Hey hey hey! So sorry for the delay, I meant to post this weeks ago, I've been so busy and work is murder. Hope you enjoy!
Cleveland, Ohio, September 12, 2013
"Lutheran Hospital on West twenty fifth." Yelena told the cab driver "I really need you to drive with urgency."
Chris jumped into the car, having only a second to close the door before the cab driver hit the gas.
Yelena's foot bounced up and down impatiently when they hit traffic as they got closer to the hospital, a year escaping her bloodshot green eyes.
Chris wiped it, caressing her face "Calm down, we'll be there as soon as we can be."
She pulled out her phone, dialing Val's number again, since they'd landed, it had been going straight to voicemail and she threw it to the floor in frustration.
"Why isn't anyone answering?" she sobbed, putting her head in her hands
Chris pulled her against her chest as she cried "It's going to be okay Sweetheart, you have to stay strong."
"He could be dying! He could be dying right now. I was stupid and moved so far. I couldn't bear the thought..."
"Shhhhh" he cooed "We're not going to think like that. I need you to stay sane here. Don't work yourself into another panic attack."
She'd flown into a panic the moment she heard her sister say that their mother had found her father face down in the kitchen unresponsive. If Chris hadn't been there to coax her out of shock, she didn't know if the air would have ever returned to her lungs. They'd booked the first red eye out to Ohio, barely packing enough clothes. To say the flight had been under three hours, she'd been miserable the entire time with worry. They weren't getting to their destination fast enough for her.
A few blocks away from the hospital the traffic seemed to thicken and she groaned in frustration "Screw it, I'll walk!" she said, reaching for the door handle
"Yelena! Stop!" Chris said, grabbing her hand
"Chris we don't have time-" she managed to get the door open
"We are in the middle of the road, for God's sake, the car is still moving. Stop! I'm not letting you get out of this car to walk the rest of the way."
The cab driver was watching mortified in the rear view mirror, but wisely chose not to interfere
He leaned over her and shut the door "I know you're upset and anxious but be rational here."
She sighed, running her fingers through the mess of hair on her hair "Sir, can you please find another route?"
The cabbie, clicked at his GPS "I'll try ma'am"
The minute they arrived in front of the hospital, she threw the door open without a word, walking briskly inside
Chris paid the driver and collected their carry-ons and followed, jogging to catch up
He found her at the elevator, stabbing at the call button impatiently.
"He's on the seventh floor."
When the doors finally slid open, they got on and she pressed the button, her eyes on the numbers above the doors, tears streaming down her face.
Reaching the seventh floor, she practically sprinted to the front desk "I'm looking for my father."
"Patient's name?" The receptionist asked
"Nikolai Ulyanova."
The older woman clicked away at her keyboard "He's currently in surgery."
"Surgery?" she asked, panic rearing again "Is he okay? What happened?"
"There's isn't any updates at this time, I'm sorry, you're gonna have to wait for the doctor-"
"Please just tell me he's okay." she begged
"Yelena?" a voice sounded behind her
She whirled around.
"Irina." Yelena sobbed, running to her sister
They embraced, clinging to each other
"What happened?" Yelena cried when she pulled back
"Honey? You're here!"
Over Irina's shoulder she spotted her mother, her face ashen, her blue eyes red and glassy
"Mommy." she threw her arms around her mother and the three hugged, crying.
Chris kept his distance and let them have a moment
"What happened to daddy?" Yelena asked again
"I don't know. Everything was was fine, he went into the kitchen. I heard a loud noice so I went to check on him and there he was... on the floor. He wasn't breathing."
Her mother's words shook her to the core "You haven't heard anything from the doctors?"
"I've asked every single one that crossed my path coming out those doors" she said, gesturing towards the double doors leading to the operating room "No one will tell us anything."
At that moment, her mother's eyes fell to her daughter's middle "Sweetheart... you're..."
