There Was an Accident Ch. 04

Author's Note:

All characters in this story are eighteen years of age or older. All characters and events are fictional. Any similarities with actual persons, living or dead, or events, is purely coincidental.

"What's all this? Who's the old guy in the weird red suit?" Todd asked as he was wheeled past the nurse's station outside his room.

"Not even Christmas? You don't remember Christmas or Santa Claus?" the tall man pushing his chair asked.

"Christmas, Santa Claus? Sounds weird, like something from a horror movie."

"Well, yeah, I'm pretty sure there is a scary movie or two about him, but no, it's a holiday."

"You mean like Presidents' Day and Martin Luther King Day?"

"Oh, Jesus! You remember those holidays but not Christmas?"

"So Christmas is the holiday? What's Santa Claus then?"

"Santa Claus isn't a what, he's a who. The old guy in red is Santa Claus."

"Sounds like a holiday to me. 'Happy Santa Claus'..." Todd mumbled, almost to himself.

"Dude Christmas is when everybody buys anybody they love, like, respect, or fear a gift, then get together and exchange the gifts with people that bought them gifts, eat until you can't eat another bite, and drink until you're unconscious. It's a tradition. It's just what people do."

"What's Santa Claus do?"

"He's the one, that, well, he crawls into people's houses through their chimneys, eats their cookies and drinks their milk, and puts presents under pine trees in their living rooms, but only after the people have piled tinsel, lights, balls and other odds and ends onto the trees."

"Isn't that like a felony or something?"

"It would be, if he were a real person, I guess."

"You say my brain is Swiss cheese. Who thought up THAT holiday?"

"Todd, you ask a lot of questions that I don't have an answer for."

"Yeah, you'd ask a few questions too if you were twenty years old and only remembered the last three weeks."

"Here you go buddy. We'll continue this conversation, later."

"Wait. So today is Santa... I mean Christmas?"

"No, it's next week."

"So you put up decorations the week before? That's a little creepy, if you ask me."

"Come on Todd! Have a little holiday spirit!"

"And it gets even creepier!"

"Todd! Wait up!"

The voice belonged to Kim, and the mysterious meeting with Attorney this morning got even more mysterious. Or less mysterious. Todd decided he just didn't know what was going on, and it probably was no big deal.

"I thought I was going to be late. Traffic was a bitch this morning, or I'm just not used to being up at the crack of mid-morning."

Kim leaned down to her brother, cupped his cheeks between her hands and kissed him longer than quickly, but less than lingering.

Todd thought for a few seconds before speaking.

"They usually interrupt my perfectly good sleep around seven, and then lunch is at twelve. 8:30 isn't really mid-morning, is it?"

"I'm hoping your sarcasm grows back before anything else, little brother," Kim said mirthfully before opening one of the double doors into the hospital conference room and holding it open, with a bow, for Todd to be wheeled in.

While bending to lock the brakes on Todd's wheelchair at the table, the nurse whispered loudly toward Kim.

"His sarcasm is sufficiently robust already. Don't encourage him."

Todd looked at Kim sitting beside him. Her crooked smile and the twinkle in her eyes told him she was enjoying this.

"What's sarcasm?" Todd whispered, equally as loud.

"The kids made it. Now we're just waiting on the parents."

Attorney had been studying a thick file at the head of the table when they came in, but was now looking at the twins.

"Hi, Bill. What's up?" Kim asked him.

"We'll talk about that when everybody gets here. There's no point in calling a meeting if I'm going to talk to everybody one at a time as they come in."

"I think there are two of us here, so it wouldn't be..."

"We'll wait, Todd," Kim whispered loudly again.

"Todd, you look great. How are you feeling?" Bill asked him.

"Not much different, I guess. It's only been a couple of days since we met."

Kim turned sideways in her chair and studied Todd intently for a few seconds.

"No. I think he's right, Todd. You really are looking stronger. I like it."

"I haven't seen myself, so I can't comment."

Todd and Kim gazed at each other. He really, truly did love his sister. He wanted to tell her how happy he felt seeing her look so happy. It was also different seeing her dressed up and in the bright light. She looked radiant to him this morning.

"Sorry we're late."

A man and woman had entered while Todd was admiring Kim. They looked older, like his parents age.

