"How long is he going to be In here?" I asked Dr. Taylor. She seems unsure. Shes as upset as I am. I haven't stopped crying. "Mama," Jay whined. "We don't know how bad it is, we need to wait till he wakes up." She said softly. Angel stood quiet in the corner of the room. "You had no idea?" Dr. Taylor asked. I shrugged as tear resurfaced. "He-he was acting weird but I thought it was just because we were both tired. He's so good at hiding it." I said wiping my tears. "This is common to happen after ex drug addicts have kids." Angel commented. "Have you been drinking?" Dr. Taylor asked. "No," I spoke honestly. "I believe you." She said looking through papers. "What did the doctors say?" Angel asked. "Not much, we just have to wait to see when and if-if he wakes up." I said covering my mouth crying. Angel rubbed my back. "Let's get her back to the hospital room." She said to the doctor. "You wanna come here little man?" Angel said excited, reaching for Jay. He smiled big reaching for her. Dr. Taylor wrapped her arm around mine walking me back to Michaels room.
"There's my grand baby," Katherine smiles with puffy eyes. "Maw maw!" Jay squealed kicking. I sat down next to Michael as he laid in the hospital bed on Life support. I grabbed his hand holding it tight. "Wake up baby." I begged. "Dada! Dada!" Jay said crawling to me. I lifted him up, he grabbed Michaels finger smiling. "Dada!" He squealed bouncing. "How long do they think he was alone like that?" Katherine asked wiping her tears. "20 minutes," I shrugged. "I knew something was off, he was really distraught when I called him. So I rushed home." I said. "Dadadada," Jay babbled as I held him. "Hello," the doctor said coming into the room. "Hi Dr. Finn." I said softly. "Dadadad!" Jay Squealed loudly. "Shh," I said. "He's fine, sometimes children talking and other loved ones helps them react to treatments. We recommend it." He smiled. I nodded exhausted. "How's everything looking?" Dr. Taylor asked. "Better. He flat lined on us twice when he first got here. So the fact there is improvement is a good sign." He said. I couldn't stop crying. My mom held me, kissing my head as my dad stood in the corner of the room. "Do you want us to take Jay for the night?" She asked. I nodded. I held Michaels hand still, running my finger over his wedding ring. "Give daddy a kiss," I said holding jay over Michael. Jay puckered his lips kissing Michaels cheek. "Mama," he babbled hugging me. I held my baby tight, "give mommy a kiss." I said kissing his little baby lips. He gave me a the biggest smile making me smile. "Love you my baby." I said handing him to my mom.
Everyone left but Katherine. "How do we keep missing this?" She whispered. I shrugged, "he's good at hiding it." I said. I just wanted to hug my husband, watching him lay in this bed is killing me. I need him to wake up. "Knock knock." Wesley said as him and will came into the room. "Hi." I said. They made there way further into the room. "Shit." Wesley said seeing Michael with all the wires and the tube down his throat. Will rubbed my back as I sat there holding Michaels hand. "What have the doctors said?" He asked softly. I shrugged, "his heart stopped twice last night, they said he's improving a little which is a good sign due to him flat lining." I said trying to hold it together. "Where's Jay man?" Wesley asked. "With my mom." I replied. "If you need anyone to watch him we can help. Ally loves having him over." He said. "Same, you know we all love having Jay. We know you need to be here with him." Will said. I nodded rubbing Michaels hand against my face as tears stained my cheeks. "We're going to grab you guys some food, what do you guys want?" Will asked. I shrugged. "Some sandwiches?" Katherine asked. Wesley nodded. Wesley came over and kissed my head, "he's gonna be okay." He said then they left. "Dre you should really lay down. You haven't slept in nearly two days." Katherine said getting up. She cleared the hospital pull out bed and got a blanket and pillows for me. "Lay down sweetie." She said. I nodded letting go of Michaels hand.
