Title: Tragedy and Love
Disclaimer: I don't claim any ownership or rights to the tv show.
Chapter One:
Auckland
(Driving up the highway on their honeymoon)
"This is terrific. I love New Zealand." giggles Emily.
"Hiking in the mountains tomorrow is going to be fun too. I've been waiting all year for this with the planning and the wedding preparations." smiles Emily leaning over to smother his cheeks with kisses.
Looking at his beautiful new wife Jay takes his eyes off the road for a moment.
"Watch out." screams Emily is the last thing Jay hears before colliding head on into another vehicle that's travelled on the wrong side of the corner.
A stolen car was been driven too fast coming in the opposite direction been pursued by police that's what led them to the scene very quickly to be able to organize an ambulance to take Jay and Emily to the hospital.
Five Days Later
Shortland Street Hospital
"Jay, Jay can you hear me."
Squinting at the bright lights Jay tries to force his eyes open with a lot of difficulty.
"Jay, come on buddy it's your bro, come on mate."
"Em." whispers Jay.
"What's that mate, doc he's coming around he's trying to say something."
More lights flash in his eyes as the doctor tries to check his pupil responses.
"Em." grunts Jay a bit louder.
"It's all going to be okay Jay." says Russell as Jay drifts back to sleep.
"Jay come back wake up." cries Russell.
"At least it's a good sign that Jay can wake up he'll be drifting in and out of consciousness for at least two days." says Nicole gently.
"Thanks nurse I was a bit worried there, wasn't sure what was happening there." said Russell adding. "What am I going to tell him about Emily?"
"We won't rush things, will let him recover a bit first, we've got great staff to help tell him when the time is right." said Nicole.
Over the next few days Jay becomes more conscious and is able to visit Emily who is still in a coma.
"Em, Em c'mon you can fight this." cries Jay.
"Hi Jay, how's our Emily going?" says Nicole concerned.
"Hi Nicole, still aren't getting a response." frowns Jay.
"Have you tried reading to her. Has she got a favourite book she likes to read." said Nicole. "Even a magazine could be fine keep her up to date with what's happening."
"That's a good idea, she was in the middle of reading Smilla's sense of snow." says Jay.
"There you go continue reading it to her. It keeps a sense of normality in your life." said Nicole.
Later in the evening Jay feels a tap on the shoulder.
"C'mon Jay wake up, let's take you back to your room. Emily is settled but you need sleep too." whispers Lana.
"Do you think she'll come out of this?" frowns Jay.
"I just don't know right now you need to give her time." says Lana escorting Jay back to his room.
Next Day
Jay sitting outside Emily's room while the nurses see to Emily's medical checks when Lana sees Jay sitting outside she decides he needs a break.
"Hey Jay, how's Emily going?" asks Lana.
"No change." says Jay sadly.
"Why don't you come with me to the cafeteria to have lunch?" said Lana. "I bet you haven't eaten today."
"I can't. I'm too worried." says Jay.
"You know you got to stay strong for Emily mate, c'mon won't take no for an answer." smiles Lana.
Cafeteria
"Where were you from?" asks Lana.
"Australia." says Jay.
"Which city?" said Lana curious.
"Sydney where I own a sports collectables shop." said Jay.
Gabrielle approaches the table and Lana calls out "Hey Gabrielle why don't you come and sit with us, let me introduce you to Jay."
"Hi Jay." smiles Gabrielle.
"Hello." says Jay trying to smile back.
"Gabrielle is our CEO of neurology, she's helping in Emily's case if you have any questions, she's the one to ask." smiles Lana.
"Thanks, now where was I oh yeah I played sports when I was a kid." said Jay.
"What sport did you play?" said Gabrielle.
"Played football it was fun to play." says Jay.
"What position were you?" says Lana.
"I was a midfielder who was wanting to get first hands on the ball and had lots of skills." said Jay. "Was so close to making it in the big leagues."
"What happened?" said Gabrielle.
"I had a knee injury which really put me on the sidelines and ended my career when I was in year twelve." says Jay.
"Sorry to hear that." said Lana.
"That's alright. I moved on now enough about me, how about you?" said Jay.
"Played netball in high school but like the fashion more, there is nothing more rewarding than an afternoon of shopping." says Lana.
They all laugh when Vinnie and Maxwell pass by their table.
Lana waves out to them saying "Guys want to introduce you to Jay."
"Hi Jay, mate how's Emily going?" said Maxwell.
"Still not much progress, I'm getting worried about her." said Jay.
"Give it time. I'm sure she'll come back to you soon." says Maxwell.
"I hope so." said Jay.
"How's your shoulder?" said Vinnie.
"No probs you guys did a good job thanks guys." said Jay. "Thanks for looking after her guys, I really appreciate it."
As Vinnie and Maxwell finish talking, Vinnie asks Maxwell "Does Jay know who's responsible for the car crash?"
"Not quite as we speak they're recuperating at this hospital so keep it under wraps." said Maxwell.
"I don't think there will be a good time for that kind of truth to come out." says Vinnie.
Next Day
Jay is in Emily's room hoping she wakes up soon when Chris comes into the room and tells him "Jay, Gabrielle needs to have a chat with you in her office."
"Can it wait?" asks Jay.
"No, sorry mate we need to talk to you now." said Chris. "Is your brother around?"
"He had to head back to Australia for a couple of days to sort out some matters." says Jay.
"In that case it might help if one of the nurses is with you, how about Nicole?" asks Chris.
"Ok I guess, what's this meeting about?" asks Jay.
"We just need to go over Emily's medical status." said Chris looking away not being able to look Jay in the eye.
"We'll see you at the office in about fifteen minutes ok mate." smiles Chris kindly.
"Ok." frowns Jay.
Gabrielle's Office
"Ok we're going to have to handle this conversation tactfully." says Chris.
"Of course I'll tell them the facts plain and simple." said Gabrielle.
"Unfortunately Gabrielle that can come across as cold and clinical so we must do this with great sensitivity." said Chris.
"He'll need to know the details of her condition." sighs Gabrielle.
"There'll be time for that later he'll need to digest the fact that he's about to lose his wife." says Chris. "I can foresee a traumatic response. I asked Nicole to be with us during this conversation so she can provide some emotional support."
"Hi Jay how's your shoulder recuperating, has the ball joint knitted well into the socket." says Gabrielle seriously.
"It's fine, what's the meeting about is there something wrong with Emily?" said Jay concerned.
"You know I have run a series of tests in which I've been measuring her brain wave patterns and I've found no responses in the central cortex area and concluded that a lack of activity in important areas of her frontal lobe and have concluded that she is brain dead. Which leaves you with a difficult decision to turn off her life support." says Gabrielle bluntly.
The room drowns in silence as Jay tries to put words together as his head explodes with realization that his wife is about to die.
Tears flood from his eyes as he collapses into darkness.
"Jay, Jay." calls Nicole softly.
"Geez Gabrielle you could've really delivered that news a bit more subtly." growls Nicole. "He really was expecting her to come out of this and be okay."
"Ok that didn't go as well as I planned." frowns Chris. "Will get Jay back to his room and call Diane I think he's going to need counselling it's ok Jay no decisions today we just need you to be aware of the possibilities."