"Can't I be there?" Bette asked softly as she tightened her grip on his fingers. "Don't you need somebody? Someone who doesn't think you're a monster."
He squeezed her hand before pulling it back to finish buttoning up his shirt. Gregory had clean clothes, but even a freshly starched shirt and neatly pressed pants couldn't add back what nearly two days without sleep had taken away from him. His eyes were unnaturally bright as she pulled the suit jacket over his shoulders. "I know you're in my corner and you don't know how much I appreciate that, but I need you to be with Olivia."
"Because you can't-" Bette finished with his tie and smiled at him as best as she could. "Be with her."
"Not until I'm arraigned. If the grand jury throws out the case I'll be at the hospital as soon as I possibly can." He sighed heavily as he tried to center himself. "If not, I'm meeting with my accountant to discuss bail."
"Do you think they'll let you out?" She touched his shoulder, trying to put together a good idea of his chances.
Gregory gave her his impervious look and Bette realized he had no idea. Kissing his cheek was the best she could do. "Good luck."
Gregory returned the kiss on her lips, sending a chill down her spine. "Thank you." He waited at the door as the officer let them out. "Now go. Stay with Olivia. Make sure she doesn't wake up alone. Do that for me."
"Hey-" Bette's eyes glistened in the harsh fluorescent lighting. "I've never taken orders from a husband before, what makes you think I'll start now?"
Gregory shared a look with the officer and she turned her gaze politely away. He nibbled up her neck towards her ear. "Because I'm the best and you know it." He slid his hand down her back and danced it across her bottom. "Now get going."
Bette giggled in spite of her terror for her friends. Gregory was joking. If he could still find the humor in the situation, Olivia would be all right. If Olivia was all right everything would be fine. Everything had to be fine.
Pain was white and hot. The darkness was cool. She wanted to stay there, in the darkness. Nothing hurt there. She didn't have to be in pain. She didn't have to fight. She could stay where it was quiet. Where it was dark and safe.
But she was alone there. Olivia didn't like being alone. Forcing herself back into the pain was one of the most difficult things she'd ever done but she had to fight. She had to get back to her baby. To-
"Gregory-" Olivia whispered through parched lips.
Sean looked up from the floor. She hadn't moved. Had she?
AJ's head had flown up too. He joined Sean as they waited, neither of them dared to breath in case the sound covered up any move she made.
"Gregory-" She repeated to the emptiness above her bed. Olivia's head turned slightly and Sean left his chair. He had to see because he had to know. She'd moved. She moved again. A curl of her hair slipped from her forehead and cascaded down to the white pillowcase.
"Gregory..." Her plea trailed off into a sigh of pain. AJ let Sean take her hand as he left to find the doctor.
Her hand was hot to the touch. Sean closed his fingers around it. "Mom? Mom do you know where you are? Can you hear me?"
She pulled her hand weakly out of his grasp. "Gregory-" She begged again as Olivia turned her head away from him. "Where are you?"
"Mom- it's me. Sean." He touched her forehead, but that too was burning up. "It's going to be okay mom. Just hang on. Hang on." Olivia's lips parted and shut once more before she grew still again. She hadn't heard him and she was gone.
The door clicked shut behind AJ and the doctor. She stood at the side of the bed and took her temperature. AJ circled to stand behind Sean, putting his hands on the young man's shoulders and lending him his support.
"Why doesn't she know I'm here?" Begging the doctor for answers, Sean didn't even feel AJ behind him. He felt his world drop out from under him. "Can't she see me?"
"She's delirious. She probably doesn't even know where she is." Dr. Machida explained as she finished checking Olivia's temperature. Looking quietly over at the terrified young man, she projected an aura of calm. "She must have developed a secondary infection." She paged a nurse and lifted the chart from the wall by the bed. "It's not uncommon in cases of multiple internal injuries like those she suffered in the accident."
A nurse entered and waited for instructions as Sean and AJ watched in nervous horror. "Get a white cell count and increase her level of antibiotics." Dr. Machida scribbled her notes on the bottom of Olivia's chart. "I want the surgical site checked hourly for signs of a local infection and keep her on standby. We might have to reopen her abdomen."
