Later after school, Nancy walks home pondering the situation with the guy in hiding. ~He sure is kind of a jerk, only seems to care about himself. That's it I'll stop by again tonight and tell him that he'll have to make other arrangements in the future.~
She hears a horn honking and then sees Abby pull over in her MG.
"Hi." Nancy says. "Come here often."
"Only when I'm looking for pretty girls. Get in and I'll give you a lift home."
Nancy smiles. "Ok." She gets into Gwendolyn
"I got a call from my friend the lawyer," Abby says, and repeats Andrew's warning.
Nancy sighs and shakes her head. "I suspected that about him, now my suspicions are confirmed. Don't worry Abby I'll take care of it tonight."
"What do you mean, you'll take care of it tonight? Just stay away from him--he'll figure it out."
"I'd rather just tell him than leaving him wondering. Look he might be a selfish twit but he's not Alan."
"How do you think a 'selfish twit' is going to take the announcement that you're bailing out on him?" Abby says.
Nancy considers this. "He'll just have to accept it."
"Nancy, please don't go see him. Andrew was a selfish twit--at least he used to be. This man is dangerous."
Nancy sighs. "Abby, I'll think it over ok. Please don't worry."
"I tell you something is dangerous, you say 'you'll think about' not doing it, and you tell me not to worry?"
"Abby."
"Nancy."
"If it looks like he's going to get angry I'll high tail it out of there."
"By the time you notice, it may be too late."
Nancy continues to ponder this on the way home and for the rest of the afternoon.
Later that night Nancy goes to meet with the guy unaware of what's transpiring at the hideout.
She enters in time to see the thugs roughing up the guy. He takes advantage of Nancy's entrance and shoves her out of the way so he can make a run for it. One of the thugs goes after him. She tries to flee but the other one grabs her. He shoves her hard against a bedpost. Her head explodes with pain on impact. ~No don't pass out you have to get away they'll kill you.~ She uses all her energy to kick him where it counts. He hits her a few times and knocks her to the ground hard before she finally gets away from him after kicking him in that one spot again. She runs as fast as her injuries will let her. When she can't run anymore she hides from the thugs and soon they get in their car and speed away. The guy also leaves for the hospital.
Meanwhile Noah is taking a walk wondering why the car the thugs were in just sped away and wondering why that one dude was limping away. When he thinks he hears Nancy calling out for help.
He runs to where the calls are coming from and checks her over. "What happened?" He asks frantically. "Are you all right?"
She mumbles incoherently, coughs up blood, and then passes out.
Later in the emergency room.
"Look I don't know what happened. I saw that car speeding that guy running away, and then I found her." Noah tells the police and waits for Abby to arrive.
"Did she say anything?" Officer Bernstein asks.
"Not that I could make out." He sees the guy that was limping and corners him. "What happened?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"My girlfriend is being treated in there. Who knows how serious it is and I want some answers. I know you were there!!" Noah glares at him daring him to lie.
Neither know that Abby is behind them.
"Look it's not my fault she showed up. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and if she dies it's her own stupid fault." The guy lies.
Noah decks him and sends him sprawling and then sees Abby. "I'm sorry you had to see that."
Currently in the examining room.
"She's having difficulty breathing and possible brain swelling." The attending physician tells Dr. Maxwell. "And she's in danger of lapsing into a coma. We've done everything and we can't bring her around. It doesn't look good. We can operate for the internal bleeding, but...."
Dr. Maxwell glances at his best friends daughter and makes a decision. ~No, Tom and Abby won't hear that she might not make it, not from me.~ "Call Dr. Mason in I don't care if you have to get him out of bed he's the best Neurosurgeon we have."
The other doctor nods and gives him a call.
"Keep trying to bring her around." Greg tells the nurses.
"But Dr. Maxwell."
"Keep trying to bring her around." He repeats with greater emphasis and then finds Abby in the waiting room. "Abby let's go sit down."
"How is she?"
Greg sighs. "Abby we're doing all we can for her but it's going to be touch and go for awhile. We just need to get her through the rough part."
"What rough part?"
Greg takes one look at her and realizes she won't accept anything but the truth so he gently tells her what the attending physician had told him.
Abby tries to focus on the practicalities so she won't fall apart. "This doctor you've called for is really the best?"
"The best in Sacramento. I have people calling his house he'll be here as soon as possible, and I think we should call Tom."
"Will you get on the phone with me?" Abby asks. "I don't think I could explain this properly."
