A Family Matter CH 10

Bo

It's been a few hours since I woke up and I feel so lost. It feels like it's still Thursday and I just finished cooking at the Taco Throwdown, but everything is off.

Our little family has been in my hospital room since Jane called them. After many hugs and even more tears, things have pretty much calmed down. A few of Lauren's colleagues came and did a few tests and checkups. No amnesia and my body seems to be in tip top shape, other than my weight loss. Apparently laying in a hospital bed and not eating solids is the fastest way to lose muscle.

Lauren has been quiet the entire time. She seems almost afraid to look at me, let alone touch me. She has been just sitting on a cot situated across from my bed. The room is filled with our family, yet I feel so alone without her warmth.

"Ok guys, looks like visiting hours are up, but luckily Miss Dennis will be discharged first thing tomorrow morning if everything goes well." One of the nurses tells everyone and I'm actually relieved for the small break. I've been wanting to hear what happened and I want to hear it from my fiancée.

But instead, she gets up and goes to leave with the rest of them.

"Lauren? Wait, where are you going?!" I asked panicked but more hurt than anything. Why would she leave?

When she turns back to me, I see her eyes watered and her deep frown. "I-I can't stay Bo. I'm...not allowed to." She takes a deep breath trying to control her emotions, but I see her struggling.

"What do you mean? Of course, you can, baby. Lauren, you're my fiancée..." I move to stand and it's a weird feeling. My whole body feels weak and stiff; I slide my legs over the edge of the bed and try to stand but my knees buckle. Like always though, Lauren is there to catch me.

Lauren's hands wrap around my midsection and shoulder, steadying me. We are pressed so close together that I can feel her heartbeat and how quickly it's beating. Looking up at her, her eyes are shut tightly, but something sparkling catches my eyes through her thin shirt.

Ignoring her attempt to settle me back into bed, I pull her shirt slightly down and gasp. "Why do you have my ring?" It's strung through a thing chair, clasped around her neck. "Please Lauren, I need you to talk to me. What the Hell is going on?"

A knock on the door has us both turned to another nurse, wearing a sad smile. "Dr. Lewis, he's on his way up. I don't want to-"

"Ok. Thanks, Jean. I was just leaving." The nurse nods apologetically and lingers by the hallway.

"Trick." The name has me looking back at Lauren. "He's been your health proxy. He has, had, say over what happens to you in case something happens. Like a coma..." She leans down and places the most tender kiss on my lips, but pulls away far too soon. "And he has restricted me from you, unless it's during visiting hours."

"Well well well, can't say I'm surprised that you're still disobeying, Lauren. I didn't want to call the police again, but you've left me no choice." Trick looks so smug as he pulls out his cell phone, but when I stand up straighter, with the blonde's help, his face goes pale. "Bo?"

"Yup." I let the 'P' smack against my lips obnoxiously. I can only imagine the lengths my grandfather used to keep Lauren and I apart. If I wasn't so appalled, I'd feel sorry for him. "I'm awake and was wondering what has been going on here, but I think I've just about figured it out."

He's quick to back out of the room, 'to go get the doctor' but Jean was already there. Asking her to bring whatever papers I needed to change my emergency contact was easier than expected.

Lauren

It's been so long since I've seen my Bo like this. Smiling, angry, frustrated... and all of it I've missed. I've spent every day since the tumor was removed trying to figure out why she never woke up, and every day I failed to find an answer.

Other doctors had their theories, just none I was happy to hear.

But now here she is, awake and taking control of her life once more. I've never doubted her strength or stubbornness, but seeing her in action will always amaze me.

With Trick out of the hospital and Bo's health proxy transferred to me, we are finally alone. She climbs into her tiny bed and pats beside her. I tell her no but when have I ever been able to deny her? So, I climb in bed and she wraps me up tight. "Tell me everything, Lo. I can see it in your eyes just how bad it was, so please, just tell me."

So I do...

Week 1

"The tumor has been extracted. How's the bleeding?"

"Bleeding under control, Doctor."

I release a breath and finally relax from my spot in the gallery. It was touch and go for a few hours, the tumor starting to grow quickly on Bo's brain, but overcame the obstacle.

I stayed in Bo's room until she woke up, but it never happened. With all of the anesthetic out of her system, Bo simply kept sleeping. With that, my nightmare began.

Trick was quick to use his authority, ordering multiple tests and demanding answers, honestly I would do the same, but I saw the surgery happen. It went perfectly despite the strain of it all.

Of course, what I say doesn't matter. I'm not a doctor or the kid he used to keep company, I'm the woman who corrupted his daughter and her rightful path. I broke Dyson and Bo apart and I lied to her about her parents. To Trick, he is the innocent one and I will forever be the villain.

It was that week when he restricted my access.

Week 2

I hadn't eaten or sleep properly and I was getting angry. Angry at the surgeons, angry at my family, angry at Jack... angry at Bo for not waking up. Not having an answer to why Bo hasn't woken up is breaking me down in the worse of ways.

I went back to 'work', even though Dr. Dallas sent me on leave, so I could check in on Bo when Trick wasn't there. I would read to her, play music, and simply plead for her to wake up. It was so hard to watch her lie there with only the soft beeping of her monitor.

Trick caught me one day sleeping on a cot next to his granddaughter. He found security and prohibited me from seeing Bo. Luckily, that wasn't for him to decide so instead he pushed for only allowed during visiting hours. He threatened to get a restraining order if I didn't follow. I didn't believe him, but I should have.

