Chapter 10:
Matthew arrived at the hospital in a red and white Llanview ambulance. He wasn't allowed to ride with Destiny since they weren't family, an EMT told him. He was checked out during the ride and deemed fit. However, he was required to get a thorough check up at the hospital.
He asked about Destiny; if she'd be alright.
They told him she was in pretty bad shape, she had a faint pulse before they left the scene. That's all they knew.
Matthew was so worried. He couldn't get the image of her at the crash site out of his mind. It just kept replaying over and over on a tortuous loop in his mind.
Matthew jumped out of the ambulance to see his parents waiting at the front entrance of the ER.
Nora ran to him pulling him into a hug. It was now after midnight and they wore the same clothes and worried expressions they had the last time he saw them. As she flung her arms around her son she bombarded him with questions, "Matthew thank goodness you're alright. What happened? One minute I'm talking to Destiny & the next there's yelling and screaming before this terrible screeching noise; then the phone went dead."
Bo walked up placing his hand on Matthew's shoulder, "Son, you said Destiny was with you. Where is she?"
Matthew faced him dried tears and dirt caked all over his face "Dad she got hurt real bad & its all my fault."
The glass ER doors slid open. Three doctors hustled out with a stretcher. "Folks you have to clear this area immediately."
Another red and white ambulance pulled up on the ramp. The navy uniformed EMT personnel jumped out of the van while the three doctors in seafoam green scrubs rushed forward to help them. "What's the situation?" a doctor asked.
"We have a 17 year old female car crash vic, in extremely critical condition. Her right arm is broken in two places and there is severe trauma to her head. It slammed through the passenger side window. They had to break the window just to free her head, the poor kid."
Nora placed her hand over her mouth "Oh my god..."
They watched as Destiny was gingerly transferred out of the ambulance on a yellow gurney. Her face was purple and bloody and there were peices of glass impaled across the right side. Her arm was in a white sling.
Matthew ran up to her "DESTINY! I'm so sorry. Please talk to me, tell me you'll be alright, tell me ANYTHING." his voice trailed off to a hoarse whisper. He tried to grab her hand but was physically held back by a doctor. "Let us do our job kid. She needs to get inside right away. Call her family, that's how you can help her right now."
Matthew was pulled aside by his parents while Destiny was rushed past and through the sliding doors. "I can't lose her, I can't..." he said aloud staring at her receding form.
Nora hugged her frantic son, "Matthew you know Destiny is a fighter. She'll pull through this, you'll see."
"You'd better call Shaun. He'd want to be here for Destiny." Bo suggested.
"How do I tell Shaun... that, that Destiny might die because of ME?"
Half an hour later Shaun stormed through the waiting room area bellowing "HOW IS SHE? I WANT TO SEE DESTINY RIGHT NOW!
Bo, Matthew and Nora stood up from their seats. Bo answered with calm reassurance "Destiny is still in surgery. All we can do now is wait."
Shaun walked up to Matthew yoking him up by his jacket, "THIS IS YOUR FAULT! IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU DESTINY WOULD BE SAFE AT HOME WITH ME!"
"I'm so sorry Shaun. You're right. I let Destiny come with me. I was driving when we crashed. I wish I could take it all back, to have Destiny safe again," Matthew's eyes were stinging with unshed tears.
A statuesque female doctor in scrubs walked into their waiting area, "'s? I'm Doctor Isaac we just wrapped up surgery on your niece Destiny."
"Doc, how is she? Shaun inquired meeting her halfway.
Matthew ran up to the doctor "Is Destiny ok?", he practically shrieked.
The doctor glanced at Matthew and his folks realizing they were waiting with Shaun.
"I'm sorry I can only discuss her progress with family."
"Look doc they ARE family. Now tell me Destiny is alive and well or so help me..." Shaun threatened.
"Look Mr. Evans the surgery was touch and go. Not only did we have to decrease the swelling on her brain due to her massive skull fracture, we placed pins in her right arm due to her shattered ulna bone then finally we also had to stabilize her fetus. That's important information you should have provided. If we didn't get the results from her bloodwork first and ordered an xray or administered the wrong medication...her baby would be dead!" the doctor reprimanded.
