Chapter 5: The Dream

The wind whipped her long hair as the small convertible hurtled down the curvy road. The sky was inky black bathed with the soft glow of moonlight. The radio blasted some smoky blues tune. The headlights of the convertible bounced off the trees that lined the road.

He said something funny and she laughed at him. He was always making her laugh. She never was one for laughing much before him. She grew up in a somber household. She never really learned how to laugh until she was in college and met people who understood her, who knew her and who appreciated her.

He said over the music: "I love you."

She squeezed his hand that was working the gear box. He looked at her and those eyes pierced her with that look that made her melt inside. It was the look that screamed "you are mine." She smiled at him. He winked at her.

She shouted over the radio "If you keep looking at me like that, I am going to rip your clothes off when we get home."

"And that's supposed to be a bad thing?"

She could make out his smirk in the moonlight. At that moment, no woman could love a man as much as she loved him. Everything was good in life… No, make that perfect. Everything was perfect.

She squinted when the bright headlights appeared the side view mirror. She was slightly surprised. It was late on a weeknight. Most people were asleep in their beds. The car behind them seemed to appear out of nowhere. It was quickly on their rear bumper.

She said "Where did they come from?" He glanced in the rearview mirror and shrugged. He stepped on the accelerator and the convertible sped ahead. The car behind them quickly closed the distance. Kate glanced over at him and realized his look was suddenly grim.

The car behind them pulled into the other lane and edged up next to them. There were four men in the car—one driving and the others riding. The passengers leaned out the window and started yelling at the convertible.

Her stomach tightened with fear. "Ease off. Let them pass." She watched him contemplate it and take his foot off the accelerator. She heaved a sigh of relief.

The other car slowed down so it was at their side again. One of the young men screamed "What? You chicken, buddy? Afraid we'll show you up in front of your girl?"

She cringed when he frowned. He looked over at the car and cruelly smiled. She appealed to him to let it go. "Don't do it. Just let them go. You are more of a man than they'll ever be."

One of the young men shouted "I bet she has him whipped and won't let him race us!" The insult was all it took. He jammed his foot on the accelerator and the car effortlessly surged forward. A shout of excitement came from the other car.

He was winning. She snuck a glance at the speedometer. It read 80 mph and was progressing smoothly to 90. She firmly said "This is ridiculous. Stop it right now!" He ignored her. The tires squealed on the pavement as they took the next curve. The other car was gaining on them. She attempted her best rational tone. "Look, I know you like speed, but this is ridiculous. You are going to get those dumb kids killed."

He shrugged with indifference. "Nobody is going to get hurt. Stop worrying."

The other car suddenly shot past them, honking madly. He muttered something unintelligible as they cut him off as they got in his lane. He pulled into the left lane to zip by them. She gripped the door handle until her knuckles turned white. He pulled past the car. Suddenly, he saw the oncoming headlights and uttered "Shit."

He quickly maneuvered into the right lane. The car behind him had edged forward and clipped the back end of the convertible. The convertible wildly fishtailed. She froze in fear while he valiantly tried to regain control. The back end of the convertible swung into the left lane at the oncoming car. She gasped "Oh my god" right before it happened.

The back of the convertible clipped the back end of the oncoming car. The oncoming car went off the side of the road while the convertible continued to spin counterclockwise. She saw the fear in the eyes of the driver of the car they were racing as the convertible completed the first 180 degrees of the spin. She heard the brakes of the car they were racing squeal as they completed the next 180 degrees. In the beginning of the second revolution, she realized he couldn't regain control of the car, yet she barely noticed that he was swearing as he tried to steer the car. Halfway through the second revolution, she realized she forgot to feed the cat. She realized 270 degrees into the second revolution that they were going to hit a huge oak tree and she began to scream.

At the end of the second revolution, the back panel of the passenger side of the convertible slammed into the oak tree. The impact slammed her against the tree. The car crumpled around the tree. She was immediately knocked out cold. He was also knocked out, but just for a minute.

His eyes fluttered open and he took inventory. Nothing bleeding; nothing broken. He suddenly remembered she was in the car too. He started yelling her name. He saw a broken bone protruding from her arm. He smelled the gasoline leaking from the shattered car. He quickly freed her from the car and carried her away from the vehicle. He gently laid her on the ground. He gingerly started probing for broken bones and surmised her hip was broken. He pulled up her shirt and found evidence of internal bleeding. He was overcome with nausea. He fumbled for his cell phone and called for an ambulance. Once he finished giving their location to the dispatcher, he attempted to revive her. "Come on babe, wake up."

Her eyes fluttered open and her face was etched with pain. She whimpered "What happened? I hurt everywhere." She turned to look at the car that was starting to burn. She swung her gaze back to him and said "We wrecked?" He nodded. "Oh my god. The baby! Please don't let me lose the baby! DAMN YOU!"

Kate wakes up to Wilson shaking her. Confusion dances in her eyes as they slowly focuses on him.

He tells her "You were having a nightmare. You were screaming 'Damn you' over and over." He helps her sit up. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Kate hoarsely says "I haven't had that dream in years. It was the accident."

Wilson nods sympathetically. "You ok now?"

Kate nods. "I am. I was just caught off guard by the dream." She rubs the sleep from her eyes. "What time is it?"

Wilson says "It's close to six pm. I hadn't heard anything from the hospital, so I gave Cuddy a call about an hour ago. He is still in the coma."

Kate stands up. "I am going to grab a shower. Then I am going to take you to dinner to thank you for letting me crash here." Wilson starts to protest but Kate silences him. "It is the least I can do. Once we are done, I want to back to the hospital for awhile."

"Ok. But nothing fancy for dinner, ok?"

Kate nods as she goes into the bathroom. "I suppose." She pulls the door behind her and takes a long, hot shower. Once she is done, she proceeds to blow dry her hair. Once her hair is dry, she grabs cleans clothes from her suitcase. She decides to wear jeans and a green shirt with a deep v-neck. She walks into the living room to find Wilson watching Cheaters. She smirks. "Jeez, you watch that crap?"

Wilson appears chagrinned. "House got me hooked on it while I was staying with him. He watches some of the trashiest TV out there."

Kate laughs. "Some things never change. You ready to go?"

Wilson stands up and says "I am. How about I drive? You still look really tired."

Kate nods and they head out to his car.