Chapter 5: Getting to know you.

It was early morning. The sun had not yet risen but the birds were awake, greeting the morning with their most jubilant voices. It was the chorus of birds outside her half open window that had roused her from her deep sleep. Jane Doe glared angrily at her window while cursing the birds. There had to be a more dignified way to wake then to have a pack of birds hollering outside your window.

After almost half an hour of trying to fall back to sleep and finding the attempt futile, Jane Doe began the struggle to find the remote lying on the bed near her hand.

Doctor Ledger told her daily that she was a medical miracle. To have mobility in any one of her limbs after such a short time was unheard of. But Jane Doe was stubborn, as she soon came to realize. Every day for the past week she had worked herself until she was weary with exhaustion. And it hurt. The pain was almost unbearable, but still she persisted. She wanted out of the hospital as soon as possible. And the only way that was possible was by proving that she could take care of herself.

She lifted her arm painfully off the bed and began to move it stiffly at her side searching until her fingers grazed the smooth, plastic end of the remote. She wiggled her fingers as she struggled to inch the remote closer to the palm of her hand.

After a great deal of effort and several curses on her part, the remote had moved far enough for her to wrap her fingers around it. She slid her thumb over the surface until she found the button that would raise the bed into a sitting position. Slowly the air started to pump and the metal began to slide and her head rose higher and higher until she was high enough to see the television. She found the appropriate button and the television buzzed to life and the face of toothy anchorman appeared out of the blackness.

Jane Doe sighed with contentment and brought her hand back down to rest on the bed. The early morning news was exactly what she needed. She couldn't remember anything about her life, including the current events. It was a futile attempt, she knew, but she hopped that perhaps a story might trigger a random memory. Anything would be welcome at the moment, even if it was something as obscure as eating a salad on the beach on a warm summer day. She just wanted to remember…well…anything.

There was a soft knock on the door to her left, and in the time it took her to turn her head the door had opened and a man with jet black hair, combed back stylishly, stepped into the room. "I was doing my rounds and I saw that you were awake." He took several steps into the room.

Jane Doe narrowed her eyes on him. "I know you." Her eyes scrunched as she tried to place his image. "I know," she relaxed when her brain made the connection. "You were here with Lizzie the day I woke up. You're Nate, right? Nathan Shanks? She talks about you all the time."

"Does she?" Nate beamed with pride. "Well I'm glad to hear it." He strode confidently to the chair placed by her bed and took it. "I have a few minutes before my shift ends and I thought you might want someone to talk to, so here I am. If that's all right?"

"Of course that's all right. In fact, that sounds lovely." Jane Doe smiled. "I love it when Lizzie comes to visit. My days get really long when all I can do is lie here in this bed. Her visits break up the monotony of my day. But I admit, I was craving the conversation of someone new."

Nate chuckled merrily as he moved the seat closer to the bed. "How are you feeling today, honey?"

The girl shrugged her dainty shoulders, "A little weak. A little lost. Nothing new really."

"I was talking to Lizzie yesterday and she told me that Doctor Ledger said you were progressing quickly. You haven't even started your therapy and already you can move your arm."

"My arm?" she gasped in mock surprise. "You don't say."

"You don't sound too happy about that."

"No, no." she assured him. "I am. Its just…well, I hoped to be farther then this."

"Jane, you just came out of a six month coma. You can't expect to regain full mobility in a few days."

The curly haired girl rolled her large brown eyes. "That's what Lizzie keeps telling me."

"Bet you don't believe her, do you?"

Jane Doe smiled bashfully. "How could you tell?" She chuckled softly. "I know. You're about to tell me that I am being terribly thick headed and stubborn, but I can't help it. I don't know for certain, but I have this feeling that I've always been that way. Do you suppose that could be true?"

"Jane, sweat heart," he laughed, remembering the way she had fought the sedative. "I'm positive you were."

"Nate?" she looked up at him through timid eyes.

"Yes, Sugar."

"Do you mind if I ask you a question?"

"Shoot."

"I've been meaning to ask Lizzie, but…why do you keep calling me Jane?"

"I'm sorry. Does that bother you?"

"No. I just want to know why."

"That's simple enough to answer. You were an unidentified patient. When that happens we call the males John Doe and the females Jane Doe. You've been referred to as Jane Doe for so long I guess we don't know what else to call you."

"Jane." She tested the name. "I guess I can live with that."

Nate pursed his lips "No, no, no. Jane is far to plain a name for you, my dear." He stared deep into her eyes. "You need a more exotic name than that."

"What do you suggest?"

"Hmm…Do you remember reading any Shakespeare?"

"Shakespeare?" the young girl scrunched her eyes in thought. "Yes. I'm certain I have."

"I read this name once on one of his plays and I always like it. How about Hermia?" He suggested. "It's different, almost exotic, but not quiet."

"Hermia," she bit her lip as she considered his suggestion. "I like that. I think…it's beautiful."

"You're beautiful, dear."

The newly christened Hermia blushed sweetly. "You don't have to flatter me."

Nate flashed her his most disarming smile. "Honey, I don't flatter anyone." He tilted his head forward. "I only ever tell the truth."

Hermia broke into the first real smile he had ever seen on her lips and the affect was devastating. Her entire face lit up and her eyes seemed to glow with an intense inner warmth. "You're very sweat."

Nate brushed away her compliment. "Forget about it, sweet heart. Now," he stood up and sat on the bed next to her. "Let's get back to talking about you."

