Angie felt the cold floor under her. She was looking up at the store lights overhead. Glaring, bright. She tried to think. What just happened? David... he was trying to get me to open the safe... I remember a gun... she tried to sit up, and was hit with a wave of pain that knifed through her shoulder. She lifted her head and saw her shirt, and the stain of blood which grew as she watched. Oh Goddess, he did shoot me.
She heard sirens and voices shouting, and then a shot, one that echoed the one she could now remember hearing, the shot that had knocked her to the floor. She stared at the ceiling. She was having trouble focusing on the lights. Am I dying? Where's Don? I can't die without seeing him... She felt herself starting to cry, the pain in her heart worse than the one in her shoulder. The thought of never seeing him again was the worst thought she'd ever had. She struggled to stay awake.
She saw faces above her. People talking to her. One of them was Marilyn. She didn't recognize the other two, but it flashed through her mind that they were paramedics, here to get her to the hospital. She hoped that they could save her, so she could see Don again.
"Marilyn... where's Don?"
"He's on his way here, honey. Just relax, ok?"
"I don't wanna die without seeing him again..."
"Oh honey, don't talk like that. You're gonna be fine."
"I can't see very well. I'm so cold." Her vision darkened. She heard Marilyn talking to her, something about staying with her, but it was just an echo, and the words flowed together into a hum.
She floated on a featureless landscape, a misty dream state of faint voices, gentle hands touching her, and strange noises on the edge of hearing. It was calm and serene, warm and comforting. It seemed like a nice place to be, but she knew she couldn't stay here. She had to find Don. She couldn't leave him. She had to get back to him. But there was nothing to see, anywhere. It was just mist and muted light. She wondered vaguely how she could find him, get back to him. After a little time she became aware that she could see something forming in the mists. She squinted, concentrating on the image that was becoming more clear...
She saw Don, with Danny. They were sitting together, facing each other. They were holding hands. Somehow she knew that Danny was trying to help Don, and she was glad of that. The image faded into the mist. She lost track of time, but she knew there was no time here, and that was mildy confusing but not worth much thought.
There was a place in the mists where she saw him again, and he was with Danny, again. She smiled. Danny was hugging him. I'm glad he has such a good friend. My poor Don, he's so worried about me. I have to get back to him...
At some point she saw herself in a bed, in a quiet room. Her consciousness was drawn to the corner of the room... she saw Don, sitting there, watching her. I have to wake up, he needs me... I love him... I can't leave him... She felt herself falling, falling gently, floating down... she became aware of her body, and of the light in the room, on the other side of her eyelids. Then she caught the scent of bay rum. He's here... wake up, Angie!
She opened her eyes to see Don smiling down at her. She smiled back.
"Hey handsome," she said.
