New Choices-Old Regrets (Sequel to BLTN)
Note: Here are the next three chapters. I hope you like them. It might take longer to update again since I now have the flu. Feedback is greatly appreciated.
Chapter 22
Pearce and Alex raced through the doors of the ER and found Olivia already waiting for them.
"Where is she?" Pearce asked in a hurry.
"They took her back there." Olivia said vaguely.
Pearce glanced at her taking in the blood on Olivia's shirt. Her heart started racing as she headed towards the trauma entrance.
"Pearce, wait! I don't think you should go back there."
Olivia's plea fell on deaf ears. Pearce was about to walk through the swinging doors when an older man stopped her at the door. Alex immediately recognized him from the photo at Pearce's place.
"She's right. You shouldn't be back there."
"Dad?"
"Your...friend is being prepped for surgery."
"How bad are her injuries?"
"Pearce, maybe...."
"Will you just give me some bloody answers! How....bad?" She asked forcefully. Her father sighed seeing the determined look in his daughter's eyes.
"She has multiple contusions and a serious head laceration. The CT scan showed swelling around the brain. I'd say a possible skull fracture....at the very least, a serious concussion."
Pearce swallowed hard. "Who's handling her procedure?"
"Dr. Moore"
"I'm better than he is."
"Perhaps, but...."
"We both know that I'm the best surgeon that you have on staff here and...." Pearce began in a determined voice.
"And you are not an option...." He cut her off in an equally determined voice. He took a deep breath and softened his tone. "...because you care for the patient and I cannot allow you in there, not only for her sake but your own as well."
Patrick Delong had never been much of a father to Pearce, but he seemed to be making an attempt tonight, even in a small way. He touched her arm gently. "I know you're worried, but she is in capable hands. You know this better than anyone, so let us do our jobs."
Pearce tried to swallow the lump in her throat. "Will you.... Will you go with her and...."
"I will be overseeing Dr. Moore the entire time."
Pearce nodded and took a step back. She watched her father disappear through the swinging doors of the OR leaving her alone in the cold hallway to wait. She looked down at her own hands and shook her head. The irony of the situation did not escape her. Here she was, one of the country's premiere surgeons and she couldn't do a damn thing to help the woman she loved.
She finally took a deep breath and turned to meet Olivia's eyes. "Where is he?" She asked through clenched teeth.
"Pearce, we can talk about this lat...."
"Where.... is.... he?"
"Surgery.....two shots to the chest. They don't know if he'll make it. It looks bad."
Pearce didn't seem to even react to the news. She slumped back against the wall and stared straight ahead. Alex and Olivia stood on each side of her, saying nothing. A few minutes had passed when Olivia's cell phone rang. She flipped it open and slipped down the hall to answer it. When they were alone, Alex placed a hand over Pearce's and squeezed.
"Why can't the bastard just die, Alex?" Pearce asked numbly.
Alex had no answers for Pearce. All she could do was offer her support. "Come on, Pearce. Let's go get a cup of coffee and we'll wait it out together."
It was a few hours before Patrick Delong walked out of the OR. He found a room full of visitors in the waiting area. They all stood expectantly upon seeing him approach. He glanced around for Pearce, but saw no sign of her. He spoke quietly with the DA and Serena's friends giving them a quick rundown of her condition. He was on his way back to check on the patient when he spotted Pearce coming out of the bathroom down the hall. She looked almost physically ill. She quickly approached him when their eyes met.
"How is she?"
"Ms. Southerlyn is in recovery. Fortunately, there was no skull fracture. However, there was bleeding as we had expected. We were able to relieve the pressure without complication. We will be keeping her heavily sedated for a short time to ensure that she rests and heals properly. Her other injuries were minor and will heal in due time. She's a very lucky young woman. She's going to be fine."
Pearce let out a long sigh of relief. "Thank you."
"We just did our jobs."
Pearce nodded.
"Is it true? Peter did this to her?"
Pearce nodded again. Patrick's face gave nothing away as to what he was feeling. He looked his daughter in the eyes. "I was wrong about him. For that I apologize."
"Yeah. Fortunately, someone came to her rescue." Pearce knew the words would burn her father. A part of her wanted them to. "I need to go." She went to move forward only to stumble a bit. Patrick caught her by the elbow and led her to a nearby chair.
"You look like hell, Pearce. You need to get some rest."
"I need to see her."
"Pearce, you know that..."
