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Chapter 16
Nick stood at the door to the hospital room, his eyes were on Brian. He had found him leaning over Sierra.
He talked softly, telling her that she was going to be all right. He touched Sierra's forehead, her cheek, her neck, wanting to do something, but feeling helpless.
Nick took a step forward and cleared his throat. "Uh, Bri, we got to be heading back now. We have a photo-shoot in a half an hour." Brian sat, unmoving at Sierra's bedside. Barely even acknowledging Nick's presence.
"We have to go do this Brian. We'll come back in the morning. She's gonna be fine, don't worry." Nick worried for Sierra as much as Brian did. He didn't want to leave her either, but they had been at the hospital for hours, and everyone was just about to their edge. They needed to get some fresh air. Think. Just be out of the cramped waiting rooms for a while.
Finally, Brian sighed and looked up. Watching Sierra as he raised from his seat, he attempted to stretch but couldn't find the strength. He reluctantly followed Nick out into the waiting room.
A.J. was hunched over in one of the chairs. He had his elbows on his knees and his hands hanging between. He seemed to be studying the floor, looking lost. He glanced up quickly hearing them approach, then groaned and started complaining about his headache.
"I guess we're leaving huh?" A.J. stood up slowly. He directed his question more towards Nick. Brian seemed distant and was rubbing his eyes.
"Yeah." Nick answered.
"So she's still not awake?" This time his question was for Brian.
"Wha-?"He squinted his eyes at A.J. "-oh. No. She's still sleeping."
"Alright. Well, let's just go, okay Rok? I'm going to come back over here after the shoot if you want to come." He watched Brian hopefully. He seemed to be the one taking this whole thing the hardest.
A.J. had to admit to himself that he had been upset hearing about the accident. He and Brian were the first to arrive at the hospital and were also the first to hear what really happened. Sierra had had the two friends she was staying with in the jeep with her. They recovered from the crash with cuts and bruises. Sierra on the other hand had been in surgery for over an hour while they waited.
A.J. had been dazed during the whole conversation with the nurse when she said what happened in surgery. He only seemed to hear her say that Sierra probably wouldn't wake for a few hours. Everything was jumbled in his head. He didn't want to think about anything at the moment. He just knew that Sierra didn't deserve this.
"Let's just go now." Brian sighed. "We should get out of here for a while."
The three proceeded down the hall, passing a nurse who was shuffling along in the opposite direction as them. Brian managed to stop her without the others noticing.
"Excuse me." He cleared his throat quietly. "Would you mind calling me if Sierra wakes up?" He handed her a small scrap of paper. "This is my cell-phone number. I would really appreciate it if you could do this for me."
The woman looked dryly at the man before her. His eyes pleaded for her help. She could see that clearly. Taking a step back, she accepted what he held in his hand.
"Sure. I'll try." His eyes seemed to relax at her words.
The nurse turned and continued to walk down the hall; stopping half way and looking back at Brian.
"Ya know, she's lucky to have someone like you." She softened her words with a smile, and watched him. "Don't worry, I have a feeling that she's going to be just fine."
Brian smiled at the woman's kindness. He watched her return to Sierra's room. His mind thinking of what she had said, he joined the others downstairs.
. . .
Awaking slowly, she didn't open her eyes, didn't move, just thought. Tried
to reason out where she was without really wanting to. The next few hours
passed in groggy spurts. Maybe they were minutes, but Sierra couldn't tell
the difference and didn't care. She hurt too much to event think of caring.
After several failed attempts, Sierra managed to lift her eyelids slightly.
She gazed around through the slits. The room was dim and the only light came
from a window in the corner. She was thankful for the little beams that poured
in through it. Too much of what she remembered was darkness and if not for
the light she might question where she was, and did not have any strength
to be the least bit scared. Near the light she squinted her eyes to see a
figure slumped in a chair. Seeing the person in the corner reassured her
and she laid her head back down; glad that she was not alone.
Closing her eyes, Sierra drifted away from the room with ease. Sleep was
her only escape, and she was glad it came so quickly.
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