Hanging by a moment
Disclaimer: I do not own Everwood or any of the characters in this story. They are all property of the WB.
Rating: PG
Dr. Brown pulled into the hospital parking lot about three hours later. They all immediately unbuckled and got out of the car as soon as it stopped.
When they got inside, Andy went straight to the front desk, Nina stayed with Delia in the waiting room.
"Excuse me," Dr. Brown looked at the young girl in the seat behind the desk, "My son was flown here a few hours ago, and I was wondering if you could give me some information about him."
"Well," She started, "First I will need some information from you. Like your sons name."
Dr. Brown felt stupid for not remembering that, but he was very tired, "Ephram Brown." He answered.
The girl searched through some papers, and then looked on her computer, "I'm sorry Mr. Brown..."
"Dr. Brown." Amy walked up beside him, "His name is Dr. Brown." She smiled in his direction.
"Oh, whatever," She had one of those high pitched voices that was beginning to get on Andy's nerves, "I can't give you any information right now, because I don't have any. All I know is he was brought in here in critical condition." She looked at Amy this time, "If you two will go sit in the waiting room, I'm sure a doctor will be with you shortly."
Andy couldn't believe what he was hearing. He didn't want to sit down; he wanted to see his son. He was almost positive someone would know something about Ephram by now.
Before he had time to think of anything to say or do, Amy was twenty steps ahead of him, "I'm sorry, maybe I didn't make myself clear. I said this is Dr. Brown. Dr. Andrew Brown. And he has a son here, who needs him more than you will EVER KNOW!" Amy looked back at Delia and pointed to her, "Do you see that girl right there? That is Delia Brown, Ephram's sister. She wants to see her brother because she misses him. My name is Amy Abbott, and Ephram is my best friend, I was on that mountain with him, and I would really like to see how he is. I would imagine, if you were a good nurse, you would have some information, or at least would be able to find some, since Ephram HAS been here for three hours already!" Amy started raising her voice, "Now, if you don't get off your lazy butt and find someone to help us out, I will personally go through all of these halls and find Ephram myself! Do I make myself clear!?!"
Dr. Brown looked at Amy, and then at Bright who was shocked at what his sister had just done, "Amy honey, I think she got the message." Andy turned Amy away and scooted her toward the waiting area. He turned back to the nurse and gave her a look that meant, 'Go before she does it again!' The nurse understood and scurried off to see if she could get any info.
"Daddy," Delia walked over to him, "Where is Ephram?"
"He's around here somewhere, Delia. That nurse just went to go see if she can find him." Andy didn't know how to tell her what he had been told, so he just walked with her back to a chair.
******
Ephram could hear noises like people running around, and whispering, before he even opened his eyes. He slowly lifted his eyes lids and looked around the room.
"Doctor, he's awake." A nurse with dark brown hair and brown eyes looked at Ephram with concern.
"Where am I?" Ephram painfully asked. Every time he too a breath, it felt like bricks were being placed on his chest, one after another.
"You are at _______ hospital. You were on a mountain for a while and we had to have someone rescue you."
Ephram interrupted her, "I know that much," He winced as he spoke, "I just wanted to know where I was."
"Hello Ephram. My name is Doctor Taylor; I understand you went hiking today. Did you have fun?" A man no older than thirty walked to Ephram bedside.
"Where is Jake?" Ephram wanted to see Jake again, because he wanted a familiar face with him, "Is my family here? Where's Amy?" Ephram was getting tired, but he didn't know the doctor had given him a sedative that would make him go back to sleep.
"I'm sure everyone will be here soon." The nurse tried to calm him down, but Ephram just wanted to see his dad and Delia again.
"Where is my sister? I promised her I would watch that movie with her, I have to keep that promise. I have to." That was the last thing Ephram said before he went back to sleep.
******
"Dr. Brown, Your son is doing better now, but they have to take him to surgery." That same annoying, high pitched nurse returned to the front desk, where Andy and Nina were patiently waiting.
"Why is he in surgery?" Dr. Brown wanted to see Ephram and know that he was okay.
