The Aftermath (Open From Bus Crash)

[Marissa Tasker]

"Pine Valley Hospital this is squad 3 we are in route to your hospital with patients from the bus accident on the mountain. We will be the first ambulance arriving to your hospital in 10 minutes... with the others a few minutes behind us. "

Those were the words the blared over the phone to the nurse in PVH. The nurse immediatly reached over and pushed the trauma alert button and everyone immediatly kicked into action getting the hospital ready for what was about to come into there hospital. Both trauma rooms are opened while several othere rooms are cleared out and other patients moved to make room for the injured.

"ETA 5 minutes people"

The nurse yells out as soon enough the lights and horn from the ambulance is heard as it pulls up to the bay. The first two patients that arrive through the door is Marissa with AJ on a stretcher behind her. With all of her fighting she had done to stay awake for AJ exaustion has finally set in and she lost conciousness on the way to the hospital. Soon enough one of the doctors rush over as he speaks.

"What do we have here."

The EMT looks at the young woman before he begins to speak while looking at the doctor.

"We have a young female with several injuries, her right arm is completly shattered, she has several cuts and bruises. possible concussion and hyperthermia has set in. The boy thats with her also has a mild case of hyperthermia, several cuts and bruises and nothing appears to be broken."

The doctor nods his head and looks down at Marissa before he begins to speak.

"Ok put them both in trauma bay 1, get X ray down here stat!"

The EMT nods his head before they take Marissa and AJ to the bay they were told. After she is settled in and the doctors and nurses begin to do there job the rests of the ambulances with the sick or injured begins to arrive setting the hospital in motion to get everyone the same care that they would want there loved ones to have. While meanwhile the waiting room begins to fill up with family wanting to hear news about there loved ones!

[Dix C. Martin]

The last thing Dixie remembered was hearing a man's voice telling her to calm down, to try and rest. After that she must have shut her eyes but where had she been? How long had she been out for?

Struggling to keep her eyes open, she felt pain in her chest, her knee, her whole body ached. There was an oxygen mask over her mouth and even though she was in a blanket she couldn't stop shivering. Not just from cold but from fear and confusion.
Slowly a memory came back. She was lying down, Kathy was curled up nearby her. But her daughter had sounded different than normal. Weaker and far away, not herself. What had happened to her? What had happened to the both of them? All Dixie wanted was answers, and she wanted them now. Unfortunately the people surrounding her didn't look in the mood to give them. She wasn't entirely sure of where she was and how she'd arrived there. She just wanted to see her daughter and know she was okay.

"Ka...Kat..Kathy?", she mouthed but was muffled from the mask. She tried to raise her hand to try and remove it but the EMT stopped her.
"Ma'am please just try and stay still. You're at Pine Valley Hospital. You were in an accident, a bus accident. Do you remember?"
Her eyes widening, slowly Dixie shook her head no.
"Alright just try and relax, ma'am. Everything will be fine."

Not long after, Dixie was out of the ambulance and brought into PVH. Still on the gurney she tried to listen to the EMT as he spoke with the doctor that had just run over. She tried to figure out what was wrong with her, and Kathy, but it was tough to keep her eyes open and focused.

"What do we have here?", Dr. Bennett asked.
"Female, mid 40's. Was experiencing difficulty breathing and chest pains. Deep laceration on the left knee, possible infection. Also showing signs of hypothermia."
"Wait I recognize her...patient advocate, she's, Dr. Martin's daughter in law.."
"I'd get him down here now. His granddaughter was in the ambulance behind us."

After Dr. Bennett ran over to have Joe and Jake paged, he noticed Frankie Hubbard being brought in on a gurney and ran over.
"Frankie! Are you ok-"
"I'm fine, Bennett.", Frankie growled, sitting up on the stretcher.
"Your knee looks a little-"
"A few stitches and I'll be fine. Look in on my kid brother will you? And Madison, make sure she's alright.", he demanded before being wheeled off to x-ray.

