AN- Finally got round to an update.
Parking the car in the hospital car park Laurel watched as her dad got out and went to get the bag out the trunk. He shut the trunk and looked at Laurel as she grabbed the keys and got out coming to stand beside him.
"Ready" she asked as she linked his arm and they started the walk up to the hospital.
"We need coffee before we go up, she will attempt to kill one of both of us if appear without it" as he stopped at the coffee shop and passed Laurel the bag till he got 3 large coffees to take up.
"Well this is the stuff she thinks is coffee so it could pacify her to stop in. She hates hospitals so she will no doubt complain" Pride told Laurel as they entered the lift to take the 3 floor ride to the right floor.
When they arrived on the 4 th floor they got out the lift and if Laurel didn't know any better she could have swore her dad was about to break into a run. He was at least 4 or 5 paces ahead of her and reached her room quickly. He stopped at the window and looked in and his heart dropped as his hand shot to the door handle and he quickly entered. He looked around as Laurel entered and found the doctors notes quickly flicking through them.
"Dad calm down there will be a reason for all this. Stay here and I will find a doctor or nurse and they can tell us what's going on" as Laurel side stepped her dad and left the room.
Pulling up a chair he sat down and took her hand in his. He rested his head over there joined hands and kissed her hand before he ran his fingers over her knuckles. What could have happened for her to be on oxygen and what had he missed? Her notes made no sense to him but he would get answers. He felt her hand move a little in his and looked up at her. Letting go of her hand till he stood up he looked down at her as he watched her eyes slowly open.
"Hey what have you been doing? You look like hell" lifting his spare hand up and resting it on her cheek.
She brought her hand up to remove the mask from her face and he stopped her just as Laurel and the doctor entered the room.
"Your awake again agent Brody. Can you tell me how you're feeling now and what's the last thing you remember" as the doctor steeped in her line of sight.
Pride watched her thinking and he could see the cogs turning trying to answer the doctors questions.
"I feel like crap but it doesn't hurt and the last thing I remember is coughing" as she looked between the doctor and then up at Pride.
"That's good there is no pain but after you started to cough you somehow managed to get one of them broken ribs lodged in your lung. Yet again you were lucky, you must have some serious guardian angel looking out for you to survive twice in one day" the doctor told Brody but it was Pride and Laurel who were shocked by the new development.
"You will be here another couple of days now due to the fact you have no one down as next of kin so that would indicate you have no one to help you when we do finally release you" as the doctor stood writing in her notes as he spoke.
"I am her next of kin" Pride said as the doctor stopped writing and looked between Pride and Brody.
Brody tried to remove her mask again before she was stopped this time by the doctor.
"Is it true agent Pride is your next of kin agent Brody? If it is then we can update your file and then we can see depending on how you do over night if we can discharge your tomorrow tea time probably" as the doctor looked between Brody and Pride.
Brody nodded to the doctor and then looked back at Pride. She watched as a smile slowly spread across his face and felt his hand squeeze hers. At least he was happy, she wasn't sure what was so special about being an emergency contact but he had that amazing smile on his face so she was now happy. They spend all day everyday together anyway so the only time they weren't together was at home but after the past few days she knew that would change.
The doctor checked her over then adjusted the oxygen levels which Pride was pleased to see were lowered. He thanked the doctor and then asked if he could raise the bed or did it have to be kept flat. The doctor said he would stay while it was raised just incase any pressure was put on her lung. Picking up the control Pride pushed the button and slowly the bed made it's way up. He wasn't sure what to watch, between Brody, the sats machine and the doctors. Finally when it was just right he stopped and put the control down and looked at the doctor then Brody.
She gave a tiny nodded and the doctor seemed happy enough so he excused himself and left. As soon as the doctor left he looked across at Laurel then back at Brody.
"You will be the death of me if you keep this up" as he finally bent down and kissed her head.
As his head dipped down she wove her arm up and held his head next to hers as she pulled her mask to one side before he could stop her and she turned his head so she could kiss his lips. The kiss was gentle and sweet and he had to admit felt good. To feel her lips brush his was worth it as she kept hold of his head.
