Second Chance by Libra and Jeff

Chapter 2
Toddler Time

Chapter Description: Holly in the hospital.

Holly awoke feeling a stiff bed under her body and the unmistakable smell of a hospital. Holly slowly opened her eyes and nearly shut them to block out the bright light.

“Holly bear, how do you feel?” A male voice Holly knew since she was a baby asked. It had been her childhood nickname.

“Thirsty and my eyes hurt. ” Holly answered in a horse whispered that barely carried.

“Here, drink this. ” Holly’s father said and Holly felt more then saw the straw on her lips.

“Little sips. ” Her father said gently and she felt his fingers caressing her cheek.

“Could you shut the blinds?” Holly asked her whisper a little stronger now.

“Sure. ” Her father replied and set the drink by her bed then Holly could hear him move around her. A moment later the room got darker.

“Is that better?” Her father asked.

“Yes. ” Holly answered trying to talk louder, but finding it impossible for now.

“Holly Bear. You were involved in an accident. ” Her father said then paused trying to gather his courage.

‘An accident? ’ Holly thought then through a muttered memory she was trying to think back. Had it been when she went out with Louis’s friends and her boyfriend, but no that didn’t make sense.

That was weeks ago now Holly thought about it. Then she remembered the trip to the justice department building.

“Daddy?” Holly asked more then called his name as she took in the room around her.

Her father looked too tall and big in size. The bed Holly was laying on was a lot wider then it should have been.

The wall just under the TV had a cartoon lion painted on it with his arm in a cast, but showing a brave smile.

Holly looked at her body and saw she was wearing a hospital gown printed with little teddy bears wearing pink ballerina outfits. Holly saw her legs and arms looked far too short and a bit chubby. There were bandages where an IV needle must have been.

“Holly, you are about 3 years old and you been here for days. They took you off the IV just hours ago after they noticed your vitals getting stronger. ” Her father said quickly and went over to her side as Holly examined her hand then her little fingers. For her it seemed so unreal.

“I want a mirror. ” Holly said her voice normal.

Her father picked her up as easily if she was a cat then put her on her feet in front of the bathroom door. Holly felt it when she was being carried. Something bulky between her legs forced them slightly apart and it crinkled a little.

The floor was cold on her bare feet as she stared into the mirror attached on the door. A cute scared looking 3 year old girl looked back at her wearing the same hospital gown. Slowly Holly pulled her gown up and there around her waist was a white diaper with the princess Cinderella printed on the front.

“Daddy, take me back. I want to be a teenager again. I want to go back! ” Holly said her voice rising in volume as she attempted to pull the diaper down her legs.

Her father grabbed the diaper before she could pull it fully off.

“No, Holly bear it has to stay on unless you need changing.

” Her father said and Holly was having a screaming fit.

“I’M NOT A BABY. TAKE ME BACK NOW! ” Holly screamed at full volume. All the noise had caused a nurse to come running in less than thirty seconds later.

Holly felt a short string in her exposed butt then she was out like a light.

“Holly, baby. We are going home. ” Her mother’s voice said just as Holly was waking up a little. From the sun light outside Holly could tell some time had passed since her panic attack.

“The doctor says its best if your back home with us. ” Her father’s voice said and Holly once again felt him picking her up. She was carried for some time.

Holly snuggled into his arms and didn’t even protest when they strapped her into a booster seat in the back of the car. Holly went back to sleep and hoped the drugs would be out of her system soon.

Holly woke up fully when they reached the street where she lived. To her slight embarrassment she was clad in only a diaper, but someone had put a blanket on top of her so she wouldn’t get cold.

“Holly, how are you feeling?” Her mother asked turning half around in her seat and reached out a hand so she could take her daughter’s hand.

“I’m better. My head is still fuzzy. What happen? ” Holly asked remembering the day they gone into the justice department building.

“There was an accident with the Age Exchanger. We will explain inside. ” Her father answered just as they pulled the car into the driveway.

