Eric
As soon as we got to Sara's room, Jessica just rushed to her bedside and cried, nonstop. It pains me seeing her like this. I want to do something for them, but there's really nothing much I can do. So, I only do what I know best and be the support Jessica needs from me.
I grabbed another chair and pulled it beside her and sat down. I placed my hand at her back and caressed it, hoping to soothe her. She continues to cry holding Sara's hand but she turned her face to my chest and cried harder.
"Jessica, Baby... She will be fine. She's strong. She's going to fight for her life for you."
"Why did this have to happen Eric? Why? How can someone do something like this?"
"Baby..." I looked over to Judy, and as if she understood my look, she shook her head and mouthed 'later'.
"I need you to rest, Jess. You're sick too and it'll not make anything better if you're not better.'
"I can't. I can't leave her like this."
"I know Jess, but Sara would want you to rest. Look, you go and rest for a while. And while you're resting Judy and I will stay by Sara's and watch her. If anything, we'll wake you."
"Yes Dear, please rest. If you don't it'll only make you feel worse and if that happens you'll be admitted to a different room. Then you won't be able to be with Sara."
"Okay but promise me you'll wake me up if anything happens or if there's an update on who did this."
"We promise. Now lay on the couch and sleep."
As soon as Jessica hit the pillow, she fell right back to sleep. I knew she didn't want to but she needs it.
I looked at Judy and whispered for us to talk outside.
"How are we going to tell her that Ryan did this? It's going to break her." I asked as I closed the sliding door, peaking inside to make sure Jessica is really asleep.
"I know but we have to. Better hear it from us than from the Police and finds out we already knew. It'll only make it worse for her."
"I am really going to find him and kill him!" I say, my face stern, my fist curling in a ball.
"And then what? You ending up in jail? No. Not going to happen. We cannot make it out as self defense as you would have done it after the crime."
"Yeah, you're right. But Judy, please do everything in your power to make sure that he rots in jail for the rest of his life. He cannot and does not deserve to be roaming the streets like a free asshole."
"I promise, I'll do by absolute best. Now, we have to call her parents. You want to call or..."
"You call. You do it, you're closer to them. You know better how to approach them." I told Judy as I head back inside. I lifted Jessica's head and let it lay on my lap. I stroke her hair, unconsciously tears roll down my eyes. A few moments after, Jessica wakes up.
Jessica
I wake up with tears continuously running down my eyes. I see Judy outside talking to the doctor.
"Eric, anything new?"
"Sweetheart, there's something you need to know but I absolutely beg for you to try to stay calm. Please. What I'm about to tell you is something that will blow your mind, but please, for the kids."
"What is it Eric? Please just tell me." I'm starting to panic.
"The one who did this to her... was...." Eric suddenly turned his head to the side unable to look at me.
"Who Eric? Who? God just say it, please!" I jumped up and stood in front of him. He looks up and was about to answer but Judy was now back inside and answered instead.
"It was Ryan, Honey." Judy said.
As soon as I heard his name, I crumble to the floor and cried. My crying became harder by the minute. I remembered seeing Judy with the doctor. I needed to know everything now so I asked, "I saw you with the doctor. What did she say?"
"Honey..."
'No. Just say it. Don't throw news to me one day at a time. Just say it."
"The labs show that she was indeed ra---"
"DON'T! I---- I can't hear it..." I almost begged and just stayed on the floor crying until I started to hyperventilate and pass out. The next think I know I was at a different room with oxygen and an IV inserted on my hand. Great!
I see my Eric sitting on the chair on my bedside holding my hand.
"Eric...?"
"Oh, Jess... Glad you're awake."
"Why am I here with all these?"
"You passed out. You have a flu and your temperature's really high. You are really dehydrated."
"But Sara...."
"She's fine. She'll be fine. She has not woken up yet but she's stable. She's just traumatized with what happened and I guess her body is forcing her to sleep to recuperate from what happened."
"Oh gosh our parents. Have you called them?"
"Judy already called and both Mom's are coming first so the Dads can stay with the kids."
A few minutes after, I saw my Mom rushing to my hospital door.
"Jessica oh, Baby! Are you okay? You should have woken me up when you left."
"I'm okay Mom. It's Sara we need to worry about. Mom... how did this happen?"
"Shhh Baby. We will do everything we can. Also, Judy is a great lawyer. She'll take care of it."
