Chapter 16.
Syd's POVI felt like shit. I wasn't going to lie. And while I had the worse pain in the world all the way from my head down to my toes, it was such a relief knowing that I was going to be ok. When I woke up and saw Vaughn sitting there, sleeping next to my bed, the first thing I could think of was how lucky I am to have him. How many boyfriends would sleep by their girlfriend's hospital bed and hold their hand all night? Not many. But, Vaughn is special and I planned to show him just how special he was once I got out of the hospital.
As soon as the doctor came back with Vaughn, he brought me a big cup of water to drink. After taking a few sips, the moisture in my throat came back and I was able to squeak out a few words. The doctor explained that when I was rushed into the ER, they had to put a tube down my throat to help my breathing. Hence, why my throat was so dry and sore.
My dad came in a few minutes later after the doctor. Guessing from the look on his face, he was unsure how to act towards me. Part of the reason why I was in the accident was because I was so upset about what he said. But, I wouldn't hold that against him. I shouldn't have been driving so recklessly.
I gave him a slight smile to show him that I was ok. Walking over to the other side of the bed, he grabbed a seat and placed himself next to Vaughn. Now that was a weird sight to see. From observing them, I could tell there wasn't any tension between them and when my father walked over near Vaughn, they both gave a slight nod to each other. Something must have happened between them when I was out of it, I thought.
"So Sydney, I'm going to ask you a few questions. You don't have to speak, just nod or shake your head, ok?" I didn't know this doctor, but from the patch on his coat, it read Dr. Burke.
"First off, are you in a lot of pain?" I nodded my head indicating a yes.
"Ok, we'll give you some pain medicine right after I'm done." Lifting the blankets from the end of my bed, he exposed my legs from my shins down. "Can you wiggle your toes for me?"
My legs felt stiff and halfway asleep, but I was able to wiggle the toes on both of my feet.
"Excellent Sydney. You had quite a bit of bruising around your back and we couldn't tell if that would effect your spinal chord at all."
I looked over to my dad and Vaughn to both see them let out a sigh of relief. I gave Vaughn a quick smile as he picked up my hand and brought it to his lips. Shifting in his chair a little, the look on my dad's face told me that he was a little uncomfortable and it was amusing to watch.
"Do you have full recollection of what happened to you?" I nodded once again.
"Are you having any trouble breathing or any pains in your chest?" Shaking my head, I actually squeaked out a 'no.'
"Good, good. I'm just going to check your heart beat ok."
The doctor slightly opened the top of my gown and placed the cold, metal stethoscope over my heart. "Take a deep breath… then exhale… a deep breath again… now exhale." Taking the stethoscope away and covering me back up, he leaned back in his chair.
"Well, Sydney, it looks like you are doing just fine. I'm going to get you on pain medication right away since it looks like you're uncomfortable. Your heart rate is strong and steady, but your breathing is a tad shallow. You probably can't feel it, but it's a bit short. It's not a big concern, it could just be a side effect from the anesthesia or you could simply be coming down with a cold. Other than that, you're doing well. We're going to have to keep you in the hospital for a couple of days to keep an eye on you, but you should be able to go home in no time." Dr. Burke patted me on the shoulder and then got up to exit the room. "I'll be back to check on you before I go home tonight. You should know you have a very loving father and boyfriend over there." Giving me a wink, he walked out the door.
I turned to see a big smile on Vaughn's face. The forehead wrinkles were gone and the concern in his eyes subsided. My father continued to sit there quietly, staring at the actions of Vaughn and I.
"I'm so happy you're going to be ok Syd." Vaughn quickly got up from the chair and handed me the cup of water again. Taking a few sips from the straw, I handed the cup back to Vaughn.
"Listen, I'm going to go home and tell my mom the good news. She was here with you almost the whole day. I'll be right back after I change my clothes and take a shower ok?"
I nodded my head as Vaughn leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my lips. In any other circumstance, I think Michael Vaughn would be scared shitless to do that in front of my dad. But, because of the situation I was in, I don't think Vaughn cared.
As soon as he left the room, my dad got up from the chair and walked towards my bed.
"Dad, before you can say anything, don't blame yourself for this. It was my fault. I was driving too fast and not paying attention. I endangered myself, not to mention I wrecked your Benz."
