An Illicit Gentleman II

                                          Chapter-Forty One

The next couple of days seem to float by, Eve ignored everyone, and pretty much stared at the ceiling or out the window.  She wouldn’t even talk to the Detective when she came in but Ozwith agreed to give her a couple of days.  AJ still hadn’t told her about the pictures even though people had pretty much forgotten about it and were interested in what was happening now.  A bunch of Paparazzi’s hung around outside the hospital, AJ almost got into a fight with one when he went for a smoke.

Today he hoped would be a better day because today the Doctor was taking out the tube and they were going to start therapy to help her to start breathing on her own again.  Maybe now she would be able to say something, maybe she’d feel more comfortable communicating.  She had been awake most of the morning they wanted to make sure she understood she had to be as calm as possible.  They told her she would have a little trouble at first but to stay relaxed and her lungs would pick up.  AJ stayed beside her as long as he could but when it was time to take the tube out the Nurse asked him to leave. 

Now he waited outside her room he could hear a light commotion behind the door and hoped everything was going ok.  About ten minutes after he left the Nurses and Doctor came out and told him Eve was doing well.  They told him she needed to stay relaxed and within a couple of hours she’ll find it easier to breath.  He stared at her door for a minute and then walked up and opened it. 

They had raised the bed up and she now sat up.  A small plastic tube strung along under her nose.  She wiped her face cleaning up the tape that had held down the ventilator tube.  He expected her too look up hearing the door opened but then he remembered she couldn’t hear the clicking of the door opening or the commotion outside of it.  Letting the door close behind him he walked over to her bed and it wasn’t until his body cast a shadow did she look up.  Her hair was flat and hung in her face, her eyes were sunken a little and they had dark circles around them.  She looked weak and tired and the redness in her eyes didn’t help much.

AJ walked over to the side of her bed and pulled the roll bar down; he then sat down and did something he had been dying to do since he heard the news.  He wrapped his arms around her and held her gently in a hug.  He wasn’t sure if it was the feeling of holding her or the fact she started crying but he started crying too.  Remembering what Kristin said he slowly pulled away and gently kissed her on the temple.  He then placed his hands on the side of her neck and looked her in the eyes.

“It’s going to be ok.” He said as he made sure to speak clearly.

She frowned immediately, her shaky hand reached up and her finger tips gently touched his lips.  Her eyes fell in pain and she started crying again.  He pulled her into his arms and rested her head on his shoulder.  His eyes closed as he rested the side of his head on top of hers.  AJ sat there holding her for a few moments but when she had calmed down he needed to get some answers.  He pulled her away and grabbed the notepad and he heard her moan but he didn’t care right now he needed to know why she was on the highway.

“What where you doing on the highway?” He wrote and showed her.  Her eyes reluctantly looked at the paper but as she read the words she sighed.  She then took the pad and pen from him and began writing.

When she was done Eve handed the paper back to him.  “I was being chased by a Photographer, at least I thought but then he started hitting me from behind, I lost control trying to get to my cell to call the Police.”

AJ wrote back. “Detective Ozwith wants to ask you questions.”

Eve took the paper and started writing but AJ could see what it was.  “It’s the person that helped Mats get to Kentucky isn’t it?”  He looked at her and lightly shrugged.  She put the pen down with a sigh and sat back. 

Just then there was a knock at the door and AJ turned around.  Him moving must have gotten Eve’s attention because she looked up as the door opened and a small crew of people came in.  Kevin, Kristin, Denise, Howie and Leigh B all walked in with smiles on their faces.  AJ looked at Eve as everyone waved at her and said hello, she replied with a light smile.

“What’s up?” AJ asked.

“The Nurse said we could all come in for a visit for a bit.” Denise told him.  “How is she doing?”

“A little better I guess, she’s talking.” He said nodding to the notepad. “But I don’t think she’s really up to having a conversation with everyone here.”

“We know sweetheart we just wanted to say hello and then we were going to go get something to eat, I’m going to bring you guys back something, I’m sure she could use a good meal.” Denise said with a light smile.

“Sounds good.” AJ replied. 

Everyone said goodbye and AJ saw them out of the room.  When he turned around after closing the door he saw Eve writing something.  He walked back over to the bed a sat down and read what was on the paper.

