Chapter 15

"Patient is responding to stimulation,"Dr. Lima announced. "The ventilator has already been adjusted, and the patient is maintaining steady breaths without assistance."

"She's waking up," Hunter said when Rebecca stirred. She pushed past Dr. Lima, forgetting about protocol, and took Rebecca's hand. "Becca?"

"Dr. Vale…"

Hunter glanced at Dr. Lima with a raised brow. "You're a brilliant doctor, Alita, but this is one of my best friends. I'd rather she come out of the MIC and see a friendly face than someone treating this like an educational seminar. I'm sorry."

Alita frowned. "As am I if you thought that's what I was doing." She stood back and allowed Hunter to continue coaxing Rebecca awake.

Rebecca shifted, moaning softly when her body ached in return. Her brain was foggy, trying to remember where she was and how she got there.

"Rebecca?"

The muffled voice barely broke through the fog. Rebecca moaned again, trying to answer. Her mouth felt like it was filled with cotton, and her throat… hurt like hell. She lifted a hand to her mouth, and a tube met her fingertips. Rebecca's eyes popped open, and she began clawing at the tube.

"Hey, hey. It's okay." Hunter gently pulled Rebecca's hands away from the apparatus. "It was helping you breathe while you slept." Hunter looked into Rebecca's wild, scared eyes. "We can take it out. Doctor?"

Dr. Lima walked to the opposite side of Rebecca's bed. She pressed a button that lifted Rebecca into an upright position. "Rebecca, I'm Dr. Lima. This will be a little uncomfortable for you, but we'll try to make it as smooth as possible."

Hunter gave Alita a look. That was the least clinical she'd ever seen Dr. Lima. "Just try to relax," she said to Rebecca. "First, we're going to suction out any debris that may be present." Dr. Lima performed that task while Hunter tried to keep Rebecca calm. When she got the nod from Alita, Hunter returned her focus to Rebecca. "Now, I want you to take a deep breath. As you exhale, Dr. Lima will extract the tube. Deep breath in."

Rebecca held vibrant blue eyes as she inhaled. When the order was given, she exhaled, wincing when there was a hiss before Dr. Lima pulled the tube out. Rebecca coughed, her face scrunching up with disgust.

"It's okay. That's just mucus that needs to be expelled." Hunter took the suction device and helped Rebecca clear her airway. "Your throat may be sore for a few days." She shifted so Dr. Lima could place a nasal cannula on Rebecca. "This is just supplemental oxygen to help you. Are you okay?"

Rebecca frowned but nodded.

Considering the side effects of an MIC, Hunter began her initial assessment of Rebecca's cognizance while Dr. Lima poured a cup of water from the pitcher next to Rebecca's bed. "Do you know your name?"

Rebecca cleared her throat. "Rebecca."

Good start, Hunter thought. "Do you know why you're here?"

Rebecca closed her eyes and frowned. When she opened them again, they were full of fear. "Beaten."

Hunter's breath caught in her throat. No. "Rebecca, do you know who I am?" She was met with a confused look.

"Here." Dr. Lima stepped in. She handed Rebecca the cup, placing the straw close to Rebecca's lips. "Take small sips to soothe your throat." Alita glanced up at a shell-shocked Hunter before returning her attention to her patient. "Better?" Rebecca nodded, tears pooling in her eyes. "Can you tell me what year it is?"

A tear rolled down Rebecca's cheek. She concentrated for a moment before looking at Dr. Lima. "2001. Is my aunt here? Has anyone called her? I want to see my aunt."

Hunter's heart sank to her feet. "I-I'll go find out." She nodded at Dr. Lima and smiled warmly at Rebecca.

Hunter took a moment,holding back her own tears, before breaking the news to Cass and the others. First, she had to figure out how to get Aunt Wills in the room and warn her without blurting out the situation in front of Cass. She needed to ease Cass into the issue. Hunter stuck her head out, a smile plastered on her face.

"Aunt Wills? She's asking for you."

Willamena looked up, a huge smile across her face. Until she saw the strain in Hunter's. Something is wrong. She grinned at Cass, who was getting up to go in the room, too. "She probably wants me to get her all prettied up for you," she told Cass, patting her shoulder. "Give me a minute with her?"

It took considerable strength to agree, but Cass nodded. "Sure, of course."

Cass was watching them too closely for Hunter to say anything to Willamena. Hopefully, Aunt Wills would forgive her for this. However, Hunter's focus was Cass. This was going to devastate her.

"How's she doing?" Cass stuffed her hands in her pockets, anxious to go in and see Rebecca.

"There's, um…" Hunter found Ellie's eyes, searching for strength to say the words. As always, Ellie knew something was wrong and fell in beside Cass for support. Hunter saw the others step forward as well. "There's been a development." Coward.

"A development," Cass repeated. "What does that mean?"

"It means… Cass, Rebecca is experiencing some disorientation and agitation. Both are common when waking up from a coma." Stop stalling, Hunter!

