The Waiting Game [Emma/Marcus]

[Jackson Poe]

18th May 2009

All the way to the hospital, all Jackson could do was watch Emma being taken care of in the back of the ambulance. He just could believe that the hours previous to this now shitty were good. Jackson tried to recount the minutes, seeing what he could have changed before the accident. Maybe he could have suggested a place that was further away, so that they could have driven, rather than walked. Each time Jackson thought about what he could have changed, infact didn't allow him to go back in time to do that.

So as he rode in the back of the ambulance, Jackson pulled out his mobile phone, and began to create a journal entry. He wasn't able to detail the whole event, as he knew that it would just create more heartache and tears. So he put down what he could, and then went back to see how Emma was doing.

They were almost at the hospital when his phone rang. Looking at the id, it was his brother, Lance.

J: "Hey bro. I can't really talk right now, kind of busy."
L: "Okay. You sound a little down, is everything okay?"
J: "Not really, but hoping it will be soon."
L: "Are you sure?"
J: "Well Emma has just been in an accident, but the paramedics are doing their best to help her. Look Lance, I have to go. We are at the hospital now. Can I call you back?"
L: "Shit Jackson! If you need me that, I can come right now."
J: "Lance, it is better if I just keep you posted. I have to go."
L: "You do that, and I hope she is okay man. See ya."
J: "I will. Bye."

As Jackson put his phone away, Emma was being taken out of the ambulance. He hopped out, and followed them into the emergency room. As Jackson hit the entrance, a nurse came out. "Sorry sir, you are going to have to wait in the waiting area." Jackson didn't want to hear it. "No. That is my girlfriend, and I need to be with her." The nurse carefully put her hand on Jackson's arm. "I know sir, but you are going to have to wait in there for now. Someone will come out when we know more." He knew that he had to do that, so Jackson turned around and went to wait in the waiting area.

[marcus]

Marcus made his way to the hospital in a taxi like he said he would. Thankfully he had been able to flag one down almost immediately after the ambulance had left the scene, so the taxi basically just followed the ambulance to where it was going. The minute the ambulance pulled into the emergency entrance of the hospital, the taxi stopped. Marcus paid the driver and gave a handy tip and then quickly ran into the entrance behind the blond guy. He had to keep referring him to the blond guy in his mind, because he didn't know Emma's boyfriend's name yet.

Just as he approached he heard a nurse telling the guy he would have to wait in the waiting room. Even telling the nurse that he was her boyfriend done nothing. Marcus wondered if telling the nurse he was her brother, if he would be allowed in. He felt terrible for causing the accident, even though he really hadn't meant to. With his fingers rubbing at his temples, he went to the nurse. "Can I go in my good woman?" He asked, and then glanced to the blond guy, "I'm her brother." He added, but the nurse shook her head.

"Sorry, you'll have to wait in there with her boyfriend, right now there's nothing either of you can do. Someone will be out with news soon." With that she left with the doctors and Marcus could only watch helplessly as they wheeled his sister away somewhere to do God only knew what to her.

He walked into the waiting room and couldn't even sit, he began pacing the floor with his fingers still rubbing at his temples. He then thought he should try to introduce himself to the blond guy, as he hadn't even had a chance to say his name before the accident happened.

"Ye know I'm still really sorry about what happened. The name's Marcus, Marcus Woods." He said as he still paced the floor in a very nervous manner. "I really didn't mean to that to happen, you got to believe me man, how can ye ever forgive me?" Marcus said as he let out a deep sigh, and he felt his eyes beginning to smart with tears once more.

[emma]

Emma was completely unconscious, not aware of anything which was going on around her, the whole time the paramedics were working on her. It was probably for the best, because her injuries were severe enough that if she had been awake, she'd probably be screaming in pain. Once they were at the emergency entrance of the hospital, they quickly took her to the emergency room to assess her injuries.

