Chapter 23 When Tomorrow Never Comes
Brenda picked up the phone.
„McKay is here?"
„Brenda McKay?" an unfamilar male voice asked.
„Yes?" Brenda was insecure.
„There´s the cedar sinai hospital. Mrs McKay, your husband was in an accident. You must come here as soon as possible, please."
„What happened?" Her voice trembled.
„Please come as soon as possible. You will get the details at the hospital."
„I´ll be right here." Brenda hung up.
She dropped her phone on the counter. She grabbed her purse and keys and ran out of the house.
„Bren?" she heard from afar. She turned around. It was Brandon. „What´s up?"
„Dylan…he was in an accident. He´s in cedar sinai." Brenda ran her hands through her hair excitedly.
„I´ll drive you." Brandon put Brenda in the SUV.
„Brandon, please drive fast. It sounds serious."
Brandon nods once and starts the engine. He took a deep breath, not knowing exactly what happened to Dylan. From Brenda´s condition, it wasn´t good."
„How bad is it, Bren?" Brandon looked at her.
„I don´t know. I should come quickly." Brenda swallowed hard and finally looked at her brother. „He wanted to go to the beach. But even though there was a warning in the morning, he wanted out. He could handle it."
She remebered the discussion they had about it that morning…
„Baby, please don´t go. Leave it. There was a warning for the coast."
„Bren, I´m watching too. Nothing will happen."
„You´ve done that before. And you almost had an accident."
But Dylan just smiled at her, kissed Brenda goodbye and grabbed his surfboard.
„See you later Baby." Dylan disappeared from the house…
Brandon raced through town, luckily getting the green light every time. Silence filled the card, but every now and then he looked at his sister, who was crying silently and staring out of the window. He wants to ask. He wants to know what happened to his brother-in-law, his best friend…was he badly hurt or worse?
He parked in a twenty-minute holding zone, not caring that it would take longer. Brenda jumped out of the car. Brandon had to walk fast to even catch up with her. They reached the front desk, breathing heavily.
„Dylan McKay…he was brought in by ambulance." Her voice trembled.
The women looked her in the face and quickly typed something into the computer. „Are you family?"
Brenda sobbed and nodded quickly.
„I´m his brother-in-law and this is his wife." Brandon spoke for her.
The women also nodded. „First floor intensive care unit." They handed them two family passes and showed them the elevators. They rushed to them and quickly pushed away people who were walking away. As the Walsh-Twins stared at the closed elevator doors, Brandon grabbed his sister´s hand. She held it back tight.
The doors opened quickly and Brenda led the way as she rushed to the nurses´ station.
„Which room is Dylan McKay?"
The nurse looked at her. „Mrs McKay? Your husband is undergoing an emergency operation."
„Excuse me?" Brenda´s knees trembled.
„The doctor´s coming for more information. Please have a seat." The nurse pointed to a group of seats.
The twins sat down. Brandon held Brenda´s hand. „Emergency surgery? Brandon, what just happened?" Now tears were rolling down her cheeks.
Brandon wrapped his arms around his sister protectively and with concern. A few seconds later a doctor approached her. „Mrs Brenda McKay?"
„Yes." Brenda quickly wiped the tears from her face. She and Brandon got up.
„I´m Dr. Richard Webber. I`m responsible for your husband. Your husband had an accident while surfing. He fell badly in the water and a rib pierced his lung. That happens to many surfers. The operation is routine. But we had to do emergency surgery to prevent worse damage to the lungs."
„When can we see him?" Brenda´s voice was still shaking.
„The operation will be over soon. It went well. Your husband should be soon out of the operation room."
„Thank you Dr. Webber."
The doctor nodded to them and walked away again. And again it was time to wait.
„If I knew when it was over I would like to ask Erica because of the kids. It should somebody be there when they come out of school."
„We will waiting one hour. Then I will called her." Promised Brandon. „But I will better called Kelly. She should know about it."
Brenda nodded and Brandon stood up and went to the window.
After what felt like an eternity, a nurse came to them. „Mrs McKay, Mr Walsh? You may now see your husband. He is in room three."