"Okay. Should I go in there and help calm her down? I know all of the techniques — clean ones — Rebecca uses when she's upset." Cass grinned, but it was tremulous. She could feel in her bones that something more was happening here than simple side effects. Whatever it was, Cass would fix it. She'd do anything for Rebecca.

Hunter stepped in front of Cass when she moved towards Rebecca's door. "She's confused about what year it is, Cass."

Cass heard Ellie gasp softly beside her but couldn't understand why that was such a big deal. "And? Come on, Hunt. Haven't you ever woken up from a deep sleep and didn't know where or when you were?"

Hunter sighed. Cass needed to hear the words. Hunter just wished she had the right ones to say. "Rebecca… thinks it's 2001 and that she's here because of Samantha."

Cass heard the words coming from Hunter's mouth. She heard the shocked murmurs from the friends that surrounded her. Still, she wasn't comprehending the meaning of those words. She let out a small laugh that held no joy.

"That… that doesn't make sense. What are you talking about?"

"It's early, yet, but Rebecca seems to be suffering from retrograde amnesia," Hunter explained gently. God, the look on Cass's face killed her. The heartbreak on the faces of the others heightened the emotion of the situation. "Her memory seems to be beginning at the time she woke up in the hospital after Samantha nearly killed her."

Cass looked around. Every face looking back at her held sorrow and pity. "But that was years ago. We met…" She shook her head. The ramifications of what Hunter was telling her were too catastrophic for Cass to accept.

"Cass…"

"Wait. Just…" Cass held a hand up, cutting Hunter off. "Y-you're telling me that the love of my life, my wife, d-doesn't know who I am?"

"I'm sorry." Hunter knew the words weren't enough, but at the moment, they were all she had.

"You're sor…" Cass scoffed and looked at the others with a sardonic smile. "She's sorry." Before she knew what she was doing, Cass reared back and punched Hunter.

"Hey,my sweet girl. How are you feeling?"

Willamena made a bee-line to Rebecca's side, taking her hand. She had noticed Dr. Lima's curious look but didn't take the time to analyze it. Willamena's first priority was Rebecca.

"I-I don't know, Aunt Wills. Everything feels… weird."

"Are you in pain?" Rebecca shook her head but didn't seem convinced by her non-verbal answer. Dr. Woodrow looked back at the other doctor in the room.

Dr. Lima stepped up, dropping her voice to speak directly to Willamena. "Rebecca seems to be suffering from retrograde amnesia following waking up from the MIC."

"Amnesia?" Willamena's voice wavered as she whispered the word. That explained Hunter's look, she thought solemnly. She turned back to her niece, pushing messy hair away from her face. "Can you tell me what the last thing you remember is?"

Rebecca began to cry. "I didn't want you to know. I didn't want you to be disappointed in me." She squeezed Aunt Wills's hand. "I wasn't strong enough to get away from her. I'm sorry, Aunt Wills."

"Oh, my sweet girl." Willamena gratefully accepted a tissue from Dr. Lima when it appeared seemingly out of nowhere and wiped at her own tears. She used a second tissue to dry Rebecca's cheeks. "I've never been disappointed in you. That vile woman is gone now, and you never have to worry about her again. In fact…"

Rebecca winced, and she pressed her fingertips to her temple. She moaned softly as another wave of pain hit her. The pain came whenever she thought about why she was here in the hospital. Something wasn't right, but she couldn't pin down what it was that was bothering her. Rebecca remembered Samantha's fists and feet hitting her. She could remember the pain and utter shock. She could remember barely being able to move, see, or breathe. Yet, as she lay here, the pain she thought she should have wasn't there.

Rebecca also knew Samantha was dead. Detective Chi said as much when Rebecca had called him for help. And judging by Aunt Wills's statement, the news of Samantha's death was out. So, where was the sadness or guilt? Shouldn't she feel somethingafter letting Samantha just… die? Was this what it meant to be in shock?

"Dr. Lima?" Willamena called out when Rebecca groaned again.

Dr. Lima placed two fingers on Rebecca's wrist, timing the pulse she felt there. "Her heart rate is elevated from the stress." She turned slightly, catching Willamena's attention. "I know it's tempting to fill all the gaps in Rebecca's memory. However, I suggest taking it slow while she's recovering. Excessive stress can negatively affect any progress Rebecca makes during recovery."

"I'm still here," Rebecca muttered as she laid her head back on her pillow and closed her eyes. She was so tired, she just wanted to sleep. But being unable to hear what the doctor was telling her aunt was annoying Rebecca. It intensified the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

Aunt Wills chuckled. "Okay, my ornery girl. We're just discussing how to keep your stress levels down."

"Talking about me like I'm not here is not the way." Rebecca's eyes were still closed, her brows furrowed. Her mind was on a continuous loop of punches and kicks and death. When she tried thinking about something else — anything else — there was… nothing. Why did that make her heart hurt?

"We will need to sedate you if you remain agitated, Rebecca," Dr. Lima warned. "I'd rather not do that so soon after taking you off…"

A loud commotion sounded from the corridor, causing all three women to jump.

