First of all. THANK YOU! I am so happy to read that you like the story and I want to say a hello to all of you. I just looked at my story stats and saw that you are from all over the world, which is so great.
Now I have a big question to ask Do I make it a Rizzles or not? I can write it both ways but i leave it up to you
„What?" Jane asked. Almost jelling it out. She had known Maura for years and there was never a baby bump.
"I think I have to go on with what I was telling you about so you understand." Maura suggested.
"That would be for the best. My mind is running wild with all the possibilities." Jane explained the chaos in her head.
Maura took a deep breath and started to explain, remembering like it only happened hours ago
Maura had arrived at the hospital and was directly brought to the surgeon who had operated on Jennifer. When she had been on the phone with him, she had made it clear that all measures should be taken, to ensure that her friend survived.
"Dr. Isles? My name is Dr. Phillips, I was the surgeon who operated on your friend." the man in his mid forties said in a very nice sounding British accent.
"Dr Phillips, what can you tell me about the condition Jennifer and her wife are in?" Maura wanted to know,
"Dr. Isles. First I am sorry to have to inform you that the spouse of Mrs. Bryson didn't survive the accident. We tried everything but her internal bleeding was to severe. The car that t-boned them crashed right into the passenger side." Dr. Phillips began, waiting for the information to sink in.
Maura just looked at him, sadness evident on her face, but she could grieve over the dead later, now she needed to know how Jennifer was doing. She just nodded, looking for the doctor to continue.
"Mrs. Bryson was brought with a head injury, fractures to both of her legs and internal bleeding. We had a five hour operation to stabilize her for the moment and take care of her broken legs. She is now in our ICU and is monitored around the clock."
"Stabilize her? That means she is still in danger? I want to see her scans right now!" Mazra demanded. She might not be a surgeon, but she was a doctor and she was genius.
"Of course Doctor!" Dr. Phillips said. He had googled the woman who now stood in front of him and was more than impressed. She had written books, highly respected in the medical community. She was an expert in her line of work and an excellent Doctor.
Looking at the x-rays and scans Maura knew that the chances weren't high. A full recovery was out of the question. Her spine was shattered and the head scans did not look promising at all. They had to operate on Jennifer again and soon. Liver failure was a high possibility. If there were complications with her second surgery the uterus would have to be removed. All in all the chart of her friend left little room for hope.
"I want you to do everything possible for my friend and keep me up to date on all decisions and progress of her. I will now go to ICU and have a look at her myself." Maura said, standing up and offering her hand for Dr. Phillips to take.
Coming out of Dr. Phillips office she was met by two police officers.
"Sorry ma'am, are you Dr. Isles?" the female officer asked. She had seen the elegant woman in the office and somehow knew that she belonged to the couple that had been in the accident with their Mercedes.
"Yes, officer! But if this isn't important I have urgent business to attend to!" Maura said, wanting to go to Jennifer room as fast as possible.
"Ma'am. We were the two officers who were at the scene first. We wanted to know how the two victims were doing." the female officers again spoke.
"Your concern is very nice. The woman on the passenger side did not survive the accident and the other woman is in the ICU." Maura spoke, trying to make it quick.
"We are sorry ma'am. But what happens to the two children now?" again the female officer asked the question
Maura went pale. She had forgotten about the two. There wasn't any word about the children. Where were they? Had they been in the car too? Maura felt her knees growing weak.
The male officers had seen the signs of Maura's weakening and brought a hand around her waist, bringing her to a stool.
"Where are they, have they been in the car. The doctor..." Maura started her mind going a mile a minute.
"We drove to the address of Mrs. Bryson and found a nanny watching the children. The children were already asleep and she said she would keep on watching them." the male officer said.
"Do you know who is their guardian in case of such an emergency? The nanny couldn't give us an answer to any relatives, just that you, a Dr. Maura Isles, were the contact to Mrs. Bryson." the male officer went on.
"Jen has a law firm who takes care of all her legal work. Have you tried to contact them?" Maura wanted to know., feeling better now that she knew the children were safe.
"No, we got the information that you had landed in Heathrow and were on your way to the hospital. We thought you knew more."
"Give me a second. I will come with you to the house of my friend to make sure the kids are allright and look in the office for the law firm, but first I have to take a look at my friend." Maura said, already constructing a plan of action to take. She knew Jennifer had cut most of the ties with her family and especially her father.
"We will wait at the entrance and drive you to the house Dr. Isles." the female officer said, wanting to give her some privacy.
Maura walked into ICU and just looked at her friend. Jennifer who normally was so full of life and a smile always on her face, was now lying in a bed, hooked up to machines that kept her alive. Maura took a minute to sit besides her friend, holding her hand and talking quietly with her. Before leaving the room she turned back and said. "I will take care of them, I will not let him take them!"
Arriving in the police car in front of her friends house was not ideal, but otherwise it would have taken her much longer to get to the children.
The nanny opened the door for Maura and Maura immediately called for the two children, who came from the living-room. She knew from the shaking of the nanny's head that she hadn't told them what had happened to their parents. She knelt down and took both children in her arm. "How are you two doing?" Maura asked, trying to place a smile on her face.
AJ noticed that his favorite person after his moms, acted strange but answered her question, just happy to have her here. Sophia was the same. Not very articulate with one year , she pulled on Maura's hand pulling her to the living room, where she and her brother had been painting.
Maura looked over the painting, smiling at some of them. "These are very nice Sophia. I want you and AJ to continue and paint me something alright? I will be in your mom's study." Maura said, motioning to the officers to follow her.
The number tot he law firm was found fast and after a quick call one of the partners was on his way to the house with all the necessary and important documents.
Mr. Walter was a very handsome man and even though the circumstances were so tragic he couldn't help but notice that in front of him there was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen.
" ?" Mr. Walter asked, reaching out his hand, which Maura took.
"Yes, that would be me." Maura answered. "I have informed you of the situation and the most pressing matter now is the guardianship of AJ and Sophia."
"Of course Dr. Isles." Walter began.
"Please, call me Maura. I think there will be more conversations after this one, so we will get very well acquainted with each other." Maura explained.
"Well, of course Maura, but only if you will call me Robert." Robert answered.
Maura nodded, waiting for him to start.
"Mrs. Bryson has updated her will last year and has appointed you as guardian of Alexander James Bryson and Sophia Alexandra Bryson, if her spouse Mrs. Amelia Porter couldn't take over as guardian.
Maura had thought as much. She was the logical choice and she would do her best to fullfill Jen's wishes. "What will have to be done to appoint me guardianship over the two?" Maura wanted to know.
"I have already called for an emergency hearing. It will begin in about an hour. You are not required to attend, but it always makes a better impression." Robert explained.
The hearing was over quickly and Maura was appointed legal guardian to AJ and Sophia. They were now on the way to the hospital to visit Jennifer. Maura had explained to AJ and Sophia what had happened as good as she could. Both of them didn't fully understand what was happening around the, but they knew their mom was badly hurt.
"Auntie Maur, what will happen when mommy doesn't wake up?" AJ asked on the way to the hospital. Maura had ordered a town car to take them.
Maura looked at the small boy to her right. She had Sophia on her lap and AJ was leaning against her and she had a protective arm around him. "Nothing will happen to you. I will keep you safe. I will always be there to take care of you." Maura said, promising him and herself to always be there.