Natalie had her bag packed when she went downstairs to find Michael having a cup of coffee.
"Was the graveyard shift okay?" she asked, taking some coffee for herself, seeing as this would probably be her last decent cup of coffee for awhile.
"It was good" he said, "You proabably shouldn't be jittery going to the hospital"
"I won't be. I just want a decent cup of coffee"
Michael smirked, "Fair enough" he said.
"I don't believe this is real" she said, "It all seemed so far away until right now"
"Maybe you don't want to hear this-" he started.
"What is it, Michael?" she said.
"I got a hold of John" he said, "I called last night on my break, figured that a late night phone call might get him to pick up" he said, "He's trying to get here, Natalie. He said he'd do whatever he could"
Natalie looked down, "Michael, why would you tell me that?"
"You didn't want to know?"
"Why would he all of a sudden pick up for you?"
Michael chuckled a little. He couldn't believe the accuracy, even with how long they'd been apart, he still knew her.
"What's so funny?"
"He told me you wouldn't believe me" he said, "I don't know why I thought any different"
"I'd just like to get through today and the next few with as little drama as possible, and I don't think you telling me-"
"Consider it dropped, Natalie" he said, taking a sip, "We should probably get ready to head out"
Silently, she nodded. They'd discussed it last night after the kids had gone to bed. Eve would grab Liam before they left, then she and Michael would go to the hospital. When Marcie got out of school, she'd get all the kids from Eve and they'd all go to the hospital when Natalie was out of surgery. Like clockwork, Eve was knocking on the door.
"I don't know why I'm still calling you. You haven't picked up for anyone, let alone me" she knew her voice was tearing up a little, "Anyway, tomorrow- well, I won't be calling you tomorrow. By then- well by then maybe this will all be different" she paused, "I don't know where you are, or if you're getting these messages, or if you even care- I just- I need someone to talk to, someone that' s not going to pity or judge or coddle, I don't know who else I could ask for that. Maybe your voicemail is as close as I'm going to get; I don't know. Just- you loved me once, I know you did. I wish that was enough to get you here"
He finally took his phone down from his ear. His heart was broken enough from the first twenty-four voicemails, but that last one just tore him apart. She was trying so hard to say she didn't need him, that she could do this without him. But he could hear how close she was to crying over the voicemail. She was all alone in this, and that's what bothered him most. She didn't want to turn to anyone. She didn't think she could turn to anyone. She thought he wasn't picking up for her. God, she must have been heartbroken.
Mustering all the courage he could, he dialed her number. He counted the rings, hoping it wasn't too late.
Voicemail.
She couldn't be in surgery already, could she? It was only morning in Seattle.
He tried to find the words to leave on a voicemail, but in the end just hung up his phone. He didn't know what he would say to her in person let alone leave on a voicemail. He just had to get to Seattle. He stood, heading towards the counter for the flight to Seattle to see if there was any luck on standby.
"Aren't you going to bring this?"
Eve held out the picture she'd brought with her and kept by her bed.
"I wasn't going to"
"It came all the way to Seattle, don't you think it could make the trip to the hospital?"
"I'm afraid it'll just remind me he's not there"
"When was this taken anyway? You both look dressed to the nines"
"We were at Bo and Nora's wedding. It was our first date. He asked me out and everything"
"How did you manage to get him to do that?"
"I didn't try anything, just, went to see him after he stopped me from getting on the plane, and when I left he stopped me to ask me" she said, "I was so surprised, I mean, it was so out of left field and the ceremony was beautiful" she paused.
"If I'm not mistaken, it looks like you're dancing"
"yeah" she said.
"How did my son get on the dance floor?"
"Believe it or not, that was his idea too. We were just sitting, and people had started to dance, and next thing I knew he was leading me to the dance floor" she said, "He was so sweet that whole night, I had to pinch myself to believe it was real"
"He really changed those last few months"
"Yeah, he did. I thought- I thought he was ready to leave all that stupid stuff behind him, you know?"
"I think he did, at least for awhile. I wish I knew what changed"
"Me too"
"Here" she said, giving the picture to Natalie, "You'll only miss it if you don't take it"
Natalie took it, "Alright" she said, "I want to hate him, Eve, I really do. And I just can't, because if he walked through the door right now-"
"That's how we all feel, Natalie" she said, "I know we're not John, I know we can't be what he is for you, but Natalie, I'm here for you"
"I know" she said, "Promise me you won't spoil Liam too much?"
"Not on your life" she said, and they both laughed.
LAX.
More than halfway there. He knew he'd be cutting it close, and he hoped he'd make it.
"I can get you on the next flight to Seattle, it takes off in an hour"
"That's the soonest?"
"Yes, sorry"
"Okay, I'll take it"
He wouldn't be able to get to the hospital for another two or three hours at best. The waiting and not knowing would drive him insane. He made it to his gate with entirely too much time to wait and all he could do was think of all the possible problems. She had to know he was there for her. She had to know how sorry he was, she had to know it hadn't been his choice, that he wanted to get back to her.
She had to know he loved her.
She must be scared out of her mind. Liam would be staying with someone else while she was in the hospital. He was sure she'd thought it all through, but he knew what must be going through her mind. She'd be more worried about him than her own health.
But that was Natalie, and that was why he loved her.
"I'm coming Natalie, I promise" he muttered, hanging his head in his hands and offering another prayer that he would make it to her in time.