Unexpected

Part 11: Hello Again

"If I would have just met you and her- I would have assumed she was your child. She acts like you- looks like you sort of- and is confident in who she is. Not to mention how smart. I think you and her will be just fine."

"I hope so...because I don't have a clue what I'm doing." She confesses and looks at Lauren. "So...Casey?"

"What about him?" She asks obliviously.

"Are you two..."

"What?! No! No."

"So you have no feelings for him?"

"I...I didn't say that."

"So you want to be with him?"

"I didn't say that either."

"Well, boldly stating- it's pathetically obvious that he likes you a lot."

"And here I said the same thing about Max."

"What? No you didn't."

"You're right. I didn't- because it wasn't my place too." She drops the hint and Helen rolls her eyes. "Yes...well I really do like Casey and I have no doubt he feels...something for me. But for right now, we're okay."

"You shouldn't wait to tell him Lauren." Helen says and sadly looks at Max. "You never when you you'll miss your chance."

***

As the days pass, Helen still remains at the Dam looking after Max, looking after the Dam, looking after Daphne and Luna- as well as finding time to look for a school program that would be a good fit for Daphne.

Though the stress is eating at her, she accepts it with grace because she deserves nothing less.

Max was taken off the vents two days ago to see if he could survive without them. At first, Helen couldn't breathe- just silently waiting for something to go wrong: because that's her life as of late.

She hasn't slept since then. She's been on high alert at all times. Iggy had graciously taken Daphne and Luna for a day or two as a "sleep over" with his his kids- when in reality, he knew she needed a few less moments of stress taken from her day.

Looking at Max laying bed, unmoved and looking like death: Helen stands up and makes her way over to him. It's another late night for her. Her inability to sleep lately has been leaving her weak and emotional. Climbing into bed next to him- Helen lays on the right side of the bed and looks at him remorsefully. Laying on her left side, she rests her hand on his his chest- away from his healing sutures- and draws on his chest with her pointer finger.

"I'm sorry. I ruined everything for us. I was so angry when I found out you had been seeing that woman last year...but not because of her- because I should have spoke up and told you what was happening. I should've told you about dumping Akash for you and giving Castro what she wanted for you. The reason I stayed was for you Max. You are my reason for everything and I should've told you that when it mattered. Instead of getting upset and mad at you for not understanding me. I...I loved you for a long time—I've waited so long to tell you, but it never felt like the right time. I was wrong about that to. There's never a wrong time to tell someone you love them. I just wish I had realized that sooner." Her tears begin to form in her eyes and all she can do is push her face into the bedding.

"Mmm..."

"Max?" She sits up and looks down at him. He looks the same. Unchanged. Unmoved.

"Mmm..." Getting out of bed, she stands beside him and holds onto his hand between both of hers.

"Oh, please- Darling. Please..." She sobs and kisses his knuckles. His eyes slowly flutter, struggling to open themselves up and Helen feels that pounding in her chest like the time he collapsed at the lake and was finally awake. Only this time- she's here. "That's it, Darling...you've got this."

He struggles, but he finally gets his eyes open fully. He takes long slow blinks as he looks across the room before slowly turning his head to find Helen.

"Hi...Hi..." She quietly says and kisses his knuckles a few more times- shaking horribly. He goes to open his mouth to speak, but finds it hard to do so. "Shh...it's okay. You don't need to talk right now. Just rest."

He breathes heavily and closes his eyes momentarily. When he opens them up, he sees how upset she is. He tries to move his hand from hers so he can calm her, but she has it firmly in her grasp.

"Max, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry you got put in that situation and..."

"Hel...en..." He quietly says and she looks at him with tears in her eyes.

"Max, I was so scared I lost you and..."

"Stop... tal...talking..." When it leaves his mouth, she has to almost check herself to make sure she heard him correctly.

"Max—."

"Stop...talk...ing..." He says again she feels sick to her stomach.