Some Kind Of Wonderful

Chapter Thirty-five: Untouchable

Previously on, Some Kind of Wonderful,

Isabelle watched through her tears too shocked to move. She winced when she felt her chest tighten her breath caught in her throat a dull ache shooting up and down her left arm.

The colour drained from her face and she began shedding pearls of cold sweat. She fought to breathe but the ache in her chest intensified leaving her breathless.

“Jordan...” she gasped inaudibly. She crumbled to the floor knocking her head on the side of the coffee table before she slipped into a world of darkness.

Fate looked back when she heard a thump. She gasped and dashed over to Isabelle falling to her knees beside her. Her honey brown eyes widened when she noticed the pool of blood around her head. “Isabelle?!” she called shaking Isabelle’s still form. She looked back frantically. “DAYNE!” She screamed loud enough to stop them brawling.

Dayne looked back at his girlfriend and his mother on the floor. “MOM!” he yelped pushing away from Marc he ran over to Isabelle. Leila followed a terrified expression on her face.

“She’s bleeding!” Fate shrieked holding up her hands showing them the crimson blood dripping from her hands.

“Isabelle...” Jordan hurried over to his wife and fell beside her. He pressed his fingers to her pulse point on her neck searching for a pulse. He held his breath when he couldn’t find one. “Come on....please.” he sighed when he felt a weak pumping under his fingers. “Someone call 911, now!”

Jaiden was standing behind Leila tears in his eyes. “Isabelle...come on baby, please open your eyes.” Jordan pleaded his heart hammering in his chest.

Jordan kept checking her pulse until the ambulance came and took over. “Any of you see what happened to her?” they all shook their heads.

The paramedics pulled out some stethoscopes and listened to her chest. “Her pulse is weak.” One of them mumbled as they continued checking her.

“Sir, does your wife smoke?” Jordan shook his head. “Does she suffer from diabetes or high blood pressure?”Jordan shook his head again. “Any heart conditions?” he shook his head again. “Has she been overly stressed?” Jordan blinked and nodded.

“Yes we were having a bit of a family crisis before she...” he trailed off concern evident in his voice. “Is she going to be okay?”

“It’s seems like your wife may have had a stroke. We need to take her to the hospital to treat her right away.”
Jordan watched as they picked Isabelle up and placed her on a bed and rolled her away to the ambulance.

“We’ll follow you up there.” Leila said as Jordan stepped into the ambulance and took hold of Isabelle’s hand. He nodded numbly too concerned to even function properly.

(Natalie Merchant, My Skin)

A few hours later Isabelle was once again lying in a hospital bed, a heart monitor hooked up to her chest showing her heartbeat. Jordan was sitting beside her bed spinning his wedding ring on his finger never taking his eyes off the monitor showing her life line rapidly jumping at every thump of her heart.

Her angelic face was pale, dark circles under her eyes, her usual ruby lips were a pale pink and dry. A white bandage was over her head where she had a gash from her fall.

Jordan was terrified, his wife had a stroke. The love of his life suffered a stroke. Is this what they have come to? This wasn’t the life he promised her, it wasn’t the life he had envisioned for them. The doctor told them she was a minute away from death. If Fate hadn’t found her and they didn’t get her to the hospital in time she wouldn’t have survived.

“You fucking prick!”

Jordan blinked and looked at the door with a frown. His teary brown eyes looked at Isabelle once more before he stood up and followed the yelling.

He stepped out of the room and saw Marc was restraining a livid Dayne. Leila was shoving Jaiden crying hysterically.

“This is your entire fault. You selfish piece of shit!” Dayne spat trying to get to Jaiden.

“Enough!” Jordan snapped. They all froze and looked at Jordan who was glaring at Jaiden. “Fate, go keep an eye on Isabelle for me please?” He said glancing at Fate who nodded obediently scurried off to watch over her boyfriend’s mother.

Dayne shrugged out of Marc’s hold, who in return embraced his fiancé. Chase and Violet came by and picked up Melis an hour ago. A hospital and the negative atmosphere was no place for a baby.

“What is this, you’re in a fucking hospital. Your mother is in there fighting for her life...again, and you two can’t stop
fighting for two fucking minutes to give her some peace? You wanna finish her off is that it, huh?” Jordan asked glaring at his sons.

Jaiden dropped his gaze in shame the thought of his mother dead terrified him to his deepest core. “This feud ends here, do you hear me?” he said firmly. “I will not have either one of you upsetting her again. I don’t care what happened this past week or tonight for that matter, it all ends now. Jaiden, you want to be with Eyvah you go right ahead, I don’t give a shit anymore. I’ll put everything that’s yours back into your account and you can both piss off, I don’t ever want to hear of this again, you hear me?” he said angrily.

