p style="text-align: center;" data-p-id="4a5dce4fbfe84abec5d8c022a3d6c1e9"em-/embr /emPaul's POV /embr /em-/em/p
p data-p-id="364c00a4eaa3be80b3273c28e6749917"I finally got Shawn to go home and go to bed. I don't think he'd slept at all since the accident. I mean, emactually/em slept. He didn't want to leave Kat alone, which I understood, but emdamn/em. He needed to just get out of this place. It was getting to his head. He didn't need any more things getting to his head./p
p data-p-id="7656fe38ac4ecc3488b63cb4f6ef30ad"I found myself dozing off, actually. I thought it wouldn't be possible, with the fucking awful chairs the hospital provided, but I was as exhausted as Shawn was./p
p data-p-id="1b5a35b493b84e9b4d9160cb6b6a537e"I only woke up when I heard Kat finally stirring. At first I thought I was just hearing things. I thought it was part of my dream./p
p data-p-id="7b58e1e8ac310c28bdf3bf81565290cd"It was a nightmare, really. It was about the whole thing, with the accident and Kat and all of it. I didn't even remember it once I woke up./p
p data-p-id="ecf749a55dcb9a58ff12a2e2937b9576"I slid a hand down my face, trying to wake myself up. The rhythmic beating of Kat's vital monitor kept going on and on, like the ticking of the clock on the wall. It'd been the same since she'd been admitted, nearly two days earlier./p
p data-p-id="8455c64a76acaf8a29738798dcec2fdb"Finally it was changing just the slightest. That was good. That meant she was waking up./p
p data-p-id="f0a39724441b44c2ff9a2c89943ffdb4"I called for a nurse and rushed back over to the bedside, grabbing the hand that wasn't filled with IVs and wires and tape./p
p data-p-id="eedaff675957ce17a67a853031e1edd4"Kat's eyes fluttered open just the slightest bit. God, it was good to see that./p
p data-p-id="d5419c14ea0bf9b382472070833f3e37""Kat, c'mon," I pleaded. Please stay awake. I didn't think I could do much more sitting and waiting. Any kind of progress, anything, would be a blessing./p
p data-p-id="c8005a40d981e08cd02326d9e0b03a67""Paul?" she whispered. She was trying so hard to focus. She was so pale. "Where are we?"/p
p data-p-id="f67acb08394012f49cfeef15d7bae4f9""We're at the hospital. You were in an accident," I told her. She tried sitting up, but there was no way. "No, no, no, Kat. Relax."/p
p data-p-id="d6e612c8a7fde02b2af02b52054f3a35"I let the nurses take care of her for a while. She had to be checked out and readjusted and blood tested and all that good stuff. I took the time to use the bathroom, grab a bite to eat, and call around. I had to tell everyone the good news./p
p data-p-id="48e205864f501932b4d49c3709ac4196"When I came back, Kat was propped up on a bunch of pillows to give her a sort of illusion of sitting up. Which she couldn't really do because of her broken rib. I gave her the best smile I could muster, even though I could pretty much assume she wasn't up for a bright mood./p
p data-p-id="e026684dbe72464d8682f28e0deda3c5"It was so weird seeing her like that. Not smiling, her hair flat and dead-looking, her face pale and sickly. I couldn't believe it was even Kat./p
p data-p-id="3581c5d829d64f473cc7358029ab3695""How're you feeling?" I asked, pulling my chair up to the bed./p
p data-p-id="593d35f15ce709381199165776010f67""I've been poked and prodded for the last hour, and now they're giving me pain meds. I don't even know why I'm here," she giggled half-heartedly. "Except something up here doesn't feel right," she pointed to her head, "and I can't move my torso pretty much at all."/p
p data-p-id="ffb92c5cc74690645fedae643fbf1925""You've got a broken rib and what they assume is a pretty bad concussion. You had some internal bleeding, but they took care of it," I explained. I wasn't sure if it was the right time to bring up the other bit of news. I wasn't sure she could handle it yet./p
p data-p-id="dc13f439c20279b022df12163518b9b2"I shifted in my seat. I wanted to help, I just wasn't sure how. "Do you want something? A drink? Coffee?"/p
