Chapter 7
6.25 LA / 13.25 London - Erin was standing frozen in the same spot on modern balcony overlooking the River Thames for staring out in front of her for a minute straight looking dazed. She was a gorgeous woman, dark hair hanging on her shoulders. She looked stylish as ever in a beige blazer with jeans and flat pumps. Her husband Alex walked out into the cool afternoon breeze fiddling with his wristwatch. Alex was every bit a movie star, it was easy to see why he was firmly on the A list. His short dark hair was still wet from his earlier shower, he squinted his blue eyes as he looked into the low hanging sun "Honey I'll see you later, have fun shopping" he said, Erin didn't reply. "Sweetie?" he asked walking towards her. Erin turned around slowly looking as if she'd seen a ghost. The phone in her hand dropped to the floor. "What's wrong" asked Alex sounding concerned. Erin brought her hands up to her face and held them over her nose and mouth and sunk onto her haunches staring in front of her. She shook her head trying to make sense of the conversation she just had with her best friend's life partner. "Erin what's up" Alex asked and bending down to Erin, her arms dropped to her thighs. He lifted her chin and she seemed to snap out of it. "Tegan..." she took a deep breath "Tegan's really sick... she'sin ICU..." she said, her voice and her hands now starting to shake. Alex helped Erin up and led her out of the cold London breeze into the luxurious loft kitchen and gave her a glass of water with some sugar in. Erin often had issues with low blood sugar and a shock like this usually triggered her problems. He lifted her onto the kitchen counter in one swift movement. They heard a knock on the door and saw it open before they could reply. Alex's manager was standing with aniPad clutched in his hand looking at his schedule "OK Alex let's go we're behind schedule" he said not bothering to look up. Erin always thought Jack was rude but today she couldn't stomach looking at him, she turned her head the other way. "Not now Jack" said Alex still standing in front of his wife, one hand on the counter and one hand on her shoulder. "What do you mean not now? We're late, get your ass movingMorgan" said Jack sounding annoyed... "I said NOT NOW Jack, can you give me a minute please" said Alex firmly,turning his head towards the door. "Jack I'll be down as soon as I can, this is important please" said Alex sternly. Jack muttered something under his breath and left the room. Alex never pulled this kind of stunt so he knew this was big, whatever it was. "Talk to me Erin, what's wrong with Tegan?" Alex asked gently lifting her chin again. Erin told Alex everything she knew about Tegan's condition, everything an emotional Lindsey told her when she phoned a few minutes ago to speak to Tegan to find out how their show went the previous night. Alex put his forehead against Erin's. Erinclosed her eyes and breathed in his familiar, fresh aftershave smell through her nostrils. She loved that smell, nothing in the world evoked the feeling of safety and security more than that specific smell. Erin pulled his hips towards her. She was still sitting on the counter. She put her arms around his neck and head on his shoulder, her hands were still shaking. She started crying softly. "Do you want to phone Katy?" asked Alex. Kate was Alex's sister, they were very close. "Yeah, I ... I don't want to bother her if she's busy though. But Lindsey didn't really give me a lot of information you know... She seems to not be thinking straight" said Erin. Erin could hear the phone ring in Alex's hand... it rang a long time before Kate's voice message came on. Erin's shoulders slumped "I don't know what to do Alex... I ... I think I should go back to LA" she said tentatively not expecting Alex's answer "I agree honey, they need you now more than I do" he said kindly. "I don't want to let you down babe but Tegan... I need to be with her... god she's got to be okay... please let her be ok" said Erin looking down. With that Alex's phone started ringing, he answered after one ring. "Kate... yeah that's why we're phoning..." He put the call on speakerphone. Kate updated them on Tegan's condition. Erin felt relieved to get information from Kate first hand but was now convinced that she needed to be in LA. "Listen to me, hey, look at me Erin..." coaxed Alex, Erin looked up. "She's your best friendin the world and she's really, really sick... She needs you. I can deal with a couple of red carpets on my own. Go! I just wish I could go with you... I'm going to ask them to cut this promo tour short and I'll be back in LA before you know it okay" he said. Tegan was like a little sister to him, a knot formed in his stomach just thinking of her sick. "Thank you ... I love you Mr Morgan" said Erin, Alex gave her a soft kiss on the forehead before getting on the phone and arranging a flight for her. Erin seemed to get more and more desperate to get out of there – she was running from room to room looking for things, panicked. Alex grabbed her shoulders "Erin calm down! We'll bring your stuff, just go! Go! You need to be at Heathrow in 20 minutes"
