Chapter 19

Xavier's POV:

Hours passed by and it was almost noon. I was waiting impatiently for the doctors to come out and give us some good news. Rebecca's mom was standing near the ICU door, crying silently while Nate went to get us all some coffee even though I said I didn't want anything. Food was the last thing on my mind. I leaned against the pillar outside the ICU and closed my eyes, saying a silent prayer to my brother.

"I think you should go home and get changed out of these clothes, dear." I heard my mom's voice and opened my eyes.

"I'm not going anywhere until she wakes up," I replied sternly and she sighed, giving up.

"Okay, let's sit down." She pulled me towards the chair and held my hands in a comforting manner.

"Mom, I'm scared."

"She is going to make it, Xavier. God can't be that cruel. She has to pull through at least for that little girl," she spoke, her voice almost breaking and I smiled at her lightly, "I know I haven't even seen this woman but I can tell that she means the world to both of you. She is going to be alright and you are going to bring her over for dinner once all this nightmare is over," she let out a small laugh, trying to cheer me up and I laid my head on her shoulders.

"Mrs. Thompson?" I heard the doctor's voice and stood up with a jerk. I rushed towards them and her mom narrowed her eyes at me. I paid no mind and looked at the doctor hopefully.

"I have some good news," he started and I held my breath, bracing myself for what he was about to say.

"The swelling on her brain has reduced which is a good thing and her test report seem to be fine but she is still unconscious,"

"What does that mean?"

"It means that she could be in a state of temporary coma and it's common after having a severe head injury. We just need to wait patiently but the good thing is, she is out of danger," he explained and I let out the breath that I was holding. 'Out of danger' that's a good thing. I felt my shoulders slump down as I relaxed for the first time since last night and mentally thanked the gods for putting her out of danger.

"Can we see her?" I asked hesitantly as her mom was shooting daggers at me.

"Of course, you can talk to her. She could hear you but only one person at a time and visiting hours end at 4 pm. She needs to rest well to recover soon," he nodded and walked away.

"I told you, she is going to be fine." My mom hugged me and I sighed in relief, hugging her back.

"You are not going to see my daughter," I heard her mom behind me and turned around to face her.

"Mrs. Thompson, I know you think I'm responsible for all this and unfortunately I feel the same way too but I'm not going to leave because I love that woman with all my heart and I don't care if she hates me or chooses Nate over me. I'm going to be there for her and I really hope she forgives me when she wakes up," I rushed out, staring straight into her eyes and she kept pondering over what I said, giving me a judgemental look.

"If she doesn't forgive you when she wakes up, I don't want you anywhere near her. Understood?" I nodded lightly and she looked over at my mom, giving her a tight smile.

"You can see her after me," she muttered and went inside the ICU.

"Hey, what did I miss?" Nate rushed towards me with a tray of coffee in his hand and I filled him on with what the doctors told us.

"Oh, thank God. Fuck, I'm so relieved." he sighed, handing me the coffee and I just shook my head.

"Language, son." My mom took the coffee from him and he gave her an apologetic look mouthing the words 'sorry'

"Now, will you go home and change out of these clothes? You look like an ax murderer," I rolled my eyes and gave in finally.

"Fine. I'll be back in half an hour," I hugged my mom one last time and started to walk away.

"Could you pick up Hannah and drop her off at my place before you come here? Your dad can take care of her," she called out.

"Okay," I shouted back and continued to walk outside.

Fuck, Hannah must have figured out something was wrong with Rebecca by now. She wouldn't have seen her at school.

Oh god, this is going to be hard.

"Dad, Becca wasn't at school today and some other teacher came to our class." She pouted as I kept driving towards my dad's place. I felt so bad for lying to her and at the same time, I didn't want her to feel sad.

"Let's go see her, dad. I missed her. I talk with her every day and today I was waiting to give her Grandma's cookies but she didn't come." she replied sadly and my heart broke at how much she adored her. I stopped the car immediately and swallowed hard. There was no point in hiding it anymore and now that she was out of danger, I hope Hannah doesn't take it hard.

"Baby, Rebecca had a small accident and she is in the hospital." I blurted out, looking straight ahead.

Silence.

"Will she go to heaven too?" she asked in a sad voice and I jerked my head to look at her. God, she was breaking my already broken heart.

"No, baby." I swooped her from her seat and hugged her tightly, trying to control my tears.

"Is she going to be alright?" She asked, pulling back, probably still confused by what I said.

"Yeah, she is in the hospital resting now. She needs to rest well to recover soon," I explained and she nodded her head.

"Will she come back to school?" she asked with a hopeful look on her face and I nodded with a small smile.

"Okay, let's go see her." She smiled and I placed her on the seat. I started the car and drove in the direction of the hospital. I noticed that she was drawing something from the corner of my eyes and scrunched my eyebrows in confusion.

"What are you drawing?"

"'Get well soon' card for Becca," she grinned widely and my heart swelled at her innocence. God, she was such an angel. I smiled lightly, ruffling her hair a bit.

