A/N: Hey, guys! Sorry for the space between chapters. It's been chaotic in my life lately between work, school, and just life in general. We were actually planning another adoption with someone we met through a mutual friend and sadly, the mother changed her mind about giving up the baby for adoption. I'm okay now. The original blow stung but we're strong believers of life happening the way it's supposed to and who know what might happen in the future. Until then, I get to spend more time spoiling Jack and squeezing in some Power Ranger fanfics!
As always, I am loving your reviews! They make my day each time I see them. You guys are the best!
November 4th, 2004
Angel Grove, CA
It was a short ride to the hospital in the ambulance. The entire time, the EMTs worked on Tommy and gave him things in an IV. He didn't wake up at all, an occasional moan coming from under the oxygen mask they had on his face. I wondered if he was in pain and couldn't say anything about it. They reassured me that they had given him something for any pain he might have which would explain why he hadn't woken up yet. Tommy was rushed into the ER when we arrived, taking him towards the area they keep all of the trauma patients. I went to follow but the EMT stopped me, saying that he was going for some tests and I couldn't be there for them since I was pregnant. Instead, she sent me to my own examination to make sure the baby was alright.
While I was getting looked at, Aisha and Rocky showed up with Marci. They were all in the room across from me and the same doctor looked us both over. Luckily, I was fine. They did a quick ultrasound to make sure the baby was okay. She danced through the whole thing, letting me know she was still there. I hadn't taken in much smoke either. The nurses cleaned out my minor scrapes and cuts before cutting me loose. Aisha and the baby were also okay. Rocky needed a breathing treatment for being so close to the smoke but they said he would be okay. Marci needed stitches on her arm from some broken glass. She handled it like a trooper, watching them do it with a sick interest.
Trini and Jason were the next to arrive. Adam and Billy were behind them, Zack coming along as well. Trini and Billy had some small cuts and bruises like the rest of us that were quick to treat. Zack had no injuries since he had not been present during the explosion. Adam and Jason, on the other hand, were not as lucky. Jason was slightly pale and he was wheezing with each breath he took. To his dismay, the doctor told him he would need to be admitted to the hospital for observation. He wasn't thrilled and tried to fight it at first but one quick glare from Trini had him shutting his mouth. Adam was in the same boat. He would need to be admitted as well. They were told to sit tight until a room was found for them.
Once I was free, I went to the nurse's desk to find out where Tommy was. She informed me he had been admitted and was on his way to an x-ray. She gave me his room number and allowed me to head up there. When I went back to tell the others, Jason and Adam were on their way via wheelchair to their rooms. Jason would be sharing one with Tommy, something I wasn't sure the hospital was too smart about doing. Adam would be directly across the hall and would be discharged by morning. Though he had taken in smoke, he hadn't been inside as long as Jason. Trini and I stood with Aisha, Rocky, Marci, and Zack while the two of them were loaded in the elevator. Billy went with them, giving a wave as the doors shut.
"You want a ride home?" Zack asked, rubbing my back. I shook my head.
"I think I'm going to ride it out here tonight." I said, smiling at him. I looked over at Marci. "You going to be okay at home by yourself?"
"She can crash with us for the night." Aisha said, looping her arm through Marci's. "Our casa is your casa."
"Thanks." Marci said. "Unless you want me to stay here with you." I shook my head.
"No. You should go get some rest. Tonight was crazy, that's for sure."
"I can't believe this happened." Rocky said, looking in disbelief. "It's like a scene from a movie."
"Yeah. A bad one." Trini replied. She looked exhausted and like she could drop at any moment.
"I'm going to run over and get you girls something to change into before I head home myself, alright?" Zack offered. I looked down, seeing my dress was ripped and covered in dirt and soot.
"Thanks, Zack." I said. We all exchanged hugs, promising to come back over in the morning to check in. Trini and I stood in the doorway of the ER, watching our friends climb into their cars before pulling away.
"What are you going to tell Tommy?" Trini asked as we turned away from the doors. "About the dojo."
"I don't even know. He's going to be so heartbroken. He's put so much into the dojo and it's gone in just a blink of an eye."
"It could have been so much worse though. He'll be able to rebuild. It'll take some time but he'll get there." We stopped at the elevator bay and waited for the next lift. "You saw the person running out of it too, right?" She asked. I nodded.
"I did. I don't know who it was though." Sighing, I rubbed my eyes with my hands. "This is insane. What if someone is out there trying to hurt Tommy? I mean, it's clearly not Nick since he's rotting in a jail cell. It's gotta be someone working for him or something."
"The police will get to the bottom of it. The most important thing right now is for Tommy to get better and to stay safe. The same with you. You could have been in that building too." I nodded.
