The News that changed their lives forever
Katie, Liz and Patty were upstairs in Katie's room listening to some of their music when Kit knocked on Katie's door. Kit knocked three times and then let herself in. She walked over to Katie's stereo system and turned the music down. Katie looked over towards her stereo wondering why it had suddenly changed its volume, she saw her mother standing there.
"Oh hi Mom." She smiled realizing it was her mother who had turned it down.
"You girls are going to be deaf by the time you reach your twenties. Oh by the way here's your mail Katie." Kit said handing it to her.
"Thanks Mom." She smiled again at her.
As Kit was leaving she looked back over at her daughter and her two best friends. Seeing them together brought back memories to Kit on how the three had become 'best' friends. She couldn't believe that it's been 11 years since the girls first met. As Kit was walking down the stairs she saw her favorite picture of Katie, Steve, MJ and Kasey Lynn. It was a Halloween picture that she had taken of the four of them when the twins were twelve and Kasey Lynn was four. Katie and Steve dressed up that year as police officers. Katie wore a smaller version of Steve's uniform and hat. People have to look twice at the picture because with Katie's hair pulled back and the hat on Katie looked like Steve at that age. They both had the same blue eyes and smiles on their faces. MJ was dressed like a doctor, which made everyone say he looked like a young Mark and Kasey Lynn was dressed like her favorite character Barney. Kit just hoped that she'd be around to see her three kids graduate high school, go to college and perhaps one day get married.
FLASHBACK TWO WEEKS AGO
MJ was sitting at the kitchen table looking over some college brochures when Katie walked in and sat down next to him.
"What are you looking at MJ?" Katie asked.
"College brochures." He looked over at her.
"Oh." She said looking at him and wrinkling up her nose at him.
"What?" He asked looking at her.
"Nothing. So what are you going to be when we get out of high school?" She asked.
"I don't know yet. It's hard to decide. I'm hoping to study medicine like Grandpa and Uncle Jesse or maybe be a lawyer or better yet a Homicide Detective like Dad." He said looking over the brochures again.
Katie then got up and walked over to the refrigerator to get some diet soda. MJ looked over at her and asked,
"So what do you want to do when we get out of high school?"
"I don't know. Maybe do some modeling." She said sitting next to her brother again.
"Come on sis. That's a hard business to get into. So much competition." He said looking at her.
"You don't think I can do it?" She asked looking at him.
"I'm not saying that. I know you can do it. But every day? Getting up at 5am to get to a shoot, which takes a whole day? Then you have to go to these 'phony' parties where everyone is gawking at you?" He said looking at her. Besides all the other models would hate you.
"Why would they hate me?" She asked looking at him.
"Because you'd be taking away all their jobs. Katie you are just too smart, pretty and very outgoing to be a model. Models always have that 'mad look' on their faces as they do that walk down the runways." He said getting up and walking like them.
"Yeah I guess you're right." Then they both laughed.
"MJ."
"Yeah."
"If I tell you something, you have to promise not to tell anyone, do you hear me?" She asked looking at him.
He looked at her before he said,
"It all depends on if it's going to get us into trouble."
"No!" She laughed at him. "Well not you. Probably me." She said.
"Oh god! What?"
She got up again and walked over to the refrigerator and took out another diet coke. She then turned around and looked at her brother and said,
"I want to be…." She stopped what she was saying when their Dad walked into the room.
"Hey there you two. What are you both doing?" Steve asked as he entered the room.
"Just looking at college brochures." MJ replied.
Steve nodded looked over at Katie before asking,
"What about you Katie, have you been looking at the college brochures?"
"No I haven't." She replied sternly before leaving the kitchen and heading up to her room.
Steve looked at her back as she left the room, deciding it was best if he went to speak to her, even before he had reached her room he heard the familiar music as she was signing along with her favorite Martina McBride CD. Every time Katie played the song "A Broken Wing" he had to stop what he was doing just to listen to her. That one song had become one of his favorites. After it was over he walked over to her door and lightly tapped on it.
"Come in." Katie said turning down the stereo.
Walking in he said, "Katie we need to talk."
"About what?" She asked sitting down on her bed.
"About you going to college."
"Dad we discussed this a million times before. I'm not going to college!" She said getting mad at him.
"Katie you need to get a college education! You are too damn smart not to go!" He said looking at her.
"I don't want to go! How can I make you see that I'm not interested in college?" She said getting up and walking over to her window and looking out.
"Why? Your Mom went. Grandpa, Uncle Jesse, Aunt Amanda and I went. MJ will be going. And some day even Kasey Lynn will go. But why not you?" He asked.
"Dad." She took him by the hand and sat him down on her bed. "Look. I'm tired of everyone telling me that I should go to college because everyone did. College is not my thing. Singing is. I want to become a singer like Martina, Wy, Faith, Leanne and the others. I'm tired of 'family parties and benefit singing'. I want to go out there and pound the pavements like they did. Dad you said it yourself that I have a voice like an angel just like Mom's. Why can't I just do what I want to do?"