"Grandma, you are here." she ran towards my mom, hugging her legs. I noticed Nate and Rebecca's mom sitting outside the ICU. They had curious looks on their face on seeing Hannah. I lifted her in my arms and walked towards them.

"Hannah, this is Rebecca's mom. Mrs. Thomson, this is my daughter." I smiled softly and saw her mom grinning widely as she stood up.

"Oh my God, I've heard so much about her. Becca talks about her all the time," she replied caressing her cheeks lightly and I was glad that she didn't show her anger towards my daughter.

"Hello, Mrs.Thompson," Hannah replied shyly, hiding her face in the crook of my neck, making her chuckle.

"And that's Nate. Rebecca's friend," I gestured towards him, giving him a tight smile and he just nodded at us.

"You guys can go see her now," she gave us a small smile and I nodded, waking inside the ICU with Hannah. I took a deep breath and entered.

"Dad, she is not awake. You said she was fine," she looked at me with wide eyes and I could see her almost in tears.

"No baby, you see that monitor. If it's beeping, it means that she is breathing. She is now resting," I kissed her forehead and she nodded, trying to understand whatever I said. She wiggled out of my arms and went near her bedside table to place her drawing.

"Talk something to her, she might hear you," I added and she tried to climb on her bed. I helped her sit down next to her and she kept staring at her.

"I drew you a 'get well soon' card and I will bring you Brownies when you are awake so that you will feel better," she spoke, making me chuckle lightly.

"I don't want you to go to heaven, Becca. Dad said you are going to be fine and I trust him." She added and threw her small chubby hands around her, hugging her lightly.

"I love you so much. Wake up soon," she whispered and I started to cry.

God, I need to get my shit together.

"Come on dad, you talk to her now." she jumped from the bed and I bent down to her level.

"Why don't you wait outside with Grandma? I'll be right back,"

"Okay." She nodded and I opened the door. She ran outside while I closed the door behind me and walked towards her bed. I sat down beside her, looking at her face, which was pale and lifeless. She still looked beautiful and I wanted nothing more than to see those gorgeous eyes staring back at me. I took her hands carefully and starting rubbing it.

Fuck, I had a million things to say to her but not when she was in this state.

"I'm so sorry for everything, baby. This is all my fault," I started, gazing at her through my blurred vision, "I should have just heard you out instead of walking away from you. I don't care about anything. Just come back to me please.... because...I love you so much and I will understand if you can't forgive me," I caressed her cheeks and the room was filled with the sounds of the monitor beeping consistently. I licked my lips, bringing her hands close to my mouth to kiss them.

"I need you so much and Hannah needs you more than me. Also your mom probably hates me and it's only fair because I'm the reason you are here," I let out a dry chuckle.

"I would do anything to go back in time, Rebecca." A lone tear escaped my eyes and I went closer to kiss her pale cheeks.

"Just wake up soon, baby. I'll be waiting for you and I'm not going anywhere," I kept staring at her for a while and was lost in my thoughts. I never wanted to leave her side. Just staying by her side, made me feel so happy.

Suddenly I hear the monitor beeping rapidly and I stood up with a jerk, fearing that something was wrong. I felt her hand move sightly and my eyes went wide in shock and happiness. She was responding. I pressed the button to call the doctor and everyone came rushing inside.

"What happened?"

"I don't know. I was just talking and all of a sudden, the monitor started to beep loudly. I also saw her hands moving slightly," I breathed out in panic and confusion.

"Oh god, is she okay?" Rebecca's mom asked the doctor and he nodded looking at us.

"She heard you speaking and her heart started to race. She is trying to respond which is a good thing," he explained and suddenly Hannah started to shout.

"Dad, she is trying to open her eyes. She is awake." I looked at her and saw her eyelids moving. My heart started to race as her eyes fluttered open. I literally wanted to jump in happiness.

"Rebecca, can you see me?" The doctor asked and she blinked for a few moments before nodding slightly.

"Can you speak?" I held my breath as everyone kept staring at her with anticipation.

"Yes," her voice sounded hoarse but it was the beautiful sound in the world for me. I felt like I came back to life at that moment.

"Do you remember anything?"

Silence.

"I--I was hit by a car," she croaked out and looked at us.

"Okay, very good. I think you need some rest. Don't strain yourself now," the doctor smiled at her and she nodded lightly.

"Everyone can talk to her tomorrow as the visiting hours are over." The doctor tried to get us out and my mom walked outside with Hannah who had a disappointed look on her face.

"I'll come see you tomorrow, baby." her mom kissed her forehead and walked outside leaving me and Nate alone in the room with her.

"Come on, leave now. She needs to rest," The doctor rolled his eyes at us.

"Sleep well, Becca." Nate squeezed her hand lightly and she gave him a weak smile. She finally looked at me and our eyes met. I swallowed hard and walked towards her.

"Umm..do I know you?" I stopped dead in my tracks and felt like the earth stopped moving for a second. Blood drained from my face and my eyes went wide in shock and fear.

What the actual fuck?

She broke into a small smile and winked at me.

"Just kidding, daddy."