Sorry for the delay this weekend. I was feeling extremely unwell and spent most of the day in bed asleep. Hope everyone is doing well in this time of social-distancing and unknowns.
The photo above is Emma and Spinner on their wedding day with Jay performing the ceremony. This chapter includes a lot of Emma and the story of Emma and Spinner's relationship.
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"She found out I had been talking to Darcy about visiting Kenya, and then when I got hooked on ecstasy, that ended it for good."
"You were hooked on x?" Bianca calls and I see all our mouths have dropped.
"Yep, I was in a bad place, and did something stupid. Just about ruined my life. I was smart enough to keep it and myself away from Clare at that point though."
The room goes silent when none of us are sure how to respond to this, but then the door opens so we don't have to. I see Emma walk in followed by Doctor Evans.
"Hey guys, everyone getting along?" Emma questions with a smile.
"Yep, getting to know each other a little better," Drew comments. He's certainly right about that.
Doctor Evans walks toward the bed I've been sitting on most of the day now. "Can you please sit her up a little so I can check her vitals?" he requests, and I sit up a bit further, and then I'm able to lift Clare's upper body up closer to me, so she is sitting up and leaning her back against my chest. "Thank you...?"
"Owen," I tell him, as I figure that's what he's searching for.
"It's nice to meet you Owen," he says, before shaking my hand. "And I'm glad Clare still has so many friends with her," he says looking around the room with a smile for us all.
"This is Bianca and Drew, and that is Jay, Peter and Lucas," Emma tells him, and he nods at them, before he turns back toward Clare, and starts taking her vitals and checking her eyes. Then he moves her head so he can check where they did surgery, as well as the tumor on her neck, before making notes in her chart.
"Well she appears to be handling everything well, but we won't know the extent of her recovery until she actually wakes up. So I am going to begin reducing the meds keeping her in the medically induced coma now. But it will still be a number of hours for them to wear off enough for her to begin to come out of the coma," Doctor Evans tells us before he begins changing the dials on the medicine tubes hanging on the pole next to the bed.
"How long do you think it will take her to wake up doctor?" I ask, as I would like to be here when she wakes up.
"It's different for every person, and as I said it will still be several hours, but I believe it will be sometime tomorrow morning for Clare," he remarks as he finishes with her meds. He walks away from the pole and appears as if he is about to leave before turning around to face us again. "It is almost time for visiting hours to be over. Many of you have been here for hours. I think you should all go home and get some rest. She will most likely not be waking up until tomorrow. But I will give permission for one or two of you to remain with her overnight. You can make that decision, and Emma, can you let me know what you all decide please?" he voices and she nods, before he leaves the room.
"I know Jake will want to stay the night with his sister," Drew points out. "Bianca and I both have to get home for curfews tonight, and we got to stay out later last night after graduation." I see the others looking at him. "Ya, I know but until I'm out on my own my mom is quite strict when it comes to curfews and such," he gripes, but if the others had met Audra they'd know what he means.
"Well I'm still on duty until visiting hours are over in twenty minutes, and then I'd like to wait until Spinner gets back to find out what's going on as he mentioned needing to speak to a lawyer right away before he left. So I can stay until he and Jake get back. Peter I'm sure you're tired after all the driving?" Emma questions turning to the blonde man.
"Yes, I am pretty weary. I would like to stay, but I think if she's not going to be awake until tomorrow then I'll head out and come back in the morning. Jay would it be a problem if I crashed at your place? My mom's still living in Regina, and I stopped renting my apartment when I left for school," Peter questions.
Jay shrugs. "Sure no problem Peter, you can have the pull out couch if that's good with you," he says and then stands up. "It was nice meeting you guys, and call me if anything changes, please," he says. We nod before he walks over to shake Drew's hand, he hugs Bianca, and then comes to shake my hand, before kissing Clare's cheek. "You can follow me back," he tells Peter, and then shakes hands with Lucas and hugs Emma, kissing her cheek as well. Peter does the same with us all, and then they walk out.
"I actually have to work tonight, so I need to get home and shower before I head in," Lucas comments and then stands. "It was good to see you guys and again and nice meeting you Drew. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other as we all work on helping Clare recover," he says and then comes over kissing her head. He shakes my hand and then Drew's. Bianca stands so she can hug him, and he kisses her cheek. He walks over to Emma and they hug, before he heads out.
