Oh wow thank you all for the lovely reviews. I appreciate each and every one of them so much. You all are the ones that keep me going and writing. I love you all.
I'm sorry this chapter is later than normal. My best friend I've had for 40 years passed away this week. It's been hard.
Chapter 12 A week time jump.
{{This might call for kleenex}}
"Annie Rose, my sweet darlin wife to be. You have to wake up. It has been too long since I saw those beautiful blue ocean eyes. I need you to wake up and look at me and tell me everything will be alright. I won't believe it until you do and say the words."
"Well sweetheart it is time for your bath again. Yes my love I have bathed you everyday and hoped and prayed that you would say oh that feels so good. But alas my love I haven't even heard a peep or a moan. I know what my touch does to you the same as yours does to me."
He gets the water ready and undresses her from the top down. Making sure he keeps her covered and warm. He takes the washcloth and gently washes her face and neck. He slides the cloth down over her chest and washes her breast and nipples. He so wants to kiss and love them but now is not the time. He takes a soft towel and dries her and puts one of her satin gowns on her, not that ugly hospital thing with stripes.
"My love I remember the first time I saw you naked you took my breath away and darlin you still do. Even more now than you did then. It was our first time and I was as scared as you were. But I was trying not to show it. I am a man I should have been raring to go. It's just you are the love of my life and I will never hurt you. That is why I was so nervous and scared I knew it was going to hurt you. I did everything I could to make it as painless as I could. I know there was pain. I saw it in your eyes and the tears that were running down your face."
"I held you tight and we cried together. I loved you as a child, I loved you as a teenager and I am so deeply in love with you now that I don't know what I will do if something happens and you don't wake up. Please god please let my Annie Rose wake up and be alright?"
"Annie Rose, you are so precious to me. That night we made love was the essence of my world coming together with you as one. Our first time was us loving each other, caring for one another, feeling our skin touch and our hearts beat as one."
He sits there with the cloth in his hands crying and just lays his head down on her stomach and lets the tears fall.
"My Annie Rose, my girl, my life, my love please wake up. You don't know how much I need you right now. I am going crazy wondering if I am going to ever see your beautiful smile or your gorgeous eyes or feel your loving touch. Sweet Annie Rose my Annie Rose…he can't say anymore."
He moves the cover down as he takes her gown and pulls it down over her. He washes her stomach over her hips down her thighs, her knees, calves and little feet. She has the cutest toes he has ever seen. He washes her feet then takes another washcloth and washes in between her legs. He cleans her as best as he can with the catheter in the way.
"He dries her and pulls her gown all the way down over her. He covers her back up and sits there holding her hand. Love they are going to come in and change your sheets. I will be holding you while they do that. I will not leave you for one minute. Annie Rose please, please love wake up. I know you need to wake up. We have so many plans to make. My darlin sweet angel you've been asleep for over a month. Don't you think that is pushing it a little too far. I love you Annie Rose my Annie Rose."
He breaks down crying, holding her and rocking them both.
This is so not fair. Why would he want to hurt her? Why not me? Lord, I would give anything if it was me in this bed instead of my love.
He leans down and softly kisses her sweet lips.
Time to put some ointment on them. I don't want her waking up fussing cause her lips are cracked.
"Annie Rose, do you remember the time we were playing and we made a bet to see who could swing the highest for your helicopter and my bicycle. We both got in trouble that day. Or how about the time we had a snowball fight. Or the time you said you were going to see Santa Claus. Oh I know how about the time you gave me the two train cars and I gave a helicopter for Christmas. The best friend's necklace I know you remember that gift you wear everyday."
"Little Annie Rose remember the time it rained and we wanted to go and make mud pies but our moms wouldn't let us out of the house cause it was thundering and lighting? She said we could get struck by the lighting. So we waited until it all stopped and snuck out of the house and not only played in the mud we got so dirty throwing mud pies we made at each other our moms caught us and threatened to beat out butts. You ran and I took off after you. We both slipped and fell in the mud. Our moms were laughing their asses off."
"How about the time we walked to school and caught Elliot talking to some girl and we saw him kiss her. You laughed and Elliot turned five shades of red. Cause he found that she was a he and didn't know it. That was so funny. She or he looked like a girl and you ragged him for weeks."
"Remember our rides in the helicopters when we were in class learning to fly them. How about your first solo flight? I was so happy for you and scared at the same time. You landed that helicopter and had the biggest smile on your face. I took your picture and still have it on my phone."