"Oh my god." Irina spat out, finally noticing too
Despite her tears, the smallest smile took over her face and she finally noticed Chris standing off at a distance behind her "Chris." she said, opening her arms to him
He came over, feeling out of place "Hello Mrs. Ulyanova." he said politely
She hugged him "Emilia" she reminded "Not the circumstances I wanted to see you again under." She kissed both his cheeks
Irina wiped her tear stained face, her eyes dancing between her baby sister and the Canadian, obviously connecting the dots "Hi." she finally managed half heartedly
Chris nodded curtly, purposely choosing not to hug her, the cloud of awkwardness that usually gathered when he saw her forming. He chose to wrap his arm around Yelena, rubbing soft circles on her side
"What are they doing to him in there? Someone has to know something!"
Yelena would know that voice anywhere
"Valilisa!" their mother called
Val was at the desk, chewing the woman out. At the sound of her name, her head snapped in their mother's direction and she walked as fast as her heels would take her, throwing her arms around Emilia
"Mommy, what's happening, where's daddy?" Val asked in Italian
Val was dressed in a little blue dress, her hair up in the way her husband liked it. Yelena wondered if she had been somewhere important when she'd gotten the phone call.
As their mother reiterated how the doctors hadn't updated them on their father's condition yet, Yelena really took in the sight of her sister. Somehow she looked even thinner from the last time they'd talked on FaceTime. She almost felt like the camera had been lying to her. She didn't miss the amount of makeup she was wearing, her mascara running a bit due to her crying. In the dim hospital lighting she could still see the dark circles under her eyes and she could swear she saw what looked like a dark splotch on her right cheek. Was it from rubbing her mascara the wrong way?
It took Val a beat to notice her and Chris and a gasp fell from her lips when she noticed the true elephant in the room, her hand going over her mouth in utter shock.
"Val..." Yelena said gently, trying to read her sister's emotions
More tears filled her hazel-green eyes as she backed away "I just... need a minute." she choked out, turning on her heel, her red bottoms clicking loudly as she disappeared down the hall and around a corner, out of sight.
Irina wipes her face, glaring at Yelena before calling after their sister, following hastily
Yelena turned to follow "What?" she asked
Emilia took her by the hand "It's not important right now, sweetie. Come sit down. You must be exhausted. Let's get you off your feet." she led her over to the waiting area and Chris followed
Yelena sat down and Chris took the chair across from her, her mother to her left
Chris laced his fingers through hers and gave her hand a light squeeze and she imitated the motion
"Why didn't you tell us?" Emilia asked, touching her daughter's belly lightly
Yelena couldn't force back the tears "I was going to. It was selfish of me to hide this from everyone. I'm sorry it took something like this to happen for me to finally realize that. I'm so sorry mommy."
Emilia wrapped an arm around her shoulder, hugging her "It's okay la mia bambina." she kissed the side of her head "I'm just glad you're both here." she said, sending Chris a small smile, which he returned in appreciation
She leaned her head against her mother's shoulder and she stroked her hair soothingly. Finally Val and Irina returned and Yelena looked at her, worried "Val are you okay?"
She only nodded, squeezing her hand as she went to the other side of the waiting room to sit, Irina following
Yelena felt uneasy. Sure Irina would want to be as far away from Chris as possible. It sort of surprised her but didn't, but why was Val blatantly avoiding her?
They waited for hours. Yelena watched the clock in the wall, the time dragging. She was going out of her mind with worry. At the sound of footsteps coming down the hall, they all perked up.
It was Frederick.
He said hello and kissed his mother in law's cheek before turning to Val "May I speak with you?" he said lowly in Italian
Yelena raises a brow when she noticed he's pulled her not so gently to her feet before she'd even given him an answer
Val's face stayed calm and collected as she let him guide her out of the waiting room and down the hall out of sight and earshot
She didn't know what possessed her, but a nagging feeling urged her to get up. She heaved herself to her feet and Chris looked up at her, worried
"I just need to go to the bathroom, I'll be back" she assured
He nodded and she went in the direction that Frederick had taken her sister. She was coming up on the corner when she heard his angry voice "You humiliated me in front of my colleagues by not showing up to that luncheon. Where the hell have you been?"