He looked at her and said, "Because I don't want you to get hurt."
"Dad what do you mean?" She asked sitting next to him.
"The rejection. The record companies saying that you're not good enough for them or you sound just like 'so-in-so'. That kind of hurt." He said looking at her.
"But Dad don't you see that's part of life! It's something that I have to experience. You can't protect me forever." She said putting her hands on his shoulders.
He then looked at her and said, "I don't know. Let me think about all of this."
He walked out of her room and went into his and Kit's room and found Kit sitting at the window seat looking out. She had just come back from seeing Dr. Spencer. He walked over and wrapped his arms around her. She smiled up at him. He noticed that she'd been crying.
"Is everything alright? How did it go at the doctor's?" He asked sitting across from her.
Kit and Steve have been married for sixteen wonderful years. They had their shares of ups and downs, their close calls with him and her. But how can she tell her husband the news that will change their lives forever. As she sat at the window seat she tried to find words to tell him, hoping that he wouldn't hate her or her worst fear leave her. She thought she cried it all out at the doctor's office and the ride home but when she looked into his blue eyes the tears just flowed once more.
"Kit please tell me what's wrong?" Steve asked getting worried.
"I can't right now. Just hold me." She said looking at him.
He moved closer to her and wrapped his arms around her and held her as long as she needed him to.
"Whatever it is Kit we will get through this." He whispered to her.
She cried herself into an exhausted sleep. He carefully picked her up and laid her down on their bed and pulled the covers up and around her. He gently kissed her on the head and quietly walked out of their room. He felt a tap on his arm.
"Mommy ok?" Kasey Lynn signed to him.
"Yes baby she is. She's just very tired." He signed back to her.
She smiled at him and headed down the stairs. Steve then went down the stairs to start dinner. As they all sat down Kit entered the room.
"Honey are you ok?" Steve asked looking at her.
"I'm fine just tired." She said putting up water for tea.
She poured herself a cup of tea and headed back up to the bedroom. Steve watched her go with a bewildered look on his face.
Katie excused herself saying she had to go to the bathroom. She quickly went up the stairs and headed towards her parent's room. She went to go in when she heard her Mom on the phone.
"Hi Uncle Jimmy…..Not good….I went to see Dr. Spencer today and she found a lump….I'm waiting for her to call me back with the results….I'm so scared Uncle Jimmy….No I haven't told them yet….I don't know what to say to him….I know I know but I'm scared….I'll tell them now….Bye Uncle Jimmy." She hung up the phone and went to leave when the phone rang.
Katie quickly went back down the stairs and into the kitchen. Steve was listening on the other end. Then hung up when Kit walked into the kitchen. They both looked at each other.
"Mom what's wrong?" MJ asked looking between his parents.
Both Kit and Steve sat down at the kitchen table as Kit started to tell them.
"I found a lump in my breast so I went to see Dr. Spencer today and she took a biopsy of it. Dr. Spencer just called and told me the results." Kit couldn't talk anymore.
"What did she say?" Katie asked looking at her Mom as the tears fell.
Kit sat quietly and then said, "It's cancerous."
Katie signed everything to Kasey Lynn. Kasey Lynn signed to her Mom, "How? Why you? What did you do to deserve this? You never hurt anyone?" Kasey Lynn then ran out of the room.
Katie ran after her little sister. She found her hiding in her closet crying. Katie sat down beside her and started to explain it all to her, and telling her everything was going to be ok.
"No! It's not! Don't you understand! Mommy has cancer! She's going to be operated on and then she will have to go for that chemo, and she'll loose her hair and then she'll die! Just like Peter's Mom did!" Kasey Lynn signed as she pushed Katie out of her closet, and slamming the door shut again.
As Katie opened up Kasey Lynn's door once again. She reached in and hugged her sister and together they cried.
Kit who was standing in the hall listening to Katie's voice, heard the room become quiet, she decided that now would be the right time to talk to the girls so she knocked on the door and Katie let her in.
"Can I come in?" Kit asked looking at the girls.
"Sure." Katie smiled at her.
"Mommy what's going to happen to us?" Kasey Lynn signed to her.
"Nothing. We are going to fight this all together." Kit signed to her.
Katie looked at her Mom and said, "I'll be right by your side."
Kit smiled at the girls and then left. She walked to MJ's room and knocked on his door.
"Hi Mom." MJ said letting her in.
"How are you doing?" She asked sitting on his bed.
He walked over to her and sat down.
"I'm scared Mom. I'm real scared."
"I know honey I know, but I bet I'm a little more scared than you." She said hugging him and trying to make light of the situation.
After they hugged and spoken some more, Kit left MJ so he could get back to his homework.
She went to look for Steve. She had found him sitting out in the back yard. She walked over to him and sat down. He put his arms around her and pulled her close to him. He looked at her and said,
"I just want you to know that no matter what happens I'm right there for you. That's a promise." He then kissed her.
