Author's Note: Wow I can't believe how well this story seems to be doing. I think I have gotten more responses and favorite story adds than any other story I have. I'm hoping with the finish to this one being just around the corner that I can finish some of my unfinished ones. Unfortantly I am discovering that I am not an action writer, so I belive once "Nightmares" and "For Your Love" are done I'm hanging up my action pen... LOL well I have to work on that one for you icekrim91. After all it is done in a notebook, I just have to type and revise it a little. But for sure romance and maybe a little drama are going to be my specialities. I've got some great ideas for other Tommy/Kat fics as well as a few other couples. Just have to wait and see what I have in mind...
Shoutouts:
zeopurple- To flatter you even more, I love all of your stories that I have read. I'm not sure that I left a reveiw for all of them or not but I have read nearly all of yours especially Kat/Tommy ones. This chapter has the Tommy Nikki confrontation. I didn't make it as dramatic as I wanted but I am satisfied with it. And jsut a note to everyone, this is not the end of Nikki. I still have some plans for her... but I won't say any more than that.
sunshinebear01- Just curious, where did you get triplets? I didn't think I said anything like that. hmmm. but I'll clear that up. Kat and Tommy had twins one boy, Aidan James, and one girl Alexis Rose. Those are my favorite names. Suprising that neither one of my baby boys are names Aidan... LOL instead I have a Devin Mitchell and a Jacob Russell! Hope I cleared any confusion and that you enjoy this chapter.
wondergirl4you- No offense taken. Chapters 8 and 9 aren't my favorite ones, but they got me where I wanted to go with this story. I sure hope that it gets better for you. I know I like how it goes after that point. I still think that sappy romance is more my specialty, this is my first attempt at a well written drama. (I think I attempted before but failed miserably) Well anyway, hope that you approve of this chapter. I tried to put more emotion into it.
icekrim91- Glad to hear that I brought back that spark! Like I said before, it's always awesome to know that my stories are truly enjoyed. I haven't gotten anything new posted, but I'm working on. I said before that I have found my disk of oneshots, but they were written a few years ago so I want to revise and edit them before posting. Just keep an eye out for anything new from me or I could send you a message when I do. Although my main goal is to finish my unfinished projects such as For Your Love and Nightmares.
Bella- it's always nice to have a new reviewer! Thank you! I'm glad that you like my story. I'm hoping that Kat will be fine too... (Oh wait I'm writting this huh? I already know.) LOL well it's not like this chapter won't tell you that. Enjoy!
fudge2428- Well just for you the next chapter is focusing on the friends rather than Kat and Tommy. I orginally didn't have that chapter, but I added it in after reading your review. I have been leaving their friends out of this story. Again though, Tommy and Nikki's meeting isn't as dramatic as I was thinking about makiing it, but I'll say it again. I am not done with Nikki yet... Well I hope that you find this chapter alright.
DistantDreamer07- Again, new reviewer are always appreciated Welcome! I'm glad that you love this story. I have loved writting it. Hopefully the ending will be to everyones liking, and it's just around the corner. I think it'll be three more chapters maybe a forth... we'll see. Thanks for the review.
Tommy sat in the uncomfortable chair waiting to see the one person that he truly did not wish to see. Suddenly a door opened and in walked a familiar redhead in handcuffs. "Nikki." Tommy nodded to her as she sat across the table from him.
"What the hell do you want Tommy?" Nikki spat out. She had come to hate the man that she once loved.
"I… I came to say I'm sorry." Tommy finally managed to choke out.
"You're sorry?" Nikki raised an eyebrow.
"I was such a jerk to you. I cheated on you, I treated you unfairly, I led you on and then I left in a bad way…"
"There's never a good way to shatter someone's world Tommy." she huffed. Tommy just stared at her. She seemed so lost, so confused, so… broken.
Tommy instinctively reached out and took her hand. "I know it's too late, but I am so sorry for putting you through all of this. I wish that I had listened to my heart before all of this. I didn't mean to led you on…"
"Then what were you doing Tommy?" Nikki asked. He could tell she was trying not to let the tears fall.
