Bittersweet Chapter Seventeen
Zac ran a hand through his hair which by now was greasy. It had been four days since Andrea had shot Liz and Sara. Four days and Liz was still in a coma while Sara had died. Sara's injuries had just been too much and she hadn't survived surgery. Zac was sad that Sara was gone because that left two boys without a mom and it also affected Isaac and Taylor but he was also glad in a way. Glad that his wife was still alive. Glad that their baby had also been okay.
Hearing the door open he looked up seeing his mother come in, wearing a black dress. The funeral for Sara must have just ended. "How was it?" he asked her watching as she sat down in a chair on the other side of the bed.
Diana frowned shaking her head, "Sad. Oliver and Eli were so hysterical," she sighed as she thought of her two grandsons. "Isaac wasn't much better. I think he blames himself right now. If he wasn't with Nikki then maybe Sara would still be alive."
Zac frowned at his mom's words, "It's not Isaac's fault," he spoke knowing full well that Andrea was just crazy. Hell after shooting Sara she had shot herself. Shot herself dead. A sight that Jude had to see before he called 911 like Liz had taught him to do in emergencies. He was only five and he had seen too much though he seemed to be doing well, minus he kept asking when his mommy was coming back home.
"That's true but Isaac isn't going to believe that. Not yet anyway," Diana shook her head as she looked down at Liz. "How are you holding up Zac?" she asked knowing he had been here ever since his plane had landed. "You look like you need a shower. Maybe you should go for awhile. Shower and rest."
Zac shook his head no at his mom's words, "I can't go," he told her. He was afraid that if he left Liz would be gone when he came back. That she would die on him and leave him like Sara had left Isaac. "I..I wanna be here with Liz in case she wakes up...or in case she dies," he finished choking up as he voiced his fears of her dying.
"I'll be here with her Zac. I'll call you if she wakes up," Diana smiled sadly refusing to even say that Liz could die. The family had already lost Sara. There was no way they were going to lose Liz and the unborn baby.
Zac nodded at his mom's words. He knew he did need to go home for awhile and shower. He also needed to see his kids who Eleanor was watching. He needed to know they were okay and let them both know their mom was okay still for now.
"Promise?" Zac asked as he stood from the chair. "First sign of any changes and you'll call me?"
Diana nodded smiling at her son, "I promise."
At his mother's words Zac turned and left Liz's hospital room. He was scared to do it but he knew he had to have faith that nothing bad was going to happen. If the situation were different Liz would have faith too. Making it outside he got to his truck and got in. Starting it up he drove off towards his house. The house where everything had happened. He hadn't been there since then though he knew Eleanor and his sisters had cleaned the place of the blood. He would have to thank them all somehow.
Arriving home Zac parked the truck and got out, heading to the porch where he let himself in. As he stepped inside he couldn't help but smile at Eleanor asleep on the couch with Emerson snuggled into her side. Though his smile soon turned to guilt because he knew that should be Liz who was taking a nap with Emerson not Eleanor. Liz should be here and home with the kids.
Zac bit his lip and slowly went upstairs, checking on Jude who was also taking a nap. Cracking Jude's door he went to the bedroom he shared with Liz and sighed sitting down on the bed. All he could remember was their happier moments even if the last month hadn't been that much of one.
"God," Zac whispered as he looked at the ceiling. "I don't ask for much but can Liz please wake up soon. Can I have my wife back? I miss her and I know the kids miss her too," he whispered as he felt a lump form in his throat. "She's the best thing that has happened to me. She's the one who keeps me grounded. I need my wife."
Finishing his words he stood from the bed and grabbed some clothes before heading into the bathroom where he showered quickly. He didn't want to take too long in case his mom called with news that Liz was awake.
Once he was out of the shower and dressed Zac headed downstairs stopping when he heard his kids talking to Eleanor. When Eleanor turned to look at him he gave her a smile. "My mom sent me home," he said as he walked to the couch where his kids were.
