-=*=- Prelude to Austria -=*=-

Chapter VII

The hours dragged by as Neil and the Huddleston's continued their vigil in the waiting room. George occasionally retrieved coffee for the other's. He was just as worried about his sister as anyone, but it was almost more then he could bear, just to sit there and worry!! He needed to be 'doing' something--*anything* to keep his mind occupied.

At one point Neil disappeared and George offered to look for him when his parent's became worried for him. Nearly an hour later he found Neil praying in the chapel. George was strong in his faith, but the questions which Neil was pouring out to God were more then George could handle. Questions about why God does what He does; were questions which nearly no one could answer. George didn't know all about Margaret or their son. He had only heard bits and pieces of the story from Christy. Why they had been taken from Neil…? That was something George could not answer. Why was this happening to Christy…? He couldn't answer that either. George slipped silently out of the chapel. Walking to the nearest nurse's station he inquired about the whereabouts of the hospital chaplain.

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Neil was still on his knees in prayer, in the chapel when the hospital chaplain-Rev. Peters came into the room. He tried to make it look as though he had just come in to tidy things up. But he heard what Neil was asking God… Rev. Peters prayed for the right answers to give Neil. He continued to tidy up the alter and pulpit, dusting and polishing.

When Neil looked up at the sound of someone in the room with him, he got up quickly from the floor. "I'm sorry, am I in the way?" Neil asked as he used his shirtsleeves to dry the tears from his eyes and face.

"No! You're not in the way! That's what the chapel is here for! I just have to take care of things in here, unless I'm bothering you?"

"You're no bother. You don't look like a janitor to me." Neil commented.

Rev. Peters laughed lightly. "That's because I'm not! I'm the chaplain. Reverend Peters is my name." He reached out his hand to shake Neil's.

"I'm Neil MacNeill. M.D."

"I'm pleased to meet you Dr. MacNeill." Rev. Peters paused for a few moments. "I couldn't help overhearing what you were praying about. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Not unless you think you can answer my questions for me." Neil stated dryly.

"I'll do my best." Rev. Peters said. "Why don't you tell me all about it?"

Neil took a deep-deep breath and let it out slowly then proceeded to relay everything; his marriage to Margaret, the questions he had about the lose of both her and their son, his love for Christy and his questions about what had happened to her. Plus he included his worst fear, that of losing Christy to this head injury.

Rev. Peters scratched his head, praying as he did so. Deep theological questions were always so difficult for him. But they also helped him to grow spiritually.

"Neil…" He began. "May I call you Neil?" Neil nodded his head slowly. "I understand what you're saying. I've lost loved ones as well. It's very difficult to face life without them. But you said Christy is still alive, did you not?"

"Yes, but…" Rev. Peters held up his hand to stop Neil from saying more.

"We can't give up while there is still hope! I know it seems as though it will hurt less in the long run, but it won't. You'll feel guilty because you didn't hang on as long as you should have, then you'll have the wonder of 'what if I had held on longer? Would Christy have held on to me if I had?' Don't give up while she's still here with you. Give her your love to hold on to. Without it she has no reason to remain." Rev. Peters placed his hand on Neil's shoulder. Neil felt tears in his eyes, but that was as far as he would allow them to go. He would heed the advise of Rev. Peters and hang on to his bride-to-be, as long as there was something to hold on to. And with God all things are possible, so no matter what the situation may look like, there was still something to hold on to…Faith.

George came into the room slowly, not wanting to interrupt the discussion. Neil noticed him almost immediately. He rose from his seat and moved toward George. "What is it George? Is it Christy?" Neil asked anxiously.

"Well…yes." George began. "Someone from the surgical team came out to speak with us, just to say it would be a while longer and that Christy was still with us. There were more problems then they had foreseen. But she's holding her own. Her vital signs are normal, whatever those are."

"Thank God!" Neil announced. "I wish I could be in there to see what's happening. Even if only to observe from a distance."

"I know that seems like the best idea to you at the moment, Neil." Rev. Peters said. "But would you truly want to see your future wife as they're operating on her? I know you're used to observing surgery, but, on *Christy*?"

Neil thought for a moment. Perhaps Rev. Peters had a valid point. He performed the Trephine on her, but could he bear to see her endure far more then that? And at the hands of someone else? Even now as he thought of the surgery he himself had performed on his precious Christy just this morning, he shuttered at the thought of what he had seen and done. "No, I suppose you're right Reverend. I don't really want to see the surgery. What I want is to find out how Christy is doing. I want to hold her hand and give her something to cling to. I detest the idea of her having to endure this surgery without someone there to even hold her hand and tell her we're here praying for her!"

"Neil, you just said you have been praying for Christy did you not?"

"Yes." Neil replied with a puzzled expression on his face.

"Well then, you've been speaking to the only One who *can* be in that operating room with her! God can be with her and can give her the strength she needs. As well as assure her she is not alone, that there are people here who love her and want her to come out of this. Don't lose faith, Neil. Lean on God and allow Him to carry the burden for you. I will be in to visit with you as often as I can. *Don't give up hope Neil*." Rev. Peters clapped Neil on the shoulder as he left Neil and George alone in the chapel.

"Come on Neil. Let's go back to the waiting room. We'll want to be there when Dr. Wagner comes to speak with us." George offered.

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It seemed an eternity since Christy had been taken into surgery; when Dr. Wagner appeared in the doorway. Neil and the Huddleston's needn't say a word, their faces spoke volumes. The desperation and fatigue each of them felt was written in every line on their faces. Neil looked as though he had been dragged behind a team of horses. The sheer desolation on his face, was obvious to anyone who observed him. He had all but made himself bald from pulling on the hairs on his neck. He grabbed a handful of his hair as he looked up at Dr. Wagner, as though by pulling on it, would make everything turn out fine… or was it that he was bracing himself for the worst?

"I've removed all of the blood clots I could find. The blood had built up around the optic nerve. I can't tell you how much damage was done while she laid there for those twenty-four hours after she fell. All we can do is wait and see. Her brain is swollen as well. We've relieved the pressure as much as possible. Only time and prayer can tell us what we want to know. She could wake immediately or she may never actually 'awaken' again. She could remain in this state of 'unconsciousness' she is in right now and never come around again. I can't tell you what will happen next. We must allow time its healing process."

"When can we see her?" Julia asked.

"She's still in recovery. Someone will be out to tell you when she's settled in her room and ready for you to see her. She will be under intensive care, the visiting hours will be limited, at least at first. We will keep an eye on her vital signs as you visit and see what her reaction is. Some people become quite agitated when they have visitors, while others seem to do better when their loved ones are near. I'll let you know how the numbers are and keep you posted." Dr. Wagner paused a moment. "I can't tell you how sorry I am that I don't have better news for you--or any exact answers--I'd do things differently if I could! There's just not much to tell you. I know I'm asking the impossible, but try to be as patient as you possibly can. Dr. MacNeill, I can't tell you how sorry I am about your wedding. I hope everything will work out for all of you, most especially Christy." Dr. Wagner hung his head down and turned quickly to leave the room.

Neil and the Huddleston's sat quietly for a long while. No one had anything to say at that moment. There was nothing *to* say. Christy had made it through the surgery, but there were no promises for the future. She may awaken--or she may not. She might live--or she might not. She may be alright--or she may not! The whole thing infuriated Neil! He was a physician, trained to eliminate people's suffering and pain, he had not been trained to sit back and *watch*--and worst of all--do absolutely *nothing*!

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End Chapter 7

Chapter 8 Coming Soon!!