Chapter 18
Alex is stunned, Olivia just squeezed her hand for the second time. Suddenly she isn't so sure that Olivia is in a drug induced coma like Doctor Brown said she would be. Clearly Olivia could hear her, that on it self wasn't rare, Alex knows that coma patients often can hear and tell afterwards what was said, but Olivia reacted twice and that was rare. She has an idea to find out herself if Olivia is more aware of her surroundings then the Doctor says she is.
"Liv, I go to get Casey in here for a moment. So I will be outside your room just for a minute or so. Just so you know that I'm gone. Is that ok?" Alex asks.
Olivia squeezes Alex again and then let her hand go. Alex stands up and walks quickly to the door. She opens it and steps outside closing the door behind her. Casey is surprised seeing Alex outside of Olivia's room. Olivia is awake and tries to open her eyes. But her eyelids are to heavy. She also notice that she can't speak because there is a tube in her mouth. She keeps trying but she can't open her eyes yet. She heard Alex leaving her room and decides to wait for the blonde to come back and try it again then.
"Alex, are you alright? Why are you here, I mean why did you left Olivia's side?" Casey asks.
"Casey, I don't think Liv is in a drug induced coma like Doctor Brown said she would be." Alex answers.
"Honey, I know you want Liv awake but I'm sure that if Doctor Brown says she is that she actually is in a drug induced coma." Casey answers.
"No Casey, I'm not see them flying. I'm telling you Liv is not as far away as the Doctor says she is. She responds on me, on what I say. She squeezed my hand 3 times. I talked to her, told her that she needs to keep fighting and I asked her if she understood me, knowing she couldn't answer me back, she squeezed my hand. I asked her if she could hear me, if she understood what I was saying and that if she does she squeezes my hand again. She did, Casey, she squeezed my hand again. Then I told her that I was going to get you in there for a moment and asked her if that was ok. She squeezed my hand again and let go of it. I'm telling you Casey, she isn't so far away. If you don't believe me come inside and see it your self." Alex says.
"Damn, Alex. Are you sure she can hear and understand what you say?" Casey asks stunned.
"There is only one way to find that out. Come on, go inside with me." Alex answers.
"Ok. If you're sure then let's find out." Casey answers.
The two ADA's walk back inside, Alex takes a seat in her chair and Casey stands beside her. Alex takes Olivia's hand back in her hand and start talking again to the brunette.
"Hey Liv, I'm back. Casey is here too, she is standing next to me. Now it's not that I don't think you can here me and react because I do. I only want to be sure so that's why I asked Casey to come inside. To know it for sure. Is that ok? Squeeze my hand once if that's alright and squeeze it twice if it isn't." Alex says.
Alex and Casey look both to the hand that Alex is holding. Olivia squeezes Alex's hand once.
"You see this Casey, I told you she could hear and understand me." Alex says.
"Yes saw it. Go on. Find out if she can hear me too." Casey answers.
"Liv, Casey and I will say or ask things in turns. Squeeze my hand once if I'm talking and twice if Casey is talking. Do you understand this? Squeeze if you do understand and don't squeeze if you don't understand it." Alex says.
Olivia squeezes Alex's hand. Alex looks at Casey questioningly. Casey nods to Alex letting the blonde know that she understands what Alex is trying.
"Liv, who is talking to you now? Squeeze once for Alex, squeeze twice for Casey." Alex says.
Olivia squeezes Alex's hand once. Alex nods to Casey.
"Liv, can you hear who I am?" Casey asks.
Olivia squeezes Alex's hand twice. Alex and Casey looks at each other stunned with what happened.
"Liv, I'm gonna make this a little bit more difficult. I'm releasing your hand. One of us picking up your and talks to you. If you know who it is you squeezes once for me and twice for Casey. Ok?" Alex asks.
Olivia squeeze Alex's hand and then let it go. This doesn't goes by unnoticed to Alex and Casey. Alex motions to Casey that she should take Olivia's hand. Casey takes Olivia's hand in her own.
"Liv, I'm already so proud of you. I just want you to know that. Do you know who is holding your hand now?" Casey asks.
Olivia squeezes Casey's hand twice. Alex and Casey both gasps and Casey let go Olivia's hand. Alex has a feeling that Olivia is as consciousness as she can be. That somehow she fought herself out of the coma. She looks at Casey and then whispers in her ear.
"Casey, I think Liv is awake, somehow." Alex says, picking up Olivia's hand again.
"Liv, are you awake somehow? If you are, can you open up your eyes for me honey. I really want to see you eyes if you can." Alex says.
Olivia's eyelids still are feeling heavy but she is determined to open her eyes. After 2 minutes she is finally able to open up her eyes, and looks into shocked stormy blue ones. Alex is overwhelmed with emotions and starts crying. She looks at Olivia with watery eyes.
