Blackout 5/6


Chapter 5:

Charlie sat in a chair next to Deirdre's bed and watched the sunlight move slowly across her blankets.

Don had forced him and Larry to go home last night once they had seen Deirdre safely out of surgery. Charlie had managed to convince Larry not to cancel his morning class by agreeing to stay with Deirdre himself, as if he hadn't already planned to do so.

A nurse had assured him that she hadn't regained consciousness yet so he felt less guilt at having left her last night. She'd stirred a few times since he'd arrived, but hadn't woken up yet.

Charlie lightly stroked the back of her hand, silently wishing her awake even though he knew rest was what her body needed now more than anything.

He put his head down for a moment, trying to banish the visuals that kept invading his consciousness: the expression of fear on Deirdre's face, the blood that he couldn't seem to stop from pouring from her, how pale and still she'd looked under the oxygen mask in the ambulance...

Suddenly he felt movement near his hand. He looked up to find Deirdre's finger tapping his hand lightly. Long, short, long, short. Morse code for the letter 'C'.

She knows it's me, Charlie thought with a smile. Gently, Charlie lifted her hand and wrapped it around his own, formed in the shape of the sign language letter 'Y'.

Deirdre's eyes flickered, but she seemed unable to keep them open.

'U-O-K,' she tapped.

Charlie pressed the 'Y' into her hand again, and followed it up with a 'U'.

Deirdre tried to tap out another message but seemed frustrated with her inability to get it right.

Charlie noticed this and formed her hand into the letters 'O-K' to let her know she could sign, instead.

'H-U-R-T-S,' she signed slowly, each letter appearing to take a great deal of effort.

Charlie looked around for her pain medication button and pressed it for her. His mother had had one and he knew it would give her relief, even if it meant she'd likely lose consciousness again. Deirdre might not feel the full effects for a few minutes, but at least he felt like he was doing something for her.

Deirdre finally managed to open her eyes somewhat and raised her arm to sign one last thing to Charlie before she drifted off again.

Charlie didn't know many signs beyond fingerspelling but he knew this one.

Thank you.