Author's Note: Chapter 9 is here and its a LONG one! You will recognize some of this chapter's events from Season 3, Episode 9, "Suffragette City". One of Auggie's monologues is almost word for word what Auggie said in the show, I couldn't not use this awesome moment. I've significantly changed the events that occurred with Lena (hope you guys don't mind). The action sequence disappoints me, I could not get it right. Please enjoy this chapter and review if you have time. I'd love to hear your likes/dislikes about the story so far. Thank you to those that have reviewed, your encouragements are keeping the story going!
As always, I do not own Covert Affairs or any of its characters.
Auggie got to the hospital in record time. The entire ride over he could only think of Annie and what these "complications" could possibly be. Did she loose too much blood? Did an organ start to fail? Was she going to be completely paralyzed? Had they discovered more damage than they originally thought? Did her heart give out? Did they lose her on the table?
The possibilities were driving him mad. He was getting more worked up and anxious by the second. By the time he finally arrived at the hospital, he was close to a panic attack. The only thing that kept him from completely losing it was the fact that if he allowed himself to go there, he would not be allowed to see her. He had to stay strong for her. She needed him, now more than ever.
Upon entering the hospital he immediately went to the floor where Annie had been prior to surgery. He was certain that she could not possibly be there now. Probably in recover, he thought to himself. However, he needed to know where to go. The nurses knew him there and would be much more accommodating then someone else might be. Anxiously making his way through the halls and corridors of the hospital trying his best to concentrate on where he was going, Auggie did not want to get lost. That was all he needed right now- to get lost in this place and spend that much more time away from Annie.
Upon reaching the nurses station he was familiar with he went up to the desk. "Can I speak with Sarah please?" he asked as politely as he could expressing much more patience than he had.
"Sarah is on break right now, sir." An unknown nurse replied rather rudely.
"Okay, can you help me then? I'm here about Anne Walker." It sounded strange to him to use her given name instead of her nickname, but he was not sure if this nurse was familiar with Annie or not.
"Sir, I am not a doctor. Only the doctor can give you an update." Again, the nurse was being extremely rude and it took all that was in Auggie not to respond the same way.
Taking a deep breath before responding, "Can you please tell her doctor that Auggie is here? I was called and told I needed to come as soon as possible." Checking his watch, "That was 48 minutes ago. I got here as quickly as I could. Now, please, I need to know what is going on with Annie."
Auggie was on the verge of losing his cool. This nurse was being supremely unhelpful. The waiting was not something he had expected. After all, they had called him. He heard the unnamed nurse leave, hopefully to go talk to Annie's doctor on his behalf. This was for sure one of those times he wished he could see what was going on around him. He would go out in search for Annie's doctor himself if he thought for a second he wouldn't get lost along the way.
Auggie knew there was a waiting room near the nurse's station on this floor, but he was afraid if he did not stay where he was, the nurse would not come find him when she returned. So instead he waited. Waiting, with only his thoughts to keep him company, he tried to keep his thoughts on anything other than the mysterious complications that had occurred with Annie, but that was like asking a child not to think about their upcoming Disney World vacation. His mind again began to formulate question after question, 'what if' after 'what if'. As his heart began to pound in his chest and his breathing began getting weak he suddenly felt unsteady in his knees and feared he might collapse. In order to prevent this, he began slowly walking around the area he was standing and waiting in.
Walking slowly around the area, he began to count the number of steps it took him to get from the nurse's station to the restroom, from the nurse's station to the waiting room, and from the nurse's station to the hallway that lead to where Annie's room was. After what seemed like hours (and was only about fifteen or twenty minutes), Auggie heard the footsteps of what he hoped was the nurse that had just been, so unhelpfully, helping him.
As the person got closer he realized it was a man, wearing rather expensive cologne. The person stopped walking as Auggie approached the nurses' station again. "Mr. Anderson?" The person questioned. This was neither Sarah's voice nor the nurse who had been here earlier.
"Yes, I'm Mr. Anderson. Please call me Auggie" He stated toward the unnamed and completely unfamiliar voice.
"Good afternoon, I am Dr. Gold." Well, at least now he had a name to go with the voice.
"Good afternoon, Dr. I was expecting Dr. Weston" Auggie stated as he reached out his hand. The doctor shook Auggie's hand in greeting as he continued to talk.
