper, just answer my question"
Phoebe saw Piper's vacillation and immediately went to Prue's side. "Remember the earthquake?" She paused until she perceived her big sister's nod. "Well, the three of you… I mean Andy, Lexie and you sweetie," Phoebe smiled weakly.
"Phoebe" Prue urged her impatiently.
"Yeah…well, you were trapped inside the building where you were having the photo exhibition; you, under a pretty heavy iron beam" Phoebe added nervously, waiting for Piper's back-up, but knowing for a fact that Piper just wasn't going to back her up.
"Am I paralyzed?" Prue's words sounded cold, completely unemotional.
"No" Phoebe answered quickly. "It's not that, it's your kidneys"
"Kidneys? W-w-what about my kidneys?"
Phoebe raised both hands, wide open, in front of her. "Calm down Prue…"
"Phoebe, what-about-my-freaking-kidneys!"
"Prue…"
"Phoebe! I need to know now"
"They were both extirpated Prue," Phoebe said hesitantly. She quickly lowered her head and fixed her eyes on the floor. " And…"
"Oh my God" Prue muttered those words almost to herself. She gradually released the air she was unconsciously holding inside; and her eyes denoted fear; a fear that was rarely seen in her. "Oh God" She whispered again, softly, but a little louder this time, shaking her head and biting her lower lip. She didn't want her sisters to witness her weakness, so she tried to cover her face; unfortunately, she couldn't move. Her respiration became faster, almost out of control. There was no place for her to hide her vulnerability.
Phoebe chewed her bottom lip, gently stroking Prue's back. "Easy honey, take it easy, I know how you feel, so breath slowly now, come on, work with me here, take a deep breath" She kept stroking, with soft, light caressing movements.
"Take it easy? TAKE IT EASY! Phoebe, you don't know what you're saying" Prue made a quick motion to sway her sister's hand with her shoulder, and at the same time tried to knock the transparent oxygen hose off her face, but Phoebe swiftly grabbed her hand, opportunely ending with her sister's sudden impulse.
"Prue, you can't do this" Phoebe shook her head, still hanging on to her sister's hand.
"The hell I can't!" Prue spat. "I'm…I'm…"
"You're OK now Prue, you're out of danger, but you have to stay still to remain that way" Phoebe gently ran her fingers through her sister's hair to calm her down. "Trust me Prue, you are going to get well, you are so going to be ok because you are now the recipient of a new donated kidney."
"A d-donated kidney? But…but how? Whose kidney? Oh God, please tell me she didn't" Prue closed her eyes and took a deep breath, ignoring the sharp, piercing pain in her lower back. She knew. She definitely knew what Lexie, her baby sister, had done. She was more than sure that Lexie was her donor.
Piper's eyes were flooded with tears but she had been miraculously able to hold back her
cry. She also squeezed her sister's hand, tightly, and finally found the necessary strength to speak. "It was her decision Prue, no one forced her to do anything, she just wanted you to live and she accomplished her wish" Piper turned her back on Prue. "You would have done the same thing…I'm sure" She added, a little more calmed this time.
Prue was astounded. "Y-yeah, but…but…what about her heart? Did anybody stop to think about that? She just wasn't supposed to be a donor, her heart was too weak…what did the doctors say?"
"Nothing Prue; they said nothing 'cause they didn't know about it; she didn't tell them. She's not stupid Prue; she wanted to save you, so she kept her mouth shut, and now…now it's done" Piper said calmly. "And believe me, everything would had turned out right, if she…if only…" Piper covered her mouth, once again, unable to continue.
"If her heart would have been healthy enough" Phoebe added, knowing perfectly well the huge amount of pain her words were causing to her already suffering sister.
Prue hated to be weak, she hated to cry, especially in front of her sisters, but this time she didn't care; this time, she broke down, completely ignoring Piper and Phoebe's presence.
"Prue" Piper hesitated.
Prue slowly looked up, bravely swallowing her cry. "If I don't see Andy here in a minute, I swear to God I'll find a way to go to him"
"Prue…"
"I mean it Piper"
"Sorry to interrupt you" A tall, handsome doctor, already in scrubs, barged into their room. Half dozen of young physicians and nurses followed him. They all seemed nervous. "We have a new heart for your sister, and we have to operate now, the O.R. is ready for her and we just need your consent."
"What?" Piper asked in shock, tightly grasping Prue's hand against her chest.
"W-who will be performing the surgery?" Phoebe was quick on her feet, staring sharply into the Doctor's eyes and still astonished by his words.
"I am" He replied smugly.
"And I suppose you are a qualified heart specialist" Phoebe added coldly, keeping in mind the shortage of staff the hospital was experiencing. Prue and Piper were speechless.
"Well, I'm a heart surgeon, not much experience at hand, but I think I'm perfectly capable of…of… besides," He snapped. "The Hospital is a little short of Doctors right now" He said, suddenly becoming upset.
"Then I'm coming with you, I'm a resident in this hospital, and I'm prepared to assist you"
"I'm sorry, but she's your sister and I don't think you should…"
"No, I don't think you heard what I said" Phoebe frowned. "I am going to be in the OR with-my-sister, whether you like it or not, so, the quicker the better" She added. She was very serious. That Doctor's role just suited her to perfection.
"Come along then, time is precious" The doctor stood by the doorframe waiting for his team to come out. Piper hastily walked to Lexie's side, nervously clinging to her sister's cold hands.
"You come back to us, you hear?" Piper bent down and whispered in her baby sister's ear. She softly kissed her pale cheek and brushed back the hair from her face. The only thing Prue could do was stare at her sisters. She wanted to say something too, but her voice just wouldn't come out.
Phoebe saw Prue's desperation and went to her sister's side. "We'll be right back," She assured as she kissed her sister's temple. "Don't worry sis, everything will be all right" She gently ran her fingers on Prue's cheek, giving her a sweet smile. "I promise". Prue just nodded, unable to trust the steadiness of her voice. "Take care of her", Phoebe added, locking eyes with Piper, and squeezing her shoulder.
"I won't leave her side" Piper's voice was softer than ever. She then looked at Lexie, watching attentively the hastiness they used to wheel her gurney outside. "And you take care of HER" She asked back, with a noticeable new bright sparkle gleaming in her eyes.
"You know I will" Phoebe added as she left the room. Alexia, and the team of doctors were already halfway through the hall, and on their way to the OR. She quickened her pace, and suddenly found herself walking beside them; unconsciously gripping her hand tightly on the cold gurney's rail.
TBC
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