"Tough Choices"
10. Five Hours
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It had been five hours. Five hours since they'd told her Daniel had been in a car wreck. But with Jackie Gayda? "It's been five hours! What the hell is going on?!"
Torrie walked over, handing her a bottle of water, "Mel, calm down..."
"Five-fucking-hours!" Melony stood up, walking over to the window, tears streaming down her cheeks, "What can happen in five hours?"
Torrie sighed, "I...I don't know Mel."
At that moment, the doors opened and a dark haired man stepped into the waiting room, approaching the two divas, "Mrs. Puder?"
Melony glanced down at her engagement ring, "Castle. I'm his fiancee."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Ms. Castle." He corrected, "My name is Dr. Kaufmann, I worked on your fiance. Despite a fractured arm, four broken ribs and a concussion, he's ok. But I'm afraid he took a severe blow to the back and his spine was injured..."
Mel's eyes widened and she choked back tears.
"It wasn't as serious as we first though, but I'm sorry to tell you he's temporarily paralyzed. Anywhere from six months to a year, atleast."
"So, he'll walk again, right? He'll be able to go back to work?"
"He wrestles professionally, correct?" She nodded. "With proper care and physical therapy, he'll be back in the ring like nothing ever happened."
"Thank God." She closed her eyes for a moment, letting out a deep breath and resisting the urge to hug the doctor, "Thank you, Dr. Kaufmann. I don't know what to say."
He shook his head, "Nothing at all, Ms. Castle. I'm a wrestling fan myself, and it would've been a shame to lose someone as promising as Mr. Puder. But I take it the two of you live together? He'll need to be taken care of for some time, until he gets used to the use of a wheelchair. Some people--most people--in these situations have a hard time adjusting to the situation. I'll understand if you want to hire a home health nurse and can even recommend a few."
She shook her head, "No, I want to be there for him. I'll be there every second."
He nodded and turned to leave, but Torrie spoke up. "What about Jackie?"
Dr. Kaufmann looked at her, dark eyes saddening, "Miss, I'm afraid her head hit the window and due to massive brain swelling, we had to induce a coma to try and sustain any major brain damage. We have no idea when she'll wake up, if she'll wake up. I'm sorry."
He said no more as Torrie fell back down in the chair, eyes wide as tears streamed down her cheeks.
--3 1/2 hours later--
Melony peered through the glass window on the door, sighing loudly before knocking on the door. "Come in." His weak voice said. She pushed the door open and walked in, "Hey."
As much as he hated to admit, he was so happy to see her, "Hi."
Tears came to her eyes as she walked over to him, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. I caused this. I did this. This was my fault. I...I'm so, so sorry."
He shook his head, painfully so, as he reached over and took her hand, pulling her closer to him, "Mel? Just shut up."
She smiled slightly as she bent over and kissed him softly, pressing her forehead against his, "I promise, you'll be out of here soon, and we'll go home. We'll be together again, we'll be happy again, and then we'll get married."
"How long until I can walk again? Did Kaufmann say?"
She nodded, smiling, "Six months to a year, maybe even less with physical therapy."
"Shit. I can't wrestle for that long?"
"Just thank God it's not permanent, Daniel." She pulled a chair over by the bed and sat down. "You're right, Mel. But, how's Jackie?"
Mel sighed, and explained what the doctor had told her, to Daniel. "Fuck." He closed his eyes, sighing, "And before you ask, I was giving her a ride to the arena. Her car broke down on the way there."
"I know, Daniel, you don't have to explain yourself." She said. But she saw in his eyes that it was a lie. She knew Daniel like she knew herself, and she was damned sure he'd slept with Jackie, just for revenge. She knew it. But she'd let it play out, and see if he'd break like she did. But maybe it would all disappear, and they would get married live life happily ever after. Only time would tell.