+Forbidden Affair-Chapters:36-38+

“What happened?” Officer Jones asked.

“I don’t know,” Nickolas replied for what seemed like the millionth time to him. “I stopped at the apartment to talk to her. She sent me down to the lobby to tell Maxwell she’d be ten minutes. I waited with him and when she didn’t come down we went up to check on her. Maxwell took the elevator and I took the stairs.”

“Why did you take the stairs?” Jones asked.

“In case she decided to take them,” Nickolas replied. “She likes to exercise and walking the stairs is good exercise.”

“And she was lying at the bottom when you found her?”

“Yes; between the sixth and seventh floor. I found her unconscious and called for help.”

“Did you guys have an argument?”

“No.” He sighed disgustedly. “We just talked.”

“And then you left?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t think Nick pushed her do you?” Brent asked.

“He was the last one to see her,” Jones said.

“I didn’t do anything to her,” Nickolas rebutted. “We just talked.”

“She could’ve just slipped,” Codie stated. “You know how clumsy Cheyenne can be.”

“Did she fall down stairs before?” Jones asked and they all looked at each other. “Did she?”

“No,” Codie said,” But there is a first for everything.”

“You did say someone was trying to kill her,” Jones said.

“So you think they were following her this whole time?” Bree asked.

“Probably,” Jones said. “We’ll get the security tapes from the apartment building and see if there’s anything on there.” They nodded. “Did you see anyone strange in the hallway?”

“No,” Nickolas said. “It was empty minus me and Cheyenne.”

“Why did she go back into the room?” Jones questioned.

“To change her bandages,” Nickolas answered. “Her wound started bleeding and she wanted to change it.”

“Why were you at the apartment? It’s a police crime scene.”

“She stopped to get some clothes and personal things. I knew she would be there so I stopped. And how many times are we going to go through this? I told you everything I know.”

“Can this wait until after we know how Cheyenne’s doing?” Brent asked. “I don’t think it’s respectful that you’re questioning us while we have a loved one in the ER.”

“I mean no disrespect, Mr. Pongetti,” Jones said. “I’m just trying to do my job.”

“Well go do it someplace else!” Nickolas snapped and they looked at him. “Cheyenne doesn’t need us out here being questioned, because she needs us in there with her.”

“Nick, calm down,” Tess said to her cousin. “He’s just doing his job.”

“He can do it somewhere else,” Nickolas said walking off and they looked at him.

“He seems to genuinely care for her,” Jones said.

“Yes he does,” Brent said. “And that’s why he didn’t hurt her. Why would he hurt his best friend’s pregnant wife?”

“Jealousy,” Jones said. “You have something he can’t.”

“So he pushes Cheyenne down the stairs,” Codie said. “Nick doesn’t seem like the jealous type.”

“He’s not,” Brent assured them. “Why should he be anyway? He has a family; a beautiful wife and a new handsome son. Why would he need my wife, Officer?”

“I’d just watch my back if I were you,” Jones said. “Friends can turn against you.” They just looked at him and he walked away. “Asshole,” Bree said. “Where the hell does he get off pointing the finger at an innocent man?”

“He’s just on a power trip,” Brent said. “He’ll come down off it.”

“Guys,” Nickolas interrupted, “this is Dr. Benson.”

“I’ve been with Miss Corinthos since she was brought in,” Dr. Benson said.

“How is she?” Brent asked.

“She has some internal injuries,” Dr. Benson started, “but they can be fixed.”

“That’s good,” Tess said.

“So she’ll be all right then?” Bree asked.

“That I can’t say for sure,” Dr. Benson replied.

“Why not?” Codie asked.

“I’m afraid to say that Miss Corinthos is in a coma,” Dr. Benson replied and they all just looked at him. “She has serious swelling of the brain and only in time we’ll be able to tell if she’ll wake up.”

“How bad is the swelling?” Brent asked.

“It’s most of her brain,” Dr. Benson replied.

“What about her internal injuries?” Bree questioned.

“They’re nothing serious,” Dr. Benson answered. “But she is being prepped for surgery.”

“May I see her?” Brent requested.

“Yes, but quickly,” Dr. Benson said. “If we wait her internal injuries could get serious.”

Brent nodded and said, “Nick, take me to Cheyenne.”

“Yeah,” Nickolas said pushing Brent’s wheelchair to the cubicle Cheyenne was in. Nickolas pushed him over to Cheyenne and then backed up and stood there watching.

