A/N: Guestt - Rip Wilsons throat? Wow. YELLOW JESUS – I wish you had written that story. BTW, I read a story long ago where Olivia died. I think the excellent Purple Pineapple did it. Cleo - Gerry seems to have grown a lot since the early days. Maybe? Guest 1 - Exceptional writer? You're kind. I enjoy reading the diverse reviews and I will not abandon the story, although I might have to update on some Sundays. Lots of stuff happening on Saturdays. And, you are perceptive. Monica - Glad you liked the Marion surprise. Maybe she's not that bad after all? Maura has grown a lot. You're right, Olitz inspired me to start writing again, which I hadn't done in years. I enjoy getting these two in all sorts of situations and helping them to persevere. saddie29 - I take it you don't like Mayor Wilson too much. Put a tree around his neck ... LOL. Clanay - Cena was sick in an earlier chapter when Olivia bought her the colorful monkey. And you're right, the accident will change them forever. LaJoyMechell - It is going to take some time for them to heal. Kelleekellkell - I enjoy the chapter by chapter feedback: the critiquing, opining, suggesting, praising, and even the lambasting. None of it stops me from writing or impacts the direction of the story. There are about eight more chapters before this story ends. All mapped out, since the beginning. Just gotta get them there. Sheesh.
Chapter 31. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
The air ambulance lands in the parking lot of St Joseph Hospital in upstate Washington to transfer father and daughter to Mercy Sinai Hospital in Church Falls. Fitz and Cena's injuries require specialized medical treatment the small, rural hospital cannot provide. Mercy Sinai is a state-designated center of excellence, providing trauma patients critical and advanced care in the disciplines of neurology, cardiology, pulmonary sciences, and pediatrics. Mercy's cardiology program is what attracted Bennie to the hospital as a cardiovascular surgeon when he completed his residency back east. Joining Mercy would also allow him to be close to his family. As the helicopter begins its ascent above the earth, Bennie shakes his head, because would never had imagined in a million years when he joined Mercy Sinai he would one day be working desperately hard to save his brother and niece.
The pilot alerts the onboard medical crew they can remove their seatbelts and attend to the patients after the aircraft has reached a cruising altitude of 8000 feet. Fifteen minutes later the unfasten seatbelt sign is illuminated and Bennie and the other medical staff quickly jump into action, checking that Fitz and Cena are stable after the aircraft's bumpy takeoff. Each medical professional silently performs their specific tasks, checking monitors and ensuring intravenous lines and oxygen masks have not shifted during takeoff. As the crew cares for the patients, the pilot announces they will be cruising at a speed of 105 miles per hour, with flight time of about 45 minutes. The estimated arrival time to Mercy Sinai is around 8:22 AM. Bennie glances at his watch, trying to will time to fly by as quickly as the helicopter is traversing the sky. He knows every minute they are in the air is not good, especially for his brother. He shakes his head and his eyes well with tears as he looks at his older brother, whom he has always loved and admired, even during the difficult times. He knows how protective Fitz is of his family and knows his brother would be devastated if he were conscious of what has befallen his family.
XXX
As the aircraft approaches the Mercy Sinai rooftop, the pilot looks for the signs indicating the weight the helipad can support. This is his first time landing at Mercy Sinai so he quickly searches for the two-digit number that represents the pad's weight limit. Then he checks for a second number that represents the maximum rotor diameter the rooftop can accommodate. Satisfied the pad can support the aircraft, he begins to make the descent. Bennie quickly rechecks Fitz and Cena's intravenous drips, oxygen masks, and safety straps one last time before buckling into his small seat as directed by the pilot.
As the aircraft nears the rooftop, Bennie glances out the window at the hospital medical staff waiting for the helicopter to land. The on-ground medical team is familiar with the process of evacuating trauma patients from an air ambulance, so they hang back until the aircraft has landed safely onto the helipad. As the on-ground crew rush over to remove the patients from the aircraft, the whirling blades slicing through the air blows hair and rustles clothing. The loud roaring engine makes it difficult for t hem to hear so they signal orders with their hands.
"We have an unconscious 42-year-old male who was involved in an automobile accident yesterday morning. He is suffering from pneumothorax (collapsed lung), fractures of the R5 and R6, and a severe head injury", Bennie yells over the whirring blades and loud engine.
Dr. Keller, who is the emergency room on-call physician today nods in understanding.
"We also have his four – five-year-old daughter - who also has been unconscious since the accident. Preliminary tests indicate she had no motor function in her lower extremities."
"We have their records from St. Joseph. Are you a doctor, sir?"
"Yes - Dr. Grant. I'm on staff here. This is my brother and my niece."
The doctor gives him a sympathetic look before rushing off with the other medical personnel who have already rushed Fitz and Cena inside the hospital.
"Follow me, Dr. Grant", Dr. Keller yells over his shoulder.
"Good luck, Dr. Grant", one of the members of the on-board medical crew shouts from the aircraft.
XXX
Bennie follows Dr. Keller to the emergency room where his brother is flanked by a team of doctors, nurses, and technicians. After quickly assessing Fitz' condition, Dr. Keller instructs one of the nurses to have Fitz transported to the Radiology Department. Bennie takes off after the transport orderly, but is stopped by Dr. Keller.
"We'll take it from here Dr. Grant, looking at his colleague sympathetically. "They're going to be working on your brother for some time. Get yourself some coffee and try to relax."
Bennie nods, somewhat in a daze.
"Call me if –"
"We'll take good care of him", Dr. Keller says. "I'll personally contact you once we have the results from all of his tests, patting Bennie on the back before disappearing behind the security doors.
