Concussions and internal bleeding are dangerous, and a million different thoughts race through my mind.
“Don’t go there.” Noah snaps me out of my thoughts.
I stare at him.
“Don’t,” he repeats. “She will be okay.”
I stand up. “This is ridiculous. I’m a surgeon in this hospital.” I walk away.
“Where are you going?” Chase asks.
“To override this bullshit policy.”
Noah is by my side. “Xander, what are you doing?”
“I’m going to talk to Dr. Sear and get access. I’m not sitting in the waiting room any longer. I’m a doctor for God’s sake.”
“Xander—”
I spin on him. “Stop. I’m going to Dr. Sear, and that’s it.”
He considers then nods. “Okay. Let me comewith you.”
“Fine.”
I plow through the hospital directly to Dr. Sear’s office, past his assistant, and knock. He yells to come in.
“Xander,” he says, surprised when I open the door, and his assistant is behind me telling him she is sorry for my intrusion.
Before he can say anything, I blurt out, “Charlotte is in the ER. She got hit by a car, and they can’t keep her awake. I need to get into the room.”
He stands. “Did they diagnose her yet?”
“Possible internal bleeding, concussion, sprained wrist, and shoulder. You need to help me, so they don’t call security. Please.”
He pats me on the back. “Okay. Let’s go.”
“Thank you.”
We walk back through the hospital and into the ER unit. Dr. Sear finds her doctor, and, after a five-minute conversation, he allows me to go back, with the agreement, I won’t interfere with any decisions the doctors need to make.
Noah pats me on the back, leaves, and goes to the waiting room. I thank Dr. Sear, and he tells me to keep him updated.
I enter Charlotte’s room. She’s hooked up to all kinds of machines. I know what every device is, what it does, and why she needs it, but when I look at her, I have to blink back tears.
The nurses are on shifts to try to keep her conscious. The one currently in the room I’ve spoken with several times over the last few weeks during my hospital duties, and I tell her I will take over trying to wake Charlotte. She leaves, and I lean over Charlotte and kiss her forehead. “Charlotte, wake up, sweetheart.”
Her eyes flutter but only momentarily.
I kiss her eyelids, one at a time, then whisper in her ear, “Come on. I need you to open your eyes, Charlotte.”
She opens her eyes then shuts them quickly.
“The lights are bright, just go slow.”
She tries again and moans as she closes them.
“You’re doing good. Just keep trying.” I kiss her on the lips and stroke her cheek.
