Chapter 7 – Waiting on Jane Doe

Daryl was sitting in the waiting room of the hospital, eager for an update on the mystery woman. He was very thankful that his friend Andrea worked at the nurse's station. She couldn't give him updates on her condition because of HIPAA privacy laws, but a discrete nod in his direction kept him in the know enough that he knew she was alive. He didn't want to dwell on the thought that he wished he knew more and was sitting by her bedside. He had agreed with Andrea's logic that even if he was allowed in there, waking up to a male stranger holding her hand may be too much for the woman given what she had just gone through.

They were still referring to her as Jane Doe, he'd learned from Rick. Her wallet had been found in her purse, but all ID, credit cards and any identifying information seemed to be missing. Daryl didn't want to leave the hospital yet. He needed to see for himself that she was ok. That need bothered him in the fact that she was a stranger. He couldn't fight the need that had welled up in him, so he stopped trying. He told himself he would just make sure she was awake and ok, then he would leave. Even he doubted that last part. So apparently did Glenn. When Glenn followed the ambulance to the hospital, he couldn't get Daryl to leave with him. Finally, he had told his friend to message him when he needed a ride. Glenn's face had a giant question mark on it when this happened. His friend knew for a fact that Daryl hadn't stepped foot in a hospital in fifteen years.

The last time Daryl was in a hospital was when his mama had died in that fire. He'd been eight at the time, and had ridden his bike to the hospital, convinced she was there on the mend. When his daddy and brother finally caught up to him, they had followed him in knowing the boy had to get confirmation from someone other than them that his mama was dead. Since then, Daryl had been sick, injured, and in a car accident. Not once did he step foot through those doors. But he was here now. He should be crawling out of his skin right now with anxiety, but he wasn't. He was anxious, but only for her. He also was enjoying the law enforcement show going on with Mr. Wonderful.

The man responsible for the woman being here was still handcuffed to a bed which had been rolled out into the hallway. It hadn't escaped Daryl's notice that he was being repeatedly denied a bed with the excuse that they were still waiting for one to open up. All the while, new patients were admitted in a timely and polite manner. While the man was in his bed, he was yelling about getting home to his wife. Finally, he had shut up when he had spied Daryl glaring at him from the adjacent waiting room. Rick had kept him slightly up to date in the man's regard.

Douglas McGee was a single unemployed laborer. He had drifted back and forth between Michigan and Georgia over the past year. Apparently, he had a relative in Michigan who gave him money to live when needed. He had been coming to Kennesaw more and more while trying to get a job at Enercon. The HR department there had not been receptive to his applications. The most recent time he'd shown up, security had refused him entry based on his crude remarks to the manager who had taken his previous application. Rick had wished they knew more about him, but they didn't. He was questioned by both Rick and Shane to no avail. The man simply was not talking to them. Rick knew they would have to provide him a bed soon or face a complaint. Once he was in a private room, he would be questioned more formally by an officer with more experience in sexual predators.

Daryl let out a large sigh as he swore his ass was falling asleep. He needed to stay just a bit longer and make sure the woman was alright. Then, he could get back to his life.

Nurse Andrea Harrison entered the room, checking the woman's condition and vitals. The monitors hooked to her for precautionary measures had indicated the patient was either awake or about to wake up. She wanted the first face the woman saw to be a woman. Somebody safe. So, she sat down beside the woman and waited. No change. When she saw the woman's nose start to crinkle a bit, she knew that the woman was starting to wake and would probably be scared. So, she put her hand on the woman's and waited.

The woman slowly blinked herself awake. She seemed confused at her environment for a moment. Then her face changed to near panic. To Andrea, it seemed like it all may be coming back to her. She looked like she was trying not to panic at whatever thoughts or memories in her head. She abruptly closed her eyes again. That is when Andrea gently reached out and held her hand. She spoke quietly.

"My name is Andrea. I am a nurse here. I've been taking care of you since you were brought in today."

