The light filtered the room through the blinds waking Emily from a peaceful slumber. Her internal clock notifying her that it was 6 am, the time she usually awoke for her run. Her thoughts were interrupted by excruciating pain coming from her hand. She wanted to cry out but realized that there was a weight on her chest. That weight belonging to the love of her life, Alison DiLaurentis. She didn't want to wake Alison, so she toughed through the pain, but she interrupted from her thoughts by the person she'd assumed had been asleep.
"Are you in pain?" Alison asked.
"I thought you were asleep," she replied.
"Answer the question," Alison said a little cold.
"A little," Emily replied with a sigh.
"Don't lie to me," Alison said.
"That's rich coming from you," Emily said and regretted the words as soon as she'd said them. She could feel the distance being put between them by her. "Sorry I didn't mean that. I'm just high right now".
"Yes you did," Alison said with a sigh and got up to sit beside Emily.
"This is why I didn't want to be given drugs," Emily let out a deep sigh. "Why didn't you tell them?"
"Because you would have never slept peacefully, and you needed sleep before your operation. It's okay Em. I know I lied to you and it hurt you the most, don't apologize," Alison reasoned and began to stroke Emily's cheek. Hanna, Aria, and Spencer interrupted them at the door.
"Knock knock," Hanna said with a smile.
"Hanna I already knocked on the door, no need to say it," Spencer said irritated. Emily and Alison looked at each other with a smirk telling each other that Hanna gave Spencer an eventful morning.
"What are you guys doing here?" Emily asked surprised.
"Like we would miss you before you went off into surgery," Aria said.
"Did we interrupt you morning sex wake up call?" Hanna asked amused.
"Yes you did, she was about to give me a blow job," Emily replied cheekily earning blushes and giggles from all the girls.
"Emily!" Alison hit her on the shoulder.
"What she asked, I was just being truthful," Emily said.
"Wait are you serious?" Hanna asked missing the sarcastic tone in her voice.
"Yes, I'm completely serious, why do you think I have lipstick stains on my thigh?" Emily said with all the girls laughing except for Hanna who went to lift up Emily's gown to find her with no panties on but in fact no lipstick stains. Emily just flashed all her friends and it seemed as though her joke was backfiring on her. "Jesus Hanna, let the whole floor see my vagina! I'm just joking," Emily replied with a blush.
"It's not like we haven't seen it before," Hanna said shrugging her shoulders.
"Speaking of seeing things, I heard you guys kissed my fiancé," Alison said glaring at her friends although they could hear a hint of teasing.
"Your fiancé? Aria and Spencer asked with a surprised look on their faces.
"Yeah, she's really good at it," Hanna replied oblivious to what she'd said.
"It's a joke, but the hospital thinks I'm her fiancé, that's how I was able to stay the night," Alison said.
"Hanna! Try a little more tact next time," Spencer all but yelled.
"Whatever, I'm just stating the truth, we all know Emily is the best kisser," she said. With that admission Emily wore a cocky expression on her face that everyone noticed.
"Oh great, now we're inflating her ego," Aria laughed.
"Hey it's okay, I already knew, you guys just confirmed," Emily said moving her good arm behind her head.
"Anyways, Emily has to call her mom before surgery, so why don't I walk you guys to your cars," Alison said handing her phone to Emily. Alison returned back to the room to see the doctor explaining the procedure.
"We're going to do both procedures in one sitting. The rotator cuff surgery will take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours depending on the damage and how I will repair it. The nerve damage hand surgery will take longer possible 5 hours since I have to be very careful". At that admission, both Emily and Alison looked nervous. "I have the OR being prepped as we speak, anymore questions?"
"Can I watch?" Alison said without realizing what she was asking.
"I don't recommend it, but yes there's a place for you to sit and watch on the opposite side of the operation room. I do warn you that there will be residents they're watching as well and most of their comments are clinical, not personal," he explained.
"I don't want you to watch me Ali, not like that," Emily said looking at Alison.
"I want to be there or else I will drive myself crazy not knowing what's going on," Alison tried to reason.
"I leave you guys to talk. The surgery is scheduled for 9am; it should end at approximately 4 or 6 pm. The nurses will be in around 8:30 to transport you there and get you prepped for surgery," he says and exits the room.
"Ali, I don't want you to watch, I don't want you to see me like this," Emily says with tears slipping from her eyes.
"You're my fiancé, I'm suppose to see you at your worst, plus I'm suppose to update you mom every hour. You're still my killer," she said with a chuckle.
