Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
A/N: There's a time warp towards the end of this chapter.
(Miley's P.O.V.)
It wasn't long till the doctor returned. " Ms. Stewart, I've informed your father of Ms. Truscott's condition, he should be in here momentarily." " Until then, I'm going to try and get Ms. Truscott here, to understand me." I didn't know what to do or say, I had so many questions, I didn't even know where to begin, so I just settled with " Ok," and one of the many questions running through my mind.
" You said your going to try and make her understand you." " How are you going to do that?"
" Well research has shown that in most cases, talking slower, and enunciating your words very clearly, usually works." " But in some rare cases, nothing works, so we'll just have to wait and see."
" Oh, Ok. " That was all I could come up with. My brain was still back at (rare cases and nothing works.) I was pulled out of my thoughts, when the doctor began to speak to Lilly. I watched and listened as he tried to get her to understand him, and to my amazement it worked.
" Ms. Stewart, you can come over here and talk to her if you like, just remember to talk slow and enunciate clearly."
" Thank you, and I will." I was so nervous I didn't know what to say. I slowly made my way over to her bed, nervously playing with my hands the whole time. I looked over at the doctor, who gave me a half smile and a nod of encouragement. For some reason that gave me the courage I needed, so I quickly finished my journey to the bed, and spoke.
" Hey Lilly, I'm so glad your ok." " You gave us all quite a scare." " If you can understand me, move your right arm." I watched as she did just that. I was being very careful, to do exactly what th doctor said when it came to speaking, and I guess it worked. I was just about to say something else to her, when the doctor stopped me, and told me I was going to have to leave the room, because he was going to remove her breathing tube. He said that she could breath fine on her own now, so it wouldn't be needed anymore. Just then my dad entered the room, and told me to follow him, cause it was time to get something to eat. Knowing dad was right, (since we haven't eaten since we got here,) and that I couldn't stay in the room, I grudgingly did as I was told, and followed my dad to the cafeteria.
(Lilly's P.O.V.)
Well I'm starting to understand people better, but I still can't see, or speak. I know why I can't speak, apparently I have a tube down my throat, helping me breath, but from what the man, who just moments ago, introduced himself as Dr. Benton said, that won't be a problem much longer, in fact somebody's messing with it right now.
" Ok Ms. Truscott, on the count of three I want you to blow out, move your right arm if you understand." I moved my arm, like I was ask, but now I'm starting to regret my decision.
" 1, 2, 3, " Ok that hurt like hell, my throat feels like it's been serrated, and I can't stop coughing. I felt somebody put a cup in my hand.
" It's just water Ms. Truscott, it'll help your throat, go ahead and drink it." You don't have to ask me twice, I quickly downed it, and held out the cup in a silent plea for more, which I was granted.
" Ok Ms. Truscott, I don't want you to try and speak for a couple of hours." " Right now, I want you to rest." " I'll be back in a little bit, to see how your doing, and at the same time we'll see how you do with speaking." I just nodded and watched him leave.
I wanted to ask about the girl I'd been listening to, but I couldn't, so I decided that maybe the doctor was right, I should rest...I ' was ' rather tired, so I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep, but when I wake up, I have some questions, like why am I in a hospital, why can't I see, and who am I. Considering everybody either calls me Ms. Truscott or Lilly, I'm assuming my name is Lilly Truscott, but I want to be sure.
(Normal P.O.V.)
two hours had passed, when Mr. Stewart,Jackson,Miley and the doctor returned to Lilly's room. She was still fast asleep, so the doctor walked over to where she was, and began trying to wake her up, while the Stewart family pulled up chairs around the bed.
" Ms. Truscott, it's time to wake up." Said the doctor in a surprisingly soothing voice. In response her eyes flickered open, and she tried to turn over, and away from the voice. The doctor quickly and carefully grabbed her left shoulder, successfully preventing her from completing that painful move. With that, she was officially awake and panicky.
" Wh-where a-am I ?" " W-who a-a-ar-are y-you ?" " What-what's g-going o-on ?" " Som-s-somebody h-help." By this time, Lilly was screaming and thrashing about, like a wild animal.
" Hold her still. " The doctor and nurses were trying there level best to calm the distraught girl down.
" Lilly... relax, everything we'll be alright, but you have to calm down, before you hurt yourself. Miley interjected, trying to comfort her scared friend." At hearing Miley's gentle voice, Lilly obeyed, and started to calm down, still scared, but a little more at ease knowing the girl she'd been listening too, was in the room.
" What's y-your na-name ?" Lilly was struggling to put words together.
" My name's Miley. " Before the brunette could say anything else, Lilly ask another question, this one being allot harder to answer.
" W-why c-ca-can't I s-see a-any-anything? Lilly timidly ask, voice shaking out of fear,worry and the inability to put together a sentence correctly.
" Well Ms. Truscott, you were in an accident, you sustained some injuries, one of them was to your head, and this caused you to loose your sight."
" WHAT! " " I'm blind?" Lilly was now franticly looking around the room in a futile attempt to make herself see.