"Auggie, I want to be as honest with you as I can. Would you mind if we went to sit down? I think you are going to want to as you hear what I have to say." At the sound of this Auggie thought he might be sick. He swallowed down the bile that threatened to come up and took a deep breath before answering.
"Lead the way doc." Was all he could manage to say. Panic again was slowly setting in and Auggie needed to concentrate on breathing.
As the doctor gently brushed his right hand against the back of Auggie's left hand. Auggie proceeded to run his hand up the doctor's arm to form the traditional sighted guide technique. Auggie was grateful that he did not need to explain how to do this to the doctor. As they walked through the corridors the doctor led him to what seemed like an office. He could hear the hum of a computer and ticking of the clock on the wall.
After they entered the room, the doctor placed his hand on the back of a leather backed chair.
"Please have a seat, Auggie. I will be as brief as possible, but I need to be thorough as well."
"Please doctor, go on, I've been racking my brain for the past hour or so with the possibilities of what is happening. I'm sure I've thought of a million worse things than what is actually going on."
"Auggie, I'm going to be blunt. Right now, Annie has not woken from surgery. We lost her twice on the table. Her heart was not as strong as we thought it was. There was more scar tissue around the bullet than we anticipated. We were able to remove the bullet fragments and stabilize her spine. She lost a lot of blood and had to have two blood transfusions. She is in ICU right now under strict supervision."
Auggie took a deep breath. It was worse than he feared and not as bad as he feared all at the same time. Annie made it through the surgery, but just barely. "Doc, how long before she wakes up? What about the paralysis? Did it get worse? Is there a possibility Annie walk again?" Auggie felt a catch in his throat as he said this last part. He hoped there was still a chance she could regain her mobility.
"Auggie, we do not know how long it will take her to wake up. Most patients awake up thirty to forty-five minutes after surgery. It has been almost an hour and a half for Annie and there has not been any sign of her waking up. As to her mobility, we do not know. Based on what I saw in the operating room, I would say three to five percent chance of her walking again. However, the body can surprise us. We will know more when she wakes up. Annie has a long recovery still ahead of her, but we hope this is the last surgery."
"So there is still a chance she could walk, it's not impossible?" Auggie asked swallowing the bile threatening to come up as he did.
"Auggie, we don't know. We don't want to say for certain that it is permanent, but the chances are very small. We don't want her to have false hope." Doctor Gold was being very understanding and patient with Auggie's questions.
Auggie sat there for a moment and thought. Annie had a chance. There was a chance she would walk again. This gave him a new found hope that he had not had before. Annie made it through surgery, now he just needed her to awake up. His biggest concern right now was her waking up. The question of why she wasn't waking still stuck in his mind, but right now he just wanted to be with her.
"Can I see her Doctor Gold? Can I be with her when she wakes up?" Auggie said in almost a whisper. He had made her a promise and he hoped he would be able to keep it.
"Visitors are not supposed to stay longer than a few minutes in intensive care units, but I think we can make an exception this time. I can take you there myself, unless you know your way."
For the first time since entering the hospital that day, Auggie smiled slightly. This doctor was not assuming he had to have assistance to get around. Much like Annie, he just offered the guidance as an option, but not a requirement. "Thank you doctor, I can get there alone, but will probably get there quicker if you could guide me there. I'd like to be with Annie as soon as possible. I have some things I need to say to her."
Auggie hears the doctor's chair move from behind the table they had been sitting at. Auggie stands up and waits for the doctor to initiate sighted guide. As they leave the room they had been in, Auggie feels relieved that he doesn't have to rely on the hospital signs or staff to find his way to the intensive care unit. While he could do it, he was certainly not in the mood to put forth the effort and concentration it would require.
Getting to Annie's room, Doctor Gold opened the door slowly. Auggie's senses were immediately assaulted by the smells of disinfectants and medications and the sounds of various machines all keeping Annie with him. "Auggie, I should tell you, we are very concerned about Annie's heart right now. We have to try to keep her calm and not let her get excited. I trust you can help with this? Her heart cannot take a lot of stress right now. She is on a lot of medications right now, some to ward off infection, pain medications, and anti anxiety medication. As a result, the anti-depressants she is taking might be counteracted. She might not be herself. The circumstances surrounding her injury are quite troubling. Please help her accept what had happened to her."