“Hey, Girlie,” Brent said taking her hand in his. “It’s Brent. Nick, Codie, Bree, and Tess are here also. They’re waiting in the waiting room.” He kissed her hand. “I have no idea what to say. When I talk to you I'm used to hearing your smart ass sarcastic remarks. I’m not use to talking to you while you’re sleeping. I’m used to the watching, but not the talking. I already told you everything I possibly could of how I feel about you. I don’t think there’s anything left to say except that I stayed here for you so you have to stay here for me. You can’t leave me just like I can’t leave you. While you’re lying there just remember that.” He sighed. “Also remember how much Carter cares about you. It’s not puppy love ya know. It’s the real thing. I know it’s the real thing for you too. I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t leave Nick here either by himself. He needs you just as much. Although he hasn’t said, he blames himself for what’s happened to you.” Nickolas looked at him surprised. “It’s written all over his face. When he came into my room tonight I could see it. I guess it’s because we’ve been friends for a long time and know each other better than we think.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” the nurse said, “but we must get Mrs. Pongetti to surgery.”

“Um, ok,” Brent said. “We’re here for you, Cheyenne, and we love you.” He kissed her hand and moved aside. He watched the orderly’s push Cheyenne’s bed out and saw Nickolas. Nickolas walked over to him and they looked at each other. “I can’t believe this is happening to her.”

“I am to blame, Brent,” Nickolas said. “I shouldn’t have left her alone. I should’ve stayed with her.”

“You’re not to blame, Nick. It was just an accident.”

“An accident I caused. I should’ve just stayed away, but I didn’t.”

“Why did you go?”

“To talk to her. I saw you two get married and I wanted to talk to her about it.” Brent sighed. “Plus I was given these pictures of the two of you together and I was hoping they were fake.”

“I didn’t do it to betray you or whatever.”

“I know. I was angry at first, but then why the hell should I be. I’m the one that was married to someone else and not her.”

“But you’re in love with her.” Nickolas didn’t say anything while remembering the last thing Cheyenne said to him. “She loves you too.”

“I don’t think she will be after this.”

“It’s not your fault. Things like this happen all the time and no one’s to blame.”

“Except this time. I’m to blame, Brent, and you should blame me.”

“Well I don’t.”

“I don’t see why. You just get married and I send your wife rolling down the stairs.”

“It was accident. You weren’t even around. Were you?”

“No; I was waiting in the lobby with Maxwell.”

“So you’re not to blame.”

“I should’ve stayed with her though. If I stayed with her I could’ve walked down with her and she wouldn’t be here.”

“Quit blaming yourself. It was an accident.”

“I can’t believe that. Someone tried killing her twice and she was alone in that stairwell so it was a perfect opportunity to get to her.”

“Do you believe that?’

“Yes.”

“Maybe you should just wait for the facts from the police before coming to that conclusion.”

“You believe it was an accident?”

“Yes, because Cheyenne can be quite clumsy.”

“Right.” He sighed. “Cheyenne and I had a similar conversation almost like this regarding you. Chey didn’t believe you being shot was an accident just like I don’t believe her falling down the stairs was an accident. You know someone’s after her.”

“Yeah, but the building has security cameras. I don’t think the person would be that careless.”

“All the good ones can screw up, Brent.”

“I know, but let’s get out of here and wait with Bree, Tess, and Codie. I’m sure the police will come by if they find anything. Or even Delgado.”

“Yeah.” Nickolas pushed Brent out and they went to the waiting room.

“If Chey’s injuries ain’t serious,” Nickolas began, “then why is it taking the doctor forever?”

“Surgery is a fragile thing, Nick,” Bree said. “You have to be very careful.”

“Yeah, but this waiting is driving me nuts,” Nickolas stated. “I want to know how she is.”

“We all do,” Codie said. “She’s our family and we care about her.”

“Maybe her injuries are worse than they thought,” Tess pointed out and they all thought about that a moment.

“I just feel like this is my fault,” Nickolas stated. “And I have to make sure she’s going to be ok.”

“She will be,” Brent said. “We made a promise to each other. I don’t leave her if she doesn’t leave me.” They looked at him. “She’s not going to break that promise.”

“Plus she’s a strong girl,” Codie added and grinned. “I remember when we were kids, probably about seven or eight, and the two of us and two other boys were climbing a tree at her place and she was about half way up and she lost her footing. She fell all the way down and was unconscious for, like, ten minutes. When she woke up she just jumped up and was ready to go. The fall didn’t even phase her any. Antonio and Viviana took her to the hospital then and there wasn’t a single thing wrong with her. It just knocked the wind out of her. She would get into all kinds of trouble as a kid and come out of it without a scratch.”

