A/N: Thank you for all the follows and favorites! To all who posted a review, you people rock! Here's the second chapter; let us know what you think by leaving a review. :)
Chapter 2
Daniel hears a beeping sound coming from somewhere near his left side. He attempts to open his eyes but had to shut them quickly when he realized how bright it was around him. He wasn't sure where exactly he was, but it was easy to deduce that it was in a hospital room. He tried to open and close his palm, and sure enough he felt a sting of pain as his skin stretches with the action. They attached an IV. He wanted to open his eyes again, so he did it gradually this time until he could adjust his vision to the brightness around the room. He allowed his eyes to roam the sight before him.
The door opened and a older looking woman, wearing glasses came in with a clipboard. He looked at her and received a warm smile from the nurse who first checked the dextrose bag.
"Dr. Palmer will be glad to hear that you're finally awake." She then started their usual routine of checking the patient's vital signs.
"Dr. Palmer?" Daniel asks.
"Yes. Dr. Timothy Palmer. I was told you are a neurosurgeon back in Wales?" She asks as she after checking his pulse rate.
"Yes. University Hospital of Wales," He confirms.
"How's your head, dear?" Only then, did he notice that his head was wrapped in bandage. He felt it with one hand and was glad he didn't feel any pain with the pressure he applied.
"I feel fine, honestly." He smiles at her.
"That's wonderful. You know that tragedy was really devastating. You're one of the few survivors." The nurse tells him with a weak smile
"Only a few?" He asks and she shakes her head " How many from that flight made it?" He asks sadly.
"Let's get you thinking about happier things shall we? Like how your daughter and wife are safe, too." Daniel was confused. He didn't know who the nurse was talking about. Surely she must be mistaken, right? He was traveling alone, so who was this lady referring to?
"My... my wife... and daughter?" He asks confused as the nurse plumps up his pillow. She looks at him curiously.
"Yes such a beautiful baby girl. It was a miracle that she got out of the crash unscathed. Your tight grip on the wee babe probably helped."
That's when it hit him. The baby and the woman on the island. He remembered walking up to them and the strange light coming off the child. Other than that, he couldn't recall much about what else happened. They weren't his, he was a widower and childless . Whoever the child's father was, he wasn't sure if the man also boarded that plane. Just as he started to correct the nurse's assumption, she spoke again.
"I know you are anxious to be reunited and I don't blame you. You can see her in a couple of hours when Dr. Palmer confirms there are no complications and you're well enough to get up on your own." With that, she went out the room.
Daniel was left wondering why he didn't stop the nurse. Say the woman and the child were in no way related to him. Then he remembered something else: the girl's eyes. Emerald green against the bright light surrounding her. A strange feeling in his stomach told him that he needs to see her again. It was telling him that he needed to be in her presence again. He didn't know what it was about her, but even the thought of holding the child in his arm was giving him bliss.
"A couple of hours." He murmured. That seems like a long time, in his opinion. But deciding against waiting didn't become much of a choice. Since he started falling asleep within just a few minutes. When he woke up the nurse from earlier was back. Only this time she's with a man who is probably is about the same age as he was. Daniel assumed it was his attending physician.
"Well there you are. I was starting to think I needed to pay another visit to see you conscious," The doctor says kindly. "How are you feeling? I'm Timothy Palmer, one of the neurologists here at Nobles," He says offering one hand to Daniel, which he takes.
"So this is where the plane, crashed," Daniel tells himself, more than the other people in the room.
"Island of Man. Yes. The flight almost made it to Wales. The investigation is still ongoing," Says the nurse.
"Yes. A very tragic incident indeed," He then walked up to Daniel, "So we're just going to do some preliminary examinations to make sure you're okay and that your head injury did not create any extensive damage."
After half an hour, the doctor concluded that Daniel's condition was stable and no other damage was done, other than the wound he received on the head. Dr. Palmer had to leave shortly after and the nurse told him that he could now go see his 'family'. Still didn't bother correcting her desperate to see the child again. Another nurse was called to the room with a wheelchair and even when Daniel said he could walk, the lady nurse still insisted he be taken to the other room in the wheelchair.
