Double Trouble

For the next week, I never left Brooke's side. The nurses kept a cot next to her bed for me, But I rarely slept these days. I had asked the nurses to keep the babies in here with us so they got to know who I was and I'd lay them next to their mother from time to time while they slept.
The guys were here almost all the time so I was never really alone. Matt and Val were here right now. I looked over from my seat beside Brooke's bed to see Val up and feeding Dominic. Matt was holding Amaya and I cracked a very small smile seeing this big hulk of a man cradling my tiny daughter.
I turned my attention back to my comatose wife. She was so pale which was unlike her. Brooke never liked having pasty white skin so she had always tried to keep up her tan by laying in the sun. I rubbed my hand up and down her harm softly hoping for some kind of response. I would have been satisfied with a twitch.
I missed her so much. I just wanted her to wake up so she she could see our beautiful children and tell me she loved me. I loved being a father so far, but I wanted their mother to help me.
Amaya woke up and started fussing so I stood to take her from Matt. "Hey there, Lovely little girl. Hungry?"
As I worked to get her bottle ready, Matt looked over my shoulder and whistled. "Only been a father for a week and you're doing a fantastic job." He turned his head and I could tell he was looking at Val's baby bump. "I hope I'm that good."
I patted his shoulder before I gave Amaya her bottle. "You'll do fine, dude. I've seen you around your cousins. You're going to be a great father."
I started to walk around the room humming a tune that had come in my head for a new song when i heard hushed talking coming from right outside the door. I didn't pay much attention to it until I heard the words "pull the plug." At that, I quickly gave Amaya over to Matt again and swung the door open to find Rita, Brooke's mother, and the doctor handling Brooke, Dr. Harvey. They both had surprised looks on their face to see me standing there. I didn't have any doubts about who had said that stupid phrase and I turned to Rita.
"You're daughter has been out for a week and you just now show up?! And talking about killing her?" I shook my head at my mother-in-law. "What kind of mother are you?"
She rolled her eyes. "The kind thinking about her daughter's life. I know for a fact that she would not like to be living this way. So, as much as it pains me, I have to do what is best for her."
"What's best for her is to let her wake up when she wakes up. Your not even giving her a chance, Rita!" I wasn't even trying to keep my voice down at this point and I could see others standing in the hallway to stare.
She crossed her arms. "Well, I'm afraid that's not your choice, James. I am her mother."
The doctor cleared his throat and we both turned our attention towards him. "I'm sorry Mrs. Claster but I'm afraid it is his choice. Once he married your daughter, these choices became his."
Rita's mouth dropped open. "But I'm her mother! I gave birth to her! I only want what is right for her."
I scoffed. "And I'm her husband. I only want to give her the chance to wake up and meet her children. You know, your grandchildren who you apparently want to grow up without a mother." I ran my hands through my hair in exasperation. "I can't believe we're even talking about this, Rita. That is your only child in there and you want to just take away her life before you even cry over her."
Suddenly, Rita reached back and slapped me hard against my cheek and i stumbled back a few steps. "HOW DARE YOU, JAMES SULLIVAN!" she screamed. "Of course I cried over her! But I know that she doesn't want to live as a vegetable. That isn't living."
"But she isn't living like that, Rita," I said quietly. "There is still brain activity. She is still in there."
Doctor Harvey nodded and once again he had our attention. "This is true," he said. "For now at least. After three months, I'm afraid her chances of ever waking up are very slim."
Rita sniffed and returned her sunglasses to her face. "Then we wait. But after three months, you better do the right thing, James."
She turned to go but I put my hand on her shoulder to stop her. "Won't you at least go see her?"
She shook her head without turning around. "I don't want to see Brooke like that. I'm afraid I'll start crying and if I do, I'll never stop."
"Then come meet the twins. Amaya and Dominic are beautiful, Rita," I said stepping in front of her. "They're your grandchildren. Dominic has Brooke's eyes. Your eyes."
Before then, she hadn't been looking at me, but now she lifted her head and gave me a sad smile. "Alright then. I will. But not here. It's too depressing. I'll see them at your house. When do you go home?"
"umm..." I rubbed the back of my neck. I hadn't even thought of going home. I didn't want to be away from Brooke for too long.