p data-p-id="d8abded5be9ea85dae110b9a83fb3e89"She shook her head, pouting. "I'm not allowed to eat. I just had surgery."/p
p data-p-id="b3c1f4be38314f8c0d28a11bf4934ff8""Right," I remembered. "I thought maybe since it's been a couple days you'd be okay to eat. I don't know how this works." I chuckled./p
p data-p-id="7d2703d5780ef37980eb4fbf74faaa51"She didn't join in laughing with me. Instead, she looked confused. "A couple days?"/p
p data-p-id="4385e0b43bbf8a2bb976e3d0a02c68a9""Damn, what are these nurses good for? Did they tell you anything?" I half-joked. Then I turned serious again. "You've been out for two days, Kat."/p
p data-p-id="aa95de7f6e72a5be017e139cfbd57dff"She took in a very deep breath. "Oh," was all she managed to breathe out. Poor Kat. This was a lot to take in at once./p
p data-p-id="f49e1886c6a2e8516042dc4821df327e""I'll give you some time to kind of sleep on all this and I'll come back with Shawn later," I told her, rising./p
p data-p-id="f017536e11f02914bf7997fe7f726917"She shook her head again. "I don't want to see him." It was barely a whisper./p
p data-p-id="68e590fdb5905a26118dfeca6fbe9e4d"I couldn't think of why she wouldn't want to see him, but I wasn't about to argue with her. I just said okay and made sure she knew I'd be back soon./p
p data-p-id="aba56f6450fe39d8dd0d9fd626ba13bd"Once I was left alone down in the waiting room, however, I was free to wonder. Maybe they had another fight. Maybe she blamed him for the accident. Except she didn't seem to remember the accident./p
p data-p-id="5cb47026120765858f68fbcc61980019"Whatever. If she didn't want to see him, I wasn't going to force her. It was going to crush Shawn, though. Why did I always have to be the middle man?/p
p data-p-id="8a7ab20ec0ab3262ce329c7dcb399a4e"***/p
p data-p-id="5b9c079fb99eb007a2451cf41988f17b"When Kat woke up, I tried to ask her what she'd meant about Shawn, but she didn't seem to have any clue what I was asking about./p
p data-p-id="356cc4360dfc2ce39263228d8d1588ad"She tried to sit up again, and I had to remind her of her broken rib. She didn't remember our earlier conversation at all./p
p data-p-id="8d53867f34f6b96d37fda861e62ac998"I told the nurse and she said they were going to test Kat for brain damage just in case. She assured me that it was probably just a bad concussion, like they originally throught, but they didn't want any surprises./p
p data-p-id="aa24a4764ddc8249726c689d8983933e"Stephanie was the first person to call me back. She said she and her mom would be up to visit Kat on the next flight./p
p data-p-id="a92c97801252442a4cc889e0591f70e1"I didn't call Shawn. Might as well avoid any problems in that department for a while. Let him sleep while he could. Even though I doubted he was sleeping./p
p data-p-id="5a81634a3ffe00f865340df18a541ecb"To my surprise, Shawn called me. I stepped into the hall to answer it, not wanting to wake Kat. She'd fallen asleep again./p
p data-p-id="aed4c2b1e2bbe86cd13d265b1d57b970""Yeah?" I asked. "What's up?"/p
p data-p-id="7c10d1c891f5033e8ad02af40367c7b6""Hey, Paul. How's Kat?" That was his first question every time he had called me in the past two days. He happened to have called me several thousand times./p
p data-p-id="2f2a8d7ef4566fa0a6ad6100bb2be202""She's good. She woke up. Well, right now she's asleep. There's definitely something wrong with her brain, though. They say there's most likely no brain damage," I explained. I hadn't noticed, but I'd started pacing./p
p data-p-id="7a6ce8c59b703eb232427ec83733b66e""Shit!" he exclaimed./p
p data-p-id="98f5d9d4b120c7603a1e1e2799ffd746""Look, Shawn, they're nearly certain it's a bad concussion. They're going to run some tests to make sure-"/p
p data-p-id="114ad48a2d3e3aa9b85c3026fb74e746""No, no! I wanted to come see her when she woke up," he told me. "Vince called, they need me in Stockton, like, yesterday. I'm already at the airport. Shit."/p
