The surgical suit doors open and a burly, middle-aged doctor walks out.
“You two are waiting on word of the Hander girl, yes?”
I nod curtly at the doctor. Ethan gently pulls himself to his feet.
“She’s in recovery now. She had some internal bleeding, and it was worse than we had initially thought. All her lacerations were minor however, so there will be no lasting damage other than scaring. Her right arm was broken, but thankfully her leg was not. She was severely dehydrated upon admission and is very malnourished. She’s been through a lot and needs time and rest in order to recuperate. She’s asleep, but I can allow you back to see her if you wish.”
“I’ll come back in the morning to see her. Gather evidence and ask her questions related to the investigations. Don’t want to bother her too much right away. I think Dean may want to go back though, huh son?”, Ethan says.
I just nod again, a lump suddenly forming in my throat. I unsuccessfully attempt to swallow it down.
This is it. I get to see her. Why am I so nervous?
The doctor observes me for a moment, his eyes calculating, perhaps debating whether it is wise to allow someone like myself onto the ward.
“Very well. I’ll have nurse Free take you back to her.”
The doctor walks off towards the nurse’s station.
“Well, I’m sure I’ll see you in the morning. You aren’t leaving tonight are you?”
“I wasn’t planning on it. See you tomorrow Ethan.”
Nurse Free walks up to me as Ethan makes his way towards the exit.
“Ready to see her dear?”
“Yes, please.”
“Such a polite boy. Follow me.”
She smiles at him before turning, walking over, and pushing the button to open a door to the left of them. As she leads the way through the halls of the ICU, I can’t help but notice the glances; all of the eyes following me as I trudge behind her.
Half of them have probably never seen one of us up close before, let alone walking behind an old lady in a hospital.
I shake the thought away as we stop in front of a door.
“This is it. Good luck sonny. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see a familiar face when she wakes.”
She gives me a warm smile again before walking back the way we’d come.
Here goes nothing…
I push open the door and look in. There she is, attached to a plethora of tubes and machines.
Charlie.
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Making my way to the side of her bed, I pull a chair closer and look down at her as I take vigil.
She seems so small in this bed. Small, and innocent, and vulnerable. I’m beginning to question whether or not I should be here, but I can’t leave. Not now. I’m too far gone… as selfish as it is, I need her.
Reaching out, I gently take her hand in mine.
Her hand is so soft. They cleaned her up well, she looks a lot better. Except her hair. I’ll have to see if we can help her wash it after she wakes. She’s always had such pretty hair…I hope she doesn’t wake yet; I just want to watch her for a little bit…does that seem like something a weirdo would do? Stare at someone while they sleep? It just seems so surreal still.
I must have sat there, watching her for at least two hours. The rise and fall of her chest, the fluttering of her eyelids. She was making small whimpering sounds here and there, and I wondered if maybe she was in pain, or perhaps having a nightmare.
My internal musings were interrupted yet again this evening by the sound of a door opening.
The nurse who entered looked slightly startled as her eyes meet mine.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize she had a visitor. I’ll just check her vitals and go on my way so you can rest. How do you know miss Hander?”
I clear my throat before answering, “I’m a friend. I also am the one who pulled her out of the house, so my boss thought it best for me to come stay here this evening.”
“Ahh, so you’re the guard I was told about.”
“Something like that.”
“Well, “Mr. Guard”, you look dead on your feet. Why don’t you rest a bit? You can pull the empty bed up to hers, so you’re still there when she wakes up.”
I hesitate for a moment.
“Is that…okay?”
The nurse gives him a big smile as she finishes writing in her chart.
Quite so. No one should be bothering you for another few hours. Have a good rest.”
Well…I am rather tired. I guess it couldn’t hurt…just for a little bit.
Dragging the extra hospital bed flush against the bed she’s laying in, I drop the railing before laying down facing her. I take her hand in mine again, hoping that against all odds that she isn’t livid when she sees me again. That’s the last of my thoughts and my mind fades into the darkness of sleep.
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