Kind of a short and boring chapter full of background info and the like....
After two more days in the intensive care wing (most of which I slept through) I was moved to a recovery room for the remainder of my stay. Andrea, of course, was my most frequent visitor coming everyday and even staying overnight when she was able to. The rest of my visitors comprised of my other friends from school and my mother. She wasn't able to come see me until after I'd been moved because of her work schedule, but she'd called me every night since I'd first arrived at the hospital.
My mother and I were close. Ever since my dad died we'd been pretty inseparable. She needed me for support so I stuck around, and because of that she quickly became my rock. Up until "the accident" I had been the definition of a daddy's girl, and he had spoiled me like no father could. As a kid I was into sports and more outdoorsy kinds of activities. Mom worked late nights at the local hospital, so my dad was my chauffeur. His death ripped a piece out of me that I was pretty sure I'd never be able to replace. Softball games and camping trips just weren't the same without him and never would be. I buried my dreams of becoming a cop along with my daddy, and quit my teams so I could spend more time with my mom. Or at least that's what I told myself. Truthfully I knew it was so I wouldn't have to think about him.
The first few years of school were tough. Since I hadn't been doing anything but academics for most of my high school career, I got a full ride to NYU for biology. Friends were scarce the first year of college, but by the middle of my sophomore year I'd met Andrea and she'd let me into her group of friends, most of which were studying to become doctors. At the time I was struggling to decide what I wanted to do since all I'd ever wanted to do was become a cop, but I knew I couldn't go through with it without my dad there with me. A doctor was my next best option. By working in a lab I could work in the field I'd dreamed of since I was a little girl, but I could stay behind the scenes. The more I played with the idea the more I liked it, so -with a little motivation from my new friends- I completed my degree at NYU. Our graduation had been just a little over two months prior, and I'd already sent in my application for review at the M.E's office. I hadn't heard anything back from them, but I hoped that, with the detective's help, I might have found my way in.
Once I'd been through the majority of my physical training and was well on the road to a full recovery, I was sent home to mine and Andrea's apartment. My first night back was low key. My mother stayed the night since she'd be leaving in the morning and didn't want to book a hotel room, but the next night Andrea threw a coming home party for me. The guest list was comprised of myself, Andrea, our friends Jackie and Lex with their boyfriends Aaron and Drew, and a few other people I knew from school but wasn't that well acquainted with. Andrea was a socialite and I had a hard time convincing her that ten people would be enough for a party.
"Are you sure everyone will have someone to talk to?" She asked me anxiously as we set out dishes of chips and veggies along with a variety of dips and other appetizers. "I tried to invite people I thought would get along well. Carrie can pretty much talk to anyone. I dunno about Nick, but I guess he'll find someone. I can always chat with him if he looks lonely. Maybe I should introduce you guys again. You're both the quiet type."
"Andy." I interrupted her quickly before she tried to play matchmaker again. "I'm plenty content with sitting around on my ass watching people chat amongst themselves, you know that. I know that sounds boring, but I know I'm gonna pass out before everyone leaves. I'm tired already." I punctuated this last statement with a well-timed yawn. "Seriously."
Andy laughed and left the living room to go rummage around in the fridge. She came back out carrying a bottle of wine and a stack of cups. "Oh Maddie I love you. I don't know why you put up with me and my silly parties anyways."
"Me neither most of the time." I grinned, "They keep my life interesting at least. I'd be a hermit without you and your crazy parties." I reached across the small table in the front room and gave her a hug. "Thank you for doing this for me. Even though I complain you know way down deep I do actually enjoy these things."
"I know. That's why they still happen." She replied attempting to arrange the many bowls and plates on the table to accommodate her cups. "Run into the kitchen will you, and see if that little table is still behind the fridge?"
I laughed, and with a fake sigh of exasperation went off in search of the small folding table.
About an hour or two into the party, I found myself sitting on the front room couch, squished between Jackie and Andrea while listening to Aaron talk animatedly about some fishing trip he'd gone on with his father. I knew it was supposed to be a funny story, but I could barely keep my eyes open long enough to keep track of the dialogue. After my one hundredth gigantic yawn, Jackie finally nudged me from her seat next to me and asked how I was doing.
"Alright." I replied after I'd received a sufficient amount of oxygen. "About to pass out though...."
"We're keeping you up, aren't we?" She said squeezing my shoulders affectionately. "Go get some sleep. Andrea will hold down the fort."
"I know she will." I laughed. "You think it's ok though? No one will mind?"
"They won't." She reassured me and pushed me off the couch. "Off to bed you poor thing."
I suppressed another yawn as I shuffled my way to my room making sure to say goodnight to everyone I could.
"Ah sleep...." I mumbled sitting down carefully on the edge of my bed. It still hurt a bit to bend over so I kicked off my shoes with my feet and curled up without even bothering to undress. I'd change in the morning.
Just as I was about to doze off, however, the blaring ring of the phone jarred me awake.
"God dammit." I groaned pulling a pillow over my head. That didn't help though, and two seconds later I heard Andrea yell at me that I had a phone call. I groped around for the phone next to my bed and answered it sleepily.
"Mom?" I asked since she was the only one who actually called our apartment number. An answering chuckle told me just how wrong my guess was.
"Not quite." A masculine voice laughed, and I inwardly smacked myself. "Detective Flack. We talked at the hospital."
"Oh yeah. Hey." I groaned quietly and tried to wake myself up. Of course he would call right when I reached the point of incoherency. I prayed he wouldn't notice.
"Did I wake you up?" There was probably a reason he was a detective.
"No, no. Hadn't fallen asleep yet it's 'k. Did you.... need something?" I winced as I attempted to sit up, but my aching chest muscles resisted.
"Yeah, listen. I know you just got out of the hospital and all, but we just got hold of someone who may be able to give us a lead to those guys at the diner, and we're gonna follow up on it. We need you to come in to do an identity confirmation if possible."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah whenever's good. Tomorrow afternoon should be fine with us."
"Alright yeah I can do that."
"Kay great. See you then."
And with a click he was gone. Fortunately I didn't have much time to think about my embarrassing excuse for a conversation, because a few seconds later I was out like a light. If everything worked out alright, I'd have a chance to redeem myself tomorrow.