"Is mommy awake yet?" Jude asked as he stood from the couch and walked over to his daddy. "I miss mommy."
"I miss mommy too buddy," Zac told Jude as he picked him up. "But sadly she isn't awake yet. She is still sleeping."
Emerson frowned as she moved closer to Eleanor, "Is mommy going to go to heaven like Aunt Sara?" she asked sadly.
"Of course your mommy isn't going to Heaven," Eleanor answered as she pulled Emerson closer. "Your mommy is a strong woman and she is going to make it."
Zac smiled as Eleanor answered Emerson. Eleanor was really good with the kids. Liz would be proud that at least she was taking care of them well.
"Can we see mommy?" Jude asked as he laid his head on his daddy's shoulder. "I wanna see mommy."
Hearing Jude's question Zac sighed. He knew Emerson was too young to see Liz hooked up to the machines but Jude had already seen so much this week. "You can see mommy Jude. I think it would be best if Emerson stayed here with Eleanor though. Is that alright with you Eleanor? I mean watching just Emerson?"
Eleanor nodded, "That's fine Zac. I'd do anything for you and the kids during this time."
Zac felt grateful as he heard Eleanor's response. "I should go. I will be back tonight with Jude. Depending on how things go I may stay here and give you a nights break," he said knowing Eleanor needed it. Her controlling boyfriend who he was sure she was back with was probably angry at how much time she was spending away from him.
Going outside to his truck, Zac opened the door to the back, putting Jude in before getting in himself. He drove to the hospital probably faster than necessary. Faster than what Liz would have liked him to drive with one of their kids in the vehicle but he just wanted to get back to his wife.
Parking his car in the a space when they made it to the hospital he got out and then got Jude out, holding his hand as they walked inside and to the room where Liz was. Seeing his mom still there he saw the look she gave him when he came walking in with Jude.
"He wanted to see his mommy," Zac defended himself as he sat down in the chair, pulling his son into his lap. "I figured he saw so much already that he could see her now."
Diana just shook her head not sure if Zac had made the right choice. "If you think so," she muttered not wanting to argue with Zac. In the end Zac was the parent and the one who had final say.
Before Zac could reply to his mother he went silent as he saw Liz's eyes flutter open. An action that made Jude jump off his lap and over to the bed.
"Mommy?" Jude asked as he climbed into bed with his mommy who just looked at him confused.
Liz opened her eyes, looking around the room as best as she could. Before she could speak though a kid jumped onto the bed she was laying in and called her mommy. "M..mommy?" she asked as she looked at the kid before trying to sit up but failing.
Looking around the room she saw two people sitting in there whom she didn't know either. "W..who are you guys?" she asked them as she raised an eyebrow. "Where the hell am I?"
Jude looked at his daddy, "Mommy said a bad word," he told him right as Zac picked him up.
Zac who had been sitting in the chair went to go pick up Jude after he heard Liz ask who he and his mom where. It had been apparent something was off when Liz had been confused about Jude calling her mommy and now it was even more clear that something was off.
"Can you go get a doctor?" Zac asked his mom, "And take him with you," he said when she walked past.
"Of course," Diana nodded stopping just long enough to take Jude from Zac's arms.
After his mom left with Jude, Zac looked down at Zac. "Y...you really don't remember me?" he asked her as he reached for her hand. A hand that she withdrew from his reach quickly.
"Should I?" Liz asked before trying to sit up again and succeeding this time. "Should I know who you are?" she asked confused.
Zac nodded his head sadly at her answer. "I'm your husband. I'm your husband and the father of your two kids. The father of the kid you are pregnant with," he told her still seeing no recognition cross her face. It was like she had forgotten everything of their life and family together. Could she have fallen too hard after getting shot? Could getting shot have sent her into shock?
Zac wasn't sure what had happened but he knew that his wife was awake though she still wasn't fully back to him. Her not remembering him or their life was much worse than her being in that coma.