"Who's with Sara now?"
"Your Mama Luisa is there with her. Your Dads are with the kids. They'll come over as soon as Luisa and I get home. We've also arranged for you to transfer to Sara's room so we have you both together"
"Thank you, Mom."
It's been three days, I finally get "discharged" but of course I am still in the hospital to be with Sara. I want to be here if and when she wakes up. The kids have been crying as they only see me on FaceTime. They've been asking for me and Sara but we didn't want them to come to the hospital.
Judy is now in court working on the case while Eric ran errands for the things we need. Our parents are at home with the kids and one set would be here later alternating with the other.
I sat on the chair on her bedside and held her hand. I started talking her as I cry.
"Sara, Baby... Please wake up. It pains me knowing what happened and if only I can replace you and have all these done to me instead of you. Honey please... I love you... The kids love you... They've been longing for you. I know, maybe you don't want to wake up so you won't remember what happened and that's totally fair. But Sara..." I said crying harder. Then I thought of singing to her. She loves it when I do.
🎶 If I had one wish girl, I'd with you next to me. And it could be in summer, fall, or spring, girl 'cause you make my heart sing. I want to give my heart, my soul, my love to you oh baby. 'Cause everyday I'm not with you I'm missing you like crazy. If you only knew what you really do ain't never had no one that does it quite like you do. You could spend half a lifetime trying to find one like you, that's why I am so glad I found you, Baby. I wished upon a star and it came true. Darling, I need for you to love me, hold me, touch me, down deep in my soul never let you go of the love we share, no one compares to you. 🎶
I bowed down on her hand as I held it tight crying. I just cannot stop crying. As I was in this position, all I could say then was I love her and kept repeating the 'I love you' until I fell asleep.
Sara
I may seem asleep on the outside but inside I am wide awake. I know I have to wake up but maybe a part of me did not want to just yet as it will make me live with what happened to me. Twice! By the same fucking person! I cannot live with myself like this. But seeing and hearing all the pain from Jessica, it hurts me even more. I don't like seeing her like this.
I pushed myself to wake up and when I did, she was asleep, holding my hand and her head bowed down. I heard everything she said, I heard her song and maybe that's what woke me up.
I started to open my mouth and sing to her, 🎶 You know there's no need to hide away. You know I tell the truth. We are just the same. I can feel in everything you do, hear everything you say, even when we're miles away. 'Cause I am me, the universe and you. I'm the universe and you. When you're on your own, I'll send you a sign. Just so you know, I am me, the universe and you 🎶
From the first note, Jessica jerked her head up and looked at me, mouth slightly opened and just froze.
"I love you Baby..." I said as I reached out for her face.
Jessica leaned her face on my palm and said, "Oh God Sara you're awake! Oh, I love you too, Honey! Oh God thank you for coming back to me!"
"I will always come back to you Baby. I love you. I'm sorry for the pain I've cost you these past days."
'Oh, no Baby, no. Don't say that. You did nothing, okay?"
I started to cry and kept saying sorry nonstop.
"Shhhh, please do not cry Baby. Please don't. None of these is your fault." Jessica said as she sat up with me in bed and put her arms around me. She placed my head on her chest as she positioned her lips on top of my head and stayed there. I cried and she let me until finally I ran out of energy to continue.
"I love you, okay. Don't ever think this is your fault. We will get through this Baby. We will make sure that bastard stays in jail for good."
It's been a month since we were here but another three days more and we were finally able to go home. As Jessica was packing our things, I noticed the nurse handing her two discharge slips.
"Babe? Why do you have two of those?"
"Oh, uhm, it's probably just duplicate." She sounded nervous and cold not look at me in the eye.
"I don't think it's 'just' that. There's something you're not telling me." I stared her down.
"Huh? What? No..." She was shaking. I know when she's not telling me something. She's a bad liar.
Eric then comes in the room so I asked him instead, "Eric? What happened when I was still in coma?"
"Uhm..." He looked at me then Jessica and they looked at each other for a few minutes.
"Eric...?" I looked him in the eye with one eyebrow up.
"Jessica was admitted for two days." He said almost choking on his words.
"WHAT?! Why didn't you tell me? What happened?" I faced Jessica whose head was bowed down.
"Nothing serious Baby. It was you who we need to focus on." She said, almost about to cry.
