A/N: Thanks to Thespyfamily for the hospital information. It's much appreciated! From now on I'll be posting two chapters a day.
Chapter 7
Abruptly, they both came awake to the ringing phone. Phone calls in the middle of the night meant trouble, Lee thought as he grabbed the phone.
"Yeah, hello," he said hoarsely.
"Scarecrow,' Billy said in a shaken voice. "It's Harry. He's had a heart attack."
Lee shot upright, wide awake. "How bad is it?"
"It's bad. He's in Roanoke at the Sacred Heart Hospital. I just got here a few minutes ago."
Why was he in Roanoke? It didn't matter. Harry needed him. "What's the address?"
"The hospital is two blocks off I-95. Take the Stevenson exit and go right. It's a big hospital, you can't miss it."
"We'll find it."
"Hurry."
"Lee, what's going on?" Amanda asked.
"It's Harry. He's had a heart attack. We're going to Roanoke."
"Oh, damn."
It was one of the few times Lee had heard Amanda curse. As they hurriedly dressed, there was a knock on their bedroom door.
"Amanda, Lee, I heard the phone. Is everything all right?" Dotty asked.
Lee opened the door. "We just got word that a friend of ours has had a heart attack."
"Oh, no, that's terrible."
"Dotty, can you take care of things here? We have to go to Roanoke," Lee asked.
"Of course, I can."
"Thank you," Amanda said, giving her mother a hug and kiss on the cheek.
They rushed to the Corvette and hurriedly climbed into the car. He backed out of the driveway and gunned the motor. With a conscious effort, he calmed himself and forced himself to drive at a safe speed. Reaching I-95, he entered the highway.
Amanda spoke for the first time since leaving the house. "Did Billy say anything else?"
"He said to hurry."
"Oh…"
They drove in near silence to Roanoke. Lee thought of how upbeat Harry had been. Lee had looked forward to having dinner with Harry and Christina. Would that dinner ever take place?
"What exit do we take?" she asked.
"What? Sorry, I was far away. The Stevenson exit. Billy said to take a right for two blocks."
Lee slowed the car as they approached the exit. He could see the hospital to his right. He wondered whether he should park in the visitors' parking lot.
"Lee, I bet they lock the main doors at night,' she said. "They did that when you were in the hospital after they jumped you at the airport. The ER may be the only way in,"
"Okay, I'll park there. If we have to move, we'll move."
Following the signs to the ER, he pulled into a parking space. They rushed into the ER hand in hand and approached the nurse's station.
"Can I help you?" the nurse asked.
"A friend of ours was brought in with a heart attack," Lee said.
"Can I have his name?"
"It's Harry Thornton."
The nurse checked her records. "Yes, he was brought in earlier. We have transferred him to the ICU. That's on the 6th floor. He's been assigned to room 615."
"We're parked in the ER parking lot. Should we move to the visitor's parking lot?" Lee asked.
"The main doors e locked now, so this is the only way into the hospital. It's an emergency, so you can park here."
"Thanks," Amanda said. Lee had already spun around and was trotting to the elevator.
She rushed to catch up with him. As the door closed, he took her hand, holding it tightly.
The doors opened and finding Billy there, they hurried over to the waiting area.
"Billy, how is he?"
"Not good, I'm afraid. He's suffered a massive heart attack. Christina's in with him."
Just then, Christina entered Harry's room. They all rose to meet her.
"Oh, Lee, Amanda, I'm so glad you're here," Christina said. She gave them a tight hug.
"I'm sorry to have to be here," Amanda said.
"Let's all sit down," Billy said.
Lee had remained standing. Amanda held out her hand. "Lee, please sit down."
Reluctantly, he sat next to her and took her hand.
"Christina, what happened?" Amanda asked, her voice gentle.
"We were at a dinner here and all of a sudden, Harry grabbed his chest and collapsed. He seemed fine before it happened. It was so sudden." Her composure broke and tears flooded her eyes. "I can't believe this happened. I've been worried about his heart."
Amanda went to her and hugged her. "I know you must be in shock. I'm so sorry I can't do anything to make this better."
Amanda's tone seemed to calm Christina somewhat and she gave her a sad smile.
"Can I see him?" Lee asked anxiously.
"I'm the only one allowed in," Christina said. "The Doctor is in with him now. We'll talk to
the doctor when he comes out."
They waited in silence for the doctor. After a few minutes, he entered the waiting area.
"Doctor, these are our friends, Lee and Amanda," Christina said.
The Doctor nodded. "I'm glad you're here with Ms. Golitsyn."
"Doctor, how is he?" Lee asked.
"I'm afraid I don't have good news. The heart attack was severe. I'm afraid Mr. Thornton is in a coma."
Lee felt like he had taken a physical blow to his body. He was unable to breathe for a second.
"Doctor, Lee would like to see Harry. Would that be possible?"