"I was in the way there when my mother called, I meant to call you. I must've left my phone in the car. Wait, how did you know I was here?" Val asked
"I swear to god, when I get you home-" he hissed in Italian
"Val." Yelena said, interrupting. Her eyes fell on his grip on Valilisa's wrist which he dropped almost immediately.
A fire burned within her, her green eyes never leaving him "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." she answered too quick for her liking
"Frederick what's the problem?" she asked, sizing him up
"We were suppose to be at an important event. Your sister was just informing me that your father was here, I hadn't realized. She didn't call and tell me."
"This has been a very critical time for us. I just got off a flight myself. You should be understanding as to why it might have slipped her mind to call."
She could have sworn she saw his jaw clench, but his face smoothed over with too much ease "Of course."
Yelena was getting a bad vibe. Holding her hand out to her sister "Come on Val, let's go back. I'm sure you can go back to your event and send your apologies from your wife. Her family needs her at the moment."
Val kissed her husband's cheek "I'm sorry. I'll be home as soon as we know something okay?"
He wrapped an arm around her sister's small waist, pulling her close, whispering in her ear before kissing her
What little color Val did have drained from her face as he released her and took Yelena's hand as they walked back to the waiting room
"Val, what was that about?" Yelena asked
The vacant stare in her eyes was scaring her
"It's nothing... he's just... upset is all. That luncheon was really important to him."
"Val..."
"Just leave it be Yelena." Valilisa urged as they returned to the sitting area
Their mother was up, talking to what looked like a doctor and they hurried over
"How is he?" Valilisa asked
"Stable now. He had a heart attack."
Her healthy as a horse father? What?
Their mother retold them everything the doctor explained to them and how their father was breathing on his own, but in a medically induced coma so they could monitor his brain. Considering he'd come in unresponsive, they just wanted to make sure his other organs weren't damaged in the time frame they hadn't been receiving enough blood.
She threw her arms around Chris, thanking god that he was alive. He'd been resuscitated. Her father had been dead and they'd saved him.
"When can we see him?" Irina asked anxiously
They're letting two people in at a time
They decided that Emilia and Irina would go in first.
Yelena paced feverishly, her stomach knotted. After a while Irina returned and gestures for Val to go in.
Finally it was her turn and Chris urged her on "Go ahead, I'll be right here."
She approached the room with a heavy heart, her eyes welling with fresh tears at the sight of her father in the hospital bed. He was hooked to various machines, tubes coming out of him in every which way. He was pale, his green eyes closed behind almost translucent lids. She could practically see every thin vein in his face
"Daddy." she had to cover her mouth to hold in the sob
Her mother clung to his left hand from her seat beside the bed
Yelena took the seat to his right, clasping his hand in hers. Her was cold as ice "Please come back to us daddy." She whispered "We can't lose you. Not now." She sniffled, putting his hand to her check "I've been so stupid. I shut my family out all this time out of anger and now..."
"Don't talk like that." her mother said tearfully "We all have made mistakes. In no way is this your fault. He's going to pull through this. He has to."
They stayed as long as they could, praying over their father, taking turns sitting with him. Eventually Yelena ended up with Val, who was staring at their father, her face hauntingly blank and somber.
Yelena watched her silently. Eventually she'd went downstairs to retrieve her cellphone, which kept dinging with text message notifications. The more that came through the paler her sister's face grew. She visibly blanched when her phone went off for the last time
She stood "I... I need to go."
Yelena strokes the back of her father's hand "It is getting late." she agreed, standing
Their mother slipped in, a cup of coffee in hand "You both should rest. "Irina has to fly out to L.A. I'm staying the night with him, I'll call you if anything happens."
A small knock sounded on the door and a nurse came in "Just coming in to check his chart and vitals." she smiled gently at their mother and gave Val a sympathetic look "Mrs. Caro, glad to see that you're well."
Both Yelena and her mother's head whipped to Valilisa in confusion.
