The day was turning into night for the third consecutive time, and he was
still in the same spot he was in the first day he arrived. Sitting on the
most God-awful chair ever manufactured and still holding her hand. His
short, stout fingers encased her long, elegant ones -- ever mindful of the
various tubes running through her pale skin. Toby sighed. It had been
three days since he had received the phone call that changed his life.
***
"Ginger!" A pause.
"Ginger!" A little louder. Another pause.
"Ginger, I swear to God --" Toby rose from his desk just as Ginger's body appeared. "What!" She was breathless and her hands were full of files.
"What happened to that memo from the committee that supports the nature thing? The President wanted to address it in the State of the Union, I need to go over it and decide if I need to speak with him about that choice."
Ginger shook her head. Would it kill him to use specifics? "Yeah, I'm on it. I'll have it to you before lunch."
"Thanks."
Ginger turned to leave again, but before she could make it to the solace that was her desk, he did it again.
"Ginger!"
She plopped the files down on the desk, sighed, and turned on her heel to head back to her boss' desk.
"What now?"
Toby was seated again and had a concerned demeanor about him. "Have you seen CJ today?"
Ginger thought back through her unorthodoxly hectic morning. Sure, she had only been there for an hour, but still. Nope, no CJ. "No, and apparently you haven't either?"
"No, and she is usually here by now." Toby glanced at his watch. "Okay, she's usually been here for two hours by now." His demeanor visibly changed.
The phone rang. His eyes met Ginger's.
He picked up the phone.
"Is this Toby Zeigler?"
"Yes."
***
Seventy two hours. He had been by her side for seventy two hours. Of that amount of time, she had been conscious only 2 hours. During those brief interludes she had been in so much pain that Toby could barley tolerate it. The doctor's said that it was a miracle that she had survived, that she really shouldn't have. He knew that she would, because that was just the person CJ was.
Looking up at her, he saw her ashen face obscured by ugly bruises and various and assorted tubing flowing into her throat and around her face. The steady beep of the machine indicating her heart beat granted him some comfort. He knew that, even if she wasn't awake, the beep meant that she was alive and her heart was functioning. However, Toby knew that CJ's heart was always functioning, and usually in was in overdrive. She showed so much love and compassion for every being on earth. With his free hand, he reached up and moved a stray lock of hair off her forehead and tucked it behind her ear. As he did so, the rest of the events from the day he knew he'd never forget came back to him once more.
*** "Mister Zeigler, this is Doctor Alexis Willows at George Washington Hospital, I'm calling in reference to a Ms. Claudia Jean Cregg."
"Yes, what about CJ?" Toby's brow furrowed.
"She was involved in a car accident earlier this morning and you're listed as the next of kin in her medical file."
"How," Toby's heart began to thump inside his chest, his breathing became labored. "How is she?"
"That is information that I am not authorized to release over the phone, but we do need you to get here as soon as possible."
"What do you mean you can't tell me over the phone?" Toby was outraged.
"Sir," Doctor Willows paused. "I'm sorry, but its hospital protocol."
Toby didn't want to argue, he just wanted CJ to be alright, and he wanted to see her. "Okay, fine. I'll be there as soon as I can. Bye." Even as he was speaking on the phone, he was clearing his desk of the items that needed to be before he left. Since it was so early in the morning, he was finished before he got off the phone. Toby hung up, blew past Ginger, grabbed his coat and was out the door. Ginger, who was a little dazed by Toby's swift movements, quickly regained her composure and ran after Toby.
She found him right outside of Leo's office. He knocked on the door and entered without hearing a response and Ginger right behind. Leo looked up and was ready to chastise Toby for entering so rudely, but the look on Toby's face stopped him.
Leo's features softened. "What's going on, Toby?"
"I just got a call from GW Hospital, and they said that CJ was in car accident this morning, and since I'm listed as her next of kin, I need to get there as soon as I can."
Leo immediately gave Toby permission to leave, with a promise to call the second he had any news. So he was off, as fast as one could in the early morning traffic in Washington, DC. Try as though he might, Toby never got above 30 miles an hour and hit every single red light between the White House and the hospital. Through his journey, he cursed every driver on the road in three languages, often getting them mixed. So, he ended up calling one motorist an ignorant, dim-witted idiot who never should have gotten their license, in English, Yiddish, and Spanish.