"It's just precaution. You know how it is, you're a doctor too," She reminds.
He couldn't argue with that. So he was wheeled out of his room until they reached a room, four doors down from his. The nurse opened the door and wheeled him inside, then left after saying she'll be back in half an hour. Daniel thanked her and when the woman was out the door, he turned his gazed to the occupants of the room.
The darkness of the island, coupled with the almost too bright light from the baby made it hard for him to notice how the woman looked that night. But now, as he takes a closer look, he realized that the woman also had a beautiful face. She didn't resemble the child in his memory, but he didn't think much of it, considering that he doesn't know the father.
Daniel stands still and studied her features committing them to his memory. The woman has long thick dark hair laid over her pillow. Long lashes that rest on the tops of high cheekbones. Her lips are thin a bit pale but her cheeks were tinged rosy pink. The woman was handsome, with looks that stuck in your mind. He felt the need to touch her cheek, but gentle sounds caught his attention. He looked to the left side of the room and saw the bassinet. He rose from the chair and slowly made his way to where the baby was.
He was half expecting that the baby would be glowing just like the first time he saw her. He was a bit disappointed when he found that she was not. Her skin was still fair and she was still the same, beautiful infant that he saw that night, but she was no longer giving off that weird and bright light.
The child stretched and yawned, her mouth forming a perfect o-shape and the sight melted Daniel's heart. She was lovely. Looking at the woman first to see if there's any sign of her waking up, he proceeded to move forward and tried to lift the baby. The baby snuggled into his arms and he couldn't help but smile at her tiny movements. He dared to touch the baby's downy head covered light brown hair. His touch must've woken her up because she did another yawn and slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze was not focused on anything, until it landed upon his face. He smiled at her and she just blinked at him.
"Who are you?" A raspy voice whispers. Daniel was startled. He didn't realize that the woman finally gained consciousness. He looked guiltily between the child in his arm and the woman who was still anticipating his answer.
"I.. Uh.. I'm..." He murmurs, all words suddenly leaving his mind.
"Where Am I...?" The woman continues to ask. Daniel decided to put the baby down and address the mother's queries. He walked closer to her bed, thinking of the best way to answer her and explain what he was doing there.
"Hello. My name is Daniel Fowler. You're in a room at Nobles Hospital, here in Man. I... I found you and your baby after the plane that we were boarding, crashed. I passed out next to you, and I guess the hospital thought we were all related," He tells her and her face showed confusion. For a second, Daniel considered the possibility of memory loss. But then she spoke.
"Crash. I do remember spiraling down. And... The child...?" she asks, looking at the direction where he placed the baby. The look on her face not of one of a concerned mother. It is the look of a woman afraid to see what lay in that bundle.
"Your baby... She's unharmed, which is a real miracle," He beams at her.
"A real miracle." she repeats, almost sarcastically, frowning. Daniel thinks it must be the crash affecting her like this. Any other would be weeping tears of joy finding out her baby was alive. Maybe it was memory loss. He glances at the chart on the end of her bed. He sees that her name is Margaret. He thinks if he tries to sound more personal then her memory might be jogged.
"Anyway, Margaret is it?" He asks and she nods."Would you like to see her? I can bring her to you," As he said the words, he reaches inside the bassinet to pick up the baby again. He laid her down next to her. Margaret just looks down at the child with an odd expression. One that chills him to his spine. Indifference? Anger? Daniel couldn't tell what exactly it was, but it wasn't any of the reactions he was expecting to see. Not what you would expect a mother to look like seeing her miracle baby again. "Forgive me for asking, but do you have any memory of this child?" He asks worriedly.
