(A/N: Wow, lots of pretty reviews! I thank you all! Well, today I was sick. Not fun. I just sat in bed, with a pounding head, and wrote a whole bunch. Unfortunately it was for 'Saving Kate', because I had currently lost the 'Searching' notebook. But now it is found, so expect something up on Wednesday or Thursday. Um, I now give you Chapter 3!) (And I got new buddy, his name is Leonard! Wave at everyone Leonard!
Leonard: ((waves)) 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42...
I'm hoping Shiggity Shwa will let him play with Ethan...)
Disclaimer: I don't own LOST, I don't write for LOST, I am in no way, shape, or form, associated with LOST. JJ Abrams and the brilliant minds over at ABC and Bad Robot own LOST. Not me. "Sometimes you can't make it on your own" is copyrighted by U2 (THE BEST BAND EVER!). Hey, I know one thing I own… this Disclaimer… and this story. (But not the characters)
-Searching-
Chapter 3-
Hospital-
"Err… I dunno. Something that starts with a J…I think… No wait, K. Like Kay or something. She's 28, we think, dark brown curly hair, fair skin, slender, good looking, ya know? She was probably on some kind of drug and didn't see the car coming…" the police officer answered.
Jack nodded, and then the realization hit him.
"Oh my God, Kate…" he exclaimed.
"Kate! THAT'S her name!" The police officer said, remembering it. He almost looked proud of himself.
"Where is she?" Jack demanded.
"Why?" The police officer asked him suspiciously. "Do you know her?"
"Do I know her?" Jack repeated the question, stunned at how a man this dumb ever became a police officer. "Of course I know her! Or I wouldn't be here, asking you to see her!"
"Well, you could call it more like bellowing then really asking…" the police officer stated, completely oblivious to the situation.
"Just tell me where she is!" Jack said, the exasperation showing in his voice.
"Over there, ambulance #416. Better hurry, it looks as if they're about to leave…" The officer pointed to the left at an ambulance that seemed to be spaced out from the rest.
Kate sat unconscious on the small, portable bed. Her face was bruised and bloodied like someone had beaten her real bad. Her torso had broken ribs sticking out in places and glass pierced into her skin. Every breath she took was shallow and labored; almost as if her lungs had burst and she had no way to breathe. One arm was sprained; the other had a long gash down it that would require stitches almost immediately. Her left leg was also badly bruised and blood streamed from a shard of glass that had been dug into it, and her foot was sprained. The paramedics thought it a miracle that she actually lived though the horrifying experience. They hooked her up to an IV and an oxygen tank so her breathing could be easier. They also removed a couple pieces of glass, but there wasn't much they could do without the hospital.
All the sudden, a seemly deranged man whipped around the corner and pounded on the doors.
"Open up!" he shouted. "Come on, open this up!"
The 3 paramedics sat in the back, glassy eyed and open mouthed, until one of them had the sense to actually open the door.
The man jumped inside and yelped as he saw Kate.
"H-How is she doing?" he asked, his voice a shaky whisper.
"Not too good. Lots of broken bones, bruises, and a massive amount of blood loss. We're still not sure if she's going to make it… …Might I ask how you and this woman are related." The paramedic to the left answered.
"I'm her friend. Best friend." He replied, not wanting to explain the whole thing.
"We're sorry sir, but you must ride to the hospital in a different vehicle. Only blood relatives are allowed in here." The driver said.
"What? No, I'm not leaving!"
"Sir, if you do not leave, I can not move this ambulance, and if I can not move this ambulance, then your best friend will have passed on before we get there. Now, I suggest you move, or we'll have to force you."
The man looked around, opened his mouth several times to speak, but couldn't. Finally, he stepped out of the back.
"But I'm following you. And if you let anything happen to that woman, I will personally fire all three of you." He said, and slammed the door shut.
Jack ran to his Volvo SUV as fast as his legs could carry him and tried to open the door. Of course, it was locked, causing the alarm to go off.
"Dammit!" Jack cursed and unlocked the car, making the alarm quit.
He jammed the key into the ignition; turning it so hard he was afraid it would have broken if he pushed it anymore. The engine roared to life and he raced after the ambulance that was carrying Kate. He ran through the red lights, the stop signs, he dodged the cars and swerved to miss people. Anything to make sure he wouldn't lose sight of the flashing lights.
He turned into the familiar parking lot, parking at that all too worn spot. Getting out of his car, he ran into the emergency room where Kate lay on the stretcher.
"Kate…" he gently caressed her cold cheek with his thumb. "Kate, I didn't mean for any of this to happen. It's my fault. I'm sorry for the fight, for everything I said."
But Kate didn't respond. Her eyes remained closed.
"Dr. Shepherd?" a nurse from behind asked him.
He turned around and spotted the elderly nurse. "Oh, hi Millie."
"Dr. Shepherd, what are you doing here? I thought you took vacation time…" she confusedly stated.
"I, uh…my friend here got hit." He beckoned to Kate.
"Good lord! What happened!"
"The car happened. The fight happened. This night happened!" He said, sighing.
"Oh my…" The nurse said, looking at Kate.
Two doctors burst into the room, scaring almost everyone. The receptionist pointed at Kate, answering the silent question in their eyes. They ran over and started to wheel her away. Jack tried to follow her, but he only got as far as the double doors that led down the hall.
"Sir, you'll have to stay out here." One said.
"No, I can't." Jack exclaimed.
"Sir, please. You'll have to stay in the waiting room. If you fail to comply with these rules, we will be forced to call security."
