Almost Shattered Chapter 4: Awake and Afraid, a speed racer fanfic

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Chapter 4: Awake and Afraid

Fighting for his life, Speed had been in the emergency room for a good eight hours. To the Racer family and friends, it felt even longer as they waited in silence in the waiting room. No one attempted to make conversation at all since they were each too busy in their own thoughts, thinking of their relationship with Speed.

Racer X had been leaning on the wall letting his head flood with memories. His arms were folded as he remembered the time his parents first brought Speed home as a baby. Speed had been a little, bitty thing with big blue eyes, and a head full of dark hair. At first Racer X, Rex, didn't really bother with Speed, but when he learned to walk, Speed always followed him around. There were times when the young Speed cried to be held, but not by his mother and father, but by Rex. Because of the way Speed always looked up to Rex as they were both growing up, Rex automatically became a second father to Speed. If Rex had been worried about anyone when he decided to disappear, it was Speed. And after he became the Masked Racer, he swore to always watch over his little brother.

Mom Racer sat close to Pops letting him console her through the long hours. She loved all of her sons equally, but Speed was such a loving son - always expressing easily to her what a great mother he thought she was. Raising him had been a true joy. Even giving birth to him had been easy. She hadn't been in labor long when he decided to come into the world two weeks early. Often, she joked that she almost had him on the steps on the way into the hospital. Such a beautiful baby he had turned out to be with those expressive, blue eyes and the innocent look they held. Now, she could see his eyes vividly in her mind.

Pops held Mom's hand securely thinking of how he had grown closer to Speed the past couple of years. Of course, Pops always loved Speed but without meaning to, Pops had tended to give Rex more attention before his disappearance. Stepping up like a man, Speed had offered to help his father with the things Rex usually did. This and when Speed became a champion racecar driver made Pops very proud.

Sparky sat looking out of a window as he thought about his best friend Speed. They could talk about anything and everything to each other. Cars were one of the main things that they could talk about for hours. They also had fun just hanging out - especially back in high school. When bigger guys picked on Sparky, Speed was always there to defend him, and he had taught Sparky a few things about how to protect himself, which were things Rex had taught Speed.

Spritle idolized Speed. He wanted to be just like his big brother when he grew up. He knew sneaking into the trunk of the Mach 5 was wrong, but he couldn't help himself. There was such a thrill following his big brother around all of the time.

Then there was Trixie. She was the girl in Speed's life, even if it was just as friends for now. Besides Sparky, she was Speed's best friend as well. She was also the one who begged Pops to let Speed be a racecar driver, and Pops did. Now, she sat in this waiting room hugging her legs as her chin rested on the top of her knees while she thought of Speed. He had always made her head turn without even realizing it. He was extremely special to her, and in her eyes no girls ever seemed good enough for him. She remembered how one night she had ended up with an abusive date. Who was there to put him into his place? Speed. He told her he'd never let anyone hurt her, and now she wished there would have been a way she could have kept him from getting hurt.

All of a sudden everyone in the waiting room turned to the doctor who had stepped out of the emergency room. Quickly they all stood up to hear what the doctor had to say.

"Please. Tell us how he is" Pops said still holding his wife's hand.

The doctor himself looked exhausted after such a long surgery. "Okay," Dr. Larsen said ready to explain things. "The reason why Speed was having problems breathing is because he has numerous broken ribs. A person's ribs are suppose to protect the internal organs. For the most part they did, but one of his broken ribs punctured a lung. There was some internal bleeding but nothing we weren't able to fix during surgery."

Mom Racer squeezed Pop's hand as she asked, "Does that mean he's going to be okay?"

At first the doctor, Dr. Larsen, didn't look like he wanted to answer. "I think he'll pull through it," he finally said with a smile. "That boy…no excuse me. I mean that man is a fighter. I've never seen someone hang on that long in that kind of pain. We finally had to give him something to knock him out."

A tear ran down Pop's face as he smiled proudly, and everyone silently thanked God that Speed was still with them.

Racer X was standing between Sparky and Trixie and happily put his arms around their shoulders.

"Also," Dr. Larsen said, wanting to continue, "Speed's nose had been broken. I realigned it and put an antibiotic ointment on it. The swelling should go down in about a week or two and then it should be fine. Now, if he had something like…a broken arm, it would be easy because he just wouldn't use it. However, with broken ribs, he still has to breath - so unfortunately he'll be in a lot of pain. There's not too much we can do because the ribs have to heal naturally, which can take anywhere from four to six weeks."

"Can't you give him anything for the pain?" Trixie asked, feeling Speed had been in enough pain already.

"As of now he's on Morphine but I can't keep him on that long. I'll give him something else after but it won't be as strong."

"When can we see him?" Mom Racer asked a bit impatiently.

"You can see him now," the doctor said. "Just remember that he'll be out of it for a while."

Even though Trixie was desperate to see Speed, she eventually watched everyone at different times go in to see him before her. It had been a good hour when Mom Racer approached her. "Mrs. Racer," Trixie said just before it was her turn to see Speed. "Do you mind if I stay here with Speed tonight?"

