Shattering glass. That was the first thing he noticed. And then he heard Tami's yelp pierce through his eardrums. Confusion overtook his senses. Closing his eyes tightly, he felt his fingers grasp the steering wheel tight, so tight that when he finally came back to reality, he almost couldn't let go. He wasn't sure what was dripping down from his forehead, but the quick taste on his lips was similar to a penny. Dabbing his fingertip near his hairline, he pulled his hand away and saw a drop of blood on his index finger. His attention was quickly pulled away from that and to his wife who lay motionless in the passenger seat.
"Tami?" His voice was raspy so he cleared his throat. "Tami, are you awake?" No response. Her eyes were closed, her body slumped down over the seat belt. Blood gushed from her head as well, only her's was worse and he couldn't tell where it was coming from. "Tami?" This time he raised his voice but she still didn't stir.
Glancing out of the front window, he peered through the cracked glass. People were circling around them, taking note to whatever had just transpired. He tried to open the door but a cop pushed it shut. "Stay in the car, sir. An ambulance is on the way. You don't need to move."
Eric wanted to argue with the man but he didn't have the energy. "My wife, she's not awake. We need to get her some help." His voice felt so distant, like someone had their hands over his ears.
"Sir, I said an ambulance was on the way. I'll have my partner come around and look, but we really can't move you guys."
Nodding, Eric averted his attention back to Tami, his heart pounding. He hated the fact that they just had to sit around and wait, it was like wasted time, but he knew that moving her could be a matter of life or death. Even with him there could be underlying injuries that he didn't know about yet. He just knew one thing, he needed to get her to a hospital fast.
Distant sirens could be heard and it settled him down some, but not near enough. So many thoughts were racing through his head, the main being his worry for Tami. What had happened? Was it a wreck? Who hit them, or really, who did they hit? Eric couldn't remember what was going on before the collision, just that he was rambling on about something football. Vertigo set in and he leaned his head back on the headrest to try and settle it.
"Coach Taylor, I'm gonna have to put you on a back board." The voice startled him, and he opened his eyes to see a paramedic leaning over him.
"I don't need it. You need to get my wife."
"We've got two guys over there getting her out right now. We gotta get you on this backboard though, gotta make sure you're okay."
Eric stared down at the instrument panel in front of him that was knocked loose and had fallen into the floorboard. Chewing on the inside of his cheek, he tried to mask the discomfort that shot through his head when he moved. "I'm walking away from this, I'm not being put on a damn backboard." He scooted across his seat and planted his feet on the asphalt below, another wave of dizziness pounding at him. He wanted to puke so badly and he felt his gut wrench. Thankfully he only let out a few dry heaves.
"Coach, we can't force you, but I highly recommend you at least go in and get looked at. You might feel okay now, but there could be other conditions that'll show up later." The young paramedic grabbed at his arm and Eric jerked away, immediately regretting the sudden movement. Glancing to his side, he saw that they had Tami on the stretcher, instantly going to work on her. He felt another wave of nausea hit him and he wasn't sure if it was effects from the wreck or the scene playing out in front of him. Tami hadn't moved since the wreck had happened. He wanted answers, but unfortunately they pulled him in the opposite direction of where Tami was being wheeled and he was far too tired to try and fight it. The edges of his vision grew black and everything around him became fuzzy, until it all faded into black.
"Coach, you awake?" Eric blinked and rubbed his hands over his eyes. He wasn't sure who was standing over him or where he was at. "Eric?" Blinking again, he finally saw the outline of Buddy Garrity. Pain coursed through his head and down his back and he tried to shift to get comfortable but it only accentuated the discomfort.
"Buddy?" He braced himself, trying to get the pain to subside. Even the sound of his own voice sent sharp pangs throughout him. "What the hell happened?"
"Uhh, Eric, you were in a wreck. I don't really know a lot of the details. I just got here myself to see how you guys were doing." Eric wasn't sure if he was noticing things right, but he was almost certain that Buddy was hesitating. Was it that bad that not even Buddy wanted to be the first to talk about it?
Eric tried to sit up but his body felt as if it were being shoved down into the mattress. "You guys? Who else?" He dug deep into his memory but only small flashbacks panned out in his mind. Tami was there, but it was like waking up from a bad dream that was so disheveled. He wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't.
"Coach, I think you need to talk with the doctors. I don't know much."
