Andy didn't know how long she had been pacing up and down the dimly lit corridor, but it felt like hours, and as it was starting to get light outside, it probably had been hours. Just when Andy finished talking to her boss, who was very understanding why Andy wouldn't be able to come for a while because of a 'family emergency,'(Andy was sure she'd go straight to hell for a lie like that) a nurse came up the quiet corridor.
"Are you Andrea Sachs?" Andy was relieved it was another nurse, and not the one she would kill next time she turned up.
"Yes. Yes, I am Andy. How is Mrs. Priesley?" Andy followed the nurse down the corridor.
"Aggressive. She is barely awake, but she demands to see you." It seemed the nurse had absolutely no idea why the normal rules obviously didn't apply to her newest patient.
"What's wrong? Where is she now?" Andy felt her insides twist into a tight knot.
"You are not family so I am not allowed to tell you. She is in a private room next to the intensive care ward, just in case." The nurse carefully eyed the young woman beside her as if to find out what kind of person puts up with the dragon inside the room."Here we are. She fights the anaesthetics, but she really needs to sleep and rest now."
"I'll make sure she gets the rest she needs." Andy hoped it was in her power to do so.
"Good. If you need anything, my name is Susan. Don't hesitate to ask." Susan gave her a half hearted smile and left to look after another patient.
"Thank you Susan."
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Minerva opened her very heavy eyes when she heard the door open. She tried to say something, but somehow her mouth refused to work properly.
Andy quickly moved to her side. "Shh…don't talk now. You will be fine, just sleep now."
The young woman pulled up a chair and made herself as comfortable as possible. Miranda looked awful with all the tubes coming out of her arm and the one that allowed oxygen to flow into her nose. She was pale and her normally so well-dressed silver hair clung to her sweaty forehead. She mumbled something that sounded like 'Anda' and held the fingers of her left hand up. Andy gently took Miranda's hand in her own and regarded her carefully. Although the pale woman's eyes were closed now, Andy could see she was restless.
She reached up with her free hand and started stroking Miranda's forehead. "I am here Miranda. Everything will be all right." She felt Miranda lean into her hand and continued whispering: "You can sleep now. I will be right here to take care of you. You're not alone. I'll keep you safe."
Andy's reassurances seemed to have the desired effect and Miranda appeared to fall into a sound sleep. Only when Andy pulled her right hand back into her lap could she see the older woman become restless again. She quickly put her hand back on Miranda's head and was amazed to see her relax again. It gave Andy a strange but very pleasant feeling that her sole touch had such a soothing effect on her former boss. But then again, it might be just the physical contact, no matter who provided it.
It must have been around midday when Miranda stirred in her sleep. Andy's whole body felt numb from sitting in the same position for hours and she was glad she could finally move her arms when Miranda slowly opened her eyes. She looked clearly confused and lost, so Andy carefully held her hand again. "Hello Miranda," she whispered "do you know where you are?"
The older woman looked around for a moment, then slightly nodded her head. "Hospital." Her voice sounded hoarse and frail.
"Yes, you're in the hospital." Andy grabbed the water from the table beside her and stood up. "Would you like some water?"
The young woman waited for another little nod before moving her hand under Miranda's head and put the glass to the pale woman's lips. "There you go."
She put the glass back on the nightstand. "Um…do you know what happened?"
That earned her a quick glare. "Of course."
It was ridiculous that Miranda could make her uncomfortable even in a situation like this. She didn't know what so say so she just sat down in that awful chair and remained silent, wondering what to do now. She didn't really want to leave Miranda alone in this state, but the older woman didn't look as though she wanted Andy there with her, and Andy was done with begging for attention and approval from her former boss.
"Get me home." Miranda obviously had her old voice and attitude back.
"What?!" Andy was totally shocked by the insane request.
"Do you need to get your hearing checked? Get me home." Anger flared up in Andy. How dare that woman talk with her like that after practically begging her to stay last night?
She took a few deep breaths before answering as calmly as she possibly could. "You have just had an emergency operation. There is no way I can get you home. Absolutely not." Andy was very proud of herself for not shouting at Miranda.
The older woman pursed her lips. "You refuse to help me, Andrea? Fine. I can't say I am surprised."
Andy was speechless. The woman looked like death warmed over, and yet acted as bitchy as ever.
The anger was replaced by shock when Miranda suddenly removed the oxygen tube, pulled out the infusion and moved to get up. For a moment Andy was frozen and wasn't able to move, but when the shock wore off, she sprinted around the bed just in time to catch Miranda when her knees gave way the very second she tried to stand.
Andy caught her before she hit the floor and heaved her back onto the bed. "God damn it! What do you think you're doing?! 'Get me home, Andrea' Of course Miranda, why don't you just walk there. Shouldn't be a problem, eh?!" Andy couldn't recall a moment she was angrier or more afraid than this. She felt cold sweat covering her body, but her anger disappeared when she looked at Miranda. The older woman looked so terribly lost and vulnerable and her eyes shone with tears she refused to let fall.
Andy wordlessly covered Miranda with her blanket and tucked her in. Her hands were shaking so badly she had trouble with plugging the infusion back in, but she finally managed it. The young woman moved back to her chair and waited for Miranda to put the oxygen tube back where it belonged, but Miranda didn't make any attempt to do so. She just stared at the ceiling.
Andy sighed and bent over to her former boss. "Miranda" When the older woman finally looked at her, Andy took the oxygen tube, gently put it in Miranda's nose and fixed it behind her ears. When Andy's fingers brushed her cheek in the process, Miranda closed her eyes. For a moment Andy wasn't sure what was happening, but soon discovered the silent tears that ran down the older woman's cheek. When Miranda covered her mouth, trying to muffle the sound of the first sob the escaped her throat, Andy sat back down and held her arms open. "Miranda, come here," she invited the crying woman. "It's all right, come here now." Miranda hesitated, but gave in when she locked eyes with Andrea and rolled over.
Not unlike the night before Andy held Miranda close to her and allowed her to cry while she soothingly rubbed the older woman's back. "Shh…we'll get you through this. I promise to get you home as soon as possible, but I have to be sure you don't need to have another operation first, ok?"
Andy felt a slight nod against her and sighed. "All right then. Are you in pain after your little stunt?"
This time she felt Miranda shake her head no. It was obvious the older woman wasn't going to talk. "Good. Try to rest for a while."
Andy waited to see if Miranda would move to lie on her back, but she just leaned in a little closer to Andy who pulled the blanket a bit higher so that Miranda wouldn't get cold. She continued stroking the older woman's back. "Sleep now," she whispered. "I'm here."
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