An Unexpected Love: Sleeping Beauty

by tarskeewee08

Walking into my office I slam my office door so hard the windows rattle. I'm so frustrated and scared I don't know what to do. The most unexpected thing has happened to me. I've fallen in love with another again and I haven't even met her yet. It's my baby girl. She has my heart and I can't think straight now without envisioning my life with her.

But what if I loose her? What if I can't convince Evangeline to give me another chance? What if it's too late? I begin to pace and my breath shortens. Breathing in quick burst through my mouth I try to fight off the panic attack. I love my baby and I love her. I have to find a way to fix it.

"John?"
Turning I see Natalie peaking timidly. "What is it Natalie?" I ask and I know my eyes must look like a wildman, irrational fear has a hold on me. I can't focus.
"John what is it? Something happen to Layla?" she ask closing the door.
"Layla?" I say softly and my senses come to me. I came back here to follow up on some leads about Layla. Closing my eyes I breathe out a heated breath and wipe at my sweat soaked face. I'm coming apart at the seams.

Natalie comes to me and touches my arm. Stepping back from her I frown. "What did you need?"

She looks at me shocked and hurt. "The witness to the accident is here. She's been waiting for over an hour. You were supposed to meet her remember?"

It comes to me in a wave and I realize how I blew off this appointment. "Damn. Send her in." I say walking to my desk.

Natalie stands there looking at me and I refuse to acknowledge it. I'm weak from so much now and she is the last thing I can deal with. Hearing her turn and leave I sigh a breath of relief. Good just go! The door opens again and I look up to see a 5 foot tall older Asian woman looking at me afraid. Smiling I rise. "Ms. Yen?"

She nods and bows her head. I take her hand and pull her into the office further. Natalie looks at me from the door and then closes it. The lady's wearing a light pink sweater and pink stretch pants. She takes a seat and looks up at me expectantly. I sit on the desk facing her.

"Ms Yen, I am so sorry for making you wait. Would you like something to drink?"
She shakes her head no.
"Okay then, you say that you were driving by and saw the car rolling down the street."
She nodded yes "How is the girl? I saw on the news it was a young girl."

"Yes, her name is Layla and she's not doing so well, it's really important that we help her. I need you to think hard about that night. Anything you can remember, a car, truck, bus anything."

She frowns and looks at me "I saw no car behind her. There was a car parked on the side of the road though"

I look at her surprised. "A parked car?"
"Yes I was so surprised at the car rolling toward me that I swerved to the side of the road to that I wouldn't collide with the car. There was a car on the other side further up but I didn't pay attention. I couldn't keep my eyes off the car flipping down Caster Street."

"Do you remember the color of the car?"
"Blue or Black I'm not sure"
"Anyone in the car?"
"I don't remember"
"Think Ms. Yen, its important" I say excited to have confirmation that she was hit by another car. It was the first real lead I had.

"I think it was a woman." She says looking at me frowning.
"What? A woman?"
"Yes…I pulled back on the road and I saw the person pulling off. I remember long hair. I know men wear their hair long but the way she moved her head makes me think it's a woman."
"Dark hair or light hair.?"
Ms. Yen shakes her head. "I don't know"
"Did you see her face?"
"No I just wanted to get help. I don't own a cell phone I had to drive a mile to find a working payphone to call the police. It used to be that there were payphones on every corner. Now with cell phones on everyone's hip its impossible to find one!"

I sit up straight on the desk and digest what she's told me. A woman hit Layla? I think of the biker gang and the girl he's investigating. Looking behind me on my desk I see the usual suspects. That asshole hasn't brought me his folder on this case he's investigating.

I look back at Ms. Yen and smile "Thanks, you've been a big help.

Hospital

Mike leads me to the intensive care wing and I see mom and Nora in the hall. They look up and smile at me approaching. "Mom did you eat?"
She smiles "Yes baby, Nora took good care of me."

Nora winked at me and I smile at her grateful for her friendship now.

"How is she?" I ask afraid.
Mom comes over to me and puts her hand to my face. "No change. How are you? Did you and John talk?"
I look at her and keep my eyes from tearing. "Yes"
She pulls my head down and kisses my forehead. "Good. Talking is always good Cookie."
I smile grateful that she left it at that.

