AN: Thank you all for the reviews. I appreciate each and every one of them. I appreciate each one of you and I look forward to the emails popping up in my email. It makes me feel good and I know that you all still like my story. I thank you all for having patience with me. I value each of you. You are all my friends even though we have never met in person. We are all Kindred Spirits. We all love Fifty Shades Of Grey Fanfiction Stories.
Chapter 14 The Reasons Revealed- 2 Week Time Jump
Christian called Dr. Blackmon the next morning and wanted his opinion on telling Annie Rose why this happened to her and Gail. If they should continue or wait until later. Christian told how she almost had a panic attack last night. He advised Christian to try and have her wait until her two week checkup. He wanted to make sure everything was going alright with Annie Rose first before they told her the main reasons why this happened to them.
He told him to talk to her and if that didn't work he would talk to her. He doesn't want something to happen to her. She needs to stay calm and not get upset. Her getting upset could cause her to have more headaches and they might be very bad ones and debilitating. With her head injury she doesn't need that.
So this is where we are now two weeks later. Ana is visiting her doctor for her two week checkup.
Christian pushes her wheelchair into Dr. Blackmon's office and to the receptionist so she can sign in.
"Good morning Ms. Steele. Dr. Blackmon will be with you in a few minutes. Mercy for it to be the middle of October. It is rather a hot day here in the mountains. Would you and Mr. Grey care for something to drink hun?"
"No Mrs. Austin we are fine thank you though."
"Very well hun."
Christian pushes her wheelchair over to the chairs that are away from everyone so they won't be in anyone's way.
The door opens and a nurse walks out.
"Ms. Steele right this way hun. How are you doing? You don't have long and the cast will be off. I know sugar, you will be glad to get rid of them."
She says as she is walking down the hall to the patient room Annie will be in.
"Right in here Mr. Grey."
"Thank you Nurse Kendall."
"Nurse Kendall, I am doing better. No headaches and lord yes I can't wait to get these things off of me. What time I am not in this wheelchair, this one here thinks he has to carry me everywhere. Which I don't mind but I know his back has to be hurting him but he won't admit to it."
"This one as you say has been helping you since the day this happened to you darlin. We had reports from the hospital on how well you were taken care of. We also heard from your mom's that he wouldn't let anyone but himself take care of you. Sugar you have one helluva man here if I must say so. We all know how devoted he is to you. Well I am just running my little ol mouth. Time for me to take your blood pressure and pulse."
Nurse Kendall checks everything and writes it down on the clipboard she is holding.
"All looks good Ms. Steele. Dr. Blackmon will be in shortly."
Nurse Kendall walks out.
"My goodness if your head gets any bigger my love you won't be able to walk through the door. Everyone is bragging about you. You know I love you and always will and I am so glad I have you to care for me and watch over me like you do."
They both laugh at what she just said.
"I can't help it if they brag about what I have done for the love of my life and I would do it all over again if I needed to. I just pray I won't need to until we are so old and gray that we have to hold each other up just to walk from bed to bathroom."
He laughs a little.
"It's not funny love, just the thought of us holding each other up is. Here I am over six feet and you are five feet nothing. Can you imagine that picture? We would look so funny and probably hunched over so bad that I would be your height."
"Now that is funny Boo."
There is a knock on the door.
"Come in."
"Well how is my favorite patient doing? I heard you both laughing outside the door. I am so happy to see you are in good spirits today young lady."
"Good morning Dr. Blackmon. I am doing very well thank you. I am just tired of these dadblasted cast. Can we cut them off please? I need to start therapy so I can walk down the aisle for my wedding."
"Well then my dear we are going to take some x-rays of your arm, hand and legs. I also want a scan of your chest to see how it is healing. Have you had any breathing problems?"
"No sir, none at all. Well except when I got upset a few weeks ago but nothing since then. Nothing was hurting though."
"Good, that's good to hear."
"If all looks good I will be removing the casts today. I also want to do a scan of your head since you have had a few headaches in the last week. I already have you setup for the scan first then the x-rays. The scan won't take long."
"Oh that sounds so good, thank you. I am sure everything will check out alright. I haven't put any pressure on my legs at all. Chris wouldn't let me do anything. I am either in this chair or He-Man is carrying me around everywhere."
"Yes I know all about Chris carrying you around."
"Our mothers have big mouths Annie Rose."
She giggles at that.
"Oh no Chris it was your fathers. I saw them at the cafe and they were talking about how you wouldn't let her out of your sight much less let anyone else pick her up from the chair."
"Well yeah I didn't want anyone to drop my girl. I felt like I was able to do it. I am strong and healthy besides I want to care for her. She would be the same with me except she couldn't pick me up and carry me around like I do her."
"Um yeah Mr. Grey you are right there my love. I would take very good care of you though in every other way."
There is a knock on the door.
"Come in."
"Dr. Blackmon, they are ready for Ms. Steele for her scans and then they are taking her next door for her x-rays."
"Very good thank you Nurse Kendall."
"Yes sir. Ms. Steele I will take you over for your scans and x-rays. Mr. Grey, you are welcome to come with us but you have to sit in the waiting area."
"Thank you Nurse Kendall. Dr. Blackmon, we shall see you in a little while."
"Nurse Kendall will bring you back here to your room Annie. I will check the results and see you when I have the reports."
"Thank you Dr. Blackmon."
Nurse Kendall pushes Annie out the door and down the hall to Scan room and Christian kisses and tells he loves her then walks over to the waiting area.
"I will have her back in a little while, Mr. Grey. Shouldn't be more than an hour with both."
The nurse says as she starts to push Annie down the hall.
"Thank you ma'am."
"Mr. Grey I have your lady we are all done. If you would like to come back to the room with us."
"How are you feeling sweetheart? Yes thank you ma'am."
The nurse pushes Annie back to her room.
