Empty Net

by Toni Aleo

  “I’m scared too, but we have to stay strong, Tate, because those two women need us. We can’t get into it with William, because believe me, I would love to, but we can’t. It hurts Fallon and it would hurt Audrey if she knew.”

  Tate nodded as he wiped his face along his bicep, “I want her back.”

  “I know. I do too, but promise me you’ll let William run his mouth and ignore it. Do it for Audrey, please.”

  Tate swallowed loudly, his eyes pooling with tears as he thought about what she would think if she had been awake to see them all fighting like that. She would have lost her damn mind, and probably killed all of them. Audrey loved her father, even if he was a completely jackass. Tate was never like this, and he blamed his quick temper on the fact his emotions were out of whack and he hadn’t played hockey in almost a week. He needed his hockey like he needed Audrey. They were his vises, his way of living. But Lucas was right. He couldn’t fight with William, not when he knew Audrey wouldn’t like it and that William’s anger was probably just frustration from not knowing answers about his daughter.

  If he was William and it was his daughter lying there and no one had the answers for him, Tate would probably pick on the punk kid in the corner too. Maybe it was a daddy thing.

  Tate was in that club now.

  Turning to look at Lucas, he nodded, “I promise.”

  Lucas shot him a thankful smile and then said, “Thanks man, now come on, let’s get back in there.”

  “I need a minute,” Tate said softly.

  Lucas nodded before he cupped his shoulder and left him to watch the skyline. Closing his eyes, he took in deep breaths as he tried to get it together. He wanted to focus on anything but what was going on, and when he heard Only Girl by Rihanna playing, it took him back to three weeks before.

  “I'm gonna make you feel, like you're the only girl in the world. Like you're the only one who I'll ever love, like you're the only one who knows my heart,” he sang, looking up at Audrey as she sat on the top of his piano watching him. Her eyes were wide, watching his face as he sang the Boyce Avenue version of the song. When he heard it, he knew he had to learn it for Audrey. She seemed to love it too, making all his hard work worth it.

  As he played the intense piano solo, she smiled as she watched his fingers move quickly over the keys. Looking back up at her, he started the chorus again and reached up, resting his hand on her knee as he played with one hand, finishing the song. She giggled and when he looked up, she leaned forward to kiss his lips eagerly.

  The thing he loved about kissing her was that when she kissed, she would sometimes bite his bottom lip, like now. As she kissed him, her hands running up the back of his neck, her teeth sank into his bottom lip, pulling him towards her as she backed away. He went willing, standing up as his hands moved up her bare thighs, taking over the kiss. Her hands came up, her fingers tangling with his hair as she pulled back and looked deep into his eyes. He could see the lust swirling in her eyes and if she wasn’t careful, he was going to have his way with her against the piano.

  Again.

  “You make me feel, Tate. Really feel. I’ve never been this in love before.”

  Tate smiled, nipping at her lip as he nodded, “I know what you mean, I am right there with you. I promise I’ll be everything you need; no one will ever be put above you. You are the only girl in the world for me. I love you, baby, only you.”

  Her eyes filled quickly with tears as she gave him a quick grin, “I think I’m gonna have to get used to the back pain from having sex on this piano.”

  He laughed, “Why, we can go across the hall.”

  “No, we can’t.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I can’t wait.”

  Pinching the bridge of his nose, he coughed out a sob as his body shook with fear. He wouldn’t let them take her off that ventilator. He couldn’t. She was going to wake up, she was going to make it, and they were going to raise their child. He would be there for her 100%, loving her even when she feels like she is big from the pregnancy, because to him she will be gorgeous. He wanted to get a new house for them, somewhere close to Lucas and Fallon since she would want to be near her sister during her pregnancy. He wanted to put that piano in the middle of their room so that when she wanted him to ravish her, the bed would only be two second away. He had so many plans, and all he needed was her.

  He didn’t want his life to go back to the darkness it used to be.

  He needed his light.

  His Audrey.

