Chapter 42

The Waiting Room

Ambulance sirens whirred at the scene of the accident, paramedics and police immediately went to the car rapidly to the rescue. In the totaled car Spinner was barely conscious his hands hadn't left the wheel, shards of broken glass were both inside and outside the car. He was covered in cuts and bruises all over his face and his arm was broke attempting to shield Darcy at the last second from harm. He clearly had suffered a concussion he was falling backwards onto his seat when he was pulled from the wreckage. Darcy looked worse for the wear, they had to cut her seat belt out the car because she was in questionable and critical condition, medics couldn't tell if she was asleep or worse, dead. They pulled her out too and placed her onto a stretcher the cars drove away as the young couple with so much promise were on the way to the hospital. People watched in horror and disbelief, the driver involved was in tears when he discovered that one of the passengers, Darcy was pregnant. He was young, about 18 years old and he felt terrible. He had just gotten his license and now he was afraid the cops would take it away. He was clearly embarrassed but he hadn't a scratch on him. Spinner was evaluated he couldn't really explain what had happened because everything happened so fast. One minute they were fine driving and the next crash, bang and boom they're at the hospital and Darcy was in critical condition. Doctors stitched up Spinner and he just waited impatiently in the waiting room to find out what was wrong with Darcy. Spinner decided that he knew for sure he needed a friend, so he looked through his phone which managed to suffer a small crack, "Jay, man I need to talk to you."

"Hey buddy how are things?" Jay answered the phone excitedly yet perplexed, at the present moment he was snuggled up in his hotel room bed with Manny by his side fast asleep.

"Darcy's in the hospital, it's really bad." Spinner muttered into the phone tinged with extreme worry and fear, his voice managed to stumble out the words coming out in pieces, his voice cracked on the words 'really bad'.

Spinner had never been so worried in his life, he was happy and he was so worried about Darcy and the fate of his unborn child with her. He knew it was bad when Jimmy was in critical ICU but nothing quite compares to the love of your life clinging to life.

Jay sighed, with no questions asked he just replies without hesitation, "I'm on my way."

Manny was quickly awoken by her fiance's voice and she and Jay got dressed quickly threw on the closest things to them. Manny threw on one of her cami's and a denim jacket, Jay wore his beloved hat sweatpants and a tee before finally making their way to the hospital.

When Jay and Manny arrived to the waiting room with Alex, Emma and Sean were just coming too because Manny texted them in the car and they live closer to the hospital. They all went to Spinner and hugged him tight in a huge group hug. Manny was crying because she was close to Darcy and tends to get emotional. Emma looked awkwardly to Spinner and exchanged a look in the hug, a look of protective worry but ultimately the foundation between them was shaky. Nonetheless he was appreciative to have everyone there for him at this extremely difficult time. "Have you heard anything?" Sean asked hopeful.

Spinner shook his head biting his bottom lip fighting tears, finally he spoke, "No. Not since we were seperated did I hear anything. I heard them say something about head trauma and I told them she was . . . you know and they said they'd take care of her. I believe them."

Manny stroked Spinner's back with a grimace, "Doctors will only help, not hurt."

"So what happened?" Jay asked with worry in his voice. Alex stood beside him very curiously in intense anticipation.

"A driver hit us and everything's a blur to be honest." Spinner sighed trying hard not to cry, he teared up shaking his head, "I wish I could say more but I honestly don't remember. Guys, what if it's my fault? What if my eyes went off the road for a second? What if she's gone guys?" He started sobbing into the palm of his hands. "I don't know what I would do. She was my lifeline, you know? What's Randy going to think?"

"That it was a complete and total accident." Randall interrupted as he came through the waiting room doors.

With tears still in his eyes he shook his head, "It happened didn't it? Is she okay?"

"I know as much as you do, Gavin." He sighed, "And if you're scared, don't worry I am too. I'm just putting on a brave face. I know the Lord is truly testing me, I almost lost Clare and I technically lost her to her mother but damnit I can't lose Darcy too."

Everyone got into a circle and they prayed with Randall and Spinner for the safety of Darcy.