"Dr. Blackmon will be with y'all as soon as he has the reports. Would y'all like a bottle of water or something to drink?"
"Yes please and thank you."
"You are very welcome."
Nurse Kendall leaves them alone and they wait on Dr. Blackmon to come back.
In the meantime Christian is nosy and opening and closing doors and cabinets. Spinning around in the doctor's chair making himself dizzy. He goes to stand up and has to sit back down.
Annie is trying her best not to laugh at him. She is giggling.
"Oh Annie Rose, go on laugh I know you want to and tell me I told you so."
"Oh no Boo I am not going to say I told you so."
She is giggling and can't hold it in any longer. She busted out laughing just as there was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
"Well someone is in a good mood and someone isn't."
"Oh it's all good doc…it was so…funny…she is laughing so much she can barely talk…anyway he was spinning on your…stool and he got up and had to sit back down. He told me to go ahead and say I told you so. He said so seriously and kept a straight face. I couldn't hold the laughter in anymore."
"Oh I see what you are saying. Chris it is fun while you are spinning but not when you stop and go to get up. Believe you me I know. I have done it a time or two."
They all laugh.
"Now down to business young lady. Are you ready to get those cast off of you?"
"Yes sir, more than ready. Really you are going to cut them off today? Right now?"
"Yes ma'am all of them. The x-rays show that you have healed and everything looks good. You can walk with crutches for a while and still use your wheelchair until you strengthen your legs."
"Oh my goodness I am so happy I could dance but I will wait for that."
"Annie Rose, this is amazing news love. I knew if I carried you and you used your wheelchair you would heal better and quicker."
"Yes I know Boo. Thank you for taking such great care of me."
"Yes ma'am my pleasure love always."
"Now Annie we are going down to the cast room and I am going to take all these casts off of you. You need to set up appointments for physical therapy to work with your legs, arm and hand. We don't want them getting stiff and you need to be able to lift and squeeze things."
Annie and Chris look at each other thinking the same thing.
Chris pushes her wheelchair down to the cast room and sits her on the table.
"Alright now I am going to cut your cast off your arm and hand first. Have you ever had a cast before?"
"No sir, never a broken bone in my life."
"Alright now this is going to be loud and it will cut through the cast but it will not cut your skin. See." He holds the cast saw on his arm showing her that it won't cut her.
Because it is oscillating it does not spin like a circular saw.
"You will also start to smell an odor that will be coming from your cast and your arm. You have had these for a long time. I am just preparing you for the odor."
She nods her head.
"Oh wow can you do that on my hand I just want to feel it. I trust you Dr. Blackmon."
He holds the cast saw on her hand and shows her it won't cut her.
'Ok are we ready to do this?"
"Yes sir, here you go."
Annie holds her arm out for him to remove the cast.
As he has cut more than halfway she starts to smell something and knows it is her arm like the doctor said.
"Oh my god I need to wash my arm, this smell is awful. Chris wet me something and put some soap on it."
"Hang on a second Chris, I have to finish this. I am halfway through Annie. Bear with me a few more minutes. Yes I know the smell is rough to handle but you have had this on for over six weeks. Your arm and hand has dead skin that has dried and sweated. I will let you wash it in a little while. In the meantime I need to finish."
"Alright Dr. Blackmon."
Dr. Blackmon continues to cut away the cast on her arm and looks down at her arm and sees all the dead skin and how skinny her arm looks.
"As you do therapy this will get muscle back and look better."
"Alright Chris look in that cabinet to your left on the bottom and grab a cloth and use that medicated soap next to the sink on the cloth so Annie can wash her arm and hand please."
Chris does as doc says and gives the cloth to Annie.
"Oh yes this is so much better." She says as she is washing her arm and hand. She also notices her arm is flabby looking and touches it.
"Oh yes definitely I need physical therapy. I can't have this. My wedding dress will not cover this. My arm looks like an old woman."
"That's what the therapy is for. As I said you will get muscle back the longer you do the therapy."
"Feeling better now love?"
"Yes Chris, thank you and thank you Dr. Blackmon."
"Yes ma'am now let's do the right leg first."
"Alright whatever you say sir."
He slides his stool around to her right leg and sits in front of her. He puts her leg up on a short table so he can work better.
"Oh my lord I can't believe I am getting these things off of me. I will feel like a new woman."
"Now don't be alarmed but your legs are going to look flabby and skinny too. But as I said, therapy will help that."
"Ok I understand, let's do this. By the way, how did my scans look or should I wait until you get done before you tell me anything?"
"I can talk and work at the same time, little lady. Your scans look remarkably well. I didn't see any swelling on your brain, no swelling at all. Everything looked very good. Your scan on your lungs were remarkable as well. No fluid or swelling. You checked out one hundred percent fine for what all you went through Annie. You have made excellent progress taking it easy so your body could heal properly."
"Thank you Dr. Blackmon, I did my best. I didn't want any relapses."
"Yes I know I remember you telling me you were going to be a perfect little angel patient."
He hears Chris laughing and sees him shaking his head.
"Oh come on Boo I was a good girl."
"Yes she was a good girl but no angel. My girl had to have things done her way or no way. Most of the time she was an angel except when she wanted something and couldn't get herself. Like when she was in the kitchen and she saw the oreo's on the counter and couldn't reach them, they were too far back."
Chris looks at her and smiles as she glares at him.
"Ok now you have to finish. Don't keep me in suspense here Chris."
"Well we were all in the living room and she was in the kitchen. She went to get a bottle of water then she spotted the oreos and just had to have them. Well long story short. She tried to reach for them but couldn't get them. She took a long spoon and tried to pull them to her. That didn't work so she tried to lift herself up to reach for them and forgot her wheelchair's brakes weren't locked. Dad just happened to walk in in time to catch the wheelchair before she landed on her butt."
Doc and Chris were looking at her and she was still glaring at Chris.