One of the nurses had to explain to Jackson and Marcus that they would have to wait in the waiting room until they figured out what was wrong with Emma. The doctor immediately took an x-ray of her leg and her skull to make sure there was no more severe damage which wasn't visible to the eye. The x-ray showed that there was indeed slight swelling to the brain which was probably the reason for Emma being unconscious, but the doctor figured that would go down over the next twenty four hours, if it didn't, then they might have a more serious issue on their hands.

The x-ray of her leg, showed the bone to be shattered in three places and would need pins to hold it together. Emma's injuries were bad, but she was lucky for it not to have been a whole lot worse in the doctor's eyes. They would have to operate on her leg, and then monitor the swelling. If the swelling didn't go down it was possible for Emma to fall into a permanent coma. The doctor made his way out to the waiting room to deliver the news he had so far on Emma's situation.

"Alright, Sir." He began as he looked from Jackson to Marcus, "We've established some initial problems we will have to take care of." Then he cleared his throat and sat down on one of the waiting room chairs.

"Emma has slight swelling on the brain, which we hope will improve over the next twenty four hours, or she may fall into a deep coma, however, I would say her leg is the main worry, it is shattered in three places and we will have to operate to put pins in place to hold the bone together." He explained, and then he sighed gently, as he took out the medal from his pocket.

"I see she's a professional skater?" He said as he looked to Jackson with sorrow in his eyes, "I hate to say this, but the injury to her leg? I can't see your girlfriend ever being able to compete again. I'm terribly sorry Sir." He said, as he stood up and gave them both a weak smile and a nod of the head.

"We're just going to operate now on the leg and then we'll get Emma more comfortable, and then we can see about letting you both see her, alright?" He finished, before leaving the waiting room and going back to attend to Emma.

[Jackson Poe]

Jackson made his way into the waiting room. He really wanted to be in there with Emma, holding her hand through it all, but knew that it was probably for the best if the doctors did all they could to help her. Jackson knew he was in no fit state to probably be in there anway. As he sat down in one of the chairs, Jackson heard the guy who claimed to be Emma's brother speaking to the same nurse he did. He soon heard her tell him the same as she did for Jackson, and then heard footsteps come towards the waiting room.

Instead of sitting down, Jackson watched him pace the room. This guy seemed to be as nervous as Jackson was, who really didn't want to sit, but knew that if he didn't, his legs might give way. Then Jackson looked up as the guy introduced himself. "Hi Marcus, Jackson Poe." Jackson slowly extended his hand for Marcus to shake, though he wasn't sure what sort of handshake he would give right now. He didn't really care, all he cared about was what might happen with Emma.

Then Marcus was apologising. Shaking his head at Marcus, Jackson had to say something. "Look, it is no one's fault. You weren't to know that this was going to happen. I think that the driver is at fault. That is who I am blaming right now." Jackson began to feel angry again, but didn't want to feel that way right now. He just wanted to concentrate on helping Emma get better. Whatever it took, he knew that he would be there beside her, dealing with it all with her.

Several minutes went past, which felt like hours to Jackson. He thought about the worst that could happen to Emma. Jackson didn't want to think the very worst, so made sure that thought was not in his head. But deep down he wondered if she would pull through. He remembered that her leg was in a bad way, and hoped that it wasn't that bad, so that she could go back to skating, if and when they had a baby.

Then the doctor came into the waiting room. Again Jackson felt like everything was in slow motion. He felt like he was going to pass out, and the doctor hadn't even spoke yet. Jackson tried to concentrate on what the doctor was saying. He sounded muffled for some reason, and Jackson felt like he was straining to hear him. But some things seemed to hit home: swelling on the brain ... coma ... operate ... can't see your girlfriend ever being able to compete again ... sorry.

Jackson couldn't say anything. He felt numb, and was just staring into space. Then the first thing he could feel was hot tears falling on his face. Jackson tried to blink them back, but that wasn't going to cut it. He wiped his eyes, knowing that he had to be strong for Emma. She wouldn't like to see him the weak one, when she was fighting to stay conscious. Jackson kept going back to what the doctor said: "I hate to say this, but the injury to her leg? I can't see your girlfriend ever being able to compete again."