She looked at him and hugged him tightly and said, "Thank you. That makes me feel a lot better; I was kind of hoping you would say that." She smiled at him.
The next day Kit, Steve and the kids went to see Dr. Spencer to schedule her operation.
"Kit I would like to schedule the operation for this Friday at 9am." Dr. Spencer said looking at her.
"Ok." Kit said holding Steve's hand.
"So that means you will have to check in Thursday night." Dr. Spencer had told her.
"I understand." Kit said trying to wipe the tears from her face, before the children could see them.
"Steve. Kit. Could you two please leave so I can talk to the children?"
"Sure." They got up and left.
Dr. Spencer forgot for a moment about Kasey Lynn being deaf. Kasey Lynn panicked when she saw her parents leave. Dr. Spencer walked over to Kasey Lynn and explained to her that she needed her parents to leave so she can talk to her and her sister and brother.
"Katie you'll have to do all the signing for me because I'm a little rusty." Dr. Spencer said.
"Sure." Katie replied.
"Now this procedure is simple. Since your Mom found the lump right away we can get it and remove it so it won't spread." Dr. Spencer said to them.
"Would she have to go for chemo?" Kasey Lynn asked.
"I'm hoping she won't Kasey Lynn." Dr. Spencer said while Katie signed to her.
While outside of Dr. Spencer's office Steve decided that they should tell Mark. Steve told Dr. Spencer's nurse that he and Kit were going to look for his Dad.
"Ok Mr. Sloan." The nurse said smiling at him.
Steve and Kit went to look for Mark. They found him with Jesse and Amanda in the doctor's lounge talking.
"Hey, you two. What are you doing here?" Jesse asked.
They sat down on the couch and Steve said, "We're here talking to Dr. Spencer."
Amanda looked at Kit and asked, "Are you ok?"
"No Amanda. I…I found a lump in my breast and it's cancerous." Kit said trying so hard not to cry again.
Steve put his arm around her and kissed her gently on her head and said, "Its ok."
"I'm so sorry." Mark said sitting next to her, looking bewildered, and remembering the very same words he had spoken to Steve and Carol all those years ago.
"Dad I'm so scared." Kit said hugging him.
"Do the kids know?" Amanda asked.
Steve nodded yes, as Jesse looked up he saw the kids walking down the hall. He got up and let them in. Kasey Lynn ran over to her Mom and started to cry.
"How are you two doing?" Jesse asked MJ and Katie.
"Ok. I guess." Katie said looking on sadly at her sister.
"Ok." MJ said rubbing Kasey Lynn's back.
The next day Katie knocked on her parent's door.
"Come in." Kit said.
"Hi Mom." She said softly.
"Hi sweetie. What can I do for you?" Kit asked looking at her.
"You need any help with packing?" She asked trying her hardest to hold back her tears.
"Sure." Kit smiled at her.
Katie looked at her Mom and burst into tears.
"Shhh. Katie it's going to be ok. Please sweetie don't cry." Kit said hugging her.
"Oh mommy I'm so scared. I don't want anything to happen to you." Katie said crying.
Kit looked at her and wiped her tears away and said, "Nothing is going to happen. I have a great doctor and besides Grandpa, Uncle Jesse and Aunt Amanda are going to watch over me while I'm in the hospital."
Katie smiled at her Mom and said, "Good."
"Now help me here and then we can go downstairs and watch a video together if you want." Kit said hugging and kissing her.
"Ok."
After they had finished what they were packing in Kit's hospital bag Steve came in.
"Everything ok in here?" He asked looking between them.
"Yes." They both said smiling.
Katie sensed that her parents wanted to be alone so she left the room. Steve walked over to Kit and wrapped his arms around her and asked,
"You ok?"
"Yeah Babe. I'm fine." She said hugging him.
"You sure?" He asked as they sat down on the window seat.
"Yes. Having you here with me makes me feel a whole lot better."
"Good." He said kissing her.
They sat for a while in each other's arms and then got up and went downstairs to be with the kids. They joined the kids in the den to watch a movie. Just as soon as Steve put the tape in the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it." Steve said letting out a sigh.
He got up and went to answer the door. When he opened up the door Amanda, CJ, Dion, Jesse and Mark walked in.
"Did you guys eat dinner yet?" Jesse asked coming in with a big brown bag.
"No Jess. We were just going to sit down and watch a movie." Steve said looking at him.
"Oh ok. Then we'll leave the food and go." Amanda said taking the bag from Jesse and handing it to Steve.
"Thanks you guys." Steve said smiling.
As everyone was leaving Mark stayed behind to talk to Steve.
"Steve how are you doing?" Mark asked walking with him into the kitchen.
As Steve put the bag down he let out a sigh and said looking at his Dad,
"Dad I'm so scared. I pray that Kit will pull through this. She means the world to me. If I loose her I don't know how I can cope without her."
"You will not loose her. She is a fighter. Just like someone I know." Mark smiled at him.
Steve smiled at his Dad.
