Just as I Begin to Fade

Fifty Two. Congratulations

Nodding off in the morning, in is plastic chair, Lindsey tried to stay awake as he watched the blonde sleep soundly.

She'd slept through the night like nothing and she had yet to wake up, but he wasn't concerned since the machines were still going, plus she was pregnant, she needed the rest.

Just then, the door opened in came Lori alongside one of the nurses who'd been checking on her avidly.

"Hi, Lindsey," the redhead's hand slid across his shoulder.

He semi jolted only because he had been falling asleep. He then looked up at her at her, "Hi, sorry..." he stood up.

"My goodness, how is she?"

"She's gonna be okay," he guided her to take his seat. "Listen, I'm gonna head home---take a shower, change... Maybe take a few hours to rest if you don't mind."

"Not at all," she ensured. "I can keep her occupied."

"Great, thanks. Also, her assistant should be over," he glanced down at his watch. "She said she would be over as soon as she seen Gwen."

"Of course. That woman loves Gwen with all of her heart---I'm sure if anything really did happen to Stevie, she'd fight for her."

Lindsey nodded gently to the sound of that only because in that instant, he could say the same. He adored Gwen. "I'll be headed out. Call if there is any change."

"You got it," she agreed.

---

"I'll see you later, sweetie," she embraced the teenager tightly after talking to her about everything they were going to do in order to get her some sort of lawsuit going as she was very much entitled.

"Thank you so much, Karen," she sighed, feeling so safe and warm in the woman's arms.

"It's my pleasure, I love you," she kissed her head. "I have to go see your mom, I think she's getting released tonight."

"So soon?" she creased a brow.

"She's pretty up and talking. When she sleeps, she sleeps hard and then when she's awake, she's talking up a storm till she knocks herself out," she smirked, gently swiping one of Gwen's strands back.

"Sounds like her," she smiled. "I'm glad she's okay, but sometimes I feel safer when she is in the hospital."

"You and me both, but you know how she is."

She agreed. "Anyway, how are things? I know your dad's gone, so you don't have to tell me that..."

"Because he is gone, I feel like he wasn't looking out for me up there," she sighed. "This happened to me literally because I have a smart mouth. Some drunk idiot thought it would be okay to do something like this because I was rude. I was only rude because it got to a point that he wouldn't stop bugging me. Bobby eventually talked to him, but then at the end of the night we got split up and that's when it all happened."

"I'm so sorry, honey," she pulled her in close, trying to make her feel confort and consolation.

"Like I already have enough problems in life, now I have to live with this on my shoulders. I just feel damaged---maybe I am."

"Don't say that, you're not. This is something you will eventually manage to get away from. It may be hard and it may take some therapy, but you'll come to understand that it wasn't your fault. You're not damaged. You're perfectly, good you, okay?"

She nodded.

"Alright, honey..." she got up from the bed. "I'm gonna head out."

"Thank you, Aunt Karen."