Chapter 3: Clouds parting
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Silently Richard transported to the hospital grounds. He had his satchel over his shoulder. He had once been happy here but that seemed like a long time ago.
"Captain Skyler?"
Richard turned to se a young petty officer coming toward him, "Yes?"
"I'm medical officer F'entra. I was sent to lead you to your family."
"Thank you,"
"Your welcome, please... your wife's family is waiting for you." The medical officer grinned.
"Wonderful..." he sighed. He didn't' know what was worse. facing what he did or facing Lilly with what he did. He had promised Lilly he would protect Lynn with his life yet because of his own pride he had let Lynn die, and maybe his own child.
Shortly he and the medical officer arrived at a private waiting room. He was surprised to see his grandparents and jack.
"KY!" Jack ran out of his grandparents' hand and to his brother.
"Jack!" Skyler dropped his bag and knelt. He scooped up his little brother in his arms, "Having fun with your grandparents?"
"Yah" he smiled but got sad for a momment,"buh...?"
"But what bro?"
"Where Yin?" Jack looked up into his brother's eyes.
The tears started to well up," She's where she won't be hurt anymore."
His grandfather must have heard the tears because he came over and too Jack. In couple moments Richard regained his composure, "You didn't' tell him?"
"No we felt you should."
"Thanks," he gave them a half hearted smile. He was looking around the room when he heard the door swish open and some one yell, "YOU!" then a hard swift slap across the face.
"Do you have an idea what you have done to my daughter. YOU MONSTER!" Lilly Rose brought her hand back to strike Skyler again but was caught by Craven Rose.
"Lilly! That's enough. He has enough to worry about then any harm you could do to him so stop it."
"He did this to my baby..." By then security had heard the ruckus and were showing Lilly out. "Let me go. Let e go..."
When she was gone Craven Rose came over to Richard and laid a hand on his shoulder, "You OK son? "
"Just numb is all," he looked down.
"Security will keep Lilly busy for a while why don't you got see your little girl." Craven smiled.
"Little girl? I have a daughter?" He looked up again and smiled.
"Yes. A sweet strong little girl who deserves to know her father." He started leading him toward the nursery.
A few minutes later Richard was clothed in a sterile gown next to a see through incubator. Inside was a little girl... 5 pounds 7 ounces... Silky medium brown hair... His little girl...
"Captain?"
"Yes..."
"Everything all right? " a Nurse asked.
"Just looking at her," he smiled slightly, "Has she been given a name yet?"
"Yes... her mom named her."
"I'm glad Lynn got the chance." he mumbled, "What did she choose?" They had talked about naming the baby after his father and her brother but he couldn't remember if they had come up one for a girl.
"Her name is Janice Christen Skyler. We have been calling her Chrissy, I hope you don't' mind."
He smiled, "No I don't' mind. I think it suits her just fine." He looked back to the baby.
"Did you want to hold her?"
"Can I?"
"She isn't' ready to go home for a few days but I think she needs to be introduced to her father." the nurse smiled at him and opened the incubator.
Shortly Richard was sitting in a rocking chair holding the most precious cargo there is. "I just wish Lynn could have seen her."
"But she has sir." The nurse looked confused.
"Before she died and is an angel guarding this precious angel" he looked down at the baby.
"Sir your wife is Lt.. Lilly Lynn Skyler, correct?"
"Yes she was, something wrong?" he rocked in the chair.
"Well no sir it is just that you seem to keep referring to her in the past tense."
"She is gone so what shouldn't I?" he looked sadly at the baby in his arms. For a moment Chrissy opened her eyes long enough for Richard to see their color. They were hazel... Like Lynn's.
"When you say gone you don't' mean dead do you?"
"Yes... Lynn's mom told me there were complications in the birth and she died of a hemorrhage. She bled to death."
"Sir... I don't know if to call this good or bad news."
"Nurse it is always bad news when a mother looses her life so another can live." He said with a bit of angry in his voice.
"Sir, she didn't loose her life."
"What do you mean?"
"According to her chart your wife did have bad hemorrhaging when she gave birth to your daughter." Richard nodded to the nurse to continue, "She nearly bled to death but some how she hung on long enough for us to stop the bleeding. Sir she is in intensive care ward 5. Heavily sedated, and very weak but she is alive."