Forever With You

Chapter Twenty-Three

          Franky feels a warmth around her hand but can't place the cause. She hasn't a clue as to the day or the time, so she can only assume it's her father. She replays what she can remember through her mind, though it's a bit foggy. She was messing with the radio, bad decision, when all the sudden she rear-ends the vehicle in front of her. She feels a stabbing pain in her side and blacks out. The next thing she can remember is a soft, comforting voice telling her everything will be okay. She feels hands on her body and the discomfort eases. She thinks of Bridget and manages to say her name while trying to refocus her eyes. The pain is unbearable, and she can feel herself slipping between consciousness and unconsciousness. All she can remember before hearing the sirens and the sound of the person being rushed away is a glimpse of red hair. That voice and that hair. No, it can't be. She's dead. She saw the body herself at the funeral. And although Bridget will disagree, she doesn't deserve to have a guardian angel. Suddenly the pain in her head increases tremendously. 'That's what it is. I knocked myself silly.' She thinks as she sinks into deep sleep again.

Bridget shows up around eleven o'clock Thursday evening and once again is greeted by Nurse Kelly. "Any improvement?" She asks with little hope. Nurse Kelly smiles. "They did notice a change last night while you were here. They think it was just a coincidence, but I'm not so sure." Bridget fiddles with her watch. "What happened?" They walk into Franky's room before Nurse Kelly continues. "As you know, they monitor just about everything here in ICU. Heart rate, pulse, oxygen, etc." Bridget sits down, preparing for the worst. "Everything has been normal since the anesthesia left her system. However, shortly after you arrived last night, her heart rate and pulse readings dropped..." Bridget gasps. "No, not in that way. Like she was finally at peace. As if she was at home, completely comfortable and content with her surroundings. That's not very common in places like this." Bridget lifts an eyebrow. "So, what are you implying." Nurse Kelly smiles. "They went back up when you left this morning...."

Joanne walks through the elevator doors as they open. She heads down the hallway as she checks her pocket for the syringe. She sees that the nurses' station is empty and decides to head to the bathroom to wait it out a bit. The nurses are probably doing their rounds and the last thing she needs is one walking in on her. She walks into the handicapped stall and locks the door. She sits down in the corner and closes her eyes. She runs her plan of action through her mind as she waits.

"Your father has been here all week during visiting hours. He hasn't gone to work since the accident. Tess wants to come, but he told her she has to wait until you wake up. He doesn't want to scare her when you don't respond." Bridget takes her hand in hers and holds it against her cheek. She looks up quickly as she thinks she feels a twitch. Franky just lies there, with her ventilator and bandages on her head. "Nurse Kelly seems to think you responded to me being here last night. I don't know how when all you do is sleep." A tear slides down her cheek. "But you need the rest." Bridget wipes her eyes as another tear threatens to drop. She looks down at their hands and chuckles. "What I would give to hear one of your smart-ass comments right now."

