Chapter Text
It had all been an accident.
Bob had been driving to pick up something Louise wanted from a store nearby, some new stuffed animal.
"Collectible, Dad!" She argued. He'd simply chuckled in response.
Some idiot was drunk driving in a truck and swerved around a corner with incredible speed, crashing right into Bob's car.
Bad timing, as always.
Bob took the brunt of the attack. It all happened in a flash. Before he knew it blood was running down the side of his head and his hands throbbed in pain.
It was a miracle no one else was in the car.
Bob barely registered the fact that he grabbing his phone, scrolling through the contacts before he called his wife.
"Hellooo." Came the enthusiastic answer as she picked up the phone.
He tried to reply but only was able to let out a pained grunt.
"Hello? Bobby? Did you butt dial me again?"
Another pained grunt. God this hurt.
"...help.." he managed. It was barely a whisper and he prayed Linda heard it.
He vaguely heard her call his name before everything went black.
"Bob? Bob, this isn't funny!" Linda called through the phone, trying to not be too loud so her kids wouldn't overhear.
She was almost positive she heard him say 'help.'
Oh god.
Did something happen?
This time she could care less about being quiet.
"Bobby! Where are you?" The kids looked up momentarily but resumed their conversation. Brushing it off as some inside joke or something.
Their dad was fine...right?
There was no response on the other end of the line, all Linda was met with was shaky breathing.
Oh god!
She dropped her phone, turning to Teddy.
"Teddy, I need your keys!" She cried, frantically. The desperation in her tone, once again, gained the children's attention and when they returned to their chat, Linda could tell they were only half paying attention to what it was they were talking about.
He raised an eyebrow, "Why?"
"It's Bob! I think something's happened to him! Something really, really bad!"
That gained the kid's attention. Linda saw their faces drop as the room fell into a tense silence. She packed her phone into her pocket and took the keys from Teddy's hand.
Linda knew the kids were going to ask questions, she didn't have time for that.
Bob didn't have time for that.
"No questions. Get. In. Teddy's. Car. Right. Now." She growled.
They did as they were told. Not even arguing over seating as they piled into the vehicle.
Linda took a deep breath before tracking her husband's phone, which they had set up just in case something like this ever occurred.
She knew she was speeding way past the speed limit, and yet she could care less.
She was already prepared to dial 911 if the feeling in her gut was right.
The car was silent, the only sound was Linda's anxious breathing as they finally arrived at the scene.
Linda's heart dropped at the sight.
The car was wrecked.
Especially the driver's seat.
Shit. Shit. SHIT!
Linda ran to the door, yelling behind her to the kids telling them to 'stay put.'
Her heart was beating rapidly as her gaze fixated on the love of her life.
No, no, no!
She opened the door, undoing his seatbelt before attempting to move him out of the car.
She turned to her kids, "Tina, Gene. Help me get him out of this wreck." She pulled her flip phone out, throwing it over to her youngest, "Louise, call 911. Now!"
All three kids instantly went to do what they were told, Gene and Tina were good help in dragging their father onto the cold cement.
Linda leaned her ear on his chest. Silently begging whoever was up there that he was alive.
'C'mon Bobby, c'mon Bobby, please, please, please.'
There was a pulse.
She nearly sobbed out of pure relief, the sound of sirens growing closer as she cupped Bob's cheek, "It's okay, Bobby. You're gonna be okay."
His eyelashes fluttered open incredibly slowly. He blinked wearily up at her, opening his mouth in an attempt to speak, but all that came out was a small whine in pain.
Linda ran her finger along the side of his face, wiping some of the blood off his brow, as she shushed him gently, their kids kneeled down on either side of Linda.
The paramedics rolled out of the ambulance in a hurry, trying to take Bob from Linda's grip. She refused to let him go.
She didn't feel the tears running down her cheeks until Bob's shaky hand reached up in a pathetic attempt to wipe them away.
Tina shook her mother's shoulder as the paramedics finally managed to rip Bob from his wife's grip.
"Mom-...you've gotta let them take him." Her voice cracked and Linda instantly pulled all three kids into an embrace, the family clung to each other as one of the paramedics approached Linda, asking her for all the basic information such as her name, Bob's name, their address, and their phone number.