  Later that night, Tate was leaning against the wall with his eyes drifting shut as he fell asleep which caused his head to fall forward. Before he could fall though, he would wake up, and glance around the room, hoping no one saw him. He was exhausted and he had spent the whole afternoon without Audrey in front of him. William and Nora opted to have the surgery for Audrey’s nose and ankle while she was still out. It had gone well, but it made Tate nervous and his heart still wasn’t beating at a normal rate. Glancing down at his love, he noticed that the swelling was going down along her jaw and outside her eyes. The inside around her nose was puffy and bruised, but Tate could see his Audrey. She was there; she just needed to wake up.

  Fallon held Audrey’s hand, with her knees tucked under her chin, watching Audrey as Lucas lay on the floor, snoring loudly. William and Nora were in the waiting room sleeping while Tate fought his sleepy body with everything inside him. Looking over at Fallon, he saw her eyes drift shut and he felt horrible for having her sit there like that.

  “Fallon why don’t you go home, take a nap?”

  She shook her head, “I’m fine.”

  “Fallon, you are dead on your feet, this isn’t good for your baby.”

  “Tate, leave me alone,” Fallon said sharply. “I can’t argue with you about my health when you are not watching yours. We both need sleep, I know that, but we both won’t go. So let’s just let it go.” He watched as the tears streamed down her face, while she played thumb war with Audrey’s limp hand.

  “I’m sorry; I was only looking out for you.”

  Fallon nodded, not looking back at him. She laid her head back on her legs and tangled her fingers with Audrey’s before closing her eyes. Tate leaned his head back, taking in a deep breath and letting it out before closing his eyes. He knew there was no use in fighting with her. Fallon was one tough chick, and she was stubborn as hell. Shaking his head, he took in another breath before letting it out slowly and trying to stay awake with his eyes closed.

  It didn’t work, and Tate was almost asleep when Fallon cried out. His eyes shot open as Lucas sat up quickly knocking his head against the bed while Fallon stood, crying out loudly as she held Audrey’s hand. When he looked down at Audrey’s face, his gaze met hers.

  All the air rushed out of Tate as he ran to the other side of her bed, picking her hand up slowly and kissing the back of her knuckles. He felt light headed as the relief from her eyes locking with his, made his hands shake. Hell, his whole body. He couldn’t breathe, his heart was jack hammering against his chest and he wanted to cry out in joy. He wanted to tell her everything he was feeling, he wanted to gather her in his arms, tell her how much he loved her and how much he missed her. But when he saw the tears start to rush down Audrey’s cheeks, he stopped. She looked terrified as she looked from Fallon to him.

  “Oh my God, Audrey, I love you, oh my God,” Fallon cried, as Lucas came up behind her, smiling down at Audrey as he ran his hand up and down Fallon’s back.

  “Everything is fine, baby, breathe, it is okay,” Tate said calmly since all Fallon could do was cry and whisper she loved Audrey. It was what he wanted to do, but someone had to be the calm one here. Lucas still looked half asleep, so Tate knew he was no help. “I’m here, Fallon’s here, everyone is here. Just breathe.”

  Audrey nodded, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked up at him. He gave her a full smile as he leaned down and kissed her forehead. Her hands were shaking and Tate knew she was freaking out. Leani
ng over her, he reached for the nurse button and pressed it, waiting for the nurse to come over the line. When she did, he smiled and said, “Audrey is awake.”

  ***

  Audrey’s body was on fire.

  She hurt from the top of her head to the tip of her toes. Looking from Tate’s face to Fallon’s, she tried to tell them that she was hurting, but she couldn’t move her mouth. She went to reach up to her face, but Fallon stopped her.

  “No, honey, that’s your ventilator, just hold on,” Fallon said through tears that rushed down her cheeks. She looked so tired, so distraught.

  Why the hell was she on a ventilator?

  “It’s okay, baby, everything is going to be alright, the doctors are on their way,” Tate said from the other side of her. She looked up into his beautiful face to see his tears welling up in his eyes.

  What the hell was going on?

  Where was she? And why was she hurting so badly? She felt like her face was ripped apart, she couldn’t see very well out of her left eye, and her throat was burning.

  Suddenly, it was like everything hit her at once.

