by Rachel Ryan
“Sir, I think it would be best if you were to go to the hospital and find out from the Doctors there. He sustained a head injury in the accident, but they can explain that to you a lot better than I could.”
“Oh…okay. I’ll head down there now.”
“Okay, Sir. All the best.”
I pull up outside of Ava’s apartment and sit for a minute wondering what the fuck I am going to say to her. I was on my way to the hospital when I realized that she would want to know straight away. I know we aren’t on the best of terms at the moment, but she needs to know about Brody. As I open my car door I realize my hands are shaking. I need to get that under control so I don’t freak her out. I feel nervous as I knock on the door and wait for her to open it. When she does a look of surprise crosses her face. I guess I am probably one of the last people she expected to see at her door.
“Jeremy. What are you doing here?”
“Hi, Ava. Can I come in?” Shit! My voice sounds shaky. Keep it together man.
Her brows draw together, but she steps back and allows me to enter. As I follow her into her living room and sit down on the sofa, I look everywhere but at her. I run a hand through my hair and look down at the floor.
“Jeremy, what’s going on?”
“I’m sorry, Ava. I don’t know how to tell you this.”
Finally I look up at her face and see the terror in her eyes.
“What is it, Jeremy? Tell me.”
“It’s Brody.” There are already tears welling in her beautiful eyes as she sits down on the sofa beside me.
“What? What…what’s happened to him, Jeremy?”
“Ava, he’s been in an accident.”
“No, that’s not true.” The tears are starting to run down her cheeks. “He went to visit his mum.”
What the fuck? Since when has he been in contact with his mum?
“Ava, it’s him. The cops called me. I’m on my way to the hospital now. Come on, come with me.”
She silently stands and walks toward her front door a look of shock still occupying her tear strained face. I silently will him to be okay as I settle her into my car and we head toward the hospital.
Ava
I did this. I made him go and see her and now he is… hurt. He could have died, he could still die. I should have just left it, why did I have to push him into seeing her? If I didn’t push him he could be at home with me. Not in a cold hospital bed. How bad did Jeremy say it was? How did it happen? I can’t think clearly, I just keep thinking of Brody on the road with his bike mangled. His bike that was his pride and joy. He had built it up from the heap of junk it was. He was so proud of it and what he had accomplished. He is going to be devastated that it is ruined. Why did he leave? He should have stayed at the café for just five extra minutes, five minutes and maybe, just maybe he wouldn’t be in this position. He is just going to hate me for making him go and see her. I did this, I’m the reason he is lying in the hospital. I shouldn’t have pushed him so hard. Why aren’t we there yet? I need to see him; I need to just be with him, I need to see that he is okay. Everything has to be ok. I love him too much to lose him, I just found him; I can’t lose him now.
“Ava?”
Jeremy’s voice brings me out of my thoughts; turning to look at him I realize we have stopped. Why have we stopped? We need to get to the hospital? Jeremy gets out of the car and I can’t help but wonder why he isn’t driving. He walks around to my side and opens up the door.
“Ava, are you going to come inside or do you want to wait out here?”
“What?”
“We are at the hospital. I’m going in to see if I can find Brody.”
“Oh umm okay I’m coming.” As I step out of the car I’m finding it hard to concentrate. I walk beside Jeremy into the hospital, and we make our way to the reception desk. I see a young, attractive woman shuffling papers around her desk.
“Excuse me Miss., I just had a call from the Police, my brother was just brought in by an ambulance. His name is Brody Cooper and I was just wondering when we could see him.”
Looking up at Jeremy I see he is trying to put on his most charming side but he is lacking the confidence and the smile is forced.
“He is in emergency at the moment but if you go through those doors and take a left it will take you to the waiting room and a doctor will come and find you as soon as they know something. Is this woman with you?” She gestures to me.
“Yes.”
“Unfortunately it is family only at the moment.”
“She is his Fiancé.”