"Okay," Emily sighed and pressed the morphine drip again.
"Go back to sleep, I will wake you when the nurses come. I'm just going to get a coffee," Alison said kissing Emily on the head before she drifted off to sleep. As she exited the room she smiled that Emily had yet to correct her or anyone when they or she herself referred to her as her fiancé. After she grabbed a coffee two coffees, she saw the time was nearing 8:30. She came into the room to see Emily awake and being transported to the OR. The nurse was escorting her to the viewing section. They entered the elevator with Emily holding Alison's hand tightly.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm right on the other side of the glass," Alison soothed her.
"Please don't leave me," Emily said lucidly.
"I'm not going anywhere, I'm right here. Emily, I love you," Alison whispered in her ear earning a relaxed sigh from Emily who looked contently in her eyes. Their gaze was broken by the ding of the elevator knowing that their separation was soon approaching.
"I love you too Ali," Emily smirked before being carted off. Alison was placed in a room with chairs overlooking the operation room. She saw the doctor come into the room with scrubs giving orders to the other people in the room. She saw him point to Emily as to where Alison was and she smiled before being hooked up to an oxygen mask and being injected with the anesthesia by another doctor.
"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1," she heard the doctor count off and saw Emily's eyes close. Tape was applied to her eyes to keep them closed and people started yelling out her vitals. They placed her on her left side careful of her hand and begin to put a yellowish substance on the arm. The doctor begins to mark areas with a black marker. After a few minutes of explaining what was suppose to happen during the operation, he took the scalpel and begins to make incisions. For that part, Alison really regretted asking to be in her, but she drank her coffee, which gave her strength and texted Pam that Emily was in surgery, sparing the details. She looked up to see the doctor asking for suction and saw a bunch of fluid and blood pour out of Emily's shoulder.
"It looks like the patient may have impacted the shoulder recently," he says with a sigh and Alison remembered the struggle Emily got into with her attacker and how she hit her right shoulder.
"What does that mean?" a resident asks the doctor.
"Patient has a proximal humerus fracture. Fragments appear to be displaced," he says in thin air making Alison confused more than ever.
"What does that mean?" Alison asks the people inside who appear to be taking notes.
"It means that she will require plates and screws to be placed in her shoulder because the bone fragments are too small to be repaired," a boy from behind her states.
"How long will that take? Will he have to start surgery another day?" Alison asks with worry.
"No he'll continue with the procedure and fix her all today, it will just take more time, probably another three hours, no worries, he's the best orthopedic surgeon in the northeast region," the guy tries to reassure Alison. With that information, she tells Pam and the girls of the new finding and the added time. After a few hours of sitting and watching she hears the doctor talking.
"The rotator cuff has been realigned. Please give me the plates and screws on a tray," he said and the nurse moved a mini table towards him holding sterilized metal objects. Nothing could possibly distract Alison as her eyes were glued to the open wound. She saw the doctor open up her arm more and called for suction. He began to delicately place the metal object inside her arm. The anesthesiologist was off on the side calculating and measuring medicine that would allow for Emily to sleep longer. Alison's stomach began to growl, but she refused to leave Emily's side.
"Come on let's go grab lunch," the same guy from behind suggested.
"I don't want to leave my fiancé," she replied hoping that he would get the hint that she's taken.
"I promise my friend will call me if there's an update change," he said and Alison sighed knowing her stomach is agreeing with him. She stood up and exited the room with him and they fell into easy conversation.
"What's your name?" he asked trying to pull Alison from her heavy thinking.
"Alison, what's yours?" she asked.
"Michael," he said tapping his book as they entered the elevator.
"What were you guys writing?" she asked curiously.
"Since Dr. Robini is my mentor along with a few others from the room, we all have to write notes on each procedure he does. If we can recite what he did in the surgery accurately without missing any information, that's how he choses who can assist him in the next operation," he says. They decide on sandwiches and water before sitting down in a sea of doctors and residents.
"Wow you guys do sound so clinical," she observes.
"Yeah it's best, you can't really get caught up in a patient," he says with a hint of sadness.
"Why not?" Alison asks.
"Because it has a bigger effect on you if you lose them on the table," he replied and realized his mistake when he saw the look of fear in Alison's eyes. "But that won't happen to Emily, of course there's risks with being put under, but a while ago, I wasn't an orthopedic surgical resident, I was going for neurology, which is much worse".
"Why do you say that?" she asked hesitantly.
"We don't know much about the brain and it's a higher risk for complications, anyways I don't really want to talk about it," he says, but that doesn't stop Alison from pushing.
