Chapter 2:
Frank looked up at Tony who was refereeing the latest point. But Luke who was right across from the net saw the same thing his father did. Joe did too. They all reacted at the same time. Luke dove under the net and did not resurface. Frank didn't bother taking off his tee shirt. He yelled for everyone to move out of the way and dove in after Luke and Joy Lynn.
Frank saw Luke struggling to bring Joy to the surface. He knew her lungs had to have filled up with water. He had reached them by then and tried to move her. He could see that her body was twitching violently. He felt someone else beside him. It was Tony and he tapped Luke and held up three fingers. Then closed them and put them up one at a time. 1…2…3. They all reached for her Tony and Frank had her shoulders. Luke her waist and they managed with shear will power and adrenaline to bring her to the surface. Joe…Ned…Fenton…and AJ lifted her out of the pool. Laura was right there waiting to assess her. She tried to put a breath in. But her chest didn't rise. Laura started chest compressions. Water came out of her mouth in rivers. Frank moved her to the recovery position so that the water would drain. She was about to give Joy another breath when she started seizing again. Bess was trying her hardest to get Joy but Nancy and George held her back.
Callie could hear the siren in the distance. All she needed to do was make eye contact with Matt. He ran towards the gate with Olivia following him. Callie was holding a hysterical Chloe. The medics had cleared the gate just as Joy started to cough and sputter. But her eyes were confused and unfocused. The medics made it to her side then and started an IV and took her vitals. "We need to transport her."
Bess ran up. "I'm her mother…I'm going with you!"
Tony was already grabbing his keys. "I'll follow."
Chloe began to cry. "I want to go…She's my best friend let me go!"
Callie held on to her. "Honey she needs to see the doctor we'll see her when Tony calls."
"NO! Joy! Joy!"
Luke knelt down beside her. "Listen sunshine…you can't go. Her mom has to go with her right now. She was breathing when they put her in the ambulance…she'll be okay."
Chloe knew she wasn't going to get any where with her brother or with her mother and ran to her last hope. "Daddy! Please….Please take me….I can't….I want….please."
Frank held her tightly against him. "Princess I know that scared you…it scared all of us…but we would only get in the way."
Chloe was not deterred. "I can sit in the waiting room. I want to be there."
Frank looked at his wife for guidance. "Alright…I'll take you but after we eat dessert. That will give them time to get settled…and Tony and Bess if they ask us to leave."
"We will…but they won't."
Frank and Chloe went to the hospital and walked up to the information desk. They could see Nancy and George both there inquiring about Joy.
"One moment…we'll contact the nurse to talk to you."
"Nancy…George…"
They wheeled around. Nancy's expression was one of worry and concern. "We haven't heard anything yet."
Chloe grasped his hand tightly and buried her face in his chest. The doors to the emergency room opened and Tony came out. "Hey guys…"
Frank approached his friend. "How is she Tony?"
"She is stable…and alert now. They are running some tests. She hasn't had a seizure in two years. So naturally they want to know why."
Chloe looked at him. "Can I see her?"
Tony smiled at her. "She is having tests done right now honey. But once they are done and they move her to a room…you can see her okay."
She nodded and Frank pulled her to him. "We'll wait out here. There is absolutely no rush."
"Tony…Biff is going bring you and Bess some things from home. I gave him my key."
"Thanks…I appreciate that George." He turned and walked back through the doors.
Nancy breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed in a chair. "Thank God she is okay."
Frank sat next to her and patted her knee. "Yes definitely. Are you alright?"
"Fine…I was just so worried…" She stopped short and eyed Chloe. She was sitting across from them looking out the window.
Frank shuttered at the thought and absentmindedly put a comforting arm around Nancy. "Hopefully it is just a matter of adjusting her medication."
Nancy closed her eyes and nodded. "I sure hope so…Frank…are you working on anything right now?"
He shook his head. "Not at the moment Nan…it has been relatively quiet. How are things at the Bureau?"
"Same old same old. Ned loves his new job."
Frank smiled at her. I'm glad. He is district attorney for Bayport now correct."
"Yes…he is."
Nancy looked up at her dear friend. "You know Joe is going to be out for blood for what happened earlier today before dinner."
Frank chuckled. "Probably so…" He eyed Chloe who had gone over to the vending machines. "I'd better check my daughter. She is very concerned and very scared."
"I'll bet she is. They are attached to the hip from what Bess tells me."
Frank stood up and went over to Chloe she was browsing the food. "Do you want something?"
Chloe shook her head and swallowed hard. Frank pulled her into a one armed hug. "Not even a snickers bar…we can share."
Chloe glanced over at her father and smiled. "Mom would have a fit. We had ice cream at dinner."
Frank slid a dollar in the dollar receiver. "What your mother doesn't know won't hurt her. Besides we are sharing. I'll split it right down the middle."
"Dr. Pepper too?"
"Sure why not?"
They didn't notice a man with dirty blond hair and brown eyes sitting two seats away from them…watching them all closely. He whispered. "Soon that little angel will be mine."