24 | The Queens Almeida [T/M] Chapter 2
THE QUEENS ALMEIDA by moonie - Chapter 2
Sequel to IN THE LIVING YEARS
YEAR 1. AUGUST 22.
10:50am
Tony looked over to Michelle. She sat in the passenger seat, but at the same time she wasn't there. Her elbow pressed against the window frame, her hand supported her head. It almost felt too heavy to support right then.
The first hint of trouble had been that they couldn't reach Liz or her family for a couple of weeks. She was on leave from CTU, she wasn't answering e-mails or phone messages.
And then Liz' husband had finally called her back. The reason she had been out of touch with her old friend was because she'd been in the hospital all this time. When she asked him why they hadn't told her, he said Liz had wanted to wait until they knew more.
He'd called back the night before. They knew more... they knew too much. There was nothing to be done. She wouldn't get better. She'd only get worse. After that, Michelle didn't even have to say anything. Tony said they'd drive up to L.A. in the morning.
They already had so much on their minds, and Tony worried about how all this was affecting Michelle. Victoria was barely a year and a half. It was just a couple of months after that first birthday that they'd discovered Victoria would soon be a big sister.
Michelle's second hand rested at the base of the discreet yet present bump. Indecision at an ultrasound had left Tony knowing they would be having a second daughter, while Michelle still didn't know. He knew she knew how he worried for her and the baby these days, their health. She continued to assure him that it would not be a problem.
Scheduling issues had kept the number of times Michelle and Liz had seen each other since the move to barely a handful. Since the day Victoria was born, though they spoke often, they had only seen each other twice - at Christmas and on Victoria's birthday.
Tony looked in the rearview mirror as they stopped at a red light. Victoria was sleeping. It was amazing how seamlessly she had become a part of their lives. Sometimes it was hard to believe there had been a time where she wasn't there.
It was hard to tell who she looked like the most. For a moment it would be all Tony, and then suddenly she was the spitting image of her mother. They called her their little sun, because that was what she was... she brightened everything up, always.
Now, the little sun would work her smile for someone who really needed it. As they passed the Los Angeles city limits, Tony slipped his hand over to his wife's. She turned her head to look at him, still propped against the window.
"How are you doing? Are you hungry?"
"I'm okay," she spoke lightly. They shared a look and he nodded.
"We'll be there in ten minutes."
11:10am
Before stepping off the elevator, Tony handed Victoria to Michelle when she asked. The girl was awake now, her eyes looking everywhere they could as usual. She had always been very curious. If someone kept something out of her reach longer than was needed, she would fuss and cry.
When they arrived near the hospital room, they saw Liz' kids sitting together. Her sons, Jay and Tom, were twelve and nine. Her daughter, Ellie, was seven and looked strikingly like her mother.
"Hi," Jay spoke up when he saw them.
"Hey Jay," Michelle replied.
"Dad went to the cafeteria. You can go in. She's been waiting for you." He knew what was happening, more so than his siblings.
"You go ahead," Tony whispered to Michelle.
"Thank you," they kissed briefly before she went in with Victoria.
Walking into that room, the dread weighed on her. Having her daughter along helped some, but it still couldn't make it all go away. Liz, lying there in that hospital bed... This just wasn't right. Liz had been a great friend to her, but she was also someone to be counted on by so many others. She never gave up, never faltered. She gave you strength when you lacked it. Why did this have to happen to her?
Liz looked to be sleeping, and she didn't want to wake her. But then Victoria got to 'talking'. Michelle tried to move aside, get her quiet.
"Hey Action Girl..." came the tired sound of Liz' voice. "It's okay, I'm awake," she promised, turning her head to look at them as she opened her eyes. Michelle walked back toward her slowly. "I'm sorry you had to find out like this..."
"Don't worry about it, it doesn't matter..." she shook her head.
"It does," Liz corrected, working to sit up. "I wanted to be able to talk about it with you."
"Why didn't you say something before?"
"All it would have done would be to give you things to deal with you didn't need to. You already have enough without driving back and forth for something that could have been nothing. I admit there are times where I wished you were here, but I stand by my decision."
"I get it," Michelle finally nodded.
"Good." She looked to Victoria. "My goodness, she's grown..."
"None more aware than me, believe me," Michelle smiled. Liz held her arms out to get her, and she did. It was in the hand off that Liz finally caught sight of that soon-to-be second baby.
"Look at you... Congratulations," she smiled back, holding Victoria with care. Michelle nodded, sitting on a small couch next to the bed.
