From Heaven's Mind

Chapter Nineteen

Broken bones.

Lacerations.

Cracked skull.

Comatose.

Doctors had done all that they could.

Slim chance of recovery.

Best to prepare for the worst.

The phrases rushed one by one through Christine's head as she listened to the doctor talking to the relations of the patient in the next bed. She blocked out the sound and looked down at Meg's small, pale hand that was held in hers.

"Why don't you go home and sleep?" Nadir suggested. "We already know that they're going to be fine."

"No. We don't. We know that they're probably going to be fine. But we don't know for sure." Christine reminded him.

"They won't wake up until the morning and you two have work tomorrow. And, yes, you ARE both going to work because you're going on this Friday." Nadir said, looking across at Max.

Max looked at Christine.

"What do you think?"

"I can't leave them, Max."
"You can and you will. I will telephone you if there is any change." Nadir said sternly. "Call a taxi, neither of you is in any condition to drive."

"He's strict." Max muttered as they left the ward. Whilst Max called a taxi, Christine yawned and looked at the clock.

It was past midnight and it had been around 6 when the doctor had finally emerged from the operation theatre and told them of Meg and Tom's condition. Meg had been driving at the time and had stopped at traffic light. They'd turned green and she'd gone forward. A car coming from another direction hadn't stopped at the lights and driven straight into the side of the car on Meg's side.

Meg's legs were both broken as well as several ribs and a punctured lung. Tom's injuries weren't as bad. A broken arm, broken ribs, a banged head and a lot of cuts and bruises between the pair of them. They had both been stabilized and it was a matter of waking for them to wake up.

"Come back to Rochdale." Christine told Max. "We can fix you up a spare room."

"Thanks, Christine. I don't really want to go home tonight." Max said, slipping an arm around her as they went outside to wait for the taxi.

Peter was waiting in the entrance hall when they got home.

"Mrs Destler, are you alright? Mr Khan told us about the accident." He said. Christine nodded and smiled weakly.

"I'm fine and the doctors think that Meg and Tom will be as well. Max is going to stay the night, can you have a guestroom made up?"

"Of course. Would you like something to eat?"

"Yes!" Max interrupted and Christine smiled.

"Yes please, Peter. We'll be in the living room."

They sat in the comfortable living room and Max sighed heavily.

"Weirdest day ever."

"I know… we were all so happy this morning and now this happens." Christine said quietly.

"I'm sure they'll be fine." Max said, as though he was trying to assure himself as much as anybody.

"Yes… yes, they will." Christine murmured, turning her eyes to gaze out of the window.

Rebecca was waiting in the entrance hall of the theatre when max and Christine arrived the next day. Both were pale and tired looking. She called for Stuart and they went to meet them.

"Are they OK?" Stuart asked as Rebecca said,

"Did you sleep at all?"

"We don't know. Nadir's going to call if… when they wake up." Max mumbled. Christine looked at her watch.

"They should be waking up soon."

"C'mon. Let's keep you busy, otherwise you're just going to be making yourself panic." Stuart said, taking Christine's arm. "Let's warm up and practise."

It was times like these when Christine was glad she had such good friends.

They were midmorning when Max's mobile began to ring, a cheerful beeping noise. He and Christine froze. Fumbling, Max answered.

"Yes? Nadir! Are they…? Yeah, I'll come. What about Meg? …Sure, I'm on my way." He hung up and Christine gripped his arm tightly.

"Are they OK?"

"Tom is. Apparently he's a little panicky about Meg. I'm going over to calm him down until she wakes up. Are you coming?"

Christine chewed her lip and glanced at James. Max smiled slightly.

"They're going to be OK. Finish rehearsal."

"Practise up to lunch and then take the afternoon off." James said. Christine paused and then nodded. Max hugged her tightly and left.

Tom was sat up in bed, supported by pillows and with his arm in a cast. His face was battered and bruised. Christine felt like crying at the sight but Tom eyed her.

"God, you're not going to cry are you?"

"No, of course not."

"Thank god. Mum was in this morning and she was blubbering the whole time." Tom said, rolling his eyes. Christine smiled, sitting down. "How're you feeling?"

"Been better." His eyes drifted over to Meg. Christine loved over and swallowed hard.

"Doctor said she'd wake up soon." Max assured her.

"Do you remember what happened?" Christine asked Tom.

"I remember the car hitting us. I think I yelled to Meg and I heard her scream. Then came a whole lot of pain and I woke up here." Tom said. Christine stroked his hand and said,

"I'm so glad you're alright."

"Me too." Tom smiled. It looked painful. "This beauty'll take a while to heal. But its Meg I'm worried about."

He loved over at her again.

"Her legs are shattered, Christine. What if she can't walk again? It'll kill her."

"Don't talk like that." Christine said firmly. "The point is you're both still alive. I'm happier about that than you can imagine. I point blank refuse to lose anyone else to a drink-driving accident."

They fell silent and then Max said,

"I'm just going to get something to eat."

"Where's Nadir?"

