December 23 - Late Night

"Oliver?" Shane asked Dale.

"Yes."

"No! Mom!"

Chris put her arm around Shane and drew her close.

Alex and Mike came into the entry.

"What's going on out here?" Alex asked.

"Dale, this is my sister, Alex Brighton and my uncle, Mike Anderson," Shane told them. "Alex and Uncle Mike, please meet our friend Dale Travers."

Dale nodded at them.

"Oliver's been in an accident," Shane told them. She was shaking all over.

"Shane, let's sit down," Chris said.

"I can't sit. Dale, what happened?"

"We were walking down the church steps after practice. I turned to talk to one of the choir members and didn't realize how close I stood to the edge of a step. I lost my balance. Oliver was walking right next to me, so he reached out to catch me, but it was too late. Our feet got all tangled together; we both went down, and...and..."

She brushed a tear from her cheek.

"he hit his head on the railing."

"How bad?" Shane whispered.

"He's unconscious. He's on the way to Denver Mercy."

Shane grabbed her coat and picked up her purse.

"I'll take you," Dale offered.

Shane nodded. "I need to call Joe, and Norman & Rita."

"Call me as soon as you know anything," Chris said.

"I will. Say a prayer."

Shane reached for her cell phone as soon as she and Dale sat down in the car.

"Joe is on the way. Rita and Norman are praying," she told Dale a few minutes later.

Dale glanced at her briefly.

"Shane, I'm so sorry."

"It was an accident. I'm glad you're OK."

Dale turned on the siren.

"We'll get there faster."

Neither of them said another word during the ride to the hospital. Dale pulled up to the Emergency Room entrance. Shane was out the door and running inside before Dale brought the car to a full stop.

"Oliver O'Toole?" she asked the attendant.

"Are you the next of kin?"

"Yes. His fiancé."

The attendant consulted her terminal.

"He's having tests. Room 2. You can wait in there."

Dale walked in.

"He's having tests," Shane said.

Dale nodded.

"I'm sorry, but I need to leave. I don't want to leave you alone, but I have to get to the station. Late shift."

"I'll be fine. Joe will be here soon."

Dale gave Shane a hug.

"I'm praying every minute."

Shane walked into Room 2. The first thing she noticed was Oliver's suit and shirt. Everything lay in disarray on a chair.

"The nurses couldn't even take the time to fold everything neatly," Shane muttered.

The curtain opened and a young nurse entered.

"I'm Mandy. I'm Oliver's nurse."

"Shane McInerney. His fiancé. What tests is Oliver having?"

"X-ray, CT scan and MRI. He'll be awhile. Can I bring you anything?"

"No, thank you. I'm expecting Oliver's father. Joseph O'Toole."

"I'll send him in the moment he arrives. I'll be at the nurses' station."

"Thank you."

Shane spent the next few minutes folding Oliver's suit neatly. She picked up his shirt and held it close, lifting it to her nose. She could smell his after shave lotion. She folded it gently and laid it on top of the coat. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

The curtain opened again. Joe stood there. He held out his arms. Shane walked over and held onto him tightly.

"Joe, I'm so scared."

"I know, I know."

They stood there without speaking. A few minutes later, a doctor walked in.

"Good evening. I'm Dr. Matthews, the doctor on duty tonight. I understand you are his father and fiancé."

"Yes," Joe said.

"How is he?" Shane asked.

"The tests are complete. We won't have the results for a couple of hours. He's being taken to a room."

"I want to see him."

"He's still unconscious."

"I want to see him," Shane insisted.

"All right. Third floor. Room 386."

"Thank you."

Mandy returned with a small bag. She walked over to the chair and began stuffing Oliver's clothes into it.

"I'll do that," Shane told her.

"As you wish."

Shane pulled the clothes out, refolded them neatly and carefully returned them to the bag.

"Where is the elevator to the third floor?" Joe asked Mandy.

"Go back to the lobby and down the hall. The elevators are on your right."

"Thank you."

The elevator doors opened. Joe and Shane walked towards Room 386.

"I hope he's awake now," Shane said.

They entered the room. Oliver lay still and quiet on the bed. He hadn't regained consciousness. Shane walked over and softly caressed his face. She didn't care that Joe stood there. She leaned over and gave Oliver a gentle kiss. Joe took Oliver's hand.

The door opened.

"I need to check his vital signs," a nurse said. Her ID tag read "Susan."

Joe and Shane introduced themselves, then moved away from the bed.

"Is everything OK?" Shane asked her a few minutes later.

"All his vitals are normal."

"Why hasn't he woke up yet?"

"You'll need to ask the doctor. He won't be in until tomorrow morning."

"We just talked to Dr. Matthew five minutes ago."

"Dr. Matthews works in emergency. Dr. Carlson is Oliver's doctor of record. If there are any problems, he will be paged and then contact you."

"Shane, let's go," Joe suggested. "There's nothing you can do tonight."

Shane sighed.

"All right."

Joe put his arm around her and they returned to the elevators.

Chris and Alex stood in the entry waiting.

"How is he?" Chris asked.

"Still unconscious," Shane said. "He had several tests. I won't know the results until tomorrow morning."

She turned to Joe.

"I'll be OK. You have a long drive. I promise I'll call if I hear anything."

Joe nodded. He placed a kiss on her forehead and left.

"Do you want anything?" Chris asked. "Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate?"

"No. Mom, you and Alex can go to bed. You don't need to stay up with me."

"Aren't you going to bed?"

"Not yet. I'm going to sit in the living room for awhile."

"Come get me if you need anything."

"I will. Good night."