Mike interrupts "Ladies I will check on her now and then Van you can come in and visit."

I smile at him and reach for his hand. He takes mine and squeezes it affectionately. "Thank you Michael for everything. We really appreciate you assisting us."

He nods and let's go of my hand heading to her room. Nora comes up along side of me and rubs my back. "Are you sure you okay? Do you want to go and lay down?"
I sigh and shake my head no "Not until I see her."

Mom touches my belly again and I smile. She looks up at me amused that she's going to be a grandma. I feel my little pumpkin shifting lower and I take her hand placing it at the base of my belly. She moves again and mom's eyes grow big. "Oh my god! She got one strong kick."

I laugh "She's feisty." We all laugh and then hear the elevator ding. Looking over I see Rex and Adrianna step off. He looks at me and smiles at first then his smile drops. He stares at me shocked. I know that he's loyal to his sister and too see me like this has to have an affect. Mom drops her hand and looks at him frowning. "Do you know him?" she asks confused.

Rex walks to me staring at my belly. I rub my mothers back and ignore the uncomfortable silence. "Mom this is Rex Layla's boyfriend."

Rex finally looks back up and then over to my mom. "Ms. Williamson I am so glad to finally meet you."

Smiling she extends her hand to him "Nice to meet you Rex"
I see Adrianna standing to the side bashful. I smile at her. "Adrianna it's good to see you thank you for coming."

She walks up. "Evangeline I'm so glad to see you too. I wanted to know how she was. Rex has been sick with worry."

I introduce her to my mom and notice Rex once again staring. After the introductions I refocus on him. "I'm six months pregnant Rex do you have any other questions?" I say smiling.

He blushes. "Is it John McBain's?"
Nora gasps. "Rex that's rude!" she snaps.
My mother glares at him confused at the tone in his voice. "That's none of your business" she hisses.

I raise my hand to silence them both and smile sweetly at Rex "It sure is" I say with great pleasure. Now run and tell that to that bobble head sister of yours.

Mike comes out of Layla's room and sees the crowd. "Guys we can't have you all visiting her now." He passes me a mask to wear when I enter and I take it from his hand placing it on.

"Mike I have to see her. I wasn't allowed to see her yesterday." Rex whines. I notice Adrianna rubbing his back and frown. Something about her seems over affectionate.

Mike shakes his head sadly. "I will allow Evangeline in. Maybe later this evening if her fever breaks you can go in."

I excuse myself and Rex grows somewhat agitated bickering with Mike about being denied access. My mother and Nora watch confused by his antics. Walking to my sister's door I push it lightly open and step through my feelings are hurt at the state she's in.

Her beautiful hair has been cut and her head wrapped like a mummy. A breathing tube is taped to her mouth connected to a machine that has an accordion like pump moving up and down with fluid like motions filling her lungs with air. The monitor behind her beeps with a green ball announcing the rhythm of her heart. Iv's out of her hands run into cylinder dripping bag that feels her with the antibiotic that's supposed to help her fight off this infection.

Her face is pale and ashy gray and her eyes look sunken in. The right side is purplish blue and bruised. She's lying in a pale green thin gown with white sheets tucked around her. She looks small and fragile. I put my hand to my already covered mouth and hold back my cry. My sister, oh god look at her.

Walking to her side. I touch her hand and it's warm with fever and limp. "Layla baby its me, I'm here."

She of course makes no movement and I feel my tears fall dripping onto her crisp white sheets. "Layla guess what. You're going to be an Auntie." I say trying to sound jovial.

"Imagine that! Your big sister is having a baby, and you know I can't do this alone. I need you sweetie. You have to fight this, don't make your niece come into a world with out her auntie LayLay."

Going to the chair inside the room I sit down and watch her. She's my sleeping beauty. Ignoring the horrors of what she looks like from this accident I envision the vibrance she exuded the last time I saw her. I remember all the times we've spent together over the years. Smiling at how fiercely she fought to protect me when she came to town. She's my baby sister and I will do anything to save her.