"Well, apparently when he fell from that rope, he landed on some sharp rock which made him bleed internally. He should be out soon. The doctor will come when you can see him, I promise.
******
The rest of the Abbott family had arrived a few minutes after Amy and Bright. Amy was reading to a very sleepy Delia, and Bright was getting some candy for her. He pushed the button for a 3 Musketeer bar, but it got stuck.
Bright didn't want to upset Delia, and he didn't want to lose his money, so he hit the window hard. He didn't know it was glass, and he didn't realize he hit it that hard, but he broke through, and immediately felt an excruciating pain shoot through his hand. He screamed and jerked his hand back out of the break he had made in the glass.
A nurse, and Dr Abbott, came running as fast as they could. Bright looked at his dad and started shaking his head, "I didn't know that thing was glass. I just wanted to get some candy for Delia." Tears began falling down Bright's face because he was in so much pain, "She asked me to, so I did. It got stuck after I put my money in, so I hit the glass. I guess I hit it harder than I had thought."
He was talking so fast Dr. Abbot could barely understand him, "Slow down, son. You'll be fine." He looked at the concerned nurse, "Could you do something about his hand, it looks painful, and I can't stand to see him like this."
The nurse smiled and nodded as she took Bright to a small room to take care of him. Dr. Brown walked over to where Amy was now covering Delia up with her jacket. The small girl was asleep.
"Amy, your brother had a little accident, it looks like you have to watch Delia for now." Harold laughed at the thought of what Bright did.
"What happened?" Amy stood from her kneeling position.
"He should be fine; he just broke through some glass on that candy machine and cut his hand pretty deep. I'm sure he will be back to help you soon." Amy smiled and then sat across from Delia.
******
2 hrs later
"Dr. Brown?" A young man in scrubs walked into the waiting room, Dr. Brown stood when he heard his name called, "My name is Dr. Kyle Taylor, I'm your son's doctor."
"How is Ephram?" Dr. Brown sat back down, suddenly getting light headed.
"He should be fine, but there still isn't any way to be sure. He's been out of surgery for only a few minutes, so he hasn't had a chance to wake up. We should know once that happens, or a few hours after he does, anyway."
"Can I go see him?" Dr. Brown looked over at Delia. She looked like a little angel covered with Amy's jacket.
"In about thirty minutes you and your daughter can go in. Right now, I need Amy Abbott." The doctor looked around the room until Amy stood.
"What do you need me for?" Amy walked next to Andy.
"Even though Ephram is asleep, he has been saying only one thing, and that was 'Where is Amy?' I think you and Dr. Brown should be the ones there when he wakes up." The doctor walked out of that area, and then waited for them both to follow him.
Amy didn't understand why she was going to see Ephram, even if she really wanted to. But she did what she was asked to do, and that was go see Ephram. She walked down winding hallways and past deserted rooms. They finally stopped at room 189. A small sign under it said 'Ephram Brown and Robert Hayes'
Amy guessed that was the guy rooming with Ephram, "Go on in, he's awake now." Dr. Taylor stood outside the door, not intending to go in.
"Oh, okay." Amy hesitantly followed Dr. Brown into the small stuffy room. The first things she saw were all the tubes hooked to Ephram. She felt absolutely horrible, like she was responsible for this happening. She knew she was.
Ephram smiled weakly when he saw his dad, and tried smiling even bigger when Amy came into sight, but didn't have the strength, "Hey guys," He softly whispered, "How are you?"
"I think it's safe to say we're better than you." Andy joked as he grabbed a chair and pulled it beside Ephram's bed, "How are you feeling?"
"I feel tired, and my whole body hurts, especially my left arm, and I have tubes all over the place, and I am really thirsty, but other than that I'm great." He smiled a bit bigger when Amy laughed a little, "What did I miss?"
"I think I'll let Amy tell you. I'll leave the two of you alone." Dr. Brown stood up and headed for the door.
"No, Dr. Brown, please don't leave." Amy grabbed him by the arm.
"It's for the best, Amy. I think you need to talk to him." Andy opened the door and walked out before Amy had a chance to say anything else.