The middle child averted their gazes, collecting her purse "Hello Judy." she put her bag in the crease of her arm and kissed their father's cheek along with their mother's "Call me if anything changes. I don't care what time it is. I'll answer no matter what." she promised
"Go get some sleep. Both of you." Emilia said sternly taking Val's seat with a tired sigh as she left, her heels clicking down the hall
Yelena kissed her father's cheek, running a hand through his salt and pepper hair. When had he gotten so grey? She didn't want to leave him but she was exhausted and the thought of finding a hotel this time of night tired her out even more.
Emilia dug into her purse and handed her a set of keys "To your condo. Take my car, it's on row 5 in the garage. Go get some rest honey, you look dead on your feet. I'll call you." her mother insisted
She took the keys gratefully, hugging her mother "I'll be back early tomorrow." she promised
Slipping out the door, she found Chris nodding off in the waiting room. He'd went with her at a point in time to see her father and she never felt more appreciative of him being by her side than right now. Leaning over, she kissed the top of his head, running her fingers through his blonde hair. His eyes opened and her looked up at her with tired blue eyes.
"C'mon." she said, holding her hand out to him
He stood, wrapping an arm around her
The walk to the car garage was quiet. She located her mother's Mercedes SUV. Chris took the keys from her and she didn't protest, sliding into the passenger side as he threw their bag in the back. Punching the address in the gps, they drove in silence. Must have dosed off because the next thing she knew, they were at her old place. She felt weird when they got in, flipping in the lights. The last time she'd set eyes on the place it was empty. Now it was freshly furnished. She knew it was her father's doing. Weird enough all the new furniture was in the same position she'd had hers when she was living there and it was oddly comforting.
Chris followed her to her bedroom. She'd never been more happy to see a bed in her life. They got undressed, turned out the lights, and crawled under the covers. The weight of the day seemed to hit her like a freight train. So many emotions balled up at one time, she didn't realize she was crying until Chris pulled her against his chest, rubbing her belly to try and soothe her.
She reached out in the darkness until she found found his lips "Thank you."
"Don't thank me. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
Four days passed
Chris practically dragged her to her favorite diner for breakfast every morning, all but force-feeding her before he allowed them to leave. The last thing she was worried about was food, but she did as she was told, cleaning her plate of waffles, eggs, and sausage and draining her glass of orange juice. She just wanted to hurry back to the hospital to her father. There hasn't been any messages from her mother with bad news nor good. The waiting game was driving her crazy
They checked in and she found her mother right where they'd left her only a few short hours before. She was sipping her fourth cup of coffee, judging from the cups stacked up on the bedside table. When they came in she smiled at them with tired blue eyes.
Yelena felt a pang if sadness. Was it possible for someone to age overnight? She never left in the past four days. Irina has returned the second day from California and had brought her mother clothes from home. Yelena had only been in the same room with her that day before she had to leave again.
Val had returned every day and they had spoke in passing, but Yelena couldn't help but feel like she was avoiding her in a way still. She always answered the phone for her at least when she called to let her know how her father was doing, but never held the line to have an actual conversation with her.
"We brought you some breakfast." Chris said, holding up the bag from the diner and offered it to her
She took it, kissing both their cheeks "Thank you."
"I can take it from here mom. You haven't gotten any sleep. You should go home and rest."
Her mother looked down at her father, the hesitation clear as day
"What did the nurse say the last time she checked in?"
"She was in an hour ago. She said his vitals and the tests are looking good. He's at least breathing on his own. They removed the tube. Now it's just a matter of when he'll wake up."
She was glad to hear that "Go home and rest mom. You need it too."
Emilia nodded, collecting her purse and coat before placing a lingering kiss on her husband's cheek "Talk to him. The nurses say it's good."
They said their goodbyes and Yelena pulled up a chair.
Chris's phone buzzed and he told her he'd be back in a bit
Yelena took her father's hand. Slowly in the past few days the color in his face returned, but he still looked so frail "I don't know if you can hear me daddy." She said gently "I know it's been so long since we've talked and I'm sorry for that. I haven't been the model daughter or friend for that matter these past few months. I guess this is the perfect time to tell you what's been happening."
She told him everything that transpired between Val's wedding in April up until now. She told him about how her friends had helped her adjust to her new life in Tampa and the giant dog she'd adopted and taught commands in Russian, knowing that if he could hear her, he'd find it funny.
