The Fighter

Chapter 15

Gavin and I went to St. Ives Hospital to see dad. We had to show our ID's so they'd let us in. He was in critical condition in the ICU. Gavin was talking to the doctor and I went in his room to see him. He was unconscious still and there were tubes in him helping him breathe. I didn't want to get to close. I couldn't believe that this was happening. I want to know why he was coming to Clarksville. Why would this happen now?

Gavin came into the room. "What did the doctors say?" I asked." They said that he has a bad brain injury. He has brain swelling and possible brain damage. His chest was crushed and he broke several ribs. He might not wake up at all. They want to do surgery on his head and his chest. They're waiting to see if he gets stronger. He has to be a little more stable if he's going to make it through surgery." He explained. I just sat there quietly. "Mickie, are you okay?" he asked. "I'm fine. I wish everyone would stop asking me if I'm okay. This is my father, yes. But do I give a shit, no! He did this to himself! He left us because drugs and alcohol were more important than his kids. We had just lost our mother! He willingly signed over Avery because he didn't want her. He never wanted her to begin with! I pulled him out of a car, because it was the morally right thing to do. If it wasn't, I would have left him there to die. At least then, he would be hurting us less than he is now." "Mickie Ann! No matter what he is our father! You shouldn't talk like that!" "No! He's not my dad and he sure as hell isn't Avery's dad! He's your dad! I didn't save him for me, I saved him for you! Because that's what I do!" I walked out of the room. I was so mad I couldn't think straight.

I went for a walk around the hospital and then went back to Dad's room because I felt bad for everything that I had said. He was sitting next to dad's bed when I came back in. "Gavin, I'm sorry for saying all of that. I shouldn't have said that, out loud. I have a lot anger built up against him. I don't regret saving him." "Mickie, its fine. I know you're mad at him and you probably always will be." "Aren't you mad at him?" I sat down. "Yes, I am very mad at him, maybe just a little less than you are." "A lot less."

"Mickie, I get it now." "You get what now?" I asked very confused. One minute we were talking about anger towards dad and now we're talking about God knows what. "I get why you're in the department. I get why you leave in the middle of things to help someone. I get it. Everyone deserves a second chance. Everyone has a family or someone that loves them. You save them so they can kiss their families good night, so they can watch their kids, or their grandkids grow up, so they can live the life they were given. You said it yourself, if you weren't there he would have died. You were the only one who could get him. I yelled at you for leaving, but if you'd stayed it would've taken longer for them to get dad out and he probably wouldn't have even made it here. Because you were there, he at least has a chance to live again. He might have a second chance." "And what do you think that he's going to do with his second chance? If he gets one?" "I don't know. I can only hope that he wants to make amends with us, cleans himself up and gets his life back on track." "Even if he does all of that and he does get clean, he's never getting Avery back. I don't even know if I want her to see him." "Mickie, he is her dad. He has rights." "No, he did have rights. He gave those up when he signed her over. I don't have to let him see her, I don't have to let her be a part of his life. Those were the terms. Whatever I say for Avery goes." "Can we stop bickering? We can agree to disagree." "I know, I don't want to fight anymore. We've been good to each other since November and now we get here and we're at each other's throats again." "Yeah, I know."

We had been at the hospital for three hours. Grandma had Avvy under control and out of the loop. I was sitting in the chair by the door, Gavin was still in the chair by the bed and we were watching TV. I don't know how long we are supposed to stay here for. I don't even want to be here at all. My phone started ringing. "Hello?" I got up and answered it in the hall. "Hey Mickie, how are you doing?" It was Kyle. "I'm fine. Gavin and I are at the hospital with him still." "Still?" "Yeah, it's been three hours." "Is he going to be okay?" "I don't know. He has a major head injury. Brain swelling and possible brain damage. His chest caved, and he has broken ribs. They have to do surgery, but they have to wait until he's a little better. He's still unconscious and he might not even wake up." "Aw Mickie, that's rough. I'm so sorry." "It's fine. I'm fine don't worry." "I honestly didn't think that you would go see him." "Yeah, me neither." "You're doing this for Gavin aren't you? You don't want to be there, do you?" he knew. "Not at all." "Do you want me to come pick you up?" "No, I'm fine. I think that Gavin needs me here." "You're a good person. I know that you don't think that you are, but you are. You were the only one who could get him and you did. I know you were uncomfortable with it, and I'm sorry for pushing you." "I needed it. Thanks Kyle." "Anytime Mickie. Call me if you need anything. NO matter what it is. If you need to talk, if you need me to pick you up, or even if you want/need me there." "I will. Thanks again. I'll call you later." "You better. Bye." He hung up and I looked at my screen. I had a text from Greg.

"Hey, how are you doing?"

"I'm doing fine. I'm at the hospital with my brother."

"That's a good thing right?"

"We will see."

"Haha, well if you need anything I'm here. Don't be a stranger."

" Lol okay. Thank you!"

I had a stupid smile on my face when I walked back into the room. "Who was that?" Gavin asked. "Kyle called. He wanted to make sure we were okay. And Greg text me and asked how I was." I slid that in there hoping that he wouldn't notice. "Greg? That kid whose going to be your boyfriend?" "Yes that kid and no he's not going to be my boyfriend!" "Took you a second to deny it!" "Shut up!" I laughed. "Just get with him and get it over with!" "No! I don't need a boyfriend Gavin! You taught me very well that guys are a pain in the ass!" "Oh, thanks!" he laughed too. The tension in the room was lifted a little bit.

Dad's machines started beeping and going off. "What's going on?" I asked the doctor who came in. "He's going into cardiac arrest! Get the crash cart!" he yelled to the nurses. "You two have to get out of here!" the nurses pushed us out.

They were in there for a while. "Gavin what's going to happen?" I asked. I was kind of scared. "I don't know. You're the fire fighter shouldn't you have an idea of what's going to happen?" "No, that's EMT's you weirdo." I couldn't help but laughed. "Oh, okay." He laughed too, and then he started crying. I started when I saw him cry. He hugged me and held on as we watched the doctors and nurses work on dad. "We have to get him into surgery now. There is no time to waste." The doctor came out and told us. We just nodded and they took dad out of his room and down the OR.