Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The five waited patiently in the waiting room while Michael examined Virginia. It was hours until Michael actually appeared at the door. Joanne was so tired that she fell asleep on Jeff’s shoulder. “How is she?” Freddie was the first to see him.
“She lost a great amount of blood. Her breathing has slowed down a lot but it’s a good thing she didn’t go into shock yet.”
“What does that mean?” Jeff asked softly, not wanting to disturb Joanne’s slumber.
“She’s in a coma. Whether or not she’ll wake up will be all up to her.”
Freddie sat back down with a thump “Coma…” he whispered blankly.
“It doesn’t mean that she’ll never wake up. I’ve seen patients wake up after a few months and sometimes years. Just don’t give up on her.” Michael smiled as he put a hand on his brother’s shoulder “Yee Gor, you have the biggest impact on her life. I know with your radiation and chemo, you won’t have time to see her. But I believe she will wake up for you.”
“He’s right Freddie, don’t give up on Ginny. She needs you more than anything.” Jeff said.
Freddie looked up “I won’t.”
“Can we see her?” Remy asked.
“Yes, but just one at a time. She needs her rest.” Michael nodded “Room 306. If you guys need anything, let Siu Yuen know, she’s the nurse behind the desk in ICU.” The nodded thankfully and watched him disappear down the corridor.
“Freddie, why don’t you go first?” Deanna pushed.
He looked up at everyone “Thank you…” he left the room and entered the Unit. He walked slowly to the glass window where her room was. She was covered with tubes coming from all parts of her body. Even from outside, he could see the bruise on her forehead. He opened the door slowly as he took the place next to her bed. His hand slowly reached for her hands as he clasped it between his other hand. “Strange to be on the other side of the situation…Now I know how you felt when you saw me.” he smiled “I know you can hear me, Ginny.” He moved in closer to her face as he brushed some dust off her face “You need to wake up, I have to show you something.” He blinked the tears away as he continued “Me, Jeff and Jo were out shopping all day to find you a desk and a sofa. You know, the sofa you always wanted for your office. I didn’t want you to work so hard and so I came up with the idea of making the third room into a home office. We finished setting it up earlier…You really have to see it. I designed it myself. Yeah, Linda isn’t the only one with that special skills.” He couldn’t hold the tears further as he began to cry openly “Are you happy? You made a grown man cry!” he said almost angrily as he gripped her hand even tighter “Wake up! Please….” Freddie’s head fell on the side of her bed.
**********
Virginia opened her eyes looking at the most exquisite scene before her. The sky was the perfect hint of blue, white clouds floating through the air. The mountain breeze couldn’t be more cooling against the heat from the sun. The meadow was greener than ever as she walked across it. She had on the whitest dress. The place seemed to be empty yet it never occurred to her why it was empty. She followed the little road that trailed over the hills. The most content smile on her face as walked along the trail by herself. She abruptly stopped when she heard sobbing. Turning herself in circles as she tried to find the origin of the tragic sound. Her mind went blank when she tried to figure out who’s voice it was. She shrugged her shoulders after unsuccessful guess and continued on her way.
***********
Freddie managed to stop crying for a while as he talked to her unconscious body “Do you know how many times I wanted to give up? When the chemo was killing me slowly? It was very painful and I wanted to just stop. But when I see your face, you’re beautiful smiling face…” he swept the bangs off her forehead “I push myself further to go on and take the medicine. I’m fighting this disease for you, Ginny. If you’re not here, why should I go on? Please…wake up…”
He didn’t know how long he sat there with her. But soon enough, he fell asleep beside her bed. His eyes opened up at a hand touching his face. He thought it was the nurse so he ignored it because he wasn’t about to let go of Ginny. “Freddie…” a groggy whisper called to him. His head snapped up like a twig, a huge smile slowly forming on his face as saw her face. Her eyes were open and she was smiling through her own tears. “Did you miss me?” she whispered.
He chuckled “That, my dear was an understatement!” he reached around her shoulders as he hugged her tightly, not caring about the tubes and wires. “You came back…” he smiled as he refused to let go of her.
Eventually, they parted as she sat up on the bed “I was in the most beautiful place…until I heard you crying in the distant. I was going to keep on walking but I knew I had to turn back…” she sighed “I’m sorry.”
He shook his head “Don’t be, everything happens for a reason. At least you know now how important you are to me.”
She shuddered at the corny words “When did you turn so straight?” she joked.
Freddie smiled “The day I met you.” She turned away shyly. He suddenly stood up “Oh gosh, I’ve got to tell the others, they’ll be so happy!” he said excitedly “Don’t go anywhere, I’ll be right back.”
She laughed hoarsely “I’m tied down.” She put her hands out showing more hidden wires that were taped to her arms and finger.
