A Poem For My Daughter
Hey Arnold! / Touched By An Angel crossover
A/N: Hi everyone this chapter is the longest I have written for a story thus far and I hope you all like it. As always thank you to those who take the time to review this story I really appreciate it.
Disclaimer: I do not own either series they belong to their respective creators'.
Chapter 4: Broken Hearts
~Hillwood Police Department
It was going to be another late Saturday night for Detective Diaz as he sits at his desk going over his latest case. He is Mexican, reaching well over six feet and prefers to work comfortably wearing jeans, a t-shirt and running shoes (for when he has to chase down suspects). He was called in to investigate an accident involving two cars. As it turns out there was more to the story than a mere accident. He spent most of Friday night figuring out just what happened leading up to the events of the "accident".
"Hey Diaz where you been?" A shorter Asian detective asked dressed in her black suite with her hair in a tight bun looking very professional as she walked in.
"Hi Kwon caught a case late last night, an accident involving a drunk driver. I could really use your help on it." Diaz answered his fellow detective and partner.
"You don't say, where's the suspect? Last I checked the cells were empty." Kwon asked curiously.
"I'm headed out later tonight to pick her up. Her doctor is finally going to discharge her." Diaz said looking up at his partner.
"A woman, I'll go with you partner." Kwon suggested settling in at her desk across from Diaz.
"Sure how about I get you caught up on the case, then we can head out." Diaz said gathering his files.
"Sounds good." Kwon answered as her partner began to get her caught up on all the evidence he was able to gather up till that point.
~Hillwood Regional Medical Center
Earlier Tess thought it would be a good idea to take a break. She decided to go find Miriam's doctor to get any updates she could on mother and daughter. Alone in her room Miriam is unable to get any sleep since she woke up early that morning. She is running on the few short hours she got after she passed out in the emergency room. Then they transferred her into a room upstairs, with a police officer posted at her door. She begins to close her eyes in another attempt to get some rest.
'How dare you sleep when your daughter is fighting for her life!' A deep dark voice accuses out of nowhere .
As soon as Miriam hears the voice she bolts upright from her lying position looking around the room for it's owner.
"Who's there?" Miriam asks afraid of the answer, but getting none.
Miriam brings her knees to her chest wrapping her arms around them as best she could still being cuffed to the bed. She slowly begins rocking back and forth afraid to close her eyes. She continually scans the room for any sign that she is not alone. It was getting late when Tess reemerged in Miriam's room to find her in this very position.
"Miriam are you okay baby?" Tess asked worriedly making her way to Miriam's bedside.
"Yes, I'm fine." Miriam answered in a small voice. Noticing Tess's presence she halted her rocking, but stayed in the very same position.
"Well okay then, I just talked to your doctor and he informed me that the detectives will be here soon to take you to the station." Tess said letting the matter go believing when she's ready Miriam will tell her what's wrong.
"Okay." Miriam answered in a low voice. She lowered her knees and took to staring at her hands folded in her lap.
"Remember what I told you. I will be with you every step of the way, you are not alone in this." Tess said hoping to get more of a response out of the woman before her.
"Okay." Miriam merely repeated.
Tess shook her head unsure of what she should do to get through to Miriam. She has a feeling she is missing a very important piece of the puzzle. Before she could contemplate more on this Tess was brought out of her thoughts by a knock at the door.
"Come in." Tess said.
The door opened to reveal a man and woman walking in and closing the door behind them.
"Hello my name is Detective Diaz and this is my partner Detective Kwon." Diaz said motioning to his partner.
"Hello my name is Tess and I am Miriam's attorney." Tess greeted shaking the detectives hands.
"Hi Tess we will be taking Miriam to the Hillwood Police Department now you can meet your client there at the station." Kwon said after shaking Tess's hand.
"Miriam don't say anything I will meet you at the station." Tess instructed her client as Miriam simply nodded in response.
The detectives proceeded to read Miriam her rights and instructed her to get ready to leave.
~Hillwood Police Department
At the station Miriam is processed and now waits in an interrogation room with Tess for the detectives to come in. The door opens suddenly and Detective Diaz walks in with Kwon following soon after holding a manila folder. They sit across from Miriam and Tess ready to begin, Kwon is the first to break the silence.
