Chapter 185
Kate briefly went home to go check on Amelia but was sleeping on the couch next to Tegan's bed most of the night. Sara never left the hospital. She sat awake playing with a strand of Kate's hair in her lap. Tegan started stirring in the early morning glow. "No please" she mumbled in her sleep. Sara immediately moved Kate's head off her lap and jumped up. "Jer… hang on… open… eyes" she mumbled. "Tegan wake up" said Sara shaking Tegan's shoulders, desperate for her sister to wake up from her nightmare. Tegan gasped and her eyes snapped open. She looked around wildly. "Sara" she mumbled. "It's okay, just a dream" said Sara softly. "Except it wasn't just a dream… he really did die... he really is gone" said Tegan softly.
A couple of hours and many tests later Kate came back into the room looking drained. "Good news… your lungs are nice and clear, your vitals has been stable most of the night and the entire morning and that wound isn't showing any signs of infection. You're good to go but…" said Kate. "Ugh… always a but" said Tegan looking jaded. "Your course of IV antibiotics isn't finished. Under normal circumstances I would recommend that patients in your position stay in hospital until the course is done" said Kate. "Ahh fuck this… it's just a fucking IV. What's the big deal. How much longer?" said Tegan becoming emotional. "You have to finish the course! And the big deal is that this IV is connected to this little machine that dispenses the exact amount of medicine into your system. If it doesn't, you could have a reaction to it. A bad one!" said Kate. "Then let's take the damn machine, it's not that big!" said Tegan. "Yeah… that's the plan. Lucky for you have instant access to a doctor who has just been instructed to take the rest of the week off… and you're no stranger to IVs" said Kate. "Exactly! Please let me go" said Tegan. "I understand that it's important for you to go home and be with your family now. So, I'm going to discharge you. I'm keeping the cannula in and I'll come hook up the meds again when you get home. And I'm staying over tonight." said Kate. "You don't have to do that" said Tegan. "It's my final offer Tee. It's me at home or the hospital room" said Kate. "Yeah yeah, whatever. When can it come out?" asked Tegan. "Tomorrow… followed by oral antibiotics" said Kate. "Okay… listen Kate… thank you… for everything" said Tegan sincerely.
"Okay! Tom will organise that the flowers get back to your place. Ready to roll?" said Sara as Tegan sat down in the wheelchair a few minutes later. "Let's get out of here" said Tegan. "Tegan, Sara" yelled Kate and caught up with the twins heading for the elevator to get to the basement where their head of security was waiting for them. The elevator had an "out of order" sign next to it. "What next" mumbled Tegan with her chin in her hand, sunk down low in the chair. "Basement's flooded. Elevator's not going down further than the ground floor" said Kate. "I don't need this shit in my life" sighed Tegan and sat back up. "Back exit?" asked Sara. "Well, there is one but it's swarming with paps too… emergency entrance not much better" said Kate. "Sure you don't want to stay another night Tegan?" asked Kate. "Yes! Listen I don't care. We'll use the front door… I just want to get the fuck out of here!" said Tegan. "Okay. Front door it is" said Sara. Sara pushed Tegan to the door past the gift shop. "Hang on Sar. Get me two of those plushies that look like lions. I'll pay you back" said Tegan. "You spoil them" said Sara. "They deserve it" said Tegan. "I'll get it" said Kate. "Get some for Amelia and Leah too" said Tegan after Kate.
A few minutes later Sara headed for the exit again. She stopped pushing the chair close to the door. "You sure about this?" she asked Tegan. "I'm sure" said Tegan emotionless. "Ready?" asked Sara. "Let's do it" said Tegan and got up. "Tee… just switch off okay… they're going to try and provoke you… just walk to the car. Don't look at them… don't listen to them. The security guys will be right next to you, so will we. Just stay calm and keep walking" said Sara. "Tee… you feeling okay… any dizziness?" asked Kate. "I'm fine! Let's go" said Tegan annoyed. She pulled the hood of her baggy sweatshirt over her head and walked through the door. She was immediately flanked by security guards. The madness started.