"Sure."
While Abby went to the hospital the phone rings. Tommy answers it.
"Bradfords."
"Tommy its Dad, how are things."
"Fine, Great, no problems." ~don't overdo it.~
"Good. Is Abby there?"
"Uh...no, she had to go out."
"This late?" Tom asks.
"She said something about the Library; she needed some peace and quiet." Tommy lies.
"Now, you guys haven't given Abby any trouble have you?" Tom worries.
"No, why do ask that?" Tommy lies again.
"Because I know this family. Tell Abby to call me when she gets home." Tom orders.
"OK, bye Dad."
"Bye Son."
Tommy finds Elizabeth in the kitchen. "I am going to the hospital, no matter what Abby said. I have to tell her Dad called."
"I'd go with you, but someone has to stay with Nicholas and to wait for the others to get home." Elizabeth says. "Tommy, when you find out how Nancy is will you call me, please?"
"Of course, don't worry. She will be fine." Tommy says and takes the bus to the hospital.
Abby and Greg go to a phone to call Tom.
Abby dials the hotel and asks for Tom's room.
"Hello." Tom says.
"Tom?" Abby says. "Could you come home? Right away?"
"Why, are the kids giving making you crazy?" Tom jokes but after saying that he realizes there is a panic in her voice. "What's wrong?"
Max looks to Abby wondering if he should take over and tell Tom.
"Nancy's been hurt," Abby answers. "Here, I'll let Greg explain." She hands the phone to Max.
"Max, what's going on?" he asks.
"Tom..." Max begins and explains what he had explained to Abby earlier.
"OK Max, thanks." Tom says. "Put Abby back on the phone."
Greg hands the phone back to Abby.
"Are you coming home?" Abby asks.
"Of course, I don't know how I'll do it. But I'll be there by morning." Tom replies.
"Thank you. I'm sorry about this."
"Abby, the first rule about being a parent is that you can't control what happens to them. If you want to make sure nothing happens to them. You would need to lock them in their rooms 24 hrs a day." Tom says trying assure her and himself at the same time.
"When you get home we'll go visit a locksmith."
Tom half laughs "I love you and I'll be there as soon as I can."
"I'll be waiting here. Love you." After she says goodbye Abby hangs up. "So now we just wait?" she asks Max.
He nods. "They'll put her in ICU as soon as she's stabilized."
Abby nods. "OK, then. We wait."
"As soon as we get in touch with Dr. Mason I'll let you know."
"Thanks, Greg. I'm glad you're here."
He gives her hand a reassuring squeeze and then heads back to Nancy.
Tommy sees Abby sitting in the waiting room. "Any news?"
"I'm still waiting to see if they've found the surgeon Dr. Max wanted," Abby says.
"Dad called, just thought you would want to know."
"Yeah, I know. Greg and I spoke to him; he'll be home by morning."
"Do you mind if I sit with you?" Tommy asks.
"Only if you don't mind my getting up and pacing from time to time."
"Want me to get you something to eat or drink?"
"Thanks, but I'm too nervous to eat."
"I promised Elizabeth I would call her. What do I tell her?"
"That we're waiting, I guess. That Max is calling in a specialist and that your dad's on his way home."
"Ok." Tommy says and goes make the call.
The phone rings.
Elizabeth answers after the first ring. "Tommy how is she?"
"How did you know it was me? Anyway........." Tommy tells her what is going on. "Are the others home yet?"
"I was hoping it was you. David and Mary are on their way to the hospital. Susan's staying here with Nicholas and me. And I think Joannie just walked in."
"OK, if things change I'll call." Tommy says.
"Thanks Tommy." After they hang up. Joannie enters the kitchen.
"What's with the long faces?"
Elizabeth sighs and tells her everything she knows.
Tommy returns to Abby. "David and Mary are on the way."
"I'm not sure what good any of us are going to do here, but there's comfort in numbers."
"Numbers we do have." Tommy jokes.
A little while Dr. Mason arrives, examines Nancy, and checks over the xrays and MRI.
"We have the internal bleeding under control." A doctor says. "And her breathing regulated."
"Where's her family?"
"In the waiting room." Greg says. "Well?" He asks.
"Surgery might not be necessary. However if the swelling doesn't go down within the next 24 hours we won't have a choice. Especially if she hasn't regained consciousness by then."
Greg sighs. "Will you go with me to tell her family?"
He nods and then they find Tommy and Abby in the waiting room.