p data-p-id="d986cfec5b76f66d12bb61cbf9adffcd"I was reminded of Kat's earlier sentiment. "Um, I'm sure she'll be okay. It's Kat, she'll understand."/p
p data-p-id="081fc5ffb444441c65519980773e7800""Are you sure?"/p
p data-p-id="010eb8ca607b9031e6c24c38caaab857""Definitely. Stephanie and Linda will be here later, and I'm not going anywhere. You can drop by when you can. It will be fine," I assured him./p
p data-p-id="db034b8d4b9171616345b9e8e0c99106"He didn't sound so sure, but he didn't argue, surprisingly. "Okay. I'll call you later. My flight's leaving soon."/p
p data-p-id="5bd1bdc84c596611ec9243c72bd3d12f""I was counting on it. Bye." I flipped the phone shut and ran one of my hands down my face. The stress was getting to me./p
p data-p-id="66f5bb4c16beb0dd21896047ccdb8d9d"***/p
p data-p-id="8c55c73dce9fdf60863d32fe5bc5cc60"I was standing outside of Kat's room, pacing again, when Stephanie and Linda arrived. They had their winter coats on still, as if they hadn't stopped for even a second once entering the building./p
p data-p-id="abd82d51b1153df458dcaf924d6bac6c"Stephanie almost knocked me over when she rushed to me, wrapping her arms around me. She then backed away quickly, blushing and darting her eyes away./p
p data-p-id="dafc73246778a0859684f462b4ae9377"Linda made her way over much slower, and with much less contact. "How is she?"/p
p data-p-id="40e8635b7f543721e67efeed588f7e21""She's probably awake now. She, well," I sighed, "She's gonna be here a while. She broke a rib, and she's having trouble with her memory." I hated being the bearer of bad news. I didn't tell them the news about the baby. Wasn't my news to tell./p
p data-p-id="8b8003f3fe45802a249f7aaeed04ae78"Stephanie looked just about ready to cry. I set a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. ""Hey, it's Kat. If she's tough enough to put up with Shawn all the time, she can get through this." I cracked a smile./p
p data-p-id="270311a792e10bebb4d5be7b4191961a"She looked awkward yet again, but she at least smiled at me before following her mother into the room./p
p data-p-id="a97d3c29416a6cdeb2472253046d7c2e"I let them have their time with Kat. They were her family, after all./p
p data-p-id="db8700d3af7786119476a8a6f3564a15"Shortly after I'd made my way to the waiting room, I was approached by a couple detectives. One was a man and the other was a woman./p
p data-p-id="da017ddc1b71ffd1564f76d963979f72"They showed me their badges and asked to speak with me. I accepted./p
p data-p-id="2cfa23b3cbc0001e577a20b3c74a7fe2""Who are you to Katherine McMahon?" The older, male cop asked./p
p data-p-id="73b46ee578605b0f30be7da6fbec5550""A friend. I was closest."/p
p data-p-id="90bc44da8e9fad808ff88b3623b8753e"They asked where Shawn was. I told them he was on his way to California./p
p data-p-id="7ba2329f5caeaf6fa77f4e15ae42ff60""Look, I wasn't in the car when it crashed. You can ask me all you want, but I don't know anything," I admitted./p
p data-p-id="da0e85a6b8a1a73b3ac2db642906e241""We know what happened. We thought you would like to know," the woman explained. "They were hit from the passenger side by an intoxicated man. He did not stop at the light when your friends were crossing the intersection."/p
p data-p-id="9b526d05f14624d64003fd68f79f81bb""And what happened to him?" I asked. I hoped he wasn't behind bars. Kat wouldn't be pressing charges, I was sure./p
p data-p-id="dcbc373e12ae803eb9fec28e1572ad10""He died on impact," the man declared. He cleared his throat and shifted his stance. "We thought we would clean some your conscience."/p
p data-p-id="42f4f68eaa8a4c2dba138be4c3c79774"I thanked the two of them and they left as quickly as they came./p
p data-p-id="63de692b7527b2984fdac348831351b9"Instead of making me feel better, the whole thing just made me feel worse./p
p data-p-id="2455598fe7ad3546d9d77c96a262bbf7"Kat or Shawn could have been dead, just like the guy who hit them. I could have been in the car. It was all just becoming one sinking feeling in my stomach./p