Eric wanted to get up and walk out, to just remove himself from the situation but it was like an act of congress to even sit up, much less stand. Buddy usually knew everything, so he pretty much knew he was being lied to. His main concern was Tami. He knew she was there, that part was certain. "Dammit, Buddy, you find out or you get someone in here to tell me. Otherwise, I'm getting up and I'll find out myself." Gritting his teeth, he ran the palm of his right hand down the side of his head. With each pulse a sharp ache felt like it was driving through his skull.
"Eric, you need to calm down. I'm sure the doctor is gonna be in here in a minute. He wanted to know when you woke up."
Eric stared up at the ceiling, bracing himself. "Oh, so you have talked to him?"
Before Buddy could answer, a doctor who looked to have just graduated high school entered the room. Buddy gave them their privacy. If he was supposed to reassure Eric, it wasn't working. He looked no older than some of the football players on his team.
"Coach Taylor, I'm Dr. Metzger. I was working the ER when you and your wife got brought in."
If the doctor was expecting a handshake or a hello he wasn't getting it. He had one thing on his mind, and that was Tami. "How's my wife doing?"
Dr. Metzger's face grew solemn and a sudden wave of nausea hit Eric. "Coach, they took her up to surgery a few hours ago. From what I saw in the ER, she had some pretty extensive injuries. I know for sure that she had a couple broken ribs and a broken leg. There was a lot of internal stuff going on. I don't have a lot of the details because they got her in the OR as fast as they could. They said they'd inform me when they knew something."
Eric chewed on the inside of his cheek. So many questions ran through his mind. So many that he couldn't even think a rational thought to gather them. The room was so quiet, the only sound were the monitors near his bedside, monitoring God knew what. All of that seemed so insignificant. Extensive injuries. That could mean anything.
"By extensive injuries, what exactly do you mean?" Eric's own voice seemed different to him, shakier and reserve.
Dr. Metzger adjusted the clipboard he had in hand and ran his hand through his hair. "By extensive I mean that there were a lot of problems. There were some internal injuries that the surgeons were uncertain about." Pausing, he glanced down at his watch. "Look, Eric, she's in good hands. Right now, be focused on getting yourself better. We'll discuss Tami when we have more answers."
Eric stared at the nearest monitor, not even having the slightest clue what it meant. "I'm fine. I'll be amazing when you can tell me something instead of handing me bullshit lines that doctors are trained to do."
"Just to let you know about your condition, you've got a concussion and a few cuts and bruises. We had to stitch up a few gashes on your right arm. We're going to keep you for observation. I need you to try and stay awake as much as you can so we can watch that concussion. Is there anything else we can do for you right now?"
"Did anyone call my daughter Julie?"
Dr. Metzger thumbed through some paperwork. "I'm not sure, but I'll have one of the nurses do that. Do we have her number?"
Eric shrugged and instantly regretted it. For not having that many injuries he sure did feel like he had been thrown through the ringer. "I don't know. It's 555-2195." Looking away, he fought off the sudden exhaustion. Trying to stay awake in this place wouldn't be too hard, there seemed to be people in and out constantly, that and the fact that he couldn't stop worrying about Tami. She had to be okay. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if she didn't come out of this. He was the one driving so he could only blame himself.
"Wow, your parents have a late night at work or what?" Tyra stood on the front steps of the Taylor home, algebra book in hand. Julie answered the door, her brow creased as she invited Tyra in. "Everything okay, you still up for studying?"
"Uhh, yeah. I'm not sure where my parents are. I've been calling them since like five, and neither one is picking up. I'm sure Dad is just watching film and Mom got caught up in the office or something." Julie paused and picked Gracie up out of her bouncer seat. "It's just weird for neither to answer their phone, that's all."
Nodding, Tyra set her stuff down on the bar. Glancing at her watch, she pursed her lips as she thought about what could possibly be going on and how she could settle Julie down. "Maybe they just decided to go off and have a date, just the two of them or something. No phones, no kids. Parents do that sometimes, ya know."
Julie shook her head no as she chewed on the end of her pencil. "No, not them. They'd at least check on Gracie. They always check in." Her leg bounced up and down and she ran her hands through her hair. Tyra could tell that there was no way they would get any studying down, getting Julie to focus would be like getting Gracie to sit still to attempt the math problems.
"Julie, how about we watch TV or something for a little bit?" Tyra closed her algebra book.
"But you came over to get some studying done."
Tyra glared at her and grabbed her wrist, pulling her up from her chair. "Hon, there's no way it's going to be constructive even if we do try. Let's get your mind off of things by watching something funny. The homework isn't going anywhere."
Before they got to the couch the doorbell rang, making Tyra's heart skip a beat. She stayed back as Julie peered through the peephole. She backed up and took a deep breath, a look of panic on her face. "Tyra, it's the police."