A/N The medical research for this chapter has been done as extensively and as closely as I could research on all areas mentioned within this chapter.
Fourth and Final Part
The sun rose bright in the sky sending it's beams to awaken the young man who slept in a chair by her hospital bed. He glanced first at his beloved wife laying still then at his watch to check the time. The door was pushed open by an older man who entered the room. He had a worried look in his eyes though he tried his best to mask it with a smile. Steve stood to stretch his legs a bit when Mike entered they talked quietly as though they thought they would disturb Jeannie.
"Steve, you really should go to the house and get some sleep. You have been here almost every second for over two weeks. You have only taken time out to go shower and change then you rush back here."
"Where would you be Mike? You would do the same thing if you were me. I am not leaving here until she has come out of this coma, maybe not even then."
"You haven't even looked at the babies yet, Steve. You are their daddy and they need someone who loves them as much their daddy loves my daughter."
"I don't understand why this problem was not caught earlier, Mike. I mean if they had any clue of her having this eclampsia something could have been done. Correction it should have been done! She might not be in this coma now. The doctor told me eclampsia caused the coma and if they had not taken the babies by C-section Jeannie could have died. I just hope she still doesn't."
"Buddy boy you know Jeannie is a fighter like you are she will not give in to that so easily so don't even begin to give up on her. She is still here and not by any machine either, she will come back to us. I think the first thing she will want to know after she wakes is about the babies. I should say that will be one of the first things and their daddy should be able to answer her."
"I will see the babies after Jeannie is awake. I want us to see them together. I told the doctor when he told me of the problem that if he had to choose who to save he was to save Jeannie. I know it sounds cold to make a choice but without Jeannie there is no life really. So I would rather wait until we can see them together. You have seen them and you told me they are healthy and beautiful that is enough."
As they had stood there talking they heard a rustling sound. Both looked at each other a bit surprised then toward the bed to confirm they weren't hearing things. Jeannie's eyes were open and stared at Steve as though he were a ghost.
"How? I mean you..." Jeannie tried to make sense of how Steve could be there turned her gaze toward Mike as both hurried over to her bed." Mike, you told me Steve had been hit by a car the kids and I.. that we lost him."
"No Jeannie Steve never was hit by a car he has been here with you the whole time you have been in here. He would not leave your side other than to shower and change. Jeannie what kids are you talking about?"
"Mikey and Kim. Your grandchildren Mike. You know the precocious ten year old boy and twelve year old girl. You came with Captain Olsen, Bill Tanner and the family physician to tell me he had been struck down after leaving your house. Who is with the kids now? What am I doing here in a hospital?"
"Jeannie babe the kids are fine they are in the nursery. Now do you want to fill us in on what you are talking about you thinking I was hit by a car please? Because I have to admit I am a bit confused."
"First she should be seen by the doctor Steve I'll go get him."
"No, Mike I want to tell this before I forget."
Jeannie took them through all that had happened or what she thought had happened. She was relieved to find out that none of it had happened at all. After she was done telling them what she had imagined or dreamed while she was in the coma they got the doctor in to check her over. Once the doctor assured them all Jeannie was going to be fine but that he wanted to do more extensive testing over the next few days and left to arrange them Jeannie got Steve and Mike to explain to her what had happened.
"Mike and I had got to the house after work a bit over two weeks ago we found you collapsed on the floor. We got you to the hospital the doctor informed us you weren't just unconscious you were in a coma. It was brought on by something called eclampsia that happens at times to pregnant women. They did a C-section to take the babies said doing that would cure the eclampsia. You still remained in the coma though."
"Yes, sweetheart you and Steve are the proud parents of twins, a son and a daughter. He would not even leave you to look at them. Now that you are awake you kids could see them together, that is when you feel up to it."
"Are they both okay? When were they born?"
"They are both fine Jeannie. Mike has seen them and said they are both healthy beautiful babies. They were born March 2nd."
"Of course they are beautiful look who their daddy is."
"I beg to differ look who their mom is."
"Both of you kids are right okay? We sure are thankful to have you back with us sweetheart. You don't know how scared we both have been."
Jeannie smiled at the two men in her life and found the smiles immediately returned. Two days later for the first time the new parents met their babies in the NICU where they had been in incubators due to being born slightly premature.
Jeannie realized now why they had been required to scrub well and gown up and have special gloves put on before they could see the babies. She and Steve were allowed to hold them for a little while to start to form a bonding. They both were relieved to see that Mike had not misled them and both babies indeed were healthy and that really was all that mattered. Although they did admit they were very beautiful as well. The incubators were just a precaution due to prematurity and a need to protect them from any diseases as well as the initial need for oxygen.
A few weeks later came the day Steve could take his wife and their babies home with him. The babies had gained the necessary weight and were at full term finally. Steve had arranged for an experienced retired nurse to help Jeannie at home for a while with the twins. He did not want her overdoing it and having a relapse considering what had happened when she was pregnant. The day that the nurse came to meet them after Jeannie and the twins had been home almost a week Mike was there with them.
"Steve I promise we will be fine don't worry darling. You stayed with me all that time at the hospital and have done practically everything this week that we have been home. You need to get back to work before SFPD puts out an APB. I love you but you do need to be back at work. The nurse is to come today and you will be with me when you are off."
They heard the knock on the door and Steve called asking Mike to get it as he wanted to try to talk more sense into Jeannie about him needing to be home. Just as he was about to continue his lecture they both heard Mike call to them from the living room. Steve reluctantly followed Jeannie as she took him by the hand to meet the nurse. As they walked in they could not figure out why Mike had this strange look on his face. The nurse greeted both of them with a warm sincere smile and Jeannie thought how nice this woman must be; almost like a grandmother.
"Hello you must be Steve and Jeannie. I am Grace Henderson I will be helping you out for a little while until you are fully recovered I understand. Your babies names are Mikey and Kim I was told. I am looking forward to helping you with them I have no children of my own and am a widow so this will be like having surrogate grandchildren, at least for a little while."
Jeannie looked at Steve who looked back at her not sure what to say then they both looked at Mike who was looking between all three of them. Jeannie finally found her voice to speak.
"Yes they are Mikey and Kim. Mikey is Michael Steven and Kim is Helen Kimberly. I am glad you could help us. My husband was told by the service he contacted that the nurse they were going to send came highly recommended by other couples who had used you."
"Jeannie we better get to work since Mrs. Henderson will be here with you now. Now promise you won't try to overdo and I will see you tonight hopefully by eight thirty."
Jeannie walked them both to the door as they got ready to leave. She needed some time to compose herself better before showing Mrs. Henderson the twins and where everything was. As they stepped out a thought crossed Jeannie's mind and she called out to Mike who was just opening the car door.
"Mike don't let Steve try to help fix your garage door call a professional to do that if it ever needs doing. And if he does help make sure he parked his car in the garage beforehand for him to get into when he has finished."
Mike and Steve both knew what made her say that so thought nothing strange of it at all and assured her. Jeannie watched the departing car thankful that there would be nothing to do but live life and love each other as they and Mike watched Steve and Jeannie's children grow. She could not be more happy with all the blessings that life had brought her.
A/N My apologies for freaking out everyone who was freaked out by the first three parts where Steve was concerned. I hope though all will value him a bit more now thanks to this story. I know I think I do. :)
