Greenlee sat up in her hospital bed bored out of her mind. She had just gotten back from a grueling physical therapy session. The physical therapy after her motorcycle accident seemed to move quickly but this time it seemed to be taking longer and the pain was much more intense than before. Her physical therapist explained that the bullet had damaged the muscles in her back. The damage had made it difficult for her to stand let alone walk when they did have her try and walk the first few times the pain had been unbearable. Thankfully with each session the pain lessened.
It had been just over a week since she woke up to see Leo holding her hand. All the days since had startled blending into the other. Every morning after she somehow managed to stomach the hospital breakfast then she was taken to physical therapy. After that she went back to her room to rest and then had lunch which was followed by a second P.T. session. Evenings were the best part of her day. Before dinner someone always showed up to visit with her. Ryan showed up every night at the same time without fail always bringing her something she could actually eat and enjoy. Jack of course came by everyday as well. Kendall and Zach were frequent visitors. Leo had come every night as well but their visits were awkward with Ryan sitting there next to her.
Today though her normal routine was changed just a little bit. There was no afternoon physical therapy. Today was Halloween all the kids on the Pediatric Unit were going to be having a Costume Parade down the halls of each floor of the hospital and then were going to go trick or treating through the floors where patients weren't in critical condition. Halloween was one of Greenlee's favorite holiday and even though this year she couldn't dress up she couldn't wait to see the kids dressed up.
She sighed as she looked down at her watch still a few hours before anyone was going to show up. She hated being stuck in the hospital she should be at Fusion or catching up with Leo. Instead she was stuck here in bed.
Greenlee decided that now was as good as time as any to try walking on her own. Sure it would hurt when she first stood up but she had been feeling stronger with each passing day. She threw the covers off her legs and carefully swung her legs over the side.
"I can do this" she looked down at her feet just a few inches from the floor.
"What do you think you're doing?" Greenlee looked up to see Ryan standing in the door way. She smiled up at him trying to butter him up, "Don't try that on me missy. You are not supposed to be trying to walk around by yourself."
"Come on Ryan the doctors are being too careful. I'll be fine."
"Yeah until you hurt yourself worse. Now if you don't get back in that bed I'm calling Angie." He gave her a stern look trying not to laugh at the guilty look on her face.
"You're so mean." She laid back in bed. "Come one Ryan I need to get out of this room. No one's watching you can bust me out of here."
"I'll get you out of here as soon as you can walk on your own and Angie says you're free to go. Until then the best I can do is bring you some visitors." Ryan looked out the door and motioned for someone.
Greenlee watched as Emma walked in her room in a Dorothy costume.
"Hi Greenlee!" the little girl brightly greeted her step mother.
"Emma! Look at you!" she held her arms out for the little girl who ran right into them.
When Greenlee finally let go of the child Ryan picked Emma up and placed her on the end of Greenlee's bed. Emma looked at her worried. "Are you all better Greenlee? People at school said that AJ's Daddy hurt people at the party. Is he the one that hurt you?"
Greenlee looked at Ryan not really sure what to tell the little girl. "You know Emma I'm not sure who hurt me. The police haven't arrested anyone yet so until then we can't be sure who did it. It's not really important right now who hurt the people at the part what's important honey is that everyone is ok now. And the doctors say that I'm going to be just fine and I'll be able to come home soon."
At this news Emma smiled up at her, "I can't wait for you to come home! Can we have a party when Greenlee comes home?" she looked up at Ryan with her sky blue eyes.
Ryan smiled back, "Of course. Hey do you want to go get Greenlee's surprise?"
She giggled and nodded her head. Ryan picked her up off the bed and the little girl ran into the hallway.
Ryan leaded down and kissed her cheek, "You handled that very well babe."
"I didn't really know what to say to her. I couldn't very well tell her that her classmates were right that JR is a sadistic bastard who in an effort to seek revenge on AJ's mommy almost killed everyone in that room including her own Daddy. Not to mention that same man is still on the streets and could decide to come back and finish the job."
"Greenlee…" he looked at her concerned.
"I know I know Ryan I'm be irrational. If JR wanted to finish what he started he would have already done it. I know he wouldn't come after me he has no reason. I'm sacred for Marissa and Bianca he hates them. And the night of the shooting he wasn't aiming for me or anyone else but we all still got caught in the cross fire who knows who would get hurt if he went after Marissa again." She leaned into Ryan she hated being so vulnerable but she couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Greenlee" Ryan rubbed his hand on the back of her hair, "Your Dad and Jesse aren't going to let JR get away with what he did. Once Jesse has enough evidence JR's going to be off the streets and he's going to pay for what he did to everyone. And I'm going to everything I can to keep you safe." Ryan held her tight before releasing her.
Just as Ryan let go Emma came back into the room followed by Bianca and Kendall who had Miranda, Gabby, Spike, and Ian in tow.
