Wait For Me

Progress

Another week had gone by at work with the ED finally calming down after a hectic few days. Connie had had to pull a few extra shifts to cover the department which had meant sacrificing the little time she got with Grace and it hadn't gone down well. Despite not saying anything to her mother, Grace feared that everything was moving back to the way it was before the crash.

As she finished with school for the day, instead of heading home she was driven to the ED to surprise her mum. She leant against her crutches gently, her strength growing day by day but after having been in school all day, tiredness normally ensued. Wandering slowly into the department, she smiled as she passed Noel at reception.

"Oh hi Grace, your Mum's in her office." "Thanks!" She smiled wandering on before hearing someone else's voice call her name. "Grace?" Duffy smiled as she caught up to the younger version of the clinical lead. "I didn't know you were coming past today, your Mum didn't mention it." "I thought I'd surprise her, she's been busy and I haven't really seen her."

Moving an arm around the young girls shoulders she smiled warmly. "That's a lovely idea Grace, she's just in her office. I think she'll be glad of the distraction." Duffy smiled kindly as Grace nodded beginning to hobble towards her office. Knocking on the door she laughed hearing the sigh that came from behind it before her mother's aggravated voice.

Grace tried moving an arm out of her crutches to open the door but struggled, dropping it beside her. Connie heard the fumbling and moved to get up. "Hey, need a hand?" "Thanks..." She smiled accepting the crutch that was passed back to her before Robyn opened the door for her.

Connie was surprised standing just the other side as Grace smiled warmly. "Gracie what are you doing here?" "Thank you Robyn... I wanted to surprise you. It's boring at home." Connie smiled bringing Grace into the office before closing the door behind her. "You should have called me baby-" "Why so you could ignore me for your work?" "So I could have picked you up."

Grace looked down as Connie sat down behind her desk. "Sorry..." Grace looked up at her shyly before moving closer to the desk. "Come here." Beckoning her closer, Grace moved to sit across Connie's lap as she ran a hand through her hair. "You know you're the most important person in my life, work will never be more important than you."

Grace shrugged gently before Connie moved her arms around her. "How was school?" "Boring... But-" Connie arched a brow looking to her waiting for her to carry on. "But?" "I want to start dancing, my teacher thinks I'm ready to try." Connie scoffed sitting up a little as she looked to her computer. "What?" "Well with all due respect Grace, your teacher isn't a doctor and hasn't seen your medical notes."

Pushing her Mum's arms away with a sigh she grabbed her crutches to stand up. "Gra-" "You always think you know best!" "Well I hate to say it Grace, but I do when it comes to you. I'm a doctor!" "I know! You're always here and you're always reminding me that you're a doctor before anything else."

Connie looked to her as she stood angered a few steps from her. "Now that's not fair Grace-" "You don't care! You never do, you just want to be right all the time!" Throwing down her crutches to the floor she began stepping away towards the door. "Well guess what? You're not right! I've been able to do things without your help but you wouldn't know that because you're always too busy with someone else!" "Grace- Grace!"

She was already off out the doors as Connie stood in her office releasing a sigh as she ran a hand over her face. "Con what's happened? I just saw Grace walking out the entrance-" "Just leave it Jacob." Wandering further inside, he tried to speak again but was instantly shut down. "Just don't Jacob!"

Pushing past him he grabbed hold of her wrist pulling her to a stop. "Calm down before you find her. Shouting won't help anyone." He flicked his eyes to her stomach then back, showing exactly what he meant. Sighing she stood still for a moment as he moved an arm around her. "She hates me again-" "She's stubborn, too much like her mother. Go and speak to her, but be her mother not her doctor."

Pressing a kiss to her forehead she smiled before wandering from the office out of the department. Looking around herself she knew she couldn't have gone far. Beginning to wander alongside the building she found her sitting on the bench with a rose within her hands.

Taking a deep breath Connie continued to approach Grace slowly before taking a seat beside her on the bench. Grace didn't look up from the flower as she spoke. "You lied. You said I was the most important person in your life... But I can't be. You have Jacob and, and you had Lilly." Connie nodded leaning back against the bench, her voice calmer than before. "I do, but neither of them are you. I've never been so scared as when I thought I was going to lose you Grace. That hasn't changed."

Frowning she looked up at her mother as she swallowed past the lump in her throat. "Every time I think of you doing something more, I worry about something else happening to you, and it scares me that I could lose you still." Connie shrugged looking down at her daughter. "I worry baby, because I don't know what I'd do if I ever had to face the day you weren't there."

Forgetting everything, she instantly moved to hug into her mother's side. "I'm sorry-" "Don't be. I should have explained. Can you forgive me?" Grace shrugged as she looked up at Connie. "Pizza?" She laughed shaking her head as Grace gradually smiled up at her. Pulling herself into her chest again, Connie enveloped her into a hug.

Jacob slowly wandered closer as he saw the pair embracing each other. "Did someone say pizza? Because that is something I will happily partake in." "Sorry girls only." Jacob feigned being hurt as he folded his arms pouting. "Connieeee-" "Sorry, Gracie's decision." Grace got up moving into Jacob's side as he quickly picked her up causing her to laugh. "I guess you could come-" "I'll wear a wig if it helps?" "Stay away from my wardrobe."

Grace laughed looking between the pair as Connie stood up moving towards them. "No more working all day, I promise." Jacob moved a hand to her cheek caressing it gently as Grace smiled. "I love you Mum, you too Jacob." Connie stepped closer as Grace and Jacob each moved an arm around her. Her priorities once again being thrown into order.