Disclaimer - I do not own anything even remotely related to The Mighty Ducks. I only wish I had thought of them first…
Italics indicate character thought.
"Is this normal though, doctor, for someone in a coma like that to just wake up?" Beau had already asked the question three times. "Just wake up and look around and ask where his dinner is?"
Charlie was a little concerned that his girlfriend was verging on hysterical happiness over the fact that Cole was alright, but she was clearly waiting for the 'but…'
Dr. Lewis, who was luckily a man with unending patience, stopped his brisk walk down the hall. He looked from Charlie, who shrugged apologetically, to Beau who was staring him down with a look that clearly meant 'give it to me straight.' In his experience, you didn't screw around with people giving you that look. Sighing, he raised his arms up into the air and then let them drop heavily.
"To be very honest with you, Miss Mayland, there is very little that is 'normal' about people who have been in comas. No one reacts in the same way. I can tell you that I have seen cases like Cole's before where the patient had minor bodily injury but severe swelling in their brain. We relieved the pressure and then they were in a coma - some for hours, some for days, some for weeks. Patients in that situation tend to wake up in various states of disarray. Some with brain damage and some, sadly, never wake up at all. But, yes, I have seen cases like Cole's as well. Cases where the person wakes up and is fine. Sore, but fine."
Beau squinted at him skeptically. "So he's…" she raised her hands, making quotation marks with her fingers, "just fine?" Charlie ran a hand gently over the back of her neck and tugged on a curl, urging her to take it down a notch. Dr. Lewis saw the gesture and smiled.
"I truly wish that modern medicine could explain it all, Miss Mayland, but sadly we are not yet at that point. We'll want to keep Mr. Procida here for observation for at least twenty-four hours, but as far as I can tell your friend is going to be fine. In fact, I'd wager he'll be back on the ice in a few days."
"Huh." This was Charlie's reaction, and Beau glared at him before smiling sweetly at the doctor.
"Thank you so much, sir. I appreciate you indulging in my endless questions."
The man reached out and shook her hand warmly. "Not at all, dear. It sounds to me like you're just being a good friend. You take care now." With a quick look at his watch he was moving down the hall quickly and Beau felt a pang of guilt for keeping him from something that was very likely important. Embarrassed, she turned to Charlie, a glare already in place.
"Huh?" He shrugged, stepping back a step instinctively. "Our friend is out like a light and then just wakes up and all you have to say about it is 'huh'?" Beau shoved Charlie in the chest and stomped off down the hall, calling over her shoulder, "No wonder they all used to call you Spazway!"
Trailing after her, Charlie smiled. "Hey! They called me Spazway for completely different reasons!"
"I'm sorry this all has been such a pain in the ass, guys." Cole had been moved to a private room and although he was now allowed more than one visitor at a time, he was pretty sure that the eight people crowded around his bed were pushing the rules in one direction or another.
Averman scoffed. "Cole, being a pain in the ass is pretty much part of your charm." He looked around at everyone. "I think we're all kinda used to it by now."
"It's true." Beau ruffled his hair. "I mean we'd prefer you be a pain in the ass by nagging us, or being arrogant, or just being you. All of that as opposed to…you know…almost getting yourself killed."
Cole nodded, his bright eyes twinkling as he was getting his energy back. "I'll see what I can do next time." He mocked taking notes in an imaginary notebook. "Note to self: Be arrogant instead of in a coma." He kept his head down, but looked up from under his eye lashes. "I, uh, should say how cool it is of you all to be here, you know…putting your lives on hold for me. But, uh…" He cleared his throat, forcing his voice deeper. "But that would be really freaking cheesy and we all know I don't do cheesy." He looked up, not meeting anyone's eyes and clearly having some trouble with his emotion. "I'll just say thanks. You know what I mean."
Beau heard a small sniffle from Rachel and smiled to herself. She held back her own tears and bent down to kiss Cole's cheek. "That we do, buddy."