"Gone home to get some rest. He stayed here all night." Max said, going to the door. Tom settled back into the pillows.

"If it wasn't so painful, this would be really comfortable."

"That's the optimistic spirit I'm looking for." Christine smiled.

They both froze as a slight whimper interrupted them. Christine spun around in her chair. Meg's face was twisted in pain and she whispered, "Tom…"

"Meg?" Tom said, sitting up and wincing in agony at his splintered ribs. Christine moved over to Meg's side.

"Meg, can you hear me?" She said, taking Meg's hands. After a moment of laboured breathing Meg's blue eyes opened a crack, closed, then opened again.

"Christine? What… where… Tom!" Her eyes flew wide open wildly.

"He's OK, Meg. He's OK. Look, he's here." Christine gestured to Tom. Meg looked over slowly, as though her neck hurt. Which it probably did.

"What… what happened? I don't… I don't remember."

"There was a car crash, Meg. Some drunk driver hit your car."

"Christine, call the nurse. There's a button on the table." Tom said. Christine hastily pressed the button before turning back to her friend. Her eyes were a little unfocussed and Christine said quickly,

"Meg, stay awake. The doctor's coming to check on you, OK? Talk to me."

"It hurts… Christine, it hurts…" Meg whimpered. "My… my legs…"

"Stay calm, Meg."

A nurse came in and Christine stood up.

"Meg's awake." The nurse nodded and lifted a telephone from the wall, speaking briefly before crossing to Meg.

"Miss Grayson?"

"Hurts…" Meg whispered, her eyes closing again.

"Miss Grayson, please try to stay awake. Would you like some water?"

Meg didn't reply, her face screwed up in agony.

"Meg, stay awake!" Tom snapped. Meg's eyes opened again as the doctor entered.

"Are you family?" The doctor said, taking Meg's board from the end of the bed and glancing at Christine.

"I'm her best friend, her parents live in London." Christine said. "They moved there last year."

"I'm afraid it's family only at the moment. We only let Mr Khan stay last night because he insisted."

"Please, she's like my sister." Christine pleaded.

"Fine. But wait outside until we've examined her." The doctor said, already moving towards Meg.

Christine threw Tom a helpless look and went outside. Max was coming towards her, chewing a sandwich.

"What's up? Here, got you a sarnie."

"Meg's awake. The doctor's with her." Christine said, opening the sandwich and biting into it.

"Well, that's good, right?"

"She's disorientated." Christine replied.

"She got hit by a car. I think we can let her be disorientated for a while." Max pointed out. Christine shrugged, not able to argue. She chewed on her sandwich, eying the door anxiously.

After about fifteen minutes the door opened and the doctor came out. Max and Christine turned to him.

"Is she OK?"

"Relations?"

"I'm Tom and Meg's roommate." Max explained. "And Christine is our blest friend/landlord."

"Mr Sutherland should make a full recovery. We'd like to keep him in for another couple of night but he should be able to leave by Thursday." The doctor said. Max smiled.

"That's great!"

"What about Meg?" Christine asked quietly.

The doctor signalled for them to sit. They did. He sat opposite them and sighed.

"Miss Grayson's injuries are considerably more extensive. Oh, she'll live." Seeing the panicked looks on their faces. "We've managed to repair her lung and her ribs will heal. Her legs, however… the broken bones will heal, in time, but the muscle and ligament damage is extensive. But we're lucky that we have an excellent physiotherapy department here."

"What are you saying?" Christine asked. The doctor took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes and sighed heavily.

"She may not walk again. And if she does, it will almost certainly be with a limp."

Max and Christine exchanged a horrified look.

"But we're not making predictions like that now. The human body can always surprise even the most experienced doctors. We're doing all that we can and if Miss Grayson is determined and willing, I'm sure it won't be that drastic. I'm just preparing you for the worst."

"Can we see her?"

"Yes. She's woken up slightly now, but I'd like for her to get some rest. You may want to bring some things of theirs. Clothes and maybe a few personal things." The doctor said. "We've informed her of the damage, but I don't think she's taken it in yet."

Max and Christine went to the door. Meg was lying in the bed, blinking at her strange surroundings. They went in and Max smiled.

"Hey Meg."

"Hi Max." She said with a weak smile.

"How are you feeling?" He said, sitting down by her bed.

"Terrible."

"Not surprised. Christine and I are going to run home and get some of your stuff. Anything in particular you want."

"Chocolate. Chocolate would be nice." Meg suggested. Christine laughed.

"I doubt it, Meg. Besides, you're definitely looking chubby these days."

"You wish, Christine. Just because you're piling on the pounds."

"I'm pregnant, I have an excuse." Christine said.

They had only been talking for a few minutes when Meg's eyelids began to droop. Tom hissed to Christine and she went to him.

"Yes, Tom?"

"I need you to get something for me."

"Sure, what?"

"In my bedside table at home, in the top drawer. There's a little black box with a ring inside." Tom whispered. "I need you to bring it here."

Christine blinked and then her jaw dropped.

"Tom, is it…?"

"Yes. But don't tell her. It was supposed to be a surprise." He cast a look at Meg. Max was carefully arranging her covers around her in a brotherly fashion. "I was going to ask her this weekend, but I can't wait. I can't. Not after this. There isn't time to wait."

"I'll bring it with the rest of the stuff. We'll be back in a couple of hours." Christine whispered.

"Thanks, Christine."

They drove to Jameson Street in silence.

"Do you want to do Meg's stuff and I'll get Tom's?" Max suggested. Christine nodded and went upstairs, but first went into Tom's room whilst Max was in the bathroom. She went to the bedside table and took out the little box. She opened it gently and smiled at the ring inside.

It was a small gold band with three diamonds set on top, one large one in the centre and two smaller ones on either side.

"What's that?" Max said. Christine showed it to him.

"Tom asked me to get it for him. He's going to ask Meg…" Max grinned.

"Good for him! God, I'm going to be the only bachelor, aren't I? My mother'll kill me."

"You could always ask Rebecca." Christine teased.

"After being together for, what a week and a half? I think she might think that I'm taking it too seriously." Max said, throwing clothes into a bag.

Erik sat in the kitchen of the penthouse and moaned, rubbing his face in despair. This was impossible. He was growing to loathe this opera…

Well, no, that wasn't true. But he was reasonably certain that it would drive him to an early grave. And that was if the nightmare of prospective parenthood didn't get him first. Or Christine, for failing to telephone in two days.

As if it had read his thoughts, the telephone began to ring. Erik allowed the machine to take it.

Hello Erik, it's me. I'm so sorry for not calling, there's been a lot going on.

Christine's voice sounded tired and strained. Erik frowned and moved to the machine, listening.

Meg and Tom were in a car accident yesterday. They're both OK now but… Oh god…

"Christine?" He lifted the receiver. "Are you there?"

"I'm here." She said tearfully. "Erik, I hate it. Tom can come out in a few days but Meg… she might not walk again!"

Erik closed his eyes briefly.

"The doctor said that's a worst case scenario but she's going to have to go to physiotherapy and… I wish you were here, Erik." She whispered. "I don't know why, but just having you around makes me feel like everything is going to be better."

"Everything will be fine, Christine."

"You can still come out on Friday, right?" She asked desperately.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world. I've reserved Box 5, as usual." Erik smiled. Christine laughed quietly.

"Thank God. Well, I'm going to get some rest. I'll call tomorrow and let you know how Meg and Tom are."

"I love you." Erik said.

"I love you too."

Erik put down the phone, considered it for a moment and then lifted it again, dialling the number of Nadir's mobile phone.

He had a small request to ask of him.

Christine went to the hospital after rehearsal the next day. Now that they knew Meg and Tom would be alright, Max and Christine had thrown themselves back into rehearsals. It was already Wednesday and they still had work today on Des Yeux D'Ange.

They'd received excellent reviews from the critics. Even Kelly Delaney had held true to her word and produced an appreciative piece of journalism.

In the unlikely event that the score and direction of Des Yeux D'Ange fails to charm you, the three main performers are sure to remedy that. Stuart McKenzie is a touching Roberto who cannot fail to draw you in with his performance. Similarly, Rebecca Griffins serves as an innocent and charming Caroline but it is Christine Destler who truly shines through in this opera as the stunning Arietta.

"She's sucking up nicely." Max commented. Christine didn't reply, tossing the newspaper to one side as they arrived at the hospital. When they reached Meg and Tom's ward, they were surprised to see no sign of their friends. A nurse smiled at them.

"Are you here to see Meg and Tom?"

"Yes… where are they?" Max asked.

"They've been moved to a private room. It was so surprising, we received a phone call insisting that they be put in a private ward and one of the world's leading physiotherapists is arriving today to treat Miss Grayson. I don't suppose one of you knows a Mr Destler? He's paying for everything."

Max glanced at Christine with a sly grin.

"Did he tell you about this?"

"No. Mr Destler is my husband." Christine explained to the nurse who beamed.

"He's a very generous man. Anyway, if you go down the corridor and into the second room on your left, your friends are in there."

As they went down the corridor, Max elbowed Christine in the ribs.

"Tell you what... if I'm ever in hospital, I'm giving Erik a ring. See if he can fix me up with a nice room!"

"Oh, give over." Christine laughed as they greeted Meg and Tom.

Erik was going to get a lot of hugs for this one.

A/N: Quick update because of the number of threats, lol! Although I bet you hate me for the beginning of this one. I wasn't sure whether to not to have them talking about Meg and Tom but decided I couldn't. These characters are my babies! Not in a creepy way. Just in the way that I love them and can't bear to let them go!

This chapter is lovingly dedicated to the IheartPOTO. She sent me some INCREDIBLE fanart she did of From Angel's Eyes and From Heaven's Mind and I am in awe of her! No one's ever done that for me before! I'm trying to get it upon the internet so everyone can see; I'll try and include a link next chapter!

Lotsa luv 'n' huggles

Katie