"I wanted to tell you... That's when..." She paused. Liz didn't leave her there.
"How are things? How's Tony?"
"He's good. He's out in the hall."
"Still coaching?"
"Still coaching," Michelle confirmed. "He's got a national competition coming up. Everyone's working hard."
"Wouldn't expect any less."
1:00pm
"You two still okay with leaving CTU and all of that behind?" Jeff Whitley asked Tony as they sat in the hall still.
"Wasn't easy at first, but kids have a way of aiming your focus."
"That they do," Jeff fiddled with his coffee cup. "When things progressed the way they did with Liz, I had to make a decision. Traded in the streets for a desk job. As much as I love being out there... we lose Liz, then what would happen to Jay, Tom and Ellie if something happened to me too?"
"Probably best then," Tony nodded. "How are they doing?" he indicated the children.
"I think they get it... they just haven't processed it all yet..." he rubbed at his eyes.
They heard the door open and turned as Michelle and Victoria walked out. "Your mom's asking for you," she looked to the Whitley children. They stood, going into the room. "Hey Jeff," she hugged him, seeing him for the first time since they got there.
"Thanks for coming. It really means a lot to her."
"Of course," she assured him as they pulled back.
"Hey there Victoria," he greeted her. She rested her head against her mother's shoulder. He smiled.
"We can stay here for a while, so if you need to take a walk or anything..."
"It's okay, but thank you."
"Sure."
3:25pm
Liz' children had made their way out of the room again, needing a snack. Michelle went with them, so Tony and Jeff went in to see Liz. She smiled when they came in. "I was wondering where you'd gone off to," she spoke to Tony. He smiled back.
"Sorry. How are you today, Liz?" he asked, taking her hand a moment in greeting.
"You know how it goes, there are good days and bad days. This one is turning up pretty good so far."
"Good," he nodded.
"Yeah." After a moment, she turned serious. "How is she really doing? I know she's trying to keep it in for my sake," she shook her head, knowing he'd understand what she was getting at.
"She barely slept last night, and she's been quiet."
"Promise me something? Look out for her these next few months? I realize you do that regularly, but this is different. This time should be joyful. I don't want to take that away from her."
"She's concerned about you..."
"And I'm concerned about her. I know she's scared. I'M scared..." her voice broke. Jeff walked up to his wife, sitting by her. "I realize it might be hard to understand, but I don't want to ruin this time for her. Please, Tony..."
"I'll do my best," he finally nodded.
7:25pm
"We need to start thinking about getting back home. It's a long drive," Tony spoke quietly in Michelle's ear. They were back in Liz' room. Jeff sat with them, while the kids watched the television perched high in a corner. Victoria slept on a small couch. Michelle turned to Tony as he spoke. "Sorry." She nodded.
"I'm afraid we need to go," she turned to Liz as she stood.
"I'm really glad you came today."
"No problem," Michelle nodded. She looked to see that Tony was gathering up Victoria and her bag. "Call me if there's anything?" she leaned over to hug her friend.
"I will," she nodded. "And you call me too, alright?"
"Definitely." After goodbyes were passed all around, the three of them walked out of the room.
As they made their way to the elevator, he could see the brave front fade away, no longer benefiting anyone or masking any fears she had for Liz. Tony remembered her request, but for all the hard situations he had weathered, this wasn't so easy.
As they neared the elevator, he felt her hand on his arm. He stopped and looked over. "Hey..." he whispered, his free hand reaching up to the side of her face. She was pondering something, perhaps how to approach it.
"Elizabeth..." she simply spoke, then looked down a moment. "The baby, if we have a girl, I... Elizabeth?" He smiled.
"Okay." In an instant, she knew - she'd get her wish. Perhaps because of that, she finally allowed herself to break down. She moved forward and Tony wrapped his arm around her. He didn't rush her, gave her the holding time she needed without a word. After a few minutes, they were able to head on out to their car.
For the ride back home, Michelle sat in the back, with Victoria in her lap. There was still so much going through her mind, but at the very least this small gesture they had agreed upon was helping to some extent.
11:50pm
"I'll get her to bed," Michelle told Tony as they walked into their home.
"Right," he nodded.
"Maybe we could watch a movie? I don't think I could sleep right now."
"I'll look into it," he nodded his head toward the living room. She went off upstairs with the still sleeping Victoria.
He chose a comedy. They'd seen enough drama in the last couple of days. A few minutes later, Michelle returned. They settled in on the couch, nice and snuggled. Michelle sat leaning against him, their mingled hands resting over her belly.
