While You Were Dreaming
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Chapter 4- Do you believe in miracles
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Matt sat alone on a hard hospital chair, his fingers laced together, head resting on his knuckles. He was more tired than he'd ever been, he hadn't even contemplated sleep he was too sick with worry.
Matt jerked up as the door opened. A doctor came in quietly.
"Mr. hardy, the results from the x-ray are back."
"Is he gonna be okay?" Matt asked, worry etched on his usually soft features.
"The indications aren't good. Your brother sustained a cracked skull, broken neck, several broken ribs and a major concussion. He is in a very deep coma." She simplified.
Matt felt sick and dizzy, he felt the color drain from his face. "No…" He murmured.
"I'm sorry Mr. Hardy but the chances of your brother ever waking up are slim at best. I'm truly sorry. I'll leave you alone for a minute."
Matt regarded Jeff carefully. He looked so small and pale in the hospital bed. He was hooked up to several machines, lots of tubes and needles. Jeff had always hated needles. Matt took one of Jeff's hands carefully in his own.
"I'm so sorry Jeff, I should've never agreed to this match, I should've listened when you said you had a bad feeling. I'm so sorry, so sorry." He squeezed Jeff's hand tightly and collapsed sobbing to the bed.
Amy, Shane and Shannon came in quietly, not wanting to disturb Matt. He needed to cry. Eventually, after what seemed like an ice age, Matt sat up, puffy eyed, sobs still wracking his body.
"Matty." Amy said and ran to him, as did the other two. The four embraced tightly, not letting go of each other. Like each was a security blanket to the others.
They all grabbed chairs and huddled together around Jeff.
"When's your dad coming?" Shane asked breaking the veil of quiet.
"He said he'd fly straight over." Amy answered for Matt who was still silent.
After a time, the doctor came back in with a nurse who was carrying a tray of coffee and food. The nurse put it on the table and Shane immediately grabbed a doughnut. Amy glared at him and he put it down sullenly.
"Have you decided what to do?" The doctor asked.
"About what?" Matt said not looking up.
"Oh, your friends were meant to inform you."
"Sorry, some more important things came up." Shannon glared.
"Alright. Mr. Hardy-"
"Please, Matt." Matt said.
"Okay, Matt well usually in these circumstances, relatives must decide whether they would rather turn off life support or not…"
"You mean kill him?"
"well, not entirely, in medical terms technically your brother is dead… but it is entirely your option, but really the only thing keeping him alive is the life support."
"I am not killing my baby brother!"
"You need time to think about this-"
"What's there to think about, I can't kill my brother!"
"I'll leave you to decide."
Matt glared after her and the nurse.
"Matt people need beds… and Jeff wouldn't wanna be kept this way." Amy said gently.
"No! Jeff is meant to be your best friend! How can you condone killing him!"
"He isn't alive to kill!" Shane reasoned.
" Stop it, stop it, STOP IT! JUST SHUT UP!" Matt yelled, fleeing from the room.
How can they think like that? This is Jeff, my baby brother, why are they being so cold? Matt ran out of the hospital and into the dark night. On his way he almost ran straight into Adam, Jay, Kurt, Chris and Trish.
"Whoa Matt, we came as soon as we could, tightass Vince wouldn't let us go!" Jay sighed.
"What's wrong Matt, is it serious?" Adam asked concerned.
"Get outta my way!" Matt pushed past them and kept running tears visible in his eyes.
"Matt? Come back!" Chris yelled.
"Shit."
*
Matt looked up at the starry sky sprawled out above him.
I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, you'll be a star in someone else's sky but why, why can't it be mine? The words of one of his favorite songs sprang to mind.
He was sitting on a bench outside the hospital, cars moving through the car park, people pushing past each other, but Matt was oblivious.
"Matt? Why are you out here in the cold?" His fathers familiar voice said next to him.
"Dad! Thank god you're here, they- they wanna kill Jeffy!"
"What are you talking about Matt, calm down. Start over, I only just got here."
"They say he might never wake up dad and they wanna take him off life support, they don't understand. It isn't Jeff's time dad, it isn't! Only God has the right not us dad!"
"Alright, alright calm down, no one is gonna hurt Jeff. Let's go talk this through."
They two of them walked together up to Jeff's room.
All of their friends were in there, all looking very concerned.
"Hi Mr. Hardy." Adam and Jay greeted him.
"Hi boys, and Amy."
They all said hi and waited for the doctor.
"Hello Mr. Hardy have you made your decision?"
"Yes, I'm sorry doctor, but no one short of God himself will take one of my boys from this earth, and that's how it's staying, if there is even the slightest chance then nothing is gonna change my answer."
"Very well, it is your decision, but the chances are small. It would be little short of a miracle."
"Well then we'll just pray for a miracle wont we."
*j