Charlie felt a desperate need to lighten the mood before everyone started blubbering like little babies. He tugged on the back of Beau's shirt and made a fist at Cole. "Hey, man. Stop saying all those sweet things and trying to dup my girlfriend into kissing you. Just because you're all laid up and looking pathetic…" He trailed off, rolling his eyes as Beau lowered herself gingerly onto the bed with Cole, twisting her finger in his hair and looking at him suggestively.
"How about you guys all leave so Cole and I can have some alone time?" She said it as a taunt for Charlie, but the heavy-set nurse who strode in the room also seemed to think it was a good idea. She shoved big old Fulton to the side, picking up Cole's chart from the foot of the bed and scowling around at all of them.
"Alright now all you kids. It's time for this boy to get some rest if he thinks he's getting out of here tomorrow. Out!" She looked around, daring anyone to cross her. "Now."
They scattered like the wind, pretty much everyone saying their final good-byes and words of encouragement as they were all flying out that night or the following morning. Everyone save Beau, who was staying for a few days to help Cole's parents keep an eye on him…and to rescue Cole from the constant barrage of motherly kisses that Susie Procida kept suffocating him with.
Out in the hallway, Beau and Charlie said their good-byes. He had to get back for practice and several upcoming games that really couldn't be missed. It would be far too long before they saw each other again. Beau would fly directly from Toronto to London to do the European leg of her book tour. Because of her whirlwind departure for Cole's bedside, she was having to give Charlie instructions on what to pack and have sent to her London hotel for her.
"Charlie?" Beau saw the look on his face and knew he wasn't listening.
He smiled sweetly. "Yes, dear?"
She crossed her arms over her chest. "You aren't listening."
Charlie shook his head, knowing he was caught. "What gave it away?"
"That glazed look in your eyes, jackass." She smiled, though when she said it. "This is important."
He looked down at the list she was holding out to him, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Yes, very important clothing decisions. Please continue."
Reaching down his arm, Beau folded the paper in half and pushed it into his pocket. "There is nothing to continue. Just read the list. Follow the list. Pack the list."
Charlie grinned that perfect Charlie grin. "Love the list. Aye-aye, captain."
"Hey!" Adam Banks strolled around the corner, clean today, and smiling. "I thought captain was my name?" He approached the pair, leaning into Beau with his shoulder and grinning when she shoved him back lightly. Charlie rolled his eyes.
"With the list of instructions I'm getting, she is most definitely the one in charge. Sorry, Banks."
Adam nodded and then shook his head. "You two are quite the pair, you know that?"
"Tell me about it." The comment earned Charlie a swift punch to the gut. He motioned at Beau. "You are just illustrating his point, love." He switched his gaze to Adam. "See the abuse I put up with?"
Deciding to play sides, Adam wrapped his arm tightly around Beau's shoulders. "Abuse most of us guys would be lucky to have, my friend." He looked down. "Beau, anytime you get tired of this joker, give me a call out in Cali."
"Oh you know I will." Beau winked up at him, laughing heartily when Charlie's eyes widened in injustice.
"First Procida, now my best-friend! What is it with all this flirting this weekend? Does no one see me standing here?" His voice had raised several notches, but they just ignored him.
"You two probably better get going. You don't want to miss your flights." She was looking down at her watch, and Beau felt a little twinge in her stomach when Charlie nodded.
"Right, just ignore my injustice. Some girlfriend." But he pulled her into a hug, lifting her gently to lay a small kiss on her lips. When he pulled away, she was grinning at him.
"You love it, Conway."
"That I do, Mayland."
Joank: Glad everyone is happy about Cole being alive. So am I! As for the Chapter Title "Chapter One," that was just in reference to Beau reading Cole the first chapter of the book. Sorry it's not something more exciting!
antiIrony: I'm impressed you stayed strong. You did better than Charlie!
Hockey-girl90: I hope this update came soon enough for you. I think I'm anticipating this story being done by next week. Scary, huh?
Duckfluff: Thanks as always!
Cc: Well I am even more flattered that you are getting up early. How nice! However, I do hate you now that I know that you live in Hawaii. I live in Delaware, so let's talk about the injustice of that!