Olivia

"Liv, you wanna come and sit down sweetheart?" Jason's voice rang through the empty waiting room. I froze in place, turning to look at him and running a hand through my hair to get it out of my face. It was getting on my nerves...everything was right now.

"No," I asserted, shaking my head. "I can't sit, Jase. I'm too nervous."

Jason stood up from his seat and made his way over to me. His arms found their way around my back, gently holding me close to him. "Everything is going to be okay." He assured me as I laced my arms around his waist, sinking into his firm chest. "I'm sure Russ will be out soon to give us some good news."

It had been three weeks since the accident happened, three weeks since I'd spoken to my best friend or even seen her awake, and three weeks that she'd been fighting for her life. She started to show some progress over the last week and was able to carry her baby for much longer than we expected, but things took a turn for the worse early this morning and the decision had to be made to rush her into the OR for a c-section. As hard as she fought to keep her son inside her, the trauma from the accident ultimately brought about the need for premature delivery to give both of them the best shot.

Things went south so suddenly that all of us were kind of surprised including her doctors. They were ready to start weaning her off of the medication and everything. She was going to wake up soon but there always had to be a roadblock, didn't there?

"I hope so Jase because any more bad news and I'm going to explode."

"Well look, let's try and focus on the good news we have already. She was able to carry him to 23 weeks so he has a chance, and now that her body is under a lot less stress she does too. I just have a feeling everything is going to work itself out sweetheart."

I sighed softly, holding onto Jason even tighter. His hand gently rubbed circles onto my back in an attempt to soothe my nerves. He has been there supporting me through the many breakdowns I've had over the last few weeks. Caring for me, listening to anything I had to say, and holding me when I woke up in the middle of the night crying because of nightmares.

"I'm just scared, scared of what might happen to her...to her baby." I muttered, feeling tears begging to fall and soaking into the fabric of his sweatshirt.

"I know sweetheart but you have to be positive okay?"

"I know but it's so hard...it's hard when we take one step forward and then two steps back almost every fucking week. It's always something."

Jason sighed, resting his head on top of mine as he held me securely in his arms unsure what else to say. I appreciated his optimism, I did but things weren't looking so hot. Delivering the baby was going to be one of the last efforts performed to get Cassie back on track and if that didn't work we'd probably have to start talking about removing her off of life support.

The doctor mentioned that this morning and my sanity hadn't returned since. Just three weeks ago she was alive, talking and laughing, excited to be a new mom and now she was literally on her death bed. It's crazy how fast things can happen and just how instantly the ones you love can be taken from you.

"Do you want to run to the cafeteria? Maybe get something to eat?" He proposed softly, pulling back just enough to gaze down into my puffy, red eyes.

I shook my head before resting it back against his chest.

"Baby you're losing weight because you aren't eating, this isn't okay," Jason stressed, pulling back once more and this time my brows scrunched together in frustration.

I didn't want to eat, I couldn't eat, and I was tired of being asked to do so over the last few weeks.

"I don't want to eat anything, I'll throw it back up."

"Sweetheart I know you're hurting but this isn't healthy. You're going to end up back in the hospital yourself if you don't start eating more than once every two days." He pleaded, his eyes filled with worry. "I can feel all of your ribs. It wasn't like that before."

Shrugging, I pulled away from him and looked down at my feet. I knew it wasn't healthy and I could tell my body was suffering but I just couldn't bear to do anything besides be here at the hospital, cry, and sleep.

"You can go and get food if you want something," I murmured, looking up at him. "I'm okay."

"No, you're not. You're going to eat something today Olivia, I'm not having this anymore."

I sighed, knowing that he meant every bit of what he said. "Fine, but later when the c-section is over. I'm too nervous right now babe."

Jason walked back over to me and took my hands in his, giving them a delicate squeeze. "Okay sweetheart, as long as you eat something today I'll feel better...I love you and I don't want to stand here and watch you make yourself sick."

Nodding my head I looked up at him, watching a small smile grow on his face. "I love you too Jase. I wouldn't be surviving without you."

"I'm here for you, always baby girl."

"I know." I whispered as he wrapped his arms tightly around me once more. There was no better solace in a time like this.

Thirty minutes had gone by and finally, we spotted Russ, nearly running toward us with a smile on his face. He still had on the OR scrubs he had to put on when he went inside. Although Cassie was still comatose the doctors allowed Russ to be present for his son's birth and we were all extremely happy that he had gotten that opportunity.

Jason and I stood up promptly, meeting him halfway anxious for the news he had to give.

"Baby boy is here." Russ cheered, his eyes twinkling as tears brimmed his waterline. "He's so tiny, but he's here and he's alive."

"Aw thank god, we're so happy for you!" Jason cheered, pulling Russ into a tight hug. "Congratulations man!"

"Seriously, we're so glad to hear that, you're going to be such a good dad." I grinned softly, hugging Russ myself.

"Thank you guys...Cassie did well too. After delivering him, her vitals starting gradually go up. The stress that's gone from her body is helping her a lot, just like the doctors said."

"That sounds like music to my ears." I cheesed, feeling my own eyes grow watery. "So they're thinking she's going to be okay now?"

Russ nodded his head and immediately I pulled him into the tightest embrace.

"They think she's going to be okay Liv, they even say she may finally be able to be weaned off of the coma tomorrow if she stays stable overnight."

"That's incredible news!" Jason beamed. I could hardly compass words I was so relieved.

"I know." Russ choked out, shaking his head. "It's been a hell of a ride and we have a long road ahead of us with Cassie healing and then getting baby Grayson healthy. He's very underdeveloped...his lungs are going to be the biggest challenge but he's fighting you guys."

