Riley
When Julia asked to see her daughter reality seemed to hit me hard In the gut. When I heard Nina's full name earlier it winded me. How can it be? This has to mean something surely, then again maybe it doesn't but it's too much of a coincidence not to. I leave her hospital room and head for the restroom, I don't even need to use the toilet but I just need a moment because right now I don't know what I'm feeling or thinking. In fact, I'm not even sure if what I'm thinking even makes sense.
After I've splashed water on my face and given as myself a moment to pull myself together I head out of the restroom and down the corridor when just seconds after I leave the restroom my eyes spot a figure down the corridor. Instantly I know that It's Juia, and from what I could see, she is barely able to walk. What the hell is she up to?
I want to run to her to find out what she's up to but I don't want to draw any attention to us so instead, I pick up my steps and quickly head her way. The moment I get close enough to her any plans of being nice fade as I let my anger surface and somewhat take it out on her. "What the hell are you doing?"
She jumps then turns to face me and instantly I want to take her into my arms, she looks pale, sad, and just plain ill and I hate it. Of course, Julia is nothing but strong and independent and that's made clear when she suddenly stands a little taller. "I'm going to find my daughter." her words are firm and make me want to smile but I'm still pissed at... Well, so many things but it's hard not to smile right now. "I am on my way to get her. I just needed to use the restroom."
She has a strange look on her face and it's got me confused. "Where is she? Something isn't... isn't," she stops talking and starts swaying on her feet and the moment I see her legs give out I rush to her and manage to catch her before she falls. A nurse sees what's going on and rushes over to us. "Why is she out here? Let's get her back in bed, she needs her drip put back in?"
"I don't know what she was doing here but she's a bloody idiot!" Yep, I'm pissed once more. She was acting strange just now which doesn't make sense as just a few minutes before she was absolutely fine with me when I was in her room with her so what changed in such a small space of time? As we make our way back to her room I try to rack my brain for a reason but I can't figure it out, but I'll be asking her when she wakes and I want answers.
I lay her back down on her bed while the nurse reattaches her drip and takes her vitals. "Is she ok?" she remains silent for a few moments as she writes stuff down in Julia's charts and just when I'm about to start getting pissy with her she looks up at Julia and then at me. "Yes, she's ok. Thankfully it doesn't appear that she was out of bed for long enough to set her back any." Thank fuck for that. I swear this girl is going to be the death of me.
I phone my mam and tell her what's happened and check in on Nina and thankfully she's fine. Yes, I know that my moms only down the corridor but I don't want to leave Julia, clearly she can't be trusted to behave so that's why I find myself sitting beside her bed for the next two hours while she sleeps off her exhaustion from trying to walk to soon. What am I going to do with her?
The door opening distracts me but I'm happy to see Josh as he holds the door open and motions me to him. "Hey, what's up?" As I step outside of the room Nina launches herself at me surprising the hell out of me but nonetheless I catch her and hold her while she cuddles into me.
Josh looks as shocked as me at her movements but if she wants comfort from me right now then so be it. It's strange that she's seeking comfort from me as we barely know each other but still, I can't deny that it feels good, feels right. Once she satasifed with her cuddle she pulls back a little to look at my face and I'm stunned for a moment when my heart tugs a little. What the hell was that?
"Josh is taking me to Mcdonalds. I've never been before. I'm so excited!" her beaming smile smashes through my pissy mood and makes me smile. Of course, I don't miss her comment about never going to McDonald's before but that's a sadness that I'll think about later. "Oh, is he now?" she bounces around excitedly as she nods her head.
"She's hungry and the food here is pants so I offered to take her there. Is that ok with you?"
"Why are you asking me?" he gives me a knowing smile but doesn't say a word about it. "We'll bring back food for everyone. Is momma still sleeping?" I get down on my haunches so we're face to face and the sight of her cute face still so excited once again makes me smile. "Make sure that Josh doesn't forget my ice cream ok, sweetheart? And yes, your mom is still sleeping but she's going to be awake soon and then you can see her ok?" she nods happily as Josh reaches out his hand for her to take.
"Will you look after momma for me while I go with Josh?" Oh lord, this girl is too cute. "Of course I will darling and you make sure to be a good girl for Josh ok?" she nods then waves goodbye as Josh starts leading her towards the elevator and I head back inside the room. I hope Julia wakes up soon and I haven't just lied to little nina.
Julia
Slowly I start waking up feeling groggy as shit and slowly opening my eyes already aware that there's properly going to be bright lights ready to attack my eyeballs. I look around and I'm back in the same room as earlier but I'm alone. How did I end up back here? It only takes a second for me to remember being out in the corridor with Riley and then everything turning black. I don't feel as sore as I should which makes me think that I didn't hit the floor.
I slowly try sitting up but my body is still aching from the hypothermia. The door to my room goes and then Riley's face appears causing my insights to stir. "You're still here?" he gives me a gentle smile but he doesn't look completely happy. "Of course I am."
"What's wrong?" he takes a seat next to my bed and runs his hands through his hair. "So much... so much." Ok, I wasn't expecting that answer. "What do you mean?" he looks up until he's staring me right in the eyes making me feel slightly self-conscious. "Why did you get out of bed Julia? You're not well enough yet and need your Ivs in."
"I told you that I wanted to find Nina. I didn't know I would faint and I don't any worse than earlier so I haven't done myself any more damage than I already had."
"That's because I caught you, stopped you from hitting the floor, and carried you back to your bed." He did what? "Why?" he gives me a disbelieving look but I don't get it. "I wasn't going to just let you hit the ground, Julia. I would be a pretty shitty human to let that happen to anyone but especially with you."
I hear him talking but I don't understand any of it. I'm confused but before I can ask any more questions he starts talking so I remain quiet. "I still don't understand why you came looking for Nina when I was already going to get her."
My mind goes back to earlier and how he reacted to me asking to see her and now is just as good a time to comfort him about it. "When I asked you if I could see her you acted strange. You didn't say a word just nodded and left. It was strange and got me nervous." He remains silent for a moment but I can see his mind working so I let him have the time he needs. "When... when I met Nina in the alley way, I asked her name and she told me her full name."
"Ok... and that's a problem why?" he completely ignores my questions and carries on with his own. "Where did you get that name from for her?" I'm confused to fuck and don't understand why this strange conversation is even happening.
"What's it matter?" A slight panic sets in the pit of my stomach as I try to figure out what's going on but I'm stumped. "Please, just humor me?" He's practically pleading with me so I figure telling him about her name won't be too bad, he doesn't know our story so everything will be ok... right?
"I named her after my best friend. She died just before Nina was born. Her name was Nina Smith and Willow is my last name." Not quite the truth but near enough. He sucks in a breath then stands up and walks over to the window.
After a few minutes, he turns to face me looking conflicted "How didn't I see it before? It seems so clear now and makes so much sense. But surely it can't be... can it? he rambles to himself then faces me looking both sick and stunned. What's going on with him? "Julia, what was Nina's middle name? That is a strange question to ask someone that you barely know which only sets my nerves on edge. What is he trying to find out? What does he know?