InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "how do we arm the other 11?"

Emma Kemp (and_in_between) wrote in nevermore_logs,
@ 2013-07-09 16:45:00

Entry tags:

emma kemp, monique reppyi

WHO: Emma Kemp, open to absolutely anyone who would come visit unconscious Thomas
WHAT: Just a little breakdown...
WHEN: Tuesday afternoon
WHERE: Thomas' hospital room
WARNINGS: Language, sickness

Out of all her children, Thomas had undoubtedly caused Emma the most worry. This time, however, it was hardly his fault. He had a bleed in his brain and he would require surgery and she could do nothing to help. Her husband was at home, dying a slow and horrible death. Her youngest daughter was a teenager, enough said. One of her older daughters was still getting over the death of her husband and the younger one was troubled. Now Thomas was in a medically induced coma while the swelling in his brain went down, and even if he did make a full recovery, he was just going to succumb to the same disease her husband had eventually.

Emma liked to think of herself as a calm and patient woman, but sometimes there was just too much. And while she usually kept it to herself, sparing a few tears in the dark when she was alone, she was too overwhelmed to try to mask this.

Thomas was not out of the woods. He wasn't safe. So many things could go wrong and it was a waiting game. She had been holding his hand for hours; ever since visiting hours began. Nothing had changed. The swelling wasn't going down yet, and Thomas remained asleep. Every once in a while his body seized for a few minutes and then came to rest again. It was horrible to watch. Gut-wrenching.

When it happened for the fifth time, Emma lost hold of her fragile composure. She stood and slammed her fist into the bedside table, knocking it over, before sinking to the floor and sobbing into her hands.

If Thomas wasn't okay, she didn't know what she would do.

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vreppyi
2013-07-09 05:08 am UTC (link)

Veronica loved her job. Before Bernie, she'd wanted to be a doctor but had set it aside for her child. Being a nurse was just as good though, and after all the schooling it was nice to be in the field. Sure she had long days and saw some terrible things, but she got to help people. It was all worth it.

She'd heard the crash and assuming a patient had poked her head in. Seeing Emma made her frown and she ducked into the room. The elder woman was usually so composed, but if it was Bernie (or her sister or Anthony) in this room she'd be doing much of the same.

Closing the door she sank down besides Emma and set her arms around the older woman. Sometimes actions meant more then words.

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	and_in_between 2013-07-09 05:16 am UTC (link)
	Emma had gotten to know Veronica through their work together, and she really liked the other woman. She gratefully accepted the hug, leaning into the embrace. She was just glad it wasn't one of her children who had seen her have such an outburst. "I'll help clean up," is what she said first, sounding apologetic. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

vreppyi
2013-07-09 05:23 am UTC (link)

"Don't worry about that," she offered softly. She kept one arm around Emma and stole a glance at the man on the bed to make sure she didn't need to call anyone before smiling at Emma.

She handed her one of the kleenex' she'd taken to carrying around. "I got it. Take as much time as you need." With that she rose and started cleaning up. She'd ask to get this room as well, so Emma knew she had someone close nearby.

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	and_in_between 2013-07-09 05:51 am UTC (link)
	Emma rose from the floor and she moved back to the chair, still crying softly. "I honestly don't know what to do," she admitted. It wasn't something she would tell many people. "Though...I've always been a bit at a loss with Thomas." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

vreppyi
2013-07-09 05:55 am UTC (link)

She let Emma have the kleenex and settle down and stood in front of the door. That way people would see her first, giving Emma time to get her bearings. "We never do," she offered honestly. "All we can do is wait. And hope."

"I can ask for this room when you're off if you like. You know I'll call you first and I can answer his questions when he wakes. But I know how it feels, to be at a loss. I never know what I'm doing with Bernie, or if it's right."

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and_in_between
2013-07-09 05:58 am UTC (link)

"They told me not to work today," Emma said, though she was still wearing her work clothes from the previous day. "But when visiting hours is over...I would appreciate that so much. He's going to be confused when he wakes up. The last thing he'll likely remember was being on a plane."

Emma sniffed, but she smiled lightly at Veronica. "You're wonderful with Bernie."

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vreppyi
2013-07-09 06:05 am UTC (link)

She nodded, "Alright, here I have my phone on me." She took it out and handed it to Emma, "just put in your home number, and anyone elses and I'll call them when he wakes." She smiled to Emma before straightening everything out and making sure Thomas was alright.

"And you're wonderful with all of yours. This isn't your fault." She knew she'd feel it was hers. "Did you need someone to come get you once hours are over? You should at least get a shower."

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likesachallenge
2013-07-09 06:05 am UTC (link)

Nikkie had gotten a text from Lena about Thomas, and she had decided right then to go and see if there was anything she could do. Even if it was just sit with her for a while. Although she had to admit, she'd visited more people in hospitals this summer than she had for a long time, and the thought made her sad.

She turned up with a bouquet of flowers, rapping softly on the door. She didn't know the other woman with V, but she smiled at her anyway. "Hi," she said. "I'm Nikkie, I'm one of Lena's friends. I'm not interrupting, am I?"