"I am fully aware of the hospital's policy on unauthorized visitors, but if you think for one moment that I'm not going in there to see her, you're bloody insane. You can call security if you want, but I'm still going in there."
He looked at her for a moment then shook his head. He saw that same belligerent look in her eyes when she was going after something she wanted. She had gotten that trait from him.
"I was informed by one of her colleagues that her family will be arriving soon. You should probably make your visit quick then."
Pearce made her way through the busy halls of ICU until she reached the recovery unit. She placed her hand on the door and slowly pushed it open. She was surprised to see Alex sitting quietly by the bed.
"I thought I'd keep her company until you got here."
Pearce's focus was all on Serena's still form. She nodded absently at whatever Alex had just said to her as she took a step inside the room. She bit the inside of her jaw when she saw the white bandage over Serena's left temple; dark bruises creating a colorful mosaic on the other side. "He bruised that beautiful face of yours."
Alex moved closer to Pearce and guided her to the chair by the bed. "Your father said that she looks worse than she actually is." Alex said as if she was reading Pearce's thoughts. "It's mainly bruises and swelling. Nothing was broken."
Pearce swallowed hard as she reached out and took one of Serena's hands into her own. It was limp and cold. She knew from a doctor's point of view that her father was right. She knew what all the machines were for and that they did indeed give the appearance of a more severe situation. However, as a girlfriend looking down at the woman she loved, everything inside her rebelled against what she was seeing. She allowed her eyes to scan Serena's body from head to toe. She paused briefly at her chest watching it rise and fall at a steady pace. Pearce hadn't even realized that she had started to cry until she felt the tears fall on her hands.
"I knew I should have come to pick you up. Why didn't you let me? Why do you have to be so bloody stubborn with me?" Pearce said softly as she gently brushed Serena's hair away from her face.
Alex took a step back suddenly feeling like an intruder. "I'll be outside if you need me."
Pearce nodded then returned her attentions to Serena. "I'm so sorry that this happened to you. I feel like this is all my fault. Maybe if you had never met me.... or if I'd just stayed away from you... but I couldn't. I fell in love with you. I just never knew what that would cost you."
The sound of the door interrupted Pearce. She turned expecting to see Alex or even security only to fine an older woman standing there.
"I suspect that no one ever knows what love will cost until it's too late." The woman said softly.
When she took a step farther into the room, Pearce instinctively stood protectively blocking her path to Serena.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Diane Southerlyn. I'm Serena's mother." She moved closer to the other side of the bed. She placed a hand on Serena's face before looking back at Pearce. "And.... you must be Pearce."
Chapter 23
Olivia slumped down into one of the chairs in the waiting area. The exhaustion from the last couple of days was finally catching up with her. She looked down at herself and noticed the blood smudged on her blouse.
"Damn, I really liked this shirt."
"So did I."
She glanced up and saw Alex standing in front of her. She held out a green shirt to her. "I found fresh scrubs in a closet down the hall. I'm sure they won't miss one shirt."
"Thanks." Olivia said taking the shirt.
Alex slipped into the seat next to her. They sat in silence for a while like they did after most difficult cases came to a head.
"The last few days have been crazy haven't they?"
"Crazy would be a very good word for it." Olivia said laying her head back with a sigh.
"Thank you." Alex replied quietly.
"For what?"
"For finding Serena..... If you guys hadn't gotten to her..."
"We did. That's all that matters. She's safe now."
"And so are you." Alex reached over and brushed Olivia's tousled hair away from her eyes. "You know...no matter how many times you go out on these cases, I can never get used to it. I can never get used to the idea that you might not come home. It scares the hell out of me."
Olivia reached up and took Alex's hand into her own and brought it to her lips. "That will never happen. I'll always come home.....because you are my home."
Alex watched the detective as she rolled her shoulders trying to ease the fatigue built up in them. She smiled sadly. "Come here. Let me rub your shoulders."
"You don't have to do that. I'm fine."
"You're exhausted. Now come here."
Olivia sat up and turned in her seat. Alex pulled Olivia back into her. She leaned down and kissed the side of Olivia's neck as her her hands ran over taunt shoulders. Olivia let out a soft moan as she massaged them gently.
"God, you are so tense."
"Had a lot....mmh...on my mind lately."
"That's an understatement." Alex chuckled lightly. "Listen, I was thinking..."
"Hmm... Alexandra Cabot was thinking. We should alert the press about this new development." Olivia smirked.
Alex pinched her shoulder making Olivia wince playfully. "Oww! It still amazes me. All the years of knowing you, I never would have guessed you'd be an abusive girlfriend."