In the meantime Di was rolled in on a gurney, fighting off the pain in her shoulder so she could cran her neck and keep an eye out for Kathy. They had to take two ambulances and Kathy had gotten separated from her and Dixie. The last thing her niece needed in her condition.
"Ma'am if you could just lie down, please? I need to-"
"You need to let me know how my niece is!!", Di snapped.
"I swear if anything happens to her I'll-"
"Ma'am please. We're doing everything we can for all the passengers aboard that bus. I'm assigned though to do all I can for you so please, follow my instructions.", Dr. Lewis snapped, and after getting updated on Di's condition wheeled her into an exam room.

[JR Chandler]

JR had been in a panic. The relief of finding his family hadn't even sunk in yet, because he had no idea the shape that any of them were in. So many of his family members were affected. His mother, his sister, his brother, his aunt, his girlfriend, and most importantly his son. He loved all of them, even when they fought, but the only one he could really focus his energy on was his son. If anything happened to AJ, his world would fall apart.

Right now his chest was hurting, and he was coughing regularly every few minutes. He knew he was feeling worse, but anytime anyone had asked along the way, all he told them was that it was the cold from being outside, and he was going to be fine. He didnt want attention on himself, not when his family needed help.

JR paced the waiting room before spotting a nurse. "Where did they take my son? Where is he? " He asked insistently.

"He's in Trauma bay 1 with Ms. Tasker, someone will get you when you can see them" The nurse responded before heading off.

JR was not one to wait for people to come get him for anything so he rushed off to the Trauma bay and found JR and Marissa, feeling the same way he felt when he first found them in all the ice, as if he wasn't sure he'd ever see them again.

Before he could say anything one of the nurses came over. "Mr. Chandler you can't be in here, you can wait outside in the waiting room"

"My family is on the board of this hospital, I can be in any room I please, and if you think you're keeping me from my son after he's been missing, you're out of your mind!" He said with Chandler determination.

"Daddy..." He heard the soft voice from his son calling from one of the stretchers. JR moved to his side and took his hand. "I'm here AJ" He told him, looking up at the nurse who frowned but nodded, allowing him to stay. JR then looked over at Marissa. "I'm so sorry I didnt get there sooner..."

[Marissa Tasker]

"I'm so sorry I didnt get there sooner..."

Hearing his voice Marissa opened her eyes and then allowed them to close once more. She was so tired and it seemed almost like the more she fought the more tired she was. But hearing him apologize for not getting there any sooner, Marissa opens her eyes and allows them to meet JR's blue ones. She smiles weekly before she begins to speak in a soft yet weak voice.

"You dont have to apologize JR.... *takes a breath* It wasn't your your fault you did everything you could."

Marissa says those words before her eyes drift closed once more. Everytime she takes a breath it feels like it gets harder to breath like she is really starting to feel all of her injuries. There was a lingering pain in her side, she knew her arm was broken and would probably need surgery to repair it. But most of all her head was hurting and she was cold too. She slowly reopens her eyes once more as she begins to speak.

"How... how is AJ is he ok? And how are you JR... I might be tired and weak but... *coughs* but you dont look too good..."

She says those words once more but before he can answer two doctors make there way into the room as one of the doctors heads over to Marissa as he begins to speak.

"Ms Tasker I am Doctor Anderson, tell me what all is bothering you where are you feeling pain."

Marissa turns her head to look at the doctor she yawns abit and her eyes drift closed for a second before she reopens them slowly as she begins to speak...

"I am so tired.... My arm is hurting really bad, my left side is hurting, my head is hurting, and it feels like my whole body is in pain and I'm so cold, cold enough that I cant even feel my toes.. But dont worry about me right now please make sure my nephew is alright please.."

Even in her weak state she was still worried about AJ, the doctor shakes his head before he begins to speak.

"Dont worry your nephew is being checked out but I think we need to get some X rays young lady. And before we do that I'm going to check you over to make sure theres no more injuries."

He begins to check her over while Marissa looks back over towards JR. She weakly lifts her hand and reaches out for JR, she smiles abit as he takes her hand before she begins to cough and that alarms the doctor when blood splatters on the sheet that is covering her. Alarming him he calls for assistance before the rush Marissa off to be xrayed to make sure she isnt bleeding internally.

