Chapter 33

                                    

                                          
When he finally came to speak to Carrie, Angel's doctor explained that the longer it took Angel to regain consciousness the more severe his injuries were and the smaller his chances will be of a full recovery. That petrified her to her core. Each minute felt like an eternity while she waited for his eyes to flutter or some kind of sign that he'd be waking up soon.
                          
"Come on, Angel," she whispered to him. "I can't do this without you. We were finally going to get our happy ending."
                          
"Miss. Jimenez?" The nurse said, startling Carrie. She spoke softly as she wheeled Marisol's bassinet into the room, "I have some discharge forms for you to sign for you and the baby."
                          
Carrie looked away from Angel and nodded. "Oh. Uh. Okay."
                          
"If you need anything while you're here with him, you can always run down to maternity. Formula, diapers, wipes, anything at all."
                          
"That's very kind," she whimpered. "Thank you."
                          
"Of course," the nurse smiled. "She was changed before I brought her up and only just fell asleep on the elevator."
                          
Carrie nodded. "Okay," she said distractedly started signing the forms. "This it?"
                          
"It is. The birth certificate will be filed with the state in the morning, you'll get it in about six weeks."
                          
"Thank you," she faked a smile until the woman left.
                          
She checked on Marisol and wheeled the bassinet closed to the bed before sitting beside Angel to keep vigil. Her eyes felt dry after some time had passed like she hadn't dared to blink, and once she did she dozed off.
                          
—
                          
The next morning EZ arrived with Felipe to find Carrie sleeping on a cot, provided to her on the middle of the night. She awoke with a start, embarrassed for them to see her in that state.
                          
"Hi," she sat up. "Sorry, it's been a long, well, a long few months to be honest."
                          
Felipe didn't say anything, he simply kissed her on the head before turning his attention to Angel.
                          
"Any change?" EZ asked somberly.
                          
"No," she whispered. "Nothing."
                          
Carrie watched as Felipe whispered beside his son, using his thumb to make a tiny sign of the cross on Angel's forehead.
                          
"How's Marisol?" EZ tried to remake positive by focusing on the new life in their family.
                          
"Good," Carrie actually smiled. "Eating like a champ so far."
                          
"She looks like you," EZ remarked. "Joey looks like Angel."
                          
He didn't mean for the comments to sound like some vague hint about the paternity of the children but it was all Carrie thought of. That was her insecurity though and she knew it.
                          
"Joey is a mini Angel," she said woefully. "How are you, E?"
                          
"Fine," he said dismissively. "Just worried about Angel," he admitted.
                          
"He'll be just fine," Felipe finally spoke. "I know my son."
                          
EZ and Carrie looked at each other and nodded, mumbling their agreement at the same time.
                          
"You want me to bring Joey around?" EZ asked Carrie? "Maybe he can meet the baby?"
                          
"Not yet," Carrie said quickly. "I'm going to call my sister though, do you guys mind staying in here with Mari?"
                          
"Go," Felipe said softly. "Get a cup of coffee, take a walk," he advised.
                          
"Thank you," she smiled sadly. "If anyone needs me just call."
                          
Carrie's short walk turned into almost forty-five minutes in the hospital courtyard. She got to FaceTime her sister and Joey, check in with her supervisor, and have a cup of coffee, alone, in the warm sun. Part of her didn't want to go back in, it was cool, the smell made her sick and fluorescent lights zapped her energy.
                          
Dragging her feet slowly back up to Angel's hospital room she felt her heart sink and her stomach begin to churn again. Carrie inhaled slowly as she approached the room, wishing she and her family could just be home together, and with a loud exhale she pushed the door open and stepped in.
                          
"Hi," she sighed heavily.
                          
"Hey," Angel's raspy voice croaked out.
                          
Carrie looked away from her feet to see a confused looking Angel sitting up in bed with Marisol in his arms propped up with pillows. "Oh my god," she whimpered. "Angel," she laughed with glee, and smiled joyfully, as she moved quickly to his side. "You're okay. You're awake!"
                          
"Wh-who are you?" He asked, his head cocked to the side as he looked at her with confusion.
                          
"What?" She gasped, stepping back a few feet. "Angel, it's me, it's Carrie."
                          
"I'm just playin''', he said suddenly as he flashed her a goofy grin. "Sorry, mi dulce."
                          
"You dick," she began to sob, pressing her lips to his eagerly. "I love you but you're a fucking asshole."
                          
"I love you too," he said, his voice shaking with emotion. "She's beautiful, Car, I'm sorry I wasn't here," he said shamefully.
                          
"Christ, Angel, I'm just happy you're alive," she whispered, "And that he's finally dead."
                          
Angel nodded. "I think this is it, shit is gonna be simple now, better, I promise."
                          
Carrie beamed and nodded. "I know it is, I can feel it."
                          
--
                          
Sorry for the wait! I had a really hard time working on this one and I'm not sure why! Hope you like it, lemme know! xoxox