Italics are for narrator.

Out of Surgery:

"So what do we do now that we have all this information about Cory? I mean we really can't do anything without knowing what to do first," Faith finished.

Everyone was trying to figure out what to do when Maria looked up & saw the doctor come out of the double doors to the O.R. She handed Cheyenne over to Kim, stood up, and walked over to the doctor to ask about me. She took one look back and disappeared into another room with him. All the while, everyone was waiting to hear the news about me. When Maria sat down in the room with the doctor, she knew something was wrong before he even began to speak.

"As you know, Cory had been shot 15x in her chest & abdomen and her heart was starting to fail her. We were able to extract all 15 bullets from Cory's chest & abdomen. However, we haven't been able to find her a suitable heart with the same blood type as she has. We had a choice to put her into a drug induced coma but when we were told her condition already we knew that that was unnecessary. Your friend had already slipped into a coma by the time she came up to surgery," he paused to let everything sink in and Maria flipped out on him.

"Why are you pausing? I don't need any of this to sink in. Do you think this is the first time any of this has happened? Because if you do, you are seriously out of whack. This is definitely not the first time that this has happened. Now get on with what you were saying."

"Alright, no need to get in my face about it. Most people need time to adjust to the news about a loved one. Now, in order for her to be okay, she needs to wake up on her own accord. If she doesn't wake up within the next couple days, she may never wake up. As requested, Dr. Andrews will have nothing at all to do with Cory's case, even though he is the best cardiologist that we have here at Mercy. Cory will be on twenty-four hour watch from here on out. She will also get her own set of security guards around the clock. The guards will have a list of people that are able to go in and out. As well as a list of all the doctors, nurses, and medical staff we have employed at the hospital. If there are any questions just ask. Now, I've been told that she has a daughter. How are you going to break the news to her about her mother?"

Maria looked at him as if he had gone insane. It was like he hadn't been told who all was in the apartment during the shooting. It was like he hadn't paid attention if/when he had been told. Maria was appalled, but she responded to his answer with a forced smile on her face.

"She was in the apartment when the shooting happened. She is fully aware of what is going on, bullets and heart and all. Now if you'll excuse me, I think Cheyenne would like to see her mother. Which room is Cory in?"

"She's in room 421. I'll see to it that Cheyenne and you are put on the list."

Dr. Roberts stood up and left the room. He headed toward the nurses station. Meanwhile, Maria composed herself and wiped her tears away. Standing up, she left the small room, went over to where everyone was waiting, picked Cheyenne up, and said, "Let's go see mommy, okay." Cheyenne nodded and clung to Maria. Before leaving the waiting room, she told them what room I was in. When Maria got to Rm.421, she opened the door and slipped into the room. Maria slipped gently into one of the chairs next to my bed, and held my hand.