The Baker

Chapter 39

Cassie refused to believe that this was her father. He was so frail, so weak. He was nothing but skin and bones. He wasn't the well-built man she's grown up to known. He wasn't breathing on his own, he had machines helping him for that; a wheelchair was by his bed because he couldn't walk anymore. According to her mother, this just happened a couple days ago, but it looked as if it happened months ago.

Her entire family was at the hospital, even the ones she wasn't able to introduce to Ben. They all came down to support her, her mom, and Leo. She appreciated it, but she wanted him back. She wanted her daddy back and nothing in this world could prevent what was supposed to happen this week, unless some sort of miracle happened.

She's been sitting by his side for hours now. Leo got her here by around seven o'clock this morning and it was almost one o'clock in the afternoon. She was still holding his fragile hand, still looking over his thin face, and still crying. She hasn't stopped since she talked to Ben.

Speaking of Ben, he kept calling and texting her, but she didn't answer. She called him when she got here, like she promised, but other than that, she hasn't so much as looked at her phone. Had she seen his texts, she would have known that something happened on set and he wouldn't be able to make it in until later tonight. He was also able to get time off until further notice, after explaining to J.J. and the producers what had happened.

Time slipped away from her, though. It was one o'clock, but it soon turned to two, and then five, and when she finally looked up at the clock, it was almost eight. Thirteen hours she's been sitting here. People came in to check on her, but she didn't notice. It wasn't until one of her uncles came in and suggested she go down and eat that she remembered she hasn't eaten since yesterday. Her stomach growled loudly, so she reluctantly let go of her dad's hand and, after giving him a kiss on his forehead, went down to get something to eat.

The hospital food looked god awful, so she decided to walk down to a Subway that was just down the street. As she was walking out into the chilly Ojai weather with her head hanging low, she heard her name being called. She slowly looked up to see a tall, familiar figure running towards her.

Ben.

Her knees suddenly felt weak and she broke down into sobs. Ben caught her before she could fall and held her tightly against him. He gently shushed her as she sobbed into his shirt. "It's alright, it's okay," he told her. "I'm here...I'm here." He rubbed her back and smoothed down her hair, attemping to soothe her in any way possible. He kissed her head, her ear, down her neck, her shoulder, but she still continued to sob, making his own tears start to fall.

"Baby, baby, shh," he whispered in her ear. He rocked her a bit, before asking, "How is he?" She shook her head into his shirt and muffled an answer, "H-Horrible! H-he lo-looks so d-different, Ben! I'm so s-scared!" He held her even tighter and let his tears fall. If he could, he would do anything in his power to make her pain go away. This was going to be a fight with herself, he just knows it.

"Were you just getting fresh air?" He asked. She shook her head and told him, "F-Food." He kissed her head, then said, "Come on, I'll get you something." He gently pushed her back and got a good look at her face. She's broken. Completely, utterly shattered. He's never felt so bad for a single human being before.

After wiping her tears away, he took her hand and followed her to where she was going to grab something to eat. On their way, she started talking absentmindedly about her dad. Ben didn't think she even knew she was telling him all these things, but he just listened. She told him about the time he got her into watching baseball and football; the times they spent together at sporting events; when he bought her her first baseball bat and glove when tea ball started; the time he threatened her prom date because he was late; when he gave her the money to, not only open a bakery here, but in London as well. Everything from her childhood, to before she met Ben.

By the time they got to Subway, he was stunned by how close her and Liam were. He remembers Jess telling him that they were close, but not that close. If he doesn't make it by the end of the week, he can't imagine how devistated she'll be. It freightened him to think about it.

When they got back to the hospital, there still wasn't any news on Liam. Cassie introduced Ben to everyone he hadn't met yet, which turned out to be a lot of people. Two more cousins, plus one of their boyfriends; four more aunts; two more uncles; and then her mom's side of the family, which Cassie told Ben she wasn't very close with.

Everyone appreciated him coming to support her and the family, especially when he had a very busy schedule. He simply told them, "Family's more important."

It seemed like they waited for hours with no news and no hope. Ben pleaded Cassie to get some rest, but after she made a hard case about her not being tired, she feel asleep as soon as her head was in his lap. He put his jacket over her and softly stroked her hair, as he watched her sleep. She looked strained and worried, not peaceful like she usually does when she's out like this.

She woke up a few hours later and...still no news. Ben and a couple of Cassie's uncles went to demand what was going on, but they just told them Liam wasn't making any progress. So, they continued to wait.

It was almost two in the morning, but everyone was awake. Not alert, but awake. Ben had bought Cassie a book in the souvenir shop to keep her mind of things, which seemed to be working pretty well. As she continued to read, not noticing the world around her, Ben got called over by Julie. He crossed the waiting room to her and she said, "Let's take a walk."

They walked around the hospital corridors for a few minutes in silence. Julie eventually broke it by telling him, "Thank you for being here for her, Ben. I know she really needs you." He nodded at her and said, "I wouldn't be anywhere else."

"...May I ask you a question?" She asked. He gave her a small smile and said, "Of course." She didn't wait a beat before asking, "Do you want to marry her? And I apologize if I'm being to motherly or forward." Ben chuckled and told her, "You're not that at all. But, yes, I would like to marry your daughter. I was actually hoping to ask her by the end of this year, with your permission of course."

Julie laughed, "Oh, Ben, you're such a gentleman. And of course you have our permission. I know Liam would be thrilled to have you as our son-in-law." Ben tried to contain his smile. He just got permission to marry Cassie! Julie looked over at him and snickered. "Oh just smile, you soppy man! Lord knows we need more of those around here." Ben smiled and told her, "Thank you, Julie. Really, this means a lot."

"No problem," she told him. "But I need you to do one thing for me." Ben nodded, "Anything." She stopped walking a faced him. "Get my daughters home, will you? They need to rest and eat properly. Kelly is asleep, so she'll be easy to convince, but I can't say the same for Cass." Ben gave her a small smile and said, "I've got it." 

**

"I am not leaving! Are you crazy?!" Cassie shouted in a whisper outside of the waiting room. Julie was right, Kelly was easy to convince. All he did was pick up her sleeping form and she clung to him like a Koala Bear. Cassie...well, obviously it wasn't going well. 

"Cass, sweetheart, you need to sleep, you need to eat, you need to breathe for Christ's sakes! I promise, if anything happens, your mother will call. I know you feel like you can't leave, but you're not doing him any good by exhausting yourself to a point where you can't even stand up straight." Just as he said that, she started to sway a little bit towards the wall. 

With holding Kelly in one arm, he reached out with his other to balance Cassie. "We are leaving," he told her. "Now."