allmyheart7

all my heart
by unique
chapter 7

"The doctor says you can have all the Popsicles you want." Kevin smiled at Tyler. "Or ice
    cream... which ever one you like better."
    "Where's Mama?" Tyler asked softly.
    Kevin's smile faded. He knew Tyler wanted to see his Mama... Kevin wanted to see her too.
    The problem was, he wasn't sure where she was. Cassandra had said she needed to run some
    errands that morning. Kevin had no clue who she would be running errands for, but he got
    the feeling that they were very important.
    Ever since Tyler had come out of surgery two days ago, Cassie had been strangely quiet, with
    a determined look in her eyes. Kevin had wanted to talk to her, but she always had some
    excuse to get away from him. He sighed as he saw Tyler's questioning eyes. Cassie was so
    busy, she was barely spending time with Tyler... and Tyler would be in the hospital for
    another four days.
    "She's doing some stuff right now, Tyler... but she'll be coming soon." Kevin assured the
    little boy.
    Tyler nodded. "Okay..."
    "Is there anything I can get you?" Kevin asked.
    "I just want Mama." Tyler said quietly.
    Kevin felt the slightest hint of rejection in that statement, but knew that Tyler hadn't
    meant to hurt him. Once again, Tyler was just stating a fact. He wanted his Mama... and
    funnily enough, so did Kevin. He needed Cassie right now... but he wasn't sure why. He
    just wished she were there.
    "Dad?"
    Kevin looked at Tyler and smiled slightly. "What is it buddy?"
    Tyler frowned slightly. "I feel... funny."
    Kevin was instantly alert. "What do you mean Ty? Something hurting?"
    Tyler shook his head. "No... I... I just don't feel right."
    Kevin frowned too. "Well... maybe you're sleepy?"
    "I don't know." Tyler said softly, struggling to express himself. That was pretty hard for
    a six-year old.
    "Just try and get some sleep, okay?" Kevin suggested lightly. He stood up and kissed
    Tyler's forehead, then ruffled his hair playfully. "I'll be right outside, so call if you
    need me..."
    "Okay..." Tyler nodded and leaned back into his pillows, closing his eyes tiredly.
    Kevin turned and left the room, wondering what Tyler had meant. He didn't feel right... did
    that mean something was wrong? Kevin was about to ask a doctor to check on his son when a
    nurse came running for him.
    "Mr. Richardson, sir?" She stood a little breathless before him.
    "Yes?" Kevin looked at her questioningly. He suddenly knew what Tyler had meant. The look
    on the nurse's face gave him the funny feeling that something was wrong... very wrong.
    "There's an emergency..." The nurse said sadly, "Your girlfriend just came in."
    Kevin blinked. Cassie? "What do you mean?"
    The nurse avoided his gaze as she spoke. "She was in a car accident... and she's not doing
    so good... she asked for you... knew you would be here. Your son...?"
    Kevin was already heading for the elevators. "Watch him... but don't tell him anything
    yet... I have to go find her."
    "She's downstairs in emergency!" The nurse called after him. "Exam room four!"
    Kevin nodded and pushed the button for the ground floor. Cassie was hurt... he had to be
    there. How had Tyler know that something was wrong? Kevin shook his head slowly. So
    that's what they meant when they had been talking about the mother and child bond... Tyler
    had somehow known that his mother was hurt. Kevin was amazed. He wondered if he'd ever be
    that close to Tyler.
    When he finally reached the bottom floor, he ran towards the ER. Looking from left to
    right, he saw a sign above swinging doors that read "Exam Room 4". Without another thought,
    he headed towards them. When he got closer he saw Cassie lying on the bed. Her eyes were
    closed as the doctors worked over her. She looked so pale. A cut ran down the side of her
    face and a bruise was forming on her left cheek. Kevin winced slightly, knowing that she
    must be in a lot of pain. He moved closer, wanting to hold her...
    "I'm sorry sir, you can't go in there." A young nurse stopped Kevin with a gentle, but firm,
    hand.
    "But... Cassie needs me..." Kevin couldn't take his eyes off of her. She looked so fragile,
    and so still.
    "Your wife will be just fine, sir... they're doing everything they can." The nurse said
    gently.
    Kevin looked at her finally. "What happened?"
    The nurse sighed heavily. "It was a pick up truck... it ran a red light and rammed straight
    into her car." She looked at Kevin solemnly. "They were lucky to keep her alive this far,
    sir... that's gotta count for something."
    Kevin stared at the nurse. "That woman in there has a six-year old son who just came out of
    surgery two days ago. He's also been asking for his mother the entire morning..." Tears
    built in Kevin's eyes, but he struggled to hold them in. "Nothing matters and nothing counts
    as anything... if you don't keep her alive."
    The nurse blinked then took her hand off his arm. "We do what we can, sir. Please wait in
    the seating area."
    Kevin shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. He watched as the nurse turned and
    walked away as if she didn't care. Kevin knew inside that it was only her job to act
    calm... but it still hurt. So what if Cassie was just a patient? To him she was the
    world... and he couldn't lose her. Not after seven years of not knowing... seven years of
    heartache and remembering... Kevin would not lose Cassie now.
    Little did he know that, no matter what, he would lose Cassie a lot sooner than he
    expected...
    ~ *********** ~
    Cassandra opened her eyes and blinked at the bright light that glared down at her. She
    struggled to recall where she was and why she was in so much pain... then it all came back
    to her in one big rush. She remembered hurrying to the hospital... stopping at a stoplight,
    then going as it turned green, only to be hit by another driver. She remembered the ride in
    the ambulance... she had been asking for Kevin. A nurse had finally heard her pleas and had
    left to find him... had she found him? Cassandra couldn't remember anything after that...
    She turned her head slightly when she heard a noise off to her left. Her eyes clashed with
    Kevin's and she saw the look of great sadness in his eyes and the way he carried himself.
    He knew... he knew that she was dying inside. She had been dying a little inside every day
    ever since she had found out. He knew, and now he didn't know what to say.
    "Why didn't you tell me, Cass?" Kevin said finally, his voice cracking slightly with the
    emotion. He swallowed convulsively as he fought the tears. "That's why you came back, isn't
    it? You want me to take Tyler..."
    Cassie felt tears gather in her eyes as she nodded. She couldn't bring herself to say
    anything else... she wasn't even sure if she could speak if she tried. There seemed to be
    tubes everywhere... Kevin stepped into the room and came to her bedside. He reached out
    and held her hand gently. He lost the battle with his tears and she watched as he cried.
    She didn't know what to say, so she just squeezed his hand back.
    "Why, Cassie?" Kevin asked softly, looking into her eyes. "Why now, huh? It's not fair..."
    "I wanted to tell you, Kevin... but..." She shrugged slowly, then winced when that brought a
    flood of pain to her head and shoulders. "I-I didn't know how..."
    Kevin looked at her, then pulled a chair to the bed. He sat down, still holding her hand,
    and watched her carefully. "How did it happen, Cassie? I need to know..."
    Cassandra started to shake her head, but Kevin looked at her with his serious eyes and she
    knew that he deserved to know. She sighed and looked at the glass of water on her
    nightstand. Following her gaze, Kevin spotted the glass of water. He helped her take a few
    sips, then waited for her to speak. After swallowing a few times, she cleared her throat
    and began to speak...