Blackout 4/6


Chapter 4:

Larry showed up at the hospital waiting room to find Don pacing and talking on his cell phone, and Charlie sitting with his head in his hands, obviously distraught.

"Charlie!" Larry began, bewildered. "I got a call from a police officer telling me to come to the emergency room right away. They didn't say why, though."

Charlie sat his friend down. Larry had told him that Dr. Rydell was not only an esteemed colleague, but also a longtime friend. He was not going to take this news well.

"It's Deirdre," he said softly. "There was a break-in at my building tonight. The men were armed. They started a firefight with the FBI rather than surrender. We tried to hide but, Larry, Deirdre got shot. The doctors are working on her now."

Charlie was glad he'd made Larry sit down first, because it looked like the older man might not have been able to remain standing, he looked so pale.

"Deirdre? No... no... It just... It can't..." he stuttered, but couldn't get the words out.

"Larry..." Charlie tried to soothe his friend, however given his own emotional state he didn't have much to offer.

"I invited her. She came because of me... She wouldn't have..." Larry was babbling, but Charlie knew what he meant.

"No, Larry. You are not to blame for this. You cannot blame yourself for what happened." Charlie could tell he wasn't reaching Larry. "Don?" Charlie turned to his brother, who was still on the phone. Don gestured to him to wait a minute.

Charlie turned back to Larry. "If anything, it's my fault. I tried to protect her and I failed."

"You're both wrong," Don interjected, closing his cell phone with a snap. "The only people to blame are the bastards who did this. End of story."

Before they could argue, a doctor stepped into the waiting room. "Are you waiting for news on Ms. Rydell?"

"Dr. Rydell, yes," Larry hastily responded. "Please tell me everything."

"Dr. Rydell was shot once in the side, with an exit wound in her back. She's done with surgery and is in recovery right now. Once she's moved out of recovery and into a room, you'll be able to see her. I can't say how long it will be before she regains consciousness, though. She lost a lot of blood and was extremely weak when the ambulance brought her in. If there had been any more blood loss there might have been greater complications, but with transfusions we were able to stabilize her enough for the necessary surgery."

All three men could fill in the blanks without being told. Complications like brain damage, heart failure and even death.

Charlie knew he'd still have words with the building's safety manager, but now they'd be grateful ones instead of complaints.