This story was written to hopefully show, in another way, that with some imagination, the return of the wonderful Jenna Bradshaw Cooper is not impossible... I hope you agree.  It is not a continuation of my earlier stories.

        Selena walked up to the door of the firehouse, anxious as always. The door opened and Coop smiled, "Hi Selena!" 

     "Hi sweetie, how's my boy?" she replied as Buzz and Rocky came down the stairs. 

       "Oh good you're here" Buzz said as he wiped Rocky’s face with a paper towel.  "Buzz I was wondering..." Selena began only to be cut short by Buzz, "Not now I'm late," Buzz said as he  kissed her on the cheek. "Don't think I don't appreciate this," and he was out the door.

       Lillian Raines was intently studying a patient's chart as she slowly walked down the hall at Cedars, when her arm jerked back and her files scattered.  "Oh geez Lillian I'm sorry!" Buzz said as he began collecting the papers. 

       "It's ok Buzz, I can get them. Are you all right?"

       "Yeah, yeah just a little late," he said as he handed her the papers and continued walking.  Lillian watched him as he turned the  corner and headed down the same hallway he had everyday, but three, in the last two years. 

       Selena had told Coop to take Rocky upstairs and watch a tape with him while she did some chores.  Coop did as she asked, he knew it was important.  She went into  Buzz’s bedroom & began looking through  some drawers.  She found what obviously were Jenna’s things she had stored away.  There was a Valentine that was handmade with a dollar bill inside. 

    Jenna,

         The firstt dollar you made, the first of many.  Happy Valentines  Day ... 

Love Buzz

    P.S Will you be mine??

Selena put it down and closed the drawer.

       Buzz opened the door to room  527. "How is she?" he said. 

       Rick turned "The same Buzz, I was just...." 

       Buzz didn't hear anything beyond the first two words and went over to the bed.  "Hey Petula" he whispered as he kissed her lips.  Rick looked at them for a moment and left the room. 

       Buzz opened the drawer next to Jenna’s bed and pulled out a bottle of Lichester Square Lotion. He put a little on his hands and began to rub them on Jenna’s arms. "Does that feel nice?" he whispered. The door to her room opened slowly and Harley & Frank stood and watched their father rub the lotion on Jenna’s legs as he softly talked to her.

       "Dad," Harley came up behind him. 

       "Hmmm?" He answered without stopping his gentle massage. 

       "Dad why don't you take a little break?" 

       "I just got here, I haven't even brushed her hair yet, you know how she hates it if her hair..."

       "Dad, please we need to talk to you," Harley said firmly.

       "What, what is so important that it can't wait til I'm done here, and it helps if you talk TO her too," Buzz stressed. "She can hear what we say."

       "I know, I know Dad.  We'll be outside waiting for you," and Harley & Frank left them alone.

       "They are worried about me Petula. I guess they think I am crazy because I talk to you so much, but hey I know you can hear me can't ya?" Buzz massaged her shoulders then put the bottle away. 

        Buzz went out in the hall where his two oldest children were pacing. "Man you two look like hell," Buzz said. "What is it?"

       "Dad," Frank began "Rick says that Jenna is showing no signs of improving..." 

       Buzz stood up and began walking back into Jenna’s room. “I am not going to hear this!" he shouted as he shut her door behind him. They followed.

       "Dad! Dad, listen to us. She isn't going to..." 

       Buzz went up to his son and stood inches from his face. "Don't finish that sentence,  especially in here." Buzz whispered. "Don't!" and he walked back over to Jenna’s bed and began to lovingly brush her hair. 

       Harley walked over to them. "We love her too." 

       "Tell her." Buzz said looking at his daughter.

       "I love you Jenna." she said choking back tears. "Please come back to us." she kissed her cheek and ran out. 

       Buzz had Jenna sitting up as he brushed her hair. "I love your hair Petula. I can't take care of it like you do but I'm try..." the tears welled up in his eyes. "Oh Petula" he kissed her cheek and held her to him. "I miss you baby." He lay her back down and touched her cheek.  "Coop & Rocky are doing ok, they miss you, they want me to let them come see you again. I think I'll bring them tomorrow ok?" He stood then bent over her and kissed her on the lips. "I have to go to work." He kissed her again. "Do you feel that darlin'?" He waited for some miraculous response, but nothing. 

