"They took her to the ER, I don't know if she's okay," said Cristian pacing.
"I'm going to go see if there is anything I can do to help," said Ben leaving.
"I don't understand how this could have happened," said Viki sitting down.
"It was my fault," said Cristian guiltily.
"Your fault? How so?"
"I found her at Break Bar and she was upset, we went up to my loft and talked and I knew she was still upset about Seth but I let her leave anyway. I should have driven her home," he said miserably.
"If that's why you're responsible then I must share as much blame. She was very upset yesterday evening, more so than I've ever seen her and I let her leave also."
"But Mrs. Davidson-," Cristian started to protest when Ben came out.
"How is she?" asked Viki.
"Troy thinks that she's going to make it, she has a concussion and hypothermia but it's still to early to know if any damage has been done. Just thank God that you found her before it was worse," he said to Cristian. "Thank you."
"When can I see her?" asked Viki.
"Soon, they're still finishing up some tests. She's going to be okay."
Cristian drank some coffee and tried to keep his eyes open, he wanted to be there when Natalie woke up. He didn't know what it was about her but something drew him to her. He felt like he really knew who she was.
"Cristian, why don't you go home and get some rest? We can call you if there's any change."
"No, Mrs. Davidson. I want to stay here and make sure she's okay." His cell phone rang so he excused himself and went out into the lobby.
"Hello?" he asked.
"It's Jen."
"How's Al?" he asked trying to keep all emotion from his voice, he couldn't let her know how much he missed her. Al was the one that needed her and Natalie needed him right now.
"Al is doing okay, he starts therapy tomorrow. Cristian...I miss you."
"I'm sorry Jen, I have to go," he said hanging up, he had enough to deal with without Jen trying to make this harder.
Natalie felt like she was walking through mists, everything was foggy and hazy, but warm. She thanked God that she wasn't cold anymore. She wanted to wake up but she was tired, tired of fighting when there was nothing to fight for. She realized that her head hurt, it wasn't a piercing pain, it was foggy too, like it lurked at the edge of her mind and she couldn't catch it.
She tried to remember where she was. There was one clear memory and that was of Seth giving her soup, this was the sickest she had ever been, she couldn't remember ever feeling so horrible. She should go home and see if Roxy would let her in the house, probably not on account that she might throw-up on the furniture. She hated her mother, if only she'd been switched at birth and was heiress to a fortune, then she'd be free of Roxanne Balsom and her trashy life with it. She wondered what pills Seth had given her, she definitely didn't want anymore. She struggled to wake up but her mind and body felt weighed down, If that Seth guy had drugged her like this on purpose when she woke she was going to kill him.
It had been a day since Cristian had found Natalie and she still hadn't woken up. The doctors said it was normal and she should wake up soon but he wasn't good at waiting. He should have made her stay or driven her home. He walked down the hall to her room and looked in, it was empty of visitors. He walked in and sat next to her. She looked much better, her skin was a little pale but it was a big improvement form the blue she had been. He touched her hand and was relived to feel that she was warm.
"Natalie, it's Cristian. You've got to wake up."
No response.
He sighed and sat back in the chair holding her hand. She looked so vulnerable and he hated that he was helpless, that he could do nothing to make her better.
She was angry now, why couldn't she move? What had that Seth guy done to her? She remembered being so cold, maybe she had just been thinking about the park bench where she had been going to sleep the other day. Or maybe she was thinking about the time when her 'Mommy Dearest' had let her down for the millionth time. Natalie remembered when she'd been in the third grade play at school. It was the Valentines day play, they'd all dressed up as hearts or cupids and Roxy had promised to be there. Natalie had a small part but she was determined to be the best. That day Roxy had told her she'd be a couple minutes late but nothing could keep her away. So Natalie had had a girl from her class pick her up.
That night she'd got on stage looking desperately for her mother's fake blonde hair and not seeing her, but she had refused to let her performance waver convinced that Roxy was somewhere in the audience. When the play had ended Natalie waited by the doors waiting and when the last person left she checked the bathrooms convinced she was there but she wasn't. Natalie hid around the side of the building until the teachers had left because she was to embarrassed and ashamed to ask them for a ride. She'd just started walking home, wearing her light angel costume under her raggy winter coat, when it started to rain freezing rain. She'd been so cold then, the cold coursing through her body, giving her goose-bumps and making her teeth chatter. When she'd finally made it home she found Roxy passed out on the couch with a bottle of booze clutched to her chest. Natalie had taken off her costume and thrown it away telling herself that it was a stupid play and she didn't care, even though she did. Roxy had never mentioned it when she woke up and Natalie doubted she even remembered there had been a play. But this cold was different, it hurt and lurked behind each bone in her body, except for her hand, it was really warm.