"I was hoping that you could help me move past Katherine. Nikki, I…"
"You weren't over her when we got married huh?"
"No." Tommy released her hand and let them drop to his lap as he stared at the floor.
"Then why?"
"Because I was hoping that I would fall in love with you like I did Kat. She was there for me when Kimberly left me. She healed my heart and I fell in love with her. I was hoping that eventually you and I could have been like that…"
"Except that Kat came back!" Nikki bit her lip as her green eyes lit with a fire. "Why couldn't you have told me instead of going behind my back? I may have hated you and her and I may have overreacted, but I had the right to know that my husband wasn't in love with me! You made this worse by not telling me! For a whole year Tommy! A whole year! You were sleeping with her and I had no idea!"
"Nikki.."
"You should have told me…" she whispered. Tommy looked at her and bit his lip. He had wronged this woman in so many ways, now her life hung in the balance along side Katherine's.
Tommy released a sigh. "I can't be any more sorry Nikki, for everything."
"Sorry came a little too late… I hope she dies." Nikki spat out. Her sister had told her that Kat was still in a coma, but the twins were delivered two weeks ago, safe and healthy. "Maybe then you'll know a little of the heartache that I have."
Tommy's eyes went wide. Did I break her so bad that she feels no remorse?
"Yes, you broke me that badly." Nikki said as if she had been reading his mind. "This is all your fault and I don't accept your apology. Live with that!" She remained silent as she finally stood from the table and walked toward the guard to be taken back to her cell.
Tommy watched her leave. He had known about her temper and selfish nature, but now faced with her unremorseful side… But she was right, everything happening was his fault. His only hope was that someday that both Nikki and Katherine could forgive him for the mess he had made of everyone's life.
"Katherine. Katherine, wake up honey." a familiar male voice called out.
"John?" Kat mumbled as she opened her eyes.
"Hi there gorgeous." John smiled at her. His bright blue eyes sparkled against the clear blue sky. The light breeze lightly ruffling his light brown hair.
"This… You… Am I dead?"
"No you're not dead." John laughed.
"But you're dead, how can I be talking to you?" Kat pondered aloud. Suddenly the memory of the car crash entered her mind. "My babies!"
"They're fine Katherine. Just relax. I'm here to help find your way back."
"My way back?"
"You're in a coma." John explained.
"How long?"
"So far it's been a month. Your body is starting to heal. It's time to help you go back."
"Kat, baby, I can't live without you. Come back." Tommy's voice drifted on the air.
"Tommy?!" She screamed into the empty space.
"He never left your side. He's so devoted to you." John said from behind her. "And you never stopped loving him."
"John… I…"
"There's nothing to say Katherine. Things worked out they way they did. Now I get to watch over you and your future family. You have a son and a daughter. She'll look just like you."
"How do I get back?"
"Follow your heart… and for what it's worth. I loved you very much Katherine."
"I loved you too John, just…"
"Just not in the way that you love Tommy." He saw Katherine look down at the ground ashamed of her feelings. "Katherine. You don't have anything to worry about. Things like that happen. You are meant to be with Tommy, I was just a mile marker in your road back to him. I have come to understand this. Please, don't blame yourself. I don't." He smiled at her before gently kissing her cheek. He let go of her hand and slowly walked away from her to disappear into thin air.
"Please come back to me Angel Eyes." She heard Tommy's voice again. She turned around in a circle trying to decide which way to turn.
"Tommy, I'm here! I won't leave you!" she called into the air. As the words left her lips she felt a squeeze on her hand. She looked down at her hand to see nothing there. She shrugged it off and continued to try talking to Tommy. "I love you…" The squeeze on her hand got a little tighter. "Tommy's holding my hand!" She exclaimed to herself.
"Angel Eyes, please wake up."
