A/N: This chapter is quite short, but the next one will be longer. I am not sure when the next one that I will get to update, because I still have schoolwork and I'm also going away for a week soon, but I'll do my best to write and upload the next chapter before I go off on vacation. I would also like to thank all the readers and reviewers. Your comments mean a lot to me.
The beeping of the heart monitor increased suddenly and Sharon woke up and lifted her head off the bed. It's been almost three hours since the doctors completely reduced Lilly's anesthesia and she has shown some faint signs of waking up since, but was not fully awake yet. Sharon rubbed her stiff neck as she noticed Lilly's eyelids slowly fluttering open and shut, a tired gaze in her eyes every time she managed to keep her eyes open for longer than a second. A nurse walked into the room and inspected Lilly's IV and then took her chart and filled in some information.
"Her vitals are good," she informed Sharon. "And hopefully the doctors will decide to remove the intubation as soon as we make sure she's stable." Sharon nodded slowly. "She'll be groggy for a while and then she might be confused or feel a little sick. Let us know if she needs anything and we'll do our best to keep her comfortable."
"Thank you," Sharon replied. She had slept on a chair in Lilly's hospital room since the teenage girl came out of the surgery that saved her life. The awful plastic backrest did quite a number on her back muscles. She was about to get up and walk around the room in order to stretch her legs a bit when she heard Lilly's soft moan, followed by a muffled cry. She stood by the side of the bed and placed her palm on Lilly's cheek. "Hey Lilly," she whispered softly. "You're in the hospital, remember?" Lilly moved her lips and a dissatisfied expression appeared on her face. "Shhh, you have a tube in your mouth to help you breathe; you can't talk right now." Lilly let out another cry and Sharon gently wiped the tears that started rolling down the girl's face. Her lips formed an incoherent sound and Sharon gently caressed the girl's face in an attempt to calm her down.
"Is she awake?" Sharon heard Rusty's voice behind her. She turned around to look at him. "I know I shouldn't be in here, but the waiting room was really boring." Sharon shrugged in response. She didn't really think it was good for him to see Lilly in such a condition, but she preferred it that he saw Lilly awake and okay rather than when she was still hanging between life and death.
"She's awake, but the anesthesia hasn't fully worn off," Sharon replied, her voice soft. Rusty walked over to Lilly's bed and looked at her. "She's a bit upset right now."
"Hey, Lilly," he said and took her hand. "Remember me?" Lilly stopped crying. "I think she does," he looked at Sharon.
"She seems to recognize your voice," Sharon smiled at him, taking a step backwards from Lilly's bed. "Talk to her, I think it calms her down." She noticed how Lilly's tearful eyes focused on Rusty's face.
"What should I tell her?" Rusty looked at Sharon.
"It doesn't really matter. But if you don't have anything specific you want to tell her, you can read something to her instead. Do you have a book in your backpack?" Rusty nodded and grabbed his khaki backpack, taking a copy of Othello out and waving it in order for Sharon to see it.
"Are you sure this is an appropriate book to read to her? I mean, it's really violent and she's a bit young," Rusty asked. Despite knowing that Lilly has lived and heard worse things than this particular story.
"It's Shakespeare, Rusty. I doubt that in her current state she's going to understand his English," Sharon said as she quirked her eyebrow.
"He's a horrible writer," Rusty told Lilly as he opened his book. "I mean, reading 'Fifty Shades of Gray' would probably be more entertaining."
"Oh, believe me, it won't." Sharon said.
"You did not read it, did you?" Rusty replied.
"I have the right to remain silent," Sharon gave him a sphinx-like smile.
"Eww, TMI, Sharon." The disgusted expression that spread across Rusty's face made Sharon stifle a giggle. With a smile still on her face, she watched Rusty as he started reading the list of characters in the play to Lilly. Sharon doubted that any of that will register in the girl's mind, but it seemed like a good way to distract her from her current situation and help her connect with Rusty. She smiled to herself when she heard Rusty explain in details how Sharon could investigate Othello for murdering Desdemona and charge Iago for conspiracy to murder.