Cameras were flashing everywhere, reporters screaming. "Tegan! Tegan! Are you okay? What happened? Tegan! Sara! What about the album release? Tegan!" they yelled. Tegan looked down and started walking. The guards had a rough time keeping the crowd at bay. Fans were pushing and screaming. "No comment" mumbled Tegan. "We'll put out a statement later… no further comment" said Sara. "Doc… give us a statement. Is she okay?" shouted the reporters. Kate just kept walking. "Tegan, come on sweet cheeks. Look at me" shouted a pap. Tegan foolishly looked up. She was pale with dark circles under her eyes. "Jesus sweet cheeks, what happened to you? You look like hell" shouted the asshole pap. "No… No… comment" mumbled Tegan. She stopped in her tracks looking confused. "Sara?" she said turning around. The blinding lights making her dizzy… the shouting overwhelming her. "I'm right here Tegan. Keep going we're almost there" said Sara reassuringly and put her arm around Tegan's waist. Paps were still in their faces. Tegan held her hand up to keep them at bay, the IV port suddenly visible. "Why do you still have needles sticking out of you rock star? Why were you in here? Party drugs got the best of you before your big launch. Celebrations got out of hand?" taunted the pap. "Fuck you" said Tegan and kept walking her bottom lip quivering.
People kept shouting. Tegan was in tears and put her hands over her ears. "Shut up" she shouted. "Just stop it" she cried. "Get in the car Tegan" said Sara and guided Tegan into the SUV. Sara looked at the crowd of reporters and shook her head in disgust. "Shame on you" she said and closed the door. "It's okay Tee… it's over" said Sara and took a sobbing Tegan into her arms as Kate got in via other door. "You okay?" she asked and immediately checked Tegan's breathing. "Get me home" said Tegan and buried her face in her hands.
Lindsey, Sonia, Alex, Erin and the kids were waiting in the driveway as the car pulled up. "Tegan, hey baby" said Lindsey getting into the car when Sara got out. "How are you doing? You okay?" asked Lindsey. "I'm fine... happy to be home" mumbled Tegan. "How's she doing?" Sonia asked Kate and Sara. "Physically she's okay... emotionally she's still a bit of a wreck" said Kate looking sad. "My poor baby... Sara, how are you? You holding up okay?" asked Sonia. "I'm okay mom. Where's my baby girl" said Sara and took Amelia from Alex. She started tearing up and walked into the house hugging her baby.
The gang sat around the living room having tea. Tegan didn't pay any attention to anybody except her two kids. "Look what I got you guys! Lions... like the ones we're going to see at the zoo. Maybe we'll go to Africa on Safari one day. That will be nice... Yeah" said Tegan. The twins swiftly got tired of the toys and were all over their mommy. Tegan couldn't stop kissing their chubby cheeks. "I love you" she whispered. "Almost nap time kiddos" said Lindsey. "I'll go nap with them if you guys will excuse me" said Tegan. She was tired but she really just wanted to get out of there. "Good idea, you need your rest" said Kate. "Thanks for everything... I love you guys... I don't say that enough" said Tegan getting up. The stab wound in her side was throbbing and she flinched. "You in pain?" asked Kate. "It's okay... it's just... sensitive" said Tegan. "Come on, I'll go get that IV started and give you something for the pain" said Kate. Tegan nodded and left the room.
Sara shook her head and stared out in front of her. "She's going to struggle to get over this... I wish there was more I could do" said Sara. "You're here for her... that's what she needs right now" said Sonia. "I guess" said Sara. "Why don't you go take a nap too. You haven't had much sleep recently" said Sonia. "I'm okay... I want to get started on the arrangements" said Sara in business mode. "Sara... I get that you want to be strong for Tegan... but you also lost a friend... a really good friend" said Sonia softly. "Yeah mom... you think I don't know that... Jeez... maybe I'll go take that nap after all to get you out of my hair" said Sara loudly and stomped out of the room. "Sara" said Sonia after her. "Let it go mom" said Sara still walking. "She's okay Sonia... isn't she?" asked Erin sounding worried. "I've been a counsellor for long enough to know that she's not... she needs to grieve for her friend but she's too preoccupied with her sister right now... that's not healthy" said Sonia. "Give her time" said Erin. "Yeah... right now I'm more worried about Sara than Tegan. At least Tegan is allowing herself to feel... to break down" said Sonia.
"There we go, all set" said Kate adjusting the IV. "Thanks" said Tegan lying on the bed with Casey in her one arm and Ryan the other. Lindsey packed some pillows on the sides so make sure they don't fall off the bed and handed them each a bottle. "I'm around if you need me" said Kate and left the room. Lindsey leaned over to kiss Tegan but she turned her head away. "Boo?" said Lindsey. "Sorry, I'm just really tired" said Tegan. "Oh... Okay... sweet dreams my honeys" said Lindsey and pulled a blanket over them. Ryan was already in dreamland and Casey was short on his heels. Tegan closed her eyes. She clenched her jaw as the events of the afternoon played through her head.
A/N: Poor Tegan. At least she's home now. Will she get over it to get on with her career? Is Sara dealing with her emotions? Review please!