TITLE: Once More (4/6)
AUTHOR: Pedellea
E-MAIL: pedellea@hotmail.com
DATE: July 28, 2003
RATING: PG
SUMMARY: Delia falls into grave danger. How will it effect Andy and Ephram?
SPOILERS: none
DISCLAIMER: Everwood belongs to Greg Berlanti, Mickey Liddell, Everwood Utah, Inc., Berlanti Liddell Productions, and Warner Bros. Television. Thanks for creating the show!
AUTHOR'S NOTES: After months of work, it's finally ready to be published - my first long(er) Everwood fic! Notice the winter setting... obviously started in the winter months. Takes place sometime before "Home." It was a challenge and always a delight to tackle the father-son relationship between Andy and Ephram.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this piece. Feedback always welcome!
ONCE MORE (4/6)
By Pedellea
Ephram's heart had melted.
A numb feeling washed over him as he had watched the paramedics load his sister up into the ambulance, and feeling remained as he sat watching the paramedics restart Delia's heart, as they brought her into the ER, and now as the doctors and nurses worked on her.
He had disintegrated on the inside, but he could not bring himself to react externally. So he stood there like a log, outside the trauma room, staring blankly at the scene unfolding in front of him. He was faintly aware that his dad had called his name, and watched, almost uncomprehendingly, as his father tried to find out what had happened.
It was when they had placed Delia into the tub that he began to crack. A small sigh of desperation escaped from his lips, drawing the immediate attention of Amy who had been beside him through the entire ordeal.
"Ephram?," she ventured cautiously, looking very concerned at her friend.
When he didn't respond, she placed an arm around his shoulders in comfort. As they watched Andy stroked Delia's forehead, Ephram turned suddenly from the view of his sister and backed up against a wall, sliding down along it.
"Ephram?"
Amy kneeled beside her friend, peering into his face, very concerned. Tears flowed freely down his face.
"Amy... I can't lose her. I can't..."
The desperations in his near whisper voice was unmistakable. Her heart broke as she watched Ephram sob quietly. He didn't deserve to lose another member of his family. It was, after all, partly her fault that they had been skating in the first place. She reached out to take his hand, but he flinched and pulled it away. Amy winced when she saw his hands. They were swollen, red, and blotchy, a telltale sign of severe frostbite.
"Ephram, you need to get your hands looked at."
"Should've been me."
"Ephram... don't say that."
"It should've..."
"Ephram..."
Amy didn't know what else to say. 'It'll be alright'? She didn't know for sure. What if Delia doesn't make it...? She shook away the thought and refocused on the immediate. Ephram needed to be looked after.
"Ephram, the doctors are doing the best they can, and your dad's in there. Why don't you let a doctor look at your hands in the mean time?"
Ephram almost wanted to laugh amidst the tears. What was the point of getting his hands looked at if he didn't even want to live? Besides, the throbbing pain of his hands somewhat atoned for what he had caused his sister to suffer. He wanted it.
"Ephram?"
He let out a cautious sigh, then looked up at her, wiping the tears away with his sleeve. Her eyes searched his face for an answer to her simple question. Finally, he nodded. For her sake. The look of relief washed over Amy's face.
"C'mon."
He was glad that she helped him up. He would've probably sat there for a long time if she didn't. He didn't look into the trauma room as Amy led him away. He couldn't.
Ephram knew he'll have to deal with whatever consequence that was to come, but for now, he'll let Amy take care of him.
A few more to go! Please submit a review or send me an e-mail at pedellea@hotmail.com. Thanks!