p data-p-id="8179b802cbe7ee86596ec2cd9c95cd46"Kat needed to get well soon, for all of our sakes./p
p data-p-id="364c00a4eaa3be80b3273c28e6749917"I finally got Shawn to go home and go to bed. I don't think he'd slept at all since the accident. I mean, emactually/em slept. He didn't want to leave Kat alone, which I understood, but emdamn/em. He needed to just get out of this place. It was getting to his head. He didn't need any more things getting to his head./p
p data-p-id="7656fe38ac4ecc3488b63cb4f6ef30ad"I found myself dozing off, actually. I thought it wouldn't be possible, with the fucking awful chairs the hospital provided, but I was as exhausted as Shawn was./p
p data-p-id="1b5a35b493b84e9b4d9160cb6b6a537e"I only woke up when I heard Kat finally stirring. At first I thought I was just hearing things. I thought it was part of my dream./p
p data-p-id="7b58e1e8ac310c28bdf3bf81565290cd"It was a nightmare, really. It was about the whole thing, with the accident and Kat and all of it. I didn't even remember it once I woke up./p
p data-p-id="ecf749a55dcb9a58ff12a2e2937b9576"I slid a hand down my face, trying to wake myself up. The rhythmic beating of Kat's vital monitor kept going on and on, like the ticking of the clock on the wall. It'd been the same since she'd been admitted, nearly two days earlier./p
p data-p-id="8455c64a76acaf8a29738798dcec2fdb"Finally it was changing just the slightest. That was good. That meant she was waking up./p
p data-p-id="f0a39724441b44c2ff9a2c89943ffdb4"I called for a nurse and rushed back over to the bedside, grabbing the hand that wasn't filled with IVs and wires and tape./p
p data-p-id="eedaff675957ce17a67a853031e1edd4"Kat's eyes fluttered open just the slightest bit. God, it was good to see that./p
p data-p-id="d5419c14ea0bf9b382472070833f3e37""Kat, c'mon," I pleaded. Please stay awake. I didn't think I could do much more sitting and waiting. Any kind of progress, anything, would be a blessing./p
p data-p-id="c8005a40d981e08cd02326d9e0b03a67""Paul?" she whispered. She was trying so hard to focus. She was so pale. "Where are we?"/p
p data-p-id="f67acb08394012f49cfeef15d7bae4f9""We're at the hospital. You were in an accident," I told her. She tried sitting up, but there was no way. "No, no, no, Kat. Relax."/p
p data-p-id="d6e612c8a7fde02b2af02b52054f3a35"I let the nurses take care of her for a while. She had to be checked out and readjusted and blood tested and all that good stuff. I took the time to use the bathroom, grab a bite to eat, and call around. I had to tell everyone the good news./p
p data-p-id="48e205864f501932b4d49c3709ac4196"When I came back, Kat was propped up on a bunch of pillows to give her a sort of illusion of sitting up. Which she couldn't really do because of her broken rib. I gave her the best smile I could muster, even though I could pretty much assume she wasn't up for a bright mood./p
p data-p-id="e026684dbe72464d8682f28e0deda3c5"It was so weird seeing her like that. Not smiling, her hair flat and dead-looking, her face pale and sickly. I couldn't believe it was even Kat./p
p data-p-id="3581c5d829d64f473cc7358029ab3695""How're you feeling?" I asked, pulling my chair up to the bed./p
p data-p-id="593d35f15ce709381199165776010f67""I've been poked and prodded for the last hour, and now they're giving me pain meds. I don't even know why I'm here," she giggled half-heartedly. "Except something up here doesn't feel right," she pointed to her head, "and I can't move my torso pretty much at all."/p
p data-p-id="ffb92c5cc74690645fedae643fbf1925""You've got a broken rib and what they assume is a pretty bad concussion. You had some internal bleeding, but they took care of it," I explained. I wasn't sure if it was the right time to bring up the other bit of news. I wasn't sure she could handle it yet./p
p data-p-id="dc13f439c20279b022df12163518b9b2"I shifted in my seat. I wanted to help, I just wasn't sure how. "Do you want something? A drink? Coffee?"/p
