ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

Compensation

by S. Anne Gardner

©copyright April 2002

All characters within this story are property of S Anne Gardner and Skyder Pub. Nothing from this story can be reproduced without express written permission from S Anne Gardner.

Comments are appreciated. Please send to sanneol7@aol.com.

Part Nine

“Get away from her!” Paul yelled.

“Paul…” Danielle started getting up.

All three women saw when the gun was suddenly pulled out of his pocket. The whole world turned to slow motion and although the actions were seen nothing could be made to stop what was the inevitable chaos to follow. Beatrice covered her mouth in fear; Victoria turned to shield Danielle. The sound that filled the room was deafening. Then another shot followed.

Danielle stared into Victoria’s eyes in horror. She heard her mother scream and the room suddenly started filling up with people. Victoria still held on to her protectively. Paul ran out when he saw the look of horror in Danielle’s eyes. Danielle looked up to meet her lover’s eyes again. Suddenly, Danielle felt Victoria’s hold slacken as she helplessly watched; Victoria started to collapse in her arms.

“Victoria?” Danielle asked softly and suddenly she was filled with the knowledge of what it could mean. She yelled in horror. “No…. No!”

Danielle fell to the floor with her. Victoria’s eyes looked glazed. Danielle removed the hand that she had behind Victoria’s back and stared at it in horror. It was blood. Danielle’s hand was covered in blood.

“Call an ambulance. Hurry!” She yelled and then looked back into her lover’s face. Victoria’s eyes never wavered.

“Dora, hurry call 911 for an ambulance,” instructed Beatrice. Dora just stood in stunned horror. "Dora!! Now!”

“Yes, Ma’am right away!” Dora, snapped out of her trance and ran out of the room.

“The ambulance is coming; don’t you dare leave me. Don’t you dare!” Danielle wailed.

My god, he shot her, Beatrice thought to herself as she knelt down across from her daughter.

“Victoria…. Please…please don’t go,” Danielle begged between tears. All that Danielle saw was Victoria leaving again. This separation she would not be able to endure. Her love lay in her arms as life was oozing out of her.

“Danni….” Victoria made an attempt to speak.

“Shhhh…Save your strength.” Danielle begged as she placed her fingers lightly on Victoria’s mouth. Danielle was no longer trying to hold back the tears.

“Danni…I love you,” Victoria said in barely a whisper never leaving Danielle’s eyes. She felt her life draining away, and she thought it was maybe better this way. Danielle would be free and she would never be able to hurt her again. She suddenly realized as she laid in Danielle’arms how her actions must have hurt the gentle heart in front of her. “Forgive me…“ she whispered.

“Don’t you dare leave me now, do you hear me! Not now Tori.” She went from anger to frustration and a feeling of desolation began to fill her soul. “Please…stay with me…. Stay with me. I need you!” Danielle begged. She leaned down and her lips brushed against Victoria’s as her tears rolled down her face. “Stay with me,” she begged again. “Don’t leave me again, please, don’t leave me again Victoria. I won’t survive without you.” Danielle pleaded.

Beatrice stared, speechless. The shock was replaced with sorrow. Her daughter’s heart was breaking in front of her. And, all she could do was sit and watch as it was happening. This was Danielle’s love, she thought as she watched in silence.

Tommy entered the room. “The ambulance is almost here Sis,” he said as he knelt next to his mother. Danielle was in another world that only belonged to two people.

“Tori, remember? Remember the time on the tree. I was on the branch and I was going to fall. Remember? “ She smiled sweetly at Victoria through her tear filled eyes.

The sound of the ambulance could be heard in the distance now.

Danielle continued to speak softly. “Your hand reached out to me and held me as the branch plummeted to the ground. You held on tightly until I got to safety. It hurt remember?” Danielle was not sure that Victoria could hear anything she was saying but she had to try.

Victoria’s breathing began to get deeper but her eyes kept staring into hers. “You were in so much pain but you held on tightly for me, my love. You didn’t let me go. Tory, please hold on to me. My sweet, sweet love, hold on to me.” A sob escaped as she spoke. “Don’t let go. Please don’t let me go!” Danielle’s voice was filled with pain.

She kept looking into Victoria’s eyes. Finally, finally there were no shadows between them, only love.

“I need you. I need you,” Danielle whispered.

Beatrice turned into her son’s embrace as she started to weep. Tom stood leaning against the doorframe with a grin on his face.

Dora ran into the room.