"Wake up baby please. I'll stop reminiscing if you will."
"Annie my Annie Rose please open those eyes and look at me."
He says holding her hand and crying. Tears falling down his face.
"Ok you asked for it."
"How about our sixteenth birthday party? We both wanted them separate then said Naw gotta have them together. Remember our gifts from our parents they got us Mercedes."
"Remember when we left for college and took our time getting there? We stopped and did some sightseeing. We saw the Luray caverns in Virginia, the Statue Of Liberty and then on to Cambridge. That was an awesome trip. We met Gail and Jason as our CPOs."
Still no sign at all from her.
"How about all of our pool games? Baby I love you and I need you please give me a sign. Any sign?"
What am I going to do without her? No, I can't think like that. I have to be positive and she will wake up and everything will be fine. She will remember me and our love. I will show her everyday what she means to me and I will recreate our life together if she doesn't. I just can't lose the woman that was made for me and me for her.
He starts crying again and wiping his eyes.
He starts to sit back down and he feels her hand on his side move a little. He looks at her hand but it is in the same place as before. But I swear I felt it. Must be going crazy. Nope I felt it again.
"Annie Rose are you trying to wake up? Come on love, move your hand again? Squeeze my hand baby love."
She doesn't squeeze his hand but she moves hers a little bit.
"Yes I knew it I knew you were waking up."
He is smiling and crying especially when he sees her eyes are opening and closing. She squints her eyes. The light is too bright.
He sees her closing her eyes and turns the lights down and calls the nurse.
The door flies open and the room is full of medical personnel and her doctor comes in.
"We were monitoring her from the front desk. We also heard you yell that she was awake."
"Well hello young lady. Don't try to talk right now. Just nod your head if you can understand me? Are you in any pain?" I am your doctor. My name is Dr. Blackmon and saw glad to see you are awake. This young man has been going crazy and hasn't left your side."
She nods that she understands him and nods again for the pain.
"Alright Ana we are going to give you something for the pain."
He sees the look in her eyes.
"No this will not knock you back out it will just take the edge off the pain for now."
She nods again.
The nurse puts the pain meds in the IV.
"Annie Rose?"
She turns her head and sees her love and smiles a little at him.
"Ana, do you know who that is?"
"Yes she croaks out barely able to speak."
"Don't try talking right now."
"Nurse Besty, will you please get Ana some ice chips?"
"Yes doctor right away."
"Annie Rose I love you my darlin girl and I have missed you so much."
Chris is crying and he doesn't care who sees him.
She raises her hand and wipes his tears before her hand falls back on the bed and she closes her eyes.
"Don't worry Chris she is alright. She remembers you. She said she knew who you were. We are going to take her down and do some scans and I will bring her back in a little while. You need to get some rest and go tell your family."
"I am sure they already know Dr. Blackmon."
He points at the door and sees everyone standing there.
"Yes I can see they do. Alright everyone as I was telling Chris we need to run some scans and I will bring this young lady back in a little while. She said she knew Chris. I just want to verify that all is good and no swelling or anything. You know she has been in a coma for over a month."
"Hey baby girl I love you and I'll be right here when they bring you back to me."
As they are wheeling her bed out the family kisses her cheek and says they love her.
"Annie, we will be waiting right here. We love you sweetheart."
She opens her eyes and smiles at them. She tries to take Chris's hand but she can't raise it up. He sees her hand move and grabs her hand and brings it to his lips and kisses it.
"I'll be right here when you come back. I love you my Annie Rose."
She mouths I love you.
"Come along Carla, they need to do the test."
Chris leans down and kisses her before they take her away for testing.
She whispers I love you to Chris my Boo.
He looks at her smiling.
"She said my name thank god. She knows me. I know she said it a while ago but I was praying she still did know me."
"She would never forget you Chris, she loves you too much to ever forget you."
They all start to go to the ICU waiting area and sit down but Chris walks into her room.
Chris smiles and they wheel her down the corridor and he turns and walks back into her room and sits down with his head in his hands bawling like a baby and he doesn't care who the heck sees him.
Carla and Grace walk into the room after they hear him crying.
"Chris son she is going to be alright. We are all so happy she is awake. We love you baby boy."
Grace wraps her arms around him and holds him tight.
"Oh thank the lord my baby girl is awake. I know all will be fine now. She knows you Chris and she doesn't have amnesia. She is going to be weak for a while and you all know how she is? She is the most stubborn independent woman we know."