"Grayson?" Jason and I inquired in unison.

Russ nodded his head, a large smile on his face as he wiped away a lone tear. "Grayson Cade Thompson...Cassie and I picked out his name the same day before the accident, through a text." Russ laughed, shaking his head. "Probably minutes before it happened, we didn't get a chance to tell anyone."

"Damn." Jason sighed. "That's a nice name though. I love it."

"Same." I nodded. "I love his name and I'm so excited to be baby Grayson's godmother."

"He's going to be lucky to have you...both of you...Cassie and I wouldn't have chosen anyone else to be his godparents."

As Jason started to say something in response, one of Cassie's doctors came into the waiting room, approaching us with a small smile. "Russell ?" He asked, looking at Russ.

"Yes sir?"

"I wanted to let you know that Cassie did great, she's all stitched up and she's going to be transported back to the ICU for now...we're going to see how she progresses throughout the night and the next few days and try to have her moved to the maternity ward where she'll continue to get care but be close to her baby."

"Thank you so much, Dr. Howard, that's great news."

"It is." The doctor agreed. "We're thinking she'll be able to come off of her vent at some point today...hopefully wakes up tonight or tomorrow morning and we'll go from there."

"T-tonight?" I asked, feeling myself grow excited.

"It's possible, but the process could take her anywhere from a few hours to a day or two, it all depends on her body. But things are looking great so far, Congratulations on the baby. I wish him the best."

"Thank you, sir, I appreciate it." Russ stated in awe at all of the good news he had received.

To be frank we were all in awe. It had been nothing but back-to-back bad news for the last few weeks and finally, there's been a breakthrough. The thought of being able to see my best friend again conscious and alert, to be able to hear her beautiful voice excited me to the brink of crying.

"Our girl's gonna be okay Liv." Russ cried out, throwing his arms around me. Jason joined in on the hug, squishing all of us together as we wept tears of joy together.

Everything was going to be okay and for once I felt like I could breathe normally again.

"Do you think you can finally eat something now?" Jason teased, a playful smirk on his face.

"You haven't been eating?" Russ chimed in, causing me to roll my eyes at his hypocrisy.

"Well, neither have you!" I reminded him.

Russ shrugged his shoulders, glancing between Jason and I. "The difference is, I don't have him on my ass, you do."

Jason shook his head, glaring back at Russ. "I'm on both of your asses for the record...now what do y'all want for dinner?"

"It's up to you two...you'll know I'm indecisive." I shrugged, looking between the both of them.

Russ also shrugged. "Honestly if you just brought a box of pizza that'd be fine with me."

"You two should go and get it...I want to stay here with Cass." I insisted to which they both nodded.

"We'll be back in about 30 minutes but call us if you need us." Jason insisted.

"Or if anything changes with Cassie or the baby."

"I will boys, be careful."

The boys headed out of the hospital and I headed back down to Cassie's room in the ICU. To my surprise, she was no longer intubated and instead had the regular oxygen supply going into her nose. Her pale skin was regaining some of its color, making her look less like a corpse and more alive.

I took a seat beside her bed, grabbing her hand in mine and giving it a tight squeeze. Her hands were still so cold.

"Hey, Cass," I whispered, stroking the back of her hand with my thumb. "You did so well during your c-section...your little boy is here, Russ says he's itty bitty but he's a fighter, just like his Mama."

Tears began to pool in my eyes once more, stinging the water lines as they were so raw from crying nearly constantly.

"I-I haven't seen him yet, but I bet he's the cutest little guy. Oh, and I heard you named him Grayson...Grayson Cade. I love that so much babe and I'm so sorry that his birth didn't go as planned, that your start to motherhood didn't go as planned. You're lying here all beat up, broken leg, broken pelvis...probably going to have to relearn a lot of things as if learning how to be a mom wasn't going to be challenging enough." I sighed. 

"But I know you've got this. You tackle anything that comes your way with so much grace Cass, you always have since we were little. You're going to come back from this stronger than ever, you and your baby boy...We all love you and miss you Cass...you have to wake up soon for all of us."

I sat back in the chair, still holding onto Cassie's hand as I shut my eyes and began to say a silent prayer to myself. I wasn't typically a very religious person but something about being in situations like this will have you praying to whatever God there may be. If he was real, I needed him right now.

For a split second, I thought I felt one of her fingers move, but after taking one glance at her I decided that it couldn't have been possible. She looked exactly as she had the entire time. Unconscious and perfectly still.

But then I felt it again, my heart raced as I scooted up to the edge of my chair, looking at Cassie intently.

"Cassie?" I called, squeezing her hand. "Cassie, are you moving your fingers?" I choked out, feeling a lump form in my throat.

This time she squeezed my hand lightly. Lightly but certainly. If I needed any more proof of Cassie being responsible for those movements what happened next certainly proved it. My heart raced in my chest as I watched her eyes peel open, squinting as the light hit them for the first time in weeks. They bounced around the room until landing on me, fixating on my face.

My breath got caught in my throat as we held eye contact. I had to blink a few times to make sure my mind wasn't playing tricks on me...It wasn't. 

The smallest smile appeared on Cassie's face as her head rolled slowly in my direction. I stood up from the chair and walked up to the edge of her bed grabbing her hand in both my hands. I shook my head in disbelief as I felt her hand in mine, and as I looked into her beautiful hazel eyes that were looking right back at me for the first time in three weeks. 

"C-Cassie?" I choked out, fighting back the tears that were inevitably going to fall.

"Hi babes." 

A/N: I couldn't kill Cassie off y'all, I love her too much lol. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Thank you for reading, voting & commenting.

See y'all soon (: