Chapter 5: The Accident

(Four Months Later at the Hospital)

"It will be okay," Jamie kept telling himself as he paced in the waiting room, "it will be okay," he repeated.

He couldn't believe that this had happened. One moment he's playing a Demo for FFXII and the next moment he's hurrying to the hospital after receiving a call on his cell.

"Jamie?" Goat asked as he entered the waiting room, "any news on Coop yet?" he asked as he now looked at his shoes.

"No," Jamie responded, "Kiva's resting on a stretcher after fainting moments after calling me form here," he reported, "I really hope that he'll be okay," he added looking anxiously at the clock.

"What time did they say that he'll be out of surgery?" Goat asked as he took a seat nearby the standing Jamie.

"Six-thirty which is another hour," Jamie said softly, "I can't believe that someone was drunk at Noon and on the road," he snarled.

"And they said that the driver got away?" Goat asked and Jamie nodded.

"This is nuts," Jamie muttered, "if that drunkard hadn't taken that turn so fast he'd have seen Coop and stopped," he declared, "well that's not likely for a dumb drunkard still," he admitted.

"I'm a bit surprised to see you though," Goat said and Jamie raised an eyebrow, "with the fallout that you and Coop had," he added.

"Our ended friendship doesn't make his life any less important to me," Jamie said through clenched teeth, "I don't want him to die," he hissed.

"Hey Man," Goat said in defense, "I never meant it like that," he said and after looking him over for a moment Jamie nodded and sat down in an available seat two seats away from Goat.

(Two Hours Later)

"Is there someone here for Coop?" a doctor asked as he stepped into the waiting room and Jamie raised his hand tiredly, "he's just leaving surgery," he told Jamie, "could you follow me?" he asked.

"My friend…" Jamie started to say pointing at Goat's empty seat.

"I think that it's best that as few people as possible come right now," the doctor said formally, "Miss Jenkins at the desk will let him know that you're with me," he said pointing at the receptionist as the far end of the room.

"It's that guy named Goat right," Mrs. Jenkins asked and Jamie nodded, "I know him," she said simply, "I'll let him know when he returns from…"

"The restroom," Jamie told her and she nodded then returned her attention to the computer.

"Follow me," the doctor instructed and Jamie went with him until they came to a door marked Dr. Sullivan Debeer.

"That's me," Dr. Debeer stated, "please go in," he offered and Jamie stepped in nervously, "sit on the couch it's more comfortable," he suggested but Jamie was hesitant eyeing the simple wooden chair closer to the doctor's desk, "I can see that you're tired," he added and Jamie gave in and sat on the couch.

"I haven't slept in nine days actually," Jamie confessed as he relaxed on the couch, "crunch time for game testers you know," he told the doctor, "I was actually planning on getting back to work by nine," he stated, "but since it will be almost a two hour ride back by now I might have to call and let them know that I might not be back before midnight."

"I don't think that you should be driving with the lack of sleep you've had," Dr. Debeer said seriously.

"I take a taxi," Jamie told him.

"Let me rephrase," Dr. Debeer stated, "I know all the ways people make themselves look awake and refreshed," he told Jamie, "so while you may look just a little tired to your friends, I however can see how exhausted you really are," he pointed out.

"I wont burn out doctor," Jamie said and yawned, "I'll be all right," he said groggily, "I just need to rest my eyes," he said and closed his eyes.

Soon he was snoring and the doctor grinned and decided to tell the details of Coop's condition to Goat first.

(Following Day at 12:30pm)

Goat sat by Coop's side and held his hand. Paralyzed for life? He had never imagined that happening to Coop. He knew that something must've been wrong when Coop's surgery ended late. But he never expected this.

Kiva sniffled from the other side. She never expected to lose Coop in any way. Actually she never expected to feel bad about losing Coop in any way when she first came to this time. But now she really cared about him and she didn't need to be deeply in love with him to feel awful that not only her friend; but the father of her child (as well), was now permanently paralyzed because of the severe irreparable damage to his spine as well as other miscellaneous damages like his many broken bones and physically damaged face which was covered by bandages.

The door opened to reveal a rather wild looking Jamie. He was breathing hard and looked as if he had just woken up not too long ago.

"That damn doctor purposely let me fall asleep last night," Jamie declared through gritted teeth, "I might be fired thanks to him," he muttered as he entered the room, "how's Coop?" he asked more calmly looking at his unconscious friend who was heavily bandaged and had several machines attached to him.