[JR Chandler]

"I didnt do enough" JR replied, certain that he should have been able to done more, to get to them sooner, or stop this from ever happening. "I should have been with you, you two shouldn't have had to go by yourselves...I could've helped you get out sooner..." He began coughing again, turning his head away and trying to stifle it the best he could.

"AJ's a fighter, just like you are, you're both going to be okay" He said, trying to reassure them both. "I'm fine too, don't worry about me" JR looked back down at his son again, who was shivering from the cold despite the blankets they had brought him. "Can't you get him something warmer?" He asked the staff.

JR saw Marissa reach her hand out to him and took it in his. "You're gonna be alright Marissa..you both will be..." He said then in shock as she coughed up the blood. "What's going on! What's happening to her?!" JR asked as they rushed her off, not letting him follow her to XRay. "What does that mean, is she going to be okay?" He asked the other nurses in the room.

"Mr. Chandler we'll let you know as soon as we know anything"

[Marissa Tasker]

Whille Marissa is rushed off to Xray and possibly emergency surgery. A nurse soon comes into the room where JR and AJ are, she heads over and begins to check on AJ to make sure he is warm. She soon looks over at JR as she begins to speak while fixing the blanket.

"Mr Chandler your girlfriend Marissa is being rushed to xray and the doctor told me we will possibly be rushing her into surgery. We will be moving your son upstairs shortly we will take you up with him and when Marissa is brought back down we will let you know and you can come in and see her."

After saying those words AJ looks up at the nurse and yawns abit before he begins to speak.

"Is my mommy going to be ok..."

The nurse looks down at him and gives him abit of a smile she nods her head and begins to speak.

"She will be ok little man you just lay here and relax and chat with your daddy and I will be back shortly to take you both upstairs."

A few hours later.

A few hours later a very tired Marissa is rolled into her room upstairs in the ICU. She has her head turned to the side, her breathing is slow but she came to through the surgery like a trooper. Soon enough her eyes slowly begin to flutter as she begins to speak in a soft tired voice.

"JR....."

[Kathy Martin]

Kathy had remained lucid as the ambulance response team had collected the victims of the bus crash and put them onto stretches. She’d managed to stay awake until it was her turn for one, and she asked to stay close to Di and Dixie, although not quite remembering who they were, but when she was told she couldn’t she found herself scared and alone in an ambulance by herself. She’d fallen asleep on the ride to the hospital, the EMT’s working on getting her body temperature up and writing down her vitals.

“A few bruised bones, hypothermia, she’ll need stitches for the cut on her forehead,” one of the EMT’s was explaining to a Doctor as they unloaded Kathy’s stretcher out and into the hospital. “Also checking her pupils, she has a concussion, don’t let her sleep for too long. Get her into a room.” A nurse who had been standing by them nodded and wheeled Kathy off to another room, disappearing for a second in search of equipment to stitch her up.

“Where’s A-Aunt Julia?” Kathy murmured tiredly, her eyes half open as she stirred on the bed. “I want to see Aunt Julia.” Clutching at the heated blanket wrapped around her Kathy’s eyes filled with tears and confusion, she didn’t understand what had happened, and why she was in the room alone.

“I’m sorry sweetheart, but there wasn’t a Julia brought in from the crash,” the nurse explained gently. “I’ll ask around and see if anyone knows where your Aunt is. Now the Doctor is going to be in shortly to look after that cut you have, it seems someone did a good job of helping stop the bleeding already.” The nurse smiled and carefully laid out the tray of equipment. “I’m just going to go outside real quick and see if we can find your Aunt. Keep those eyes open, okay? I wont be long.” With a smile the nurse exited the room, leaving Kathy more alone and confused as ever.

OOC: Sorry that took forever! Hope it's okay!

[JR Chandler]

"Mommy's going to be okay..." JR told his son, though his voice sounded unsure. He was more worried about Marissa than he wanted his son to know. He gave AJ a big hug, glad that the nurses had reassured him that at least AJ had made it through this ordeal alright.

