Disclaimer: This chapter title inspired/lyrics from Coldplay's "Fix You
Chapter 10 – Fix You
It was silent, no phones ringing. No shouting. The ER was unusually quiet for a Friday night. The staff won't be holding their breath, they will be expecting revellers staggering in from the local bars with alcohol-related injuries sooner or later.
Morris leaned over the counter, trying to impress an attractive patient telling her about his promotion. "I am the new boss here," He said, winking at her.
"Morris, get a life." Susan said, interrupting him and slamming her files next him. "I need you to do these reports by tomorrow"
"What?" he replied and turned back to the woman, she was gone. He looked around frantically for her. "Where she go? Damn!"
"What a jerk!" Pratt chuckled and Ray joined in with the laughter.
The Ambulance bay sliding doors opened, a weary male come rushing in.
"Luka?" Susan looked at him in surprise "I didn't expect you to be here until tomorrow?"
"Yeah well I managed to get the next flight back, Carter paid for the expenses." He replied, looking rough from the long flight. Unshaven and ruffled hair. He was wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. With that got out of bed look he didn't have time to sort himself as his main priority was to get the hospital to see Abby.
"But erm… How would Sam feel about this? Coming all the way back visiting Abby?"
"Does it matter? Sam is the one who moved out…again."
"Again… Oh?" Susan looked surprised shaking her head. "I'll come with you, I need to fill you in with the details."
"Sure."
Susan and Luka both walk down the corridor heading to the elevators. He extended his arm to press the 'up' button.
"I can tell that you do still care about Abby." She grinned.
"I've never stopped… never…" He replied looking down at his feet and looked at Susan to give her a smile, she smiled back at him. He asked. "How is she progressing?"
"Well… slowly, she still in intensive care, she not out of danger yet."
The doors slid open and they both step inside.
"You're telling me she's still in a coma?" Luka said huskily in his thick Croatian accent.
Susan nodded and watched him yawn.
"Oh great it's matter of waiting, she may wake up tonight, tomorrow, next week, next year or never!" He felt anxious, took a deep breath and pursed his lips.
"Calm down will you?" She put her hand on his shoulder "We will have to take one day at a time, her incident happened at 9.30 this morning so she's been out for 9 hours, it's a matter of playing by ear."
"Yes Susan… I am a Doctor too…"
Susan raised her brows at Luka's attitude.
"I'm sorry… I'm worried…"
"I know Luka, don't worry, I'm worried too, my best friend all wired up…"
The elevator doors dinged and slid open. They've reached the ICU floor. Susan and Luka stepped out and walked along the corridor.
"What the hell was she thinking?" He asked, shaking his head.
"Luka, I think you would do the same if you were in that position"
"Uh-huh."
"In here." Susan opened the door to let him in the room first and followed him.
He froze on the spot, looking at Abby. She was laid out on the bed hooked up to the life support machine. He walked to her side and bravely looked at her trying to hold back his emotions. She has a trachea tube inserted through her mouth to help her breath. Her skin tone was blue-ish due to the poor circulation from the hypothermia. Luka placed his hand on to hers and lifted it up. He slipped his hand underneath; the palm of his warm hand touched hers and clasped it tightly. She was cold, cold like death…
When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse
When the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?
He leaned over to plant a kiss on her forehead. He felt her coldness on his lips, felt strange, always remembered how she felt good and warming to kiss. He used his free hand to stroke her hair, it was still damp and his fingers became tangled when he ran them through her straggly hair.
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
High up above or down below
When you too in love to let it go
If you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth
Luka still held on to Abby's hand and looked at Susan who was standing on the opposite side of the bed, smiling sympathetically at him.
Suddenly Luka felt a twitch in his hand and looked on with amazement.
"You ok?" Susan frowned.
"I… I felt that" He smiled "I felt her… Abby moved her hand."
"Did she?" Susan pulled out a light from her lab coat pocket, leaned over and placed her thumb on Abby's eye. She pulled up the eyelid to shine the light into it. She examined and repeated the same on the other eye.
"They're clear… She's waking up!" Susan shoved her light back in her pocket. She grinned, "That's good news, I'll go and inform the ICU team."
When the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace…
"Abby?" He said softly, leaning his face over hers.
Abby was struggling to open her eyes. Heavily sedated, she kept drifting in and out of her sleep. Again she was trying hard to flutter those eyes open.
When the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace…
"Abby… it's ok you're safe."
She opened her eyes again to focus at Luka.
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you…
The ICU team rushed into the room. Their quick entry had startled Luka like as if she was crashing. They gathered round by her bed, checking her vitals. Her eyes were racing round the room watching them poking and prodding her.
"Mmm" Abby moaned, trying to get their attention by signalling her eyes down to her mouth. Remove this goddamn tube!
The door opening again caught Abby's attention, from the side of her eye. It was Neela. Abby eyes followed her moving to stand next to Susan. Abby then focused on her best friend who was stood there with her hands in her lab coat pockets greeting the younger doctor. Abby struggled to hear what Susan was saying to Neela. She closed her eyes… Everything is all so confusing! She opened them again to look at Luka. He was deep in conversation with the other two. Luka? I thought he was in Africa? How long have I've been out? Is this a dream?
"Abby I need you to cough when I pull the tube out from your windpipe" One of the ICU doctor asked, leaning over to her face, tapping on her shoulder making she sure was aware of his actions. She coughed and gagged when they removed the tube. The ICU nurse shoved a straw in her mouth to moist her dry throat.
"Can you breathe ok Abby?"
"Yes." She replied in a raspy voice and turned her head to look at Neela "The boy?"
Neela stepped forward with her face grimaced. "Sorry."
"Oh?" Abby sighed with disappointment.
"I'm really sorry Abby." Neela squirmed "It's all my fault for you going in the water, I'll never forgive myself for this."
"You didn't do anything." She croaked.
"But?"
"No buts… I knew the consequences... I was stupid to go after the boy... but…" Abby struggled to talk, she cutting her words from her shortage of breath "I'm doctor... it's my instinct... to save someone's life…"