She slowly walked toward Ephram's bed, sitting in the chair Andy just vacated. She and Ephram stayed in silence for a few minutes, until Amy just couldn't take it anymore.
"Ephram I am so sorry this happened to you. I didn't mean for you to get hurt on that hike."
"Oh yeah, because I'm sure you put that dirt there just for me to slip on." Ephram was just kidding, but it made Amy cry, "Amy, I didn't mean to upset you, I was only kidding." Ephram wanted to reach over and wipe the tear away, but because of everything hooked to him, he could barely move.
"It wasn't what you said, Ephram. It's what I did. I asked you to join me on this hike, and I wanted to be able to talk to you and stuff, but instead I nearly got you killed." Amy burst into tears now, "You could've been dead right now if it weren't for Jake and Abby."
"But I'm not, Amy. I'm not dead. I'm fine, okay. I'm not going anywhere, I promise." Ephram actually reached over and put his hand in hers this time, but he was in pain no matter what he did.
"It's just the thought of it, Ephram. The thought of you..."
"Then don't think about it." Ephram smiled, "If you don't think about it, you don't have to worry. Nothing is wrong with me, I'm fine now." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I know, I'm glad you're okay, it's just that if anything had happened to you, I don't know what I would have done. I could have lost you today, and your family could have, too." Amy looked up at Ephram, who still had his eyes closed. She didn't think anything of it at the time, "Delia is so cute when she sleeps. Oh, I forgot to tell you about Bright. He put his hand through one of those glass windows on a candy machine. He was trying to get a candy bar for Delia and it got stuck, he still hasn't come back."
Ephram didn't make a move or even smile when that story was told. Amy stood up and looked at his face. She looked at the heart monitor, which was getting faster. She didn't know what that meant, but she knew it couldn't have been good.
"Ephram, open your eyes." Amy said frantically, "Come on, Ephram, you're fine, remember? You just told me so!" All of a sudden the little bumps on the monitor turned into a long, flat line. The fast beeps drew out into one long, never ending one. Amy DID know what that meant, she ran out the door to get some help. Ephram's heart had stopped.
Disclaimer: I do not own Everwood or any of the characters in this story. They are all property of the WB.
Rating: PG
Dr. Brown pulled into the hospital parking lot about three hours later. They all immediately unbuckled and got out of the car as soon as it stopped.
When they got inside, Andy went straight to the front desk, Nina stayed with Delia in the waiting room.
"Excuse me," Dr. Brown looked at the young girl in the seat behind the desk, "My son was flown here a few hours ago, and I was wondering if you could give me some information about him."
"Well," She started, "First I will need some information from you. Like your sons name."
Dr. Brown felt stupid for not remembering that, but he was very tired, "Ephram Brown." He answered.
The girl searched through some papers, and then looked on her computer, "I'm sorry Mr. Brown..."
"Dr. Brown." Amy walked up beside him, "His name is Dr. Brown." She smiled in his direction.
"Oh, whatever," She had one of those high pitched voices that was beginning to get on Andy's nerves, "I can't give you any information right now, because I don't have any. All I know is he was brought in here in critical condition." She looked at Amy this time, "If you two will go sit in the waiting room, I'm sure a doctor will be with you shortly."
Andy couldn't believe what he was hearing. He didn't want to sit down; he wanted to see his son. He was almost positive someone would know something about Ephram by now.
Before he had time to think of anything to say or do, Amy was twenty steps ahead of him, "I'm sorry, maybe I didn't make myself clear. I said this is Dr. Brown. Dr. Andrew Brown. And he has a son here, who needs him more than you will EVER KNOW!" Amy looked back at Delia and pointed to her, "Do you see that girl right there? That is Delia Brown, Ephram's sister. She wants to see her brother because she misses him. My name is Amy Abbott, and Ephram is my best friend, I was on that mountain with him, and I would really like to see how he is. I would imagine, if you were a good nurse, you would have some information, or at least would be able to find some, since Ephram HAS been here for three hours already!" Amy started raising her voice, "Now, if you don't get off your lazy butt and find someone to help us out, I will personally go through all of these halls and find Ephram myself! Do I make myself clear!?!"