[marcus]

Marcus wanted to tear his hair out, he wanted to bang his head against the wall. He wanted anything other than his beautiful sister to be in the situation she now was. It should be him lying in that hospital bed he thought. Although that was stupid, he couldn't get physically hurt. He should have run to her, he could have stood between her and the car and took the brunt of it, as he'd have been unharmed and then his Emma would have been safe and not stuck in a hospital bed unconscious.

When Marcus had introduced himself properly to the blond guy he didn't even think he'd speak back to him, after all he'd caused his girlfriend to end up in a very bad situation. However he introduced himself, which made Marcus relax, a little. Marcus took the extended hand and shook it. "Wish it could have been in better circumstances, but pleased to meet ye Jackson." Marcus said, as he continued to pace the floor. He was so nervous. If he lost her before he even got to know her, he'd never forgive himself.

Jackson then said that it wasn't his fault. It was nobody's fault apart from the driver. He could hear the anger in Jackson's voice as he mentioned the driver. Marcus could understand that anger, he wanted to rip the guy limb from limb. If the driver hadn't been speeding or worse driving under the influence, he mightn't be as angry as he was.

He gave a very weak smile to Jackson. "Cheers man, still I don't feel good ye know, I could have waited until ye had both crossed the damned road at least." Marcus mumbled as he continued to pace the floor and then the doctor came into the waiting room. This in itself made Marcus stop pacing and immediately sat on the seat next to Jackson as he listened to what the doctor had to say.

He noticed that Jackson said very little about what they had just heard. Marcus however, couldn't just sit and say nothing. He had to know what this meant for his sister. "Doc, tell us honestly, could me sister die?" Marcus asked with a serious face while he tugged at his hair again.

The doctor looked at him, "Right now, it's just too early to tell, I'm sorry, the next twenty four hours with the swelling of the brain will be critical. I'm sorry." That was when the doctor took his leave, and still Jackson had said nothing.

"Holy Mother Mary of God!" Marcus stated as he began pacing the floor again. This wasn't good, it wasn't good at all. He then looked at Jackson and sat down again. "Ye know, if Emma's anything like meself, she'll pull through this and she'll get back on that ice." Marcus said as he patted Jackson's shoulder with his hand, trying to sort of reassure Jackson, although he was trying to reassure himself as well.

Just then the door opened again, and this time a police officer came into the room and sat down. "I know you're both having a terrible time here, but we really need to establish what happened earlier." He said, and then got out his notebook and pen to take notes. "Would you say the driver was speeding at all?"

Marcus couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Of course he was focking speeding, I told ye that at the time, jeezes, he was focking drunk." And Marcus thought the police in Ireland were eejits, the American ones were no better it seemed.

"We know that Sir, we just needed you to confirm it again, that's all. And you are the victims who?" He asked.

"I'm her brother, and this here is Jackson, her boyfriend, but don't go asking him any questions, as ye can see, he's hardly in any position, and neither am I." Marcus said in a low voice, glaring at the police officer.

It was ridiculous. It was clear to see the driver had been at fault, why the hell were they in asking them stupid questions they already knew the answer to. The police officer stood up and bowed his head slightly. "Sorry for troubling you Sir, I can tell you that the driver has been charged and I can assure his sentence in prison will not be light." With that he turned to leave the room.

Marcus just nodded his head, and watched the police officer leave the room, leaving the two of them alone once more. This time Marcus stayed sitting down. "Bloody eejits." He muttered and then sat with his head in his hands. This waiting was horrible.

[emma]

The doctor left the waiting room with a heavy heart, he hated to tell family members bad news about their loved ones, but he had to tell them about this girl not being able to compete in skating again. As a doctor he had to be honest with the families, there was no point in hiding anything from them. He made is way back into the operating room.

He went to the sink and scrubbed up his hands and arms to his elbows and then applied the surgical gloves and got one of the nurses to apply his mask. He stood over Emma at her leg and asked the nurse for a scalpel. He began to cut away the tissue at the gash which was already on her leg to make it clearer to see what he was doing. The three shattered pieces were close together which made things a little easier for working with.