Zac ran a hand through his hair which by now was greasy. It had been four days since Andrea had shot Liz and Sara. Four days and Liz was still in a coma while Sara had died. Sara's injuries had just been too much and she hadn't survived surgery. Zac was sad that Sara was gone because that left two boys without a mom and it also affected Isaac and Taylor but he was also glad in a way. Glad that his wife was still alive. Glad that their baby had also been okay.
Hearing the door open he looked up seeing his mother come in, wearing a black dress. The funeral for Sara must have just ended. "How was it?" he asked her watching as she sat down in a chair on the other side of the bed.
Diana frowned shaking her head, "Sad. Oliver and Eli were so hysterical," she sighed as she thought of her two grandsons. "Isaac wasn't much better. I think he blames himself right now. If he wasn't with Nikki then maybe Sara would still be alive."
Zac frowned at his mom's words, "It's not Isaac's fault," he spoke knowing full well that Andrea was just crazy. Hell after shooting Sara she had shot herself. Shot herself dead. A sight that Jude had to see before he called 911 like Liz had taught him to do in emergencies. He was only five and he had seen too much though he seemed to be doing well, minus he kept asking when his mommy was coming back home.
"That's true but Isaac isn't going to believe that. Not yet anyway," Diana shook her head as she looked down at Liz. "How are you holding up Zac?" she asked knowing he had been here ever since his plane had landed. "You look like you need a shower. Maybe you should go for awhile. Shower and rest."
Zac shook his head no at his mom's words, "I can't go," he told her. He was afraid that if he left Liz would be gone when he came back. That she would die on him and leave him like Sara had left Isaac. "I..I wanna be here with Liz in case she wakes up...or in case she dies," he finished choking up as he voiced his fears of her dying.
"I'll be here with her Zac. I'll call you if she wakes up," Diana smiled sadly refusing to even say that Liz could die. The family had already lost Sara. There was no way they were going to lose Liz and the unborn baby.
Zac nodded at his mom's words. He knew he did need to go home for awhile and shower. He also needed to see his kids who Eleanor was watching. He needed to know they were okay and let them both know their mom was okay still for now.
"Promise?" Zac asked as he stood from the chair. "First sign of any changes and you'll call me?"
Diana nodded smiling at her son, "I promise."
At his mother's words Zac turned and left Liz's hospital room. He was scared to do it but he knew he had to have faith that nothing bad was going to happen. If the situation were different Liz would have faith too. Making it outside he got to his truck and got in. Starting it up he drove off towards his house. The house where everything had happened. He hadn't been there since then though he knew Eleanor and his sisters had cleaned the place of the blood. He would have to thank them all somehow.
Arriving home Zac parked the truck and got out, heading to the porch where he let himself in. As he stepped inside he couldn't help but smile at Eleanor asleep on the couch with Emerson snuggled into her side. Though his smile soon turned to guilt because he knew that should be Liz who was taking a nap with Emerson not Eleanor. Liz should be here and home with the kids.
Zac bit his lip and slowly went upstairs, checking on Jude who was also taking a nap. Cracking Jude's door he went to the bedroom he shared with Liz and sighed sitting down on the bed. All he could remember was their happier moments even if the last month hadn't been that much of one.
"God," Zac whispered as he looked at the ceiling. "I don't ask for much but can Liz please wake up soon. Can I have my wife back? I miss her and I know the kids miss her too," he whispered as he felt a lump form in his throat. "She's the best thing that has happened to me. She's the one who keeps me grounded. I need my wife."
Finishing his words he stood from the bed and grabbed some clothes before heading into the bathroom where he showered quickly. He didn't want to take too long in case his mom called with news that Liz was awake.
Once he was out of the shower and dressed Zac headed downstairs stopping when he heard his kids talking to Eleanor. When Eleanor turned to look at him he gave her a smile. "My mom sent me home," he said as he walked to the couch where his kids were.
