Callie POV
"Lena!" Sharon stated firmly from the other side of the table "What did I tell you minute ago?"
"I just think that you will be more comfortable in our bed" Lena argued back as she was mixing the salad
"Whenever I have come to visit you, I have always stayed down here" Sharon gestured to the kitchen nook area "It won't be any different now! You need to sleep in your own bed and that's that! End of discussion, Lena!" Sharon stated back, putting her foot down. I have never seen Lena lose an argument before. But I guess it is first time for everything.
Sharon raised her hand up, stopping Lena from saying anything else "I'm going to call the kids down for dinner!" and with that said, Sharon turned around and walked out of the kitchen.
Lena sigh as she watches how Sharon walks away. What I didn't except was for Lena to turn to me now "You are going to stay in our bedroom"
"No way!" I answer as I pour the milk in the glasses
"Yes way!" Lena stated back
"Whenever I have come to visit-" I copied Sharon's text that I remember
"Don't even try it!" Lena interjects and points to me, she has a small smirk on her lips "You will not sleep on the couch!"
"I like the couch. The couch and I have a very special relationship" I say with a small grin "I woke up hungover on it, I have fallen asleep on it after my morning runs, I have spilled soda on it..." I counted off only few of those special moments
"You are a guest...a very special guest and you will not sleep on the couch!" Lena stated back and went to get the lasagne out
"I'm not taking your bed!" I said sitting down just when the others came in
The evening at the Adams Foster went better than I had thought it would. The dinner was everything I needed to forget about what had happened for just few minutes. The free and easy atmosphere allowed me to just catch a breath and relax. These last 2 days have been really hard and I was exhausted -physically, mentally and emotionally. I have been so worried about mom that it has just drained my dry. And even though I spelt last night, I didn't fell rested afterwards.
The lasagne Lena made was as delicious as it has always been in Adams Foster household. The diner went by fast as everyone chatted and joked. Sharon entertained us all by telling stories about her adventures in Florida. Jude, who was sitting next to me, time by time squeezed my hand under the table, quietly supporting me. The other kids, whenever we shared a look, smiled kindly and warmly at me.
There was no denying that they all are much happier now than they where yesterday. The family basically spend the whole day with Stef and now that they truly know that she was okay, things were going back to normal for them. Lena even mentioned Stef being discharged tomorrow.
After the dinner, while Lena went to give Frankie a bath and then put her to bed, everyone else sat with me in the living room and we all watched a movie together. We went with an animation movie, those always have more lighter plot lines. Lena joined us when the movie was about half-way in.
After the movie ended, Sharon went to make her bed in the kitchen nook area. Mariana gave me a big hug before she followed her twin and Brandon upstairs to get ready for bed. Jude stayed down with me.
"Callie please...take my bed. I will take the couch!" Lena said when she stood in front of me, looking down on me on the couch
"No" I shake my head
"Why are you so suborn!?" Lena asked me, Jude giggled next to me. I shrug back with a big smile on my lips. Lena gave up and run her hand over her face frustrated "Okay...I will go get the bed stuff"
"You want to watch another movie?" Jude asks as he turns on the couch to face me "We could watch Ice Age. That's a funny one, I haven't seen it in a while"
"Sounds great. I will just go brush my teeth quickly and change into PJ" I say grabbing my bag which I had packed when Lena and I went to my place. I had packed light, the bag contained only the most important stuff.
When I got back from the bathroom, Lena had made the couch and Jude was sitting under a blanket, with the remote in his hands.
"If you need anything-" Lena says placing hand on my upper arm
"Yes, I know where to find you" I smile back at her
"Goodnight honey" Lena kissed me on my forehead and then did the same for Jude. As she walked out she reminded us "Don't stay up too late"
"We won't" Jude and I reply at the same time. I sit down on the couch, next to Jude, our arms and legs touched. Jude opens the blanket up and puts it over me. He hits play and the movie starts.