"Do you not know who I am!" Jack shot back. "I'm a doctor here!"
"Doctor, that nurse stated that you were on leave. Please take a seat. We'll let you know how she's doing as soon as we get a chance." The doctor exasperatedly explained, almost like he was used to these kinds of reactions.
Jack knew he would have to stay. It was procedure. But it wasn't fair.
The doctor stared at him, almost expecting a reaction, but when he didn't get one, he wheeled Kate away.
Jack sighed and sank into one of the hard, cold chairs. He was always the one to give directions, never the one to receive them. Now he knew how the patient's family felt. Everything, every good piece of information that doctor gave them, was like Christmas to them. They knew that if the patient was doing good, then the person would have a better chance at living. But only the doctor knew that. For the patient's family, it was like sitting in a cave, a dark cave. Hardly ever did the doctors come out to explain everything to them, and if they did, it was in "doctor's" language. Most people didn't know what Acetaminophen was; to them it was Tylenol or Excedrin. Once this whole situation was over, Jack knew that from then on that every patient he would perform surgery on, he would explain everything fully to the family, so they wouldn't be "left in the dark".
He bit his lip and sat his head in his hands. It was going to be a long day.
Listen to me now
I need to let you know
You don't have to go at it alone
And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
(A/N: Ooooo, what'll happen to poor Jack's heart? And will Kate make it? Find out in the next chapter of Searching!)
Reviews to the Reviews That my Reviewers Left Me:
(Wow, I got a boatload of Reviews! Yay!)
Freckles-101: Hey, it's another Saving Kate reviewer! Hi! Yea, I'd imagine Kate is going to live. I mean what's the point of writing this fic if Kate doesn't live! Lol. Well, I'm working on the next chapter tonight, so it'll be up on Wednesday or Thursday, depending on what happens. I'm sorta leaning towards Thursday, as Lost is on Wednesday. I dunno. Lol. Wave at Freckles, Leonard!
Leonard: ((waves)) 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42…
PinkPinker: Woo, another Saving Kate reviewer! Wait, till you see what happens. If you think Jack is freaking now, you ain't seen nothing yet. He's going to majorly freak in an upcoming chapter…
Leonard: ((waves)) 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42…
Lillywriter: Thanks! I'm glad you like my other one too!
Leonard: ((waves)) 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42…
Gosh, Leonard, I think it's time for your pills…
HelenAntithesis: Hey, a new reviewer! Wow, thanks. Yea, I hate when people just like leave no cliffies whatsoever. But then, cliffies also make me stay up all night, pondering about what's going to happen next, so I can't say I'm a huge fan of them either. Lol. An update is due Wednesday or Thursday!
Leonard: ((waves, though more slowly)) 4, …8, 15, …16, 23, 42…
Ah, the pills are taking effect…
LostGirlKate: I have a feeling that Kate's going to "die"… but you know, it's just a silly feeling. Lol. Ah, yes, the A/N. Yea, I just can't stand when people criticize other people's work. I mean, if you have nothing nice to say, then don't say it all, right? I mean, that's the second golden rule to life…
Wave to LostGirlKate, Leonard!
Leonard: ((waves)) …4, …8, …15, 16, 23, 42…
OctoberSky: Woo, Saving Kate reviewer!
Leonard: ((plays connect four)) 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42…
Yea, poor Jack. He just sorta has the bad luck in both my stories, doesn't he? Lol. Thanks!
Leonard: ((waves)) 4, …8, 15, 16, …23, 42…
Rain1657: ((shifty eyes)) Maybe I do… but it's fun! And it tortures people! And it creates gooey, fluffy moments, which I just love writing.
Leonard: And it's Educational!
0.0 HE SPOKE! ((gives Leonard a cookie))
Leonard: ((freaks out and eats the cookie)) 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42…
Ah, Jack's going to lose more of his mind in an upcoming chapter…
Leonard: ((waves)) 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42…
The cookie must of rebutted the medication…
CrAzYhOrSeGiRl88: Did I type that right? Lol. I hope I did…
Leonard: ((nods and begs for another cookie))
Ya, you'll see how he reacts soon. I'm a psyhic for my writing, and I see in my crystal ball that there's going to be another flashback! Ooo…
Leonard: You crazy bat, that's a decoration from your front yard!
OMG, he spoke again! ((gives Leonard another cookie))
He must like you people…. Thanks for the review!
Leonard: ((waves)) 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42…
Auzziegurl: Omg, she did! Lol. Ya, next update Wednesday or Thursday!
Leonard: ((waves)) 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42…
Gowland: I know! Poor Jack. His mind is going to blow up soon from all the pressure I put him through… first, in Saving Kate, then this… ((sighs))
Leonard: He's only going through this because you make him…
Leonard… no cookie for you!
Leonard: Nooo! ((gets out Connect Four and starts playing))
Leonard: ((waves)) 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42…
Whirlwind-2005: LOL! I don't think Jack will end up in this hospital… maybe the mental one on down the way, though…
Neato. And my crystal ball-
Leonard: From her front yard!
Leonard, shut up! I'll give you a cookie…
Leonard: ((shuts up))
There we go! My crystal ball says that a flashback is due the next chapter… ((gives Leonard a cookie))
Leonard: ((waves)) 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42…
(A/N: It took me a half hour to write my reviews to you guys! But it was so worth it! Leonard is my buddy (cause he needs one), and I hope that Shiggity Shwa will let him play with Ethan!)