The siblings rushed to his room. He was wrapped in blankets and all she saw was a small cut of dried blood on his head. The nurses had hooked him up to the intravenous dip. He was still sleeping peacefully.
Brenda sat down next to him on the bed and took his hand. Brandon stood behind her and held her shoulders. Dylan breathed shallowly. Almost as if it would be difficult for him. Sensing her presence, he opened his eyes.
„Baby…" He breathed so softly that you could hardly hear him.
She gently touched his face.
„I´m so sorry Baby. I should have listened to you." He coughed. He seemed to find it difficult to breath and speak.
Brenda cried and her hand moved over his, covering his chest. „We were so worried about you."
„Don´t cry." Dylan´s eys were worried. Then he saw Brandon. „My brother."
„We were very afraid for you." He tried to smile.
„I´m sorry." Dylan looked at Brandon pleadingly. Then his gaze wandered to Brenda. „What are the kids doing?"
„They are at school." Brenda still cried.
„You should go home. Take care of her." Dylan´s voice was still weak.
„Dylan, I´ll stay with you. I can call Erica."
„Please Bren. I´m doing well. I´ll sleep right away. Give the three a kiss from me. You should come by tomorrow. Then I´ll feel better."
„Dylan…" Brenda looked at him seriously.
„Please Bren. Do me a favor."
Brenda exhaled. She wasn´t comfortable with the thought. She bent over him and gave him a tender kiss.
„See you tomorrow Baby." Dylan whispered to her.
„See you tomorrow Baby. I love you." She whispered against his lips.
„I love you too."
Brandon leaned down and tried to hug him. „Shall maybe I stay with you?"
„No B. Drive home to Kelly." Dylan coughed.
„Sure?"
„Sure."
„Okay D. See you tomorrow."
The twins left Dylan´s room. Brenda´s bad feeling wouldn´t let go.
No sooner had Brandon brought her back home than the children came. They immediately asked where their father is. Brenda explained about the accident to them.
„We´re going to let Dad rest today. We´ll visit him tomorrow."
The kids nodded but were also concerned. She also informed Erica. And Iris.
Brenda couldn´t close her eyes the whole night. She still thought on Dylan. She looked on his empty side of the bed and touched his side. She felt emptiness and cold. She smelled on his pillow. It smelled after him. She brought his pillow next to her face and cried again. She waited until the kids were at school the next morning. Then she drove to Dylan. He was already awake. But he seemed weaker than the day before.
The greeting was tender. Then Dylan noticed Brenda´s sleepy eyes.
„Did you sleep at all last night?"
„Not a minute." Brenda smiled, caught. „I couldn´t sleep without you."
Dylan smiled weakly. „Don´t I get a good morning kiss?"
„Of course." Brenda leaned over him and laid her lips on his.
Suddenly she felt his hand on her backhead. She smiled in the kiss. Their mouthes open and closed.
„It seemed you feel well."
Dylan didn´t answered. He tried to smile but he hadn´t success.
„Dylan, are you okay?"
„Y-Yes, y-yes…" but Dylan wasn´t okay. Suddenly the color of his face changed. He turned pale.
„Baby? What´s going on?" Brenda grabbed his face. She saw in his eyes. His pupils turn. „Dylan!" She screamed.
Then his head snapped back too.
Brenda ran out and yelled for the nurse. A second later, three nurses and Dr. Webber burst into the room and saw Dylan. They examined him thoroughly. Brenda stood in the corner and cried bitterly. She didn´t know what was happening in front of her eyes. A nurse asked her to leave the room. Brenda left, crying and nodding.
In the hallway she called Brandon. She looked out the window and couldn´t breathe from tears. She sat curled up in the seating area and waited or answers. A little later Brandon was there again.
At some point came to Brenda. „Your husband is conscious again. He suffered a pulmonary embolism. It occurs when a blood clot lodges in an artery in the lungs and blocks blood flow to part of the lungs. He´s currently on oxygen and we´re on blood thinners. We hope the medication works. There is another way to operate on him, but he doesn´t want to do the surgery."