"My goodness young lady you could have hurt yourself. Not to mention your pride."
"Well I was saved by daddy Carrick. I just wanted the cookies. The spoon wasn't long enough to be of any use to me."
"Other than that doc she was an angel."
"Well that was good to hear. Now let's do the left leg. All done on the right. I just have to remove the cast from around your leg but I will do that when I finish with this one."
"Chris, will you go and get me a bottle of water please? I am thirsty, thank you."
"Oh no need in that we have bottled water right over there in that fridge Chris. Grab you both a bottle."
"How come you have a fridge in the cast room? Well we keep ice packs and ice bags in there for patients that have swelling. I found that it is easier to have them here."
"Yeah, that makes sense."
"Alright little lady, all done. All I have to do now is remove the cast. I want you to sit there until I get back with a pair of crutches for you but I only want you to use one with your good arm. Your other arm is not strong enough to hold you up."
The doctor leaves.
"Chris wet me a cloth so I can wash this odor off please."
Chris walks over to the cabinet and opens the door and grabs a cloth and wets and puts medicated soap on it and brings it to her.
"Oh Boo look at my legs they will never look the same again. They are skinny and flabby." She says rubbing the rag down her left to her calf.
"See how flabby that is but it won't be for long. I am going to work extra hard to get myself back into shape."
"I know you will love. But you are beautiful to me."
There is a knock on the door.
"Come in."
The door opens and Dr. Blackmon walks in with a pair of crutches for Annie.
"Chris help her stand please. Be careful with her arm."
"Annie, I want you to try to walk with one crutch. Chris and I will walk with you."
"Alright whenever you are ready. Just take your time. You will probably be weak and feel some discomfort. If you do, tell us and we will sit you down."
Annie gets up with their help and tries to put some weight on her legs but it hurts too much and she almost falls. But Chris and Doc are there to hold her up.
"Can't do yet can you love? We are going to sit you down right here and I am going to bring your wheelchair over."
"I can't do it right now. It hurts and my legs wobble."
"That's ok and sometimes expected that is why we were with you. I want you to use your wheelchair and also try standing a little bit each day. Not much, just five or ten minutes at a time. Then try walking, making sure someone is there with you at all times."
"Yes sir and thank you for everything Dr. Blackmon."
"You are welcome Annie. I want to see you back here in two weeks after you start your therapy. I will get reports from James on how you are doing. Call James Young's office and set up your first appointment with him. He is over at the hospital and he does house calls too."
"No, I want to come in and have therapy done. Not at my home. I am not an invalid. I am able to go to his office."
"Very well I thought you might say that. He already knows about your injuries. I have sent him your x-rays and my reports on you."
"Alright thank you again Dr. Blackmon and I will see you in two weeks sir."
"Chris, you take good care of this young lady."
"Always doc always."
Dr. Blackmon opens the door for them.
They go over to the receptionist and make an appointment for two weeks.
"Here you Ms. Steele your appointment for two weeks. If you need anything before then feel free to call us. Have a nice day, both of you."
"Thank you ma'am and I will call if I need something. Thank you and you have a nice day as well."
The nurse opens the door for them to go out.
"Chris, Annie are you all done hun?"
"Yes Gail, we are ready to go home."
"I see you have crutches, are you able to stand and use them?"
"No, I am too weak and my legs feel all rubbery."
"Well then let's get you out of her and home my dear."
They walk outside and Chris pushes Annie to the car.
Gail opens her door for her and Chris locks her wheels and lifts her out of the wheelchair and puts her in the backseat. Jason puts the wheelchair in the back and gets in the driver's seat. Gail gets in the passenger seat.
"Where to Annie and Chris?"
I want to go home but I am hungry. Gail call Downtown Grill and order me biggest cheeseburger they have with lettuce, tomato, mustard and mayo please. Y'all order what you want and tell them we will get it when it is ready."
"Wow you are hungry love. Gail make mine the same but add ketchup please."
"Jason the same thing?"
"Yes sweetheart and add ketchup and mustard to mine with the works."
Gail calls in their order and they ride over and pick it up. It's a thirty minute drive. They get the food and eat it in the car.
"Annie Rose we could have gone in if I had known you were going to eat it now."
"Oh no Boo this is fine besides I don't want everyone going to the trouble of getting my wheelchair out and finding us a table where my chair won't be in the way."
"Now you know Mrs. Carnes would have a table for us out of the way."
"Yes but it is nice to eat in the car like we used to do when we were kids."
"Ok, ok and yes this brings back memories."
"Yes it does,"
"Wanna share them memories?"
"Maybe later Gail when we are just sitting around doing nothing."
"Ok deal girlfriend."
"Alright enough about memories, let's go home. I am sure our parents and grandparents are there waiting on us. You know how they are wanting to make sure you are alright."
"Yeah Boo how well we all know."
Jason pulls up at the house and everyone walks outside to meet them.
Gail opens her door then gets out and opens Annie's door for Chris to help her in her wheelchair.
When she gets in her wheelchair Chris moves out of the way. They all see she is without her cast.
"Land sakes child , they took all of them off. I know you are glad of that."
"Yes nanny I sure am. I was tired of them. I still have to use my wheelchair until my legs get stronger. Dr. Blackmon told me to try standing a little bit each day."
"Well come on in out the heat it is a warm day for October you know."
Yes nanny it sure is. I need something to drink Boo."
"What would you like, water or tea?"
"Tea would be nice, thank you love."
"Annie, we have fixed supper for you and Chris whenever you want to eat later. It is in the oven all Chris has to do is serve it. I have it on warm for y'all."
"Thank you mom. Are y'all not going to stay and eat with us later?"
"No hun we are going home and eating. We know you are tired and need your rest. We just wanted to be here when you came home from the doctor's office."
"Well thank you all for being here. I appreciate it. We appreciate it and we thank you for supper."