He took a moment to write this down before he spoke, voice thick with a particularly strong southern accent.
"Your husband's lookin' rough, but he'll survive. He's passed out again from all the exhaustion. By the looks of the scene, it was a hit 'n run. You 'n you're family can follow from behind on the way to the hospital."
Linda nodded in acknowledgment, forcing herself to her feet as she lead the kids back to Teddy's car.
The car was silent once more before Louise broke it with a sob, "This is all my fault!" she cried, leaning her head on Gene's shoulder who patted her back comfortingly.
"No, it's not!" Linda quickly reassured.
"Yes, it is! I was th-the reason dad was out in the car in the first place! This is all my fault, oh god, dad's gonna hate me!" Her sobs increased gradually at the thought.
Linda frowned, pulling the car over so she could look her daughter in the eye.
"Listen here, Miss Missy. Your father loves you with all his heart, and it's not your fault, you couldn't have known, it was an accident. And daddy is gonna be okay."
All three kids looked to be on the verge of tears, Linda found herself biting back her own at the thought of what could have happened.
No, don't think like that. He's okay. He's alive.
That was all that mattered.
She wouldn't know what she'd do if she lost Bob. And without even saying goodbye...
Nope. Enough with those thoughts.
She took a deep breath before returning her attention to the road, arriving at the hospital in a few, long minutes.
The four rushed into the hospital, "Oh doctor, where's my Bobby!? Is he alright!?" Linda cried. Looking at the doctor with a begging look.
"Mrs. Belcher, I assure you, Mr. Belcher is in stable condition. He's been rushed into surgery, though it may take several hours. You're welcome to wait here, or if you want you can go back home and return in the morning. We'll call you as soon as he's awake."
Linda nodded, letting out a relieved sigh before turning to her kids, "We've gotta close the restaurant, my babies. We'll come first thing in the morning."
Louise looked as though she was about to protest but Linda shot her a look that told her to stay quiet.
The car ride was silent once again, all 3 kids looking outside as the rain that had started to fall dripped down their windows.
Tina seemed the calmest, though since she was the oldest, she probably thought she had to be calm.
Gene seemed distracted, but not fearful. He knew his dad, and he knew his dad wouldn't just die. He'd at least put up a damn fight. A car accident wasn't going to end Bob Belcher.
Louise looked like a wreck. Or at least, as much like a wreck as she could look. Her eyes kept darting around from raindrop to raindrop, lost in the thoughts swirling around her brain.
Linda didn't know what to say to ease their worries. All she knew was that Bob would be okay, he had to be.
Linda shot Teddy a small smile through the window as she sent the kids upstairs.
When she entered the restaurant Teddy instantly engulfed her in a huge hug.
"It's all on the news." He mumbled, turning to the old TV behind them, "Is he okay? Is Bobby okay?"
Linda forced a smile as she pulled away from her friend's embrace, "Yeah, don't worry about it. He'll be fine." She paused, "Do you think we could borrow your car again tomorrow?"
"Yes! Of course, you can! It's all yours, for the time being at least."
Linda smiled and thanked him before watching him walk out the door as she closed up.
Suddenly all alone, Linda felt a rush of emotion overwhelm her all at once.
She could have lost Bob today. The love of her life could have been taken away from her forever.
She thought of the kids, they were all so young. Far too young to lose their father.
It was scary, knowing how easily they could all lose each other.
She shook those thoughts from her head, making her way up to the apartment, where all three kids were sitting on the couch, chatting quietly.
"Mom!" Gene greeted. A small smile on his lips, but it looked forced.
Her poor babies.
She couldn't even imagine how shaken up they were. Sure, their family had encountered many near-death experiences, but none so close.
"Can we sleep in your room mom? I don't think any of us should be alone tonight." Tina spoke, sounding far older and wiser than she was.
"Of course, my babies. C'mon."
They all scattered to their parent's room, crawling into bed as they clung to each other. The setting sun shone through the window.
Linda tried to not let the empty space beside her bother her too much.