Kayla turned the last page of the thick stack of papers on her desk and checked the clock. She had been wading through the final revisions to the grant application for a couple of hours and was finally satisfied that it was ready to go.
As she stood up and made her way out of her office, she had to feel a little proud. Despite all that had happened recently, with the help of Neil, Carly, and Kayla's own excellent administrative assistant, the grant application had been completed on time and Kayla felt sure it would result in increased funding for the lab.
Completing the grant application also meant that Kayla would finally be able to start taking a weekly shift in the emergency department and the trauma center, once it was up and running. She enjoyed the challenge of running the lab, but was anxious for the chance to treat patients again.
Stepping into the elevator, Kayla pushed the button for the ICU floor. Since she had returned to work a few days earlier, she had made a habit of taking a mid-morning break to check on Kim.
When she reached the ICU, she smiled at the nurse on duty and moved towards the door only to be stopped by the nurse's voice.
"Kayla," the nurse said. "If you are looking for your sister, she's not in there."
Kayla stopped and turned back towards the desk. "Oh. Did she go down to the cafeteria?"
The nurse shook her head. "No. Captain Donovan was moved to the fourth floor earlier this morning. I'm sure that's where your sister is."
"Shane was moved?" Kayla was surprised. It was unusual to move a patient in Shane's condition, unless. . . . "Did Shane wake up?" she asked excitedly.
The nurse shook her head again and gave Kayla a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get your hopes up. Dr. Hunter removed the ventilator, so he felt Captain Donovan could be moved out of the ICU."
"Oh." Kayla's heart sank. Then she forced herself to sound more positive. "At least that means his wounds are healing if he's off the ventilator. I guess I'll head down and find my sister."
The nurse nodded and returned to her charts. Kayla reversed her course and retraced her steps to the elevator. She knew it was good news that Shane was breathing on his own, but every day that he remained in a coma only raised more questions about whether would ever wake up.
Reaching the fourth floor, Kayla checked at the nurse's desk and then quickly made her way to Shane's room. The door was closed, so she knocked softly, then entered. She could see Kim sitting beside Shane, just as she had done for the last week. Yet, as Kayla looked closer, something was different.
"Kim," she said quietly.
Kim turned and looked at Kayla, a huge smile breaking across her face. Kayla felt her heart leap as she took in her sister's expression.
"He woke up," Kim said, tears in her eyes. "He finally woke up."
"Oh, Kimmie, that's wonderful," Kayla exclaimed, moving quickly to her sister's side.
"It was only for a minute or two, and he was in a lot of pain," Kim said, the smile subsiding. "But his eyes opened and he called my name." She turned back to Shane. "And I think he's tried to wake up again; at least, his eyes opened for a second a few minutes ago."
"That's good." Kayla smiled down at her sister. "He's on some pretty strong pain medications, so that's to be expected."
"That's what Marcus said," Kim said. She sighed heavily and Kayla could see the weariness just beneath Kim's smile. "I'm just so relieved he finally woke up."
Before Kayla could respond, she heard Shane stir slightly. Kim quickly turned back, took his hand, and said his name softly. Kayla watched as Shane's eyelids fluttered, but after a few seconds, they stopped and Shane was quiet again.
"See what I mean?" Kim said, turning back to Kayla.
Kayla nodded. "I know it's hard, but you just have to be patient, Kim. At least now you know he's just resting. He'll wake up when he's ready."
Kim nodded ruefully. "I know. I should just be grateful for the fact that he's out of the coma. I just want him all the way back. I need to know he's okay."
Before Kayla could respond, Marcus entered the room. He smiled at Kayla and then turned to Kim. "You know I hate to do this, but we need to change some dressings and check Shane out for a minute. Do you mind stepping outside?"
Kim sighed and stood up. Kayla gave Marcus a grin and followed her sister out the door.
Once they were outside, Kayla glanced around, then asked Kim, "Where's Eve? Does she know that Shane woke up?"
Kim nodded tiredly. "She was here when it happened. She's poked her head in and out of his room since then, always with a less than subtle hint that I should leave." Kim shrugged and looked around. "I guess she must have decided to take a walk or something."
"I'm sorry Eve is still causing you so much trouble." Kayla had hoped that the talk she and Julie had with Eve would have helped more. "I can try to talk to her again if you want, but I have to be honest, I don't think I have much pull with her anymore."
"It's okay," Kim said. "Shane's awake now and Eve can't try to keep me away anymore. I can deal with the rest. I'm pretty used to it by now."
Smiling at Kim's remark, Kayla caught sight of a police officer walking towards them. She and Kim exchanged a questioning look as the uniformed officer walked to Shane's door and took up a position beside it.
"Excuse me," Kim said to the officer. "May I ask what you are doing here?"
The officer looked at Kim sternly, but did not respond. Kim looked at Kayla, concern in her eyes.
"Officer," Kayla said, stepping closer. "The patient in that room is . . . uh, a family member. Surely we have a right to know why you seem to be guarding the door"
"If you have any questions, you'll have to talk to the hospital administration or Captain Carver," the officer said curtly.
"Then I guess we'll do that." Kayla did not bother to hide her irritation. "Come on, Kim." She turned to the nurses' desk, intending to call Neil, but saw her husband striding towards them.
"Steve," she called to him. "Did you hear the news?"
"Yeah, I did." He eyed the officer. "Did this guy tell you?"
"Tell me what?" Kayla was confused. "How would he know that Shane had woken up?"
"Shane woke up?" A smile crossed Steve's face. "That's great." He looked at Kim. "I bet you're feeling pretty relieved right now."
Kim nodded and returned Steve's smile. Then she looked at him curiously. "But if you didn't know that, then what news were you talking about?"
Steve sighed and motioned Kim and Kayla to take a few steps down the hall. "I hate to tell you this now and spoil the mood, but Lawrence Alamain has disappeared. Nobody knows for sure, but Abe thinks he's back in his country."
The news hit Kayla like a physical blow. It had been bad enough to know that Lawrence was out of prison, but at least she had taken some comfort in believing that the Salem PD were watching his every move. Now the man who had cost her so much was on the loose again.
"So that's why the officer is guarding Shane's door." Kim's words were a statement, not a question.
"Yeah." Steve nodded. "With Lawrence on the loose, we didn't want to take any chances. There will be a cop at his room around the clock with a list of people authorized to enter. Only family and hospital employees we trust will be allowed in."
Kayla looked at Steve as he finished, knowing what his words implied. They were not going to let Lawrence do to Shane what he had done to Steve.
Smiling gently at Kayla, Steve put his arms around her shoulders. "I know you're worried, Sweetness." He looked at Kim. "Both of you. But we're not going to let anything happen to Shane - or anyone else, for that matter."
Kayla nodded and leaned into her husband's embrace. She wanted to believe him, but her heart told her it was not going to be that easy. As long as Lawrence Alamain was on the loose, everyone she loved was in danger.