AN: Wow, there haven't been a lot of reviews. I don't know if you guys are reading this and are just lazy, or if you aren't even reading this story. Oh well, I'll guess the first one (hopefully) and I'll try to write a couple more chapters today. -Danielle

Ch. 4

The awful truth

"My son, paralyzed? I don't think so." Adam said in denial.

"Right now, Mr. Chandler has a T10 injury to his spinal cord. His cord was bruised, so it is a complete injury." Dr. Drake informed them.

"What...?" Tad asked, "Not all of us are doctors."

"SCIs, spinal cord injuries, are mostly caused by damage to vertebral column, so the brain isn't able to send messages down past the area of the injury. There are three different parts of the spinal cord. Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar. Your son's injury is in the thoracic region, leaving him with paraplegia, which is paralysis of the legs." Dr. Drake explained.

"So JR really is paralyzed?" Babe asked, falling back into a chair.

"Yes, his legs are, but we are pretty sure his upper body will remain fully functional. Now his injury was complete, so that means the damage blocks every signal coming from the brain trying to get to the parts below the injury." Dr. Drake said, and then paused.

"There is always hope of recovering function after a SCI, but it is generally true that people with incomplete injuries have a better chance then complete." Dr. Drake explained. "Now, JR's spine is immobilized, and we have given him steroid medication to reduce swelling."

"Oh god," Babe covered her mouth.

"Now, if a patient survives the first 24 hours after the injury, his likelihood for surviving ten years is around 75-80. If he survives the first year, it is 87." Dr. Drake enlightened them.

"What do you mean, if?" Babe asked.

"SCIs are very tricky and very serious, not all patients make it." Dr. Drake smacked them with the truth, "And if he does make it, he will also have to attend physical therapy while he is here, and I won't lie to you, it will be hard."

"You may see him, one at a time, but he will be unconscious for a while. I'm very sorry." Dr. Drake turned and walked away.

"Not my son..." Adam said, and without another word vanished into JR's room.

Krystal walked up to Tad, who was just blinking at the wall, and pulled him into a hug. "It'll be OK." She tried to soothe him.

Babe felt Jamie put his arms around her, but she still stared straight ahead, tears filling her eyes. All she could think about was the words she had spoken to him only a little while earlier.

You're going to die alone, because you always hurt the people you love. When you die, no one will be there that cares about you.

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It had been two hours since everyone had been filled in on JR's condition. Adam and Tad had been taking turns going into JR's room to be with him. Jamie had finally gotten a hold of Stuart and Marion, and they were on their way back to Pine Valley.

Jamie was falling asleep in the chair next to Babe, but Babe was wide awake, the words she last said to JR bouncing within her head. Babe looked over and saw Krystal sitting next to Tad, and Tad with his face in his hands. Adam had left to go and get some coffee.

Babe's heart went out to Adam. She always thought of Adam as some calculating, evil man but now as she watched him with JR, she knew that he loved his son, even if he didn't always act like it. Adam didn't look like his usual powerful self; he just looked like a lost, fragile old man.

Babe turned and nudged a sleeping Jamie.

"W-what's goin on?" Jamie asked, sitting straight up.

"Why don't you head home? There is nothing you can really do here. I know you are really tired and you have to get up early for work tomorrow." Babe informed him.

"The same goes for you. Let's both go." Jamie said sleepily, standing up.

"No, I'm going to stay here a little while longer." Babe said.

"Why?" Jamie questioned.

"I just need to Jamie, OK? Please don't fight me on this." Babe pleaded.

Jamie frowned and nodded, "I'll see you at home."

They kissed and Jamie grabbed his coat and walked by his father, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. Tad placed his over his son's, and then Jamie walked to the elevator and disappeared as the doors shut.

Babe then stood up and slowly headed towards JR's room. Tad didn't notice where she was going, but Krystal did and sent her a puzzled look. Babe looked away and took a deep breath as she reached JR's door.

When she opened the door, she wasn't prepared to see what JR really looked like. He was a mix of cuts and blue and green bruises. His back was held in place by a brace, as was his neck. Babe could barely recognize her ex-husband.

She shut the door and quietly made her way to a chair that was placed beside his bed that Adam and Tad had been taking turns sitting in and sat down. The beeping of the machines were the only other sounds accompanying her and JR's breathing. Babe went to reach for his hand, but pulled back when she saw how bloody it was.

"Oh JR, is there any place on your body where you're not in pain?" Babe breathed, her eyes filling with tears.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you. I know it was my fault. The things I said to you... oh JR I am so, so sorry. If I hadn't been such a bitch you wouldn't be here. You would probably be home with our son, watching him sleep, or you would be filling out the latest paper work for Chandler Enterprises. I know you were probably drinking, and that was probably my fault too. But I promise you, right now, that I will do whatever I can to help you and make up for what I've done and said to you."

---I got most of my info on SCIs from---

Spinal Cord Recovery Center

Christopher Reeve Foundation