The next time he found me in her room, the police handcuffed me and took me to the station. They were informed that I was Bo's stalker by a family friend. It doesn't take a genius to figure out how Jack was tied into this. His constant smile when I was hauled away was all the confirmation I needed.

Needless to say, the many texts, photos and family members (on mine and Bo's) backed me up that we are in fact engaged. The police apologized and drove me back to the hospital that same day, but reminded me of the restrictions.

Week 3

This was the hardest week. I limited my visitation with Bo because it was beginning to hurt too much. She lost so much weight and her skin began to look even more pale. Me being at her side isn't doing her any good. I was so hollow, numb, that all the optimism left my soul that week. I couldn't see how either of us would be ok if Bo never woke up.

I would only stop by to check how your head was healing. The incision made was small, but it looks like there would still be a scar there. Something I know you worried about.

Towards the end of that third week, my mother and Kenzi cornered me. They fought through my barriers and basically told me to be a better wife and be there for you. That one word: wife. It was enough to snap me out of my constant haze.

Rubbing the heel of my hand against my tired eyes, I release a deep breath. "So technically you were comatose for 23 days, but yeah Bo, just about a month. You woke up. You're so much stronger than any of babe, especially me."

We've ended up both curled into one another, neither of us willing to break the contact between us. Bo's been quiet the entire time. I don't blame her, it was tough. There were times I didn't think I was going to make it, but here Bo is. Awake. Tumor free. Healthy.

Silently, I unclasp the chain from my neck and sling the piece of jewelry off of it. Taking Bo's left hand, I return her engagement right back so it's back in its rightful place.

Bo

After a flurry of doctors coming in and out, checking sutures to my temperature, I was finally released. I was told to take it easy but still, I'm heading home! I hate sleeping at hospitals. I was never a fan, which is ironic since Lauren is a doctor herself, but more importantly I'm so happy to be going home. I understand that so much time has passed, but I'm ready to just put this behind me, us.

"Did you want to shower? Or if you're hungry, I can make you something real quick?" Lauren asks as she locks the door behind us. I'm still weak so the doctor sent me home with a wheelchair, just in case.

Looking at the clock, I shake my head. "No thanks, Lo. I think we should just call it a night. It's getting late." I murmur and wheel myself over to Lauren. She is staring off into space with her hands gripping the back of the couch.

I catch her off guard when I manage to stand without assistance, but lazily wrap my arms around her. My front molds perfectly to her back, the warmth comforting, and I rub my face softly against the nape of her neck. "I love you so much, Lo."

"I love you, Bo. I missed you so damn much." I hate that she's so stiff still. Like she's afraid that I'm not really here. I'm about to ask her about it, but then I feel it. It's subtle but I feel her shoulders shaking. "I-I'm sorry, Bo. Just, just go to bed. I'll be in there soon." Her hiccups between her out of breath tears make it hard to understand. It's when I notice the pillow and multiple blankets on the couch that it's becomes clear.

My heart clenches. It's clear that Lauren couldn't sleep in our bed, opting to sleep on the couch or the cot in the hospital room. I hate that I can't turn back the clock and wake up like I was supposed to, but I can comfort my fiancée. I can show her the love I feel for her, forever and always.

It takes a minute for me to get Lo to our room. It's exactly as I remember it from the night from the Taco Throwdown. Clothes thrown around in attempt for the perfect outfit. My flannel pjs I took from Lauren's side of the closet are still on my dresser next to my makeup bag. Everything is as we left it.

"Can you grab me my lotion from the bathroom? The vanilla cocoa one?" My question is so random but I've got an idea.

She quietly fetches it for me and I strip off the navy scrubs loaned to me, until I am in just my bra and panties. They aren't anything fancy or particularly sexy, but they seem to go perfectly with my fucked up haircut thanks to the operation.

"Here's that lotion, Bo." Lauren looks terrified yet intrigued by my half naked self. Just how I like it. I've learned a long time ago from her that I have nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to my body.

I tug on her shirt and Lauren tentatively does as I ask, shedding her own clothing and gets into bed. But that's not what I want. "Lay on your stomach...please Lo." I beg when she goes to deny me.

I straddle her ass and unclasp her own bra, leaving her back exposed for me. Grabbing the lotion, I apply enough to cover her back and begin massaging. "I feel this...distance between us Lauren. It hurts me to know that you've been through so much and there wasn't anything I could do." I press my thumbs down hard along her spine, earning a pleasurable groan. "That's it. Don't say anything. Don't speak. Just listen to me and feel how much I love you."

I go back to her shoulders, sweeping her blonde hair to the side. "You know why I love your shoulders? Because I see them as a strength. Whether you struggle or lead, you carry it here, so I don't have to worry about them."

Moving further down her back, I follow my hands with soft kisses. "What I love about your back, besides it being so toned and sexy, is when I place my hand on it, you relax instantly. It's one of the spots that I crave when we're in public."

I move down and off the bed, taking my time on her thighs, calves, and feet. I can finally feel Lauren's body relax. If her soft sighs and the way she sinks further into the bed are any indication. It's when I hear her soft snore, that I stop.

Discarding the lotion on the nightstand, I shed my own bra and untangle Lauren's from her exhausted body. With the blanket now covering us, I move into closer to her and really look at her. "You're so much more than beauty. I love everything about you, from the hair on your head to your ticklish feet." I whisper and kiss her forehead. "Sleep well, my love."

AN: More soon. Thanks for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting! Also, I love Halloween so be ready for a few holiday updates!

Twitter: Thelabcoat13 (It's the best way to contact me)