CHAPTER TWO
“WE’LL NEED YOU to fill some forms out when we get to the hospital, sir.” The man with the softer voice says.
Luke thrusts a clipboard at me. His gaze snaps to his partner, the corner of his lips curving down. His partner shrinks back shrugging.
Autumn’s eyes close, but the beeping on the machine speeds up. “Shut up? You’re stressing her out.”
They turn their attention to the monitors. Luke checks her pulse as the other man pulls out a small black case. I want to ask what’s going on, when her heart beat falls off. They spring into action.
“What’s happening?” I finally ask watching Luke’s partner pull paddles.
“She’s not getting enough oxygen.” Luke snaps as he tears the top of her shirt.
“I don’t understand.”
Luke places the paddles on her chest and yells “Clear.” Her chest pops up then collapses against the bed. The monitor spikes, then drops off again. They wait a second before jolting her again. I watch, my blood pumping, as her chest lifts then falls against the gurney.
Leaning down I whisper, “You can’t die on me. I need you too much.”
They hit her again. This time it sticks. The monitor beeps in a normal rhythm. “Keep an eye on her oxygen levels.” Luke’s partner says over his shoulder as he cranks the oxygen tank a bit higher.
Relief floods through me. Her eyes connect with mine and a soft smile curves her ashen lips. “I love you.” She whispers hoarsely through the oxygen mask.
We pull up to the hospital a few minutes later. The back of the ambulance flies open allowing a rush of cool air into the back. The nurses help Luke and his partner pull Autumn out safely, then quickly wheel her inside.
“Sir, you need to come with us!” A nurse urges grabbing my arm.
“I’m not leaving her!”
“We need to make sure you are okay! You have to come with us!” Another nurse says more forcefully, running next to us.
“Go away!” I snap, ripping my arm from her hold.
A few more nurses appear grabbing my arm, and trying to push me into my own room. I shove them aside. Ripping myself from their grasps, I run after Autumn, catching up a second later.
Running along side her, I hold her hand and the rail tight. The nurses continue their feeble attempts to pull me away as we race through the hall. I shove them aside and ignore their plea’s and commands to wait outside. I almost lost her tonight, I’m not leaving her.
They wheel her to a stop in front of a room. Lazily, she moves the mask down and away from her face. Luke’s partner jumps into action to put it back but she bats him away. She crooks her finger at me to lean forward. Straining her neck up, her lips connect with mine. I chuckle softly and wrap my arms around her pulling in for more.
“Sir, you shouldn’t do that.” Luke says pushing me away from her.
I glare at him, but the heat from her hand on my bare chest distracts me enough not to yell. Laying her back down, Luke places the mask back on her face and tells her to try and rest. The nurses and emergency doctors, wheel her into the room, blocking me from going inside.
“Sir, we will have to ask you to wait here. We have several tests to run. She will be a little while. Someone will be out to get you when we're finished. You should really be checked out yourself.” The doctor says eyeing me before disappearing behind the double doors.
I stand staring after the doctor a moment longer than I want. “Are you always this frustrating?” I ask Luke, who’s still standing with me, watching her through the little windows.
Luke’s mouth curves with an arrogant smirk, “Only with obstinate folk.”
I walk down the hall, my mind fuzzy. After a moment, I turn a corner and spot the nurses station, just beyond the doors we came through, and head their way. A petite blonde girl blushes as I approach. She must be doing her residency because she can’t be more than early twenties.
“How can I help you, sir?” Her eyes sparkle a pale blue.
“Do you have a phone I may use?”
“Of course!” Her cheeks turn a deep shade of red. She grabs the phone off the desk and places it on the counter. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
I nod, and turn my attention to the phone, quickly dialing Mark’s cell. It rings twice before he picks up. “Yes, sir?”
“I’m at Ronald Reagan UCLA. There was an incident.”
“I’ll be right there, sir. Do you need anything?”
“Clothes. But you can’t pick any up.” Not sure where he is going to find clothes this late.
“No worries, sir. I have a spare bag for you.” Mark says over the sudden noise, and a car door slamming shut. “I’ll be there shortly. Anything I need to know?”
I peer over my shoulder, catching the blonde and her red headed friend giggling, blushing, and stealing looks my direction. “Yes, we will discuss when you get here though.”
The call disconnects. Handing it back to the little blonde, I turn toward the double doors to find two large male nurses and two security guards waiting for me. Too spent to fight anymore, I follow them to my own room.