Before I could answer, Matt came out of the room and draped an arm over my shoulder. "We're taking him home today, Rita" he said. "Those babies need to be home with their father."
I tried to shake my head no but he held up his hand. "Don't even think about saying no. You need to go home, Jimmy. Get some rest. Spend some time with your children. THe hospital will call you if there is any change in Brooke's condition. Plus, you know all of us are going to be here at some point."
I sighed. He was right, of course. Staying here wasn't helping me. But I didn't know how to take care of two newborns by myself. "Alright, we'll go home, but what am I supposed to do about the twins? I'm a guy. A newbie father without a partner there to help."
"Ah, I'll help," Rita said and I rose an eyebrow at her. "What? You need help with them and I'm not going anywhere."
"What about your husband," I asked her and she shrugged.
"Oh he's got his mistresses to keep him company. Besides, he is too busy with work to come out here to see our comatose daughter, he is too busy for me. I doubt he'll even miss me." She said with a dismissive flip of her hand. "I'll meet you at your house, James. I assume you have an extra bedroom available?"
I nodded and she walked right passed me and Doctor Harvey stood in front of me. "Your friend is right. We will notify you the second anything changes with your wife. And considering the extreme circumstances, you and your friends are allowed here whenever you please. Even after visiting hours. Just let the nurses know I gave you permission."
Back in Brooke's hospital room, Val was packing the twins' diaper bags and already had them in their carseats. When she saw us come through the door, she smiled. "Everything is good to go when you're ready."
I nodded and moved to Brooke's side. I leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Don't worry, Brookie. I'll be back. Soon."
*Brooke's POV*
Oh Jimmy, I thought as I watched him lean over and kiss my forehead. How desperately wanted to wake up and be with him. I wanted to hold our children and smack my mother for wanting to pull my plug. I just wanted to be back in my body, but as Grammy Rose kept reminding me, it was not ready for my soul yet.
I just hoped it would be in three months.
I followed Jimmy and our friends out of the hospital but found it harder the farther I went away from my body. It was like there was a chord connecting me to it and i could only go so far. I had always been stubborn though, and I pushed harder. It was difficult, but I was able to follow them to our house. I had to concentrate but I hadn't been pulled back yet.
At the house, I followed Jimmy inside and jumped when I heard Titan barking very loudly. Val and Matt took the twins upstairs so Jimmy could calm down the huge dog, but he wouldn't stop barking and jumping around.
"What has got you so worked up, boy?" Jimmy asked the animal but Titan only growled in response.
It was in that moment that I knew that he could see me. I smiled and knelt down in front of him. "Can you see me, boy? Huh?"
He barked once and wagged his stump of a tail I knew to mean "yes". So it was true. Animals really could see into the other side.
I wondered if children could as well.
With that thought, I quickly made my way into the nursery where I found Matt and Val putting each twin into their cribs. Matt looked up and smiled at his wife.
"Just think," he said. "In just a few months, we'll be parents too."
Valery smiled and hugged him. "I know. I'm so nervous."
"Why?" Matt asked. "you've been doing an amazing job with the twins. I know you're going to be a great mother."
Val sighed. "Yes, but will Brooke? What if she never wakes up, Matt? What're we going to do without her?"
Matt hugged her tighter. "I don't know. We all love her but not as much as Jimmy does. He will need all of our support to help with the twins. And Lord knows he wouldn't continue drumming."
They kissed and headed downstairs. I watched them go with a longing look. I wanted my life back.
I wasted no time moving over to the twins. I stopped at Dominic's crib first and saw that he was awake. I leaned over and smiled down at my son. "Hey there baby boy. Can you see me?"
He turned his head slightly and stared right at me. He made a small cooing sound and my smile grew. He could see me!
I heard crying come from the other crib and i quickly moved to see Amaya. I rubbed her cheek softly and hummed a lullaby I knew. She stopped crying and turned her head towards me. I had calmed her down. She knew who I was.
I only wish I could have felt them and seen them clearly. Being on this side was like seeing everything from under a veil. I was there but also not. It was so frustrating.
I wanted my life back.

Notes

HEY MY LOVES <3
I give you...another update...if y'all are still reading this. I'm so sorry for not updating. I lack motivation nowadays.
Comments and cookies, my loves :)