“The ambulance in pulling into the drive!” Dora announced.

~~~~~~~~~~

All the pain was gone. It had been so long since she had felt no pain. And in front of her was the face of love. Danielle’s face was so close. She was so beautiful. Victoria could no longer hear her anymore. But, she could see her; she had dreamed of Danni for so long, and now she saw all the things she had always wanted to see in those eyes. Danielle was hers. She had heard the words. She wanted so much to hold on but she was so tired and gradually the fog started coming and all she heard was her heart beating and all she could see were Danielle’s beautiful eyes filled with love and tears as her world went black.

“Victoria!”

~~~~~~~~~~

The room went into chaos.

Danielle screaming Victoria’s name not letting her go; Beatrice hanging on to Tommy; the paramedics rushing in.

“Miss please let her go… we have to treat her!”

Tommy released his mother and went to get Danni.

“Danni, let them help her.” He pulled her away and into his arms.

“She’s not dead. She can’t be dead,” she cried into her brother’s chest.

One of the paramedics looked up to meet Tommy’s eyes in sorrow and he held his sister tighter to him. Danielle would never recover. He held her to him.

They had Victoria on a stretcher hooked up to an IV and an oxygen mask over her mouth within minutes. As they raised the stretcher Danielle turned and followed them out to the Ambulance.

“I’m sorry Miss, you can’t come in here with us.”

“Try and stop me. That’s my life you have in there,” she spat out.

The other paramedic inside called out. “Let her in here and let’s get going!”

“Okay, okay lady get in, let’s go!”

The ambulance sped through the streets. Victoria grew paler and the air was suddenly filled with a piercing beeping noise.

“She’s going into cardiac arrest!”

Danielle just stared in horror as the paramedics worked on Victoria.

“Notify the hospital and tell them that she is flat lining and to have a unit ready; let them know she’s lost a lot of blood”

~~~~~~~~~~

The emergency waiting room was filled with people. Orderly chaos filled the air. People waiting to be treated; others complaining of the waiting time and the rushing of doctors and nurses back in forth.

Danielle waited. She had been told she had to wait and let the doctors do their job.

She sat in a corner waiting, oblivious to the noises and all the chaos that played out in front of her. She was filled with a fear that she had never experienced before. Victoria might die. Victoria won’t die, was all that filled her thoughts then. She kept repeating that thought over and over again in her mind. Oblivious to all else she continued her vigil. If she could keep thinking that then she would not loose her. Her love would believe enough for both of them.

She had never felt so alone and fragile. How could she hold on when she felt like she was dying too? She remembered the loss when Victoria had left. She remembered the loneliness that followed. Because, what she had failed to understand as a child was that they had always been connected. They had always been one. They had both suffered and had been burned with the separation. Danielle knew all this as she knew that without Victoria there was not a tomorrow. Life would simply cease to exist and she would welcome oblivion.

~~~~~~~~~~

Tommy and Beatrice saw her as they entered the emergency waiting room and walked over to her. Tommy reached for her hand as he sat next to her. Beatrice stood helplessly next to Tom Sr.

Tommy’s touch brought her eyes up to meet his. He knew. He understood her pain. And that was all she needed. She went into his arms as sobs racked her body.

“I need her Tommy, she can’t die. Oh God! Please don’t let her die,” she cried inconsolably as he held her closer.

“It’s going to be okay Sis, You’ll see. She is a tough one, you’ll see,” Tommy said trying to keep himself from breaking down. His sister needed him. He had to be strong. He had to be. He looked up to his father as he had always done his whole life and was surprised by what he saw.

Tom Sr. looked away and Tommy looked towards Beatrice.

Danielle was inconsolable; she was falling apart. Beatrice sat next to her and took her daughter into her arms. She held her tightly. How could so much have happened during her stay in the hospital and she’d not known? How long had her daughter suffered with this love in silence? She held her daughter and stroked her hair in comfort.

“Mama, I love her. I love her.” Danielle cried into her mothers embrace. “Please understand Mama, please understand.”

Beatrice kept caressing her child’s head and whispered. “I understand little one. I understand.”

