There was a serious feeling of déjà vu that came to both of them that evening. It was like they had been transported twenty years into the past when they finally got that message.
It just shortly after Lindsey realized the house phone had come unplugged at some point, that they found themselves racing through the desert, going way over the speed limit as they headed to Arizona to get to their girl.
He didn't even call Barbara back before they got in the car- he didn't need to... He just had to be there and even though Stevie was a little nervous to tag along, Lindsey reassured her ten times over that she could come. In fact, he was certain that her presence would make Penny feel better.... And maybe it would make him feel better too.
So, she sat in the passenger seat, fingers laced with his as they rode in silence for most of the way. They were both very worried and even though they were comfortable, they were also sitting right on the edge of their seats.
"Lindsey...." Stevie had her arm intertwined with his, forehead pressed to his shoulder as she stood nearly behind him in the packed elevator.
They had briefly spoken to someone at the front desk, who pointed them in the right direction and then they were off.
It was all very overwhelming, especially for Stevie, who had no clue Penny even had health issues to begin with... Jess had never mentioned it to her, so to hear that she had severe epilepsy- worse than Lindsey or Brady, was a real shock, to say the least.
"It's okay." He promised in a soft whisper as he stared down into her tear filled eyes for a moment. "She's a tough kid." Lindsey added, cracking the most forced smile that he could.
Biting down on her lower lip, she sank into him a little more as her eyes fell closed to drown out the dozen other people around them. "I believe you." She assured, nodding softly as she patiently waited for the door to ding.
Luckily they met the fourth floor just a second later and when those two doors slid open, he led her out into the hallway.
It felt like the night they had lost their son... the bright lights, the smell of sanitizer, the nurses moving around them, and the feeling of pure dread that lingered in building.
It reminded her of everything she had tried so hard to forget.
"I don't think I can go in." Stevie felt light headed, heart beating so fast, she wasn't sure she was going to be able to take another step forward when they ended up at the last door on the right... Penny's room.
Lindsey paused for a moment, looking down at the blonde as he carefully slipped his hand around her waist to pull her in close. "I know it's hard." He was the only person in the entire world that knew exactly what she'd gone through, because he had gone through it right along side her... "But, baby, look at me." He carefully took her face in his free hand, blue eyes melting into her big brown ones as his thumb ran back and forth across the curve of her chin. "We need you now..." He admitted in a soft, almost quiet tone of voice.
She creased a brow as the tears began to fill the brims of her eyes. "I need you too." She whispered back, heart sinking into the pit of her stomach as she leaned into him to be held.
She just needed a moment to collect her thoughts and Lindsey was okay with that... He knew that she needed the reassurance and if that kept her there, with them for a little while longer, he was willing to make sure she got it.
He kissed the top of her head, rubbing the small of her back as he soaked up their short moment as well. "She'll be so happy to see you when she wakes up." He mentioned, which caused her lips to turn up into a small, very weak smile.
Nodding lightly, she patted his arm before she leaned back to look at his face once more. "Let's go check on our girl." She was still anxious, obviously, but he did make her feel a little less uncomfortable...
She felt like she was allowed to be there, even though she had never been there before in times like that... She felt really guilty, but Lindsey wasn't holding it against her and he was silently promising her that no one else was either.
"I love you." He gave her hip a soft squeeze, repeating the same thing that she had told him earlier in the day.
Lindsey didn't give her the chance to reply before he pushed open the door, leading the way into the room that had so many flowers, it looked like a greenhouse. All of her friends and their family had sent her cards, plants and balloons as well wishes... She was so loved.
"Oh, baby girl..." Stevie frowned the moment her eyes traveled over to her daughter.
She was in bed, eyes closed, hair in messy curls and bruises on her face. She had fallen pretty hard when they were out and before anyone was able to take notice, she had already hit the marble bar top. She had a concussion and a bloody nose, but other than that, she got pretty lucky.
Anyway, she still looked so sweet all wrapped up in the purple blanket that Barbara had brought her from home, which was resting on her legs, along with an old stuffed bunny rabbit that Lindsey had gotten her many moons earlier at her side. And even though she appeared to be warm and snuggly, it still broke her mothers heart.
"She's tough." Lindsey repeated, even though it wasn't easy for him to see her like that either.
But believe it or not, he was actually used to being the level headed one in moments like that, which is why he was so thankful that they hadn't run into Jess and Barbara on their way in... He could only promise something he didn't actually know so much.
Nodding her head, Stevie slowly began to trail towards Penny. "Look at those eyes..." she whispered, staring down at the girl that she loved more than anything in the whole world.
In that moment, she couldn't believe that she had missed out on all of it... All the doctors appointments, all the hospital visits, all the health issues- she didn't have a single clue, which made her feel as small as an ant.
"Still so pretty." She added as she carefully took a seat on the very edge of the bed.
Lindsey cracked a soft smile, watching from across the room, where he had been reading over her chart... he wasn't shy, not at all.
Stevie reached out slowly, pushing some of Penny's long blonde strands back behind her ear. "Can I braid her hair...?" She wondered, looking back over at Lindsey with the softest set of brown orbs. "Just so it doesn't get tangled and it's out of her-"
"Stevie," he cut off her nervous rambling, a soft grin on his handsome face. "You're her mom..."