The doctor then began to place pins in the relevant sections of her leg where the bones needed to be pinned together. That procedure in itself took over an hour. Once he was finished pinning the sections together, he asked the nurse for the sutures and he began to stitch the wound in Emma's leg.

However, as he was stitching the wound, Emma started to shake about on the operating table. "She's having a seizure." The doctor had to stop what he was doing as he went up to her head and shone a light in her eyes. "Swelling must be getting worse." The doctor carried out another x-ray on Emma's head immediately. The x-ray showed up hemorrhaging. "We're going to have to do an emergency operation."

An hour later they had finally managed to stop the hemorrhaging and they stitched Emma's head, she now had a small circle of hair removed where they had to carry out the emergency operation. The doctor then returned to her leg and stitched the remainder of the wound. Just as everything seemed to have settled down the heart machine began to flat line.

The nurses immediately charged the paddles to jump start Emma's heart. "1, 2, 3, go." Nothing. "Again, 1, 2, 3, go." Nothing. "God dammit, we're not going to lose you now, again, 1, 2, 3, go." The machine started to beep again. "We've got her back." The doctor let out a sigh of relief. "Take her to the recovery room."

****Over Two Hours Later*****

The doctor then made his way out to the waiting room to talk to the two men. He smiled weakly as he walked in and sat down again. "It's still too soon to tell if she'll be alright, she's a fighter is that girl. We've pinned her leg together, but she took a brain hemorrhage and we had to do an emergency operation and then she flat lined, but we got her back, and she's in the recovery room, and her heart beat seems strong. Like I said earlier the next twenty four hours are going to be very critical to her recovery. You can come and see her now." The doctor said as he stood up again and held the waiting room door open for both men to leave and follow him.

[Jackson Poe]

Jackson wanted to talk to the doctor, but he just couldn't get his body to respond at all. All it could do was form tears, which fell. He could still hear the doctor's comments about Emma, but soon those were blocked as Marcus began to pace the floor again. And then he reassured Jackson that Emma will pull through. All Jackson could do was smile weakly at Marcus as he patted Jackson's shoulder, "I know. But..." Then a police officer walked through the doors to the waiting area.

Jackson just looked at the officer sat down and began to talk. He didn't fell like talking right now, just thinking as he waited to hear about the operation that Emma was now in. Jackson looked out the window as the officer asked both Marcus and himself questions. Of cause the first question was asked, asking them if the driver was speeding. Jackson stared at the officer, and that was then that Marcus went off at the cop. Jackson had to agree with what Marcus was saying, the driver was going too fast for the speed limit. But due the circumstances, Jackson couldn't answer. He wanted to, but his body didn't allow him to for some reason. Maybe it was still the shock of the incident, who knew.

When the officer told them that the driver had been charged, this was the time Jackson's voice decided to speak up. "Good. I hope that he gets to see Emma, and how she is before he is thrown in jail." With that, Jackson got up and moved closer to the window, looking out into the night sky. The cop finally left the room, and Jackson heard Marcus mumble under his breathe. Still looking out the window, Jackson spoke again, "I wonder if there is a waiting room near the operating theatre." He just wanted to be close to her right now. Jackson hated seeing the ones he loved hurt, and this was not exception.