Something in his question must have alerted the woman because her face changed. It looked worried, maybe from not remembering, perhaps from the question itself. The questions were beginning to pile up and he wanted to know the answers. Daniel wanted her to touch the baby. To cuddle her and show her any signs of love. The baby was not even his and all he wanted to do was love it. His furtive expression must have tipped her off for she placed one arm around tentatively around the bundle. It looked like she didn't want to touch the child, almost like she was afraid too. The baby moved thrashing around like she was hurt. Her small limbs whipping around her face turning red. Soon the room was filled with her crying. Margaret had a look of panic on her face. Like she had never seen a baby do this before. Without thinking about it, Daniel picked up the crying infant and rocked her back and forth.
When the crying stopped, relief washed over Daniel's features. He made sure that she was asleep before laying her back in her bassinet. He turned to the woman and caught her looking at him. He smiled at her and warmth spread through him when she smiled back.
"Do you have a name? Oh, how silly of me! Of course you do... May I know your name?" He speaks in a rush, blushing slightly.
"I'm D-" She started but was interrupted by the same nurse who brought Daniel in.
"Hi. I apologise, but the doctor wanted me to bring this to you. They found this near you when the rescue team carried you away from the crash site," She says, handing Daniel a wallet that was almost burnt. "And Dr. Palmer asked me to take you back to your room. He doesn't want you to strain yourself."
"Alright, but do you mind giving me a few more minutes?" He asks the nurse.
"Certainly," She replies as she ducks out the door.
Daniel opens the wallet. Everything in it was damaged. He pulled out, what seemed to be a driver's license of a woman named, Margaret Sanders. The picture was unrecognizable but the writing was still clear. He knew her name from the chart but he thought he would be polite.
"Is your name, Margaret?" He asks the woman who was looking at him curiously.
"Ye-yes. Yes I am," She says curtly.
"That's a lovely name. It suits you," He compliments and was rewarded by another smile.
"How about your girl? What's her name?" He remembers, looking back at the sleeping infant.
"Her name?" She repeats.
"Yes," He continues, waiting for her to looked around the room nervously. She had no idea what to tell this man what her name was. Her other world name would be too much for his human ears. Daniel was oblivious to her worried face. Still bent over the crib adoring the child. Margaret's eyes landed on the wallet clutched in his hand. A faint script that she barely recognize was scribbled on it. The word was Amelia it would have to do.
"A- Amelia," She finally answers.
"Amelia... another beautiful name for another beautiful being," He smiles warmly at her. Then looks back at the baby.
"Yes. Yes it is," She agrees, through gritted teeth. Her hatred for the girl barely allowing her to get the words out. The nurse knocked once and opened the door.
"It's time to go back, sir," She announces.
"Well. I will see you tomorrow, if they allow me," Daniel tells Margaret and he replaces the wallet on the table next to her bed.
"Yes. I look forward to that," She coos a plan already forming in her head as the door closes behind the men. To survive in this dimension she will need this mans help. Just to be sure once she was sure that they were alone she performs a test. Glaring in Amelia's direction lifting her hand, palm-up over the child. Like she was trying to lift something with an unseen force. All it did was make Amelia's blanket twitch. Margaret was furious she raised her hand and stared at it willing it to work once more.
"What happened to me? I thought my powers would not be affected in this dimension?" She asks herself. She realized that she was basically powerless. She couldn't even feel her aura or Amelia's. 'This can't be good' She thinks miserably.
Considering her current condition, she wouldn't be able to push through with the original plan. To leave the child in this dimension then disappear without a trace. Know she must enlist the help of this Daniel who was just in here. Margaret can tell the man was already smitten with Amelia's charms. Getting him to marry her and pose as the child's father wouldn't be too hard.
She needs to talk to someone from home to figure out how to get out of this predicament. She was supposed to get rid of the child, not be stuck with her in an unfamiliar place. She needs to survive this place. The man seemed nice enough to ask about her earlier, maybe he can help her. She knew then, that she needs to find a way to convince him to keep her, keep them, if need be, since he thinks the child is hers. She rose from the bed and made her way to Amelia.