"No. No. No. Nothing is just nothing when it comes to you Jessica. You know that everything matters. Especially when it comes to you and or the kids. The fact that you were admitted for TWO DAYS?? And you say that's nothing?" I cupped her face up to look at me. I bowed al little to make eye contact with her, trying to hold her eye in in mine.
"Okay, okay. Please don't be mad. I'm sorry. I didn't not want to worry you but yes, I was. I was still nursing that stupid flu when I rushed here in the middle of the night and since then I had no sleep, was not eating, and cried nonstop. My temperature shot up past the roof, I kept hyperventilating, and I was severely dehydrated."
"Oh, God, I'm so sorry... Come here..." I hugged her tight and kissed the top of her head.
'I'm sorry for keeping it from you..."
I looked at Eric and said, "Thank you for taking care of her for me, Eric. I appreciate it."
"Don't mention it Sara. We both love Jessica but really, we can't blame her for setting herself aside. She loves you so much was dead worried about you.'
"I know and I'm sorry for worrying all of you."
"None of this is your fault Sara, don't blame yourself for that. Now, speaking of which, Judy called and said we needed your official statement and then we go from there. We can have the police come to your house or meet some place else. Just let me know so we can arrange."
I look and Jessica, my face asking for her opinion. She understood without hesitation and said, "We can do it at our house, that's fine. This is a sensitive matter to be discussed elsewhere."
"Okay then. I'll call Judy and we'll have this done as soon as possible."
With that, we head home, where our parents and children are waiting for us.
Judy
Today is the day where we'd get official statement from Sara. We, Eric and I, including some officers head to Sara and Jessica's home.
As soon as we got there, we went straight to business. As soon as statements were taken, the officers left but Eric and I stayed.
"So Sara, we only hope that He pleads guilty so this case gets closed sooner than expected."
"And what if he does not and denies what he did to Sara?" Jessica asked.
"If that happens then we'll go on trial. We won't know how long it's going to take if we go to trial. That's why we need a miracle that he does plead guilty during the deposition."
"Judy, I need to ask you a question and you need to answer me truthfully." Sara asked. "Since he did this to me the second time around, will the first time be brought up?"
"We will try our best not to, from our end. We don't know and cannlt control what he says thought. If he does mention it then, I'm sorry but tha will be discussed as well. I know it's more difficult given that it happened twice by the same man but we will do everything we can to make this as easy as possible."
"I know and I understand. Thank you." Sara said as she looked away, seems to a photo of Sofia hanging on the wall beside Luke's in the living room.
"So, if he does mention it ----" Jessica said, looking from Sara to me and continued, "If he does mention it....." tears were now running down her eyes.
I understood and knew what she was bout to said. As I opened my mouth to say something, Jessica then started talking and said, "I cannot let him know about Sofia. I cannot let him have the idea of Sofia. I cannot let him have a vision of Sofia. I cannot let him go anywhere near Sofia. I cannot let him try to challenge is paternity with Sofia. I cannot let him have the motive to fight over Sofia. I cannot have him have that anything with Sofia. O, Sofia... My baby girl, Sofia... My little bug..." Jessica was hysterically crying while Sara hugged her crying as well.
I looked to Eric with tears in my eyes. He held my hand and signaled that it was okay to answer Jessica's concern. I reached out for her to a hug and as I pulled away, I held both hers and Sara's hands and said, "Either way, it gets mentioned or not, technically speaking, Sofia was a product of rape. Which means, any paternity claim and or rights are automatically denied. So, you don't have to worry about that, okay? You won't have to worry about him doing anything stupid either because with what he did plus all his other past crimes, we will make sure he gets sent straight to maximum security, okay?"
"Thank you..." Both Sara and Jessica said in unison.
We stayed until a little after dinner and then went home.
Sara
Today is the day we will know if this would be escalated to a trial. I prayed so damn hard that it won't. I don't want my family to go through hell of relieving these moments. I cannot bear see Jessica so hurt for me. I don't want to put my kids through that either.
We were called in and miraculously, he pleased guilty. Just like that. We did not even have to say a single word. As soon as he was brought in, he instantly said that he was and that he would like to just be locked up for life at a maximum facility. I don't know if that's something you can even request but looking at the judge, he seemed pleased. I'm not sure if with this being the easiest case he has handled or because he did not have to lift a finger either. But it felt good. It was a relief.