Bennie leans against the wall trying to collect himself, trying to breathe. He has been running on autopilot since yesterday morning when his father called and told him about the accident as he was driving to Fitz and Olivia's new home for a weekend of celebrating. So shaken by what he was hearing, he pulled over to the side of the road and stared out at the open space. Fitz, Olivia, and his nieces were all in horrible car accident and no one knew if they were going to survive; none of it made any sense.
The wall provides Bennie the support he desperately needs as he finally lets the tears fall. Although he is a physician and is supposed to remain detached, that is an impossible order under the circumstances. These are not strangers who needed medical assistance, they are family, and the possible outcomes frighten him.
"Dr. Grant", a nurse standing several inches away from the distraught doctor calls apprehensively. "Can I get you anything, Dr. Grant?" She asks empathetically.
Bennie wipes the tears from his face and shakes his head no before hurrying down the hall toward the men's room. Leaning his hands atop the white porcelain sink, he stares into the large mirror that spans the length of the wall. And in the privacy of the men's room of his place of work, he allows the tears to flow freely. The memories of his quarrel with his brother about Olivia flash through his mind and his body begins to tremble. How stupid was he to allow his pride to sever his relationship with his brother and Olivia. Things have not been the same between the three of them since Fitz and Olivia started dating 10 years ago, and it was not their fault. It was all on him. He turns on the faucet and splashes handfuls of cold water onto his face to wash away the tears and reduce the puffiness of his red, swollen eyes. As he snatches sheets of the brown recycled paper towels from the dispenser, he promises himself he would never cause a rift in his family again. Life is too short he thinks as he balls the damp brown towels and tosses them into the trash can and snatches open the door. He has to find Cena. He has to check on his niece.
XXX
The Grants and Popes sit in silence in the waiting room on the eighth floor of St. Joseph's Hospital, periodically looking up at the door when they hear footsteps on the tile floor. They are waiting for the doctors to finish examining Olivia, again. She awoke a few hours ago and they wanted to run more tests to check the effects of the traumatic brain injury she sustained.
Marion stands across the room watching the doctors ask Olivia a series of questions to check her memory and concentration. When Dr. Rutherford asks Olivia if she remembers what happened, she looks up with confusion in her eyes and that is when she sees Marion standing across the room.
"Marion?" Olivia says questioningly, blinking her eyes trying to focus. Marion takes a few steps toward the bed.
"Where am I? What's happened?" Scrunching her face as she rubs her forehead. She has the worst headache ever and she does not know why.
"You're in the hospital, Olivia. You're going to be fine", taking Olivia's hand into hers.
"Hospital?" Now glancing around the room and taking in her environment. She tilts her head slightly, squinting, trying to discern the unfamiliar faces in white coats. Everything is blurry. "Why? I don't understand."
"You have a concussion. Things are going to be fuzzy for a while."
Olivia nods, thinking that explains the little man in her head with the jackhammer. But she still does not know how she got a concussion.
"There was an accident, Olivia", Marion says, sitting on the side of the bed and looking into the bewildered eyes.
Olivia closes her eyes trying to process what Marion is saying, but her head hurts too much.
"A car accident."
Olivia closes her eyes for a few moments, straining to remember what happened, and then the memories start to slowly trickle back into her consciousness. The tunnel. The huge black truck pursuing them. The bright headlights. Fitz racing backward out of the tunnel. The awful burning smell of rubber. Cena and Jolie screaming. The huge tires pressed against her husband's chest. And, she begins to scream hysterically.
"Calm down, Mrs. Grant", one of the doctors implores. "Everything is going to all right." But Olivia continues to scream, kicking wildly and causing the white bed covers to wrap around her legs.
"Marion, where's Fitz? Where's my husband?" she yells, grabbing Marion's arm in desperation.
"Get her parents in here - STAT", Marion yells at the doctors who are standing around the room watching the pitiful scene unfold.
"Where are my children?" Screaming and fighting desperately to get out of bed. "I want my family. I want my family. Where's Fitz? I want my babies", she cries out repeatedly as she slides down onto the bed curled in a ball.
"Calm down, Olivia", Marion says, trying to restrain her friend.
"I don't want to calm down. I want to see my family", she screams, continuing to fight, trying to peel Marion's hand from around her arms.
"I need some help over here", Marion yells. "And get me 10 ccs of midazolam."
"Please, Marion, don't tell me Fitz – my babies are …. Please don't say that to me. You can't say that to me, Marion. Please don't", she pleads, looking into Marion's eyes for a sign of hope. Calvin and Gwendolyn rush into the room and see their daughter crying uncontrollably.
"Olivia!" Calvin yells as he rushes over to his daughter, and she stops crying when she recognizes the familiar voice.
"Praise the Lord", Gwendolyn exclaims.
"Dad?" She says, whimpering and looking at him blankly.
"Livvia", Gwendolyn calls out as she rushes over to the bed. Marion releases Olivia's wrists and backs away from the bed, allowing her parents to comfort their daughter.
When she realizes her parents are actually in the room, she begins to cry again because she now knows something terrible has happened.
"Dad, are they? Is Fitz – is my family?" She asks with frightened eyes.
"No – no – no", holding his daughter tightly.
"Mom, where's Cena and Jolie? Where are my babies?" Looking over her father's shoulder at her mother.
"Jolie is downstairs - Abigail is with her", Gwendolyn says as she sits on the side of the bed and holds her daughter's hand. Olivia looks at her mother curiously because everything is hazy and nothing is making sense.
