Chapter Five: Memories of Brittany

When Jeanette ran out of Brittany's room Eleanor saw this and ran after her. Jeanette almost made it to the exit doors when Eleanor caught up with her.

"Jeanette, wait," Eleanor said. "You can't go. Brittany needs us."

"No, she doesn't. She doesn't even know that we're around. You heard the doctor. She could be brain damaged, which means even if she wakes up, she may not even know us."

"I don't believe that, and neither do you. And even if it is we can't abandon her. She's always taken care of us. Now, we have to take care of her."

"You're right, Eleanor," Jeanette said, crying.

"Don't you remember the time Alvin entered you in that beauty contest."

"Yea, she thought it was a joke at first."

"But when you won she was proud, although she never said it," Eleanor said.

"I love her so much, Ellie," Jeanette cried on her shoulder.

"I do too," Eleanor said.

Back inside Brittany's hospital room Alvin still stayed vigil. She hadn't moved an inch. He just sat there staring at her, his heart breaking.

"Hey, baby girl, enough is enough. I know how mad at me you were when you left, and that's okay. Be mad all you want. Yell, scream, call me an idiot. I don't care. I deserve it. Just, please, wake up."

He cried there by her bedside. Miss Miller came back in, but Alvin didn't even realize it.

"Hey, do you remember when we were kids at summer camp. I fell into the water after the canoe sunk. You had the life raft, but you refused to give it to me, not until I admitted you were better. Then you still wouldn't give it to me."

There was a few beeps on the monitor. "I think she heard you, Alvin," Miss Miller said. He looked back and realized for the first time Brittany's mother had been in the room. "Go on," she said. "Keep taking to her."

"Brittany, tell me you remember that day. I admired you so much, because you called me on all my crap." The monitor continued to beep. "That's it, Britt." he kissed her forehead gently, careful not to injure her further.

Miss Miller came to the other side of her beside. "Hey, baby, it's momma. Do you know what a privilege it has been being your mother? My life was so empty before you girls came to live with me." Miss Miller was crying now. That's when Eleanor and Jeanette came back into the room. The monitor began to beep again.

She 's coming back," Eleanor said. "I just know it."

The nurse came in a few minutes later. "I have to ask you all to leave for a little while. I have to take her vitals and the doctor will be in to exam her."

"But she coming back," Eleanor said. "Look at the monitor." She pointed at the machine.

The nurse came across the room and looked intensely at the monitor. "Interesting," she said. She looked over at Alvin and Brittany's family. "I'll have to page the doctor."

"What does this mean?" Alvin asked.

"I'm not sure. We'll have to wait until the doctor examines her."

Jeanette, Eleanor and Miss Miller filed out of the hospital room. Alvin hesitated for a moment. He touched his hand to her cheek. He slowly left her hospital room, never once taking his eyes off her. Even outside her hospital room he stayed close. He didn't want to be too far away from her.

The doctor soon came and walked into Brittany's room. His presence made Alvin and her family nervous. All they wanted to hear from him is that she was going to recover, but they also prepared for the worst. He finally came out.

"How is she?" Miss Miller asked. There was a sort of desperation in her voice.

"Things look good," the doctor said.

"Then why won't she wake up?" Alvin asked.

"Physically she will recover. That will take time. Her body needs rest, but she should be waking up soon, but with the head injury we don't know what her metal capacity might be. We'll just have to wait and see."

At that moment, Alvin saw Dave and his brothers coming towards him.

"Oh, Dave," Miss Miller said. "Thank you for coming."

"You called Dave?" Alvin asked.

"I thought he should be here," she said.

Simon noticed how distraught Jeanette was and went to comfort her. "Jeanette, why didn't call me sooner?" he asked.

"I'm sorry, Simon," she said. "It all happened so fast. It just seems so unreal." She cried in his arms.

Theodore went to Eleanor. She seemed to be maintaining her composer, but she had a way of holding everything in to stay strong for her family.

"How are you holding up?" Theodore asked, taking Eleanor aside to have a private moment with her.

"I'm fine. I'm just worried about Brittany and my family."

"I'm worried about you, Ellie. When's the last time you ate?" he asked, taking her hands in his.

"I don't know," she said honestly. "I can't think of eating as long as Brittany's..." That's when she broke down and cried. He held her in his arms. She was usually the strong one, getting him through all his little crisis's, but it was time for him to give her support.

Alvin wanted to go back in to be with Brittany, but Dave insisted on speaking to him. "Alvin, you look tired. You should go home and get some rest."

"No, I can't leave her," he said, about to go back into her room.

"Alvin, don't be stubborn," Dave said, insistently.

"I'm not leaving, Dave," Alvin said, standing his ground. "She needs me." This was a strange silence, but by the look on Dave's face told Alvin that he understood. He walked back into Brittany's room and sat down next to her.

So ends another sad chapter. I hope you all liked it. Remember to review and see you next chapter.