A Poem For My Daughter
Hey Arnold! / Touched By An Angel crossover
A/N: Thank you for all the support I enjoy reading every review. I am glad this story is so well received in the fandom, without further ado here's chapter 3.
Disclaimer: I do not own either series they belong to their respective creators'.
Chapter 3: Family
Friday night had come and gone like a blur for the Pataki family. It was now Saturday morning around nine when Olga's flight touchdown at Hillwood International Airport. The young woman could be seen disembarking like a mad woman making her way to baggage claim. Impatiently waiting for the duffel bag she haphazardly packed before she left. Once the bag was located Olga ran for the entrance hailing a cab.
"Taxi, taxi." Olga yelled waving her arms to and fro to gain some attention. Apparently it worked because the first cab stopped. She climbed in immediately wasting no time for pleasantries.
"Hillwood Regional Medical Center and step on it." Olga shouted from the back seat before the cabby even got the chance to greet her.
"Sure thing young lady. By the way, the names Ernie Potts, but you can just call me Ernie ." Ernie said as he sped off into the direction of the hospital.
"Hello Ernie my name is Olga Pataki. I'm sorry for being so rude, but I have a family emergency." Olga said regaining her composure from her hasty retreat from the airport.
"Pataki eh, that name sounds familiar. Where have I heard it? Oh yeah, your dads Big Bob Pataki right?" Ernie said in realization.
"Yes, that's my father. Do you mind me asking how you know him?" Olga asked curiously.
"I'm a construction worker. My crew helped your dad with the remodel of his store a few years back. I work as a cab driver in between jobs." Ernie answered.
"Oh." Olga replied solemnly.
"Might I ask why you're in such a hurry to get to the hospital? I don't mean to pry, but you seem a bit distraught it may help to talk about it? We have about an hour to kill with this traffic." Ernie asked trying to help the young woman.
'Arnold sure rubs off on ya after a while.' Ernie thought of the helpful young boy. Ernie never did take too much effort into helping his fares, but something told him to ask what was wrong with this young girl.
"No, it's alright." Olga said as tears she has held at bay till then began to slowly make their way down her face. Ernie continued to drive with the occasional glance back waiting for her to continue.
"You see I got a call yesterday that my sister and mother were in a terrible car accident." Olga said finally.
"Geez, I'm sorry to hear that." Ernie said now regretting asking. He had no way of helping this young woman with something this terrible.
"My mother seems to be fine, but what's worse is I have no idea how my sister Helga is doing. All the woman told me over the phone is that she isn't doing too well and I should come home right away. I don't want to think of the worse possibility, but I can't help it without knowing any better." Olga finished staring down at her lap where both of her hands rested.
"I think the only thing you can do is be there for your family." Ernie said hoping his words will give Olga some comfort.
"Yes, I think your right." Olga said smiling sadly into Ernie's rear view mirror. Ernie gave a smile in return and the rest of the ride was made in a comfortable silence each contemplating just what the day had in store for them.
~Hillwood Regional Medical Center
A loud knock came at her door drawing Miriam's attention to it.
"Hello, Miriam my name is Tess and I will be your lawyer." Tess said as she entered the hospital room closing the door behind her.
"I didn't call for an attorney?" Miriam said in a small tired voice eying the woman in her room.
"No you didn't, but your husband did. So here I am." Tess said with a smile opening her brief case on the small table in the room.
"Now has anyone given you an update on your daughter's condition?" Tess asked.
"No, I just woke up not to long ago and you're the first visitor I had all morning." Miriam said in a low voice barely audible, keeping her gaze cast downward to the floor at the mention of her daughter.
"Well she got out of surgery last night and is in a coma. The doctors are unsure if she will wake up. That is all I know for now. I will keep you updated on her condition if it changes." Tess said watching Miriam closely.
"Can I see her?" Miriam asked in another low voice.
"I'm sorry, but right now you're in the custody of the Hillwood Police Department. You are not to have any contact with your family until you have been taken to the station for processing. You will remain in police custody till your arraignment on Monday. I am here to prepare you for that process." Tess said.
