Shoutouts: sunshinebear01- I'm glad to hear that you are liking my story. It's always good to know that I am impressing someone. LOL
login- I know nobody likes cliffies, but hey... I guess you could say that a lot of my stories have them... kind of my trademark LOL well, hope I get you off that cliff with this chapter. Enjoy!
vintageranger- Guess you'll have to read to make sure they're okay. Oh yeah, BTW it's not in this chapter but I did go and add in a scene for a future chapter just for you. It's btween Tommy and Nikki. I think it's like two more chapters or so... well hope you like this chapter.
zeopurple- Now we're getting to the part of the story that I had in mind when I started this whole thing. LOL Drama drama drama and yeah throw in a little romance. You're right... Nikki has everything to do with this.
icekrim91- Yeah I ended it on a cliffie... oops silly me! LOL well here's the next chapter to help you off your hanging adventure! BTW the accident was a car accident, Kat was rearended by a van.
wondergirl4you- I couldn't resist a good cliffhanger. They're irratatiing I know, but it keeps the ppl coming back to see how it turns out LOL Like i said before I guess you could say cliffies are my trademark. Read this chapter... it'll tell you how Kat and the babies are doing.
fudge2428- I updated as soon as I had time to sit at the computer! I do have two little kids to chase around the house! LOL
"Tommy, I… There's been an accident." Tommy felt his heart sink into the bottom of his gut.
"What happened? Is it Kat?"
"I'm going to take you to the hospital."
"Is Kat okay? What about the babies? Answer me Jason!"
"I can't answer Tommy, I don't know!" Jason snapped as he began to led Tommy out of the school toward his waiting squad car.
"What happened?" Tommy asked as he got into the passenger seat.
Jason got into the drivers seat and looked at Tommy. His best friend looked like a disheveled mess even though it had only been a few moments since he learned the news. Finally he answered. "Someone hit Kat at high speed. It seems that Kat lost control of her car and went off the road where her car rolled four times down the hill. We found it upside down."
"Jason, is Kat…" Tommy couldn't bring himself to say the words.
"I'm not supposed to give you any information Tommy." Jason said as he glanced over at Tommy. He could see the hurt and pain in Tommy's eyes. "She was alive when we got her out of the car. I left the scene a while ago to go get you." "Who did this?"
"Tommy I can't tell you that. We do have someone in custody, but I can't tell you who."
"Fuck the rules Jason. Who the hell did this? I have to know. If Kat doesn't… My children… Who the hell did it?"
"Tommy, everything I say is off the record. No repeating it!" He waited for Tommy to nod his agreement. "It was Nikki."
"Nikki?" Tommy was shocked.
"Something set her off Tommy. She slammed into Kat at high speed, we're guessing around ninety."
"Jesus." Tommy whispered. "Our divorce was finalized yesterday."
"Sounds like we found out what made her snap." Jason replied as he pulled up in front of the hospital. Tommy didn't even wait for Jason to put the car in park before he dashed out of the car and rushed through the front door.
"I'm looking for my fiancé, Katherine Hillard." Tommy exclaimed to the receptionist.
"Hold on sir. Let me find which doctor took her case. I'll send them out to you. Have a seat."
Tommy felt that he should have said something else, but he slowly made his way to a seat. He collapsed into the uncomfortable chair. Jason made his way in and took the seat next to him. "I'm here with you bro."
"Jason, I don't know what to do. Kat and I are supposed to be getting ready for the twins, planning our wedding. I'm not supposed to be sitting here. I could loose the three people that mean everything to me."
"I know man, I know."
"Dr Oliver?" a male doctor asked as he came out from the double doors.
"That's me! How's Kat and the babies?"
"I'm Dr. Staple. I was in charge of the care for Katherine and the babies."
"Tell me! Are they all okay? How bad is it?"
"The babies are just fine. We didn't deem it necessary to perform a cesarean being that they are unharmed. They're still safe in mother's womb. We'd prefer to wait till at least 36 weeks to deliver them. Katherine, on the other hand, is unconscious. She has immense swelling of the brain, we've done all we can. She had slipped into a coma. Her vitals are stable, and she's breathing on her own, but we can't say when she'll wake up."