Toby's car sped into the first parking spot he could find, and he jerked a tad when it came to a stop. He ran through the parking garage and in between the sliding glass doors marked 'Emergency'. His sprint continued by germ-infested kids, bleeding adults, and a few people hacking up their lungs until he reached the Information Desk.
"CJ," Toby was quite winded and he shook his head. "Er, Claudia Jean Cregg. I need to know where she is, or how she is, or whatever."
The petite brunette cracked a small smile. "Toby Zeigler?" Toby simple nodded. The doctor felt around for a file. Toby saw CJ's name on the top. "I'm Doctor Willows, please follow me." She led him away from the ailing people and into a room with a sign on the door for privacy. Toby began to get very nervous. She walked toward the far end of the table and motioned for Toby to have a seat, he did.
"Mister Zeigler--"
"Toby, please."
The doctor nodded. "Miss Cregg was brought in about twenty minutes ago. The doctors are still trying to stabilize her and assess all the damage. We do know that there is significant damage done to her lung, and extensive damage to her left side. From the looks of the X-Rays, all of the bones are broken."
Toby nodded. "When do you think she'll," Toby's eyes focused downwards, then back to the doctor's face. "She'll be stable enough for the surgery."
"It should be fairly soon." Her pager went off. After checking the number, she met Toby's eyes again. "In fact, that was about Miss Cregg. If you'll excuse me, I need to go check up on her condition, and then I'll be right back." The doctor stood and left the room, leaving Toby alone with his fears.
***
The loneliness and fear returned once more after the nurses had whisked CJ off for more tests. The main concern for the doctors was the damage done to her spine. The harm was horrendous to say the least, but Toby held every notion that CJ would survive through, no matter how long or bumpy the road was going to be. No matter how difficult or painful, CJ would make it, because CJ never gave up on anything in her life. Toby said a quick prayer of thanks that she had survived this far and asked for the strength to get through lay ahead.
Just as he finished, the nurses came back with CJ. One of them looked to Toby, and answered his unspoken question. "It'll be a little bit before we know anything."
Toby shook his head and the nurses went about settling CJ in once more. After they left, Toby returned to his position and took CJ's hand in his. He brought it up to his lips and placed a small kiss on her fingers. Tears were forming behind his lids.
"You've got to get through this CJ." Pause. "You've just got to." A few tears escaped their bondage. "I love you."
***
"Ginger!" A pause.
"Ginger!" A little louder. Another pause.
"Ginger, I swear to God --" Toby rose from his desk just as Ginger's body appeared. "What!" She was breathless and her hands were full of files.
"What happened to that memo from the committee that supports the nature thing? The President wanted to address it in the State of the Union, I need to go over it and decide if I need to speak with him about that choice."
Ginger shook her head. Would it kill him to use specifics? "Yeah, I'm on it. I'll have it to you before lunch."
"Thanks."
Ginger turned to leave again, but before she could make it to the solace that was her desk, he did it again.
"Ginger!"
She plopped the files down on the desk, sighed, and turned on her heel to head back to her boss' desk.
"What now?"
Toby was seated again and had a concerned demeanor about him. "Have you seen CJ today?"
Ginger thought back through her unorthodoxly hectic morning. Sure, she had only been there for an hour, but still. Nope, no CJ. "No, and apparently you haven't either?"
"No, and she is usually here by now." Toby glanced at his watch. "Okay, she's usually been here for two hours by now." His demeanor visibly changed.
The phone rang. His eyes met Ginger's.
He picked up the phone.
"Is this Toby Zeigler?"
"Yes."
***
Seventy two hours. He had been by her side for seventy two hours. Of that amount of time, she had been conscious only 2 hours. During those brief interludes she had been in so much pain that Toby could barley tolerate it. The doctor's said that it was a miracle that she had survived, that she really shouldn't have. He knew that she would, because that was just the person CJ was.
Looking up at her, he saw her ashen face obscured by ugly bruises and various and assorted tubing flowing into her throat and around her face. The steady beep of the machine indicating her heart beat granted him some comfort. He knew that, even if she wasn't awake, the beep meant that she was alive and her heart was functioning. However, Toby knew that CJ's heart was always functioning, and usually in was in overdrive. She showed so much love and compassion for every being on earth. With his free hand, he reached up and moved a stray lock of hair off her forehead and tucked it behind her ear. As he did so, the rest of the events from the day he knew he'd never forget came back to him once more.
