Quinn felt like she was going to die. She was in the hospital's bathroom trying to calm down but she felt like she couldn't breathe. It was a madhouse here but the only thing she could think about was her sister lying helpless on an operating table.
It was all her fault. As captain, she was supposed to know everyone's strengths & weaknesses. She was supposed to know if anyone got the bright idea to drop someone else. She was supposed to know!
If Marcy died… Quinn stopped. Her heart beat erratically & her breath actually stilled. She clutched her chest as physical pain threatened to undo her. No! She can't die!
Marcy & Mike were twins. Everybody knew that. Marcy & Mal were soulmates. Everybody knew that. Marcy & Marc were pigs, Marcy & Mercedes looked the same, Marcy & Laura was commanding. Everybody knew that. But she & Quinn were alike in temperament. Everybody should know that.
They mocked people alike, they snarked alike, they had icy exteriors alike. They kept people at an arms length & made people feel unworthy alike.
Quinn blew on her cold hands. She couldn't seem to get warm or stop shaking. She needed to so she could go back out into the waiting room but she could feel herself losing it. She needed a Xanax or cocaine or a drink. Anything! What she really needed was for her sister to open those big green eyes & narrow them. For this morning to rewind & be able to warn her.
But it was too late for that now.
Quinn turned when the door opened. She didn't want to see anyone. She didn't know how she'd be able to not snap on an innocent stranger if they asked her if she was alright. Because she wasn't.
"Quinn?" Maddie's voice was small & Quinn let out a sigh of relief.
"Yeah. Do you have to use the bathroom?"
Maddie shook her head slowly. Tears welled in her eyes & she rushed into Quinn's arms. "Marc & Laura are here. Mercy sent me to find you."
Quinn picked her up & burrowed her face in her silky hair. "Okay. Let's go back."
"Q?"
Quinn let go of the door handle. "Yes?"
"Will Marcy-? Is she gonna-?" Maddie began shaking uncontrollably.
Quinn rubbed her back & prayed she wouldn't finish that sentence. "No. I promise; she is going to wake up. Everything is going to be fine. Do you trust me?"
Maddie nodded.
"Good girl. Let's go back to the waiting room."