They were interrupted by Paige, Alex had never prayed before so she had her head bowed like everyone else until she met eyes with Paige and she let go and ran to her clutching her tightly and just hugged her tight as Paige of all people started to weep not for herself but for Spinner who she deeply cares about. She gave Spinner the carnations that were in her hand and in the hug she whispered to Spinner and everyone else but mostly just to Spinner, "Sorry I'm late."

"Amen." Randy sighed somewhat perturbed by the late comer.

The group just stayed in the waiting room for most of the day, sometimes they were asleep but other times they played games, made conversation and generally kept one another company. Spinner was probably the only one that refused sleep. Randal works a lot so he wasn't around they were just waiting for something but they didn't know what they were waiting for. Waiting to hear anything besides what they already knew. Waiting for death with the hope for life, something they hoped wasn't the case. Spinner was starting to grow pessimistic. "What if she doesn't wake up?"

Manny was braiding a sleeping Emma's hair, it was nearly three in the morning at this point they were largely silently keeping to themselves or keeping themselves occupied with magazines and other mundane things. Sean was asleep. Jay was buying coffee for everyone. Alex and Paige were holding hands largely apart from the group, practically fawning all over each other and Spinner didn't really know why exactly they were there, Paige he understood but Alex and Darcy weren't exactly friends. Manny sighed and in mid-yawn shook her head, "She'll wake up Spinner I don't want to hear this kind of negativity, especially from you."

"What if she doesn't?"

"She will though, you just have to believe." Manny told him confidently in a hushed voice.

"I'm scared."

"We all are scared." Manny grimaced with sadness in her voice, "but you just have to pull through and be strong for her."

Spinner trailed off looking away wistfully, "It's not just her I'm worried about."

"Oh no?" Manny asked confusedly, "what else?"

"More like a who else. My future son or daughter is in there too."

"What?"

"She's carrying a baby. What if I lose them too?" Manny's mouth widened.

"To be honest she really didn't look pregnant at the party. It actually solidifies her reasons for not drinking, but congratulations for what its worth. I know you will be a great father."

Spinner didn't say anything.

"You will."

"I'm so scared." Spinner dwelled with tears in his eyes rocking back and forth. She got up off of her chair and pulled him close to her, "I wish she'd wake up. I want a doctor to come in," A tear slid down his cheek, "a-and tell me she's going to be okay. I need it, I don't just want it I need it ...to survive." And then he started sobbing all over again, "I love her. I just love her, Manny." he sniffled and wiped his nose with his hand, "You don't know how bad this would tear me up if she's really gone."

"You have been through worse than this and made it through, what is my motto, Spin?"

"Whatever it takes?" He asked.

She smiled, "There you go, atta boy."

"Gavin Mason?" A doctor called from the door of the waiting room and Spinner looked up from the ground. Then he finally stood up, and walked toward the door. "We have good news."

"Darcy woke up, she's still weak from the medication but she is awake and we're confident she'll make a full recovery."

"Thank-god, but um . . . the bad news?"

"The bad news is . . . the baby did not survive."

"What?" He asked stepping forward with tears in his eyes.

Manny couldn't help but overhear, she stepped forward to comfort her friend who fell backward into her awaiting arms and started crying. He should be happy the girl he loves survived but they lost their chance at a new life and that is why he was crying. Everything was finally coming together and now their hopes are dashed for a future or so he thought. The doctor went on with the typical medical jargon but he was inconsolable. Everybody else went to Spinner's aid, even Emma who despite their past felt so sorrowful for Spinner because she could relate. With his worst nightmare confirmed he was accepting of the love of his friends because there was a time where he had none of them and here they all are attempting full heartedly to make him feel better. The hugs, the cheek kisses, the I'm so sorry but also the uplifting notion that Darcy is going to make it kept him going, at least for now. At the very least they will still be together. He knew he was car was totaled, that car has made it through so much. Paige crashed it when it was new the car was from the late 90's anyhow. It had miles on it, copious amounts but it was time he retired the baby and get a new one when money permits.

"Whenever you are ready you can come visit her." The doctor told them before going back through the double doors exiting the waiting room.