Authors Note: I own nothing. No ownership rights to Beverly Hills 90210.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
As the ambulance pulled away, my wife, Brandon, and my son and daughters friends exited through the back door.
The closer Iris got to me I could clearly see the anxiety that was etched into her face, "Jack you aren't with him?"
Reaching out I put my arm around her drawing her closer, giving us both a speck of comfort in the face of so much worry, "no. You know as well as I the person who Dylan would want by his side is Brenda. Though we should quickly follow them, they are going to Cedars-Sinai."
As I begin to guide Iris back out the front to the driver of our town car the one we had hired for the evening I look at Brandon. "I'm sorry son to put you in the middle of this but your parents?"
I leave the question blank, leaving it to Brandon to decide how best to manage his Mum and Dad, and Brenda's absence, "don't worry Jack we will all be behind you in our limo. We are family to each other and we all want to make sure Dylan's okay. I'll write a quick note to my parents that the manager can give them, telling them that Brenda and I, as well as the rest of the gang are on our way to the hospital." I smile and hold out my hand to the young man. I knew his wording was to make it appear that she was just with the rest of them, hiding the fact that his twin was in the ambulance with Dylan.
As our handshake ends Iris chimes in. "Brandon dear in your note can you ask them to pass on our apologies to the Carson's. Vivian and Lawerence will need to take over leading the last of the official duties of the night." He nod's, I then immediately begin to move us both to our car.
When we are secure and pulling away from the charity event I raise the petition between us and the driver and then immediately pull out my black book of numbers from my jacket pocket. Through the car phone I'm hearing the ringing of Dylan's lawyer's home number in a matter of minutes.
"Hello, sorry to call so late this is Jack McKay, Dylan's father. He has collapsed tonight and is unconscious, he's on his way to Cedars-Sinai in an ambulance as we speak. Brenda is with him…" I pause letting that information sink in. "I think some evidence of their paperwork will be needed and maybe some confidentiality-"
"Don't worry Mr McKay I understand what is needed, obviously you are aware-"
"Yes, I have just been advised by Mrs McKay. I'd like though, for the information of our changed family structure to remain between the five of us this evening, as my son recovers I imagine he will not need the stress of any resistance they make get."
"Of course. I'll phone the hospital and fax over a letter stating who is making medical directives for Dylan tonight while he remains unconscious, and then I'll be along immediately after to assist in ensuring that all family information is kept under wraps as much as possible."
"Thank you, we'll see you shortly."
While I place the phone back in it's cradle I feel my wife's stare, "Jack what is going on?"
I turn to her and lace our fingers together, "they eloped."
I say no more, she knows who I am talking about. "They have had one evening together since she has been back, and they haven't skipped school Jim and Cindy would know if that had happened, it leaves only Paris. The trip that was all your idea."
The your was full of blame, it was clear my wife was holding me accountable. "Now my love I suggested a visit I never said or in anyway encouraged a quickie wedding. That stupidity was all on our son and new daughter in law."
"Though they wouldn't have had the opportunity for such recklessness if you hadn't all but pushed him onto that plane."
"He was miserable, he is miserable without her. We have both been watching it for weeks. Imagine how worse it would be if he didn't have this to hold onto?"
"That's your justification? Jack besides me missing out on yet another milestone of his life, it's going to completely destroy any chance of him restoring the relationship with Jim and Cindy. They will never forgive them, or us mind you, for this. It's going to put such a wedge between Brenda and her other family."
I smile, "so you aren't worried that they are too young, or that they both may change-"
"Jack you know better than to ask. It was always meant, and going to be her and him, and honestly I'm glad they did it young. Dylan's life has been without stability a home for a long time, he has found that truly in her and I know that she will anchor him better than anyone else, pushing out the demons he has wrestled with. She allows space in him for joy to reside, it's her gift. It's why she is his other half. I'm devastated that I wasn't there to see it, I love them both so much. She has been a daughter to me from the moment she graciously accepted me back into his life, even when my presents stirred his demons."
As we pull up into the hospitals main entrance I squeeze her hand, "we will make them have another ceremony; make sure we get to celebrate it properly. Now it's less than three weeks I believe till her birthday let's try and help them keep this under wraps till then." The driver opens the door and I step out, and then reach back in offering my wife a hand to exit.
When she is out she has a twinkle in her eyes, without asking she fills me in on what she is thinking. "Three weeks and the four of us will be living together, Jack we will finally have our whole family officially together in the same home, our son and the daughter we always wanted."
I pull her close and kiss her forehead, "I know it almost makes me forgive them both for not thinking this through like proper McKay's. Almost. It's hard though to let go of the great opportunity they had to force her parents to accept them, instead by running off and jumping the gun on a wedding it now leaves only grandkids as the incentive for forgiveness."
Pneumonia.