Jaiden didn’t respond he only shook his head. “I never wanted any of this.” He whispered.

“Yeah well it’s a little too late for apologies now. You said you never wanted any of us so why are you even here. As far as you were concerned your mother is a whore right?”

Jaiden lifted his eyes and met his father’s angry ones. “I never meant that, I never meant anything I said. Please don’t shut me out...” he pleaded tears streaming down his cheeks. “I’m so sorry.” He cried.

Jordan was about to open his mouth and say something when Fate came running out of the room. “Jordan, she’s waking up.” Jordan and the rest all ran to her room.

Isabelle opened her eyes and blinked a few times trying to make out the blurry figures around her.

“Isabelle?” she frowned squeezed her eyes shut before opening them again. The blur cleared and she stared at the faces around her.

Her eyes met Jordan’s and she blinked when he smiled at her. She raised her hand and pulled of the oxygen mask from her mouth and cleared her throat. “Where am I?” she asked her voice tiny.

“You’re in the hospital baby. How are you feeling?” Jordan asked trying to touch her but Isabelle pulled away from his touch. Jordan frowned.

“Who are you?” she asked looking at Jordan her blue eyes wide and vacant. Jordan blinked and felt as though the entire world came crashing down around him.

“Someone go and get a doctor.”Jordan said not taking his eyes off Isabelle. Jaiden rushed out of the room to get a doctor.

“Mom?” Leila said reaching out to hold her hand. Isabelle met her daughter’s eyes and blinked in confusion.

“What did you call me?” she asked. Leila’s jaw dropped and tears lined her eyes.

“Isabelle...” she met Jordan’s eyes again. “That’s Leila, our daughter?” Isabelle’s eyes widened and she looked back at Leila and shook her head.

“D-Daughter?” She said and looked back at Jordan. “You mean you’re...” she trailed off when her eyes caught the wedding band on her left finger. “...my husband.” She tried to slip off the ring but Jordan stopped her by taking a hold of her hand.

“No, don’t.” He said pleadingly. Isabelle jumped at his touch tingles shot up her arm. She looked up at him with wide eyes. “On our wedding day you said the day you take off the ring will be the day our marriage ends.”

Isabelle parted her lips to speak but the doctor came in and cut her off. “Isabelle, I’m Dr Walker how are you feeling?” he asked with a tight smile.

Isabelle looked up at the doctor and shrugged. “I’m okay, a little confused actually. What happened to me?”

The doctor looked around the room at Isabelle’s family and sighed. “Well, you had a stroke Isabelle.” Isabelle blinked.
“A stroke...I, I mean do I suffer from heart problems?” she asked glancing at Jordan.

“No Isabelle, this was your first stroke. You’re actually very lucky to be alive if you were brought in a second later you wouldn’t have survived.” Isabelle frowned and nodded.

“Why can’t I remember anything, like who all these people are?” she said glancing around the room nervously.

“Isabelle, these are your family, your husband and children.” Isabelle looked over to the kids standing on her bedside and frowned.

“All of them?” she asked her voice quivering with emotion.

Jordan reached over and took her hand in his gently running his fingers over knuckles. “No baby, just the three in front of you. Leila, Jaiden and Dayne, does it ring any bells?” Isabelle shook her head.

“No, I’m so sorry.” She apologised tears sprung to her eyes. “Why can’t I remember anything?”

“Isabelle, please don’t get upset. The stroke you had caused a little brain damage. You have what we call a vascular dementia. Vascular dementia is a type of dementia caused by problems in the supply of blood in the brain.” The doctor explained.

“Is it long term or what?” Jordan asked concerned.

“I can’t really say for sure, vascular dementia affects different people in different ways and the speed of the progression varies from person to person.”

“Will she ever remember everything?” Jordan asked and received a shrug.

“Who knows, we can’t really determine something like that. It could take an hour, a week, a month maybe even a few years.” Dr Walker told the fretful family. “Therapy usually helps in these kinds of situations, but Isabelle is going to need her family and friends support if she’s going to make it through this.” They all nodded silently exchanging looks.

A few days later Isabelle was discharged from hospital with strict orders to take it easy and not overexert herself. Isabelle looked up at the house before her in awe, her blue eyes jumping around nervously.

“Wow, we live here?” she asked when Jordan pulled up in front of the front door. He nodded looking at her sideways.
Isabelle met his gaze and blushed looking away quickly. Jordan chuckled shaking his head as he stepped out of the car. Isabelle watched as he came around and pulled her door open for her. He took her hand helping her out of the car slowly. Isabelle gasped when Jordan swept her into his arms once she was out of the car.

