There was nothing he could do but pace.
Pace, and dial numbers.
A multitude of numbers.
He began with Brandon, leaving a voicemail that saw Dylan's voice falter halfway through as he told Brandon of Brenda's condition.
Or, of Dylan's uncertainty of Brenda's condition, as Dylan himself hadn't been told a damn thing.
He asked, or more demanded, that Brandon dial the hospital himself and find out what he could so that he would be able to relay the information to Dylan.
The next number he dialled picked up instantly.
"Dylan?"
"Cindy, thank God. How quickly can you get to the airport?"
"Airport? Dylan?"
"It's - it's Brenda," Dylan said as he fought to keep it together. "I took her to Tallinn and everything was fine, but she got some upsetting news that - that she didn't take well, and - and I'm trying to get someone who can fly us back to Helsinki so Bren can be closer to home, but for now she's in a hospital here and they won't tell me a damn thing."
"Brenda's in the hospital?" Cindy attempted to catch up.
"I told them I was her husband," said Dylan. "I tried to convince them I'm Bren's husband, but they saw her passport and got her records from Helsinki. I told them we were newly married, that Bren hadn't changed her name yet. They asked to see a marriage license. Bren needs me, Cindy. She needs me. Our daughter needs me. They need to know I'm here, that I'm here as long as they are, and I don't even know what's happening to my fi - my Bren! How soon can you get here?"
"I'm on my way," said Cindy. "I'll get your mother and we'll be on our way."
"I'll book you the next flight."
"I do have money of my own, Dylan."
"You sound like your children. I'll call you back with the flight information."
Dylan ended the call to prevent Cindy's further protests and called in flight reservations for the two women.
A flight, Dylan assumed, would be significantly faster than putting them on a ferry ride.
He looked down at the ring clutched in his palm, the one he had watched be removed from Brenda's finger.
Less than a half-hour since he had put it on her finger.
Dylan's face shattered into his enclosed fist, his tears working their way into the jewels of the ring.
He imagined what Brenda would do had she been in his situation.
Then he continued dialling.
"Dylan?"
"Jim." Dylan drew strength from the ring that had begun to mark indentations in his palm. "You - just - you'll want to get a flight to Tallinn. And when you get here, head for hospital. I've more calls to make," he said, and hung up without further word from Jim.
"I need 40k," Dylan told his private banker. "I don't care what you have to liquidate to get it now."
"Now? It may take a day or two to get the approval to withdraw that much money at once."
"It's my money," said Dylan. "I need 40k and I need you to wire it over to the Buffalo Police Department in Buffalo, New York by no later than this afternoon. Make sure they know it's for a Valerie Malone."
"This Valerie Malone must be exceptionally important to you," said the banker.
"She's my sister-in-law," said Dylan. "What's important to my wife is important to me."
"You got married?" asked the banker. "Congratulations! Who's the lucky woman?"
"The only woman I've ever loved enough to withdraw 40k for, without hesitation," said Dylan. "Now get on it."
"Yes, sir. Right away, sir."
Three rings in, Dylan's knee bounced frenetically.
"Pick up, pick up!" he said.
"You've reached Steve Sanders' House of Pizzazz. How can I spice up your life today?"
"Steve, it's me."
"Me who?"
"Dammit, Sanders! Can you be serious for once?"
"Okay, okay, I'm as serious as Mrs. Teasly every time I got pulled into her office for circumstances beyond my control. Something happen?"
"Val was arrested," said Dylan. "How soon can you get to Buffalo?"
"Arrested? For what?"
"How soon can you get to Buffalo?" Dylan repeated the question.
"I'll pack my bags now. Should Clare come along?"
"You'll have to ask Clare."
When the shrill tone of Dylan's mobile sounded, Dylan was ready.
"Steve's heading towards Buffalo," said Dylan. "40k will be wired over this afternoon."
"Good," said Brandon, though his inflection did not match his optimistic word. "Good. That's good."
"Did you listen to my message?"
"Sorry, I haven't. I just called you back as soon as I saw you called."
"I'm sending Steve to Buffalo so he can be there for Val," said Dylan. "You need to come home, pronto."
"I need to get Val out of jail."
"I'm working on it," said Dylan. "Bren; B, Bren's the one who played your message."
"Is she okay?" asked Brandon, his tone bewildered.
"Fuck no, she's not okay," said Dylan. "She's in fucking hospital in Tallinn and I can't get them to tell me a fucking thing about her. I don't have any damn idea how she is, because no one will tell me!"
"Go to her," said the voice in the background. "I'll stay with Val. You go."
"Kel," said Brandon, "don't you want to go back with me?"
"Of course I want to," said Kelly, "but my brother needs me right now, just as your sister needs you. You go to Bren, and I'll stay here with David. We both know he's not going to agree to leaving Val and I'm not going to force him to. If it were you in Val's place, I wouldn't leave, either."
Dylan had been so focused on Brenda and on Valerie that he hadn't considered for a moment how David was faring.
"How's Silver?" he asked.
"He stole a police car," said Kelly.
"He did what?" asked Dylan, certain his grief had fogged his hearing.
"We were in Tom's truck," said Kelly. "Tom; that's Val's old boyfriend. Anyway, we were in Tom's truck on the way to the station. I was trying to console David -"
"Who couldn't be consoled," said Brandon.
"- which is understandable," said Kelly. "Tom stops at a red light -"
"David jumps out -"
"And next thing we know, he's stealing a police car."
"Did they find him?" asked Dylan, who thought astonishment didn't quite define his reaction.