"Livvia. Look at me, Livvia", her father demands. "You, Fitzgerald, Cena, and Jolie were all involved in a serious car accident on your way to your new home up here. Jolie sustained a broken wrist –"
"Oh my god", bringing a hand to her mouth. "Is she okay? Is anything else wrong with her?"
"Jolie is going to be fine – in time."
"Baby", her mother begins. "Cena and Fitzgerald sustained injuries that required them to be treated at a different hospital – somewhere they can get the appropriate treatment."
Olivia looks back and forth between her mother and father, not understanding what her mother is saying.
"Cena and Fitzgerald are both unconscious", Gwendolyn continues.
"Oh, god - nooo. This can't be happening. Tell me it's not real mom."
"Baby, Fitzgerald and Cena are going to be fine. They're in good hands."
"I have to get to my family, dad. I have to get to my husband", trying again to climb out of the bed, but Calvin gently pushes his daughter back down against the pillows.
"You're not going anywhere—can't go anywhere – not yet. You have a concussion and must stay here a few more days."
"I'm not staying here, dad. I need to be with my family – I need to be with Fitz and Cena."
"Olivia, dear", Maura says as she and Abigail slowly enter the room. "Bennie is with Cena and Fitzgerald. He went with them to the hospital. Bennie is taking care of them. Do you understand? Bennie is taking care of them."
Maura looks into Olivia's anxious eyes and nods, waiting for her words to sink into Olivia's head. And after a moment, with mouth slightly agape, Olivia slowly nods.
"Olivia, Jonathan and Gerry drove down to Church Falls to meet Fitzgerald and Cena at the hospital. They'll be with Cena and Fitzgerald, too", Abby says tearfully.
"Abby …" She says with trembling lips as they look into each other's tear-filled eyes.
"I know. I know", Abby says, walking over to the bed and rubs her hand up and down Olivia's arm. "Everything is going to be all right. They're all going to be all right. Okay?" Olivia nods slowly as her mother wraps her arms around her daughter's shaking shoulders.
"I'm going downstairs to get Jolie. I'm sure you both need to see each other."
"Thank you, Abby", Olivia says sadly, holding onto her father's hand.
"Jonathan said he would call when they got to Mercy Sinai. Okay?"
"Okay", resting her head on her mother's shoulder while her father gently squeezes her hand.
"Olivia, the doctor is going to give you a mild sedative – to help you to relax", Marion says from across the room when Dr. Rutherford returns to the room.
"No – no. I need to stay awake. I need to see my baby, Marion."
"Olivia –"
"I'll be fine – really", giving Marion a weak smile while wondering why the woman is dressed in scrubs. Nothing is making sense.
XXX
Bennie exits the elevator on the 10th floor and jogs down the hall toward the circular nurses' station located in the Pediatric Unit. He needs to get the latest status of his niece's condition. If she has awakened he does not want her to be alone, he wants her to see a familiar face.
"Your niece is still being undergoing tests, Dr. Grant. It's going to be a few more hours", the nurse says, looking down at Cena's chart.
"May I?" He asks, reaching for the chart. He furrows his brow as he reads the most recent intake report.
XXX
One hour and forty-five minutes later, Gerry and John rush through the revolving glass doors at Mercy Sinai in search of Bennie. They stop at the receptionist desk trying to get an update on Cena and Fitz' condition. After looking at her monitor, the woman informs them because of the HIPAA law she cannot provide them any information about the patients. She gives them a sympathetic look and directs them to the Pediatric Unit on the 10th floor. Gerry and John rush to take the elevator to the 10th floor.
"Bennie, what's happening? Where's Fitzgerald and Cena?" Gerry demands when he spots his son standing at the nurses' station.
"They're being examined. The doctors have ordered a lot of tests. It's going to take a while", he says tiredly.
"What kinds of tests?" Gerry insists.
"I don't know. The stan –"
"What the hell you mean you don't know? You're a goddamn doctor aren't you?" Gerry shouts as John looks at his brother expectantly.
"Dad, I'm a cardiologist, not -"
"Don't give me that specialist crap. You're still a damn doctor and I want some answers about your brother and niece. Now! These people around here won't talk to us. They won't tell us a damn thing", wagging his finger back and forth between John and himself.
"Bennie - just see what you can find out for us", John says pleadingly.
"John, I just read Cena's chart, the doctors are examining Fitz and Cena as we speak. It would be inappropriate for me to just barge in there."
"Inappropriate? Your brother could be in there dying and you're standing here worried about goddamn protocol", Gerry spits out. "What's the point in having a doctor in the family on staff here if he can't pull a few strings?"
Gerry Grant is all about pulling strings to get the answers he wants, that is how he got information from Chief Schuller about the accident. He had his friend Pete, their local police chief, contact Schuller and update Gerry on what he knew so far about the accident.
Bennie feels the familiar headache building, the same kind of headache he always gets whenever his father goes off on one of his tirades. Rubbing his temple, he looks at his father then at his brother before turning and walking down the hall. His father always makes him feel like a kid and he hates that he still allows him to get away with doing so. As he walks away, he closes his eyes, trying to block out his father's voice, who is still ranting to John about something.
XXX
Three hours later two teams of physicians, one for Fitz and the other for Cena, have assembled in a conference room to update Dr. Grant and his family on his brother and niece's condition. The team of pediatric physicians includes an orthopedic surgeon, a neurosurgeon, and a psychologist, all sit on one side of the table. On the other side of the table sit the team of physicians for Fitz, including a neurosurgeon and a pulmonologist. All have laptops opened in front of them on the table. The pediatric neurosurgeon begins.
