Something in the Way You Move [O'J]

Waking Up

Callie's POV

It's as if I just surfaced from the depths of the ocean after being there for an extended period of time.

I suddenly can hear, smell, breathe, feel. I am, for lack of a better word, aware.

The first thing that I am aware of is that there's a hand wrapped around my own. Big, warm, calloused. Calloused, yet gentle. Danny.

The second thing that I am aware of are the sounds. I don't recognize them. Sure, I recognize an indisputable Dublin accent and a pronounced English accent (I'm assuming the doctor or a nurse), but beyond that, I don't recognize them.

The third, and final, thing that I am aware of is that I'm not tired. I feel like I've just woken up from my hibernation, like I was a bear. Oddly enough, it is almost impossible to open my eyes. Like they are super-glued shut. After a few seconds of monumental struggle, I manage to open my eyes slowly. However, the light is too bright and my eyes don't adjust and I end up closing them again with a groan.

The hand wrapped around my own tightens. "Callie...?" a voice asks, hopeful yet prepared to accept defeat. I squeeze the hand back and excited shouts and laughs bubble out from a source to my right. I turn slowly and open my eyes. My eyes adjust this time, and I see Danny is, indeed, the one holding my hand and the source of the shouts and laughter. "Callie, it's so good to see you awake!" he exclaims, squeezing my hand tightly.

"What do you mean? I was only asleep for the surgery," I reply, confused.

"No, Callie, you weren't only asleep for the surgery. You fell into an accidental coma. You've been asleep for the past ten weeks or so."

My eyes widen and I sit up. I look down at myself and find myself snuggling with Jessie's toy husky and in Danny's red-and-black plaid fuzzy pajamas. "What's today?" I ask faintly.

"December 23rd," Danny murmurs, stroking my hair. "Two days before Christmas."

"And I went into a coma on my birthday?"

"Day after, technically. You've been asleep for 75 days, now. We were starting to think you wouldn't be able to come to Ireland for Christmas with us."

"Us...? What do you mean, I wouldn't be able to come to Ireland with you? I still can't. I don't have any family. I'm probably headed to the nearest orphanage as soon as Doc knows I'm awake."

Danny stares at me, puzzled. Soon enough, a realization dawns on him and he smiles. "Callie, you're not going back to an orphanage," he tells me softly. "You're coming home."

I stare at him in shock for a few seconds. Home? Coming? Me? Finally, it all clicks and I throw my arms around Danny. He wraps his arms tightly around me and rocks me back and forth. Tears of joy start falling from my eyes and onto his shoulder. "Hey now, no tears, Callie," he whispers to me, rubbing my back. Unfortunately, I can't stop now that I've started. Danny gently pushes me back just enough so he can rest his hands on my cheeks and wipe away my tears. No matter how many he wipes away, more replace them. After a minute or so, a grin forms on his face and he whispers, "Callie, do you know what happens to little girls when they can't stop crying?"

I shake my head and whisper back, "No, what happens?"

"They get tickled!" he laughs, starting to tickle my belly, sides, and ribs. I shake and squeal with uncontrollable laughter for what seems like forever as his fingers tap dance on my nerves. After a while, he stops and asks, "Are you done with tears now or do you need another visit from the tickle monster?"

"That certainly won't be necessary, Mr. O'Donoghue, especially since she just woke up...a few minutes ago, if I'm not mistaken," a deep voice says. "Can't excite her too much."