“She was a huge tomboy,” Bree pointed out grinning while remembering their childhood. “She preferred hanging with the boys instead of the girls. We’d ask her to hang, but she’d always choose the boys. We never really saw her as a girlie girl until about ninth I believe.” Codie nodded.

“She was invited to the prom by a senior boy,” Codie stated. “No one knew until the night of prom. We all stopped by to hang and party and this senior guy was there and Cheyenne walks down the stairs in this…”

“Gorgeous Versace dress,” Bree finished.

“I never seen her look so beautiful,” Codie stated.

“And that was the last of our tomboy,” Bree said. “And the beginning of Codie’s four year crush.”

“But she was with me,” Brent said and Codie smiled.

“I realized we’re better off friends,” Codie said. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“Mr. Pongetti,” Dr. Benson said and they looked. “This is Dr. Kynthia Knight; she did the surgery on your wife.”

“Is everything ok?” Brent asked.

“Everything’s fine,” Dr. Knight replied. “The surgery went well and she’s going to be fine as far as that’s concerned. She still has the swelling on her brain you have to deal with yet and the fact that she’s in a coma.”

“When will we know if she’s going to wake up?” Nickolas asked.

“I’m bringing in a neurologist from Chicago,” Dr. Benson replied. “Dr. Mimi Pearson; she’s the best in the field and I trust her completely. She’ll be here within a few hours and she’ll be able to tell you more than I can.” They nodded. “You may go see her if you would like. I’ll let you know when Dr. Pearson arrives.”

“Thank you, Doctors,” Brent said and they walked away.

“I’m going to go see her,” Codie said.

“We’ll come with you,” Bree said, as her and Tess followed him.

“I’m sick of this waiting,” Nickolas complained sitting down and Brent looked at him.

“I know how you’re feeling,” Brent said. “I don’t know if I can go a few more hours without knowing Cheyenne’s real condition.”

“Why can’t this neurologist live in Orlando? Someone could be dead by the time they got here.”

“Chey’s not going to be one of them though. She’s a fighter.”

“I never met anyone like her. She’s smart, caring, beautiful, sweet, lovable, generous…”

“Affectionate, passionate, gorgeous, and sincere. She’s just an all around amazing girl.”

“Yeah she is.”

“I remember when I first met her. She was so sassy and full of spunk. I was so impressed.” “I was impressed by how you kept her hidden from me the whole time you were dating.”

“Well it was easy since you didn’t go to the same private school.”

“Right.”

“Then she’d come home to Orlando and I’d go home to Tampa.”

“And you never brought her home.”

“She wasn’t much into families after she lost hers. I understood her decision and didn’t pressure her. I always thought it was a big deal, but now it just seems so petty. All the little stupid things that we thought were a big deal seem so petty now. Chey’s life is hanging by a thread practically and that’s all that matters.”

“Yeah.”

“She’s going to be fine, Bro. I know she is.”

“I don’t know if I have that faith.”

“Of course you do; ya love her just like the rest of us. When ya love someone ya have that faith they’re going to be ok.”

“I guess so.”

“I know you’re not into all that loving someone who’s not family or loving someone more than a friend, but you love my ex and you have that faith.”

“I do love her and I won’t deny that. This is all new to me. I’m giving more than my body to someone and it just feels weird.”

“Yeah it does.”

“What’s amazing is that I actually admitted that I love Chey.”

“Did you tell her?”

“Yeah; it was the last thing I said to her before I got on the elevator.”

“Did she admit it that she loves you?”

Nickolas nodded and said, “Right before the doors closed.” He chuckled slightly. “Who knew the last few words that are said would mean so much to a person? Sure the hell not me.”

“Me either.” He shook his head. “I lied to her before she left here.” Nickolas looked at him. “She was afraid to go home, because she thought something was going to happen to her. I told her everything was going to be fine and she was going to be fine. I lied to her.”

“You didn’t know.”

“Yeah, but I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“It’s not your fault either.”

“Right. Let’s not blame ourselves until we know her full diagnosis.” Nickolas nodded and they just sat there waiting there turn to see Cheyenne.

“Good you’re altogether,” Dr. Benson said stepping into Cheyenne’s room with another doctor. “This is Dr. Pearson.”

“I reviewed Cheyenne’s CT scans with Dr. Benson,” Dr. Pearson said.

“How bad is it?” Brent asked. “And don’t say it’s not bad, because I can see it all over you face.”