"We're still waiting on Karen and Thomas, so you're not late," Bill told them.

Todd wondered who Karen and Thomas were, and who these people were.

"Hi, Todd." The woman seemed embarrassed as she greeted him while she sat down on the other side bedava bahis of the table. The man just nodded in his direction and weakly smiled, barely making eye contact with him.

"Todd, this is Tyler and Annette Robbins. They're Kelly's parents," Kim announced after a short, awkward silence.

"Todd, it's good to see you again," Tyler said, then stood and extended his hand across the table.

Now it was Todd's turn to be embarrassed as he stared at the hand halfway across the table in front of him.

"Mr. Robbins, Todd can't... he's... um..." Kim stuttered. She was blushing too.

"I lost most of my strength in the coma. I can't move by myself much yet. Sorry."

Annette had her hand on her husband's sleeve, and appeared to be pulling on it, wanting him to sit down.

"Oh. I'm... Sorry, Todd. I wasn't thinking."

Todd heard the door open again behind him, and he wished he had gotten a seat on the other side of the table.

Todd could see some movement out of the corner of his eye, and turned his head slowly to look at his parents settling into the chairs beside him.

"Hi, Mom and Dad."

"Oh my! Todd you look wonderful this morning. I'm so happy to see you sitting up and out of that dreadful hospital bed!" his mom gleefully declared.

"Thanks, Mom. I think I am feeling better. I'm drinking three delicious meals a day, and usually get a wonderful tour of the hospital labyrinth almost every day."

"Yep, there's that sarcasm I love so much," Kim mumbled next to Todd, just loud enough for only him to hear.

Todd felt his face redden when she put her hand on his, on the arm of his chair.

"OK, I'll get Todd up to speed on things first," Bill stood as he spoke.

"We filed a wrongful death and personal injury suit against the estate of Mr. and Mrs. Muzainah, seeking damages in the amount of fifteen million dollars plus two million for medical bills, plus attorney fees."

"Stop," Todd interjected. "Estate?"

"The money they had when they died." Bill looked at Todd.

"We've had some discovery hearings, and various other hearings. Trial has been scheduled for January fourth."

"Discovery?" Todd asked, again interrupting.

"We ask for details, in this case, mostly about the money."

"Trial?" Todd blushed again. It seemed like such a simple word for him to not understand it.

"We, um, go talk to a judge, argue about the facts, and he decides what will happen."

"OK."

"During discovery," Bill looked at Todd, and Todd smiled at him and winked, "we learned what we believe is an accurate number for the money in their estate. A few days ago, as we all agreed, we made a settlement offer to the estate for twelve million in damages, two million in medical costs, plus attorney fees."

"This amount was very close to the amount we determined to be in the estate."

"Of course, we're confident that if we go to trial, we will win, but the award could possibly be much less than the amount requested in the suit. The intention of our settlement offer was, naturally, to increase the chances that we could obtain a higher settlement. We expected, and would agree to a much smaller amount than we were asking for in our offer. We were waiting for a response from the estate, expecting a counter-offer."

"We got a response from the estate late last night."

Bill looked around the room. Todd followed his cue, and also looked around the room. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath, and staring at Bill.

Todd could feel the suspense in the room.

"They have accepted our offer."

Todd's hand hurt from Kim squeezing it. She kissed the side of his face.

"Your friend Zahra gave you and Kelly all her money," Kim whispered into his ear. "I guess she's not so hateful, after all."

"The estate has, as part of the settlement agreement, stipulated that the estate will finalize business and disburse funds on or before February first of next year," Bill continued.

"The only matter left for us is the Powers of Attorney for Todd's medical directives and finances."

Bill looked at Todd, then at his parents.

"In light of recent developments, and stipulations in both documents, their necessity should be revisited, at such time that his physicians deem practical, but as soon as possible."

Everyone stood up, except Todd, of course. The parents all went to talk to Bill, shaking his hand and giving him hugs, then hugs and handshakes all around.

"Kim, I don't really understand what just happened."

"You just got a boatload of money for what happened to you, and Kelly's parents got a boatload of money for... um... because their daughter is gone."

"I kind of know what money is, and that you buy stuff with it. I feel so stupid sometimes. It's like there are those things out there that I kind of understand, but they need to be tied to something, but I lost all those connections because I don't have any experience."