The Station

Slamming the phone down I shake my head in frustration. I've left 3 messages for Balsom and I'm really sick of this kid. My door opens and Natalie comes inside. "Hey you ready to go?"
"Go?" I ask frowning.
"Yeah I thought I'd take you home. You look like you need a friend"
"I don't want you to come home with me tonight Natalie" I say closing my files.
She walks in and closes the door. "Okay out with it. She's back in town and obviously its made you upset. What is it?"

I rock back in my chair and look at her amused "As if you care."
"I love you John you know that."
"Well I don't love you Natalie and you know that."
She shakes her head sadly. "Why do we do this?"
"Do what?"
"Fight each other constantly, when it's obvious we need each other. I've been here while she ran and pushed you away. I've watched you kill yourself with work and beer anything to forget her. I've been the only source of comfort you've had."

"Natalie, I'm in love with her. I'm so sorry for using you.."
"You didn't use me John, I'm a grown woman. Besides you love me too. You just fight so hard against it because you think to admit it you betray her. You don't understand that you have nothing with her. You two have nothing in common, hell I don't even know why you try nothing positive can ever come of it."

I look at her and laugh. She has no clue what I share with Van. I thought about telling her of the baby but she would turn it into something ugly. I can't handle that now, I'm too happy about my daughter. Besides I don't give a fuck what she thinks. "Get out!"

She sighs an turns to leave. "Fine, when she rejects you and it becomes unbearable call me like you always do and I'll comfort you through the night." She says confidently closing my door.

I close my eyes and grip my chair. I have created an impossible situation. I hate myself for it. I know the first thing I need to do to win Van's trust is to get rid of Natalie once and for all. Before I do that I need to see Van again. I need to be near her and my baby.

Evangeline's Condo

"Okay mom, I will meet you guys at the Palace in the morning for breakfast."
"Cookie are you sure you're okay? I mean staying there by yourself? Why don't you stay with me and we can catch up on your pregnancy. I'm so starved for more information"
I look around the dark condo. Everywhere I look I see us. Its painful being here again. "No I want to be alone tonight. Maybe tomorrow night we can do a sleep over."

She laughs "Like when you two were little girls in my bed when your dad was away at a teacher's conference."

I smile at the memory. My childhood was filled with great family memories of both my parents. Touching my belly I feel a wave of sadness that it will just be me and my baby. "Yes like when me and Layla were kids"
"Okay baby you get some sleep. See you in the morning"
Hanging up I close my eyes and think of Layla in that cold hospital alone. They didn't let you stay the night in Intensive Care. I hope she doesn't wake up scared and alone. Shaking the image from my head I sigh.

KNOCK KNOCK

Opening my eyes I frown. It's after 10pm at night. Thinking of the fact that Layla's accident wasn't an accident my heart races, hearing it again I grab the edge of my seat and struggle to lift out of the chair.

Walking slowly to the door I wonder if I should even ask who it is. The knocking gets louder and I hear his voice "Van its me open up. I got a lead on who hurt Layla."

Going to the door quickly now I work off the chain and open the door, John is standing there leaning in the door. He looks as sexy and tempting as I remember. "You got a lead?" I ask hopeful.

He nods and walks in. I close the door and lock it. Turning to face him, I see him staring at me. I have on a large sleep shirt that stops mid thigh do to the swell of my belly. My legs are thicker and I see his eyes looking at them. I've taken my hair down and it's around my shoulders. I don't feel attractive at all and I shift from one foot to another under his lustful gaze.

His eyes travel up my body noticing my now swollen larger breast and then stops on my face. "You are so beautiful" he says.

I look at him shocked "What?"
"This pregnancy, it makes you so….so beautiful to me."
I look away "John what is this lead you have?"

He walks to me and I can't move. Reaching me he touches my face gently. His touch has me captive and I stare into his blue eyes blazing with desire and I can't believe it. I'm almost 7 months pregnant and he's looking at me as if I was a size 4 in a string bikini. Before I can adjust to the change in the air he pulls me into a kiss and god help me I float into his arms……