The One Addicted (51 page)

There’s never a fucking parking place when you need one! Come on mate - move! I angrily beep my horn and grimace at the idiot reversing their lime green Nissan Micra out of a spot, inch by inch.

About bloody time! Squeezing myself out of the car, with barely any breathing space on either side of the space I’d wedged myself in to, I head straight for the Accident & Emergency department entrance, which is currently blocked by an ambulance unloading some poor ailing individual.

Except, as I near the doors, I feel the colour drain from my face; chills blasting over me as I watch that poor ailing individual lifted from the vehicle, covered in blood, an oxygen mask and air bag covering their face and hiding them from me - but not quite enough… Oh. My. God - Lu.

In a state of shock, I listen to the paramedics talk to the doctor who meets and greets them, reeling off all manner of statistics; her vitals, what’s happened etc etc. I don’t catch most of it, don’t understand any of it but I can tell from their grave faces and her unmoving body that she’s in bad shape.

“RTA, white female, late twenties. Name: Lucia Myer’s…..”

I rush forward as they head through the automatic doors. All I want to do is take her in my arms. I know that these people are just trying to do their jobs but I hate that these complete strangers have their hands all over her.

Her beautiful face is peaceful and serene, despite the horror picture going on around her. She appeared like sleeping beauty before true love’s kiss, but my kiss wouldn’t wake her and it won’t supply her with the much-needed adrenalin boost she needs to come-to. It won’t heal the nasty looking wound on her temple, or fix the odd looking angle of her wrist. Christ, she looks so vulnerable. I can’t bear it. I can’t believe that someone would do this to her and not stop to help - do this to us?
 

Was it really only an hour ago we were talking about going to bed and forgetting about food?

Christ - I should have been with her. The last thing I said to her was about bloody chicken… oh and fish and chips for fucks sake!
Please let me have told her I love her - I think I did - didn’t I?

One of the paramedics stops at the main Reception to book her in, but the team continue to wheel her straight through to an examination room and I follow without question - there was no way I was leaving her side. A nurse questions who I am, I give her my name without looking at her face, my arms folded and eyes on Lu at all times. As an afterthought, I inform her of our relationship and she walks away. Good - I can’t be doing with anyone stopping me being with her right now. There’d be hell to pay!

I watch from a distance as they wheel her into a bay and she’s lifted from the gurney on to a narrow bed. Her clothes are cut from her body and I raise my hand to my mouth as I see the damage already beginning to show across her skin - she was battered and bruised and looked so God damned defenceless, I could break down.
Be strong man - you can do this.

A doctor lifts her lids, one at a time and flashes a light into her eyes and nurses clip apparatus to her arms and legs. Then I see that blood is being taken - finally - here I am helpful at last.
 

“Her blood type is A Rhd negative - I know, as I’ve had to give her my blood before. I am the same. If you need it, I’ll donate. Her dad is the same type too.”

The doctor appraises me with interest - I don’t think he’d even seen me prior to my words and he nods calmly. “Good. That’s good - its one of the rarest blood types - I’ll let you know if we need that. She’s taken a real hit. Do you know if she has any allergies?”

“Penicillin. She’s allergic to Penicillin.”

“Ok. I’m going to keep assessing her now and I’ll let you know the outcome, once I’ve completed it.”

“Great - that would be great. Thank you Dr.” I feel immense relief that this young doctor seems to know what the fuck he is doing.

Shit.
I needed to ring her parents and with a last check on her condition, I slip out the doors to make the one call no one wants to make. Mac Myers answers to my relief and informs me they’d be at the hospital in a hour.

I take a minute to compose myself before I push through the doors and walk into an empty bay - no hustle and bustle, no bed, no staff and more importantly no Lu. I begin to run around the department like a lunatic and finally locate the nurse who’d questioned my relationship to Lu earlier.

“Where is she?” I bellow and watch as she visibly shrinks before my eyes. “I’m sorry. Look - I can’t find my girlfriend Lucia Myers? RTA? Do you know where she is?”

She relaxes with my apology. “Let me see… ah yes she’s been taken to theatre.”

