Second Chance at Love...chapter 52
Sooooo....hope you guys like this chapter.
Four days later Abbi was still in the hospital, still in a coma and still fighting for her life. Neal had called Michelle, David’s manager, and told her what had happened, and she immediately put a hold to the rest of tour until things got better. David’s fans flooded DCO and his myspace page with their thoughts and prayers for Abbi and for David. David never left Abbi’s side, Neal and Andy stayed with him at the hospital while Kyle, Joey, and Lauren decided to go visit their own families, after David insisted they do.
“Abs looks better today, don’t you guys think?” David asked as they sat in her room. David had paid to have Abbi moved into her own private room at the hospital. “Yeah, she does Dave.” Andy said and Neal shot him a glare. Neal hated to admit it, but Abbi didn’t really look any better than when they’d first seen her after the surgery. He didn’t dare say that to Dave though, because he didn’t want to shatter his hopes or piss him off. And he hoped that they’d soon see a change in her condition, for everyone’s sake.
“Hey Dave, why don’t we go down and see that son of yours?” Neal asked. David hadn’t been down to Neo-Natal to see his son since he was born; no one could get him to leave Abbi. “I don’t wanna see him till Abbi and I can see him together Doc.” David said, turning to glower at him. Neal sighed, “Fine…I’m gonna go down and see him. And I bet when Abbi wakes up she’ll kick your ass for not going down there with me…as a matter of fact, I’d put money on it.” Neal said, getting up and walking out the door. He and David had managed to repair their friendship, despite the fact that Neal wasn’t going to forgive David for the past month, not until Abbi woke up and things were okay again for her.
“Neal’s right.” Andy said after Neal walked out. “You think I should go see him without her?” David asked. “I do….it’s been 4 days Dave and you haven’t seen him yet….go see him Dave, I’ll stay with Abbi. I promise.” Andy said walking over next to David. David nodded, “Okay, I’ll just be a few minutes.” David said, getting up and walking down to neo natal. When he got down to the neo natal unit he saw Neal standing outside the glass with a huge smile on his face. Neal didn’t smile much so he knew that it was his son that was making him smile, and that that was surely a blessing. “You were right.” David said as he walked up to the glass. “I usually am D.” Neal said with a laugh. “Which one is he?” David asked, turning to face the three rows of babies in the neo-natal unit. As soon as he turned and looked into the room, he knew which one was his son.
He was in the third basinet in the second row. He had a full head of hair, Abbi’s red curls, and David’s eyes, there was no denying that he was their child. “Wow.” David said. “Yeah I know D. He’s definitely yours.” Neal said, punching him in the arm. “Funny. Gah, he’s so gorgeous. He looks just like his mom.” “Thank goodness for that.” Neal said and David hit him. “Haha, funny.” He said. “But yes, thank goodness for that.” “So what’s his name?” Neal asked. “We hadn’t thought about a name…..” David said and Neal nodded. “He needs a name D.” “I know, but I wanna wait….Abbi should name him.” David said. “You’re right. She should name him….” “She will wake up Doc. She has to. I can’t raise him alone.” David said. “You won’t have to. If she doesn’t wake up….well I’ll be here, and so will Andy. We’ll help you raise the little guy if we have to...” Neal said. “Thanks Doc…..hey listen….would you….uh, would you consider being his godfather? I mean, if it wouldn’t cramp your style or anything.” David said. “I mean you’ve been there this whole damn time. You were there when I wasn’t. It’d mean a lot to me…and I know to Abbi as well.” Neal was almost speechless, this was such an honor, one he never even considered. But he knew Dave needed an answer. “I’d be honored to D. I’ll be the best damn godfather anyone’s ever had.” Neal said. “I don’t doubt that Doc. Thank you.” “Thank you for offering.” Neal said, turning to look again at David and Abbi’s son.
Just then Andy ran down the hallway. “Dave, it’s Abbi, she’s waking up.” Andy said in between huffs as he tried to catch his breath. The three of them ran back down to Abbi’s room, just in time to see her open her eyes. “Oh Abs.” David said running over to Abbi’s bedside, but Abbi flinched away from him. “Don’t.” she said, turning to look away from him. She spotted Neal standing by the door and reached out for him. “Neal.” She said with a smile, and Neal walked up to her bedside. “Hey sweetie, how ya feel?” Neal asked. “I feel fine…” she said. Then she immediately put her hand on her stomach, feeling that it was flat. “Oh God, is he?” Abbi said, eyes welling up with tears. “He’s fine. He’s in the NICU. He’s small, but he’s healthy. He’s the most perfect, gorgeous baby I’ve ever laid eyes on.” Neal said, smiling.
“Oh Doc. He’s okay? He’s really okay?” Abbi said, as her eyes filled up with tears this time. “Yes, he’s perfect. And waiting to meet his mother.” Neal said as Dr. Phillips walked in the room. “Well look who’s awake. How do you feel Abbi?” he asked as he walked over and began checking her vitals. “Fine. I feel fine….I just wanna see my son.” Abbi said. “Easy now. That medical condition of yours is really serious. You lost a lot of blood and were out for four days. Let me check your vitals and then I’ll let you see your son.” Dr. Phillips said.“Medical condition?” Abbi asked. “It caused your spleen to rupture and cut off blood supply to the baby….and it also caused you to start bleeding out….we almost didn’t get you here in time.” Neal said. “Oh my God…..I….am I okay? Can I have more kids?” Abbi asked. “Yes, but you’ll have to be monitored very closely. This condition is very rare and very serious, but I don’t see any reason why you can’t have more children.” Dr. Phillips said. “Oh thank goodness.” Abbi said.
