The Bride Wore Red, Chapter 10
TitleTitle: The Bride Wore Red
Fandom : Moonlight
Characters : Mick, Josef, Beth, Simone
Rating : R, for some sexual content and strong language.
Summary: 14th in my post-"Sonata" series. Josef and Simone plan their wedding, but danger lurks in snowy Lake Tahoe. Can Mick and Beth help the ceremony go off without a hitch? Alternating pov's. Romance, humor, suspense.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters; no copyright infringement intended.
A/N: Thanks to everyone, loyal readers and newbies alike, for all your great reviews and support. You guys rock! Caution: more angst ahead, I’m afraid. But I promise there’s at least a little humor along the way, and some happier chapters ahead.
Chapter 10
MICK
On the way back to the hospital, I divided my thoughts between our successful dealing with Elise Walker and a hesitant hope that Carrie might have thought of something to help Beth. The windshield wipers worked hard at the blowing snow, their movements almost calming in the darkness. Josef must be feeling sorry for me, because he’d let me drive the Hummer. He rode shotgun while Logan and Guillermo sat in the backseat. They must have sensed my mood, because for once Logan kept his mouth shut. I hated spoiling everyone’s time, so I made an attempt at conversation, if only to take my mind off Beth for a few minutes.
“So, Guillermo, you’ve actually seen the mysterious Stacy, now, have you?”
“Yes, I have. And I have to say, she isn’t in fact missing either fang.”
Josef chuckled. “But does she have a big ass?”
“Hey!” This from Logan, tired of being silent.
“Actually, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. I know I was. She’s not half bad.”
“Not half bad?” Logan said in dismay. “She’s fuckin’ beautiful, and you damn well know it!”
“Well that may be,” Josef said, “but how much are you paying her?”
“She’s no whore, Josef,” Logan growled. “And I’ll take down anyone who says otherwise.”
“Okay, okay! Calm down, tiger. We’re just yankin’ your chain. I’m sure she’s very into you.”
“Damn straight,” he pouted.
“You know,” I ventured, “a girl like that-you gotta watch her every minute. Someone else is liable to steal her away when you least expect it.” I watched for Logan’s reaction in the rearview mirror. The younger vamp’s face took on a slightly paranoid expression.
“Yeah,” concurred Guillermo slyly. “She was giving me the eye all the way from LA.”
“She was not!” protested Logan, landing a punch to Guillermo’s shoulder that had him slamming into the door. The Hummer rocked to the side and slid a little on the ice, before I quickly regained control.
“Hey, hey!” Josef said sternly. “Don’t make me come back there!”
“He started it!” Logan said sullenly, indicating me.
I rolled my eyes at him in the mirror and was momentarily grateful I’d found something amusing after the events of the last couple of days. But my amusement faded as we pulled up into the hospital parking lot, and I sat there a moment, looking up through the snow shower to the fifth floor window that I knew belonged to Beth. The guys in the backseat got out and shut the door, enjoying the cold while they waited for Josef and me.
“You ready?” Josef asked softly, following my gaze.
I let out a tremulous sigh. “Yeah. I know it’s only been a couple days of this, but I live with the constant feeling of having been kicked in the gut. How did you do it for fifty years, Josef?”
His eyes remained on the well-lit hospital, then dispassionately on the snowball fight that had erupted between Logan and Guillermo.
“That pretty well describes it. But the difference here is Sarah had no brain waves, and I just couldn’t let her go. I thought that maybe, if she woke up, her new vampire blood would cure her of all ills, and she’d be the same person I had loved. Self-deception is not a good thing, Mick.”
“That’s why I don’t want to get my hopes up with Carrie’s plan.”
“But you have a viable option, no matter what. You’ve decided that you would be willing to turn Beth. I had lost that option with Sarah. So, don’t give up yet. You have every non-delusional reason to remain positive.”
“You’re right. Let’s get the hell up there and see what Carrie’s come up with.”