"Will my family be there?" Miriam asked still in a low voice.
"I have spoken with your husband and he has assured me that he and your daughter Olga will be there for your arraignment. I am trying to arrange a visit for you before you are sent to jail." Tess said noticing Miriam flinched at the mention of jail.
"So I will be going to jail." Miriam confirmed in a low voice to no one at all.
"Well this isn't your first offense. Since you have a prior history of driving while under the influence you are looking at some jail time. Now how much is completely up to you." Tess said.
"What do you mean?" Miriam asked a bit confused how she could help the current situation she is in.
"By taking responsibility of course. Are you even a bit remorseful of the condition your daughter is in because of you? I don't think it's fully hit home yet just how serious this situation is." Tess asked getting frustrated with the lack of response she's getting from Miriam. It's as if she is going through the motions and already given up.
"I'm sorry." Miriam said in an even lower voice than before. Still in the very same position as when their conversation started looking down at the floor.
'Lord, give me strength.' Tess thought looking up to heaven.
At the entrance of the Hillwood Regional Medical Center.
Olga made her way to the receptionist in the hospital lobby pausing a moment for her to get off the phone.
"Yes, how can I help you?" The older woman asked giving Olga a smile.
"What room is Helga Pataki in please." Olga asked quickly.
The older woman looked up the patients information in her computer and told Olga she would be in room 2174 on the second floor. Once she got the directions Olga made her way down the winding halls and up the elevator.
"Daddy I'm here." Olga said making her way into her baby sisters hospital room.
"Olga you're here. How did you get here so fast?" Big Bob said getting up to give his daughter a hug.
Ignoring her father's question, Olga released herself from her fathers hug and made her way around to sit in the chair at Helga's bedside. Taking her sister's right hand holding it in both of hers she turns to her father.
"What happened?" Olga asked on the verge of tears once more.
"You're mother went to pick her up from school, or so they told me. They got in an accident on the way home. The doctor said Helga suffered severe head trauma and is in a coma. They won't know how bad it is until she wakes up." Big Bob said sparing his daughter the more grim details.
(Knock, Knock)
"Can I come in?" Monica said peeking her head into the room.
"Yes, Olga this is Monica she's the social worker that called you." Big Bob said as Monica waved hi as she entered the room.
"Wait, why is there a social worker here for a simple accident?" Olga asked confused.
"Well that's because it wasn't just a simple accident. Your mother was intoxicated when the accident occurred. I am afraid charges will be brought against her as a result." Monica answered unaware the girls father hadn't told her.
"She was drunk. Daddy why didn't you say something sooner?" Olga asked hurt her father kept something so important from her.
"I'm sorry Olga. I didn't know how to tell you." Big Bob said as he saw the hurt in his daughter's eyes cast toward him.
"That is why I am here. Tess just informed me that Miriam will be taken to the police Station for processing, where she will remain until her arraignment on Monday." Monica said giving the family the news.
"Can we see her?" Olga asked.
"Not for a while, the police want ask her a few questions first. Tess has assured me once she is allowed visitor's she will arrange for you both to go in and see her." Monica answered.
"Thank you Monica." Olga said keeping her eyes on her little sister unsure of what she could possibly say to their mother. Knowing her mother was the cause for Helga's current condition left her with conflicted feelings over it all.
"I'm glad you were able to get here so quickly." Monica said as Big Bob silently stepped out into the hall to clear his head.
"I didn't think I would be able to when I realized I needed someone to take care of my class while I was gone. Luckily a nice young man named Rafael was available to substitute teach for me." Olga said thankfully.
"Ah, I worked with Rafael on a few cases he is a fine young man." Monica said smiling.
"Really is he from here?" Olga asked not missing a beat.
"No, but in our line of work we travel a lot." Monica said with a knowing smile. Olga gave her a nod accepting the vague explanation.
~Sunset Arms Boarding House
It was nine o'clock when Ernie returned to the old boarding house from a long day. Just as he was heading to his room he noticed Arnold on the phone in the hall. He couldn't help, but overhear his conversation when a certain name was mention.