  Levi had beaten the living shit out of her. She thought she was going to die under his strong hand. No, she was convinced of it. Now, by some kind of miracle, she was breathing. With every strike from his hand, she grew weaker and a little piece of her life passed before her eyes. She tried to fight back, but he was too strong. Every time she tried to move away, he would take her by her hair, and slam her against the wall. Why did he stop? Why didn’t he kill her? Did Fallon stop him? Before she passed out, she heard Fallon’s voice. Did she save her? Looking up at her sister, she looked fine except that she looked tired, they all did.

  Her mother and father came into view, both crying as they came to Fallon’s side, holding onto Audrey’s arm while Tate’s thumb ran along the back of her knuckles.

  “My sweet baby girl, I’ve been so worried,” her mother cried.

  Baby.

  Her baby!

  Pulling her hands from Tate and Fallon, she moved her hands to her mid-section, her eyes wide with worry. Was her baby okay? Was there still a baby? Did Levi kill it? Did she not protect it well enough?

  Oh my God, someone, tell me fucking something! She screamed in her head.

  She wanted to scream for answers, but it seemed that no one knew what was going on. Her eyes darted from each of their faces as she held her stomach, but they all looked around, confused.

  “Are you sick honey? Does your stomach hurt?” Nora asked.

  No! Is my baby okay! Take this fucking tube out my throat!

  She reached over, taking both Fallon’s hands in hers. Fallon just looked lost and confused as Audrey’s eyes bored into her, hoping for some kind of sisterly telepathic powers or something! Shouldn’t she just know what Audrey needed to know!? They were sisters! She put Fallon’s hand on her stomach, and pushing through the pain, pointed to Fallon’s stomach, but Fallon just sat there crying.

  “What’s wrong, is she hurting, where the fuck are the doctors?” Lucas yelled, holding Fallon close.

  “I thought I was going to lose you, A,” Fallon cried.

  “Oh my goodness, this is a miracle,” Nora cried, holding onto William.

  “Everyone calm down, it’s okay, she’s awake that’s all that matters,” William said squeezing her arm, “Baby, you’re okay, I promise. Everything is okay.”

  Oh God, I must have lost the baby.

  Falling back into the bed, Audrey griped the sheets in frustration, tears spilling from her eyes. That was the only reason she could think that everyone kept saying she was okay, and not the baby. Didn’t Fallon know that this was the most important thing to her? Nora knew that too, so why wasn’t anyone telling her anything? Looking up at Tate through clouded eyes, she wished she had had the chance to tell him. At least they would have had that little moment to celebrate the fact they could have kids. She wanted to scream that she loved him and that she was sorry she couldn’t protect herself and their child. She could tell by the look in his eyes, he had been so worried about her.

  “Baby, it’s okay,” he said softly, moving close to her, kissing her forehead. She closed her eyes tight, basking in the feel of his lips as he said, “You are okay, I know it must hurt but you’re awake, I can see your eyes, baby, I have missed them so much.”

  I’ve missed yours, how long have I been out?

  “And now we get to blow this popsicle stand when you’re better and get ready to raise our little chicken, which by the way I think is a great nickname, I thought the same thing when they showed me the ultrasound. That yolk sack is weird, huh?”

  It was like her heart stopped and then blew up in her chest. Her eyes went wide as his smile grew, and his hand squeezed hers. She was still pregnant; there was still a little chicken in her and he loved her nickname like she knew he would. He was weird like her; they were made for each other. They still were having a baby!

  “You’re overwhelming her, Tate,” William snapped.

  Audrey looked over at him, trying to shake her head as Tate said, “No, I’m calming her. She’s scared; I’m trying to treat her like there isn’t a fucking tube down her throat.” Looking back down at Audrey, his eyes softened as he said, “I’m so proud of you, love. You’ve been so strong and I love you so much.”

  She nodded, squeezing his hand when really she wanted to scream how sorry she was. She should have never let Levi inside; she should have ignored him, and stayed away. She not only put herself in danger but their baby, and that wasn’t fair. Just then a doctor came in and with a booming voice, he said, “Welcome back, Ms. Parker, so nice to see those gorgeous eyes I’ve heard of.”