Looking around the room, he saw a map of the hospital, and noted where the operating room was. Next to it was a small area near it. "Marcus, there looks to be a waiting room near the operating theatre. I am gong to head there now, if you want to wait there to." Jackson didn't hesitate, he went in the direction of that waiting room.

~~~~ Over 3 hours later ~~~~

Jackson was beginning to get fidgety, just sitting and waiting. He had tried to strick up conversations with Marcus, but felt that he was just forcing it. Jackson was never good being patient in these kind of situations. He hated waiting, and this was the worst it had ever been. Just when he was going to go and see what the vending machine had to offer, the doctor came out.

Jackson wanted to get up, but felt that his legs might give way, not knowing what had happened in there with Emma. When the doctor smiled weakly, Jackson thought the worst. He felt tears pricking his eyes. He didn't want to hear it if it was bad news. The doctor told them what went on in the operation, which included a second operation as well. Just hearing that Emma had flatlines, made Jackson gasp a little. When the doctor said that they got her back, he released the breath he had been holding.

Looking at Marcus, Jackson had to speak, since he felt that Marcus had spoken enough for him with the cop earlier. "Thank you for all you did in there. Where is she?" When the doctor held the door open and let them follow him, Jackson thought about what he might see when they go to her bedside. Would she look the same, but just sleeping? Would she be bruised and unrecognisable? Who knows. Jackson just hoped that he would not break down and cry as soon as he got there.

[marcus]

Marcus tried to to reassure Jackson that Emma would be fine, but really he was trying to reassure himself as well. Of course it didn't matter what Marcus said to Jackson, it was just going over his head, which was only natural. Until they knew for sure Emma would be fine, until they saw her, there was no other reassurance. When Jackson tried to stumble out some words, he wasn't overly confidant about Emma pulling through. "I know man, I know." Was all Marcus could say, he knew fine well if somebody had said that to him, he'd react in the same way.

That was when the police officer had come in and Marcus had more or less blasted him out for his stupid questions. Marcus really hadn't expected Jackson to say anything, so when he did say something, Marcus just looked at him with raised eyebrows. He turned to the police officer, "Ye know that might not be such a bad idea, let the focking bastard see what he's done to me sister."

"I think he knows full well what he's done, as he pleaded guilty, that's why he's being charged and held in a state prison with maximum security." The police officer replied, "I know it doesn't help the situation with your sister, but maybe you can be sure that justice will prevail in this tragic event."

And that was when the police officer left them alone. Marcus couldn't believe this had happened. All because he had called out to her the way he had. It didn't matter if the driver was speeding or drunk, if he hadn't caused Emma to stop in the street the way she had, it wouldn't have happened. Jackson's voice suddenly broke into his thoughts.

"Well if there's a closer waiting room man, I'm with ye." Marcus said, he liked the idea of being closer to where they had been working on his sister. Obviously his sister didn't have the ability he had, but Marcus wished she had, because if she did have it, she wouldn't be in the state she was in now. After a short while Jackson spoke again mentioning that there indeed was a waiting room closer to the operation room. "Sure my man." Marcus said as he followed Jackson out of the room they were currently in to the other one.

It seemed like such a long time before the doctor came in to tell them the news update on Emma. It had been over three hours in fact, and during that time Jackson and he had tried to have numerous conversations, but they never really took off properly what with each of them being so worried about Emma. Marcus listened to what the doctor was telling them.

"Told ye she'd be a fighter Jackson, I told ye." Marcus said with a bit more of a relaxed voice, but still very worried about his sister, seeing as the doctor did say that it would be critical over the next twenty four hours. "Thanks for everything doc." Marcus said and shook the doctor's ungloved hand. The doctor then said they could go and see her, and Marcus' face lit up slightly. Although he was also scared at what they would see.

[emma]

The doctor looked at the two young men as they thanked him for everything he did on Emma. "You're very welcome, after all it is my job." He said this with a bright smile and a slight wink, not to be too cheesy or anything, but he just figured that after everything they had both been through, maybe they needed a little bit of lightness to the atmosphere.

"If you'd just like to follow me then." He said as he made his way to the recovery room where Emma was located. It was a single room, this was always the case with patients they classed as Intensive Treatment patients, which is what Emma was classed as now, so she was in the ITU {Intensive Treatment Unit} area.

