Deliver Me
By Zyris De'Lat
Chapter Four:
Jerrica and Kimber walked into St. Mary's hospital the following morning. Kimber offered Jerrica a hand for support. Jerrica took it and was squeezing it so tight, it started to turn purple.
"Jerrica, I know you are all up tight and nervous, but could you please lighten up on your grip," Kimber stated. She wished she could do something to bring a smile to her sister's face.
"Oh, sorry," Jerrica said absently, giving her sister a sad look.
Kimber knew what she was thinking about, and she couldn't help but wonder herself. 'Did Rio survive? If he did, how is he? Would he even want to see Jerrica?' Kimber looked over to Jerrica and tried to give her a smile of reassurance.
Kimber and Jerrica walked over to the information desk in the hospital's main entrance. "Could you please tell me what room Rio Pacheco is in?" Kimber asked the receptionist.
"Yes, hold on one minute," the receptionist replied. She then turned and started to type on her keyboard. "Miss, he was admitted into room 289 last night, in the intensive care unit."
"Thank you," Kimber responded. She turned towards Jerrica and gave her a smile in regards to the good news. So far Rio was at least alive.
Kimber took Jerrica's arm and guided her over to the elevator. Kimber pushed the second floor button and the elevator started to move.
"What to you think he will say?" Jerrica asked in a soft tone while absently looking at the floor.
"Jerrica, I honestly don't know. But what I do know is you have to stop acting like it is your fault with Rio's accident," Kimber stated with great concern. Kimber took her hand and lifted Jerrica's chin so she could look her sister in the eyes. "Jerrica, you were very brave for what you did. You finally told Rio the truth. And somewhere in the back of your mind, you knew you would lose him. I am proud of you Jerrica Benton," with that said, Kimber embraced Jerrica in a warm hug.
"You are right Kimber, and I am very fortunate to have a sister who can bring me to my senses at times like this," Jerrica said with a smile.
Kimber smiled then leaned over toward her sister, "How about greeting Rio with a smile?"
Jerrica couldn't help but chuckle a bit, "I think that is the best idea I heard all day!" With that said, both women couldn't help but laugh. The elevator stopped and Kimber and Jerrica exited towards the Intensive Care Unit to room 289.
Kimber and Jerrica approached the ICU unit. There was a central station in the center of the unit with the patient's rooms surrounding it in a semi-circle. The unit was dimly lit, which made it appear a bit eerie. A chill started to climb down Kimber's back which caused her to jump. Kimber quickly shrugged it off, thinking to herself that she was acting childish. In reality, Kimber hated hospitals but she wouldn't admit it to herself.
Jerrica scanned the numbers above the doorways to the patient's rooms. She spotted number 289 and motioned for Kimber to follow. They approached a clear sliding glass door that was slid open, and a large green curtain was drawn shut on the inside of the doorway for some privacy. Jerrica hesitated for a moment, and then knocked on the doorway frame.
No answer. Jerrica gave her sister a questioning look. She raised her fist and tried knocking again. Jerrica waited a minute and still no answer. Kimber shrugged her shoulders again, in reply to her sister's questioning looks, and decided to slowly draw back the curtain and to take a peak in. Kimber slowly adapted her eyes to the darkly lit room. She scanned the medium size room, slowly taking in what she saw. There where two chairs, each sitting at the far end of the room. A small table rested in between the chairs. A large sink rested against the wall near the door. Then Kimber's eyes landed on the center piece of the room, Rio Pacheco. Kimber glanced towards her sister and drew the curtain shut.
"Jerrica, I think you should go in," Kimber said with a little sympathy showing in her voice. Jerrica looked at Kimber, failing to read her expression. Jerrica then moved toward the door. Jerrica slowly drew the curtain to the side and slipped in the room. Jerrica remained by the door and slowly shifted her eyes to look at Rio Pacheco. Rio lied on the hospital bed, the sheets and blankets where drawn up to his waist. Jerrica could see the green hospital gown on Rio's upper half of his body. His arms rested by his sides with an IV in his right hand. Rio had is eyes closed, a vacant but content expression displayed across his face. Jerrica turned around and beckoned for Kimber to enter. Jerrica did not want to be alone at a time like this.
Jerrica took a seat next to Rio while Kimber stood behind Jerrica. After Jerrica situated herself in the seat, she started to notice Rio's true state of condition. She managed to lack all of the details the first time she looked at him. There was a white bloody bandage wrapped around his head, a cast rested on his left arm, his face was swollen and cut up with stitches, and there were multiple large bruises surrounding his eyes, jaw, and cheek bone.
Jerrica looked at Kimber, "Should we wake him?" she questioned.
Kimber thought for a moment and then replied, "I don't see why not. You do want to talk to him, don't you?"
"Yeah, I do. But he is looking so content right now. I don't want to disturb him," Jerrica replied with some concern.
"Jerrica, he is in a hospital. You will not be disturbing him," Kimber replied with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Kimber wished her sister would wake Rio so they could quickly talk and then leave. Kimber's nerves and anxiety were beginning to rise. Kimber's fears of hospitals were also starting to plague her mind once again.
