Chapter 8
Over the last six weeks Lily’s body has been healing, and the swell of her tummy growing but no one has noticed because of the mass amount of tubes and drains everywhere plus the sheets and blanket hide it well. I’m with Lily every night and as often as I can be throughout the day, and when I’m not beside her I’m working on the hunt for Rob and balancing life with Alexa, she loves being by Lily’s side so she is at the hospital most days which helps me tend to the business side of things, and she still sleeps over at nights, we transferred Lily to a wider bed to accommodate snuggle therapy easier and it’s much more comfortable for Alexa.
Charlotte, Betty, and I have worked out a roster of who’s at the hospital because we have a little girl to take care of and want her life to be as normal as it can be. Charlotte has the morning shift, Betty comes in at lunch after she’s finished at Brew, she wanted to help out and keep her hands busy so she’s been baking for Lily.
A member of the team is guarding Lily round the clock, plus Betty is here in the afternoons and Davies is still next to her and each day he gets stronger, but if shit goes south, I’d still bank on him winning in battle.
Davies is really begging for his release but I’ll guarantee he will plant his ass right next to Lily so there’ll be no real change except he can come and go as he pleases and not be ordered to stay in bed for periods of time. He’s had to do daily physiotherapy to reconnect his brain to limb signal so he can function normally and Betty has been by his side giving him stick, and she is ferocious, she is the only person he shuts the fuck up for and it’s pure magic to watch, one look from dear ol’ Betty and Davies comes to heal.
Trickle was transferred to Harrington House and he’s locked away under the war room, the isolation and not knowing what will become of him is his own personal hell. That fucker Rob needs to be located but we have no trace on him, then again, he’s been dead for ten years officially and is obviously skilled in being a ghost. It only makes it harder on Trickle because I will not let Trickle die before Rob is found, it’s simply not happening.
Cuddy, Jackson and Reid have searched the Helmsley Estate twice but found no sign of life, the boys almost tore the house apart but there’s no evidence of anyone living there recently and Rob is in the wind and I don’t like it one fucking bit. Charlie and Delta are working with Reid when they’re not spun up helping us in the search for Rob and I have some of the lower ranking security detail from HSD guarding Janelle. Caroline of course has Tiny, he can’t seem to leave her alone, as much as she hates him, he’s always keeping watch over her.
Doc confirmed that Janelle had been drugged for the past eight years, the hair samples spoke her story. I’ve come to know Janelle over the last couple of months and she really is a sweet lady, she’s making progress with her mental health and has not once shown any signs of aggression.
Caroline is slowly being detoxed and finding the outside world hard to cope with, she has a long way to go before she’ll be able to leave but Psychologists are working with her daily, trying to get her to open up but she is very angry and hesitant.
I’ve been in touch with a realtor to find us land to build our dream home on or find us an established heritage property with substantial land, because I know my angel would appreciate old world architecture and our children will need room to grow. Tabitha is our realtor has gathered a few property listings throughout Connecticut and is pushing for me to go view them with her, but I refuse every time she offers, I want Lily, Alexa and I to choose our home together.
My angel is recovering nicely, and Doc is hopeful she’ll start showing signs of consciousness any day now. Alexa is fully healed and currently sitting beside Lily reading to her, it’s her most favorite thing to do. Her speech has improved immensely with all the reading she’s doing and only has trouble with her R’s now. She is reading Lily, Snow White, which has been her book of choice because she wants Lily to wake up.
‘Lips wed as the wose, hair black as ebony, skin white as snow.’
Alexa stops reading and turns to me, “Daddy, Snow White looks like me, but sleeps like Mommy.”
I smile because my clever little girl is spot on, “You’re very observant, Princess.”
Alexa is biting her little lip and I know she has a hard question to ask.
“Daddy, it’s been a long time and I’m wowwied Mommy isn’t going to wake up. I miss hew so, so much.”
“Uncle Doc said Mommy will wake up in the next couple of days, her body is healing nicely and her vitals improve every hour which is a really good sign.”