TBC
Sequel to IN THE LIVING YEARS
YEAR 1. AUGUST 22.
10:50am
Tony looked over to Michelle. She sat in the passenger seat, but at the same time she wasn't there. Her elbow pressed against the window frame, her hand supported her head. It almost felt too heavy to support right then.
The first hint of trouble had been that they couldn't reach Liz or her family for a couple of weeks. She was on leave from CTU, she wasn't answering e-mails or phone messages.
And then Liz' husband had finally called her back. The reason she had been out of touch with her old friend was because she'd been in the hospital all this time. When she asked him why they hadn't told her, he said Liz had wanted to wait until they knew more.
He'd called back the night before. They knew more... they knew too much. There was nothing to be done. She wouldn't get better. She'd only get worse. After that, Michelle didn't even have to say anything. Tony said they'd drive up to L.A. in the morning.
They already had so much on their minds, and Tony worried about how all this was affecting Michelle. Victoria was barely a year and a half. It was just a couple of months after that first birthday that they'd discovered Victoria would soon be a big sister.
Michelle's second hand rested at the base of the discreet yet present bump. Indecision at an ultrasound had left Tony knowing they would be having a second daughter, while Michelle still didn't know. He knew she knew how he worried for her and the baby these days, their health. She continued to assure him that it would not be a problem.
Scheduling issues had kept the number of times Michelle and Liz had seen each other since the move to barely a handful. Since the day Victoria was born, though they spoke often, they had only seen each other twice - at Christmas and on Victoria's birthday.
Tony looked in the rearview mirror as they stopped at a red light. Victoria was sleeping. It was amazing how seamlessly she had become a part of their lives. Sometimes it was hard to believe there had been a time where she wasn't there.
It was hard to tell who she looked like the most. For a moment it would be all Tony, and then suddenly she was the spitting image of her mother. They called her their little sun, because that was what she was... she brightened everything up, always.
Now, the little sun would work her smile for someone who really needed it. As they passed the Los Angeles city limits, Tony slipped his hand over to his wife's. She turned her head to look at him, still propped against the window.
"How are you doing? Are you hungry?"
"I'm okay," she spoke lightly. They shared a look and he nodded.
"We'll be there in ten minutes."
11:10am
Before stepping off the elevator, Tony handed Victoria to Michelle when she asked. The girl was awake now, her eyes looking everywhere they could as usual. She had always been very curious. If someone kept something out of her reach longer than was needed, she would fuss and cry.
When they arrived near the hospital room, they saw Liz' kids sitting together. Her sons, Jay and Tom, were twelve and nine. Her daughter, Ellie, was seven and looked strikingly like her mother.
"Hi," Jay spoke up when he saw them.
"Hey Jay," Michelle replied.
"Dad went to the cafeteria. You can go in. She's been waiting for you." He knew what was happening, more so than his siblings.
"You go ahead," Tony whispered to Michelle.
"Thank you," they kissed briefly before she went in with Victoria.
Walking into that room, the dread weighed on her. Having her daughter along helped some, but it still couldn't make it all go away. Liz, lying there in that hospital bed... This just wasn't right. Liz had been a great friend to her, but she was also someone to be counted on by so many others. She never gave up, never faltered. She gave you strength when you lacked it. Why did this have to happen to her?
Liz looked to be sleeping, and she didn't want to wake her. But then Victoria got to 'talking'. Michelle tried to move aside, get her quiet.
"Hey Action Girl..." came the tired sound of Liz' voice. "It's okay, I'm awake," she promised, turning her head to look at them as she opened her eyes. Michelle walked back toward her slowly. "I'm sorry you had to find out like this..."
"Don't worry about it, it doesn't matter..." she shook her head.
"It does," Liz corrected, working to sit up. "I wanted to be able to talk about it with you."
"Why didn't you say something before?"
"All it would have done would be to give you things to deal with you didn't need to. You already have enough without driving back and forth for something that could have been nothing. I admit there are times where I wished you were here, but I stand by my decision."
"I get it," Michelle finally nodded.
"Good." She looked to Victoria. "My goodness, she's grown..."
"None more aware than me, believe me," Michelle smiled. Liz held her arms out to get her, and she did. It was in the hand off that Liz finally caught sight of that soon-to-be second baby.
"Look at you... Congratulations," she smiled back, holding Victoria with care. Michelle nodded, sitting on a small couch next to the bed.
"I wanted to tell you... That's when..." She paused. Liz didn't leave her there.