Dr. Brown looked at Amy, and then at Bright who was shocked at what his sister had just done, "Amy honey, I think she got the message." Andy turned Amy away and scooted her toward the waiting area. He turned back to the nurse and gave her a look that meant, 'Go before she does it again!' The nurse understood and scurried off to see if she could get any info.
"Daddy," Delia walked over to him, "Where is Ephram?"
"He's around here somewhere, Delia. That nurse just went to go see if she can find him." Andy didn't know how to tell her what he had been told, so he just walked with her back to a chair.
******
Ephram could hear noises like people running around, and whispering, before he even opened his eyes. He slowly lifted his eyes lids and looked around the room.
"Doctor, he's awake." A nurse with dark brown hair and brown eyes looked at Ephram with concern.
"Where am I?" Ephram painfully asked. Every time he too a breath, it felt like bricks were being placed on his chest, one after another.
"You are at _______ hospital. You were on a mountain for a while and we had to have someone rescue you."
Ephram interrupted her, "I know that much," He winced as he spoke, "I just wanted to know where I was."
"Hello Ephram. My name is Doctor Taylor; I understand you went hiking today. Did you have fun?" A man no older than thirty walked to Ephram bedside.
"Where is Jake?" Ephram wanted to see Jake again, because he wanted a familiar face with him, "Is my family here? Where's Amy?" Ephram was getting tired, but he didn't know the doctor had given him a sedative that would make him go back to sleep.
"I'm sure everyone will be here soon." The nurse tried to calm him down, but Ephram just wanted to see his dad and Delia again.
"Where is my sister? I promised her I would watch that movie with her, I have to keep that promise. I have to." That was the last thing Ephram said before he went back to sleep.
******
"Dr. Brown, Your son is doing better now, but they have to take him to surgery." That same annoying, high pitched nurse returned to the front desk, where Andy and Nina were patiently waiting.
"Why is he in surgery?" Dr. Brown wanted to see Ephram and know that he was okay.
"Well, apparently when he fell from that rope, he landed on some sharp rock which made him bleed internally. He should be out soon. The doctor will come when you can see him, I promise.
******
The rest of the Abbott family had arrived a few minutes after Amy and Bright. Amy was reading to a very sleepy Delia, and Bright was getting some candy for her. He pushed the button for a 3 Musketeer bar, but it got stuck.
Bright didn't want to upset Delia, and he didn't want to lose his money, so he hit the window hard. He didn't know it was glass, and he didn't realize he hit it that hard, but he broke through, and immediately felt an excruciating pain shoot through his hand. He screamed and jerked his hand back out of the break he had made in the glass.
A nurse, and Dr Abbott, came running as fast as they could. Bright looked at his dad and started shaking his head, "I didn't know that thing was glass. I just wanted to get some candy for Delia." Tears began falling down Bright's face because he was in so much pain, "She asked me to, so I did. It got stuck after I put my money in, so I hit the glass. I guess I hit it harder than I had thought."
He was talking so fast Dr. Abbot could barely understand him, "Slow down, son. You'll be fine." He looked at the concerned nurse, "Could you do something about his hand, it looks painful, and I can't stand to see him like this."
The nurse smiled and nodded as she took Bright to a small room to take care of him. Dr. Brown walked over to where Amy was now covering Delia up with her jacket. The small girl was asleep.
"Amy, your brother had a little accident, it looks like you have to watch Delia for now." Harold laughed at the thought of what Bright did.
"What happened?" Amy stood from her kneeling position.
"He should be fine; he just broke through some glass on that candy machine and cut his hand pretty deep. I'm sure he will be back to help you soon." Amy smiled and then sat across from Delia.
******
2 hrs later
"Dr. Brown?" A young man in scrubs walked into the waiting room, Dr. Brown stood when he heard his name called, "My name is Dr. Kyle Taylor, I'm your son's doctor."
"How is Ephram?" Dr. Brown sat back down, suddenly getting light headed.
"He should be fine, but there still isn't any way to be sure. He's been out of surgery for only a few minutes, so he hasn't had a chance to wake up. We should know once that happens, or a few hours after he does, anyway."