Hermia snorted with indignation. "How can we talk about me when I don't remember anything about me?"

"Let's start with something you do know then. You're going to have twins. Have you been told what they are?"

"No. And I don't want to know either."

"Really?" He lifted an eyebrow with intrigue. "With the twenty questions you're been firing at Lizzie all week I would have thought that would have been one of the first ones you would have asked."

"No." Hermia shook her head. "If I'm going to put my time in carrying these babies and have to go through the pain of bringing them into the world, I want there to be something to look forward to in the end."

"Have you considered any baby names?"

"Good heavens, no. Right now I just want to concentrate on getting out of this bed."

"You know, I thought you might." He patted her hand affectionately with his. "Which is why I've decided that I'm going to spend all of my spare time helping you reach that goal. I've talked to your physical therapist already, and he gave me suggestions on things we can do together that will help build up your strength."

Hermia stared at him a moment in astonishment. "Why are you being so nice to me? You and Lizzie both. You've gone above and beyond the call of duty. Why?"

Nate shrugged. "I don't know." He tucked one of her loose strands of hair out of her eyes and behind her ear. "There's just something about you. Both Lizzie and I felt it."

"Let me get this straight. You're going to help me simply because of a feeling you had?"

"I know," he shook his head almost as if he didn't believe himself. "It sounds mental, doesn't it?"

"Just a little bit."

"It's strange," Nate retook his hold on her hand, placing their clasped fingers comfortably in his lap. "But the moment Lizzie and I saw you we felt this…connection. We've both tried to shake it, but it's been no use. I need to helpyou."

"So what does that make you? My guardian angel?"

Nate's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Guardian angle? I don't think I've ever been described as an angle before."

"You've been nothing but an angle to me."

"Oh, don't worry. As soon as we have you up and out of this bed you'll see a whole different side of me."

"I don't know if I can handle that."

"Don't worry. You will."

"Lizzie!" Nate called out happily at hearing his best friend's voice. "What are you doing here?" He tilted his face to the side, accepting the kiss on his cheek Lizzie was bending down to give him. "You're not on for another two hours."

"Couldn't sleep. So what are you two talking about?"

"Plenty." Nate straightened his back and tilted his head in an innocent pose. "Did you know I'm an angle?"

"An angle?" She widened her eyes exaggeratedly. "Really?"

"Yes. We both are."

"Says who?"

"Hermia, here. She told me so right before you came in."

"Hermia?" Lizzie glanced skeptically at Nate. "Is this an amazing and joyous coincidence or did Nathan browbeat you into taking the name."

"I think it's a very beautiful name." Hermia defended.

"So in other words its Nathan's doing." Lizzie shook her head as she walked to the other side of the bed and sat down as was her costume. She opened her bag and pulled out a square box. "I thought you might be sick of hospital food and in need of a little treat. She pulled the lid off and offered Hermia first choice of the wide selection of chocolate she had in side. "Have a chocolate."

She lowered the box so that it was easier for Hermia to reach inside. She took up the first chocolate her fingers grazed and after some effort was able to bring it to her lips.

"Very good." Lizzie beamed. "That took less time then the carrot did yesterday."

"I told you Lizzie, I want to be out of here by the end of the month."

"Ja…Hermia," Lizzie caught herself as she set the box down. "I know your progressing quickly, but I don't think you'll be ready to leave the hospital in a month."

"Two months then. I won't stand for anymore."

"Honey," Nate drawled, "right now you can't stand at all."

"Nathan Shanks! That was uncalled for."

"No, it's all right." Hermia assured them with a chuckle in her voice. "He's right. I can't stand at all. But that doesn't change anything. I have to get out of here."

"Why are you being so stubborn about this Hermia? Why are you so anxious to leave?"

"Nathan." Lizzie hissed at him but he ignored her continuing to drive home his point. "You have no memory. No foreseeable skills. No friends, no family and two little…babies on the way. You have no home to go back to and no idea where to go from here. Why is it so important that you leave?"

"Because." She said through gritted teeth.

"Because why?"

"Nathan! Stop it!" Lizzie ordered when she saw the tears in the young girl's eyes.

"Because, I feel so helpless." She looked up at them with eyes pleading for understanding. "I hate not being able to do things for myself. I hate that I am stuck in this bed. That I have no control over my body. I need someone else to help me eat, help me bathe, help me dress, go to the bathroom. I can't do a thing for myself. And I hate it. I hate depending on someone else to do for me what I should be able to do myself. I hate that I'm confined to this bed. And I hate how the only thing I have to do to pass my time is watch television. There are so many other things I could be doing if I wasn't confined to this bed, but I can't because I'm stuck here. It wouldn't be so bad if I had something productive to do, but I have nothing. I don't even have a book to read. I…"

"Do you like to read?"

"What?" Hermia was taken aback by Lizzie's abrupt question.

"Do you like to read?"

"I…" she had to seriously contemplate the answer. "I don't know."

"If you want, I can bring some books from home for you to read. I have plenty. What do you like?"

"I don't know. Anything would be welcome at this point."

"Then I'll bring you some books tomorrow."

"Are you sure? Because I don't want to be a burden to you."

Lizzie was barley able to restrain from laughing aloud when she saw the longing in her young friend's eyes. "It's really no trouble at all. Here," she picked up the box and held it out once again. "Have a chocolate. It always makes me feel better."