"Maybe it's better to talk," she suggested and he sighed but gave in.
"I was in my third year of my neurosurgery residency a couple of months ago, and I worked on a patient under the supervision of my mentor. The patient had a brain tumor that needed to be removed, and it was my first one. Anyways, she didn't survive, and soon after I had a breakdown and requested to be put in the orthopedic surgery track, starting all over from the beginning," he said.
"Why would you give up? I mean it's expected to lose patients especially with the brain, I mean you're not God, but as long as you did everything you could, why?" Alison asked confused.
"I don't know I didn't handle it very well, and orthopedic was much better since not many patients can die. The only major surgeries are spinal and you need to specialize in that which I don't".
"I see, but you don't look like the type to give up. Isn't that what being a doctor is about, making advancements in science? I mean I've seen my fair share of death, but that hasn't stopped me and it shouldn't stop you," Alison tried to be less of a bitch and more encouraging.
"Enough about me and tell me about you," he said.
"Well I'm the missing girl from Rosewood," she replies grimly.
"That's you! I knew you looked familiar," he said. "I guess we should be heading back". They arrived back in time to see the doctor closing up Emily's arm and shoulder.
"Operation on the proximal humerus and rotator cuff prove successful. Patient's arm and shoulder are being closed with sutures by plastic surgeon Dr. Ransen".
"Is she good?" Alison asked the guy who now sat next to him.
"Do you see any mark on my face?" he asked Alison.
"No," she replied inspecting his face.
"My face was slashed open by a beer bottle and no trace of it remains, so yeah she's damn good," he replied proudly that his beauty was still in tact.
"Patient is now being injected with a second dose of anesthesia for next part of surgery, and being placed on her back". With that, the anesthesiologist walked over to Emily whose eyes showed movement, until he injected the medicine. They begin to count backwards and the same yellowish substance was placed on her open palm. Since most of her hand was open, the doctor placed an object inside of the folds and spread it, making Alison squirm and look away. "Patient appears to have mild nerve damage that will be fixed with conduits". After that announcement, Alison blocked out the surgery and text the girls and Pam with an update. She focused on Emily's eyes and breathing. She felt her phone vibrate thinking it was a text from Pam.
I wonder what secrets the anesthesiologist is hiding –A
The text made Alison shiver but she placed her phone back in her pocket and focused on Emily.
You can ignore me, but the truth will appear in three two one…-A
With that she heard beeping from the room and commotion. People were yelling out vital signs for Emily and Alison began to get nervous.
"What's happening?" she asked the Michael.
"Her vitals show that she's slipping into a coma," he replied worriedly.
"But why? Everything was going great," she cried in a panic.
"I'm sure things will be fine," he says and tries to comfort her.
"How much anesthesia did you give her?" Dr. Robini questions the anesthesiologist.
"I gave her the correct amount," the doctor replies with a slur and Alison knows a drunk slur when she hears one.
"He's drunk!" Alison all but yelled and the doctors from the OR could hear her as well.
"No I'm not," the doctor stood and began to fall with a sway.
"Get him out of my OR," Dr. Robini ordered as people ushered the doctor away. Another anesthesiologist was called in immediately to fix the problem. Emily's vitals begin to slip again and she went into shock. "Get me a crash cart!" he yelled. "Charge me 200". He placed the tongs between her chest and on her left side near her heart and Emily's body began to rise off the table, but there was no response.
"Please Emily, come back to me!" Alison cried through the window.
"Charge 250!" And with that Emily's body again rose from the table, but she was still flat lining and tears rushed from Alison's eyes.
"Come on Em, don't leave me," Alison cried falling to her knees with Michael wrapping his arms around her.
"Charge 300!" he yelled again, but this time, a pulse came back and Alison heard her heartbeat and felt relief flush through her. "Patient experience cardiac arrest. Surgery will continue and vitals will be relayed every 5 minutes".
"Doctor, the patient isn't breathing," a nurse stated.
"Intubate her," he said and they began to hook her up to various machines while he continued his work on her hand. After a couple of hours, the surgery ended.
"Nerve damage surgery to patient's left hand was successful, however her lack of breathing indicates that she is in a coma". COMA. That word traveled in Alison's mind and she couldn't believe it. She stood there with shock and anger evident on her face. Her trance was broken when she saw Emily being released from the machines and a nurse squeezing a balloon that connected to a tube in her mouth while they wheeled her off.
"Where's she going?" she asked Michael.
"She's being placed back in her room, but you're not allowed in there yet," he said with a hint of sadness.