„Why?"
„The surgery is very dangerous. There could be complications."
„My husband could die?" Brenda was in tears.
Dr. Webber nodded. „We explained everything to him but he doesn´t think he´ll be able to complete the operation."
„And how would the surgery be?"
„I think we could help him. He´s got two blood clots in his lungs, one in each. I´m afraid if we don´t go in there and do the procedure, they will. I´m going to penetrate his heart and it could be deadly. His vital signs are not good. The blood pressure drops. It´s oxygen level is really low. He can´t breathe right now without oxygen. But we´re trying to get him stable with the medication."
Brenda nodded. „When do you know if the medication will help?"
„In the next twenty-four hours. If he still doesn´t feel better then we have to operate."
Brenda nodded again. „Can I go to him?"
„Sure." Dr. Webber nodded and left. And together with Brandon they entered Dylan´s room. Now Dylan was attached to hoses. Machines beeped. He had an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth.
This time he either didn´t seem to notice their presence or was too weak to move. Only his heartbeat and his breathing could be heard.
„Should I ask now Erica to pick up the kids?" Brandon gently touched her shoulders.
„Yes, please. I´m staying with Dylan."
Brandon nodded and left the room. Brenda snuggled into Dylan´s chest as best she could, and eventuelly she fell asleep.
She was woken up by Brandon. The kids are fine. Erica takes care of her. Kelly was also informed.
„Wouldn´t you rather go home?" Brenda asked her brother sleepily.
„No way. I´ll stay here with you." Brandon stroked her arm. „Would you like some coffee too?"
„No. I´ll get some sleep." And she was snuggling back into Dylan.
Dylan woke up in the middle of the night. Brenda felt Dylan stroking her head. She got up slowly and looked into his brown eyes.
„Baby?"
Dylan just smiled weakly. He wanted to take off his breathing mask but Brenda didn´t want that.
„I want to kiss you." He pleaded. Staring at her, he reached up and took the oxygen mask off his face and tucked it under his chin.
Without further words, their lips met and Dylan immediately deepened the kiss. His tongue gently caressed hers. Dylan soon had to wheeze and Brenda put his mask on him.
„You are impossible."
„But it was worth it." Dylan grinned mischievously.
„How are you doing?"
„Not so good. I don´t think the drugs are working."
Brenda took a deep breath. „The doctor spoke of an operation…"
„I…will…not survive this operation. I´ll never wake up again." He shook his head.
„Dylan…" Brenda´s voice was stern, „you´re not going to die. You will have the surgery and move on."
„I want so see our kids." His shallow, barely breathing breaths continued.
Brenda looked at her husband. Tears ran down her face when she saw his expression. She shook her head. „Don´t you dare. Don´t do it." She knew what he wanted.
Dylan´s hand went to her face. „Baby." He whispered, „please." He begged.
„Dylan…don´t be stubborn now. We must try to save you. The doctor dont´t think you´ll survive if we don´t."
Dylan shook his head again.
„Dylan." Brenda was stern. „We will conduct this procedure."
Dylan gave up. „I will not survive." He sank deeper in his pillow.
„Yes you will." Brenda stroked his head. She leaned down and kisses his forehead.
They must have fallen asleep together because again Brenda was rudely woken up. This time by Dr. Webber. He had Dylan´s chart in his hand and was checked Dylan´s stats. Unfortunately, he didn´t like what he saw.
„And?" Brenda looked at him with red eyes.
„The medicine aren´t working the way we wanted them to. I´m afraid we have to operate."
Then Dylan woke up too. Dr. Webber looked worried to him.
„Mr McKay. I told already to your wife that our medicine aren´t working the way we wanted. We have now only one opportunity."
„The surgery." Dylan looked desperately down. He wasn´t very comfortable with that thought. He knew he could die. He looked to Dr. Webber. „Can I talk to my wife for one minute?"
„Only one minute." Dr. Webber left the room.
