I'm not much of a writer, but something about POI compels me to try this. Appreciative of any and all critiques. Don't know how long this will end up- just know there will be several chapters.
Voices, indistinct mixed with beeping invaded Shaw's consciousness. Gradually awareness returned. She was back in Samaritan's clutches and Greer was hovering over her, leering. He opened his mouth…..
"Ms. Shaw, can you hear me?"
Definitely not Greer's voice, unless the old bastard had a sex change after he died that day in Samaritan's belly. Sameen opened her eyes to a light shining into her face, temporarily blinding her.
"Get that light out of my eyes."
Shaw looked up into the face of… what did she say her name was? Stilman… no Tillman, that was it. She's a doctor and Gen…. wait- Root!?
"Doc I think you'd better explain yourself. If I remember correctly you just told me Root was alive? That better not be your idea of a joke because…."
"I don't joke about my patients Ms. Shaw, but we have not finished your briefing- and we will before we go any further into your friend's status. You absolutely need to know what you and she are facing before this session is over.
"First and foremost, yes Ms. Groves is alive. However, her condition is still critical and in no way is she totally out of danger. However the same systems that mysteriously led me to this facility and this opportunity have determined that her odds of survival have improved to the level that you needed to be appraised of her survival and her status."
Sameen's mind reeled as she attempted to process the doctor's words. Root is alive! Her stomach was churning and she still felt light-headed but.. Root is alive! The words kept ringing in her ears as she attempted to sit up only to be gently, but firmly held down by Dr. Tillman.
Root is alive!
"Talk to me doc, please- oh and can I get up? I promise not to drop again." Shaw felt a momentary tinge of embarrassment which disappeared almost instantly as she processed the doctor's words.
"Slowly, Ms. Shaw, please. I think we can let you get up as long as you sit over there (the doctor indicated a recliner five feet from the gurney Shaw currently occupied) while I explain a few things to you. This is a complex situation and you need to be aware of the activities of the past few months, the current situation and the dangers that may still lie ahead."
Sameen's eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she quietly asked, "Can I see her?"
"Of course Ms. Shaw but a few things need to be covered before. Your medical training is a plus here because I don't need to go into as much detail to warn you of the dangers that still face Ms. Groves.
"When I arrived here facilities were state of the art however the entity that convinced me to come had several strange requests for additions to our hospital. This was before I knew of your group's war with Samaritan- which by the way I'd like to know more about.
"We built several operating theaters with equipment that made this unique in the entire country. While many hospitals have different specialties, ours became the state of the art facility for any and all traumatic care. We were the equivalent of a MASH unit on steroids, theoretically capable of putting Humpty-Dumpty back together again if the need arose.
"We were tested to the limits of our capabilities with Ms. Groves case. I was flown to New York a couple of weeks before her incident…."
"Her death, you mean." Shaw interrupted.
"Well, yes but only technically. I later found out events were in such a state of flux that no one knew if we'd get any patients, who said patient or patients might be, and what type of injuries they would be facing.
"When Ms. Groves came in, her injuries were grave. Her blood loss and traumatic organ damage gave us less than a 5% chance of getting her through the first 48. There was an additional complication that dramatically decreased her odds though. When she arrived at the hospital I was instructed to put your friend into a medically-induced coma with a specific drug that simulated death for a limited time.
"I barely had time to cool her body down, giving us a chance to save her brain, when she was taken away to be identified as deceased by a detective who'd been sent over to check on her status. Fifteen minutes later I had to reverse the effects of that drug and induce another coma with a drug that was less likely to make her death a reality. Then the battle for her life began."
"Wait," Shaw interrupted, "why did you have to simulate her death? That makes no sense whatsoever."
"Ms. Shaw, I argued that fact from the moment I was told it was going to be done. You see I knew in advance how this was to happen from specific instructions I received from Ms. Groves herself on video."
"What? Root sent you a video? And told you to kill her?" Shaw's expression darkened, then confusion replaced anger as she asked the obvious question.
"Why?"
"Why indeed Ms. Shaw. I've been able to put together an operating theory over the last few months but I don't really know much. And she didn't actually tell me to 'kill' her, just left instructions that if it was her coming in with severe injuries, she was to be listed as deceased and we were to do everything with the 'fact' of her death preeminent. In other words she had to appear dead before we could do anything to save her."
"It doesn't make sense", Shaw was trying to process everything and make sense of the insane. "So what is this 'operating theory' of yours?"
"It appears, Ms. Shaw, that your friend was trying to influence the behavior of another person or organization with her death. She apparently believed, and still believes, that the only way to do this was for her to die. One of the last things she said in the video I received was 'Harry won't set her free.' Was someone she knew holding another captive?"
Processing the data she'd been given, Shaw tried to make sense of Dr. Tillman's words…. then her face lit up with understanding.
Finch- she played you! But at what cost?
"Ms. Shaw?"
"Doctor I think Root was rolling the dice- taking one last gamble that our 'war' as you called it could still be won. And amazingly, the nerd was right. Shit! Root, couldn't you have found another way?"