"This is not over Allayna. I will get my revenge. You will suffer," She speaks to the child, soundly sleeping. "Mark my words Allayna you will never find your way to Amaro. Duvessa always completes her mission," She hisses at the child.
Duvessa was her true name the Dark Beauty. Margaret must have been some poor soul who had not survived the crash. The crash caused Allayna thwarting her escape. Her mission on earth was to keep Allayna way from Amaro. There would be untold consequences across the dimensions if the bearer of light were to meet with the keeper of darkness.
It has been almost a month since the hospital fire happened and the Cooper family was now back in their home. Mary just finished feeding the twins and the two were now in their respective cribs, inside what used to be George Jr's nursery room. Her older son was looking at his brother curiously. Mary noticed him and hugged the toddler. Thinking he was just excited about his new baby brother. When he looked up at her with a creased forehead full of worry. Mary was amused at how cute his expression was. Yet also worried about what was bothering him.
"What's wrong, baby? Is something bothering my little Georgie?" She coos.
"Momma, why does Shel..Shellon.. Shel- why does brother have a drawing on his arm?" He asks, struggling to pronounce the name of his sibling which made Mary laugh.
"It's Sheldon dear," She tells him.
"But I can't say She-.. I can't!" He complains.
"How about Shelly? Can you say Shelly?" Mary asks.
"Shelly," He tries and smiled when he got the right name out.
"There you go! Until you can say Sheldon, you can just call your baby brother, Shelly. Okay?"
"Okay. But momma who wrote that?" He points out and Mary tried to see what he was talking about. She spotted the dark mark on the baby's forearm.
"Honey that ain't no writing and it's not a drawing either. Your brother got that from the accident that happened at the hospital," She explains.
"So that won't come off?" He asks.
"No dear. Not with water anyway," She responds.
"With what then?" He asks again.
"My, my. You seem to have a lot of questions today. My little curious Georgie. Do you want a grilled cheese sandwich?" She asks deciding to change the subject.
"Yes momma!" He squeals, his curiosity, all but forgotten.
"Okay. Let's go to the kitchen. Your father's gonna be back soon anyway so let's cook for him too," She tells him, holding out her hand.
"Yay! Makin' a sandwich!" He says happily, taking his mother's hand.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"No, Mr. Cooper, every child in the nursery that day was safely returned to their parents," The nurse behind the counter looks up from the log book she was reading the information from.
"You're sure about that, Miss?" George asks.
"Yes. That's what I have here," She replies.
"How about a report about a parent looking for their kid or something?" He asks frustratingly.
"None of those either, sir. Not to my best knowledge," She says confidently.
"Alright. Thank you, I guess," He sighs giving up.
A frown was starting to form on George's forehead. He couldn't put his finger on it but he was sure that there was something different about his younger son. It just doesn't feel right when he's around the boy. The child's piercing blue eyes that night would not leave his mind. His eyes were blue too, but his were not the same shade as Juniors. No these eyes were icy piercing, wise beyond measure. Nothing that he's never seen in any newborn before. Like he already had the whole world figured out and he wasn't too impressed.
The nagging feeling made him drive that morning to the hospital's makeshift office. A trailer outside the burnt wing of the old building. He wanted to make sure that he didn't take the wrong boy in his hasty exit from the burning building. Finding out that there weren't any reports of a missing baby or any parent that might be looking for one, just confused him more. If no baby was missing, then that should confirm that Sheldon was theirs. But the unsettling feeling still would not leave him. This was not his son. His son was dead.
Scratching his head, he made his way outside and headed for his truck to go home. As he was making his way to where he was parked, Dr. Carlton's car entered the hospital premises. He spotted George from afar but couldn't get to him in time because of another car that got in his way, while backing away from the parking lot. Dr. Carlton has been meaning to talk to George since the fire. It was the first time the doctor has ever seen a clinically dead patient come back to life. The boy had been declared dead for fifteen minutes when his father saw him. He wants to monitor the boy's condition, just to be sure there were no complications.