"Just a moment please." He said as he entered the room. He spoke with the nurse to make sure both of them could enter the room at the one time. He walked back out again after a few seconds. "If you would just like to come on in." He said as he held the door to Emma's room open.

Emma was lying with tubes everywhere. Her leg was in plaster and raised, her head had a bandage round it, she had various cuts and bruises to her arms and face which were visible. There was an IV drip in her arm, and a couple of machines were hooked to her, one to monitor her heart, and one to help her breathe. Basically if it weren't for the fact she was covered in all the bruises, cuts, tubes and the noise of the machines, you'd have thought Emma was in a deep sleep.

"Like I said previously, the next twenty four hours will be critical, but talk to her, that can often help coma patients come round. If the swelling on her brain comes down overnight, she should be responsive soon after." The doctor explained, as he gave them another nod of the had, and then left the two of them alone in the room with Emma.

[Jackson Poe]

Jackson weakly smiled at Marcus when he said that he said Emma would pull through. He knew that, but knowing how much injury she had, Jackson was not sure. He was hoping and praying that she would pull through itall, but he still had doubts which he didn't like having. Jackson tried to prepare himself for the scene which he was about to step into.

The walk to her room felt like it took a lifetime. He felt his heart beating in his throat, and his hands start to get all sweaty. They went past a couple of rooms on the way to Emma, but Jackson couldn't see inside them. He heard beeping sounds from monitors instead. Jackson soon knew that he might hear these monitors in Emma's room. He had seen many tv shows and movies where the actors were playing coma patients, but Jackson had yet to see one in real life.

When they reached Emma's room, the doctor excused himself, and went to speak with the someone in the room. Then the doctor came out, telling them they could come in. Jackson felt like he was going to faint again, not wanting to go in just in case he reacted badly. No one close to him had been injured like this, and he had hoped that he would never have to see it. But now he was about to. Jackson walked into the room slowly, and was soon hit with a scene of Emma, lying in a hospital bed, and with all of which he had thought of attached to her.

Jackson had to stiffle back a gasp, feeling his eyes growing wider at the sight. Then all of a sudden, he felt like his legs were about to give way, and reached for the nearest chair. Jackson sort of heard what the doctor said, again being reminded that the next twenty-four hours would be critical. Then the doctor said that they should talk to her. Jackson had no idea what to say to someone who may or may not be able to hear them. Though Jackson knew he had to try.

When the doctor left, Jackson moved his seat closer to Emma's bed. His eyes moved slowly over her body, taking in every cut and bruise on her arms and face, her beautiful face. Willing himself to hold back the tears, Jackson decided to say something. "Hey Em. I don't know if you can hear me, but I am here. So is Marcus ... your brother. I love you so much." With that, Jackson kissed Emma's hand, and put his head down and cried.

[marcus]

Marcus wasn't sure what he was going to see when he went into that room, and he wasn't sure he wanted to see it. He still sort of blamed himself for Emma being in that hospital bed, after all he was instrumental in the car accident. If he hadn't shouted, but he had to shake the thought from his head. It was the driver's fault for hitting his sister. He had to keep thinking that.

He followed Jackson slowly, making their way to the room where Emma was. So many rooms they passed on the way, and each one he passed, Marcus was aware of the machines bleeping, and that clean hospital smell you get. It made him shudder slightly. He could only hope that Emma wouldn't look too bad. However, when they finally reached the room and they were allowed inside and Marcus saw her, he could hardly keep himself standing.

He'd been the strong one from the beginning during the hours in the hospital, or at least, he felt he had been the strongest, but now, seeing his sister like that, he couldn't keep his composure any longer. He put his head in his hands and he began to cry. Marcus heard Jackson speak to her and watched as he kissed the back of her hand and then put his head down and began to cry also.

Marcus gently leaned across and kissed Emma on the cheek. Marcus tried to compose himself enough to speak to Emma. "I wish this hadn't happened to you, I wish we had met under better circumstances, I've only just found ye, ye can't go dying on me now Emma Woods. Ye have to damn well fight back ye hear? I want to get to know ye, I want to love ye as a brother should." Marcus said softly before tears consumed again and he slid down the wall by the side of her bed and rested his head on his folded arms.