"I know. I offered to go up there with him but he told me to wait downstairs." The elevator doors opened and we stepped on.
"Let's go check on our boys." Trini said, giving me a smirk.
Tommy was in the room when we arrived on the third floor. He was sleeping, now cleaned up a bit and in a hospital gown. A blanket was draped over him and tucked in on his sides. He still had the IV drip in and an oxygen line in his nose. He didn't look as pained as he did in the ambulance though, looking almost peaceful. Jason was on the other side of the room, sitting in his bed. He had shorts on under his gown and was using a washcloth to clean off his face and his arms of the soot.
"Did they say anything about Tommy?" I whispered as Trini shut the door behind her. He shook his head.
"Not really. They will be back to do their rounds in a little while though. I'm sure one of the nurses can tell you then." He replied. I crossed my arms and walked over to Tommy. He looked so small in the bed, something I didn't enjoy seeing. It was so different than the Tommy I was used to seeing; the tall, stronger and fearless leader I had grown to love. This was a hurt and seemingly weak Tommy even though I knew he wouldn't be like this forever. I thought about the painful moments while waiting for him to be rescued. Tears clouded my vision. He almost died. He was almost taken away from me in an instant. From our daughter.
One he didn't even know about.
That guilt hit me again as I looked over at him. He almost died not knowing it was his baby. And no matter how awful it made me feel, I knew I still couldn't tell him. I've thought about it a great deal over the last few weeks. The repercussions of telling Tommy could mean losing not only him but my baby. I didn't see Tommy as one who would take it lightly that I lied to him. If he found out, I knew he would try to take the baby away from me as soon as she was born and walk right out of my life forever. I've waited too long to have him back in my life and prayed for a baby too hard to just let that happen. I knew it was selfish. I knew it was an awful thing to do to someone who has done so much for me since I returned. I just couldn't risk it though. I hated myself but I needed to protect my baby no matter the cost.
Zack came back with our clothes a little while later and I was grateful for a quick shower in the bathroom of the hospital room. I changed into a pair of sweats and a sweatshirt before curling up in the recliner next to the bed. Trini and Jason had curled up together in his bed and we were watching late night television which consisted of paid programming really. The last thing I remembered was some super mop before I drifted to sleep.
I was plagued with awful dreams while I slept, most of them around the explosion. Each one was worse than the one before it. The last one consisted of watching Tommy scream out for help from the window while everyone stood around and refused to help. I was awoken from the dream by a nurse thankfully. She had come to check on Jason and Tommy. When she turned on the light next to Tommy's bed, it had woken me up. Blinking, I turned to see the source of the light. She smiled at me with remorse as she checked his IV machine.
"Sorry. I tried not to wake you." She whispered. She hit a few buttons on the machine and put a new bag on the hook above. She changed the tubing around and the machine beeped quickly, the fluid dripping.
"It's okay. Is he okay?" I asked, sitting up. She nodded. Behind her, I saw that Trini and Jason were asleep. Her head rested on his chest and his arm was wrapped around her slender frame, pulling her close to him.
"He had some heavy inhalation but nothing that shouldn't clear up in a few days. His burns were the more serious issue. He might need a skin graph on his chest and his arm. The doctor will know more sometime today." I frowned, looking over at Tommy. No wonder he looked like he was in pain. "Hey, can I get you anything? Maybe some more pillows or an actual cot to sleep in? It can't be too comfortable to sleep in that chair in your condition."
"I'm fine. Thank you." I replied. Behind her, I saw that Trini and Jason were asleep. Her head rested on his chest and his arm was wrapped around her slender frame, pulling her close to him. Turning, she followed my gaze and smiled.
"How sweet. These boys are lucky to have some girls like you two in their lives. I'll make sure they bring extra for breakfast. Try to get some more sleep. If you need anything, you just let me know."
"Thank you." I said again. She smiled, walking out of the room.
The next morning, I was awoken by Trini who gently shook my arm. I jumped when she did it, startled by the contact. I looked up at her and saw that she was standing over me. "IS something wrong?" I asked, looking around the room. I saw Jason sitting up in bed and Tommy was still sleeping. She shook her head.
"No. I am going to head to the cafeteria for some coffee. Do you want anything?" She asked. I rubbed my eyes, sitting up. Shaking my head, I felt my sore muscles tense at the movement.
"I'm fine." I replied. She gave me a stern look.
"You need to eat something. It's been over twelve hours and you're supposed to eat every four to six. What do you want?" She asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"Trini, I'm not hungry." I whined, not wanting to fight with her.
"Cereal coming right up." She said, turning and walking out of the room. Jason snickered behind the magazine he was flipping through. I glared over at him and he turned the page.