Chris gets and walks over to Carla and hugs her and wipes her tears with his fingers.
"That's alright momma Carla we will batten down the hatches and group together and she will just have to live with all the help and attention she is going to get here and at home."
"This is going to be fun keeping that girl down. You know Chris, she is a pistol and she won't be taken care of lightly? She is always on the go and has so much planned for the company. You are going to have to rein her in."
"Elliot, tell me something I don't already know bro. I know how she is and I have known all my life there is no compromise with her. I will have to think of something fast before tries to put one over on me and us."
"We all know how she can charm anyone to do her bidding."
"We will be at your house when the Dr. Blackmon releases her whenever that will be. Besides, Gail said she would be there and she said she wasn't taking no for an answer."
"Gail needs to be home recuperating herself. Not at our house."
"Yes, well you know she is as stubborn as Ana is."
"Oh lord Jason how well I know. Maybe if we get them in the same place Annie Rose will be more likely to stay still for a while. What do you all think? Or is it wishful thinking?"
"We will have to wait and see son. You are both stubborn so we will have to see who wins this round."
Ray and Carrick both are laughing.
"Where is Gail? Have you called her and is someone bringing her here? You know there will be hell to pay if she is brought up to date on Annie Rose."
"Relax Chris I called Sawyer to bring her here, Yes she knows and she is beside herself and can't wait to get here. Last I heard she was driving poor Sawyer crazy."
"Yeah she can surely do that."
Chris laughs.
They hear someone telling someone else to hurry up and come on.
"That's Gail and I Sawyer. She seems to be in a hurry. How she is getting around with a broken leg beats me with her walking that fast even with a walking cast."
Gail and Sawyer arrive at the door and everyone looks up.
"Well Jason there's your answer. She's in a wheelchair. I am guessing she was making Sawyer push her faster to get to Annie Rose's room."
"Looks like it. Gail what are you trying to do? Kill poor Sawyer?"
"Well no put I had to come here quickly and see my girl."
She looks around but doesn't see Ana or her bed.
"Where is she?"
"They took her down to get some more scans done. Dr. Blackmon wanted to make sure there was no swelling or anything going on."
"So she is alright she knows you and everyone else?"
"Yes Gail she does. Well she didn't come out and say she knew us all but she did know Chris and she smiled at all of us and when we told her we loved her."
"Thank the lord for that. I was so worried about our girl. Now I am going to help take care of her until she is better."
"Gail, you still need to take care of yourself, you know."
"Yes Chris I know but I am helping you with Ana. Grace and Carla will help me too. Don't fret. I know how to handle that little lady. I'll pray on our injuries so that we need to be there for each other."
"If you think that will work. I know why you are doing this and you need to stop. You are not the reason this happened. No one knew what he was up to and her helicopter had just come out of the shop being checked over to make sure nothing was mechanically wrong with it. How did we know he was going to put bombs on it? We didn't so smile and stop this guilt you are feeling or you will have to answer to her."
"Um, does she remember what happened and why she is in the hospital?"
"We don't know because as soon as I yelled she was waking up the room was covered in medical personnel and the doctor talked to her for a few minutes and asked if she was in pain and if she knew me. She nodded her head yes for both. She told me she loved me and called me Chris and her Boo."
"Oh Chris, that is so good. Now how are we going to approach this with her?"
"I think it will be best to see what Dr. Blackmon says about it. Hopefully she won't remember what happened right now. She needs to rest and get better first. But knowing her she is going to be asking a million questions when she can talk."
"We will just have to wait and see what happens when she comes back."
They all sit down in her room for a while.
"Would anyone like coffee or something to eat?"
"There is a deli right across the street. I can go and get some sandwiches or meals whatever you all prefer."
"Yes it is getting late, why don't we take an order and call it in and you can go pick it up Sawyer."
Grace called the order in and Sawyer went and brought it back. They all ate in silence waiting on the return of their girl.
"Thank you Luke, that was very delicious. I take it you have scooped the place out before?"
"You are welcome Grace and yes I did when I found out that Chris wasn't going to leave her side. The man needed substance and I was going to make sure he ate and Jason did too. So I decided to check it out and the food was very good. That is where I have been getting all of your food at. Well there and at the restaurants here in town."
"Well you have done very well young man."
"Thank you all."
"I hear the nurses talking. Hopefully they are bringing Annie back."
Everyone had to step out of the room so they could bring her bed back into the room.