p data-p-id="d8abded5be9ea85dae110b9a83fb3e89"She shook her head, pouting. "I'm not allowed to eat. I just had surgery."/p
p data-p-id="b3c1f4be38314f8c0d28a11bf4934ff8""Right," I remembered. "I thought maybe since it's been a couple days you'd be okay to eat. I don't know how this works." I chuckled./p
p data-p-id="7d2703d5780ef37980eb4fbf74faaa51"She didn't join in laughing with me. Instead, she looked confused. "A couple days?"/p
p data-p-id="4385e0b43bbf8a2bb976e3d0a02c68a9""Damn, what are these nurses good for? Did they tell you anything?" I half-joked. Then I turned serious again. "You've been out for two days, Kat."/p
p data-p-id="aa95de7f6e72a5be017e139cfbd57dff"She took in a very deep breath. "Oh," was all she managed to breathe out. Poor Kat. This was a lot to take in at once./p
p data-p-id="f49e1886c6a2e8516042dc4821df327e""I'll give you some time to kind of sleep on all this and I'll come back with Shawn later," I told her, rising./p
p data-p-id="f017536e11f02914bf7997fe7f726917"She shook her head again. "I don't want to see him." It was barely a whisper./p
p data-p-id="68e590fdb5905a26118dfeca6fbe9e4d"I couldn't think of why she wouldn't want to see him, but I wasn't about to argue with her. I just said okay and made sure she knew I'd be back soon./p
p data-p-id="aba56f6450fe39d8dd0d9fd626ba13bd"Once I was left alone down in the waiting room, however, I was free to wonder. Maybe they had another fight. Maybe she blamed him for the accident. Except she didn't seem to remember the accident./p
p data-p-id="5cb47026120765858f68fbcc61980019"Whatever. If she didn't want to see him, I wasn't going to force her. It was going to crush Shawn, though. Why did I always have to be the middle man?/p
p data-p-id="8a7ab20ec0ab3262ce329c7dcb399a4e"***/p
p data-p-id="5b9c079fb99eb007a2451cf41988f17b"When Kat woke up, I tried to ask her what she'd meant about Shawn, but she didn't seem to have any clue what I was asking about./p
p data-p-id="356cc4360dfc2ce39263228d8d1588ad"She tried to sit up again, and I had to remind her of her broken rib. She didn't remember our earlier conversation at all./p
p data-p-id="8d53867f34f6b96d37fda861e62ac998"I told the nurse and she said they were going to test Kat for brain damage just in case. She assured me that it was probably just a bad concussion, like they originally throught, but they didn't want any surprises./p
p data-p-id="aa24a4764ddc8249726c689d8983933e"Stephanie was the first person to call me back. She said she and her mom would be up to visit Kat on the next flight./p
p data-p-id="a92c97801252442a4cc889e0591f70e1"I didn't call Shawn. Might as well avoid any problems in that department for a while. Let him sleep while he could. Even though I doubted he was sleeping./p
p data-p-id="5a81634a3ffe00f865340df18a541ecb"To my surprise, Shawn called me. I stepped into the hall to answer it, not wanting to wake Kat. She'd fallen asleep again./p
p data-p-id="aed4c2b1e2bbe86cd13d265b1d57b970""Yeah?" I asked. "What's up?"/p
p data-p-id="7c10d1c891f5033e8ad02af40367c7b6""Hey, Paul. How's Kat?" That was his first question every time he had called me in the past two days. He happened to have called me several thousand times./p
p data-p-id="2f2a8d7ef4566fa0a6ad6100bb2be202""She's good. She woke up. Well, right now she's asleep. There's definitely something wrong with her brain, though. They say there's most likely no brain damage," I explained. I hadn't noticed, but I'd started pacing./p
p data-p-id="7a6ce8c59b703eb232427ec83733b66e""Shit!" he exclaimed./p
p data-p-id="98f5d9d4b120c7603a1e1e2799ffd746""Look, Shawn, they're nearly certain it's a bad concussion. They're going to run some tests to make sure-"/p
p data-p-id="114ad48a2d3e3aa9b85c3026fb74e746""No, no! I wanted to come see her when she woke up," he told me. "Vince called, they need me in Stockton, like, yesterday. I'm already at the airport. Shit."/p
p data-p-id="d986cfec5b76f66d12bb61cbf9adffcd"I was reminded of Kat's earlier sentiment. "Um, I'm sure she'll be okay. It's Kat, she'll understand."/p