"Want to stay for dinner Dad? It'd be like old times." Steve said opening the bag that Jesse was holding earlier.
"How about I take the kids and you and Kit spend a quiet evening at home alone." Mark said looking at his son.
"That's a great idea Dad. I haven't spent a quiet night alone with your son in a long time." Kit said walking over to Mark and hugging him.
"Then it's set. I'll tell the kids." Steve said walking out of the kitchen.
As Steve approached the den door he heard his kids talking.
"MJ I'm so scared." Kasey Lynn signed to him.
"I know you are squirt. I'm scared too." He signed back to her.
"Katie are you ok?" MJ asked looking over at her.
"Yeah I guess so." She said looking at him as her tears started to fall.
"I think we should all go away together. Up to the cabin after Mom comes home. We haven't had a family vacation in a long time." MJ said to his sisters.
"Oh! Mommy would love that!" Kasey Lynn signed excitedly.
"That's a great idea MJ. Mom would love that." Steve said walking in on them.
Kasey Lynn ran over to her father and gave him one of her biggest hugs. As he sat down he looked over at his kids and asked,
"How about you three stay with grandpa tonight?"
Katie and MJ looked at each other and then at Steve and said, "Sure ok."
Kasey Lynn looked at MJ and Katie then at Steve and signed, "No! I don't want to leave Mommy! Don't make me go! Please!"
"Kasey Lynn nothing is going to happen to Mom. We are just spending some time alone that's all." Steve signed to her.
She looked at her father and signed, "Are you sure she's going to be ok?"
"Yes baby. She'll be ok." Steve signed and then hugged her.
MJ, Katie and Kasey Lynn left the room to pack their things. Twenty minutes later they were all set to leave.
"Katie can I talk to you?" Kit asked.
"Sure Mom. What is it?" Katie asked looking at her.
"Please keep a close eye on Kasey Lynn. She's not dealing well with me going to the hospital. I'm worried about her." Kit said hugging her.
"Sure Mom." Katie smiled at her.
Kasey Lynn walked over to her Mom to hug her. Then she signed, "If you need me to stay I will."
"No baby. You go and have a great time with grandpa. Daddy is here and I will be fine. Ok?" Kit signed to her.
"Ok." She signed back.
Kasey Lynn then left with Katie.
MJ hugged and kissed his Mom good bye. The kids then left with Mark. Steve found Kit sitting on the couch with her eyes closed. He walked behind the couch and started to give Kit a back rub. She put up her hand to touch his face and said,
"All quiet on the western front."
"Yes it is. How about I rustle up some food? Jesse brought some ribs over from the restaurant." Steve said whispering in her ear.
Kit looked over at him reached up and touched his face and said, "How about after I make love to you."
"That sounds like a plan." He smiled at her.
They then went upstairs to their room. Steve lowered the lights while Kit freshened up in the bathroom. When she came out she couldn't believe what Steve had done, not only had he lowered the lights; he had white zinfandel chilling in the ice bucket. He took her into his arms and began kissing her. He kissed her lips ever so lightly, and then he moved down her neck. He then carefully lifted her up and gently put her down on their bed. Steve then undid her lacey bra and helped her out of her matching lacey panties. Kit was so over come by all of this that she just let all her problems fade away. An hour later Kit woke and looked over at Steve sleeping next to her. In the sixteen years that they have been married Kit can never remember the time that she and Steve never made love. Every time that they did, it always felt like it was their first time making love to each other. She got up put on her bathrobe and went down stairs to make herself a cup of tea. She took her tea into the den and put in the family video of the five of them in Hawaii. This was her favorite vacation even though they had some close calls. Kit then fell asleep. Kit was awoken by the phone.
"Hello…Oh my god! When did this happen?….Yes Amanda we'll be at the hospital…How is she though?…Ok…Bye." Kit hung up the phone and ran upstairs.
"Steve! Steve!" She shouted running up the stairs.
Steve jumped out of bed and ran to meet Kit.
"What's wrong?" He asked looking at her.
"It's Katie. She's….She's been shot!" Kit said crying.
"Shot!" Steve said almost losing his balance.
He and Kit ran into their bedroom and threw on some clothes. They got into the car and drove to CGH. Amanda met them as they came running in.
"Amanda how's Katie?" Steve asked looking at her.
"Mark's in with her." Amanda said walking them into the doctor's lounge.
"Where are MJ and Kasey Lynn?" Kit asked wiping her eyes.
"Mom! Dad!" MJ said getting up quickly from the table.
"MJ what happened?" Kit asked looking at him.
"Uncle Jesse and I were cleaning up at the restaurant and these guys came in and demanded money. Katie came in from throwing out the garbage and startled the guys and one of them shot her. Twice! He didn't have to shoot her! She would have cooperated with them!" MJ said crying.
Kit and Steve hugged him. They looked over and saw Kasey Lynn sleeping on the couch. MJ looked down at her and said to his parents,
"All she knows is that Katie slipped in the bathroom and broke her arm."
