AN: All medical conditions and terminology have been researched and verified with a medical doctor. I'd like to thank Dr. V.W. for her generosity in providing detailed information and insight into Kendall's injuries and treatment.
Zach glanced at the clock on the waiting room wall for what felt like the millionth time only to note that the hands had moved forward no more than two minutes. He was a man of action, and the interminable waiting was almost more than he could bear. Kendall had been in surgery for over two hours, and Joe Martin had stopped by once to tell the family that she was doing well although the surgery would probably take quite a while longer. Small comfort… but at this point Zach was ready to take anything that was offered so long as it meant that Kendall was still alive.
He looked around the room at all the faces of people who cared about his wife – Erica had been joined by her husband Jackson Montgomery and his three children, Greenlee and her husband Ryan Lavery, and Reggie and Lily Montgomery. In addition, Kendall's friend and business partner Simone Torres was there as well as JR Chandler and Aidan Devane, former lovers who remained somewhat friends. The group was completed by friends of Erica – Myrtle Fargate, Opal Cortlandt and her ex-husband Palmer. They were all seated together, conversing in hushed tones, and quite obviously separating themselves from the corner where he had been seated for most of the time Kendall had been in surgery. Despite his seeming isolation from others that cared about his wife, he preferred the solitude and was grateful that the few people who had spoken to him briefly were considerate enough to leave him alone.
After Kendall had been taken to surgery, Zach and Erica had stood together in the trauma room for only a few minutes before Joe Martin escorted them to the surgical waiting room. After explaining what he knew of the accident, they had lapsed into silence as they were each lost in thoughts and memories of Kendall but distinctly uncomfortable with the role of comforter. Someone from the hospital staff delivered Zach's blood-soaked jacket and tie to him and Erica was visibly disturbed by the sight. At that point Zach realized how uncomfortable he was in the still damp clothing he had worn while kneeling on the street in a downpour. Remember that he had his gym bag in the trunk of his car, he quickly left the waiting area and changed clothes before returning. The gray-blue fitted silk t-shirt and black gym pants and jacket and sneakers were much more relaxed than his usual casual attire, but supremely comfortable for the current situation.
"A penny for them," said a quiet female voice as Zach dragged his eyes away from the clock and onto the face of Myrtle Fargate. The woman was the titular head of the Kane family, having taken over as mother and grandmother to Erica and her daughters upon the death of Erica's mother, Mona Kane Tyler. Amazingly, the woman had always liked Zach and approved of his marriage to Kendall.
Zach clasped her hand between his own as he sighed deeply before responding, "I'm afraid that she's been in there too long, Mrs. Fargate. I want Dr. Martin to come and tell us what's happening – but I'm not sure that I really want to know."
"That's alright, darlin'. We're all afraid of bad news… that just proves you're human like the rest of us," she said in that same quiet drawl. "We have to remember that Kendall is a strong and healthy girl. She'll come through this – she's too stubborn not to!"
"You've got a point there, Mrs. Fargate," Zach said with a ghost of a smile. "But you need to stay close to Erica… Kendall's family needs you now."
"Why Zach Slater, you're Kendall's husband! If you're not family then I don't know who is!" the elderly woman answered in dismay.
He looked at her fondly before saying quietly, "And you're the only person who has ever cared to remember that… except for Kendall of course. Right now she needs all of us pulling for her and I'm not going to impose myself on them, but I'm not going anywhere else either. I know where to find you if I need a strong shoulder to lean on."
"Alright, darlin', I recognize when someone wants to be left alone – but you have to promise me that you're not blamin' yourself for what happened," Myrtle replied. "Sometimes these things are in the good Lord's hands… and we have to trust that He'll take care of everything."
Zach released her hands as he answered, "Thank you, Mrs. Fargate. You've done your good deed and now it's time to get back to Erica… she needs you."