"Sorry" was all she got to say as he reached over and placed her mask on.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. You did your job and that's all we can do" he told her as he placed another kiss to her head before he sat down.
She went for her mask again but he took her hand and held them both in one of his.
"Will you leave that thing on. How do you expect to get out if you don't leave it on. You do realise how bad you actually are don't you?" As he gave her one of them gazes that was a cross between concern, fear and genuine love.
Laurel had pulled up a seat on the other side of the bed and was sat watching the exchange between them. She had to laugh as they acted like an old married couple and they weren't even official together.
"I have to agree with dad" as Laurel watch Brody attempt one of her famous death stares but failed miserable.
"He needs you home, he is literally walking around on eggshells. He misses you at work and keeps looking at your desk as if he expects you to pop up and suddenly appear from nowhere" Laurel told Brody as she felt Pride squeeze her hand.
As she looked at him again she saw the sheepish look on his face and she had to smile. He looked like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"In my defence... Okay I haven't got one. I do miss you, you landed here running and you haven't stopped. You hit like a whirlwind and turned my world around. I sometimes wonder how Christopher and I managed before you got here. You have become one of us in every sense of the word and I will never let you go" as he brought both her hands to his lips and kissed them both.
Laurel was still at a loss as to where her dad was at. She was watching this man in front of her and he was the complete opposite of the man she had grew up watching. The man she grew up with never showed he had a vulnerable side like this. It was actually nice to see that her dad was not so tough after all and he could show he cared. He had always told her he loved her and he was there as much as he could be for her growing up. He had missed a lot but he had seen a lot to. He always tried to make up for not being there. It was him who sat her down and taught her to play the piano, he had taught her to ride a bike. It was him she went to with her first broken heart. After the tears she convinced him no one needed shot or ruffed up by Christopher.
She watched the way he held Merri's hand, how he stroked her cheek. How every once in awhile he would bring her hand to his lips and kiss her fingers. In the years her parents had been together she had seen that they were affectionate to each other but she had never seen this level of affection. She had to say this side to her dad suited him, she had a feeling that this could come in very handy. At this moment in time he was so wrapped up in Merri she could have asked him for anything and he would have said yes.
Picking her coffee up she sat back down and felt Merri watch her.
"What did I do?" She asked looking at Merri.
"You have coffee, I want coffee" as she fought with Pride to lift her mask long enough to be heard.
"Well we got you coffee but not much use with that on is it. Well they said its coffee but I swear they can bond walls with" as she took another drink and her face twisted again at the bitter strong taste.
"Dwayne I want it now" as she fought again with her mask and him.
"Give me a second and I will check you can actually have it. I am not going to be responsible for your having a heart attack or something" as he stood up and let go of her hands before leaving the room.
"Laurel quick give me a drink in case they say no" as she pulled the mask to the side but kept the flow over her face as she spoke.
Laurel stood up and came beside Merri with her cup and gently brought it to her lips. Raising the cup slightly Laurel let Merri have a couple of mouthfuls before removing the cup from her lips and helping her put the mask on just in time for her dad to come back in.
Pride was not a silly man as he took in the site before him. Laurel standing with Merri, a coffee cup in one hand and helping replace her mask with the other.
"I am going to have to watch you to partners in crime aren't I" as he came back in and took both lids off the coffee cups.
Laurel and Merri just looked at each other and smiled, they had been caught.
"Busted, we got to be quicker in future" Laurel told Merri as they shared a knowing look.
"You can have this" as he picked one of the cups up " as long as that number stays above 80" passing her the cup which she took a little shakily.
"On second thoughts how about I hold the cup and you drink it" as he took the cup back from her before she spilt it.
Standing next to her he repeated the action that he knew Laurel had just done and held the cup as she took a drink after taking her mask and putting it beside her face. After drinking the full cup of coffee in just about one go Merri lay back and closed her eyes. Pride went to put the mask back on but she stopped him.
"Let me have just a few minutes not having that on. I can breath just fine as you can tell" as Brody opened her eyes and locked eyes with Pride.