"Dr. Grant - and family - We are happy to report that your niece – granddaughter - is doing well. We have run a series of tests and have determined there has been no trauma to the brain. Aside from a small bump on her forehead, Cena has not sustained any brain trauma."
"Thank god", John says, running his fingers through his hair.
"Then why the hell is she still unconscious?" Gerry demands.
"Mr. Grant", Dr. Thames, the psychologist begins. "While your granddaughter has not suffered and physical trauma, we believe she is suffering from emotional – psychological trauma. She was involved in a very serious automobile accident. She saw her entire family – the people who she loves the most - get injured badly. For a little girl – for anyone actually – this would be a terrifying event.
John nods his head.
"So, Mr. Grant, your granddaughter is in shock and her brain has decide to protect her by putting her asleep – for a while", the psychologist concludes.
"So how long will this shock last?" Gerry asks gruffly.
"It depends. She could wake up in a few minutes or in a few hours."
"But why can't she move her legs?" John asks.
"Well, Mr. Grant", the pediatric neurosurgeon surgeon begins, leaning forward and resting his arms on the table. "Like with the shock, we believe the loss of motor function are psychological, as Dr. Thames indicated."
"Nor is there any musculoskeletal damage. Therefore, there is no physical reason why your granddaughter is unable to move her limbs", Dr. Reid, the pediatric orthopedic surgeon chimes in.
"We all believe she is suffering from what is called conversion disorder - hysterical paralysis", the psychologist continues.
Gerry looks at the man strangely because he has no idea what the heck the doctor just said. So he turns to his son for translation.
"Dad, conversion disorder occurs when a person experiences psychological trauma that converts to a physical problem. With Cena, her emotional pain has manifested in her inability to mover her legs –"
"Mr. Grant", the psychologist interjects. "Psychological stress can show up in many different ways. In Cena's case, it has manifested as hysterical paralysis."
"My god", John says, slumping back into his chair.
"Well how long will she be like this?" Gerry asks.
"It depends", Dr. Reid says.
"Does anybody around here ever give a straight answer? It depends on what?" Gerry demands, and Bennie rubs his forehead, feeling another headache building.
"Well, Mr. Grant, it depends on how well Cena responds to therapy - physical and psychological once she awakens. It is important that Cena gets into therapy of both kinds immediately. We don't want her getting stuck where she is. She experienced a traumatic event and she is going to need help feeling safe again. And she is going to need physical therapy to help build confidence that she can actually walk. In cases like these, the patient truly believes they cannot walk."
Gerry shakes his head as he rakes his long fingers through his thick, white hair. Fitz' neurosurgeon looks to Dr. Grant for permission to begin the update about his patient. And Bennie nods.
"Mr. Grant, I am Dr. Sridarh, I am the neurosurgeon that is taking care of your son, Fitzgerald."
Gerry and John both lean forward, waiting for the update on Fitz.
"Your son - your brother", looking back and forth between Gerry and John, suffered severe injuries in the accident. He is a lucky man. He has significant swelling of the brain, which we believe is caused by a severe blow the head. Perhaps he hit his head on the steering wheel or the windshield. In any case, we are keeping him in a medically induced coma until the swelling subsides. We expect that to happen in another day or so, then we will awaken him."
Dr. Sridarh sits back in his seat and allows Dr. Cooper, the pulmonologist to deliver her update. She smiles politely before delivering her report.
"Your son experienced pneumothorax and an emergency procedure was performed at the site of the accident to aspirate the excessive air from his chest cavity. An hour ago I performed a surgical procedure to alleviate the acute atelectasis that occurred as a result of the emergency procedure. We have inserted a catheter into his chest, to expel any air that might be trapped in the chest cavity. The chest tube will remain in place for a few more days and Mr. Grant's collapsed lung should heal within a week or two. Whoever performed the emergency procedure on your son saved his life", Dr. Cooper says.
"Thank god for Marion", John mumbles.
"Your son – brother –has also incurred two fractured ribs, the R5 and R6, which will take about six weeks to heal. Mr. Grant is pretty banged up and in a lot of pain. We have him on some powerful painkillers for now to make him more comfortable."
Dr. Cooper sits back in her chair and studies the faces around the table.
"Any questions?" Dr. Thames asks, as silence falls over the room.
Gerry and John shake their heads no, thinking about the long road of recovery Fitz and Cena have before them.
"If there are no further questions, then we will be going", the psychologist says, closing his laptop and beginning to stand. The other doctors close their laptops as well and stand from their seats.
"Thank you, doctors", Bennie says, rising from his seat to shake the hands of his colleagues.
"Thank you, doctors", Gerry and John chime in, still trying to absorb everything they just heard.
XXX
After being in a long and pleasant sleep for two days, Fitz awoken to a nightmare that shook him to his core. When he opened his eyes, he was immediately swarmed by an army of people who were shouting at him and each other. They were calling his name, poking and prodding various parts of his body, stretching open his eyes, and asking him lots and lots of questions. He had no idea where he was and why all the people were shouting at him, but he did know he had a splitting headache and his chest felt like a four-ton elephant had been resting on it for days. All he wants to do is go back to sleep.
As he slowly realizes where he is, he begins to remember the horrific ordeal that occurred on the mountain while he was driving his family to their new home to celebrate Cena's birthday. And he begins to sob because he does not know what has happened to his family, he does not know if they survived the crash. His body shudders uncontrollably as the unthinkable floods his mind, and warm hand on his shoulder stills his shaking body, and the familiar voice of his father slowly pulls him from the depths of despair. For the next hour, Gerry Grant tells his son about the state of his family.