“Atta boy!”
Josef opened his door and stepped out into the snow, only to be struck in the face by one of Logan’s errant snowballs. I let out a bark of laughter as I watched the slush run down his cheeks and beneath the collar of his expensive sweater.
Logan stood, open-mouthed, in shock at what he’d accidentally done. Josef slowly brought up one hand to wipe the offending snow from his eyes, immediately zeroing in on the hapless Logan.
“You are so dead again, nerd-boy,”he growled ominously.
Logan, in fear of his second life--and rightly so--took off running into the woods surrounding the parking lot, Josef in close pursuit. Guillermo and I shrugged and went on into the hospital, each of us having no doubt that Logan was about to pay dearly for the capital offense of defiling fine cashmere.
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The ICU was quiet late at night, and, given Josef’s obvious pay-off to the hospital powers-that-be, we had the run of the place, regular visiting hours holding no sway over Beth Turner’s visitors. Guillermo had remained in the lobby, having received a call from his girlfriend, Caridad, so I alone walked into Beth’s room, encountering Carrie’s bedside vigil. She’d been reading what looked to be a French novel, whose page she dog-eared at my arrival. I was immediately enveloped in one of her loving embraces, double kissed on my cheeks, while her long, ebony ponytail swirled around us.
“How is she?” I asked, automatically moving to Beth’s side and taking her limp hand.
No change, I’m afraid. But she seems peaceful. Her heartbeat is steady, her breathing gentle. I think sometimes she is dreaming, because her eyes move beneath her eyelids . I believe when she awakens, she will be perfect once again.
“I hope so. You mentioned you have an idea…”
Oui. I would like to try to talk to her. Maybe my way of talking will get through to her better, maybe she’ll be able to hear me more clearly. I have refrained, wondering if you would think it might be too overwhelming for her mind.
I considered her words, and the wisdom of allowing the experiment. I was naturally willing to try almost anything to revive her, but Carrie had a good point about it possibly being overwhelming.
“Can you control the volume of your voice in her head?”
Oui
She had lowered the sound to almost a whisper whose difference in pitch I could distinctly hear compared to her normal speaking levels. I nodded to her in understanding.
I have awakened people before in this way, when they are sleeping normally, never from a coma, of course. I thought I could start out softly, saying her name. Then, increase the volume, depending on her response.
I took a deep, unneeded breath, more as a habit to calm myself. I squeezed Beth’s hand and looked at Carrie. “I don’t see how it could hurt her, really. You could stop if she seems too agitated.”
My thoughts, exactly. She smiled warmly. Shall I give it a try?
We both heard the sound of the distant elevator, then sensed Josef’s nearness. He entered Beth’s room, his face whiter than usual from the cold.
“Did Logan survive?” I asked blandly, glimpsing his satisfied expression.
“Barely. The asshole had the gall to ask to borrow the Hummer to go back and change out of his wet clothes. I’m thinking he pissed his pants more than got wet from the snow when he rolled down that hill. I made Guillermo go with him to drive. You think I’d trust that idiot Logan to drive my baby? Oh, hello, Carrie.”
He grinned at the French greeting he received on his icy cheeks. Have you been rolling around in the snow along with him?
“No. Just getting even.” His voice softened as he glanced at Beth. “ I hear you have a plan for Blondie here.”
I explained her idea, and Josef seemed to think it a sound one. “Couldn’t hurt,” he echoed, running his fingers through his cold, wet hair.
Are we ready?
I nodded once, nervous about what seemed a simple act. Josef’s eyes went to me, and I knew he felt my building tension.
Beth? Carrie “whispered.” She paused, and we all focused on Beth’s face. No reaction. She continued, a little louder now.
Beth? Sweetie, it’s Carrie. Mick’s here with me. We want you to wake up. Can you do that for us?” Her “voice” was loud and clear in my head, and I knew that if it were possible for Beth to respond to anything, she would have to hear this, if only in her dreams.
