A/N: I decided that Thursday was an odd day to be updating, so Wednesday's going to be the day I update this story. I'm not prejudice against Thursday, promise, I just decided Wednesday would better suit my impatient purposes, lol. Also, I'm not a medical doctor, I'm not any kind of doctor, and I'm definitely not THE Doctor. So if I have some medical junk slightly off, I apologize. Don't hate me for my lack of information. I did try to be as accurate as I could, though. :D
Thanks to Dave Piella, BlueEyes444, and MCR-1993 for reviewing chapter one! Please enjoy chapter 2 and don't forget to REVIEW! :)
The Ghost of Emerson Campus
Chapter Two
Nancy paced the waiting room floor restlessly."Nancy, please calm down," begged Bess. She and George had accompanied Nancy and the paramedics (who, of course, had Ned) to the hospital.
"Yeah," agreed George, "you're going to wear a hole in the floor and then someone will fall in it, and-"
Nancy smiled slightly. "I'm sorry, Bess, George," she muttered. "It's just-I'm so worried about Ned." Tears filled her eyes but she mangaged to keep her voice steady.
"Don't worry," comforted Bess. "He'll be fine." She paused, then asked, "Have you gotten ahold of his parents yet?"
"Yes, and Dad too." Carson Drew was a tall, handsome lawyer who was always there for his only daughter. "They said the'll be here as soon as possible...I didn't tell them the whole story...Mrs. Nickerson will hate me after she finds out what I did to Ned."
"Nancy!" said George, with such ferocity that Nancy looked up, suprised. "I have never seen you break down like this. Ned has gotten into scrapes before. You and I both know he'll be fine."
"Yes, but I was the cause..I did it."
"You most certianly did not," said Bess defiantly.
"It's just...Mrs. Nickerson was so terribly worried about Ned."
As if on cue, the E.R. doors swung open and Mr. and Mrs. Nickerson, Ned's parents, and Carson Drew, along with the motherly houskeeper, Hannah Gruen rushed into the waiting room. Nancy hurried to meet them."How is he?" Ned's mother inquired. Her eyes were red and her voice shook with emotion.
"I don't know. We haven't heard anything yet," Nancy replied. Her guilty concsience bothered her and she suddenly burst out, "Oh, I'm so sorry! It's all my fault!
"The three adults sat down in the hard chairs alongside the girls, and Nancy related the full story to them. "I'm sorry," she repeated in conclusion. "I don't know what came over me...I normally don't freak out like that, but when I saw his car coming at me I was rooted to the spot."
Mr. Nickerson smiled sadly, bravely. "No dear, it was not your fault. Anyone would have reacted like that. Ned won't blame you either."
Despite the man's comforting, and her father's arm around her shoulder, and Hannah's patting her knee, Nancycould not stop worrying. Her heart only beat faster with dread, excitement, and anticipation as a nurse poked her head in and said, "Who in here is with Ned Nickerson?"
Immediately Nancy, Bess, George, Mr. and Mrs. Nickerson, Mr. Drew, and Hannah stood nursesmiled slightly. "My, Mr. Nickerson must be popular."
"Yes...is he okay?" the boy's mother asked fearfully.
"Let's go in the back and talk," the nurse suggested, glancing aroundat the curiouseyes that were scaning the large group in the crowded waiting room.
"Lead the way," said Mr. Drew simply.
The nurse did just that. She did not speak until they came to a small, empty examining room. Then she said, "Well, I'm sure you're all anxious to see how he's doing. Ned is going to be fine, but it'll take a while to recover." She took a deep breath, then continued. "He is in a coma right now, but it isn't severe. The doctor is sure he'll wake up in three days at the most. He has four broken ribs, a small concussion, and a broken leg." She smiled sadly, and said to the anxious group, "But I'm afraid he won't be playing football anytime soon."
At that moment, another nurse rushed into the room. "Are you the family of Mr. Nickerson?"
"Yes, what's wrong?" Ned's father inquired hastily."He's slipped deeper into the coma and his pulse is slowing down. The doctor is afraid he's suffering from more internal injuries than the Catscan picked up. We're putting him on a ventelator for breathing, and when he becomes stable enough, an MRI will be necessary."
The group sat in stunned filled Nancy's eyes and the floor seemed to waver. She blacked out and pitched forward, not aware of her father's strong arms catching her and the cries of alarm from her friends. Her last conscious thought was, "Oh, Ned...what have I done?"
A/N: Again, I say, I am not a doctor so I'm not entirely sure how this stuff goes. But I gave it my best shot! :) Please REVIEW and I'll update next Wednesday! :D
~Emachinescat ^..^