“Oh, very well then.”
“Thanks.”
Following Jeremy, I go back into my thoughts. Wait, Jeremy just said that I was Brody’s Fiancé. Hearing that makes me feel a little giddy, but then I realize it doesn’t mean anything. He lied so I could get in to see Brody too. This whole fucked up situation is just proving to me how much Brody means to me. I love him so much and I pray to God that he is okay; I don’t know how I would survive without him. Sitting down in the waiting room I just sit and stare at the wall. Feeling a warm touch to my hand I look down and see Jeremy holding my hand. Looking up into his sapphire blue eyes I can see the worry buried in them. I know now that all of their unresolved issues mean nothing at this moment in time. Jeremy is just as shattered about this as I am and I need to be there for him too now.
***
I don’t know how long we have been sitting here but I’m starting to get anxious. Why haven’t they told us what’s wrong with him or how he is? I haven’t seen a doctor since we came in. “Why aren’t they telling us what’s wrong? Why are they taking so long?” I just need to know that he is okay.
“Ava they are still assessing him, they are making sure he is okay.”
“What if he’s not Jer? What if it’s bad? I can’t lose him Jeremy. I just can’t.” Tears start to well in my eyes and I’m about to lose my strength. Out of the corner of my down cast eyes I see Jeremy get down off his chair and kneel down at my feet. He reaches up to my chin and raises my head to look at him.
“Dundee, you won’t lose him. He just got you okay he wouldn’t leave you. You mean everything to him, more than the band. You are his…soul mate.” I hear the struggle in Jeremy’s voice as he says the last words. Looking at him dead in the eyes I can see that he has surrendered. He finally sees that Brody and I are meant to be.
“Thank you.”
“Ava I mean it. I can see how much you care for him and how much he cares for you. You have a connection and I have always seen it, I just pushed it aside. It’s time for me to realize the best guy won and I’m not going to stand in the way of the only real happiness he has ever known.”
Smiling at Jeremy I wrap my arms around his neck and just hold him. Just as I’m about to speak I hear a commotion coming from around the corner. Tori, Luke, Hunter, Emma and Jo come round the corner followed by a nurse. Tori’s voice booms down the corridor.
“WE ARE FAMILY.”
The nurse looks across to Jeremy and I to confirm their family connection to Brody. Jeremy looks across to them, then stands and walks over to the nurse. I can’t hear what they are saying but eventually the nurse walks away leaving us with the rest of the group. The girls rush over to me and envelope me in a massive hug. I can’t hold the emotions in anymore and I start to sob, I can feel all of my heartache pouring out of me and I don’t know how to stop it. I feel the girls slowly pulling away from me and a pair of warm muscular arms wrap around me. I know just from the smell that it’s Jeremy and I relax deeper into him and just let him hold me.
Jeremy
As I hold Ava in my arms I realize that I have missed holding her. I have missed the feeling of her arms wrapped around my waist, but surprisingly, my body isn’t feeling the flutters or stirring that it used to feel. It feels like I’m hugging a friend.
She’s sobbing in my arms and my heart is breaking for her. I wish there was some way for me to reassure her that he is going to be okay, but the
Doctor’s haven’t told us anything yet. I’m so sick of the fucking waiting. I lower Ava into a chair and sit down beside her, our hands tightly clasped as I look around at our little group of friends.
All I see on the faces of my friends is sadness and worry. My eyes connect with Jo’s blue eyes and I can tell she has been crying. I gesture for her to come and sit in the empty seat beside me and I wrap an arm around her shoulders, my other hand still clutched tightly by Ava. My eyes constantly flick to the clock and I calculate in my head that we have been waiting more than two hours for news on Brody’s condition.
An hour later a woman in a white coat walks into the waiting room and looks around at the group. She glances down at her clipboard and then scans the room again.
“Which of you is Mr Stone?”
Rising from my seat, I pull Ava up with me and walk toward the attractive young Doctor.
