I Think I'm in Trouble {Reimagined}

XCIX.

"How's my mom?" Shannon asked Lindsey as soon as he walked back into the corridor with Lily in his arms. 

Right as he walked in, he was met by Nicholas and Shannon, her parents and Lori.

"Let me see this little one," Barbara easily took Lily from him after reading his stressed expression.

"Is she okay?" Nicholas asked. 

"The doctor's running some tests right now... I don't want to say much because I really don't know the gravity of everything yet..."

"Well, what's wrong? I thought her blood pressure was just low?" Jess asked. 

"It is..." he sighed. "Look, I need everybody to be calm for me," he gestured with his hand. "I was told not to say anything, I know we're all stressed, but I just want things to go smooth..."

Shannon arched her brow, knowing well he was hiding something pretty big just based off the way he was shutting down. 

"I'm gonna grab her a tea and some coffee, maybe..." he lingered. 

"I'll go with you," Shannon piped in. "Does anybody want anything else?" she wondered, knowing she was going to at least bring a bunch of coffees and teas.

"We're good, honey," Lori winked at her, smiling softly. 

"Alright, come on," she led the way.

As soon as they were far enough, Shannon yanked his arm.

"What's wrong with you?" he pulled his arm away and rubbed it.

"What's wrong with my mom?"

"Shannon..." he sighed.

"Can you just tell me?" she whined, crossing her arms as they entered the elevator. 

He sighed, "Don't tell anybody, but you're mom woke up and..." he trailed. 

"And what?" she tapped her toe. 

"She can't see..."

"What do you mean?" she creased her brow, her arms slowly dropping from their crossed state.

"She's blind. The doctor's running a bunch of tests to see what's going on. He's not as worried considering she hasn't hit her head or anything like that, so they're trying to find the cause and how long it may last..."

She sighed, unsure of what really to say.

"You can't tell anybody I just told you that. Okay? I'm serious. She's stressed enough as it is, her blood pressure is too low and when she panics it skyrockets. There's no healthy in between and you're all mourning..." he shrugged. 

She nodded her head, becoming softer and more understanding as the time passed only because she knew it was finally her turn to be the strong one.

After finding out about her brother, she had the time to let her emotions completely erupt before everybody else, she had time to let everything sink in and now that it was in the past---she knew she had to step up as far as her mother's sake went. After all, she was the bravest one in the family, the one who made a joke of everything to cope and although she had matured, she knew she at least needed to be the one to carry the weight so everybody had a chance to mourn.

...

"Lindsey?" the doctor stated simply to get his attention as he lingered outside of her room with a cup of coffee in his hand. 

"I hope you have good news," he shook his head. 

"I do," he smiled, assuring such things easily. "Come to my office," he gestured considering she was still with the specialist going over things.