A/N - ngl, i forgot how to write.......
Nobody ever talks about what it's like to be in a coma. Nobody ever completely realizes just how weird it is. Because you know you are sleeping but at the same time, your dreams are too real.
Hearing nothing but a quiet beeping coming from beside the bed, Oakley assumes, her eyes flutter, trying to adjust to the light. But before she can get a breath out, she starts coughing violently, alerting the pilots in the room and the doctor.
"Hey hey, Ms. St. James, I need you to look at me." Turning her head, she sees the doctor. "Okay, take a breath and lay back for me, okay?" Still confused, she does what she's told. Pulling the tube out of her throat, she gags, trying not to puke.
"You woke up sooner than we thought, which is why we didn't pull you off the ventilator. Okay, there's some people outside who want to see you. But first, I need to ask some questions okay?"
"Okay, what is your name?"
"O-Oakley St. James." She tries to clear her throat but it only hurts her more.
"That's good, do you know where you are?"
"H-hospital." The doctor nods, checking the one of many machines around her.
"Good, okay, I'll check in later, and I'll let your friends in."
Looking around the room, still trying to adjust to the light, Oakley takes a deep breathe as she feels her eyes well up. Looking down at her legs, or leg and a half, is when the tears fall down her cheeks. Pictures flash in her mind of what had happened, Bradley coming back for her, them somehow getting in the air, hangman coming to their rescue but that's it.
The rest is just blank.
"Oak." She hears from the corner of the room. Looking up she sees Bradley, Bob, Natasha, Jake, Javy, Mickey, and Rueben standing there. She sees her family standing there.
Bob and Natasha have tears in their eyes.
Bradley has tears in his eyes from seeing her awake and from the tears on her rosy cheeks.
"Hi." She croaks out. Bradley takes two steps before scooping her in his arms, careful to avoid the wires she's connected to. "Are you okay?" He asks, taking her in and wiping her tears.
"I t-think." Bob hands her a cup of water after everyone hugs her.
"What did I miss?" She tries to crack a smile as her voice improves.
"Bradley didn't shower for a long time."
"Rueben. Shut your mouth."
"Oh darling." Bradley hugs her again. "You have no idea how much I missed you."
"Baby on Board punched a wall because he missed you." Jake cuts in.
"Bob?" She turns to him, looking at his hand that is bleeding.
"Go get that looked at Branch office." She pulls him into another hug as he holds his tears back.
"I'm so happy you are okay." He whispers in her ear.
"Yeah." Moving her eyes to her leg, everyone can't help but follow her eyeline.
"Um." Bradley makes eye contact with Natasha who nods and moves everyone out of the room. "Darling, What is it?"
"I-I uh seem to be missing something." More tears spill over.
"But you are here, which is better."
"I won't be able to fly again."
"No, No. We aren't doing that. You are fresh out of a coma and that is not your concern right now. We will deal with that when we have to."
"Bradley, that's my life I want to deal with it right now."
"No we aren't."
"Bradley! Flying that plane is my life, I am thinking about that because I have no Plan B. I have no fall back. I have nothing. I have nobody."
"Uh no. You have me, you have all those people outside. We aren't going anywhere." Bradley takes her hand and presses a soft kiss to her knuckles.
"I'm sorry." Oakley apologies after a small beat of slience.
"Don't apologize."
"I'm still a little lost and confused."
"We all are."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After everyone makes their rounds and sits with her, it's Jake's turn.
"Hiya." He greets her, stepping into the room.
"Hi." She smiles as he sits down beside her.
"How are you feeling?" He looks at her, trying not to break at the sight of her bruised and battered body.
"I've had better days." She answers honestly. "I'm sorry." She spits out.
"Why are you sorry?" He furrows his brows, confused.
"I feel like I let you down. I told you I wouldn't spiral but, when we were in the air, waiting for that missile, I accepted it. And now I feel guilty because I told you that I wouldn't think like that again."
"Hey Hey. Do not feel guilty. You did not let me down, you could never let me down. You are my girl, my best friend, my little sister. Okay? You are gulity of nothing except for almost giving me a heart attack when I thought you wouldn't wake up."
"A heart attack?"
"Yeah, I had a panic attack when we first got here and they put that tube down your throat. Nat helped me calm down."
"I'm sorry for stressing you out."
"Don't say sorry."
"Thank you for being there for me. You will never know how much you mean to me."
"Same here kiddo." Pressing his lips to her forehead, he smiles.
"I can see you are trying to stay awake, I'll leave you to rest okay?"
"Okay, but wake me up. I don't want to sleep that long ever again."
Walking to the door, he turns his head to see her already fast asleep. He smiles as he steps out to see the group sitting on the floor waiting.
"She's sleeping." He says, after catching Bradley's worried eyes.
"She's okay?"
"Yes lover boy, she's okay."
"I fly a plane with missiles on it for a living and I have never been more scared." Javy comments.
"She's family, that's why." They pull each other into a big group hug as each one fights the tears in their eyes that threaten to spill.
"Beers?"
"When she's out, we don't do anything without her."