"Oh Liv, I was so scared. You were in so much unbearable pain. I was so afraid to lose you. I'm so happy you came back to me." Alex sobs.
Olivia squeezes Alex's hand softly. Alex suddenly realizes that Casey still is in the room with them. She turn around to face Casey.
"Casey can you get Doctor Brown? I'm sure that now that Liv is awake she wants that tube out so she can talk." Alex asks.
"Yes, of course. I'll go right away. I'm happy that you are awake Liv. You really scared us." Casey answers.
Olivia nods at Casey. Casey pets Olivia's leg and then turns around to go and find Doctor Brown. She walks to the reception desk of the nursery station.
"Can you page Doctor Brown for me, please? It's about Detective Benson." Casey asks the nurse.
"Yes, I can. One moment please." The nurse says and picks up the phone and dials a number.
"Doctor Brown, it's Nancy. I have somebody standing here that wants to see you. It's about Detective Benson."
The nurse waits a moment for the response of Doctor Brown. She turns to Casey.
"Excuse me, the Doctor wants to know who is asking for her."
"Tell her that Casey Novak needs to her to come here." Casey answers.
The nurse speaks into the phone again.
"Doctor Brown? She says to tell you that Casey Novak needs you to come here... Yes, Doctor I will tell her. Thank you." The nurse ends the call.
"Doctor Brown is on her way. She should be here in a minute." The nurse says.
"Thank you." Casey answers.
Doctor Brown is at the nurse station in a minute and walks to Casey, who stood waiting a few feet away from the reception desk.
"Casey, you wanted to see me?" Doctor Brown asks Casey raising a eyebrow.
"Yes, Doctor. Who took care of getting Olivia in a drug induced coma?" Casey asks.
"The surgeon who assisted me with the operation. Why?" Doctor Brown answers.
"And you are sure he did it correctly?" Casey asks.
"Yes, why is there something wrong with Detective Benson?"
"Well I wouldn't say wrong exactly, although I'm not sure about that."
"What do you mean with wrong exactly and why are you not sure? What's going on,Casey?"
"Well, the surgeon didn't do it correctly or Olivia is some kind of miracle patient because she is awake. Wide awake I would say. As in with open eyes and communicating with hand squeezes. So you tell me if that's wrong or not."
"You're kidding right? There is no way that Detective Benson could be awake, let alone with her eyes open and talking, even though it is with hand squeezing." Doctor Brown says shocked and stunned.
"No, Doctor. I'm not kidding. Go and see it for yourself if you don't believe me. But Olivia is awake as a person can be." Casey answers.
"I believe you. What did you say again about Detective Benson and her surprising me? Because she sure does surprise me. Let's go to Detective Benson." Doctor Brown says.
They walk back to Olivia's room and Casey walks inside followed by Doctor Brown. When Casey steps aside Doctor Brown looks at Olivia. Shocked to see two clear brown eyes looking back at her. She looks at Alex and then at Casey.
"I told you she is awake as a person can be." Casey says smugly.
"Yes you did. And I still don't understand how this is possible. Detective Benson, you sure know how to scare your girlfriend and friend, being awake like this. And you sure are one hell of a surprise to me. Are you feeling alright?" Doctor Brown asks shocked.
Olivia shakes yes with her head.
"Do you have pain that isn't normal after a brain surgery?"
Olivia shakes no.
"You're not being a tough cop right now and being in a lot of pain like you were earlier?"
Again Olivia shakes no. Olivia squeezes Alex's hand and looks down to the tube. Alex gets what Olivia is trying to tell her. She turns her head and looks at Doctor Brown.
"Liv wants the breathing tube out. Can you do that?" Alex asks.
"Seeing that she is awake clearly and her vitals are good, I don't see a reason why I shouldn't take it out. So if you two would leave the room for a moment, I'll get the tube out." Doctor Brown says.
Olivia shakes hardly no with her head and squeezes Alex's hand.
"You want me to stay with you, Liv?" Alex asks.
Olivia shakes yes.
"Ok. I stay here. I won't leave your side." Alex answers.
Olivia squeezes her hand as a thank you.
"Ms. Cabot, I recommend that you leave the room for a moment. It's not a pretty sight to see a tube being removed." Doctor Brown says.
"No. I stay here with Liv. She wants me to stay, so I'll stay. I won't leave her side." Alex says with her courtroom voice.
Doctor Brown needs to suppress a shiver hearing the tone in Alex's voice.
'Damn, I'm glad I'm not against her in the courtroom. She's not a woman to piss off.' Doctor Brown thinks.
"Ok. You can stay. Casey, can you leave? I will call you back inside as soon as I'm done." Doctor Brown asks.