I wake up in the middle of the night when I hear a buzzing sound and my phones ringtone. When I open my eyes I see that my face is inch away from Jude's feet. Jude himself was sleeping peacefully, his head rested the other end of the couch. I turn my head and notice that the TV was black, but it was still on. We must have fallen asleep while the movie was still on and now that it had ended, the screen was just black, but all the small lights were still on.
With my left hand, I reach for my phone that was on the coffee table. It was all light up, buzzing, the ringtone was getting louder and louder. I had to pick it up before Jude wakes up from it.
I don't look at the Caller ID or time, I just slide my finger over the screen to pick up the phone and then press it to my ear as I lay on my back.
"Hello?" I say sheepish and then yawn
"Is this Callie Scott?" A woman was on the other side of the line
"Yes"
"Hi, I'm sorry to call this early. I'm nurse Lisa. I work at Mercy Hospital." That got my attention. The sleep was suddenly out of my eyes and I was wide awake.
"Is something wrong? Did something happen to my mom?" I ask as I toss the blanket aside and get up from the couch. I head over to the kitchen area to continue the talk, totally forgetting that Sharon was sleeping on the couch in the kitchen nook area.
"No, nothing is wrong. Quite the opposite actually. Your mother woke up 15 minutes ago. She's asking for you"
"She's awake?" I ask to make sure I heard her right
"Yes. She's awake and asking for you" For a moment I wondered how could she asked for me, if she had a tube down her throat. But then I remember that talking is not the only way of communicating. She could have written my name down or something like that.
"Um..I will be there are soon as possible!"
"I will let her now!" I hang up the phone and start to run to the direction to the stairs. I take every second step up and in few seconds I was by Lena's bedroom doors. They were open, so I just walk in.
I hurry up to her bed and see that Frankie was sleeping next to her in the middle of the bed. Lena is cuddled up to her, she has placed her hand protectively over her daughter.
"Lena!" I whisper and touch her arm softly, trying to wake her up without waking up Frankie "Lena!" I repeat just a bit louder and shake her hand lightly
She stirs at the second attempt and looks over her shoulder to me "What's wrong honey?" She asks sheepish in a half whisper
"We need to go!"
"Go where?" Lena asks turning on her back, she presses up on her elbows
"Mom woke up! We need to go!" I explain
"How do you know?" Lena asks sitting up and placing her blanker aside
"A nurse called. She said she woke up 15 minutes ago"
"Okay...I'm going! I will just need to wake up Sharon and tell her we are leaving" I nod understanding and hurry down to change out of my PJ quickly
In about 15 minutes we were at the hospital. Lena stopped the car briefly by the entrance and let me out, as she knew I was too impatient to drive with her till she parks her car. I run in the hospital and hurry down the hallway to the elevators. One of the nurses that I pass, scolds me and tells me not to run. I slow down and stop running till she is out of my sight, then I pick up the pace and continue to run towards the elevators and stairs.
Amy POV
I was listening to the doctor explaining the procedure to me. That's all I could do – listen.
"-spontaneous breathing trial will be 30 minutes long. Don't worry, we will monitor you very closely and make sure you do get enough air in your lungs. If you will pass the test, I will take out the tube and we will place oxygen mask over your mouth and nose. Now, in case if you don't pass the test, don't worry, it won't be the end. We will keep you on the ventilator and repeat the test in some few hours, till we can take you off" The doctor stops talking and I hear doors creek open
"Excuse me for a second" He touches my right arm very softly and walks out of my sight. I hear some whispers, but I can't tell a single word that was said. I heard footsteps again and the next second, he was back in my sight.
Once again he very softly touched my arm "Your daughter is here. I will go talk to her for a moment." he says with a smile and walks out
Callie is here!
I want to see her so badly!
If I could I would just sit up and run out to see her.
I would hug her tightly and never let go of her.
"Someone's excited" Nurse Lisa says as she walks up to my bed side. She was looking to the side, where the heart and BP monitor stood.
Lisa smiles at me genuinely when she looks down to me. Her smile was so kind, it wasn't like those fake smiles, that nurses sometimes fake just to act nice to the patient. She actually seemed happy for me.