During the time that Marissa was away at X-Ray and in surgery, JR ordered around the nurses to get him updates on the rest of his family. He knew he couldn't leave AJ right now, but needed to make sure his mother and siblings were alright. He hoped that Tad would be with Kathy and Dixie and that his father would have come to check on Colby. He also told the nurses to get him if any of them took a turn for the worse.

Finally after what seemed like an eternity, JR was able to sit at her side in the ICU. AJ was resting in a room down the hall and the nurses had advised JR to leave the boy to get some sleep. JR held Marissa's hand as he waited for her to regain consciousness. His chest felt tight, and he could feel himself sweating but he tried to attribute that to nerves, and the coughing he had to the chill from the cold. Finally Marissa's eyes opened and she said his name.

"I'm right here Marissa...you're going to be okay...I love you"

[Marissa Tasker]

"I'm right here Marissa...you're going to be okay...I love you"

Marissa gives him a weak smile and closes her eyes for a moment, she gently squeezes his hand. Before she reopens her eyes, she allows her eyes to meet his blue ones before she begins to speak in a soft tired voice.

"I love you too JR...."

She closes her eyes once more and takes a shallow breath, she runs her tongue over her lips which are dry before she reopens her eyes. She focuses on JR for a moment before she begins to speak in a soft, tired voice.

"How is Aj? How is Dixie and Kathy? *coughs* Is everyone ok JR?"

She asked that question before closing her eyes once more and taking a shallow breath. She was tired but she wasnt going to let it win. She slowly reopens her eyes before she looks over at JR and speaks in a soft voice...

"JR will you come lay down with me please handsome?"

[Dix C. Martin]

[OOC: Hey guys, just want to give you a heads up. For THIS thread I'm also gonna be writing for Tad, just for continuity and to keep the plot going. Rules still apply for writing just as your charrie/not taking on unclaims, all that good stuff. Any questions/concerns let me or J.R know. Thanks! Also, forgive me for the length here. ]

Dixie had been examined, X-rayed and now was left to wait in her room while they cleared an OR. They'd hooked her up to oxygen and pain medication in an IV, but whatever tubes were pumping whatever into her, weren't easing her fears any. She had to know how Kathy was doing, along with the others. And not getting answers wasn't sitting well with her.

Ever since the phone call Tad's head hadn't stopped spinning. The entire rescue mission felt like a blur, and now he was left to deal with the aftermath.
Dixie, Kathy, accident, the three words still hadn't lost the horrific edge they'd had ten years ago. Only now it was even worse, his son and grandson and God knows how many others had been hurt in that damn bus.
Stumbling blindly into PVH, after speaking with a nurse he made his way towards the trauma bays. What scared him was he had no idea which one to go to first. His wife, his daughter, his sons...there were too many options.
Finally a nurse came by and made the decision for him, telling him Dixie was down the hall and to the left.

"Dixie? Honey?",
Opening her eyes a crack, she saw him and the fear on his face made her heart break.
"T...Tad..", she choked out before his lips met hers. He kissed her cheeks, forehead, everything before finally pulling back.
"It's okay, baby. It's okay I'm here, everything's gonna be fine. I promise."
Stroking her hair, he linked his free right hand with her left and stared straight into her eyes.
Not ready to see the rest of her and see all her injuries. At this point he just had to keep reminding himself that she was still here. Still breathing.
When her eyes filled with tears though it brought him back. He had to deal with whatever had her so afraid. But first she had to tell him what was wrong.
"Shhh, shhh..you gotta just rest easy now okay, relax. I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere."

Though Dixie wished with everything in her that could be the case, tearfully she shook her head.
"No...no you--you have to-"
"Easy Dix..easy. What is it? Anything you want me to do just name it."
"K..Kathy.", she choked out as Tad's eyes widened before he caught himself.
"I'll go to her right now, okay. Just relax, the second I know our baby's safe I'll be right back checking on her momma.", Tad promised, linking their hands firmly.
"You breathe easy for me, baby. Everything's gonna be fine."
Kissing his wife once more, Tad reluctantly left her side and walked out the door, colliding with Dixie's doctor in the hallway.