"Todd..."

Kelly was kneeling beside Todd's wheelchair, holding his casino siteleri hand with both of hers.

"I'll help you figure everything out, lover. You're my everything. I'll do whatever I need to, to help you," she whispered almost silently, so only he could hear her.

**

"How do you feel about having these visitors, Todd?"

Todd was sitting in one of the chairs in his room. He had another doctor. She was sitting in the only other chair in his room. She looked different from Doctor, and the other doctors he saw in the hallways. She was dressed in blue jeans and a polo shirt, and she always looked relaxed. The regular doctors always looked like they were worried, or in a hurry.

"Eh, it's kind of annoying. They know me, from before, so they come in, pretend to not be stunned at the way I look, try not to stare at my scars, then leave after a couple of minutes."

Kim called her a shrink. Todd didn't question her on that, but she looked normal size to him. Everyone else called her a psychiatrist.

"How does that make you feel, when they don't stay very long?"

Todd FELT like she said 'feel' in every sentence, and almost all of her sentences were questions. In his head, he called her Doctor Feel.

"I don't really feel anything about it. I don't know them. Unless Kim is here, most of them don't even tell me who they are and just assume that I know them. When Kim is here, she tells me their names, but that just makes them feel more uncomfortable."

"You've never had even a hint of recognition when you first see them, Todd? Not even for a second?"

There was one, a sentence without 'feel'. He almost grinned simply because he caught it.

He didn't need to think about the answer to that question. It was always his first thought. He tried to recognize them. He never did.

Todd just shook his head slowly. Doctor Feel had asked him this same question nearly every time they had talked.

Three weeks had passed since the family reunion in the conference room with Attorney Bill. Todd still remembered nothing from his former life, and those three weeks seemed like forever. To him, they were forever. His memory only went back about a month.

Christmas had come and gone. Kim had dressed up like an elf. She wore a green miniskirt, green tights, green shoes with long, pointy toes, and a floppy green hat. She had put a condom on him the first time they made love that night, but the second time was just an extension of the first time, and he didn't think she had the second time.

New Years had also passed. Kim had brought fizzy grape juice, and they toasted and kissed at midnight. She only let him have enough to taste. She was a stickler for following his diet. He learned that years were marked by numbers. It had been 2018, but was now 2019.

He wasn't sure they were sincere, but everyone seemed happy with his progress. He had gained some weight. He could stand on his own, for a few seconds at a time, but only if somebody else lifted him to his feet. He could move himself while he was lying down or sitting, and had touched most of Kim's naked body. He hadn't gotten past the top of her thighs, but what he had touched of her felt wonderful.

"I think that's enough for today, Todd," Doctor Feel announced.

Todd had been lost in his thoughts, and knew she knew it. Sometimes he did it on purpose, when he was done talking to her, but today it was an accident. He looked at her, and returned her smile.

**

"Hungry, Todd?"

"Always. What gourmet dishes do you have for me tonight?"

The nurse was holding a tray between her outstretched arms, and he could see a few bowls and a cup.

"Hm, tonight we have a delicious side salad of red and green jello, left over from Christmas I think. The main course is a wonderful mystery meat puree accompanied by a side of beets, also pureed. For desert, we have a mango puree."

"Ugh, beets? Again?"

He had graduated from the almost intolerable pouches of liquid weeks ago, and everything tasted good after that. Except for beets. He did especially like mango though.

"Don't shoot the messenger," the nurse mockingly scolded him.

Todd liked dinner best. He knew that he would have time to eat, and then relax for a few minutes before Kim arrived. She had quit her job at the pizza place, and the full time day job she had taken instead of going back to school this semester. She traded the pizza job and the one working the phone bank at a collection agency during the day to be an office assistant with a local law firm answering calls, filing, and other office stuff. She said it paid more, and was way less stressful.

To Todd, she seemed happier now, and that made him happy.

This change also meant that Kim was at the hospital every evening after work.

**

"Isn't it beautiful?" Kim asked as she stood at the window and gazed at the huge flakes of snow drifting toward the parking lot two floors down.

"One of the most beautiful things I've seen."

Todd wasn't looking out the window bahis siteleri though. His eyes were roaming over Kim's backside. She was wearing a loose, pink sweat suit, and was barefooted. The only part of her suit that wasn't loose hugged her perfectly shaped ass.