Fitz learned that he and his family narrowly escaped death after their car was plowed into by a massive truck. He learned that his wife and baby daughter are still in an up-state hospital. He also learned that his older daughter has been brought to the same hospital as he and is suffering from hysterical paralysis. He also learned Cena has been calling for him since she awoke two days ago and all he wants to do is see her and make her feel safe.
XXX
Cena screams when she sees her father wheeling himself into her hospital room. Her hair has been combed and all sorts of colorful hair ribbons have been weaved through the two long braids trailing down her back. The nurses have been enjoying taking care of the precocious five year old while her father was unconscious and her mother is in a hospital two hours away. The pediatric nurses bought her a pretty set of pajamas, covered with Disney characters. They also bought her a pair of furry red slippers because she told them red is her favorite color, and hoping they would encourage the little girl to want to walk again.
"Daddy!"
"Hey Princess", trying to muster up enough strength to give his daughter a smile. He is weak and in a lot of pain.
Cena squirms in her uncle's lap, stretching her arms toward her father. John stands and sets Cena in her father's lap and she wraps her arms around his neck, squeezing tightly, and he winces silently from the pain. But he hugs his daughter just as tight, covering her tear-stained cheeks with kisses. He needs to be the strong father his daughter has always known.
"I was scared, daddy. I was calling you when the truck crashed us, but you were sleeping."
"I know. I know, sweetheart. Daddy is here now and I'm not going anywhere. Okay?"
"I told you Cee-Cee he would be in here soon. How are you brother?" Johns asks stupidly. He could kick himself for asking such an asinine question. His brother is obviously in a lot of pain and is trying to put on a brave face for his daughter.
"I'm getting better, John", he says, not wanting to frighten his daughter any further.
"Liv and Jolie are fine, too. Mr. and Mrs. Pope are going to bring them down tomorrow."
Guilt washes over Fitz when he hears the Popes are back in town. How can he face his in-laws when he almost allowed their daughter and grandchildren to be killed in a damn car accident?
"I have a bump, daddy", pointing to her forehead. "And a red Band-Aid too."
"Does it hurt?" Kissing the Band-Aid.
"No. The nurse gave me a red lollipop and said it wouldn't hurt any more."
"That's nice, Princess."
"Look, daddy. I have braids", turning around in her father's lap to show him the two long braids. "The nurse comb my hair. I have red slippers, too", pointing to her feet to show off her new slippers.
"They're real nice", he says, trying desperately to suppress a cough. "You look so pretty", stroking her cheek with his finger. "Do you like you hair like that?"
Cena nods her head up and down.
"I guess I'm going to have to learn how to comb your hair like that", smiling weakly at his daughter.
"I can't walk, daddy", Cena says, shaking her head from side to side as she plays in his matted hair.
"We'll take care of that, Princess. Okay?"
"My daddy's going to take of it", she says smiling at the nurse who has walked into the room. "Can you ride me in your chair, daddy?" Bouncing up and down on her father's lap and Fitz looks over at his brother.
"Cee-Cee, how about we let your father get some more rest before taking you for a ride. OK?"
She nods sadly.
"Where's mommy and JoJo?" She asks, looking around the room. "I want mommy."
"They're with GrandPop and Mom-Mom", Fitz says weakly.
"GrandPop and Mom-Mom are here?" Eyes widening to the size of meatballs.
"Yes, they are. They'll be down to see you soon - with mommy and JoJo."
"Yeah", clapping her hands happily.
"How about I get you a chair and push you around the hall while your father goes back to his room and rests for a while?" John says, seeing the pain etched in his brother face. Cena looks at her father and he nods, giving her a forced smile.
"Go with Uncle John and I'll come see you later. Okay?"
She nods again.
"Daddy loves you - more than anything", fighting back the tears. "Pucker, Princess."
Cena smiles at the familiar request and pecks her father on the lips.
"Mr. Grant, I need to get you back to your room now. You need to rest."
Fitz nods at the nurse and Cena wraps her arms around his neck to give her father one last hug before he leaves.
"I hug my daddy a lot", she says, smiling as she looks up at the nurse.
"I see that", the nurse says, smiling kindly. "Now let me get daddy back to his room. Okay?"
Cena nods up and down as John lifts her from her father's lap.
"Take care of my daughter, John", pecking Cena on the cheek and squeezing her as tight as he can before the nurse wheels him from the room.
XXX
Once Fitz is back in his room he allows himself to break down because he realizes he almost lost everything that matters to him, he almost lost his family. Cena is downstairs suffering from psychological trauma, which is causing her to believe she cannot walk. His six-month-old baby is in a different hospital with a broken arm. And Olivia, the love of his life, is in the hospital with a concussion. He needs to talk to her right away. He knows she is frightened because he is frightened too. Bennie walks into the room as he struggles to reach for the phone on the table.
"Bennie", he says in a broken voice, setting the phone back onto the table. And Bennie rushes over to his brother's side.
"They almost died, Bennie. I almost killed my family."
"It was an accident, Fitz. It wasn't your fault."
"I'm supposed to protect my family. I didn't."
"You can't protect them from someone who decided to get behind the wheel of a two-ton truck after drinking."
"I should've seen it coming, Bennie. I failed my family – I failed Liv. She's going to hate me for this.
"Liv could never hate you, Fitz. She loves you too much."
"I need to talk to her, Bennie." Bennie nods as he slides the phone from his pocket and dials Mrs. Pope's phone number.
"Ben?" Gwendolyn says with concern in her voice, and Olivia's eyes widen and her breathing quickens when she hears her mother say Ben's name.