"Keep it that way until we know how Katie is doing." Steve said looking at MJ.
"Yes Dad." MJ said sitting down at the table with his parents.
Mark came into the doctor's lounge. Kit, Steve and MJ looked up at him.
"Dad how is she?" Kit asked looking at him.
"She's resting. Everything went along fine." Mark said walking over to Kit and Steve.
"Dad please tell me where she was shot." Steve asked looking at his Dad.
"Once in the chest and the second one was in her stomach. Katie takes after you. She's a fighter." Mark said putting his hand on his son's shoulder.
"Mark."
"Yes Amanda." He said looking at her.
"Where's Jesse?"
"I thought he came in here after the operation." Mark said looking around.
"He never came by. That's very strange." Amanda said getting up.
"He's probably in the doctor's locker room taking off his scrubs." Mark said getting up and getting coffee.
Steve left the doctor's lounge to look for Jesse to thank him for saving Katie's life. Steve couldn't help but remember the look on Jesse's face when he and Kit asked him to be the twin's godfather. His expression was like someone told him he just won a million dollars in the California State Lottery. Steve then entered the doctor's locker room and found Jesse sitting on the bench with his hands covering his face.
"Jesse." Steve said walking over to him and sitting down.
Jesse looked up at Steve with a frighten look. Jesse didn't know what to say to his best friend. Jesse always looked up to Steve as a big brother. He always envied Steve and Mark's relationship, which over the years he became part of. Jesse always treated Steve and Kit's children as his own. He loved the children so much and vowed to himself that no harm will come to them. Now that vow has been broken.
"Jesse are you ok?" Steve asked looking at him.
"No Steve I'm not." Jesse said looking down at the floor.
"Jesse it wasn't your fault." Steve said putting a comforting hand on Jesse's shoulder.
"Then whose fault is it!" Jesse yelled.
"Those bastards that shot my daughter. Not you." Steve said.
"I should have done something to protect her!"
"What could you have done? MJ said that when she came in from throwing out the garbage they just shot her." Steve said looking at his best friend.
Jesse threw his scrubs into the hamper, put on his shirt, which he didn't realize, had Katie's blood on it and looked at Steve and said, "That should have been me. Not your daughter." Then he left.
Steve went after him.
"Jesse! Come back here!"
Jesse just kept going down the hall leaving Steve standing there watching him leave. Steve then went back into the doctor's lounge to talk to his Dad.
"Dad. Can I go and see Katie?" Steve asked.
"Sure. Kit's with her." He said with a soft smile.
They both walked down to her room. Steve stood at her closed door turned to his father and said, "Thanks for saving Katie." Then he walked in.
"You're welcome." Mark said walking away.
"Hi babe." Kit whispered.
"How is she?" He asked looking over at Kit and then at Katie.
"Like Dad said she's a fighter." Kit then got up and kissed Katie on the head.
She looked over at Steve and asked, "Did you find Jesse? Is he ok? Where is he?"
"Yeah I did." He said letting out a sigh.
"What's wrong?"
"Kit, he's having a hard time with this."
"Why? There was nothing he could have done to prevent this it's not his fault Katie was shot, oh god Steve please tell me he isn't blaming himself." Kit said sitting down next to Steve and holding his hand.
As she took hold of Steve's hand he was over come by this warm sensation. This is the same feeling he had gotten when they first began dating and when the time they were over in England. He closed his eyes and let the sensation take him over. When he finally opened his eyes Kit was asleep next to him. He leaned down and kissed her on the head. He then got up and looked over at Katie sleeping there. With her sleeping there reminded him the time that she was sick with the flu. He was up all night with her. He then leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. Steve then turned and gently woke Kit up. She opened her eyes and smiled at him.
"Come let's go. You have to come back here in couple of hours for your operation." He said helping her up.
"Ok." She then walked over and kissed Katie good-bye.
As they left Katie's room MJ and Kasey Lynn greeted them.
"Daddy what are you and mommy doing here? I thought mommy didn't have to come until later today." Kasey Lynn signed to him.
Steve looked at Kit and then at MJ.
"I tried to find the words to tell her about Katie Dad but I just couldn't." MJ said.
"It's ok MJ. Why don't you go and see Katie. Mom and I will tell Kasey Lynn." Steve said hugging MJ.
"Ok sure." He said walking into Katie's room.
MJ walked into her room. He pulled a chair next to her bed and sat down and closed his eyes. The events of the night played in his mind over and over again until he woke up out of breath. It took him a couple of seconds to realize that he was still in Katie's room at the hospital. He leaned over and took a hold of her hand and held it until he fell asleep again. His dreams were bits and pieces of their lives growing up.
Meanwhile outside of Katie's room…
"Kasey Lynn. Mommy and I have something to tell you about Katie." Steve signed to her.
He sat her down on a chair and knelt down in front of her and told her what happened. She couldn't believe what he was signing to her.
"Why did MJ lie to me?" She signed back angrily.
