Don't hate me, but you might want to have a hanky handy (I know I did).
Beca almost cried when the call went to Chloe's voicemail. She knows it's selfish, but she really wanted to hear Chloe's voice and have her talk to her before she succumbed to the inevitable. She was scared, and she knew that Chloe would have done her best to keep Beca calm. Beca smiled a sad smile when she heard Chloe's peppy greeting asking the caller to leave a message, knowing it was probably the last time she'd hear Chloe's voice. Beca wasn't sure what she was going to say, and then the phone beeped for her to record her message.
Beca started talking. She was still talking when her phone beeped and went silent. She looked at the screen and tried to turn it back on. Nothing happened. Beca let go of the phone and cried, alone in the water. She sputtered again as more water entered her mouth. It was getting harder and harder to keep her head above water, and she was getting tired. She decided to go out of this world on her terms and dove under the water. There was some light in the water, and she saw what looked like an opening, so she swam toward it.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Aubrey took Chloe to their favorite diner. They entered to find everyone crowded around a small TV watching some breaking news.
Aubrey tried to look over them to see what was happening. The woman at the back looked over her shoulder when Aubrey accidentally bumped into her. "I'm sorry," Aubrey said. "What's happening?"
"A ferry crashed in Seattle," the woman told Aubrey. "It happened a couple of hours ago. A lot of people died, and there are a lot more unaccounted for. They're still pulling people out of the water."
Aubrey turned to Chloe. "Doesn't Beca's mom live in Seattle?"
"Yeah," Chloe responded, not really paying much attention.
Aubrey couldn't see the TV with the crowd that was gathered around it. She led Chloe over to a table and sat down. After a few minutes, a waitress finally came to the table.
"I'm sorry for the wait," the waitress said. "The ferry crash is big news right now. A cargo ship ran into the ferry. They apparently couldn't see because the fog was so heavy. Part of the ferry is under water. The only thing keeping the ferry from totally sinking is the cargo ship. The report said there were 275 people were on board. As of now, at least 30 are confirmed dead, and over 150 are hurt. The rest are unaccounted for."
"That's terrible," Aubrey said.
Aubrey and the waitress started chatting about the news, so Chloe pulled out her phone. She noticed she had a missed call from an unknown number and a voicemail. She furrowed her brow and decided to listen to the voicemail since she wasn't really paying attention to whatever Aubrey and the waitress were talking about.
"He-hey, Chlo, Chloe. It's um, me, Beca. Beca Mitchell," Chloe heard Beca say. She put a hand to her mouth and gasped.
"Beca?"
Aubrey heard Chloe and looked at her. Chloe had a smile on her face; Beca had called her. The voicemail continued, and suddenly the smile left Chloe's face, and she let out a heart-wrenching cry of pain and anguish as her phone dropped from her hand onto the table with a loud clatter.
"Nooooooo," Chloe wailed holding her hand over heart as the tears flowed.
"Chloe?" Aubrey looked at her and then down at the phone. "What's wrong? What's going on?"
"Beca," was all Chloe could say through her sobs.
Aubrey picked up the phone and listened; the voicemail was still going.
". . .making you happy. And, please tell the girls I'm sorry and that I love them, too. I hope you can forgive-" The voicemail ended.
Aubrey reached over and pulled Chloe to her. "Hey, it's okay," Aubrey said. "This is a good thing-"
"No, it's not," Chloe sobbed. She looked right at Aubrey. "She's on the ferry."
Aubrey jerked back. "What?"
"Her message sa-said she's on the fer-ferry," Chloe stuttered out between sobs.
Aubrey took the phone in shaking hands and pressed to replay the voice mail message. She put it on speaker and held Chloe tightly to her. Beca's voice came through the phone.
"He-hey, Chlo, Chloe. It's um, me, Beca. Beca Mitchell," they heard Beca say. They heard what sounded like sputtering and then Beca's voice again. "Please don't delete this without listening all the way through. P-P-Please? I just called because I, I need to tell you." They heard Beca sputter again. "Oh, God, the water's rising again."
Aubrey gasped, and tears started to fall down her cheeks. At this point, the diner was silent as Beca's panicked voice filled the air.
"I don't know if you're still listening or if you've heard the news yet, but there was a-" the sounds of Beca sputtering and water splashing came through the phone's speaker. Chloe was crying so hard she was shaking. "There's been a ferry crash near Seattle. Chloe, I'm, I'm, on the ferry that crashed. I'm in an air pocket somewhere inside the boat. I-" There was a pause and what sounded like Beca swallowing. "I, uh, I do-don't think I'm going to make it out."
Aubrey wiped her cheeks and tried to keep her sobs in. Chloe was practically in hysterics holding her hands over her ears so she didn't have to hear Beca's words again.
"I'm so sorry, Chloe. I should never have let you go without putting up a bigger fight for you. This is probably my last call ever." They heard a shaky laugh and Beca started crying harder. "And, I just couldn't leave this world without telling you that-"
There was a pause, and they could hear Beca sputtering as if she was spitting water out of her mouth.
"I, uh, I still love you, Chlo. I know it's a dick move to wait until I'm about to die to call you."