Auggie knew exactly what he was telling him. Auggie had been there himself. "I understand doctor."
Auggie heard the doctor starting to walk towards the door, "Doctor?" Auggie asked hesitantly.
"Yes, Auggie?" The doctor paused where he stood at the door and turned to face him.
"Doctor, what happens if she does not wake up? Is there anything you can do to help her wake up?" Auggie said quietly sitting in the chair beside Annie's bed with his elbows on his knees and hands folded under his chin.
Doctor Gold walked over to the chair where Auggie sat and placed his hand on Auggie's shoulder. "Auggie, you have to trust that Annie is strong enough to get through this. You can't give up on her, not now-not ever. She needs you. Yes, she is unconscious right now, but she won't be for much longer. We will do everything to help her, but ultimately it's up to her and her body. Hold her hand, talk to her, and believe that she will wake up."
Auggie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He knew the doctor was right. He had to believe she was strong enough to come back to him. "Thank you doctor." Auggie stated with new found positivity. He would help Annie through this. She would do the same thing for him. Heck, since Annie came into his life, he was a different person. He couldn't and wouldn't lose her.
"Call the nurse if you need anything. I will be back later this evening to check on Annie. If she wakes up, make sure you let a nurse know. The nurses will be coming in at least every thirty minutes to check on Annie's vital signs, check her medications, and try to wake her up."
As the doctor left, Auggie settled in the chair next to Annie's bed. This was a new room and Auggie was not familiar with it. Part of him wanted to explore it. He usually preferred to know where he was and what was around him. However, he knew there were a lot of machines and wires around the room; he couldn't take the chance of bumping anything and harming Annie.
Sitting there next to Annie, listening to the heart monitor steadily beep, he placed his hand on the bed and ran it on the bed until he found Annie's hand. Unfortunately it was also the hand with the IV line in it, he hope it was okay if it held it. He was not confident he could move the chair and himself to the other side of the bed without tripping over something. As he held her hand gently making sure not to touch the plastic tubing coming from her IV, he wanted to talk to her so bad right now. He had so much he needed to tell her. He decided now was a good time to see how it felt to say the words he wanted to say.
"Annie hey it's me, Auggie. You know the guy who gave you the Corvette. Since I have your undivided attention I'd like to share my thoughts about how Billy Collins' poetry is overrated and derivative. If you agree with this say absolutely nothing." He paused waiting for the reply that he knew would not come. Then laughed at himself and continued his monologue "The thing about this whole witty banter deal is it kinda takes two people otherwise it's just a guy by himself being incredibly clever." Suddenly his speech got a lot more serious and his tone changed. "I miss you, Annie. I have for a long time. Things have been different between us since Barcelona and it's all my fault. I have been closed off and distant and I can't tell you how sorry I am for that. I don't know if you can hear me but I need you to wake up. I know you're not a traitor and right now you're the only one that can help me help you. I need you, Annie. I never need anyone, but I need you."
Sitting there holding her hand Auggie was anxious. He just wanted her to wake up-just wanted her to be okay. Auggie reveled in the fact that there actually was a chance she might walk again. It was a small chance, but more of a chance then he had at ever seeing again. He could not wait to give her this news. He for sure was not going to make the same mistake he made last time he knew something about her physical health. He would tell her the moment she was awake and back to reality. This was news she would want to hear. Perhaps news that would bring the smile to her face that he had never seen, but always knew when it was there. As silly as it sounded, he missed the sound of her smile.
Lost in his own thoughts, he had not heard a nurse come into the room until her hand was on his shoulder. He startled at the unexpected touch that brought him out of his thoughts.
"Oh, sorry." The nurse stated. "I need to get to her IV in the hand you're holding. I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's okay. Happens more often then I'd care to admit." Auggie replied and smiled as the nurse laughed at his usual self deprecating joke. Auggie released Annie's hand and spoke to the nurse again. "Am I in the way of what you need to do? I can move to another place in the room if you tell me which way I can safely go without bumping into any of the delicate wires or machines around my friend here."
"No, you're fine. I just needed to get to Anne's IV right now. I'm just administrating her antibiotics. We don't want Annie to get an infection. If you need me to show you around the room and equipment, I don't mind accommodating." Auggie couldn't help but think this nurse who smelled of strong lavender was only offering because she thought she might have a shot with him. This was sure not the time or place for flirting.