       Buzz walked into the diner. "Ok the boss is here, get back to work." he said. 

       "Why don't you take today off Buzz?" Eleni said. "You're doing too much."

       "I am doing what I have to do, nothing more. Now I am going in the kitchen and am going to make Buzz Cooper’s Famous Clam Chowder," and off he went.

       Selena checked to see if the boys were still occupied with the TV before she continued her snooping. This little hideaway of Jenna’s things was too tempting to ignore so she went back to see what else was there. There were pictures of her and Buzz & the boys and some letters from someone named Henry. "Hmmm I wonder if he was an old lover...." she thought aloud. After reading his letter she realized it was Vanessa’s father and a father figure to Jenna as well.  Selena wasn't sure what she was looking for but, she had to keep looking. 

       Vanessa went to see Jenna. "Hello my friend I am sorry I haven't been here in a while but my life is upside down and I miss having my best friend to confide in." Vanessa told Jenna what was happening in her life and it helped to tell her even if there was no response.  Rick interrupted her and told Vanessa he needed to check out Jenna. "No change?" 

       "I'm afraid not, we can't seem to get through to Buzz. He is still here every morning and evening. It is going to kill him. He needs to get a life going he can't continue to put everything on hold." 

       Vanessa smiled at Rick. "These two have a very special love Rick, I don't think he will give up." 

       After Vanessa left, Rick looked down at Jenna, "I'm sorry Jenna. I wish I could know what you would want."

       Buzz finished at the diner and went to the firehouse to see the boys. "Hey guys!" 

       Coop & Rocky ran to Buzz "Hi Dad!" 

       Selena entered the room.  "Hi!  I made dinner." 

       "Thanks Selena, you are too good to us right guys?"

       "It'is my pleasure," Selena said as she escorted Buzz to the table. 

       "No you’ve done enough, we can take it from here," and Buzz thwarted Selena’s plan to join them for chicken pot pie.    "Selena means well but ... yuck we can't eat these frozen ... what in the hell...?" 

       "Ha ha!  Daddy said a bad word," Rocky laughed. 

       "Hey I'll make us a great supper ok?"  They sat down in their usual  places and ate. The empty chair was always there, always. 

       Jenna lay in the hospital bed as the door opened. Selena sat next to her. "Hi Jenna. I just left Buzz and the boys, they're doing so good. I made them a special dinner and we all ate together. It is so hard for them, especially Buzz he needs someone to love him back Jenna, and we are getting closer. I hope you understand. He needs a woman’s touch you know." Selena was speaking so softly.

       She never stayed more than a few minutes but she always got her message delivered.  Buzz was lonely and needed someone.   Her almost nightly ritual intact, Selena started to leave.  Lillian entered as Selena opened the door. "Selena how nice of you to come see Jenna." 

       "Yes, well I it just is so sad, I hope she comes out of it soon," she lied. Lillian went over to Jenna’s bed to see if she was comfortable . Buzz would be there soon,  Lillian filled the water pitcher and put out some candy; anything to make Buzz’s visit more comfortable. Lillian  did not noticed the slight movement of Jenna’s hand as she turned to leave the room.

       Harley was talking to Phillip about Buzz and Jenna. "I don't know what we are going to do.  This is taking a toll on my father, he can't continue like this."

       "What can he do Harley, I mean she is his wife, she is alive. How do you just give up, when is it the right time?" Phillip asked unsure of the answer himself.

       "I know, I know..." Harley said softly. "We need to do something though, Rick told us that the longer it goes on the less chance... I can't even think about it."

       "Her brain is still functioning, her breathing, I mean they would have to stop the feeding tube.... Gee Harley, I can't see Buzz allowing that."

       "This is unbearable Phillip." 

       Buzz and Selena were sitting on the couch. She was sitting very close to him, her hand on his thigh, he turned and they kissed.  Jenna began to move her head from side to side, very slowly, while making little sounds of distress. This vision in her mind was painful to watch, as were many of the things she was witnessing since her death.

     Jenna slowly opened her eyes. She was lost. Where was she. The brightness was overpowering her. She closed her eyes. Her mind was reeling. She heard something. She felt someone touch her arm. She twitched and gasped. The nurse jumped as if a python jumped at her.  The nurse ran from the room. "Doctor I need a doctor Room 527 stat!! She's awake she moved Mrs. Cooper moved!" she said in a voice an octave higher than normal. 

