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Through the Fire
"Sometimes the wrong choices bring us to the right places."
Emily couldn't believe that her grandfather could be so selfish as to make such a request to Elizabeth's grandparents. Elizabeth is fighting for her life, barely out of the danger zone, and here her grandfather stands asking the Steve and Audrey not to divulge the truth behind the hit and run to anyone. Her friend could still die and all Edward is concerned with at the moment is the future of his company. A scandal like this could very well have a huge negative impact on ELQ, an impact that they can't afford, but still. How dare he use the families' long standing friendship to make such a request.
"I'm so sorry for my grandfather." Emily voices to the couple as she walks them to their car. "A request like that is simply callous."
"Your grandfather's heart may not be in the right place, but we feel the same as he does in regard to keeping it between our families." Audrey voices after a moment. "The young woman that put our Elizabeth in the hospital has suffered enough. We hold no ill will to that young lady."
"There's always two sides to every story." Steve says with a soft smile. "Until we live in another's shoes, we cannot begin to understand what had brought her to that moment."
"You two are a lot more forgiving than I am." Emily replies. "Whatever caused her to hit Elizabeth, I don't think I can ever forgive her for just driving off."
"At our age, my dear, we have made more than our fair share of mistakes. Some more horrid than others." Steve says gently. "The young lady has caused herself more pain than any of us could ever inflict."
"Regardless." Emily sighs. "My grandfather should never have used your friendship to get you to agree to what he wanted."
"That is true, but that is Edward." Steve chuckles. "Fret not, for what has happened cannot be changed. Put your focus on Elizabeth. Your efforts there will most assuredly hold more good than focusing on the one that put her there."
"I'll do my best." Emily promises before hugging both of them goodbye. "Will you be going to the hospital?"
"Later today." Steve assures. "Your brother said he'll call if there are any changes before then."
Watching them pull out of the driveway, Emily takes a deep breath in before heading to her car and driving off, she just couldn't handle going back inside right now. Not with the way she feels about this whole thing. Her grandfather never should have pulled this crap.
Sure, Courtney is currently laying unconscious in a hospital bed after having her stomach pumped, but she's not dead or dying. That bitch did this to her best friend and it seems as if she's the only one that wants her to pay for that. Courtney deserves to be put in front of the legal system and fried for what she did to Elizabeth.
Thanks to her connection to the family, she gets to slide and that's not okay with Emily. Not at all. If only that ambulance medic was right, at least then she'd believe that Courtney got what she deserved, but no. The woman couldn't even get suicide right. Normally she wouldn't condone suicide, but right now she's angry and she just doesn't care.
::::through the fire::::
Checking Elizabeth's vitals, he feels confident that they'll be able to start warding her off the anesthetics within a month if not sooner. From her latest scans that he picked up from the lab, she has finally started her long journey to recovery. By the end of the day, she should be stable enough to transfer to the ICU where she'll be allowed visitors. Jotting down her vitals, Jason retakes his seat by her bed, thankful that she has begun to improve and hopefully, once its all said and done, all of this will be nothing but a bad memory.
"Dr. Quartermaine?" Maya, one of the new nurses on the floor, voices from the door way. "Do you have a minute?"
"Sure." Jason replies as he rises to his feet. "How can I help you?"
"Actually, I was told by Dr. Thompson to update you on a Courtney Matthews." Maya explains. "Her vitals have started to grow stronger and he's confident that she'll be conscious by tomorrow if not sooner."
"Okay." he replies. "Thank Dr. Thompson for me."
"If you'd like, I can stay with your patient while you visit Ms. Matthews." Maya offers. "I'm sure it'll do her a lot of good to have you there."
"Thank you for the offer, but I'd have to decline." Jason smiles slightly. "As you can see, I have a patient of my own that isn't as fortunate."
"Forgive me for saying, but if Dr. Thompson's updating you regularly it has to mean you're an important person in Ms. Matthews' life." Maya voices carefully. "Normally I wouldn't push, but she hasn't had a single visitor since being admitted and I doubt she deserves to recover alone."
"I understand where you're coming from, Ms. Ward, but it is neither your problem nor your place to imply what you're implying." Jason voices firmly. "I have high respects for the Ward family, given the familial ties I have with your family as a Quartermaine, but it doesn't give you the right to question me on the patients I tend to."
"I'm sorry for stepping out of line." Maya voices sincerely. "I only meant to say that no one deserves to be left alone."
"No. I'm sorry. I haven't had much sleep in the last forty-eight hours." Jason sighs. "Look, I made a promise to my sister to stay with her best friend until she's able to have visitors. Her condition is still unstable and, as you had pointed out, no one deserves to be alone. Especially not when they could very well be laying on their death bed."
"Of course." Maya shakes her head. "Anyway, if you change your mind, I'm sure your sister won't mind you stepping out for a few minutes."
"I'll keep that in mind." he replies. "Thank you."
Waiting long enough for her to walk out of the room, Jason retakes his spot by her bed. For the most part, he is thankful that Courtney didn't die from her overdose, but there's still that part of him that remains angry. Angry at her for not owning up to what she did and facing the consequences. Angry at himself for not seeing the danger signs of addiction. Looking back now, he can see that all of this could have been prevented if he had just called her out on it.
Both her parents had been addicted to their own brand of drugs. He should have at least watched out for her when her doctor prescribed Oxycodone for her back injury. Between working at the hospital, having to prove himself to the hospital board, and his family's recent issues with the press, he just didn't have a lot of time in the day to watch out for warning signs. The time they were together, he had believed she had it under control, and he didn't push her even when she slipped up here and again. If only he had paid closer attention to her, maybe none of this would have happened.