“I didn’t see Brian.” AJ read.  He took the pad from her and wrote back.  “He hasn’t been here and that’s fine by me, don’t need him here telling me how we asked for this because of what happened between Sarah and I.”  He then continued writing.  “Plus we are pretty much not talking to each other at this point?”

AJ looked at her as Eve gave him a puzzling look.  Well this was it he was going to have to tell her about the pictures.  “Remember the night in the kitchen?” He looked at her and she nodded.  “Turns out there were photogs in the mountains and…” His hand stopped writing when she grabbed it, he looked at her and he could tell by the look in her eyes she knew.  “They were in all the rag mags the next morning, I was trying to call you to tell you but you never answered your cell.”

She took the pen.  “That’s why you were calling?” She asked and he nodded. 

Eve covered her face with her hands and whined.  AJ placed his hand on her leg and gently rubbed it.  He looked up when he heard the scratching of the pen and saw her writing.

“Go home get something to eat and get some sleep.” He read out loud.  Shaking his head he took the pad from her and began writing.  “Mom’s bringing us something back and I’m not going home until you do.”

“Shower?” She wrote back.

“Mom brought me clothes and there’s a place I can shower here.  I’m not leaving.  I don’t want you to be alone right now.”

She looked away after reading it and wiped her eyes.  Her breathing started to get a little heavy so he reached over and took her by the shoulders.  Eve looked at him and he gently pushed her back against her pillows.  He then grabbed the pad of paper and wrote something down.

“Relax, you just got off the ventilator don’t need to go back on.”

She closed her eyes and covered them with her hand and her breathing began to slow.  A moment later she put her hand down and he took it, tangling his fingers through hers.  He watched her as she stared at their hands and then he reached over grabbing the pen in his free hand.  He wrote something down and then turned the paper to her.

Eve looked at the pad and a small smile broke across her face.  She took the pen and wrote back.  “I love you too.”  He returned the smile and was about to kiss her but was interrupted by the door opening.  When he turned around he saw Eve’s Doctor walk in.  He said hello as he posted more X-rays up on the board.

“Well I have some good news today.” He told them and AJ felt some excitement build inside him.  He looked at the white board as the Doctor began to talk.  “This is the X-Ray I showed you a couple of days ago, this is the one we took early this morning.  These lines right here are Auditory Nerves, so what this tells us is that there are still some nerves attached to her brain.”

“What does that mean?” AJ asked.

“It means that there is still a chance Eve will get some of her hearing back.  It won’t be all of it, she’ll most likely have to wear a hearing aid but the sooner we can get her into therapy the better the odds are.” He said as a small smile broke from AJ’s lips. 

He turned and looked at his wife who looked at both men a little confused.  AJ grabbed the pad of paper and wrote.  “There are still some nerves attached, he said you still might get your hearing back.”

“I’ve already notified her therapist for when she goes down for her first session today and I’ll schedule another MRI for a few days from now, if the results for that one are like this one she’ll be able to go home then as well.” The Doctor told AJ and that news took a huge weight off his shoulders.

The Doctor left and AJ told Eve that she would be going home soon and by the smile on her face he could tell she was relieved. “This is good news.” He wrote and she nodded as she leaned in and hugged him.  “I’m going to go call Mom.” He told her and she nodded in acknowledgment. 

AJ walked down the hall towards the waiting room as he pulled out his cell phone.  As he looked for his Mom’s number someone tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around.  “Hi” He said as he stared at Sarah in front of him.

“Hi” She replied.  “I was just coming to get a drink and saw that you headed in here.”

“Yeah, I was about to call my Mom.” AJ told her.

“Eve’s still in here?” She asked.

“Yeah” He replied. 

“Sorry to hear about what happened, I hope she’s ok, the news isn’t saying much.” Sarah said as she walked over to the vending machine.

“She’s doing better, we just got some good news, that’s why I was calling Mom.” AJ told her.  “So what are you doing here?”

“Visiting my Aunt, she came in for some surgery, it’s routine and she’s doing good.” Sarah replied as she reached down for her bottle.

“I don’t know if I ever told you but I’m sorry for what happened.” AJ said.

“No you’re not.” Sarah replied with a light smile.  “If you were sorry that would mean you wished it hadn’t happened or that it was a mistake besides you guys are married now so obviously it was meant to be.”  AJ lightly smiled he had to agree with that.  “Anyways I should get going; I really hope things get better for the two of you.”

“Thanks.” AJ replied “Me too.”