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Lincoln Lost his best friend, his grandfather, his girlfriend and was stabbed saving Luna from a rapist. He confessed his feelings for Luna, and was taken to the hospital
With that let us draw the curtains and let the story continue.
Chapter 2: A Year Without a Brother
The EMTs rushed Lincoln out of the ambulance and into the hospital. "Stab wound to the stomach, seems to be angled upwards towards his heart. His pulse is week but still there. He's lost a lot of blood." One EMT said informing the doctors that rushed over.
"Take him to surgery stat. We need to get the bleeding under control and see if there is any hemorrhaging in the heart." One of the doctors said to the others. "What about her?" The doctor asked turning back to the EMT indicating Luna.
"Concussed. She was thrown head first into the side of a dumpster by the guy that stabbed the kid." The EMT replied. The doctor walked over and used a flashlight to check her eyes.
"She seems fine but we'll get her admitted for overnight observation. NURSE." The doctor yelled. A nurse rushed over quickly. "Get her into a wheelchair and admit her for overnight observation and mental trauma."
"Yes Doctor." The nurse replied leading Luna away.
"No punctures to the heart or lungs, large laceration on the liver and a small puncture in the stomach." one surgeon says as she is looking into Lincolns guts. The steady beeping of the heart monitor in the background.
"Lets get that fixed up asap. The kid's lucky that's for sure." The head surgeon replies taking a small needle and stitching up the hole, then doing the same to the liver.
"Looks good lets close him up." The female surgeon starts to stitch the skin and muscle tissue back together.
"His pulse is dropping." one of the residents called out watching the heart monitor. The beeping getting further and further apart.
"There is no reason for that, we stemmed the blood loss everything is patched up." the head surgeon said starting to freak out. The beeping stops and long 'beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee' is heard.
"He's gone into defib. Charge to 100." The Surgeon said. "CLEAR" everyone jumped back as the paddles were placed on Lincoln's chest and administered a shock. The beeping picked up for a few seconds, weak and barely there before it flat lined again. "Charge to 200. Kid don't give up on me. CLEAR" after a second the beeping returned to normal, a steady but still weak pulse.
"Damn that was close, lets finish here and get him to ICU for observation. Hopefully he's out of the woods."
Luna was getting settled into her hospital bed after changing into the required gown. Her head was wrapped with gauze.
"Visiting hours are over for the day, but your parents wished me to ask how you are feeling." The nurse asked, her light red hair seemed almost pink in the fluorescent lights.
"My head feels like I was walloped by a couple guitars, but other then that I'm chill dude." Luna replied.
"Would you like some medication to relieve the pain so you can get some sleep?" The nurse asked.
"Nah, I'm more worried about Lincoln at the moment." Luna replied.
"The kid with the stab wound?" The nurse asked, getting a nod from Luna. "Your boyfriend will be fine. He is in the care of some of the best hands in all of Michigan." Seeing Luna blush at Lincoln being called her boyfriend the nurse smiled. "I heard the story from one of the EMTs. Lincoln attacked a rapist to save you, took a knife to the gut, then managed to get up and attack the guy from behind with the same knife. That's love sweetie, he's got the hots for you bad."
"He's my brother." Luna said with her head bowed.
"Oh... oh my... I'm so sorry I didn't mean... crap..." The nurse cursed herself for not having all the facts before she ran her mouth. "Your brother was very brave, and will be perfectly fine. You'll see."
"I hope so." Luna said as tears started to fall.
"You'll see. I'm Lizbeth Joy Baynham by the way, but everyone calls me Nurse Joy. If you need me for anything just push this button." Nurse Joy says showing Luna a button on the side of the bed. She walks out turning off the lights as she leaves.
"I love you too Linc, you better pull through so I can tell you." Luna whispered to herself and she rolled onto her side and cried herself to sleep.
The Loud house was silent that night unnerving the entire neighborhood. Rita carried little Lily, who had cried herself to sleep on the way home, behind Lynn Sr. so he could open the door. The rest of the girls: Lori, Leni, Luan, Lynn Jr., Lucy, Lana, Lola, and Lisa trundled silently into the house and up the stairs. Lori motioned them all to her and Leni's room so they could talk.
"Guys, we almost lost our brother tonight, and who knows what would of happened to Luna. We have to be better sisters from now on. Lincoln, like, totally saved Luna from H E Double hockey sticks. I say we get rid of the sister fight protocol, and when he comes home we show him how much we love him." Lori spoke softly.
"I totes agree. Like, Lincy is so totes the best brother ever." Leni replied. getting nods from everyone else.
"While I don't normally associate with inane emotions I do find that I am rather aggrieved at our male siblings current state." commented Lisa.
"What?" asked Lynn.