::::through the fire::::
Sitting down on a park bench, Emily thinks back on all the times that she and Elizabeth skipped out on school to spend the day in the park. From the moment that she met Elizabeth, she knew that she had found a friend for life. There was no judgement or expectations between them. She accepted Elizabeth, flaws and all, and Elizabeth did the same.
Elizabeth didn't care that she was a drug addict and she didn't treat Elizabeth any differently when she found out that she was raped. Since it happened, people looked at Elizabeth with pity or sadness, something she didn't want from Emily. If their friendship was going to work, Emily had to promise that she wouldn't treat her the way everyone else has. From that day on, they were inseparable.
Taking a deep breath, she forces herself to leave the past and focus on the present, knowing that there was still so much she had to sort through before she could go to the hospital. During her brother's last update to the family, he had divulged the one thing that all of them were afraid of. Because of the areas in her brain that had been affected during the hit and run, there's a real chance that Elizabeth's memory won't fully recover. The thought of her waking up and not knowing anyone she loves, let alone herself, makes Emily hate Courtney that much more.
Like everyone else that loves Elizabeth, she has begun praying for her to wake up exactly as she has always been. She refuses to believe that life will never be the same again. Elizabeth has to wake up with her memories. She has to be the girl that she met in high school. The girl that she owes a huge apology to. The girl that she doesn't know how to live without.
With a deep sigh, Emily rises from her place on the bench, deciding that its time to prepare for anything. As much as she wishes for things to go back to how it used to be, Jason was very adamant on them preparing for the alternative and that's exactly what she'll do. She will go home and she will research all there is to know about amnesiacs. She will be prepared to help her friend, no matter the circumstances.
::::through the fire::::
Checking the vitals of her patient, Maya wonders if she has made the right choice in aiding this woman, almost certain that there was more to the story that she's being told. She has grown up with the knowledge of when someone's trying to play her and, right now, she's getting that strong feeling from the patient in her care.
"I did what you asked." Maya divulges. "He chose not to come."
"Was he defensive?"
"When I questioned his place in your life, yes." Maya admits. "He didn't take it lightly."
"Then I still have a chance." she voices with a soft smile. "I may have made a mistake, but I still have a chance. That's all I need."
"What did you do?" Maya questions her seriously. "What did you do that a man like Jason, a man with dignity and respect for others, won't come running to your side?"
"That is none of your business." Courtney says firmly. "I made a mistake. A huge mistake. But he will forgive me. I know it."
"Whatever makes you sleep at night." Maya replies before jotting down her vitals. "Your vitals are getting stronger. You should be out of here by tomorrow."
"Good." Courtney says simply. "The sooner I get out of here, the sooner I can make amends with the man I love."
Shaking her head, Maya makes her way out of the room, knowing that there wasn't much more she could do for her patient. Informing Dr. Thompson of Courtney's latest vitals, Maya signs out for the day and heads home. Whatever happened between Courtney and Jason, it was obviously none of her business. However, if she were a betting woman, she'd bet that Courtney's happily ever after isn't going to come that easily. From the looks of her, Maya would have to say its only fitting.
:::through the fire:::
Jason had seen it coming when one of the PCPD detectives stopped by Elizabeth's room for an update before divulging that they weren't any closer to solving the hit and run today than they were when it happened. Obviously they have an investigation going in regard to Courtney's attempted suicide. With the note that he tossed on their bed, it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to charge her for the crime. Seeing as they haven't made any arrests, it was only logical to believe that his grandfather had a hand in hiding the truth.
"I hate this." Emily voices as she's typing away at her computer. "I hate that grandfather is more concerned about his company than Elizabeth getting justice for what happened to her."
"You know that Grandfather cares about Elizabeth." Jason counters. "He just has to take the future of his company into account."
"Are you seriously defending his actions?" Emily questions in disbelief. "He used his friendship with Steve and Audrey to get them to keep quiet about what they know."
"No one's saying that his methods are ideal, Em." Jason sighs. "I'm sure he'll regret it later."
"I know she's your girlfriend, Jason, but she doesn't deserve to get away with what she did." Emily says firmly. "She left Elizabeth for dead. She hit her at top speed and just drove off. Its not fair that she won't face the consequences."
"I know its hard, but try not to think about her." Jason replies. "Do you want to know how she's doing today?"
"You know I do."
"She's getting stronger." Jason assures. "She should be strong enough to move into the ICU by tonight."
"That means I can visit her, right?"
"Right." he replies. "What's all that typing?"
"I'm researching." she admits. "I want to be prepared for anything...even amnesia."
"You're a good friend, Em." Jason says with a smile. "Just focus on getting Elizabeth better and know that I love you."
"I love you, too."
"I better get back to our patient." Jason voices as he glances in at her through the door. "See you tonight?"
"See you."
Ending the call, Jason makes his way back into the room, a thought lingering in his mind as he retakes his seat by her bed. Girlfriend. Is that what Courtney still is to him? Would it be completely callous of him to walk away from her after all she's done? Edward may have given her a chance to avoid legal consequences for her actions, but did that mean that he had to act as if it never happened, too? Staring at Elizabeth laying there in the hospital bed, he tries to think about the next steps he'll take in his life. Will he forgive Courtney and help her through her drug addiction? Did he owe her that much? Or does he walk away from her for good?