I squeezed Beth’s hand as added stimulation, and I noticed that she moved slightly, and her face formed a slight grimace.
“I think she heard you, Carrie. Please, keep trying.” My excitement increased ten-fold, and I stared, praying for some sign that this was working.
Beth, mon ami. Time to wake up. You have a lovely man here who misses you terribly. Wake up, Beth.
I felt Beth’s pulse increase slightly, even as the beeping of the monitor picked up as well.
“Beth. I need you to open those beautiful eyes of yours. I don’t think I can take much more of this…”
Beth.
Those eyes behind her closed lids were moving back and forth. Either she was dreaming, or trying hard to open her heavy lids.
“Squeeze my hand, honey. Please.”
We watched, enraptured, as my sleeping princess began to stir.
“She squeezed my hand!” I said breathlessly.
Wake up, Beth. Come back to us.
And then, she spoke. Her eyes remained shut, but I knew immediately that she was back with us. Her voice was weak, but her lips moved, and it was like the voice of an angel.
“Will you guys please quit yelling? My head is killing me.”
I laughed, and felt my cheeks wet with tears, the most unmasculine, most infantile tears a grown man has ever shed. I kissed her cheek and lay my head on her chest, listening to the steady, strong beat.
“Oh, Beth. Thank God!” I cried into her flowered hospital gown.
“Thank Carrie,” Josef offered, handing Carrie his handkerchief.
“Yeah, of course!” I reached out for Carrie’s hand and she held it happily, then planted her own kiss on Beth’s forehead.
“I’ll go fetch the doctor,” Josef said, grinning from ear-to-ear.
“What happened?” Beth was saying. “Where am I?” She of course seemed very groggy, and had yet to open her eyes.
“You fell down the steps at Josef’s cabin. You’re in the hospital in Tahoe. You remember anything?”
At this, her eyes flew open, and I was happy beyond words to see their bright blue gleam. “Simone! Is she alright?”
“Shhhh…she’s fine. You’re going to be fine.” I smoothed back her hair and kissed her warm lips, a lightness filling my chest, and a relief so strong I thought I might collapse at the sudden lifting of the weight from my shoulders.
“Mick? Is there something over my eyes? Why is it so dark in here?” She slowly reached a hand to her face, gingerly touching the area around her eyes as if expecting there to be bandages there.
“Honey, there’s nothing on your eyes. And there’s a light shining right over your bed.” A feeling of dread overwhelmed me. I swallowed hard.“Can’t you see it?”
“No,” she whispered, fear suddenly making her voice much clearer. “I can’t see, Mick. I can’t see anything!”
“Hey, hey--don’t try to sit up. I’m sure it’s temporary. You hit your head pretty hard on the steps.”
“God, it hurts, and the back of my neck…”
By this time, the doctor, who unfortunately had to be on call this Christmas Eve, came into Beth’s room. He smiled into her blank eyes.
“Beth. I’m Doctor Harris. Glad to see you’re back with us.” He shone a penlight into her eyes, noting the lack of response. His eyes flicked to her vital readouts, then back to her face. “Beth, can you tell me how many fingers I’m holding up?” He held up two, right in front of her eyes.
“No,” she said in dismay. “Everything is dark.”
“You can’t see anything? No shapes or shadows? No flashes of light?”
“No. Nothing.”
He looked at me, the concern on his face scaring the hell out of me. Josef and Carrie stood by, speechless at this new development.
“You need to rest now. Don’t get too worried or excited. You had a bad fall and sometimes head injuries can do funny things. We’ll run some tests tomorrow to see what’s going on. Just relax and I’ll check in with you in the morning, okay?”
“Okay. Thank you, Doctor.”
