Chapter 30.

Luka's face turned an emerald green. "What?" he choked out. "I'm so sorry Luka" Andi said, wrapping her arms around him. I began to cry. Becca wanted to be a mom for as long as I could remember. When we were younger, she and I would fantasize about how we would grow up to be mothers of successful celebrities and become rich old women. "Does she know?" I managed to get out. "No Jenny, she doesn't" Andi said, hugging me. "Jenny, Becca's in a coma". I felt the ground let loose below me. Instantly I was on my knees. Andi and Jesse both joined me on the floor. "She has to wake up!" I cried out. "She's tough J, she'll come out of it" Jesse said. Guilt washed over me, only making me feel worse. "This is all my fault" I choked. "None of us could have prepared for this" Andi said, rubbing my back. Lacy and Elena joined us on the floor. "J, she's going to be okay, we have some of the best doctors helping her" Lacy said. Jesse stood up and hugged Luka, who was just as a mess. Connor joined them.

"Let's just let J go in for right now…" Andi advised. "Good idea" Jesse said, "if you need us, we'll be right out here". Jesse kissed my cheek and opened the door for me. As I looked at the bed, I instantly began to cry. Becca looked horrible. Dark circles formed around her body. Her stomach was wrapped in bandages, along with an IV attached to her arm. A monitor above Becca rhythmically beeped every other second. "Becca I'm so sorry" I whispered.

The door suddenly clicked, and everyone else joined the room. Luka rushed over to Becca and held her. I took a step back and allowed him to have a moment. Jesse wrapped his arms around me, as I cried lightly in his chest. Luka was heartbroken. This was the first time I had ever seen him cry, let alone sob. Andi hung her head. Elena and Lacy hugged each other, while Conner put his hand on Andi's shoulder.

"Miss. Marinos" the doctor said as he walked in. "A word". Andi perked her head up and followed the doctor out of the room. "The other Miss. Marinos can join if she wants to" the doctor smiled, coyly. "Shut up Michael. C'mon J" Andi smiled. "I got her Jesse" Andi said, nodding at Jesse. I followed behind Andi and the doctor as we walked out of the room. He suddenly turned and faced us. "She's still in pretty serious condition" he said. "I'm afraid she won't be able to go home for a while. I will call you immediately when she shows some signs of responsiveness". "Thank you Michael" Andi said, putting her hand on his shoulder. "What are the odds of her waking up?" I asked. "Do you want me to be honest? As of right now, slim" he said. "Now God Damnit you better figure out how to wake her up!" I shouted, charging the doctor. Anger flooded my mind. This was my fault, and I had no way of helping her. "J—" Andi said, grabbing my arm and stopping me.

I began to feel my eyes filling with tears. Andi nodded at the doctor, then he left the room. As soon as he shut the door, Andi wrapped her arms around me. "Jenny, I'm going to promise you something. Michael is perhaps the best doctor in the United States. I can guarantee you, Becca is going to be more than fine". Andi put her hands on my shoulders and looked at me. "We have some of the best medicines in her right now, working to get her back to her normal self. I promise she'll be okay". "I'm sorry I was out of line. I'm just so scared Andi" I cried. "Listen to me J, we're going to go home and we're going to live like normal. When Michael calls me and says that Becca's ready to come home we'll come get her okay Jenny?" she said. "Okay" I said, wiping my eyes. "Let's go say goodbye" Andi said, nodding at me. I took a deep breath and put my hand on Becca's door. "It's okay J" Andi said, putting her hand on my shoulder. My hand began to shake as I clicked the door handle. From behind the door, I could hear Luka talking to Becca.

~

"The baby's gone". Andi's words echoed in my head. "Becca's in a coma". Never in my life would I have thought I'd become a father, let alone settle for with a woman. Becca had changed my life for the better. I couldn't loose her now. As Jenny was crying in Jesse's arms, I couldn't imagine how she was feeling. My heart ached. I could feel my chest tightening as I walked into the room. Becca laid on the hospital bed, lifeless. Without hesitation, I ran to her and held her in my arms. The tears flooded my eyes, making it nearly impossible to see. I kissed her forehead and allowed my tears to roll down her face. "Becca please, you have to come back to me" I whispered. "Please don't leave me". Her body was plastered in bandages, scars, and bruises. I couldn't help but notice the dried blood across her stomach. Suddenly the doctor walked in and asked for Andi and Jenny. As they walked out, Jesse walked over to me.

"I'm so sorry man" he said, putting his hand on my shoulder. "She's a fighter, she's going to be fine". "You don't know that" I whispered. "Luka, she will be okay" Jesse said. "YOU DON'T KNOW THAT!!" I screamed as I stood inches from Jesse's face. I could hear Lacy let out a gasp, while Elena grabbed onto Conners shirt, stopping him from charging me. "Luka calm down" Jesse demanded. "I know you are hurting, but that does not give you the right to disrespect me". "It should have been me" I cried. "Don't say that" Jesse said. I was unprepared for Jesse to hug me. He patted me on the back while we hugged and whispered, "I need to know that you are okay". "I will be" I said, wiping my eyes off. "Thank you Jesse". Suddenly, Jenny and Andi walked back into the room.

~

My eyes flooded with tears as soon as I walked back into the room. "I can't do it Andi" I cried. Jesse rushed over to me and grabbed my arms. He pulled me into his chest and held me. "It's okay Jenny" he whispered. Jesse's shirt was drenched in tears, clearly not just from me. "I could have done more" I cried. "Jenny—" Andi sighed. "There was nothing you could've done. Becca would want you to be strong for her J". Lacy hugged Luka as he tried to stop himself from crying. Elena's face was bright red as she cried. "She would want all of us to be strong" Andi said as she scanned the room. Mustering up the strength I had, I walked over to Becca. I leaned down and whispered to her, "you can't leave me yet". I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her as if it were the last time.

