Joanne was walking down what appeared to be a long hallway. Her footsteps echoed as she kept walking. She saw a figure walk towards her, but she didn't feel threatened. Joanne stopped. Something in her heart told her to stop. The figure kept walking. Joanne could make out a red jacket, and…a black bob wig. Her hands flew to her mouth.
"Hola chica," Angel said with a smile. The two friends shared a warm embrace. Both had tears in their eyes.
"What's going on Angel? Am I dead?" Joanne asked. She couldn't be dead…what about Maureen? Angel took her hand, and they began to walk down the hallway.
"No, you're not dead. You're about to wake up. I wanted to talk to you before you wake up." Joanne listened intently. "I've been watching you and Maureen. Maureen's been loyally by your side for the last two months."
"Two months?" Angel continued as if Joanne hadn't said anything.
"She's been worried sick about you."
"I feel horrible about yelling at her. I shouldn't have overreacted like the way I did."
"Don't you beat yourself up about that fight. All couples fight. Even Collins and I fought a few times." Joanne was shocked by this. Collins and Angel fought? They were the perfect couple. Angel chuckled. "Don't act so surprised. Every couple has their flaws. Hell, you and Mo are a perfect example of that." Angel and Joanne stopped. On their right was a simple white door. "Well, this is where I must leave you."
"It was great to see you, Angel. Mimi was right, you look amazing!" Angel smiled.
"Thanks honey. Tell everyone that I said hi and that I love them and miss them." Angel and Joanne embraced. "It's time to wake up, Joanne." Joanne walked through the door, and didn't look back.
Maureen flew backwards at the surprise movement. The sudden change in brain activity brought Dr. Grant rushing into the room. Joanne rolled over on her side, and began to cough. Tears of joy slid down Maureen's cheeks. She covered her mouth with her hands. Joanne rolled back over, and slowly opened her eyes.
"I love you too," she said in a hoarse voice when she caught sight of Maureen. Dr. Grant backed away, giving the lovers some time alone. He quietly closed the door on his way out.
"Don't you ever scare me like that again!" Maureen announced before she rushed to Joanne's side. The diva threw her arms around her lover, and kissed her passionately. When they broke apart, Joanne gently stroked her cheek. Maureen was still crying.
"It's okay baby. I'm here now, and I'm better."
"I'm in shock. For two months I've been here watching you. Everyday I hoped that it would be the day that you'd wake up. Now, now you're here, and I can't believe it." Joanne struggled to sit up. "Oh, here Pookie." Maureen pressed a button so the top part of the bed propped Joanne up.
"Thanks. I've been out for two months? What happened? It's all one big blur to me." Maureen shifted in her seat on the bed.
"We got in a fight," she said quietly.
"I remember that much. I went down to the firm to work. I was on my way to the store to buy something for dinner, and that's all I remember."
"You were hit by a car, and were in a coma for two months. You even needed a breathing tube for a week. I was so afraid that I'd never be able to talk to you again."
"I'm here now, don't you worry."
A knock on the door caused Maureen to turn around. Dr. Grant came in with a clipboard in hand.
"Hello Ms. Jefferson, I'm Dr. Grant. I've been taking care of you for the past two months." Joanne shook the doctor's hand politely.
"It's nice to meet you," she said.
"Likewise. It's good to finally see you up. I'm here to see if the coma affected your ability to move in any way. Can you move your legs?" Maureen got up off the bed, and Joanne moved her legs around a little. "And it looks like you can move your upper body with ease. Since you're lucky, and won't require at physical therapy, you should be able to go home in about a week. Don't be surprised if it changes." Joanne nodded. "I guess that's it then. I'll be back in the morning to check on you. Goodnight ladies."
"Goodnight," Maureen said with a smile.
As soon as Dr. Grant left, Maureen climbed back on the bed. Joanne took her hand, and they entwined fingers.
"He's really nice," she said. "Listen Honeybear, I have something important to tell you."
"Are you alright? Do you need something?" It was then that Joanne began to notice exactly how much Maureen had changed.
"I'm fine. Right before I woke up, I got a chance to talk to someone." Maureen looked confused. "I got a brief chance to talk to Angel." Maureen was dumbstruck at first (A/N: Can you imagine Maureen being speechless…scary!).
"Like Mimi?" she managed to choke out. Joanne nodded slowly.
"Like Mimi. Angel told me how you've stayed by my side for two months."
"I couldn't leave you. I was afraid that something would happen while I was gone, and I'd never be able to forgive myself." Joanne struggled to stifle a yawn, but didn't succeed. "You tired Pookie?"
"It sounds dumb, but I really am. What time is it?" Maureen looked at the watch Joanne had given her for their anniversary.
"11:30 PM. I'll call the loft in the morning. Here, let me put this down for you." Maureen lowered the bed for Joanne.