"Excuse me, Dr. Bennett I just-"
"Don't worry Tad. I've just checked Dixie's labwork, X-rays..also our cardiologist on standby, Dr. Knight and our on call nephrologist Dr. Winters have given her a thorough exam. With the hypothermia we didn't want to take any chances."
"Omigod the oxygen tubes..her heart, I-"
"Actually Dr. Knight was surprised to see that wasn't the cause of her breathing trouble at all."
"What are you saying?"
"Dixie's sustained two rib fractures and as as a result, a punctured right lung."
"Omigod."
"We're going to repair the damage there as well as the damage to her knee in surgery. But they are both routine procedures and we've just cleared an OR. The procedure will take a few hours at most."
"But she's going to be alright?"
"Surgery is always a risk but, I know your wife is a fighter. If all goes well Dixie will make a full recovery."

Relieved at the doctor's words, Tad saw the orderlies wheeling Dixie out on a gurney and immediately was at her side.
"You come back to me, sweetheart. Understand?
Weakly, Dixie nodded and gave him a slight smile before the orderlies wheeled her into the elevator.

"Watch over her..", Tad prayed, looking up briefly before searching for his daughter. Luckily he recognized the woman leaving the room down the hall as Kathy's pediatrician.

"Dr. Macclaine!", he yelled, jogging over.
"Mr. Martin. I just finished Kathy's exam."
"How is-"
The nervousness in the doctor's eyes left Tad's stomach knotting in forty places. Following her over to a quiet corner he braced himself.
"Kathy sustained some minor bone bruising and had a laceration on the forehead which needed three stitches. We've given her pain medication, along with a heated blanket to keep any hypothermia at bay. She's awake and we've made her as comfortable as possible."
"Then explain that look on your face when I walked over."
"When she was brought in we did a CT scan, MRI. Kathy's also sustained a concussion, Mr. Martin."
"How serious is it?"
"Well we're going to keep her overnight to monitor it. My primary concern though is the impact it's had on her memory."
"Her memory? Oh, God..you're not telling me.."
Biting his lip, Tad looked in the window at his small angelic pale little girl. The thought of her going through the ordeal he had after Billy Clyde and the bridge scared him spitless.
"I was told by Nurse Gellar that, when she was brought in Kathy was asking for, the late Nurse Santos."
"Julia?"
"Yes.", Dr. Macclaine said solemnly.
"Well that could be just, from the cold and exhaustion and..wanting her aunt there to comfort her. Right?"
"Mr. Martin there's no way to tell. That could very well be a factor but given the concussion we can't rule out anything."
"I have to get in there, I..I have to see her."
"That's perfectly alright. Just, do what you can to keep her from drifting off too long for the next few hours."
At this a slight smile crept onto Tad's face. If anyone knew how to keep people entertained in a hospital it'd be him.
"Also I've been meaning to ask, how is Mrs. Martin? Is she going to be alright?"
"Dix is in surgery now for, a punctured lung and a torn ligament in her knee."
"Well listen if I hear anything I'll be sure and let you know. And you're all in my prayers."

After thanking the doctor, taking a deep breath Tad knocked on the door and entered Kathy's room.
"Hey sunshine. How's my best girl, huh?", he smiled as he approached her bed. Stroking her hair he gave her a kiss on the cheek and hugged her gently but close. Trying his best not to cry in front of his little girl.

[Kathy Martin]

Kathy had been poked and prodded and examined and looked at, and now she was only finally getting some rest, but still no answers. She’d asked and asked and asked for her Aunt Julia, but no one had said where she was or when she’d come, they’d just asked her funny questions like the guy by the fire had. She didn’t understand why her Aunt hadn’t come to see her yet, or where the lady who’d helped her with the card to her parents was, or where Di had gone. Lying alone in the room had become rather lonely, but the sight of movement by the door had her perking up just a little. A familiar friendly face entered her room and she felt an uncontrollable smile spread.

