Standing Still - Chapter Ten

My cell rings just as I'm leaving the house, looking down I see it's was my brother.

"What's wrong," I ask aware that he's with Ana.

"Ana's awake," he announces excitedly.

I hang up, jump in the car and zoom towards the hospital. I can't believe it Ana's awake, finally awake. Leaving the car parked outside the hospital I dash through the doors at break neck speed.

"Hey you, you can't leave your car there." someone shouts but I don't turn back.

Running along the corridor I stop for the elevator but it's taking so long I can't wait. I take the stairs two at a time instead and arrive at the ICU breathless and extremely nervous.

Elliot is waiting for me outside her room but I can't find any words for him so without thought I throw the door open. My eyes are drawn straight to her face and even with my unorthodox arrival she's smiling at me.

At first I seem unable to move and just stare at her stupidly, then Kate pulls me inside effectively ending my stupor. Walking closer to the bed I reach for her hand and kiss each finger tenderly. I then bend down and kiss each cheek, her forehead and finally her soft pale lips.

"I missed you," I explain finally finding my voice.

Ana doesn't respond at first she just continues to stare, appraising me quite carefully.

"You don't look well, are you okay Christian," she asks softly.

"I'm fine, I wasn't hurt and unconscious for almost five days. Are you okay, are you in pain," I ask cautiously.

"She is," says Kate before Ana can answer.

I look to Ana but she doesn't reply but I can tell by the slight flush to her cheeks that what Kate said is true.

"Have they given you anything," I question.

"I didn't want them too."

"Why."

"I wanted to see you, they said it would make me sleepy."

"Well I'm here and you've seen me now please as much as I want to talk to you, I want you pain free more."

Ana won't agree I know my wife and she's almost as stubborn as my son. I look at Kate and she presses the button to alert the nurse.

"I want you, don't go," says Ana as the nurse enters.

"I'm going nowhere, just please take the medication," I demand.

Ana nods reluctantly so the nurse injects a clear liquid into Ana's IV. Within a few seconds I can already see it taking affect as Ana's gaze becomes less focused.

"Do you feel okay," I ask stroking her arm.

"Woozy."

"I'm sure that's normal," I tell her then look to the nurse who nods her head.

"I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. This will just help with the pain and when you wake up we can spend some time together."

Ana nods but says nothing, her eyes have closed but I can still feel her holding onto my hand.

When I'm sure she's asleep I look over at Kate, I want to know what happened before I arrived.

"I missed her waking up," I lament still stroking along Ana's slim arm.

"She asked if you were okay, I think she thought you were in the accident with her."

"She did, I almost wish I had been. I hate to think of her all alone and in pain."

"Well it's good thing that you weren't because Ana is really going to need your support, now that she's awake."

"Do you know something," I ask.

"The doctor was here, he gave Ana some tests."

"What tests," I snap back.

"He looked at her reactions to evaluate her level of spinal injury," explains Kate.

Sitting beside Ana I suddenly feel faint so I rest my head back. Looking up at the perforations in the ceiling tiles I try to prevent the nausea that's now rising up in my stomach.

"Is it bad?" I mumble.

I feel Kate sit down beside my and gently rest her hand on my shoulder. Instantly the nausea increases, it's bad I know it and now Kate of all people is giving me her sympathy.

"Ana has complete feeling in her left leg and partial in her right. She can feel her arms and has some minor movement in both. The doctor thinks that with a lot of physical therapy she can walk again."

I listen to Kate's words but nothings sinking in. Did she sat Ana will walk again or did I imagine that.

"It's good news Christian, of course there will be a lot of work involved for Ana but she can recover."

"Completely," I ask hopefully.

"It's possible. The feeling in her right leg could get better and even if it doesn't it's still more than we could have hoped for."

"It is. I still can't believe that I got to talk to her today and she talked back."

"Maybe Elliot can flag down Ana's doctor and you can talk to him. He certainly knows more about this stuff than me."

"Okay, could you ask him."

"Sure, be back in a minute."

Kate walks outside to find Elliot or perhaps to track the doctor down herself. I watch her disappear then look back at my wife, who has a small smile etched on her face. I wonder if she's dreaming or if the smile is due to our meeting. I hope it's the latter because I know I'm wearing a similar smile now that Ana is back.

Sorry this is my shortest chapter yet but I'm experiencing some writers block at the moment. Hopefully it will end soon and I can write some longer chapters but until then it's this or nothing. Thank you for all the lovely reviews and for reading.