“What are you doing?” she asked with wide azure eyes.

“I’m carrying you, honey.”

“Well, yes I see that. My memories gone Jordan, I’m not stupid.” She mumbled as they made it to the front door. “I’m not
paralyzed either I can use my legs.” She pointed out.

Jordan chuckled, “What kind of a husband will I be if I let you walk when you’re unwell?” he asked opening the front door and stepping in.

“I’m fine really. You don’t have to fuss over me.” Isabelle said and looked around the house once again in amazement. When they stepped into the living room Jordan placed Isabelle on the sofa gently and flopped down beside her.

Isabelle’s wandering eyes found the picture of the two of them above the fireplace. She raked her brain trying to remember something...anything about her husband who was supposedly the love of her life. So everyone keeps telling her. “We look really happy.” She said with a tiny voice staring at the picture.

Jordan nodded, “Yeah, we were. We’ve been through a lot over the years, but we still made it through.” He told her looking at the picture longingly.

Isabelle blinked. “I wish I could remember something...anything about us. I see all these pictures and from what everyone is telling me we were crazy in love with each other or something.”

“They’re right I am crazy about you, Isabelle. Even if you don’t remember me or what we used to be, I’ll still be here. I have enough faith in us to know we can make it through this.” He assured her lovingly.

Isabelle winced. “I’m sorry I know this must be hurting you.” Isabelle said turning her head to look at him. Jordan shrugged.

“You’re alive and breathing, that’s all I really care about. The rest will come to you slowly, and when it does I will have you back.” Jordan said determined.

Isabelle cradled her head in her hands. Jordan scooted over to her and brushed his fingers over her back knowing it soothed her. Isabelle jumped away from his touch like it burned her. Their eyes met and Jordan’s heart ached when he saw the empty look in her eyes where the love she held for him use to be. Isabelle mumbled an apology and took off wondering around the house.

Jordan watched her retreating back and sighed dejectedly. “Dad?” Dayne’s voice came from behind him. Jordan glanced back at his son his eyes filled with sorrow. “How is she?” he asked sitting beside Jordan.

“She doesn’t remember anything.” He said with a heavy heart.

“It’s only been a few days. She will remember something soon, she has too.” Dayne assured his father.

“I really hope so Dayne. For all our sakes I hope you’re right because, if you’re not then I’ll lose her...for good this time.”
Dayne shook his head. “You won’t Dad. She can forget about the memories but the feelings are still there, they have to be after all this time. Just focus on trying to make her feel that and I’m sure the rest will follow.” Jordan smiled at his sons comforting words.

“Thanks son.” He said slapping his back gently. “Where’s Jaiden?” he asked and watched as Dayne’s eyes darkened at the mention of his brother’s name.

He shrugged, “I don’t know, probably with that gold digger wife of his.” He spat angrily. “This is his entire fault, I honestly feel like beating the crap out of him until he loses his memory too.”

Jordan sighed, “Dayne, I don’t have the mind to deal with that boy right now. It’s his mistake let him deal with it. We fought and look where it got us we almost lost your mother in the process. Right now all I care about is getting your mother better. Besides you have bigger issues to deal with like finding your son. Let Jaiden be and maybe find it in your heart to forgive him?”

Dayne shook his head. “I’m not sure I can. I mean forget the fact that he betrayed me, but he’s the reason mom doesn’t remember a single thing about her life. The things he said about her, about you, he’s not the same person he used to be, Dad. And to be honest with you until he finds himself and becomes my brother again I won’t forgive him.”

Jordan nodded understandingly. “I understand that Dayne. But I’ve been thinking these past few days and I can’t help but feel we’ve been a little too harsh with him. Over the years we have always stuck together as a family and suddenly we just toss him aside and allow one girl to tear apart the strong bond we built.” Dayne nodded with a sigh.

“Yeah, you’re right. If we let her tear us apart she will win. I’m not doing this for him, I’m doing it for mom because she needs everyone...including Jaiden, around her right now.” Dayne nodded smiling at his son.

“Good lad.” Jordan said and noticed the saddened look in Dayne’s eyes when he looked up at the picture of his parents.

“Did you know she was going to adopt me?” he asked his father. Jordan nodded following his gaze.

“Yeah, I did. When did she tell you?” Jordan questioned glancing back at Dayne.

“Just before the fight, before she had the stroke.”Dayne dropped his gaze to the ground. “I’m scared she’s not going to
remember Me.” he admitted sullenly.

Jordan squeezed his shoulder comfortingly. “She will, I promise you.” Dayne nodded and stood up he mumbled something and left the room the muscles in his back taut.