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and_in_between
2013-07-09 06:08 am UTC (link)

To Veronica, Emma nodded. "It's probably a good idea." She put Jamie and Lena's numbers into Veronic's phone as well as her own.

When someone else arrived, Emma looked up and she tried her best to smile. "You're not interrupting. I'm Thomas' mother." She went to offer her hand in greeting. "Lena might come by later. She's trying to keep Jamie distracted, bless her."

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	vreppyi 2013-07-09 06:18 am UTC (link)
	She smiled to Nikkie, knowing she'd give Emma space if needed. "Hey Nik." Quickly she embraced her sister before stepping aside to offer room. With a smile she retrieved her phone. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	likesachallenge 2013-07-09 06:34 am UTC (link)
	"Hey, V," she said, wrapping her free arm around her sister. She set the flowers on a table before speaking again. "I just came by to see if there was anything I could do, and to just...tell you how sorry I am." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	and_in_between 2013-07-09 06:41 am UTC (link)
	"I don't know that there's anything anyone can do, but...I really appreciate it, thank you," Emma said honestly. "Do you two know each other?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	vreppyi 2013-07-09 07:00 am UTC (link)
	She nodded, "We can keep hoping. We'll ask Anthony to pray." She didn't have much belief, but Anthony did and maybe it could help. She nodded then, "yes. Sorry. Monique is my little sister. Nikkie this is Emma. She's been showing me around since I got the job." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	likesachallenge 2013-07-09 08:03 am UTC (link)
	Nikkie nodded. "That's a good idea. Every little bit helps." She smiled at Emma. "Nice to meet you, I just wish it had been under better circumstances." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

and_in_between
2013-07-09 08:07 am UTC (link)

"Anthony?" Emma said, confused. "Oh yes, your boyfriend." It was hard keeping things straight, though she wouldn't have known Anthony was a saint either way.

"Nice to meet you too, dear. I wish it were as well, but we take what we can. It's so nice of you to bring flowers for him." Emma's smile was sad. "He would be so frustrated with all this fuss if he was awake."

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	vreppyi 2013-07-09 08:15 am UTC (link)
	She nodded to that, then released her sister. "I need to call him to ask him to pick Bernie up from summer camp anyway." and she could see if there was anything anyone could do for poor Thomas. She felt bad for not being able to help as much. "I think everyone would be." She went to set her hand on Emma's. "He'll be alright." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	likesachallenge 2013-07-09 08:31 am UTC (link)
	Nikkie smiled. "I thought they might help brighten up the room." Then she added, "I can empathize with that." To V she said, "I'll make sure they both eat if you're not home later, OK?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

and_in_between
2013-07-09 08:37 am UTC (link)

Emma usually tried to steer away from telling patients and families that sick people would be alright unless she knew it for a fact, but she couldn't express how good it felt to hear it from Veronica. "Thank you," she said, moving in to hug the other woman before she went to make her phone call.

To Nikkie she said, "You said you're a friend of Lena's? Have you spent much time with my son?" She didn't say it judgementally, of course. Mostly she was going to try anything to be distracted from the still form in the bed in front of her.

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	vreppyi 2013-07-09 08:42 am UTC (link)
	Smiling she leaned down and set a kiss on Nikkie's head, "thanks love. Remind Bernie sugar isn't food." She returned Emma's hug before slipping outside and placing a call to Anthony.. She tried not taking advantage of his saintly being or his connections but she figured once in a while wasn't terrible. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	likesachallenge 2013-07-11 03:48 am UTC (link)
	"Lies," Nikkie said with a grin. "Sugar is totally food. But I will endeavor to keep him from eating nothing but." She turned to speak to Emma. "No, unfortunately I haven't. But I hear lots of good things from Lena, she always sounds really happy." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

and_in_between
2013-07-11 07:05 am UTC (link)

"Lena makes him happy too," Emma said with a small smile. She really did like the young woman and she hoped Thomas and Lena would work out. "Which is nice. He's been alone a long time." She looked sadly at the still form of her son and the smile faded.

He had to get better because five months of happiness? She knew he had been paying for the mistakes of his youth, but she wanted so much more for him.

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vreppyi
2013-07-11 07:29 am UTC (link)

It wasn't long before she returned with a smile, "there we go and if sugar is food you get to deal with the hyperactive nine year old it creates Nik." Smiling she found a seat and sat down.

"I don't think I met Lena, or got to meet Thomas. I look forward to both." She smiled to her sister, "We can do a summer big dinner thing, like mum used to do. You can bring Joey because she send me your baby pictures and I had to promise to embarrass you for her."

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	likesachallenge 2013-07-11 07:53 am UTC (link)
	"Used to it," Nikkie quipped. "But no, we'll eat something vaguely nutritious, I'll be the mean aunt and include a vegetable." Nikkie dropped her face into her hands. "Ugh, I hate you," she groaned into her palms. "But I'm down for the summer dinner thing. You'll like Lena, V. She's awesome. If we can keep the embarrassment to a minimum." (Reply to this) (Parent)