"So what does that mean?"
"I'm sorry Dr. Oliver."
"What does that mean? What's going to happen?"
"I can't say. Your children are going to be just fine although we are monitoring them just in case. Your fiancé on the other hand… I can't say when or even if she will recover. Again, I'm sorry." The doctor didn't say another word before retreating behind the double doors again.
Tommy felt like he was going to faint. His whole world was crashing down. His vision began to tunnel as he called out Katherine's name. He felt a strong arm take hold of him and sit him down in a chair.
"Tommy, you've got to stay focused here." Jason said as he placed a hand on Tommy's shoulder.
"Kat…"
"Look Tommy, you're not doing Kat any good if you loose your mind. Stay with me here. We're going up to see Kat." Jason said. Once he knew that Tommy wasn't going to collapse he went over to the receptionist to find out which room Kat was in. He came back to Tommy and helped him to stand. "Come on, she's on the third floor."
Everything was so surreal to Tommy. He barely remembered riding the elevator and being pulled down the hall by Jason. His mind snapped back to reality as he saw his beloved Katherine laying so helpless in the hospital bed, tubes and cords seemed to come from everywhere in her. The iv in her arm, a feeding tube in her nose, heart monitors for her and the babies, and a tube in her head, which he guessed was helping to relieve some of the pressure from the swelling.
Tommy rushed to her side and took her hand in his. He noticed two large gashes in her face. One on her forehead and the other on her left cheek. Her face was so swollen he could barely tell it was her. He reached out and placed a hand on her belly. He felt one the babies kick at that moment. "Don't worry kids, Daddy's here."
"I've got to get back to work Tommy. If you need anything call any of us. Someone will be up to check on you soon." Tommy turned to look at Jason. Tears filled his eyes. Jason saw fear etched deep into his eyes for the first time since he had known Tommy. How could he leave Tommy like this?
"Jason, what if I loose her?" Tommy cried. His voice barely above a whisper. Jason noticed him clutch Kat's hand a little tighter.
"Kat's a fighter Tommy. She won't go anywhere without one hell of a fight. She'll come back to you." Jason said as he put a hand on Tommy's shoulder. He gave it a light squeeze. Jason gabbed a chair from behind him and pushed it to the bed for Tommy. "Come on Tommy, sit down."
Tommy reluctantly sank into the chair. He put his head on the bed and began crying even harder. He didn't know what to do. Jason sat in a chair he placed next to Tommy. "I thought you had to get back to work."
"I think being here for you is more important." Jason replied. The two sat there silently as Tommy kept his head on the bed and his hand still clutching Katherine's as if she would slip away if he let her go.
"Here's some clothes Jason." Kimberly's voice called from the doorway. Tommy wasn't sure how long they had been sitting there or when Jason had even called Kimberly.
"Thanks Kim. Sit here with Tommy, while I go change. Thanks baby." Jason placed a kiss on Kim's cheek before disappearing.
Tommy looked up for the first time as Kimberly slipped into the chair next to him. She gave him a small smile before placing a hand on his shoulder. "We're all here for you Tommy."
"Thanks Kim." he tried to smile, but found he was unable to. He turned back towards Kat. Again he let his head fall to the bed placing his forehead on the back of her hand. Kim stayed silent, unsure of what to say to him.
Jason rejoined them shortly taking the seat against the wall. "You guys can go home. I don't want to take up all your time." Tommy suddenly said.
"Tommy, we don't want to leave you here alone…" Kimberly replied.
"But this is where I belong, with Kat. You guys don't need to stay here. I'll be fine."
"Tommy…" Jason started.
"No, I'm serious. I appreciate what you guys are doing, but sitting here silently isn't doing anyone any good. Go home. I'll call if I need anything or if anything changes."
"If you're sure." Kimberly replied as she pushed Jason out the door. "We'll be here if you need anything."
