Another week passed, Dean still hadn't woken up. Isabelle went back to work, but checked on the kids and Dean when she could. She visited with him during her lunch break. Spencer was still seeing Paul Heyman on a daily bases. The faster he got better the faster he could stop going to these therapy sessions and find a job.
After school on Monday, Abel went to visit Dean like he always did. He stopped by the nurses station to say hi, he couldn't get in without one of them. He spotted Brie and she smiled at him.
"Hey, school is out already?", she asked.
He nodded.
"I just wanted to come and see my dad before I go home", he said.
"Of course, go on in. Your mom just left about an hour ago", Brie said.
Abel nodded and walked through the double doors after Brie opened them, and to his dad's room. The machine beeping in the quiet room. He took the chair by the window and set up his homework there.
"Hi dad, sorry I haven't come by in a while. I've been so busy with school and baseball", Abel said.
His mom had told him it was good to talk to Dean while he was sleeping. Doctor Jericho had told him that Dean could hear them when they talk, Abel liked to believe that.
"Austin is getting so big, he eats a lot", Abel said, chuckling at the end.
Imagining his dad's laugh and smile. Abel took his hand.
"You need to wake up dad, mom needs you. We all do", Abel said softly.
He sighed and went to sit by the window to do his homework.
Isabelle was taking an order when Nikki moved next to her to let her know Brie called.
"She says Abel is with Dean. She called to let you know just in case you didn't. That way you don't worry", Nikki said.
Izzy nodded. She hadn't known Abel was going with Dean. He hadn't said anything. Mia walked into the diner and smiled.
"Hey sis. Just wanted to check in", she said.
"And what brings you to Arcata. Kind of a long drive for you to just check in", Izzy said.
Mia shrugged.
"You and mom said I needed to visit more. Here I am", she said, lifting her arms.
Izzy noticed her wince.
"You ok?", she asked her youngest sister.
Mia nodded.
"Back cramp from the drive", Mia said, rubbing her back.
Izzy let it go.
"Hungry?", she asked.
"Please", Mia said, taking a booth.
Izzy couldn't help but watch her. Something was off with her sister and she knew it, but she also knew that if she pressed it, Mia would argue, lie, and run.
Mia stood and went to the bathroom. She waited in a stall till the last woman left. Walking out and towards a mirror. She lifted the back of her sweater and saw the dark bruise that had formed over night. She bit her lip. Reaching into her bag and pulling out an ice hot patch and placing it over the bruise. It would help with a bit of the pain.
Taking a deep breath before walking back out and into the booth she had been in not too long ago. She watched her sister take orders to other customers. She knew Izzy had been in a similar situation with Spencer, but Spencer had changed after he got help. Maybe Jason could too.
"Here you go, Veggie omelet, just the way you like it", Izzy said with a smile.
"Thanks", Mia said softly.
Izzy went back to work. Mia couldn't stop thinking about Jason. He had been perfect at the beginning, but then she knew Spencer had been the same with her sister. She had made a joke about Jason around his friends, and he had laughed it off like they all did. Once at home, he had grabbed her by the hair and threw her against the wall. Slapped her a few times and told her never to do it again.
The next morning, he had apologized and said he had too much to drink. She forgave him, but then another week went by and he did it again. Mia was taken out of her memories when Chad sat across from her.
"Hey, I heard you were back", he said with a smile.
She nodded and pushed her plate away from her when she was done.
"Yeah, just came to see how my sister is. You know with Dean in a coma still", Mia said.
He nodded.
"I heard he was doing better though, could be any day now they said", he said.
She nodded.
"Yeah, we all can't wait till he's awake again", Mia said.
"So, how have you been? How's your boyfriend?", Chad asked.
She could tell it pained him to ask about Jason.
"I'm good, finishing up school and Jason, he's, good", she said.
He nodded and looked down at his hands on the table. He was so good to her, but she couldn't see herself living in this town for the rest of her life.
"And you?", she asked.
He looked up and met her eyes.
"Working, and helping out my mom at the store, you know", he shrugged.