" I'm afraid so." " Now, this could be just temporary. but we wont know for a couple of days." " Until then, I'm going to need you to answer a couple of questions for me." " " do you think you can do that?" after he got a nod, in the affirmative he continued. " Good. " " First off how old are you?" at seeing the confused look the blond was giving him, he shook his head sadly, and continued. " Ok, do you know your name?"
" L-Lilly T-Trus-Truscott?"
" Yes, good you remember"
" Um n-no it's j-just y-y-you c-call me Ms. Tr-Truscott, and M-Miley c-calls me L-Lilly."
" Ok I see, well what do you remember?' Lilly scrunched up her face in confusion, as she pondered over that question, finally coming to a scary conclusion.
" N-Nothing " She looked and sounded terrified.
" Hmm ok, don't worry, memory loss is quite common in cases like yours, and more often than not, it's only temporary, sometime lasting just a few hours or days."
" Ok, I'm r-really t-tired c-c-can I go t-to s-sleep?"
" Sure, but first we have to change your I.V.. The doctor turned to the three Stewart's, who had been sitting quietly the whole time, watching the exchange.
" I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you to leave, I'll give you a call when she's awake, and ready for visitors, it seems this time she's too tired.
" Alright, come on kids. " " Thanks Doc. " With that, Robbie Ray got up and left the room, with his children in tow. Miley was half way down the hall, when she heard Lilly start crying. ( I.V.'s really hurt )
(Miley's P.O.V.)
Two days later, Lilly regained her sight and almost all of her memory, the only thing she can't remember is the wreck, this brought forth some painful question, and answers. When the doctor told her that her parents had been in the car as well, and sadly didn't make it, she went in to hysterics, then all of the sudden she got eerily quiet, and has been that way ever sense.
The doctor says it was shock that caused it, and that she could speak again if she ever had too. He also told us to keep working with her on it. My Dad, Jackson and of course myself, have all tried to get her to speak, but to no avail. It's been four months now, and still nothing, the only types of sounds she makes are whimpering noises, and if she's mad she'll grunt, but that's about it.
On an upside, her legs and arm have healed, well at least the bones have, she has to have physical therapy every other day, to strengthen her legs, and work on balance. it It isn't pleasant, she hates it, and makes it very clear.
Because of the head injury, Lilly has trouble with balance, coordination, understanding, memory, speech, gripping and sometimes, she can't keep her eyes in focus. The therapists have been working with her, on all her trouble areas...except speech, cause it's pointless.
Oliver returned a couple of months ago, he was both shocked, and saddened by the news of what happened to Lilly, and her family. He comes by every chance he gets, to say hi and speak with her, of course it's always just a one sided conversation, but he understands. He's really a great friend. Were taking Lilly home today, dad just walked in with her release forms.
" Hey Bud, do you think you can help me get Lilly to the car? " Dad looks slightly nervous, he knows it won't be easy getting her into a wheelchair. She refuses to use her wheelchair, or crutches. If she had her way, she wouldn't accept help at all, but we make her, and in this case it's hospital policy.
" Sure dad. " this should be fun, note the sarcasm. " Lilly, it's time to go." " here let me help you into your wheelchair." She just sat on the end of the bed, and stared at me defiantly. " You can do it yourself if you want, but one way or the other, your going to get in that wheelchair, it's hospital rules." I tried speaking in my best, no nonsense tone, but I guess I'll have to work on it, cause she didn't even flinch " Fine Lilly, have it your way." desperate times call for desperate measures. " Dad." I didn't even need to finish my sentence, he'd been standing at the door the whole time.
" I'm on it bud." " Alright kiddo, into the chair you go." Dad picked her up like a small child, and put her in the chair, of course she squirmed the whole time, but once she was down she didn't try to get up, cause dad put a firm hand on her left shoulder, and used his free hand to push the chair. " Come on Miles." He was already outside the room, with a very disgruntled looking Lilly.
When we got out to the car, Lilly took one look at it and panicked. She was scared to death so it took us quite awhile to get her in the car, I had to get in first, then my dad and Jackson helped her in, and next Jackson got in. After we were all in the car, Lilly started whimpering and buried her face in my shoulder. I hugged her, and buckled her seat belt. " Shhhh Lilly, it's ok we'll be home before you know." She just nodded in to my shoulder. When dad started the car she grabbed my right hand and squeezed it. The rest of the ride home was relatively quiet, it seemed like forever before we finally pulled into our driveway.
Realizing we had stopped, Lilly shot up, unbuckled herself and attempted to crawl over me, desperate to get out. It would have been funny, if it wasn't so sad.
" Here Lilly, sit back down and I'll let you out." As soon as she sat down I opened the door and got out, I barley got outside, before Lilly followed suite. She was now standing beside me, or better yet leaning, she was using the car as a crutch.
After everybody was out of the car, dad went to open the front door, and Jackson came around to where Lilly and I were, and took her right arm and slung it around his neck, and I took her left arm and put it around my neck, and together we all made it to the door.