Big Tex (22 page)

A few hours later, a doctor in blood stained scrubs came out to the waiting room.  "Friends and family of Willow Fox?"  He asked.  Brody, Micah, and Sierra jumped up and rushed over to him, along with the cop.  "Willow was lucky that the bullet didn't hit any of her major organs, but she did lose a lot of blood.  We got the bullet out, but we needed to give her a transfusion.  She is in a coma right now, so she isn't out of the woods yet.  Once she is assigned a room, we will let you know so that you can see her.  Are any of you family?"

"I'm Brody Harris, her fiancé.  We are all the family she has anymore.  Her mom just died a few months ago."  Brody said.

"Well, we can only let family see her while she is in her current condition.  Since she has no living relatives and you are her fiancé, you are the only one who will be allowed to see her for the time being.  I'll give your name to the nurses and they will let you know as soon as she's settled."  The doctor said and turned away.

The cop took Brody aside and told him that as of now, Lisa would be charged with attempted murder.  If Willow's condition took a turn for the worst, he told Brody to call and let him know.  He gave Brody his card and asked to be updated on her condition as Brody found out.  Brody thanked him, and the cop left to head back to the station.

A few minutes later, Brody was called to the nurse's station and then to the 4th floor to see Willow.  Her room was just down the hall from where her mom was when she was in the hospital.  An involuntary chill went through Brody at that thought.  Before he left Micah and Sierra, he asked them to call his mom and let her know what happened.

Brody entered Willow's room slowly.  She looked so pale laying in the bed, almost as white as the sheets.  He leaned over her still form and kissed her cheek as the tears fell from his eyes.  A stray tear fell from his face onto hers, and she didn't even flinch.  Seeing this, Brody's tears fell harder.  He took her hand in his, and rested his forehead on the back of her hand.  "God Willow, what would I do without you.  We all need you so much, you can't leave any of us.  Just think, in a few months, you'll be walking down the aisle, and I'll be standing there waiting for you.  I know I haven't seen your dress, but I can just picture how you're going to look.  I bet that when you walk, it'll look like you're floating.  I already know that you and I are both going to shed a few tears during the ceremony…I don't know what you did, but you sure brought out my emotions.  I don't think I have ever cried so much since I have met you.  You've brought out feelings and emotions in me that I never thought I'd have.  If you leave me now, half of me will be gone.  I'm not whole without you…you're my soul mate, and I need you here with me.  Please, fight to come back to me."

Brody sat by Willow's bedside for the next few hours, with no change in her condition.  The nurses came in every few hours to check her vitals and record them, but each time they were the same as the time before.  Just after dinnertime, one of the nurses came in and told Brody that his mother was out in the waiting room and wanted to speak to him.  Brody looked at her with sorrowful eyes and asked, "I know that Willow isn't supposed to have visitors besides family, but will you please let my mom come in here with me?  She has been like a mother to Willow since her mom died a few months ago.  I know you'd be bending the rules, but it would really mean a lot to all of us."  Brody pleaded.

The nurse was about to say no, but she saw the pain in Brody's eyes and changed her mind.  "I'll go get her, but just remember, this wasn't my idea."  She smiled at him as she left the room.

Not long after she left, Maggie peaked her head in the door.  Brody turned to look at her, and his tears returned full force.  Maggie rushed over to him and engulfed him in a tight embrace.  She rubbed his back as she whispered soothing words.  Sobs wracked through Brody's body as his mother held him.

"I can't lose her mom.  I love her so much and it kills me to see her laying there in that bed.  I feel so helpless and I feel like it should be me laying there instead of her.  How could Lisa do this?"  He cried.

"Sweetheart, I don't know how anyone could do this.  Willow is a strong woman and she will pull through this, I promise you.  There is no way she would leave you…she loves you too much to let go of you already."  Maggie said, drying Brody's eyes.  "When was the last time you ate?"

"I don't know, I hadn't really thought about it, but I don't think I've had anything since breakfast, but it doesn't matter.  I just need to stay here with her in case she wakes up.  I don't want her to be alone mom."

"I know sweetie, but you need to eat.  You need to stay strong for Willow.  Why don't you run down to the cafeteria and get something?"  Maggie suggested.

