Chapter Two
the next day
Frank paced Cheryl's hospital room. The doctor had said, if she made it through the night, she had a good chance of pulling through. Frank had a tendency to not believe half the things doctor's said. He would feel much better as soon as Cheryl's eyes popped open, and she barked some order at him. He had refused to leave her room the night before, claiming he was here to make sure that nothing happened to her. His job had been to simply watch after Cheryl, keep her safe, and now he felt like he had failed his job duties. He slinked down in the chair, and watched each of the different monitors that Cheryl was on carefully. He wasn't really sure, which monitored what, but if anyone of them looked anywhere close to abnormal he'd make sure that he had every nurse on this floor in her room checking on her.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matt tossed for the hundredth time that night. It surprised him with how much moving around he was doing that it didn't even stir Emily. They had been given the next two days off, especially with what happened to Cheryl, although none of them felt like taking a day off. They all desperately wanted to go back to work to find the bastard that did this. Matt now laying flat on his back, listened to Emily breathing, and let it soothe him. No matter what frame of mind he was in, listening to her breathe always soothed him. He turned over to face her, and put his arm around her body and pulled her closer to him.
"Matt we've been in bed for all of," Emily paused to look at the clock, "Three hours, close your eyes, get some sleep."
Matt felt a slight chuckle release from his mouth, and he pulled her even closer. After spending most of the night at Cedar-Sinai's Emerency Room, Matt thought he'd definately be able to fall asleep when he got home. He felt like laughing at himself, after seeing what happened to Cheryl, just a single thought of that happening to Emily made him feel sick to his stomach. He didn't care if he never slept a wink again as long as Emily was safe, and breathing, and not in the hospital, hooked up to all those machines.
Matt shook the thought from his mind, and swollowed the lump that had formed in his throat, and tried to close his eyes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frank had dozed off, before one of the many machines surrounding Cheryl started to beep uncontrolably. Frank jumped out of his chair so fast, he nearly fell onto the floor. He ran out the door, slipping only slightly while hightailing it to the nurses station.
"Yes Mr. Rogers," the nurse said behind the desk.
This was actually one of the nicer nurses. She had actually taken pity on Frank, and brought him a more comfortable chair to sit in.
"The monitors are beeping," Frank said, panic in his eyes.
"Okay, I'll be in just a minute," the nurse said, picking up the telephone, and talking to someone.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lia and Duff walked arm and arm around town. Lia felt like shopping, even though she didn't feel like buying anything. Shopping always made her feel better, when she felt horrible, and right now she felt about as bad as a person could.
"Hey, you haven't looked good all day," Duff said, he was worried about her, Cheryl and Emily were the best friends she had, and they all came close to losing Cheryl last night.
"I'm fine," Lia said, which was about the most words she could muster up to say all day.
"Are you sure, I just...I worry about you," Duff said, he had never been so open to anyone about feelings, but he felt so close to Lia, he honestly felt like he was falling for her.
"I know you do Duff," Lia said, her hand caressing his cheek.
"Where to next?" Duff asked.
Lia pondered the question, before seeing the cutest clothing store, "There."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Doctor, she isn't responding," the nurse said, feeling like she was out of options.
Frank stood helplessly outside of Cheryl. He couldn't use his cell to call Matt and Emily, or Duff and Lia. He felt like there was nothing he could do.
"Doctor, if we don't do something we're going to lose her," the nurse said, flustered.
"I know, look keep up the CPR, and add a millogram of epinephrine," the doctor spat, as he moved to the other side of the bed.
Frank paced back and forth. He just needed to know what was going on, and just like a bad answered prayer, he recieved his answer.
Code Blue, Code Blue, ICU Room 524
Frank nearly sank to his knees, as he covered his face, this was all his fault.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matt finally fell asleep, curled up next to Emily, holding her so tightly that he awoke her for about the third time since they had laid down in bed. She tried to loose his grip on her, but she was afraid she'd wake him, and god knew he needed the sleep. Finally she just shut her eyes, and tried to sleep.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Duff attempted to pull Lia slightly closer to him, as they rounded the corner to yet another part of shopping suburia. Lia gasped as a man in nothing but black, waved a knife in her direction.
Duff shoved her out of the way, as the knife came in contact with his torso and chest numerous times, before he feel to the ground. Lia grabbed Duff's gun that was safely holstered on his belt. She went to point it at the man, but he had ran away. Lia grabbed her cell phone and immediately dialed 911. She rolled Duff over and saw all the blood, she just hoped he was still alive.