Chapter 6 Give it time

flashback
'It's not such a terrible thought is it?'
'What?'
'Settling down, having children. You never know how long you got, do you?'
'Well it hasn't worked out for me so far'
'It will'
'How do you know?'
'Just give it time'
flashback

Stevie was staring out of the hospital window. It all had gone so fast. When they heard about Alex this afternoon, Regan and her had taken the car right away to drive to Adelaide: Royal Adelaide Hospital, waiting outside the intensive car. All kinds of thoughts had run through her mind, anything that reminded her of Alex. And she still didn't know in what kind of state he was; well he was in a coma, but what his chances were? Nothing was sure for the moment.

Stevie shook up out of her thoughts. 'Here you go', Regan handed a cup of coffee, but Stevie still stared into the distance when she took the cup. 'Stevie?' Regan asked again, looking close at her. 'Are you ok?' Stevie turned to her, sighing deep, and shrugged her shoulders. Okay? How on earth could she be okay? Her best mate was fighting for his live, the lover she never had, and thinking of the fact their last words had covered a fight, she couldn't think of him dying. He couldn't, not now, not like this. She took a small swung of her coffee. 'Any news yet?' Regan asked. Stevie shook her head. 'Where's Dave?' 'Oh he just went home, to prepare some stuff for tonight. He will be back soon.'

Dave had gone to the hospital right after he had heard the news of his mate, wandering in the corridor for what felt like hours, but he didn't knew much more. After all he wasn't family, and the doctors seemed busy enough. He had a quick talk with Fiona, but the girl seemed in a shock and could hardly say a thing. 'I'm so sorry', was the only thing that left her mouth. A nurse had tried to calm her down, till the moment her mother had arrived. They waited in a guestroom a floor beneath.

'You're okay with seeing Dave?' Stevie asked. 'Well, that doesn't matter at the moment.' Regan had felt weird seeing him, it was strange for both. But the situation made them get along with it for the moment. 'Why isn't there anyone telling us something?' Regan looked around.

The swing doors went open and a small dark haired nurse came through. Immediately Stevie handed Regan her coffee and rushed to the nurse. 'Nurse, is there any news about Alex Ryan?' The girl stopped and thought for a moment. 'I can't say anything about your husband. You have to wait until the doctor comes.' Stevie stared for a moment. 'He's not my husband, I'm a friend.' The comment had made her heart beat even faster.

Stevie showed her hand and introduced herself. 'I'm Stephanie Hall, but you can call me Stevie.' The nurse took her hand. 'I'm nurse Carter, just say Carly'. She added a soft comforting smile, and already felt for the upset red head. 'But I'm sorry, I can't tell anything about Mr. Ryan. But I'm sure the doctor will be with you soon. If there's anything else I can do?' Stevie shook her head, a bit disappointed. 'You know what. I shall ask if Dr. Neill has time to talk to you.'

It wasn't much later that a handsome young man, in a doctor overcoat appeared. 'Good evening, I guess you're Mr. Ryan's friends?' Dave had joined the girls and the three watched the man, as he introduced himself. 'I'm dr. Neill, Lucas Neill.' He shook hands and Regan looked at Dave for a moment. This doctor was very young. He noticed it and immediately added that there were more doctors looking after Alex.

Stevie could hardly breath, just watching his lips move. 'We've run some tests and it's probably mostly the bang that brought him in a coma. It doesn't look like he has any internal complications, but we only can be sure about that when he wakes up.' The brown haired doctor looked calm, and very assure, surely for someone so young. Regan doubted if he was even pass thirty. 'What are his chances?' Dave asked. 'Well, we don't know exactly. The most important thing is that he gets out of his coma. The sooner the better. He's stable right now, so he's not in mortal danger. But you never know, there always can occur a complication, but we'll look after him and try the best we can to make him better.'

'Can I see him?' Stevie uttered. Tears were in her eyes again, and the words of Lucas were taken in slowly. The fact he told her Alex was stable, didn't meant much to her. She wanted to see it for herself. 'Well ...', Lucas' attention got focused on Stevie, '... I think it's better for all to take some rest. It's already pretty late, and tomorrow we probably can say more about his situation.' He could see the disappointment in her eyes, and he tried to make it sound better. 'At this moment I think it's best to only let his relatives visit him, but you can see him first thing in the morning.' Dave had put his hand on Stevie shoulder, to let her know this was probably the best. It had been a long day.

The doctor excused himself and left the three behind. 'Well at least he's stable', Dave said. Stevie had turned around and her teary eyes looked at him, a second later she burst out in tears. Dave looked worried at her and led her into his arms. 'Come on Steves, I'm sure he's just gonna be fine. He's strong you know.' Stevie felt the comforting arms of Dave's holding her, and her head was leaning against his shoulder, tears were running down her face. She had tried to be strong these last couple of hours, but right now she couldn't be any longer. Dave gazed at Regan for a moment.

He took her face into his hands and looked down at her, the most comforting expression showed upon his face, 'It's good news so far. Hey ..', he brushed away a tear of her cheek with his thumb. '... you know Alex, he won't just leave like this, not without annoying us first. Just give it time. We'll visit him in the morning.' Stevie smiled softly through her tears, thinking of how annoying Alex could be. 'Well, come on, let's go home.'

They say timing is everything but nothing you control
'Cause there's always tomorrow
But tomorrow never knows
It's one day at a ...
Time keeps running away
No matter what's left behind it keeps on moving
Tomorrow is not in today
And all of your yesterdays are only a matter of
Time

Anastacia - Time