Jordan sighed heavily and let his head fall back on the sofa despairingly.

------------

Two weeks later Isabelle was sat cross legged on her and Jordan’s bed, in front of her she had albums, pictures and love notes they used to leave each other. Isabelle picked one of the notes up and it read.

“I can have you for two life times and it still won’t be enough. You really have no idea how much I actually love you, Belle. Now go and cook me food woman!!!!”

Isabelle smiled and dropped that on the bed and read what her response was. “I got something you can eat lover, but you’re just going to have to wait until I get your sexy ass into bed tonight...you beast I’m going to ravish you. Grrrr!”

“Is?”

Isabelle jumped startled, she dropped the note and her eyes snapped up to the doorway where she saw Jordan watching her intently. “Um...I was just...I thought I might remember something if I...I’m sorry.” She said packing up the albums quickly.
Jordan hurried over to the bed and stopped her. “Hey, it’s okay. You don’t have to apologise Isabelle, these are your things.
You might not remember but this is your bedroom too.” Jordan told her in a soft tone.

Isabelle relaxed a little her eyes darting around the scattered pictures until it stopped on one. She reached out and picked it up from the pile to take a closer look. It was a picture of Isabelle and Jordan they both looked young like in their twenties. Jordan was sitting on the floor his legs spread apart and Isabelle was sitting in between them her legs spread out over his.
Isabelle had her hands pressed to his chest and Jordan’s were resting on her thighs their foreheads pressed together.

“Josh took that picture on his phone back when we first began seeing each other.”Jordan told her smiling at the memory.

Isabelle blinked, “Why do I look so upset?” she asked looking up at him.

“We’d had an argument and broke up for a few days. We were making up there I was getting ready to kiss you.” Jordan explained. “Here...” He said flipping through one of the albums. “...this is my favourite picture.” He said pointing at one of Isabelle.

In the photo Isabelle was wearing one of his shirts and nothing else it was so big it was hanging off one shoulder. Her dark hair was all pulled over one shoulder, she looking up at him through her lashes a sultry look in her eyes and biting her bottom lip coyly.

“Why is this one your favourite?” She asked meeting his gaze.

Jordan smiled, “I don’t really know, you just look so beautiful so innocent and the look in your eyes made my heart flutter wildly. It was in that moment I realised I was in love with you.”

Isabelle sighed. “It’s really frustrating having all these great memories and not being able to recall any of them.” She said tracing the figures in the pictures with the pad of her finger.

Jordan reached up and brushed his fingers gently over her smooth cheeks. Isabelle flinched and turned her head away. Jordan closed his eyes for a moment ignoring the disappointment twisting in his gut. “Isabelle...” he whispered dimly. “I can’t help you if you won’t let me in. Why are you pulling away from me?”

Isabelle shook her head slowly. “You might be my husband but I don’t know you, Jordan. I feel on edge around you.” She explained getting up from the bed.

Jordan’s eyes followed her around the room. “Belle, I know you’re scared, but you will never remember anything or us if you keep pushing me away.”

“I don’t mean too, I just...its hard okay.”

Jordan stood up from the bed and came to stand in front of her. “I know it is, believe me. Is, it’s been weeks since I last touched you, I feel like I’m twenty years old again and lusting after you. At least back then you let me touch you. I’m trying to be patient and understanding, but it seems the more time I give you the more you’re slipping away from me.”

“I can understand how you must feel, I mean all your feelings are still there, but I don’t...” she stopped when she saw the hurt look in his eyes. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel for you, I wish I did but I don’t.” She admitted.

Jordan took a step closer to her, “Isabelle, just give me a chance to show you. Don’t close yourself off from me baby. I love you, please just....I want my wife back, let me help you.” he pleaded gazing into her eyes. It had been two almost three weeks since he last touched or even kissed her. It was driving him insane, like that wasn’t bad enough she was sleeping in the guest room.

Isabelle saw the need in his eyes and she felt her heart clench painfully. “You can help me, by telling me about my life...our life. I’m not ready for the physical stuff yet Jordan. You’re like a stranger to me. I just need time.” she said and brushed past him leaving the room.

Jordan closed his eyes and sighed deeply. He was losing her, deep down he knew it. He cursed inwardly running his fingers through his unruly dark hair.

-------

Isabelle was sitting in the guest bedroom staring blankly at the plain ivory wall in front of her.

Why was she feeling so guilty about what she said to Jordan earlier? Ever since she left his room an hour ago she can feel this pull at her heart. Why, is it every time she thought of him her heart would race or when she was around him she felt breathless?
Her jumbled thoughts got interrupted when she heard a tune humming from somewhere down the hall. She slowly stood up and made her way over to the door and opened it straining her ears to hear where the...piano was coming from.

