Work Text:
1.
Brrp Brrp Brrp Brrp!
Lynette Wheeler groped for her phone and shut off the alarm. She sat up in bed and saw her niece stirring awake on the one next to her.
“Rise and shine, kiddo. We’ve got our appointment with Dr. Abbott this morning.”
“I’m up!” Kristi hopped out of the bed and began scrambling for her suitcase. “I really hope we – I – get in this morning.”
“Me too, honey.” Lynette closed her eyes briefly and sighed. “I heard from your mother – she won’t be back for at least another week, and as far as you know, no one has talked to her?”
Kristi nodded, pulling on her shirt over her head. “That’s right. You’re the only one I’ve told about being pregnant – not even Jackson knows. I don’t think I can keep this from her forever – God, she is going to be so pissed – but I’m not ready to be a mom, and she’s never stopped resenting my existence for ruining her life.” Once upon a time, those words might have been spoken with bitterness, but Kristi had long since lost any illusions in her relationship with her solo parent.
Just you wait until you’re eighteen. You can figure out all of this on your own just like I had to and no one’s going to be there to make it easy on you. It wasn’t for me so why should it be for you?
A quick shake of Kristi’s head drove her mother’s oft-repeated refrain from her mind.
“Ready?”
“Absolutely.” They left the hotel room together. Within half an hour, they had checked into PTMC and been greeted by Dr. Jack Abbott. The man in question looked exhausted, yet still moved as if he hadn't spent over 14 hours holding the ED together.
“I’m glad to see you folks, so let’s get this show on the road.” He smiled comfortingly at Kristi while guiding her and her aunt to a private treatment bay.
2.
“—she is MY daughter and there is no way this is happening – not now, not ever!”
Kristi barked out a very bitter laugh. “Your daughter? That’s not what the courts have said, not since I was five years old!”
Eloise Wheeler gasped, not expecting any pushback.
“You’ve never been much of a fan of reality,” Lynette Wheeler said, placing her arm around Kristi’s shoulders. Glancing at Dr. Collins, “Eloise lost custody years ago due to drugs. I legally adopted Kristi and gave the hospital copies of our paperwork. Honestly, I don’t know why she is here because visitation remains at MY discretion – she needs to get the fuck out of this room. NOW.”
Eloise attempted to grab the Dixie cup holding Kristi’s mifepristone but was blocked by Doctor Collins. “All right, you need to go before I call the police –”
“—this wrong! This is murder! I will never forgive you for doing this and you will never see me again!” The distraught woman screeched while being pulled out of the treatment bay by Security.
“Promise?” Kristi muttered under her breath, shuddering briefly. She took the small cup and quickly swallowed the pill contained therein.
“I’m reporting this to our attorney and the courts back home. See if we can get the restraining order to come through this time.” Lynette hugged Kristi tightly.
“I can definitely provide a report on my end if you need it,” Collins offered upon returning to the treatment room. “Security made her leave and we have the license plate number of the car she’s in, just in case.”
“I appreciate it. Now, what’s the medication schedule for tomorrow?”
3.
Despite Heather Collins’ best efforts, Eloise Wheeler refused to allow her daughter to medically terminate her pregnancy.
Kristi heard her words and bolted, swiftly running out of the treatment rooms and emergency department.
“Wait—stop her—someone do something! She has to go home with me!”
No one was swift enough to catch up to the upset teenager on foot. A report was called to the Pittsburgh police department for a BOLO.
~
“Oh fuck no,” Dr. Michael Robinavitch breathed to himself, upon hanging up his phone call. He motioned for Collins to follow him into an empty treatment room.
“Just got word from the PD. Kristi Wheeler has been found – she somehow got to the Andy Warhol bridge – and jumped. She – she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her mother’s been taken into protective custody – she completely fell apart when she got the news.”
“Oh God,” Collins breathed, arms wrapped protectively around her stomach. Tiny flutters gave poor comfort yet assured her of the still present life within.
4.
“I just wish you had come to me with this sooner,” Eloise said softly, squeezing her daughter’s shoulders.
“I figured you would hate me. I was scared. Jackson threatened to show pictures of when –”
“Oh, hell no,” Lynette breathed, pulling out her phone. “You have those kinds of messages from him saved? Screenshot and send them to me – we’ll make sure this asshole wishes he was never born.”
Eloise snorted. “He’s pissed off the wrong woman and I’m kind of tempted to make some popcorn. But seriously -- I’m coming up with you to Pittsburgh. I’m glad you were able to find a hospital that could still help you.”
Kristi turned and clung to her mother. “Oh my god. Thank you, Mom. Thank you. I just – I’m not –”
“Hey, hey, hey,” Eloise soothed, wiping tears from Kristi’s face. “I’ve never regretted you for a second, but you’re not me, and that’s perfectly okay. We’ll head up there tomorrow – I’ve got the time off from work anyway. Maybe we can check out some of the museums and stuff while we’re there, have a little vacation. This doesn’t have to be a bad memory.”
Kristi nodded, head resting against her mother’s shoulder. “I love you, Mom.”
“Oh honey, I love you more than you know. I’m always on your side.”
//end//