"You welcome sugar. Now what did Dr. Blackmon say about your recovery?"
"He said everything was fine. He ran scans of my head and lungs all good. He did x-rays of my arm, hand and legs and said all looked good and healed right. As I said a while ago I can stand for a few minutes as long as someone is with me. I still need my chair cause my legs feel like rubber and my strength is not back yet. I have to call and make appointments for therapy. I will go back and see Dr. Blackmon in two weeks."
"Good thank god that's a wonderful report. Now we are going home and we will see you all tomorrow. We love you both very much."
"We love you all too."
"Annie we will come over tomorrow and talk about what you want to know but not today. You need your rest alright?"
"Yes dad that is fine. Yes I just want to go lay down and take a nap. I will see you all tomorrow and yes we will discuss everything and I mean everything love you dad."
"Yes Annie everything will be out in the open tomorrow. We will see you around lunch time. Your mom is making her crack chicken sandwiches for everyone,"
"Oh yum I love those."
They all laugh at Chris.
"Oh sorry I said that out loud didn't I?"
"Yes sweetheart you did. I think we all love them."
"Goodnight y'all love you all."
"Annie Rose do you want to go lay down on the bed and take a nap or rest in here on the couch?"
"I think we will be more comfortable on the bed. I want you to take a nap with me."
"Alright love."
He walks over and picks her up and carries her bridal style to their bedroom. He sits her on the bed and helps her undress. He lays her back on the bed and lifts her feet up and pulls the comforter up on her. He walks around to his side and undresses and climbs in and slides over to her putting his arm around her and pulling her close. She lays her head on his chest and she is out within a few minutes. He looks at her and falls asleep too.
Chris wakes before she does and has to go to the bathroom. He tries to be quiet so he doesn't wake her.
He walks back out and sees that she is awake and smiling at him.
"I didn't think we would sleep this long. It is already getting dark. Help me to the bathroom Boo then we can go eat. I am hungry for all the food they made for us."
He helps her and he carries her to her bench seat so she can rest her legs.
"What do you want to eat love?"
"Just fix me a little bit of everything sweetheart."
They ate fried chicken, fried okra, fried green tomatoes, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli and cheese and macaroni and cheese. Homemade biscuits and sweet tea. For dessert her nanny made them a strawberry cream cheese cake.
He picks her up and carries her to the living room and sits her on the couch.
"Oh my lord I think they are trying to fatten both of us up. Even though I am the one that lost a lot of weight. I know you did too. You didn't have to tell me I could see dark circles under your eyes when I woke up from my coma. I knew that you hadn't been sleeping and you had lost some weight."
"Yes I watched you praying you would open those gorgeous blue sapphire eyes and look at me and tell me everything would be alright. I did sleep some but not a lot. My appetite flew out the window. Mom did say if I didn't eat I wouldn't be any good to you if you woke up and I was in the hospital too because of dehydration and starving myself. So yes love I ate but sleep eluded me most of the time."
"I understand that. I imagine I wouldn't sleep much with you in the hospital either. I would have to be right there taking care of you. I am so sorry I wasn't able to when you were in the hospital."
She starts crying.
"Hey, hey none of that now. It's alright and I wasn't in there long. I had to get out of there and come to you."
"Well we are both better now. I am healing and starting therapy and you know what else?"
"No, what else sweet girl?"
"Ok come on Boo you know what we are planning to do right?"
"Well love of my life you have to do your therapy first then we will plan that."
"Oh no sir we won't. We are going to plan everything now and during my therapy so we will have everything ready for the most important day of our lives."
"Yes love I know. Our moms, not to mention our grandmothers, are driving me crazy wanting to know if I asked you about moving the date up and if we have decided when."
"What did you tell them?"
"I told them that we would let them know."
"That's all you said? We would let them know."
"Yes ma'am those women god bless them all I love everyone of them but they are nosy. That includes your Maid Of Honor and my nosy Best Man. We have to tell the bridesmaids and groomsmen too."
"We will tell them after we tell our family. We can have a little get together here at the house and invite everyone over. I will call and have the food catered since I can't do it myself and our moms are not going to do it for us."
"Well you better make sure they know not to fix anything. You know how our moms and grandmothers are. I think sometimes they just want to hear what they want to hear. In one ear and out the other."
"Well love, we will tell them this weekend. We know where and when. We have the venue and now we need to choose a cake and the colors have changed. I just need to tell all the girls not to buy their gowns. That will be taken care of. I'm glad you called the planners and told them what we were doing."
"Yeah me too. I just knew that you would agree with me and our parents said they couldn't be happier that I wanted to marry you earlier than we planned to."
"I know our moms would have liked it sooner if I was able to walk down the aisle. That's ok though I will be able to walk on my own soon."
"Yes my darlin you will but I am still going to pick you up and carry you around just because I can. I love holding you close to me."
She just looks at him and smiles. Waiting for him to say more.
"Alright I will admit it I need to feel you close to me. The month you were in the hospital was the worst and saddest time of my life. Not knowing if and when you were going to come out of the coma. If you would remember me and what we have had all our lives, I don't want to think what could have happened if I had lost you. But I do know that you are my life and I wouldn't want to go on without you." He starts to cry and she pulls him into her arms.
"I know sweetheart and I wouldn't want to go on without you either. I do know that I could never forget you and what we have been to each other from the day we were born until now. You are my life, my everything, my sweet man."
He looks at his watch.
"Love it is almost midnight ready for bed?"
"Oh my goodness I didn't realize it was that late. Yes I am, we have a lot to talk about tomorrow. The wedding and what you all are keeping from me."
"You will know everything tomorrow. I might call Dr. Blackmon and have him come over to be on the safe side."
"I don't think that will be necessary Boo."
"Well I am going to call him just in case we might need him."
"Come on carry me to bed He-Man."
"My pleasure my lady."
