Return to me

Part 5: See me

Stevie had her fingers tangled with Lindsey's, occasionally brushing her lips next to his ear. "I need you to hold on, to come back. I wish that you could give me some kind of sign that you are there... It's lonely with out you in my world. The way I have been thinking about you, it's beyond comprehension... You are the love of my life and I am a fool once more."

Kristen stood at the door, clutching her purse, her two girls at her side. Will was back at school; there was no way that he could miss the test for one of his classes. He wanted to be with his father though.

"How is he...?" asked Kristen, Stevie straightening her act up instantly. "Did I interrupt  something?"

Stevie knew by the tone in the younger woman's voice, that she was not happy with her. "Um, no," unclasping her hands from Lindsey's as she smoothed down her blouse. "I was just trying to communicate."

"I see..." as LeeLee and Stella went to greet their father, giving him kisses on the cheek.

"His nurse has been very helpful; she gave him a bath and shave," lied Stevie. She knew perfectly well, too. It wasn't just his nurse that had been helpful.

"I can see," brushing passed Stevie as she kissed Lindsey on the lips. "She didn't miss a spot," running her fingers along Lindsey's chin.

"Yeah, well," looking down at the floor, "...I think I'm going to grab a coffee, I don't want to interfere with your visit," turning on her heel as she left his room in a flash.

Upon exiting Lindsey's room, Stevie leaned up against the hall, a hand to her chest. Why was she feeling guilty right now? Had she said something wrong with out realizing it? Was Kristen aware of how she was feeling? It was making Stevie a tad paranoid, trying to shake it off as she headed for the elevator.

Lindsey made his way back to his hospital room, expecting to see Stevie, seeing his family instead. "Oh, my girls,"  the need to hold his daughters. "I'm sorry I wasn't here when you walked in. Where is Stevie?"  asking as if they'd respond, glancing around the room and noticing the scowl on Kristen's face. "Kit? Kit, you look so angry..."  standing in front of her. "Just hang on, hang in there - I am trying."

Though believing that Stevie was on her way back to her condo, Lindsey stayed with his family, watching their every move and beyond lost to his next move.

Back in the cafeteria, Stevie sat with a coffee and blueberry muffin, staring mindlessly in to the cup of brown liquid. 

"May I join you?" a man breaking through her thoughts.

Looking up at the face that owned the voice, she blinked a few times. "...yes?" taken with him.

"Great, thanks," placing his own cup of coffee down. "I saw you sitting here and thought maybe you could use a friend," staring at her blank expression. "I'm sorry," bringing his hand up to greet her. "My name is Morris, Morris Fitzgerald. I'm a heart surgeon here."

"Stephanie," shaking his hand in return. "Cold hands..." saying to herself as she brought her own hand back in to her lap.

"Huh? Oh, yeah," laughing some, "...cold hands, warm heart," smiling. "Yeah, that was nerdy but what can you expect... I'm a surgeon," fixing the glasses on his nose.

Morris was tall, skinny, not a lot of muscles but his face was charming. His hair was black but showing signs of aging, slight pepper grey near his ears.

"If there's anything that I can say it's that I'm positive that my colleagues are doing everything they can."

"I'm sorry?" questioned Stevie.