Page 16 (1/2)

If I never saw her again--

Stop it!

I bent over and grabbed my knees I couldn’t think like that Wouldn’t think like that

Finally, the door opened and they wheeled her out

"What’s going on?" I asked, running to her side She was still out, but the blood had been wiped away Most of it, anyway "Is she okay?"

Why wouldn’t anyone answer?

"Abby," I said, starting down the hall after her

"Nathaniel Elaina," Linda said, co up behind us "Let’s sit down"

I pointed down the hall "I want--"

"I know, but you can’t go" Linda sat on a bench, patting the spot beside her "Sit down"

"Oh, God" My knees felt weak again, and I struggled to breathe "It’s bad It’s really bad"

"Nathaniel!" she saidto be fine Sit down"

I sat

"Nothing’s broken," she said as Elaina sat on her other side "We think she has a concussion, but we need a CAT scan to see the extent of it"

"Why won’t she wake up?" Elaina asked

"The brain is a re tone "It knohat the body needs, even e don’t understand I’ to be on the fifth floor, G hall Why don’t you go up and wait for her?" She stood up to leave "And someone needs to call Felicia"

An hour later, they wheeled Abby into her room I followed, anxious to see and touch her A nurse re her vitals

"Is she awake?" I asked

"Not yet, Mr West" She tucked a sheet under Abby’s ar to leave "I’ll be back later to check on her Call me if she wakes up"

I slowly approached her bed The sheet ed in one place Small cuts marked her face I reached out and brushed hair back froed "Wake up forhere?"

I spun around

Felicia

"She’s fine," I said, sail," she spat "Her na there in a hospital bed and you can’t even call her by her na animal" She put her hands on her hips "I don’t even knohy you bothered showing up"

I clenchedabout!"

She took a step closer to me "I know all about you and Abby About your little weekend games She scratches your kinky itch, that’s all"

There was no need to argue--to try to justify ue in front of Abby, whether she was conscious or not

"You don’t know anything about us," I said

"Fine then!" She stamped her foot "Why don’t you explain it to me!"

I stepped away from Abby’s bed "I refuse to stand here and explain lared at Felicia "I answer to no one, but just in case it’s not clear, I care deeply for that woman and you will not--"

"Mr West!" A nurse interrupted "I can hear you down the hall I’ to have to ask you both to cal the patients This co"

Felicia pointed at ot here"

I nodded "You have twentyroom

"What did the CAT scan show?" I asked

"Nathaniel," Linda said "If you and Felicia can’t control yourselves, I’ll have to ask one of you to leave" She looked at hed "I understand"

"Good The scan showed a moderate concussion We just need her to wake up now"

"How long will that be?" How long until those beautiful eyes opened?

"Shouldn’t be too o check on her as soon as Felicia leaves" She claspedto be fine I promise"

"Thanks"

She walked off and I turned to Elaina "Tell n

I was still fu when Felicia left Abby’s rooo call her dad"

Linda chuckled behind ainst the door to enter the room

Abby lay still I focused on the

She was fine

I stepped back so Linda could examine her

But ould she wake up? Why wouldn’t she wake up? What if her brain was hurt worse than the scan showed? What if she never woke up?

I started chanting inmy words to the up-and-down movement of her chest

Wake up

Wake up

Wake up

Her eyelids fluttered

Oh, please

"Abby?" Linda asked

Her eyes opened I almost dropped to my knees in thanks

She licked her lips "Dr Clark?" Her voice sounded scratchy

"You’re in the hospital, Abby How are you feeling?"

She tried to smile, but winced in pain Don’t h me Take it easy, Abby

"I must be badly off to have the chief of staff in my room"

"Or else you’re very important" She stepped to the side so Abby could see me