He knew when she came home he was going to have his hands full trying to get her to rest and keep still. No doubt she would expect to come in to work as soon as she could. Sitting back in his chair he drank his coffee and found his mind drifting back to that morning when he woke with her in his arms. He was so pleased he had savoured that time as he had no idea when she would be home. Thinking of home he had to ask her something.
"Merri can I stop as yours till you come out please. I can water the planets and put the cat out" as he saw her laugh.
"If you find a cat it's not mine and I don't do plants, my fingers are anything but green. If you want to stop at mine then knock yourself out but tell Loretta so she doesn't get the neighbours ringing her about a weird looking man hanging around" as both Laurel and her started to laugh which caused her to grab her chest and they both shot up to her side.
Laurel grabbed the mask and placed it back over Brody's face as her dad stood and just looked down as she tried to control her breathing as the machines around her started to beep. A nurse came in and asked them both to step back so she could get at Brody to check her over. After lying the bed flat again and turning the oxygen back up Brody was finally able to breath again and her sats returned to normal. Laurel flopped back into her chair but her dad stood still just looking at Brody. He was stood so still and she saw his knuckles had gone white with the tightness his fists were clenched at.
"Whatever you did don't do it again just yet" the nurse told Brody as she raised the bed slowly making sure she kept an eye on the machines around her.
When she was satisfied everything was back to normal she left the room again but did warn them all they would have to leave if anything else happened.
"You have to stop doing that Merri or I will have to book you a double room. You're scaring the hell out of him and me come to mention it" Laurel told Brody as she took her hand again and sat down.
"I swear you better stop or she's right I will end up having a heart attack" as Pride stepped back up to the bed and sat on the edge of it as he bent and kissed her head.
"I hate being ill and this is going to drive me mad. I want out so I will be good I promise" as she took his hand and squeezed it.
"You better. I need you not only home but back at work, I swear Vance phoned to check I wasn't going to try and hit anyone again while your off" he told her laughing.
They all sat talking about Laurel and college and the upcoming thanksgiving. They kept the conversation light and cheerful and soon they were told it was time to leave by a nurse at the door. Laurel stood up and after squeezing Brody's hand and telling her she would see her tomorrow she left the room knowing her dad want some privacy.
"You sure you don't mind me stopping at yours till you come out?" He asked as he kissed her forehead again.
"No, at least you might actual sleep if you're at mine and not end up wandering round the office half the night. Don't make a mess and there is clean bedding in the cupboard at the top of the stairs for both bed" she told him as she lifted her mask a little but didn't take it off.
"I will tell Laurel and the couch is just fine for me" as he ran his fingers up and down her cheek.
"Why the couch? My bed was perfectly suitable last night so you can sleep there till I come out then we can share again as long as you don't snore again" seeing his face getting serious.
"I don't snore and the state your in I will be scared to touch you never mind lie next to you in bed" he said as he bent and kissed her head again.
"Well it didn't bother you in bed last night or in the shower this morning" as she smiled remembering the way she woke that morning and the events of the shower.
He had to smile at the memories as well. They seemed so distance and long ago compared to now. He had went from cloud 9 to hell in the few short hours from waking to now.
"Well if I had of known then what I know then I would have slept in the car and got a shower at work" Pride exclaimed.
"Anyway I have to go even though all I want to do right now is crawl in there and hold you so close and never you let you go" as he bent forward and lifted her mask back enough so he could reach her lips.
Placing a very long and gently kiss to her lips he stood back up and replaced the mask.
"You sleep and I will be back as soon as I can. I am sure Laurel will be here as well if that's okay with you" as he moved round the bed and went to stand on the other side of the bed.
"Dwayne go home and get some sleep, I will still be here in the morning" as she lifted her mask and indicated she wanted another kiss.
Giving her one last kiss he stood up and walked to the door. Turing round once as he opened it he saw her eyes shut as she slowly fell asleep. Closing the door he stepped to the window and gazed at the sleeping women one last time as he walked away to find Laurel.
He found Laurel standing at the lift waiting for him and taking his hand in hers she gave it reassuring squeeze as she lead him into the lift. He seemed to be in a complete daze as he walked out the lift and towards the car. As they approached the car she watched as her dad dug in his pockets looking for the keys.