"Surprise" Kendall smiled at her friend. We thought you could use a few more visitors.
"Wow! What are you guys all doing here? Shouldn't you be getting these guys ready to go trick or treating."
Miranda chimed in, "Marissa called mommy and told her that AJ was going to go trick or treating through the hospital so we decided to go with him!"
"I'm sure AJ will love that. Ok so let me look at you guys. I know Emma's Dorothy so I'm going to guess that Miranda you're the Wicked Witch of the West, Gabby is the Glenda the Good Witch, Spike you're the Tin Man, and Ian's the Cowardly Lion?"
Miranda nodded her head, "Mommy is Aunty Em! And Aunt Kendall is a munchkin!"
Greenlee laughed, "What's Uncle Zach going as? The Mayor of Munchkin city?"
Spike chimed in, "Daddy Zach is a hockey player for the Red Wings! Daddy Ryan is the Wizard of Oz."
Gabby walked tentatively up to the hospital bed, "Greenlee?" he little voice let out.
"Yes sweetheart?" Greenlee looked at the little girl dressed in all pink.
"Do you get to wear a costume this year?" she innocently asked.
"No sweetie not this year. But I am going to watch you guys in the parade. And you wanta know a secret?"
Gabby quickly nodded as Greenlee whispered in her ear, "I have your favorite candy to pass out when you guys trick or treat."
Gabby smiled up at Greenlee forgetting about how Greenlee wasn't going to get to join them this year.
Bianca picked up Gabby and looked down at the other kids, "Alright guys we better go downstairs and see if Marissa and AJ are ready! We'll see you a little bit Greenlee."
"Bye guys!" Greenlee hated to see the kids leave they may this room not so gloomy.
Down stairs Marissa stood outside of AJ's room with Krystal and Angie.
"Angie how long until I can take AJ home? He misses the girls and his friends at school."
"Marissa, the infection that attacked AJ has left him extremely weak. We're still trying to assess what kind of permanent damage it could have done." Angie tried to delicately explain the hold up.
"What kind of damage are we talking about Angie?" Krystal stepped in.
"I'm not going to sugar coat this for you guys. We're worried that the infection may have attacked AJ's organs. We're running tests to see what kind of damaged we're dealing with. It could be nothing…."
Krystal interrupted Angie, "Or it could be something serious?"
"I'm afraid so" Before Angie could continue they were interrupted by children's laughter echoing through the halls.
"Marissa!" Miranda ran into the woman's arms.
"Hi Miranda." She saw the rest of the kids coming down the hallway, "Wow you guys all look awesome!" she admired the kids costumes.
"Looks like we have our own Wizard of Oz group here!" Angie smiled at all the kids dressed up as different characters. "It looks like you missing a character though."
"We're waiting on AJ he's going to be the Scarecrow!" Miranda was so excited about seeing AJ again that she was hopping from one foot to the other.
"Well AJ and I don't want to keep you guys waiting. Why don't you guys wait for us in the waiting room and I'll go make sure he's ready." Marissa smiled down at the kids hoping to mask her concern about the conversation she had had with Angie.
Kendall walked the kids down the hallway as Bianca hung back with Marissa.
" 'Rissa? Is everything ok?" Bianca had noticed the look on her face and was worried for her.
"Yeah Binx. Nothing we can't deal with tomorrow. I'm going to get AJ and meet you guys in the waiting room."
Bianca looked at Marissa concerned she wanted to ask more questions but could tell from the look on Marissa's face she wasn't up to any more questions. "OK 'Rissa we'll see you in a few minutes."
After Bianca turned the corner Marissa sunk down to the ground. Krystal got down on her knees and pulled her daughter close to her. "Everything will be ok Marissa. AJ's got the best doctors in the world taking care of him and he's a fighter just like his Mama."
"We don't know that for sure Mom. Anything could go wrong. DAMN IT! Why couldn't JR just leave town like him promised Dixie and Tad? Every decision he's made has come back to hurt other people. First he tapes Binx and I in the hotel room hoping to keep AJ from me. He steals Bianca's car and crashes it into a tree. Then he shoots and almost kills everyone at that damn party. If that wasn't enough he kidnapped my son and got in a fucking car accident. If AJ had been home safe in bed where I left him this would never have happened. Now because of his father's selfishness my son is suffering." Marissa broke down in tears finally letting go of all the stress she had been holding in.
Krystal held her as Marissa emptied all her stored up tears. When there was nothing left Krystal helped the young girl to her feet. She wiped the tears from her cheeks, "Come on now we can't let AJ see you like this. Let's go show that little boy the best Halloween ever."
That night AJ dressed up like the Scarecrow and spent the night with his future sisters and cousins. The paraded down the halls of PVH while doctors and patients clapped for them and took pictures. After the parade they went into the patient rooms in the adult wing for trick or treating. AJ loved spending time with the other kids he felt like a normal kid again.