Strange groans and opens his eyes.
"Hey." Christine whispers from his right. "It's okay. It's going to be okay."
His senses still numb from anesthesia, or maybe from the accident and suddenness of it all. Strange looks around, gasping for air as he sees his hands supported up with needles holding it in place.
"Wh-" His voice croaks. "What did they do?"
"They rushed you in a chopper." Christine replies.
"She was the one who found you." She gestures to Strange's left, "If she hadn't found you and asked for help, it would've taken us longer to find you. But, unfortunately, the golden hours for nerve damage still went by while you were in the car. "
Strange slightly turns his head and sees Niecalli sitting there quietly, observing the situation. Watching the man make sense of his condition.
"I'm Niecalli."
"Strange."
"What is?"
Strange ignores her and asks more firmly, "What did they do?"
"Eleven stainless steel pins in the bones. Multiple torn ligaments and severe nerve damage in both hands." Christine lets out a deep breath. "You were on the table for eleven hours."
"Look at these fixators."
"No one could have done better"
"I could have done better."
Christine goes back to work, leaving Strange and Niecalli alone in his room.
"So, why are you still here?" Sharpness seeps through his tone, his gaze firmly set on his hands and not looking at Niecalli once. Not necessarily spiteful to her, but more about his situation. The hurt and resentment is too much to keep in.
"My family is not here-" Niecalli rests her arms on the bed and places her chin on them, "-so I don't really have anywhere else to go."
Strange looks at her. "I see."
"I'm sorry."
"I don't need your pity."
"Not that."
"For what then?"
"For not getting you help fast enough."
Strange does not reply and he goes back to stew in his bitterness. Both of them sit in silence as Niecalli watches him, helpless in his plight.