Soon enough Freddie had dragged in everyone in the waiting room. Even Michael had to drop by to see. He was surprised to see that she was out of the coma so fast “You are by far the first patient to snap out of it that fast.”
“The power of love is invincible.” Jo said.
Freddie shivered “You’re sounding more like a girl. What’s wrong with you?” he said sarcastically.
“If you haven’t noticed, my hair is longer and I’m wearing a skirt.” Jo spun around showing her denim blue skirt flowing. Jeff and Remy exchanged glances as they shook their heads.
His eyes widened “Oh my god, she does have legs! What did you do to Jo? Tell me!” he took a hold of her arms as he shook them violently “Tell me!!”
The rest of the people laughed while Virginia snuck a glance at Jeff. He was smiling as he looked at Jo. It seems that Freddie wasn’t the only one that didn’t notice Jo looked more like a girl. Her smile quickly dropped when she saw Freddie began to shiver uncontrollably. “Michael!” she pointed from her bed.
Michael was quick to respond as he gently pushed Jo away and stood between Freddie and the metal bed. He was trying to prevent another accident from happening. Deana whimpered in the background as Remy hugged her affectionately. Jo and Jeff stood to the side as they witness another seizure. Virginia couldn’t take her eyes off of Freddie. Her biggest fear was happening again.
Within minutes, Freddie was out of the seizure as he stood up with the help of Michael. His breathing was heavier as he turned to Virginia “Sorry…” he said slowly.
She smiled “I’m use to it. I think you scared them.” She nodded to the rest.
Freddie turned to them. “Nothing to it….” He said casually. Michael was silent as his eyes moved to the ground, he seemed to be deep in thoughts “Michael, is that a bad sign?” Freddie asked.
Michael looked up with a grim expression “Not necessarily, it just means that the chemo is too strong.”
Freddie didn’t look bothered by the answer “I know you don’t want tell me, but I want to know. How many people have lived through this type of cancer?”
He knew there was no use in hiding it from his brother “None.”
Freddie nodded “What’s the longest that a person has lived?”
“Two years? Three years? I’ve heard of some stories in the US where a patient lived for four years.” Michael replied.
Virginia smiled at Freddie “Do you believe in miracles?”
He turned to her and noticed that she has never looked happier “I met a real life miracle.” He smiled in return.
“You will be the first to surpass the four year record.” She said it with so much confidence that it received smiles throughout the room.
************************* 5 YEARS LATER***********************
She leaned against the gravestone as she wrote in her journal. Her pen moving across the page as if it was dancing. Her face was serious as can be. Suddenly she stopped writing as she closed her books. She turned to the gravestone “Sorry Mom and Dad, I wish he would have been here in spirit.” Her eyes hardened as she spoke louder “You would have loved Freddie.”
“Mommy, mommy!!” her little girl ran to her from along the path where she ran off to play earlier.
“Yes, sweetie?” Virginia smiled as she brought her arms out to collect the four year old bundle of joy.
“When’s daddy coming?” little Trina asked sweetly.
“He’ll be here soon. Now be a good girl, Trina. Bow at your grandpa and grandma.” She turned the girl to face the gravestone.
Trina obediently bowed and turned to her mother “Okay, I’m done, lets go!” she said excitedly.
“Sweetie, what’s your rush? Daddy’s not even here yet.” She stroked the soft dark brown hair of her girl. She had Virginia’s eyes but her father’s smile.
“Oh…can I play over there?” she pointed to the gravestones down the path that led to the steps.
“Sure, be careful.” Virginia smiled when her little disappeared down the path as she walked up the steps. Her little girl was a hand full to take care of, but she felt so blessed for having Trina. If she would have given up five years ago, the little angel would never have been born. “Isn’t she the sweetest?” she said to her parents.
“You know, its not healthy for a person to talk to thin air all the time. You should go see a psychiatrist, let me introduce you to one. Her name is Dr. Virginia Chan.” His voice spoke up from his seat on the grave beside her.
She laughed comfortably “You know how long I’ve been trying to get you to wake up? My voice can’t strain that much you know.” She said sarcastically at her husband of 5 years.
“You could have fooled me.” He said sarcastically. She reached over and hit him playfully on the shoulder “Violent too, I love that in a woman!” he laughed as he stretched his body as it twisted and turned in all directions.
She gave a disapproving look “Mommy should be proud…” she laughed when he gave her a stern look.
“So how long do we have to be here?” he glanced at his watch “Oh my gosh!! It’s already 11am?? Where in the world is Jeff?? Did you tell him the right time Ginny?” Freddie demanded.
