Hey everyone, thanks for the reviews, follows, and favorites! This is the HUGE chapter everyone has anticipated, but the battle isn't over quiet yet. I will be skipping through Emily being found,
and it will be brought up along the way. I have some news at the bottom though.
Disclaimer: I do not own Revenge, nor do I profit from this story. This is merely a figment of my imagination! Also, all mistakes are mine and the few italics are Nolan's thoughts
Third POV:
Nolan rushes through the hospital doors and toward the Intensive Care Unit.
"Emily Thorne, where is she?" He asks when he reaches the nurses' station.
"Ah, here she is. She is in room 4A." A nurse sitting at the computer says with in an overly chirpy tone and Scooby-Doo scrubs.
"Thank you." Nolan hurries off to the room. His breath catches in his throat as he sees the broken image of the woman he loved. Her body is a road map of IVs leading to various parts of her body, hooked to beeping machines announcing that the princess is alive. Both her eyes are blackened, tape covers her nose. One leg is in a traction, supporting a broken bone. He tries to ignore the bruises that cling to her body like a loving blanket.
Loves, she's back.
He slows his speed to a leisure walk as he goes up to her bed. The receptionist, he didn't notice, had followed him into her room.
"Sir, this woman is under protective custody. I'm going to need to see you ID." She states with a tone of superiority.
"Here, I'm Nolan Mitchell Ross, her health care proxy agent." He explains handing over his driver's license. They had both agreed to be each other's health proxy agent so if Emily got tied to the Grayson's, they couldn't keep him away. When they had called to inform him they found her, he had given them permission to do everything they can to help her.
"Alright, but be prepared for when the guards get here. They'll probably hound you with a hundred questions when they get here."
"I'm fine with that." He says meeting her gaze, "Can you explain what's wrong with her and possibly how long she will be in here?"
"It's probably easier to tell you what's not wrong with her." The nurse says giving him the chart, "You can find out for yourself. It will save a lot of air. She is unconscious now, and it may help to talk to her. When she wakes up, please call us so we can get started on some scans. After she wakes up, she'll probably be in here for a day or two, depending on her physical and mental state and what the scans show. If you plan on bringing anyone with you, only one person at a time while she is in here, but when she moves to a regular room, that number will be extended to 5. If the doctor sees fit, she will be recommended to a rehab facility."
"Thank you." He waves her off. He looks over the chart and grimaces. She is way dehydrated and underweight and dehydrated, broken ribs, multiple infections, burns, broken nose and leg, not to mention the deep bruises that went to the bone. He steps closer to Emily's hospital bed and sits by her bed. He retakes in the sight of the sleeping beauty before him. Emily's once overly perfect, shoulder length waves are now a tangled, mop of frizzy waves lying over her ribs. The hospital has hosed her down from head to toe and he notes her once honey blond locks are toned down, whether from the lack of sun, or lack of dye, he doesn't know. He won't mention her hair since things like that never truly bothered her, if it wouldn't have caused eyebrows to be raised, Emily would've wondered out of the house in a messy pony-tail and no make-up. Nolan always admired her without the makeup; it was all for the façade and he wanted to put as much space between social Emily and his Emily. He takes a strand of frizz and pushes it behind her ear.
"Awe Ems, what they do to you?" He asks the unconscious woman. He takes her much smaller hand in his and makes small circles with his thumb. He continues the motion for until he lightly dozes off.
"Dang, I really did die."
Nolan wakes up from a pleasant dream, her hand still in his. Emily has her eyes closed and she looks like she's asleep.
"Huh?" Nolan asks, not pulling away, but stopping the motion of his hand. Excitement is running through his veins: Emily is awake. He forgets to hit the button to call the nurses; he wants to talk to Emily.
"I don't understand how I made it up here after all the terrible things I did." Emily clarifies, now pulling her hand away and opening her brown eyes to meet Nolan's blue ones.
"Ems, I'm not following you. Why do you think you're dead?"
"You're here" She sighs and pulls her hand away.
"I still don't follow" Nolan reaches for her hand again, but she avoids it.
"Dwayne killed you. You must've really charmed your way with some angel to get into Heaven, Nolan. Apparently you pulled some strings to get me here temporarily." Nolan can't help but smile when realizing Emily is coming out of anesthesia, along with whatever pain medicine they are giving her. Nolan holds back from any typical remarks and comes up with something rational.
"Ems, you've got to understand: you've been through a lot and you're in..." Nolan begins.
"Have you met Arrayah? She's the reason I fought for so long. I hope she's not mad. When you see her, tell her I'm sorry, I never wanted Dwayne to hurt her, I fought him when he said he would get her. I love her infinity times infinity." Emily rambles off, wiping the stray tears that fell. He feels awful for Emily. She thinks Arrayah and he were dead. He could tell that Emily is getting upset over everything and needs to hurry up and tell her.
"Emily you didn't die. You're very much alive. So am I and so is Arrayah."
"That's impossible, Dwayne killed you and when Arrayah ran away," Emily stops, trying to remember what Dwayne had told her and choked up a little, "she died somehow."
"Emily, Arrayah is healthy and living, and so am I." He explains with caution.
"No, I know you're both dead! Dwayne proved you are." Emily yells, trying to get away from him and throwing weak punches. The machines she's hooked up to start beeping and nurses rush in.
"Sir, you're going to have to leave!" An older nurse ushers him out and closes the door. He stands in the hallway and rubs his face. He should've known Emily had limits. It's just that he was so excited to see Emily. He has dreamed of seeing Emily alive, but they never ended with her staying.