Joanne wakes up an hour later with a stiff neck. She gets up and stretches, then opens the door to the stall. She walks over to the sink and splashes cold water onto her face. She needs to be at the top of her game and being drowsy won't cut it. After drying her hands, she leaves the restroom and heads towards the ICU. Seeing that the nurse has decided to nap at her station, Joanne smiles and makes her way to Franky's room. She looks around one more time before opening the door and slipping into the darkness. The ventilator and other monitoring devices are the only noise and light in the room, other than the small overhead fixture behind the bed. Joanne walks quietly around the bed and looks at the lines running from the IV drip to Franky's arm. She frowns when she notices that none of them have a port going into the line, which means, she will have to add the solution to the IV bag directly. "Sorry Franky. This is going to be more painful than I had hoped." She takes the syringe from her pocket and slides the lid off the needle. She reaches for the bag when she hears a creak behind her. "What the fuck do you think you are doing?" Joanne jumps at the voice and drops the syringe on the floor. Bridget is next to her in a heartbeat and she freezes in fear. "I... I..." Joanne looks fearfully into dark blue eyes filled with anger. "Jo...Joanne? What are you doing here?" Bridget asks with shock. "I'm sorry Ms. Westfall. I'm really sorry. She made me do it." Joanne backs herself into the corner; filled with embarrassment by being caught by Bridget. Anyone else and she'd be fine. But she has developed feelings for this woman, and has felt better about herself more than she has in years. "Who made you do it?" Bridget asks, sensing that she knows the answer. Before Joanne can respond, two women race into the room. One pins her to the wall while the other picks up the dropped syringe. The women look Bridget and Franky over, then nod to Bridget before escorting Joanne out of the room. Bridget walks back over to the chair she has set up next to Franky. She leans over and gently caresses the side of her face. "I hope that makes us even now; at least for me throwing you out." She notices a fine layer of perspiration beading Franky's forehead and upper lip but chalks it up to the layers of blankets covering her. She takes her seat once again as she takes Franky's hand in hers. "Come back to me baby."

The girls force Joanne into the backseat of the SUV and proceed to cover her head and bind her wrists. "Fess. They have her now." The women close their doors and await further instruction. Maxwell continues his conversation on the phone, peering in the rearview mirror periodically. "As much as I love this behind the scenes stuff, I wish it was finally over." The woman says to the dark-haired lady. The dark-haired lady reaches across Joanne and pats the woman on her thigh. "Soon dear. It'll be over soon."

Saturday came and went without incident. Nurse Kelly can only smile as she notices that once again, the times that Bridget is with Franky overnight, her vitals are at their absolute calmest. Any other time, though in the normal range, they fluctuate often, either due to dreaming or physical pain. She decides that after talking with Alan first, she will strongly suggest Bridget try visiting during the day. It is quite obvious she has a calming effect on Franky, whether she speaks to her or is just in her presence.

Around one in the afternoon Monday morning, Alan wakes from a nap to see Franky staring at him. "Hey bub! Glad to see you're awake. How are you feeling?" Franky just looks at him and shrugs. Though she is still in physical pain from the accident, the depression she fell in after leaving Bridget still shadows even the most painful remnants of the accident. She spends the rest of the day being awake, but verbally unresponsive. She answers questions with a shake or nod of her head, or even a shrug, but otherwise avoids any other questions by staring off into the distance. She is updated on the accident and the following surgeries and injuries she has sustained. Once again, at the dismay of the officers and doctors alike, she remains unresponsive other than head shakes and shrugs. Alan watches his daughter as the days drag on and can see the heartbreak continue to take its' toll on her. She has picked up right where she left off when leaving his place that fateful morning. And especially after a conversation with Nurse Kelly, he knows there is only one way to fix it.

"I know you were just here last night, and I'm still not sure how you pull that off and work the whole next day Bridget. But I really think it will help if she sees you." Bridget looks at her schedule for the rest of the day. "Honestly Alan, I think I spend more time sleeping when I'm there than anything. But at least I'm there with her. I know it makes me feel better. I mean, I know they give her heavy doses of pain medication to get through the night, but I can't bring myself to face her yet. I still feel so guilty." Alan chuckles to himself. "It will do you both good to see each other. You have always had a positive effect on her, and her readings only prove that." He pauses to let the words sink in. "Just think about it. It will only help you both heal in the long run." He walks back into Franky's room as he ends the call. He sees Franky watching him and walks over to the small, one drawer stand next to her bed. He takes the box with the ring in it and places it in the drawer then looks at Franky. He sees the tears form in her eyes and nods at her.

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Sorry for the delay folks.  Been a hectic week at work and it's been taking its' toll physically.

As always, thank you for the comments and other feedback.  I'm glad there is someone out that that enjoys reading this and much as I enjoy writing it.  (Feel free to share and pass it along lol)

Until the next update, stay safe everyone!