TAMING MAX (Completed)

CHAPTER 53 - PATIENTLY WAITING

Max's POV

Staring at the clock on the wall, I listened to the hand's tick as the minutes passed. There was a single chair in the room that I had pulled up next to her bed. That was my home for three days and nights.

The room was so silent it was deafening. All I could do was wait and hope the transfusions would work. I memorized every feature of the room as I tried to keep my fears at bay.

Every scenario ran through my mind while I watched her. The one that haunted me was going on without her. Each time my mind would go there, I would will it away.

I kissed her cheek so many times and prayed with each one that it would magically revive her. If only I held the power of Prince Charming, I could save my beautiful Lillie.

Piper came in to check on me and try to get me to eat. I wasn't interested in food. Lillie couldn't eat, she was fighting for her life, so how could I? She brought me news of Chase. He was on the mend but still under observation. The bullets didn't hit him, but he suffered a severe concussion resulting in a slow recovery.

I felt so guilty surviving with only a gunshot to the hand and few scrapes and bruises. Lillie had suffered so much. It should have been me lying in that hospital bed.

James checked on us also and had brought me up to speed on what happened that day. He talked while I held Lillie's hand and stared at her, studying every line of her face.

The FBI had no previous knowledge that they would hit on us that day. It was mere coincidence that they caught us en route to the boat. When he realized what happened, he called in reinforcements. They moved us to a government facility. They used it for families in the Witness Protection Program and it was secure. As soon as we were well enough, we would go to the safe house.

They covered us in sheets that day to give the illusion the hit successful and we were all dead. It gave the FBI a brilliant cover for our deaths. It was some relief knowing the bad guys thought we were out of the picture. I still would not draw an easy breath until I knew she was okay.

The nurses kept a constant check on her and made sure her vitals were steady. I watched each time, praying that she was still in the clear.

On the fourth day, I sat beside her with her hand in mine. It had been too long and with each passing day I worried that she may never wake up. I had reached my breaking point. Every emotion known to man had run through me a thousand times over and my heart could not take much more. I was desperate to hear her voice again, to see her smile.

I had to be next to her, I needed to feel her body next to mine. There was a small space between her and the bars of the hospital bed and I couldn't fight the urge. Being careful of the wires hooked to her, I climbed into her bed. I wedged myself into that small spot, laying on my side so I would fit.

Wrapping my arm around her waist, I kissed her cheek. There was no controlling the tears as my body felt the warmth of hers for the first time in days.

I knew someone could come in at any moment, but I didn't care. They could see me at my weakest. All that mattered was being next to her. I was quiet at first, staring at her face and running my hand along her silky smooth cheek. The more I touched her, the more I realized that it wasn't enough. She had to know what was on my heart.

"Hey baby, I wanted you to know that I am right here with you," I whispered to her.

I was half waiting for her to answer. The same frightening silence I had heard since the crash was all that filled the room.

"I don't know if you can hear me but I need you, baby," I continued.

"I am trying to be strong for you but I'm not. I'm not strong, Lille. I can face anything else but not losing you. Not feeling your lips pressed to mine is killing me. I need to hear your sweet voice and that infectious laugh of yours. Please come back to me. I can't make it without you," I confessed in the silence.

After that, I couldn't hold it in any longer. I cried tears that felt like they were pouring out of my soul, but she still didn't wake. I'm not sure how long I stayed like that, but I must have cried myself to sleep. The nurse woke me when she came in, checking Lillie's vitals.

She jarred me awake and gave me a very disapproving look. I got up from Lillie's bed, but I didn't want to leave her. Being next to her brought the only glimpse of peace I had in days. I watched as the nurse checked her temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. When she told me they had improved a little, it was the best news I had ever gotten.

The day ticked on, minute by minute, like the ones before it. Around six that evening, Piper came in and brought me a slice of pizza, hoping I would eat. After getting such good news, I finally felt like I could take a bite. Only half of it would go down. My stomach had shrunk after refusing to eat for so long.

After she left to go back to Chase, it was me and Lillie again. Sitting back down next to her, I settled in for another long night.

Somewhere around seven, I was holding her hand when I thought I felt the slightest movement. Jumping up, I couldn't believe it.

"Lillie, baby, was that you?" I asked, praying that it was. There was no answer, but it did not waiver my excitement.

I took her hand in mine again.

"Baby, please move your hand again for me, just one time," I begged her and then waited.

A second later I felt another small flutter. 

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A/N

Thanks for continuing to follow Max and Lillie's journey. It looks like Max has a ray of hope. He has really been on an emotional roller coaster the last few days. I would love to know your thoughts and feedback.