"Ms. Shaw," the doctor repeated, "could you enlighten me?"
"My story may be as long and complicated as yours doc and I'll tell you what I know. But first, do you think I could see my friend?" Shaw's expression went to unreadable, but not before a split second of such longing and despair that a light went on for Dr. Tillman.
"She's more than a friend isn't she Ms. Shaw?"
Shaw stared at the doctor for a few seconds (an eternity) then blinked away tears.
"She's my life, doc and I never told her… the last six months have been me trying to passively commit suicide because I lost her and I never told her what she was to me and how I felt about her. You're telling me my life's not over and it's a little hard to process but I'm trying.
"So can I please see my friend?"
"Of course we'll go over to her suite but after the shock you've had, I'd like to get a wheelchair for you."
"Oh no doc, I'm no wallflower- I'll walk."
…..
The walk (plus an elevator ride) took less than ten minutes- an eternity to Shaw. Through two secured doors plus another retinal scan to get access to the elevator, the group approached an alcove with three doors (left, right and center). As Dr. Tillman reached for the left door Sameen felt a rush of light-headedness and reached out her hand to stop the doctor.
"Are you alright Ms. Shaw?"
"Just give me a second. I'll be ok."
Seconds later, Shaw nodded at the doctor who pushed the door open. Taking a deep breath she followed Dr. Tillman into the room.
At first glance Sameen wasn't sure she was in the right room. Under a thin blanket laid a figure that Shaw was sure was a young child- no more than 80 pounds. As she approached the bed shock crept over her features: the figure in the bed looked like Root only a deceased Root. Deathly pale, skin so tight on her face, dark almost black circles under her eyes, Root reminded Shaw of pictures she'd seen in history books of the victims of the Holocaust (victims not survivors). Tears once again filled Sameen's eyes as she stared helplessly at her... well yes, her love.
Get a grip Shaw- sniveling won't help.
"If this is improved to the point you think I should be allowed in the loop, I can't imagine what she used to look like."
"Appearance notwithstanding Ms. Shaw the real issue has been the catastrophic damage to her organs. We removed her spleen, agonized over a lacerated kidney which looks like it will heal and re-inflated her lung three times before it stabilized. And those were just the prelims for her heart failing."
Shaw blanched- "Her heart?...Her heart is failing?"
"Oh no Ms. Shaw not failing- failed. Nine weeks ago Ms. Groves received a heart transplant. She's tolerated it as well as we could have hoped but it's contributed to what you see before you.
"Ms. Groves has been through trauma that very few if any could survive. That she has so far is a testament to her strength. We are at a crossroads in her treatment however and your presence may be what's needed to nudge her back from the brink."
"What can I do?"
"Ms. Groves appears to be stabilizing and physically recovering from her injuries. The coma, unfortunately is something entirely different. Comas are funny things- most medically induced are relatively benign as long as the reason for inducing can be successfully dealt with.
"This medically induced coma has unique markers which moved us into territory more resembling the comas resulting from traumatic brain injuries. Unfortunately, the combination of drugs I gave Ms. Groves to successfully stage her death and the ones we used after to put in into a 'safer' comatose state have had side-effects that resemble Anoxic Brain Injury. This type of coma results from oxygen deprivation to the brain which absolutely happened in her case.
"The negative prognoses for her type of condition, understanding that there are no guidelines for dealing with what we put her through, are potential brain damage, persistent vegetative state and death. These aren't certain, just possible negative outcomes.
"Here's what she has going for her: her age, the relatively short time the brain was without oxygen and the cooling we started before the first induction. While we are in uncharted territory, there are potential positive outcomes if we can first get our patient to emerge from her comatose state. That's where you come in."
"As I said doctor, what can I do?"
"There have been instances, actually quite frequently, where comatose individuals take extended time emerging from their comas. Often those individuals report being aware of their surroundings and can even remember entire conversations that took place in their proximity. On rare occasions, patients even remember friends and loved ones communicating directly with the patient while comatose and, even more rarely, there are indications that these communications have aided in the recovery process.
"Knowing you are Ms. Groves' friend I assumed you should be brought here and brought up to speed on her situation so you could be encouragement for her- companionship, conversation etc. Now I'm thinking you may be able to do and be more- maybe even her reason to return.
"There's so much we don't know about comas but medicine has come to realize there is more to the recovery process than simple physical rehabilitation at times. There have been too many "hopeless" cases that became full recoveries with the only explanation being the love and support of the victim's family and friends.
"Ms. Groves needs you to be her friend Ms. Shaw. Now that I know more about your relationship I should add, she may very well need you to be her love as well."
Sameen had spent part of Dr. Tillman's synopsis blinking away tears. Now in the silence that followed she approached Root's bed and reached out and took her lifeless hand. Shaw fought the shudder that threatened her- the hand felt cold and stiff- cadaver-like. Slowly, tenderly, Shaw leaned over and brushed Root's cheek with her lips, A stray tear spilled off her cheek landing on Root's chin.
"I can do that doctor," she said softly, "I can do that."