“Tad!” she exclaimed so glad to see a familiar face. She hugged him back lightly and gave him a tired smile when he took a seat on the chair beside her bed. Trying to figure out an answer for him she gave a little a shrug. “I’m worried about Aunt Julia, and the others. Aunt Julia wasn’t with us, and I haven’t seen her since this morning. Do you know where she is?” She paused for a second, glancing towards the window of her room and then back to Tad.

“Do you know what happened to Di? And to the lady who gave me her jacket? She helped me make a card for mommy before she went with the angels, you remember her right? You showed me the magic trick that day,” she explained, face blanketed with concern. “I think she was hurt really bad. And – and then there was Lily, she saved me from the bus and... and I was scared, because I thought I’d been swimming, and it was really cold and we couldn’t get warm.” She was beginning to babble a little, trying to remember everything that had happened, but not completely understanding why it had or what she’d been doing before the accident.

“I just want Aunt Julia,” she sniffled, tears brimming in her eyes. “Please?”

[Dix C. Martin]

When Kathy called him by his first name, not Dad, even though Tad was a grown man it took everything in him not to break down in tears.
Hugging her back, once he got himself together he sat down in the chair at her bedside. Her forehead was stitched up and she was pale but she didn't look to have any other injuries. Her words were worrying him the most.

"Sunshine, you don't have to worry about Julia or anyone now, okay. Everything's gonna be fine.", he assured.
Listening to her describe Dixie, he sighed but fought to keep a smile on his face.
"It's alright Kathy. Dixie did get hurt but she's a fighter, just like you are. She's gonna be fine. The doctor's are in fixing her up right now and when they're done we'll both go and see her. And Lily when we can. One of the nurses told me she and Di are feeling a lot better."

As Kathy roughly described everything she'd been through, Tad's heart felt torn to shreds. And the feeling just amplified when she started sniffling and asking for Julia. He was at a loss, trying to figure out what to say and how to answer her questions.
As much as he wanted to protect her from the truth, he remembered how he'd felt when he had amnesia.
Scared and frustrated and wanting answers but feeling like they were out of reach.
He knew he had to tell her the truth, but he couldn't bombard her. Not when she'd been through this much already.

"Honey, Julia...asked me to keep an eye on you tonight, okay? She'd be here with you right this second if she could, but, for now I'm afraid you're stuck with me.", Tad smiled softly.
"Listen though..I'm not going anyplace tonight. As far as I'm concerned you and I are roomies, and it'll stay that way til you're outta this bed. Understand?", he chuckled. Thankfully getting a slight smile from his little girl.
"Ah, exzellent!", he chirped in a trademark accent.
"So you know as fantastic as your doctor was that just left, I think she may have forgotten to check for one thing..."
Grinning mischievously, Tad quickly reached behind Kathy's ear and retrieved a quarter to place in her palm.
"See lucky I caught that. You know how much this bought me when I was a kid?"
Not sure if Kathy would remember the conversation they'd had on a park bench about how much the quarter was worth, Tad reached into a small tote bag he'd brought and retrieved a board game, coloring and story books, playing cards, an iPod, some stuffed animals. It was Dixie's go-to kit when she dealt with kids at the hospital, and Tad had made a few adjustments, putting in a stuffed chicken he'd brought from home.

"All of this, plus my rapier type wit and boyish good looks. It was some quarter, let me tell you. Now, anything here looking good to ya?", he asked, setting the items down in front of Kathy. If he'd had it his way he'd let her curl up with her chicken and sleep, but it seemed like this was his only option.

[Kathy Martin]

“But then why hasn’t Aunt Julia come to see me?” Kathy asked worriedly. She was uncertain why she couldn’t remember much of the crash, or before it happened, what if she’d done something wrong? And what had happened to the others? Besides, the doctors and nurses coming and going, she hadn’t seen anyone else in a long while. Relief came when she was told about the others from Tad, and she nodded slowly.

