She's Coming Home

Shay's 3rd Birthday

3 weeks later- Gabby POV
I wake up early, the night nurse, Charlotte, is still here. I don't know her very well since there are a few different people that come and I'm pretty much asleep to whole time they're here. I probably woke up early cause I'm excited, today's Shay's third birthday! I'm also a bit nervous because there are going to be a lot of people at her party and I tend to get overwhelmed by that but I know most of the people who will be there really well. I decide to tell the nurse I'm awake so I can start getting ready
Gabby- hi
Charlotte- good morning, you're up early today
Gabby- ya, its Shay's birthday
Charlotte- how old is she?
Gabby- three
Charlotte- wow, she's small for her age
Gabby- ya. She's a preemie, 32 weeks
Charlotte- ok, I wondered, my oldest was born at 33 weeks after a car crash, he's 7 now and still small for his age
Gabby- ok, weird question, where?
(She says what street it was on, I'm not good at inventing names)
Gabby- do you know who the paramedics were?
Charlotte- no, I think it was 2 women but I can't really remember most of it
Gabby- this is crazy
Charlotte- what?
Gabby- your paramedics were Dawson and Shay, you went to Lakeshore
Charlotte- how do you know that?
Gabby- Gabby Dawson
Charlotte- that was you?
Gabby- ya
Charlotte- and a different Shay?
Gabby- Leslie Shay. She was my partner. Shay named after her
Charlotte- wow, that's a crazy coincidence
Gabby- ya and Matt there too. He's a firefighter
Charlotte- ok, I thought he looked a bit familiar.

A few hours later it was time for Shay's party. She decided she wanting to go bowling, she must have got the idea from kids at daycare cause she's never been before but that's what we're doing. Kara and some other kids from daycare are coming and Kate's bringing her son, they still haven't met yet and I'm excited for Shay to meet him. I get Tonio to bring Shay over when Kate and Cooper get there so we can introduce the kids.

Kate(signs)- Shay this is my son Cooper. Cooper this is Shay and her mom Gabby
Shay(signs)- hi
Cooper(signs)- hi. How old are you?
Shay(signs)- I two
I laugh and tell her she's three now, Kate interpreting for me
Shay(signs)- I three
Cooper turns to his mom but we can still see him
Cooper(signs)- why doesn't Shay's mom sign? You said Shay is deaf too and she signs, why doesn't her mom sign like you?
He's only 4. He's just curious, kid's ask questions, he doesn't know, its ok. I'm trying to keep myself calm, I don't want to breakdown at Shay's birthday party. But he just reminded me that I can't communicate with my daughter, this injury has affected every part of my life and I need help with everything now but the part I hate the most is that I can't sign to her. I see Kate explaining to Cooper but I can't focus on what she's telling him. My body's even tighter than usual and my arms and head are starting the uncontrolled movements which mostly only happen when I'm trying to move at this point but also when I'm upset. There's too much going on, all the sounds and the people moving around, then someone's pushing me towards the door and takes me outside.

Stella POV
I got to Shay's party with Kelly and was talking to people when I saw Gabby, it looked like something was wrong so I walked over to her. She wasn't answering me or looking at me, I've heard about the meltdowns she has sometimes but I'd never seen one. I wasn't sure what to think when I heard about then because its not like Gabby at all, she very rarely breaks down and never in front of people but dr Manning said its part of the brain injury and she has no control over it. That her brain just can't process everything while handling emotions. I know she would hate taking attention during Shay's party so I decide to bring her outside, I bring her over to a bench so I can sit in front of her.
Stella- its ok Gabby, we're outside, you're not interrupting the party you can take time for yourself.
She seemed to notice she was outside but she was still upset
Stella- Gabby I'm going to pick you up, ok?
She looked at me which was progress and I took as a yes. I picked her up at sat back on the bench with her, she's almost as tall as me but she's not that heavy and lifting is part of my job so its not a problem. We stayed there for a few minutes and eventually I felt her starting to relax a bit, well as much as she even does since the injury.
Gabby- thanks Kidd. Sorry
Stella- we stick together Dawson, you know that. No being sorry for having feelings
Gabby- hate this
Stella- I know you do, do you want to talk about it?
Gabby- not now
Stella- ok, are you ready to get back in your chair?
She's quiet for longer than usually, it always takes her a minute to get her brain to send the message that she wants to talk but not this long
Stella- its ok if you want to stay out here for a bit longer
Gabby- no is ok. I sore tired, chair better
Stella- ok
I put her back in her chair and we head back inside, Kelly notices us coming in but I gesture that he shouldn't ask. She seems to do ok for the rest of the party, I tell Antonio what happened before we leave so he knows why she's tired and tighter than usual.