She crept down the hall following the music which was getting louder as she got closer to one of the rooms at the end of the long hallway.

“Look into my eyes and you will see, what you mean to me. Search your heart, search your soul and when you find me there you’ll search no more. Don’t tell me it’s not worth trying for, you can’t tell me it’s not worth dying for, you know it’s true everything I do, I do it for you.” She heard a deep mellow voice sing along with the melody. She came to a stop in front of what looked like a music room and saw Jordan was sitting at the piano his back to her playing and singing, completely oblivious to anyone around him.

Isabelle leaned on the doorframe and watched him silently. “Look into your heart you will find, there’s nothing here to hide, take me as I am, take my life. I will give it all I would sacrifice, don’t tell me it’s not worth fighting for, I can’t help it there’s nothing I want more. You know it’s true everything I do, I do it for you...oh yeah. There’s no love like your love and no other could give more love, there’s no where unless your there all the time all the way. Yeah, look into your heart baby...”

Isabelle touched her cheeks and found they were wet. At some point during the song she began crying. Was he singing that for her? Was he trying to reach out to her somehow? Isabelle closed her eyes swallowing the lump forming in her throat.

She realised Jordan stopped playing his head hung low and shoulders slumped. Isabelle could tell just by looking at him how much he loved her and how much all this was hurting him. With a silent sigh she turned and walked back to her room, leaving Jordan alone once again.

Two more days went by and Isabelle still couldn’t remember anything about her life. Things between her and Jordan seemed to go awry its come to a point where they are constantly arguing, much like right now.

“It’s been almost a month Isabelle, why are you being so damn stubborn.” Jordan snapped looking down at her.
“What do you want from me?!” she almost screamed at him.

“I want my wife back, damn it!” Jordan growled hotly.

“What do you want me to do rip my heart out and give it to you? You can’t force me to love you Jordan.” She said with wide blue eyes.

Jordan froze at her words, his heart felt like it snapped and fell at his feet. Just hearing her say she didn’t love him was enough to send his world crashing around him. Isabelle saw the tears in his eyes but before she could open her mouth to say anything, he was gone. Isabelle jumped when she heard the front door slam shut and a minute later his Ferrari roared to life almost ripping through the gate on his way out.

Hours later Isabelle was pacing the living room, a glass of white wine in her right hand. She sighed checking the clock on her way passing. It had been five hours since Jordan stormed out and he hadn’t returned yet and the time was two in the morning.
She was alone in the big house and the silence was getting on her nerves. Where the hell was he? Why wasn’t he home yet?

Isabelle checked the time again and sighed chewing on her bottom lip nervously.

She had a feeling inside her and she wasn’t sure what it was. She peered up at their picture above the fireplace and felt her heart clench suddenly. “Where are you, please come home.” She whispered to herself.

She jumped when she heard the door bell and ran to the door. She pulled it open half expecting Jordan standing there but frowned when she saw Dru and Chase standing there with saddened expressions on their faces.

“Isabelle.” Dru said quietly.

“Um hi, what are the two of you doing here, it’s late?” she asked the two men before her. She was told Dru was her best friend along with Kelly and Chase was his adopted son, but she had yet to actually remember them.

Dru and Chase shared a look before looking back at Isabelle. Dru cleared his throat stepping into the house Chase followed and closed the door behind him. “Isabelle maybe you should sit.” Dru said touching her shoulder.

Isabelle frowned and shook her head. “I don’t wanna sit down.” She said looking between the two men. “What’s going on?”

Dru winced slightly, “Isabelle, there’s been an accident.” He said slowly. Isabelle’s heart began thumping wildly.

She started at the two wide eyes. “A-Accident?” she croaked.
Isabelle looked over to Chase who dropped his gaze from hers. She pulled her eyes away and looked back at her best friend. “Chase spoke to Marc earlier, Leila got the call. They found a black Ferrari turned over on the highway. The car was travelling at high speed and lost control tumbled a few times before it exploded.” Dru explained.

Isabelle froze, her blood ran cold in her veins and her heart began pumping that much harder.”What?” she breathed.

Dru bit his bottom lip and tightly held her shoulders. “I’m so sorry.”

Isabelle shook her head her eyes pooling with tears. “W-why are you apologising?”

Chase and Dru exchanged looks. “Honey, Jordan’s dead...”

&&&

A/n So sorry I took so long updating. Thanks to those of you who reviewed. The next chapter should be up in the next two days. Hopefully i'll get a good response lol. Shall i hide?