"Right away," said Kelly. "David apparently thought that he'd get arrested and be able to join Val in her cell."
"Instead, Silver got slapped with a heavy misdemeanor, he's forbidden from seeing Val, and I'm trying to get a lawyer for her," said Brandon.
"How much is Silver's misdemeanor?" asked Dylan.
He added that amount to the forty thousand.
"I'll get the lawyer," said Dylan. "You get your ass to the airport and use your Power of Attorney powers to call this damn hospital to insist they give me a fucking update before I sue this fucking place!"
"I'll call the hospital, tell you what they say, see if I can get in to see Val, and then I'll fly back," said Brandon. "Tallinn, you said?"
"Helsinki by that time, if I have anything to say about it. Your parents are on their way."
"Parents?"
"I told Jim."
"Bren's gonna be furious with you."
"Let her be furious. At least that means she'll be near."
"Is there anything I can do?" asked Kelly gently.
"Call Donna," said Dylan, "and tell her to pray like she's never prayed before, if she's truly convinced it works. For Bren, and for Val."
"I will," Kelly promised.
Dylan set about to secure a lawyer for Valerie.
The edge of Rick's business card cut through Dylan's deep pocket into his leg, but Dylan didn't take it out.
"McKay? Is that you?"
"Yeah, it's me," said Dylan. "I need Durning's number. Do you have it?"
"Hang on," said Noah Hunter. "He's in the other room. I'll just go get him."
"Who's on the phone?" asked the sleep-addled voice.
"It's Dylan," said Noah.
There was the sound of a quick peck on the lips that Dylan pretended was his own lips upon Brenda's and then, "Dylan? Why is he calling?"
"He needs to talk to Matt," said Noah. "Want to talk to him while I get Matt?"
"Does he want to talk to me?" asked the voice.
"Hey, Gina," said Dylan.
"Hello," said Gina, unsure of how to proceed. "It's been a while."
"Yeah," said Dylan. "I'm sorry about the way things ended between us. It's just - I had a lot going on."
"I heard," said Gina. "About Brenda. I overheard Donna and Kelly talking about it. Is she nice, this Brenda? Does she satisfy you the way I couldn't?"
"Gina -"
"I'm not mad," said Gina. "Really, I'm not. You made it clear from the beginning that you couldn't get too involved with me because you had intense feelings for someone else. I just assumed that someone else was Kelly."
"I was an ass," said Dylan. "To you, to Kelly, but especially to Brenda. I'm sorry," he said a second time. "You deserved better than I gave you."
"Never expected the Great Dylan McKay to admit when he's hurt someone," said Gina.
"I'm, uh, trying to make amends," said Dylan. "Trying to…"
Trying to be a man my wife and child can be proud of sat on the tip of Dylan's tongue, but he wasn't going to let Gina Kincaid be the first person he told about his engagement.
"Trying," he said.
"I think this Brenda is good for you," said Gina. "Are you happy?"
Not at the moment, thought Dylan. He conjured up the image of Brenda accepting his ring as he continued to clutch onto said ring and answered, "Yes. I am. Are you?"
"I am," said Gina. "I didn't think I'd actually fall for Noah. If I'm honest, hooking up with him started out as a way to get back at Donna, but; but I really like him, Dylan. I never expected to feel this way about anyone."
"It's a nice feeling when you experience it, isn't it?" asked Dylan.
"It is," said Gina.
"Is Hunter coming back around soon? Sorry, it's just kind of urgent."
"Here he is now. Take care of yourself, Dylan, and let Brenda give you an ego check every now and then."
"Oh, if my ego gets inflated, Bren will let me know. Trust me."
Her and Val both, thought Dylan.
"Sorry, man," said Noah. "Checked the entire casa. Matt musta slipped out. Should I take a message?"
"Just give me his number," said Dylan.
He searched through Brenda's purse for a pen and wrote Matt Durning's number on the back of Rick's business card.
"Thanks, man," Dylan told Noah.
"You must be pissed at me for cheating on Donna," said Noah.
"I'm the last person who can judge for that," said Dylan.
"I didn't mean to fall for Gina," said Noah, "but I did. It's hard to be with a girl who you know wants to be with someone else. I knew that from the second I heard Donna talking to Kelly about running into some guy named D'Shawn. I'm sorry for hurting Donna the way I did. She's a sweet girl, and there's enough assholes out there without adding me to the mix."
"Don't tell me that," said Dylan. "Tell Donna."
"Will we be seeing you around?"
"Maybe sometimes. But don't count on it. And don't expect to see me without my Bren at my side."
Brenda would be at his side, Dylan told himself; she would.
Keep busy; he had to keep busy.
He had to drive away all the demons that taunted Dylan with false certainties that he had held Brenda for the last time.
"Matt Durning."
"Matt, it's Dylan."
"Dylan? Well, wow, this is a surprise. Did, ah, did something happen to Kelly?"
"It isn't Kelly. Did you know Valerie? Valerie Malone?"
"Valerie Malone? Yeah, I talked to her a couple of times. Does she need a lawyer?"
"Val needs the best damn lawyer on the planet."
"You know I'm up for the job. What's she in for?"
"Murder. Val's mother is claiming Val murdered Val's father, which is asinine. I know Val. She manipulates, she schemes, she fakes pregnancies, she does a shit ton of things that usually end up hurting a shit ton of people, but she doesn't murder. She freaks the fuck out at the sight of a gun!"
"Dylan, before Valerie left Beverly Hills, she was contemplating turning herself in for murder. She told me herself that she did murder her father."
"She - she what?"
