Part 2

Robert found Kevin sitting against the chapel door with his knees up to his chin and his head between his hands. Robert frowned and sat next to him.

Kevin looked up. "What? Are you here to berate me? Pick on me? For blowing up at the surgeon?"

"No. I probably would have done the same thing if I was in your shoes."

"I shouldn't have done that," said Kevin.

"Maybe. Maybe not," replied Robert. "What brings you here? Why not go in?"

"I don't deserve to ask God to save Laura."

"What? Why?"

Kevin looked at Robert and whispered, "It's all my fault she's hurt, Robert."

"Kevin.."

"No, Robert. Don't tell me it's not. I know everyone in this town blames me for Ryan's reign of terror. And they are right! If I would have just turned Ryan's ass in to the authorities, none of this would have happened! What right do I have going in this chapel and asking God to save the woman I love when I'm the cause of it all?"

"You have to snap out of it, man," replied Robert.

"What?" asked a perplexed Kevin.

"You need to snap out of this martyr act. You made a mistake hiding your brother. That I agree with. And yes, part of me does blame you for putting Laura in this predicament. But.. you did not stab her. You did not kill those people. Laura forgave you. She loves you. You need to stop this. You need to walk into her room and hold LuLu tight. Tell her that her mother is strong and will wake up on her sweet time. Be the man she married. Be the man she chose to be stepfather to her kids. Laura doesn't fall in love easily. She chose you for a reason, now prove her correct," said Robert standing up and offering Kevin a hand.

Kevin grabbed Robert's hand and allowed the spy to help him off the ground. "Thanks. Not just for this but for helping me find her."

Robert replied, "No problem. But it was you who took charge after we found her. I had one look at all the blood and her on the ground and I almost lost it."

The two started walking towards Laura's room. "I went into complete doctor mode. I held back my feelings. Except for now, of course."

"Don't worry about it. When, not if, when she wakes up, she's going to be so honored that the snobby shrink lost it all over her."

Kevin chuckled. "She'll never let me live it down."

"Neither will I, Doc."

"Mommy, you have to wake up soon," whispered LuLu, who was holding her mother's limp hand. "I hate seeing you hooked up to all these machines. You should be up. Talking to me. Telling me to go home and change out of this ball gown because you wouldn't want something so nice to get ruined. I need you! I need you for more than just babysitting. I need you to hold me when I'm having a bad day because I miss Dante. I need you to answer my phone calls at two in the morning when I have a nightmare about Ryan. Mom, you are my strength when I am weak. You have always been the person I go to for guidance and love. Mom, no one else in this world loves me like you do. You are my best friend. I know out of everyone, you will always be here for me. No matter what mistakes I make. I need you. Please, Mom, wake up," weeped LuLu.

The door creaked open and Kevin gently walked inside. "LuLu?"

LuLu's tear stained face looked up. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be crying like this."

Kevin approached her and kneeled next to her. "No, no, no. LuLu, I want you to listen to me. Okay?"

LuLu nodded.

"I'm sorry for freaking out like that earlier. I should have been strong and comforting you. I needed to be your strength. This is your mother. You have every right to blow up and cry. But, it was reversed. You held me as I cried. If you feel the need to cry and yell, do it. You deserve it. I will be the strong one. But, LuLu, you were right. Your mother is so strong. The strongest person we know. She's going to pull through this. Of course, I want her to wake up right now. But she needs time. So, we will wait. Every hour, day, week. Whatever time she needs, we will give it to her. But she will wake up. I know she will," Kevin said holding LuLu's hand.

"You promise she'll wake up?" LuLu asked in a voice that reminded Kevin that of a young child.

"I can't know for sure, but my gut and my heart is telling me she will. She knows we would be absolutely lost without her."

LuLu nodded. "I need her. More than she knows," she whispered.

"I know you do. And you know what she would tell you right now?"

"What?"

Kevin replied, "She would tell you to go home. Get out of that dress. Take a shower. And sleep. She'll still be here. So, why don't you do that? Go and rest. It's two in the morning. I'll stay here with her. You go shower and rest. And when you return sometime after ten in the morning, I'll go home and get out of these bloody clothes. Okay. What do you say?"

"You swear you won't leave her side?"