He takes her to the bedroom and undresses her and himself. He puts one of his t-shirts on her and they go to bed. He kisses her goodnight and they say I love you. She falls asleep but Christian stays awake just looking at her and thinking lord what in the world would I do without my soulmate? She is part of me as I am her.
He lays there thinking what tomorrow is going to bring. How will she take it that the reason they hurt her was because of their parents. No one has mentioned anything about that yet but it will all come out tomorrow.
He hears her moaning and thinks something is wrong.
"Annie Rose are you ok? Do you need your pain medicine? Annie Rose, are you awake love?"
He looks at her again and she has settled back down.
He thinks again that he better call and talk to her doctor and fill him in on what is going to happen tomorrow. He hasn't told Dr. Blackmon why those men hurt her. He knows this will come as a shock to her. Their parents are afraid that she will blame them. That's why they haven't told her anything.
"Boo what has you so deep in thought that you haven't heard me call your name three times?"
"Just laying her looking at you and thanking god for you each day."
"Um, something else is bothering you, do you want to talk about it?"
"No sweetheart, we need to sleep. I'm sorry I woke you up. I was just thinking about tomorrow." Well that is true he says to himself.
"Come here love."
She slides over and lays her head on his chest and he runs his hand through her hair and kisses the top of her head. They lay like that for a few minutes and fall asleep.
They slept through the rest of the night without waking up again.
"Good morning my sweet girl." He says into her hair.
Good morning my love."
She looks up at him and kisses his lips.
She slides to the edge of the bed. He walks around to her side and picks her up and carries her to the bathroom. She does her business and he helps her stand. They brush their teeth and get ready for the day.
He thinks this is going to be a long day.
"Would you like some pancakes and bacon for breakfast sugar?"
"Yes Boo I would thank you. Come on help to the kitchen and I will help you."
"No you will not. You are going to sit on that stool or the bench seat and watch me."
"I can fix the pancake batter while you start the bacon and coffee."
"Alright, you can do that. Want to sit at the breakfast bar?
"Yes please."
He picks her up and carries her to the kitchen and gets everything ready for their breakfast. She makes the batter and he cooks the bacon and starts the coffee.
"Christian my love, that was delicious thank you and the coffee was very good. You made it just right for me. May I have another cup please?"
"Thank you sweetheart and yes you may. I'll pour us both one. Do you want to go to the living room? It will be more comfortable than this stool."
"Yes thank you. Come let's go take a nice relaxing bath before our parents come over. They said lunch time and I want to spend this time in the bath with my love."
"I can't say no to that sweet girl."
He picks her up and carries her to the bathroom and he undresses them both and starts the water for the bath. He puts on relaxing music from his phone, lights some scented candles and puts some jasmine bath oil in the tub.
He helps her in and slides in behind her holding her close to him.
"Ah this is so nice and relaxing especially being here with you my love."
"Yes sweetheart, it is very nice. I love you Annie Rose with everything in me and I will love you for all eternity."
She hears him crying but can't turn around to see him.
"Chris what is wrong my darlin? Why are you crying?"
"I'm sorry love I don't know why. I guess it could be because of what I just said. I have missed you and am so happy that you are back with me. It has been lonely even though I was there with you everyday."
She moves his arms and he helps her turn around to face him. She wipes his tears and kisses him softly.
"I missed you to love but I felt you with me. I heard you talking and I felt your touch even though I couldn't touch you or say anything. You were all I thought about. In my dreams your face is what I saw. You asking me to come back to you and not forget you. Christian how in god's name could I ever forget the love of my life? I never would forget you. You are my world and my salvation. Without you in my life it has no meaning."
"Mine doesn't either without you in it. Hey now we are both crying we have to stop this. The family will think something is wrong if they see our red eyes from crying."
"Well we will tell them we are happy and they were happy tears."
"Yeah I guess that will work. But we have nosy mothers."
They both laugh.
"Ready to get out before we turn into prunes?"
"In just a minute but first I want to do this."
She leans into him and kisses him like the world is ending. He gasps and opens his mouth and she licks his luscious bottom lip and pushes her tongue in his mouth and slides her tongue along and over his and down his throat.
He moans into her mouth and deepens the kiss. He puts his arms around her and holds her to him. Then I realized something.
"Whoo love." He says as he pulls away from her.
"What? What is wrong?"
She asked him.
"Nothing is wrong darlin it's well yes it is. We can't do this yet as much as I want you, we can't make love not right now and not in the bathtub. I want you in our bed when we make love again."
"Oh Boo I want you and need you so badly. I understand though I am sorry I got carried away."
"Anastasia Rose Steele never apologize for needing me and wanting me. I feel the same way as you do my darlin but we can't right now. If we could I would take you out of this bathtub and carry you to our bed and ravish you and not answer the door for anyone. We would spend this time reconnecting. It has been too long since we have made love. We will again as soon as doc says you are clear and well."
"Yes you are right my love. Come on, let's get out here and get dressed."
They get dressed and he carries her to the living room and puts her on the couch.
"Would you like something to drink?"
"Yes, a nice cold glass of water please. Thank you."
"I'll be right back with it."
He walks off and gets her water and brings it back to her.
"My love, I need to make a phone call and see what is happening with our company. I won't be long if you need me just yell. I love you."
"Ok I will be right here. What is something going on with our company Boo?"
Damn I shouldn't have told her that.
"I'll tell you later let me make the call first ok?"
"Ok Boo."
He walks off to his office and shuts the door.
"Hello this is Christian Grey. May I speak to Dr. Blackmon if he is available please?"
"Good morning Mr. Grey. I will check and see one moment."
"Hello Chris, how are you this fine day son?"
"Good morning Dr. Blackmon I am good and you sir?"
"All good here Chris. What can I help you with? Is Annie alright?"