"You've changed
baby. You're much humbler than before." Maureen kissed Joanne's
cheek. When she tried to walk away, the lawyer grabbed her arm.
"Sleep with me tonight."
"I don't think that that's
such a good idea. You're hooked up to all those tubes and shit.
Once all those tubes come out, you won't be able to get me out of
your bed." Joanne chuckled as Maureen flashed her the smile that
made her heart melt.
"You've changed Mo, you really have," Joanne muttered as Maureen climbed into her own bed.
True to her word, Maureen was going to call the loft around noon, so she knew that everyone would be awake. Despite how much Joanne insisted that she had changed, the diva still had a twisted mind. She made Joanne call the loft, not her. when Joanne called their friends, Collins was the one that answered.
"Hello?" he said. He sounded like he was still waking up a little.
"Hey Collins," said Joanne. Her voice was still a little scratchy from not being used to yell at Maureen, and in court on a daily basis.
"Joanne? You're awake?" Joanne smiled.
"I woke up last night. Maureen and I got a chance to talk a little. I want to tell you something though. Before I woke up, I got a chance to talk to Angel. She says hi, and wanted me to tell you that she loves you. She really does look good!" Collins laughed.
"It's great to
hear your voice again, Jo. I'll drag Roger out of bed, and we'll
be right down."
"Good luck with that," Joanne said with a
smile. "I'll see you soon then, I guess. Bye Collins."
"See 'ya Jo." Joanne hung up the phone, and leaned back against the pillows on her bed with her eyes closed.
An hour later, Mark, Roger, Collins, and Mimi all arrived at the hospital. Joanne had just gotten the feeding tube removed from her side, and was in a little pain.
"Hey sweetie," Mimi said as she gave Joanne a hug. Each Bohemians gave the lawyer a warm hug. "How are you feeling?" Joanne shrugged.
"Okay I guess. I'm a little out of it and a little sore, but that's all," she replied.
"We won't stay too long," said Collins. "We just wanted to stop by quickly to see you. You look great!" The visitors were only at the hospital for an hour when Mimi noticed how tired Joanne looked.
"Baby, we should get going," she said to Roger. Everyone gave Joanne and Maureen each a hug, and left the couple alone.
Joanne took a nap for most of the afternoon. Maureen wasn't tired, so she channel surfed and read a magazine. Around 5:00, Abby came by to see her.
"Hey," she said quietly a she carefully opened the door. "I'm about to get you dinner. Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to bring Joanne any food." Maureen waved off the comment.
"Pookie hasn't had much of an appetite today. Why won't you let me pay you for any of this?"
"This is my present
of sorts to you. No matter what argument you give me, I will not
let you pay for these meals." Abby sighed. "it looks like this
will be the last time for such a lovely little tradition."
"Yeah,
but that means that Joanne's finally better, and that she gets to
go home." Abby smiled. Maureen seemed really excited about
Joanne being better.
"Very true. I'm going to go get your food. I'll be right back."
A few minutes after Abby left, Joanne's eyes fluttered open. She watched Maureen for a second or two before propping herself up in bed.
"Hey Pookie," Maureen said as she got up from her seat.
"Come lay down with
me some. You look tired." Maureen carefully climbed into Joanne's
bed, and gently wrapped her arms around the lawyer's waist. Joanne
snuggled closer to the diva. "Maureen, we need to talk about some
things before we get home."
"Like what?"
"Money. You're going to have to cut back on those shopping sprees of yours. You're going to have to get a job so we have an income for the bills; especially the hospital bill."
"First off, I am not leaving you home alone all day," Maureen replied firmly.
"We'll work it out. Why do I have the feeling that you've got more issues with these changes?"
"Because I do," the diva said simply. "Benny came to visit here a few weeks ago. He wants to pay for the entire hospital bill. He gave me a blank check and everything."
"Wait, back up. Let me get this straight, you accepted something from Benny? The same Benjamin Coffin III that called the cops on your protest?" Maureen made a face.
"Yeah, about that, I must have been really sleep deprived that day, and that impaired my judgment." Joanne couldn't help but laugh.
"Sure honey, whatever you say."
"Damn straight
whatever I say! Do you want to take the money? I'll still have to
get a job probably…unfortunately. Insurance should pay for the
car, so that shouldn't be a problem."
"You didn't fill
out a claim for the car?"
"I didn't know what the hell to fill out!" Maureen got up off the bed.
"What would you have done if I never woke up?"
"I would have managed."
"You would have managed alright. You would have completely screwed the car, and either used the subway or Mark and Roger's car to get around." Maureen ran her fingers through her hair.
"God Pookie, you're not even awake for twenty-four hours, and we're already fighting. Look, I'm sorry about not filling out the stuff about the car. I've been a little distracted. I'll take care of it once you get home, and things get back to normal. Knowing our luck, things are never going to stay normal for long."