“Follow me please.”
She turns and exits the waiting room and silently waits for us in the corridor. I wrap an arm around Ava and lead her out of the room.
I stare at Doctor Graham, that’s what her name tag says, and wait for her to start talking.
“Brody was unconscious when the paramedics brought him in and we were very close to losing him.”
I feel Ava tremble in my arms and I tighten my grip on her.
“However, we were able to stabilize his condition. He has suffered a clavicle fracture and two fractured ribs. Our main concern though at this stage is the trauma to the head. There is significant evidence of swelling of the brain and we would like to put him in an induced coma to control the pressure dynamics of his brain and help reduce the swelling. We will need you to fill out the release form.”
What the fuck did all of that mean?
“Why the hell would you want to put him in a coma? Isn’t that dangerous?”
My heart is racing at the thought of my friend being put through that kind of risk.
“Mr Stone, as in any other medical procedure there are some slight risks, the main one being infection. However, the procedure will be performed in ICU where monitoring technology is available to support the airway and ensure that Brody’s blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels are maintained at normal levels. Without this treatment there is no other way to control the swelling, Mr Stone. Steroids have done little to reduce the inflammation and the longer we leave it, the more he is at risk of death.”
Ava’s body is now shaking and she feels heavier in my arms, like she is barely able to hold herself up.
“Okay, get me the forms.”
She nods her head and hands me a form.
Another two hours later and we are still sitting in the waiting room, Hunter and Luke took Tori and Emma home after we spoke with Doctor Graham. I told them there was no point all of us being here waiting around all night. They said they would return first thing in the morning to see if there is any change.
Standing up to stretch my legs, I decide to go down the hall to the vending machines and get us all a coffee. Jo decided to hang around, as Brody is like a brother to her. I think she also wanted to show her support for me and Ava as well.
As soon as I am alone my feelings all rush to the surface and I can no longer hold down the panic and helplessness that I feel inside. I’ve been trying to remain strong for Ava, but deep down inside I feel sick at the thought that I am so close to losing the only person that has been like a brother to me. Apart from my family members, the only person that I have been able to rely on to be there for me no matter what.
Sinking down onto a plastic chair in the deserted corridor, I feel a lump in my throat and tears welling in my eyes. With my elbows on my thighs and my hands covering my face, I quietly sob for my friend, the degree of my emotions completely overwhelming me. After a few minutes I take a few deep breaths and wipe the tears from my cheeks, before walking down to the vending machine
As I juggle the three hot coffees in my hands and head back to the waiting room I think back over the last few weeks and the way I have treated Brody. I have let this bullshit with Ava come between us and right at this moment in time I regret nothing more than the fact that I have treated them both so badly. I can now see how strong their connection is and how much love they have for each other and I am thankful that Brody has found someone that finally made him see he deserves to be loved.
Chapter 7
Ava
Holding the coffee in my hands I wonder off in thought about what the doctor said.
“We were very close to losing him.”
“The longer we leave it, the more he is at risk of death.”
He almost died. He still could die. If it wasn’t for Jeremy I don’t know how I would take all of this. This has all been so much for him to take as well, but he is being so supportive of me and my feelings. He really is a good friend. It’s now heading on closer to 2.30am but I have stopped feeling anything. My emotions have shut down they just can’t take anymore.
Placing my cup up to my lips I take a sip of the coffee, swallowing stone cold coffee I don’t even shudder. I don’t care; I’m only drinking for the sake of it anyway. Glancing at Jeremy and Jo I see Jeremy has his arm around her and she is resting her head on his shoulder. I pulled away from Jeremy a while ago. I just need space. Looking over at them I feel like I am looking at a couple, they are perfect for each other, it’s all over Jo’s face that she loves him and Jeremy is resting his head on hers. She seems to comfort him in all of this. I can see this connection and chemistry between them and now I know why he always turned to her. I can see now that I never compared to her it was always her.