"I really want to help. I would help, but," Matt sighed, "look, I can give Valerie legal advice, but when it comes to actually defending her over a murder charge, I'm not that type of lawyer. If you want to get her off, you'll need someone who specializes in murder charges. I can give you the name of a guy at my old firm who's the best criminal defense attorney I know, but that's all I can do."
"That's a start. Thank you."
"I'm almost at the office. I'll call you back when I get there."
"I'll await your call."
Waiting, thought Dylan; he was in for a long wait.
Waiting for Cindy. For Iris. For Jim, Brandon, Matt Durning to call.
Waiting for any news on his fiancée.
He couldn't just wait.
"Dylan?"
"Andrea," Dylan cried into the phone. "I," he hiccuped, "I need your medical opinion."
"My medical opinion?"
"If - if Bren has to go in for - for an emergency C-section today, what - what are the chances that - that both of my girls will survive?"
"An emergency C-section?" Andrea asked. "What happened?"
"Just tell me their chances."
"That would depend on numerous factors -"
"I don't need the specifics, Andrea. I just need to know if my family will live."
"I'm sorry, Dylan," Andrea's voice softened considerably. "A C-section at thirty-seven weeks may result in complications for the mother and child, but it's also possible it won't. Without knowing more about the situation, or the specifics of Brenda's health, I'm afraid I don't have an answer for you."
"No one does," said Dylan, "and that's the fucking problem."
"What can I do?"
"You can get Bren's and my place ready for Brandon," said Dylan. "He's coming home early."
Dylan would have flung his mobile across the waiting room, had it not been for the little girl who sat filling in a coloring book beside a sign that declared in bold letters where the hospital's chapel could be found.
Dylan wouldn't have thought twice about the hospital's chapel, if the girl hadn't borne a striking resemblance to the photos he had seen of Brenda as a child.
Beside her sat who he presumed to be an older brother, along with a slightly older sister.
The brother resembled Brandon; the sister, Valerie.
It was like looking at a page straight from the Walsh family album.
His mobile trilled again.
"Richard Harrington," said Matt. "That's the guy you'll want to call. Rick Harrington. He excels at these kinds of cases, especially if there's any truth to Val's innocence. We went to law school together. Rick graduated top of the class, despite his initial business degree. If anyone can get Valerie off, Rick can."
"That wouldn't be the Rick Harrington of Milwaukee, would it?" asked Dylan.
"That's the one," said Matt. "I have his number here for you."
"No need." Dylan rubbed his hand over his face. "I've got it. Thanks."
"Let me know if there's anything else I can do."
"Will do. Thanks again."
Were the heat of a gaze able to ignite flames upon a paper, Rick's business card would have been broiled beyond recognition.
"Rick," said Dylan, "it's Dylan."
"Dylan?" asked Rick. "Dylan who?"
"McKay," said Dylan. "Bren's husband," he added, since Rick already believed them to be such. "I hear you're a damn good attorney. There's a woman over in Buffalo who needs your help. She's been wrongly accused of killing her father."
"Is this woman close with Brenda?"
"It's her sister."
"I didn't know Brenda has a sister."
"Well, she does."
"Then send me the information and I'll get to work," said Rick.
"Make sure you send over your rate, too," said Dylan. "I'll be sending you the payment."
"Anything for Brenda?"
"Anything and everything for Brenda," said Dylan. "I'm trusting you to clear Val's charges, Rick, when normally I wouldn't trust shit about you. I could hire anyone, but you've been personally recommended by a guy my friends trust, a guy whose judgment I personally trust. He claims you're the best criminal defense attorney he knows, and our Val needs better than the best. So don't fuck it up. Get her through her arraignment, and then get her back to Porvoo where she belongs."
Dylan crossed his feet, lay his head back against the wall, and attempted to still his churning thoughts.
He opened an eye, again focusing on the sign for the chapel.
A man like him couldn't go into a place like that.
Restless, Dylan stood and walked over to the front desk to inquire for an English translator.
Once one had been tracked down, Dylan asked for a piece of string.
"String?" asked the woman.
"String, ribbon, twine, whatever you got," said Dylan.
"I believe there may be some pipe cleaners in the children's ward," said the woman.
"That'll work."
"Wait here. I'll check to see if I can bring you some."
"I just need a couple."
Dylan did as he was told, though it meant even more waiting, and called Brandon as he did.
"Got Val a lawyer," said Dylan. "He's starting right away. Were you able to see her?"
"I couldn't," said Brandon. "Val refused to see me."
"She wouldn't see you?"
"She won't see any of us. How much for the lawyer?"
"Don't worry about it."
"D -"
"I mean it, B. Don't worry about it. You at the airport?"
"Going through security now. I noticed you got me a layover in Helsinki."
"We should be back by then. I'm seeing about getting Bren air transport. If she's going to be in fucking hospital, she'll want to be closer to home. If we can't get over there, then you'll catch the plane to Tallinn. Did you talk to the hospital?"
"They couldn't give me an update, D. They don't have one."
"Fucking slowpokes," said Dylan. "I swear a sloth would bring news faster. Tell me when you've landed at Helsinki."
Dylan took a bit of solace in knowing that Valerie wouldn't have seen either him or Brenda, even if they could have been there to support Valerie.
He tried to call David.
Voicemail.
Multiple voicemails.
Figuring that David likely felt as shitty as he did, Dylan hung up without leaving a message.
David undoubtedly struggled with the knowledge that he couldn't do a damn thing for Valerie, the way Dylan couldn't do anything for Brenda except ensure that Valerie would be well taken care of.