Mom Racer knew she had to take care of Spritle, who was having a tremendously hard time with what had happened to his big brother so smiling with tears in her eyes, she put a hand on Trixie's face and said, "I think Speed would like that, and I know he'd do the same for you."

Tears were also in Trixie's eyes as she smiled back feeling grateful for Mom Racer's kind words.

The young girl then made her way to Speed where he was in Intensive Care. She passed up Pops and Racer X, who were speaking to a policeman about guarding Speed. That sick excuse for a human being, the look alike, was still out there somewhere. They had to assume that he would try to finish Speed off.

Once in the Intensive Care Unit, Trixie ever so slowly began to move towards Speed. She stopped next to his bed and covered her mouth just at the sight of him. Tears ran down her face as she thought that he didn't look like the young, strong man she knew. However, she knew that most people wouldn't have survived what he had gone through. Moving her hand away from her mouth, she wiped her tears away, telling herself that she had to be strong for him. He needed positive energy now. She noticed his breathing wasn't as loud and was at a more steady rhythm, and she wished so much that she could see his beautiful, bright, blue eyes looking back at her. Instead, they were hidden behind the lids of a very swollen and bruised face. There was a bandage on his nose and quite a few machines hooked up to him.

A nurse who was probably in her fifties suddenly walked up to Trixie, and said, "Mrs. Racer said you are staying here tonight. I'm sorry that all we have is this chair for you in Intensive Care."

"Oh that's okay," Trixie said looking at the chair on the side Speed's bed, not caring at all about her own comfort.

"Are you his girlfriend, Dear?" the nurse asked with a smile.

"Uh…no. But we're really good friends," Trixie said looking back at Speed.

Not saying that she could see that it was something more, the nurse only said, "If you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know."

"Thank you," Trixie said keeping her eyes on Speed as the nurse walked away. Her eyes soon began to scan over him while she knew in her heart that she was very much in love with him.

Suddenly she couldn't seem to stop herself as she moved closer to his side and began to lean her face very close to his. She then lowered her face till her lips were only an inch or so away from his face, and she whispered in a very soft yet emotional voice, "I love you." After, she just barely brushed his cheek with a soft kiss. She had never told a man those three words before and with Speed, she truly meant it.

After just watching him sleep for quite a while, she actually fell asleep in that chair on the side of his bed.

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The next morning, Trixie was still sleeping as she began to dream. She dreamt that she woke up to Speed, who was smiling at her.

Surprise was an understatement for how Trixie felt. "Speed! How did your face and your body heal so fast?" she asked seeing him sitting on the hospital bed wearing his normal clothes."

"Trixie. You knew I'd be alright," he said with a wink. "Besides. I'm supposed to take you out. You didn't think I'd forget. Did, you?"

"Speed...are you sure you're okay?" she asked in disbelief.

"Sure. Now come on," he said with a smile as he took her hand.

"Trixie…Trixie Dear," Mom Racer said trying to wake Trixie up.

The young girl opened her eyes and was brought back to reality quickly. She turned her head to Speed who was still in very critical condition - very far from how he was in her dream.

"You were dreaming about Speed," Mom Racer said with a smile.

"How do you know?" Trixie asked, caught off guard.

"You were saying his name in your sleep," Mom Racer said turning to look at her son.

Trixie then stood up ignoring the pain in her back from sitting up all night in that uncomfortable chair. "I dreamt that he was ready to leave the hospital."

Mom smiled back at Trixie and then the two hugged.

After the hug, Trixie asked, "How's Spritle?"

"He's doing a little better now but I couldn't get him to stop crying last night. He finally cried himself to sleep in my arms."

"Poor little thing," Trixie said softly, all too fully aware of how much he loved his older brother.

The rest of the day, Speed continued to be in a deep sleep, which the doctor insisted was good since Speed needed all of the rest he could get.

After Trixie was practically forced to go home to shower, she showed right back up at the hospital. Again she stayed the night but this time Speed was a in a private room filled with tons of flowers and get-well cards from his family, friends and fans.

It was very late that night when he finally opened his eyes and noticed that one wouldn't open all the way. The first thought that crossed his mind was that he made it - that he was indeed alive. After that beating and all of that pain, he was still alive. He was glad but also scared because of what had happened to him. Breaking his thoughts, he realized someone was holding his hand. Turning his head very, very slowly, he saw that it was Trixie. She was lying back in a chair sleeping.

He looked around the room at all of the flowers and then back to his sweet friend. Gently, he squeezed her hand and watched as she opened her eyes.

Upon realizing that Speed was awake, she lifted her head and leaned to him with a smile of relief on her face.

"I'm so glad you're awake," she whispered now holding his hand in both of hers as she saw the uncertainty in his eyes. Or was it fear?

Slowly he lifted his free hand and touched his face.

In a soft voice, Trixie said, "Your doctor, Dr. Larsen, said the swelling will go down soon."