"What on earth?" Willamena exclaimed. "I'll go check…" Rebecca grabbed Aunt Wills's hand, a look of fear and confusion etched on her beautiful face. "Oh, Becca. It's okay. Nothing can hurt you now. I promise I'll be right back."

She hurried to the door. Having been preoccupied with Rebecca's memory loss, Willamena didn't stop to think about how this would affect Cass. Oh no.

When Cass'sfist met Hunter's jaw, Mo jumped into action and wrapped her strong arms around Cass's waist. "Cass, stop!"

"You told me she would be okay!" Cass fought against Mo's hold, and Eve and Patty stepped in to hold onto Cass's arms to keep her from striking out again. "You promised me you'd bring her back to me!"

Lainey stepped between Hunter and Cass when Cass lunged again. She pressed a hand against Cass's chest.

"Cass, please. Don't do this."

"She lied to me!" Cass cried. "She took my wife away from me!"

Four women struggled to control a distraught Cass as she continued to yell and charge at Hunter, who merely stood there and took it. She wouldn't fight back when she knew Cass was only acting out of fear and sorrow. Pleas for Cass to calm down fell on deaf ears, and Hunter braced herself for another strike.

"Cassidy!"

Cass immediately stopped, looking around for Rebecca, as she was the only one who dared to call her that name. But she was met with an angry yet sympathetic Ellie.

Ellie stood in front of Cass, fists clenched at her sides. "I know you're devastated. I can't even begin to imagine how confusing and scary this is for you. But I will not allow you to keep coming after my wife!"

"It's okay, El." Hunter laid a hand on Ellie's shoulder, feeling the tension. She wanted to get Ellie out of harm's way if Cass lost control again, but Ellie stood firm.

"No, it's not. We are all shocked by the news, Cass, and we will stand by you every step of the way. But if you hit my wife again…" Ellie took a breath before continuing. She had been beyond shocked when Cass struck Hunter the first time. She wouldn't be silent… or frozen if it happened again. "This is not Hunter's fault."

Cass looked down at Ellie with anguish. "Then whose is it?"

"No one's," Willamena answered from the door. She came out into the hallway, nodding at the others to let Cass go. "Sometimes these things happen, Cass. No rhyme, no reason. Just a tragic bit of ill fortune that we must overcome. Together."

Willamena examined Hunter's bleeding lip. "Why don't you go take care of that," she said to Ellie. "I'll stay here with Cass."

Ellie nodded, wrapping her arm around Hunter. She shot a glance at Cass as she walked by her. The others silently left as well, each finding the situation tragic and unimaginable.

Cass threw up her hands, gesturing toward Hunter. "I didn't mean…"

"She knows. I'm sure she understands where that came from."

"Ellie doesn't," Cass responded miserably. "Oh god." Cass slumped into the chair and buried her face in her hands. "I hit Hunter. My best friend. How the fuck could I do that?" Tears streamed down Cass's cheeks. "Rebecca would be so disappointed in me. I'm just like…"

"Don't even finish that sentence," Willamena ordered. "Your remorse shows you're nothing like that bitch." She gave Cass a defiant look when Cass peeked at her through her fingers. "I said what I said. Now, let's focus on what's important. Rebecca."

The tears kept coming. "It's true, isn't it? She doesn't remember?"

"I'm afraid so, Cass."

"H-how long will it last?"

Willamena sighed. "I wish I could give you definitive answers, but unfortunately, there's no way to determine that. You could walk in there right now and cause her to remember everything just by seeing you." She took Cass's hand. "Or, it could be hours, even days."

"But she will remember?"

Willamena was reluctant to give Cass too much hope in the early stages. On the flip side, she didn't want to discourage Cass too much, sending her into a depression.

"I believe so. Are you ready to go in and see her?"

Cass shook her head, eyes wide with fear. "I-I can't. If I walk in there and Becca looks at me like a stranger, it would kill me, Aunt Wills."

"Listen to me, Cass. Whether Rebecca remembers you or not at the moment, she needs you - your strength, your support, and most of all, your love. I know it will be so hard for you to keep the faith if she doesn't remember right away, but you have to try. I'm asking you, Cass, as Rebecca's aunt, please don't give up on her."

"I could never give up on her, Aunt Wills. But I may need some help with the faith part."

Willamena stood and held her hand out. "That's where the rest of our family comes in to help us both," she said when Cass took her hand. Aunt Wills pulled Cass up and into a hug.

"I fucked that up pretty good," Cass muttered sadly.

"Nonsense. We're all allowed to have moments. I think Ellie knows that better than anyone. We forgive and move on." Willamena stepped back, giving Cass a small smile. "However, you will have to grovel a little. Hunter will let it go easily enough, but Ellie will need a little more persuading."

Cass considered what she would do if the roles were reversed, and Ellie took a swing at Rebecca. Then, because that scenario was too far-fetched, she shook it off. "I totally get it. I'm holding a grudge against a dead woman I didn't even know." Cass closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'll fix it," she vowed.

"I know you will. Now, are you ready to go in?"

Cass would never be ready to face the love of her life and see those silver eyes staring back at her like a stranger. But Cass had often told Rebecca that she'd do anything for her.

"I'm ready."