This time her mother carried her inside wrapped in the blanket and let her lay on the couch. Holly saw there had been a few changes when she looked through the open doorways. In the kitchen there was a highchair big enough for a toddler. Here in the living room Holly saw a octagon type playpen tall enough to keep a toddler from climbing out. It was placed in the corner of the room and Holly didn’t fail to notice it was fixed in place.

“How much do you remember?” Her mother asked once they were all seated around the couch.

Holly told them the last thing she could remember was sitting in the booth then hearing a scream and some funny noises coming from the machine itself.

“Those noises you heard were your doing. I think you remember this. ” Her mother said and pulled an empty plastic bottle without a cap from her purse.

“Your water bottle fell over on top of the fan inside the machine. The water splash off the blades onto the computer stuff inside. This caused the machine to short out in places. The end result was a power surge. The guy who was working the machine had to hit the emergency shut off button just to cut the power off. ” Her father explained and Holly felt that sinking feeling you get when something terrible had happen.

“Where is Karen?” Holly asked realizing her parents hadn’t said a word about her yet. From her tone she feared the worse.

“I’m fine, big sister. ” A woman said coming into the room and wearing one of her mother’s dresses. She appeared to be in her early twenties.

“Karen!?” Holly said and sat up to look at the grown woman before her.

“Of course silly, unless you have another younger sister around. The machine made me a bit older than anyone expected. I screamed when my body was forced through puberty at an accelerated rate. Talk about growing pains. As far as the doctors have figured out I’m 21 years old now. ” Karen said and spun in place to show off her mature body.

“You don’t sound like Karen. ” Holly said already knowing her sister was smart, but this woman was talking like she was an expert on things.

“A side effect from the machine. Let’s just say I been reading a lot of books and researching stuff online. My adult mind was starving for knowledge and I happily gave it as much as I could in the past few days. ” Karen explained and Holly now understood. Karen was self educating herself.

“It’s true. Karen has read through all her school books, your old high school books and even your mother’s old college books. ” Her father said looking like a proud parent.

“Which books are you now on honey?” Her mother asked.

“Your old parenting books at the moment. I was wondering if I could go ahead and take those tests so I can go into an online college. ” Karen answered her voice excited by the idea.

“We will discuss it later. ” Her mother answered back and returned her attention back to her first daughter.

“That’s crazy. When the machine is fixed our ages will change back. How long will it take for them to fix it? ” Holly said and eyed the eight sided playpen in the corner. The inside space was big enough for a few babies to play in it.

“A few days but there is a problem. We have been banned and there is a lawsuit being filed against us for damages. We decided to counter sue for unsafe conditions. It could take months or even years before everything is settle. ” her father answered.

“Years!” Holly said and stood up feeling a little woozy, but steady enough to stand on the cushion.

“Maybe months if we are lucky. I think that is enough excitement for today. I think you need more rest. ” Her father said and Holly found herself being picked up in his arms and carried by the hip.

“Dad, I can walk. ” Holly protested and didn’t want to be put down for a nap.

“I know, but I want to show you your new room. ” Her father said and they went down the hall and went to the sewing room next to the master bedroom.

Most of the sewing stuff was gone. Instead some of the old furniture was moved into the room and a second hand crib big enough to hold a few babies was in the corner of the room close to the window.

“I’m not sleeping in a crib. ” Holly protested and her eyes were pricking with tears.

“Young lady, I won’t have you screaming at me. Did you think of the medical and legal fees we would be facing in the next few months? ” Her father said sternly and Holly went quiet.

“Try to rest. You had a stressful few days. Mom already has several meals plan for you to regain your strength. ” Her father said as he laid her down in the crib which took some effort on his part. The bars were high enough to give a small child some trouble let alone a toddler.

“Okay.” Holly said and waited for him to shut the door after turning off the lights. Holly fumbled a few times and removed the diaper from her waist. Then she wrapped herself in a blanket and settled down for another nap.

End Of Chapter 02