"Now, I have to warn you-" Lisa says and gently touches my shoulder
No, no, don't say that!
When someone says something like that, it is never good news!
It can't bad news!
"-she does look like she has just woken up. No make up, no heels on...no nothing!" Lisa chuckles lightly
Gosh, she scared me!
Glad she had a sense of humor.
She light up the mood, which was exactly what I needed.
It is so nice of her to stay with me and just talk with me, while the doctor is out there with my daughter.
"She looks very eager to see you" Nurse says touching my forearm softly to just comfort me "I guess the excitement goes both ways"
"Oh! Get ready for company!" She says giving my right hands a small squeeze before she walks away. Next second I hear the doors open.
"Mom!" I hear Callie's voice. My heart inside my chest starts to beat faster just when I hear her voice. The next second Callie is leaned down over me, looking at me with tears in her eyes. Callie grabs my left hand the next second and holds it very tightly, between her hands.
"You are awake...I was so scared!" Callie says as tears fill her eyes "I love you so much, mom" Two tears fall down her cheek before she leans down further and kisses my forehead. Those looked like happy tears, not sad tears.
I love you too! More than you can imagine!
I'm sorry I scared you like this!
I'm sorry baby!
But I'm okay, honey.
I'm going to be okay. We are going to be okay!
I close my eyes briefly as I feel her lips press to my skin. I felt so much love just form this simple act of love. All I can do, is squeeze her hand back as tightly as I can.
When Callie leans a bit further away from me, to look at my face, she notices the tears that are slowly rolling down my cheeks. She let's go of my hand and lifts her hands up to my face. With a very soft touch, she wipes the tears away.
"Don't cry mom...Don't cry" Callie says barely holding her own tears in. I brush my left hand against her leg, I wanted her to hold my hand. Callie gets the sign and instantly takes my left hand back. She squeezes my hand tenderly.
"Don't cry..." Callie says barely above whisper as she watches me closely "You will be okay, mom. We will be okay"
Stef POV
I was woken up when I felt fingers gently running over my cheek. My eyes flutter open slowly.
"Hi, sleeping beauty" Lena says quietly when I see her sitting on my bed side
"Lena...?" I stutter out confused. Why was she here? At this time of day? Lena continues to softy caress my cheek as she continues to watch me with so much love in her eyes.
"Thanks to my diplomacy, I talked the nurses into allowing me to wake you up" Lena smirks looking at me "Nurse will come here to check on you soon" Lena says still in this hushed voice
"Why are you here?" I ask still not sure why Lena would be here at this time of the day
"Amy" She says and tilts her head sideways, she strokes my hair softy. Her face gave away no information.
"Please...No..." I say thinking the worst
Her lips then form a small smile "She's awake honey" Lena informs me "They just took her off the ventilator. Callie and the others are there with her. She's awake!"
"Really?" I ask shifting in the bed to sit up more. Lena nods back.
"She's awake" A big smile forms on my lips as I say that. Lena nods back, the smile never left her face. For the first time I can say and actually believe it myself "She is going to be okay"
Amy POV
"I want you to quit!" my mom cried as she was stroking my hair gently
"I'm not...quitting...my job...mom" My voice was hoarse and it sounded weak. In addition it was very quiet and muffled, because I was speaking through the oxygen mask. I had to take a small pause after every other word.
"Of course you aren't" Dad said from my other side of the bed
"Yeah, when have you ever listened to what mom says to you" Andy chuckled from the end of the bed
Mom looked back to my brother and said through tears and laughter "Oh, hush you!" When she looked back at me she kissed my cheek two more times "I just worry, you know that!"
"I know" I get out as I look at the tears that stream down her cheek
"We are just glad that you are awake and talking" Dad said patting my hand softly "You scared us, honey! We love you all so much" He detained a small pause "We don't want to lose you!"
"Love you too" I said looking over to my dad
I heard the doors open once more time. Andy turned and walked towards whoever entered, I think he shook hands with someone. Mom was blocking my sight to the doors so I didn't see who it was. I was hoping for Cooper.
