Scenes From a Soap Opera

The Recovery Begins

Victor Newman slowly opened his eyes. He looked around the room trying to place his surroundings. The walls were white and equipment was hooked up to his body.

"Victor." He looked over to see Dr. Nate Hastings enter the room. "I already texted Nikki to let her know, she's on her way." Victor closed his eyes and rested his head back on the pillow. He still felt woozy. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he just felt off. There was no other way to describe it; not that words were coming to him in that moment anyway.

Nikki suddenly burst into Victor's hospital room. "Victor, Victor. My darling, I'm so glad you're okay." She threw her arms around him. "How are you doing?"

'I'm fine my baby.' Victor said. Nikki smiled encouragingly. 'I'm fine.' Now Nikki was staring at him with concern in her eyes. Victor was confused didn't she hear him? He repeated the answer several times growing frustrated with her lack of response. Finally, she ran out of the room to find Nate; now Victor was really confused.

"Okay, Victor what's going on?" Nate calmly asked once he returned. Nikki was standing behind him wearing a nervous expression. The doctor watched as Victor tried to say that nothing was wrong, he felt fine. The words were forming in his head but they weren't coming out.

Nikki turned to Nate in what felt like slow motion. "Nate what's going on with Victor? Why can't he speak?"

Nate was wearing a neutral expression trying to not alarm both Newmans. Obviously, the stroke had damaged the part of Victor's brain that controlled his speech. The question was how bad was the damage and could it be reversible? "We're going to need to run some tests just to make sure, but it appears the stroke has damaged the part of Victor's brain that controls his ability to speak."

Victor's eyes bugged out and Nikki gasped. "Is it permanent damage?" Nikki asked. Scenario after scenario were racing through her head; each one more horrifying than the next. The addiction demon was screaming for a drink.

"We won't know until we run the tests." Nate patiently explained. "Victor, I'm going to go order those tests for you right away. Hang tight, I'll be back soon." He nodded at both Newmans before exiting the room.

Nikki sniffled, wiped her eyes, and went to sit in the chair by Victor's bed. "Victor, it's going to be okay. I know everything will be okay." Victor couldn't tell if she was trying to cheer him up or herself. He just squeezed Nikki's hand and smiled. Nikki smiled back with a watery grin.

The door to Victor's room suddenly burst open. The married couple looked up expecting to see Nate only to find Christine in the doorway. Nikki shot up from her chair. "What are you doing here?" The blonde barked at the D.A.

Christine smirked as two deputies came in and placed Victor under arrest. "Christine, are you insane? Victor just had a stroke. This is the last thing he needs right now. He needs to be focusing on recovering, not defending himself in your kangaroo court."

"Victor committed a series of crimes. He needs to pay for that." Christine bluntly stated before softening. "We'll wait until he's recovered enough to participate in his hearings; but he will answer for this." The lawyer then left the room, her job was done. Nikki collapsed back into her chair in exhaustion. She needed a drink, needed it bad.