"Mom?" See says fearfully, bringing a hand to her mouth.
"Yes, Mrs. Pope. Fitz is awake and wants to speak to Olivia."
"Of course. Of course", rushing over to the bed to give Olivia the phone.
"Bennie? What's wrong? Is Fitz okay? Is Cena all right?"
"Hi", he says.
She brings a hand to her mouth and lets the tears fall when she hears her husband's weak, raspy voice. She has not heard his voice since before the accident.
"Hi", she manages to croak out. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine", he lies.
"I'll be back later", Bennie says, walking from the room to give his brother some privacy.
"Are you all right? Are you hurt?" He asks weakly.
"I hit my head but I'm all right", brushing the tears from her cheek.
"And JoJo? How's my baby doing?" Pinching the bridge of his nose trying to stem the tide of tears.
"She has a broken wrist, Fitz. Our baby has a broken wrist and a cast." He closes his eyes tight and bites down hard on his knuckles. The lump in his throat will not allow him to speak.
"Fitz, are you there?" She asks with trembling lips.
Racked with guilt, his body trembles violently as he sobs quietly.
"Fitz", she calls out in desperation and her mother looks over at her with concern.
"I'm here", he says in a broken voice, wiping the tears from his face with the back of his hand.
"How is Cena? Is she okay?"
"I just left her – she's with John. She's upset, of course", he says somberly and Olivia closes her eyes, giving thanks to God.
"Liv, she can't – won't walk."
"Oh my god. Is she?" Gwendolyn clutches her chest as she listens to her daughter's end of the conversation.
"No - no. The doctor says she has conversion disorder - hysterical paralysis."
"What?"
"It's caused by the emotional trauma from the accident. She's going to be fine -in time. I promise."
"Oh, Fitz. How did this happen?"
"I'm sorry, Liv. It's all my fault. I should have –"
"It's not your fault. Don't say that. Don't do this to yourself."
"When can you get here, Liv? I need you here with me. I want my family together."
"We're being discharged tomorrow. Mom and dad are here. Gerry found them in Senegal and had them flown in."
"That's good. I'm glad they're with you, babe."
"Oh, Fitz", she says with trembling lips. "You almost died."
"I'm fine now", he says weakly, barely able to hold onto the phone any longer.
"Don't do that again. Okay?" Wiping the tears from her face.
He nods as the tears continue to flow.
"I'll call you later so I can talk to Cena. Okay?"
He nods and mutters okay.
"I love you, Fitz."
"I love you too. Hurry, Liv."
The Next Day
The drive down to Church Falls is solemn and nerve-wrecking and is taking much longer than usual. Calvin Pope carefully navigates Gerry Grant's luxury sedan down the mountain, his wife in the front seat and his daughter and granddaughter in the backseat. Although Olivia is anxious to get to Fitz and Cena, Calvin Pope detour around the historic, narrow tunnels. He does not want his daughter to relive the horrific accident. He does not want to imagine what happened in that tunnel.
Leaning back against the plush leather seat, Olivia absently rubs her fingers back and forth across her lips as she looks out the window at the rapidly passing scenery. She thinks about the uncertainty and beauty of life. She wipes the tears from her eyes when she thinks about dear, dear Abby rushing from the hospital in search of a local store to buy a new car seat so they could take Jolie home. She imagines the car seats and everything they packed for their two-week vacation were destroyed in the wreck; parts of their lives scattered across some desolate road. She has no idea what happened to her phone, but she is thankful for the cloud because he has so many pictures, so many wonderful memories of their life on her phone.
She wraps her arms around her body and her fingers caress the soft cashmere sweater Marion gave her to wear. Hell, everything she is wearing belongs to Marion. After Marion retrieved her car from the police station, she brought the suitcase she packed for the weekend getaway to Olivia's hospital room and dumped a virtual trunk load of clothes onto the bed, encouraging her friend to select something to wear that would make her smile. Everyone's eyes in the room bulge as they looked at the pile of clothes and accessories sprawled across the bed. They all silently wondered how long Marion planned to stay with Olivia and Fitz because she obviously had enough clothes to last a month. Thank god for Marion.
Olivia smiles at the memory and looks over at her baby girl who is innocently cooing and blowing spit bubbles. She tickles the little fingers poking out the pink cast and smiles wider when Jolie giggles. Her baby has no idea what has happened as she laughs and bangs her cast-covered left hand against the car seat's padded armrest. As Olivia watches Jolie smile and blow more spit bubbles, in that moment she decides she will not let some drunk driver seize control over her family, to steal their joy and happiness. She will not let the tragic event – one day - define their lives - define who they are. They have so much to be thankful for and she will not let some faceless, nameless idiot control her family from the grave.
Dream
When Cena hears the security system chime, she drops her toys onto the family room floor and takes off running, in search of the person she has been waiting anxiously to see for the past three days. The widest smile spread across his face and he drops the worn, brown leather suitcase onto the floor when he sees his princess running down the foyer with her mop of brown curly hair bouncing all over the place. Admiring his beautiful daughter, who stole his heart from the day she made her appearance into his world, he scoops her up in his arms.
"Daddy, daddy. I wait for you, daddy."
"Who's my favorite princess in the whole wide world?"
"Me, daddy, me", pointing to her chest as she bounces up and down in her father's arms.
He covers his daughter's face with lots of wet kisses and tickles her side, causing her to squeal and squirm with laughter.
"It tickles, daddy", Cena manages to eke out through the laughter.
"Is that right?" Rubbing his stubbly chin on his daughter's smooth face.
"No, daddy. No." Cena laughs, squirming, trying to escape her father's stubbly face.