"She likes to be called Annie, just so you know. Thank you for the offer; I am okay for now though." Auggie did want to know more about what was in Annie's room and how everything worked to help her recover, but right now, he just needed her to wake up. Then he had a thought. Putting on his most charming voice, he asked "I might need help later though, who should I ask for if I do?" he hated being looked at as someone who needed help, but he had to admit, there were times when he, in fact, did need someone's assistance. Annie was usually the person who did this for him, in her own way, effortlessly without him having to ask for the help and without making him feel helpless.
"My name is Debbie. My shift just started at 5. I will be here with you through the night. Dinner should be coming around in a few minutes. I will make sure you get a tray. We hope Anne, I mean, Annie wakes up soon. She was not responsive to my attempts to wake her this time. I'm finished with my work with her for now. Do you need anything?"
"No, I'm fine. I appreciate the offer of food." Auggie truly was grateful for the food that was coming soon. He realized as she spoke of food that he had not ate anything all day. He had been much too busy with seeing Annie off for surgery, heading to the office to work while Annie went under the knife, working for hours on clearing Annie's name, and finally rushing back to the hospital to discover that he had almost lost her and still might. He felt the day had drained him of both time and energy, even though it was only 6pm, he could sleep until morning if he let himself.
He heard Debbie leave. Later she came back with dinner showing him where the food was on a table in the corner of the room. As he allowed her to lead him to that side of the room he was careful to count the number of steps it took to get there. He also couldn't help, but notice that Debbie's perfume was stronger than it was before. She must have reapplied her perfume to impress him. He hated leading her on to think she had a chance, but it was just the way it was. Ladies love a blind man and it was a fact that he used to his advantage as often as necessary. Debbie left once again, leaving Auggie to enjoy his meal. He didn't want to be away from Annie, but he needed to keep himself strong.
After finishing his meal, he took out his cane and slowly made his way back to the chair next to Annie's bed. When Debbie came back he would need to ask him where the restroom was. Luckily he did not have to wait long. As she returned she was happy to help him find the bathroom. Much to his displeasure, she did not seem to want to simply tell him where it was, she wanted to show him. Again, he allowed her to. She seemed to think he "needed" her to help.
He was reluctant to leave, but really needed to use the facilities. On his way back to Annie's room, his phone rang. As the phone announced the caller, he immediately picked up. "Hello, Joan." He answered.
"Auggie how's Annie? I haven't heard from you, I've feared the worst."
"Sorry Joan, I forgot to call you. The bullet's fragments were removed from Annie's spine. She lost a lot of blood and her heart stopped twice. They got her back quick the first time, but the second time took longer. They are concerned about her heart right now." He paused and let what he said sink in before giving the final blow. "Joan, she has not awakened from surgery yet."
"What! You've been there for four hours Auggie. Anesthesia does not usually last that long after surgery does it?"
"No, not usually. They are not sure why it is taking so long for her to wake up. I'm concerned Joan. What if she doesn't wake up?"
"Auggie, you can't think like that." Joan had not heard him so pessimistic since after his own accident in Tikrit. At that time, the newly blind man had been very pessimistic about his disability. "You need to stay positive for yourself and her. You know you can't let yourself go down that path. I am almost there now, we need to discuss what I found today and create a game plan from there. I no longer have any doubt that Lena is behind all of this."
"Okay Joan, I will stay positive. Annie is in room 309 in the ICU. Get here safely. I will see you soon." Auggie once again was being reprimanded by someone for not being positive for Annie. What was wrong with him? Since he meant Annie, he was usually joking and happy around her. Now when she needed him most, he was flaking out on her. Auggie shook his head, she needed him and he knew it. With new found determination, he headed back to Annie's room. As he approached her room, he heard commotion from inside.
Quickening his pace, he passed the nurse's station. Hoping someone was there he said, "I need help in room 309, quickly." Someone must have been at the nurse's station because Auggie immediately heard the squeak of tennis shoes behind him heading toward Annie's room.
Annie slowly opened her eyes as she felt a tightening in her chest. Looking around the room she saw that she was alone. Where is Auggie? He promised me he would be here when I woke up. She began to panic. Suddenly, the door opened. As her vision gets clearer, she realizes too late that it is Lena who has entered her room. Before Annie could call out or fight her off, Lena had placed a pillow over her head and was pressing down.