"Is there anything I can get you ladies before we begin a soda or water perhaps?" Kwon asked in a friendly voice.
"No." Miriam answered nervously ringing her hands on the table in front of her.
"No thank you dear." Tess replied soon after placing a gentle hand over Miriam's to help calm her.
"Alright now Detective Diaz and I have a few questions for you and it would help move things along if you cooperated and answer truthfully." Kwon said as her partner sat next to her with his arms crossed over his chest observing Miriam closely with a hard stare.
"I'll begin by asking that you tell us just what happened last night, in your own words Mrs. Pataki." Diaz said his voice sounding more stern and demanding than his partners.
Miriam looks to Tess as she nods in response.
"Go ahead tell them what you told me." Tess said answering Miriam's silent question.
"I remember I had fallen asleep, when I woke up it was already five when I looked at the time I realized I was late to pick up my daughter from school. She had told me earlier that morning that she had to stay after school and needed a ride. I had agreed to pick her up so I rushed to the school in hopes that I didn't miss her. I saw her walking and honked my horn to get her attention, then she got in the car. On our way back to the house I was approaching the intersection of first and main when I checked my rear view mirror and the next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital." Miriam finished finally looking up at the detectives fear and guilt could be seen in her eyes as she was unable to look the detectives in the eye from the beginning.
"What about your blood alcohol level being four times the legal limit. How do you explain that Mrs. Pataki." Detective Diaz said placing the piece of paper with the test results, on top of the open manila folder, in front of Miriam. He could tell by looking at Miriam that she was remorseful. What he wanted to find out if it was because she hurt her daughter or that she would be put in jail. If Diaz had his way he would lock her up and throw away the key. After many years on the force it still baffled him how some parents could be so neglectful when it comes to their own child's safety.
"Well I..." Miriam couldn't finish her sentence as her voice began to crack.
"Answer the question Mrs. Pataki." Diaz said his voice reaching an octave higher losing his patience with the woman before him.
"I'm sorry." Was all Miriam could get out before she broke down crying uncontrollably.
"I think were done for now." Tess said as she tried to console Miriam but to no avail.
"I think she's right partner." Kwon said casting her gaze from the crying woman, to her partner. It was obvious they weren't going to get anymore information out of the distraught woman. Miriam was slowly deteriorating since this whole process began.
"Alright you can have a few minute's with your client to calm her down then we have to move her to lockup." Diaz said getting up and leaving without a second glance.
It took Tess a whole hour to finally get Miriam settled enough for the detectives to place her in a holding cell for the night without fear of her trying to hurt herself. Miriam hadn't shown any sign of being suicidal but they didn't want to take a chance in the current state she was in that the situation could change. Miriam now sits in the corner of her cell all alone as she begins to be tormented by her inner demons.
'So useless, why not give up, do you really think your family will ever forgive you after what you've done.' The deep voice fills the darkness.
"Stop." Miriam responds not wanting to hear anymore as she slowly begins losing her sanity once more.
'No, it's only going to get much worse you'll see everyone will turn their backs on you once they find out the truth. Did you really think you could hide it forever?' The voice says delving deeper into Miriam's darkest fears.
"Stop, please just stop." Miriam says now begging the voice to leave her be.
'Your husband and daughter will hate you for ruining their perfect family, it's all your fault.' The voice continues.
"Stop." Miriam responds now weeping.
'You will be known as the alcoholic mother who murdered her daughter. They will never forget what you've done, why not end your suffering now before you have to go through the humiliation of a trial. It will make everything so much easier to just let it go.' The voice continued to torment Miriam with thoughts similar to these for the rest of the night never leaving her in peace.
~Sunset Arms Boarding House
Arnold can't believe this is all happening. Just the other day Helga was fine and now less than twenty-four hours later she's in the hospital fighting for her life. He tried very hard to sleep when he got back to the boarding house. He was unable to stop thinking about Helga. It was two-thirty in the morning when his eyes finally shut and was soon dreaming.
*Dream*
"Where am I?" Arnold thought looking through the darkness. He tries to focus his eyes to see a glimpse of anything only to find it to be pitch black, void of any kind of light, as this realization dawns on Arnold his fear intensifies of the unknown.
"I don't want to be alone, please someone come find me." A girls voice breaks through the darkness sounding like a small child afraid of the dark.