"Did you miss, daddy?" With the biggest smile, she nods her head rapidly.
"Mommy said I be three. One. Two. Three", counting her fingers the way her mother taught her.
"Yes you will. You're getting to be such a big princess", shifting her in his arms as he walks down the hall in search of his wife.
"Mommy said I can have cake and cream."
"My favorite girl can have whatever she wants", pecking her on the cheek as they walk into the kitchen.
"Not whatever she wants", Olivia says with an arched brow when she sees the two most important people in her life walk into the kitchen. "Not a D-O-G."
Cena has been wanting a dog since the neighbor down the street got a new white Labrador Retriever. She thinks the dog is absolutely beautiful and wants one of her own. Cena, however, does not know that dogs are a lot of responsibility, that they are not a toy. She also does not know her mother does not really like dogs, or any kind of pet for that matter. Calvin Pope does not like animals and did not want them in his home. He thinks they are sneaky and cannot not be trusted, so he would not allow Olivia to have any pets as a child. And Olivia is continuing the tradition with her family.
"Welcome home, baby", wrapping an arm around his neck and pecking him on the lips, which he deepens into something more.
"I missed you – it's been three days", licking his lips as he looks at her with desire.
"I'm going to be three", Cena announces again as she displays three fingers.
"You look tired – are you hungry?" Turning back to the stove to stir the sauce for his favorite meal.
"I'm starved. I didn't want to eat anything at Kennedy. I wanted to have dinner with my two favorite girls. Besides, airport food is horrible."
"Sketti, daddy", Cena says, pointing to the pot into which her mother is dropping the pasta.
"Do you want to eat sketti with daddy?" Cena nods her head up and down, bouncing in his arms again.
"Don't say sketti, Fitz. She'll never learn how to pronounce it correctly if you keep saying it like that."
"Sketti, sketti, sketti. Right, Princess?"
"Right, daddy."
"Do you want to shower before dinner?" Turning from the stove, taking Cena from his arms, and setting her onto the booster seat at the granite island.
"I'll wait for our bath later", pinning her against the counter and devouring her everything."
"Behave, Fitz."
"Nope. I plan to misbehave all night long", sliding his tongue into her mouth.
XXX
"I can't believe my little girl will be three years old in a few days", he says, dragging the soapy towel up and down his wife's back.
"For the past three days, every hour on the hour, she has been asking when daddy was coming home. She doesn't get time yet."
"I wish I could keep her this age forever."
"Oh, Fitz please. She's growing up every day."
"Then I want to keep you like this forever. Turn around."
She turns around in the huge soaking tub, splashing water everywhere, and straddles him. He winces as she sits on his thighs.
"What's wrong? Why are you in pain?"
"I went running this morning – at 5:30"
"Running? But you hate running." He rolls his eyes because everyone says that. It is not that he hates running, he just prefers other forms of exercise.
"I don't hate running, Liv."
"Well that's what you always say when I ask you to run with me."
"Well I don't need to convince you to move to Church Falls. I already got you", running his tongue over her full lips.
"So why were you running? And why five miles?"
"Geoffrey is an avid runner and he runs five miles every morning, for god's sake", running a hand through his hair.
"So you ran five miles with Geoffrey Tynes just to convince him to move to Church Falls?"
"Yup."
"Well is he? Did you convince him?"
"Yup. Now enough about running Geoffrey" caressing her bottom as he glides his tongue across her neck. "I need you", his says with pure, unadulterated lust.
"Somebody sounds a little horny tonight", wrapping her arms around his neck and smiling as she looks into his eyes.
"I won't lie to you, Olivia", giving her a serious look that concerns her.
"What is it Fitz? What's wrong?" Pulling back and crinkling her brow as she looks into his eyes.
"I'm very, very, very horny", he says before laughing out loud. "It's been one, two, three days", holding up three fingers like Cena.
"You are so silly", slapping him on the shoulder.
"But I am. Feel."
She slides her hand into the warm soapy water and wraps her hand around his hardness, and he leans back against the tub and closes his eyes. She strokes him gently at first as the warm water billows around his sac.
"Livvie", he says in ecstasy.
"Somebody is horny", sliding down his chest, resting her breast on his stomach.
"Lift", she says, looking at his manhood with hooded eyes. And he arches his bottom from the bathtub floor and she takes him into her mouth. And he moans with pleasure.
"I've missed you", running his hand in her hair as he pumps slowly in her mouth. The feel of her wet mouth wrapped around him is everything. He will never tire of her making love to him like this. His sac tightens and he thrust become more rhythmic.
"Livvie", he exhales in pleasure, and she sucks harder. "Just like that, baby. Just like that."
She releases him from her mouth and slides onto his hardness, and they both moan from the sensation. They look into each other's lust-filled eyes and she captures his mouth, sliding her tongue in and out as she bounces up and down on his erection. She gasps in pleasure as the protruding veins create a wonderful sensation against her walls.
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he holds her tight and he plunges deep into her. And she rests her head in the crook of his neck and moves with him. They have found their rhythm and they ride each other unrelentingly as the warm bubbling water splashes around them. The vibrating whirlpool tub stimulates his sac and he thinks this must be what heaven is like. He captures a soapy nipple in his mouth and sucks hard and she glides up and down until she trembles and collapses against his chest.
Her licks his lips and plunges deeper into her trembling walls, and the sensation is driving him mad; he needs to release. He pulls her limp body closer and pumps faster. His heart feels like it is going to explode and suddenly he stiffens. Squeezing his eyes tight, he flows deep into her. The feeling is magnificent and he feels like he can cum forever. With chest heaving up and down, he collapses against the back of the tub, and she smiles at him, running her fingers through the sides of his damp hair.