"I am sad Lincoln is hurt." Lisa replied.
"Why didn't you just say that then." Lynn huffed. "I hope that guy who hurt Linc gets the book thrown at him." everyone seemed to nod in agreement.
"Lets all get to bed then guys, hopefully we can seen Lincoln and Luna tomorrow." Lori said sending everyone to bed. Luan didn't move. "What's wrong Luan?" Lori asked seeing the look on Luan's face.
"I don't think I can sleep by myself tonight." Luan whispered. "I've been bunked with Luna for so long, that I don't think I can keep the nightmares I know I'm going to have away without her." Lori and Leni both hugged Luan and a thought popped into Lori's head.
"Go grab a sleeping bag, and let the others know to grab theirs as well and meet in the living room." Lori said. "Leni grab your sleeping bag and come downstairs quickly and help me move the couch. The next twenty minutes flew by as everything was set up for a night of indoor camping/cuddling in the living room floor. Lori had Luan and Lynn grab Lily's sleeping bag then went up herself and carried the little three year old tyke downstairs and tucked her into her sleeping bag right next to Lori.
The next morning started out sad as all the girls had restless nights from horrible nightmares of Lincoln dying and Luna getting hurt. Though it seemed to be worse for the older girls who knew what the man was going to do to Luna. Rita and Lynn Sr. didn't fare much better. After a quick breakfast and a shower each they readied themselves to go see Luna and Lincoln.
Luna after her own restless night sleep, her dreams plagued by Lincolns death, and her own rape and murder. She got up to use the bathroom and clean her face before getting back into the hospital bed. She contemplated waiting until the rest of the family came to find out about Lincoln but decided against it and pushed the button to call the nurse.
A new nurse walked in, he was rather scrawny looking and had curly hair. "Yes Ms. Loud? How can I help you?"
"I was wondering if someone could tell me how my brother is doing, and maybe get a glass of water my throat is dry." Luna replied.
"Your brother? He wouldn't happen to be the white haired stab victim that came in last night would he?" The nurse said taking out his PDA and scrolling through it.
"Yes that's him. Lincoln Loud." Luna responded.
"Lets see here, hmm..." The nurse looked up at her. "Are you sure you want to know? It's not all good news."
"Yes I have to know he saved my life." Luna replied tears threatening to fall once more as her hand gripped the sheets.
"The was a puncture in his stomach and a laceration to his liver both of which were quick taken care of. However, he flat lined on the operating table as they were sewing him up, his heart started for a few seconds before flat lining again." The nurse explained, causing Luna to gasp in fear and began sobbing. "The doctor managed to revive him a second time and his pulse is steady however he has no awoken at all since he arrived." Luna continued to sob uncontrollably, the nurse feeling awkward tried to calm her down. "It's probably nothing his body did loose a lot of blood so he's probably just really tired and after a good long sleep he'll wake up good as new." Luna sniffed and quieted down a bit hoping that the nurse was right and nothing was wrong.
"Thank you..." Luna replied no knowing what to call him.
"O'Malley. George O'Malley I'm a surgical intern here. I was assigned to assist the Nurses due to us being short handed today." O'Malley said with a smile.
"Thanks dude I needed to hear that." Luna said still trying to stop sobbing. 'Lincoln you better wake up soon so I can tell you how I feel.' "Can I... Can I see him?"
"Well let me check your head, and talk to the Doctor on call then I'll let you know." O'Malley said taking out a small flashlight looking in both her eyes and then softly touching her head over the bandages. She winced a bit at the pain and gritted her teeth. "Still a bit tender huh? Well as long as you promise to take it easy for the next few days I don't see why the doctor would keep you. I'll be right back to let you know about seeing your brother." After a few minutes O'Malley came back with a wheelchair and with a smile nodded at Luna.
And so the day dragged on. The family coming to visit and check on Lincoln, finding out his situation and becoming distraught and worried. Luna seemed to block out the world only focusing on Lincoln as he laid in the hospital bed motionless. The family left at the end of visiting hours taking Luna home with them. As summer break had just started everyday seemed to become the same as the last the family would visit the hospital to check on Lincoln, Luna would sit beside his bed holding his hand with tears streaming from her eyes. Everyday they would leave at the end of visiting hours and go home. Slowly as days passed into weeks, fewer and fewer family members went to the hospital not wanting to see the only boy in the family slowly waste away.
Lynn Jr. and Lori were the first to break, the guilt of how they treated their brother eating away at them. Then Lisa who couldn't stand the wait and used all of her scientific knowledge to come up with a way to wake Lincoln, to no avail. Next were the twins who hated seeing their big brother like he was. Then Lucy, who was into all things dark depressing and macabre, could not take the anguish of waiting for something that may never happen. With all of them staying at home Lynn Sr. and Rita stopped coming to watch the girls. Leaving Leni and Luan to keep Luna company as she kept her daily vigil over Lincolns unresponsive body.
