Spitting Bullets

Chapter 31

"Matt," Natalie called, causing Matt's eyes to pop open.

"Natalie! Is she out? Is she okay? Is she-"

"Nicole's injuries were pretty severe. The piece of metal in her chest caused a pneumothorax which is a collapsed lung and the impact broken a few of her ribs which made the procedure even more difficult. We lost her once in surgery, but quickly got her back. We've put her into a medically induced coma in order for her body to heal itself faster."

"She's alive?"

"She's alive," smiled Natalie, "And I checked on your baby. They have a strong heartbeat as well. Assuming everything goes the way we plan, she'll be on the high risk pregnancy list but she should still be able to have a healthy pregnancy."

"Thank you so much. You have no idea how grateful I am."

"Just doing my job. Now I can take you to Nicole's room and you're welcome to spend the night in there or we can set up another cot in Noah's room. Up to you."

"I think it'd be better if we stayed in with Noah, but would I be able to see Nicole first."

"Of course."

Matt went to Noah's room and Kelly took a sleeping Bella into his arms. Matt thanked him before Natalie took him to Nicole's room. When he arrived in the doorway, a hand slid over his mouth. There were so many wires and monitors. Her head was wrapped where Natalie had to stitch it shut and little cuts littered her arm. She looked so weak...so lifeless, and it broke Matt's heart.

"I'll leave you to have your time."

Matt nodded in response, slowly walked into the room and sitting by her bedside. He carefully lifted her hand, not wanting to hurt her anymore. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he gazed at his wife. 

"I'm so sorry this happened baby. Don't worry, the kids are okay. Noah only suffered minor injuries and Bella is just scared and confused. Kelly and I are watching out for them. We've got them. I just need you to rest up so we can grow that little baby and grow our family. I need you to be okay because I love you Nic. I love you so much."

***

4 DAYS LATER

Matt was a wreck. The doctors had expected Nicole to wake up after 24 to 36 hours and it had been four days. Noah was being discharged today. Will put a blue cast on his leg and got him set up on crutches. He could see the stitches in his arm where they had to sew shut the huge cut. 

"So I'm going to have a cool scar, right dad?" asked Noah.

"Oh yeah. The ladies are going to love it," Kelly winked.

"Booyah!"

Kelly just chuckled, "Are you sure your ready to go back to school tomorrow? I mean I know there's a lot of things going on with Matt and Mom..."

"Yeah I know. But I think Mom would want me to go back to school since there's only two weeks left. She wants me to get big brains."

"You're going to be the family genius. We all know it."

"That's what mom says," Noah chuckled, his face falling for a moment before he changed the subject, "Think the kids at school with sign my cast?"

"Oh yeah. Everyone is going to want to sign it."

"Cool!"

"Well, you ready to go little buddy?"

"Yeah."

They walked out into the lobby where Matt was meeting them to walk out. Matt grinned when he saw Noah coming.

"Look at you! You're rocking the crutches!"