"Stable but still bordering critical," Goat responded simply, "the doctor told me that you haven't slept for more than five days," he told Jamie, "sure you aren't stretching yourself too thin?"

"I'm fine," Jamie stated, "Dr. Debeer told me he was paralyzed from the neck down," he continued, "are they any other complications?" he asked, "I ran to Coop's room here as soon as the doc told me that he was paralyzed permanently," he explained.

"So you don't know about the physical therapy he needs and the brain damage?" Kiva asked and Jamie's eyes widened.

"Brain damage?" Jamie asked in a whisper, "anything…" he started to say.

"Nothing that will affect him much more than how the other injuries have affected him, " Kiva stated, "but he will have some problem remembering things sometimes," she added sadly.

"What about the cost?" Jamie asked and both Goat and Kiva glared at him, "I mean as in how everything's going to be paid for," he said in defense, "all his treatment along with the surgery already done wont pay off by itself," he added frankly.

"I'm not loaded," Goat stated bluntly.

"I don't have that kind of money," Kiva said and sniffled.

"I'll be ale to work out something with my boss and the bank," Jamie said with a sigh, "I'll make sure Coop's treatments are done even if it kills me," he vowed.

"You don't have to," Coop whispered suddenly.

"What?" Kiva asked anxiously.

"Y-Y-You don't h-h-have t-t-to p-p-pa-pay anything," Coop stuttered.

"So who will pay for it then Megas?" Jamie demanded, annoyed that Coop's first words were pretty much that he didn't want 'charity'.

"I'll put trust more in him than you," Coop countered, "you're just showing off your money," he threw at Jamie.

"If I wanted to show off cash I'd be in Vegas right now pal," Jamie snarled, "not giving it to a jerk like you," he hissed.

"Coop please," Kiva begged, "Jamie only wants to help," she continued, "he rushed right over here from his job just to be here," she told him, "he might even get fired," she added.

Coop lay silent for a moment. He could barely see and could feel that his entire face was covered in bandages. He felt a bit strange but guessed that since he was just recently in an accident that must be why he couldn't feel the rest of his body. He thought about Jamie possibly sacrificing his job to come see him and that he (Jamie) really looked like he had been here all night and not even tried to spruce himself up unlike Goat and Kiva. His conscience bothered him but then he remembered that they were longer friends and also noticed that Jamie had made yet another negative comment about Megas.

"What do you have against Megas?" Coop asked suddenly, "he didn't end our friendship," he continued, "your jealousy of him did," he told Jamie.

"Come on Coop," Kiva admonished, "this is not the time to do this," she said and noticed that Jamie's face contort in anger.

But suddenly Jamie started t laugh.

"You know what?" Jamie said between laughs, "you're right," he admitted to the others surprise, "I was jealous of Megas and that was the biggest factor that ended our friendship," he said, "but you know what?" he asked, "I'm glad it happened," he said and Kiva and Goat gasped.

"Is that so?" Goat asked coldly, "why?" he asked and Kiva also looked like she wanted an explanation.

"Because I used to be a bum," Jamie explained, "now I actually have some money in my pocket and proudly not have to beg for scrounge for extra change," he stated, "so I really should thank Megas," he said, "it's obvious that we were meant to be more of acquaintances than friends," he said finally.

"So you'd spend that much money on an acquaintance?" Coop asked.

"Just because we're not friends anymore doesn't mean what we had means nothing to me," Jamie responded.

"So you'll really pay for everything?" Coop asked, "despite not getting anything in return?"

"Your well being is all that I care about right now," Jamie said honestly, "besides," he continued, "Kiva's baby isn't going to be raised without a Dad," he added.

"Hello everyone," Dr. Debeer said as he came in.

"Good Morning," the others said in unison.

"You're awake, good," Dr. Debeer said simply to Coop, "I need you all to excuse me so that I can talk to Coop alone," he said more seriously.

A silence fell over the others. Kiva, Jamie and Goat looked particularly worried; especially since they hadn't told Coop that he'd never walk or feel anything below his neck ever again.

"Bye Coop," the three said in unison and exited the room.

"I hope that he'll take it well," Goat stated then looked just as forlorn as the others because they all knew that he (Coop) wouldn't.

End of Chapter 5

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