Tommy again sat in the silence of the room. He reached out again and placed a hand on Kat's belly feeling the twins moving around a bit. He held back the tears that he knew were threatening to fall once again.
"Come back to me Kat. I can't loose you. Please don't leave me alone." Tommy whispered into the silence.
That was the way it would continue. Tommy talking to Kat in the lonely silence while their friends came and checked on them both. No one could convince Tommy to leave her side longer than a shower and change of clothes.
Kat's father flew in from Australia, he spent most of his time at the hospital as well. He and Tommy's parents were staying at Tommy and Kat's house since Tommy was never there. Kimberly stopped by everyday with a home cooked meal for Tommy. The nurses from Kat's floor constantly dropped in encouraging Tommy to eat and sleep reminding him that he had to keep up his strength for Kat and the babies.
Four weeks had gone by and Kat's condition had not improved. The only comforts that Tommy took were in the fact she was not on life support and his children were unharmed and safe.
"Dr. Oliver?" a male voice called from the doorway. Tommy turned around to see Dr. Staple standing there with a chart in his hands.
"What can I do for you?" Tommy said as he stood from his chair.
"I was going over Katherine's charts and it seems that we can remove the tube from her skull. The swelling is under control and I think that the healing has begun."
"Is that a good thing?" Tommy said looking back at Kat with a hint of hope gleaming in his eyes.
"It is a good thing the swelling had stopped. But I can't promise you that she'll wake up."
Tommy looked back at the doctor, disappointment shown all over his face. "I understand." He lied. He wished that someone in this place would give him a straight answer.
"I also wanted to talk to you about the twins."
"What about them?"
"I realize that the due date is only four weeks away. I would feel comfortable now delivering them. They'll be strong enough to live outside the womb."
"Without Kat being here to see them?"
"I understand that you would want her be 'present' for the birth of your first children, but Dr. Oliver, I'm afraid we can't wait for her to come out of the coma."
"This just can't be happening." Tommy shook his head and sat back down.
"I can understand if you would like to think it over. But I assure you that if Kat were not in a coma that the twins would probably be born very soon if not already. Twins come early most of the time."
"When are you going to remove the tube?"
"I was hoping maybe this afternoon. We can do the cesarean at the same time."
"I'll want to talk it over with her parents and mine before we agree to this."
"I understand, I'll come check with you around one this afternoon. I can have the O.R. at four."
"Thanks, Dr. Staple. I really appreciate everything you've done for Kat and my children."
"I just wish I could do more for her." Dr Staple said with sincerity and left the room.
Tommy stood from the chair and walked over to the phone. He dialed his house and waited for someone to answer.
"Tommy? Is everything alright?" His mother's voice drifted over the line. She must have recognized the caller id as the hospital.
"Yeah mom, there's no change. The doctor just left. Can you, dad, and Mr. Hillard come here. I have something I needed to talk about with all of you."
"Of course Tommy, we were actually just on our way out the door. We'll be there soon."
Tommy hung up the phone without another word. He sat in the chair again and took Kat's hand in his own. He pressed a kiss into her palm. "I wanted to wait till you woke up sweetheart, but I don't know how much longer I can hold them off. I want you to be here with me to welcome the twins. I wanted you to be the first to hold them. Kat, I just can't handle all of this! Please, come back to me. I can't take care of two babies on my own and be here with you! Please wake up!"
Tommy dropped his head again and let the tears fall. He wasn't sure how long had passed or when he fell asleep, but a gentle shake of his shoulder brought him back to his senses.
"Sorry to wake you son." Mitch Hillard said as he removed his hand from Tommy's shoulder.
"Mr. Hillard! I didn't mean to fall…"
"Tommy, you deserve a rest. You've been here at Kat's side for four weeks straight. Don't apologize for napping. And you don't have to keep calling me Mr. Hillard. Mitch is just fine."
"Old habit Mitch." Tommy shrugged.
"You said you wanted to talk to us?" Tina said as she went about the room adding water to the various flowers and plants.
"The doctor wants to remove the tubes from Kat's skull."