Wesley and Will brought us food then I laid down and got some sleep. Wesley sat with me all night, letting me lean on him and sleep. I clung tight to him, craving the warm of my husband though. I need Michael. I cannot do this without him.
Flashback (dream)
"This is a dream Michael." I gasped as we entered our new home. "We've worked hard for it." He smiled. "What do you think Jay?" I asked our unborn son. "He says daddy did a good job." He smiled rubbing my stomach. "I agree." I smiled. "Just think, we'll be settled in before we know it, then going to Mexico to get married, then our son will be here." He smiled. I sighed smiling
I'm barely 3 months pregnant, Michael and I were too impatient to wait to find out the sex so we did the blood test. "I can't wait to marry you." Michael whispered into my neck. I held onto his arm that was wrapped around me. "I can't wait to be mrs. Jackson." I smiled. "You and me forever?" He asked. "Forever and ever." I Said then kissing him.
Present
I Woke up with tears. Forever and ever.
It was the next day. Wesley was asleep, and there was a nurse in here checking on Michael. "Vitals look good." She commented. I got up sitting next to him again. "How long have you guys been married?" She asked. "A year and a half. We've been in love since i was 16 though." I said. "That's sweet, high school sweethearts?" She asked. I nodded. "My first and only love." I smiled holding his hand. "It's hard watching someone you love go through this. My brother is an addict." She said changing his IV. I nodded, "I'm a recovering alcoholic and he was a recovering heroin addict." I said. "It's a hard thing to over come." She signed. I nodded. "He was awake by now last time." I said softly. "Give him time. They usually take awhile to wake up." She said. I nodded. "How many times has this happened?" She asked still changing his IVs and writing everything down. "Just once. When I was 17." "He's been clean since?" She asked. I shook my head. "He used again shortly after that. He went into treatment then I left and moved to florida." I said. She nodded listening. "Then fate brought you guys back together?" She asked smiling. I nodded, "he hated me for so long, I broke his heart bad." I said. "It happens." She said. "Then He was there with me through everything. I think he just loved me so much still that he hated it cause I walked away." I spoke honestly. "I can tell you guys love each other very much." She said. "I'll be back in a couple hours to check on him again." She smiled then leaving.
I sat there in the chair next to his bed, holding his hand again, watching the machine pump air into his body. My phone started ringing, waking Wesley up. "It's Riley." He yawned handing it to me. "Hello?" I answered softly. "Hey sis, how is he." He asked. "I don't know right now." I replied. "Do you want me to bring Jay down there?" "Please?" I asked. "We're on our way. He keeps asking for Michael." He said. And that just broke me, "okay." I cried hanging up. "Come on baby, wake up." I begged. "I'm not mad, I just want you to awake and be okay. Jay wants his daddy." I cried. Wesley hugged me as I cried. "He's gonna be okay." He told me. "Why hasn't he woke up yet? I need him to wake up." I cried. "He's healing. His body is trying to heal itself right now. Give him time. I know this is scary." He said kissing my head.
Everyone was in the room. My parents, Michaels, ally, Wesley, will, Riley, and Janet. Michaels other siblings came and went. Jay fell asleep on me as we all silently stared at Michael. "Did anyone have any idea he was doing this again?" Joseph asked. "No, I mean he seemed irritable but I think we all thought that was due to lack of sleep." Wesley answered. We all nodded. "Jays been keeping us up lately." I commented. "Where has he been injecting it?" Joseph. I got up handing Jay to Will. I moved Michaels blanket exposing his leg showing them the small bruises on his leg where he was injecting. "There and there's a couple spots further up." I said. "May we come in?" Dr. Taylor asked. I nodded as her and Angel came in. Dr. Finn came in shortly after. "Wow it's a full house in here." He said. "It's probably best some of us leave." Wesley said. Everyone left the room but Katherine and I. Dr. Taylor and Finn talked quietly as Angel played with Jay. "How long are you wanting him in treatment?" Dr. Taylor asked. I shrugged. "Try six month and see how he does." I said.