"Guess we should go," Bianca comments, still standing and pulls Drew up with her. He stands and comes over shaking my hand, and then putting a hand down rubs Clare's arm in small circles a moment. Bianca and I hug as well as we can in the position I'm in and I kiss her cheek. Bianca leans down kissing Clare's cheek and when her head lifts I see tears forming in her eyes again. I grab her hand and just hold it a moment before I let go. Hopefully showing her some comfort. They both walk over giving Emma hugs at the same time. "Please tell Jake I'm sorry we weren't able to wait for him to get back like we promised, but we'll be back first thing tomorrow morning," Bianca says as she steps away from Emma.
"Of course. I'll be here, and I know he'll understand," Emma tells her with a smile, putting her hand on Bianca's arm. Bianca nods and then the couple walks out, and I'm left with just Emma and an asleep Clare.
"I'd like to stay if it's not a problem," I comment to Emma once everyone is gone and she looks at me. "I know Jake wanted to talk to me, and I don't really want to leave her. She's had so much to deal with in her life, and I was the last person she saw when she went into the seizure this morning," I say, and then I realize my arms are tightening around Clare slightly as I don't want to lose her at all. I loosen them slightly but still keep them around her.
"No problem Owen, its fine with me. I'll go tell Doctor Evans, that you and Jake will be staying with her tonight, and that I'll be waiting here once my shift finishes until Spinner and Jake get back. Besides, I'm sure when Clare wakes up she'll be happy to see a familiar face," she says and we both smile. "I'll be back in a few minutes," she tells me before leaving me alone with Clare.
"I don't understand it. How could one person be put through so much?" I question out loud, and I'm left with the silence of the room as my only response. I look down and although it's slightly awkward I kiss Clare's head. I know I have feelings for her. I knew I liked her even before today, but when she fainted in my arms in the backyard I was scared to lose her. And then she told me about what she'd been through in the last few years, and I was shocked and felt almost appalled at what she has been through I never even knew. I thought her life was so perfect, and yet that was just the start of my huge gain of knowledge on Clare today, and now I don't think I could live without her in my life.
Emma walks back in the room and I look up, as while I was thinking my head was still down toward Clare. I see she is carrying a tray of food, I'm guessing is from the cafeteria. She sets it on the rolling table before she sits down and begins speaking. "I told Doctor Evans that you and Jake would be staying with her tonight, and my shift would have been done in 15 minutes anyway, so he said I could stay in here until it's over unless there's an emergency. He also said that he'd have a bed sent up for Jake, as I assume you'll be staying where you are for the night?" she questions, and I nod. "I was there when he told reception to let Spinner and Jake in even if it's after visiting hours. My friend Gaea is a receptionist here, so she knows Spinner," she tells me. "I brought you some food, as I don't think I've seen you leave this room yet today. You need to keep up your strength if you're going to be Clare's," she comments and I know my cheeks are getting red.
"Thanks Emma," I comment with a smile, and then shifting Clare slightly I move the table toward my side so I can reach the food.
I begin eating, and we sit in silence for a few minutes. "Emma," I speak up, and she turns toward me. "I've learned a lot today about Clare's past especially, but the pasts of many of you guys today, but one thing I didn't find out was how you and Spinner got together and got married," I tell her.
"Um, that's interesting actually. When I started at Degrassi it was a grade 7-12 school. I was in grade 7 and Spinner was in grade 8. He was a bit of a bully to me and some of my friends, but he still agreed to be my subject that year for a science project. Besides that we didn't really have the same circles of friends. I was actually friends with his sister Kendra, and didn't really get to know Spinner well until years later. The following year when I was in grade 8, I began babysitting Clare who was about 7. I continued babysitting her until she was 12, but we remained friends. Spinner dated Darcy, and then Jane. And spent time with Clare and then we all started spending more time with her when Darcy was really dealing with her rape. I tried to help Darcy too, while the guys spent more time with Clare, but sometimes she just needed girl time," I smile at that. Girls definitely need each other, even more than guys.