That's what the emergency doctor thought. They had done the blood test and nasal swabs to see but that will take a little time for the lab to get the results back to us, in the meantime they had just moved Dylan up to X-Ray to confirm. I was currently in his suit jacket wearing both our chains around my neck. Neither item giving me the comfort I needed, that though would only come from Dylan when he regains consciousness.
I'm directed out of emergency to the ward that Dylan will go straight to after the X-Ray. It's a few minutes after I arrive there that I see Iris and Jack pushing through the doors. They got here fast, we had lights and sirens to get through the Saturday night LA traffic god only knows how fast Jack made the driver go.
Iris reaches out to me first, "Brenda?"
"He's in X-Ray they think it's bacterial pneumonia. He probably picked up the bacteria when cleaning out the bay- he swims and paddles in some of the dirtiest parts of the ocean and beaches in that volunteer program. He's gone out there a number of times after the rain last week, he probably has reinfected himself many time's." I'm rambling, emotional and I can hear the worry in my own tone.
She gives me a hug and then I feel Jack capture both of us in his arms, I can feel my eyes water. Dylan was out there trying to do good and now his life could be at risk… I stop the thought it was too much to think like that.
They both let me go but stand on either side of me, giving me strength. Jack passes me his hanker-chief. As I'm wiping my eyes the doctor from emergency walks up along with another one I have yet to meet.
"Mrs McKay."
"Yes?" "Yes?"
Iris and I don't even turn to look at each other but I feel her grab my hand, I'm not surprised that Jack told her immediately.
"Doctor's I'm Jack McKay, Dylan's father and this is Iris McKay his mother. Please for however long we are here, have everyone refer to us as Jack, Iris, Brenda and Dylan. There is a lot of media attention around myself and my wife, we would prefer Dylan's stay here be as anonymous as possible."
"Very well. Brenda this is Dr Walter's he'll be taking over your hus-" in my peripheral I see Jack shake his head, "Dylan's case."
"I've looked at the results we have so far from both the paramedics, emergency room and the X-ray. Dylan has pneumonia brought on by a bacterial infection in his lungs. I've order he get a higher dose of antibiotics intravenously along with fluids and vitamins. He is dehydrated and his glucose level is low, which is not unusual considering he has lost his appetite- a common symptom of pneumonia."
"Will he be okay? Has he woken up?"
"Brenda I'm hopeful that he will respond well to treatment, most people his age do. Though he maybe weak for a few day's or even a couple of weeks as his lungs heal, and he must be very careful as winter approaches. He needs to avoid all colds and flu's, his lungs will bare the scars of this for a while so it's important we give them as much time as we can to recover completely." I nod in understanding, I am going to lock him up in front of a fire until summer. "Now he hasn't woken yet which is not a concern considering the medication he took earlier and his dehydration. His kidneys are trying to filter a lot of drugs with very little sustenance to do that. Hopefully as the drips start to take effect he'll wake soon."
"Can we see him, sit with him?"
"Yes of course. He's just getting settled into his room now and being connected to the monitors so give it a few minutes please. I'll have a nurse come get you when you all can go in. It's hospital policy for only two people be with a patient at a time, I'll extend it to three in your case due to the privacy concerns, but no more than the three of you in the room please."
When the doctors walk away, the gang arrives. My brother immediately comes up and wraps me in one of our twin hug's. I'm so thankful for my brother in that moment. When he pulls away he looks at me and my in-laws, "how's Jones?"
Jack answers and fills them in. I'm back holding Iris's hand, we both anxiously wait for the nurse to bring us to him. As we wait the doors once again open and Iris whispers in my ear, "that's Dylan's well I guess your lawyer." I squeeze her hand and move over to him, I feel Jack only a step behind me.
"Iris can I get you anything?"
"No Brandon dear. I just want to see Dylan, and see that he is awake."
We are currently sitting down in hospital seats while Jack and Brenda talk across the room to the lawyer. I have no space to worry about the legalities at this moment my husband is better suited to that anyway, he'll be using that strategic mind of his to keep their secret from being discovered. He's probably already planned at least three different game plans based on a number of different eventualities, give him another hour he'll have at least ten more game plans. It's funny how easy it is to slip into trusting him again, trusting him completely. I know he'll protect our family with everything he has and then some.
"Whose Brenda talking to? Is that Dylan's Doctor?" The whisper next to Brandon has me looking over at the blonde. I still see it, I still see her wanting more with my son. It's the tone, the clear need to involve herself in things that aren't her business.
"I don't know Kel but he's not wearing a white coat or scrubs so I don't think so."
"He's getting her to sign something now, maybe you should go and make sure-"
I cut her off, I'm in no mood for her to go on a fishing exercise. "There is no need for that. Jack will ensure Brenda knows what she is signing and so to will Dylan's lawyer. While my husband and I have been away and Dylan has been emancipated he has trusted Brenda to take the lead on things if he can't. Brenda knows Dylan's wishes better than anyone, it's only right that the love of my son's eternity has a say on everything when he can't."