"Stop pacing," Deidre said. "You're making me dizzy."
Kristen forced herself to stop walking restlessly around the waiting room. They wouldn't let her in to see Edward until he was in stable condition, and when she'd called Deidre to let her know what had happened, she had insisted on rushing over to wait with her. Which was just as well… She'd been driving herself crazy with nothing but bad coffee and vapid magazines to distract her from her thoughts. She had also given Ben and Marian a call to let them know the situation. She was still shaken up about the whole thing. Everything about what had happened felt entirely unreal.
"Will you relax. He's here now, he'll be fine. He's a tough guy. Just look at what he's survived in the past." She said knowing Kristen knew what she was talking about. Deidre didn't know the story behind Ed's scars, and she wasn't going to push the matter and hadn't even asked, but the one on his chest was clearly near fatal. And he'd survived.
"I know," Kristen sighed, sitting down next to Deidre. "But he's been missing for two weeks. I didn't know where he was or if he was even alive. And now that I know where he is, not being able to see him is driving me crazy."
"I know … In case you've forgotten I was right there with you." She said putting her hand on her shoulder. "But at least you know where he is now, and that he is being taken care of. Have that piece of mind at the least." She said rubbing her back gently. It was nearing 1:30PM, she had arrived at the hospital at nine thirty, half an hour after Kristen and Ed had. Four and a half hours and they still hadn't even heard anything.
"Miss. Kringle?" Deidre looked up at the nurse that called her name. God, she hoped it was good news, but the look on the nurse's face told nothing.
"Yes?" Kristen asked, standing up shakily and moving over to the nurse.
"How are you in relation to Mr. Nygma?" The nurse asked.
"She's his fiance." Deidre said. "I'm his sister." She said confidently. The nurse looked at her and raised an eyebrow.
"How is he?" Kristen asked anxiously, not responding to either Deidre's claim or the nurse's dubious glance. "What's his condition?"
"I'm not at liberty to say, but you can go and see him now. The doctor will have more details and he'll go over those with you." She said leading them down the hall to Edward's room.
Kristen followed the nurse down the hall, wishing she would walk faster, until they arrived. Kristen peered into the room quietly, not knowing what to expect, whether Edward would be asleep or awake.
Edward lay quietly in bed, his eyes closed as they came into the room. He laid on his side, his fingers covered in bandages.
She winced when she saw the bandages. That made sense … In all likelihood, he would probably have some pretty nasty frostbite on top of everything else. Kristen went over and sat down on the edge of the bed, resting a hand on Edward's shoulder.
Edward jumped slightly and opened his eyes to look up at her. He looked horrible, and exhausted, like he hadn't slept in days. "Hey." He said tiredly, barely able to keep his eyes open.
"Hey," Kristen said, leaning down and kissing him on the cheek. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I got stuck in a freezer and almost drowned to death." He said shifting slightly on the bed. "I'm sore." He said closing his eyes again, though he remained awake.
"That makes sense," Kristen said quietly, running her hand soothingly over Edward's back. "I'm glad you're safe at least, though."
"Is Rubix okay?" He asked. He wondered who had taken care of him while he was gone. "Also … How …" He was scared to ask. "How long was I gone?" He asked.
"Two weeks," Kristen said. "Rubix is okay, but … He misses you. He'll be glad when you come home. I've been looking after him for the most part, but he's with Ben and Marian right now."
"Thank you." He said quietly and yawning. The doctor came in a few moments later and Deidre stepped out of the way of the doorway.
"Good afternoon." He said cheerily. "You must be Miss. Kringle. Edward's fiance?" He asked looking at Edward. He nodded, knowing it was how Kristen got into the room. "And you are?" He asked Deidre.
"His … It's complicated." Deidre said, not bothering to lie to the doctor.
"It's okay … She can stay." Edward said.
"Well, I was going to go over everything with you, now that you're awake." He said moving to Edward's beside opposite where Kristen sat. "For the time being you'll remain in hospital for observation for the next few days." He said making Edward groan in annoyance. "Edward … Your body was put under a lot of strain. I can't, in good conscience, send you home today. Your heart had actually given out twice this morning, and we had to resuscitate you both times, successfully as I'm sure you've noticed." He said with a slight laugh, trying to put some light into the serious situation. "I have no doubt that you are in the clear, but I would still like to keep you for observations."
Kristen's eyes widened at the mention of Edward's heart giving out. "That's … probably wise," she admitted, even as reluctant as she was to wait to bring him home. "I can take care of Rubix a couple more days," she reassured him. "And maybe bring him in to visit when you're up for it … Not being able to see you has been pretty rough on him."
"I'm sorry." He said quietly, looking back up at her again. "I don't know what happened. I don't remember any of it … Except waking up in that room."
"No, don't be sorry," Kristen insisted, shaking her head. "It's not your fault this happened … I'm just glad you're going to be okay now, and I know Rubix will be too." Though it was worrisome that he didn't remember … How were they going to catch the person who had done this, if there was nothing to go off of? He could still be out there. What was to keep him from trying something like this again?
"Alright," The doctor said. "For now I think it's best that Mr. Nygma get some sleep." He said putting the clip board he was holding onto the holder at the end of his bed. "Miss. Kringle, I suggest you go home and do the same. Let his son know his father is okay. You can bring him by tomorrow to see him. I'm sure he'll be up for it then, but let him know that his daddy is hurt, and that he needs to be careful." He said turning to Ed. "I don't want you straining yourself, so if you need help, you use that call button." He said, knowing that Ed had already tried to get out of bed once in the past hour.
"I…" Kristen started to protest, but then looked down at Edward again. The doctor was right … He clearly needed to get some rest, even if she didn't want to leave him right now. "Okay," she agreed reluctantly. She was tired too, truth be told, and knew she would sleep better knowing that Edward was alright.
"Come on Kris." Deidre said. "We'll go grab Rubix, I'll stay with you tonight again." She said. "We'll both come visit tomorrow. I'm sure Rubix will be excited to see Ed again." She said waiting for the doctor to leave. Once he left she approached the bed and took Ed's hand. "I'm glad you're okay." She said leaning down and kissing him. Edward felt weird about it at first but then remembered the conversation they'd had before …. That all three of them were dating now … He had nearly forgotten with everything that had happened, and then shortly after they'd started dating Deidre hadn't come around much. They should remedy that.
"Get some rest," Kristen said, smoothing back Edward's hair affectionately and, once Deidre was done kissing him, leaning down and doing the same. "And listen to the doctors. Take it easy, and you'll be back home in no time, okay?"
He nodded slowly, too tired to even argue. "I'll see you tomorrow morning then." He said.
"Alright," Kristen said softly. Edward looked like what little energy he had was already fading. She pulled Edward's cell phone out of her purse and set it on the bedside table, within easy reach. "If you need anything, at any hour, or just want to talk, call," she said.
Edward nodded, already starting to drift asleep, but the cell was within eyesight and within reach. He'd know what to do when he saw it. He'd know why she'd put it there.
She looked down at Edward for a moment longer, reluctant to leave. She wondered if he knew how worried she'd been, how relieved she was that he was safe now… Quietly, so as not to disturb him, she stood up and walked to the door.