Asking to use a computer, Dylan emailed Rick the details. Returning to the front desk, Dylan inquired of a list for potential air ambulances.
Somehow, he was going to get Brenda home.
"Dylan."
"Mom." Dylan gratefully folded into Iris' hold. "You're here already?"
"Already? Dylan, it's been five hours since you called Cindy. Helsinki isn't that far."
"Five? I - I didn't notice. I've been trying to keep as busy as possible."
"Exactly like our Brenda would do," said Cindy. "Were you able to get an update?"
"Brandon tried. They couldn't give him one."
"Leave it to me." Cindy slid a hand down Dylan's cheek. "I'll get us an update on her. Brandon may be her Power of Attorney, but a mother knows what to do in these situations."
"I'll come with you," said Dylan.
He continued to hold onto Iris.
If he didn't, Dylan believed he may collapse.
Cindy approached the front desk.
"My son-in-law would like an update on his wife, please," she announced in a clear voice.
"Who is his wife?" asked the receptionist.
"Brenda McKay," said Cindy. "She may still be under Walsh. Paperwork can be such a nightmare to change."
"You are her mother?"
Cindy pulled out the birth certificate to prove it.
"I will get her doctor," said the receptionist. "Perhaps there will be news."
"I've had this on hand ever since Kempsey asked for it," Cindy explained to Dylan. "Never know when I may need to prove myself to be Brenda's mother."
"I hate all these rules and regulations," said Dylan.
"They may be a nuisance, but imagine if any Tom, Dick, or Harry could get through to see Brenda," said Cindy.
Dylan supposed there was a tad bit of good to the rules.
Just a tad.
If Dylan couldn't get in, then neither could Tom Rose or Immo Rawlins.
Brenda's doctor introduced himself as Hamid Rebane, a man who the receptionist assured them was Estonia's finest.
"I'm sure you are," said Dylan, "but I still want to get Bren back to Helsinki. Is she alright enough to be flown out?"
"I will be level with you, Mr. McKay," said Hamid. "Your wife's blood pressure; it has been uneven, has it not?"
"Up and down faster than a teeter-totter," said Dylan.
"A what?"
"A teeter-totter; it's," Dylan shook his head. "Unimportant. Just tell me what's wrong with my wife."
"I have reviewed your wife's files. Up until this point, Mr. McKay, it has been assumed that Brenda's sharp increases and decreases in her blood pressure have been due to her accident and the imbalance in her brain."
"They haven't?"
"They may be, but upon closer examination, your wife has what is known as peripartum cardiomyopathy. It is a condition often left undiagnosed until the final month of a pregnancy."
"I don't understand," said Dylan, all oxygen knocked out of him until he was certain he would topple. Iris' arms kept him steady. "Bren's had plenty of appointments to be able to diagnose this sooner. What does it mean?"
Peripartum cardiomyopathy, said Hamid, sometimes did not begin until the final month.
He then told Dylan precisely what it meant.
His head spinning out into a cyclone with the information, Dylan asked to see Brenda.
She was in with a nurse, said Hamid. Dylan would be informed when he could see her.
"Tell her I'm right out here, waiting for her," said Dylan.
"I will, Mr. McKay," said Hamid. "When your wife awakens, I will be sure to tell you."
Cindy declared her intentions to visit the chapel.
"Go with her," said Iris as they watched Cindy leave.
"Mom -" Dylan began.
"You may not believe in it," said Iris, "but Cindy does. Right now, she is a mother who is hurting, just as you are hurting." Iris cupped Dylan's shoulder. "Go with her. Cindy will pray. You; just listen and offer her comfort. I will come and get you when you can see Brenda."
"Why can't you go?" asked Dylan.
"I will stay here and wait for Jim," said Iris. "Am I correct in assuming you've contacted him?"
"How the hell do you do that?"
"I'm your mother," said Iris. "It is a talent Brenda will also grow to have."
"If they live," said Dylan, voicing his fear.
"Listen to me." Iris took both of Dylan's hands. "Brenda has survived an upturned train, a bus afire, and a cancer scare. She even beat all the odds and has begun to remember you. She will survive a little heart trouble."
"She asked me to choose between her and our daughter, Mom. I couldn't do it. I can't do it, because my answer will always be Brenda. Does that," Dylan coughed, "does that make me a horrible parent?"
"Oh, my darling. That makes you a man in love."
"She said yes." Dylan showed Iris the ring. "Bren and I got engaged today. We should be celebrating right now. She shouldn't be here. She shouldn't be waiting for yet another miracle. She should be home, with me, celebrating this ring."
"You know what else you can do in a chapel?" said Iris. "Whether or not you believe?"
Scream, she said. Dylan could scream.
So he did.
He sat beside Cindy, who was kneeling presumably in prayer, and screamed at the top of his lungs.
"I've lost my father to you," he screamed at Death, who he could visualize in his mind. Death, he was sure, was draped in a long cloak designed with the faces of those who had been stolen. "You stole Toni long before she was ready. You stole David's friend, Scott. You took my grandparents, and Brenda's aunt. But you don't get Bren. You're trying damn hard to get her. You've been trying for months, but it ain't gonna work. You don't get to come near my Bren, and you sure as hell aren't taking our daughter, either. Because if you do, I'm coming for you, and you don't want a man to come after you who's already conquered Death more times than the doctors thought he could."
Dylan collapsed into Cindy's embrace.
"I'm sorry," he told her. "I'm sorry for screaming when you were trying to pray."
"How do you know I wasn't screaming inside, myself?" Cindy withdrew a tissue from her purse to mop at Dylan's face. "You just verbalized it."