I faced Jessica who was right behind me and pulled her to a very tight hug.
As I pulled away to look at her and to give her a kiss, all I was able to do was smile and then I passed out.
Jessica
Sara passed out fr a good 10 minutes before she regained her self.
"Honey are you okay? I mean of course you're not but – what were you feeling when you passed? What happened? Did you feel hungry or thirsty, nervous?'
"I don't know Baby. I just suddenly felt nauseous and I couldn't seem to shove it down."
"Let's drop by the hospital and have yourself checked, okay? Could it possibly be an effect when you hit your head on the restroom floor when this happened."
"I don't want to, I just want to go home and be with the kids. And you... I missed you... I need you..."
"I know Hone, me too. But we cannot let this pass and just hope it was nothing and then do something when it's too late. So come on. Judy and Eric can stay and finish the things here. Come on let's go."
We head to the hospital and the doctors who saw Sara met us at the E.R. I explained what happened and they said they will run some tests and will get back to us in an hour, as soon as the results come in.
An hour later, the two doctors came back with another doctor in tow we did not know.
"So, nothing is wrong with neuro. And all is looking good with the rest as well. You are healing well which is good. Really good. Now, let me introduce Dr. Annette Parker. She will be working with you moving forward. Dr. Parker has been briefed with your case, Sara so she fully understands." Dr. Kimwell, Neuro, said as she and Dr. Lopez excused themselves, leaving Dr. Parker alone with us.
"Hi, again I am Dr. Parker, but please just call me Savannah. How are you? How's your nausea?"
"Hi Annette. As you know I am Sara and this is my wife, Jesscia."
"Oh yes, I know you guys. I am a huge fan of Grey's and I am a die-hard Team Calzona. That's why when I heard that I will be working on your care, I danced around my office and took me minutes to compose myself before heading down here."
'That's so sweet of you, Dr. Thank you for your support. But uhm, if you don't mine me asking--
" I said as I faced her. "If Dr, Kimwell and Dr, Lopez said that Sara was healing well, why are you here and what case are we working on with my wife? I mean, again please, I don't mean anything bad and forgive me if you feel offended. But what exactly do we need you for?" I asked embarrassed.
"No, it's okay. No offense taken and my apologies we were not able to explain my presence here. I am the head of OB-GYN department and ---" She stopped as she saw Sara with a very angry face.
"Just say it Dr." Sara blurted out.
"I know this is a sensitive matter to you given the situation and all, but Sara, I'm sorry I really don't know a better way to say this and how you're going to take it but... you're pregnant. What happened to you resulted to pregnancy and that's what made you nauseous." She said as she looked from Sara, to me, and now on the floor.
I know this must be so difficult for her to deliver the news. Being pregnant and having a baby should be something filled with happiness and excitement. But with this nature we are in, it's difficult.
"Thank you, Dr. Parker. Uhm, is there anything else we need here? I really just want to take Sara home."
"I understand and I really am sorry. Here le me give you a prescription of all the vitamins she would need and please come back a week after so we can have a formal check up on the baby and do an ultrasound.' She said as she handed me the prescription.
We get released from the E.R and dropped by a pharmacy to get everything on the prescription. The rest of the travel on the way home was pure silence. I did not want to say anything right now as I know this is very hard for Sara.
As soon as we arrived home, she went straight to our room and showered then went straight to bed. I stood by the bedframe and asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"
"I'm pregnant, Jessica. There is nothing to talk about. Just... Just leave."
I turned around and closed the door behind me and sat on the floor. I cried and cried until I had the strength to call my Mom.
"Mom, can you please take the kids for a while. There's something about what happened but I don't want to talk about it yet. We need to figure this out but I need you please to take the kids while we figure things out with Sara."
"I understand Baby. Whenever you both are ready. For now, I will head over and take the kids. We're planning to go back home to Missouri. Will it be okay to take the kids there or would you want us to stay behind and be close by?"
"You can go Mom. I know you and Dad have tons back home as well."
"Okay baby. I'll be there in a few/"
"Thank you, Mom. I promise to tell you everything but not just now."
"I know Babe. I know."
We both hung up and I opened the bedroom door and Sara's back was on me as she again asked me to go away. I sat there, by the door, inside our bedroom, crying as she cried too. I don't know what to do.