Chapter 11:

At 9:00 everyone in Julie's room was a little anxious. Eric had gotten coffee each for himself and Tami and then sent Tim to go eat some breakfast in the café. He had only done so when Julie said to go. Then when he returned her parents left and had some breakfast.

Now Julie was too nervous to even want food.

"Mom?"

"Yeah baby?"

"I don't feel good."

"It's probably just your nerves. It's gonna be fine hun."

Tim seemed the calmest.

"Okay Tim… you are soooo calm right now. Tell me your secret." Julie said with a smile.

Tim flashed a quick smile.

"I just know everything will be fine so I'm calm. You Taylor's just need to relax. Mellow." Tim said with a grin.

All three Taylor's rolled their eyes and sighed at that.

"Okay… let's all just mellow." Julie stated with a giggle.

Just then a knock startled them.

"Good Morning! Are we ready to fix that wrist up?" A bright eyed nurse asked.

"Ye- yes Ma'am." Julie choked out.

The nurse took her vitals and got her some new "sterile" socks and a new gown. Wrote a big black NO on her left wrist.

Eric and Tim turned away again so she could get changed.

"Ohh cute panties but they need to come off." She said.

Eric and Tim decided they would just step in the hall before they died of embarrassment.

"What? Why?" Julie asked.

"Relax hun. It's just standard procedure for surgery." Her mom said moving to help take off her daughter's underwear. She had to do everything. Julie winced when she tried to sit up or even help at all she had pain in her wrist but when she moved even an inch it was her ribs that ached.

"oh… okay." Julie just did as she was told it was like she was a doll. They poked and prodded and did whatever they wanted because it was procedure. Her wrist was unwrapped and a big black yes was written about 3 inches above her wrist. The nurse propped it on one pillow on Julie's lap. It looked strange. It was a mostly blue like a light bruise and was really puffy and swollen. She wanted ice but decided against asking.

"Okie dokie. You are all ready to go."

Her mother was whispering in her ear telling her sweet things like I love you, you'll be fine, relax…. When the boys came back in.

Tim smirked.

"Cool hat…" He said.

Julie just looked at him.

She had on a shower cap type hat to contain all her hair.

Julie bit her bottom lip.

Eric carefully hugged her and told her that he loves her and she'll be fine and he'll see her soon.

Apparently she'll be fine was gonna be the phrase of the day.

Tim wasn't exactly sure what to do or say but Eric handled that when he pulled him close and whispered.

"Just tell her something encouraging so she won't be so nervous"

He nodded.

He went in for a careful hug and leaned in to her ear.

"I'm supposed to be encouraging… you don't need it though… you get the easy job. Just lay still, accept drugs, enjoy a nap, and don't be a bitch to us later when we frustrate you." He kissed her cheek and backed up.

She smiled a huge smile with a cute blush.

Now she was being wheeled down an empty cold hallway into an even colder room.

"Okay sweetie, in this big room we just check over you one more time and then we will give you some sleepy drugs."

Obviously this lady thinks I'm 12 not 16.

"Yes ma'am."

"Are you feeling nervous?"

NO shit Sherlock.

"Yes ma'am."

She giggled. "I can tell sweetie. You're heart rate is a little elevated. Try to relax, you will just get a nice nap soon."

Lay still. Accept drugs. Enjoy a nap. Yeah… okay.

"Yes ma'am"

She giggled again. "Is that all you say?"

NO…

"Pretty much, yes ma'am."

The surgery went as well as planned. Her arm was all wrapped and she was in the recovery room.

She woke up in pain and groggy.

Before she could scream a nice friendly looking nurse appeared.

"Hey hun, I know it hurts. I just want to know how much you are feeling so I can give you a good amount."

She swallowed. "I… It's awful. Worse than before."

"On a scale of 1-10?"

"10! It feels like fire!"

She immediately injected a full dose of pain medicine and seconds later Julie was asleep.

During the surgery her parents discussed their plan for Gracie Belle and trading off being with each daughter.

Tim just did his own thing. He knew he would live at this hospital till Monday if Julie wanted him too. But he probably needed a shower soon… and a bed would be great.

He called Billy and updated him. Billy flat out asked the hard questions.

"When are you coming home?"

"I dunno."

"Why are you even there Tim?"

"Julie wants me here."

"Are you two… ya know…?"

"No. We are friends."

"Well it's just weird ya know… you didn't even go to the hospital for Jas…"

"I know… shut up. I don't know what I'm doing Billy but I'm doing it okay?"

"Okay… you need anything?"

