Chapter 32.
An hour later and Matt had finally been stabilised and the doctor came to speak to the relatives. Bridger and Barry were still searching for Lucas who had been missing for a while. Emily and Baz were waiting for news of Matt's condition.
"Why do they take so long? I mean what if he's dead and they hadn't told us… They wouldn't do that would they?" Emily ranted to Baz.
"Matt's not dead, I refuse to believe that and I know you do too. He's a survivor and I'm sure the doctor will tell us that Matt's going to be all right any minute now." Just at that moment, the doctor entered the room.
"How is he?" Emily blurted out. "When can we see him?"
"Matt's just fine. He sustained a gun shot wound to the chest, as you know but we have him stabilised now. It missed any vital organs but it did break a couple of ribs, which will be sore for a while but will eventually heal over time…" Neither Baz nor Emily heard the rest of the doctors' speech.
"When can we see him?" Emily interrupted the doctor.
"Well not today, but possibly tomorrow or the day after."
"Can I go too?" Baz was worried he might not be allowed. "I mean it was my head that was hurt, not my legs."
"If you can find someone to wheel you down in a wheelchair. But I stress that if you feel dizzy at all you must tell me immediately. I will be here when you are moved and you have to take it slowly, OK?" The doctor ordered, as if he were talking to a small child. Baz nodded.
***
After the doctor had left, Emily decided to purchase a drink from the drinks dispenser nearby.
"You want anything?" She asked the elder man.
"No, thank you." Baz replied. Now that they knew Matt was all right, his mind was preoccupied with Lucas.
Emily left Baz alone with his thoughts. She suddenly felt emotionally drained as she walked down the corridor. Reaching the machine, Emily was surprised to hear a sound, almost like someone was crying. It sounded like it was coming from beside the machine. Emily purchased a hot chocolate before deciding to investigate the cause. On the other side of the machine, she was surprised to find Lucas crouched in the corner crying.
"Hey, there you are…We've been looking all over for you!" Emily spoke softly, trying not to startle the troubled youth. Lucas shrank further into the corner, as he looked up and saw who it was. His tears disappearing suddenly. "Hey, it's ok. I'm not going to hurt you… Do you want some hot chocolate? It's good for shock, which you look like you're going into." Lucas gratefully accepted the chocolate and warmed his hands against it, sipping gently.
"They're going to take me away, I know it." Lucas finally signed.
"Who? Lucas, no one is going to take you away. I promise." Emily reassured him.
"The police, for Matt's murder. I killed him. I killed him!"
"Matt's not dead. He's just broken a couple of ribs…The shot deflected thanks to you, he would have been dead if you hadn't jumped the intruder. You're not going to be taken away, you're a hero." Lucas looked at Emily in shock, not wanting to believe.
"I don't believe you!" At these words, something inside Emily snapped.
"Well, you'd better start believing. Do you really think that I'd lie to you about something like this? I'll tell you now, I wouldn't. Not about something this big. God, you are so spoiled. Baz has had an accident and was nearly killed! He wanted a conversation with you not through signs, but through your own voice, through your heart. But you couldn't even do that. You're not a kid anymore, so stop acting like one. Please." A bit calmer now, she said, "I don't mean to have a go at you and I'm sorry if I am. Now the way I see it, you've got two choices, you can either stay out here all night and wallow in self pity like a kid or you can come back, stop Baz's worrying and start talking. Which is it, Lucas?" Lucas remained silent, so Emily rose to her feet. "I'm going back to the room now. I'll leave you to make your decision."
With that, Emily left Lucas alone. Lucas stared in shock at Emily's speech. Some of her words had stung him, but he realised that the reason why they had stung was because they were the truth. Emily was right, he had been hiding in the shadows too long and he decided he would take the first step out of the shadows into daylight. It was a scary thought, but he knew he could make it. With a flash of determination, Lucas rose to his feet and threw the empty cup in the bin on the walk back to Baz's room.
TBC…
I'm back! Sorry it took so long, but I've got GCSE's coming up, so it's all revision, homework, revision, homework, and just for a change, some more revision and homework. I'm not sure how long it will take me to get the next part up; I hope it won't be as long (time wise) as this, but no promises.