"I don't know if mom told you the good news, but you're going to be grandparents soon." she said, a lone tear sliding down her face. She took her father's hand she was clutching and placed it on the swell of her belly "Insane, I know. I've been too afraid to tell everyone myself because I was embarrassed. I know how you get about kids before marriage." she said rolling her watery eyes "I don't know if that's particular step is in my future. I doubt it." she said sadly "But non the less, I can't wait to bring these kids into the world. I don't know if I can do that without you here.
Her tears were flowing heavily now
"Despite how selfish I've been, I love my family and I want all of with me to get through this. I can't lose you daddy. Please come back to us. Your grandkids need their debushka."
She weeped silently, placing her head in her hands
Almost like a figment of her imagination, light as a feather, a hand touched her hair, her head shot up and green eyes met green eyes
She thought she was daydreaming "Daddy?" she said, bewildered.
"I was wondering who this strange dark haired woman was beside me." he croaked, his voice raspy "What have you done to your hair?"
Chris came in and she yelled for him to get his nurse, which he went running for
"What is this I heard about being a debushka?" he asked, coughing slightly
She went to pour him a cup of water, putting it to his lips "Shhhh. I'll explain after they take a look at you. Drink." she insisted
Chris came back with the nurse, the same one from the first night, Judy, she believed Val had called her.
"Welcome back Mr. Ulyanova, how are you feeling?" Judy asked, taking her stethoscope from around her neck
"Honestly? I couldn't be better." Nik told her, beaming at her daughter
Yelena smiles back, wiping her tear stained face "I'm going to go call everyone and let them know you're awake."
She and Chris slipped from the room and she pulled out her phone to call her mother, her hands shaking .
"Here, let me." he said, taking the phone from her "Go ahead back in and I'll call."
She gave him an appreciative smile, touching his stubbly cheek before pressing a kiss to it "Thank you."
"Stop that." he insisted "Go."
...
The nurses and doctors fussed over her father while she sat beside him, her hand locked in his. It felt good to actually feel him squeeze her hand back reassuringly.
Emilia was back quicker than Yelena thought she would be. She didn't look like she'd gotten any sleep, but she had showered and changed. When she laid eyes on her husband, Blue eyes to green, she let out a heartfelt cry, rushing into his arms.
"I got a ticket on the way here." she said laughed through tears "I think the officer would have let me off the hook with a warning if I hadn't chewed him out for stopping me."
Nik could only laugh with her as he pressed his lips to hers for a sweet kiss
The scene made Yelena tear up all over again.
Damn her hormones.
Chris slipped his hand in hers. She couldn't help but notice his face mirrored hers watching her parents. It was almost like she could see them as their young selves, still so hopelessly crazy about each other.
Irina arrived shortly after, all tears.
Chris slipped from the room and appeared again after a few moments and pulled her aside "Valilisa isn't answering the phone. I've called five times." Chris informed her
She didn't know what it was, but something about that put her on edge. Val had been here. She'd answered the phone on the first ring when any of them called her. She tried not to grasp at short straws. Maybe she'd finally passed out from the lack of sleep. By the looks of it, she clearly hadn't been getting any rest even before this came about.
"I'll call again in a few hours." she told him as he handed her phone back.
It was when Irina and their mother tried to call Val over the next few hours did Yelena really allow herself to fully worry.
It didn't take Chris long to pick up on it
"What's wrong?" Chris asked
"Something just... doesn't feel right." she said, dialing Valilisa's phone number. It rang once and the voicemail picked up. "No" her mind yelled at her "Something is wrong."
"I need to go check on Val." she said, digging into her purse for her mother's keys. She went back into the room to inform her family that she'd be right back.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Chris asked again
"I don't know." she said, roaring the Mercedes to life "But we're gonna find out."
So... what did you think?
Next up, Yelena's worst fears are confirmed when secrets finally come to the light and as if the stress wasn't enough to break her, she's put in an awkward position when she returns home from Cleveland. Next chapter is locked and loaded and will be up in two weeks. Leave me awesome reviews!