Leni would fluff his pillows, and water the flowers they brought him. Luan would tell him about the family and what was happening at home. Luna would sit there holding his hand and crying for the boy she loved with all her heart. This continued all summer.
The hobbies that the family usually enjoyed now seemed forced and lacked the one drive that made them love what they do. Lynn Sr.'s cooking while still awesomely Lynntastic suffered from a lack of drive. Rita's work as a dental assistant became drab and monotonous, and her novel was shelved altogether. Lori however was more motivated then ever to get into the law school program with her scholarship, she studied day and night only leaving the house to visit Bobby who she was now closer then ever due to him comforting her in this troubling time. Lynn got even more aggressive in her sports and was kicked off most of the teams for unsportsmanlike conduct. Lucy's poems got darker and she contemplated cutting herself. Lana and Lola started to depend on each other more becoming more and more like each other. Lisa dove into science looking for an answer and calling in favors from higher powers that she had gained through the years. Finally Lily would draw pictures of Lincoln and sneak into his room to nap on his bed.
Leni's, Luna's, and Luan's hobbies suffered the most. Without Lincoln to stand in as a model Leni lost all drive to create new clothes, or shop for clothes. Leni became a mother hen fussing over every boo boo and ouchie, and spending more and more time with Luna and Luan even when at home. Luan lost her love of puns and almost her love of comedy in general. Without Lincolns whimsical laughter there was no point. She found herself listening to and agreeing with George Carlin and Lewis Black, and even some of her favorite comedian's (Robin Williams) older more gritty stuff. Luna still hadn't picked up a guitar, and was listening to more and more classical and softer depressing music.
Lincoln's birthday was a particularly depressing affair as no one wanted to eat cake without him, and his present sat on his bed unopened. Luna broke down and sobbed harder then she had when she heard Lincoln almost died. Luan tried to console Luna but only managed to join her in her grief. When Clyde called to wish Lincoln a happy birthday no one knew how to tell him what happened. It took Lisa's overly blunt honesty to let Clyde know what happened. To which he started sobbing and hung up the phone.
And on it went, as weeks bled into months the new school year approached. The only good thing to come from the summer was a wealthy anonymous donor paying for both Luna and Lincolns hospital bills. The only clue as to who it might be being, a note to Lisa saying: "Hope that covers one of the favors I owe ya Lassie". School came and the days rolled on as the usually do. Leni, Luna, and Luan taking their homework and doing it in the hospital while visiting Lincoln. Which surprisingly managed to raise their grades to straight A's first semester.
When Halloween, and Thanksgiving rolled around no one really felt like celebrating. Finally school let out for winter break. The house was more active then it was in summer as the girls got back into their hobbies. Lana and Lola both wearing overalls and tiaras, while having a tea party outside in the mud. Lisa experimenting with sleep and dreams trying to find a way to either wake the sleeper gently or be able to watch their dreams. The former failed, however she somehow managed the latter, and when she used it on the different sisters of the house she learned some very interesting tidbits that had her start a whole new branch of experiments. Lynn was taking over Lincolns wood cutting using it to take out her anger at him being in a coma for so long. Lucy would sneak into Lincolns room via the vents at night and sleep in his bed for comfort. Lori stayed in her dorm at the university until Christmas eve and left the day after Christmas, not wanting to stay in the house longer without her twerpy little brother there. Lily carried Bun-bun everywhere she went.
Christmas morning came and everyone was excited for the holiday but still somewhat subdued without Lincoln. Lily ran threw the hall waking everyone up excitedly yelling "Wake up wake up it Cwistmaths.". In her excitement she forgot Lincoln wasn't there and burst into his room yelling: "Wake up big bwother its Cwistmaths.". Only to come to a stop at his empty bed with his still wrapped birthday presents on it. This caused her to drop Bun-bun and begin to cry. "I miss Wincoln." She screeched as she flopped on the floor curling into a ball. Rita came in picked her up and carried her downstairs to console her. Lucy went to pick up Bun-bun to give to Lily but caught sight of a wrapped package under his dresser. Thinking it was one of his birthday presents that had fallen off his bed she grabbed it to put it back only to find that it was addressed to Luna from Lincoln. She took it, closing his door, and proceeded downstairs. After opening the gifts from Santa and each other everyone was about to go do their own things until Lucy spoke up.
"Luna I found something that belongs to you." Lucy said. Everyone turned to look at her as she produced a thin flat box wrapped in shimmering purple wrapping paper with stars and guitars all over it. Luna approached and deftly took the package from Lucy before reading the label telling who it was from out loud.