Abby stands up and look expectantly at the doctors.
"Abby, this is Dr. Earl Mason." Greg makes the introductions.
"Hello," Abby says. "How's Nancy?"
"We have her stabilized." Greg tells her. "The internal bleeding has stopped and her breathing is back to normal."
"And we're going to wait 24 hours for the brain swelling to go down before we consider brain surgery." Dr. Mason says.
"That's good news, right?"
Greg and Earl exchange a glance and then Mason Speaks again.
"It would be better news if she regained consciousness right now she's not showing any signs of doing that anytime soon."
"Because of the swelling?" Abby asks.
"Partly because of that, and also her body might be protecting her from the pain. Which she might not be able to handle if she was awake."
"But you still want her to wake up," Abby says, trying to understand.
He nods. "The longer she's out. The worse off she'll be if.." He changes in midstream. "When she wakes up."
"If???"
"Abby, there's a slight possibility that she won't come around."
"You mean like never?"
Greg nods.
"And what would that mean?"
"Abby we're doing our best to make sure it doesn't come to that."
"But if it does?"
"We can keep her alive with machines, but she would eventually die." Dr. Mason says.
Abby sinks back into a seat.
"Abby I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that doesn't happen." Greg assures her.
Abby nods, but says nothing.
Greg and Dr. Mason return to Nancy to make sure she gets settled into ICU ok.
Noah approaches the family. "If there's anything I can do."
"I don't suppose the Sleeping Beauty approach would do much good," Abby tries to joke.
"Hey I'm willing to try it." Noah says.
Tommy laughs at the remark. "Sorry."
Abby laughs at the two boys responses.
Noah laughs also.
Soon David and Mary arrive.
"Abby how is she?" Mary asks frantically.
"Not as bad as they first thought."
"But still bad?"
"They can't get her to wake up."
"I want to see her." Mary states.
"You'd have to ask Dr. Max about that."
Mary goes to find Dr.Max. He tells her she can't just yet. Maybe in a few hours. Mary says she's going to see her anyway. He finally gets her calm enough to return to the waiting room.
"They want to wait a few hours before they let any of us in."
David approaches the police officers. "Have you found who ever did this
to my sister yet?"
"Not yet."
"Then why are you sitting around drinking coffee for? That good for nothing gutless jerk that left her there in their clutches gave you a good description. If you can't do anything about it then deputize me."
"Son stay here with your family. They're going to need you. We have men out looking for them."
Moments later at the Bradford house. Nicholas is asleep when Mary calls home and updates Elizabeth who in turn updates Susan and Joannie.
A few hours later at the hospital.
"You can see her now but only two at a time for fifteen minutes and only two visits an hour." A nurse tells the family.
"Who's coming with me?" Mary asks.
"Me," Abby says, a little surprised it's even a question.
The nurse takes them both to ICU.
"She might be able to hear you. No one is sure..." She starts.
"She can hear us." Mary says as she sits in a chair by her bedside. "Can't you honey? Listen to me you have to wake up. If nothing else to complain about the wallpaper in this place. It looks pretty ugly."
"I don't know," Abby says, playing along. "I don't think it's as ugly as the living room carpet. Nancy, you're going to have to wake up and be the deciding vote."
A few moments pass with no response from Nancy. Mary sighs heavily.
"For some reason I thought if we talked to her she would magically awaken." ~Why didn't I tell Abby about the food that had disappeared. Nancy was obviously bringing it to that jerk.~
"You know Nancy. She'll do things in her own time." ~No matter who warns her about how dangerous it might be.~
"I could've prevented this." Mary says quietly.
"You?! How?"
"I noticed this morning that our food supply was lower than usual and Nancy's backpack was a little heavier than usual. If I would have known who she was bringing food to I would have locked her in her bedroom, told you, or gone to that creep and made sure his chances of conceiving in the future were slim to none."
"Nancy knew who she was dealing with, and she knew he was dangerous. Telling her to stay away wouldn't have helped."
"How do you know? And if she knew that why the heck did she go over there tonight?"
"I know because I was the one who passed the warning on to her. She said she'd listen--if I'd have known I couldn't trust her I'd have locked her in her room myself."
"Abby, it's not that she can't be trusted it's just that she doesn't lead with her head she leads with her heart most of time, and... wait a minute." Mary sighs and then looks at her sister. "And what do you have to say about all of this?" Of course she doesn't get a reply. "Nancy wake up and argue."