Theatre? WTF?
“Which way?”

“Through the doors, turn left, down the….”

I’m gone before she can finish the rest of her speel, running at breakneck speed and then I see her and the team, wheeling her towards the doors, with the huge Theatre sign above them.

“WAIT! - I have to see her..”

“We can’t wait - we need to act quickly.”

“Come on, baby - look at me, just for a second, let me see those beautiful green of yours.”

Her voice is slurred as she struggles to speak, but it’s the best sound in the world. “Feel like… need…to be somewhere else. Need… to sleep…now.”

“No, baby, look at me. Look at me right now. For once in your life, do as you’re bloody told!”

“Mr. Silver. Please, I understand this is hard for you but let us do our jobs now.”

“I’m not leaving her side. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I’m afraid you can’t go into theatre. We need to work on her now. We need to try save your friend’s life.”

They disappear, up the white sterile corridor, five members of staff, working on her and pushing her gurney worryingly fast and its only as they fly through the doors at the end into a sea of green masks and headwear, I speak.
 

“She’s not just my friend - she’s my
fucking life!”

She means everything to me. Please save her.

*****

I feel myself slide down the white walls of that same tunnel, suddenly feeling no control over my legs and needing to steady myself. How long I sit outside those holy Theatre doors in a crumpled pile, focused on the spot of chipped paint on the opposite wall, I’m not sure, but one thing that is clear, is that I still hate hospitals.
 

Fuck -
 
this is like déjà vu- never did like that saying. My mind flickers back to that God awful time; it’d be four years ago now. I was so conflicted with my emotions; it had been so amazing as it brought Finn into the world and I love that little guy so much, but it had also been absolutely horrific, as it had nearly taken my best friend from me in the process. Now I’m here, again, at the same bloody hospital! I’m desperate and out of control and rendered fucking useless!
    
“Sebastian Silver?”

My eyes meet black boots and travel upwards. The boots belong to a PC in his mid-late forties who is accompanied by a female policewoman. I stand to greet them and nod. “Yes.”

“I wonder if we could speak to you about the accident your girlfriend was involved in tonight on Wagon Lane? We’ve taken statements from several witness that have come forward…”

“Witnesses?”

“Yes - they came forward when we were doing our reports. It appears Miss Myers was in a high speed chase, which resulted in her crashing into a wall. From the looks of her car, she is very lucky to have walked away.”

“She’s in surgery right now.”

“I know, I’m sorry - turn of phrase. We’ve opened an investigation and when I can, I would like to get Miss Myer’s statement. We are taking this very seriously.”

I should fucking think so.

“But they fled the scene? Bloody cowards.”

“Unfortunately yes, but we have a couple of good leads with reference to the car and the plates so I will keep you in the loop.”

The female police officer makes notes during our conversation and I wonder what she’s writing. Wish I could get a copy of those witness statements or at least their names - I might need to do some of my own digging around. I knew a guy who was a private detective - might be worth a call.

I say nothing of this to the coppers of course and instead, shake both their hands. “Thanks. I appreciate your time and being there for Lu when she was… well when she was alone.” I run a hand over my head and he pats my shoulder.
Alone, scared and in pain.

“I hope Miss Myers is OK. We’ll be in touch.”

With my face burrowed in my palms, I spend the next twenty minutes thinking of every worst case scenario, dealing with that, then moving on to the next - I was going out of my mind and am about to completely lose it when a soft and calming, yet authoritative voice brings me out of my gloomy fog of memories and I snap my head up in answer. An attractive female surgeon, dressed in scrubs offers me a rather tired but comforting smile.

“Mr. Silver?”
    
“That’s me.” My hands are clammy and I wipe them nervously on my jeans as I stand, before folding my arms tightly in front of me to stop them shaking.
    
“Dr. Haines; I operated upon your friend.”
    
“Girlfriend.” I correct her.
    
“I apologise, your
girlfriend
. Why don’t we take a seat?” She points to the rack of half seats along the back wall. “Is her next of kin here?”
    
“Her parents are on their way, they should be here by now, but if you don’t tell me soon I’m going explode Dr. What the hell is happening to Lucia?”
    