"I swear. I wouldn't even dream of it."

"Alright. I'll go. But I will be back at ten on the dot."

Kevin lightly chuckled. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

LuLu was about to walk out of Laura's room when she surprised Kevin by hugging him tightly. Kevin was shocked at how small LuLu was against him. He head barely reached his chest. "Thank you," she muttered into his chest.

"For?" Kevin replied hugging her tightly.

"Loving my mother. Loving me. Just being apart of our crazy family."

Kevin smiled. "It's an honor."

Nurse Amy walked in Laura's room to perform a routine check when she noticed Kevin sleeping in the most uncomfortable position on the little plastic chair. He must have moved the chair as close as possible to Laura's side and his head was resting on their intertwined hands. His back was most assuredly going to hurt when he woke up. Amy quickly checked Laura's vitals and left the room. She approached Epiphany at the Nurses Station. "Epiphany?"

"Yes?"

"I was just doing the semi hourly check on Mayor Webber and I noticed Kevin Collins sleeping in a very uncomfortable position in those plastic chairs at her bedside."

"And?" replied Epiphany.

Amy knew she was risking Epiphany blowing up at her for asking a favor on Kevin's behalf since Epiphany blames KiKi's death on Kevin. "I was wondering if you could arrange for a recliner to be brought into her room for him."

Epiphany looked up from the screen she was staring at to look at Amy. "Why? He doesn't deserve comfort."

"I understand that. I know you are upset about KiKi. So am I! We were friends. But, Doctor Collins was not the one to stab her," Amy replied, whispering the end of her sentence.

"He hid his brother from the authorities. It is his fault KiKi is dead. End of story."

Amy knew she was definitely putting her butt on the line, but she wasn't going to let this go. "He was in the wrong, but Mayor Webber loves him. Elizabeth informed me that Doctor Collins and Ava Jerome's relationship was a charade to try to draw Ryan Chamberlain out of hiding and that Mayor Webber and Doctor Collins have reconciled. Mayor Webber is still madly in love with him and forgave him. Mayor Webber is a kind, sweet, and wise person. I don't think she would forgive someone if they weren't worthy. I just think she would appreciate if we gave her husband a comfortable chair to sleep in. He's still in blood stained clothes. That's just my opinion."

Epiphany paused typing and remained silent for what Amy felt like was an eternity. Then, Epiphany picked up the phone at the Nurses Station and dialed a number. She said into the phone, "Hello, George. Can you move a recliner into Mayor Webber's room? It's room 614. Thanks. Oh! Can you also bring an extra blanket and pillow? Thanks."

Amy smiled. "Thank you."

"I'm doing this for Laura, not Kevin Collins," sternly replied Epiphany.

"I didn't expect anything else."

After George, the maintenance man, moved a recliner accompanied with a blanket and pillow, Amy gently shook Kevin awake. "Doctor Collins, wake up," she whispered.

Kevin woke up and frantically asked, "Why? What's wrong? Is Laura okay?"

"She's fine. She's still unconscious. I just thought you should know I arranged for a recliner to be brought in for you. The position you were sleeping seemed very uncomfortable. I just thought since you haven't changed clothes, at least I could give you a comfortable chair to sleep in."

Kevin gave Amy a melancholy smile. "Thank you, Amy. I know I'm not the hospital's favorite person right now. You didn't have to do this."

"You may not be the hospital's favorite person, but you are married to one of the hospital's favorites. I just wanted to help."

"I really appreciate this. I know if Laura could speak, she would say she appreciates your kindness," Kevin said.

"No problem. You can move the recliner as close as you would like as long as it doesn't interfere with all the machines. Get some rest, Doctor Collins," replied Amy before she exited Laura's room.

Kevin got out of the plastic chair and moved it across the room. He pushed the recliner as close as possible to Laura's hospital bed. He had to be close to her. He had to hold her hand. It was his only anchor keeping him afloat. He was grateful for Amy's kindness because he was able to stretch out and at least attempt to relax. After getting himself situated and comfortable, Kevin looked at the clock in the room and saw it was nearing six in the morning. He turned towards Laura and watched her sleep. "This has been the longest night of my life, Laura," he said. "I'm so tired. I'm going to try to sleep for a bit. My eyes are heavy. But I won't leave your side. And.. If you want to wake up, give my hand a squeeze. I'm right here. I love you."