"How are things? How's Tony?"
"He's good. He's out in the hall."
"Still coaching?"
"Still coaching," Michelle confirmed. "He's got a national competition coming up. Everyone's working hard."
"Wouldn't expect any less."
1:00pm
"You two still okay with leaving CTU and all of that behind?" Jeff Whitley asked Tony as they sat in the hall still.
"Wasn't easy at first, but kids have a way of aiming your focus."
"That they do," Jeff fiddled with his coffee cup. "When things progressed the way they did with Liz, I had to make a decision. Traded in the streets for a desk job. As much as I love being out there... we lose Liz, then what would happen to Jay, Tom and Ellie if something happened to me too?"
"Probably best then," Tony nodded. "How are they doing?" he indicated the children.
"I think they get it... they just haven't processed it all yet..." he rubbed at his eyes.
They heard the door open and turned as Michelle and Victoria walked out. "Your mom's asking for you," she looked to the Whitley children. They stood, going into the room. "Hey Jeff," she hugged him, seeing him for the first time since they got there.
"Thanks for coming. It really means a lot to her."
"Of course," she assured him as they pulled back.
"Hey there Victoria," he greeted her. She rested her head against her mother's shoulder. He smiled.
"We can stay here for a while, so if you need to take a walk or anything..."
"It's okay, but thank you."
"Sure."
3:25pm
Liz' children had made their way out of the room again, needing a snack. Michelle went with them, so Tony and Jeff went in to see Liz. She smiled when they came in. "I was wondering where you'd gone off to," she spoke to Tony. He smiled back.
"Sorry. How are you today, Liz?" he asked, taking her hand a moment in greeting.
"You know how it goes, there are good days and bad days. This one is turning up pretty good so far."
"Good," he nodded.
"Yeah." After a moment, she turned serious. "How is she really doing? I know she's trying to keep it in for my sake," she shook her head, knowing he'd understand what she was getting at.
"She barely slept last night, and she's been quiet."
"Promise me something? Look out for her these next few months? I realize you do that regularly, but this is different. This time should be joyful. I don't want to take that away from her."
"She's concerned about you..."
"And I'm concerned about her. I know she's scared. I'M scared..." her voice broke. Jeff walked up to his wife, sitting by her. "I realize it might be hard to understand, but I don't want to ruin this time for her. Please, Tony..."
"I'll do my best," he finally nodded.
7:25pm
"We need to start thinking about getting back home. It's a long drive," Tony spoke quietly in Michelle's ear. They were back in Liz' room. Jeff sat with them, while the kids watched the television perched high in a corner. Victoria slept on a small couch. Michelle turned to Tony as he spoke. "Sorry." She nodded.
"I'm afraid we need to go," she turned to Liz as she stood.
"I'm really glad you came today."
"No problem," Michelle nodded. She looked to see that Tony was gathering up Victoria and her bag. "Call me if there's anything?" she leaned over to hug her friend.
"I will," she nodded. "And you call me too, alright?"
"Definitely." After goodbyes were passed all around, the three of them walked out of the room.
As they made their way to the elevator, he could see the brave front fade away, no longer benefiting anyone or masking any fears she had for Liz. Tony remembered her request, but for all the hard situations he had weathered, this wasn't so easy.
As they neared the elevator, he felt her hand on his arm. He stopped and looked over. "Hey..." he whispered, his free hand reaching up to the side of her face. She was pondering something, perhaps how to approach it.
"Elizabeth..." she simply spoke, then looked down a moment. "The baby, if we have a girl, I... Elizabeth?" He smiled.
"Okay." In an instant, she knew - she'd get her wish. Perhaps because of that, she finally allowed herself to break down. She moved forward and Tony wrapped his arm around her. He didn't rush her, gave her the holding time she needed without a word. After a few minutes, they were able to head on out to their car.
For the ride back home, Michelle sat in the back, with Victoria in her lap. There was still so much going through her mind, but at the very least this small gesture they had agreed upon was helping to some extent.
11:50pm
"I'll get her to bed," Michelle told Tony as they walked into their home.
"Right," he nodded.
"Maybe we could watch a movie? I don't think I could sleep right now."
"I'll look into it," he nodded his head toward the living room. She went off upstairs with the still sleeping Victoria.
He chose a comedy. They'd seen enough drama in the last couple of days. A few minutes later, Michelle returned. They settled in on the couch, nice and snuggled. Michelle sat leaning against him, their mingled hands resting over her belly.
TBC