Speed now specifically touched his nose where he could feel the bandage.

Trixie tried to smile like it was no big deal as she said, "Your nose was broken but Dr. Larsen fixed it and it will be fine in a couple of weeks."

Speed then slowly pulled his hand out of Trixie's and touched his rib area with both of his hands, again looking at her for the answers.

"You have some broken ribs and one punctured your lung, but you're going to be fine. Unfortunately, you just might be uncomfortable for a few weeks."

Speed still didn't try to speak as he looked back at her.

"Are you in any pain now?" she asked concerned.

Slowly, he shook his head no. Though he did feel some pain, it was nothing like what he had felt when he was being beaten. At that thought, he turned his head away from Trixie - not wanting her to see his eyes water from the thought of what that man had done to him.

Not wanting to push him to speak, Trixie stayed silent, just glad that he knew she was there.

After a few seconds, Speed turned his face back to hers and stared into her eyes. To him she was a beautiful sight to look at after the horrible ordeal he had been through.

"I should probably get the doctor and call your family," she said, about to stand up.

Speed again shook his head no, and then lifted his hand out to her.

Trixie took his hand immediately. Knowing the hell he had been through, she would do as he wished without hesitation. "I'm not leaving the room. I'll stay with you," she whispered looking tenderly into his eyes.

He knew she had read his mind like she normally did since he didn't want to be alone when he felt so helpless. However, she didn't know that it was only her that he wanted near him at the moment. With her being there, his being scared wasn't all he was thinking about. A sweet dream of her saying three special words to him, lay heavily on his mind. That dream was much, much better than what he had suffered in reality. It helped to push the torture he had been though out of his mind.

Trixie suddenly leaned closer to him and to his surprise, she kissed his forehead, leaving her lips on him for a good few seconds. She wished so badly that she could hold him in her arms and tell him that she'd always be by his side no matter what physical condition he was in. Adding to Speed's surprise, she gently ran her fingers through his hair while she gave him a sweet smile. He had often dreamt of her touching him this way and now he wondered if this affection was from her as a friend or more.

Wishing she could comfort him more, she watched her fingers disappear into his jet, black hair, and then she whispered, "Rest. Remember, I'm not going to leave you."

His tired eyes continued to look at her while enjoying her sweet caress. He almost had to wonder if he was dreaming again. And even though he wanted to continue to look into her eyes, he felt his eyes getting heavier.

She watched as his eye lids closed, and was glad that he seemed to be at ease with her there.

A little while later, Speed heard whispering but didn't open his eyes as he realized that it was Trixie and the doctor speaking to each other.

"I'm sorry I didn't let you know when he woke up," Trixie said, feeling badly.

"It's okay," Dr. Larsen said checking the equipment hooked up to Speed. "I'm just glad you got him to keep resting. Maybe you should take a break and go home for a little while."

"No. I'd rather stay here," Trixie said, not about to leave.

"Well at least go down to the cafeteria and get something to eat," the doctor suggested.

"I already made up my mind that I'm not leaving this room," she said as calmly as possible.

Dr. Larsen knew he was fighting a losing battle so he gave up.

The afternoon of the next day, Speed woke up again. This time Trixie wasn't the only one there, though she was in the room's bathroom at the minute, but Speed's parents were now there as well. Both Mom Racer and Pops kissed him and smiled, glad to see him awake.

"Hi, Honey," Mom said taking his hand.

He gave her a little smile, trying to ignore the pain that was stronger now than it was when he had woken up the first time.

Sounding overly cheerful, compared to the normal Pops, Pops said, "Can we get you something? I'll get anything you want."

Speed almost had to laugh but he knew that would hurt him tremendously as he slowly shook his head no that he didn't want anything.

"Trixie doesn't want to leave you side," Mom Racer said in a praising voice.

"Here she is now," Pops said as the door to the bathroom opened. "Trixie," Pops said happily. "Look who's awake"

"Speed's awake?" Trixie asked happily. She then moved closer to his side and said softly and with a smile, "Hi."

He smiled back remembering the first time he woke up to see her. By how they were looking at each other, some might swear that they had done more than handholding the night before as their eyes stayed locked.

Suddenly, the door to the room opened and in entered the doctor.

"Hi, Speed. I'm Dr. Larsen and I'm glad to see you awake," the man in the white coat said standing at the foot of the bed.

Speed was very grateful for all the doctor had done so he held his hand up.

Dr. Larsen then walked to the side of his patient's bed and shook his hand. "I'm not just your doctor," Dr. Larsen said. "I'm also a big fan of yours."

Speed didn't want to think about racing right now but nodded a thank you to the doctor.

Dr. Larsen then went over Speed's condition with him before leaving the room.

When Speed's parents and Trixie gathered around him once again, Speed whispered extremely low, "Did they...catch the man...who did this to me?"

Will poor Speed freak out when he finds out that the Look Alike hasn't been captured yet?

Will Trixie jump into bed with Speed because she's tired of sleeping in the chair! Just kidding!