p data-p-id="081fc5ffb444441c65519980773e7800""Are you sure?"/p
p data-p-id="010eb8ca607b9031e6c24c38caaab857""Definitely. Stephanie and Linda will be here later, and I'm not going anywhere. You can drop by when you can. It will be fine," I assured him./p
p data-p-id="db034b8d4b9171616345b9e8e0c99106"He didn't sound so sure, but he didn't argue, surprisingly. "Okay. I'll call you later. My flight's leaving soon."/p
p data-p-id="5bd1bdc84c596611ec9243c72bd3d12f""I was counting on it. Bye." I flipped the phone shut and ran one of my hands down my face. The stress was getting to me./p
p data-p-id="66f5bb4c16beb0dd21896047ccdb8d9d"***/p
p data-p-id="8c55c73dce9fdf60863d32fe5bc5cc60"I was standing outside of Kat's room, pacing again, when Stephanie and Linda arrived. They had their winter coats on still, as if they hadn't stopped for even a second once entering the building./p
p data-p-id="abd82d51b1153df458dcaf924d6bac6c"Stephanie almost knocked me over when she rushed to me, wrapping her arms around me. She then backed away quickly, blushing and darting her eyes away./p
p data-p-id="dafc73246778a0859684f462b4ae9377"Linda made her way over much slower, and with much less contact. "How is she?"/p
p data-p-id="40e8635b7f543721e67efeed588f7e21""She's probably awake now. She, well," I sighed, "She's gonna be here a while. She broke a rib, and she's having trouble with her memory." I hated being the bearer of bad news. I didn't tell them the news about the baby. Wasn't my news to tell./p
p data-p-id="8b8003f3fe45802a249f7aaeed04ae78"Stephanie looked just about ready to cry. I set a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. ""Hey, it's Kat. If she's tough enough to put up with Shawn all the time, she can get through this." I cracked a smile./p
p data-p-id="270311a792e10bebb4d5be7b4191961a"She looked awkward yet again, but she at least smiled at me before following her mother into the room./p
p data-p-id="a97d3c29416a6cdeb2472253046d7c2e"I let them have their time with Kat. They were her family, after all./p
p data-p-id="db8700d3af7786119476a8a6f3564a15"Shortly after I'd made my way to the waiting room, I was approached by a couple detectives. One was a man and the other was a woman./p
p data-p-id="da017ddc1b71ffd1564f76d963979f72"They showed me their badges and asked to speak with me. I accepted./p
p data-p-id="2cfa23b3cbc0001e577a20b3c74a7fe2""Who are you to Katherine McMahon?" The older, male cop asked./p
p data-p-id="73b46ee578605b0f30be7da6fbec5550""A friend. I was closest."/p
p data-p-id="90bc44da8e9fad808ff88b3623b8753e"They asked where Shawn was. I told them he was on his way to California./p
p data-p-id="7ba2329f5caeaf6fa77f4e15ae42ff60""Look, I wasn't in the car when it crashed. You can ask me all you want, but I don't know anything," I admitted./p
p data-p-id="da0e85a6b8a1a73b3ac2db642906e241""We know what happened. We thought you would like to know," the woman explained. "They were hit from the passenger side by an intoxicated man. He did not stop at the light when your friends were crossing the intersection."/p
p data-p-id="9b526d05f14624d64003fd68f79f81bb""And what happened to him?" I asked. I hoped he wasn't behind bars. Kat wouldn't be pressing charges, I was sure./p
p data-p-id="dcbc373e12ae803eb9fec28e1572ad10""He died on impact," the man declared. He cleared his throat and shifted his stance. "We thought we would clean some your conscience."/p
p data-p-id="42f4f68eaa8a4c2dba138be4c3c79774"I thanked the two of them and they left as quickly as they came./p
p data-p-id="63de692b7527b2984fdac348831351b9"Instead of making me feel better, the whole thing just made me feel worse./p
p data-p-id="2455598fe7ad3546d9d77c96a262bbf7"Kat or Shawn could have been dead, just like the guy who hit them. I could have been in the car. It was all just becoming one sinking feeling in my stomach./p
p data-p-id="8179b802cbe7ee86596ec2cd9c95cd46"Kat needed to get well soon, for all of our sakes./p