john is sitting beside his granddaughters bed feeling weary from no sleep. He takes her hand in his and begins to tell her how he feels.
" I've always been told that those who want to hear can . If their hearts are connected they will know even in a deep sleep. So baby girl your pap needs you to wake up soon. They stopped giving you the medicine that was keeping you asleep. So you can wake up anytime now. I am going to tell you a story . I was so excited to hear that your mom was pregnant with you. I thought to myself finally, I will be able to love someone without having to be the bad guy . As your Pap I get the privilege of encouraging your mischievous side with out having to deal with the consequences. It's the joy of being a grandparent. We get to make you laugh and let you do the things your parents don't let you. So I need you to wake up our trip is coming up and I won't go without you." He leans down and kisses her hand his eyes filling with tears again. He feels a hand on his shoulder turning around he sees its Moll. She brought him some lunch. Seeing how tired he is she asks.
" Would you like to see her? I bet that our Guardians are with her. You know each time one of us have been close to death our guardians have taken us to a garden. There they tell us about why we should hold on that it's not our time yet. If you want I can show you." She reaches out her hand to him. John takes her hand and they go to her office. There she has him lay on the sofa. In a matter of minutes John is sleeping. He can barely hear Moll now but the sky is bright with the spell of roses and lilies in the air. He walks towards the sound of laughter. There in the clearing is his granddaughter she has her head on Morrigan's lap. She is telling her of the cute boy she likes in school. Morrigan looks at her with such love and kindness while she listens and plays with her hair. Morrigan lifts her head and calls to him.
"why don't you come to sit with us. It would be more comfortable?" Smiling at him as he walks towards them. The girl sits up and grins at John and tells him.
"Pap isn't this place wonderful it's so peaceful and our guardians are here. " Uktena comes into the clearing and sits by the river. He sees that John is worried so he motions for him to come sit with him by the river. John joins him asking him.
"Will she wake soon or have we lost her?" Uktena smiles at him.
"She will wake don't worry. It's just that Morrigan is enjoying her company right now. She also needs a little more time. She is having a hard time and doesn't want to face a few decisions. So Morrigan is letting her figure out what she wants. It won't be long I promise you are not going to lose her. You know she is a wonderful child. She is a pure soul you have done well. " he puts his hand on Johns shoulder and John wakes on Moll's sofa. She looks at him smiling.
"Thank you for helping me meet them. I know I am a pain at times but I love all of you. I am honored that you are my family." She gives him a big hug and kisses his cheek.
"I'm so proud of you John. You have been such a joy to watch grow and are a kind loving man. No one could ask for a better man than you. I'm thankful that you are my family. Now let's go and see the others now that you are recharged." They head back to the waiting room when his daughter is rushing out calling for the Dr.
"My baby is awake!!!" John rushes into the room and she is laying there with her eyes open. The Dr clears the room so he can examine her. Her vitals look good, there doesn't seem to be any problems so they take her tube out so she can talk. She asks for her pap. John goes in and sits next to her bed.
"Pap thank you for coming for me. I didn't want to comeback, it was so peaceful there and I was afraid of the decisions I have to make. I don't want to go away to college I want to stay close. I want to wake up in my house and be able to come home at night to my family. Mom wants me to go away she thinks it will be good for me. Please talk to her for me . " John takes her hand and kisses it looking at her he tells her.
"You can do whatever you want. I know she wants you to do the things she didn't get to. She never got to go away and experience life outside of our town. She just wants more for you. You should never be afraid of talking to her she will listen as long as you let her know how important it is to you. Now tell me about where you were." He wants to know if she really remembers the guardians and the garden.
"When the accident happened I remember screaming and praying for the pain to go away. I heard someone calling Cora. I followed the sound of the call. As I got closer to the call the pain began to fade. There were these two people there a man and woman. Pap they were beautiful and kind. The woman reminded me of Moll and the man of Inola . At first I thought it was them. The woman told me not to be afraid that I could rest with her until it was time to come back. Then you came and sat at the river . When you left I missed you so much I asked to comeback. They sent me back right away. They have a message for you, the man told me to tell you. Come anytime you need a rest." John hugs her and whispers to her.
"Don't tell yourself mom about it she will tell you it was a dream . Let's keep that between us ok." Cora nods her head. Her mom comes in when John leaves to sit with her. The family sends him home to rest. On the way home John stops at Aisling's house to sit by the lake. Uktena comes and sits with him.
"thank you for keeping her safe and helping to ease her pain." John tells him. Uktena clasped him on the shoulder and replied
"No need for thanks she is one of ours. We watch over all of you not just those with gifts. Cora is a pure soul and that's a special quality that is not very common. You should be proud of the family you raised. I'm here to warn you go to see Astila and get a check up. You are needed in your family. You are their compas and the heart that ties them . Aisling will have that role someday but not yet. So go see him tomorrow." When John turns to look at him he has already left. John sighs and calls Astila.
"I need a check up . I just had a special visitor and he says to have you check me out. Can I come tomorrow?" Astila heard they weariness in his voice and asks.
"Can you come now? It's still early in the day and if he visited you then it must be urgent." John agreed and goes back to the hospital to see Astila. Astila calls his nurse into the office . He tells her there is a special patient coming in and to clear the rest of the day . She goes out to make the arrangements. He calls Audis's house to talk to Walker asking him to come to the hospital he may need him.
Astila calls Aisling to let her know he may be late tonight not to wait up. Walking out of his office to get a bottle of water he runs into Moll. She knows something is up so she just asks.
"So why the sour look?" What's going on?" Astila takes her into his office.
"John just called me to ask for a physical. He said he had a special visitor and they told him to see me. If it's who I think it is this must be serious ." Moll leans back in her chair and tells him about earlier.
"I sent him to see them, he looked so tired and worried . So I sent him to the garden to get recharged and to see Cora . I figured that since she wasn't waking up as expected that seeing him she may come back . It worked she missed him and came back but it seems that they must have noticed something while he was there ." Sighing she gets up and begins to pace. The nurse comes in and let's them know that John has arrived.