Chapter Five

"Good evening, Tammy," David said as he stepped through the doorway and smiled encouragingly at his wife. Dr. Santos had said to act normally--there was no time like the present to put the advice to use. As Tammy eyed him warily across the bed, David discovered that it was much easier said than done. The situation was anything but normal.

"Hello," she spoke cautiously, then went uncomfortably back to her perusal of the television. Elaine had left minutes earlier in an attempt to give husband and wife some alone time. David felt somewhat lost without the buffer of her presence. Working to hide his trepidation, he came the rest of the way into the room.

"I Love Lucy" reruns were on. He watched absently for several minutes before speaking. "Tamellyn, I wanted--".

"Everyone calls me Tam," she cut him off. Her eyes bore into his, saying plainly that he knew nothing about her and therefore couldn't possibly be her husband.

"Okay...Tam," David started again. The name felt unfamiliar--as long as he had known her she had never gone by the name Tam. Perhaps she was someone else. "You always called me David," he said solemnly, his emotions carefully hidden behind an expressionless facade. She couldn't know how difficult it was to see her this way, almost hating him. As he watched her, her expression shifted suddenly, etching confused furrows across her brow.

"What is it?" he asked, his facade failing him. "Did you remember something?" Anxious curiosity had him moving around the bed to take hold of her hands. "Stay with it, Tammy."

Tammy looked toward him searchingly, confusion evident in her eyes. But he could tell that she wasn't seeing him as he gaze was focused elsewhere. Then, blinking, she pulled her hands away and shook her head. "It was nothing, um...just a flash."

"A flash is something," David insisted, refusing to let go of his hope. "It could be the beginning of your memory returning. We need to get you out of here and back home, and then we can go to--"

Tammy's eyes widened in growing horror. "I'm--I'm tired," she stuttered. "Where's my mother?"

David was brought up short by the urgency of her question. "I'm sorry," he said, drawing himself away from her and toward one of the bedside chairs. "I should be letting you get some rest." Then, as if suddenly remembering her question, "Elaine will be back in the morning."

He settled quietly and unseeingly watched the remainder of the episode of 'I Love Lucy'. Joy suffused him at the thought that Tammy's memory might be returning, but he felt ashamed of that joy because the proposition so obviously frightened Tammy. Fear assaulted his heart as another thought occurred to him. What if after she regained her memory, she didn't want him? What if after the way that he had treated her in his office, she never wanted to see him again?

He turned toward her and found that she had fallen asleep. Flipping off the television, he moved quietly out of the room. The nurses would not have to kick him out this night.

~*~

When David arrived home, Elaine was busy making dinner. David stopped briefly by the kitchen and waved at her, telling her that she didn't need to prepare anything for him, and then he set off upstairs. The last thing he felt like doing was eating.

Elaine was hot on his heels within moments.

"Surely you don't think you're going to get away with that?" she asked him.

David turned and shot her a look. "Elaine, I'm tired. I just want to get some sleep. Aren't you and the nurses and everyone telling me how I need to conserve my strength. I'm actually being obedient."

"David," Elaine admonished him gently. "What happened?"

"I..." He began. Then, running a hand through his hair, he settled on the stairs. Elaine seated herself next to him, patiently waiting.

"She remembered something today," he said quietly.

"But David, that's wonderful!" Elaine enthused. "What did she remember? How does she feel about it?"

"It was just a small thing," David said. "Probably more a feeling, or a sense of familiarity or something. She said it was just a flash. She never mentioned an image."

"Why is that a bad thing?" Elaine wanted to know. "You came into the front door as if your world were ending."

"That bad, huh?" David looked up at her, a wry smile lit his face in spite of his worry. Elaine nodded in the affirmative, matching his smile. He chuckled slightly, then continued.

"I was mean to her, Elaine," he said with a gulp. "That day, before the accident, she came to my office to tell me about the baby. I was so worked up about a big meeting with a client that I was very short with her. I think I hurt her feelings. And I think she thought I was interested in another woman."

"Were you?" Elaine asked.

"No!" David objected. "Not at all. Tammy is the woman I love, I was just nervous about something else is all. I felt so bad about it, I couldn't concentrate during the meeting anyway."

Elaine was quiet for several seconds. "What would you have done if this accident hadn't happened?"

"I would have come straight home and apologized, and then I would have taken her out to celebrate."

"Do you think she would have accepted your apology, or would she have left you?" Elaine asked.

David smiled, beginning to feel a weight lift. "I would like to think that she would have forgiven me...eventually, after making me work for it." Images played through his mind of other arguments, and the ways Tammy had made him 'work for it'. He was almost embarrassed at having such thoughts in front of his mother-in--law. Clearing his throat uncomfortably to cover for the silent moments, he continued, "Uh...we've had arguments before and come through them."

Elaine smiled knowingly, patting his arm. "And you'll come through this one," she said tactfully. "Now, I've got to go tend dinner before it burns. And you, young man, will eat it."

David grinned, feigning submission. "Yes, ma'am."

"Good," Elaine said, satisfied. "Now, meanwhile, why don't you go and pick out something for your wife to wear home from the hospital. Something bright and pretty would be perfect."

~*~

When David arrived at the hospital the next morning, clean shaven and freshly showered, Tammy was sitting up in bed, a breakfast tray in front of her.

Good morning," he said, smiling happily at her. She smiled back, obviously caught off guard. Then catching herself, she asked where her mother was.

"She's downstairs getting breakfast," David answered with a grin. His mood would not be broken. "You know how she is about making sure everyone eats," he added conspiratorially.

"Yeah," Tammy agreed. "She is that." She looked consideringly at David. "You seem to know her pretty well."

"I suppose I do," David smiled thoughtfully. "But she's a great lady, and easy to know."

Tammy frowned in surprise at his complimenting her mother. "Aren't mother-in-laws supposed to rank with the evil step-mother to husbands?"

David laughed out right. "Tammy!" David admonished, "Your mother and I get along famously." There was a mischievous glint in his eyes that hinted that there was far more to the story than he was telling.

"Tell me how we met." Tammy asked, curiosity obviously getting the better of her.

David was happy to tell her the story of the way that they had met at Acme shortly after she had entered the training program. He told her of their whirlwind relationship, how they had hit it off right away.

"I fell for you like a rock," David smiled at her, remembering. He eyes widened incredulously when Tammy blushed and began to stutter a response. She was saved from having to complete whatever her statement might have been by Elaine's entrance with her arms precariously full of pastries and coffee. David got up quickly to her assist her.

"Morning, Sunshine," Elaine said, happily handing off her bundles. "Today is go home day. The doctor has high hopes about you young lady."

David smiled as he watched mother and daughter interact while they all ate pastries. Tammy even ate a small one. It felt almost as if he had his family back. Moments later, a nurse appeared to remove Tammy's breakfast tray. She was followed in by Dr. Lloyds who was there to give a few guidelines before releasing her. He handed David several prescriptions for pain, and a sedative, and then he was gone.

"David, why don't you go down to the car and get the clothes you brought?" Elaine suggested meaningfully. David snapped out of the pleasant reverie he had been immersed in.

"Oh, right. Of course." His eyes were drawn to Tammy, and he smiled warmly. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

Elaine waved at him, and Tammy only offered a small confused smile. It was enough. He turned and left the room.