Something is beeping. Her arm turns into a wire. No, wait…it is connected to a wire. A throbbing pain in the back of her head echoes the beeps. Someone is adjusting something on a table. Clank, cluck, beep…
"Can we…is it possible to turn off this sound?" she asks groggily.
"Oh…is this disturbing you? I can check the volume on this. I didn't notice that you were awake."
"I have a splitting headache," she winces through the pulsation. Her stomach churns as she arches her back and neck to relieve the pressure at the back of her head. "Wait…please…is there a bin or something?"
"Wait… here," she is offered something. "Are you nauseous?"
"I can't…I can't see…just hand it to me."
A plastic container is in her hands and she throws up in it. The door opens. Footsteps. Warm hands are on her neck, pulling her hair out of her face. They wipe her face and take away the container. A familiar scent: Morninga and Citrus.
"Maura?"
"Here, let me, Lara," she hears Maura speak to the earlier voice.
"Hey," Maura answers softly, holding her hair back. "Jane, I'm here. How are you feeling?"
She groans in response. "My head…I cannot…open my eyes."
"Jane you've had a head injury. Try and open your eyes. It is imperative that we check for every symptom. Just try."
She unclenches her eyes, stretching her neck up and away from her throbbing head. Maura's soft hands are on the sides of her face.
"it's…uhh…I can't see…you."
"We have to get an ophthalmologist to look at you, immediately. I'll just get the Physician on call," and with a squeeze of her hand Maura has left.
The nurse, possibly the Lara, returns with an injection; a small prick and the pain is numbed, leaving a heavy weight at the back of her head. Jane is helped on to a chair and wheeled out.
Someone in heels is walking beside her chair.
"Maura?" Jane asks again.
"Your wife is already talking to Dr. Cohen in Opthalmology. We will meet her there. I am Dr. Christenson. Eva Christenson, the attending physician," the person in clicking heels responded.
"My…wife?" she half questions half remarks, but isn't met with a reply. Her pain makes her expression ambiguous for the heeled-Doctor and Lara. They walk in through a door.
A familiar hand is soon nestled on her shoulder. Morninga and citrus.
"Jane, Dr. Cohen is going to check your vision," Maura speaks. "I will be right outside. I am here," she adds in a whisper, before stepping out.
After running some tests, Dr. Cohen explains to Jane and Maura that Jane's retina is detached and she has a vitreous hemorrhage. They will have to perform an immediate laser surgical procedure.
"No, it isn't painful, and hopefully she'll get vision back – at least partially – soon after. But the vitreous hemorrhage will take time to heal itself," he answers Maura's questions that are mostly for Jane's benefit.
"Jane, I'm here. Okay?" Maura reassures. "Angela is also on her way. I told her you're awake. Don't worry. You'll be fine."
Jane is wheeled out.
Waking up in the clutches of darkness is a strange feeling. It's like sleep has not quite rescinded and one is not fully awake. She opens her eyes, but nothing changes. Her hand is cradled a soft large one splayed upon it. Someone is humming softly. She stirs.
"Janie!" Angela exclaims.
"Ma?" her hands reach up to her eyes and feel the bandages there.
"Jane, don't touch them!" Angela peels her hands away by the wrists.
"Ma! I can't see!" Jane grits out her frustration.
"I know, baby," Angela strokes her forehead, pulling damp knots of hair off of it. "3 hours more and the Doctor will remove the bandages."
"Is Maura here?" Jane asks, her shoulders slumping into the darkness.
"She's gone to us food. She'll be back soon. I'm here!" Angela cajoles. "I know you can't see Janie…what can I do? Do you want water or something to eat?"
"No, Ma."
"Maybe, maybe, I can sing you something," Angela asks tentatively, "until Maura returns, of course. Keep you entertained. She will talk to the Doctor."
"Okay, Ma. Please sing."
Angela's cooing hum fills the room.
Dream, Dream, Dream, Dreaaam…When I want you in my arms. When I want you and all your charms, whenever I want you, all I have to do is Dreaaam.
Jane is grateful for the sound. It's her only recourse to recognizing that she's awake. If only it didn't sound like a lullaby. She misses Maura. She'll be back soon.
Not finding anything to hold on to. Jane decides to give in to her creeping drowsiness, surrounded by the comfort of her mother's crackling and affectionate hum. In no other circumstances would she have allowed Angela to sing, she smiles sleepily.
Maura is by her side again when Dr. Cohen removes the bandages. He pulls open her eyelids and drops something stinging into them. Jane clenches her eyes shut again.
"Turn down the lights." Maura tells someone, possibly the doctor. "After being in darkness for a while, the eyes have difficulty coping with bright light. Let her adapt."
"Jane, please try and open your eyes," she feels Maura's fingertips ghost her cheek. "We need to check if the procedure was successful."
Jane and Maura are not married. This is not a memory-loss fic. :)
Let me know what you think...so I know if its worth continuing...