“Then why has Mommy’s tummy been getting biggaw? Is something wong inside I feel it swollen when I’s hug hew tummy.” Alexa asks with her lower lip trembling.
I contemplate on what to say because I really wanted Lily to hear the news first, but I don’t want to lie to her and I also know that Lily wouldn’t want Alexa worried and upset.
“Come sit with me,” Alexa climbs off Lily’s bed and onto my lap and holds my face to stare into my eyes.
“Okay, but please tell me theaw is a baby in Mommy’s tummy and no bad things huwting hew.” I smile wide, I can’t help it, we have a very clever little girl.
“No, Princess, not a baby.” Alexa’s hopeful expression drops and she lowers her gaze.
“There is two babies,” Instantly Alexa’s tear stained little face flies up in sheer astonishment.
“Hooyah!” She yells, not caring for the noise limits.
“Hooyah, Mommy has your brothers or sisters in there, they will look exactly the same too, that is also why it’s taking Mommy a little longer to wake up, her body is working so hard to heal and grow two babies.”
Alexa turns to Lily, then back to face me and says, “Two, I have two bwothaws coming, wow Daddy, I’m going to be the best big sistaw. I loves them alweady.”
I chuckle, “Brothers huh?”
Alexa giggles loudly, “Yep, bwothaws, I feel it in my heawt, Daddy.”
“Well, we don’t know yet, we’ll ask Mommy if she wants to find out the gender of the babies when she wakes up.”
“I’m so, so happy Daddy, I will teach them things and loves them so much,” Alex says bouncing up and down on my lap.
I chuckle happily, “I know you will, Princess, you will be the best big sister in the world.”
Alexa crawls off my lap and gets back on the bed and curls her arms around Lily’s tummy and starts talking to her ‘Brothers’ animatedly.
My mind has been drifting in out of consciousness for a little while now, and it’s a weird place to be, but I’ve also been here before, but last time I woke with the tube still down my throat.
It feels as though I have something on my face but not down my throat this time. Occasionally I register parts of conversation and people touching me, it feels dulled somehow, but the one that is strong is the movement I feel inside of me, it’s an odd sensation, like birds flapping their wings.
The last thing I recall is driving in the car with Dad and Alexa and then we crashed, it must be why I’m here in this state again. I keep trying to force my eyes open but they’re so heavy. I just heard Alexa shout, ‘Hooyah.’
I faintly feel little arms wrap around my body and Alexa’s muffled voice.
‘I’m going to play with you.’
I try with everything I have to respond; I want to be playing with my Lovebug again, reading, and watching movies, and teaching her to cook.
‘I will love you fawevaw and nevaw let anyone huwt you.’
My little girl is the sweetest, kindest child. I try with everything I have to speak, and this time I hear my garbled sounds in my own ears.
‘Daddy, Daddy, did you heaw that?’
I hear movement and then the alarm sounding.
‘I did, Princess, I think Mommy’s waking up.’
I try once again but only manage gurgling sounds.
“We’re here, Angel, Alexa and I are here.” I hear Alexander’s voice close to my ear, and the touch of his lips on my forehead.
I manage to wiggle my fingers under a heavy weight.
‘Daddy, Mommy just moved, I felt it on my tummy.’ Alexa says excitedly, and then I feel the weight lift off of me.
“Angel, try that again, we’re here my love.”
I try it again and it’s a lot easier this time without the added weight on top of me.
‘Doc, Lily’s waking get your ass here, now, five mikes, yes good.’
“Mommy, it’s me Alexa, open yaw eyes, Mommy.”
The voice sounds like Alexa but her speech is so grown up, how long have I been here? I try with all I have to open my eyes and manage to slightly crack them open.
“Ohhh, Angel.” Alexander says reverently.
I try speaking again, “All-lexa–”
“We’re here, my love, Doc is on his way, he’ll be here soon. Can you try and open your eyes again.”
