Woody and Jordan walked hurriedly down the flight out stairs. Both were silent and dared not talk about the grave situation.
"What did they say happened?" asked Jordan.
"They didn't. The nurse wouldn't give me any specifics over the phone," Woody replied as he reached for the keys in his pocket. Once he had them in his hand, she quickly took them away from him. He gave her a questioning look.
"You are in no condition to drive, so I will," Jordan said point blankly.
"Just make sure I get there alive. I would like to see her," Woody replied as he opened the passengers side door of his car. Jordan pulled out of the parking lot and put her foot full on the petal.
"Hey Woody, put on your flashing light and siren," she said as she looked around the interior for them.
"What? Jordan those are only for emergences," he replied.
"What do call this?" she asked him with wide eyes.
"Good point," he said as he reached down and put the light on his dash. People were pulling off to the side to make room for the now speeding car.
"I am so going to loose my job for this," he said as he watched the cars from the rear view mirror.
"Better that than your daughter," Jordan countered back. Woody just smiled at her but felt immediately guilty for doing so. Hannah was in the hospital and this was not a joking matter.
"Jordan if she's not okay--"
"She'll be okay. I have a feeling about this and my suspicions are not usually wrong," she replied while cutting him off.
"God! How far is this hospital? It always seems whenever you're in a hurry to get somewhere it takes an eternity, but when you're not the time flies by," he pondered out loud.
"I know what you mean, but were are almost there," she replied. Within a few minutes, they had arrived safely in the hospital's ER parking area. Woody shut the siren off and sat in the car seat silently.
"Come on, Woody! We need to go find her," Jordan yelled at him.
"I know. I am just preparing myself so I don't over react or get too emotional," he replied.
"Woody, your daughter is in the hospital. You reserve the right to over react and get emotional," she said to him as she opened the door.
"Okay. I'm coming," he said. He got out of the car and together they walked briskly towards the entrance. Once they got inside, they found the check- in desk and walked over to one of the nurses.
"My daughter is in the hospital. I got called just ten minutes ago about her. Where is she?" he asked quickly.
"I need your name first sir," replied the nurse.
"Oh, sorry. It's Hoyt. Woodrow Hoyt," he told her. She looked up at him as soon as he said his name.
"What!" he asked as he noticed the look on the face.
"Nothing," the nurse replied smiling.
"Okay, Mr. Hoyt. Hannah was brought in at midnight and--," she started.
"Midnight! Why didn't you call me as soon as she was admitted?" Woody asked angrily.
"Woody, calm down and let her finish. Go ahead ma'am," Jordan said apologetically.
"As I said, she was admitted at midnight by a man who had witnessed the scene. She was the victim of a hit and run car accident," the nurse finished.
"Oh my God! Is she okay? Can I see her?" Woody asked.
"Well, she'll need emergency surgery, and we couldn't go ahead without your permission Mr. Hoyt, since you are her father," she replied.
"Why exactly does she need surgery?" asked Jordan.
"She sustained a lot of internal bleeding as well as a few broken ribs," the nurse responded.
"Can I see her before she goes into surgery? I really need to see her!" exclaimed Woody.
"You can see her for a few minutes, while we prepare, but it is urgent you make it quick. Like I said, she needs the surgery immediately," she replied as she turned around and motioned for them to follow her to Hannah's room. " It is vital that you do not upset her. She has gone through quite a lot of trauma tonight, and she may not be able to handle any stressors."
Jordan knew that sometimes for Woody it was hard for him to keep his temper down, even in emergency situations. She just hoped that he wouldn't upset her anymore.
"How did you get my number?" Woody as they arrived outside her door.
"It was in Hannah's back pocket. It said 'Dad's cell', so we called it as soon as we found the number. She was in no condition to tell us. She was barely conscious," she replied. Woody looked at Jordan sadly and entered the room.
"Mrs. Hoyt, if you wouldn't mind, I need you to fill out some paperwork," the nurse said as she handed Jordan the clipboard.
"Oh, I'm not--," but she stopped and decided not to try and explain but just have Woody fill out the papers as soon as he returned.
XIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIX
Woody entered Hannah's room quietly and sat in the chair beside the bed. She looked so peaceful lying there asleep. He picked up her hand and held it while trying not to wake her. She had bruises all over her body and was extremely pale. It was so hard for him to see her there and tried not to cry, found it hard not to. He sobbed silently to himself and did not see Hannah stir as she opened her eyes.
"Why are you crying?" she whispered to him quietly. "I didn't know you cared." She had anger flashing in her voice and Woody could tell as he looked at her from underneath his tears.
"Of course I do, and I always will!" he said, trying to hide his anger that was creeping it's way through him again. She tried to get her hand out of his grasp but was too weak to untangle her fingers that were intertwined with his. Woody saw her try to get him to relinquish his grasp and finally gave in.
"I don't know if I will ever forgive you!" she whispered excitedly. "I want you to leave!"
"I am not going anywhere," he said quietly.
"LEAVE!" she croaked angrily. Her voice had become stronger with the many emotions she was feeling.
"NO!" he yelled back. "I may not be your favorite person right now, but I am your father and I deserve respect. I DEMAND respect."
"That DOESN'T mean you're going to get it from me!" she yelled, her voice back to it's normal tone.
"Oh yes it does!" he fired back. The heart monitor beside the bed began to speed up and he knew Hannah was extremely angry. Just then Jordan burst through the door.
"Woody! What are you doing?" she asked in surprise. Nurses filed in behind Jordan and unhooked the IV's and the tubes that were connected to Hannah. They wheeled her away and into surgery. Woody just stood there silently.
"Woody! What the hell was that?" she asked. "You heard what the nurse said. Hannah does not need that stress, especially now."
"I know Jordan, but... I just lost it. She told me to leave and I just lost it," he replied quietly. He sat down in the chair that he had been seated in before. The nurse that had led them to Hannah's room came in.
"Mr. Hoyt, I was under the impression that you knew what I meant when I said that it was vital that you do not upset her. If it happens again, I will have no choice but to kick you out of this room and you will not be allowed to see her. And Mrs. Hoyt, I'll be needing those papers," the nurse said. She turned and left the room. Woody looked up at Jordan with a slight smile on his face.
"Don't ask," was all she could manage to reply.