  Audrey looked up to see the young doctor, looking at her file before sending her a bright grin. He was a nice looking man, and for some reason, he looked really familiar. She just couldn’t place who he was. Moving to the side Tate was on; he came over to her and started to check her vitals. He shined his little light in her eyes before taking her pulse. Once he was done with that, he looked down at her and smiled, “You ready for that tube to come out?”

  She nodded eagerly as he chuckled, “I bet you are. I bet everyone is. You have one supportive family.” Audrey sent a loving look at her family before meeting eyes with Tate. He smiled, his hand on her foot as the nurse held a silver plate out for the doctor. “Alright, ready?” Audrey nodded again and he said, “Ok, this may cause you to gag a bit,” he informed her, taking a hold of the tube, “Here we go,” he said and the next thing Audrey knew she was gagging and gasping for air. “All done, good job,” he said giving her another grin, “I’m Dr. Rivera, by the way, Bryan told me to say, ‘Hi’.” When he gave her a quick wink, it all clicked into place as he moved away. He was Bryan Richards’ boyfriend; that was where Audrey knew him from. Audrey smiled brightly but stopped when the pain ripped through her lips. With disregard for her pain, she moved her fingers up to touch her lips and felt the thread that must have been holding her lips together as a nurse came over to put a pair of nose prongs in her nose.

  “Things look great folks. One more night up here and if you do well, I’ll send you to the step down unit, and hopefully you’ll be home within the week.”

  As everyone thanked him, Audrey moved her hand down to her throat as she cleared it. It was scratchy and uncomfortable, but it was way better than having that damn tube down it. Fallon wrapped her arms around Audrey’s neck hugging her tightly as her body shook with her sobs.

  “I was so scared I thought I lost you, Audrey, oh my gosh, I’ve been a mess. I’ve missed you so much,” she cried. Before Audrey could say anything, her mother and father were on her too, kissing and loving on her. She kissed them back, telling them how much she loved them too as they all held each other. When she felt lips along her temple, she looked over to see Lucas grinning at her.

  “You’ve given me the scare of my life, thanks.”

  “Sorry,” she whispered.

  But he shook his head, “
You have nothing to be sorry about. I’m just glad I get to see your bright, beautiful face.”

  Audrey shared a long look with him as if knowing she had scared him, and that he had been the rock that Fallon needed. They both knew her sister was a drama queen, add in the fact she is pregnant, God bless Lucas’ soul, because he was in for a ride. He gave her a wink, before wrapping his arms around Fallon and holding her tight. She watched them for a moment and was glad that she had made it through the worst moment of her life. When Levi had kneed her in the mouth she had given up. There was no way she could have won and she knew Tate wasn’t coming, but by the grace of God, she made it and she would never take life for granted again. How many times had Tate told her things could end in a matter of seconds? He was so right, and she was blessed she had another chance.

  Tate appeared beside her, and leaned down, pressing his lips to hers softly. Her heart skipped a beat and she swore it was like she couldn’t breathe again. She had missed him so much and to feel his lips again was like winning the lottery, or hell, her life back. When they parted, he gave her a large loving smile, showing the gap she thought she’d never see again. “Hi.”

  Audrey’s eyes watered as she gave him as much of a smile she could give him, “Hi”

  “I have missed the feel of those lips on mine for twelve days now. “

  “I was out for twelve days?” she asked hoarsely.

  “No, four, but I was gone eight before that. So it’s been a long time.”

  Audrey’s mouth quirked up on the side as she nodded, “Way too long. I love you, I’m so sorry.”

  “No, don’t be. It’s not your fault,” he said shaking his head, “I love you, too,” he whispered before kissing her softly again.

  “Ms. Parker, are you in any pain?” a nurse asked from beside her. Audrey looked up to see her messing with her IV.

  “Yes ma’am, a lot.”

  “Okay, this should help, but it will probably make you drowsy.”

  “Thank you,” Audrey said quietly as the nurse smiled and moved away. Tate moved his chair to her side, sitting down and holding her hand as she looked around the room. Everyone was watching her like she was going to disappear at any second. “So, I guess I should have had a magic show planned for when I woke up, huh?”