       Rick came toward the scene now fully engulfing the 5th floor nurses station. "What is it... what?" 

       "Dr. Bauer it's Mrs. Cooper she moved, I think she's...." and Rick was running to the room. 

       He walked over to her bed his heart racing, an adrenaline rush that doctors get when they sense a miracle is taking place. "Jenna" he whispered. "Jenna, it's Rick Bauer can you hear me Jenna?" She very slowly opened her eyes, but again shut them because the light was blinding. "Jenna!!!" Rick said very loudly...."Squeeze my hand honey, squeeze it please." She did, very weakly.  Then her hand relaxed and her breathing became more shallow. "Jenna, Jenna no don't go back to sleep....Jenna!!"  She was out again. The nurses surrounding her bed all sighed. 

       "Oh no Rick, does this mean.." 

       "No, it means she may be coming out of it.  I want someone here all night." Rick left debating whether to call Buzz. He decided instead to call Harley and Frank. 

       Frank, Harley, Phillip & Eleni all arrived at the hospital. Harley spoke first. "Rick, is she really coming out of it?" 

       Rick took a moment to answer then told her the events of the evening. "This seems to indicate she may be coming out of it...." Harley squealed.

" Don't get ahead of yourself yet, it could also just be an involuntary spasm, it's so hard to tell since she went right back in."  They all looked like the wind had been kicked out of them. "That is why I didn't want to call Buzz... I don't want ...."

       "NO!  We can't tell him yet," Frank shouted. "He will get his hopes up too much, it would ..." he fought back tears, "It would kill him if she doesn't come out of it." 

       Harley agreed. Rick said he was going back in he wanted to see if he could get another response. "Let me." Harley said.

       Jenna looked the same as she always did when Harley saw her. No change at all. "Hi best friend, I heard you opened your eyes. That's great" she took her hand, "We need you. Dad is going crazy without you. Remember when he was missing and you were out of your mind?  Hmmm remember you came to my apartment all upset then you told me Dad proposed... remember?  Well, Jenna multiply that feeling you had back then 100 times over and that's what Dad is feeling." Jenna didn't flinch. "Oh Jenna, please wake up Coop & Rocky need their Mommy, and you haven't met my little guy."   Harley talked for a few more minutes then decided to leave. She went out in the hall to see her father standing there with her family. 

       "Dad we just wanted to see her we were out.." Frank said in an attempt to explain their presence. 

       "You are trying to do something behind my back...." Buzz shouted.

       "No Buzz," Phillip took his arm. "No we ..." 

       Buzz wrestled away from Phillip. "I  know what you are up to and it isn't going to happen, I will take her away, I ...." Buzz broke down. He sat on the bench and wept. "Please don't take her away from me ...."

       Jenna again tried to open her eyes. This time it wasn't as blinding, so she was able to leave them open a little longer.

       Harley put her arm around her fathers shoulder, "Daddy, please we would never do anything to hurt you or Jenna, you know that." 

       "I, it's just so damn ...aw I love her, I am not going to let her go. I can't give up. Would you Frank if that were Eleni in there huh?" 

       "No Dad, no of course I wouldn't," Frank said as he held his wife to him.  "I can't imagine what you must be going through Dad." 

       "I'm going in to see her." Buzz looked at them all for a moment. 

       Rick approached as Buzz was about to enter Jenna’s room. "Buzz I want to run a few tests tonight can I ask you to postpone your visit til tomorrow?"

       "What kind of tests?" 

       "Routine, we run them every 6 months or so." 

       "Buzz come join us for dinner, my treat." Phillip offered. 

       "I'd take him up on that Buzz you won't get another chance!" Rick teased his friend.  Buzz reluctantly agreed.

       Rick walked into Jenna’s room and sat down on the bed. "Jenna, Jenna can you hear me?" Jenna opened her eyes "Jenna!! " Rick leapt off the bed and took her hand, "Jenna it's Rick Bauer, Jenna can you say something?"

       She looked around the room for a moment trying to make sense of it all.  "This place..." she began coughing. Rick gave her water. "I'm... I'm dead... where is this?" she managed to say before continuing her coughing spell.

       "Dead?  No Jenna you're in the hospital."

       "No, no I'm dead." she insisted. "I know I am.'