“Can we make Dixie a card?” she wondered out loud thoughtfully. “And Lily and Di too, they should all get cards so they can feel better. And can we ask Aunt Julia to come and help?” This was when she was told about her Aunt wanting Tad to keep an eye on her tonight. She liked that her Aunt had picked Tad to help stay with her while she was away, caring about him deeply and still wishing he was her dad. “Are you sick or hurt too? Is that why you’re my roomie?” She smiled softly at him and nodded her understanding that she was indeed stuck with him all night.

“What did she forget?” Kathy questioned curiously and watched as his hand went behind her ear and reappeared with a quarter. “A quarter!” She took it in her hand and beamed with a smile. “That’s your magic trick! You showed me at the park with Aunt Julia! It bought you a car!” She watched him with the bag of things as he pulled stuff out, and grinned at all the cool toys he had.

“It bought you all of this and a car?!” she gasped in surprise. She examined each item and then slowly shook her head for a minute, wincing slightly at the tightness around her stitched area. “I don’t see Amanda Panda. But we can use the colouring books to make cards, right Tad?” She yawned but tried her best to hide it from him and then reached over for the books and crayons. “Can we make...” She closed her eyes for a minute, a wave of sleepiness taking over her system and found herself laying back. “I feel tired, but the Doctor says I cant sleep for very long.” She clutched at the warm blanket and shut her eyes for a moment.

[Dix C. Martin]

The way Kathy looked at him when she asked about Julia, tore at Tad's heart. He knew at some point, sooner rather than later, he'd have to tell her the truth. Right now though he just had to distract her, try and keep her smiling and calm until she was ready to handle it. Not like handling something like this would be any easier the second time around.
"Julia not being here now is no reflection on you, Kathy. Not at all. Things just happen sometimes that are out of our hands. But, I don't want you worrying or getting upset. I know you're missing your aunt but, I'm here to keep an eye on you, alright. Just like I promised. And Thaddeus Martin always..keeps his promises.", Tad grinned, waggling his eyebrows a bit getting her smiling.

Relieved she changed the subject to card making, Tad gave her a smile but it didn't quite reach his eyes. Hearing Kathy call Dixie, Dixie, was tough to hear, and he realized why his wife looked so fearful earlier in her room. Just thinking about all his girls had endured on that damn trip left a knot in his stomach, but he pushed his guilt and anger down for Kathy's sake, and smiled with a nod.

"That's a terrific idea. Wish I'd thought of it myself.", he grinned, then shook his head when Kathy asked if he was sick or hurt.
"No, I'm just fine sweetheart, and I plan on keeping myself that way okay."

When she remembered the day at the park, Tad's eyes misted over a bit. At least her memory from then was still somewhat intact. That had been one of the worst days of his life but briefly on that bench he forgot the pain he was in, solely because of his little girl.
"Ah yes..zis is a case of smartness here.", he teased.
"Sure thing...thinking outside the box, I like it."
Catching her yawn and how tired she was, Tad sighed sadly and shifted so he sat beside her on the bed.
"I know, baby. You gotta try and stay awake though, okay. Please, for me?", he asked, stroking her hair back when she started drifting off.
"Listen how about we watch a little TV."
Reaching for the remote he flipped on the TV and found a cartoon channel.
"We can watch a few episodes of..what the heck is this, Spongebob? And then I'll page the doc and see if we can snooze for awhile. Sound good to you?", he asked, hoping for the best.

[JR Chandler]

JR gave her a smile as Marissa said that she loved him too. They were words he wasn't sure he'd get to hear her say anymore. He had been so worried about losing everyone that he loved in that one accident. He wouldn't have survived if they hadn't made it. There were too many people he needed, and Marissa was one important one.

"Everyone's pulled through...AJ's getting some rest, Tad's seeing my mom and Kathy. How are you feeling? " He asked her.

"Anything you like, always" He responded to her request, before another coughing fit took him. He turned his head away from her as he tried to regain his breath. When he though it had stopped he gave her a weak smile hoping she wouldn't worry but knowing something didn't feel right. He got up from the chair to move to the bed with her but didn't make it. As soon as he stood up everything started going black as he collapsed.