"That's a good sign." George said as he leaned against the wall. "When?"
"This afternoon." Tommy replied. "He also wants to do a caesarean at the same time."
"What already?" Tina's jaw dropped.
"We're four weeks away from the due date. He feels that the twins are strong enough now. If Kat weren't in a coma they may already be here. Twins tend to come early."
"Is he leaving it up to you?" Mitch asked. "Is that why you wanted to talk to us?"
"Yes. I don't know what to do. I mean, it's safe to deliver the twins now, but Kat's…" Tommy choked back the tears.
"She won't be there to hold them." Tina finished for him fighting back the tears herself.
"Exactly. I mean, I know it's a long shot, but four weeks… She could wake up and we could have the twins as we planned." Tommy said he stared at the ceiling. "Besides, I can't take care of the twins and be with Kat at the same time. The nursery is on the fifth floor and Kat's on the third."
"Perhaps I can make a suggestion?" The family turned to see a tall woman standing in the doorway. "I'm Liz Helms. I'm the manager of the maternity ward and pediatric care were Kat works."
"What can I do for you?"
"Well actually it's what I can to do for you." Liz said as she moved toward Tommy. "I've been talking with Dan, the manager from this floor, we can transfer Katherine into the largest room on this floor. It's really a double room, but we can set up a side for the twins for you. That way you can take care of the babies and be with Kat at the same time."
"Are you serious? You'd do that?"
"Of course. Kat is one of us. We take care of our own." Liz smiled. "I can staff a pediatric nurse on this floor to care for the twins and Kat's postpartum care. All of the nurses on my floor will be here checking on her and the babies anyway."
"I can't thank you enough." Tommy said with a genuine smile.
"I owe it to Kat. She's one of my best nurses. We all miss her something terrible." Liz replied. "I just want you to know that all of you are in my prayers everyday."
"Thank you so much." Tina said with tears streaming down her face. George rushed to his wife and wrapped an arm around her.
"We really can't thank you enough." Tommy said as he finally stood from the chair. He extended his hand to Liz.
"You're welcome. We can have the room ready and move all her things into it while they're operating. Whenever you are ready just let us know."
"Thank you again."
"Don't mention it." Liz said before making her exit.
"What do you guys think?" Tommy asked as he flopped into his chair again.
"Tommy, Kat may be my daughter, but these are your children. The decision is yours to make." Mitch Hillard said as he took hold of his daughters hand.
"I… It's too hard… I can't." Tommy shook his head. He bit his lower lip and shut his eyes. Why did this have to happen? Why did Nikki have to snap like this?
"Tommy, I know it's not easy. We're with you whatever you decide. If you want to wait a while to give Kat a chance, we understand. It's not selfish to hope that she will be there for the birth of her children."
"Mom, it's too much. I can't take anymore." Tommy sobbed finally letting the tears fall again. Tina rushed over and hugged her troubled son.
"Shhh… I know it's not easy Tommy. You have to stay strong for Kat and the babies."
"I don't have anything left in me."
"Well it's no wonder. You never leave here. You haven't eaten a decent meal in god knows how long. When's the last time you got more than a couple hours of sleep?" George replied from the other side of the room.
"I can't leave her. What if she wakes up and she's alone in here?"
"Tommy, for what it's worth I think you should give the okay for them to take the twins." Mitch said suddenly. Tommy looked up at Mitch.
"You think so?"
"I can see you're struggling with it. You've got a lot thrust onto your shoulders. You called us here so we can give you our opinions to make your decision easier. I agree with the doctor. They'll be fine outside the womb. We can't keep waiting for Katherine to come around."
"Mom? Dad?" Tommy said. He felt as if his shoulders were slightly lighter.
"I agree with Mitch." George added. Tommy looked up at Tina.
"I… Tommy…" She hugged him closer unable to say anything more.
"Let's call the doctor, he said he could have the OR at four." Tommy said as he closed his eyes. Everything in him was screaming to wait, but everyone was right. He couldn't keep waiting for Kat to come back to him. He had to stay strong for the children too.