*** "Mister Zeigler, this is Doctor Alexis Willows at George Washington Hospital, I'm calling in reference to a Ms. Claudia Jean Cregg."
"Yes, what about CJ?" Toby's brow furrowed.
"She was involved in a car accident earlier this morning and you're listed as the next of kin in her medical file."
"How," Toby's heart began to thump inside his chest, his breathing became labored. "How is she?"
"That is information that I am not authorized to release over the phone, but we do need you to get here as soon as possible."
"What do you mean you can't tell me over the phone?" Toby was outraged.
"Sir," Doctor Willows paused. "I'm sorry, but its hospital protocol."
Toby didn't want to argue, he just wanted CJ to be alright, and he wanted to see her. "Okay, fine. I'll be there as soon as I can. Bye." Even as he was speaking on the phone, he was clearing his desk of the items that needed to be before he left. Since it was so early in the morning, he was finished before he got off the phone. Toby hung up, blew past Ginger, grabbed his coat and was out the door. Ginger, who was a little dazed by Toby's swift movements, quickly regained her composure and ran after Toby.
She found him right outside of Leo's office. He knocked on the door and entered without hearing a response and Ginger right behind. Leo looked up and was ready to chastise Toby for entering so rudely, but the look on Toby's face stopped him.
Leo's features softened. "What's going on, Toby?"
"I just got a call from GW Hospital, and they said that CJ was in car accident this morning, and since I'm listed as her next of kin, I need to get there as soon as I can."
Leo immediately gave Toby permission to leave, with a promise to call the second he had any news. So he was off, as fast as one could in the early morning traffic in Washington, DC. Try as though he might, Toby never got above 30 miles an hour and hit every single red light between the White House and the hospital. Through his journey, he cursed every driver on the road in three languages, often getting them mixed. So, he ended up calling one motorist an ignorant, dim-witted idiot who never should have gotten their license, in English, Yiddish, and Spanish.
Toby's car sped into the first parking spot he could find, and he jerked a tad when it came to a stop. He ran through the parking garage and in between the sliding glass doors marked 'Emergency'. His sprint continued by germ-infested kids, bleeding adults, and a few people hacking up their lungs until he reached the Information Desk.
"CJ," Toby was quite winded and he shook his head. "Er, Claudia Jean Cregg. I need to know where she is, or how she is, or whatever."
The petite brunette cracked a small smile. "Toby Zeigler?" Toby simple nodded. The doctor felt around for a file. Toby saw CJ's name on the top. "I'm Doctor Willows, please follow me." She led him away from the ailing people and into a room with a sign on the door for privacy. Toby began to get very nervous. She walked toward the far end of the table and motioned for Toby to have a seat, he did.
"Mister Zeigler--"
"Toby, please."
The doctor nodded. "Miss Cregg was brought in about twenty minutes ago. The doctors are still trying to stabilize her and assess all the damage. We do know that there is significant damage done to her lung, and extensive damage to her left side. From the looks of the X-Rays, all of the bones are broken."
Toby nodded. "When do you think she'll," Toby's eyes focused downwards, then back to the doctor's face. "She'll be stable enough for the surgery."
"It should be fairly soon." Her pager went off. After checking the number, she met Toby's eyes again. "In fact, that was about Miss Cregg. If you'll excuse me, I need to go check up on her condition, and then I'll be right back." The doctor stood and left the room, leaving Toby alone with his fears.
***
The loneliness and fear returned once more after the nurses had whisked CJ off for more tests. The main concern for the doctors was the damage done to her spine. The harm was horrendous to say the least, but Toby held every notion that CJ would survive through, no matter how long or bumpy the road was going to be. No matter how difficult or painful, CJ would make it, because CJ never gave up on anything in her life. Toby said a quick prayer of thanks that she had survived this far and asked for the strength to get through lay ahead.
Just as he finished, the nurses came back with CJ. One of them looked to Toby, and answered his unspoken question. "It'll be a little bit before we know anything."
Toby shook his head and the nurses went about settling CJ in once more. After they left, Toby returned to his position and took CJ's hand in his. He brought it up to his lips and placed a small kiss on her fingers. Tears were forming behind his lids.
"You've got to get through this CJ." Pause. "You've just got to." A few tears escaped their bondage. "I love you."