“It’s not protocol to discuss a patient’s condition with anyone but their next of kin…”
    
“If someone doesn’t start talking soon I swear I won’t be culpable for my actions.”
    
“As I was saying, it’s not protocol to discuss a patients condition with anyone but their next of kin I’m afraid, but I can tell you that you’ve got a very gutsy lady there. We managed to find the bleed eventually - she kept us guessing for a while, but if we’d known all the facts before she went in, then maybe we may have reacted quicker…” she looks intently at me, as though questioning something but seeing my blank look continues. “But… we got there in the end. She will make a full recovery.”
    
“What the hell was it?”
    
“I can’t discuss the full details with you, Mr. Silver.”
    
“This is unbelievable! That is my woman in there! She means everything to me!”
    
“I understand that; believe me I do. Look - when her parents arrive, if it’s ok with them, you can be included in the discussions.”
    
That’s just fucking great!
    
I’m seconds away from tearing someone a new arsehole and take a minute to inhale deeply and exhale with a whoosh of emotions as I watch her retreating form and hang my head in my hands.
Deep breaths - she’s made it through surgery. She’s OK and that’s all that matters.
    
“Seb - what’s going on?
 
Abs will be here in a bit she’s just parking the car.”
    
My brother’s voice is like a flame to a moth - I completely lose it. “They won’t fucking let me see her! They won’t tell me what’s wrong with her! I’m not her next of fucking kin!”
    
“Hey, hey, easy bro - easy - take a seat and take deep breath. Is she out of Theatre?”
    
I nod, my teeth biting hard on my lip. “Just. I’ve just seen the Doc. She won’t tell me bloody anything, but she made it.”
    
Nathan rubs my shoulder and I allow myself to be drawn into a hug, something men didn’t tend to do much of but just what I need. It lasts seconds before I nod and push away. “Cheers, Na. Thanks for being here.”
    
“Of course. Thank fuck she’s out of Theatre. Look, Seb - I can’t begin to imagine what you are going through, but it’s not the Dr.’s fault. I get that you’re angry. Be fucking angry with the bastard that did this to her. But not the person who tried to save her life.”
    
“You’re right.” I span my hand across my face to try and hide my frustrations from him but instead he just ignores my attempts and embraces me in another hug. “We’ll get through this mate and at least she’s through the worst of it now. Lu’s a trooper.”
    
She is that. She is strong and kind and deserves so much more than this.
    
I lift my head as I hear voices heading in our direction, and watch as Abby, Nina and Mac Myers jog down the corridor towards us. One look at all their faces and I can see my own pain reflected there.
    
“Seb? What’s the news? Is she Ok? What’s happened?” Nina’s anguished flutter of words, are filled with a pleading I recognise from my earlier time with the surgeon. I enfold her in a quick welcome hug, do the same to Abby and shake Mac’s hand before explaining the situation in full detail to them.
    
“Right, well I’ll go get this Doctor then shall I - to come and say her piece - to all of us? As far as we’re concerned Seb
you are
family.
” I sigh in relief, watching Mac disappear in the direction of the doors, and feel Nathan pat my shoulder in comfort again.
    
“Where was she?”
    
I look at Nina’s anguished face and understand her worry. “She was on her way home from work and apparently some idiot ran her off the road, or so the coppers are saying. When they arrived at the scene – hers was the only vehicle there.”
    
“So how do the police know she was run off the road?” Abby interjects.
    
“Because, Abs, there were witnesses – apparently a dog walker described a car tailing her before the bridge on Wagon Lane and then a couple of other witnesses described a dark car driving alongside of her, racing, until they met oncoming traffic. She was shunted into a wall so the idiot could save himself.”
   
“Oh my poor girl. Are the Police here?”
   
“Don’t worry, Nina. I’ve spoken to them and there will be an investigation, but I just wanted to be here for Lu.”
    
“Of course, hunny – we can sort all that out later. Broken cars can be fixed but bones are more tricky.”
    
“Seb can I have a word?” I look up as Abby waves me over and we excuse ourselves, moving a little further down the hall. “I need to tell you something.”