Kevin squeezed Laura's hand and closed his eyes. He knew sleep wouldn't come easy, but he would try. For her.

LuLu came to the hospital at ten on the dot to relieve him. Kevin didn't want to leave, but he knew Laura would want him to shower and eat. LuLu gave Kevin the keys to her car and practically pushed him out the door. "Mom would tell you to shower. You smell, Kevin. You are still in those bloody clothes. Shower, shave, eat. Come back in comfortable clothes. Pack a bag. I know you'll probably be staying here. And bring Mom's favorite book to read to her. If you won't do this for yourself, do this for her and me. Please," said LuLu shoving him out of Laura's room.

After Kevin left, LuLu was sitting in the recliner next to Laura holding her hand and watching The View when she heard a knock at the door. "Come in!" LuLu called out.

Elizabeth opened the door and walked in, followed by Cameron. "Hey, LuLu," said Elizabeth.

"Hi. Hey Cam," replied LuLu.

"I hope you don't mind, but Cam and I wanted to stop by and see Laura. I know she's not up and anything, but we would really like to talk to her, you know."

LuLu stood up from the chair and replied, "Sure. I'm sure she would love that. I'll give you guys some space. Just call me back in when you're ready."

Elizabeth shocked LuLu by following her out of the room. Elizabeth closed the door behind her and LuLu said, "I thought you said you wanted to talk to Mom with Cam."

"Cam wanted to do this alone. He isn't my biggest fan right now and he doesn't like showing his emotions. I promised him I would let him talk to Laura alone."

LuLu nodded.

"Where's Kevin?" asked Elizabeth.

"I told him to go home to shower and eat. He needed a long shower. He was still in those blood stained clothes."

"How's he doing?"

"Yesterday, he was a mess. He berated Mom's surgeon after he said we would have to wait and see for Mom to wake up. He feels really guilty."

Elizabeth nodded in understanding. "I know he does. Laura told me how he is constantly blaming himself for everything Ryan has done. He's in therapy. He wants to better himself for her. He really loves her."

LuLu smiled. "He really does... You know, I could be so angry with him for not telling her about Ryan, but then I see how lost and broken he looks without her and all that anger goes away. He never meant for anything awful to happen. And.. If my mom can forgive him, so can I," LuLu shrugged.

In Laura's room, Cameron approached his grandmother. After losing Oscar, seeing his grandmother connected to machines and stab wounds makes him anxious and nervous. Cameron stayed an appropriate distance from the hospital bed and said, "Hey, Grandma. It's me, Cameron. Ugh... I hate seeing you like this. I hate it. You are supposed to be up and about. Nagging me about not talking to Mom. Telling me to protect Aiden. Just being you... I need you, Grandma. I need you to help me. I need you to explain to me things that I don't quite understand yet. You need to wake up. Please, Grandma, wake up. I just lost my friend, Mom and I aren't on good terms. I need you to make it through this. If I lost you, I don't think I could deal with it."

Cameron wiped the tears from his cheek. "I love you, Grandma. A lot of people do. Don't forget it. Just keep fighting," he said before leaning over Laura and gently kissing her forehead.

He exited her room and told Elizabeth she could go in. "Are you okay?" Elizabeth asked Cam before entering Laura's room.

"I'm fine, Mom. Go talk to Grandma," muttered Cam.

LuLu and Elizabeth shared a knowing look before Liz turned to enter Laura's room. When in the room, Liz sat in the recliner and took hold of Laura's hand. "Hey, Laura. It's me... I hate doing this. Laura, I hope you know how much I love you. How much I adore you. I would have never guessed that the mother of the boy I fell in love with when I was sixteen would end up being my best friend... my mom. Because that's what you are. You are my mom. You have never put me down. You have always supported me and loved me more than my own parents. Life without you would be unbearable. I'm not going to beg you to wake up because I know you'll wake up in your own time. But, I wanted to let you know that you are loved beyond measure. Just come back to us when you are good and ready." Liz kissed Laura's hand and exited the room.

"Thanks again, LuLu, for letting us see her," said Liz.