They could hear Beca really sobbing at this point. There were a few seconds of Beca crying and then she cleared her throat. Her voice was quiet when she continued speaking.
"I never stopped loving you, Chlo. I, I hope you're happy. I hope Chi-Chicago is making you happy. And, please tell the girls I'm sorry and that I love them, too. I hope you can forgive-"
They heard a beep and then there was silence. Aubrey finally let out the sob she had been holding in and clutched Chloe tighter. The waitress put a hand on Aubrey's shoulder and with tears in her own eyes and asked, "Can I call someone for you girls?"
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Beca felt like she was floating, her body weightless as it moved through the water. She was tired. How long had she been in the water? Five minutes? Ten? Two? Time did not exist. She didn't try to swim, finding herself relieved that there wasn't anyone there to tell her not to give up, to keep fighting. She opened her eyes, and she could see the light refracting in the water. It was sparkly and hopeful even though there was no hope. It was so bright above her as if she was close enough to the surface that she could reach up and break the plane between water and air with her hand.
Beca's eyes closed and for a brief moment, she felt free. Freer than she's ever felt before. Free from anxiety, free from worry, free from life. She is lost in her thoughts as she starts to slowly float down.
"I wonder if Ben is in heaven," Beca thinks. "He deserves to go for doing everything he could to save me. I hope there are no regrets in Heaven. I don't want Ben to feel bad because his efforts weren't successful."
Beca's musings continued as she seemed to be suspended in the water. "I hope Aubrey is around when Chloe finds out I didn't make it. Even if Chloe didn't love me like I wanted, I hope she still loved me as her friend. I wonder if she even still cares. I wonder if she listened to my message. I wonder if she believes I still love her."
Beca's eyes suddenly open. "Chloe!," her mind screams. She looks around frantically. "I can't breathe. I need to breathe."
Beca looks up and is glad to see so much light above her head. She had to be close to the surface. "I need to go toward the light. I need to get to Chloe."
Beca's arms suddenly started moving, frantically and with determination, pushing herself upward. Her lungs were on fire; she needed air. She fought with everything she had not to take a breath as she frantically fought her way up. But, it was too far. "I'm not going to make it," Beca thought before her body went limp and everything went black.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
A tearful Stacie had picked up Aubrey and Chloe from the diner. She drove the two girls back to their shared apartment and Chloe had laid herself in the fetal position on the sofa and hadn't moved or said anything since they arrived. She stared at nothing and was not responding to anything or anyone.
Several of the Bellas who still lived in the Atlanta area had arrived once Stacie put out the word about Beca. They were all sitting and talking while the TV played quietly in the background.
"They found someone," Jessica said and grabbed the remote to hear what was being said.
"It appears to be a woman in the water," the reporter said as the cameras zoomed in. "A man has jumped in and is making his way toward her."
The camera was suddenly on the man swimming out to to the woman in the water. The reporter remained quiet as the camera showed everything that was happening. The man reached the woman and grabbed her and turned her over. He yelled out, "She's breathing. She's alive." He started to swim back to the dock with her. Two men jumped into the water to help bring the woman to safety. When they reached the dock, several hands reached down to pull the woman out of the water.
"This is truly a miracle," the reporter's voice said. "Authorities have been on the scene for almost six hours and were now operating on the premise that this had turned into a search and recovery effort. The hopes of finding anyone else alive, gone." The cameraman and reporter moved closer so the cameraman could get a better view of the girl.
Once the woman was on the dock, one of the EMTs moved the hair away from her face, and you could clearly see her. The cameraman zoomed in, and the Bellas all gasped.
The EMT put a portable oxygen mask on her. Others rushed over with a gurney, and they placed Beca on it.
"Oh, my God," Stacie said barely above a whisper.
"Th-that's Beca," Jessica said not believing it.
Chloe heard Jessica and jumped up from the couch. She stared at the TV hoping they'd show another picture so she could see if it was Beca.
"She's alive," Ashley said with tears in her eyes.
The EMTs had the girl on the stretcher and was rushing her toward the ambulance. The cameraman got a clear, close up shot of her. Even with the oxygen mask covering the lower half of her face, Chloe knew.
"Beca," Chloe said as tears ran down her cheeks. "It's her. It's Beca."
"I'm going to Seattle," Stacie said and pulled out her phone.
"Wait, Legs," Fat Amy said as a tear ran down her face. "I have a jet. I'll take whoever wants to go."
"I think we should all go," Aubrey said. "Someone call Emily and let her know what's going on. We should also call her dad."
Fat Amy pulled out her phone and started making calls. Chloe stood staring at the TV. Aubrey went over to her and took her by the shoulders.
"Chlo," Aubrey said trying to get Chloe to look at her. "Chloe, look at me. We're all going to Seattle. You need to pack and get ready to go."
"She's alive, Brey," Chloe cried and threw her arms around her best friend.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
The scene at Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital was one of organized chaos. The Bellas hurry in and find Beca's mother, father, and stepmother, Sheila, sitting together, holding hands.
