Chapter 5
Roger waited for her outside the door to Tony's room.
He had gone to get her another cup of water, and insisted she eat the crackers before they went in.
He had absolutely no idea what he was doing. If he was helping or making things worse.
This felt far to important to be unsure.
"I am nervous," Jeannie whispered, just as he was about to push open the door. "What if he does not wake? What will I do?"
She cast him a weary glance, her face filled with worry, eyes welled with tears.
"Don't think that. He will wake up," He tried to sound confident, tried to sound strong, sure. "I don't know where he is or what's keeping him from waking up, but he will. He's waited his entire life to be this happy. He's worked so hard to build this life for the two of you, he won't give up now."
He pushed the door open slowly.
He wasn't sure what they expected to see. They knew Tony had no physical injures. And even the head injury was internal.
Outwardly, he looked to be sleeping.
Jeannie gasped and swayed on her feet.
Roger steadied her with his good arm, and lead her inside.
"It looks like he is sleeping," Jeannie sobbed, stopped at his bedside.
Roger nodded and motioned for her to sit, and slid a chair next to Tony's bedside.
The water and crackers seemed to be staying down and he wanted to keep her as calm as he could, so that fact didn't change.
"He is still so beautiful," Jeannie mused, eyes on Tony.
"Yeah leave it to Tony to be all banged up and unconscious and still be the handsomest guy in the place."
Jeannie smiled softly, blinking through tears as she took Tony's hand. "Oh Anthony," She cried, head bowed as she struggled to hold her composure.
Roger looked away. Part of him believed Tony would wake up the moment Jeannie said his name.
The rest of him was terrified that he wouldn't wake up at all.
He cleared his throat to get Jeannie's attention. "I'll go wait outside. Give you and Tony a few minutes."
"Oh no please," She started, voice soft and faraway. "He needs both of us." She offered him a soft smile over her shoulder, but her eyes gave her away.
What if he never woke? What if he never knew about the baby? What would she do with herself? How could she go on without him?
They were finally happy. Finally where they had been meant to be since he found her bottle. There was so much to look forward to.
She placed a shaky palm against her stomach, and closed her eyes.
Roger thought their first would a girl. But she disagreed. She could see their son, dark haired, with his father's stunning green eyes and his gorgeous smile.
It would be love at first sight, like it was with his father.
"Where are you, Ton?" Roger asked, bringing them both back to reality. "You're so close to having everything you've ever wanted. Wake up."
His own eyes closed, and for the first time since the accident, he felt tears behind his eyelids.
What was he going to do if Tony didn't wake up?
Not only would he lose his best friend, but he would need to be by Jeannie's side, figure out how to be an Uncle and stand in father.
He shook his head and forced away the tears.
What could possibly be keeping Tony from being able to come back to them?
The reception was in his honor, in his crews honor. Recognition of their last mission and the contribution they made to furthering space research and technology.
It was obvious from the moment they had walked in, how different this life was.
He was NASA's poster boy. A model Astronaut and Officer.
Melissa was a model wife, who knew her place at his side.
She was poised. She was polished and knew exactly what to say, as she flawlessly worked the room.
He didn't have to worry about wayward blinks. That she might say something that made someone think she was two thousand years old.
He wasn't on edge, waiting for whatever would happen to happen, so he come up with some hurries explain that prayed Dr. Bellows would believe.
His life was normal. Ordinary.
And he had never been so bored.
Jeannie would have spent a hour blinking on different outfits, eyes twinkling as she sought his thoughts on each.
Where Melissa had her dress out, pressed and ready to go before he had even arrived home.
She would be at his side, nervous, but in awe of the experience. She would laugh, and do her best to make small talk. Say something in error that might put their whole life in jeopardy.
He would have to remind her not to call him Master, and subtly press for her to remember where they were and that magic was out of the question.
She would forget and they would end up in some previously unimaginable situation, both having to think fast to convince their fellow guests that it was not at all what it looked like.
And then, it would all work out. They would fall into the background and enjoy what was left of the night.
She made him feel ten years older.
Ten years younger.
She kept his mind sharp and made everyday and every event exciting. Unpredictable.
Loving her was hard.
And yet, so easy.
He blew out a slow breath, and scanned his eyes around the room.
Roger. Roger should be there soon.
He would know what was happening, and how he could get back to her.
He had to.
TBC