Maverick continues to search the rest of the home as I try to collect myself. The fear is morphing into rage, and the rage is pumping hot in my veins.
Refusing to waste another second, I collect myself, pull up from the ground, and follow in the direction Maverick took off when I hear him.
"She's in here!" Running to the sunroom in the rear of the house, where I heard Maverick's voice bellow, I cut the corner to see the love of my life lying there. Stripped of all clothingexcept her bra and underwear, she has multiple cuts. Her body is bloody and bruised, and she is unconscious.
I fall to her side, pulling her into my arms just as we hear the sirens closing in.
"V, baby, I'm here," I cry out. Frantically feeling for a pulse, my heart does a backflip when I find a faint one.
No sooner than I can do anything else, the EMTs rush in, and I lay her on their stretcher. Following them out of the house, I hop in the ambulance with them, never letting go of her hand. I answer their questions and hear them talking, but I can no longer make out their words. The rage, fear, and utter sadness have meshed into my soul and made themselves at home. Everything goes black.
"It's been seven fucking hours, and no one has told us a single thing!" Izzy shouts at the Trauma Unit receptionist as I just continue to pace the floor of the god-awful waiting room; I'm sure I'm burning holes in the floor, and quite frankly, I couldn't give a single fuck even if I tried to.
"Ma'am, someone will be out to update you all once we stabilize her and have more answers, " the receptionist says in a curt tone.
She's been patient, but I can tell she's getting sick from Izzy asking for an update every five minutes. They need to tell us something before we all explode. The officer who arrived with us is the only one who has been allowed back so far and has yet to give us any updates.
Izzy throws her hands in the air and turns away from the reception desk, rolling her eyes as she screams, "This is bullshit," and she makes her way over toward Dessa and Maverick, who are sitting in chairs along the wall across from where I'm pacing in the waiting room.
I run my hands down my face and finally decide to sit. I take a seat in a chair across from Maverick. My leg bounces a mile a minute as I drop my head in my hands. Right then, I feel a hand on my shoulder.
"Mr. Cole?" a soft feminine voice calls out from behind me. I flip my head up as I jump to my feet and stand, turning to see an older, short Filipino lady wearing scrubs and a white lab coat and holding a file.
"How is she?" I respond. The lady offers me a closed-mouth, flat-lined, sympathetic smile as she holds her hand toward me.
"I'm Doctor Abayon. I'm the lead doctor on Ms. Foley's case."
I nod, shake her hand, and try to muster the patience to take this conversation at her speed. I need to know that she's okay.
"Doc, how is she? Please."
Her forced smile falters slightly, and she sways on her feet in discomfort,
"Ms. Foley sustained multiple injuries. I'm aware that you all are the ones who found her, so you're aware of her external injuries, but it's the internal injuries that have us the most concerned," She pauses, opening the file, and pulls what appears to be an X-ray or CT images out. Izzy and Dessa are at my side, pulling the images out of the doctor's hands before she can speak, and I can hear their gasps. Which only pisses me off further. I don't want shock; I want answers.
"In addition to Ms. Foley's multiple lacerations, she also has multiple fractures. One particular fracture has caused further complications because of the location—"
"Via, her name is Via." Izzy cuts her off dryly.
"Damnit, let her talk to you two," I say under my breath, but my tone is firm, and I flash them both a knowing look.
"Ms. Via has three broken ribs, which are minor breaks. She also has a small skull fracture. As a result of her injuries, Ms. Via has incurred a traumatic brain injury."
The doctor shifts on her feet again, offers another sympathetic smile, and closes the folder as she continues.
"She is currently being made comfortable. She's on some strong medications, so she's resting well, and we expect her to begin waking soon. We are sorry for not updating you all sooner; we had all hands on deck to ensure we gave her the immediate care she needed."
I nod, "Thank you, Doctor Abayon. What does all that mean, though? Is Via going to be okay?" My voice is low, pleading. Beggining even. I need this woman to give me even a sliver of hope that the love of my life will make it out of this. I'd do anything for that chance.
She grabs my hand and squeezes softly, "It means your girl is currently stable. "
"It may take some time for her to come out of this. You all are welcome to see her now, two at a time. We need to be mindful that she may be a little confused when she comes to." Doctor Abayon squeezes my hand again. "I can tell she's a fighter." She throws a kind wink at me.
Damn right, she is, but she shouldn't have to be.
The past twenty-four hours passed by in a blur. Every second meshed itself into the next feeling like one long damning hell that I couldn't escape from.
The only thing keeping me grounded isher.
