Hanging By A Moment

Emma looked down at her watch as she shifted in her seat. Four hours. It has been four hours since she rushed in through those double doors, following behind the paramedics. They told her it would only be a few minutes, they told her that every five minutes.

"What is taking so long? Why haven't they come out of there yet?" Marco asked as he continued to pace back and forth.

"Can you just stop it? Please." Paige snapped as she stood up and stared at Marco.

"I don't even know why you're still here! It's not like you and Ellie are even friends." Marco said as he locked eyes with her.

"Guys. Can you both just stop it?" Emma asked as she stood up. "I'm going to go try and find out whats going on, can you two be civil for five minutes?" Emma asked.

"Whatever." Paige said as she rolled her eyes and walked back to her seat, sitting back down.

"I still can't believe this is happening." Ashley whispered softly.

Emma looked down at Ashley as she had her arms wrapped around her waist rocking back and forth in her seat. Emma had actually forgotten that Ashley was here, she has been so quiet these past few hours.

She was about to head over to the nurses station just as one of the doctors finally stepped out of the room.

"Excuse me!" Emma called as she rushed over to the doctor.

He paused, his back to her as he slowly turned around to face the young blond girl. "What is taking so long?" Emma asked, her heart beating like crazy as she awaited his answer.

"I'm sorry...I can't give out that information until her legal guardian is contacted." He responded.

"Her legal guardian?" Emma asked, as she looked around at her friends. "I uh..I don't think she..."

"I'm her legal gaurdian." a voice came from behind her.

Emma turned around as she watched Ashley's mother approching the group.

"You're her guardian?" The doctor asked.

"Her mother left her in my care, yes." She replied.

The doctor nodded at her. "Ok well then..may I have a word with you please? Alone?" He asked.

Mrs. Kerwin nodded as she followed the doctor down the hall and into a empty room down the hall.

"Ellie's mom never left her with your mom." Marco said as he looked at Ashley.

"I know." Ashley said as she stood up. "But she will be now." She said.

"You guys..what if something awful happened? What if they couldn't stop the bleeding?" Paige asked.

"Don't talk like that, Paige." Marco said.

Emma watched as the teenagers continued to think the worse, she tried to pay attention to what they were saying but as usual she allowed for her cuoriosity to take control. She stepped away from the group and walked over towards Ellie's room. The door was slightly open, and finally it was empty. All of the doctors had finally vacated, leaving only Ellie alone.

Emma glanced over her shoulder, wondering if any of the others had even noticed her stray. Clearly they had not since they now seemed to have started up a argument, everyone thinking the worse and no one even bothering to try to sneak into the room.

Normally Emma would never even consider doing such a thing, especially since she knows the doctor will probably kick her out as soon as he notices her inside. But right now all that she could think about was what she saw. The image of Ellie laying as still as she was, her arm drenched in a pool of her own blood..it was haunting her. The image had been burned into her brain and it would not go away. The only way she will be able to get rid of it is to see how Ellie is now, to see if she is ok. Even though what she sees may be even worse then what she walked in on.

The room was dark, the only light was the dim light from the sun that illuminated the room from behind the half open shade on the other side of the room. The second Emma took her first step in the room she felt as the air grew thicker, it was hot, and she could almost feel as if she was going to start sweating any minute now. The silence of the room gave her goosebumps, the only sound was the constant beep from the heart monitor on the other side of the room. Which was actually a comforting sound, it was proof that Ellie was at least not as bad as she had imagined she would be.

Emma stepped up to the side of the bed, staring down at her. Ellie looked so fragile and helpless, the only movement visable was her chest rising and lowering as she took each breath. That was probably one of the only comforting images at this moment. Her hands laid still at her side, numerous needles throughout her arms, a white bandage wrapped around her arm. They clearly managed to stop the bleeding, which made Emma let out a breath she was unaware she had been holding in.

"She should be out for the rest of the evening." A voice came from behind her.

Emma turned around as she watched a short chubby little nurse walk into the room.

"I-Is she going to be ok?" Emma asked her.

"She lost a lot of blood. They'll need to keep her for a few nights. I can't tell you anything more." She replied.

Emma didn't say anything as she turned back to Ellie. If someone had told her two years ago that she would find herself standing at the bedside of Ellie Nash praying that someone would save her, she would have called them crazy. Just a reminder of how life never turns out how you want it too. It can sneak up on you and find yourself stuck in the most unexpected of situations.

"You really shouldn't be in here." The nurse said as she stepped up to Ellie's bedside, grabbing her chart while she wrote something down.

"I'll go." Emma said as she turned and headed for the door.

"Its ok. I'm leaving anyways. You can stay." The nurse said as she winked at Emma and exited the room.

Emma turned her attention back to Ellie's still form. Grabbing the chair from the far corner she pulled it up beside the bed. She wiped away yet another stray tear as she found herself still slightly shaken over what had happened today. Nothing seems to make much sense anymore.

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Marco kept his eyes fixed on the room where Mrs. Kerwin and the doctor had entered moments ago. Praying that soon enough the two adults would walk out and approch him, tell him what was going on. Explain what has happened and when Ellie will wake up or if she will. Of course he knows he can not think like that. This is Ellie afterall. If anyone can survive something like this, its Ellie. She is the strongest person Marco has ever met.

"Where's Emma?" Ashley's voice interrupted Marco's thoughts.

"In the room." Paige repiled as she motioned to Ellie's room.

Marco walked over to the open door, staring at Ellie as he leaned against the doorframe, watching the girl who he considers to be a part of his family, as she laid motionless in the whote bed.

He was still surprised that Emma is still here, and sitting beside Ellie's bed. It is one thing for the girl to be at her house at the right moment, but it is another thing for her to stay in the hospital for more then an hour. Nevermind being here all four hours.

"MARCO!!" Marco turned around as he heard someone screaming his name.

Just at that moment his jaw pratically dropped at what he saw before him. Sean came rushing down the hall headed right for him.