Danielle looked up into her mother eyes and saw what she had always seen there, love. How could she have thought that her mother might turn away from her? It was through her mother that she had understood. Love forgives, understands and endures even where there is only lifelessness.

~~~~~~~~~~

They all waited for word. All had different hopes and so many questions. Beatrice held her child, praying that Victoria would survive because if she did not she knew her Danielle’s heart would not be able to endure the loss.

Tom Sr. watched on as his wife comforted their daughter and was amazed at her understanding and tolerance. A part of him was moved as he saw the pain in his daughter. But, a part of him was glad; this might take care of all his concerns. He looked out the window close to where he was standing. And quite suddenly he remembered.

Tom remembered how loving hurt. He had lost someone once too. Her loss was only a memory now but he thought back to that time. He thought his heart would break. However, he knew better. He had survived and he would survive this now. If Victoria died his problems would be over.

Tommy sat in a corner waiting too. His eyes were lowered but he never lost sight of his father. He was faced with a reality that he had not wanted to see. He had seen his father’s eyes and he was shocked by what he saw there. And now he observed his father wondering how he had never seen it before and how so many things suddenly made sense. His world had changed forever

~~~~~~~~~~

It had been six hours and still no word. Victoria was still in surgery. A nurse had come out once and told them that she was hanging on but that she had lost a lot of blood and she had flat lined in the OR once. They were trying to save her.

Danielle lay in Tommy’s embrace. Just when she thought she had no more tears she found out differently.

Ten hours later, sometime around 3am, a doctor walked up to them. Danielle looked up and stood immediately.

“Is she alive?”

“Just barely. I’m Dr. Peters; I operated on her. We won’t know anything for sure for at least 72 hours,” he said in a tired voice. “It’s a miracle she’s made it this far. We shall just have to wait and see if she hangs on. She’s lost a lot of blood. One of the bullets hit an artery near her left shoulder and tore the muscle lining. The other perforated her right lung and caused massive internal bleeding.”

“My God,” Danielle whispered as her hand covered her mouth to stifle a cry.

“We almost lost her once in surgery; she went into cardiac arrest. She’s got the fact that she is young and in good physical condition in her favor. As I said, we’ll have a better idea after 72 hours,” finished the doctor.

“I want to see her,” Danielle asked.

“Only family allowed in ICU, are you family?”

“She’s my lover,” Danielle stated defiantly.

The doctor looked at her for a moment in silence. “I’ll talk to the staff.”

He walked over to the nurse’s station and after a few minutes walked back to where she stood.

“You can go up and see her for a few minutes. I will take you there myself. There is a waiting room up on that floor that you can also use. And Miss, I’ll take you up now, but I will advise you to contact an attorney. I know this hospital and their regulations. You are going to need one.”

“Thank you.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Doctor Peters walked Danielle into ICU to where Victoria laid. Danielle was grateful. She was grateful that they had gotten this far. A minute at a time, an hour at a time, a day at time. She was grateful for every moment. Victoria was alive and that was all that mattered. That’s what she would focus on.

Danielle reached out to her lovingly. She caressed her lover’s hair as the tears rolled down her face unhindered yet again. “No more excitement for awhile all right sweetheart? We are going to just go away you and I. We are going to leave this all behind us and create our own world my love.”

Doctor Peters was checking the monitors and could not help but overhear. He looked at Danielle with sad eyes.

“We can get on a boat and just go from island to island. I’ll paint and you’ll write. Remember Tori? You wanted to be a writer. We’ll swim and make love. And nothing will matter.” A sob escaped Danielle. “Please hang on for me my sweet, sweet love. Don’t let go Tori, I need you. Please, please don’t leave me.” She broke down in tears.

Doctor Peter was behind her. He spoke very gently. “I promise you can see her again soon. Now you have to let us to our job okay?”

Danielle looked up into his eyes. “She is going to pull through, I know it. She is the strongest person I know,” she stated.

Dr. Peters smiled kindly, “You believe that. Never stop believing. We will do our best I promise you.”

Danielle nodded leaned down and brushed her slips against Victoria’s cheek. “I love you,” she whispered into her ear. She then stood up and allowed the Doctor to guide her to the waiting room.

She had left a message for Dominic a few hours ago with his service. She had still not heard from him. In the morning she would contact her attorney and see what her options were should she need them. Nothing and no one was going to keep her from Victoria.