"WHAT? YOU'RE TELLING ME SHE'S PREGNANT?" Shaun advanced on the doctor, fists balled up and ready to strike.
"I'm sorry, I assumed you knew..." the doctor backed up.
"NO you messed up! There's no way Lil D is..."
Matthew's ears ceased to receive any external data at that point, his mouth hung open and he felt weak in the knees, he backed up to a wall for support. Oh my God she's pregnant! She's pregnant with MY child... She was sick right in front of my face and I, I never thought..., I didn't connect the dots.
He was brought back to reality when Shaun suddenly appearred right in his face, he grabbed Matthew by his collar "YOU! YOU AND DESTINY LIED RIGHT TO MY FACE! I KNEW I HEARD RIGHT! YOU SLEPT WITH HER? YOU GOT HER PREGNANT?" Shaun spat as veins popped out of his head and neck. His hands moved to Matthew's neck and squeezed "I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU!" Shaun chanted.
"Shau-nn -I'm-sss-orr-yy.."Matthew choked out, while Bo, Nora and the doctor shouted grabbing at his massive arms.
The doctor called for help as two orderlies rushed in grabbing at Shaun helping to separate his hands from Matthew's wind pipe. Matthew slid to the floor gasping for sweet, cool, oxygen. His parents alternatively yelling at him to breathe and at Shaun for hurting their son.
After much cajoling and threats to call security if he couldn't pull himself together Shaun gave Matthew a look of pure disgust before leaving to see Destiny with the doctor's blessing.
The doctor walked up to Matthew who was already trying to answer the flurry of questions his parents were throwing at him "When the HELL did this happen?" Nora shrieked. Bo interjected "Son what were you thinking, not using protection?"
"Young man, were you driving the car that caused this accident?" Matthew nodded his head, "You have to come with me right now. Your examination is long overdue. You could have internal injuries" the doctor demanded. "Sorry folks you'll have to continue this conversation later" she explained dragging Matthew off with her.
During Matthew's examination, he just answered questions on auto- pilot. His mind was wracked wondering how much he could possibly screw up? First he hurt Destiny terribly last New Year's Eve, then he worshipped Dani like her shit didn't stink right in Destiny's face, next was the whole Eddie Ford tragedy, now he put Destiny and their unborn baby's life in danger. They were in the hospital fighting for their lives, and why, because he wouldn't listen to Destiny. She told him not to leave her house & see his Uncle Clint. If he would've just listened, why didn't he just listen to her? Matthew began banging his hand against his head " Stupid, stupid, stupid," he reprimanded himself.
"That's not going to help them" the doctor chastised, "you need to be strong now. IF they make it there is a long road to recovery. You'd better thank whatever deity you pray to that they are even still alive."
"Doctor what are their chances give it to me straight?" Matthew pleaded.
"Your girlfriend could have severe brain damage, we won't know for sure until the swelling goes down and we run more tests. The skull fracture alone will take months to heal. She's in a very compromised position because we can't just give her standard treatment options due to the baby. Certain medications and procedures are out of he question plus we need to pump her IV full of prenatal meds for the baby's development."
Hot tears slid down his cheeks while he gripped his hair. "What do I do doctor? How can I help them? We didn't know she was pregnant..."
"Luckily she's only weeks pregnant. I'm afraid she would have lost the baby were she further along. Just be here for them, talk to them be supportive any way you can. Your family's in extremely critical condition."
Matthew thanked the doctor and returned to the waiting room two levels up. Destiny's grandparents were now in the waiting room. Their heads spun around "What did you do? What did you do to my baby?" Mrs. Evans beated her hands against Matthew's chest. He grabbed her hands in his and hugged her "I'm so sorry" he whispered as she broke down in his arms. Her husband came to get her "C'mon now sweetheart it was just an unfortunate accident," he soothed leading her back to their seats.
Bo grabbed his son's shoulders "What did the doctor say?" Bo demanded. Matthew could tell his Dad was pissed at him, "I'm fine. What about Destiny...and?" him "YOUR baby?" he yelled.
Look Dad don't start, "Has there been any news? Destiny and our baby are my priority now. NOTHING ELSE!"