LuLu replied, "Of course. You guys are her family. I would never stop you guys from visiting her."

"I hope she wakes up soon," mumbled Cam.

LuLu hugged her nephew. "Me too."

"If any change..." said Liz.

"I'll call you. I promise," replied LuLu.

Liz and LuLu shared a hug before Liz and Cam jumped on the elevator to head home.

"Any change?" Kevin asked as he entered Laura's room.

"No. Same as when you left," replied LuLu.

Kevin put his bag down in the corner of the room out of doctors and nurses' way. "Anyone stop by?"

"Elizabeth and Cameron. I figured Liz would stop by, but Cameron shocked me."

Kevin moved the little plastic chair to the other side of Laura's bed since LuLu was in the recliner. He grabbed Laura's other hand and replied, "I have heard bits and pieces about how he is having a rough time. You know, with losing Oscar and not trusting Franco."

"Yeah. Him and Mom are close. She listens to him and helps him understand Elizabeth."

Kevin nodded and the two sat in silence as they watched Laura breathe. "I wish she would just wake up," whispered Kevin.

"Me too," tearfully replied LuLu.

"What is she waiting for? We all need her. She knows that."

LuLu looked at Kevin. She no longer saw the uptight psychiatrist she grew up knowing. She no longer saw the shrink who married her mom. She now saw a man so desperate for his wife to wake up and look into her eyes. LuLu softly said, "She's waiting for you."

"Excuse me?"

"Have you talked to her since she was in this coma like state?"

"Of course."

LuLu replied, "I don't mean telling her you are sitting here. I mean really talk to her, Kevin. Telling her how you feel. Why you need her. She's waiting to hear from you. She needs to hear from you before she decides to wake up."

"You have been watching too many Hallmark movies," shrugged Kevin.

"It's true! People in comas can hear us and feel us. She needs to hear you. She needs to hear you from the heart. Please, Kevin. If she's waiting for you, then what are you waiting for? Talk to her! Please. I want my mother back."

Kevin no longer saw a grown woman with her mother's eyes. He saw a little girl desperate for her mother to just wake up and hold her and tell her everything will be okay. How could he say no? "Alright. I'll talk to her."

LuLu smiled. "Thank you! I'll leave you be for a bit. Text me when I can come back. I'll probably in the cafeteria."

LuLu exited Laura's room and Kevin moved from the uncomfortable chair to the recliner. He picked up Laura's limp hand and kissed it. He held it against his cheek to try to feel her warmth again. "Laura, it's me. LuLu said I should talk to you. She said you are waiting for me to pour my heart out before you wake up. I said she has been watching a little too much Hallmark... You do know that I love you, right? Because I do. I love every single thing about you... LuLu would probably tell me to list everything I love about you. Where does a man even start? Huh?... Your eyes. They are the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Every time I look into them, its like I see the ocean. I could drown myself in them. And your mega watt smile. Every time you smile I'm willing to bet an angel gets its wings. It lights up every room you are in. I love your body and your laugh. I love the way your mind is always thinking, but it's also always positive. You have the biggest heart. You are a survivor," Kevin said.

His lips began to tremble as he looked at his love's sleeping face. He squeezed her hand so tight he thought he might have stopped circulation. "Laura you have to get up now. Okay? I need you! I need you! Please. You are the center of my universe. You are the sun to my earth. But you know what? You aren't just the center of my universe. You are the center of the universe. This world wouldn't be the same without you. Without your blue eyes, and mega watt smile, your heart, your everything. Please Laura. I need you to feel my love. I need you to feel it. It's sweet and pure and all for you. Our love is so precious and gentle. I never thought I would find that love with anyone. But I found it with you. Please, Laura, wake up. Please," Kevin sobbed as his head fell to rest on his and Laura's intertwined hands.

Kevin continued to sob but soon found his heart stop when he felt a weak hand gently stroking the hair at the nape of his neck.

Kevin slowly lifted his head. He could have sobbed all over again when he saw the blue eyes he loved so dearly staring back at him. "Laura.."

"No more tears. I'm here," replied Laura groggily.

She came back to him. She came back to the universe.

The end.

Author's Note: Sorry for any misspellings or grammar mistakes. I tried to catch them all. I hope you enjoyed this little story.