"I'm trying to come back! Help me home!" Kat called into the air again. She paused thinking about what John had said. "If I follow my heart it will always lead right back to Tommy… Tommy's my heart!" Kat's eyes went wide. She had to follow Tommy!
"God Kat, Alexis looks just like you. She's so beautiful." She could hear the tears in Tommy's voice. "Aidan looks like me, but has your personality. They're both so gorgeous. Please come back to all of us."
"Keep talking to me Tommy. I'm coming home!" Kat called feeling as if she were being pulled.
"Come back Katherine. I love you too much to say good-bye."
"Lead me home my love."
Tommy sat next to Kat's bed holding their son to his chest at the same time he held her hand. He talked gently to her, asking her to come back. He told her of their children. He told her of her father and his parents. He told her of everything that was happening in the world.
"Please Angel Eyes, I can't live without you. Come back to us." Tommy said giving her hand a gentle squeeze. Aidan started to fuss and Tina came quickly to Tommy's side to take the baby boy.
"I'll take him baby. You've been on your feet for the last two days straight." Tina said as she gathered the precious bundle into her arms.
"Thanks mom." Tommy gave her a weak smile as he again took hold of Katherine's hand. Thoughts of his conversation with Nikki ran through his head. No, she won't die. She's too strong for that. She'll come back to me. "Come back Katherine. I love you too much to say good-bye."
Tommy rested his head on the back of her hand still clasping it in his own hands. He felt a gentle squeeze on his hand and his head shot up. I'm just overly tired and overly hopeful. He tried to reason with himself.
After a few minutes he had himself convinced that it was only his imagination, but then it happened again. "Kat!" Tommy said excitedly. He quickly rose to his feet, standing at the side of her bed kissing her hand and trying to encourage her to squeeze his hand again.
"Tommy?" Mitch called as he laid the sleeping baby girl in her basinet. "What's going on?" He had noticed Tommy practically jump out of his seat a few moments before and wondered what was going on.
"She squeezed my hand!" Tommy yelled in his excitement.
"She did?" George asked moving over next to his son.
"Twice!"
"Could it be…" Tina let her question trail off as she too made her way over to the side of the bed with Aidan still curled up in her arms.
"Kat baby, wake up!" Tommy said again. No sooner did he speak than did she grip his hand again. "Three times! Dad, can you call the doctor or the nurse or somebody?!"
George didn't give a response, he just quickly left the room. Mitch moved over to the other side of the bed and took Kat's other hand. "Pumpkin, you need to wake up. Open you eyes sweetheart." Tommy could see the disappointment on his face as Katherine did not respond to him.
"Please Angel Eyes, come back." Tommy coaxed again. Kat, in response, gave a light squeeze. Mitch let a few tears run down his cheeks as the smile on his face grew larger. She was returning to them. Tommy saw his mother in much the same state.
"Your father says that Katherine is squeezing your hand." a nurse called from the doorway as she followed George.
"Four times." Tommy grinned trying to hold back the tears he felt welling up.
"She's responding to Tommy." Mitch added. The nurse gave a nod and came to the bedside. She took out her penlight and began checking her eyes.
"Well, this a good sign. Her pupils are starting to respond to the light." She gave a smile as she let Kat's lids fall closed again. "May I?" she asked as she reached for Kat's hand that Tommy clung too. Tommy nodded and placed Kat's delicate hand into the nurses equally small and delicate hands. "What were you doing when she responded?"
"Talking to her." Tommy replied.
"She didn't respond when I talked to her." Mitch said never taking his eyes off his only daughter.
"Would you mind talking to her again?" the nurse asked. Tommy nodded.
"Come on Angel Eyes, wake up. I know you're there. Just open your eyes." Tommy cooed next to her ear. The nurse looked up in shock.
"She is responding! I thought at first it might have been a reflex, but she's responding! I'll go call Dr. Staple." She rushed out of the room without another word.
"She's really coming back!" Tommy grinned before kissing her forehead. Now if she would just open her eyes.