Jerrica acknowledged her sister's sarcastic remark and bent over towards Rio. She gently rested her hand on his shoulder and shook him. "Rio, wake up. It's me, Jerrica," Jerrica gently called to Rio. There was no response from Rio. Jerrica shook a bit harder on Rio's shoulder, still no response. Jerrica looked up to the machine's monitor beside Rio. His heart was beating fine, his pulse was normal, and his breathing was fine. So how come he wass not responding?
All of a sudden it triggered. Rio Pacheco was in a coma.
The curtain, then, swiftly pulled to the side, causing the two women to turn and look. A young man entered the room and Kimber was instantly swept off her feet by his charm. She couldn't help but stare in awe. The man was slightly built on top. He was dressed in a white hospital lab coat, which hung over his upper body frame. Kimber made a mental note that this personally added to the man's charm. He had a stethoscope draped around his neck. His facial features were clean cut. His nose was small, but large enough to compliment his nice smile. His jaw bones lined up nicely with his mouth. His chin was small, round, and slightly pointed, but not protruding from his profile. His eyes were a bright blue, which reminded Kimber of the ocean. His hair was short blond, and spiked, closely shaved on the sides of his head. Kimber was soon lost in thought about how gorgeous this man.
The man observed the two women and looked a bit surprised, but then he regained himself.
"Pardon for my intrusion. I didn't know Mr. Pacheco had visitors today. I am Dr. Aodhan," the young but very handsome doctor replied. "I was going to administer Mr. Pacheco's medication." The doctor then proceeded to motion to the needle and syringe resting in his hand. Jerrica nodded in reply while she started to get up off her chair.
"Oh! You don't have to leave. It will only take a minute," the doctor quickly replied. The doctor walked over to the IV needle in Rio's hand and inserted the needle into the little compartment branching off of the IV tubing. He then started to push on the syringe to give the medication.
Jerrica turned towards the doctor and asked, "How long has he been like this?"
The doctor finished administering the medication, removed the syringe, and discarded it into the sharps container. He then turned towards Jerrica and replied, "Do you mean in his present state of condition? Since we received him last night in the emergency room, his coma state has been stable. We are still running tests to determine how critical his state is, and to determine where the trauma and origin lies. We should have some better and more accurate results by the end of the week."
Jerrica looked up at the doctor with a questioning look, "How long will it be before he wakes up?"
Dr. Aodhan gave a deep sigh and ran his hand through his short hair. This told Jerrica his response wasn't going to be good. Dr. Aodhan looked up at the two women and gave a response, "Comas are very difficult. The patient could wake up in two weeks, or they could wake up in two months. Or the worst, the patient could never wake up. Once we find the origin of the trauma site, it could help us gear to a better time lapse, hopefully. I am very sorry I could not give you a better response."
"That is all right. I know you are trying your best Dr. Aodhan. Is it alright if I spend the night here? I really want to be by his side," Jerrica asked.
"Visiting hours are limited, but I don't see why not. If someone catches you, I wasn't here," Dr. Aodhan said with a wink. He then turned around and left.
Kimber almost fell over, "Oh, wow! He is so dreamy! I wouldn't mind if he gave me a full pledge physical examination…"
"Kimber!" Jerrica said with a surprised and astonished look on her face.
"What! Can't I fantasize? Well, I see my sister is back to normal," Kimber exclaimed with a smile. She then leaned over and pinched her sister in the arm.
"Do you want to go out with me to get something to eat?" Kimber asked her sister while Jerrica was rubbing her pinched arm. Kimber really needed to get out of this stuffy room.
"No, I want to spend some more time with Rio. But could you please pick me up something?" Jerrica asked her sister.
"Okay, I will be back in an hour," Kimber replied with a hint of disappointment in her voice because her sister did not want to come. Soon Jerrica was left alone with Rio Pacheco. Jerrica sat back down and situated herself in the chair next to Rio's bedside. Jerrica's back was exposed to the door exiting the room.
Meanwhile, he walked into the elevator, hoping she would be there. He really wanted to surprise her with the bouquet of roses he bought for her. He smiled thinking about the three hours he spent on looking for the twelve perfect roses. He knew Rio wasn't right for her and he wanted her to see that. Now with him out of the way, she will finally be his perfect match.
He stepped off of the elevator leading to the second floor. He located the room 289 in the ICU unit. He then walked up to the doorway with his bouquet of roses hidden behind his back. His eyes fell upon the blond sitting beside Rio. 'That must be Jerrica. Curses, I thought I might catch Jem…'
His thoughts stopped in mid-sentence when he over heard what Jerrica was telling Rio.
"Rio, only if you would have understood. I tried for three years to tell you, and what kept me from telling you was the fear of how you would react. I was afraid I would lose you, and look…" Jerrica gave a slight chuckle. "I lost you anyways. Rio, can't you accept that I and Jem are one person?"
Riot's mouth dropped open in shock. He dropped the
bouquet of roses in the doorway and stumbled backwards a bit. "No…"
Riot gasped. Riot's world shattered and fell apart in little pieces
around him. 'No, it can not be! My perfect match, my angel of pink beauty, my Jem… is Jerrica Benton?'
Hello, chapter for is now posted.
Please read and review.
Jem, and everyone with it, is owned by Hasbro. Except Dr. Aodhan, he is a side character I created.