"Dylan."
Dylan turned towards his mother.
"Brenda's asking for you," said Iris with a kind smile.
Dylan didn't stop running until he reached Brenda's bed.
"So," she breathed through the wire taped under her nose, "I'm back in hospital."
"You're back in hospital," he confirmed, taking the chair beside her to lace their hands together. "In Tallinn this time. Did they tell you why?"
"They tried to," said Brenda. "I always hear it from nurses. I wanted to - wanted to hear it from my - from my fiancé. I figured he would tell me the truth."
Dylan tried to smile.
"It's your heart," he told her. "It's just a little weak from carrying around two others." He set his hand upon her chest. "A little enlarged from fitting three into one. Maybe it was jilted a bit in the accident. Made it easier to damage it with the news about Val."
"What," Brenda lay her hand upon Dylan's, "what does that mean?"
"It means you may need surgery, Bren," said Dylan. "On your heart. It needs some help to pump. Maybe it just isn't used to being in agreement with your head."
"Are you trying to make me laugh?"
"Might be." Dylan teased Brenda's hair. "They've given you beta-blockers to slow your heartbeat and anticoagulants to prevent blood clots, but they haven't ruled out that you may need a heart transplant if you don't improve."
"What does that mean for her?" Brenda's hand fell to her stomach. "Can we still - can we still have a vaginal birth at home?"
"That'll depend on how your heart fares between now and then," said Dylan. "If we have to go to hospital for a C-section so that both of you come out of it just fine, then we're going to hospital for a C-section."
"Okay," said Brenda. "I'm too tired to argue. But I need you to leave."
"What?" Dylan drew back as if he had been pummeled by a star quarterback. "I'm finally allowed by your side. There's no way I'm leaving."
"You have to find my ring," said Brenda. "I woke up and it wasn't here. I think I dropped it. It could have fallen in the sewer. You have to find it. I didn't mean to lose it. I swear I didn't."
Dylan brought Brenda's hand to the twisted pipe cleaner around his neck.
"It's here, Bren," he told her, enclosing her hand over the ring. "It's right here. I kept it safe for you. I'll keep it safe for as long as you need."
Brenda relaxed her hand against her ring.
"I ask you to marry me and then you go and pass out on me. I knew you were hot for me the second we lay eyes on each other, Bren, but I didn't realize you were so hot for me that you'd make yourself dizzy," said Dylan. "I don't think that's what they mean when they say a kiss can make you weak in the knees."
Brenda gave a smile of her own, albeit a pained one.
"Will you climb in with me?" she asked through cautious breaths.
"I don't want to jostle your heart," said Dylan. "It'll be damn hard, believe me, but I'm going to remain in this seat for now, just to be on the safe side."
"Then will you kiss me?" asked Brenda.
"That, I'll do. You don't have to ask."
Dylan aligned his lips with hers and poured his entire soul into their kiss.
"God, you're a good kisser," said Brenda as they withdrew. "We should do this every day."
"A few times a day, or more," said Dylan.
"I could marry you."
"Thought you'd already agreed to it."
"Now. I could marry you now. Get an officiant and I'll marry you now."
"I'll marry you back home, with our brother by our side," said Dylan. "Not here. Not in hospital. We aren't starting our marriage with you in a hospital bed."
That you think you won't recover from, Dylan stopped himself from adding.
Brenda wouldn't have offered to marry him in hospital if she believed she would be leaving it.
She will recover, Dylan insisted to himself. You just gotta help her to have the faith that she will.
Which means you gotta hold on to it, yourself.
We've come too far to give up now.
"Brandon," said Brenda. "Val. My Val. How is my Val? Did she - did she get the 40k?"
"She got it," said Dylan. "She got a good lawyer, too. Now she needs you to get your heart back in shape so we can start this marriage and end our pregnancy on a somewhat healthier note."
"Will Val make it to our elopement? Will she be there when she's born? Kelly promised me Val would be there."
"We'll know more after the arraignment. No one expected Val to get arrested, least of all Kelly. Just sleep and try to not stress about it, Bren. Let your heart heal."
"Will your heart still be in mine if I do need a transplant?" asked Brenda as her eyes started to close.
"My heart will be within any heart you have," said Dylan. "And your old heart will remain in mine. I'll just make room for your new one, too."
"Then you'll be in the same predicament as me," said Brenda drowsily. "I don't want to see you in a hospital bed."
"Feeling's mutual, darlin'. So get your heart in working order, and that's an order."
Dylan didn't know how to tell Brenda the rest of it: that if her heart didn't improve, they would be advised against a second pregnancy.
The important thing, Dylan told himself, was getting Brenda through the remainder of the first one.
Ensuring Brenda had become enshrouded in sleep, Dylan began to speak to their child.
"Me again," he said just above Brenda's pelvic area. "I think there's been a slight misunderstanding. You seem to be under the mistaken impression that because your Mommy and I are back together and getting married that you can come out because I asked you to stay in until Mummy agreed to be with me again. Sorry, kiddo. Doesn't work like that. You gotta hang in for a few more weeks, alright?"
Dylan raised Brenda's hospital gown to rub his face over her pelvis. One of his hands went to rest against the indentation on Brenda's stomach.
Dylan did a double-take on noticing that the indentation appeared to be the outline of an elbow.
Dylan's other hand clutched at Brenda's.