“Abbi?” David said. “Have you named him yet?” Abbi asked, looking at David for the first time since waking up, but still being wary as she spoke. “I wanted you to be the one to name him.” “Dave! You should have named him! It’s been 4 days! He needs a name!” Abbi said. “He just went down to see him today…that’s where we were when you woke up.” Neal said and Abbi shot David a dirty look. “You…just….saw…him….today?!” Abbi said. “I was gonna wait for you to wake up.” David said, shooting Neal a dirty look and backing away from Abbi’s glare. Neal threw his hands up in defense. “David Roland Cook, I swear to God. You are the most annoying, stubborn man on the face of this planet. Not going to see your son for 4 days.…” Abbi said, shaking her head. Andy and Neal laughed. “Okay, your vitals look great. It’s a miracle, nothing short of that. I’ll go get a wheelchair so you can go see your son.” Dr. Phillips said.
“Neal will you go with me?” Abbi asked, turning to him to help her out of the bed. “Abbi, you should go with David.” Neal said looking at David. “Please Neal. You were the one that got us here…you’re the reason my son and I are alive right now.” Abbi said, causing David to flinch. Neal nodded, “Sure Abs.” Neal said, helping her into the wheelchair. Neal mouthed “Sorry” to David who just shrugged and fell into the nearest chair, knowing he deserved this treatment from Abbi. Ten minutes later Abbi and Neal were inside the NICU. “Oh Neal, he is absolutely gorgeous.” Abbi said. “He looks like you.” Neal said, kissing the top of her head affectionately. “He does have David’s eyes. And nose.” Abbi said, sighing. “You should talk to him Abbi…he’s kicking himself for this.” “Good, he should…this was his fault. Those things he said, those things he did, Neal that wasn’t him…..when he told me to leave I felt like my world was falling out of orbit…..he should feel guilty.” Abbi said. “He was an ass….but this could have happened anytime.” Neal said. “What do you mean?” Abbi asked. “The doc told me that night about the medical condition….he said it usually happens in the 7th month of pregnancy, but in most cases in the woman’s sleep…you could’ve had it hit anytime…..the doc said we were lucky it happened when and like it did.” “So…Dave…isn’t to blame?” “Not entirely. He still thinks he is. But I know he’s sorry. He never left your side. He kept singing to you, telling you he’d give up everything if you forgave him. I even heard him say he prayed for God to take him and bring you back because you deserved to live and he didn’t.” Neal said. “I was so mean to him back there.” “Hey, you had a right….Believe me, I bitched him out really good when he came to the hospital that night….but I’ve never seen him so sorry in his life. He really loves you Abbi.” Neal said as David walked in the NICU. “I do Abs. I know I don’t deserve you but I’m so sorry. I was an idiot. I fucked up…..I understand that you hate me…” David said.
“I don’t hate you Dave….I just….I can’t watch you do that to yourself any more…I won’t do it….not just for me, but for little Adam.” Abbi said. “Adam?” David asked, not sure he heard her right. “Adam Isaiah Roland Cook.” Abbi said with a smile. “Oh Abs.” David said, eyes welling up in tears. He walked over to stand next to her beside the basinet. “I thought it’d be the perfect name…a strong name. Like your brother.”Abbi said. “Oh Abs. Thank you. And I’m sorry. I can’t say it enough and I know it isn’t enough but it’s all I have.” “I know you are…..and I…I forgive you…but Dave, I won’t stand by and let you do that to yourself anymore.” “You won’t have to…I’m done with it. You and my son mean the world to me. I don’t want to have to be in this place again. I don’t like the person I was….” David said.
“I love you David….I always will….and I’ll help you.” Abbi said. “So will I.” Neal said. “I just can’t quit blaming myself for almost taking you two from me. I wanted to die Abs. I wanted to give up….I thought I’d lost you that night after Neal left to come here.” David said, looking at the floor. “David Roland Cook, don’t EVER let me hear you say that EVER again. I love you. And I love our son. We’re both okay. We’re all okay.” Abbi said. “I don’t deserve you...” David said, leaning in to kissing Abbi. “I love you.” Abbi said. “I love you too. Always.” David said back. “So um, I was wanting to….ask Neal to be the baby’s godfather. If that’s okay with you?” Abbi said. “I actually already asked him.” David said, looking at Neal. “And did he say yes?” Abbi asked. “Ask him.” David said. “Neal?” “I did.” “Good. I’m glad. You’ll be the best godfather ever.” “That he will….though when Adam gets older we’ll have to keep a close eye on him.” David said, causing them both to laugh as Neal said “Hey, not fair.” “Oh hush, you know it’s true.” David said as they watched little Adam sleep.