"Dad I got them, get in as you are so passed being able to drive" watching her dad walked round and climb in the passenger seat.
Well the sooner morning came the better, she had yet again never seen her dad go so into himself as he was now. The drive home was in total silence even though Laurel tried to make conversation. When they arrived back at the house she watched as he got out and walked to the door still on auto pilot. She followed behind and opened the door letting her dad in past her. Closing the door behind her she went to the kitchen and her dad followed.
"You hungry?" She asked him as she set about making coffee.
"No I am okay thanks. I might just go up to bed and speak to Christopher and Loretta before I do" as he looked over at her.
"Sure whatever dad" as she finished making coffee and passed him a cup.
Laurel knew the reason her dad was going to bed early and she let him. If he went to bed he was in Merri's bed so he would be close to her. He didn't seem bothered that she knew as he picked the cup coffee and headed out the kitchen towards the stairs.
"Dad wait" as she watched him stop at the front of the stairs and turn towards her.
Stepping up to him she opened her arms and he stepped up to her bring his arms round her.
"You okay dad?" As she looked up at him.
"A lot better now, I never realised how rough this job could be on the human body till today" seeing the perplex look on Laurels face.
"How many times were you shot dad?" Laurel asked laughing.
"It's different when it's someone you care about. I have seen Christopher in some states over the years but until I got that call today I never really realised how bad it could get on this side of the fence. Christopher is like a son to me and it would devastate me if anything happened to him but today I stood and watched a woman I love nearly die and god that hurts like hell. I never ever want to feel like that again" as he hugged Laurel.
"Dad you do realise as soon as she's cleared for the field she will back out there kicking ass alongside Chris and you don't you. You can't protect her no matter how hard you try. She won't let you, it's who she is" as she hugged her dad and watched as her hew words sunk in.
"Your right, all the more reason to try and and spoil her when I can" as his kissed Laurels head and stepped away.
"I can hear her bed calling me and I not going to argue with it. I will see you in the morning, night Laurel" as he started to make his way up the bed.
"Night dad" as she watched her dad walk up the stairs.
As he reached the top of the stairs he turned back and watched as Laurel walked away. He knew he wouldn't get much sleep but he was going to try. As soon as he walked into her bedroom her scent enveloped him and just stood still and inhaled deeply. Putting his phone and keys on the nightstand he went to the bathroom and stripped his clothes off, dumping them in the laundry hamper before returning to the bedroom in just his boxers. He looked at the bed and had a moral debate which side to sleep on but decided he would go for the Middle for now. As he pulled the covers back he climbed on and picked his phone up before getting comfortable.
After a quick chat with Christopher he phoned Loretta as he knew that conversation would take the longest. After a Lengthy Chat about Merri and how she was doing Loretta quired about how he was doing. He told her he was fine and he was stopping with Laurel at Merri's house till she was discharged then he was hoping to continue staying there with her as long as it was okay with Merri and herself since it was her house after all. Loretta said as long as Merri was okay then she was happy. After another conversation he convinced Loretta he was fine and he finally got to hang up the call. Between his talk with Christopher and then Loretta he had been on the phone for just over an hour.
Dropping his phone on the bed he shuffled down and tucked his feet under the covers before pulling them over himself. Rolling on to his front he spread out and got comfortable. Pulling one of the pillows over he buried his face in it as he pulled it close and hugged it tight. After spending just one night holding her in his arms he missed her so much. He needed her back here so he could hold her and keep her as safe or as safe as she would let him. He knew when she did come home he would make sure that she never wanted him to leave again.
When Laurel came up to bed later that night she put her head around the bedroom door to check on her dad. The sight she saw was so sweet she had to stop and watch him sleep for a moment. He was lying on his front stretched out on the bed with a pillow tucked under his head and his face buried deep in to it as well as a pillow he was holding so tight it looked like he would kill to keep hold of it. He looked so peaceful as he slept. Smiling she left him to sleep and as she climbed in to bed she wondered what challenges tomorrow would bring.