"You know, Daddy uses his elbow as a kind of affection towards your uncles, so I'm gonna take this as you agreeing. Let's plan on you waiting until Daddy officially gives Mommy his last name. Okay? Can you do that for me?" Dylan circled his hand over the indentation. "And can you do something else for me? Can you keep Mommy's heart protected, the way she's been protecting yours? Daddy really needs you to. He can only protect it so much and - and if Mummy's heart fails, then," Dylan trembled as his face crumbled into Brenda's legs, "then Daddy's will, too. Because - because your father can't live without your mother. I'm sorry, kid. I know Bren would want me to, but I - I just can't. Your mum's heart goes out and - and my sobriety will be shot to hell. I guarantee it. You don't want a father like that, a father like I had. So I need you to keep Bren safe, while she continues keeping you safe, and I need both of you to come out of this alright, to survive yet another thing trying to steal your Mummy and you away from the man who loves you both so much. The only man who can ever love you this much."
Spent, his emotions worn thin, Dylan had nearly succumbed to sleep himself when a soft voice approached.
"Can we come in?"
"Please do," Dylan told Cindy. "Did the doctor give the approval for an air ambulance?"
"He did," Dylan was told, but it was not Cindy who answered.
"I don't think you should be here," said Cindy crossly. "Your crass attitude is the last thing our daughter needs right now."
"Cindy, honey -"
"Don't 'Cindy, honey' me," said Cindy. "Not after everything you've done to interfere with our daughter's life."
"I called him," said Dylan. "Bren needs her family to get through this, and that includes Jim. Regardless of how I feel about him, or how I feel about what he's done, I understand that he thought he was doing what he could to keep Brenda safe."
"Safe from what?" asked Cindy. "From you? Brenda's never needed to be safe from you, Dylan."
"My son would never physically harm your daughter," said Iris, "but he has had plenty of demons to battle to get him to the point he has achieved; demons that Dylan has never wanted Brenda to have to face herself. Their various times apart have helped to heal their souls so that they could come together again, and this time permit nothing to tear them asunder. Nothing," she emphasized to Dylan.
"We can discuss this more later," said Jim. "For now, you ladies will stay here with Brenda so that Dylan and I may talk."
Dylan opened his mouth to protest.
"We won't go far," said Jim. "Just over to that corner."
Dylan reluctantly withdrew his hand from Brenda's.
He promised her that he would be back shortly, and set a kiss upon her lips to seal that promise.
"Dylan," said Jim, "it would seem that I have misjudged you. I assumed you were exactly like your father, and every time I witnessed you stumble, I was delighted that my daughter had escaped your delinquent grasp."
"Sir, I've got to get back to Bren -"
"Dylan, when you called me to tell me about Brenda, despite knowing that I hadn't yet agreed to drop the case, despite the way I left our discussion on a questionable note, it showed a level of maturity I didn't believe you could possess. As did planning to hire an air ambulance to bring Brenda to where she wants to be. Son, you've prioritized your family over any argument you and I have and Dylan, I'm proud of you."
"You're - you're what?"
"I'm proud of you," Jim repeated. "If how you've taken care of my daughter today is how you've been taking care of her, how you'll always care for her, then you have my blessing."
"Thank you, sir." Dylan repeatedly shook Jim's hand. "I won't let you down, sir."
"I'll be calling the courts tomorrow," said Jim. "See if I can't get a certain case thrown out."
"Thank you," said Dylan. "If it's too late for you to, Bren becoming my wife ought to do the trick. And if that doesn't work, then Brandon will file for guardianship."
"If it comes to that, I will not stand in Brandon's way," said Jim. "Whatever happens, I will not be taking Brenda to Hong Kong after all. In fact, I believe it is time for me to leave Hong Kong, and to perhaps sever my ties with Rawlins."
Dylan found himself unexpectedly embracing Jim in a way they had never done.
"Dylan."
Jim's hand grazed over Dylan's back in a failed attempt at a back clap as Dylan made a beeline for Brenda.
"I'm here," he told her.
"I know," she said. "I just realized I neglected to tell you I love you."
"I love you too, Bren."
"I know," Brenda said again. "Except I love you more," she said, then returned to sleep.
"Not even close," said Dylan.
He kissed Brenda's knuckles before taking out his mobile to finalize plans for an air ambulance.
They were flown into Helsinki, where they were soon greeted by a flustered Brandon who barrelled through the waiting room.
"Where is she?" he asked.
"I'll take you to her," said Dylan. "There's something we've got to tell you."
"How bad is it?"
"We've got some bad, and some good. A nice mix."
"My niece?"
"Still in the belly," said Dylan. "Though how she's managed to stay in the belly this whole time, the doctors have no idea."
"You say like we aren't aware that you talk to her," said Brandon. "You probably asked her to stay in."
"She's the child of a Walsh and a McKay. You think she'd listen to her parents?"
Dylan stepped aside to reveal a fully conscious Brenda, who had asked the question.
"Brandon." She stretched out her arms. "I missed you."
"Missed you too, Bren," said Brandon as he swooped in to hug her. "I could've sworn we all told you no more hospital scares."
"I didn't do it on purpose," said Brenda.
"They're monitoring her?" Brandon examined the device wrapped around Brenda's partially exposed stomach.
"Monitoring both of us," said Brenda. "They just need to make sure my heart doesn't worsen and they're checking her oxygen levels so that she doesn't go into distress."
"If she does, it's straight into the delivery room for this one," said Dylan.
"If she doesn't, then I can go home and hopefully remain home," said Brenda.
"Where Bren will rest." Dylan gave Brenda a definitive look that didn't allow for argument. "A lot."
"If I have to," said Brenda.
"You have to," said Dylan. "I'm not risking either of your hearts."
"Your heart?" asked Brandon.