Tom Sr. took Beatrice home after arguing that she needed to take care of herself as well. All agreed and now only Danielle and Tommy who had chosen to stay with Danielle waited for word.

~~~~~~~~~~

Beatrice was silent all the way home. She followed Tom into the study. He started pouring himself a drink from the bar as she walked to the window. It was barely morning.

“A little early isn’t it Tom?” She said as she stared out to the woods past the extensive lawn.

“After tonight?” He growled.

She said nothing and continued looking out the window as he sat down at the near by couch. He let out a loud sigh.

“When were you going to tell me?”

“Tell you what?” He said without even looking in her direction.

“You obviously knew about Danielle and Victoria.”

“Yes, I knew. But I did not want to upset you” he stated evenly now looking at her. Beatrice still faced the window.

“Tell me what has happened to my children while I was in the hospital, Tom,” and with that accusation she turned to face him. Her eyes were unwavering. She expected an answer and she would not be swayed. This surprised him.

“What are you talking about dear?” He asked as he took the last swig out of the glass in his hands.

“Tom, I have forgiven you everything. I have loved you, Tom. My children are hurting. I want you to tell me the truth!” She demanded.

“I don’t know what you mean by that!” He stood up.

“Our daughter is dying. Our baby, Tom. She is dying. If anything happens to that girl, our child will follow. Tommy won’t even look at you. What have you done Tom… What have you done?” Demanded Beatrice.

“How dare you speak to me this way!” Tom ranted.

“I have forgiven you everything… everything. But, I won’t allow you to hurt our children. I’m going to find out what is happening here.” Beatrice walked out of the library leaving Tom in stunned silence.

That was not his docile wife. What was happening? He was loosing control of everything. In a fit of anger he yelled and he through his glass against the wall. A thousand broken pieces spread throughout the floor.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dominic ran through the hospital door. He was directed to the ICU waiting room where he found Danielle huddled in the corner of a couch. Looking out the window was Tommy.

“Danielle….”

Danielle upon hearing her name looked up and saw Dominic. She got up, and walked into his embrace.

“Oh Dominic… I could loose her. I could loose her,” she whispered into his chest.

He stroked her hair. “How did this happen? Your message said that she had been shot?”

“We had finally talked it all out…” she walked away and leaned against the wall as her arms went protectively around her stomach. “We went to see my mother. We were going to tell her that we were in love.” Danielle looked at Dominic for a moment then closed her eyes and started speaking again as her head leaned against the wall.

Dominic waited patiently. He was desperate to know what happened. The doctor had already given him an update on the phone. But he knew that only Danielle would be able to tell him what had led up to the shooting.

“We were all in my mother’s day room when the door burst open and… It was such a loud sound… she had pulled me to her.” Danielle sobbed. “She covered me with her body. She was protecting me like she had always done….” Unable to finish Danielle cried out like an animal in pain as she slid down the wall. Tommy ran to her and both he and Dominic walked her over to the couch. Tommy held her as her body shook with uncontrollable sobbing.

“She is going to be fine Sis. Tory is strong. You have to believe. But you have to be strong too. She is going to need you. You have to believe Sis.” He said lovingly as he caressed her hair.

Dominic looked on. How had it all gone so wrong? He sat down in a near by chair and covered his face.

~~~~~~~~~~

Beatrice came back to the hospital later on that night. They all waited. The police came and took statements. A warrant was put out for Paul. And still they waited for the words that they prayed would come. Danielle refused to drink or eat anything. Dominic handled the legalities of the hospital and almost struck one of the hospital directors. Tommy went from comforting his sister to worrying about his mother. Tom Sr. did not come back.

Forty-eight hours later still no change. Danielle had fallen asleep on the couch from exhaustion. Her head was on Beatrice’s lap, as Beatrice looked at her daughter lovingly. All four of them were in the room as a sob escaped Beatrice’s lips.

Tommy went to his mother and Dominic looked on.

“Mother…. Are you all right?” Tommy asked softly not wanting to wake Danielle.

“My children are in pain and I can’t stop it!” Tears ran down her face.

Tommy sat on the other side of his mother. “We are a strong lot, Danni and I, Mom. We will get through this. But, we won’t make it without you. You have to take care of yourself. Maybe you should go home and get some rest.”

“My place is here, it’s time I take my place, Tommy,” she said softly to him. “I will be fine. No more lies between us. Only the truth from now on,” she said as she looked into her son’s eyes.

“Only the truth Mama, only the truth.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Sixty-two hours later, something happened. Danielle woke up as if choking from a tired sleep and gasped for air. The monitors could be heard going off in ICU and a code was called over the hospital intercom system.

~~~~~~~~~~

Two little girls were sitting under a huge tree. One with ebony hair the other with hair the color of sunlight. It was as beautiful sunny day. A warm breeze rustled through the leaves. The air smelled of sunlight and honey suckle.

“Which ones to do you like?” Tori asked.

“I like the red ones.” Answered Danni.

“Here you can have all the red jelly beans” Tori said with a big smile as she held her hand out to Danni.

Part Ten