"I dunno… eventually I'll need to shower and change. I have clothes in my truck but it's not here."

"Where is it?"

"The Taylor's house. I had Smash drop it there when I thought this would be a quick visit. Now… it's just not so quick."

"The Taylor's are going to assume something is going on with you and Julie… you know that right Timmy?"

"Yeah… but it's not so I'm not doing anything wrong."

"I didn't say you were… just… Do you maybe have feelings for her?"

"Uh… I don't know to be honest Billy… I just don't know right now. All I know is she wants me here so I want to be here. I think that's what friends do."

"Yeah… call me later Timmy. I hope she is alright."

"Thanks. Bye."

He sighed and sunk onto a pair of empty chairs.

Do I have feelings for Julie? I mean it's a simple question… I dunno…She's sweet and funny and smart… it wouldn't be the worst choice. Coach might not like it… but he did say all those nice things about me. I do always look out for her. I want her safe and protected and happy… yeah shit… maybe I do have feelings for her. But would she like me? I mean she's attached now but that could just be some kind of symptom after trauma. Jeez… I don't know. Maybe she can just tell me how I feel. She's real good at telling people things. When she wakes up... i could just ask her...

Tim closed his eyes and fell asleep thinking about Julie.

Eric and Tami's plan was in writing. They were both planning to stay until Julie was in a room and had eaten some lunch. Whatever she wanted. The doctor had said she should be in a room by 11. Then Eric would go home and shower and stay with Gracie Belle and hopefully get a small nap in. Then at dinner time Eric would bring dinner from wherever Julie wanted and he'd also bring Gracie for a little visit and Tami would take Gracie home for the night. Then in the morning, (Sunday) Tami would bring Gracie and have another little visit. However long Julie could handle then Eric would take Gracie home and repeat. Then on Monday they would both take personal days and come and bring Julie home together. Then they would plan to reassess and figure out what comes next once they are home. Tami was nervous about school but her baby had to heal first and that was that.

What they didn't plan on was Julie. Julie had very different feelings about their plans.

The next time Julie woke up she was being poked. A nurse with puppy dogs on her scrubs was trying to get her blood pressure reading and checking her vitals.

I must be on the pediatric floor now.

She blinked a few times and tried to swallow. Her throat felt scratchy.

I don't feel pain… that's good.

She looked around the room expecting her parents and Tim but no one was there except the nurse.

I want a drink.

She cleared her throat and the nurse looked at her expectantly.

She swallowed again.

"May i… um… may I have a drink… my throat…"

The nurse started to pour a small cup of water.

"Sure hun… yeah it may be a little sore for a couple of hours. Your surgery went well. You are on the pediatric floor now. Your family will be brought back in just a few minutes."

She gave her the water with a straw.

Oh blessed water. I love thy sweet quenching liquid.

"Thank you." Julie replied draining the cup.

Her parents and Tim came in and all smiled at her.

She smiled back.

"Hey… I'm alive." She softly announced.

They all chuckled.

This room had balloons on the walls but was a little bigger and had 2 beds and it's own bathroom. She was thankfully in the bed closest to the bathroom. It was to her right. Currently she did not have a roommate. The room had 4 chairs, 2 for each patient.

Eric and Tami sat in the two chairs by her left side. Tim stood at the foot of the bed for now. He was tired of sitting anyway.

"How ya feeling hun?" Tami asked.

Julie nodded. "I feel… yeah… I feel." She smiled like it made perfect sense.

They all smirked and raised eyebrows.

Nurse puppy dog explained that Julie is still on an open pain medicine drip and would be feeling good for quite a little while longer.

"Julie why don't you sleep some more?" Eric asked.

"Oh daddy… I don't think we need…" and her eyes closed.

"Jules?"

And she started softly snoring.

They all chuckled again.

"Well dang… that must be some good stuff." Tami said looking at the boys.

The nurse left some graham crackers on the table next to her water and said if Julie woke up and wanted anything else to let her know.

She also offered them drinks and they accepted, it had been a long day already. She quickly brought back 3 styrofoam cups, 2 were cokes and 1 ice water. She then told them they would have the room to themselves.

Apparently they always tried to give older kids their privacy. Plus she said with Julie being an assault victim they wanted her to feel safe.

Now they just sat and talked and waited for Julie to wake up. Tim sat on the other bed and watched sports center. Soon Eric pulled up one of the chairs and laid his feet on the spare bed and watched with him.

Tami just stared at Julie. She brushed her hair out of her face and just watched her beautiful girl sleep. Hoping she was having peaceful dreams.