Legal Prejuduce 3 - Lessons In Life

Chapter 38

Daniel and Jeremy made their way to Allie's room and found Max with her still asleep in his arms. Jeremy rubbed Max's shoulder and said, "Why don't you guys leave her with me, and I can talk to her. If anything comes up, Brian's around and said he can cover. Max nodded, and Jeremy lifted Allie gently from him, making her stir. He took Max's place on the chair, and Daniel crouched to brush the hair from her face and said, "Allie baby, I'm going to leave you with Jem for a little bit. I'll be back later okay?" She nodded and they left.

She put an arm around Jeremy's back and clung to him, "I'm sorry, I know you're supposed to be working, but I'm glad you're here." The tears had started again, and she didn't even try and stop them as he said, "Of course I'm here." He held her for a few minutes then said, "Dan and I just spoke to Mat Estevez. He talked me through the scan and what they want to do." Allie's tears dripped, and she said, "I'll be right back where I started, weeks of being stuck in hospital in front of me. I just don't want surgery, feeling all helpless, I hate it Jem." She'd started crying again in earnest, "Shushhhh Allie. I can be there when you go in, be in recovery when you wake up. I know you're scared and disappointed, but you've got to think of the long game. If you do this, there's a good chance you'll be able to walk as good as anyone, but right now, without it, you can't even stand on that hip." He felt Allie's chest shuddering with sobs and she said, "I know you're right, I know I'll have to do it, but I just feel all my choice is taken away from me you know? I miss Dan, I miss the girls, I can tell they're getting used to having other people do stuff for them and it kills me which is really stupid and selfish because I'm so grateful Dan has the help." Jeremy kissed her, "You are the least stupid, least selfish person I know. You have every right to be upset because this whole situation is shitty and unfair. You are the bravest person I've ever met Allie, and you can do this."

By the time Daniel returned with Margie and Susan, Allie had calmed down and allowed herself to be mothered by them as they washed her face and held her close. She couldn't bring herself to talk about the prospect of the surgery, and they didn't push it sensing she hadn't reached a point of acceptance. When they spoke after they'd left the hospital, Susan said to her friend, "The next few days are going to be really rough Margie. I can't believe it, no wonder she's upset." Margie signed and nodded, "We'll have to talk to Dan about telling the girls too. The counselling is helping, but Dan says they're both still having nightmares, and this won't help. All we ever talk about is Mommy coming home, and now she's having more major surgery."

Jeremy came back when everyone else was leaving for the night as he was on call. He'd been home for a few hours to see the children, and he'd told Robyn, who cried and said she'd visit the next day. Allie's eyes were still red from the earlier emotional storm, and he whispered, "Hi, Move up." Allie shuffled slightly to one side, and he got on the bed next to her, pulling her comfortably against him. After a few minutes, he said, "Robyn says she's coming tomorrow." Allie nodded as he asked, "Do you want to talk about it?" Allie shook her head and said, "No, but I'm glad you're here," as Jeremy kissed her hair.

The following morning, no one came to get her for physical therapy, which Allie took as a sign it was now considered pointless. She couldn't help but think bitterly how she missed what she'd formerly regarded as an ordeal. She hadn't really bonded with her main therapist Sasha, finding her somewhat harsh and unsympathetic, but she now put that down to frustration at the lack of progress they'd made. Her door opened with a rush of air, and she looked to see who it was. To her surprise, she saw Antonia sporting a shiny black cane with a diamanté handle, which danced light all over the room. She looked Allie in the eye and dragged a chair next to the bed saying flatly, "Well Allie, you've really outdone yourself this time." Allie sighed and pointed at the cane, "What's with that? The diamond bit's blinding me." Antonia tried and failed to supress a smile, "After I last saw you, I decided to own the whole MS thing. Ordered this online. I think it suits me, scares the hell out the junior doctors I teach over at the other site." Allie laughed softly, "I bet it does. They're probably scared you'll whack 'em with it." Antonia smirked, "I'm so damn tempted some weeks." She ran a critical doctor's eye over Allie's body, "Good god, you've lost weight. You must be a size zero. They'll make a Californian of you yet.' Allie shook her head, "I'd have to grow at least six inches and get breast implants." Antonia actually laughed out loud.