"Who's there, say something so I can follow your voice." Arnold says hoping whoever was out there would respond. Whoever she was she sounded so scared and alone it broke Arnold's heart. All he wanted to do was reach her and tell her everything was going to be alright, that he was right there.
"I'm scared, someone come find me." The girl repeated before Arnold could identify where her voice was coming from and respond another beat him to it.
"Don't be afraid for you are never alone." A powerful voice speaks and with it a light breaks through the darkness illuminating a figure of a beautiful young girl.
Arnold begins to feel a love and peace that goes beyond understanding replacing the intense fear he once had. The bright light intensifies before Arnold can get a good look at the girl, he is forced awake in his bed with thoughts of beautiful gold etched into his memory.
"What just happened?" Arnold said aloud in his empty room. Turning to check his clock it read three-thirty four in the morning giving up on deciphering his dream, Arnold turns on his television instead to drown out the deafening silence in his room, forgetting about sleep for the rest of the night.
~Hillwood Regional Medical Center
It had been a long night for Olga who refused to leave her sister's side since she arrived that morning. Big Bob had to almost drag her out of the room so they could get something to eat. Olga finally agreed to leave when Andrew promised her that he would keep checking on Helga the entire time they were gone and call her immediately once there was a change in her sister's condition. Unfortunately that wasn't the case, now it was Sunday morning and Helga remained in the coma she was in since Friday night.
(Knock, knock)
"Yes come in." Olga says remaining in her seat next to her sister.
"Good morning Olga. Where's your father?" Monica asks as she enters the room noticing his absence.
"Daddy went to get a coffee and some breakfast from the cafeteria downstairs." Olga answered casting a glance at the older woman.
"Oh, well I just came in to tell you that Tess is arranging a visit for you and your father tonight. Your mother will be sent to her arraignment on Monday." Monica said giving Olga the news of the meeting.
"I don't know what to say to her?" Olga asked still unsure of the whole situation as she studied her sister lying in the bed.
"I think that it's important to tell your mother you still love her. You do still love her don't you?" Monica asked trying to gauge Olga's thoughts on the matter.
"I'm not sure I can forgive her for doing such a terrible thing to Helga." Olga said truthfully.
"Olga I know it's hard to forgive someone who's hurt you so deeply, but forgiving your mother doesn't mean you are betraying your sister. Forgiveness is not for the other person, it is for you. It is hard to hold onto the hatred and bitterness in your heart. It will slowly consume your entire being to the point where there will be nothing left, but hatred. That is no way to live your life." Monica says hoping what she is saying gets through.
"I don't know what to do?" Olga says letting Monica's words sink in as she stares down at the floor.
"You have some time to think about what you want to say to your mother. I suggest you think long and hard because there are some thing's you can't take back." Monica finishes excusing herself in search of Big Bob to give him the news, leaving Olga to her thoughts. Monica finds Mr. Pataki in the cafeteria just as Olga had said.
"Mr. Pataki may I have a word with you?" Monica asked approaching the table.
"Fine are you hungry?" Big Bob asked politely.
"No I'm fine thank you. I just had a coffee this morning." Monica answered smiling.
"Okay what is it you wanted to talk about?" Big Bob asked curious to know what she wanted so early in the morning.
"I just informed your daughter that Tess is arranging a visit with your wife later today." Monica stated.
"I see what time can we go to the station?" Big Bob asked realizing she didn't give him one.
"Tess said someone at the department will give you a call when you can see her." Monica answered.
"Thank you for telling me Monica. If you don't mind I have some things to think about." Big Bob said with a thoughtful look.
"Of course, I'll talk to you later Mr. Pataki." With that Monica left Big Bob to his thoughts knowing the man wasn't ready to hear what she had to say.
~Sunset Arms Boarding House
While having breakfast earlier this morning with the boarder's Arnold's Grandpa Phil noticed how tired his Grandson was and asked if he got any sleep the night before. Upon hearing a no he sent Arnold back upstairs to try and take a nap and rest. It was already Noon and Arnold was still asleep in his bed when his Grandpa knocked at the door to tell him one of his friend's was on the phone.
"Hello listen Gerald…" Was all Arnold could get out before a girl interrupted him.
"Um, Arnold this is Phoebe not Gerald." Phoebe answered on the other line.
