CHAPTER THIRTY

The first person Martha saw when she got to the hospital was Jack. He was sitting in the waiting room with Megan and Grace. Surely he must have seen or heard something by now.

"Where are they?" Martha cried, as she ran up to them.

"Martha," Jack looked up; surprised to see her.

"Where are they? Are they okay?" Martha asked again.

"What are you talking about?" Jack asked her; he was confused.

Martha then realized that Jack had no idea what she was on about.

"Racheal just called me, and she said that dad and Macca have been in an accident. I don't know if they're okay," Martha stared panicking.

"Oh my god," Jack gasped. "Alright, just calm down. I'm sure they're both fine," he tried reassure Martha.

"Calm down," Martha scoffed. "How am I suppo……….,"she started, but was cut off from a voice behind her.

"Martha," they called out. Martha spun around quickly. It was Macca.

"Macca," she cried as she threw her arms around him. "Are you okay? Are you hurt," she asked.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Just a scratch," Macca pointed to the cut on his head.

"What about dad? Where is he?" Martha then asked.

Macca sighed. "He's in with some Doc's now. They won't let me in to see him," he told Martha. "So, I don't know if he's okay," he said truthfully.

"What happened mate?" Jack then asked. Martha had completely forgotten that he and Megan were there.

"Well, we had only been driving for about ten minutes. But then dad started getting pains in his chest," Macca started to explain. Martha didn't like where this was headed. "The pain got so bad that he ran off the road, and we crashed into a tree," he finished.

"Was it a heart attack?" Martha asked.

"I don't know," Macca sighed. "They haven't said anything to me yet. Racheal just told me to wait, and she said that she'd be out soon. So the best thing to do is just sit down".

"This isn't fair Macca. Why does this keep happening to us?" Martha started to cry.

Macca wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "He's going to be fine," he said in a hushed voice.

I hope he's right, Martha thought to herself. She couldn't lose another parent.

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Martha sat in the waiting room with her head resting on Macca's shoulder. It had been half an hour and they still hadn't heard anything. Martha was starting to lose patience; and the longer she waited, the more she worried.

Alf had arrived about ten minutes before; he had come to the hospital as soon as Martha had called him. Jack was still there aswell. He had told Megan to go home, but she had refused. Martha reckoned it was because Megan didn't want to leave Jack alone with her. Grace's doctor had also come by with her results. They couldn't find anything wrong; so it must have just been a bit of a flu.

"Do you want anything, love? Maybe a drink or something to eat?" Alf asked Martha.

Martha shook her head. "I'm fine thanks, granddad," she replied. She was just about to let out a loud sigh, when she noticed Racheal exiting one of the rooms. Martha and Macca stood up quickly and moved towards her.

"What's going on? Is he okay?" Martha asked.

"He's stable at the moment, but I'll be honest with you and say that he isn't out of the woods yet," Racheal sighed.

"So what actually happened Doc?" Alf asked.

"Well, he suffered a heart attack, and it was very serious. It's left his heart very weak; so that's why we are keeping a very close eye on him," Racheal started to explain. "He also took a very hard hit to the head; which he received from the car accident," she finished.

"Can we see him?" Martha asked.

"Yes, but just yourself and Macca for the moment. He's still quite drowsy, but he's awake. So, just be gentle with him," Racheal told them.

"Thanks Rach," Martha smiled, and took Macca's hand.

Martha pushed open the door to her dad's room, and walked in with Macca. They slowly walked towards the bed. Ray was so still, and so quiet, that Martha thought that he wasn't awake.

"Dad," Martha whispered as she took Ray's hand in her own.

She watched as his eyes fluttered open. "Hey," Ray groaned, in a raspy voice.

"You gave me a fright, you know. Try not to do it again," Martha smiled lightly at him.

"Yeah, you scared the hell out of me too," Macca added.

"Sorry," Ray whispered. "I didn't mean it," he apologized.

"Hey, it's okay. It wasn't your fault," Martha told him. "I just want you to rest, and get better," she said.

"Tired," he moaned.

"Just relax dad. You don't have to speak," Macca insisted.

"We're here now, so don't worry," Martha assured him. "Everything is going to be okay".

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Martha and Macca sat in with Ray for about half an hour before the nurse asked them to leave, so that they could do some more tests.

Martha leaned down and gave Ray a kiss on the cheek. "We'll be back later," Martha promised.

"I Love you all," Ray rasped, as he cupped Martha's cheek.

"We love you too," Martha smiled and went to walk out with Macca. But before they reached the door, they heard a loud beeping coming from one of the machines.

"I need some help in here," the nurse yelled.

"What's going on?" Macca demanded.

"I'm not sure," the nurse replied.

Martha looked at her dad. He wasn't moving, and his eyes had just rolled into the back of his head. Two male doctors and another nurse then came rushing into the room.

"What's happening?" Martha cried. "I demand to know what's going on," she screamed.

"He's gone into cardiac arrest," the doctor told her. "Now please, I need you to step away".

This couldn't be happening, Martha thought. He was fine just a minute ago. They couldn't lose him.

Martha felt Macca wrap his arms around her from behind and pull her back towards him. "He's going to be okay," he whispered in her ear.

"This isn't fair," she started to cry.

They watched for a few moments as the doctors worked on her father. But then they stopped. Why are they stopping? She thought.

Martha wiped her tears away from her cheeks and tried to pull away from Macca, but he held her tight. "Why are you stopping? Keep going. You have to help him," Martha screamed at them.

"I'm sorry," the doctor said.

"No, no you're lying," Martha cried as she moved towards the bed.

"Martha, please," Macca pulled her back.

"They have to keep going. He's fine," Martha kept crying.

"No, he's gone," Macca started to cry softly.

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