The nurses and doctors filter out of the room, with a heavily sedated Emily's bed in the middle as they lead her to the scan rooms. He walks carefully into the room. There is one nurse writing in a chart, and an empty space where her bed should be.
"How is she?" Nolan asks tentatively.
"She's been lightly sedated so they can run scans on her to see if there is any brain damage." The nurse says with a flat tone.
"Why did she, um…" Nolan tails off, not wanting to say it.
"From what I've heard, she's been held captive for six, seven years. She's probably brainwashed into a certain view of life."
"Oh." Nolan simply states.
"Don't take it personally; just be careful of what you say to her." The nurse advises, "You're allowed to stay with her when she gets back, right up 'till the psychiatrist gets here." She walks out, writing the report she had been working on.
"Okay, thank you." He makes his way back to the chair he previously occupied when he over hears the same nurse.
"She was absolutely hysterical and trying fight off the doctors. Poor thing could barely stand her ground and there she was, yelling threats at the doctors."
When Emily arrives back, the psychiatrist is right behind her, so Nolan decides to leave and go back to his apartment to announce the good news. As he leaves, he orders a higher security service than the hospital's goonies to always watch her door at all times. He warns them to not let a Grayson or reporter within one-hundred yards of Emily's door.
When Nolan arrives at his apartment, he pardon's Aiden of his babysitting duties before he can ask any questions. He walks into the kitchen where Arrayah has been working on her school work. He can't conceal the bounce in his step or the smile that grazes his face.
"Hey Ray, I have some news for you." He announces when he enters the kitchen area.
"About what?" She asks and he sees her sadden expression that still loomed on her face. It has been three weeks since she got out if the hospital and it is no secret that she has been missing her mom every day. Nolan, Aiden and Arrayah had Thanksgiving Dinner without her, and they had taken Arrayah down to see the Macy's Day Parade to try to cheer her up, which worked until the parade was over.
"I just came back from the hospital," he begins hoping she would catch on, but he still sees the saddened expression, "and they found your mom!" He says letting out all of his excitement. Once his words register, he sees Arrayah smile, really smile.
"Mommy's not with the angels?" She asks, her smile still growing.
"Nope!" He says picking her up, and forgetting the boundaries, swings her around while hugging. He doesn't hear a scream, but a small laugh.
"What about Dwayne?" Arrayah had stopped referring to him as Daddy since, as she put it, "Daddy's are supposed to be nice and not hurt you lots. He's not a daddy."
"They caught him." He breathes out a sigh, thrilled to be able to finally say that.
"When's Mommy coming home?" He keeps her on his hip and she lays her arm lightly on his shoulder.
"She's like you when Aiden turned you over to the police. She is very sick, Arrayah."
"So she's only gonna be there a few days, right? Then she'll be come home?"
"A little longer actually, she's been hurt very bad."
The look that disappeared makes it nasty reappearance. "Dwayne hit her more?" Nolan mentally kicks himself for making her think it was her fault.
"They think so Arrayah, but Dwayne isn't healthy in his mind, so even if you hadn't left, he still would've done this. Thanks to you, you and your mommy are getting medicine to help you get better."
"When do I get to see her?" Arrayah asks excitedly, trying to focus on seeing her mom.
"Very soon, kid." He tells her, "Whenever they move her out of the ICU, which is where the very sick people are, and put her in a regular room, I will take you to her." He figures she's seen her mother like that before, but it will be over his dead body if Arrayah ever sees her mother like that again.
"Do you think I'll get to see her before Christmas?"
"I'll make sure of it Arrayah. I haven't let you down yet, have I?"
"Nope." Arrayah giggles; Mommy's coming home. Nolan hugs Arrayah again, out of pure joy that Emily is alive.
"I have an important job for you, Ray." Nolan stands her on the chair so he can look her in the eye.
"What is it?"
"We need to get your mom some flowers to help spruce up her room."
"Can I draw her a picture to go with her flowers?"
"I think she would love it, so grab your coat and let's go to the florist." The blond duo set out and Nolan leads the way to the florist he went to get the apology flowers and every flower for the Clarke's before that. When they arrive, they're greeted by a petite Indian woman with bright pink glasses adorning her small face.
"Nolan! I haven't seen you in forever!" She asks, with no trace of an accent. Nolan feels Arrayah's hand grip his tighter by the unexpected voice.
"Yes, Mala, and I apologize. How have you been?" Nolan asks.
"I've been great. My little girl and boy turned eight this past month. How have you been, Nolan?" Mala asks.
"Eh, been the same I guess." Nolan shrugs. He can feel Arrayah's hand relaxing.
"It seems like you've found your special someone. Your daughter is absolutely stunning."
"Thanks, but she's not mine. She's a friend's and I'm just watching over her."
"You could've fooled me! With those eyes, it's amazing that you're not related to her."
Nolan is uncomfortable and feels the need to change the subject, "So about the flowers. I think I need a big bouquet. Arrayah, would you like to help me?" He jesters to the big binder of flower types and colors.
"Yah." Nolan picks her up and puts her on the stool so she can see the pictures. Together they create a big bouquet of white Gardenias, Orchids, red and pink Tulips, and pink and yellow Roses, all tied together with a red bow. He arranges to pick them up within a few days when Emily gets out of the ICU.
So, we are over one mountain! I estimate that we have maybe five chapters, maybe a little more, left of this story. This is the news I was talking about earlier: I may not be able to update next week due to being on spring holiday with my family and I may not be able to access Internet to update, but I should be able to update the next Monday. I hope you all have a fabulous week and hope to hear from you soon.