Maureen slowly woke up the next morning. It took her a few seconds to realize where she was. She was fast asleep on a cot in Joanne's room with Collins' coat draped over her. She immediately got up to see how Joanne was. Nothing had changed. Maureen opened the duffel bag that Collins must have dropped off. Inside was about a week's worth of her own clothes, a hairbrush, and a toothbrush. She went into the bathroom to change, and when she came out, a nurse with light blonde hair was setting up a tray of food.
"We figured that you could use some food," she explained to Maureen. Maureen nodded, and looked at the food. It was a bowl of oatmeal, a bagel, an apple, and two cartons of orange juice. "Sorry that you're stuck with out wonderful hospital food."
"It's fine. I haven't had anything to eat except for a beer since lunch yesterday. I take it you can't get any alcohol around this place, right?" The nurse laughed.
"I'm afraid you're right." Maureen shrugged.
"I shouldn't be drinking this early anyway." She leaned casually against the cot. "Joanne would bust my butt about it." Maureen extended her hand towards the nurse. "Maureen Johnson."
"Abby Carr. So
you're Ms. Jefferson's friend?"
"We're partners."
"Oh, wow." Abby laughed. "Didn't expect that. I'm cool with it though. My friend literally just came out of the closet last week." The beeper clipped to Abby's pocket began to beep. "Crap, I've got to go. Let me know if you want anything." Maureen nodded.
"Thanks. I'll see you later I guess." Abby waved and left. Maureen sat down, and picked at her food. After ten minutes, she finally decided to actually eat some of it.
Later that evening, Abby stopped by Joanne's room when she got off work. Maureen was sitting in a chair next to the bed, watching TV. She had her legs tucked under her, and she was holding Joanne's hand. Abby knocked on the doorframe before entering the hospital room.
"Hey," Maureen said quietly.
"Hey back at 'ya. I'm off work now, and thought that you'd like to go out and get some real food at this sub place down the street."
"Thanks, but no thanks. I don't really want to leave P- Joanne." Abby nodded.
"I understand. Say I bring you some dinner?"
"Okay," Maureen said reluctantly. She pulled her wallet out of her pleather purse. "Here's some money." Abby pushed the money away.
"Nope, my treat. Now, what do you want to eat? This place has everything." Abby pulled a piece of scrap paper and pen out of her purse. Maureen sighed.
"Just a meatball sub will be fine." Abby looked frustrated.
"Woman, I am trying to buy you dinner, so order a dinner! What else do you want to eat? If you say nothing else, I'll be forced to buy one of everything and bring it all back here." Maureen chewed on her bottom lip.
"Fries and a Coke too. I'll find a way to pay you back since you won't let me give you any money."
"You do that now. I'll be right back." Maureen nodded as Abby left.
Fifteen minutes later,
Abby returned and said, "Here you go, some real food." Maureen
took the bag and cup Abby handed her. The food smelled delicious.
"Have you figured out a way to pay me back yet?"
"Not yet,
but you can start by joining me for dinner." Maureen looked at the
bag that contained Abby's dinner. "My friends already left for
today, and it's too quiet around this place." Abby sat down
across from Maureen.
"Too quiet? If you say so." Maureen glanced over at Joanne with a worried look on her face. "Don't you worry about her. She's in the best care possible, and she seems like a fighter."
"Yeah, so was Angel," Maureen replied bitterly almost to herself before taking a bite of her sub.
"Angel? Who's
she?"
"He, he and my friend Collins were so madly in love.
He really was an angel, but he had AIDS. He died in October."
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Seems like you've been through a lot. Let's talk about something happier. Ms. Jefferson's going to pull through this."
"Call her Joanne. By saying 'Ms. Jefferson', you sound like one of her clients, and you're nicer than any of her clients."
"Okay, Joanne is going to pull through this." Maureen and Abby talked for nearly an hour. Abby had moved to New York City when she was 18 in hopes of being a singer, but ended up being a nurse when that fell through.
As she left, she said to Maureen, "You know, most doctors believe that people in a coma can hear you if you talk to them. You should try. Tell Joanne about your day and stuff."
"I never listen to doctors"
"Let me rephrase that. I know that Joanne will hear you if you talk to her, so try. I'll see you tomorrow Maureen. Bye."
"Bye."
Maureen took her usual seat on the edge of the bed with her back to the door, and brushed a strand of hair out of Joanne's face. Sighing, she began to talk.
"Listen Pookie, I'm sorry about yesterday. I know that I need to practice some self-control. I don't know if you heard me yesterday when you were leaving, so I'll tell you again. I love you Joanne. I really, truly do. This nurse, Abby, bought me dinner at this sub place down the street from here. I think it's the one a block or two away from the firm. When you go back to work, we'll check it out." Abby stood in the door, and silently watched Maureen talk to Joanne. Maureen showed a loyalty the nurse had never seen before. "Mark, Roger, Mimi, and Collins all stopped by for a few hours today. They're really worried about you." Abby left, she had to get home. "Why does this always happen to us? First April, then Angel, and now you. This isn't fair, and it's all my fault. God, do I feel like a moron. You can't even hear me!" Maureen climbed off the bed, and laid down on the cot. In an instant, she was asleep.
A week later, Maureen was sitting on the chair next to Joanne's bed. Her arms were folded on the bed, with her head resting on them. She was about to doze off when a loud, sudden beep caused her to bolt upright. In an instant, nurses came flying into the room.
A/N: That's it. If you like Aida, PLEASE check out (and review) my Aida-fic, Run-Away Lovers. I'd love you forever! So, check it out (Adam Pascal makes one fine Captain of the Guards!) Much love.
Tina101