Pray For Me

What?

"Ma'am, if you follow me to a room, a doctor can come in and discuss your husband's condition."

"He's not dead?"

"No. Please, follow me."

Jude bounces Octavia as they walk, crying softly. Whatever it was, he was alive. That's all that matters to Jude.

"Mrs. Howard?" A doctor asks, poking his head into the door.

"Yes?"

"Hello, my name is Doctor Stevens. I've been working on your husband. He was brought in with multiple gun shot wounds to the chest and abdomen. Luckily, none of the bullets hit his spine. He suffered a laceration in his liver, and we had to remove a part of it. He also had a collapsed lung, which we repaired, and a tiny blood clot in his brain, which we also took care of. He's on a ventilator because of his respiratory issues. We will continue to monitor him closely until he regains consciousness, at which point we will be able to determine if there are any long term physical affects."

"Oh, my God! Can we see him? Did anyone die?"

"Nobody else has died, but some of the victims are in very critical condition. Follow me, and I can show you to his room."

Jude stands slowly, kissing Octavia's head as they walk. She had fallen asleep on Jude as they waited to hear from Timothy's doctor.

The doctor stops slowly in front of a slightly open door, and Jude takes a deep breath. She pushes the door open slowly and almost screams when she sees Timothy. He's all bandaged up, and has a tube shoved down his throat.

"Timothy, oh, God," Jude says softly, sitting in the chair beside his bed.

"He's about thirty minutes post-op."

Jude looks up to the nurse who has come in to take Timothy's vitals.

"How long does it usually take for people who've had this type of surgery to wake up?"

"Anywhere from two hours to several days. It was a very invasive procedure. Coupled with his brain injury, it could be a few days before he regains consciousness. I'm sorry, Mrs. Howard."

"Thank you," Jude whispers, adjusting herself to a more comfortable position.

"Would you like a breast feeding pillow?"

"Yes, please."

The nurse nods and excuses herself from the room. She returns a few minutes later with a swaddle and a pillow. Jude thanks her and places the pillow around her. She lays Octavia on it and covers her with the swaddle.

"Timothy, you have to wake up. You have to get better. We've made it through so much together, but I can't help you with this. You have to want it. Please, fight. I love you, Timothy, I can't lose you."

A few hours later, Timothy begins to come out of the anesthesia.

"Timothy," Jude gasps, leaning forwards and taking his hand. His eyes flutter open, and he looks around frantically. Jude pushes the call button beside his bed, and strokes his hair back.

"I'm here. You're okay, Timothy. We're okay."

A team of nurses bursts in, and begin to evaluate him. They decide that his oxygen levels are stable enough to extubate him.

"His voice will be hoarse, but he will be able to speak." 

"Thank you," Jude nearly sobs, rocking the baby slowly in her arms. Timothy turns his head to Jude and smiles. He tries to sit up, but Jude shakes her head.

"No, Timothy, just relax."

He coughs, wincing as he does. Jude moves to the bed, positioning the breastfeeding pillow between her and Timothy. She lays Octavia on the bed and makes sure she can't roll off.

"I was visiting with Lana when I heard over the radio. I nearly died," Jude says sadly, taking his hand in hers.

"Everything is okay now, rare bird," Timothy says, his voice barely audible. Jude nods, leaning over the baby to kiss him. He smiles.

Jude is thankful. Thankful to Timothy, for comforting her even when he's so injured.

Thankful that her God would never allow her to go on without him.