"I just told you, I'm not leaving her.  I don't care if I eat today, tomorrow, or the day after.  All I care about is Willow waking up."  Brody said as he sat back down and held Willow's hand again.

"I understand.  I'm not trying to make you leave her.  Maybe I can sneak something in here for you."  Maggie said.  She took her son's face in her hand and turned it so that he was looking at her and not Willow's limp body.  "She will be ok son.  You have to believe that!"

"I'm trying.  That's all I want is for her to be ok."  Brody said and turned his head back to Willow.  "Thanks for coming here mom."  He said softly.

Maggie left the room and went to the cafeteria to get a sandwich and a drink for Brody.  On her way to the café, she stopped in the chapel to light a candle and pray for Willow.  As she sat there praying, she let her tears fall from her eyes for the first time since she heard about the shooting.

*****

Three days later, there had been no change in Willow's condition.  Brody had refused to leave her side the whole time, only eating when his mom brought him food.  Maggie had brought him a bag with clean clothes, and every morning, after waking up from sleeping in the chair next to Willow's bed, he would go into the bathroom, wash up with a washcloth, then change his clothes and head back to the bedside chair.

Every minute he spent there, he was either talking to Willow or he was silently praying for her, even in his fitful sleep.  Maggie came in and out over those days, careful not to draw the attention of the doctors, since she wasn't supposed to be in the room.  Sierra and Micah didn't spend much time at the hospital since there wasn't much they could do there but sit in the waiting room, but they were always available by phone in case there was a change in Willow's condition.

Meanwhile, Willow was having wonderful dreams.  She felt like she was floating down a hallway.  She had on a beautiful while silk gown, with a halo of flowers on her head.  She heard the melodic tune of harps all around her, playing such a peaceful song.  At the end of the hall, she saw her mother standing there, with the same gown and halo of flowers.

"Mom!  I can't believe it's you!  I miss you so much!  What are you doing here, I thought you died."  Willow yelled to her from down the hall.

"I did die honey, and I've missed you too, but you need to go back.  You need to go back to Brody and live the life that you were meant to live.  I will be watching over you just like I have been since I died.  You are doing wonderful with the business, and your wedding plans are coming along great.  I absolutely loved your wedding dress…you and Maggie weren't the only ones crying.  Now go back and marry that handsome man and start your family!"  Lauren told her.

"But I don't want to leave you again!"  Willow cried.

"I know honey, but you will see me again when it's your time.  I love you!"  Lauren said as she faded away.

"Mom, wait!  I never got to yell at you for the stuff in your bedroom!"  Willow yelled.  Lauren didn't come back, but the sound of her laugh echoed through the hall.  Willow knew that even though she missed her mom, she needed to go back and live with the love of her life.  She had so much more of her life to live, she couldn't let it end yet.

Slowly, Willow's eyes fluttered open.  The light was so bright in the room and it hurt her head.  She turned her head to see what the weight on her left hand was.  Willow saw the top of Brody's head laying on the bed.  She moved her hand a little and watched Brody jump up off his chair.

"Oh my god!  You're awake!"  Brody yelled as he fumbled with the call switch to get the nurse in there.  "Don't talk, you have a tube down your throat.  Oh Willow, I was so worried about you!"  He said as he started crying.  The tears started to fall down Willow's face too when she saw how concerned Brody was.  He leaned over and placed kisses all over Willow's face, which made her smile even though she was in a lot of pain.

The nurse rushed in and was surprised to see Willow awake.  She had the doctor paged as she took the tube out of Willow's throat and got her a drink of water.  "Welcome back!"  She said to Willow.

Willow turned to Brody as soon as she swallowed her water and whispered, "I love you."

"Oh darling!  I thought I lost you.  I love you so much, don't ever leave me!"  Brody said, breathing a sigh of relief.

The doctor walked in and asked Brody to leave while he examined Willow.  Brody kissed Willow and told her that he would be back as soon as the doctor finished.  He walked out of her room feeling lighter than he had in a while.  He raced to the payphones and called his mom and Sierra and Micah to let them know that Willow had woken up.  They all told him they would be up to the hospital as soon as possible.