"He didn't want to upset you." Kit signed to her.
"It's not fair! Keeping me from knowing the truth about Katie! He did this because I'm eight years old! He thinks I can't handle this! Well he's wrong, she's my sister too, I deserved to know the truth, I'm not a baby anymore, I'm deaf not dumb!" Kasey Lynn signed angrily.
"Kasey Lynn, we did what we had to, we did it to protect you, because we love you." Steve signed to her.
"It is true! He hates me because I'm different! He's always hated me!" Kasey Lynn got up and ran down the hall.
Steve and Kit just looked at each other. They went after her. Steve and Kit found Kasey Lynn in Amanda's office crying.
"Steve. Kit. What's wrong?" Amanda asked looking at them.
Steve explained to her what happened.
"Do you want me to talk to her?" Amanda asked.
"No that's ok. We don't want to bother you with this." Kit said.
"It's no bother. I do have kids you know." Amanda smiled at them.
"Well ok." Kit said hugging her.
Steve and Kit left Amanda to talk to Kasey Lynn. Amanda looked over at Kasey Lynn. When they finally made eye contact Amanda started to sign to her.
"Tell Aunt Amanda what's wrong."
"Why did MJ lie to me? Why didn't he tell me the truth about Katie?" Kasey Lynn signed.
"He didn't want to worry you. He knows that you are still upset about your Mom." Amanda signed to her.
"No. He hates me Aunt Amanda." Kasey Lynn signed and then began to cry.
"What do you mean he hates you?" Amanda signed to her.
"Every time something happens he makes Katie tell me. He never tells me himself. I've noticed this for years. What did I do to him?" Kasey Lynn asked.
Amanda was lost for words after that statement. Then she picked up Kasey Lynn and held her close. She then put her down and wiped Kasey Lynn's eyes and said,
"You didn't do anything to him. I don't know why he doesn't tell you things. I think you should talk to him about it. It's not good to keep these things inside you." Amanda signed to her.
"He won't talk to me." Kasey Lynn signed.
"Go and talk to him." Amanda signed to her.
"Ok." She signed.
Kasey Lynn walked out of Amanda's office and walked down the hall to her sister's room. She carefully opened the door and walked in. She spotted MJ sleeping in the chair next to Katie's bed. Kasey Lynn lightly tapped MJ on the arm.
"Hi." He waved at her.
"How's Katie doing?" She signed to him.
He let go of Katie's hand and signed to her, "She's doing ok I guess."
"MJ I need to talk to you." Kasey Lynn signed to him.
"I'm not in the mood to talk right now." He signed to her.
"Please."
"Not now squirt." He then grabbed Katie's hand again and closed his eyes to rest.
Kasey Lynn just looked at him. She then quietly walked out of Katie's room. She sat in the chair outside of Katie's room and began to cry. Mark spotted her crying.
"What's wrong?" Mark signed to her.
"Grandpa I just want to know why MJ hates me so much."
"MJ doesn't hate you. He loves you." He signed to her.
"But grandpa every time something happens he makes Katie tell me. Why can't MJ tell me instead of Katie?" Kasey Lynn signed looking at Mark.
"Did you ask him?"
"I tried to inside Katie's room but all he said was that he's not in the mood right now to talk. Then he grabbed Katie's hand again and closed his eyes." She signed.
"Kasey Lynn honey, what everyone is forgetting is that MJ and Katie have this special bond, something different from ordinary brothers and sisters. Just give him time. He'll come around." Mark signed and then hugged her.
"Oh ok, but Grandpa, he does love me doesn't he, even though we don't have that special thing you said about?"
"Yes honey he loves you very much, give him just a little longer to think things through, ok?"
"Ok." She signed back.
Steve and Kit then came out of the doctor's lounge.
"Kasey Lynn is MJ still with Katie?" Kit signed to her.
She just shrugged her shoulders and looked down at the floor. Kit went inside to get him. She gently woke him up.
"MJ. Dad, Kasey Lynn and I are getting ready to leave." Kit said.
"Oh ok." He said rubbing his eyes.
She just looked at him holding his sister's hand. Then she asked,
"MJ why are you giving Kasey Lynn a hard time?"
"I'm not giving her a hard time." MJ said looking at his Mom.
"She says you hate her. You always make Katie tell her everything." Kit said looking at him.
"I don't hate Kasey Lynn. Where does she get that?" MJ asked letting go of Katie's hand.
"Well that's what she told Dad and me." Kit said angrily.
"Mom she's wrong. I don't hate Kasey Lynn. Honest." He said getting upset.
Kit just looked at him and asked, "Do you treat her different because she's deaf?"
He looked at his Mom and then at the floor and said, "Sometimes. But I don't mean to. It's just that I'm so angry at times."
"Angry why?" Kit asked lifting his head up to look at her.
"Because she'll never be like us." He said as the tears fell.
"She is like us." Kit said looking at him.