She rolled her eyes “It’s just been an hour and you fell asleep after 5 minutes, you were lucky I didn’t leave you here by yourself.”
“Wait…” he stood up and looked around “Where’s Trina?? I thought I heard her voice earlier.”
Virginia shrugged her shoulders “She wanted to play over there.” She nodded to the direction her little girl went to. “Stop being a worry wart, you would think after clearing your mind of that vicious tumor that you would learn not to worry and stress yourself out.”
He raised his eyebrow “That little girl happens to be your flesh and blood.”
“Well, she’ll be fine!!” Virginia retorted.
“And what if she isn’t, would you have forgiven yourself?” he asked harshly.
“I guess things never change around her huh?” The two stopped bickering at the familiar voice of Jeff’s. They turned in time to see him carrying Trina, who’s tiny arms were wrapped around her fathers. “Anyone want to claim this cute little thing?” he kissed her on the cheeks.
“Eww….” She wiped her face “Yuck!” she squirmed her way down as she ran to Freddie “Daddy two!!”
He picked her up with ease as he giggled with the little girl “Looks like she doesn’t like being kissed by MEN…” he teased.
Virginia gave him an evil glare “Don’t be putting junk in her head.” She warned. She smiled when she turned back to Jeff and gave him a hug “I’m glad you could make it.”
“I was held back at the office.” He started to explain.
She put up a hand “Say no more. Come on.” She nodded towards the gravestones “Okay everyone, give grandma and grandpa a bow.” Her eyes raised at Trina was still giggling with Freddie. They instantly quieted down as they respectfully bowed three times.
“Okay, lets go. Jo and the others are waiting for us.” Jeff said eagerly. He began walking with the other three followed behind.
Freddie laughed “She was only gone for a few days, you don’t have to be so eager.”
“Newlyweds you know.” Jeff turned around long enough to give them a wink.
“You were married for four years….I doubt that’s considered newlyweds.” Virginia snickered.
“Give it another year and you be pushing her out the door every night.” Freddie cracked. Virginia laughed at his joke because it was the complete opposite and he knew it. He wanted to be with her 24/7 and they only bickered as a way of teasing each other because it was so seldom that she got mad at him or he was mad at her.
The four squeezed into Jeff’s car as he sped all the over to the beach where they were having their barbeque. Remy and Deana were cooking while their little three year old boy was running around chasing Jo. Jeff had the biggest smile on his face when he saw his wife. “Jo!!” he waved to her from a few yards.
“She would have to be blind to not see you.” Freddie snickered.
“Or deaf to not hear you.” Virginia added.
Jeff turned to them with smile “Nice to see you guys agreeing again. But I kinda enjoyed the bickering.” He turned away from their teasing glare as he ran to Jo. He picked her up with his arms as he giggled like a little kid.
Jo smiled at him sweetly but soon turned sour when she saw Freddie “You” she pointed to him “Me.” She pointed to herself “Rematch!!” she roared as she charged for the volleyball court.
“Aw come on guys, we just got here!” Jeff complained.
Freddie smiled as he gave Trina back to Virginia and ran after Jo to the court “I’ll use my radio-active waves on you!!” He pointed to his head and made a buzzing sound with his lips.
“Radiation makes people crazy don’t they?” Remy teased. He was flipping hotdogs and burgers. When he saw Trina, he smiled as he put down the flipper and put his hand out “Aww…aren’t you the sweetest?”
She easily reached for him as she giggled “Uncle Reemie…”
“Come on, Ginny!! Let’s bring her down!!” Freddie called.
“Two can play at that game! Jeff!!” Jo waved him over.
Virginia and Jeff looked at each other as they shook their heads in reply, but soon gave in to their constant callings. So it was one couple against the other. As usual, Freddie and Jo got into the game so much that words flew out “You’re goin’ down fake man!!!” the old nickname that Jo use to call him.
Freddie laughed “You’re fly’s down she boy!!” she glanced down at her jean shorts to check as he took the volleyball and served it over the net, taking his chance to cheat.
The ball fell in front of Jo as she jumped back in surprise “You cheater!!!” she yelled from across the court.
“You said no rules!” Freddie replied heatedly.
“I never did!!” she argued as she came closer to the net.
Freddie approached the net with her too “I have proof. Ask Ginny. She heard you say it, didn’t you?” they both looked at Ginny, who rolled her eyes in reply.
“Come on Jeff, want something to eat?” she ignored the two bickering.
“Sure, I’m starving.” He took his chance to escape as the two ran of the sandy court. In the background, they could still hear Freddie and Jo arguing about the rules issue.
Virginia smiled as she looked at them quarrelling. Her eyes traveled up to Jeff’s “Some things never change.” She sighed as they both got something to eat.
******THE END*******