Note: Thanks again for all the reviews. I'm so glad people are liking this story!
Mark and Maureen ran into the hospital, both out of breath. They stopped when they saw Roger.
"Where…is…she?" Mark asked, trying to catch his breath.
Roger slid down into a seat and wiped away more tears. "She's, uh, she's in surgery…her arm…fuck…she's—she's in critical condition…I should've been there…I should've…"
Mark put a hand on his shoulder. "Roger, look at me."
Roger looked up. "What?"
"You need to take a deep breath. Start from the beginning and tell me exactly what happened."
Roger took a deep breath and swallowed. "Benny was supposed to be watching her."
"Benny?" Mark's eyes scanned the waiting room.
"He left now. He was supposed to be watching her. And then Mimi came over."
"Mimi? Your Mimi?"
Roger nodded. "Apparently he's the Ben she's been seeing. And she came over, not knowing that my kid was the one Benny was watching…they were, I don't know, fooling around at least. Probably fucking. Either way, they weren't watching Maria. They weren't even outside with her. She…this car…"
"Calm, Roger. Deep breaths," Maureen said, rubbing his back.
Roger took another deep breath. "This car came out of nowhere and hit her. She's in critical condition and they had to take her to surgery. Her, um, her arm…something about pins."
Mark nodded. "Okay, that's okay. Sounds like she'll be okay."
"She's in critical condition…Fuck, Mark, I should've been there…I should've been there and…"
"Roger, it's not your fault."
Roger shook his head.
"Is there anyone else you want me to call?"
"Joanne…"
Mark nodded and went to the payphone. He returned several minutes later and found Roger in the exact position he'd left him in. Roger jumped when Mark touched his arm.
"She's on her way."
Roger nodded. "Thanks."
He stood up. "Where you going?"
"Call my mom. No offense, but I figure I should be the one to make that call."
"You're absolutely right."
Roger dialed the familiar number and listened to the rings. "Hello?"
"Mom, it's me."
"Oh, hi honey. How are you?"
"Mom, stay calm, okay? Maria…Maria got hit by a car."
"Oh my God!"
"She's okay, Mom. She's okay. She broke a leg and an arm but the doctor said she'll be fine."
"I'm coming down. Just let me get some things together and I'll be right there. Which hospital?"
"County General."
"I'll be there as soon as I can, honey."
"Thanks, Mom."
He hung up and turned to see Joanne rushing towards him.
"Roger? Roger! Is she okay? What happened? Where is she?"
Roger explained to Joanne the little bit that he knew. She hugged him tightly. "You okay?"
"No," he whispered.
Joanne pulled away and led him to the waiting room. They sat in a pair of chairs away from Mark and Maureen. She held his hand tightly. "She'll be okay, Roger."
"No, it's—it's my fault."
"What?" Joanne's hand went to his cheek, guiding his eyes back to hers. "No, Roger, no. This wasn't your fault."
"I left her with Benny."
"You left her with a friend."
"She…God, Joanne…I fucked up. I fucked up so bad…"
Joanne lowered her hand from his face to his shoulder. "Roger, you need to calm down, okay?"
"Why is everyone telling me that? My daughter just got hit by a car."
"Because when she comes out of surgery, she does not need to see her father having a nervous breakdown," Joanne said calmly.
Roger sighed. "I just…She's all I've got. I can't…she…"
Joanne nodded and pulled him into a hug and whispered reassurances to him, "She'll be all right, Roger. She'll be fine… It's okay…It's not your fault…"
--line break--line break--
Mimi didn't leave the hospital. She went down to the cafeteria. When Benny had called her, she'd gone over only to break things off. Maria…well, Mimi wasn't sure how Maria had ended up outside. One minute she and Ben were talking on the sofa, the next there was a screeching crash and a piercing scream.
Mimi sat at one of the cafeteria tables and stared into the coffee she'd purchased. She looked up and saw Benny heading towards her. She debated getting up and leaving but knew he'd probably just follow her again and stayed put.
"What do you want?"
"You were seeing him too?"
"Jesus, Ben, can we not discuss this right now?"
"My best friend isn't speaking to me because of you."
"No, your best friend isn't speaking to you because you were supposed to be watching his kid and now she's in the hospital."
Benny winced, knowing she was right. "Do you love him?"
"I don't know."
Benny sighed. "Well, do you love me?"
"I don't know."
"Fine. Let me know when you figure out what the hell's going on."
Mimi blinked back tears as she watched him walk away.
--line break--line break--
Mark and Maureen watched Joanne and Roger sitting on the other side of the waiting room. They'd both been more than a little surprised that he'd asked for her.
"I thought they broke up," Mark said.
"Yeah, well…maybe this will bring them back together."
Mark shook his head. "Maureen, honey, don't. Not now. Don't push him into anything."
"I'm not planning to. I'm just saying…"
Mark held her hand tightly. "I know. I'm sorry. Just a little tense."
Maureen sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I hope she's okay."
Roger waited a full hour before going to the nurses' station again. They checked and told him Maria was still in surgery.
"Roger, I'm going to go get some coffee. You want to come with?" Joanne asked when he returned.
He shook his head. "Not leaving."
"Okay. How about I bring you some back?"
He managed a small smile and nodded. "That'd be nice."
She nodded and grabbed her purse, leaving her coat on the chair beside Maureen.
Quick Poll:
Who would you rather see Roger with: Joanne or Mimi?