"Sydney that is not important. But, I am the one to blame for this. I deliberately made you upset and I'm sorry. What you said was true. To tell you the truth, I'm glad you said it to me. For so long I've tried to ignore my mistakes with you." Continuing to walk towards me, he took a seat at the edge of the bed and let in a deep breath.
"When your mother died, part of my heart went with her. I loved your mother so much and when she was taken from us, I couldn't stand it. I had such a hard time raising you because you are a spitting image of her. Every time I looked at you, I saw her. And while watching you grow brought me so much happiness, it also brought me tons of sadness knowing that she wasn't here with me."
Tears streamed down my face. Hearing my father apologize for his actions and realizing how much grief he's gone through almost broke my heart.
"Dad… you don't have to explain, it's ok. I get it." I said in between sobs.
"No Sydney, you need to know. I never once stopped loving you. Ever since you were born I thought you were the most beautiful thing on earth. I just want to let you know that I am so proud of you, for everything. For everything that you have accomplished in your life, you make me so proud. I know I haven't shown it, but that's the way I truly feel. I didn't do a good job of raising you, but you did a tremendous job of raising yourself. You were right. I haven't been the father to you like I should've been in the past. But, if you let me, I'm going to change. I'm going to be the father that you need and want. I promise Sydney. This is the start of a new Jack Bristow."
"Oh Dad…"
I was at a lost for words. All I could do was pull my dad into a tight hug as I cried into his neck. It wasn't tears of sadness. It was more like tears of forgiveness. Because, for the first time in my life, I knew my dad wasn't going to let me down.
"I love you dad."
"I love you too Sydney." He gently pulled out of my embrace as I slowly went to lie back down. Adjusting the pillows a little bit, I finally found a comfortable position.
A few minutes later, a nurse came in with two pills advising me that I need to take these every six hours for the pain. She said they might make me a little groggy and light-headed, but that it will make me rest comfortably.
"So, it looks like you and Vaughn are getting along better." I said after swallowing both pills with a swig of water.
"He is a good guy Sydney. I've always known that. But, my fatherly instincts crept in when you told me you two were dating and I acted inappropriately."
"Yes, you did." I nodded my head in agreement.
"But, after seeing him with you when you were asleep, I realized how much he cares about you. Every time I walked in to check on you, Michael was there at your bedside holding your hand. When he first came running into the hospital, he was hysterical when I told him what happened to you. He loves you Sydney."
A big grin spread across my face as the last sentence played out in my mind. Vaughn loved me.
Vaughn's POVAs soon as I walked out of Syd's hospital room, I realized I didn't have a car. Not wanting to bother my mom for a ride, I called a cab on my cell phone.
A vast feeling of relief went throughout my whole body. My shoulders weren't so tense and I wasn't gripping my fists. I needed go home and clean myself up a little. I felt dirty without a morning shower and a shave.
Donny was at the door as soon as I opened it. His short tail was once again wagging and I bent down to plant a kiss on his head.
"Hey buddy. Did you miss me last night? Where's mom?"
Seeing the door to our backyard slightly open, I made my way across the family room guessing that she was out there. When I took a peek outside, I could see my mom watering the flowers across the large patch of grass.
"Hey mom!" I yelled, still standing in the doorway.
"Michael? What are you doing home? Did something happen?" She immediately walked over to me with a look of concern on her face.
"I took a cab home. Syd woke up this morning and she's going to be ok."
"Oh, thank heavens. Is Jack still at the hospital?"
"Yeah, he's still there. I came home to change and shower real quick. I'm gonna go back after I'm done."
"Ok, sweetie. I'll make you a quick breakfast, what do you want?"
A stood there for a moment thinking about what I wanted to eat. Everything sounded good since my appetite seemed to come back.
"Umm, eggs, bacon, hash browns? Do we have that?" I answered.
"I think so. You go upstairs and take a shower. I'll go make your breakfast."
I could smell the aroma of the bacon and hash browns from my room after I came out of the bathroom. Draping a towel over my waist, I grabbed my razor and some shaving cream from the cabinet. I hated shaving. It's always been my least favorite morning routine, but since I can grow a full-grown beard in a week, shaving was definitely necessary.
I practically wolfed down two plates of the delicious breakfast my mom made. For a while she stood there staring at me when I ate. When I finally asked her what she was thinking she came over and gave me a kiss on the forehead saying, "I was just thinking about how much you've grown into a fine young man."
