Chapter Five

The next week seemed to drag on. If Sid wasn't at practice or playing a game, he was at the hospital with Diana. Mario and Natalie had taken Acelin to give him freedom to come and go without worrying about his son. Diana's Doctors had kept her under heavy sedation in a semi-induced coma, that she had yet to wake from. Every moment he was with her, Sid talked to her. He told her how much he loved her and begged her to come back to him. Her Doctors continued to encourage him to keep talking to her. His heart was breaking that she still wasn't waking up.

Sid leaned against the boards by the bench, trying to gather himself. It seemed that he couldn't focus lately, his mind always on his wife lying in that hospital bed surrounded by machines and tubes. Taking a quick swig from his water bottle he adjusted his helmet and started to head back toward his team mates. he hadn't gotten far when Dan came up to him and took his arm.

"Sid, you shouldn't be here. This has been a very stressful week for you, and you are no good to the team if you can't focus. You need to go be with Diana. We can manage without you. Right now, your place is by her side. Please Sid, take some time off. Get yourself together, take all the time you need."

Seeing the look of concern in his coaches eyes, Sid sighed and nodded. He knew Dan was right. He couldn't focus on hockey right now, his mind and heart always at the hospital with Diana. Reluctantly he skated off the ice and went to change. He was torn between his duty as Captain to the team and his loyalty and love for Diana. Everything he loved was falling down around him. He couldn't focus on hockey, which made him more of a burden to the team then a help. Sid couldn't stop thinking about the love of his life laying in that bed, in a state of never ending sleep. It hurt so much, that no injury he had ever endured could compare to the pain within his heart.

As Sid headed to the hospital, his mind replayed the last week. He had spend all his free time by Diana's side. He barely slept and barely ate. His chin was rough with the beginning of a beard, from lack of shaving. Sidney was tired, but he didn't care. All he cared about was getting his wife back. At this point, she was all that mattered. Diana was all he thought about.

Once he arrived, Sid went straight to her room, the nurses greeting him as he passed their desk. As always, Diana lay silently in her bed, her chest rising and falling gently with every breath. Sidney sat down on the edge of the bed and gingerly took her hand. She was pale, but beautiful. The tube that had been in her mouth had been removed and the bruises had slowly begun to fade. Staring at her face, Sid studied the lines around her mouth and eyes. Her olive skin soft and smooth to the touch as he caressed her cheek.

Sidney sat there quietly for a moment. he bent down and kissed her mouth. "Diana, I'm here. This time I'm not leaving until you wake up. I promise you baby girl, I am not going anywhere this time." He whispered gently against her lips, kissing her once more. Just as he did so, he felt a slight tug at his hand. Snapping his head back, he looked down at Diana's hand in his. Sidney was sure he felt her try to squeeze his hand.

"Baby? Diana do that again! If you can hear me, squeeze my hand again!" Sidney said, a hint of excitement in his voice. He sat there completely still watching her face. Then ever so slightly, her fingers tightened around his hand. Jumping up Sid ran to the door and called for a nurse.

"She squeezed my hand! I think she's trying to wake up!" He told the nurse excitedly, as he ran back to his wife and took her hand once more.

The nurse rushed out of the room to call the Doctor. Sidney, caressed Diana's face again leaning forward to kiss her mouth over and over. Tears filled his eyes, as he begged her to wake up. "Baby, wake up please! Diana wake up, WAKE UP!" He said urgently.

Diana's eyelids began to flutter as deep groans started to escape her lips. Her hand tightened around Sid's as she groaned, trying to force herself awake. Then her eyes snapped open, her gazing resting on her husband's face. Sidney smiled as tears spilled from his eyes and down his face. His hands cupped her face, "Diana! Thank God!! Je t'aime, Je t'aime!!" He cried repeatedly as he continued to kiss her face.

Just then the Doctor burst into the room followed quickly by a nurse. He came around to the other side of the bed, and took Diana's wrist in his hand. "Mrs. Crosby, it's good to finally see you awake. How are you feeling?"

