Saving Her

Chapter 12

Shawn's POV

Tiffany and I walk into the room where Camila is and my already broken heart shatters when I see her laying so still in that bed. Wires and tubes coming out of her like a science project or something.  The steady beat of her heart echos from the heart monitor.  Her head is wrapped in a thick white wrap and one of her arms is swollen and bruised from multiple IV attempts. 

Tiffany and I take opposite sides of Camila's bed, sitting in chairs provided by the nurses.  Tiffany is sniffling as tears sit ready to fall in my own.  My sweet, beautiful girl... My Camila... so battered and bruised I just want to make it all go away.  If I could take her pain, I would.  Thousands of times over, I would take her pain and make it my own. 

I reach and grab her hand in mine, gently interlacing our fingers before bringing her hand to my lips and leaving a long kiss.  "Hey Banana... It's Shawn and Tiffany.  We know you're hurting, but we need you to open those beautiful eyes of yours honey.  We need you to give us a sign before your mama gets here.  Please beautiful, come back to us" I beg her quietly as I choke back a sob.

I'm praying that my warmth will somehow make its way to her.  Her hand is cold, not at all what I'm used to.

Fucking Andy...

One of the nurses comes in to check her vitals and asks Tiffany and I to step aside.  I argue that I need to be by her side to protect her, but the nurse gives me a stern look and I back to the corner of the room slowly.  When's she's done, Tiffany stays where she's sitting and I'm immediately back at Camila's side.  I grab her hand in mine again and silently beg her to just look at me with her beautiful brown eyes.  I know when she wakes up it's going to be a nightmare and she may very well not want to see me, but I'll take my chances.

A loud scream makes me snap my head up as I see Sinu and Sofi standing in the doorway while Connor and Brian hold them up in their arms.  They guys walk them slowly to a couch near the window in Mila's room and help them sit.  My heart can't handle the grief in the room now that her family is here and for a second I think about leaving and giving them some space, but I can't.

I can't leave Camila again.

Camila's POV

Muffled voices are the first thing I recognize.  Gosh, my head hurts so bad, I feel like I'm in a dream. Like I'm floating....this is kind of nice. They sure make heaven smell a lot like a hospital room though. I'm trying to muster enough strength to open my eyes, but the darkness is just so peaceful and still.

The voices start getting louder and I feel someone trying to touch my arm. I feel something in my other hand, something big, and warm. Ahhhh....the warmth feels good. Like sunshine on my skin. At least they have sunshine in heaven... I'm pretty sure that's where I am...what a lovely place.

"OH MY GOD!"

I'm startled by a loud scream from a voice that sounds a lot like my mama's. The scream is followed by whimpers and I slowly realize that no...I'm not I heaven, I'm pretty sure I'm in hell. What I'm hearing now doesn't sound peaceful, and I want it to stop.

My body aches, everything hurts. My arms hurt, my legs hurt, my head is pounding and in between my legs is throbbing.

What happened?

Where am I?

Still feeling the warm hand in mine, I start to come to my senses more. I let out a small whine and hear another voice speak.

"Mila....Banana can you hear me?"

Shawn.

Oh my gosh, it's Shawn. His voice flows through me like a river and I realize his hand is the one in mine. I can feel the ring I gave him that used to be my papa's.

I still can't open my eyes. Why does everything hurt, what's with all the beeping?!

"Mila, honey if you can hear me squeeze my hand." I hear Shawn's voice again. It sounds a lot closer than last time, but I still can't bring myself to move. I have no strength to squeeze back. As much as I want to.

I can't.

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Shawn's POV

I'm still sitting at Camila's bedside holding her hand. A nurse I don't recognize is trying to change Camila's IV, and her mom, Sofi, and Tiffany are still spread around the room, trying to keep it together. Connor and Brian are guarding the door. Our Commander has relieved us of our duties for the night so we can be here for Mila. Plus, I'm pretty sure she can't afford to have us at the station right now given the situation.

I know Camila is alive because the monitors are beeping normally and she's given us a few small whines. Her hand feels so small in mine and I keep trying to get her to squeeze my hand, but I'm sure she's so weak it's going to take a lot for her to make that happen so I don't push it.

Sinu is in hysterics and Sofi is trying to hold her and keep her calm, but it's no use. Sofi is a mess too. Poor Tiffany is too afraid to move from where she is sitting and the boys just keep looking at me with a look of sadness laced with concern for me.

For Camila.

I'm living my worst nightmare, and silently beating myself up because I couldn't save her from this. I couldn't protect her from him; and it kills me.

The only thing that's keeping me going right now is the rise and fall of her chest. The small, noticeable flutters of her dark black eyelashes. I know she's in their somewhere, I just need her to fight to come back to me.

To us.

She looks so calm just lying there in the bed. A small part of me wants her to stay that way so she doesn't have to face what's coming when she wakes up.

I close my eyes and start praying to Ale to give us a sign, help her give us something to spark even an inkling of hope that she'll wake up.

"Canada?" It's the faintest voice, but I hear it and instantly turn my head.

Camila's eyes are fluttering a little faster and I can tell she's trying to open her eyes.

"Mila? Baby! It's Shawn honey, I'm right here.  I'm right here and I'm so sorry.  Open your eyes for me, please baby." I squeeze her hand, and this time, get a squeeze back, it's barely there but I can feel it.

Sinu looks up and Sofi and Tiffany turn to face her. Connor and Brian step towards the bed. She's gonna have a crowd when she wakes up, but she needs to know she's not alone.

We are here and we love her.