The nurse walked with her down the hall and into another corridor. There, she stopped in front of one of the doors and knocked on it.

A middle-aged, strict looking man opened

"Doctor Winters, this is Mrs O´reily."

"Mrs O´reily? It says nothing in here about Mister O´reily being married. In fact only his mother is listed as next of kin, and his father, but he seemed like he couldn't care less I'm afraid."

He probably couldn't, the bastard!

But she couldn't concentrate on her intense hate for Sheamus O´reily right now, she had to come up with some pretty good lies to get out of this one!

"Well, you see, when they arrested Ryan, he was kind of…Well... he was on a buzz, and so he couldn't really answer their questions properly, so they ended up thinking that he had no wife, and well, I guess they never changed that in their report, which of course is old, but I guess you must have got a hold of an old copy…"

That's right Shannon, blame it all on the poor bastard lying in that bed, being too high when they arrested him! What an incredibly shitty excuse by the way, that doctor guy is never going to believe that!

But it seemed he did, as he just sat down on his chair and gestured for her to sit down on the one next to him.

"I see… Very well Missus O´reily, Since I know you have seen Mister O´reily and the nurse has already explained what the different machines he's hooked up to does for him, I guess you want to know why they have to do it…"

"Uh, um, yeah…"

"Well, you see when Ryan had his accident, he got several hard blows to different areas of his head. Some so hard that he has sustained some brain damages…"

Shannon could help but gasp.

"Oh you're not saying that he's gonna have to be hooked up to those machines for the rest of his life because I'm just not having that, and if that's the case then you're just going to have to fucking do something Or I´ll!…"

"Missies O´reily!…" He stopped her. "Missies O´reily, please hear me out will you?"

She looked at him, sullen and said: "yeah, O.K…"

"Alright, as I was saying, Mister O´reily has acquired some brain damages from those blows to his head, but the thing that makes us have to hook him up to the respirator and the heart-monitor, is the fact that when he got those blows to his head, his brain swelled slightly in the are where the medulla oblongata is located."

Shannon looked like she was going to burst out in anger at any time now.

"So, what the hell does all of this mean then?! Speak English so a woman can understand goddamn it!"

"Hrm!…"

Oh dear god she's got a foul mouth, that one!

"Well what this swelling in the brain means, in practical terms, is that it temporarily knocks out the parts of his brain that controls and monitors his breathing and card…Heart function."

"Oh Jesus Christ you mean he's…!"

"But!…But hopefully in a day or two the swelling will subside and we will be able to take him off the respirator."

"Oh."

"Yes."

"Good!"

"Well yes, that's one way of putting it…"

"So that's the only problem then?"

"Hmmm. Not quite I'm afraid… He still has injuries to his brain, some that are probably more permanent than others…Some that are more easily trained away or around, and some not so easy. I which any case, he's probably going to need a long period of rehabilitation."

"So you're saying he's gonna get problems and stuff?"

"Well, yes…" He sighed, but tried to be really patient and decided to try to explain this part to the loudmouthed woman once more in, simpler terms…

Much simpler terms!

"Since he has injuries in the part of the brain called the cerebrum, his frontal lobe to be exact, and probably also on the Broca's area, Mister O´reily may have speech problems called dysphasia."."

"So what yore saying is he might get trouble talking?"

"Right."

"How do you mean trouble talking?!"

He once again sighed.

"Well, he might slur and also mix up words or simply have forgotten some words…"

"Like calling a dog "A cat" and that kinda stuff?"

"Exactly!"

He was very proud of himself for finally getting the simple, loud, boisterous woman to understand!

"Now we are not quite sure of this, but it looks as if he might also have got a few minor hematomas in the Parietal Lobe…"

"Hematomas?!"

"Bleedings!…"

"O.K, O.K, well then say that!"

"Anyway! This might affect his ability to receive and interpret sensation. Hot, cold, pain, pleasure, you know?!"

"I know what sensation is!"

Hell, the way Ryan and I fucked while we were married, I know all about sensation!

"Excellent!" Sounding very sarcastic. "Then I suggest we move on…"

"There's more?!"

"Yes…" He sighed, wishing his meeting with the stupid, unpleasant woman would be over soon!

" Due to a small and probably permanent hematoma around the vestibulocochlear- nerve Mr O´reily will most probably also suffer some temporary or permanent reduction in his capability of movement."

"So you mean he's gonna get trouble walking and stuff?"

