I Think I'm in Trouble {Reimagined}

XXXVII.

Unsure of what time it was exactly, but almost sunrise by looking out the window of the hospital, did Stevie sit right by her daughter's side of the bed; doing her absolute best to spread her time evenly amongst the two of them.

"It's almost seven," Christopher yawned, standing from his chair in order to stretch. "I'm gonna call my parents and let them know what's going on. I don't know if they're gonna wanna come out here, but my dad should be awake... It's eight over there."

Lori nodded. 

"Maybe one of you can convince her to go home," he added, looking at the boys as well. "She hasn't slept in two days."

"I've tried, she won't budge," Jeffrey claimed, shaking his head. 

"She tried to send us home, but I told her I wouldn't go unless she did," Nicholas added. "Of course, that made her feel guilty, but she just explained we'd be here waiting and I know that. But I don't wanna leave her."

"The five of you together are one stubborn bunch, let me tell you," Lori shook her head, unable to keep a straight face as she said so.

"And you wonder why my parents had such ruthless fights," Jeffrey added, laughing lightly.

"Hey, those fights..." Christopher shook his head, "None of that matters right now, okay?"

They nodded.

"I'll be back," he stated, walking over to the receptionists' desk in order to use the phone.

From a distance, Lori could see Stevie exiting Shannon's room, just to make her way to Robert's.

"I'm gonna see if I can get her to at least get a change of clothes at the hotel, that way you guys can too," she stood up. "I know she wants to wash her face and change, she's just fighting it, let alone fighting the urge to sleep."

"Thanks, Auntie," Jeffrey smiled sympathetically. 

She waved it off and she sighed as she walked over.

"Steph?" 

The blonde instantly put her hand up and shook her head. 

"What?" the redhead asked. "You don't even know what I was gonna say."

"I'm not gonna go home," she crossed her arms.

"I wasn't gonna ask that," she replied in the same condescending tone. "I was gonna say, I can drive you to the hotel to wash up and get a change of clothes."

Her demeanor softened.

"Nicholas is tired and he wants to go home, but he's worried about you..." she added, hoping to guilt her into leaving for just a bit.

Even though she wasn't necessarily trying to stress her out further, everybody knew that the mother in her could be persuaded easily by guilt and if she had to push that button, she was going to.

"I have to check on Jessica and Sharon, so I can take you on the way," she assured.

"But what if--"

"I called mom and dad," Christopher interrupted his sister, settling a hand on her shoulder. "They said they'll be here as soon as they can, they're gonna fly here and just rent a car."

She nodded. 

"Hey, speaking of the car, did you call the insurance company?" Lori asked, again, trying to persuade her to take a breather from being at the hospital. 

"No, I didn't have to," she shook her head. "It was his work truck, so Jeff already called the site to let them know he wouldn't be in and Vic told us not to worry about it, he would handle it."