Jumping out of her car without turning off the engine, Nicole ran as fast as she could to the front door. The words Wynonna said over the phone were still ringing in her ears, playing on repeat as if she was in a horror film. When she first tried to kill herself... How could Nicole not have known this about Waverly? Now that she thought about it, all the signs of a suicide attempt survivor were right in front of her, pointing to the youngest Earp. She just never paid close enough attention or associated Waverly with that kind of past.
The more Nicole thought about the signs, the more she wanted to kick herself. Waverly always wore something over her arms, no matter what the temperature had been outside. Waverly would avoid using sharp things, making excuses as to why she wouldn't use the scissors or the stapler at the station. Waverly would even space out during the day sometimes, her eyes glazing over as if she wasn't even in the room anymore.
"Waverly?! Come on baby please answer me!" Nicole yelled as she ran through the wide-open front door. Ripping off her jacket in order to gain more mobility, Nicole continued yelling for Waverly as she ran through the entire first floor of the house. When Nicole had yet to hear a response from the youngest Earp, panic and adrenaline filled her body as she made her way to the stairs. Please don't let me be too late. Please please please let her be somewhere in here, still breathing and still having a heart beating in her chest. Please don't take her from me just yet.
The sound of water splashing underneath her feet caused Nicole to quickly look down at the steps, noticing a steady stream of water gently falling down each one. Before another though could cause hesitation in her body, Nicole sprinted up the stairs (careful not to slip on the water) before turning in the direction of the bathroom. A small sound of water running grew to be louder with each step Nicole took towards the bathroom. Maybe she just fell asleep in the tub and forget to turn off the water. Please let that be the case.
"Nicole are you here?!" Wynonna yelled from the first floor, almost stopping Nicole's movement to the bathroom.
"Bathroom now Wynonna! Be careful on the stairs!" Nicole yelled in response as she reached the bathroom door. Grabbing the doorknob, Nicole silently begged for the door to be unlocked. But when the door wouldn't move at all, tears starting forming in her eyes. "Waverly! Please open the door!" Nicole pleaded as she banged on the door as hard as she could. The police academy had trained her on how to kick a door down, but Nicole didn't want this door to be her first one she kicked down outside of training.
Wynonna's hurried footsteps came closer until Nicole saw the other Earp standing beside her at the bathroom door. Taking only a second to look at Wynonna, Nicole saw her cheeks were stained with tears and messed up make-up. She had never seen Wynonna this vulnerable during the entire time they had known each other, but it was a side of Wynonna that Nicole feared immediately. Wynonna had been banging on the bathroom door in a similar manner to the way Nicole had been earlier, before looking over at the Officer.
Knowing what she needed to do, Nicole took a deep breath and a step back away from the door before putting as much strength into her leg as she kicked at the door. When the first kick didn't open the door, Nicole screamed in frustration before backing up to try opening the door again. All the anger, fear, and worry in her body turned into strength; the second attempt at kicking the door in ended up with Nicole falling into the bathroom as the door swung open due to the force of her leg.
Time stopped when Nicole looked up to the bathtub, finding red stained water pouring from the overflowed tub. Still on the ground, Nicole couldn't see Waverly's head until Wynonna rushed past her and pulled the younger Earp out of the water. Both women ignored how the temperature of the water burnt their own skin, as the only thing they could focus on was Waverly. The same Waverly, who earlier this week, was smiling at both of them as they sat at Shorty's enjoying a drink to celebrate sending another revenent to hell. The same Waverly, who now had long cuts down her arms bright against her skin, which was extremely red due to the water.
"Nicole! I don't know CPR. Please get over here and try to save our girl while I find bandages and call an ambulance!" Wynonna yelled. Nicole almost didn't register Wynonna yelling, as the sight of Waverly was enough to make her forget everything. The only thing that kept Nicole attached to reality had been the sight of Nicole's bracelet on Waverly's wrist. Waverly had "stolen" that bracelet when the two hung out for the first time since meeting at Shorty's. Nicole remembered how Waverly commented on "not having time to accessorize" before meeting at the coffee shop, to which Nicole replied by giving Waverly her bracelet.
Dropping to the floor, Nicole began feeling for a pulse the same time Wynonna ran out of the bathroom. No pulse... It has to be here... Come on! Nicole quickly started chest compression on Waverly, feeling the smaller girl's ribs crack underneath the force of her hands. Of all the things the police academy trained her for, Nicole was not ready to feel herself break the bones of another person while trying to save their life. Nor was she ready to have her lips against Waverly's for the purpose of giving air to the dying woman.
None of that mattered to Nicole in that moment however, as she continued performing CPR on Waverly for another few minutes. In those few minutes, Wynonna returned while on the phone with 9-1-1, saying things Nicole didn't bother paying attention to. Wynonna had also started bandaging up Waverly's arms, in hopes of slowing the blood flow. Nicole just continued doing chest compression on Waverly as more ribs cracked under her hands and tried breathing into Waverly's lungs.
When seconds turned to minutes, Nicole was ready to stop and admit the one thing she would never want any one to admit in their life. She was ready to admit she couldn't save the love of her life. Nicole understood how early it was in their relationship to be calling Waverly that, but it was the one thing she was certain of in this moment. Waverly Earp, the girl with the smile that brought Nicole to her knees, was the love of her life and Nicole was losing her. Not even the shrill sound of Wynonna's cries broke through the barrier Nicole started building inside.
But, when both women heard a silent cough from Waverly, they both looked at each other before jumping back in order to give Waverly a little room. Staring at the younger Earp, Nicole watched silently with tears in her eyes as Waverly started moving a little and crying out in pain. She wanted to jump back down to Waverly, but Wynonna beat her to it by picking Waverly up gently into her arms before starting to head out the bathroom door. Nicole stood in the bathroom, unable to move her feet, as the hope of Waverly surviving rose with each cough she heard from Waverly.
The in-coming sound of sirens caused Nicole's trance to be broken as she ran down the stairs to find Wynonna racing out the front door with Waverly in order to meet the paramedics. Nicole ran right behind Wynonna, staring at Waverly the entire time; watching her chest rise and fall slightly while her eyes remained close. God Waverly, I am so sorry... I... Please just be okay. I can't lose you too...
"Nicole, do you think you can drive us to the hospital so we can keep up with the ambulance? I am in no condition to drive right now but I need to be with her," Wynonna pleaded. Nicole simply nodded her head as both women ran towards her still-running car. Backing out of the Earp Homestead, Nicole looked over at Wynonna who started breaking inside just as much as she was.
Author's Note: I am sorry there is not a lot of dialogue in this chapter. But when faced with similar circumstances as Nicole and Wynonna, I don't imagine conversation is going to happen coherently. Again, I want to apologize if this triggered anyone in any way. Being triggered is an awful feeling to which I can relate and it is hard to come back from. As for this story, I think there will probably be about one of two more chapters. Until next time, you are not alone in the world as many others are willing to fight for you.