He awoke with a start, realizing that he had nodded off. He sat back and watched his sleeping guest. Part of him knew that he needed to call the police and report this, but part of him didn't want to do that just yet. Part of his grief-shrouded mind wanted to make her Karen, keep her here, to continue the life he had lost when she died.
He left the room and walked out to his truck to bring his supplies brought in. The snow had begun in earnest and already accumulated over the tops of his shoes. It looked like they were in for quite a storm. He decided that he would wait until the storm played out and then decide what to do. He couldn't carry her anywhere in this weather just now anyway.
He went back into the bedroom after getting things put away. She had not moved. In checking her pulse, he noted that it seemed stronger. Her color had improved and she was breathing easier. He let himself really look at her. Her hair was the same color as Karen's. Karen had worn it just a little longer, but there was still a remarkable resemblance. He felt his heart contract when he looked at her. He sat down in the bedside chair.
He didn't know how long he had been sitting there looking at her. The room had grown dim, so it must have gotten dark outside. He got up, turning on the bedside lamp, and grabbed the backpack he had taken off her when he brought her in. Time to find out just who she was. He quickly found her wallet and pulled out her ID. Major Samantha Carter, USAF, Doctor, Theoretical Astrophysicist. Age 32. Well, now he knew. But he still didn't know what to do.
A small sound came from the bed. He hurriedly looked up in time to see her eyelids flutter open, then close again immediately as she winced. She gave a small moan as she tried to sit up. He jumped to her side and pushed her back down gently.
"Don't try to get up. You're hurt," he told her. She slowly opened her eyes again, but he could tell they were not focusing.
"The concussion," he thought. He looked carefully at her eyes and noticed that her pupils were dilated and unequal. "I'll need to keep an eye on that, too."
He spoke again. "You have some cracked ribs, a bad bump on the head, and your right leg is broken. You also were hypothermic, but I think we've got you warmed up now."
Sam could hear him talking, but was having trouble comprehending what was being said. She turned her head toward his voice. Her vision was blurry and she could vaguely see a figure with silver gray hair bending beside her.
"Jack?" she mumbled softly before closing her eyes and slipping in to darkness.
He was surprised that she knew his name, the name that Karen had called him, but slowly he smiled. "You're back, Karen" he said softly, knowing what he had to do. He knew that he couldn't lose her again and would do anything necessary to keep her with him. He sat back down to continue his vigil.
He left the room and walked out to his truck to bring his supplies brought in. The snow had begun in earnest and already accumulated over the tops of his shoes. It looked like they were in for quite a storm. He decided that he would wait until the storm played out and then decide what to do. He couldn't carry her anywhere in this weather just now anyway.
He went back into the bedroom after getting things put away. She had not moved. In checking her pulse, he noted that it seemed stronger. Her color had improved and she was breathing easier. He let himself really look at her. Her hair was the same color as Karen's. Karen had worn it just a little longer, but there was still a remarkable resemblance. He felt his heart contract when he looked at her. He sat down in the bedside chair.
He didn't know how long he had been sitting there looking at her. The room had grown dim, so it must have gotten dark outside. He got up, turning on the bedside lamp, and grabbed the backpack he had taken off her when he brought her in. Time to find out just who she was. He quickly found her wallet and pulled out her ID. Major Samantha Carter, USAF, Doctor, Theoretical Astrophysicist. Age 32. Well, now he knew. But he still didn't know what to do.
A small sound came from the bed. He hurriedly looked up in time to see her eyelids flutter open, then close again immediately as she winced. She gave a small moan as she tried to sit up. He jumped to her side and pushed her back down gently.
"Don't try to get up. You're hurt," he told her. She slowly opened her eyes again, but he could tell they were not focusing.
"The concussion," he thought. He looked carefully at her eyes and noticed that her pupils were dilated and unequal. "I'll need to keep an eye on that, too."
He spoke again. "You have some cracked ribs, a bad bump on the head, and your right leg is broken. You also were hypothermic, but I think we've got you warmed up now."
Sam could hear him talking, but was having trouble comprehending what was being said. She turned her head toward his voice. Her vision was blurry and she could vaguely see a figure with silver gray hair bending beside her.
"Jack?" she mumbled softly before closing her eyes and slipping in to darkness.
He was surprised that she knew his name, the name that Karen had called him, but slowly he smiled. "You're back, Karen" he said softly, knowing what he had to do. He knew that he couldn't lose her again and would do anything necessary to keep her with him. He sat back down to continue his vigil.