"No Mom she's not. She has to go to a special school. She can't enjoy the things Katie and I can. Like the movies, TV shows, conversations, music and other stuff."
"MJ where do you get that? Of course she can enjoy those things. Just in different ways." Kit said looking at him.
MJ just looked at his Mom and then said, "I'm sorry that I hurt her."
"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to her." Kit said to him.
"Ok." He said looking over at Katie.
"She'll be here when you get back." Kit said to him.
MJ got up kissed Katie good-bye and went to look for Kasey Lynn. He found her outside Katie's room sleeping in the chair. He gently woke her up. Kasey Lynn opened her eyes and looked at him. He took her by the hand and walked her to the doctor's lounge.
"You want coffee?" He signed to her.
"No!" She laughed.
"How about soda?"
"Yes please." She signed at him.
He got her, her soda and they sat down together at an empty table. He then looked at her and signed to her,
"You feel like talking now?"
"Yes please." She signed.
"Look Kasey Lynn I'm sorry that I came across as hating you. I don't. I honest and truly don't hate you. It's just that I'm angry because you are deaf. It's not fair. Sometimes I just get frustrated because I can't talk to you like I talk to Mom, Dad, Katie, Grandpa, Uncle Jesse and Aunt Amanda. What I mean is if I'm doing something I can't do it and talk to you at the same time. Understand?"
"Yes but you don't talk to me at all like you use to." She signed.
He looked at her with a puzzled look.
"You go and say something to me and then you let Katie take over. Don't get me wrong I love Katie but I just wish you and I can just talk." She signed to him.
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to do that." He signed to her.
Kasey Lynn got up and walked over to him and hugged him tightly and signed to him that she loved him very, very much.
"I love you too squirt." He signed and hugged her back.
Kit and Steve came into the doctor's lounge and saw Kasey Lynn and MJ hugging. Kasey Lynn saw them and gave them a thumbs up and a smile.
"MJ."
He put Kasey Lynn down and looked at his parents.
"Mom and I are leaving now to get her things for tonight." Steve said looking at him.
"Ok fine. I'll stay here with Kasey Lynn and Katie." He said smiling at his parents.
The four of them left the doctor's lounge and headed to Katie's room. Kit wanted to kiss her good bye before she left to go home. After their parents left, MJ and Kasey Lynn stayed by Katie's side. MJ sat down in the chair and picked up Kasey Lynn and put her on his lap. She laid her head on his chest and drifted off to sleep. He found himself dozing off to sleep too so he picked up Katie's hand and held it as he fell asleep.
Steve came into the room after admitting Kit into the hospital. He gently woke up MJ to tell him that he's going to take Kasey Lynn home.
"Dad can I stay a little longer?" MJ asked looking at him.
"I want you to get something to eat. Let's go home eat and then come back." Steve said gently taking Kasey Lynn off of MJ.
"Ok." He said letting go of Katie's hand.
They got into the car and drove home. As they pulled up Steve looked over at MJ and said, "She's going to be fine."
"I hope so Dad. I sure hope so." MJ then got out of the car and walked up the walk and into the house.
He went upstairs and put on the shower. When he got into the shower he sat down on the floor of the
shower and started to cry. He never liked being out of Katie's sight. They did everything together. After his shower he got out and started to get dressed. He sat down on his bed and started to think back when they were little. There was only one point in their lives that he hated to think about. It was the time that Katie ran away from home. He thought for sure that she'd never come back home. Then there was a knock on his door.
"Come in."
Steve walked in and saw MJ sitting on his bed half dressed.
"Hey pal you ok?" Steve asked sitting next to him.
MJ looked over at his Dad and said, "Yeah I guess so. After dinner can we go back to see Mom and Katie?"
"Sure." Steve said getting up.
"Dad."
"Yeah."
"Have you spoken to Uncle Jesse lately?" MJ asked looking at him.
"Not since I saw him in the doctor's locker room."
"I wish he wouldn't blame himself for this. It wasn't his fault." MJ said putting on his T-shirt.
"Me too son. Me too." Steve then left him alone.
MJ's phone then rang.
"Hello…Hey CJ what's up?…No I'm skipping the party tonight…She's ok but I really don't want to go without her…Yeah I know Kristen is going to be there but if Katie wakes up and I'm not there I'll never forgive myself…I guess you can call it that a 'twin thing' but that's the way I feel…Talk to you later…Bye." MJ hung up the phone and quickly went down the stairs to eat his dinner with Kasey Lynn and his Dad.
"MJ you still going to the party tonight?" Steve asked looking at him.
"No. I want to go to the hospital to be with Katie and Mom." He said looking up at his Dad.
"MJ you've been at that hospital since last night with Katie. Why don't you go to the party tonight?"
"I can't Dad. Not without Katie." MJ said looking at him.
"What's with it with you two lately? When you were sick two weeks ago she didn't go to Mandy's party and now you're not going to Todd's party?" Steve asked looking at him.
