Lift Me Up

Chapter Nine

You lift me up when I am weak

Your arms wrap around me

Your love catches me so I'm letting go

You lift me up when I can't see

You heart's all that I need

Your love carries me so I'm letting go

Lift Me Up - The Afters

Here we are at the ninth chapter. I hope you are all enjoying the story so far. Just letting you know that these stories won't be uploaded as fast. College is taking the number one spot now. I love it by the way. :) So, I'll type whenever I have free time. Read and review!

Hannah was having a great day. She was having a great month actually. Reid was being great as usual, and her mother was doing well with the new treatment they were giving her. Classes were over for the day, and she was making her way over to dance practice when her phone started buzzing. Groaning loudly, she dropped her bag to the ground and fished her phone from her pocket. At the first hello, the voice on the other end started talking, almost in what seemed to be in another language. With each sentence, Hannah's heart dropped further and further to her feet. Without alerting the coach, Hannah gunned it towards her car, never looking back.

Reid was getting really tired of waiting. Hannah was supposed to be meeting him at their normal dinner spot, over half an hour ago. Surely if something was up, she would have told him so. He was checking his phone for the, what seemed to be the hundredth time, when Devon ran straight to his table.

"Reid, what are you doing here?" Devon asked, breathing heaving as though he had just run a marathon to get to him. "You need to go right now."

"What are you talking about?" Reid asked, rising to his feet. "What's going on, Devon?"

"It's Hannah, she's at the hospital. You need to go right-" Devon couldn't even finish his statement before Reid jumped to his feet, the chair falling to the floor, and over to his car. "Now."

Reid's heart was pounding. His car screeched to a halt once he pulled into the hospital parking lot. Slamming the car door closed, Reid bolted up the narrow steps and into the lobby. Some of the people inside gave him strange looks as he asked the woman at the front desk where he could find the Davis' room.

"Fourth floor," the receptionist gave him a sullen look. "466. I'm sorry."

She was sorry? What was she sorry about? All these questions flooded his mind while he ran up the stairs to the floor like a maniac. Sighing loudly, Reid slowed his pace so he could read the room numbers. 447, 448, 449. It wasn't until he turned the far corner that he saw her. She was standing before the glass window, holding herself tightly. He could see the red lines coating her face as she cried.

She couldn't breathe. She couldn't stop crying. She couldn't stop shaking. That phone call had just changed her world forever. She was all alone now. Hannah had no one. She watched as the nurses pulled the tubes out of her mother's mouth, arm, and chest. She was gone. Her mother had finally left to be with her father. If the glass hadn't been reflective, she would've flinched when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her middle.

Spinning around, she saw Reid's face and how sorry he looked. That was the one thing she didn't want. That was the same face she got when her father passed away. Pity. But he was here, so he just held her and let her cry.

"I'm so sorry," he spoke first. "I know how much she meant to you."

"I can't believe she's gone," Hannah sniffed, her arms still around Reid's neck. "I mean, I knew it was going to be soon, but I never thought it would be this soon."

"Do you want me to get you something?" he asked, concern filling his voice.

"Can I come back to your dorm tonight? I really don't want to be alone right now," she answered. "I don't want to impose or anything of course."

"You could never do that. Do you want to go back now? You look dead on your feet," Reid rubbed her back.

"Please," she whispered.

The drive back to campus was quiet, but Reid wasn't surprised. Every now and then he would glance at Hannah to find her staring out the window. She was a complete mess. Thankfully Devon wasn't in the room when they got back. She moved like a zombie he observed as she changed out of her clothes and into better sleeping attire. He had to do something. There was no way he was going to let her continue to act like this. Sure, she could have her grieving period, but he had a feeling that he would need to lift her up a bit.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, sliding under the sheets beside her. (Thank God for bigger beds.) "It might make you feel better."

"I don't want to talk about anything right now," her voice was hoarse as she talked to him. "Reid, I don't have anyone left. What am I going to do? I'm alone."

"What about me?" he asked, slightly hurt. "I'm here for you, Hannah. You'll get through this."

"I'm not as strong as you, Reid. You should have seen me when my dad died. I was a mess, and I didn't have anyone to help me back then."

"Exactly," he said. "I'm in your corner now. We'll get through this together. Do you trust me on that?"

"I do," Hannah turned onto her side and kissed his nose. "Thank you. How did I get so lucky to have a guy like you?"

"I'm the lucky one," he grinned. "Good night, Hannahbelle Lee."

"Good night, Reid."

Things did get better. Slowly but surely. Reid noticed a huge change when the funeral was over. Many people were there to pay their respects. Hannah had a lot of family.

Christmas was creeping up closer and closer, and the college wasn't letting anyone forget it. Decorations, just like those at Halloween, were popping up all throughout campus. Reid was busy swimming laps solo in the gym, letting his thoughts fill him. What were they going to do for Christmas? They were originally going to spend it with Emily back at the house, but what were they going to do now? Hannah hadn't stepped foot in that house since her mother had passed, and it wouldn't be much fun spending the holiday in the dorm. Ipswich was out of the question. Reid needed to get thinking. He also needed to find the perfect present for Hannah. They were almost four months now. It needed to be a good gift too. Something that showed her just how much she meant to him. Maybe he would have to call Caleb up and ask him for some ideas. Yeah, that would go well. Would jewelry be too much? Or not enough? Why was gift shopping so difficult?

"You've been here quite some time," he hoisted his lanky frame from the water, joining Hannah, whose legs were hanging off the sides of the pool. "Something on your mind?"

"A lot to be honest with you," Reid wrapped the towel around his neck. "What are you doing here? I thought you were watching Lucy for Aleaha tonight. Did something come up?"

"No, I was just on my way over to get her, and I decided to stop by. Devon told me you were acting strange and wanted me to come and check on you. Feeling OK?"

"Yeah, just end of the semester business you know. How are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm good thanks," Hannah grinned. "I was also going to ask if you wanted to babysit with me. I'm taking Lucy to the aquarium. Would you be interested?"

"Do I have time to shower?" Hannah nodded her head. "Sure, that sounds fun. That little girl's a trip." He jumped to his feet and headed off towards the locker room.

Lucy Sanders was a lucky three-year-old. So many people came to see and play with her, and today was no exception. Her "Aunt" Hannah was going to take her to the aquarium. She hoped "Uncle" Reid came too. Then she would be the happiest little girl in the world.

"Lucy Goosey, guess who's here!" Aleaha entered her daughter's room.

"Auntie Han!" the tiny girl answered, squealing while clapping her hands together. "Is Unkle Reid here too?"

"I don't know, Pumpkin. Maybe," she lifted her daughter up onto her hip and headed down into the living room.

"Unkle Reid, Unkle Reid, you came!" Aleaha laughed at the girl who broke free from her hold and launched herself into the awaiting blond's arms.

"Of course I came, little one," Reid kissed the top of her head. "Are you ready to go see the fishies?"

"Fishies! Fishies! Fishies!" Lucy giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Will there be penguins too?"

"We'll just have to see."

"Thank you both for doing this," Aleaha grabbed her keys from the side table. "I owe you."

"Don't worry about it, Lee," Hannah spoke. "Have fun with Anthony and we'll see you tomorrow."

"Thanks again," she kissed Lucy's forehead. "I'll miss you, Lucy Goosey. Be good for Aunt Hannah and Uncle Reid. I love you."

"I love you too, Mommy!"

kvsgrl - I'm working on the secret. I kind of want it to be like the way Caleb told Sarah, but with a twist. It's not for a while yet, so I has some time. I'm crossing my fingers this one met your approval.