Casey nods and walks out the room closing the door behind her. Doctor Brown pulls the curtain around Olivia's bed. There is nobody able to see what's going on her room now. Doctor Brown walks to Olivia's bed and stands beside her. Alex is sitting in the chair on the other side of the bed holding Olivia's hand.
"Are you ready Detective?" Doctor Brown asks.
Olivia nods. Yes she is ready she can't wait till the damn thing is gone.
"Ok. I'll explain to you what I'm gonna do first before I do it ok?"
Olivia nods again.
"I will get the machine of the tube fist. After that when I count to 3 I want you to hold your breath and I will pull the tube out of your mouth slowly. This may hurt a little bit and you can have the feeling that you are getting suffocated but that isn't gonna happen. When the tube is out it's a good possibility that you will start coughing but that is normal. Try to get your breath back, there is nothing to panic about. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Doctor Brown asks.
Olivia nods. She squeezes Alex's hand a bit tighter. Doctor Brown unlinks the machine first. She looks at Olivia.
"Ok I'm gonna count to 3 and the I want you to take a deep breath, I will pull the tube out after you took the deep breath. Ok?"
Olivia nods. Doctor Brown counts to 3 and Olivia takes a deep breath. Doctor Brown slowly pulls the tube out Olivia. Olivia feels her gag reflex kicks in but she stays calm and get it under control. When the tube is out of her mouth she coughed a bit but that went over real soon. She tries to control her breathing by taking small amounts of air. It takes less then a minute before Olivia can breath normally.
"Would you like to have some water? I think your throat is a bit dry now. Swallowing can hurt a bit for a day because your throat is irritated from the tube." Doctor Brown explains.
"Yes, please. I like to have some water." Olivia says hoarsely.
"Ok. I will be right back Detective. Would you like me to send in Casey?" Doctor Brown asks.
"Yes, please." Olivia answers.
She tries to swallow but finds out that is a bit painful. She'll wait for the water to calm down her throat.
"Ok. I will send her in then." Doctor Brown answers and turns around and walks out the room.
"Come here." Olivia says to Alex.
Alex leans in a bit. Her face is now only a few inches from Olivia's. Olivia leans in and gently kisses Alex on her lips. When their lips connect they both feel the electricity coursing through their body. It was a quick kiss but that doesn't mean they both felt like they were on fire. Olivia pulls back and let her forehead lean against Alex's.
"Wow... That was amazing." Olivia whispers hoarsely.
"Yes it was. It was more then amazing. How brief it was, I never been kissed like this in my entire life. It never felt like this." Alex answers softly.
Olivia turns her head a bit and captured Alex lips again. This time a bit more demanding, but still gentle. Alex moans softly. Olivia takes Alex bottom lip between her lips and rang her tongue over it. Asking permission from Alex to deepen their kiss. Alex slowly opens her mouth. Just when Olivia wants to deepen their kiss Casey opens the door and walks inside.
"Oh, get a room you two." Casey jokes.
Alex and Olivia let go of each other and Alex sits back in her chair with her hands in her lap. The blonde starts blushing form her collarbone till the hairline on her head. Olivia just smiles at the blonde's reaction.
"We are in a room. Didn't your mother teach you to knock before you walk into a room, Novak?" Olivia counters.
"Well yes she did. But I think she didn't think about the possibility of my friends kissing in a hospital room at the CCU just after a breathing tube has been removed." Casey smirks back.
"Well what can I say, she is irresistible. So cuff me to the bed if you don't like it. Is somebody being jealous, Novak?" Olivia answers back with a Cheshire cat grin on her face.
"What would you do if I said that I was jealous, huh Detective?" Casey asks with a smirk.
"That depends on who you are jealous of." Olivia says.
"And that is something you would like to know, don't ya? And I don't think it would be fair to cuff you. I know you don't like that."
Olivia blinks with here eyes for a moment. Without knowing Casey hit a nerve and Olivia thinks back at Sealview. Casey sees the flash of hurt that passes over the Detective's face and realizes the mistake she made. But Alex didn't see it. She was looking at Casey.
"Of course I want to know that. Along with some other things. I need to know if I'm gonna kick your ass or not, don't I, Counselor?" Olivia says looking meaningful in Casey's eyes.
"Excuse me for interrupting your little private conversation here, but is there something I should now about?" Alex asks. Raising one perfect sculpted eyebrow.
Olivia looks at Alex and then to Casey.
"Is there something Ms. Cabot here should know about, Counselor? Not that I can recall." Olivia says.
Casey turns to face Olivia. Emerald green eyes meet brown ones. Casey understands by the way Olivia looks at her what the brunette means, Alex doesn't know about Sealview and Olivia doesn't want her to know it.