Diana, turned to look at the Doctor, her movements slow and weak. "I...w..what happened?" She managed to whisper, her voice dry and cracked. Sid reached and grabbed the thing of water sitting on the tray and placed the straw on her lips. "Drink some water baby." He encouraged, as Diana sipped through the straw. Her mouth felt so dry, as though it was full of cotton. Smiling weakly, she thanked her husband.

After checking her over, the Doctor told them she looked like she was well on the road to recovery. She would have to be watched closely for a while, but he was hopeful. Sid thanked him as he and the nurse left them to be alone. Sid turned as Diana reached up and touched his cheek. He took her hand and kissed the palm. "How is Acelin?" Diana whispered weakly. She felt tired and weak, but that was to be expected.

"He's just fine. Mario and Natalie have him. He misses you though." Sidney replied, looking deeply into Diana's eyes. It felt so good to look into those eyes again. He smiled as he bent forward to kiss her once more. Diana kissed him back, somehow finding enough strength to reach behind his head and pull him closer.

His lips felt good against hers. While she had been unconscious her mind was filled with visions of their life together. She had dreamed about all the times they'd made love. Every moment they'd had together was so precious. Diana realized just how much she truly loved Sidney. He was her everything and nothing could ever change that. Seeing him there, and knowing he had stayed by her side and talked to her made her feel that nothing could harm her.

Sid smiled at his wife as she ran her fingers along his face. Everything was going to be okay. He knew it. She was going to get better and come home, and they could be a family again. Diana laid her head back against the pillow and sighed. "I'd like to see our son, Sid." She said gently. Tears welled up in her eyes at the thought of her young son. Sidney nodded and told her he'd be right back.

When he returned, he sat back on the edge of the bed and took her hand. "Mario and Natalie will bring him down right away. They just have to get him ready. They told me to tell you they are very glad you are awake."

Diana nodded and smiled, closing her eyes for a second. She was excited to see her baby boy. Oh how she'd missed him and Sid. Her boys, her world. Opening her eyes once again, she smiled at her husband. 'God he's even more handsome then before.' She thought to herself. He had developed lines under his eyes, from the stress of her being in the hospital. Somehow he looked older, yet handsome and distinguished.

Sid and Diana turned as the door opened and Natalie walked in with Acelin in her arms. The moment he saw Diana, he reached out his arms "MAMA!!!" Acelin cried out, trying to escape from Natalie. Diana held her arms out, tears spilling down her cheeks as she enveloped her son in her arms. Acelin laid his head on her shoulder as she kissed him over and over. "My boy!!! Oh it is so good to hold my little man again!" Diana mumbled in between kisses.

The other adults smiled as they watched the tearful reunion between mother and son. Natalie hugged Sidney and smiled. "Je suis heureux qu'elle est éveillé. Comment allez-vous Sid?" Natalie asked, looking over at Diana. 


"Je suis mieux maintenant, merci" Sidney replied, smiling as his son looked up at Diana and wiped a tear from her cheek. 


Mario came up and patted Sid on the back, then he walked over to Diana and bent to kiss both cheeks. "Bonjour, comment vous sentez-vous?" He asked, shifting so that Sid could sit on the edge of the bed. 


"Je vais bien, merci." Diana replied. It was so nice to see the Lemieux's. They had been so wonderful to her and Sidney. They were like second parents, and both Diana and Sid loved them dearly. 


They visited for a while, then announced they should be going. Acelin needed a bath and supper before bed. Diana and Sid kissed their son good bye and thanked Mario and Natalie for everything.


"Merci de prendre soin de Acelin. Nous l'apprécions. Vous êtes merveilleux! Je vous remercie." Diana said hugging Natalie. 


"Vous êtes les bienvenus. Avoir une bonne nuit." Mario replied. 


"Avoir une bonne nuit." 


After the Lemieux's and Acelin left, Diana motioned for Sid to lay on the bed with her. He gently laid down beside her and put his arm around her. Turning her head to look at him, she kissed him softly. "Je t'aime Sidney." She said caressing his cheek. 


Sid smiled at his wife, kissing her nose. "Je t'aime trop Diana. Forever." Smiling once again, Diana lay in her husband's arms. They held each other talking about the next few weeks. It was going to be a long road to recovery for Diana, but with Sid by her side, she knew she'd be just fine. All she needed was her husband. With him she could get through anything.