Chapter 19
For the second straight week Traci was in the waiting room of the ER. This time how ever there were more people waiting with her. Rhino and Christian were talking over in a corner. Jim was pacing while Joe sat in a chair next to various X-Division guys. The doctor approached her and she could already tell it was bad news. While ODB, Taylor, and Roxxi stood off in another corner near AJ.
"Ms. Brooks he is stable but he still hasn't woken up. He suffered a great deal of blood loss and his core temperature has dropped," The doctor says. "And if he doesn't wake up…" "I won't lie to you it's something we need to worry about."
Traci walked into the room where Jake was. He was hooked to a number of machines to monitor everything. "Hey baby it's me. You know we need to stop meeting this," Traci says trying to make one of Jake's lame jokes. Traci took his hand. "Come on Jake wake up. I really want you to wake up," Traci says as tears stream down her cheeks.
The next day AJ walked into Jake's room. He knew Traci had been forced to take a break from staying next to Jake. "Come on Reed time to get up," AJ says. AJ thought back to there days as roommates. AJ was always the first one up and Jake was the one sleeping to noon so AJ had that to Jake plenty of times usually it was meet with a groan and call of "leave me alone."
"Bet I was the last guy you expected to save you these days. I may even be the last guy you wanted to save you. But I did. Jake the reason… I… turned on you… It was my wife… After our second son was born she got hooked some of the stuff you used to do. And I snapped and I lashed out at you because I thought she learned how to hide it from you. I'm sorry Jake," AJ says as he starts to cry lay his head on Jake's bed.
AJ feels a hand start to pat him on the shoulder. AJ looks up and sees Jake with his eyes open. "Hey AJ," Jake says. The two old friends hug. "Ah watch the everything," Jake says. "Sorry," AJ says. "Yeah I'm sorry to," Jake says. "Someone needs to call Traci and let her know you're awake," AJ says. "Who's Traci?" Jake asks. "Your wife well ex-wife but your word around the locker room is you got engaged again," AJ says. Jake starts to laugh. "Good rib AJ but I'm never getting married. So what happened did Sapp drop me when we were working out?" Jake asks.
"Sapp as in Bob Sapp? Jake what year is it?" "1999 duh," Jake says. AJ is shocked. "You're still an easy mark AJ," Jake says. "You jerk," AJ says. "I am still the king," Jake says.
"Oh my god you are awake," Traci says as she enters and hugs Jake. "Ah watch the everything," Jake says. "AJ go and get a doctor," Traci says. AJ just nods and leaves. "Come on no tears this a happy time," Jake says as whips a tear from Traci's eye. "You really scared me," Traci says. "Hey trust me I didn't like what happened either. I was watching TV when Abyss charged through the door followed by 3D," Jake says. "So that is how they got you," Traci says.
"Well Mr. Reed you are an extremely lucky man," the doctor says. "If you say so doc, but I sure don't feel lucky," Jake says. "Well you injured a disk in your back tore a muscle in each leg have a concussion a broken nose your ribs are basically mush and you have several deep wounds but it could have been a lot worse." "So when can I wrestle again?" Jake asks. The doctor rolls his eyes. "I would say about five months," The doctor says.
"What can I do to cut that time down?" Jake asks. "Jake I've been you doctor for a few years so I have to ask why do you keep going back?" "Because I'm cool like that. No wait that's the reason I wear a leather jacket. I really don't know it's the same reason Dale Jr. straps himself into the 88 and drives. Same reason Brett Farve joined the Jets. I like doing it and the pain is worth it," Jake says.
Sting stood in a dark room cutting a promo that would air before Impact. "Those who forget past are doomed to repeat it. Jake Reed forgot his own past. You see Jake knows better than anyone the cancer that Jeff Jarrett is. He forgot Jeff uses people and when he no more use he gets rid of them. So Jake I felt the need to remind you. Jake I'm sorry you had to get hurt but you brought it all on your self," Stings ays.