"I'm sorry Phoebe, but I haven't heard from Helga today." Arnold said as he continued to listen to his friend on the other line.
"Yes I know, I'm sure she's fine. Maybe her phone died and she hasn't been home." Arnold said trying to calm Phoebe down not willing to jump to conclusions.
"If I see her I'll tell her to call you okay. Why don't you try again tomorrow, I'm sure she's fine. Helga probably had plans for today and forgot to mention them to you." Arnold said pausing to hear Phoebe's response.
"Okay, I'll talk to you later. Bye." Arnold said hearing a goodbye on the other line he hung up the phone and noticed Ernie staring at him a few feet away.
"Hi Mr. Potts just getting in." Arnold asked giving Ernie a smile.
"Hey, Arnold that phone call you just got mind telling me about it." Ernie asked ignoring his question hoping he was wrong.
"Yea, that was a friend from school. She was worried when she couldn't get a hold of another friend of ours and called to ask if I had seen her today. Why do you ask?" Arnold asked curious to know Ernie's sudden interest.
"Your friends name wouldn't happen to be Helga Pataki would it? Big Bob Pataki's daughter." Ernie asked still hoping.
"Yea, that's her how did you know?" Arnold asked not understanding what was going on.
"Um Arnold why don't you come into my room and I'll explain." Ernie said leading the way from the hall, where others could overhear.
"What's this about Mr. Potts?" Arnold asked again as he sat down waiting for an explanation.
"Well Arnold you see I picked up a girl at the airport this morning and her name was Olga Pataki. I don't know how to say this so I'll just come right out and say it. She told me her mother and sister were in a terrible car accident yesterday. Her mother was fine, but she didn't know how bad her sister was. They just told her to get to the hospital right away." Ernie finished looking up to gauge Arnold's reaction. He was surprised to see the teen fists balled on his knees on the verge of tears at the news. He always knew Arnold cared deeply for others, but this reaction took him for a loop.
"Mr. Potts can you take me to the hospital that you dropped off Olga, Please." Arnold asked desperately trying to compose himself.
"Sure thing kid." Ernie said as he and Arnold made their way to his cab.
~Hillwood Regional Medical Center
Arnold stood outside of Helga's room unable to open the door and be hit with the sudden realization that she was really there. It was then a male nurse noticed him standing there.
"You know visiting hours ended thirty minutes ago." Andrew said gaining Arnold's attention.
"I'm sorry I didn't know. I just found out my friend was here." Arnold said sadly.
"Well I won't send you away before seeing her. Lucky for you, my names Andrew and I'll be the one taking care of Helga for the night shift. Come in, I'm sure I won't get in too much trouble as long as I keep an eye on you." Andrew said opening the door for Arnold.
Arnold walked in and couldn't believe what he was seeing. There was Helga lying on the bed with tubes and wires hooked up to various monitors, her head wrapped in bandages.
"What happened?" Arnold asked quietly making his way to her bedside standing above her looking down.
"She was in a terrible car accident. From what I was told the other car hit her side head on, as a result she suffered severe head trauma. The doctors did all they could, they lost her a few times during surgery. They were able to bring her back, but she is in a coma. They won't know the extent of the damage until she wakes up." Andrew said knowing this kid needed to know the truth.
"Can I stay for a while?" Arnold asked not taking his eyes off of Helga.
"Sure thing. I'll make my rounds and be back later." Andrew said before turning to leave.
Arnold sat down in the chair, reached his hand over and placed it over hers.
"I got a call from Phoebe tonight. She was really worried when she couldn't get a hold of you. I don't know how I'm going to tell her Helga?" Arnold said looking down and closing his eyes as tears began to fall. He sat there for the duration of his visit holding her hand as he cried silently in the empty room.
There is a place that is void of light. A young girl opens her eyes and looks up to see a beam of light shining above her slicing through the darkness as it surrounds her. She can feel a warmth and peace she has never known before. It is then she hears a voice say to her.
"Don't be afraid for you are never alone."