He stood and helped the woman rise from her chair and escorted her a few steps to where the rest of the family was seated before returning to his solitary corner and resuming his gaze at the clock. Another few minutes had passed in conversation, but whether time was moving too quickly or too slowly remained to be seen. Although he tried to shut them out, the conversation of Kendall's friends and family could be easily heard across the room.
"Myrtle – why do you waste your time on him? He doesn't even deserve to be here! This is for family, for the people who love Kendall… not the man she married for business. No, you stay right here and keep me company while we wait for Joe to come back with good news," Erica said in a tone that was obviously meant as a suggestion and a warning… the few moments of comfort they had shared long forgotten.
"Slater," said Jackson Montgomery as he stood towering over Zach in his seat.
Zach lazily looked at the older man and answered, "Jackson."
"Can I speak to you out in the hallway?" answered Erica's husband.
"If you plan on asking me to leave, you can save your breath. I'm not going anywhere," Zach answered in a dangerously quiet tone.
Jackson's voiced raised in irritation, "Your continued presence here is upsetting to my wife. If you won't leave the hospital, the least you can do is find somewhere else to wait and quit flaunting your presence as if you were family."
"But I am family, Jack," Zach said firmly before turning to watch the clock once again. Jackson remained standing next to Zach for a moment longer and then turned with a huff and rejoined his wife. Zach noted out of the corner of his eye that Jackson, Ryan and Aidan were having a hushed conversation – but none of them approached him again.
The armed truce in the waiting area continued for nearly two hours longer before relief in the form of Dr. Joe Martin arrived. Joe's smiling face indicated that he had good news to deliver about Kendall and several people breathed a sigh of relief at the sight. Zach stood up but remained in the background as the rest of the assembled group gathered around the physician.
"Joe. Thank goodness you're here and smiling. When can I see my daughter, Kendall?" Erica demanded imperiously.
"Kendall's out of surgery and in the recovery room," Joe answered her quickly before raising his voice to get Zach's attention. "Mr. Slater." Zach nodded to the doctor and made eye contact without a verbal response before Dr. Martin continued, "Kendall's surgeon, Dr. Donelson, will be out to speak with you shortly. She'll be able to answer any questions that you may have."
"Joe! Why is she talking to him about my daughter Kendall's condition? I demand that you and this Dr. Donelson give me the information," Erica complained loudly.
Joe patiently turned to her and answered, "Mr. Slater is Kendall's husband and as such he is considered her next of kin. Just as he consented to her surgery, he is the only one with whom we can discuss her condition. I'm sorry, Erica, but that's the law."
"But… Joe… but... he's not really her husband," Erica protested.
"Thank you, Joe," Jackson said quickly. "Erica, let's talk about this over here." He steered Erica out of the waiting room and the couple could be seen speaking just outside the doorway, but far enough away to only hear their tone of voice instead of their words.
Zach, however, suddenly found himself accosted by the other men in the room. Ryan Lavery, JR Chandler, Aidan Devane and Reggie Montgomery were all standing in front of him with varying degrees of anger showing on their faces.
Zach did not feel happy in the least but found a smile somewhere inside of himself before asking, "Is there something that I can do for you gentlemen?"
Ryan Lavery seemed to have appointed himself as spokesman for the group and replied, "Yes as a matter of fact there is something you can do, Slater. You can get the hell out of here and leave this situation to Kendall's family to take care of. We don't want you here – and you can be damned sure that Kendall wouldn't want you here either."
"I'm afraid that's too bad… because I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here helping my wife with her recovery every step of the way. If you don't like it, then I suggest that you leave," Zach answered in the same quiet and dangerous tone he had used earlier on Jackson Montgomery. Without further comment, he turned away from them and walked toward the doorway to meet the woman who had just entered the room wearing hospital scrubs.
"Dr. Donelson?" Zach said as he extended his hand.
The physician accepted his greeting and replied, "And you must be Mr. Slater. If you'll come with me I'll brief you on your wife's condition."
Zach and the surgeon left and walked together down the hallway as those remaining in the waiting room erupted in a heated and angry discussion.