As everyone else took their turn saying goodbye to Becca, I began to feel myself becoming more and more worked up. "Andi, I think it's time to go" I could hear Jesse whisper. I turned and saw Luka talking to Becca. He knelt down and kissed her. I even heard him whisper, "I love you Becca". That is when I completely lost it. Because of me, Luka had to suffer. I could feel my heart pounding against my chest. It felt as if the world faded around me becoming more and more blurry. Jesse suddenly grabbed the back of my arm, helping me walk out of the room. "Let's go home J" he said. I nodded and walked with him. We got into Elena's car and drove back to the house.

By the time we had pulled in the driveway, it was already dark. As we walked inside, everyone went their separate ways. Luka made his way to the basement, while Elena and Conner went to their room. Andi and Lacy went into the kitchen and raided the refrigerator. "I think I'm going to get a drink" I said to Jesse. "Sure J, I can get it, what do you need?" he said, scrambling his words. "The strongest booze you have" I said. "Jenny, you know that's not a good idea" Andi chimed in. "Andi— I don't want to hear it" I scolded. "If I want a damn drink then I will have one". "Jenny—" Jesse started. "I don't need it from you either!" I shouted. "You're exhausted J, let's just go to bed" he said calmly. He put his hand on my arm. "Please baby". As if he were coaxing a child, I submitted and followed him. I could feel my body become weak, and even more angry. Angry because I knew Jesse was right. I was physically and mentally exhausted. My head was spinning and I could barely move. Jesse wrapped his arms around me and lifted me effortlessly. He carried me to our room and put me on the bed. He pulled back the covers and gently placed them back onto me. "Get some sleep beautiful" he whispered as he kissed my forehead. "Goodnight" I yawned.

As I woke up, I turned to look at the clock on the nightstand. I squinted and read the number eleven thirty-two. "What the hell!" I sighed. There was no way that I slept for that long. Needless to say, my head felt better, and I actually felt somewhat refreshed. I rolled out of bed and threw on my white robe. As I walked out of the room, I was overwhelmed by the smell of pancakes. When I arrived in the kitchen, I saw dozens of plates full of pancakes. Pans full of bacon and sausage. Bowls full of eggs and fruit across the counters. "You've been busy" I laughed as I saw Lacy whisking batter. "This is called stress cooking girlfriend" she said, smiling at me. "It looks wonderful Lace," I said. "I'm starving" said Luka as he stumbled into the kitchen. "Are you hung over?" I asked, concerned. Andi rushed into the kitchen and shined a light into Luka's eyes. "He sure is" she laughed. "I'd say you had more than a few drinks last night". "I needed it" Luka protested. "Jesse's hung over too if it makes you feel any better Andi". "He's what?" I chimed in. "Whoops" Luka whispered. "Where is he?" I asked, angerly. "I don't even remember him leaving the room last night". "Talking about me?" Jesse said, walking in.

"Hi" I said. "Good morning" he said. As I stood on my toes to kiss him, I was overwhelmed by the smell of whiskey flowing from his voice. "Morning drinking does not look good on you" I teased. "You think I look good?" Jesse smirked. "Not when you've been drinking" I said, handing him a cup of coffee. "Oh c'mon J" he huffed. "Go get a shower" I ordered. "Yes boss" he said, hanging his head. As Jesse walked out, Andi and Lacy turned and looked at me. I shrugged my shoulders and laughed. "He is such a child sometimes" Andi laughed. "You too!" Lacy said, pointing at Luka. "Sober up". "We have a week until the mission, I'd expect Jesse to drink a bit" Andi said. Andi was clearly bothered by something. "He's nervous Andi," I said, defending Jesse. "I don't blame him!" Andi said. "I am terrified myself. I need everyone on their A game".

Elena and Conner walked in, clearly tired. "Not much sleep last night?" Lacy joked. "You could say that" Elena winked. Conner's face turned bright red. "Conner's not a virgin? I'm shocked!" Andi said, wide-eyed and serious. When Conner rolled his eyes Andi started to laugh. Elena started laughing, "What's for breakfast". "What's not?" I laughed. "Lacy cooked the entire kitchen". "Stress… cook... ing…" Lacy said, clapping between syllables. We all grabbed a plate and sat down. "Good breakfast Lace" Andi said, in between bites. "Thanks" she said, cleaning her plate. I don't think I've ever seen Conner and Elena eat so fast. I stood up and poured myself another cup of coffee. "You okay J?" Andi said from the table. "I'm okay" I sighed. "Never better". "Jenny, that's your fifth cup of coffee…" Andi said. I looked down and noticed my hands shaking as I poured more coffee into my mug. "Do you need to talk?" Andi said, walking over to me. "I'm okay Andi, really" I assured her. "I know you're not okay J, you know you'll be the first person I'll tell if Michael updates me" Andi said, putting her hand on my arm. "Let's cool it on the coffee, okay? You're heart will explode" she joked.

As breakfast got cleaned up, Jesse and Luka finally walked back into the kitchen. "Welcome back to the land of the living and sober" Andi laughed. "I am on a roll today". "I don't need it today Andi" Jesse scolded. "There's the Jesse I know and love" she smiled. "Are you less intoxicated now" I joked. Jesse rolled his eyes and walked into the kitchen. "Sorry baby you missed breakfast" I sighed. "Should've thought about that before you got wasted" Lacy scolded. Before Jesse could say anything the doorbell rang. Andi went over to the door and opened it. As soon as the door was pulled open, she whipped her gun out and pointed it outside. "What the hell do you want?!" she shouted. Jesse and I sprinted for the door. I whispered under my breathe. "Shane?".