"Oh, Phoebe I'm sorry I didn't realize. What can I do for you?" Arnold asked tiredly and obviously still half asleep.
"No problem Arnold, I'm sorry to bother you but I still haven't been able to get a hold of Helga and no ones answering at her house. Do you mind helping me look for her?" Phoebe asked hoping he would agree.
It was then that the night before came crashing down on Arnold once more. Now wide awake he steels himself for the painful task of telling Phoebe just what happened to her best friend Friday night.
"Hello Arnold are you still there." Phoebe asked when she didn't get an answer.
"Sorry Phoebe do you mind meeting me at Slausen's in fifteen minutes there's something I have to tell you." Arnold said hoping she wouldn't bombard him with questions.
"Is this about Helga, do you know where she is?" Phoebe asked quickly wanting an answer now.
"I'll tell you at Slausen's okay Phoebe, I don't want to talk about this over the phone." With that Arnold said goodbye and Phoebe reluctantly did the same.
~Slausen's
As promised Arnold was able to get to Slausen's in record time, but it seemed Phoebe still beat him there.
"Arnold over here." Phoebe called out to Arnold, from a booth at the far back, as he entered the ice cream parlor. Phoebe watched as Arnold made his way to the back and sat down across from her without another word. Before she could speak a waitress came by and took their orders, each opting for just something to drink.
"So what did you want to talk about Arnold?" Phoebe asked folding her hands on the table, sitting on the edge of her seat, giving Arnold her complete attention.
"Well Phoebe after you called last night I found out that Helga is in the hospital." Arnold said before he was interrupted by Phoebe.
"What happened, is she alright, why didn't you call me last night?" Phoebe asked in a panic before Arnold could answer the waitress served their drinks and telling them if they needed anything else to call.
"I'm sorry I should have called you, but I was in shock. I even went to the hospital late last night to see her." Arnold said sadly.
"No, I'm sorry Arnold. Do you know what happened." Phoebe asked taking a breath to calm herself from her near panic attack.
"Yes, the nurse told me she was in a car accident on Friday night. He said, Helga sustained a head injury and had surgery, she is in a coma now. They wont know how bad it is until she wakes up." Arnold said his gaze never leaving the table.
Phoebe was silent for a few minutes letting all the information sink in before responding.
"I'm going to see her." Phoebe said making up her mind that she needed to be there for her best friend, no matter what, right away.
"I think that's a good idea. Should we tell the gang?" Arnold asked not knowing if they would even care enough to visit Helga. Even though Helga hasn't bullied anyone since Junior High and is trying to change, the others refuse to give her a second chance. That is why Arnold asked Helga to join him on the student council, so that they could see what he's known all along. That Helga is a nice and caring person who has had to hide who she really is since they were kids.
"I don't know, maybe we should tell them on Monday?" Phoebe redirected the question back at Arnold to see what he thought about telling their friends.
"I think we should and leave it to them on what they want to do." Arnold said confirming what Phoebe believed was the right thing to do. They could decide for themselves if they wish to see Helga or not. They both hoped the others would support their friend in her time of need. After deciding to tell their friends at school on Monday Phoebe excused herself to head over to the hospital leaving Arnold to his thoughts.
~Hillwood Regional Medical Center
"Hello I am looking for Helga Pataki's room please." Phoebe asks politely to the man sitting at the information desk.
"Ah yes just let me look up the room number. (He pauses typing the information in the computer.) Here she is in room 2174." The man said giving Phoebe a smile.
"Thank you Sir." Phoebe answered smiling back to the kind man.
"No problem little lady." He said as Phoebe turned to make her way down the winding halls of the hospital and into the elevator.
(Knock, knock)
"Yes come in." Olga said through the door.
Phoebe peeked her head in the room noticing only Olga she fully enters making her way to her best friend's bedside.
"Hello Olga my name is Phoebe I am Helga's friend." Phoebe introduced herself unsure if Olga would recognized her or not. It had been a long time since the two last saw one another.
"Ah yes Phoebe I could never forget Helga's best friend." Olga said with a smile then continues. "Here why don't you take a seat." Olga got up from her chair to give Phoebe a chance to sit next to Helga during her visit.
"Thank you Olga, is there any news on Helga's condition?" Phoebe asks taking the offered seat reaching for her friends hand immediately holding it for dear life.