" Yes sir, she is good thank you. Well the reason I am calling is because we are going to tell Annie Rose why she was hurt. She knows who but she doesn't know why and we haven't told her anything."
"I see but why do you think I need to be there Chris?"
"Dr. Blackmon the reason she and Gail got hurt is well because the guy that did this was working with his father. His father has been obsessed with the Greys and Steeles for a very long time. The father blames my dad and Annie Rose's dad for being dishonorably discharged from the Marines which was his own fault and a few more things."
"Oh my goodness Chris yes you are right. What time are you all telling her this?"
"Everyone will be over at lunch time. Please join us for lunch at one o'clock."
"Very well I will see you all then. It is going to be alright. Annie Rose is stronger than you think she is son."
"Yes sir I know but I am still worried and so are our parents. They think she will be upset with them and blame them for what has happened to her and Gail. As I said, they think she will have a hard time dealing with it. I think she will understand why they haven't told her about this. I know she won't blame them."
"I am sure she will Chris. I will see you all later."
He makes another phone call.
"Hello hey it's Christian. How are things going there?"
"Hello Christian everything is running right on schedule. The two sales you and Ana have are still in the process. Mr. Richmond and his company and Walter want to do business with you and Ana after she is well enough to come into the office. They said they would wait on her and you. They also said they understood and that they were in no hurry."
"Has the F.B.I. and all the other agencies finally cleared out? Did they find anything else suspicious?"
"No sir, not since you stopped by a few weeks ago. Yes, as far as we know everything has been checked and double checked. The bomb squad and dogs couldn't find anything. They came back and checked this week and cleared the helicopters so the pilots could take them up."
"That is great news. So have you called them all back to work?"
"Yes sir we have, they will all be back Monday morning. The mechanics will be here Sunday evening checking every helicopter out and then bright and early Monday morning. The security you have set up is here twenty-seven. This company is never without security. I am so glad for the extra security you have added Christian. It makes all of us feel very well protected. I and the whole team thank you."
"It was the right thing to do. I just wish we would have thought of all the extra security measures before now. I and Annie Rose are very glad that you all feel safe enough with us and decided to stay with us."
"Never doubt any of us sir. We are family here even with the new crew that has come on board. Everyone wishes Ana a full recovery and hope to see her soon just to visit us and check up on the company."
"We will see you all soon Annie Rose has all her cast off but she is still using her wheelchair. Dr. Blackmon doesn't want her using her crutches right now because her arm was in a cast too."
"Bless her heart well Chris, you tell her that we are all thinking about her and hope she gets better soon. By the way are you doing? I am sorry I haven't asked about your health."
"I am doing a lot better now. We are taking it one day at a time. Thank you for asking Sandy."
"Yes sir and is there anything else you need to discuss with anyone?"
"No ma'am all is good. Tell the guys I will be in a few days to talk to them."
"Very well Chris, take care."
"You as well Sandy. Goodbye for now."
He hangs the phone up and before he gets up his cell rings.
"Hello dad, how are you this morning?"
"Good morning son I am good and you?"
"Doing alright dad. I called Dr. Blackmon and told him we were going to tell Annie Rose why they did this to her and Gail. I asked him to be here at one o'clock for lunch. I told him she knows who but she doesn't know why. He said it would be a good idea for him to be here. He said he knew she was strong and could handle it but he wanted to be here on the safe side."
"That's a good idea Chris. Yes we are all worried when everything comes out that she will be down and blaming us. I know I am wrong but we feel that way. I know she is going to question why we haven't told her as of yet. That is smart and we know she knows more than what we think she knows. I have seen her looking at all of us and wondering what we are holding back. I just hope she will forgive us for keeping her in the dark about this."
"I know she is smart and dad she is not going to blame any of you for what has happened to her. She loves all of you and me. She might be upset that we kept it from her but that will be all."
"Alright son we will see you both right before lunch your mom is cooking and so is Carla. Talk to you later son. I love you. Tell Annie we love her too."
"I will and we love you dad. See you later bye."
He walks out of his office before he gets another call and goes to check on Annie Rose.
"There you are, is everything alright at the office?"
"Yes my darlin it is. Matter of fact our sales we had started before this happened to you are still in the works. They want to buy the helicopters but they are waiting on you to be able to come in and finalize everything."
"Oh no they don't have to do that. They could have bought them without us being there."
"Yes love I know but they told Sandy they wanted to wait on us. The business will be opening back up next Monday. Everything has been checked and cleared by the F.B.I. and all the other agencies. The bomb squad and the dogs didn't find anything else."
"Wow that great news I know all the pilots and employees are ready to return to work. Did our security double check everyone this time? I mean everyone."
"Yes love they did backward and forward your dad and mine did their share too. No one is going to be our employees unless they are one hundred percent cleared. Your dad made some calls and some of his guys that he was in the Marines with to do some more deep sea diving that are trained for this type of searching."
"Well that is good to know. That makes me feel better. I know you and our dads are going to make sure everything and everyone is safe. I heard from dad that you all decided to add security gates and security buildings before you enter the property."
"Yes, you remember how Jason and Gail had everything setup at the house in Cambridge?"
"Yes I remember all the security alarms and all."
"Well they did that at the front gate. No one comes in unless they have an appointment to see someone there. We added ten foot high barrier walls around the company."
"Wow y'all have been busy. I imagine Elliot was involved in some of that work."
"Yes he was, he did the build on the security offices out front and made sure the wall was up to specs. He and his guys are still working on the buildings for us."
"Oh my goodness with what all that has been going on I didn't think he would be working."
"Yes they are all working. They worked around the agencies while they were there. The agencies cleared all of them so they were able to come back last week."
"Ok wow. Have all the calls been made to the employees so they are aware they can come back to work?"
"Yes Annie Rose, everything has been taken care of."
"Good now, where is our family? They should be here by now."
"I am sure they will be soon. It's not one o'clock love."
