Standing Still - Chapter Two

A page has gone out in the hospital that multiple casualties are coming into the emergency room after a massive traffic accident and that extra personnel are needed. I run for the elevator and make my way towards the ER, children could have been involved and may need help.

It's absolute bedlam when I arrive and several nurses are asking for assistance so I ask where I can help. The triage nurses have colour coded many of the patients based on who is in the most need of care. I notice two patients wearing black bands and realise they are too far gone for us to save. Five others have red bands and I can see various doctors working on them trying to keep them stable so they can be taken to surgery.

While helping a nurse to calm a combative man I notice he is bleeding from the head and move quickly to sedate him to prevent further injury.

"Grace," he mutters faintly as he sees me standing above him. I look down surprised by his recognition then fearful when I see who it is.

"Luke, what happened. Were you alone," I ask as I look away briefly and glace around the ER.

"I was following them," he replies cryptically.

"Following who?"

"I was following Reynolds, he was driving Mrs Grey home from work. Something hit me, I think I hit my head, are they here."

I glance around again, a deep dread seeping into my pores. "Do you know if they were caught up in the accident," I ask hoping desperately that they weren't there.

"I don't know, everything's a bit hazy. Try calling Ana on her cell, call her Grace, please call her."

I watch as Luke's mind begins to drift he calls out several times for Ana then slumps down on trolley. I administer some pain relief then call for him to be taken for a MRI scan.

I watch as they wheel him away then jump around to the nurses desk to make my call to Ana. I listen as it rings, begging my sweet daughter in law to pick up but she doesn't and eventually I'm called away for another emergency.

Hours pass and I hardly have a minute to myself as I work from patient to patient. Fortunately there are no major traumas involving children but still I'm rushed of my feet helping the injured and walking wounded.

Whenever I get the chance I call Ana's cell and when that fails to work I try calling the house. After several rings a flustered Gail picks up and I ask if Ana is home yet.

"Oh Grace no and I don't know what's keeping her. I've trying calling her cell and her office but they told me she left hours ago. Poor Phoebe's been calling for her Mama since she woke from her nap and little Teddy's been quite a handful with Ana not here to calm his tantrums."

"Have you talked to Christian," I ask hoping my son can shed some light on what's happening.

"Mr Grey left for Japan early this morning, I thought he told you about his business trip."

"Oh, yes he did it just slipped my mind. Do you know of anyway to contact him."

"Jason said they would be in the air for a good ten hours maybe longer, you can try but I'm not sure you'll be able to contact them until they land in Tokyo."

"Okay, thank you."

"Is everything alright Grace."

"I don't know, there was an accident Luke was hurt and I was just hoping that Ana had escaped unscathed."

"Accident, oh God. Ana's hurt I just know it nothing else would keep her from those babies, nothing."

"I'll call back when I have more news, hopefully Ana's okay and just got delayed. I'll call you soon Gail, just take care of my grandbabies, please."

"I will, call back soon."

I hang up more despondent than ever then start to make enquires about my daughter in law and her driver.

Eventually and with a lot of patience I find out that no one under the name 'Anastasia Grey' has been assessed as walking wounded. I find out that there are ten patients in surgery from the accident and that four of those are women. I also find out there have been three fatalities from the crash so I head off to the morgue to investigate further.

I feel sick as I enter the frigid atmosphere then reluctantly ask one of the technicians about the three people who died. He informs me that they are being examined by the coroner and thanks to my lab coat allows me access.

I feel faint as I enter and my eyes are drawn to a small brunette woman half covered by a sheet. My legs seem to drag me towards the body, all the while my mind is screaming at me to stop.

On closer examination my heart soars when I realise the woman is certainly not Ana and I have to fight myself to stop smiling. Sadly though my joy is short lived when on turning to leave I find myself staring at Reynolds. My sons employee and the person I know was last seen driving my daughter in law home from work.

Hesitantly I reach for his hand and gently stroke his fingers, he's icy cold. I look back to his face, lax and unnaturally still and I'm suddenly overwhelmed by his youth. He looks like my own two sons and I can't help the tears that are soon descending from my eyes. The poor young man, I don't even know his first name.

Wiping away my tears I hurry back to the surgery floor more that certain now that inside on of the theatres holds Ana.

I'm so upset by the time I reach the floor that none of the nurses will allow me access so I beg them to tell me what each woman looks like. A young nurses aid is able to tell me that two of the woman are far too old to be Ana. She tells me she has seen both woman as she has been the gopher for both surgeries.

I ask around and find out that one women is blonde and quite tall and then I see someone approach and based on the look on their face I can tell that my search is over.

"Doctor Grey a women arrived in the helicopter not long ago, she was in a bad way and was taken to surgery."

"What did she look like," I ask hoping against hope that this women is not our Ana.

"Small lady with dark hair."

"How old," I ask fearfully.

"Not too sure, twenties possibly early thirties."

At her words I find myself sinking to the ground, it's Ana I just know that it's Ana.

"Which theatre," I finally manage to ask.

"Six."

I'm back on my feet at her words and dashing towards theatre six. Out of breath I duck inside without further prevention then gasp audibly as I see the small body laid out under the harsh lighting.

The floor is covering in blood and numbly I watch as the various medical staff work hard to save the life on the table. I walk closer to the table and momentarily sigh in relief when a certainty consumes me that this is not Ana.

It can't be Ana, this woman is too sick her skin too grey her face too faded. Then my eyes begin to scrutinise the young woman, I note her small features, her beautiful raven hair and her petite slim build.

It's her, oh my God it's Ana.