Brody walked back to Willow's room and stood outside her door, waiting for the doctor to finish.  When the doctor walked out, he had a smile on his face.  "Well, she's making a great recovery.  Her gunshot wound is healing nicely, and she woke from the coma on her own, which is a good sign.  She'll need to stay here to rest for a little while, but as long as she promises to take it easy when she gets home, she can go home in two days."

Brody smiled broadly, and hugged the doctor.  "Thank you so much!  Thank you for saving her doctor!"  The doctor laughed and walked away.  As Brody turned to go into Willow's room, he saw a big bunch of balloons coming around the corner, followed by his mom, sister, father, Micah, and Sierra.  Everyone was holding either flowers or balloons, and they were practically running.  Brody laughed at the sight as everyone made their way to Willow's room.

Brody went into her room and said that there was someone who wanted to see her.  She turned her head towards the door and watched as everyone piled into her room with balloons and flowers.  Her face lit up when she saw everyone.  They all took their turn hugging Willow and telling her how happy they were that she was ok.

"You gave us quite a scare dear."  Maggie told her once everyone had settled down.  "Don't ever do that again!"  She laughed.

"I'll try to remember that the next time some psycho lures me to an abandoned warehouse and shoots me."  Willow joked.  "How did you find me anyways?  When I was driving there, I wasn't even sure I'd be able to find my way back."

"Your genius fiancé remembered the global positioning system on your car, and the cops were able to use that to track you down.  Brody was the one who found you."  Micah told her, smiling.

"I always knew you were good for something.  So, you pretty much saved my life?"  Willow asked Brody.

"Well, you saved my life by waking up, so we're even."  Brody told her honestly.

"How long have I been out for?"  Willow asked.

"You've been out for four days and Brody never left your side.  He stayed here the whole time.  I even had to bring him food and force him to eat.  If you smell something bad, it's because Brody hasn't showered in 4 days."  Maggie laughed.

"Hey!  I washed up every day though.  I don't smell that bad, do I?"  Brody asked, offended.

"Actually…." Willow started.  Brody shut her up by kissing her.

"Fine, talk to these people here, and I'll go take a quick shower in your bathroom."  Brody said as he grabbed his bag of clean clothes and walked into the bathroom of Willow's hospital room.

When they heard the water turn on, Sierra turned to Willow.  "Ok, now that he isn't in hearing distance, how are you really?"

Willow took a painful deep breath and sighed.  "Well, I'm a little shaken up, but I'm going to be ok.  I get to go home in two days, so once that happens, I'll be a lot better…just as long as Lisa's in jail."

"She is.  Brody knocked her ass out when she came to the office after she shot you.  She was bragging and told Brody that they could be together since you were out of the way, and he knocked her out cold."  Micah said.

"Wow, I can't believe Brody hit a girl!  He must have been totally full of rage to do that, it's not like him at all."  Brighton said.  "I'm happy he hit her though.  I hope he hurt her good."

"He did."  Brody said as he walked out of the bathroom and heard what they were talking about.  "Sorry Mom, I know you taught me better than that, but at least I didn't kill her like I wanted to."

Maggie laughed.  "If I'd have been there, I would have told you to do the same!"

Shortly after, everyone left the room to let Willow rest.  Brody stayed with her, even though she told him to go home and get some sleep.  He insisted on staying at the hospital with her until she was able to go home.  "Well, you're not going to sleep in that chair again tonight.  At least share my bed with me."  Willow said.

"No Willow, you need your rest.  I'll be fine in this chair.  Just got to sleep, ok?"

"I won't sleep until you get in this bed with me, you hear me Country Boy?"  Willow said sternly.

"Yes ma'am!"  Brody said as he walked around the other side of the bed.  Willow moved over to make room for Brody to lay down.  Brody tried to be gentle as he got into the bed and not hurt her.  As he got close to her, he put his arms around her and held her.  Tears welled up in his eyes as he remembered how good it felt to hold his fiancée.  "Are you ok?  Are you doing ok?"  He asked her once they got settled.

"A little freaked out, but I'll be ok.  It feels worlds better to be in your arms though."  Willow told him honestly.  "I almost died, and that's a really scary thought, but I don't want to think about it right now, ok?"