Summary : On the night of the accident (Aftershock) Ryan and Marissa receive an unexpected help from a doctor simply driving by at the right moment. Will it change anything? _ Slightly A_U. Alex has never been to Newport and shes older. NOT a House C/O
Author's note: Yes, I know, I have two other stories that I should finish first. But I couldn't help it. Besides this is the only thing I'm writing lately so might as well get some review on it. I'm not forgetting the other ones, I promise! (Don't mind the title of the story lol its got nothing to do with my promises)
2nd note: I've never watched House or any other hospital based show, so I'm only writing these scenes based on my science knowledge so if things aren't exactly accurate, let me know so I can fix it.
A promise you can't keep.
Chapter 1 - The accident -
The car crushed on the dry ground and remained motionless. He could feel tire overwhelm him but forced his eyes open. The steering wheel was bending toward his abdomen, and Ryan could tell that if the hit would have been only a little stronger, he would have had his rib cage ripped. Cringing, he took off his seatbelt and looked to his left where Marissa laid unconscious.
"Marissa" He whispered, his shaking hands reaching the girl's shoulder. The brunette did not react. No. It wasn't it. This wasn't the end. Ryan rushed his hand to the door and pushed it open. The car had flipped and he managed to crawl out of it. Whirring sounds reminded him how dangerous it was to stay near the car. Hurrying himself to the passenger's side, he opened the door and pulled Marissa out.
"... Ryan." He heard the girl whisper in his arms.
"I'm here." He told her, relieved to hear her voice. "It's going to be fine, don't..."
"No." She said. He didn't listen, more preoccupied about putting as much distance as possible between them and the car. Then he heard the explosion. They both did. Groaning, Ryan but the girl down and stood up to run, but she held on to him.
"I have to get help." He explained.
"Don't. Stay with me." She pleaded. The boy was torn. What if he left and she died alone? What if he stayed and watched instead of helping? Fortunately, he did not have to make such a decision because a screech of tires pulled him out of his thoughts and made him look up as a figure rushed toward him.
"DON'T move her." The newcomer ordered, bending down to examine Marissa. Ryan stepped aside.
"You're a doctor?" He asked, hopeful for the first time.
"I try." The girl replied, massaging Marissa's heart. She had a transmitter on her waist and quickly dialled someone.
"We can't wait." She decided and turned to Ryan, throwing her car keys at him.
"You have to drive the fastest you ever did." She said. He did not need to hear it twice. Carefully, they managed to lay Marissa on the backseat and he rushed to the front.
"I'm Ryan." He introduced himself as he put the full speed on.
"Alex." The brunette replied, her eyes on the drying girl. "...hey." She whispered as the girl opened her eyes. "Look at me, LOOK at me." She shook her. Marissa tried to keep her eyes open and Alex stopped giving contractions, she could feel a heartbeat again.
"... who are... where's..."
"I'm Alex." The brunette told her. "I was driving by and saw the crash." The girl beneath her frowned.
"Crash?" She asked in a breath.
"Car accident." Alex said, trying to speak as loud and clear as possible to wake up the girl. "You don't remember?" she shook her head, closing her eyes again. Alex pressed her hand on the girl's chin.
"Wake up." She said, pressing harder. Marissa opened her eyes again as the pain forced her to.
"Talk to me. What do you remember?"
"I... Hawaii with dad." Alex was confused.
"We were on our way to the airport." Ryan explained. "She was heading to Hawaii to see her father... now she might... this might..." Alex looked at him for a second, and her eyes went back on Marissa's. This thin, weak teenager who has clearly been through too much for her age. Something in the brunette's eyes were so broken... she couldn't die that way. On that second, Alex vowed herself to save this girl's life.
"Listen to me." She said. "You need to keep taking to me. You have to stay awake..." But it was worthless. Pain and tire had won over, and she could feel the life sleeping away for her hands. Alex started the massing again and Ryan parked the car. Two ambulance men were already there, waiting after Alex had called. They put the girl on the stretchers and rushed in the hospital. She vaguely heard Ryan being stopped at one end, asked to wait, while they gave Marissa electric shocks to reanimate her heart. Alex quickly changed into working clothes again and rushed in the room.
"The damage is really bad." Riley said. Alex ignored him. Negativism annoys her a lot, especially at such critical moments.
"Her brain needs oxygen" She said instead, "I found a heartbeat... we need blood. Get O negative, I don't know why type she got. QUICK." Her co-worker looked at the nurses who ran out in hurry. Riley could see the look in Alex's eyes. Young doctors often had those. It was the danger of the job.
