"Well, I'm glad to hear that you three got some sleep. I know that the surgery took a lot longer then expected."
Prue looked at her watch. It was almost 7:30 in the morning. Nancy had gone into surgery a little after midnight.
"As I had expected Nancy's body was producing so much fluid, it was difficult to get it all."
"So what does that mean? Will she be alright?"
"We were able to remove almost ninety percent of the fluid build up; the rest we are hoping will take care of itself, with some help from antibiotics. It will take some time for the swelling to go down. We still don't know if she'll be able to breathe on her own."
"When will you know? Have you taken the tube out yet?"
"No. We want to wait until she comes around. No matter what, she is going to be in a wheelchair for a long while. It may take months, or even years of physical therapy for her to regain full use of her legs."
"Won't her body keep producing the fluid? What happens if the remaining fluid doesn't go away?"
"I won't lie Prue; there is a chance of that happening. If it does we will have to place a tube in her back to keep the fluid draining. Let's take it one step at a time."
"When can we see her?"
"She is being moved back into her room as we speak. Give us about ten minutes to get her settled, and then you can head down to her room."
The girls shook Lucy's hand, and then finished cleaning up the lounge before they left. As Lucy exited the room she looked back at the girls.
"You know, I wish I could get three solid hours of sleep in this room without anyone coming in. All the other doctors used the nurse's lounge while you were asleep. They didn't want to wake you. Around here, that's considered the royal treatment."
The three girls smiled and watched as Lucy left. Once the room was cleaned up, they left and went to the nearest coffee machine to get a fresh cup. They then headed down the hall to Nancy's room. Walking inside they realized that she was still asleep, each taking a moment to say nothing. Nancy was hooked up to all kinds of wires and even more machines then before. She looked so helpless. The girls took seats around her bed, and decided to wait as patiently as possible for her to wake up.
Piper placed her head on the side of Nancy's bed, she hadn't really realized how tired she still was, but before long she found herself drifting back to sleep. She could feel her body begin to relax, as her breathing became slow and calm.
She started to feel as if she was falling through a tunnel. It was odd because she didn't feel panicked, or scared, to her it almost felt natural. Somehow she knew she had someplace to be, but she didn't know where, or why. She wasn't even surprised when she landed very soft, and on her feet, it was as if she just floated to the ground.
She turned around and found Nancy standing in a graveyard. It too wasn't scary, or dart, instead it was brightly lit by the hot and shiny sun that was high in the air. The graves were lined with dozens of beautiful flowers.
"Nancy?"
Nancy didn't say anything; she wouldn't even look at Piper. Piper knew the look on Nancy's face; it was the same look that she and her sisters got when they would visit their Mother, or Grams.
"I know you miss them, I really do. No one can understand that better then the three of us. Don't keep it bottled up inside, you can talk to us you know."
Nancy still wouldn't say anything; she just continued to stare at the graves. Piper knew that she was in Nancy's dream, and didn't know how to get out. She didn't really know if she was there by accident, or if somehow this was planned. Figuring that Nancy needed sometime to think, Piper started to walk away, noticing a bench that was on the main walkway. As she made her way toward it, she vowed to be patient; she knew she would wake up when Nancy did.
"Piper, do you think that Prue would mind if I called her Mom?"
Piper stopped dead in her tracks. Nancy voiced seemed so scared and soft, she slowly approached Nancy again.
"No I don't think she'll mind at all."
"Do you think my real mother would mind? I didn't get a chance to ask her."
Piper now knew why she was there; she had to make Nancy understand that it was alright to love, except her new life, and her new family.
"What does your heart tell you?"
"I don't know? Part of me says she would understand, but I don't want her to think that Prue has replaced her. Nobody could ever do that."
Piper bent down to Nancy's level, she decided right then and there, that she wasn't going to talk down to her, she would just tell her like it was.
"Nancy close you eyes and talk to your mother. The answer will come to you. In here."
Piper pointed to Nancy's heart as Nancy closed her eyes and began to speak to her mom. After several moments she couldn't take it anymore and began to cry. With her eyes still closed Nancy leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Piper's neck. She buried her face into Piper's long hair, as Piper held her close and tried to make her feel safe. After several minutes and without letting go, a whisper entered Piper's ear.
"Will you stay with me, and hold me till I wake up. I can let you go if you don't want to. I just can't push myself out, because of the drugs."
"Nancy, right now, I can't think of any other place I would rather be. I won't leave until you say so; we can talk or just sit her and do nothing."
"Is it alright if I tell you about my parents? Sometimes I worry that I'm going to forget some of the little things. It would be nice if someone could remind me from time to time."
"Sure, why don't you tell me about some of the fun things you like to do together?"
The two of them sat down and got comfortable with Nancy laying her head in Piper's lap, as she began to tell all the happy stories of her past life. Up until now, every time they would bring up the subject of parents, Nancy would avoid the subject, become teary eyed, and walk away. For the first time Piper could see Nancy speak of her parents without a tear in her eye, and the biggest smile she had ever seen on her face. They sat and talked for several hours, until Nancy sat up, removing her head from Pipers lap, she could feel something happening to her body.
"Piper, I think the drugs are wearing off. My body is tingling all over."
"Are you ready to wake up?"
"I think so. Could you do me a favor though?"
"I think so."
"I don't mind if you tell the others that you were with me or that we talked, but I would like to tell them what we talked about. In my own way, at my own time."
"Sure. My lips are sealed."
"Thanks. Can I ask you one more thing before I let you go?"
"Anything."
"Phoebe is always talking about how you taught her how to have a good heart and to use it everyday. She also says that you taught her how not to be afraid of her emotions, and to see them as a gift."
"Well Phoebe h, as always had a good heart, I just always have to remind her that it is good."
"I know, but do you think you can teach me those things? I know I can be really stubborn."
"What Halliwell isn't?"
"It's a family trait I wish I didn't have. I really want to learn to trust you guys with how I feel, I just need someone to guide the way you know."
"I can do that. I'd be happy to do that. I'll see you in a few minutes?"
"You bet and thanks. RELEASE!"
With that Piper faded away as Nancy turned to her parent's grave one more time.
"Well I hope you really do understand. I miss you very much, and will try to do what you want. I think the girls will help me find happiness again. I will never forget that I am your baby, and please do watch over me. Goodbye."
She kissed the tips of her fingers and placed them on the tombstone, before closing her eyes and beginning to concentrate. Although she could feel the drugs wearing off, it still was going to take a great deal of her strength to force herself out of the dream. She could feel her body begin to fade away, but knew the journey back to reality would still take a little bit of time.