Brenda and Dylan saw at each other. Brenda knew Dylan had fear of death. Dylan took Brenda´s hand. He would say a lot. But in this moment the words missed him. Instead of he took his mask again from his face and leaned to Brenda. They kissed. He got barely breath but that doesn´t matter him this time. He wanted to kiss Brenda one last time. They opened and closed their mouths. They almost forgot Dylan had an oxygen mask.
„I love you Bren. You was and will ever be the great love of my life. Please don´t forget that. No matter what happened."
„I love you too Dylan. And you will ever be in my heart. No matter what happened."
They kissed again. Than Dylan gasped again and Brenda pushed the oxygen mask again over his nose and mouth.
„Baby, please send Brandon to me." Dylans eyes turned red.
„Ok." Brenda was fighting with tears. She kissed his forehead and heavyheartly she stood up and went to the door and called to Brandon.
Brandons eyes turned red too when he appeared in the room. He sat himself to Dylan and grabbed his hand.
„Brandon, I will not survive this surgery."
„Dylan…"
„Brandon, I´m serious." Dylans eyes were dead serious. „Without big words, you are my brother. You was it always and you will ever be. Please take care of Brenda and our kids. Please. Promise me."
„I promise. But you will survive and soon you can held your family again in your own arms."
The boys hugged eath other.
„Please send the doctor." Dylan was too weak and felt again back in his pillow.
Brandon stood up, looked at Dylan down, nodded and left his room.
A few seconds later Dr. Webber was by Dylan. „Mr McKay. Did you decide?"
Dylan looked at the ceiling. He closed his eyes briefly. „Yes…make it."
„All right Mr McKay. Then we prepare everything. We´ll pick you up right away." With this words Dr. Webber left the room.
Brenda came back and waited so long on Dylans side until the nurses pick him up the hallway. She hold his hand. The whole way they looked at each other until they came around the corner and suddenly they were forced to…let go. Dylan mouthed quickly an „I love you forever". Then the OR-Doors closed in front of Brenda. And she began to cry. Brandon was quickly on her side and hugged her.
„It will be all ok. Dylan will survive. He´s a fighter."
„It was so damn quick. I had no chance to get the kids." Brenda still cries.
„Do you really want that they saw their Dad like that? I´m sure Dylan didn´t wanted it. He was to weak for the kids." Brandon´s voice was seductively.
Brenda cries silently.
„I´ll call Kelly. It´s ok?" Brandon looked worried on her.
Brenda nodded only.
Brandon walked away and grabbed his phone. Brenda considerung taking the kids tot he hospital. But what should they do? Nobody knew exactly how long the surgery was actually supposed to last. She knew they werre in good hands with Erica. Even though Erica would love to be in the hospital.
Brandon looked around the waiting room. Valerie was there and Erica. Iris was on the way and until than Jackie was looking after all kids. Steve and Janet were there too. David took care of Valerie and Erica. The silence was deafening. His gaze wandered to his sister. She sat alone and stared into space. He sniffled quickly and suddenly he felt a warm hand on his arm. Kelly wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
„It will be all ok. We are a family." She kissed him on his cheek. „He will make it. Dylan will survive."
Brandon hugged her and pressed her on his body. She felt his tears on her cheek.
„How long shall the surgery lasted?" Wanted Erica to know.
„Dr. Webber told maybe six hours. Maybe more." Brenda shrugged.
„Then I´ll get us all coffee." Valerie got up.
Brenda stared at the wall. „He didnt want the surgery…what if he was right?"
Erica was suddenly on her side. She stroked Brendas arms. „But if we hadn´t done it he might already be dead."
Brenda looked down. Erica wrapped her arms around her and stroked her softly. Brenda was glad Erica is by her side too. But she wished too her parents were there. Jim and Cindy wanted to take the next plane from Minnesota. Brenda kept holding her wedding ring.
„I´m not Iris but I have an idea." Erica pushed Brenda away from the group and went with her in the hospital chapel. Suddenly Brenda saw a crystal in Erica´s hand. Brenda grabbed her crystal, a gift from Iris, too and together they prayed.
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