Auggie threw the door open. Someone was in there other than Annie. The nurse behind him entered and what transpired next shook Auggie to the core. He couldn't see what was happening, but he could imagine it.
"What are you doing?" Debbie shouted to an unnamed, unseen person in the room. Unfortunately the guard had taken a fifteen minute break to get something eat. Usually there was a replacement when the guard left, but this time the replacement had been running late and no one thought anything about it.
As Auggie went to enter the room he felt Debbie crash into him. They both collapsed to the floor just outside the door of Annie's room. "What's going on?" Auggie questioned frantically trying to reorient himself as they disentangled themselves from each other.
"There's a dark haired woman who has a pillow over Annie's face. Annie is trying to fight her off." Debbie replied shocked in almost a whispered voice.
Auggie knew immediately who the intruder was and knew he had to stop her. "We have to help Annie." Auggie said in a hushed whisper, not knowing how long Lena had been in the room with Annie. Not knowing if Annie were still alive.
As Auggie found the nurse's arm they both entered the room again, this time ready to take on what was inside. As they entered, Auggie could hear Annie struggling against the attack being made on her life. Holy hell! Auggie thought, Was this what Annie had woke up to? The muffled sounds of her trying to scream was more than he could bear to listen to. For the first time since all this started, he knew that she was literally helpless.
Auggie flung himself toward where he thought Lena was. He caught her arm and grabbed ahold of her, pushing her back toward the door he had just come in. She fought back, punching Auggie twice before he got in a hit of his own. Auggie was determined not to let go of her, he had to keep a hand on her to fight her. He attempted to put her in a choke hold, but she escaped twisting away from his grip long enough to sweep his feet from under him causing him to fall backward, hitting his head on the door frame. Auggie tried to find her again, searching, this time, for her legs as he crawled tentatively on the floor sweeping his arms out swiftly. When he found her legs, it was as she kicked him. As Auggie took two kicks to the abdomen and one to the side of his head, he simultaneously tried to block himself from Lena's kicks as well as pull one of her legs out from under her to knock her off balance. Lena landed a powerful blow to his abdomen once more causing Auggie to reflexively twist into himself.
While this was going on, Debbie had gone to Annie's aid. Annie was gasping for air, the heart monitor sounding off that Annie was quickly headed toward cardiac arrest. Annie could see the fight taking place in front of her, but could not get any words out to help Auggie as he fought Lena. Her vision was becoming blurred and her head was spinning from lack of oxygen. Lena had not had the pillow over her for longer than 45 seconds, but in her weakened state and the panic that set in as a result, Annie was quickly fading.
Auggie lay on the floor clenching his abdomen when he realized that another person entered the room. He smiled to himself as he recognized the sound of the charms around her necklace and quickened pace of her pumps.
Joan enters Annie's room breathlessly (having heard the sounds of a struggle and running most of the way down the hall) as Lena is trying once again to suffocate Annie. Lena had thrown Debbie across the room causing her to fall into a disoriented Auggie. Joan grabs Lena and throws her into a medical cart in the corner of the room. Lena, only momentarily fazed by this, comes back at Joan with full force. Joan and Lena fought for several minutes before Lena begins her escape. Seeing that her mission to end Annie Walker was unsuccessful, Lena retreated from the room as Joan takes off after her. Several nurses and doctors begin to enter Annie's room as they depart.
Hoping to elude Joan in a sea of people, Lena pulls a nearby fire alarm causing people to begin trickling into the hallways to exit the hospital. Joan caught onto the plan and exited from a side entrance to cut Lena off before she could exit through the front. Joan immediately picked her out of the crowds and coming from Lena's right side tackled her to the ground.
Meanwhile, in Annie's room, Auggie is once again disentangling himself from Debbie as he hears that the heart monitor is sounding off that Annie's heart has stopped. Someone is manually giving Annie oxygen using a pump as he hears someone shout "clear!" signaling that they are attempting to use a defibrillator to restart her heart. It takes three attempts before they are successful. Finally, Annie opens her eyes.
Author's note: What do you think will come next for our friends? Lena is no longer a threat, does that mean Annie and Auggie get their happily ever after? You tell me!