"Bren's heart is weak," Dylan explained. "We're working on strengthening it."
"Like my mind," said Brenda. "Except Alina and memory training can't help me strengthen my heart. Neither can you. I wish you'd stayed with Val."
"Look, Brenda; as much as I love you both, there wasn't any question where I should be," said Brandon. "Especially if you're having heart issues."
"I should be okay now," said Brenda. "Dylan said Steve flew out there. Does Steve know about me?"
"Didn't tell him." Dylan curled up beside Brenda, careful to not jostle her. "Made it easier for him to go to Val, and Sanders will be able to support Silver, too. I'll deal with Steve's wrath later."
"Dylan says Val's arraignment should be soon," said Brenda. "I've instructed Mom to call David at the exact second before it starts, so David knows we're all supporting him and Val. Then Mom can give us an update."
"Speaking of updates," said Brandon, "is there a reason Luca isn't here?"
"He did stop in earlier," said Dylan.
"He was working and heard I was in here again, so he thought he'd check on me," said Brenda.
"He heard it?" asked Brandon. "You didn't tell your boyfriend about being in here?"
"I wanted to wait to tell you and Val in person," said Brenda. "But I guess I can at least tell you."
She lifted her hand to flash her ring at Brandon.
"You and Luca are engaged?" asked Brandon.
"Is this Luca's birthstone?" asked Brenda.
"I'm not in the habit of asking your boyfriends their birthdates," said Brandon.
"Brandon didn't even know mine until you started talking about planning a party for it," said Dylan.
"Well, it's not," said Brenda. "It's Dylan's birthstone." Brenda scrutinized Brandon as if he were a three-headed Martian speaking in Latin. "Dylan and I are engaged. It's tourmaline, for my Libra fiancé. Luca's would be an emerald, for a Taurus. There's no emerald on this ring, see?"
Not unless he'd have to change out the smallest birthstone, thought Dylan, who would rather his daughter didn't share a birthstone with Brenda's ex.
Mainly because Dylan would rather his daughter not be born prematurely.
"Bren's spent too much time with Iris," said Dylan.
"You can never spend too much time with Iris," said Brenda. "She's fascinating."
"We'll agree to disagree," said Dylan.
"I'm pulling your leg," said Brandon. "I knew it was D's."
Brandon held out his hand for Dylan to initiate their not-so-secret finger snapping handshake that Brenda had requested they teach her.
"So first you got my sister to agree to take you back, and then you got her to agree to marry you," said Brandon. "Anything else I missed in the short time I was away? Steve-o also pop the question?"
"I don't think so," said Brenda. "Jim gave Dylan his blessing. That doesn't mean I'm forgiving Jim anytime soon for everything he's put us through, or everything he's said and done to my Dylan. I'll give him a chance for my daughter's sake, but he's on thin, thin, very thin ice. The second he disrespects Dylan again, he's permanently banned from our lives."
"Surprised you asked for a blessing," said Brandon.
"Brenda tried to get us to marry in a hospital room in Tallinn," said Dylan, "and Jim's gonna work on getting the case thrown out."
"So he's acknowledged the whole case was a pile of horse shit that set my sister's hard-earned progress back considerably?" asked Brandon.
"Plus, we met someone named Darla," said Brenda. "She thought she knew me. Do I know a Darla?"
"Was her last name Hansen?" asked Brandon.
"Harrington, I think," said Brenda.
"Née Hansen," said Dylan.
A former close friend of Brenda's from Minnesota, they were told.
Married to Rick Harrington, Brandon was told.
"I don't know a Rick," said Brandon.
"Oh, you know this Rick," said Dylan.
"Surely it's not Reek?" asked Brandon.
"Reek Harrington, attorney-at-law," said Dylan.
"Reek?" asked Brenda. "I thought he said Rick."
"He did say Rick," said Dylan. "Others know him as Reek. Like people who pretend to be French around Reek."
"Uh, okay," said Brenda. She shrugged off her confusion and continued speaking to Brandon. "I really don't want to wait to marry Dylan," she said. "I feel like we've wasted so much time already and I don't want to waste anymore, but I also can't bring myself to marry him without Val around. We aren't having a wedding until later, but we did hope you and her would be our witnesses when we elope."
"Tell you what." Dylan slid his arm around Brenda's shoulders and pressed his lips to her ear. "How about we plan to head down to City Hall at the end of next week? That'll give Val's lawyer enough time to get her back here, Donna gets to help out by taking you shopping for an outfit, and maybe it'll persuade the little rascal to stay in until we've both got rings on our fingers."
"What if Val doesn't get back here?" asked Brenda.
"Then we'll get someone to record it so she can watch it later."
"But David isn't here."
"Silver isn't the only one who shoots film," said Dylan.
"Clare studied it," said Brandon.
"I thought she studied science," said Brenda.
Both, she was told; Clare held a degree in each.
"Is she even around?" asked Brenda. "I assumed she'd be with Steve."
"Clare's schedule isn't as flexible as Steve's," said Brandon.
"On account of he doesn't have one," said Dylan.
"I don't like us all being split up like this," said Brenda. "Val should be here. Can I call her?"
"Val isn't accepting calls," said Brandon. "I think the police are a bit startled at how cooperative she's being."
"That doesn't sound like Val," Brenda frowned.
"It's like something's shut down in her," said Brandon. "I'm not sure Val has any fight left. I tried to get her to leave with me. David offered to run away with her. Val turned us both down."
"She has to have some fight," said Brenda. "She's Valerie Malone. It's there. She just needs someone to re-ignite it in her."