"Well, he might, but yes."

"Oh fuck! Shit ! I guess he got one hell of a pummelling!"

"Well yes…I suppose that is one way of putting it…"

He found the woman's choice of words rather distasteful!

There are also two final injuries that might influence his wellbeing. Now, it doesn't seem like these are permanent injures, but they are bound to be difficult for him to accept anyway…"

He hesitated.

"SO?!"

"So?"

"Well, what are the fucking injuries you're talking about?!"

"Oh!"

He looked at her, disapprovingly, and she glared back.

"Well tell me then!"

"Well, Missies O´reily, to put in simply and bluntly, mister O´reily has a bleeding on his spinal-chord, and on that part of his brain that handles his, hrm…His…The muscles that control his bowels and urinary system."

"Oh Fuck!"

Shannon was shocked! And she felt an incredibly deep concern and pity for Ryan! The other bits, he could most definitely rise form and survive, as stubborn as he was, but this!?…

He would be more than mortified!

" Hmm, yes…With all these potential and confirmed injuries, and some we might not even be made aware of until he wakes up,,I'm sure you realise that Mister O´reily will require a long period of rehabilitation."

"Oh yeah, tell me about it!"

"Therefore It's imperative that you help him out during this time, both emotionally, and practically. He's bound to find the process of recovery slow and frustrating in both those aspects.

"But I'm!…"

…Not his wife?! Christ Shannon how fucking stonehearted can you get ?!

"Look! He really will need you missus O´reily! A brain damage like this is not a piece of cake to manage!" The doctor knew he was out of line, but he just couldn't believe how cold-hearted the woman seemed!

"The man apparently only has his mother to depend on, and the poor woman really needs some support right now!"

"Yeah, I know, I know…I just, well, I kinda panicked…"

"Hmm, well like I said, it's going to be a rough ride, but we, the hospital staff will help you out as much as we can, so please don't hesitate to come to us if you have any questions."

Just please do it on my day off!

"All right doc, I will."

"Hmm, you're welcome. I´ll get nurse O´Connell to follow you out."

"I think I´d go back to see my e…Ryan again."

"All right then."

There was nothing more said, no "pleasure to meet you", no "thank you doctor", or reassuring words for Shannon asshe walked out the door to stand in the hallway, still in shock.

She slumped on the floor into a sitting position, head and back against the wall.

How in the fucking hell am I gonna pull this off?!

She started crying

Nurse O´Connell found her there ten minutes later.

"O my dear, dear child! How are you, sweetie?"

Shannon just snivelled as an answer; it was all she could do.

"Oh, dear…Come with me dear, I´ll see to it that you get a nice cup of strong coffee, or do you prefer tea?"

"Coffee would be great, thanks…" she snivelled back.

The nurse smiled at her.

"Well, coffee it is then dear!"

Nurse O´Connel helped her to stand, and then, being used to these situations firmly but kindly led her towards the nurses´s kitchen.

"Here you go dear. Now you'll see that you feel a tiny bit better in just a minute, huh?"

"Thanks."

"It's hard to see these all cases, you never really get used to it. People do such foolish things to each other…"

Shannon listened while she greedily drank her coffee. It had been just what she needed.

"I´m sure your hubby will wake up soon though. He shows all the signs of getting better as far as the swelling on his brain, it seems."

"Oh! That's wonderful!"

"And once he wakes up, you can start working on his problems together. I'm not saying it will be easy, but he'll manage in the end, and so will you. You seem like a smart and stubborn girl, and he'd have to smart and pretty stubborn himself to marry someone like you…"

"He is…He just focuses on the wrong things sometimes…"

Shannon felt like she was fifteen and sitting Sister John's office, talking about some boyfriend…But she liked the feeling. She had never been good at opening up to people; always trying to be the strong one, but she desperately needed someone to talk to right now!

"Well, yes, I can imagine…With him getting himself in trouble and landing himself in prison and all…How long is he in for?"

"I…I think it's life now…"

"Oh dear! Oh poor man! And poor, poor you darling for having to be without him so much then! It can be easy being married with someone who's in prison for life…"

Shannon couldn't hold up the charade longer…Not to this sweet caring woman.

"Well, promise you'll not say anything to anybody…"

"Oh cross my heart! I won't breathe a word to anyone…!"

"It's really important…"

"Not a word dear, not a word."

"Well…I'm not really his wife anymore…"

The nurse looked at her half shocked, half questioningly.