6.50 - Where am I, Tegan thought. Her mouth felt as if it was filled with cotton wool, her throat was dry and it burned, it felt as if somebody placed a massive dumbbell on her chest and her head hurt. She tried to open her eyes but couldn't. What was that annoying beeping sound, and that hissing. She could feel something on her face and became aware of warm hands in hers. She tried moving her fingers and heard an immediate "She squeezed my hand Sara, she's waking up!" The voice sounded distant - Lindsey? "I'm calling Kate" – Sara? She tried to open her eyes but couldn't. Come on Tegan open your eyes, open them! she told herself but with no luck. "she started to feel panicked when she still couldn't open her eyes "Tegan, baby open your eyes, come on sweetie" she heard Lindsey's voice. Tegan tried to force her eyes open but still nothing. "Tegan, wake up knucklehead" said Sara good natured. Sara, help me… She felt somebody touch her eyelids and pry them open. She saw a brief outline of a person and then a blinding light moving in and out…. In and out…. Now the other eye… in and out…. In and out... "Pupils equal and reactive" she heard an unfamiliar voice say. Where the fuck am I… Tegan felt as if she was in a big black hole, she started to hyperventilate sending a vast array of monitors into a frenzy. "Whoa calm down Tee, let's give her one of amidex" Kate? Whatever they gave her seemed to help and Tegan's eyes opened and her breathing normalized. "Good morning sunshine" she heard Lindsey say. "Hey Teetee" Sara said with a huge smile. Tegan tried to speak but whatever was on her face was preventing her. She moved her facial muscles. She tried to lift her arm to her face but it dropped to her chest half way up and sent her pulse into a frenzy. "Just relax Tegan, shhhh, you're in the hospital. You've got a nasty infection here but we're taking good care of you ok" said Kate reassuringly. Tegan really wanted what she now figured out was a mask off her face and she moved her arm again. "Pulse up to 130, resps at 22" said the unfamiliar voice again. Kate instinctively knew what Tegan wanted and she moved the mask to the side of her face. Tegan felt somebody put something in her nostrils and around her ears, it must be one of those oxygen lines she thought to herself. She gathered her thoughts and spoke "Whaaa…. Where am I?" she slurred. "You're in the hospital Tegan, you're sick baby, but we're right here with you ok, we're right here and we're not going anywhere! They're taking such good care of you baby. You're gonna be just fine! Just fine. I love you so, so much my angel" Lindsey looked terrible Tegan thought to herself, black rings under her puffy, red eyes. She was still super happy to see her! She tried to speak "Hmmm okay... I'm okay" she breathed. "Yes Tegan you're ok" she heard Sara say and turned her head to the familiar voice. "Heeeey Sasa!" Tegan sounded drunk, Sara chuckled "Hey Teetee!". "Hey baby" she said squeezing Lindsey's hand. "What the fuck… ?" she said lifting her hands weakly and looking at the wires and tubes. They all started laughing, relieved to see Tegan talking and joking again! "We've got to get some medicine into you buddy. Leave the tubes okay, they're giving you meds" said Kate with her stethoscope on Tegan's chest. "Theseee…. drugs are... goooood" Tegan slurred jokingly. "Yeah, and they're making you pretty high I see" said Kate with one eyebrow raised. Lindsey took her hand again, kissed it and started crying, so did Sara at first sight of Lindsey's tears. "Heeey guys, I'm ok" said Tegan groggily... "I'm... ok". "Just happy to see you awake Tee, happy tears" said Sara. What's going on? thought Tegan. Everyone seemed pretty freaked out? She felt a bit sleepy, sore and dizzy but what could be so bad? Why was she in the hospital? "I... love you guys….." Tegan said slowly. "Love you too Tegan, shhh now, rest ok" said Sara. "I love you so much it hurts Tee" said Lindsey kissing her hand again "so, so much… my sweet sweet angel". "You need to get some rest now Tegan" said Kate stroking her messy, dirty hair. We'll get you cleaned up later today"