Dr. Machida gestured to AJ who then faced the daunting task of trying to separate Sean from his mother.
"She's in a hospital Sean." He whispered as he ran his hands up and down the young man's arms. "She's in good hands. We have to let the doctor's take care of her."
A single shudder ran through Sean's body before he dropped his mother's hand to her chest. He fled the room. He stood outside the door for a moment before he started to crumble.
Dr. Machida pointed silently to the nurses station, promising to be at hand to answer Sean's questions and left them alone. AJ offered his arms and the young man collapsed into them. He couldn't help thinking that Sean was the same age as Leo. He couldn't imagine watching his son lose his mother. Knowing that she teetered on the edge of life as Olivia did now. He couldn't even think about Gregory.
Judge Waterhouse looked over his glasses in disdain at the prosecution. "Your first witness is unavailable?"
Amelia Conrad, the flustered Assistant District Attorney looked up to the bench quietly apologetic. "She was supposed to be here an hour ago. All my attempts to reach her have been unsuccessful."
The balding judge folded his hands and glared down at her. "I can't believe you expect the court to be surprised that an alleged rape victim would be unable to face her attacker." Looking over his witness list for the next voice of the prosecution, the judge was surprised as a clerk ran in from the front of the room. He passed a note up to the bench.
Gregory sat and watched quietly from his solitary position at the table for the defense. He'd been offered a lawyer, his firm had even suggested he retain council from out of state. Someone unknown to ask the hard questions. He'd declined. His fate was in his own hands.
The note was left open on the desk before the judge. His sternness broken by his surprise, Judge Waterhouse looked over the jury. "Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for your services, however, this case cannot proceed at this time. Councils, in my chambers if you would."
Gregory followed the young attorney and listened to the door shut and lock behind him. Judge Waterhouse wasn't the type of man to waste time.
"Caitlin, Cole and Trey Deschanel are all missing. The little boy went missing from South Bay less than an hour ago."
Amelia Conrad sighed and took a seat before the judge's desk. "Missing?"
Gregory smiled bitterly as he sat down at her side. "Cole is a master of the disappearing act. It may be weeks before they turn up." He wondered if he'd ever see his son again as Judge Waterhouse fidgeted with a silver letter opener.
"Without the alleged victim this case is the word of the defendant versus an unverified blood test." He steepled his fingers and mused for a moment. "I'm afraid I can't take this before a Grand Jury as it is. It's too full of inconsistencies." He lifted his gavel. "I'm putting a stay on the arraignment pending the return of Trey or Caitlin Deschanel."
Gregory straightened his tie before he got up from his chair. He was halfway to the door and only a few minutes from Olivia.
Halting him with a cough, Judge Waterhouse drew his attention back for a moment. "The warrant stands however. I suggest you don't leave town."
Gregory's bitter laugh was masked in the thud of wood against the desk. "I don't intend to leave South Bay." There wasn't a world outside of the hospital and Olivia. Caitlin, Cole and Trey would have to wait until she pulled through her surgery. Everything would have to wait until he saw her. Until he knew she was still with him. Until he held her again.
She lifted the chart into her hands. so much information on a few sheets of important looking papers. So many details and notes of importance. Annie looked down at Olivia and tried not to feel pity for the woman who had taken so much joy in her suffering in the past. If Caitlin's secret came out, it would be the end of everything. Gregory and Olivia would have their baby and Annie's stock.
Having her Aunt Bette be Del's heir was a bit strange, but her aunt would take care of her. Gregory would devote every spare minute not spent fussing over Olivia and the baby to making Annie's a life a living hell. She was sure of that. Caitlin wouldn't be any help. She'd probably be in jail for letting Annie steal her a baby.
"I can't go to jail again." Annie explained to the unconscious form in the bed. "It nearly killed me the first time and I am not going back there Olivia. No matter what I have to do."
Olivia's lips moved slightly and Annie dropped her head to just above her in order to listen. "Gregory-" Olivia pleaded to the nothingness that surrounded her.
"I'm sorry Olivia." Annie held the chart tightly to her chest. "But not even Gregory can help you now."