Why do I feel this way?

Chapter 21: My Oxygen

Since she was again unable to be by Siobhan's side, her thoughts returned to Mia... and Charlotte! She forgot that Charlotte was in the waiting room— along with all the others.

Taking a moment to breathe, she walked back into the emergency department. Mia was awake and stable. The nurses had her bed elevated. Oxygen mask as they suspect a partial collapsed lung. The only sounds were the steady beep of the machines and oxygen pumping. Vivian entered the room to talk to her. Mia clutched her chest, her breathing shallow, each rise of her chest strained against the oxygen mask. As she hears soft footsteps coming closer she slowly opens her eyes. The redhead recognized the sadness in Vivian's blue eyes. She barely had the energy to speak, but the words tumbled out, "Is Siobhan okay?"

Vivian looks crushed. I need to know that Siobhan is okay. That we weren't too late...

Vivian's head falls into her hands. "I... I don't know, Mia. She was rushed into surgery. We saw a huge hemorrhage on her scan," Vivian managed to say through her sobs. Mia struggled to comprehend Vivian's words. She grimaced, her breath labored as she spoke through the pain. "She's gonna make it, Viv... she has to. It's okay to fall apart." Vivian rested her head softly on Mia's shoulder. "We're here to hold you up." Mia's breath came in shallow gasps, every word costing her more effort than she'd like to admit. Vivian felt as if her body was too heavy to hold up, the exhaustion sinking in. Her expression was one of hopelessness, her eyes vacant as if her mind had checked out. Even though Mia has always been referred to as "the mean redhead", she truly had a soft heart. She just learned to hide it to protect— to shield herself— cope.

As Mia sees Vivian's tension beginning to release, her mind shifts to her love. "Viv, could you see if they will let Char come back? I really need her..." Vivian smiles softly, "Of course. Thank you, Mia."

Meanwhile, in the waiting room, Reece and Marjorie had managed to lift Charlotte from the floor and to a chair. Charlotte's gaze had not shifted at all from those double doors. Marjorie holds her as she rocks her slightly to help soothe her. Reece pacing eyes fixed on the tile floor below him. Autumn and Winter keeping a careful eye on the entrance. Ready to spring into action if Roger showed.

As Vivian walked out the double doors, Charlotte jumped up and ran to her. The first words out of her mouth were about Siobhan, and Vivian quickly explained what she knew. Charlotte wrapped Vivian in a supportive embrace as she rubbed her back, "I'm sorry Vivian!" They pulled away from each other as Vivian placed her hands in her back pockets dropping her head. "Char, Mia was brought in... she is awake and stable asking for you. Her injuries are pretty bad, but overall nothing life threatening with proper observation and treatment." Charlotte appreciated the nurses honesty. It brought her comfort.

Taking a deep breath, Charlotte walks through those double doors. Overwhelmed by the noise of all the machines and voices echoing through the department, Charlotte feels her body shake. Then, she lays eyes on her Mia. Even through the pain Mia's eyes lit up at the sight of her Char. An immediate calm floods the overwhelmed woman as she flashes her loving smile, running into the room.

As I see Mia, I feel like I'm on a mountain top. All the heaviness lifts and I feel a freedom, a hope just moments ago I thought was impossible. Seeing her awake is the biggest relief...

Mia flashes Char a wink as she painfully whispers, "Hi baby!" Charlotte finally at her bedside she scans her girlfriends body— taking in her condition. Her breathing is uneven, but she only needs oxygen support. There aren't any major cuts or bruises that she can see. Mia is sitting up and she can speak. She is way better off than Char had imagined. Although she had some serious injuries, they would heal with time. Lingering concern for her internal injuries were in the back of Charlotte's mind, but her demeanor reassured her.

I'm still slightly anxious about Mia's collapsed lung. She is acting mostly like herself though. I wonder what caused her collapsed lung and if that could be problematic?

Mia asks Char to sit with her. She always felt safe when they were touching. Charlotte was terrified that she would hurt her, but Mia ensured her that her right side wasn't really sore. Her sweet girlfriend slowly kissed Mia's forehead as she climbed in the bed. Char hesitantly laid her head on her green eyed girls chest. They both released the tension they didn't know they had through a simultaneous sigh. Both their bodies relaxing to the point of sleep.

Char is my safe place. Just having her with me, touching me— it's healing. She is my oxygen.

They had been asleep for about an hour when Mia's jolts from her bed. Her eyes wide, aggressively gasping for air. The beeping from the machines chaotically sounding as nurses flood the room. Charlotte jumped off the bed keeping eye contact with her love— trying to keep her calm.

Doctor quickly passing by the room in a calm but urgent tone, "Get her to the operating room now. Her lung has completely collapsed."