A Twist in Fate

Chapter thirteen

Shawn

I just woke up from another coma after having spinal surgery. My wife is two months away from giving birth to our daughter and I basically spent her pregnancy in a fucking coma. The doctor is here now doing an exam on my neurological system to see if I'm paralyzed or not.

So far I have full use from the waist up and now we're about to check from the waist down. I look teary eyes to Beth who has been standing at my side holding my hand. She gives me a reassuring smile and kisses the back of my hand. "I love you, you, Shawn. Not your ability to walk, nothing will change that, okay," she says in a soothing whisper and I nod vigorously.

"I'm ready," I say quietly, letting out a calming breath.

My feet are exposed and the doctor uses a tool to tickle the bottom of my feet. I let out laughing sobs as I jerk my feet away from her. I cover my face with my hands the realization of how much worse this could have been. I could have died and Beth would have been raising our daughter alone.

I hear her ask that I get a few minutes to calm down and the sound of several feet shuffling out of the room. The sound of my sobs echoed off the walls and I took calming breaths. I was shot four times and survived. I'm alive. That's what matters right now. I'm alive and able to see my daughter born.

My breaths shook as I calmed from my sobs and I lower my hands from my face. I realize I'm alone and the others were waiting in the hall. I make eye contact with Beth and they follow her back in. She wipes my remaining tears and looks at the doctor. "When can I take her home?"

"Considering she's been recovering a few months and had physical therapy in the coma, that would depend if she can get out of bed without a problem. Normally a patient who receives spinal surgery stays four days before they can go home and they're limited on what they can do over the course of six months to a year. Shawn is already half way there and should be able to have full mobility of her back, but I suggest she still take it easy the next few months for full recovery," she says softly and I nod lightly with understanding.

I push myself to a sitting position and everyone gave me room. I swing my legs over to the edge of the bed and slowly stand up without any pain or discomfort. I find my balance and walk the five steps to my wife. She breaks into relieved sobs and wraps her arms tight around my waist. I know the tears aren't because of my ability to walk, it's because I'm alive and able to see our daughter born.

I look out in the hall and notice all our family looking in with tears rolling down their cheeks. I meet eyes with my mother and could see the relief in them. Annie was being held by Mandy as she tried to get her sobs under control. I didn't see Melanie and Abbigail and felt a pang in my chest as tears roll down my cheeks. Commander White was looking for permission to enter and I nod lightly.

"I wanted to see how you were making in your recovery after news broke of you waking up," he says in a soothing tone.

"I feel like new and very much would like to go home with my wife," I choke quietly as I feel Jordan kicking my waist. "Yes, I didn't forget about you baby girl."

Beth lets out a laughing sob as Jordan continues kicking at my waist. "This is the most she's been active since you've been in the coma," she says between her laughing sobs that soon turn to just sobs as she buries her face in my chest.

I gingerly lift her chin and she meets my eyes. Her sobs calm to shaky breaths as I sweep my thumb at her tears. Her eyes flutter closed as I lean down, capturing her lips in a chaste kiss. "I'm sorry," I say quietly and she looks at me with confused eyes. Tears fill my eyes and caress her stomach. "I almost died and I was worried about not being able to walk."