Pain and Thoughts

Craig woke up in the hospital only to see Joey and Angie at his bedside asleep. He looked out the window and it was nighttime. Curiously he wondered how long he had been asleep and in this place for.

"Alexis?" He screamed waking up Joey. He looked up seeing Craig's expression.

"Whoa Craig calm down."

"Where's Alexis?"

"Alexis is in critical condition. But you got lucky the bullet went all the way through."

"Is she okay?"

"They don't know yet."

"What bullet?"

"You were shot in the intestines but the doctors were able to stop the bleeding just before you flat lined."

"What? You mean I was dead?"

"Brain dead for about a minute."

"Whoa."

"Craig what happened up there? Who shot you?"

"Zack Van Eller I fought him, but strictly in self-defense. He ended up coming after me and falling through the window, and I hate to say it, but he should be dead below the broken window."

"Okay I'll go tell the cops. They are in the lobby and waiting to question you when you're ready."

Joey left the room with Angie still asleep in the chair. Craig looked at the sleeping child.

"I don't know what I would've done if I couldn't see you one more time." Angie felt a hand brushing her hair and stirred awake.

"Daddy?" Her curious eyes opened to see Craig looking down upon her.

"Craig your awake." She got up to hug him.

"Watch the bandages." She looked down at the neatly bandaged ribs.

"Are you okay?"

"Hey Angie, yeah I just think I'll need my rest."

"What happened?"

"A bad man came after me and my girlfriend you know Alexis she babysat you last week."

"She was fun. Is she hurt?"

"Possibly."

Then the doctor came with Joey not far behind.

"Craig Manning I'm doctor Tad Jordan. It seems you were right a body was found right where you said it would be. These police officers want to question you."

Two men in long overcoats came in.

"Mr. Manning the man we found had two blows to the head, and was dead upon impact with a broken neck. He is Zack Van Eller as you said, but you and Ms. McCain must give your statements."

"Okay well simply put he was stalking Alexis. She told me just last Thursday, but when I took Alexis to the old candy warehouse I had no idea he would be there. She said that he only followed her to places where she was alone. According to Alexis he threatened her life if she told anyone about their history together."

"What exactly were you two doing there?"

"I had a surprise for her. If you check with her father you'll see that the factory is now in his name. Anyway I brought her there to show her the renovations my friends and I did. I made it into a type of loft."

"So when did Mr. Eller show up?"

"When me and Alexis were in the dance studio. He came up behind us with a gun and told me to leave so I did only so I could come at him from behind. I heard Alexis scream and then a struggle. When I stepped out of the dumbwaiter I saw her unconscious on the floor. That's when I hit Zack with the sledgehammer, but not before he shot me. I didn't feel the pain until after he was through the window. And I'm guessing I passed out and woke up here."

Craig looked at Joey.

"Maybe you two should go home. It looks like Angie is getting tired."

"Okay we'll let you rest and be back tomorrow after Angie gets home from school."

"See you tomorrow." Joey and Angie left and Craig finished giving his statement.

Tad Jordan and Craig were alone.

"Doc how long will I have to stay here?"

"Unfortunately it looks like at least three weeks. We will run some tests and X-rays we think that if your not looked at soon you could become paralyzed overtime."

"What?"

"The bullet was successfully removed, but the damage done could result in a paralyzed left leg because the surgery took so much blood and hits your joints, which help you to walk."

"Okay so how can we prevent that?"

"With some physical therapy and the right medicine."

"Is Alexis okay?"

"She was still unconscious on arrival and has been in a coma. The chloroform damaged her lungs slightly to where she is breathing by a respirator. However, if she wakes up her chances for survival are good."

"Okay thanks. When can I see her?"

"In a few days."

He left Craig to rest, but he couldn't sleep at all because he was worried about the girl in the next hospital room.