“Cheyenne has a very serious concussion,” Dr. Pearson said. “The swelling is pretty bad and I ain’t going to lie to you. There’s a very good chance that she’ll have brain damage if or when she wakes up. The swelling and concussion is causing the coma she is in.”

“Do you think she’ll wake up?” Bree asked.

“I’ve seen a lot of cases like this,” Dr. Pearson began, “and about three out of ten do.”

“So her odds aren’t good,” Brent said.

“I’m afraid not,” Dr. Pearson replied. “But her condition can always improve.”

“You don’t think it will though,” Brent said.

“Her case is serious,” Dr. Pearson stated. “It’s going to take a miracle.”

“So what’s the prognosis of those three out of ten?” Codie wanted to know.

“Two of them are in vegetative states which means they can’t do anything and their families take care of them,” Dr. Pearson answered. “And the third is learning all over again, but he’s showing great improvement.”

“So her odds ain’t good there either,” Codie said. “This is just going to be a wait and see game.”

“I’m afraid so,” Dr. Pearson said. “I’m going to continue monitoring her condition and keep you posted. All I can say for you to do now is have faith and pray for a miracle.” They just looked at each other. “Are there any questions?” They shook their heads.

“Not at the moment,” Brent said.

“Then I’ll leave you alone,” Dr. Pearson said. “If you do have any more questions have a nurse come find me.” They nodded and both doctors walked out.

“I’m tired of waiting,” Codie said. “That’s all we’ve been doing for the past twelve hours.”

“Tell me about it,” Bree said.

“Carter, you’re awful quiet,” Brent pointed out. “What gives?”

“Do you have any idea how guilty I feel right now?” Nickolas questioned. “And how much I hate myself? I’m the reason she’s in this situation. If I only stayed with her instead of going down to the lobby like she requested.”

“It’s not your fault,” Tess said.

“If she doesn’t survive this I’ll never forgive myself,” Nickolas said. “I’ll turn myself in for manslaughter.”

“No you won’t,” Brent said. “She’s going to be fine. I told you she’s a fighter and she’ll fight this and win damn it. She has to.”

“Why did this have to happen to her?” Bree asked. “She’s such a sweet caring person.”

“What happened is that she got involved with me,” Nickolas stated. “Delgado warned us of the consequences, but I couldn’t stay away. I had to keep coming around and look what I did. I killed our child and I most likely killed her.”

“No you didn’t,” Codie said.

“Yeah I did,” Nickolas rebutted. “I might not have been in the stairwell, but I did it.”

“Your child?” Bree said. “She was banging you and not just kissing you?” Nickolas nodded. “Lucky ass girl.” They just looked at her. “So why did she marry Brent then?”

“To give the baby a real family since I’m married to Keera,” Nickolas replied.

“Right,” Bree said. “She always wants to do the right thing.”

“But I was the wrong thing,” Nickolas said.

“She just fell in love again,” Brent said.

“With a married man whose father-in-law is Vincent Delgado,” Nickolas reminded.

“This wasn’t the work of Delgado,” Codie said. “He wouldn’t do it in a public place like that.”

“Then who would?” Tess asked.

“Luis Capatosa,” Codie replied. “Believe me, because I saw it first hand.”

“Cheyenne didn’t do anything to him,” Brent said.

“Someone most likely hired him,” Codie stated. “Who though? I have no clue.”

“Keera Delgado-Carter,” Bree said and they looked at her. “There’s something a little strange about her. And I can’t get that phone call out of my head.”

“Maybe we should keep an eye on her,” Brent suggested.

“There’s only one of us close enough to her that can spy on her and she won’t be suspicious,” Codie said and they looked at Nickolas.

He looked at them and said, “No; I ain’t going to spy on Keera when I can be here with Cheyenne.”

“Do you want to find out who did this?” Codie asked.

“Yeah,” Nickolas replied. “But I ain’t going to spy on my wife.”

“It’s the only way to find out if she’s behind this,” Brent said. “I’ll even help you.”

“How?” Nickolas asked.

“By inviting myself to stay at your place when I’m released,” Brent stated. “You don’t mind do ya?”

“Of course not,” Nickolas said. “Mi casa es su casa, Chico.”

“Great,” Brent said.

“But for now I’m going to stay here with Cheyenne,” Nickolas said. “The spying game can wait.”

“Yeah,” Codie said. “She needs us here.” “I just hope she knows we’re here praying for her,” Bree said.

“She does,” Brent said taking Bree’s hand. “Because I knew. Cheyenne knows she’s loved and that’s going to get her through this.”

“I hope so,” Bree said.