Dr. Zoe Hart was scared. Scared to touch the man in the hospital bed before her. She'd held hearts in her hands, lungs, livers - she was not a woman afraid of anything the human body had to offer. Hospitals were a haven to her. The beeps of monitors, and wooshes of the ventilators weren't just the rhythms of the hospital, they were her rhythms. Those noises were once as much a part of her as her own breathing and heartbeat. Now they took her breath away and accelerated her pulse with fear.

Focus on the chart. See the progress.

But there wasn't much progress. The man's body was broken in irreparable ways and he still hadn't woken up. She glanced at the clock on the wall. 26 hours and 42 minutes since he was brought in. He needed to wake up. She needed to wake him up, but she couldn't. All she could do was stand there and stare at him. A fear she had never know gripping her body and freezing her in place.

"Zoe?" She felt a warm hand on her shoulder. Lavon. "Cora is asking for you. She's fine, but you've been down here awhile."

"Yeah. I'll…" She put the chart back on the wall. "It's been too long Lavon." She twisted the gold band around her finger trying to keep herself together. "I don't know what to do. I can't be in two places at once. I can't leave him alone."

"I'll stay here. He won't be alone. You go up and be with Cora." Lavon's big hands wrapped around her shoulders that seemed to have shrunk over the past day. He gently steered her out the door. "I'll be here. The girls are upstairs waiting for you. Be there right now. I'll send word if there is any change."

Zoe walked dazedly to the elevators grief radiating from her with every step she took away from the room.

Lavon sat down in the chair next to the bed and took the limp hand of the unconscious man. He searched for any signs of life beyond those forced upon him by the myriad of machinery regulating his breathing, and monitoring his vital signs. He felt his heartbreak for Zoe, for himself, and for all of Bluebell.

"Wade, you've got to wake up now. You're scaring Zoe."


I know that is chapter is short (really short), it is really more of an introduction, a teaser if you will. The rest of the chapters are 1000+ words and have more detail. I really appreciate everyone for reading and commenting. I hope to take us all on an emotional yet fun trip to Bluebell (aka, my favorite small town ever).

Thanks for reading!
-E

Oh and I should probably add the obligatory "I don't own any of these characters" statement. The storyline might be mine, but the inhabitants of Bluebell, like the town itself, is the creation of someone else. This is just fun for me, and hopefully you too.