Dragging my phone out of my pocket I skip the messages on my phone. I don’t even look to see who they are from and I don’t care right now I just want to see his face. Going into my photos I open the most recent photo. It’s a picture of Brody and I climbing the Harbor Bridge in Sydney. Looking at the picture I see how happy he is, he hasn’t been that happy since we came back. The issues with Jeremy and his mum have really taken a toll on him.
“He looks so happy.”
Looking up at Jeremy I smile.
“Yeah he was, I surprised him with the climb and he loved it. Not a worry in the world then…” I don’t say anymore, I don’t want to make Jeremy feel guilty about anything so I just drop the conversation.
“Ava, why was he going to see his mum?”
“She wanted to meet up with him she said she had changed and she wanted to get to know him again and be in his life.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. She had been calling him and he didn’t want to see her but it was eating him up so I told him to just give her a chance.”
“Fuck Ava. She doesn’t deserve a chance. She never will.”
Feeling the tears well in my eyes I can feel the blame heading my way.
“I know but I didn’t want him to regret it. He needed to see what she wanted to be able to move on.”
Jeremy runs his hand though his hair.
“How did she get his number?”
Without thinking I mumble. “Travis gave it to her.”
“What the fuck was he thinking? He should not be giving our numbers out to anyone. Especially not to those assholes.” Jeremy is sitting there shaking, he must be so angry at Travis.
Jeremy pulls out his phone. “I’m going to sort this all out now.”
Jo places a hand on his leg and he looks into her eyes. “Jeremy it’s three o’clock in the morning now is not the time. Wait until tomorrow and go and see him.”
Reluctantly Jeremy nods at Jo and puts his phone back in his pocket.
“Fine but tomorrow his ass is going to get it, this is all his fault.”
***
Drinking the last mouthful of the coffee that Jo just brought back from the vending machine I look at the clock; eight o’clock in the morning and still nothing from the doctors, we still haven’t even been able to see him. Walking over to the bin I dump the empty coffee cup in there, I fee
l horrible. Hunching over the bin I vomit. My entire stomach contents empties into the bin, which isn’t much but I feel a bit better.
Jeremy comes over to my side while I’m standing there wiping my mouth.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah I’m fine just the pressure of everything going on.” Jo hands me a bottle of water and I take a gulp, washing down the taste of vomit.
As I turn to thank Jo for the water, I see a Doctor walking into the room.
“Mr. Stone?”
Jeremy stands up and shakes the Doctors hand. I look at the doctor waiting for him to speak. His nose moves with his facial expression, his eyes blink and he rubs his face. Why is he taking so bloody long to tell us?
“We will be moving Brody into a private room later on today and you and the rest of the family will be allowed to visit once he is settled in.” Jeremy must have spoken to him but I didn’t hear it. A few more hours and I will be able to see him.
Jeremy
As Ava and Jo stroll down the corridor hand in hand I follow behind. I’m worried about what we’re going to find when we enter his room. How will Ava react to seeing him all busted up. The Doctor that came to see us early this morning warned that there was a lot of facial bruising, so I spoke to Ava and let her know that he probably won’t look the same. I think she just feels like she needs to see him no matter what, just to be reassured that he is still here with us more than anything.
The nurse showing us to Brody’s room stops just outside the door and gestures for us to enter. Ava and Jo stand completely still and wait for me to go first. Pushing the door open I glance in. A curtain is blocking most of my view of Brody but I can see the shape of his legs and feet under the blanket. My legs are frozen as I go to step into the room. I don’t know if I can do this. I’m scared to see my friend like this. It will all seem more real.
Forcing my legs to work, I grab hold of Ava’s other hand and lead both her and Jo into the room. The soft, steady sound of beeping machines is the only thing I hear as we make our way around the curtain. As soon as Brody comes into view, Ava’s hand grips mine tighter and I hear a small gasp.
