I woke up two days later to Brian sleeping next to me. I squeezed his hand and whispered:
"Brian?" His eyes flew open:
"Katie? Ohmigod! You're awake!" I tried to smile:
"What happened?"
"You were in a car accident a couple days ago. You've been in a coma ever since. We didn't think you were going to wake up." I closed my eyes briefly:
"I had this dream that Nick was here with me." Brian's eyes widened:
"Katie, there's something-" He was interrupted by Jane walking in:
"Katelin! Sweetie, you're awake." I smiled:
"Where's my baby?" Jane kissed my forehead:
"Home with BJ, sweetie. We'll bring him by later." Leighanne, Krystal, and the rest of the guys walked in. Jane pulled Brian aside:
"You didn't tell her, did you?" Brian shook his head:
"I was about to, but then you came in." Jane sighed:
"I don't think we should tell her yet. She doesn't need the added stress." Brian nodded:
"Good point. Let's let her get well first." Jane smiled:
"She's so lucky to have you as a friend, Brian."
Everyone was fussing over me and I never noticed that Brian had slipped out of the room. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed Nick's number. Nick answered on the first ring:
"Hello?" Brian swallowed hard:
"Nick? It's Brian." Nick shot straight up in bed:
"What's going on? Did something happen to Kate?" Brian sighed:
"No, well, actually, yeah. She's awake." Nick squeezed his eyes shut to hold back the tears:
"She is? Oh god…."
"Nick, come down here. At least let her know that you're home and that you're okay. She deserves that much." Nick sighed:
"I'll be by later. I need to work up the courage first."
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
I woke up later that afternoon to an empty room. A few minutes later, Brian walked in with Aaron:
"Hey! Look who wanted to come see his mommy!" I reached for my son with my good arm:
"Hey sweetie. I missed you. Did you miss me?" He pulled on my hair. I laughed:
"I'll take that as a yes." Brian smiled and walked towards the door:
"I'll leave you guys alone for a few minutes. I'm going to go make a phone call."
"Bye B!" Brian walked out of the room and I played with Aaron. I felt like I hadn't seen him in weeks. My face fell and I started to think about his father. I never even noticed that Nick was standing outside the door watching me. I pushed the few blond strands of Aaron's hair out of his face:
"You look so much like your daddy. Did you know that?" He made a cooing sound and I smiled:
"Sometimes I wish he was here, Aaron. I really do. I wish that he could be in your life."
Nick watched the whole scene from outside of the room, wondering who the lucky guy was and why the hell he wasn't here. Brian walked up and put a hand on Nick's shoulder:
"Wondering who the father is?" Nick nodded. Brian pointed at Aaron:
"Did you really think she'd move on that fast? Did you have any idea how much she went through when you left? Look closely, Nick. Get a good look at him. Notice the blond hair, the blueness of his eyes….Remind you of anyone you know?" Nick's eyes widened in shock as the truth it him. He whispered:
"He's mine?…." Brian pushed him towards the door:
"Go, Nick. He needs his daddy. So does Katelin."