There is a knock on the door. Chris goes to see who it is.
"Hello Chris I'm not too early am I?"
"No sir, perfect timing. Here comes our family now. I haven't told Annie Rose you were coming."
He gives Chris a stern look.
"I know I should have but we started talking about the company and what all was going on with it. Got sidetracked."
"Well at least I don't have to walk in by myself to see the look on her face."
"Hello Drake, how are you doing?"
"Well hello Ray I am doing well and you sir?"
"I am doing well for right now. But I don't know how I will be when we talk to Annie. I am sure Chris told you why we needed to talk to Annie about it."
"No Ray not much but I understand why he wants me here. I am going to keep a close eye on Annie and if I see the slightest sign of a panic attack I am shutting this talk down. She doesn't need that right now. She is still healing even though everything looks good on her scans."
"I understand and I will be watching my daughter as well. Does she know you are here?"
"No Chris didn't get around to telling her. He sidetracked with the company. Well we might as well go in and face the music so to speak. Shall we ladies you first."
"Thank you Drake."
"Grace and Carla I know this will be hard but remember what she has been through and how strong she is."
"Yes we know thank you."
They all walk into the living room and see Annie sitting on the couch.
She starts to get up when she sees everyone and her doctor there. Then she remembers she can't walk on her own.
"Hello Dr. Blackmon, how are you doing sir?"
"I am doing well Annie how are you dear?"
"I am good but I'm sorry to be so blunt but why are you here sir? Do you need to check on me?"
"Not at all Annie, you are fine. I was invited to have lunch with you and your family."
"Ok well lunch is being set out now. Shall we head into the dining room?"
"Yes, that will be fine."
Chris walks over and picks her up and avoids her eyes. He carries to the dining room and sits her in a comfortable chair.
"Drake I hope you like cracked chicken sandwiches. They are one of Annie's favorites and we thought we would make them for lunch today. They are quick and easy. We have french fries that will be out in a few minutes."
"Yes Carla, I love them. I haven't had time to make them myself. Thank you, they look very good."
"Here comes Grace now with a tray of fries. Help yourself and there is plenty more."
"Thank you."
He passes the tray around to Chris.
"Annie Rose, would you like some love?"
"Yes thank you Chris." She takes some and puts them on her plate.
He knows she has figured out that something is going on so she didn't call him Boo or look at him. Dammit I knew I should have told her but dang it I didn't know how she would react to it.
"Well we have more food if anyone wants anymore. Drake, would you like another sandwich?"
"No Carla two was a plenty. Thank you."
"Is everyone finished eating? I would like to go and sit down in the living room please. Then you all can tell me what the heck is going on and why my doctor is here. Nothing against you Dr. Blackmon please don't take it the wrong way."
"None taken Annie."
"Chris, will you carry me to the living room please?"
"Yes love I will."
"Would anyone like something to drink as we adjourn to the living room?"
"Coffee please dear."
"Yes Ray, anyone else?"
They all say coffee.
"Mom, I'll have a bottle of water please."
"Yes darlin I will get you one."
The coffee has been given out and Annie has her water.
"Alright everyone I am getting worried and nervous here. What the hell is going on? What are you all not telling me? Am I sick or something? Is this about why this happened to me and Gail?" She looks at everyone and she spots Gail and Jason sitting on the other couch. She smiles at them.
"I didn't know you two were here. You should have come and ate with us."
"That's alright Annie we already ate but thank you sweet girl."
"Annie, you need to slow your breathing down and take some deep breaths please?"
She does as Chris asked her to do.
"Feeling like yourself again? Feeling better? This is about why you and Gail were hurt. No you are not sick or anything like that. I..we felt like it would be a good idea if your doctor was here with us when we told you and Gail why you both were targeted and hurt. Are you ready to hear the reason? You seem to be upset just asking those questions."
"Yes I am ready to hear what everyone has to say. I will try to stay calm. I love all of you, bear with me please."
"Alright, who wants to start?"
"I'll go first, we agreed on it and Carrick will continue if I can't."
"Annie we all love you so very much you mean the world to us. We are so sorry you and Gail got hurt. Gail is a very special family member to us and we love you to Gail , never forget that."
"Thank you Ray."
"Ok Annie now you bear with me as I tell you why all this happened. Those two men father and son have been working together to bring our family down for some time now. We didn't know anything until Edward's mother came to hospital with the cops to tell us her son was the one that set the bombs. Even then we didn't know who she was; she never said her name. I asked her who she was, who her ex-husband was and her son's name."
"When she said her ex-husband was Fletcher Williamson I wanted to find that drunk S.O.B. and kill him."
She said her name was Joyce Floyd and her husband was Jerome Floyd. Then she said my son's name is.. and before she could say it Chris walked out and said his name was Edward Williamson and I am going to kill the bastard."
"We didn't see Chris walk out of your room but he heard her say her ex-husband's name and knew who it was that did this to you y'all."
"Oh my lord so it wasn't just Ed that was wanting to hurt me was it? His father was the instigator and talked him into doing this. How long has his father been thinking this up? Why in the world would you use your own child to do anything like this?" Why would his father want him to hurt me?"
They all look at each other and Chris pulls her close to him.
"Calm down love. Calm down Annie Rose you need to breathe with me come on baby breathe with me. That's it in and out in and out slow and deep. Good, that's good."
"I'm ok for now thank you Boo."
"Annie, are you light headed or feeling faint? Is your chest hurting? I need to know."
"I was for a minute but I am ok now Dr. Blackmon."
"Want us to continue Annie or take a break and grab something to drink?"
"Yes let me let this settle in and please Boo will you get me a glass of water with lemon please."
"Yes love I will."
"Alright everyone let us all take some deep breaths and try to relax a little bit. Annie I know this isn't easy on you but I believe you are doing alright even though you are getting upset which is normal under the circumstances. I am not sure what else they have to tell you but this is the part I am here for. Just remember they all love you and what you are about to hear in a few minutes is what they were worried about telling you before."