"Is mommy awake yet?" Jude asked as he stood from the couch and walked over to his daddy. "I miss mommy."
"I miss mommy too buddy," Zac told Jude as he picked him up. "But sadly she isn't awake yet. She is still sleeping."
Emerson frowned as she moved closer to Eleanor, "Is mommy going to go to heaven like Aunt Sara?" she asked sadly.
"Of course your mommy isn't going to Heaven," Eleanor answered as she pulled Emerson closer. "Your mommy is a strong woman and she is going to make it."
Zac smiled as Eleanor answered Emerson. Eleanor was really good with the kids. Liz would be proud that at least she was taking care of them well.
"Can we see mommy?" Jude asked as he laid his head on his daddy's shoulder. "I wanna see mommy."
Hearing Jude's question Zac sighed. He knew Emerson was too young to see Liz hooked up to the machines but Jude had already seen so much this week. "You can see mommy Jude. I think it would be best if Emerson stayed here with Eleanor though. Is that alright with you Eleanor? I mean watching just Emerson?"
Eleanor nodded, "That's fine Zac. I'd do anything for you and the kids during this time."
Zac felt grateful as he heard Eleanor's response. "I should go. I will be back tonight with Jude. Depending on how things go I may stay here and give you a nights break," he said knowing Eleanor needed it. Her controlling boyfriend who he was sure she was back with was probably angry at how much time she was spending away from him.
Going outside to his truck, Zac opened the door to the back, putting Jude in before getting in himself. He drove to the hospital probably faster than necessary. Faster than what Liz would have liked him to drive with one of their kids in the vehicle but he just wanted to get back to his wife.
Parking his car in the a space when they made it to the hospital he got out and then got Jude out, holding his hand as they walked inside and to the room where Liz was. Seeing his mom still there he saw the look she gave him when he came walking in with Jude.
"He wanted to see his mommy," Zac defended himself as he sat down in the chair, pulling his son into his lap. "I figured he saw so much already that he could see her now."
Diana just shook her head not sure if Zac had made the right choice. "If you think so," she muttered not wanting to argue with Zac. In the end Zac was the parent and the one who had final say.
Before Zac could reply to his mother he went silent as he saw Liz's eyes flutter open. An action that made Jude jump off his lap and over to the bed.
"Mommy?" Jude asked as he climbed into bed with his mommy who just looked at him confused.
Liz opened her eyes, looking around the room as best as she could. Before she could speak though a kid jumped onto the bed she was laying in and called her mommy. "M..mommy?" she asked as she looked at the kid before trying to sit up but failing.
Looking around the room she saw two people sitting in there whom she didn't know either. "W..who are you guys?" she asked them as she raised an eyebrow. "Where the hell am I?"
Jude looked at his daddy, "Mommy said a bad word," he told him right as Zac picked him up.
Zac who had been sitting in the chair went to go pick up Jude after he heard Liz ask who he and his mom where. It had been apparent something was off when Liz had been confused about Jude calling her mommy and now it was even more clear that something was off.
"Can you go get a doctor?" Zac asked his mom, "And take him with you," he said when she walked past.
"Of course," Diana nodded stopping just long enough to take Jude from Zac's arms.
After his mom left with Jude, Zac looked down at Zac. "Y...you really don't remember me?" he asked her as he reached for her hand. A hand that she withdrew from his reach quickly.
"Should I?" Liz asked before trying to sit up again and succeeding this time. "Should I know who you are?" she asked confused.
Zac nodded his head sadly at her answer. "I'm your husband. I'm your husband and the father of your two kids. The father of the kid you are pregnant with," he told her still seeing no recognition cross her face. It was like she had forgotten everything of their life and family together. Could she have fallen too hard after getting shot? Could getting shot have sent her into shock?
Zac wasn't sure what had happened but he knew that his wife was awake though she still wasn't fully back to him. Her not remembering him or their life was much worse than her being in that coma.