As if a mind reader Kat's eyes began to flutter slowly at first, but then faster until Tommy was staring right into her beautiful sapphire eyes. Tommy let his tears fall as he stared at the most beautiful sight he had seen since his children were born. "Hi." He whispered. It was the only word he managed to get out. He watched as she seemed to struggle moving her mouth. He could tell he was mouthing 'hi' back to him, but was unable to speak.
Mitch leaned in and kissed Kat's cheek. His tears falling as well. "You had us all scared to death pumpkin." George wrapped his arms around Tina who was still clinging to the sleeping baby.
"Dr. Staple will be here in twenty minutes…" the nurse began as she came back in the room. She stopped in mid-sentence once she realized that Katherine's eyes were open. "Oh my!" She rushed over to her and began checking her vitals and reflexes as best she could.
After a small examination the nurse left the room quickly again reminding them that the doctor was on his way. Tommy slowly raised the head of the bed so Kat was sitting up enough to see the babies. He gently took the baby boy from Tina.
"This is Aidan." Tommy grinned as he sat on the edge of the bed next to Kat. She gave a weak smile and attempted to reach up to take the baby's tiny hand. Mitch saw her struggling and took hold of her wrist, lifting it so that she could touch her son.
Katherine studied her baby boy for a few moments before Tommy handed the baby back to his mother. He disappeared from Kat's view for a moment but quickly returned with Alexis. "This is Alexis, our daughter Kat. You have your baby girl." Again Mitch held her wrist so that she was able to rub her thumb over the little girl's tiny hand.
"So beautiful." she finally said. Her voice was low and raspy, just barely audible.
"It's good to see you back in the land of the living Ms. Hillard." Dr Staple said as he walked into the room. "You have such beautiful children, I'm glad to see that you could be here to enjoy them."
He quickly moved over to the bedside and held out his penlight. He shone it in her eyes had her follow his finger. "Well you have a long road to recovery. After a month and a half in bed, your muscles have begun to atrophy despite our best attempts to keep range of motion. Tommy here stretched your muscles at least three times a day. You're lucky to have someone like him Ms Hillard." Dr Staple smiled at Tommy. "I don't want to remove your feeding tube just yet. We need to make sure that you can handle food first, it'll be a couple days, but for now you can have sips of water and ice chips. I'm also going to set you up an appointment with the therapy department. Hopefully we can get you up and going soon."
"Thank you Dr. Staple. For everything that you have done for us." Tommy said sincerely.
"I just did my job Dr. Oliver. I'm just glad that your story can have a happy ending." Dr Staple smiled as he extended his hand toward Tommy. Tommy took it with a smile and gave it a firm shake. Dr Staple then turned back to Kat. "Now, I don't want to you to strain yourself. Try your best to just relax and rest until therapy is here to work with you and for heaven's sake don't try and get out of bed."
Kat remained silent still unable to get her voice working, she just gave a weak nod. I can barely move let alone get out of bed. She thought to herself. The doctor, satisfied with her nod, left the room. Tommy again took his place next to Kat and placed a kiss on her cheek.
"You feel up to visitors?" Tommy asked. Kat again gave a weak smile and nod knowing that her friends would love to see her. "I'm just going to make a few calls. I'll be right back."
Tommy began walking away and the suddenly turned back to her and hugged her close. He slowly sobbed into her hair and whispered against her ear. "I was so scared that I lost you, Kat. I have never felt so helpless or useless. I love you so much."
Kat drew on all her inner strength and brought her arms up around his neck. "I love you too." She managed to whisper back. Tommy finally pulled back and looked at her, unashamed of the tears that streaked down his face. She let her hands slip from his neck and brought her hand up to his cheek. Tommy placed his hand over hers against his face. "I love you too." She repeated a little stronger. Tommy finally let her go wiping his face with the back of his hand.
He took his cell phone out of his pocket as he walked out into the hallway. For the first time in the last six weeks, Tommy felt that everything was going to be okay.