MJ just shrugged his shoulders and then started to cut his chicken. Steve then sat down to his dinner. Just recently Steve started to notice how tight MJ and Katie have been. They were tight when they were little kids and when they both turned thirteen they grew apart for a year then they got tight again. He wished he understood what it's like to be very close to his sister but it will never happen. Steve then felt a light tap on his arm.
"Daddy are you ok?" Kasey Lynn signed to him.
"Yeah. Couldn't be better. Now eat your veggies so we can go see mommy and Katie." He smiled at her.
"Do I have to eat them?" She signed to him.
"Yes." He signed back at her making a face.
Kasey Lynn laughed when he did that to her. By the time they did the dishes and headed to the hospital visiting hours were over. Mark advised them that they could quickly go into Kit's room and say good night to her. MJ pulled Mark aside and asked,
"Grandpa can I stay with Katie? Please?"
Mark dared not to say 'no' to him because MJ was just as tall as he. Mark looked at his grandson and said, "You make me two promises."
"Sure grandpa what are they?" MJ asked with a big smile.
"One. Be very quiet. I will notify the nurses on staff tonight you are staying. And two call me if she wakes up."
"That's a deal."
Steve looked over and saw MJ and Mark talking. The interaction between the two Steve loved. But with the look on his Dad's face and MJ's he knows they are up to no good. They're always planning something. Steve pretends to not notice the mischief going on between grandfather and grandson. Steve's cell phone rang.
"Hello….Ok I'll be right there…Just brief me…Ok…uhuh…sure..Got it….I'm on my way. Thanks." Steve then hung up.
"Babe are you leaving already?" Kit asked looking up at him.
"I have to. Dad I need you to come with me." Steve said walking over to Mark and MJ.
"Ok."
Mark and Steve left Kit's room and headed down the hallway. Steve spotted Amanda and asked if she was busy.
"No I'm not. Why?"
"I need you to come too." He said as they quickly went to the elevators.
"Steve can you tell us what's going on?" Mark asked.
Steve looked over at his Dad and Amanda and said, "It's Jesse. He's at Logan's Bar on Melrose. Logan said he came in drunk and he just passed out on the floor of the bar."
They arrived at Logan's within twenty minutes. Jesse was now sitting in a booth with coffee in front of him and ice on his head. Steve looked at his Dad and said, "Let me talk to him."
Steve walked over and sat down opposite of Jesse. Jesse looked up at Steve and asked angrily,
"What do you want?"
"Jess I'm worried about you." Steve said looking at him.
"Well don't be." Jesse said angrily.
Jesse then slowly sipped on the black coffee. Steve put his hand on Jesse's arm.
"Jesse how am I going to get it through to you that I don't blame you for what has happened to Katie." Steve said.
"Steve how can I not blame myself! They are like MY own kids!" Jesse said angrily looking at Steve.
"Jesse the kids love you very much and they know that you would never let anyone hurt them." Steve said looking at him.
Jesse looked down at the coffee and then up at Steve and said, "I want to see Katie."
"Then let's go." Steve said with a smile.
Steve escorted Jesse out of the bar with Mark and Amanda following behind. The four got into Steve's car and drove back to CGH. When they arrived at Katie's door Jesse was nervous that it took him a minute to pull himself together. When they walked in they couldn't believe what they saw. Katie's bed was in the upright position with MJ sitting next to her and Kasey Lynn on the other side laughing.
"Hi daddy." Katie said smiling at him.
Steve walked over to her and hugged and kissed her and said, "Hi angel girl."
Jesse then walked over to Katie and hugged her. Steve and everyone left them alone.
"Katie I'm sorry for what has happened to you. I wish I could take your place." Jesse said looking at her.
Katie took a hold of Jesse's hand and said, "Uncle Jesse please don't say that. I don't blame you for this. There was nothing that you or MJ could have done to prevent this."
Jesse just smiled at her and a big weight was lifted off of him. He is very thankful for the friendship he has with the Sloan's. It means so much to him. Katie was very happy that Jesse came to see her and was happy that he helped her grandpa save her. The one thing that was really going through her mind was that she was able to see her family again. Especially her Mom. Even though the two had their ups and downs Katie knows that she can always count on her Mom for being there for her. Then there is her relationship with her Dad. Those two were way too much alike. They were always at each other's throats when she hit her teenage years. But this past year something has brought them closer than ever. Maybe it was finding out that her Mom has cancer or maybe they are just starting to understand each other better. Whatever it is Katie is thankful that they are closer. Jesse told her that he is going to leave so he can get cleaned up and let her rest. After Jesse left MJ came in.
"How are you doing?" He asked sitting next to her in the chair.
"Much better that I got to see everyone. How's mommy?"
"She's nervous and scared." He said holding her hand.
She then looked over at her brother and said, "Me too."
They were both quiet for a while until she asked, "MJ you staying with me tonight?"
He looked at her with a smile and said, "Wouldn't have it any other way."
"Thanks." She smiled at him and then closed her eyes.
MJ got up and walked over to the spare bed and lay down.