"You're not even looking!" Kim scolded her brother.

"I am! I'm looking at the second best view in the whole entire world."

Kim turned toward Todd, hands on her hips and tapped a foot at him.

"And what, my dear man, is the best?"

"This one." Todd smiled as he raised his eyes from Kim's luscious crotch, over her perfect breasts and met her eyes.

"You know you're a pervert, right? Drooling over your sister, your twin sister. Have you no shame?"

"You do realize that, literally, your drool is still wet on my penis, right?"

They had never had any kind of sexual contact when the Sun was up, until that morning. Todd had been moved to this new room just yesterday. Kim persuaded Doctor that Todd would be happier in a room with a window. Today was Saturday, and Todd was expecting that Kim would be here with him until tomorrow evening.

"You're not complaining are you?" Kim giggled.

"My only complaint is that I don't get enough of my gorgeous sister's body."

They had gotten caught by a nurse who showed up in his room unexpectedly. It wasn't really caught, but Kim was mostly naked, in bed with Todd, under the blanket. The nurse had not seen anything, but she had given them a look, like she wished she hadn't seen what she was seeing.

Nothing was ever said, but Kim had been upset by the incident. She was more careful about being naked in Todd's room. This had seriously cut into the frequency they made love.

"I know, baby. But we're going to get out of here pretty soon, and then we can enjoy each other to our hearts' content."

"Yeah, to our hearts' content, as long as Mom and Dad aren't around."

"There's that."

Kim turned back to look at the falling snow again, mostly so he wouldn't see her face. She knew things would be changing, she would be changing, and she wasn't looking forward to those changes, or explaining them.

"I'm excited, and nervous. Mostly nervous," she told Todd without moving.

"About what?"

"The hearing on Monday."

"Attorney says it's just a formality, and nobody thinks I can't handle my life."

"I know, but the judge might ask me questions. I don't want to say the wrong things and ruin it all."

"Just tell him the truth."

"Except for the sex part, the mind-blowing, earth-moving sex part, right?" Kim smiled to herself.

"Yeah, I think you should leave that part out."

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Todd and Kim said in unison, but the door was already swinging open.

"Todd?"

"Mom?" the twins said, still in unison.

"Oh, hi, Kim. I thought you'd be here."

Their parents had become scarce since the announcement of the settlement of their case, usually visiting for a few minutes on Sunday afternoons. Todd didn't mind. They were basically strangers to him anyway.

"This is nice, nicer. The window certainly brightens the room up, even on a dreary day like today," she cheerfully said while looking around the room.

"Come on in and sit down, Mom," Kim gestured toward the solitary chair next to the window. Todd occupied the other chair in the room, and it was near the bed.

"Honey, you look better every time I see you."

Todd smiled as he studied his mom's face. She looked like she was examining his face, lingering on the scar under his left eye. He had seen it himself. He knew that his hair, though still short, had grown out enough to hide the circular scar above his left ear, where they had opened his head to relieve the pressure and repair some of the damage to his brain.

The scar under his eye was mostly from the surgery to reconstruct the bones shattered in his face. The surgeons had done a good job, he was told, but his left eye was almost imperceptibly lower than his right one. Doctor told him the minuscule droop below that eye would go away as his face filled out with the weight they hoped Todd would continue to put on as he got stronger.

His mom looked in his eyes and smiled weakly. He could see the slight hint of pity in them, in spite of her efforts to hide it and look cheerful.

"Todd, I know we haven't been visiting much. Your father and I just needed..."

"Mom, it's OK. Kim told me how exhausted you were and how much the accident and ensuing chaos had taken out of you."

"I'm sorry, Todd."

"Really, Mom, there's no need to apologize. I've been pretty busy, you know, recovering."

"Still, I wanted to be here more, but your father just couldn't manage."

"Please don't blame anyone for anything. I think it was perfect how much you came. I have been working hard, and usually slept when I wasn't in therapy anyway."

"Thank you, Todd."

She smiled at him, then looked at the floor. Her hands were in her lap and her fingers nervously picked at a button on her coat sleeve.

"I came, alone, because there's something I want... something I need to tell you, both of you."

The twins looked at each other. Kim raised one eyebrow, and shrugged at her brother while she leaned against the window sill.