Chapter 32

Matt smiled and choked back his emotions. He would not give in to tears again. He was certain he was well on his way to dehydration, that he was sure of due to the amount of tears he'd shed today alone. He squeezed her hand and said in a soft whisper, "Hey there beautiful."

"I am not beautiful." It was so softly spoken, hoarse with a dryness that came from the last few weeks of her coma state. Claire licked her dry and cracking lips and pushed words past them. "I can't believe you broke your hand."

Matt looked down at the cast and winced. "Yeah, I guess you heard all that went on last night."

A weak smile spread across her face and she nodded. "I've heard everything for awhile now I guess. I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for? You have done nothing at all to be sorry for. Claire, do not apologize. Please."

A tear slid down her cheek and he wiped it away. Just as he did a doctor walked in and took a look at her chart. "A miracle happened here is what they are telling me. Is that so?"

Darcy spoke then through her tears. "That's the only logical explanation of it doctor. When no one else could figure out why she was in the state she was in, when no one could get her to respond and snap out of it, she makes a turn around. What else would you call it if not a miracle?"

The doctor looked her over and gave a few basic tests to determine that she was functioning at a certain level and then made his notes and left the room. Matt looked at Claire and allowed himself a moment to thank God for pulling her out of the black hole that she was in. He squeezed her hand and smiled down at her for what seemed to be the millionth time.

"What are you looking at?"

"Your eyes, your face, just you because I was scared to death that I wouldn't ever see you again, not this way."

"Matt, you had so little faith in me?" She licked her lips again and attempted to reach for the cup of ice chips on her bedside table. Her weak body wouldn't let her so Matt reached and helped her to get a few pieces into her mouth. She smiled her thanks and allowed it to melt on her tongue before speaking again. "I know I didn't give you a lot to have faith in, but I always knew in my mind, somewhere in there, that you were here. I'd hear you talking to me. I could feel you willing me to not give up when that was all I really wanted to do."

"I'm glad that I was here then, so very glad. If I'd lost you, I really don't know what I would have done. You're my best friend, I loveyou. No one understands me like you do; they never have and never will. The important thing is you pulled through and you didn't give up though. That is all that matters right now."

A weak smile spread across her face. "You really beat Logan's ass huh?"

Matt hung his head and laughed. "Yeah, I guess I did."

A soft knock sounded at the door and Matt turned to see PJ standing in the door. "Hey there you, come on in."

PJ walked in and was surprised to see that Claire was awake. "Hey beautiful, you decided to wake up and talk to us, eh?"

"I heard you were coming. I could not miss your lovely face again." She smiled.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead and then gave Matt a smile. Matt reached out and took his hand in the one that wore the cast. Kissing his fingers he let PJ's hand fall back to his side.

"You look really good."

"So do you for having a broken hand and all." PJ laughed and Matt smiled. PJ then turned his attention to Claire. "Look at you, all bright eyed and acting like you didn't give us all the worst scare in the universe." He smiled down at her again and silently thanked the heavens that she was awake.

"I'm sorry PJ, really I am. I love you guys, all of you so much."

Matt and PJ stood by her bed and talked with her and amongst themselves for another ten minutes before Claire said sleepily, "Now why don't you two go on, go have a nice dinner or something. I know you probably haven't spent a lot of time together lately."

Matt stood slowly and leaned down to kiss her once again. I'll be back to see you in the morning. If you need anything at all, your or your mom, I'm only a call away. I can be here in minutes. I love you."

"We'll be fine. You two get out of here. I love you both dearly, but go!"

Matt turned and hugged Darcy before heading out the door. "I mean it, if you need anything at all, call me." She nodded as he and PJ walked out the door.

Darcy took a moment to stare across the room at her daughter before moving from her spot at the window sill. She walked slowly across the room to the bed, never taking her eyes off of Claire. The young red headed, freckle faced woman had never in her life looked more beautiful than in that moment, Darcy was certain. She took the seat that Matt had vacated and grabbed lightly onto Claire's hand. She never wanted to let go again.

"Mom, I'm sorry."

Darcy's tears were unstoppable then. "You have nothing to be sorry for dear. Nothing in this world to be sorry for, you hear me. It's that no good bastard Logan that should be sorry and I bet you right now that he is. No good miserable excuse for a man is what he is. I hope that he rots away his life in jail."

Claire let out a small laugh; it was the best she could manage at the time. Her throat was still dry and she couldn't reach the cup of the ice chips. "Pass me the ice chips mom, please. My throat is so dry."

Hurriedly Darcy grabbed for the ice, almost knocking it over in the rush. She spooned some onto Claire's tongue and when it melted gave her more. After about five minutes of that she sat the cup down and looked into her daughter's eyes. "How are you feeling?"

"Like hell mom, I can't lie. My whole body is hurting it seems like. I feel like I need to walk but that if I attempt it I'll fall flat on my face. Do you think they could get me something, Tylenol, Advil, anything like that for the pain?"

"I sure will get them to bring you something sweetheart. Hang tight, I'll be right back." Stepping out into the hallway Darcy looked left and right for Claire's nurse. She spotted her sitting at the nurse's station sipping on a cold coffee drink and nibbling on a chocolate bar. She walked over and smiled. "Excuse me, I hate to interrupt, but my daughter, Claire, she's awake and in awful pain. Is there anyway to get her something for it?"

"Of course we can Miss Darcy, just give me a few minutes to check her charts and see what the doctors would like her to be given and grab it. I'll be right in with it." The pretty young nurse said from behind her hand as she finished chewing and swallowed the bite of chocolate she'd just taken. Once it was headed to her stomach she smiled politely and said, "Is there anything else at all that we can get for you? Are you ready for your meal?"

Shaking her head Darcy said, "No thank you dear. Just please bring her something for her pain. Thank you." As she started to head back to the room the young nurse called out her name, stopping her and making her turn. "Yes dear," Darcy asked.

"Well, I just wanted to tell you that I'm really glad Claire woke up. I've been praying for her if you don't mind, and I really think it is a miracle that she's awake and talking now. Some of the doctors are taking all this credit for bringing her around, but I know that they had nothing to do with it at all. It was a miracle plain and simple. Prayer at work, and it was you and that guy who was always here, giving her strength. That's the only reason she is still here today if you want my opinion." When she trailed off she looked down at the floor sheepishly, looking as if she shouldn't have spoken the words aloud.

Darcy stood there where she was, in a stunned silence. To hear such a young person, taught to rely on medication and it's healing powers, say the things that this girl just said touched her in a way she couldn't explain. She watched as the girl reached up and wiped a tear from her eyes before she walked over to her and wrapped her in a motherly hug. "Sweetheart you are totally correct. This was a miracle, and act of God and prayer that you'd have to of seen to believe. Thank you for sharing that with me. I needed to hear it, even if I can't explain why."

The nurse stepped back and smiled through watery eyes. "It was nothing, just the facts as I see them. Let me go get the pain medication. I'll be right in to get them flowing in the IV."