"I was horny, too", she chuckles.
End Dream
Holding her breath, Olivia heels clack against the tile floor as she runs down the hospital hall in search of her husband's room. She left Cena sleeping with her parents and now she must find her husband. She quickly scans the large black numbers on the walls outside each room, looking for 2214. When she reaches the door, she gasps when she sees her husband laying still in bed with a huge bandage on his forehead and scratches across his face. Frozen in place, she brings her hands to the sides of her face when she sees the catheter sticking out his right side of his chest. Tears well in her eyes as she traces the intravenous line from the pole to his arm. He looks so broken. She slowly walks over to his bedside and brushes the back the curl that is resting on the bandage and tenderly kisses his bruised cheek.
"Oh, Fitz", she says weepily, kicking off her shoes and climbing into the narrow bed. Careful not to hurt him any further, she lay her head on his pillow, draping an arm delicately across his stomach.
He smiles trying to hold on to the scent that is uniquely his wife as he stirs from his dream. He will never tire of smelling her uniqueness. He smiles because the dream seemed so real because Olivia's scent still lingers in his nostrils. Slowly awakening, he tries to turn on his left side, to get in a more comfortable position, but prevents him from moving. When he opens his eyes he is surprised and delighted to see his wife asleep on his chest.
"Liv? Livvie?" Kissing her eyelid in an attempt to waken her.
Five Days Later
Still weak and in a lot of pain, Bennie and John help Fitz out of John's truck and into the house. He and Cena were discharged from the hospital this morning and the entire family was there to support them, to help bring them home. Gerry carries Cena into the house and Calvin carries a babbling, spit bubble-blowing Jolie.
"Take him upstairs - to our bedroom, John. I want him to rest – he needs to rest", Olivia directs as she nervously watches her husband lean precariously onto his brothers. "Be careful, Bennie, don't let him fall", pacing around the foyer watching her brothers-in-law help Fitz down the hall toward the staircase.
"I'm fine, Liv."
"You're not fine. You almost died", the anxiety in her voice rising with each word.
"I want daddy", Cena whines as she watches her uncles help her father up the stairs.
"Daddy has to rest, baby. You stay down here with Gramps."
"Let's get something for this crowd to eat, Maura", Gwendolyn says, hurrying down the foyer and into the kitchen.
"Of course. Of course."
"Can someone warm a bottle for Jolie?" Calvin yells. "Livvia said there are a few in the freezer."
"I'll get it", Abby yells as she sets Ethan onto Jolie's play mat on the family room floor.
XXX
"Thanks John – Bennie", Fitz says as he leans back against the headboard.
"Do I have to come back tonight and give you a bath and put on your jammies, too?" John quips.
"Don't make me laugh, John. It still hurts", Fitz says with a pained look on his face as Olivia nervously struggles to remove the childproof top from the bottle of pain pills.
"Take these, baby", she says, handing her husband two pills and a glass of water. He pops the two pills into his mouth and washes them down with the cool water.
"The doctor says to apply an ice pack to your side every 20 minutes of every hour you are awake for the first two days. Then 10 to 20 minutes three times a day as needed. It should help reduce the pain and swelling. I don't know if we have ice packs – do we have ice packs? I have to go to the store to get ice packs. He's going to need ice packs" she fires off rapidly.
She is nervous and jittery and does not realize she is rambling as she paces around the room rubbing her forehead, trying to remember all of the discharge instructions. Really she is beginning to crack from the stress. Everything that has happened since the accident has finally caught up with her. John looks at Fitz with concern.
"Liv, I'll get the ice packs", Bennie says sadly, and she abruptly stops pacing.
"Good – good - Bennie. That's good. You get the ice packs. I should stay here and take care of Fitz. You get the ice packs", speaking quickly.
"Liv." Fitz calls out weakly, trying to get her attention, but she continues rambling.
"When does your prescription need to be refilled? Where did I put that bottle? Where are the discharge papers? I have to check if I'm forgetting anything. Where is my pocketbook? Maybe they're in my pocketbook", looking around the room frantically. "I have to find those papers."
She walks over to her vanity table and fumbles with the items on the silver tray. Fitz looks at his brothers and motions them to leave him alone with his distraught wife.
"Olivia", he musters up enough strength to get her attention, and she stops fumbling with the items on the tray and turns and looks at him wild-eyed.
"What? What's wrong? Do you need something? Are you hurting", she asks frantically, rushing over to the bed.
"Livvie", he says softly, extending his hand to her, and she brings her hands to her mouth and begins to cry.
"Oh Livvie. Come here, baby."
"You almost died", she says, standing frozen in place.
"I'm fine.'
"That truck was on top of you and I couldn't help you. I couldn't help our children."
"I'm fine. We're all going to be fine."
"I was so scared. Cena and JoJo were crying and I couldn't do anything."
"I know. It's okay now."
"And when I woke up I found out you and Cena were taken to a different hospital."
"Everything's all right, Liv. We're all home together.
"You promise?"
"I promise", he says as she curls into his side and he closes his eyes tight to stifle the pain.
"Does that hurt?" She asks weepily.
"I'm fine", he lies. "I need you to stay calm, Liv. We're home now. You can't get all worked up."
"We came so close to losing our family, Fitz. I don't know what I would do if …"
"I know. I know", he says sleepily, the medicine is beginning to do its job.
"You have to go for a follow-up appointment in two weeks."
Unable to keep the heavy eyelids open, he nods one more time before falling asleep.