Point Of View 2 [*Do not read until you've read the same chapter of ATW]

Chapter 159 & 160 Unforeseen Circumstances/ Come Together

*Trisha*

James is clammy when they wheel him back into the room so Julia begins to take care of him. We all watch her wet a face cloth and wipe down his face for him before leaning over to kiss his forehead. It's really hard to watch but for the first time, I see how the Avalon has been helping Julia. She hasn't checked out yet, the bathrooms are as we found them and she is holding her own pretty damn well if you ask me. If anything, James's sisters are worse, especially the youngest, Kendall.  She quietly sits across from James and watches Julia care for him. Her silent tears have been flowing nonstop all day.

"Do you want to come down to the cafeteria with us, Ken? Maybe get a coffee or a bite to eat?" Lindsay tries for the third time today.

"No thank you." Kendall stares at her brother. Lindsay's shoulders sag and she walks out of the room with me. Paul follows us out.

"Everything is in place but there's already a crowd forming at the front and rear entrance.

"You've got to be kidding." I mutter as we walk down to the cafeteria. 

"I wish I were." 

We all grab coffee and head to an unoccupied table in the corner. Silence takes over, and no one seems to know what to say.  How could this happen?  How can James have a seizure and then just NOT wake up?  How is he in a Coma for a SECOND time? My thoughts begin to drift, and I sense that Lindsay and Paul are also letting their minds run wild and drive them crazy.

Paul abruptly stands. "Be right back." He quickly leaves the cafeteria and takes a right. For a good five minutes me and Lindsay sit in silence until I begin to worry about Paul.  His coffee sits on the table, now cold.  If  anyone knows Paul they know his survives off of caffeine running through his veins. He'd never let a coffee go to waste like this.

"Are you ok here if I go check on Paul?" I stand up before Lindsay responds. She nods and wipes her eyes with a napkin and looks up at one of the TV's to see James's face. I exit the room and turn the corner, only to discover it leads to a dead end aside from the restrooms. These are the private single occupancy kind of restrooms. One door is open and empty, while the other is closed. 

"Paulie? You in there?" I knock and wait. A beat of silence, then the scrape of movement inside. I hear him clear his throat before opening the door just enough to reveal himself. His eyes are red-rimmed with tears still streaking his face.  His breath catches, thick with grief he keeps inside  all the time. Paul never cries. Hardly ever shows any emotion, really. But here he is, unraveling, and letting me see it.

I open the door, step inside and shut it behind me. Then I throw my arms around the bodyguard and he crumbles into them, sobbing. Full on sobbing. This is one of his closest friends. He's known James for a very long time. Longer than any of us have. He trained James and gave him a job working the secret celebrity fourth floor of the Marriott. Paul has also always been one to step up and take care of James when needed. Without ever being asked.

"He's gonna be ok." I whisper without believing my words.

"He has to pull through." Paul finally says and I hold him tighter. 

It takes us a while before either of us is ready to open the door. When we finally do, Paul straightens his spine, pulls in a slow breath, and lets it out like a reset. The shift is instant. He goes right back into bodyguard mode. His grief dissolves into discipline. His eyes are still red, still swollen, but his face is now unreadable, showing no emotion. I will never understand how he is able to do that- Shut it all off like flipping a switch.

****

We spent the night in James's room. Even brought the dog back here. We curled up on couches, recliners, whatever we could find...hoping that by morning, James would be awake. Out of his coma. Sitting up and smiling.