"Should have saved yourself the trouble and ordered right when she asked." He said, glancing over at me. I rubbed the sore muscles in my neck and shot him a glare. My neck was stiff, that's for sure. Anditfeltlike someone had run a stick up my back. Leaning forward, I heard it crack and pop like a bowl of rice krispies.
"Where would the fun be in that?" I asked. To my left, I heard a moaning. Turning, I saw that Tommy was beginning to stir. "Tommy?" I asked, standing up. I shot over to the bed and grabbed his hand. He gripped mine as he moved his head. He moaned again and his eyes fluttered open. When he saw me, he looked confused. It grew as he looked around the room.
"Kim?" His hoarse voice cracked out.
"Hey." I said, giving him a smile. "How do you feel?" I asked.
"Like shit. What happened?" He asked.
"You don't remember anything?" I questioned. He looked at his arm with the IV in it and shook his head slowly.
"Last thing I can remember was running up my stairs. And then a couple of minutes in the back of an ambulance. Why am I here? What the hell happened to me? Are you alright?" I smiled at his sweetness as I sat on the edge of his bed.
"Tommy, there was an explosion at the dojo. You were trapped inside. Jason and Adam had to rescue you." I said, gesturing to Jason. Tommy turned to the direction I had nodded, seeing Jason in the bed. Jason waved, giving him a smile.
"An explosion?" Tommy asked, looking at the two of us like we had two heads a piece. "What do you mean by an explosion?" He tried to sit up straight in bed but winced, the pain stopping him.
"We aren't sure what exactly happened yet. We just know the building blew up." Jason replied, frowning at Tommy. "It's gone, man."
"But that's the dojo! That's my home." Tommy looked lost, the color draining from his face. "What am I going to do now? Everything I have ever worked for went into that place. Everything I own was there! Where am I going to live?"
"You're covered by insurance. You got the best policy money could get. They'll help you rebuild. And there might be some stuff that didn't get lost completely in the fire. We will have to see what's there when we get out of here." Jason said, trying to sound optimistic.
"And you can stay with me." I said, giving him a smile. "It's the very least I could do after all you've done to help me out. I have an extra room available." The door to the room opened and Trini walked in, a paper bag in hand and a drink carrier with coffees in them. She smiled when she saw Tommy was awake.
"It's good to see you up." She said, setting the things she was carrying on Jason's rolling table.
"Thanks. Why are you here?" Tommy asked, looking over at Jason.
"I missed you too much." He replied, grinning at Tommy. I rolled my eyes.
"Him and Adam ran in to save you. Adam is across the hall." I explained. "If it wasn't for those two, I don't think you'd be here right now."
"Exactly. So, I will take any kind of sports car in red as a form of gratitude." Jason said, grabbing a muffin from the bag Trini had brought in.
"Sure. Right after I rebuild my business from the pile of rubble it is right now." Tommy sighed, leaning back into his pillow. He glanced over at me. "Someone did this, didn't they?"
"I don't know." I said, remember the person running from the building. "I haven't talked to the police yet."
"What other explanation is there? It had to be Nick or someone who knows him." He said. Trini handed me a cup that said tea on the side of it before setting a styrofoam container on the table next to me. I could smell the warm aroma of oatmeal and cinnamon.
"There's plenty of things that could have happened, Tommy. The police and the fire department will investigate to get to the bottom of it. The most important thing right now is for you to get better. We can help you with the rest."
"I'm glad you didn't come upstairs with me." Tommy said, picking up my hand again. "You could have been killed."
"I'm glad too." I replied. His face lit up with realization suddenly.
"You're appointment! How did it go?" He asked. I waved a hand at him.
"We can talk about it later. You have more important things to worry about right now." I said, sipping my tea. He scoffed.
"I would rather hear some good and exciting news about the baby than worry about my life. So? What happened?"
"They did an ultrasound. The baby looks great! I have some pictures I can show you." Letting go of his hand, I grabbed my bag and pulled out the sonogram pictures I had been given after the appointment. I handed them to him and he grinned.
"I can't believe how big the baby is getting! They'll be here in no time." He flipped through the pictures, looking at each one with a happy smile on his face.
"Yeah. She'll be here before we know it." I said. He raised his gaze up to look at me.
"It's a girl?" He asked quietly. I nodded, smiling. "That's great! A girl!" He looked over at Jason. "Dude, it's a girl!"
"We're gonna have one of each around here now." Jason said. Tommy looked back at the sonogram pictures and sniffed. When he brought his eyes up to me again, I saw they were welled with tears. A tear slipped down his cheek and he wiped it away quickly.
"Sorry." He chuckled, sniffling again. "Sometimes, I'm too sentimental for my own good. I'm really happy for you, Kim."
