CHAPTER 79

I ran out of the door and called Alexis immediately. I filled her in during the cab ride. She called ahead and booked me on the next flight home, which was taking off in two hours. Even with the short wait, I wouldn't get in until early the next morning.

I arrived at close to four in the morning, the airport was not very crowded. I made my way immediately to where the dispatch area was and hailed a taxi. He drove me directly to the hospital dropping me off at the front door. I went in, asked for some assistance at the help desk, they directed me to Courtney's room. As I got out of the elevator, I looked down the hall one way, then the other. I saw Mrs. Timmons sitting on a chair in the hallway, her head in her hands. I slowly began the long walk down to her, my stomach was in knots. As I approached her, she looked up and saw me, jumped up and ran into my arms hysterically crying. She held on to me tightly as the emotion shook her body violently. I was still holding on to her when Mr. Timmons walked out of the room to see what was going on. I reached over with one hand and squeezed his, his wife still crying uncontrollably. He stepped around me, gently pulling his wife's arms from me.

"Baby, it's ok. Let Brian go see Courtney, he has come along way.", he urged with a smile.

She reluctantly let me go, wrapping her arms around her husband instead. He motioned with a nod of his head for me to go into room. I took a deep breath, set my bag on the chair and walked into the room. Courtney was lying in the bed, tubes and wiring all over her. She appeared to be sleeping comfortably, a content look on her face. There was a chair sitting right next to the bed, apparently where her Dad had been sitting. I pulled it out slightly, sitting down and leaning over the bed. I reached out and took her small, fragile hand in mine, once again the tears running down my cheeks. Mr. Timmons stuck his head in the door, speaking very softly.

"Brian, we are going down to get something to eat, we have been here all night. We will be right back, the nurse will be checking in from time to time.", he said.

I had been sitting there for maybe twenty minutes, just holding her hand, looking into her face. One of the nurses knocked on the door and let herself in quickly. She moved around to the opposite side of the bed, her eyes scanning all of the equipment to make sure it was still properly working.

"I'll only be a minute.", she said softly, a weak smile on her face.

I got up and moved over to the window, looking out over the city. I couldn't help but think to myself, all of these people, all of these cars, it's just a regular day for them. In here, my best friend was dying, out there, no one cared. The nurse finished up, then turned to me again, once again trying her best to smile.

"You have to be Brian, I have heard a lot about you.", she said.

"Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Timmons are good people.", I answered.

"Well yes, some from them. But most of it from her.", she said, motioning to Courtney, "You're all she has talked about since she got here, she adores you."

"We have been through a lot together. She is my best friend.", I answered.

"Well she should be waking up in a little while, I backed off the medicine a little bit.", she said, patting me on the shoulder as she walked out.

I sat back down in the chair, once again taking Courtney's hand, leaned back and closed my eyes, it had been a long night. I sat there for a few minutes, the sounds of the hospital behind me, until I felt her hand move in mine. I quickly opened my eyes, leaned forward slightly looking into her face. She slowly opened her eyes, blinked several time, then slowly turned in my direction. It took several moments for her to realize I was there, but slowly a soft smile spread across her mouth.

"Hey baby, how do you feel ?", I asked gently, my hand brushing the hair out of her face.

"I'm …. better …. now.", she whispered, weakly squeezing my hand.

I leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips, my hand softly stroking her cheek. The tears were pouring from my eyes, I felt so hopeless. She slowly lifted her hand, extended one finger and placed it across my lips.

"Shhhhhhh.", was all she whispered.

I looked into her eyes, realizing that for the second time in my life, I was losing my best friend. First my Father, now Courtney. Even though I could see she was weak, her body overwhelmed by this terrible disease, inside she was still strong.

"Why aren't ….. you at…. your camp…. today.", she asked.

"I have to be here with you.", I replied softly.

"No, you need… to…be there.", she replied.

"I'm not leaving you again, never again.", I whispered to her.

Even though she was pretending to be protesting, I knew she wanted me there. She smiled again weakily, then slowly drifted off back to sleep. I had just gotten myself composed again, when Mrs. Timmons walked back in. She placed her hand on my shoulder, squeezing it gently.

"Does she know you're here ?", she asked, softly.

"Yes mam. She was awake for a few minutes.", I answered.

"Good.", she replied.

For the next three days, I never left the hospital. We all took turns, eating, sleeping and praying, one of us always by her side. Sunday morning, the doctors told us, it was only a matter of hours. He told us, he could ease off the medication, allow her to wake up for short spells, let everyone say what they wanted, one last time. Her parents nodded to him, he told the nurse what to do. I decided to leave the room, let Courtney be with her parents, I knew they had so many things they wanted to tell her. I walked down the hall, caught the elevator down to the first floor. I went into the cafeteria and got a cup of coffee and sat down at one of the tables. I had been down there for maybe an hour, when Mr. Timmons came walking in, you could tell he had been crying.

"She just fell back asleep. You need to go up there shortly, make sure you're there when she wakes up again. She was asking for you.", he told me.

"Yes sir.", I replied.

As I got back to the room, I told Mrs. Timmons that her husband was down in the cafeteria. She told me she would go down for a minute, grab some coffee, then be right back up. I sat down in the chair, once again taking Courtney's hand in mine. I had been there for maybe fifteen minutes when the doctor came back in, checking on her. I could tell from the look on his face, he was concerned. He looked over at me and smiled, doing his best to ease my pain.

"So you're Brian Stevens huh ?", he asked.

"Yes sir.", I answered.

"How does it feel to be drafted in the first round ?", he asked quietly.

"I would trade it all right now sir, to make her healthy.", I answered.

He didn't say a word, he patted my shoulder and walked out. As I looked back down at Courtney, I saw she was awake. She had this smile on her face, it was like the old Court, the smile I knew.

"I love you….Brian. And..I know…you meant that.", she said in a whisper.

"I love you too Courtney, I always have.", I admitted, between tears.

By now her parents had quietly walked back into the room, although I hadn't realized it. I could see Courtney's eyes begin to droop once more, I had so much more to say.

"Remember ….what I told you…the day..you left ?", she asked, her eyes open wide again.

I nodded to her that I did, I saw a sudden cynical look cross her face. She weakly should her head back and forth.

"No…you don't.", she ribbed.

I closed my eyes for a second, just to make sure I had the words right, I had never really forgot them. I leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips, once again brushing her cheek. I looked directly into her eyes and I softly held her hand with both of mine.

"If you must go, then I wish you love. You'll never walk alone.

Take care my love, I'll miss you love.", I answered, her eyes alive for the first time since I arrived.

I heard her mother begin to cry behind me, at that moment, I realized they had returned. They had been there the whole time, but it didn't matter.

"You did...remember….. all this time...", she replied.

"Yes, all this time.", I responded.

"Brian, remember those words. Go, live your life…..but remember, you…will never walk….alone, I'll be with you baby….I love you.", she finished, exhausted.

She smiled weakly and pulled her hand from mine, wiping the tears from her face.

"Brian, I need….my Mom and ….my Dad now.", she pleaded.

I got up from my chair and turned to her parents, both of them were in tears, the pain was unbearable. I walked past them and out to the hall, where I slumped down in the chair. I was out there for maybe twenty minutes, when I saw the nurses running down the hall in my direction. The pushed hard on the door and ran in, I knew, she was gone. Several minutes later, her parents walked out together, Mr Timmons supporting his wife. He stopped for second, looked down at me and smiled.

"We're going to take her home now.", he told me.