Title: A Not So Simple Life
Author: Chickiee-Dee
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own Alias or its characters.
Summary: Sequel to The Simple Life. AU. No SD-6 or CIA. Sydney and Vaughn are married. S/V. E/A.
Authors Notes: Thanks for all the reviews. I'll try and update as often as possible, but I've got like seven weeks of school this term and then exams in Oct/Nov and I've been really slack on homework and stuff, but I'll write whenever I have the time. Also, I finished my S/V smut challenge fic and its posted at SD-1. If anyone wants to read it, let me know and I'll send you a link. I really should be preping for my SAC tomorrow, but I can't be bothered, so you guys are really lucky to be getting an update. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed. I sorta know where this is going, but I'm not sure how long its going to be.
Neptunestar-Thanks for reviewing. And I totally love that bit too. That is actually the line from McLeod's Daughters. It cracks me up. That 'cliffhanger' wasn't intentional, it just sorta happened, honestly. I'm not that evil, am I?
AnnaSun-Thanks for your review. I'm not trying to kill anyone with these 'cliffhangers' I'm just trying to keep everyone interested.
Alias Fan-Thanks for reviewing. :D
Lil Aussie Alias Fan-Thanks for your review. I can't stop blushing now. And for the record, you're an awesome writer too. :D
Miss 47-Thanks for reviewing. I HATE X-rays too. But then I've had soooo many that I'm really over them. But have you ever had an MRI? That's horrible.
L'ilmissnitpick-Thanks for reviewing. There is a reason I use the metric system in my stories, and that is because, I don't know the non metric system, if that makes sense and I don't have the time to convert everything. I'm really sorry, I will make an effort to try and track down the formula that I have for conversion, but if I don't then I'll try not to use temps in my stories.
Here's the chapter…
Chapter 12Doctor Jenkins walked into the room a little later that afternoon, "Mr Vaughn, I have your x-rays here…"
Michael tensed up, while Sydney rubbed his hand soothingly. Dr Jenkins approached the bed and Michael attempted to slow his breathing, which had elevated somewhat. Sydney whispered soothing words to him in French, and he calmed down a little, squeezing her hand gently to show his appreciation. The doctor sat the films on the seat opposite Sydney. He picked up the first film and held it against the light, so that Sydney and Michael could see the outlines of his bones. "This x-ray was taken when you first arrived here, you can see the fractures in his ribs here, here, here and here" he said, gesturing to each break in his ribs individually. "This is the x-ray we took today, as you can see, the ribs are starting to heal although it'll still be several weeks until they are completely healed. This x-ray," he said, picking up the next film, "again was taken before surgery." Sydney gasped in horror as the full extent of her husband's knee injury was held before her. It was a mess; the kneecap appeared to be the only bit in tact. The bone on either side of the kneecap was shattered, and the knee was bent in a 'V' formation. Michael merely blinked as the film was held before their eyes. Dr Jenkins lay that film on the chair and picked up another one, "This was taken earlier today. As you can see we replaced his knee. Normally we wouldn't do a full replacement, but as you saw on the previous film, his knee was virtually shattered." Sydney and Michael both nodded, as Dr Jenkins showed them x-rays of his right arm, again explaining that the bone was healing nicely. "Ok," he concluded, after laying the last film on the pile with the others, "Mr Vaughn, judging from these x-rays, your broken bones are healing nicely, and from my assessment earlier, your internal injuries are healing too. I would like to keep you in Intensive Care for another night, but you will be transferred to a ward tomorrow. Any questions?" Michael lifted the mask away from his face,
"When can I go home?"
"A few weeks. We need to get you walking, and also make sure that your internal injuries have healed."
"Do you have an exact time frame, because Sydney's due in May."
"I'm sorry, I don't. Each person is different, I can't judge how long it will take for you to recover based on other patients who've had similar injuries." Michael nodded, and Dr Jenkins took the films and left the room.
"Syd, go home, get some rest," Michael said to his tired wife, once the doctor was gone.
"No, I'm staying here with you."
"I'll be ok. You need to look after yourself, and the baby." Sydney chuckled softly, "What?"
"Everyone's been saying that too me, telling me to eat cos you'd be upset with me if I didn't. That's the only reason I've been eating."
"Syd, you can't not eat. Its not healthy."
"I thought that I was going to lose you, and I was scared. I didn't want to leave your side, in case something happened while I was gone. Michael, I don't know what I'd do if I lost you…" small tears started trickling down her cheeks, Michael used his free hand to wipe them away, "I love you so much, that it scares me, I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you, if I couldn't wake up next to you every day for the rest of my life." Several fat tears trickled down Michael's face, and Sydney wiped them away, "That wasn't supposed to make you cry," she told him, as she kissed his hand softly, "I was only telling you the truth."
"I love you Sydney," he whispered, "You and Maddy, you mean everything to me, and I'm going to spend the rest of my life telling you just that. Ok?" he smiled as she nodded her head, and wiped the tears from her eyes. He was the most amazing person she'd ever met, here he was in pain and all he cared about was her wellbeing. They maintained a comfortable silence until the pain became too intense for Michael to manage, and the Doctor was forced to come in and turn up his meds. When he drifted off into a drug-induced sleep, Sydney stood up, kissing his hand softly and resting it on the bed next to him. She left the room, pausing at the door to watch his chest rise and fall. Syd stopped at the nurse's station to tell them that she would be back in a couple of hours.
The cab pulled up outside their house and Sydney quickly paid and tipped the driver, before climbing out and making her way towards the front steps. She slipped the key into the lock and opened the door. A musty smell greeted her as she stepped into the hall. Sydney dumped her keys on the table beside the window, and pushed the oak door until she heard it click shut. Making her way through the house, she checked the answering machine, noted that there were ten messages waiting for them, and went to the bedroom to change her clothes. Dumping the 'hospital smelling' clothes on the ground, she stepped into the shower, attempting to wash away her worries. After a while, the showerhead began to spray cold water, so Sydney grabbed her towel and quickly dried and dressed herself, pausing to rub soothing circles on her stomach and aching back. Once dressed, Sydney went out to the kitchen and jabbed the 'play' button on the answering machine. She listened to each message individually and wrote them on the pad that was housed next to the phone. When that task was complete, she poured herself a cool drink and began to remove anything from the fridge that had gone off while she was with Michael. As she looked at the calendar, she noted the red 'G' that was marked on there. Realising that it was 'garbage day' tomorrow, she gathered up the now full rubbish bag and took it out to the bin, and wheeled the bin out to the curb.
Sydney walked back into the house and stared up at the clock. It was still early in the afternoon, so she decided to go pick up Madeline from day-care, and spend some time with her young daughter. She grabbed her purse and car keys and went out to the car, locking the door firmly behind her.
A/N: I'll leave it there. I have the next chapter planned and will try and write it over the weekend. I should have it posted on Tuesday next week (Aussie time), cos we've got Monday off school and I have to work Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I'm not sure what your garbage collection is like in the US, so I based it on the system that we have here, where you put your bin at the curb and a truck comes and empties the bin. Anyway, please review and tell me what you thought. Until next time…LOL Alyce :D