The nurse comes over. "You two have to go now. The time is up."
"You'd think they'd teach ICU nurses to be a little more careful with their terminology," Abby whispers to Mary. She then leans down and kisses Nancy on the forehead. "You've had enough sleep, so wake up, ok? I'll be glad to turn right back around if you do."
"Mrs. Bradford." The nurse urges them to leave.
Abby sighs and she and Mary leave the room.
A couple of hours later the thugs are captured and brought in and also the sun starts to rise. Noah's parents came and got him a little while ago and made him go home. Elizabeth finds her family in the waiting room. "I brought doughnuts. Are you guys hungry?"
David shakes his head. Mary takes a doughnut.
"No thanks," Abby says. "It's morning already, isn't it?"
Elizabeth nods. "How is she?"
"No change that they've told us about. Your father should be here soon, though--he said he would be."
"Can I see her?"
"You have to be 18 to visit someone in ICU." Mary says. "How are things at home?"
Elizabeth shrugs. "Nicholas is still asleep, and Joannie and Susan are being very quiet during all of this." She worries.
"Joannie's been very quiet about a lot lately," Abby says. "Susan--well, I don't know."
A little while later in ICU. David tries talking to Nancy hoping to bring her around and gets discouraged when he can't.
The nurse realizes that this is starting to happen and escorts him out of there. "Come back when you've calmed down some."
David nods and then returns to the family. "Do you want me to pick up Dad from the airport?" He asks Abby.
"I'm not sure when his plane is due in. He didn't know when he'd be able to get a flight."
"Why don't you go home and check on things there." Mary asks getting a little irritated with his constant pacing.
"OK, I'll be back as soon as I can." He says and then goes home to check on things. "Is Nicholas still asleep?" He asks Joannie when he gets there.
"Last I checked, yeah," she says, and keeps on reading her script.
"How are you doing?" He asks.
"OK. Want some cereal?"
"I'm not very hungry. You're taking all of this pretty well." He says in a neutral tone.
"Getting all hyper won't help Nancy. And besides, someone has to stay and look after Nicky."
He kisses the top of her head. "You're right."
"I usually am."
"Yeah." He's hit with a wave of sadness and decides to fight it off by checking on Sam.
After three connections on chartered flights Tom arrives at the hospital with suitcase in hand.
Abby sees him at the doorway to the waiting room and rushes over to hug him.
He hugs her back. "How is she?"
"They haven't told us anything new," Abby says. "So I guess there's been no change."
"Is Greg around?" Tom asks.
"I haven't seen him in a few hours. Maybe he went to grab some sleep," Abby yawns.
"Why don't you go home and grab a few hours, I'll stay here."
"Not until there's some news."
"I am going to go see Nancy, want to come with me?"
"Try to stop me."
Tom and Abby go to the ICU. A mean looking nurse tries to stop them.
"I am Nancy's father and just try stopping me to see her." The nurse backs down and is allowed to see Nancy.
"She looks so pale." he says.
Abby hugs him. "She'll be all right. You'll see."
"Of course she will be, she has to be." Tom tries to convince himself. Tom goes over to the bed. "Nancy it's Dad, it's time to wake up now."
Meanwhile in her twilight world Nancy thinks she hears someone talking but can't make the voice out she tries to open her eyes but they won't budge.
"Nancy if you can hear me, squeeze my hand." Tom asks.
Greg enters. "Tom she won't be able to do that yet."
"Why not?" Tom asks. "Miracles have happened you know."
"Of course they have." Greg assures him. "Dr. Mason is going to run some more tests this afternoon to check to see if the swelling has receded."
"I'm sorry Greg, you know I have never been a very patient man." Tom sighs.
Greg pats him on the back.
"So I guess it's back to waiting." Tom replies.
"Have you eaten anything yet?" Abby asks. "Elizabeth brought some doughnuts and there's coffee. It's as good a way as any of measuring how long you've been waiting."
"Is it real coffee, or the prefab kind I have drank all night?" Tom asks.
"Prefab, I'm afraid. Maybe we could send someone in search of something palatable."
"Good idea." Tom tells her.
Abby approaches Tommy, Elizabeth, and Mary. "Could one of you go out an try to find some real coffee for your father? He won't drink any more of the instant, and I think he's about ready to crash without a caffeine infusion."
Tommy says "There is a diner across the street."
"Thanks Tommy." Tom replies. "Then you all need to go home and get ready for school."