"Alright Dr. Blackmon I will do my best and stay calm. If I see I can't, I will call a timeout."
"Very good Annie, that is what I needed to hear."
Chris walks back in and gives her her water.
"Thank you sweetheart, come sit back down with me."
"I was going to love."
"Little lady, are you sure you want our dads to finish this story of why you were hurt and Gail?"
"Yes El I need to know thank you."
"Alright dad, well I guess we will hear the rest of the story."
"Thank you El."
"Annie Rose what I am about to tell you happened before I met Chris's mom and your mom. This happened when Ray and I were in the Marines. We saw that Fletcher Williamson had joined and he was a real jerk to us and everyone else. He thought he was a big man on base. He tried to be our friend but we saw right through him. He was a creep in school with us."
"So you and dad knew him, that's why you called him a drunk S.O.B. earlier right? Yes Carrick I have a good memory remember?"
They all laughed at that.
"Yes Annie I remember and yes we knew of him off and on from elementary school all the way to high school. He dropped out and we never heard from again. Until he enlisted in the Marines. He was a real jerk as I said before. He tried to make friends with us but you could tell he didn't mean it. He wanted us to meet him and some of his friends at a club one night. We told him we would go but during the next day our Sargent told us he needed both of us to do a job so we had to cancel our leave time."
"We couldn't find him to tell him. All we know is he was found weeks later drunk as a skunk in someone's house. The Military Police brought him back to the base because the owner of the home called them to come and get their Marine."
" We found out that same week that Bob Hope and the USO Tour was going to be at the base. He found out and wanted to meet your mom and Grace but it didn't happen. He blames us for him being drunk and being dishonorably discharged from the Marines. Also blames us for not meeting your mom and Grace."
"We found out later after we left the Marines that he went to work with his father and his father had a heart attack and he entrusted his company to his son which in my book was a horrendous mistake."
"During that time Annie, Carrick and I decided to open a manufacturing plant ourselves. Selling one of a kind household goods. A year later Fletcher's fathers company was hanging in there but it was hard competing with us. Fletcher ran business into the ground. His father sold his company to us. Fletcher never knew because his father said he didn't have a right to know. Fletcher lost his trust funds that same day."
"Now Fletcher a few years later he talked his wife into giving him the money to start his own manufacturing company. She did which was stupid but she loved him and wanted to help him."
"Fletcher's company was doing well until he decided he wanted to invest in some off the wall real estate company. He lost his ass on it because it was not real. His company was losing right and left. We offered to buy his company from him and save jobs for fifty million dollars but he said he would rather lose his company than to sell it to us.'
"So you see he blames us for everything and puts shit in his son's head about how we ruined him when he did all this to himself. He wouldn't listen to his mother. He decided to help his father with his plan to ruin us and our families. So Ed and his father decided to hurt you and Chris. Yes Chris there were bombs on your helicopter and two under your car."
"Oh my god Boo we could have both died that day not to mention Gail and whoever went up with us. Also we found out from his mother that he had been planning this for a while. He blames us because he didn't have a trust fund."
"Annie, he wanted you in school but you never gave him the time of day. He hated both of you and wanted you to pay for what his father went through. Annie we never knew any of this until his mother brought everything to us and showed us what was on his computer and walls. It was step by step all the reasons his father blamed us for his bad luck."
"Dad I understand all of this but why is Dr. Blackmon here? I am fine. I am pissed like hell at them but I am ok."
"Well Annie.."
"Ray let me?"
"Annie, we wanted Dr. Blackmon here in case you had a bad panic attack and he would be here to help you. The main reason is because we thought you would have trouble understanding why they did this to you and Gail after you found out it was because of all of us. We blame ourselves for not telling you sooner but we didn't know how you would have reacted to it. We feel guilty for not telling you but we needed you stronger to handle this story."
"Mom, I don't blame any of you, only them. How could any of you think I would blame y'all? Come on now tell me why you thought for one minute that I lay blame at your feet? How could you think that? Chris, did you think that?"
"No Annie Rose, I never thought that."
"But you never said anything either."
"No love I didn't and it wasn't my place to tell their story. It was our parents. I didn't know the whole story either until just now. I know you are strong and can handle anything but we were all worried because of the panic attack you had before."
"Annie as your mom said we feel guilty for not telling you and we thought that you might think it was our fault this happened to you darlin. It was more our feeling guilty than you blaming us. We love you honey and only want you to heal and get better. We are happy that you aren't blaming us."
"Momma Grace I could never blame any of you for what happened to me and Gail. I love you all so very much. Now get that guilty feeling out of all your heads. Y'all hear me?"
"Yes ma'am we sure do."
"Alright everyone I am going to take my leave now. I see she is fine and I told you she would be and she could handle this."
"Yes you did Drake and thank you for being here."
"My pleasure and you all take care of each other."
"Bye Dr. Blackmon, see you in two weeks."
Goodbye Annie dear. Chris take care of that little lady?"
"Yes sir I surely will."
"Alright that is finally done. I can breathe better now."
"Mom, it is all good. I love you all. Chris and I have something to tell you all: we have set a date for our wedding. It will be December thirty first and it is a destination wedding. We will give you more details as we finalize everything."
"December wedding? Destination wedding? Come again young lady?"
AN: Well that is all for now. I wrote way too many words but I had to stop somewhere and this felt like a good place. More later on the wedding and a time jump next chapter. We are getting ready for a wedding.
Thank you all for staying with me. I know I say that all the time but I mean it. Without you all I would just be writing to myself and that ain't no doggone fun.
Until next week I hope each and everyone of you have a wonderful weekend. I am getting back to myself and the stories are starting to flow again.
Thank you
Octobermist11
Linda