"So I came home part way through the 2nd semester of my 1st year at University, and Spinner and I got talking, as he worked and managed The Dot still. I asked him how he felt when all his friends went away to school and he wasn't able to. It was hard on him to have been held back, but he worked hard to do well after that and graduated. I went back to school and we kept in contact with FaceRange. I came home from school, without my boyfriend, and found Spinner at The Dot and they were looking for waitresses. Spinner hired me, but I wasn't supposed to use the sandwich maker. He left for the graduation party for Jane's class and he overheard a conversation about how she had cheated on him. He broke up with her, and being upset she left with some friends to spend the summer in New York City. He came back to The Dot, but by then Jay had convinced me to make him a Spinwich and the sandwich maker overheated, and it caused a fire, and then blew up the Dot due to the gas."
"I remember that. I had just finished grade 9, and remember being without The Dot for much of the summer that year, but I didn't know what happened," I comment remembering seeing The Dot windows all blown out before it started being rebuilt.
"Ya, Spinner was super upset, and I felt so guilty about what happened, and he was already upset about Jane. I found him at school and we played HORSE and I got him smiling, and then Jay, Manny and I found him sitting at home still upset. We took him to the Falls View Casino, and played poker. What we didn't realize until the next morning was that we got super drunk and got married," and now I have to laugh. She seems quite smart, and still got drunk and got married.
"Well obviously you stayed married," I comment pointing toward her wedding ring.
"We did, but that was after attempting to get it annulled at the casino, and then talking to Jay's uncle the divorce lawyer twice. But eventually we realized we were happiest when we were together, so we pawned the ring Spinner had paid for with my black jack winnings and with Peter's help, Jay married us out on the beach in front of friends and family. Spinner even came to my house and proposed in front of my mom, step-dad and Manny. Clare attended and we all had a really good time, but then I began attending TU for nursing, and Spinner attempted to get into the police academy again once we were settled," she tells me.
"Again...?" I question, and before Emma can answer the door opens and in walk Jake and Spinner. We look over at them, but Emma decides to answer me anyway.
"Ya he had attempted once before, but didn't have what he needed. Especially with his past at that point. But the second time he got in and has been doing well ever since."
I nod in response, and then look over at the guys. Both look almost in a state of shock but have a fire in their eyes, and I worry what more could have happened. "What happened? Was Omar able to help you?" I question, hoping Clare won't be left in limbo.
"We talked to him, and he was furious at what my dad and Helen did, but Spinner was right. Because Randall was never declared unfit, he has sole custody of Clare," Jake tells us before sitting down in his previous seat as Spinner sits down in the other chair. I see Emma's mouth drop in shock. I guess they didn't tell her the details of where they were going before they left.
"Ya, it's a long story, but suffice it to say Helen gave up custody of Clare, and she and Glen put the house and bills in Jake's name, and left town wanting nothing more to do with them," Spinner tells his wife, and I can see the appalled look in her eyes, at hearing this. She looks over at Clare with a saddened expression.
"Omar spoke to a judge, and was able to get me emergency custody for this week, as Randall isn't around and Clare's in the hospital still quite sick, as that's what's in her best interest at the moment," he comments, still with a slight lightness to his voice, and looks at Clare with a smile. But then he turns away and his face gets harder and I see the fire burn in his eyes. "Omar was then good enough to call Randall, as I've never met him to see what he wanted to do about custody, and he..." he pauses and takes a breath, and I see his hands become fists. "He told Omar to take care of it, it's not his problem," Jake angrily barks out, and smacks his fist against the arms of the leather chair. "He referred to my little sister, HIS DAUGHTER!!! AS IT!!," Jake screams, and I see tears in his eyes. I'm in absolute shock. I see Emma with tears in her eyes, and Spinner reaches out for her. She sits in his lap and he holds her while she cries, but I still see the anger he has, and I can totally understand why.
I have no idea how to respond, but I look down at Clare, and promise myself that no matter what I'll protect her. I have no idea how Jake must be feeling at the moment. To think that any of these people could have ever become parents is unthinkable, although I suppose that without them Clare, Jake or even Darcy wouldn't exist.
We all sit in silence for at least five minutes. The only sounds are Emma's crying, and the sounds of Clare's machines. Jake hits the chair a few more times during that silence.
As the time ticks by, Emma's crying slows enough that she can speak. "So what are you going to do now?" she asks, turning to Jake, and I'm wondering the same.
~meeting_meghan
How do you feel about about Randall's reaction? What do you think of Owen's feelings? Were/are you an Spemma shipper? Please vote and comment, let me know what you think.