"Good morning Dr. Carlton," Greets the same nurse who was talking to George earlier.
"Good morning. Did anyone ask for me before I got here?" He asks, thinking George came here to see him.
"No, sir. But you already have three patients. Two for their monthly check-up and one for a vaccine," She hands the clipboard with the patient's information.
He smiles at her and verifies the information she jotted down.
"Thank you, Katie. If anyone asks for me or calls, let me know right away," He says.
"You got it, Dr. Carlton," She smiles at him.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
That night, George offered to take care of the babies so Mary could get some rest. He decided to stay in the twin's room so he didn't have to keep going back and forth in case one of them wakes up. For a few hours, both babies were quiet and barely made any movement in their cribs. Sitting in the rocking chair in between the twins, he couldn't help but fall asleep. He didn't know how long he was out, but he was awoken by Sheldon's crying. He picked him up carefully and tried to calm the baby to avoid waking up Missy. He looked down and noticed her stirring but she didn't wake up.
Focusing his attention back to Sheldon, he was glad that he stopped crying in just a matter of seconds after picking him up. George walked over the window, still carrying the baby, where Mary moved the sofa bed. He looked at his son and saw that he was sleeping again. He drew the curtains back, revealing a view of a clear sky and full moon. His eyes glimmered and he admired it for a while before laying down on the sofa and laying Sheldon down, next to him. Even when they're laying on the bed, the night sky was still in their line of sight.
George has always been fascinated by the heavens.
When he was in high school, he had a reputation for being one of the coolest and toughest kids. Given that, he couldn't reveal to anyone how much he liked the subject. So instead of participating in class, he opted to just keep it to himself. He would read about Greek Mythology when he's alone and Astronomy books were the only books around his childhood bedroom. Admiring the beauty of the night sky, he was slowly lulled asleep.
Hours later, George woke up because of the bright light coming through the window. He slowly opened his eyes and realized the moon is where it was coming from. He felt disoriented for a few seconds until he remembered where he was. He turned his head and found Sheldon awake. His son was looking at the sky outside the window, blinking like he's trying to adjust to the light coming off the moon. Another thing he noticed was that his boy was moving his arms. He was captivated by his little movements, so George reached out and touched one of his hands. Sheldon grabs his finger and holds it tightly. George covers his tiny hand with his, his hand covering the boy's hand and half of his arm. He noticed that his son's gaze was now directed at him. Sheldon didn't look at him like the night of the fire, but it was as if he was studying his father. His son was batting his eyes close softly every now and then. George just found it cute.
George did not let go of the tiny fist and Sheldon's eyes did not leave him. A hoot from an owl sounded from outside the window and Sheldon's attention was diverted. As George was about to kiss the boy's hand, his head turned to look out the window again. The second that happened, and George's lips were on the boy's palm, two simultaneous things happened: one, The moon's brightness dimmed and two, part of the boy's arm felt ice cold. More than the moon's brightness, he paid attention to the cold part on his arm.
He checked if Sheldon was feverish by feeling his forehead and other arm. Other than a spot on his arms, the boy felt warm a result of being wrapped in a baby blanket. George looked closer at the boy's arm to see what might be causing the cold spot. It was the dark mark. The mark that he thought was a burn from the fire felt cold. The rest of his body was warm, all but that almost crescent-shaped mark. He touched the mark on his skin with his thumb brushing back and forth, fascinated by the difference in temperature. When he looked at his son, he realized he'd fallen back asleep and moonlight was once again hitting his face.
Sheldon Lee Cooper made George feel a mixture of curiosity and fascination. The oddly, unsettling feeling in his stomach was still there, but that night, George decided to let any questions of whether or not Sheldon was his son or not, go to the back of his mind. To his, and to anyone's knowledge, Sheldon was a miracle to the family. A boy resurrected from death. His son who came back from the afterlife. For now, that's the only thing that mattered to him.