"To Luna from Li-li-linc." Luna read before she fainted, Luan barely catching her before she hit the floor.
"Lincy?" Leni asked. "But I thought he was still asleep? How did he get Luna a present?" Everyone was asking themselves the very same question. Lisa came up with the most probable answer.
"More then likely he had it prepared before the incident maybe as a birthday present." Lisa explained, getting a round of nods from everyone as this was actually a plausible explanation.
Luna awoke a moment later and at everyone's prompting opened the gift. In side was a beautiful thumb sized Alexandrite stone pendant with the image of a guitar and a violin leaning against each other encircled by a heart. This of course confused every one. How did he get a gem that sized? What exactly does the violin mean? Luna didn't care though, she immediately put on the pendant and headed up to her room to get dressed to go see Lincoln.
Once at the hospital she held his hand and told him she loved the gift and that he needed to wake up soon. But the day ended like all the rest with him still asleep. soon enough winter break ended and school resumed.
The dull repetitive monotony of the days made everything seem to drag on forever. Eventually winter gave way to spring and school came to a close. It was the day before the anniversary of the incident. Lily was watching Snow White, and made the passing comment that it reminded her of Lincoln.
"How so little dudette?" Luna asked.
"Wincoln is sweeping just wike Snow White. Maybe he needs a kiss to wake up? You should Kiss him Wuna! Then we'd have Wincoln back!" Lily said excitedly.
"Lils I don't think that'll work dude." Luna frowned.
"Pwease, Wuna! Fo me, pwease kiss him and make him wake up." Lily begged.
"I'll try Lils, I will definitely try." Luna promised with a sad sigh.
"YAY!" Lily cheered.
The next day exactly 1 year to the day, Luna entered the Hospital and went to Lincolns room followed by Leni and Luan. Leni went about changing the flowers water. Luna whispered to Luan that she needed to be alone with Lincoln for a second so Luan took Leni to go get something to drink.
"Lincoln, I love you more then a brother. I love you with all my heart. So I'm going to ask you one last time. If you truly love me, please come back to me. Please." Luna whispered with a small sob. Then she leaned over and kissed him on the mouth, and not a short chaste kiss but one filled with all of her passion and need. She tried to pull away only to freeze as Lincoln's arms encircled her, pulling her into another kiss this one even more passionate as Lincoln was awake to kiss her back.
"You're back!" she whispered. Hugging him for dear life.
"I never left Honey. I've only been in the hospital for a day or so. Where is Liberty? I want to hold our daughter." Lincoln mused rubbing his eyes.
"Da-dau-daughter?" Luna stuttered feeling the blood rush to her cheeks and her nether regions growing moist.
"Yes our daughter, silly. Did you hit your head, step back let me take a look at you." Luna obliged. "Wow look at you. You look like you did in high school. You have aged gracefully my love."
"Lincoln how old do you think I am?" Luna asked with a frown.
"What kind of question is that? You know I turned 25 this year which makes you 29." Lincoln replied with a laugh. Luan and Leni quietly walked in with drinks and shrieked excitedly to see Lincoln awake. Tossing their drinks in the trash they rushed to his side. "Wow look at you two. Leni I haven't seen you since last Christmas how is your dress company doing? And Luan you really should visit more often. You stay busy with your joke shop so much we barely get to see you, and you know how little Liberty loves you. Don't tell the others but I suspect you two are her favorite aunts."
Leni and Luan looked at Luna in confusion, she just shook her head and asked if Leni had a mirror she could borrow for a minute. Leni handed a hand mirror over quickly still confused. Who is Liberty? When did she become and aunt? What was Linky talking about.
"Linc I think you need to look in the mirror." Luna said holding it up for him.
"What is it Lu? Do I have something on my face? What the...? Oh is this one of Luan's joke mirrors? That's a good one Luan, for a second there I thought I saw myself as a teen. Remember how I looked right after the stabbing. Wow that was so long ago." Lincoln laughed.
"Lincy?" Leni asked.
"What is it Leni?" Lincoln questioned.
"That's my mirror, and you are a teen. You just woke up from a totes long sleep." Leni said.
"Wha... you mean it was all a dream? Liberty? everything?" Lincoln wept.
"Sorry Lincoln." Luan said with a nod. A nurse came in to check on Lincoln at this point and seeing him awake and in tears rushed to get a doctor. Luan and Leni excused themselves so as not to be in the way.
"Linc, sweetheart." Luna said.
"Just a dream, it was just a dream, why did it have to be a dream?" Lincoln sobbed.
Luna hugged him and whispered in his ear: "Maybe it doesn't have to, we can always recreate your dream here in the real world. I love you Linc." Before pulling away so the Doctors could do their job.