Forgotten Promises

Chapter 2

   Bailey hadn't heard anything the doctor said after he delivered the news that Clark may never wake up even though she could see his mouth moving, forming words, but everything sounded far away and muffled. She wasn't sure how she had managed to stay standing as her world crumbled around her. She couldn't imagine a life without her husband and best friend, she needed him, their son needed him. 

   Suddenly a wave of nausea overwhelmed her and she bolted into the nearest ladies restroom to empty her stomach's content.

   A few minutes later, Bailey stood, walking over to the sink and rinsed her mouth out. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror and sighed softly, feeling lost.

   A soft knock at the door drew her attention, "Bailey? You okay?" It was Kenneth, checking on her. 

   She exhaled deeply then walked over to the door and slowly opened it, nodding slightly, "I'm fine, Ken. Just got overwhelmed. . ." 

   He nodded and pulled her close to hug her tightly. She leaned into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his torso and burying her face in his chest.

   A sob escaped her lips and the flood gates opened. Bailey broke down crying in Kenneth's arms just outside the ladies restroom. 

   Kenneth rubbed her back and whispered softly, "Don't worry, Bails. Clark's gonna wake up soon and everything will be okay." She pulled back after a few moments and sniffed slightly as he wiped the tears from her cheeks, "Promise, Ken? Can you honestly promise me that?" 

   He bit his lower lip and raked his hand through his sandy blonde hair, looking uncertain, "Honestly? No, I can't, but we can't lose hope. Clark is strong and he'll fight like hell to come back to you." 

   Bailey nodded and wrapped her arms around herself as though she was cold, looking away from Kenneth's deep blue eyes. Her mind knew what he was saying, but her heart was breaking and she was totally and completely afraid. "D-did the doctor happen to say what room he was in?" 

    Kenneth nodded, "Yeah, room 407. Do you want me to come with you?" Bailey nodded, taking hold of his arm as they walked towards the elevators.

Nothing could have prepared her for how Clark looked laying in his hospital bed. She'd seen movies and tv shows where people were in comas or had head injuries, but this was different, this was her Clark. 

   His head was bandaged from his forehead up, his right wrist was in a cast from where it had broken, his face was covered with cuts from flying glass and Bailey could see dark purple bruises around his ribs through his hospital gown. The steady beeping of Clark's heartbeat monitor that filled the room was the most reassuring thing Bailey had ever heard in her entire life.

Kenneth helped her to a chair beside her husband's bed, as he had felt her legs give way underneath her. She reached out to hold Clark's hand, lacing their fingers together as she remembered their early morning together.

   "C'mon, baby, Gray won't be awake for another hour at least." She had smiled, pretending to be asleep with her back to him as his arms wrapped around her waist and kissed her shoulder. "Bailey, sweetheart, I know you're awake." She finally giggled softly, "What gave it away, my love?" He chuckled softly, a sound and feeling she could feel against her shoulder, "Because, my beautiful wife, you're not on top of me." Bailey had laughed at that, she either slept on top of Clark or curled into his chest ever since either of them could remember.

   Bailey stared at Clark's face, her eyes tracing his jaw line, lips, nose. She looked down at his hand, remembering how whenever they went anywhere he would instinctively reach for her hand. She gently lifted his hand to her lips, kissing each of his knuckles and whispering as tears flowed freely down her cheeks, "Baby, if you can hear me, I need you to come back to me. Clark, I need you to wake up. . . Please."

   Bailey frowned softly, hearing a cell phone ring and sighed softly when no one would answer it wherever it was.

   Kenneth walked over and gently took her phone from her purse, glancing at the id, "Bailey, it's your mom. Do you want me to talk to her?" She nodded slightly, still watching Clark's face, waiting with baited breath for his eyes to open. 

   He nodded and answered the phone, "Hello, Christine, it's Kenneth Cole. . .Yes, Bailey is fine. We're at the hospital with Clark. . ." His voice faded away as he stepped out of the room, relaying to her the information the doctor had told them.

   Bailey bit her lip, knowing she should head home to look after Gray, but she felt that she should be there when Clark woke up. 'Which he will,' She told herself, 'He has to.' Her mind turned to the last time she'd seen him.

   Bailey finished up washing the breakfast dishes as Clark chased Gray around the living room. She sighed, glancing at her watch, "Clark, baby, you're gonna be late for work if you don't leave soon."

   Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his head poke around the wall that divided the kitchen from the living room, "Aww, five more minutes." Bailey laughed softly, "Babe, you can do whatever you want, but Gray and I need to go to the grocery store."

   Clark pouted mockingly, muttering under his breath but loud enough for her to hear, "Spoil sport." She rolled her eyes and walked over, leaning up to brush her lips against his, "Yeah, I know."

   She started to walk towards Gray who was pulling his new light up Paw Patrol sneakers on when she felt herself being pulled back by two strong hands on her waist, 

   "Now, Mrs. Mann, that's not a real kiss. Are you going to make me spend the whole day at work without a proper kiss?" Clarke questioned with a teasing tone.

   Bailey smiled as Clark spun her around to face him, "Of course not, Mr. Mann. If you wanted a kiss all you had to do was ask nicely." She wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he pulled her up against his lean and muscular frame and dipped his head to capture her lips with his. 

   Smiling happily, she kissed the love of her life back, feeling him smile against her lips as she gently ran her fingers through his hair. They pulled back after a few moments and Clark grinned down at her, "I love you, Bailey." She smiled back, "I love you too, Clark." 

   Gray jumped up and ran over, hugging both his mom and dad's legs, "I wove woo too!" 

   Clark laughed and scooped up their son into his arms, kissing the boy's head and ruffling his hair gently, "We love you too, buddy." 

   Bailey leaned up and kissed her son's cheek, "We do, little man, more than you'll ever know." 

   Clark sighed softly, muttering that he should probably head to work and Bailey nodded, gently taking Gray from his arms. He kissed her head then Gray's before leaving and heading to work, not realizing how the day would turn out.

   Bailey sighed quietly, watching him lay in his hospital bed and felt tears prick her eyes after reliving the beautiful morning they had spent together. She squeezed his hand as hard as she could, "Clark, baby, please come back to me. We, Gray and I, need you to come home to us."

   But Clark didn't stir, there was no movement other than the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. He didn't squeeze her hand back, he didn't open his eyes, he didn't smile at her. Her plea was met with heart breaking silence.