Chapter 243: O'Hare Airport

Wednesday, January 25th, Morning

They settled into their seats on the aircraft. Together they paid extra to have two seats across instead of the usual three. Also, they wanted more legroom because one of them is tall for a woman. One of them looked out the window to see the grounds of Chicago O'Hare Airport spread out before them.

"How long is this flight?" Ivy asked.

Kay shrugged, "I believe a little over two hours," she said.

"That's all?" Ivy asked.

"Yeah, no stops," Kay said.

Ivy smiled, adjusted herself in the seat, and got comfortable. That's something Kay found difficult with her shoulder. Tucking her travel pillow behind her neck, she looked out the window. Kay gently closed her eyes to rest, like Ivy, on this short flight. That's when the dreams, or better term, memories came back, in the tyranny of silence as they waited to travel.

(Flashback in Italics)

She stirred awake, but her mind was still a fog. Looking around, she saw an unfamiliar room. Also, Kay couldn't feel nor move her right arm. Panic started to settle in as tried moving but felt pinned down.

Kay looked at her left hand and saw a line, or tubing, going into her arm. Reaching up with her hand, she touched her face; it was tender to the touch, and she felt something stuck in her nose.

The thrashing about brought a nurse into the room. Kay looked up at her, fear passing through her body.

"Karen, please calm down," The Nurse said from behind a face mask.

"Where am I?" Kay asked.

"New Hanover Regional Medical Center, the trauma unit," The Nurse said.

"What happened? Why can't I feel or move my arm? Where's Connie?" Kay let off in rapid-fire succession.

"You were in a serious car accident, Karen," The Nurse said, "You injured your shoulder in the accident."

"Where's Connie?" Kay asked, her voice starting to take that desperate sound, bordering on tears.

"Your friend…" The Nurse started to say.

"Girlfriend," Kay corrected, still not one hundred percent sure if that's the whole truth.

"Your girlfriend was seriously injured in the accident and isn't awake yet," The Nurse said.

"I have to go see her," Kay said, no demanded, still desperate to understand and make sure Connie is alright.

"No one is allowed to see her, yet," The Nurse said.

"I have to see her," Kay said, almost in an odd whine for her.

"Karen, her family, isn't even allowed to see her," The Nurse said.

"Call me Kay, please; no one calls me Karen," Kay said.

"Well, Kay, there are people here to see you," The Nurse said.

"Who?" Kay asked, still a bit confused.

"Your dad and brother," The Nurse said, "They're anxious to see you."

Kay nodded, looked down at her left hand to see it shaking. Finally, Kay looked up at the nurse, "Send them in, please," she said, her voice low and defeated.

The Nurse left. Kay looked to her right and saw her arm held up in some trapeze. She looked at her hand and tried to wiggle her fingers. They moved sluggishly, but she didn't feel them. A few moments later, Lucas and Keith appeared. Kay looked up at them and noticed they both looked haggard, but finally, Lucas smiled.

"How are you doing?" Lucas asked.

"I can't feel my arm," Kay said, her voice, low said, and maybe desperate.

Lucas nodded, "It's still under sedation, and they'll probably give you an auto pain killer thing," he said.

Kay shook her head, and when she finished, it hung there. "What happened?" she asked.

"You and Connie got into an accident, it's bad, and you messed up your shoulder," Lucas said.

Kay looked up at her arm. She nodded, "How bad?" she asked, her voice mournfully low.

"Bad," Lucas said.

"It's my shooting arm," Kay said.

Lucas nodded, "I know," he said.

"What am I going to do?" Kay asked.

"I've been in contact with Clay, The Sky, and Uncle Nathan. They're trying to pull strings to get you to see Doctor Andrews," Lucas said.

Kay shook her head and tried to hold back her tears, "Connie?" she asked.

Lucas shrugged, "She's in bad shape, but I don't know how bad," he said, and his voice drifted off.

Keith walked over to Kay's side and took her left hand into his. "At least you're here, and we can work on your shooting," Keith said.

Kay shook her head, "I miss your long hair," Kay said, looking up at her brother's short hair.

"Grooming standards have to wear it this short; why you think I shave my goatee every month," Keith said.

"I'm scared," Kay said, her voice starting to sound panicked.

Keith nodded, "I know," he said, as Lucas came over next to him. He looked at his two children.

"I've only ever wanted to play basketball; I don't know what to do if I can't," Kay said.

"You could go back to your art," Lucas suggested.

Kay nodded, weakly, and looked away for a moment. She turned back to Lucas. "Where's Sassy, Nomi, and Ellis?" she asked softly.

"They're with Aunt Brooke," Keith said.

"We didn't want them to worry, so Aunt Brooke volunteered to take them," Lucas said.

Kay nodded slightly.

"Now, try and get some rest; at least one of us will be here tomorrow to visit you," Lucas said.

"Okay," Kay said.

"Don't worry, we'll get you back on the court," Keith said.

Kay smiled and nodded, weakly. Lucas and Keith left, and Kay leaned her head back and tried to sleep. It was a fitful rest, at best, and she tried looking out the window. Later there's a knock on the door.

Kay looked at the door; it seemed filled by the sheer bulk of the person. They walked into the room, and the light highlighted their ginger hair. Kay studied Huck Burke as he came to her bedside. He's still in his firefighter uniform, and it looked well worn.

"Huck," Kay said, weakly.

"Kay," Huck said, in his usual laconic way.

"What do I owe the pleasure?" Kay asked, trying to make light of her situation.

"I'm checking in on you," Huck said.

"Did you tell them you're my brother?" Kay asked, trying to laugh but not feeling it or unable to.

Huck shook his head, "No, the uniform helps," he said.

"Why are you here?" Kay asked.

"It was my crew who cut you and Connie out," Huck said.

Kay nodded weakly, "Thank you," she said softly.

"You're welcome," Huck said.

Kay nodded, again, and looked up at Huck weakly, "How bad was, is, Connie?" she asked.

"Bad," Huck said, bluntly, "I'm not sure how bad."

Kay nodded and felt the tears burn her cheeks.

On the airplane, Kay shook awake. They were taxing to the runway. Slowly, Kay shifted to look at Ivy. Ivy was already sleeping; Kay nodded and got comfortable again. Yes, in the tyranny of silence, the memories will haunt her, but hopefully, this trip will help her face and put her ghosts to rest.