Chapter 30
To Tommy, the drive to the Hospital was a blur. He honestly didn't remember how he had got there. He knew he had jumped in the back of the ambulance with Jude, answered some of the EMTs questions, but he couldn't say much about her medical history.
Once they had gotten to the hospital, they had wheeled Jude away, a nurse telling him to stay put in the waiting and wait for word by the doctors. He had sat down in a chair and buried his head in his hands. He didn't look up when he heard Kat and Jamie get there, and finally Kwest followed not to far behind him, Sadie. He remembered Sadie saying something about calling Victoria, but she was out of the country with Don and didn't think she could get back to be of any help and to wish Jude well. He remembered having a passing thought of anger over how little the woman cared about her youngest daughter but the anger was soon replaced with loss and overwhelming sadness. He didn't want to think badly about Jude's condition, but he kept fearing the worst.
After Sadie proclaimed what her mother had said, Kwest had taken her into his arms and attempted to comfort her. Kat and Jamie were seated on the other end of the waiting area, holding each other and crying over their friend. Tommy looked away from the couples rather painfully. He closed his eyes, trying to tell himself it was all ok and Jude, and the baby, would be fine.
As he closed his eyes, he could only picture the look of pure horror on her face as she had fallen. That scene played over his mind on repeat and he wanted nothing more than to repress the scene from his mind, but the more he tried to forget, the stronger the image became. He shook his head and opened his eyes, his vision blurred by unshed tears.
He saw someone in the near distance point at him, obviously recognizing who he was. He silently prayed for anonymity for the first time in his life. He couldn't deal with crazed fans and paparazzi attacking him. He just wanted the doctor to come back and tell him his love of his life was ok and this nightmare could be over.
"Hey," A tentative voice said. Tommy glanced over and saw Sadie looking at him with glassy eyes. He nodded his acknowledgement, not trusting his voice to speak. He couldn't let himself break down. He had to keep it together because if he lost it, then he'd lose her as well. "She'll be ok, ya know." Sadie said, nodding. "Jude…she's strong. She has to get through this." She said, sitting next to Tommy and watching him, tears flowing freely down her cheeks and Tommy found himself envying Sadie for the first time in all the time he had known her.
"You don't need to worry about me." Tommy said, his voice and eyes betraying his other-wise cool exterior.
"It's ok to cry you know." Sadie said, her eyes never leaving him. Tommy just shook his head. No, Sadie, it's not. He thought. He wouldn't allow himself to mourn her before…He shook his head again to clear his thoughts. Don't think like that. He scolded himself. He felt Sadie's hand slide into his and he glanced over at their joined hands and back up to her.
A few months ago, he never would have thought Sadie would be capable of that form of gesture. He didn't say anything, couldn't say anything; but Sadie gave him a look of understanding and he assumed she got the message.
Kwest came over and sat down next to Sadie. Tommy went to withdraw his hand, but Sadie held him fast and leaned into Kwest for further support. Tommy glanced nervously at Kwest and his friend just nodded at him. Tommy looked away from the couple and back down the hallway, wondering when the doctors were going to come with any news of Jude's condition.