"... Alex.." he warned. She didn't look at him. She knew what he was going to say.
"Get doctor Rodriguez" She asked him. "That girl will need quick surgery." He sighed.
"It's a miracle she made it this far..."
"She will live." Alex said, looking straight at him and daring him to contradict. Giving up, he left to get the head surgeon. Alex was known to always fight lost battles. They all knew it, and no one could ever stop her from trying anyway.
XxX
He remained still. They were on their way. He had called Sandy, they were all coming. He couldn't believe it...
"We're losing him." He heard someone shout, and a nurse rushed out a room. Ryan felt his legs weaken and sat down before fainting. Marissa wasn't going to die... He turned around. This place was giving him the creeps. He picked up the closest magazine and opened it without really looking. Read, he told himself. Relax. This wasn't going to happen. Memories of the accident kept replaying. He couldn't help wondering the "what if's". What if he had pulled over when Volchok asked him to? What if he wasn't the one who drove? What if Marissa had got her lift by Julie? What if... what if Alex wasn't driving by? At least Ryan knew for certainty that he had got the best luck somewhere.
"Where is she?" He looked up. Summer was the one who asked. Seth appeared behind. Both were out of breath and had probably run.
"I don't know." Ryan herd himself say. "They got her a room and told me to wait. She... she passed out before we even reached the hospital" His voice shocked.
"Oh my God." Summer broke down. Ryan could tell it wasn't the first time since the phone call. Seth pulled her in his arms, and the sandy haired blonde found himself wishing he could let himself go like that too. He felt a gentle squeeze on his shoulder.
"Hey." Kirsten said, a broken smile on. "Sandy went to get the room number. Julie is with him" Ryan nodded. Julie Cooper. She must be devastated. What if she blamed it all on him? He frowned. It was the least of his worries. Kirsten sat next to him, and Seth and Summer took the seats in front. When Julie came, Kirsten stood up to take her friend her arms and console her while the broken mother muttered something about Neil Roberts being on a work trip and unable to show. Kathleen took a seat and remained silent, clearly wishing to wake up. When Kirsten finally let go of her, Julie walked her way to Ryan and, to his surprise, pulled him in her arms.
"Thank God you were there." She whispered. "I would have never... if it were me she would be gone now." The boy forced a smile, somehow relieved to be off the hook, but still feeling awfully guilty about the whole thing. Julie didn't know why this all happened. If it was her, there wouldn't have been an accident in the first place.
"It's going to be alright." They heard Sandy say. "She couldn't have received more immediate help." He assured them with this firm, comforting voice of his. They all sat down and kept repeating these words in their mind.
They didn't know for how long, but they spent a fair amount of time, until very late at night, just sitting in the hall. Nobody asked for details on the accident, and Ryan was glad they didn't. They spent their time in silence, talking only to ask what time it was. Kristen would try to force some food down their throats, but nobody could eat, and even she didn't touch a thing.
It was around midnight that Alex showed up. Ryan immediately stood up. He was among the only ones to still be awake.
"How's my daughter." Julie had jumped to her feet as well. Ryan noticed the shakiness in the voice. Alex looked at the women.
"Alive." She replied, tire obvious in her eyes. "... for now." Ryan's heart sore.
"But you can save her, right?" His voice echoed in the whole hall. "The worse is over..." The look in Alex's eyes told him she wished he was right.
"She's developing fibrinogenopenia." Seeing their lost expressions, she explained : "It's an hemorrhagic diathesis. She's got too much fibrinogen in her blood."
"... what are the consequences?" Ryan asked. She winced.
"Fibrinogen is responsible of the blood's coagulation..." He stood still. She forced a smile.
"She should have died on the spot." She repeated what Riley had told her. He nodded, knowing why she was telling him this. He felt Sandy's hands on his shoulders, and the man bent forward to shake Alex's hand.
"Sandy Cohen." He greeted her. "Ryan told me how you rushed to help...Thank you." She didn't look all that proud.
"I wish I came earlier..."
"At least you came." Julie said this time. "Thanks to you, my daughter stands a chance... she does, right? You can save her. She's in this hospital now... she's safe..." Alex could read the desperation, and did exactly what she was warned not to.
"I will save your daughter madam" She heard herself say. "I promise."
XxX
Reviews are always welcomed and appreciated. =)
-Ethereal-123