She nodded. Izzy grabbed her purse and noticed Chad with her sister. She smiled. She and Dean had hoped that Mia would stay with him. He was a good kid and never got into any trouble. Started helping his mom out when his dad passed away.
She hated to ruin their talk, but she wanted to take Mia to see Dean before visiting hours were over.
"Hey sis, ready?", she asked Mia.
Mia nodded and she and Chad stood.
"It was nice seeing you, Mia", Chad said.
"You too", she replied.
They watched him walk out of the diner after he picked up his to go order.
"That boy is still in love with you", Izzy said to Mia.
Mia sighed.
"Don't start", Mia said as they walked out.
"Just saying. You know, since Dean isn't here to say it", Izzy said.
Mia laughed softly as they walked towards Izzy's car. Mia walking towards hers.
"So where's Jason? He didn't come with you this time?", Izzy asked.
"No, he had some work to take care of", Mia said.
Izzy nodded. Getting to the hospital, Brie waved at them as they made their way to Dean's room. Walking in, Abel was still there and finishing his homework. Izzy walked over to him and kissed the top of his head.
"Hey kid", Mia said, hugging him.
"How's dad?", Izzy asked.
"Sleeping still. Brie came in to check on him a few minutes ago", Abel said.
Izzy nodded.
"Ready to go home?", Izzy asked.
Abel nodded and packed up his bag. Izzy leaned into Dean and kissed him.
"Hi my love", she whispered.
She squeezed his hand.
"How long are you here for Aunt Mia?", Abel asked.
"A week", she said.
He nodded.
"Would you mind watching the kids while I stay the night with Dean tomorrow?", Izzy asked.
"No problem", Mia said.
"Thanks", Izzy said.
"How have you been feeling today?", Paul asked Spencer.
"Better. I can sleep through the night now. I don't have the nightmares anymore", Spencer answered.
"That's good. Has your brother or Izzy mentioned anything about your blackouts?", Paul asked.
"No. Izzy set up cameras in the living room and my room, you know just in case I do have one and she doesn't see it", Spencer said.
Paul nodded and wrote it down.
"Can you tell me why I have them? Why I don't remember getting up and acting like that in the first place?", Spencer asked.
Paul nodded.
"When we get scared, really scared. We create a whole new person inside of ourselves to deal with that fear or pain. You basically created a new whole personality and brought it to life", Paul said.
"Can he come back?", Spencer asked.
"Only when you feel that same fear again or pain", Paul said.
"Would he hurt Izzy?", Spencer asked.
"I don't know. I would need to meet him to find out", Paul said.
Spencer leaned forward.
"How do we go about doing that?", he asked.
Grandpa Jon was still living with Izzy. The kids stayed the night at her mom's house or with Trish. Except for Abel, who wanted to stay with his dad and watch over him. She didn't want them anywhere around Spencer in his state, or at least till Paul gave the ok, but Abel wanted to be around Spencer. He also couldn't be around a pregnant Renee, it would be too dangerous. Baron stayed over sometimes and Jon would leave.
Never leaving Isabelle alone with him.
"How are things with Spencer?", Mia asked.
"Paul says he's doing a great job. Spencer doesn't have nightmares anymore, and he doesn't sleep walk either like he use too. Well, that I know of", Izzy said.
Mia nodded.
"Good.", Mia said.
Mia cleared her throat.
"When he use to hit you and you forgave him, and stayed, why did you?", Mia asked.
Izzy wasn't prepared for that question.
"Honestly, I thought I loved him. He kept saying it was my fault and I believed it. I thought that if I did as he said, he wouldn't do it again, but I was wrong. Then he used the whole, I'm under stress with being deployed, I'm sorry", Izzy said.
"It was also for Abel, wasn't it?", Mia asked.
Izzy nodded.
"I wanted Abel to keep his family together. It was also the fact that I was young and I wanted to prove people wrong. Especially his parents who kept saying our relationship was going to fail", Izzy said.
Mia nodded.
"Why the out of the blue question, Mia?", Izzy asked.
"I don't know, I guess having him back brings back a lot of memories, you know", Mia said.
Izzy nodded.
"Tell me about it", Izzy mumbled.