Alex looks from Casey to Olivia and back. She may be blond but she isn't stupid. She knows that there is something. And she starts wondering what it is that Olivia don't want her to know. Did something happened between them when she was out of Olivia's room to get something to eat? She has a feeling that something isn't right. Casey and Olivia don't see the strange look on the blonde's face.
"Nope, nothing I can think of either." Casey answers looking at Olivia.
"So counselor, who are you jealous of?" Olivia asks trying to cover up what happened a few seconds ago.
"Alex of course. She has a Badass Detective as her girlfriend to protect her." Casey says waggling with her eyebrow.
"Oh you have nothing to worry about, I will protect you too if necessary. You know that." Olivia answers.
"Don't think that I don't know what the two of you are trying to do. I may be blonde but I'm certainly not stupid." Alex says.
"I never said or thought you are. In fact the opposite. I think you are incredibly intelligent." Olivia answers.
"Don't play dumb, Detective. It doesn't suit you. Now I asks you two again. Is there something I should now about?" Alex asks sternly.
"No there is nothing you should know about that you don't know already." Olivia says.
All three the women are silent for a second.
"For a Detective you are a pretty lousy liar. I know there is something that you two don't tell me. What is it?" Alex asks.
The question hangs in the air. All three the women tenses up. Although Alex for an other reason then Casey and Olivia. Casey doesn't want the wrath of Alex at her but she doesn't want to break Olivia's thrust and confidence in her. So she decides to keep her mouth shut. Olivia doesn't want to tell it. But doesn't know what to say. So she keeps quiet too. Just when Alex wants to ask THE question, Doctor Brown comes back in the room. Oblivious to the tension between the three women.
"Sorry it took so long. I wanted to check it with the surgeon that assisted me with the operation, to be sure he didn't make a mistake. But he said he followed procedure. So you are really a miracle Detective Benson." Doctor Brown says while handing over the cup with water to Olivia.
"Thank you Doctor." Olivia answers and quickly takes a sip of the water.
"So there is no explanation for what happened? Why I woke up?" Olivia asks.
"No. Nothing I can think of. Maybe Professor Cavanaugh knows or can find an explanation." Doctor Browns answers.
"So what's gonna happen with my head now? I don't have that horrible headache anymore so are you gonna close that gap in my head now? Because my brains are trying to sneak out, and I don't want to get stupid." Olivia says sarcastically.
"I let that decision to make over to Professor Cavanaugh. And I sincerely doubt that your brains are trying to sneak out, Detective." Doctor Brown smiles.
"Ok. Do I have to stay here or can I go back to my own room?" Olivia asks.
"No you don't have to stay here. I'll make the arrangement to transfer you back to your own room." Doctor Brown answers.
"Good." Olivia says.
"If you don't have anymore questions for now, I'm going to make the arrangement." Doctor Brown says.
"No questions for now. Just wanna go back to my room." Olivia answers.
"Ok. I will check up on you later then, Detective." Doctor Brown says.
"That's ok. Thank you Doctor."
"Nothing to thank me for. Ladies." Doctor Brown says. She nods to Alex and Casey and leaves the room.
"Well I don't care what the reason is that I woke up. I'm just glad that I did." Olivia says.
"I'm glad too. I was really worried when you screamed out of pain and grabbed your head. I'm still sorry that I didn't call the Doctor right away and called Alex first. You could have died, Liv. And it would be my fault." Casey says.
"No it wouldn't be your fault, Casey Novak. You couldn't have known what was wrong. And I didn't tell you what I was feeling. You did what you had to do and that was calling Alex. So don't blame yourself for what happened." Olivia says.
"Are you sure?" Casey asks.
"Yes, I'm sure. You don't need to blame yourself. I don't blame you." Olivia answers.
Alex hasn't say a thing since Doctor Brown came in. Olivia and Casey looks at Alex, both see that there is something bothering the blonde ADA.
"Lex, aren't you happy that I'm awake? You didn't say a word since Doctor Brown came here. Is there something wrong? Is something bothering you?" Olivia asks.
"Of course I'm happy that you woke up. Why would you doubt that?" Alex answers.
"Because you didn't say anything while Doctor Brown was here or after that. Normally you would fire 1000 questions at here. And wouldn't take no for answer until you knew what you wanted to know. That's why I think something is wrong. Or that something is bothering you. So what it is? What's wrong, honey?" Olivia asks.
Alex looks at Olivia and Casey. She takes a deep breath and then asks what for some reason she thinks is wrong. Even though she knows deep down inside that it's not true .
"Are you two cheating on me?"
A/N Next update will be next Monday if everything goes as planned. I would like to thank you all for understanding the decision I made.
Please keep R+R.