"Can I go see him?" Dr. Brown looked over at Delia. She looked like a little angel covered with Amy's jacket.
"In about thirty minutes you and your daughter can go in. Right now, I need Amy Abbott." The doctor looked around the room until Amy stood.
"What do you need me for?" Amy walked next to Andy.
"Even though Ephram is asleep, he has been saying only one thing, and that was 'Where is Amy?' I think you and Dr. Brown should be the ones there when he wakes up." The doctor walked out of that area, and then waited for them both to follow him.
Amy didn't understand why she was going to see Ephram, even if she really wanted to. But she did what she was asked to do, and that was go see Ephram. She walked down winding hallways and past deserted rooms. They finally stopped at room 189. A small sign under it said 'Ephram Brown and Robert Hayes'
Amy guessed that was the guy rooming with Ephram, "Go on in, he's awake now." Dr. Taylor stood outside the door, not intending to go in.
"Oh, okay." Amy hesitantly followed Dr. Brown into the small stuffy room. The first things she saw were all the tubes hooked to Ephram. She felt absolutely horrible, like she was responsible for this happening. She knew she was.
Ephram smiled weakly when he saw his dad, and tried smiling even bigger when Amy came into sight, but didn't have the strength, "Hey guys," He softly whispered, "How are you?"
"I think it's safe to say we're better than you." Andy joked as he grabbed a chair and pulled it beside Ephram's bed, "How are you feeling?"
"I feel tired, and my whole body hurts, especially my left arm, and I have tubes all over the place, and I am really thirsty, but other than that I'm great." He smiled a bit bigger when Amy laughed a little, "What did I miss?"
"I think I'll let Amy tell you. I'll leave the two of you alone." Dr. Brown stood up and headed for the door.
"No, Dr. Brown, please don't leave." Amy grabbed him by the arm.
"It's for the best, Amy. I think you need to talk to him." Andy opened the door and walked out before Amy had a chance to say anything else.
She slowly walked toward Ephram's bed, sitting in the chair Andy just vacated. She and Ephram stayed in silence for a few minutes, until Amy just couldn't take it anymore.
"Ephram I am so sorry this happened to you. I didn't mean for you to get hurt on that hike."
"Oh yeah, because I'm sure you put that dirt there just for me to slip on." Ephram was just kidding, but it made Amy cry, "Amy, I didn't mean to upset you, I was only kidding." Ephram wanted to reach over and wipe the tear away, but because of everything hooked to him, he could barely move.
"It wasn't what you said, Ephram. It's what I did. I asked you to join me on this hike, and I wanted to be able to talk to you and stuff, but instead I nearly got you killed." Amy burst into tears now, "You could've been dead right now if it weren't for Jake and Abby."
"But I'm not, Amy. I'm not dead. I'm fine, okay. I'm not going anywhere, I promise." Ephram actually reached over and put his hand in hers this time, but he was in pain no matter what he did.
"It's just the thought of it, Ephram. The thought of you..."
"Then don't think about it." Ephram smiled, "If you don't think about it, you don't have to worry. Nothing is wrong with me, I'm fine now." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I know, I'm glad you're okay, it's just that if anything had happened to you, I don't know what I would have done. I could have lost you today, and your family could have, too." Amy looked up at Ephram, who still had his eyes closed. She didn't think anything of it at the time, "Delia is so cute when she sleeps. Oh, I forgot to tell you about Bright. He put his hand through one of those glass windows on a candy machine. He was trying to get a candy bar for Delia and it got stuck, he still hasn't come back."
Ephram didn't make a move or even smile when that story was told. Amy stood up and looked at his face. She looked at the heart monitor, which was getting faster. She didn't know what that meant, but she knew it couldn't have been good.
"Ephram, open your eyes." Amy said frantically, "Come on, Ephram, you're fine, remember? You just told me so!" All of a sudden the little bumps on the monitor turned into a long, flat line. The fast beeps drew out into one long, never ending one. Amy DID know what that meant, she ran out the door to get some help. Ephram's heart had stopped.