They went in to Michelle's room. She was lying on the bed with bandages over her eyes. It broke their hearts to see her. "Michelle?"
"Daddy John? Is that you?" She perked up.
He rushed to her and hugged her. "It's okay, honey, I'm here. So is Daddy Fin."
She buried her face in his shoulder. "I can't see anymore, Daddy John! I'm scared!"
John's eyes filled with tears, and he held his daughter tighter. Fin went to the doctor. "What can we do?"
"You can take her home, but I'll want to keep in touch just in case. The bandages will come off in around six weeks, and she just needs some time to relax."
Soon, Michelle wore herself out from crying, and she fell asleep by the time they got home. John laid her down in her bed and just looked at her. Fin went up and John collapsed into his arms. "Who would do something like this?" He was shaking with sobs.
Fin gripped him tight, the tears falling for him as well. "I don't know. But we have to be strong for her."
They stayed in the room and kept a close eye on her. Soon they heard her wake up. "Michelle?"
"Daddy Fin…Daddy John…"
She sniffled a little and they went to hold her. "I'm scared…this means I can't read anymore."
"No, no, there's still many ways you can read. You can listen to the recordings, or you can learn Braille."
"What's Braille?"
"It's little bumps on a page that you feel with your fingers to let you know what it says."
"I want to learn it. I want to keep reading." She began to cry. "I'm gonna miss seeing you…"
Their hearts broke for what might be the millionth time that day. "Honey, don't be scared. We're not going anywhere. You're our daughter, you always will be. You may not see us, but we're right here."
She reached up and touched John's face. "Daddy John…"
He smiled weakly. "How did you know?"
"I can feel your face…and I know that cologne you wear." She tried to smile. "I'm gonna try to get better. I want to be me again."
They held her tighter, amazed at her bravery. They knew they'd do anything for her.
John put her to bed that night. "Michelle, would you like me to stay with you?"
"No, I'll be okay."
"Okay, but just in case, I set up your old baby monitor. Just call for me, I'll come in, okay?"
"Okay." She laid down. "Daddy John? Can you sing that song for me?"
John chuckled. Since she was a little girl, he always sang the Beatles song Michelle to her at bedtime. "Of course."
He cleared his throat and began to sing:
"Michelle, my belle,
These are words that go together well,
My Michelle.
Michelle, my belle,
Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble
Tres bien ensemble.
I love you, I love you, I love you,
That's all I want to say,
Until I find a way,
I will say the only words I know that you'll understand…
Michelle, my belle,
Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble,
Tres bien ensemble.
I need to, I need to, I need to,
I need to make you see,
Just what you mean to me.
Until I do I'm hoping you will know what I mean.
I love you.
I want you, I want you, I want you,
I think you know by now,
I'll get to you some how,
Until I do I'm telling you so you'll understand.
Michelle, my belle,
Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble.
Tres bien ensemble.
I will say the only words I know that you'll understand,
My Michelle."
He rubbed her head softly and kissed her. "Goodnight."
He left her door open and went into his room, where Fin was waiting in the doorway. "I heard you singing." He smiled. "I always liked hearing you sing that song."
"She's such a brave girl." He sighed. He got an idea. "I'll try to find a Braille teacher tomorrow. I'll have one of her books made up in Braille so she can learn."
Fin kissed him. "I love you, John."
"I love you too, Oda."
They fell asleep in each others arms.
The next morning, John went to check on Michelle. "Michelle?"
"Daddy John. I was listening to the rain."
It was raining, John noticed. "How long have you been awake?"
"Not long. The rain sounds different…it's amazing." She sighed. "It's amazing how when the rain falls, it sounds like it's hot and sizzling on the sidewalk, or that thunder echoes on forever…"
He smiled at her hugely. "You're such a brave girl."
She reached out her arms. "Help me get dressed?"
He helped her get dressed and took her to the kitchen.
"Daddy Fin found you a Braille teacher. When do you want to start?"
"As soon as I can. I want to read again." She said with a determined voice.
John helped her to the table. "You will, honey. You're an amazing little girl."
Fin came up and patted her on the back. "Hi, Daddy Fin."
"You're pretty sharp."
"I can smell your cologne too." He chuckled.
"You don't have school today. What would you like to do?"
She thought for a minute. "I want to visit everybody. I want everything to go back to normal."
They were warmed at how brave she was. "You got it. I'll call everyone."
John and Fin called everyone up and said to treat Michelle as normally as possible. They did get a little choked up when they saw her with the bandages on her eyes, but they got stronger when she talked to them.
She was holding her teddy bear. "Daddy Fin found me a Braille teacher. I'm gonna learn."
"That's wonderful, sweetie." Casey told her. "You're a very bright little girl."
"And Daddy John said he'll teach me French so I can understand the song he sings me at night."
They looked to John, who blushed a little. "What song, Michelle?" Olivia asked her with a laughing tone.
"That's what the song's called. Michelle. It's by a band called the Beatles."
They knew the song. "That's really sweet." Olivia said. "Does he sound good?"
"Very good." She smiled. She leaned her head to the side as Elliot came up. "Hi, Uncle Elliot."
They looked at her with amazement. "How did you know?"
"The same way I can recognize Daddy John and Daddy Fin. They have different cologne smells. Uncle Elliot has a different one from them. And I can hear his cuffs jingling in his pocket."
Uncle Elliot hugged her. "You're so smart, Michelle."
George and Steven came up with Cragen. "You really are an amazing girl."
She ducked her head a little. "Thanks. Hopefully I'll be as amazing as you guys someday."
Olivia brushed some tears from her eyes as John felt his heart melt away. "I think the oven is ready." Michelle said. Sure enough, it beeped a second later.
"Okay, now you're just showing off." Adam said.
"Aunt Casey says you do too, Uncle Adam." She smiled. "Especially when you're at home."
Everyone burst out laughing except for Casey who gave a deep blush.
Fin helped Michelle into bed. "Goodnight, Michelle. Call us if you need us, okay?"
"Okay, Daddy Fin. I love you." She reached up to hug him.
"I love you too, Michelle."
She laid down and he tucked the comforter around her. John met him in the bedroom. "She's growing into such a little lady."
Fin crawled into bed and turned out the light. "Yes, she is."
-TO BE CONTINUED-