"I'm afraid not, there is no change since she was admitted. Would you like me to give you some time alone with Helga?" Olga asked she really didn't want to leave her sisters side, but thought it best for Phoebe to be able to speak to her friend freely without her hovering over her.
"Yes, I would greatly appreciate it Olga." Phoebe answered with a grateful smile and watches as Olga makes her way out of the room.
"Helga, I read in an article that coma patients can hear their loved ones speaking to them and have even woken up because of this. I really hope this is the case, you have to wake up I need you Helga. You're my best friend I cant imagine losing you now. There's still so much we have planned for our future. We still have to tell our crushes how we feel about them remember. You still have to tell Arnold you love him." Phoebe says as tears begin to fall and she is unable to continue. Fearing the worst, a life where her best friend isn't there, fulfilling their dreams together of a brighter future with the ones they love. No one deserved to have her dreams come true more than Helga and it broke Phoebe's heart that her friend may never get that chance.
~ Hillwood Police Department
It was nine thirty at night when Big Bob and Olga got to the station for their visit with Miriam. They were led to a small room where they were asked to wait. After what seemed like an eternity the door finally opened to reveal a disheveled Miriam being led in with handcuffs.
"Mom." Olga was the first to speak as she watched her mother enter the room..
"Miriam." Big Bob said soon after.
Miriam sat in the chair opposite theirs staring blankly at the table between them.
"My name is Detective Kwon and I will be staying in the room for the duration of your visit." Kwon said letting them know her leaving the room isn't up for discussion.
"What's wrong with her?" Big Bob asks taking in his wife's current appearance. She looked a mess and obviously tired from lack of sleep. She didn't look anything like her usual self just like an empty shell of a person.
"When I checked on her this morning, this is what I found she hasn't said a word since her breakdown last night. All she does is sit in the corner of her cell and stare off into space. We have called in a psychiatrist to come in and do an evaluation on her state of mind till then we are watching her carefully." Kwon informed the family.
"Mom wouldn't commit suicide." Olga said trying to convince herself that her mother wasn't suicidal only to doubt her own words.
"We are just taking precautions, Miriam hasn't given us any indication of such, but it is better to be safe than sorry." Kwon responded to Miriam's distraught daughter.
"Mom it's me Olga your daughter." Olga says as she reaches to hold her mothers hand only to have Miriam retract it the instant they touch as if she was burned by the contact.
"Miriam are you alright." Big Bob asks showing genuine concern for his wife, for the first time in a long time.
"Mom." "Miriam." Olga and Bob say in unison trying to get the woman to respond to either of their calls.
Big Bob and Olga try for several hours to get even a word out of Miriam. But to no avail, she wouldn't be coaxed out of her catatonic state.
~Hillwood Regional Medical Center
For a second time Arnold makes his way into the hospital and toward Helga's room past visiting hours. Upon reaching for the door handle a male voice suddenly startles him to a stop.
"Back again Arnold. Are you going to make these late night visit's a habit?" Andrew asks partially teasing the young man.
"Hi Andrew, is it alright if I go in and see her for a bit?" Arnold asks hoping he wont make him leave.
"Sure and F.Y.I, her family usually leaves around this time for a late dinner. Just thought you would like to know." Andrew said with a knowing smile, having a feeling Arnold has something to do with his assignment from God. Arnold returns the smile and heads into the room.
Helga's room is dark with the exception of the moons light shinning upon her sleeping form, from her open window beside her bed. Arnold sits in the chair at Helga's bedside content with watching her sleep with a peaceful look upon her face. He is unsure if it is just him, but it seems as though she is glowing as she lays there motionless in the bed. He slowly and hesitantly takes her hand into his instantly feeling a familiar warmth wash over him. Suddenly the turmoil he has felt in his heart all day begins to fade and is replaced with a warm feeling that he is unsure of what it could all mean.
Helga is in this brilliant light and she realizes she is not alone. In her heart she can feel the love of one who knew her before she was and his name fell off her lips before she was aware of how she even knew who it was.
"Jesus." Helga whispers as the Messiahs' figure appears before her shrouded in the brilliant light.
"Do not be afraid for I will stay with you." Jesus says holding his arms wide open as Helga wastes no time running into his warm embrace. Helga feels the love and acceptance she has longed for since she was a young child.