"Why the hell not, she's my fiancé!" she said angrily.
"She needs to be connected to those machines and have vitals taken before you're allowed to enter," he said calmly. "Come on, let's take you back to her room, they should almost be done". They entered the corridor where Emily's room was and saw nurses inside. Alison got the idea to call Pam and explain the situation with regret.
"Mrs. Fields," Alison cried into the phone.
"Alison, what's wrong sweetie?" Pam said with worry evident in her voice.
"Emily's in a coma," she said.
"What? How?" Pam asked throwing herself into a fit.
"The anesthesiologist injected her with a second dose of anesthesia since the first two surgeries took long. Turns out he was drunk and I think he gave her too much. They had to resuscitate her," Alison cried.
"Okay, Alison, try to calm down, I'm catching the next flight out. Have the doctor call me as soon as possible," she said and Alison could hear the fright in her voice as well as moving object in the background.
"Okay, bye Mrs. Fields, I'll update you too," she said and hung up the phone. She assumed the girls would be out of school and decided to give them an S.O.S text. She saw the lack of nurses in Emily's room and decided to go in and wait for the doctor. She saw Emily lying down hooked up to more machines than she could count. The sight of her looking so fragile and week tore Alison up from the inside. A sob escaped her lips as she sat down in the chair and grabbed Emily's hand.
"Emily, please wake up. There's so much I need to say. There's so much we have to do together," Alison sobbed and felt the sheets moisten under her face.
"Oh my god Alison, what happened?" Spencer asked as the three girls entered the room.
"The anesthesiologist was drunk and he administered too much anesthesia. She's in a coma and isn't breathing on her own," she said hiccupping from her previous crying fit.
"What!" Hanna said
"How long will she be like this?" Aria asked.
"I don't know, the doctor hasn't come in yet," Alison said. After a half hour of the girls talking to Emily, the doctor came in.
"Hello, I need the room to talk to the patient's fiancé," he said gently and the girls nodded and exited the room.
"What's going on?" Alison asked.
"As suspected, the anesthesiologist administered too much anesthesia. This will left Emily in a coma," he says with regret in his voice.
"How long will she in a coma?" Alison asked through the tears.
"We don't know, that's up to her, but she on life support, and we're currently monitoring her brain activity. It appears that she shows the activity of a comatose patient," he says.
"What's going to happen to the doctor?" Alison asked with anger.
"He's under investigation, but it shouldn't be long before his toxicology report comes back, and after that it's up to the board to see if his license will be taken away especially if he's sued," the doctor said with a raised eyebrow on the last part and Alison smiles at his suggestion although it's not her place, but she will inform Pam about it.
"Thank you," she says.
"Of course, I'm really sorry about this. The nurses will be in to check on her periodically, and I'll be back in the morning," he says. Alison nodded and resumed her position in the chair. The girls entered seconds later.
"Hey Ali, I know you're going to stay here with Em, so if you want us to get you anything, don't hesitate to ask and give us updates. We'll be back tomorrow morning," Spencer said taking the lead.
"Don't worry Ali, Em is just giving you a big scare so you can make it up to her with a sex marathon when she gets out," Hanna says and was able to pull a partial smile out of Alison.
"I know how you feel Ali, and I'm here if you need to talk. Just know that the more you talk the better. She can hear you, at least that's what Ezra told me," Aria says and that makes Alison smile for the first time since this morning.
"Thanks guys. I was wondering if you could go to my house and get me a few clothes as well as some for Emily for when she wakes up, and also my copy of Great Expectations".
"Of course, we'll bring it by in the morning," Spencer says and they all leave after kissing Emily's head and wishing her get wells. Alison returned to her position and began to talk to Emily.
"Now that I know you can hear me, I just want to tell you that I love you so much, like no one I've ever loved. I wish you would just wake up. There's no way I'm letting you die on me. You hear me Emily Fields! Besides I thought I was suppose to give you a blow job" Alison laughs. "I love you so much it hurts and I wanted to tell you that everyday since I went on the run. When you open your eyes, I want to be the first person you see. I can't wait to see those beautiful brown eyes staring into mine. I can't believe that you come in for a hand and shoulder surgery and end up in a coma! How does that even happen, and why did A know about it?" That night Alison cried herself to sleep because the love of her life was on the brink of death and it scared her beyond anything. She'd rather lose her mother a hundred more times than to have Emily in a coma. She'd never loved anyone as much as she loves Emily, and no one loved her as much as Emily loved her. That night she prayed to God to give her back her love.