"Are you a member of the family?"
"Not officially, but he's been like a father to me."
The doctor took a deep breath. "All right, but only for a few minutes. It's room 615."
"Okay, thank you." Lee charged to his feet and left the room.
SMKSMKSMK
Lee quietly entered the room and looked at his dear friend. He was hooked up to machines, which beeped rhythmically. "Harry?" he asked as he sat down. He took Harry's hand. His friend, always a robust man, seemed shrunken, his face pale.
"I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you've done for me. I've learned so much from you. You've got to get better. Harry, I still have so much to learn from you. I've been thinking about what you said about taking chances." He stopped talking for a few moments, then continued. "Amanda's applied for a job in Analysis. I bet they offer it to her. She'll be perfect for the job,"
The door opened, and a nurse entered. "Sir," she whispered, "I'm afraid it's time for you to leave."
Lee wanted to protest, to shout, to refuse to leave, but in the end, he gently put Harry's hand on the bed and patted it. "I'll see you later," he whispered, then rose and left the room.
He crossed to the waiting area. Amanda went to him and held him, trying to comfort him. "I'm so sorry, Sweetheart."
Finally, they parted and sat down with Billy and Christina. "He was so happy when you told him you were married," Christina said. "He said Amanda was the best thing to happen to you."
"He's always so kind to me, And he's been so supportive of me," Amanda said.
"He is a kind man," Christina said.
An alarm rang out, startling them. Code Blue, room 615. Code Blue, room 615.
Lee froze. He knew what a Code Blue was. "No," he said in despair. They hurried to Harry's room, where two nurses and two doctors were entering with a cart.
One nurse stopped them. "I'm sorry, but you'll be in the way. Please stay out here and let us work."
Reluctantly, they stepped to the side. Lee felt sick. Memories of the horrible moment when Amanda went into cardiac arrest came flooding back. The terrible fear, fear of losing her, The strength left his legs.
"Lee, are you all right?" Amanda asked in concern. "I think you should sit down."
"What? he said, dazed.
"Sweetheart, please for me sit down for a minute." She led him to a seat. In a daze, he nodded and did what she had asked. She rubbed his back, soothing him.
Billy and Christina noticed his distress and came to him. Billy joined Amanda in rubbing his back. "Hey, Scarecrow, take it easy."
His mind finally cleared; his body regained some strength. He swallowed roughly. "I'm okay."
After a few minutes, the door opened and the staff filed out with the cart, looking grim. The group rose as one as the doctor approached. "I'm sorry to have to tell you, but Mr. Thornton went into cardiac arrest. We could not resuscitate him."
"Christina gasped. "No, no, no…" Billy hugged her.
Amanda turned to Lee, her eyes full. They took each other for a long moment. He had lost another important person in his life.
"I know that some of you didn't get to talk to Mr. Thornton. If you'd like to say goodbye, that will be fine."
"I'd like that," Amanda said.
They filed into Harry's room. Harry looked peaceful.
"Go ahead, Amanda," Billy said.
Amanda sat and took Harry's hand. "Thank you for being so kind to me.
They arrived at the house after 4 am. Lee shut off the car, but he did not exit the car. It had been a silent trip back to Arlington. Billy had waited with Christina as she signed many documents.
Lee shook his head. "I can't believe he's gone."
"I know. I can't either."
At that, they left the car and walked slowly up the sidewalk. Entering the house, they found Dotty in the den, awake.
"How's your friend?" she asked.
"He didn't make it," Lee said.
"Oh, that's so sad." She hugged them fiercely. "Was your friend in the same business as you are?"
"Yeah, he hired me fifteen years ago."
"I didn't know him as long, but he was very supportive of me, of us."
"It's such a sad thing to lose a friend. Can I make you some tea?'
Lee shook his head. "I'm going upstairs."
Amanda touched his arm. "Okay, I'll be there in a minute."
With a nod, he turned and went upstairs.
"The poor man. And you, too."
"He's devastated by this. Harry was like a father to him. This is going to be hard for him."
"And you?"
Tears came to her eyes. "I'm going to miss him, terribly." She gathered herself. "Lee's always so strong for me. I have to be strong for him now."
Her mother took her in her arms. "That's good of you. But you know you can talk to me anytime."
"Thank you, I will. I'd better go upstairs. I think it's going to be a sleepless rest of the night."
"Okay, give Lee my love."
"I will." Amanda went upstairs. Entering their bedroom, she found Lee sitting on the bed, still dressed, staring at his hands.
Gently, she took a seat. Lee put his arms around her shoulders and she leaned her head against his shoulder. He looked at her and hugged her.
"I feel like I lost a piece of me.'
"I know. How about we lay down?"
"Okay."
Still, in their clothes, they laid down. Amanda held him close. Knowing him as well as she did, she did not try to make him talk. He would talk to her when he was ready.
She closed her eyes, trying to relax.