" He divorced me a few years back, and I really haven't seen or spoken to him since…"

"Oh dear! Why, if I may be as blunt as to ask…"

"Well, it's along story, but he fell in love with the female doctor in the prison he's in, and well…That's why…"

She thought it best to leave the rest out. She wasn't sure of how the nice woman would take it…

"Oh! And this female doctor and he, are they…Together... Now?"

"Not that I've heard…I haven't seen him in such a long time, but from what I've heard from friends, who should know, they split up after a while, and then she moved…"

"Oh I see…"

Shannon had finished her coffee.

"Oh I guess I should be going…"

"Would you like to see your h…your ex-h…"

Shannon smiled.

"Ryan."

The nurse smiled back.

"Yes. Would you like to see Ryan again and say goodbye for today?"

"I…I'm not sure that's such a good idea…"

"Oh! Well, if you want me to, I could always come with you…"

"Well…"

"I'm sure he'd appreciate it if he knew."

Shannon wasn't at all as sure of that!

"Well…O.K…I guess."

"Don't worry, I´ll go in there with you, and if things get too scary we can always go out again, and if you have any questions, you ask them too, and I´ll try to answer as best I can."

"Thanks."

The nurse got up from her chair, put Shannon's cup in the dishwasher and helped Shannon to her feet.

"All right now, dear?", She asked before letting her go.

"Yes thank you, I'm fine now, I think."

"Good! Let's go see Ryan then…"

They moved out of the kitchen and towards Ryan's room.

Once there, the nurse opened the door, and Shannon reluctantly walked in.

Once again she almost fled when she saw the state he was in, but the nurse took her hand and said:

"It's O.K. He's still alive and warm. Here, touch him"

She placed Shannon's slightly reluctant hand on Ryan's rough cheek.

Shannon let her hand stay there for just a moment.

So this is you, huh? After so many years, I'm touching your cheek again, just like I did in the mornings in bed, trying to wake you up. You'd groan and wave it away, and then I´d have to start all over again, tickling your cheek or forehead, and then kissing you. The kissing always did the trick…

Wonder if you'd wake up this time, if I kissed you?

But I won't. We're past that.

Besides, that respirator thing is in the way.

Looking at the tube of the respirator made her pull back into the real world again.

"He needs a shaving…"

"I think you're right, dear. Should I ask one of the other nurses to do it do you think?"

"Nah, he can be pretty picky with that sort of thing, or at least he used to be. I´ll do it, I know how he wants it, or I think I still know how…I´ll bring his old shaving-stuff tomorrow or the day after, depending on when I can get away from work."

The nurse smiled sweetly but sadly at her.

" That sound good, dear. Should I see if I can get some of the hospital shaving cream or anything?"

"Nah, I´ll pick up some Dakkar Noir after work before I come here, if that's what he still uses, I'm not sure that's what he still uses thought, since I haven't seen him in such a long time and…."

"…I'm sure that will do just fine dear." Nurse O´Connell interrupted her, hearing she was working herself into a panic.

There was a bit of a silence.

"So would you like to have a moment alone with him, dear?"

Shannon suddenly got an even more panicked look in her eyes, which the nurse picked up on.

Oh dear! Not quite ready yet I guess…

"Nah, I have to get home, I have…I have things to do and stuff, you know."

They moved out towards the door, Shannon in pure, but controlled, panic over the situation and the nurse to try to make a mense.

"Oh! Of course. Well, I´ll see you tomorrow then dear."

"Yeah, probably, or…Well yes, tomorrow or the day after."

"Good. You take care, dear!"

Shannon was slightly overwhelmed by the warmth and sincerity in the woman's voice.

"Um, thanks…You too…"

She half stumbled over the threshold and out into the corridor leading to the elevator-hall.

When she got home, Shannon sat down in the kitchen without even taking her jacket off.

Once there, the shock again loosened, and she sat there crying.

"Mrrrrp."

"O´Malley! Hi sweetie! God I needed you to come!"

She picked up the small, fiercely red tabby cat in her knee and started stroking it.

The cat eventually moved off her lap to walk up on the kitchen table and lay herself to rest next to Shannon's arm. Shannon brought her other arm up and laid it on the table so that she was caressing the cat. She gently laid her head on the cat, hearing it purr soothingly.

"I love you so much!"

She wasn't actually sure if she was talking to the cat before her, or the person in her thoughts.

She fell asleep.