Brenda reached out for the pitcher beside her bed.
Dylan snatched the pitcher to pour Brenda a glass.
"You don't actually think she killed her father, do you?" asked Brenda.
She engaged in silent communication with Dylan. Brenda told him that she could have poured herself the glass. Dylan insisted that Brenda not overdo it.
Until they were completely in the clear with Brenda's health, Dylan would continue to insist.
He told Brenda as much, with only the language spoken by their eyes.
"No." Brandon had missed the entire exchange, undoubtedly due to an ongoing reverie of his own. "I don't. I told David I'd help him prove it. David thinks Abby's the real murderer; after hearing the way she talked to Val, I wouldn't be surprised if she is. But I have no idea where to start. Only three people know what really happened that night. One of them is dead, the second isn't talking to us, and I'm starting to think the third may be an actual sociopath."
"Val told me she has siblings," said Brenda. She sipped from her glass, Dylan helping Brenda to balance the glass against the blood pressure cuff Velcroed around Brenda's arm. "Maybe they were there that night. I forget what Val said their names are. It was one of the first things she told me when she moved in. When I stopped trying to hide from her, that is."
"Suzie and Curtis," said Brandon. "You're a genius, Bren." He kissed Brenda's head. "I'll start with them. With any luck, they may have heard something that proves Val's innocence, even to Val herself. The problem is, Val's convinced she did it, and until she decides otherwise, she's not gonna be of much help to her own case."
"You and David will help her," said Brenda confidently. "Maybe Steve can, too. I hope she knows I'd be there if I could, the way she was there for my court date."
"She knows, Bren," said Dylan. "How's about you catch some Z's while your brother and I talk?"
Brenda agreed.
Dylan ushered Brandon to just outside Brenda's room.
"Is it worse than you let on?" asked Brandon.
"I hope not, B," said Dylan. "I really hope not."
"Think Bren will make it all forty weeks?"
"No," Dylan admitted. "We've had too many scares to go full-term. I'm aiming for at least thirty-nine. But I need Bren to be as stress-free as possible, and she can't be as long as Val's locked up."
"It was terrifying," said Brandon. "I've never seen Val like that. Even when - even when," Brandon cleared his throat, "I've just never seen Val like that," he said again.
"Think Bren's on to anything about Val's siblings?"
"If we're lucky."
"You get any luck, spread it over to the McKays. We can use it."
"We can all use it," said Brandon. "Val, uh; she told David she loves him."
"Silver must've been over the moon."
"As the cops were taking her away."
"Damn. Poor guy."
Dylan noticed the look in Brandon's eye.
"Something else happen?"
"I don't know if I should talk to you about this."
"Something happen with Kelly, then?"
Brandon appeared unsure as he answered, "She said she's still in love with me."
"And you said?"
"Nothing. I didn't say anything. We don't exactly have the best past."
"Neither do Bren and I, or David and Val. Or Steve and Clare, for that matter."
"It just wouldn't work," said Brandon. "I can't exactly drag Kel to a warzone, or ask her to wait for me every time I leave. I can't ask her to give up her life for me. But I can't - I can't give up my own dreams, either."
"Bren thought the same," said Dylan. "She thought I'd decided to stay in London to accommodate her life. She said I'd be happier somewhere else, somewhere where the winters aren't bleak and the surf's tropical. I told her it was my life and I wanted to spend it with her. 'Course, we both know how that went, but point is, maybe Kelly wants to wait for you, or maybe she wants to go where you go. You don't have to give up your dreams. Kel doesn't have to give up hers. Your dreams can merge, the way mine and Bren's have, and then maybe you'll find yourself with a different dream. But you won't know unless you ask her."
"Maybe," said Brandon.
"I better go check on our patient," said Dylan.
"D?" asked Brandon.
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad you're marrying my sister."
"Well," Dylan grinned, "that makes two of us."
"And if you ever hurt my little sister again, if you ever for a moment consider leaving her," Brandon sombered, "I will hire the entire NHL to band together to kick your ass into the nearest volcano and leave your remains to disintegrate in the lava. Got it?"
"Roger that, Boy Scout."
"I'm gonna call into the arraignment." Brandon resumed his normal tone.
"Keep us updated."
"Will do."
"Oh, and B? A little heads-up?" Dylan said as he touched the doorknob to Brenda's private room.
Brandon turned around.
"You might recognize the voice of Val's attorney," said Dylan. "Apparently he's the best. Let's hope for Val's sake, he is."
Dylan returned to Brenda's side, where he would always be.
No matter what.
Even if he had to move a bit over when Donna and Clare came rushing in, arms full of enough presents to indicate they had bought out the entire sweets shop for Brenda.
And perhaps emptied out the stuffed animal section of the nearest toy store while they were at it.
-x
Didn't get this done in time for Sunday, but I figured Tuesday works, too.
I know the series had Matt be the one-size-fits-all attorney, but ah...yeah, I assume he has a specialty of his own.
Sources: Google and the websites for American Heart Association, New York Courts, The New York State Senate, Saland Law, St. John's Law Scholarship Repository, VeryWell Family, Wiley Online Library.
(Shout-out to KJ to express my continued gratitude and appreciation, as well as those of you whose review I could respond to directly. KJ, leave it to Val to tell David she loves him as she's getting hauled away. You know our girl just can't help herself. With them being in Buffalo, Tom was an easy inclusion. He's one of the few characters in the later seasons that I like, and I like how he cared about Val. He's just no David. Perhaps the random nameless guy was Tom! Lol. Oh, Abby, what are you hiding...)
Thanks a million! x