I do as he asks and manage to open my eyes about halfway, it’s so bright and blurry.
“Give me a sec, I’ll turn the lights down.” Alexander’s voice says as he’s moving away from me.
I blink a few times when the light is dimmed and it’s a lot easier on my brain and I feel Alexa moving next to me and then see her blurred little face come into view.
“Hi, Mommy,” she says on a sob, and all I want to do is reach out and hold my little girl. I try really hard and this time I manage to move my arms, they’re so heavy but I do have Alexa in some type of hold.
“Ohhh, Mommy, I’s missed yaw cuddles so, so, much. I loves you Mommy.” Alexa manages to say through little sobs.
I see a shadow come over me, and see Alexander’s tired, but happy face split with the biggest grin.
“Hi, Angel, I always knew you’d come back to us.” Alexander leans over and hugs me and Alexa and I feel incredible warmth surround me.
“Hhh-Hii.” I manage to whisper, and Alexander breathes out a long tired breath.
“I’ve missed you so much, Angel, are you in any pain?” He asks in his deep, husky voice.
“Ey-yes,” I whisper.
I hear rapid footsteps enter the room, a lot of them. Alexander pulls away and I see a blur of big bodies at the foot of my bed.
“Well, this day just got so much brighter, welcome back Lily.” Doc’s voice sounds.
“Hooyah.” Booms out and my brain feels like it rattles with their explosive battle cry.
“Hh-oooyah.” I try to reply but only a whispered version can be heard.
The room erupts with cheers and happy laughter.
“Lily, it’s me, Doc. Can you move your eyes to my voice.” He asks.
“Ss-ore, D-Doc.”
“Open your eyes as wide as you can, Lily, I’m going to flush them with some saline.”
I do as he asks and Doc pours the cold saline into my eyes and it stings, “Ow, D-Doc.”
“Close your eye Lily, I’ll go grab some lubricating eye drops, do you have pain anywhere?”
“N-No, not r-really, but m-my t-tummy feels,” I pause because it doesn’t hurt as such, but feels, “t-tight, t-tummy is t-tight.”
“Okay, that’s good I’ll go grab the drops and be right back.”
Good? I smile slightly in response; I feel Alexander’s warm but commanding presence surround me again.
“Angel, keep your eyes closed okay, but I have something to tell you.”
I hear excitement in Alexander’s tone, why would he be excited.
“Angel, do you remember being really sick and vomiting?”
I nod slightly, “Y-Yes, b-bad.”
“Well, my love, that’s because you’re pregnant, we’re going to–”
Alexander is cut off and Alexa’s voice says excitedly, “Theaw is two babies, Mommy, two!”
My eyes fly open and I see their happy slightly blurred faces.
“Hooyah.” Booms again filtering throughout the quiet space.
“Angel, we’re having identical twins.” I’m shocked, and my blurred vision is now swimming in tears.
“B-babies? O-okay?” My mind is trying to process what Alexander is saying but it’s foggy.
“Yes, Angel, you protected our babies, and they are perfectly healthy and growing nicely.”
“A-Accident? Alexa, Dad... o-okay?”
Just as I finish, I hear Dad’s voice choke out, “I’m here, sweet girl, and I sure am glad to see your pretty blue eyes.”
“H-Hurt?”
“Can’t keep me down, sweetheart, it’ll take more than that to take me from my girls, you just worry about you getting better, you’re carrying my grandbabies and you’ve just made this old frog’s day.”
I breathe out a long breath, and feel my strength waning, “P-Pregnant, wow, I-I d-didn’t take a test, w-waiting for y-you to come h-home.”
“I’m home, now that you’re awake, Angel.” Alexander says quietly.
“H-home.” I say as I feel the darkness pulling me under. No, I don’t want to sleep, I want to know more, I need to know how long I’ve been in hospital.
‘Mommy, Mommy, please no.’
Alexa’s sad little voice is the last thing I hear before the darkness overshadows me and pulls me under.