Chapter Two

"Ali just called," Fiona said when Eli and Clare walked back into the waiting room, "She's about an hour away. Bianca should be here soon. We still haven't heard anything."

"When will we get some fucking answers around here!" Eli turned and slammed his fist into the wall of the waiting room, "I am sick of just waiting around!"

"Eli," Audra stood from the gaudy, plaid chair, "We are all frustrated, alright? My…baby could die today. My baby is in pain. My baby was tortured, beaten, raped, and mutilated. My baby! The doctors know what they are doing. They are doing all the can."

"Why don't you come sit down," Fiona patted the empty seat next to her, "Please, Eli."

He looked towards Clare, and didn't really know why. After she nodded, then he went over to Fiona and slumped down into the empty chair. He ran his hands through his long brown hair, which Clare noticed had grown out quite a bit. It almost looked as it had when they had first met. She tried not to think about that, though. Right now, she needed to focus on Adam. She wouldn't let her past with Eli take away from where they were.

Fiona placed a gentle hand on Eli's back, and began to rub. Clare picked up her suitcase from the floor, and went to sit next to Drew. He had his head in his hands, and was slumped over, practically falling to the floor from his chair.

Clare felt a little lost. She longed to have Ali there with her. Ali was her biggest support, her shoulder to cry on. She needed her now more than ever. Clare picked at the polish on her fingernails – a habit whenever she was upset or nervous about something. She couldn't believe that this was happening. Everything felt like a horrible nightmare, and she longed to wake up. She begged to wake up. Please, God – wake me up. Make this end.

Fiona's touch was comforting, and Eli couldn't help but relax under her hand. She always knew just how to soothe him – rather it was with a back rub, the best liquor money could buy, a campy horror movie marathon…she always could cheer him up. But this was different. This wasn't like his typical problems – his play being poorly reviewed in the paper, a flat tire – this was serious. This was Adam.

Eli winced at the very thought of what Adam had endured, and was enduring. The nightmare he must have experienced…Eli wanted to throw up. Ever since he had met Adam – all those years ago – he felt as though they had a connection. Adam was his rock. His voice of reason when he went manic. His cheerful smile when he was depressive. Adam made Eli feel as if the world still had some good in it. Now…he just didn't know.

The doors swung open, and a woman in a pair of nice paints and button down blouse walked in. She ran a hand through her curly black hair with red highlights, and scanned the waiting room. All this seemed to be a figment of her imagination, until she walked into the waiting room. Then it became reality.

"Bianca," Audra stood from her seat.

"Hello, Audra," Bianca hugged the woman she had come to love as her own mother, "I am so sorry I couldn't make it sooner. I caught the first flight from L.A last night. Do we know anything yet?"

Drew sat up and Clare saw his eyes for the first time since she had arrived. They were red, and he had stains from his tears streaking his cheeks. Adam was his brother. All throughout high school, he was supposed to look out for, and protect Adam. He had gotten annoyed with it sometimes, and now he felt guilt and regret. He should have looked out for him better. He should have been a better brother.

"Hi, Drew," Bianca blushed. He didn't say anything, but nodded to her. They hadn't spoken since the divorce, and it was clear that her presence there affected him.

Audra noticed the tension, and pulled Bianca under her arm, "Come sit with me, baby. The doctors haven't really told us much. Adam was beaten so badly that he's in surgery now. They kicked him in the head and caused…they caused a blood vessel to burst in his brain. The neurosurgeon is clamping it now…but there's still so much damage. So many….so many broken bones," Audra shivered at the thought, "And…they mutilated him, Bianca. They…raped my baby."

"No," Bianca's voice rose an octave, "No…Audra…no!"

"The police are working on it now," Drew spoke up for the first time, "There was an eyewitness who called the cops. They are speaking with her now."

"I guess that's good...that someone was there to see...to identify these...these monsters," Bianca looked around the room, "The gang is all here, huh?"

"Ali is on her way," Clare spoke up, "But she'll be here soon."

Bianca nodded, "Adam would like this," she said, "All of us being here. He'd like it a lot."

"He'd be glad that we all aren't trying to kill each other," Fiona smiled a sly smile, and Clare could see despite the smile, that there were still tears in her eyes.

"Adam is more important than the drama," Eli chewed at the bottom of his lip. It was a bad habit of his, and Clare knew that on occasion, he could make himself bleed, "I am just glad we are all here. Bianca is right. Adam would like this."

The door swung open again, and a doctor in green scrubs appeared. Everyone noticed the blood on his shirt, but no one said anything. Audra stood from her seat and made her way, as if in a trance, to the doctor. Drew stood up too, but seemed to be glued in place. Eli raised an eyebrow at the doctor, and Clare couldn't help but noticed how it seemed he was almost daring the doctor to bring them bad news.

Eli ran a hand through his hair, and raised his eyebrow, tell me anything I don't want to hear, I dare you. Tell me he's gone, and I will murder you.

"Adam Torres' family?" The doctor addressed the waiting room; everyone nodded, "The clamp is on. We got to the aneurysm just in time. Some of the ER doctors have been busy stitching up the wounds and we have a proctologist on his way. Though the surgery was a success, the other medical problems are still quite prevalent. Adam is still on a breathing machine. His lungs have been severely damaged due to the crushing of his ribs. His jaw is completely shattered. He is still in a coma…but my team and I…we are doing all we can."

"It's not enough," Eli grumbled.

Fiona placed a hand on his knee, and he seemed to gain a better control on his anger. He clamped his mouth shut, locking up the words he so desperately wanted to say.

"A coma?" Drew asked, "How…how long will that last?"

"Sometimes comas can last a few days, weeks, months, or years," the doctor said, honestly, "There's just no way to tell right now. Maybe he will be stable enough to remove the breathing tube, maybe not. It's way too early to tell. If you need anything, just ask for Doctor Abrahams."

"Thank you, Doctor," Audra shook his hand before he headed back out.

Eli had tried to keep his mouth shut, he really did. He wanted to keep his emotions at bay, but this was just too much. Why couldn't the doctors just give a straight answer? Would Adam die, or wouldn't he? Eli couldn't stand the waiting. He couldn't stand the uncertainty. He couldn't stand how all of this was happening. He jumped up from his seat and began to pace around the room.

"No," Eli ran a hand through his hair, "No! He doesn't get to do this again. He doesn't get to take someone else from me. If he does, he can get off his fucking ivory throne and go to hell."

"Eli!" Fiona gasped, and Clare felt as though someone had just shoved a blade into her heart. It hurt her so much to see him this way – to see him so angry and filled with such hatred. But what could she do? She had no right to go and comfort him. She had no right to try and console him. It wasn't her place anymore.

"If he wants someone so badly," Eli continued, "He can have me. If he wants to take more people away, he can fucking take me. Not Adam. Anyone but Adam!"