Chris was the first one back in there with her.
"Annie Rose my love you are still awake. I love you sugar so much."
He leans down and kisses her lightly on the lips. He reaches for the chapstick to moisturize her dry lips.
"So attentive Chris I know she will be in good hands when I release her."
"I love her doc, she is my world."
"Yes I can see that she is. Come on back in everyone."
"How is she doing Dr. Blackmon?"
"Considering all she has been through she is remarkably well."
"That's good. Have you told her about all her injuries?"
"Yes we have and she seems to be handling it alright."
Ray pulls him aside.
"Does she know how they happened?"
"I don't know if she hasn't asked or said anything about them. I don't want to upset her. Let's play it by ear and see if she brings it up. Right now she needs rest and not to worry about anything."
"Yes we won't mention it unless she does."
"Good very good. She needs to heal and not deal with how this happened."
They walk back over to the bed.
'Ana did very well and she wasn't in a lot of pain. The pain meds we gave her earlier have helped. She might sleep off and on for a while today and maybe tomorrow. I will have the test results back as soon as possible. I will come to her room and tell you all. Right now even though she has been in a coma for over a month she still needs rest."
"Thank you Dr. Blackmon so much for everything you have done for our girl."
"That's my job Ray and you are welcome and she is a very lucky young lady to have all of you love her so much and to be here with her."
Dr. Blackmon walks out and says he will be back later.
Annie opens her eyes and sees everyone around her room and bed. She spots Gail in a wheelchair and frowns wondering what happened to her.
"Gail what in the world happened to you?"
Gail doesn't say anything, she just looks at Ana with tears in her eyes.
"Gail, whatever is wrong? Are you alright?"
"I am alright Ana. How are you sweet girl?"
"Well from what the doctor said I have two broken legs and a broken arm. I was in a coma and just woke up. Now what happened to you?"
"I fell and broke my hand, arm and leg."
"I can see that." she says barely above a whisper.
"Annie sweetie try to get some rest and we can talk later baby girl."
"No, I want to know what is going on? What are you all keeping from me?"
"Alright love settle down and try not to talk and we will ask you questions and just nod if you remember anything ok?"
"Chris, are you sure about this?"
"No dad i'm not but she is getting agitated and her blood pressure is rising. Look at the monitor. If we don't tell her they will have to come and give her something to relax her."
"Alright we are right here with you."
Before he can say anything the grandparents come walking in.
"Oh my word my baby, my sweet girl you are finally awake."
"Oh Annie Rose, we have been so worried about you sugar bear."
She whispers.
"I am doing alright. Just trying to get them to tell me what is going on with Gail and with me."
"You don't know?"
She shakes her head no.
"Why haven't y'all told her anything?"
"She just came out of the coma a little while ago grandma, gram, granma and nanny."
"We tried calling you all but got no answer."
"I guess we were all in her room waiting on the doctor to bring her back from testing."
"Well is anyone going to tell me what happened or am I going to have to ask my doctor?"
She says throwing her good hand up in the air.
"Calm down love I will tell you but you have to remain calm and not talk. Do you want some ice chips?"
She nods her head. Chris walks over and gets the cup for her. She takes a few from the spoon he is holding for her.
"Better love?"
She nods yes and smiles at him.
"Now if you get upset, I am going to stop. I don't want anything happening to you, do you understand me Little Annie Rose?"
She glares at him but nods again.
Chris sits on the side of her bed and starts to explain what happened to her.
"My love you and Gail were going to get in your helicopter and there was a bomb that blew up."
He looks at her and she is stunned and then she remembers what happened.
"Annie Rose you alright?"
"Yes I remember." she whispers and passes out.
"Dammit I knew I shouldn't have told her."
"I think she is alright Chris, look at the monitors nothing bad is happening. If it was, the nurses would be flying in here like before."
The door opens and in walks the doctor and a nurse
"Oh I see she is sleeping well."
"No Dr. Blackmon she passed out. She demanded to know what happened to her and Gail. I was talking to her and she said she remembered and that was all she said."
"Let me check her and make sure she is alright."
Well that's all for this chapter. I am sorry it is so late but under the circumstances which I have posted this couldn't be helped. I am having good days and bad days reminiscing about my best friend.
Thank all for the condolences and prayers.
I know this is one short chapter but I am almost finished with the next one. I just had to get this one to y'all. Thank you all for the wonderful reviews.
Linda (octobermist11)