Dad squeezed my hand one last time before walking over to Callie, who was quietly standing in the corner, watching. Mom looked over her shoulder and the next second she stepped away from the bed.
It was Cooper!
"Hey" Cooper says walking up to my side. He takes my hand "It is good to finally see those beautiful eyes of yours"
I don't hesitate with small talk "I love you" I manage to say it all in one breath. This was the first thought in my mind about him, when I woke up. This was the first thing I wanted to tell him, when I saw him. Because that's how I felt. I love him.
Cooper looks taken by surprised the first moment, but he snaps out of it the next second and says it back "I love you too, Amy Scott"
"Awww" I heard my mom gasp
"Amy has a boyfriend!" Andy sung out like a little kid "Amy and Cooper sitting in a tree!" He continued to sing out and looked around the room "K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"
"Come on man! Just kiss her!" Andy nudged Cooper
Cooper looked back down to me and smiled "Andy sung the song...I guess I have to now! You know, I have to obey...Because the song had your and my name in it" He said like a big, silly dork
Weakly I raised my hand up and pulled down the oxygen mask. Cooper didn't hesitate to lean down and kiss me softly and tenderly. It was a short kiss, because Cooper quickly pulled back and took the oxygen mask out of my right and placed it back over my mouth and nose.
When he kissed my forehead I heard Nurse Lisa walk in and announce gently "Okay, everybody - out! Amy needs to rest. You can visit her later!"
I get another round of kisses from everyone, before they leave my room. As they all left, my eyelids instantly felt heavy. I couldn't keep them open any longer.
"Rest. I have a feeling they are not going anywhere" Lisa says to me before I drift asleep
When I wake up, few hours later, I feel someone watching me. I felt the eyes on me, even before I saw who it was. When I turn my head to my left - I see Stef sitting there. She wasn't in her gown, I guess she was discharged. Her left hand was in a sling.
I don't know why, but all I saw in her face was guilt. Nothing but guilt.
"About time...you visited" I say weakly and even get a small smile out. Not that she saw it through the oxygen mask. Stef remained silent as she watched me, her brows frowned up, her lips pressed together forming a straight line.
"I guess...this is not…the time...to say…I told you so" I say meaning it as a joke. I didn't think Stef would take it so much to her heart.
Stef blew out a breath and tears whelmed up in her eyes the next second. She looked away from me as was trying hard to no cry. I can't believe she actually blamed herself for this. She can't even look me in the eye she felt so guilty.
"Hey...look at me" I say and move my left hand over the bed side, closer to her. Stef was being stubborn and just kept looking away from.
I gathered up all my strength and said in much louder, demanding voice "Look at me!"
Very slowly and hesitantly Stef looked to me. The tears were about to spill over any second now. She couldn't hold the eye contact for long.
"It's not your fault!" I stare down at her "I don't blame you!" Stef's head dipped down. I think I saw few tears fall down "Don't blame yourself, Stef!"
"I said-" Stef cried out and then sniffed, she took in few shaky breathes "-I should have never said what I said. This is on me! I did this!"
"NO!" I say as loudly as I can "You didn't!This...wasn't your fault! You didn't shoot me!"
"It should have been me! I should be the one in your place!" Stef cried looking up to me with tears streaming down her cheeks
"No! I would not..allow that" I shook my head very lightly "I don't want that!"
"I should have done more" Stef looked up to me with tear strained face
"You saved...my life! You had my back! The whole time! You stayed with me..." Few more tears fell down her cheek "Not your fault! You hear me...not your fault!" After I said that, I was breathing as if I had been running for hours. I was so out of breath, I felt exhausted all over again.
I placed my hand on her right forearm. At that moment Stef broke down and started to cry even harder. She needed to let it go, to cry it out. She was probably feeling guilty for the last 3 days, blaming herself, thinking she caused this. It can be incredibly hard carrying all that guilt with you. If she hadn't broken down now, it would have happened later.
"It's okay...we made it out…we are okay" I say soothingly as I watch my friend and partner break down in front of me