Count On Me - Sequel (Laughing into Love)

Chapter 5: Extreme Sadness

Melanie runs into the front doors of the ER and almost directly past Brian to the doors but stops just before getting to the hallway, seeing him in her peripheral "Brian, where's my mom? Is she sleeping? That nurse told me you were allowed back there." Brian adverts his eyes from his fiancees, not wanting to be the one to tell her. She pushes "what, what is it?" Her voice is still caught up in her lungs as she somehow waddles towards Brian.

"I'm sorry Melanie, she uhhh, she.."

Melanie screams "what? No!" Her eyes start to completely fill with tears "no!" She falls forward and into Brian's chest.

Brian holds on to her, so she doesn't have to worry about her own balance and lets her cry into his chest. He lets her bang her fists against his chest and argue that she's not gone, that this couldn't be happening "I'm sorry honey, I'm so sorry." Is all Brian mutters, barely audible over her cries.

Her crying and yelling gets a lot of attention and eventually a doctor comes out, to fill in Melanie on what had happened. Brian listens closely to everything the doctor tells her, knowing he'll have to repeat it later to her. He knows now what actually happened, that she suffered a second heart attack. Melanie begs to see her and the doctor tells her she can in a few moments. He walks away and she turns to Brian "did you talk to her, what did she say? Oh my god, how could I have not been here!" She continues to cry and Brian knows not to answer her questions and to just listen and let her cry.

The doctor comes back out and quietly says "we'll take you back now."

Melanie looks to Brian with straight fear. He encourages her "it's okay, I'll be with you the whole time."

She tries to catch her breath, unable to breath. He whole body is shaking and she's not even sure she can move. She slowly nods but can't find the will to take a step forward. The doctor starts to move back through the doors and Brian gently pulls Melanie's hand as he walks behind the doctor. She follows behind him, the dull fluorescent lights somehow blinding her. The doctor stops at the door and steps aside, letting them be the ones to open the door. When Melanie stays still, Brian moves to open it for her but she stops him "wait" he pauses and eyes her, willing to do whatever she asks right now. She exhales and whispers "let me do it." He nods to tell him he heard her and will let her open it before he moves to the side himself so she can open it. She takes another deep breath in then out before turning the handle and pushing the door open. She takes three little steps in and she sees her, she see's her mothers lifeless body under a blanket. Melanie then rushes to the side of the bed and wraps her arms around her mom, begging her to wake up. "Mom, please. Please. Wake up, mom!"

Brian can feel the doctor behind him try to come in, to probably tell her to stop in some kind of way. Brian throws an arm out and holds a finger up. He knows she'll stop soon and he whispers out "wait."

Melanie can't hear him but the doctor did and he allows Melanie to continue. She eventually just drops herself to her knees and cries into her hands. The doctor leaves the room and Brian goes over to his girl, leaning down behind her and wrapping himself around her. He has been lucky so far, both his parents are still alive. He's seen death, was unable to save lives and witness the terror on the faces of others when they saw him come out of a burning building without their loved ones. But he never had to console further then a just a day or two, well, other then after Joe's mom died. How is he suppose to help Melanie through this, what is he going to say.  Brian thinks all of this while she cries until he hears her say something, in the smallest of whispers "what did you guys talk about? Was she in any pain?"

Brian's heart sinks. He doesn't know if he should show her the letter she gave him. He didn't open it, knowing it wasn't his place to do so. But what Jane said to him about her father worried him. She's beyond fragile, and he doesn't want to make it worse. He just whispers back "I don't think she was in pain. And we just talked about you."

"What did she say? Was she still mad at me?" She chokes out, her head still hanging low but her hands resting in her lap.

He answers "not at all, she wants us to get married."

"How can I believe that after our last fight? What if this is what killed her." She can't rationalize what's happening.

Brian assures her "no Mel, that's not it. She was happy for you, for us. I promise. And she loved you so much. She told me to tell you that."

Melanie keeps crying but Brian can notice a small nod of her head as if she's saying she heard what he said. He's not sure how much time passes before Melanie turns herself on the floor to face him. He just sits up, waiting to be there for her. She wipes the tears and the snot and asks him "what do I do now? I have no parents."

Brian swoops her into his arms and rubs his hand up and down her back as she starts to cry again "you have me, I'll take care of anything and everything you need me to."

She starts to mumble things like "how can this be happening?" And "why me, why now?" Rationally in her brain she knows the heart attack had nothing to do with her but in her heart, and soul is telling her that she was the reason her mother died, that this is her fault.