A knock at the door ended the conversation. Abby came into the room with Maureen's food.
"Umm, Pookie, this is Abby. She's been your nurse, and has been buying me dinner once a week," explained Maureen. Joanne and Abby shook hands.
"Nice to meet you," Joanne said politely.
"Same here. It's good to see you up. I'd bring you some food, but I'm not allowed to bring patients food."
"It's fine. I'm not all that hungry anyway. How much do we owe you for the food?" Abby handed Maureen her food.
"That's the thing, she's refused to accept any money from me the entire time, and it's very frustrating," Maureen said before stuffing a few fries in her mouth.
"Quick question, how do you eat all the junk food I've seen you eat, and still stay so damn skinny?" Abby asked Maureen. The diva simply shrugged.
"It's a mystery of Maureen even I can't figure out, so don't waste your time. She and our friend are like poles, but they eat more than most of us," Joanne replied for her lover who was busy stuffing her face with fries. Abby looked at her watch.
"I've got to go. I'm meeting someone in less than an hour."
"You're boyfriend?" Maureen asked with a smug smile. Abby blushed.
"That is none of your business."
"Look at your face! It is isn't it? Good for you, now you can get out of this dump for a little while too!"
"Goodbye Maureen! Bye Joanne, it was nice meeting you." Abby waved as she left.
As soon as Abby left, Maureen said to Joanne, "Abby and I are just friends Pookie. She buys me dinner once a week refuses to take any money, and we talk some."
"I know that," replied Joanne. Maureen looked surprised.
"'I know that'? So you're not mad at me for becoming friends with a girl while you were in a coma? Mark got mad at me because of it a few weeks ago."
Joanne said simply, "Mark was just looking out for you, that's all." Maureen snorted.
"No, Mark was and still is, jealous. He was jealous of you. He wants me to come crawling back to him. Everyone knows it, but he won't admit it out loud. Sometimes he can be so frustrating! He makes our business his business!"
"Like Angel?" Joanne inquired. She was greatly amused by Maureen ranting and raving. The lawyer wanted to hear what was on her mind, but would have to stop it before something insane like a protest begins to take shape.
"No, not like Angel. You could go to Angel to talk to. She only made it her business to approach you if it was really serious or something. With Mark, he'll make it his business to tell you exactly how to do every little thing in your life. It's so annoying!"
"Okay, you need to calm down now. I can already see the wheels in your head turning for a protest or something twisted like that." Maureen flashed Joanne a wicked grin. Then, she leaned over, and pecked Joanne's cheek.
"Nah, I'll be too busy getting a-" She made a face. "Job." Joanne laughed. The laugh was full, and made everything right again; even if it was only for a split second.
"Nobody's going to believe that you got a job." Maureen shrugged.
"Screw them," she said slowly and simply.
"That's my old Maureen coming out! I knew you couldn't stay all serious, and like, uh-"
"Like I have a stick up my ass."
"Not what I was going to say!"
"But you were thinking it."
"Okay, so I was, but I was going to say like you finally have a grip on reality and life. I like this new you though. A nice mixture of a serious Maureen (which I honestly never though I'd see), and the same fun-loving diva I fell in love with."
"So you still love me after all the shit we've been through?" Maureen flashed Joanne her innocent "puppy dog" face, causing the lawyer to smile. She reached out, and squeezed the diva's hand.
"Of course. I never stopped loving you after the first moment I met you."
"Aww, really Pookie?"
"I knew the moment I saw you that you were the one." Joanne kissed Maureen passionately. The door was slightly ajar, but they didn't care who saw them.
A week later, Joanne was released from the hospital. Abby unfortunately didn't make it to work on time to say goodbye. When she finally did get to work, however, there was a letter from Maureen waiting for her.
Dear Abby, My kitchen sink keeps clogging, just kidding, just kidding! Thanks so much for everything over these past two months. Here's our address and phone number. Don't be a stranger! Here's also $20. Joanne and I figured that that would cover about half of all the dinners I got. Please keep the money! I was going to take you to the Life Café to pay you back, but Joanne said that that would fall under cruel and unusual punishment, not pay back for food. I still want you to come to the Life, if you thin you're brave enough. I guess that's it. Thanks again, and if you don't keep in touch, I'll form an angry mob of hobos and homeless people to hunt you down. Bye! -Maureen Johnson. Abby smiled, and put the letter in her pocket. She was glad that Maureen wanted to keep in touch. Suddenly, Abby remember that she had patients to take care of. She grabbed her clipboards, and started her shift.
The End
A/N: I didn't realize that this was the last (and incredibly LONG) chapter until after I posted chapter 6, or else I would have told you. I'm working hard on Help Me, Please!, and I have some one-shots to write (big surprise). Please review, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you that this would be the last chapter!
Tina101