Alex shook her head. "Now, I know you're exhausted. You're just plain silly now."
Olivia leaned back into Alex's arms enjoying the feel of them around her. "For once, I can't disagree with you, Counselor. As a matter of fact...."
The singsong sound of a cell phone interrupted their moment. Both reached for their phones. "It's mine." Olivia said before flipping it open. "Benson"
Alex rested her chin on Olivia's head as the brunette spoke on the phone. She could feel the tension return to her shoulders. Olivia reluctantly moved out of Alex's embrace.
"Yeah, I got it. I'll meet you there."
She hung up the phone and turned to face Alex. "That was Elliot. They need me down at the warehouse. I'm sorry, babe. I have to go."
Alex nodded. "It's okay. I'm planning on staying around here until Serena's family gets here anyway."
"Okay." Olivia stood and looked down at herself again. She picked up the shirt that Alex had given her and tossed it over her shoulder. "I'll put this on when I get where I'm going. I'll see you later."
A few moments passed before Alex called out to her. "Liv wait!"
Olivia immediately stopped. "What's wrong?"
Alex stood and approached her. She helped Olivia pull on her coat then tightened it around her. "Don't forget to put on your scarf and your gloves. It's cold out."
Olivia smiled warmly. She knew Alex didn't fuss over her due to the weather. She had learned that sometimes Alex just needed to be near her.
"Yes dear." Olivia smiled as she pulled her into her arms and held her tightly. "I love you, Counselor." She placed a soft kiss on Alex's cheek before pulling away. A moment later, she was gone.
Alex stared at the now empty space. "I love you too."
Chapter 24
Pearce cleared her throat and relaxed her stance a little. "Mrs. Southerlyn, I'm sorry that this happened."
"Now is not the time for that. We will have plenty of time to speak about that later." She interrupted. "Right now, I'm more worried about my daughter."
Pearce nodded, not surprised by the cool reception she was receiving from Serena's mother. In fact, she was expecting much worse. When she finally looked up, she saw her father standing behind Serena's mother.
"I've already filled Mrs. Southerlyn in on her daughter's condition." Patrick said giving Pearce a stern look. "You can relieve yourself now doctor."
"Yes Sir." Pearce didn't want to leave Serena's side, but she knew that now was not the time to argue with her father nor upset Serena's mother.
"That won't be necessary. I'm sure that Serena would want her to stay."
Pearce stood still, eyes still lowered.
Serena's mother looked at Patrick Delong and nodded. "Thank you again for everything you did for my daughter."
"It's not necessary. If you will excuse me, I need to see another patient." He reached out and touched Pearce's arm affectionately. "I will check in with you later."
Pearce looked down at the spot where her father had just touched her. She didn't know what to make of things. Her father had been more affectionate within the last few hours than he had been in years. It was a little surreal. Realizing Serena's mother was speaking to her, she looked up.
"I imagine that it must be...challenging working along side a parent everyday." She said evenly.
"How did you...."
She pointed to Pearce's badge. "You two have the same last name and the resemblance is there. You have his eyes."
Pearce wrung her hands tightly together feeling incredibly nervous under the woman's glare.
"Serena's brothers are in the waiting room. They wanted to come in here to see her, but when I learned that you were in here with her.... I thought it might be wise to have a word with you first."
Pearce nodded. Here we go. She thought as she mentally prepared herself for the tongue lashing of her life.
"We can go to my office if you'd like. I'd rather not do anything to upset Serena."
"There is no need. I don't plan on upsetting my daughter with what I have to say." She paused for a moment to look down at Serena. "I know that the man who attacked Serena was once involved with you. I spoke with Alexandra at length on our way here."
Pearce lowered her head and focused on the floor. "Mrs. Southerlyn, I know what you must think and..."
"I don't think you do." She took a step closer to Pearce. "Hold your head up, young lady." She waited until Pearce met her eyes. "I know you may feel responsible, but now is not the time to point fingers or delve in self pity. What matters is Serena's recovery. Now, my little girl needs all the love and support in the world right now. Can I count on you to be here for her.....or was she wrong about you?"
"Yes....I mean no...." She stopped and took a deep breath. "What I mean is... I'm not leaving her."
"Good. Now, Serena tells me that you're this fancy doctor. The first thing you can do is explain all this medical stuff to me in a way that I can understand it better. You can do that for me can't you?"
"Yes ma'am. I'll do my best."
"Yes.... I'm sure you will."
TBC