A/N:I haven't abandoned my other story not to worry, I have half of that chapter underway. I have just been meaning to write this for ages!
So enjoy =D
University of Maryland
Crisp golden leaves blew gently in the warm wind, painting a sea of gold visible outside Emily's sunlit office. She sat studiously behind her desk sorting student papers into a neat methodical order. The silence distilled as her cell phone made loud vibrations on her desk causing her to jump slightly.
Untroubled by this disturbance Emily reached for her phone; keeping her focus solely on the scattered papers she held in her right hand. She looked down briefly at her caller-ID.
Private number.
"Hmmm" she murmured
"Emily Appleton"
"Hello Ms Appleton this is Dr Cartwright from the Washington Hospital Centre."
A slight pause filled a gap between their exchange. "Yes, hi what can I do for you?" Emily answered in puzzled manner.
"According to our records we have your son Benjamin Gates here."
Emily's heart dropped and she withdrew her attention from her work, setting the papers aside.
"Ben, what happened? Is he alright?" her voice became flustered.
"He's been in an accident in the Arctic; he was flown over and is having surgery on his left shoulder as we speak, I'm afraid I can't give too much information over the phone."
"Of course, I understand...I'll be right there." She sighed deeply pinching the bridge of her nose as an overwhelming motherly concern washed over her.
She took deep breath in, standing up and placed the unsorted papers into her cabinet and hurriedly but calmly exited her office.
She came to a large wooden door with an elaborate gold plate that read 'Dean Edwards.' Knocking lightly she entered.
"Emily he sounded, Intrigued upon her visit.
"I'm sorry I wouldn't ask if this wasn't an emergency, but could you cover my last class today?"
Noticing the pale look upon her face, "Is everything alright Emily?" he asked concerned
"It's my son, he's in the hospital, I have to go." Her voice filled with sadness.
"Ben?...of course go, I'll cover your class."
"Thank you" she gave a weak smile turning to leave.
"Emily." He stopped her at the door. "Keep me updated won't you."
"I will..."
Shortly after Emily rushed to the hospital she stood pacing the halls waiting as Ben came out of surgery, eager to see him.
"You must be Ms Appleton?" Dr Cartwright approached.
"Emily, please"
"Alright Emily, well your son has made it out of surgery with no complications, his arm was crushed by a lumber beam and dislocated his shoulder but we've managed to put it back in place and fix any nerve damage."Emily nodded apprehensively.
"His arm will be delicate and will need to take precautions for at least six weeks, but after he has regained basic motor control back in his arm, I'm positive he will make a full recovery given time."
She sighed in relief, "thank you" watching through the glass window at her son, being set up by nurses as he lay unconscious strapped to a monitor.
A senior nurse came out through the door as they finished his set up. "You can go in now, he won't be awake for a while, but you can sit with him."
Emily nodded proceeding to enter, but stopped as she touched the door, turning around promptly to the doctor.
"Do you by chance know what he was doing?"Her eyes filled with sorrow and pain.
Dr Cartwright scratched his head, "Uh, how about we sit down first," Leading Emily with a gesture to a bench a few feet away. "Ben was admitted with a young man, I can't give out his name, but what he told me was that they were exploring in a sunken warship when the beam of wood came collapsing down, not surprisingly, it must have been centuries old, does that sound familiar to you?"
Emily's head dropped, "Yes...yes, that sounds exactly like him," Shaking her head.
"I'll let you be, but if you have any concerns I'll be here all night."
Emily gave a half-hearted sigh, "Patrick, what have you done...? And rose to enter Ben's room.
She had never seen Ben in such a condition before, so helpless, when normally he would be the hero of any situation, never allowing himself to be injured to such an extent. No he was the one who looked after others, not the other way around.
Her eyes began tearing as she sat beside him on a chair, her hands covering his right and undamaged hand, hanging her head covering his hand on her face. He was her world; she couldn't bear to see another loved one gone, in pursuits of this treasure. Eventually tired from her worries she fell asleep at his side with her head lightly resting on her left arm crossed over on the bed, not wanting to leave her son alone.
Patrick, who had been informed shortly after Emily, arrived at this point. Looking through the glass window, he could see his son in the hospital bed, an arm cast in a sling, fresh from surgery. It was at this moment he saw Emily for the first time in 28 years. Though physically older than their last encounter, he could still see the beauty in her face, making his heart skip a beat. She looked so fragile, so exhausted; Patrick began to feel the guilt he carried for his own actions in the past, but even more so, now that his only son had reverted to the same mistakes he made. He risked it all for the treasure, his youth, his marriage, his family and now his son. Looking upon Emily holding Ben's hand in hers in support, he could not help but realize where he stood. Emily was the one who was always there for him and where was he? Cavorting off at the first chance he could.
Patrick stopped a nearby attending, Dr Cartwright. "Excuse me, my son Ben Gates" he gestured to the room "I'd like to know how he is doing?"
You must be Patrick Gates I presume."
"Yes."
"He's in a stable condition now, he still hasn't woken up from surgery yet, the anaesthesia mustn't have worn off yet, but he is doing fine. You're welcome to go in." he reached for the door, instantly
Patrick responded "No...That's alright...he needs his rest...They both do," Looking at them through the glass window.
Dr Cartwright gave as sympathetic pat on the shoulder and carried on. He could not build up the courage to enter. They say wisdom comes with age, and so perhaps Patrick had eventually learnt a thing or two about his past regrets, gazing upon his son and Ex-wife one more time, thinking of what could have been, but never was...