Dr. Harris motioned me into the hall. “I don’t mean to frighten you, but this is a little disturbing to me. Given the location of her injury, if her vision is gone, we may be looking at a permanent condition. As I told your wife, we’ll get her an MRI tomorrow and see if there’s anything we can do, perhaps surgically. But until then, try to keep her calm and reassure her. She’s had a traumatic experience, and getting upset wouldn’t be helpful to her recovery. She should sleep normally now.”
All I really got from his little speech was the word, permanent.
“Are you telling me she could be…blind…forever?”
He sighed. “Unfortunately, you may need to prepare yourself for that possibility. But don’t give up yet. There are many specialists out there who may have a solution.” He patted my arm consolingly. “I wish I could tell you something more…”
“No. Thanks, really. I’m just-well, you can understand how I’m feeling…”
“Yes. I’m sorry. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Beth’s room suddenly became a hive of activity, as nurses came in to see to the new needs of the conscious patient. I went back in, where Josef and Carrie still stood, saying reassuring things to Beth, Josef trying to coax a smile from her.
“Mick’s been a total wreck since you’ve been in here, camping out like he’s waiting in line for Zeppelin tickets.”
Now that you are awake, I hope you encourage him to eat and go get some sleep.
“A shower and shave wouldn’t hurt him either. Not to mention a clean Henley, for God’s sake.”
At this, she did smile, reaching out for my hand.
“Is this true, Mick?” she asked sleepily.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, sweetheart.”
“I’ll be alright. Time to take care of yourself, now, for me.”
Carrie leaned over Beth and kissed each of her cheeks. Mon ami, I have been praying so hard you would awaken. Josef and I will go and leave you to rest. And I’m sure Mick will be right behind us.
She gave me a meaningful look, the kind Daryl always described as her “mother hen imitation.”
“I’m so glad you’re here…” Beth told her. She was sounding more and more fatigued.
Of course, cherie. Good night.
Josef stepped forward, a little hesitantly. “You took about a hundred years off my life, Buzzwire.” I didn’t begrudge him the light peck on her cheek. She reached up and touched his face.
“Take care of Mick, will you?” He kissed her knuckles, setting her hand gently back at her side.
“I always do.”
He prepared to take his leave and I told him I’d be down in a few minutes.
“Take your time. We’ve got to wait till Beavis and Butthead bring back my Hummer. I’ll give them another call downstairs.”
“Thanks.”
The last nurse adjusted Beth’s pillows and straightened her covers, then left us blessedly alone. My emotions had been put through the ringer the last few days. That combined with lack of sleep and blood, and I was well on my way to becoming a nervous wreck. How could this happen? Awakening from a coma, only to find herself blind? Someone out there was playing a sick joke, and I felt like they’d turned my insides out.
“Mick, I’m scared.” Her trembling words were daggers to my chest.
“I know, baby. Try not to upset yourself. You heard the doctor. It’s not time to be worried yet.” But I was trembling myself, on the inside. My beautiful Beth, deprived of seeing the ocean, the mountains, the children we might have someday. But I had to be strong for her, not let her know how sick I felt.
“Try to go back to sleep. When you wake up we can deal with this, okay?” Her eyes were drooping closed, and I was so relieved that she was just slipping into a revitalizing sleep.
“’kay…I love you…”she murmured.
“I love you too,” I said pressing my lips gently to hers. “I’m so happy you’re back with me.” I lay my head back on her breast again, listening to the beautiful sound of her heart, the ICU monitors that now seemed more comforting rather than a form of torture, and the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. I glanced at the time, noting that it was just past midnight of one of the longest days of my life.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart,” I whispered, nuzzling her neck.
I waited until I was sure she was fast asleep, then I went downstairs to join my friends.
TBC
A/N: Well, I warned you! Don’t worry; there’s a method to my madness, and ultimately, things will turn out happily. I will say that there will be another story that takes place after this one, so I’m afraid this story will end with some loose ends. At any rate, I do look forward to reading your reviews, so please let me know what you think…