After breakfast, I took a ride over to Walgreen's to pick up a few necessities for Syd. If she was going to be stuck in a hospital for a few days, I wanted to make sure she wasn't going to be bored to death.
Cruising through the magazine section, I picked up a couple I knew would keep her company. I grabbed Cosmo, People, and a Sports Illustrated for me. Before going up to pay, I also grabbed a pint of coffee ice cream. Knowing Syd, nothing could keep her away from eating her coffee ice cream.
It was odd walking into her hospital room again to see her wide-awake and smiling. And it wasn't odd because of the way she looked, but because Jack was doing the same. Considering the last time Syd was conscious they weren't getting along too well, it was weird to see them in both good moods.
"Hey!" Syd saidwide awake and happilywhen I walked in.
"Hey yourself." I walked over and kissed her on the cheek.
"Oh good, Michael, your back," Standing up from the chair, Jack stood up and stretched. "I'm going to go home for a bit and do a little work if that's ok. Are you ok with that Sydney?"
"Yeah, sure dad."
"Ok, I'll be back in a bit. See you guys later." He nodded at the both of us and then exited the room.
Taking a seat where Jack previously sat, I pulled it close to Syd's bed.
"Alright, so I brought you some presents."
"Ohh! Presents!" Syd's eyes lit up like Christmas lights at the mention of presents. While she couldn't move her body much, all of her emotion was in her face.
"Here's the first one." I pulled out the Cosmo magazine and handed it to her.
"Very nice choice Vaughn. This should take me about two hours to read from the cover to the back."
"I figured. I also like to add I suffered the embarrassment of buying that for you because the guy working the counter gave me a once over thinking I was gay." Syd burst out laughing and then cringed from the obvious pain still affecting her body. "Oops, sorry Syd, I'm not supposed to make you laugh. Ok, here's the next one."
Handing her the People Magazine, she immediately flipped to page 29. Of course, page 29 was beginning of the four page Brad Pitt article. How can I compete with Brad Pitt? Knowing I had to pull her away from Brad for a bit, I pulled out the coffee ice cream.
"Oh Vaughn, you didn't." She threw the magazine down on the bed and quickly reached for the pint.
"Oh I did. Here, you have to eat this fast before it melts." Handing her a spoon, she popped open the lid and spooned a big scoop into her mouth.
"Wow, this tastes divine." Her statement came out as practically a moan. "Here, you have to help me with this." She took another big scoop and shoved it into my mouth. I had to say, the coffee ice cream was definitely appetizing.
"So are you feeling any better?" I asked after swallowing the ice cream.
"Yeah, I'm feeling better. I'm finally out of that haze from the sedatives they gave me last night. They gave me some pain medicine that's helping a little. I just took it so I should be getting tired in a little bit."
"Good, I'm glad you're feeling better. Maybe you can get out of here quicker then."
A comfortable silence filled the room as Syd continued to spoon more ice cream into her mouth. I started skimming through my Sports Illustrated magazine when I found an interesting article on The Sharks captain, Patrick Marleau.
I was halfway done with the article when I heard a groan come from Syd. Looking up, I let out a chuckle when I saw the look on her face. She managed to finish the whole pint of ice cream and had the empty container sitting on her stomach.
"Wow that was good." She handed me the empty container and spoon so I could dispose it in the garbage can.
"I knew that would make you feel better."
"Vaughn, come here."
I got up from my chair and took a seat on her bed. Grabbing both of my hands, she looked down for a second, and then brought her eyes up to meet mine.
"I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for everything. For staying with me all night, for being so caring, and for bringing me magazines and ice cream." She brought her right hand up and started to run her fingers over my fresh shaved jaw. "You mean so much to me Vaughn. I want you to know that."
"I know Syd, you mean the world to me too." I took her hand from my face and placed a kiss on her open palm. "Maybe you should get some rest."
"Ok, you're not going to leave are you?" She asked me.
"No, I'll be right here with you when you wake up."
Bending down, I kissed her cheek and then brought her blankets up to her shoulders making sure she was covered all the way. Her eyes were already closed and her breathing started to level out by the time I was done fixing her blankets.
I brushed a few strands of hair away from her face and then took a close look at her face. She was so beautiful. Being with her made me feel like the luckiest guy on earth.