No response.

She sighed. "Listen, I know you're probably scared out of your mind right now, but let me assure you, you are safe. The man who did this to you is currently wearing a nice set of handcuffs and is hooked to a bed. He can't hurt you."

Still no response.

"I get it. You don't trust the situation. I don't blame you. You know, I used to want to be a lawyer? Then I realized I would have to deal with scum like him far too often so I switched to nursing. It makes it easier to hate men like him. It's also a kick to delay their pain meds when they are being lewd assholes."

She swore she saw a twitch to the woman's mouth, almost like she had tried to fight off a smile. So, she continued.

"I had this patient one time who was a sex offender. It was particularly gratifying to order repeat prostate exams on him. You should have seen the nurses. We had a pool going on how long it would take him to squeal when the doc started probing."

That did it. The woman cracked a slight smile and looked directly at her.

"There you are. Happy to see you smile for me. Can I get you anything?"

The woman shook her head.

"We've been waiting to talk to you. Can you tell me your name hun?"

The woman kept her mouth clamped shut.

"Nobody here will hurt you. I promise. Is there a reason you are so worried about us knowing your name?"

The woman considered a moment, but in the end remained close-mouthed on the matter.

Andrea sighed. "Listen, I wanted to ask you something. I promise it's not about who you are. Do you remember waking up for a moment before the hospital? Did you remember seeing anybody other than your attacker?"

The woman looked blankly at her for a moment before her eyes widened. Finally, she spoke.

"Yes. Two men. They were there, standing over me. I don't remember after that. Did they hurt me?" She wildly looked down at her body for further injuries.

Andrea was quick to reassure her. "No, they didn't hurt you. My friends Daryl and Glenn were working in that house next to where you were found. They heard that man hurting you. They got him off you and called 911. Daryl, that's my friend who I've known the longest; he took care of you. He held your hand until the paramedics and police showed up. From what Deputy Grimes tells me, he didn't leave your side once. In fact, he held your hand the whole way here in the ambulance. He wouldn't leave your side."

The woman considered for a moment, seeming a bit choked up but unsure of what to say. Finally, she managed a simple, "Why?"

Andrea just shook her head. "Daryl's a sweet man. Quiet. He doesn't like hospitals either. But he's out there in the waiting room. He's been sitting there since he came in the ambulance with you. He keeps asking if you are ok. I can't tell him because of HIPAA privacy rules, but maybe you might be ok with seeing him?"

Andrea knew she was asking a lot but asked anyway. Her friend's reactions to the mystery woman intrigued her greatly. She figured putting them in the same room might clear the questions in her mind up; as well as helping both Daryl and this woman. There was something in the air, and Andrea wanted to see what it was.

The woman thought for a moment, then nodded. "I will see him, but could you stay here when he comes in?"

"I wouldn't dream of being anywhere else unless you told me to leave," Andrea assured her.

At the woman's cautious smile and nod, Andrea turned to leave to fetch her friend.

Before she could, the woman called her back.

"Yes?"

"Did … did that man Doug, did he rape me?"

Andrea's face was full of compassion when she honestly replied, "No. The ER doctor is Dr. S. He ran a black light and checked for fluids when you came in. There was no evidence of trauma."

Carol nodded, tearing up in relief.

Andrea left in search of Daryl, going slowly to give the woman a chance to compose herself. She rounded the corner, and she could see Daryl spot her. He immediately jumped up when she didn't give her customary nod of an update for him. She came further into the room and stood above him. She smiled wide and stretched out her hand.

"She agreed to see you as long as I stayed in the room. I can't promise more than a quick introduction, but she agreed."

Daryl was listening intently. He still had no idea why he was so drawn to the unknown woman, but Andrea offering this meeting was exactly what he needed right now. He really didn't want to dwell on why it was so important for him to see her, but maybe this visit would give him some closure. He nodded and moved to follow Andrea down the hall.