"But Dad we have been up all night." Tommy says.
"Tom, you know I'm not a big fan of kids playing hooky, but I doubt they'd get anything from their classes today," Abby says.
"I guess you are right." Tom says. "How is Nicholas?"
Tommy goes and gets the coffee.
"Last time I spoke to Joannie he was still asleep," Abby reports.
"I am going to call home and tell her to keep him home today."
"Good idea."
Tom goes and calls home.
While he is off, Abby retreats into a corner and finally allows herself to cry.
Several hours later Dr. Mason and Dr. Maxwell approach Tom and Abby.
They stand up and approach the doctors, waiting for news.
Greg smiles at them. "The swelling has started to recede." He tells them.
"That's good, right?" Abby asks.
"It's very good, it should recede completely in a few hours. Which means no surgery." Earl says.
"And once it recedes she'll wake up?"
"That's what we're hoping for." Greg says.
"So now what?"
"We continue to wait." Dr. Mason says.
"Wait," Abby repeats, and begins to pace.
Mary and David exchange a glance while their Dad approaches Abby.
Five hours later in ICU. David and Mary are in there with Nancy when she starts to show signs of coming around.
Mary sighs in relief and goes to her side. "Come on honey wake up, open your eyes."
David rushes out into the hall. "Dad!! Abby!! Dr. Max!! Dr. Mason!!"
Nancy opens her eyes, winces in pain, and tries to talk but it comes out all garbled.
Mary kisses her on the cheek. "It's good to see you."
Tom and Abby hurry in.
Nancy smiles at them tries to speak again but can't. ~They took my toungue out.~ She sighs in frustration.
"Hey take it easy. It's hard to talk when you first wake up." Mary kids her.
"Tom, I know you're always telling the kids to be quiet, but this is ridiculous," Abby jokes for Nancy's benefit.
"Good one Abby." Nancy finally manages and winces in pain again. The doctors enter and examine her.
"Well?" Abby asks the doctors when they're finished.
"She's officially off the critical list, but she'll have to stay with us for awhile." Dr. Mason says.
"A while?"
"Well one week at least." Dr. Mason says.
"That's not *too* bad, considering..."
"Considering what? And Dad when did you get home?" Nancy asks.
Abby decides to let Tom handle this one.
David returns and gently hugs his sister. She returns the hug.
"Thanks to you, I got to leave my conference early." Tom smiles.
Nancy returns the smile and then says in confusion, "Huh?"
"You had a little accident." Tom says.
"What happened this time?" Nancy asks.
Tom doesn't want to blurt out what happened just yet so he goes another route. "What is the last thing you remembered?"
"Leaving the house."
"Going where?"
Nancy thinks it over and finally winces in pain.
"Mr. Bradford give her some time she'll remember more in the morning." Dr. Mason says.
Tom looks at Abby.
Abby shrugs. ~I guess if they say she'll remember, she will. I hope she does, at least.~
"Are you hungry?" Mary asks.
Nancy shakes her head no.
"Well I'll be right. I'm going to call home." Mary goes to call home.
The next day after school. Elizabeth comes to see Nancy now that she's in a regular hospital room now.
"You know we have to stop meeting here." Nancy teases.
"Not funny." Elizabeth says in a serious tone and hugs her. "Don't you ever do that to me again. You scared us."
Nancy returns the hug. "I'm sorry honey."
Elizabeth visits with her for awhile and then goes home.
A little while later Noah shows up and spends some quality time with her. After he's left a family member comes to visit.
"Hi," Abby says, not sure if Nancy will want to see her.
"Hi, are you mad at me?"
"Mad at you? You mean for going to see him after all?"
"Yes."
"Not angry...well, a little."
"Would it help if I said I feel like an idiot for not heeding your warning."
Abby thinks it over. "How about if you say that next time you'll listen to me."
Her mind goes back a little to that night and she nods and says seriously. "You bet I'll listen."
"When you're better I'll ask for that in writing."
"I can write now." Nancy grabs the pen and paper and gives it to Abby in writing.
"Your father wants to know what happened. So far I've managed to brush him off."
"I'll tell him if you don't want to."
"No, no, I'm the one who didn't stop you. I'll take the blame."
"No, you tried to warn me and I wouldn't listen."
"I should have realized you wouldn't."
"It's not your fault Abby." She says starting to tire.
"We'll talk about this later, OK?"
"Ok." She nods off.
Abby smoothes the covers over her and leaves the room.