"Dr. Mitchell. Mrs. Mitchell," Aubrey called out to them. "How, um, how is she? How's Beca?"
"They're still working on her," Dr. Mitchell said as he ran a hand through his hair. "She came in, and her body temperature was low. They worked on her for close to, close to-" Dr. Mitchell broke down.
Sheila held her husband while he cried. Beca's mother continued.
"Her body temperature was extremely low from being in the cold water. They worked on her for almost three hours before they got her body temperature up. They almost lost her twice. They said she's still unconscious and not quite out of the woods yet. It's all up to her now."
Tears fell down Chloe's face. "Come on, Beca. Fight. Come back to us," she whispered. "Come back to me."
Aubrey heard Chloe and just pulled her into a hug. They both let the tears fall and were sending up silent prayers for Beca.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Beca suddenly sat up in the bed. She sat for a moment and looked around. It looked like she was in the hospital. She was startled when saw her grandmother standing next to her bed.
"Gram?"
"Hi, Beca."
"You're dead," Beca said. "How are you here? Oh, my God! Am I dead, too?"
"No," Gram told her. "You're not dead; not yet. But, you will be if you don't fight to live. Fight like you did in the water. Fight to get back to-." Beca's grandmother stopped and looked at Beca. She smiled and said, "Fight to get back to Chloe."
Her grandmother started walking away, and Beca jumped up and ran after her.
"Gram," Beca called after her as she followed. "How are you here? Why are you here?"
"How I'm here, I don't know. Why I'm here is because you need to go back and make things right, Beca," Gram said looking at Beca fondly. "Your friends all came to see you, and you need to go back. You don't belong here."
"I'm not sure I belong anywhere," Beca said quietly.
"You do, my sweet child," Gram said as she stroked Beca's cheek. "You do belong. You belong with Chloe. Go back so you can be with her. She is where you belong. It is not your time to be here."
"How can you know that?"
"I'm always watching over you, my dear."
Her Gram looked at Beca and Beca looked back. Beca felt herself being pulled into a hug.
"It's saddened me to see how this past year has been for you. You shut yourself off from Chloe. From all your friends. That was unfair of you."
"Unfair of me? Chloe broke my heart. It was just easier to have nothing to do with any of them."
"And, also very lonely. If you had stayed in touch with them, you could have had one of the best years of your life."
"How do you figure that?"
"You and Chloe would still be together," Gram said.
"How? She chose Chicago," Beca said getting a bit angry.
"She realized her mistake later that night and wanted to tell you, but you were already gone. She had decided to break it off with Chicago, and that's when she found out he was married."
"Married?"
"Yes, married. Chloe didn't know when she told you about staying with him. She was scared Beca. You just signed to be a solo artist; you were moving to L.A. to make music. Your dreams were coming true."
"Not much of a dream when the one you love isn't beside you."
"I know, sweetie," Gram said. "But, she was a bit overwhelmed and thought you were leaving her behind. That's why she turned to Chicago. She thought it would hurt less if she broke it off with you before you moved to L.A."
"That's stupid," Beca said. "I love her. We barely got a chance to see where our relationship could go when she just decided to throw it away."
"But, that's not what she was doing," Gram said. "I know it's hard to hear, but she didn't know what she was doing, and it all got out of hand. She still loves you, and you owe it to yourself to talk to her. And, for that to happen, you have to go back. Go back to-"
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
"Chloe?!," Beca screamed as she sat up on the table and flopped back down.
"She's back!," the doctor yelled.
Activity around Beca amped up, and she tried to open her eyes. She could hear voices.
"Chloe?"
"What was that? Is that your name? Chloe?"
"The EMT said she's Beca Mitchell."
"Chloe?"
"If she's Beca, who is Chloe?"
"Need...to see...Chloe," Beca mumbled.
"Miss Mitchell, can you open your eyes for me? Can you open your eyes?"
Beca's eyes opened slightly and closed again. She did this a couple of times before her eyes opened all the way. She looked around panicked.
"It's okay," a woman said and looked down at Beca. She lightly touched her arm. "You're okay. I'm Dr. Grey, and you're in the hospital. Do you remember what happened?"
"Ferry," Beca said, blinking a few times.
"That's right," Dr. Grey said. "You were in a ferry boat accident. You are in the ER at Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital in Seattle. You gave us quite a scare."
"Am I okay?," Beca asked.
Dr. Grey smiled slightly. "It was touch and go for a bit. Your body temperature is back up to normal, and you're breathing on your own. You're answering questions and seem to be aware of what's happening around you, so your brain function is good. I'd say you're doing much better than okay."
Beca smiled slightly. "Yay me."
Dr. Grey smiled at her. "I know your family and friends are here and want to see you."
"Chloe?," Beca asked furrowing her brow.
"I'm not sure," Dr. Grey said. "You asked for her a couple of times. We'll ask for her when we go let your parents know you're awake. Do you have any questions?"
"Can I see them?," Beca asked as a tear slid down into her ear.
"I'll go brief them and bring them back to see you," Dr. Grey said. "Do you want me to bring Chloe back if she's here?"
"She won't be," Beca said as another tear slipped from her eye.