[emma]

~*~Several Hours Later~*~

Nurses and doctors had been coming in and out of Emma's room for about the past four hours now constantly checking on her for signs of improvement. The whole time Emma had been unconscious through out.

The voices of Jackson and Marcus must have been getting through to Emma some how as she finally began to come aware of the pain around her. She tried to remember why she would be in so much pain, and then she remembered she'd been hit by a car. So she knew she must be in a hospital. Her eyes began to flicker open slowly and she began to take in the sights around her. Tubes everywhere, machines making noises. Then she felt a hand in her own.

She slowly turned her head, very slowly as much as she could and saw Jackson sitting back in a chair. He was all she could see right at that moment, but she'd remembered the Irish accent speaking too, so she knew that guy who had said he was her brother must be around somewhere too. She began to move her hand, slight movements, but movements just the same, and as she did so, she tried to squeeze Jackson's hand. It was her way of trying to tell him she was awake again.

That was when the nurse realised Emma was awake, she went running out of the room and came back a few seconds later with the doctor. The doctor immediately went to Emma and began shining a torch into her eyes. "Hmm...good, good." He muttered more to himself than anybody else. He then checked her pulse and chest. "Good, strong." He then smiled before turning to Jackson and Marcus.

"Well it seems that Emma is indeed a fighter and a strong one at that too. She's finding her way back to us, and all vital signs seem strong, which is great. It means we can take her off the machine which is helping her to breathe at least." The doctor said as he made his way to Emma again and told her to cough so he could take out the tube.

As she did so, she winced slightly, but the soon as the tube was out Emma felt much better and more free. She tried to talk, but the doctor raised his hand with a gentle smile. "Not quite yet Emma, you'll need to take it easy, I'll be back with some water for you." The doctor said to her as he made his way over to the sink and filled a glass of water and went back to her.

"Sip it slowly Emma." The doctor said, which Emma did, she took a few sips slowly and immediately felt a little better, still in extreme pain obviously, but her mouth and throat felt somewhat better.

"Alright, we'll leave you alone for now, take it easy Emma." The doctor warned as he and the nurses left the room, leaving the three of them alone. Emma took in a few slow breaths before giving Jackson, or trying to give Jackson a weak smile. She cleared her throat a little, and then slowly after another deep breath she began to talk.

"Jack...son." She said softly, but clear enough for him to hear. She tried to look for Marcus, but she still couldn't see him, and she only knew his name was Marcus because she'd heard Jackson say his name while she was 'asleep'.

[Jackson Poe]

When Jackson had stumbled back into his chair, he had heard Marcus begin to get upset at the sight of Emma. Jackson knew it was not the best sight to come into contact with. Though knowing what Emma had been through over the last few hours, Jackson had tried to create a picture of what they were going to see.

Jackson heard Marcus speak to Emma as he had his head down, after he himself had spoken to her. Again Marcus was apologising for something that really wasn't his fault. But it seemed to Jackson that he was still going to keep doing it, no matter what. When Jackson heard him say that he had wished that they could have met under better circumstances, which Jackson had agreed to in his head. If only they had been eating at the restaurant, and Marcus had come in. He could have joined them, and then they could have all talked for hours. But unfortunately the future did not hold that in store for them.

All Jackson could do now was sit in silence by Emma's bedside. He decided to sit up, still holding her hand, and rested his back in the chair. Here he looked at the closed blind in the room. Jackson got up and went to open the blind, to again look out at the night sky. As he sat back down and held onto Emma's hand, he saw a bright star in the sky. In his mind he wished for her to come back to him.

**** Over 4 hours later ****

Jackson had stayed by Emma's side since Marcus and himself had been ushered in to see her. After 3 hours, one of the nurses suggested that he get some air for a little bit, saying that she would contact him if there was any change. Jackson didn't want to leave her, but knew he needed to get up and walk around a bit. Jackson started to walk, and almost walked passed the operating room waiting area. He stopped in and sat down. Jackson knew he needed to clear his head, so began to write another journal entry. This was his other creative outlet - writing.

After a few mintues, Jackson closed his mini laptop, and decided to go back to Emma's room. Once again as he sat down, he held onto Emma's hand, hoping that his touch might help her to come back to reality where he was waiting for her. This turn of events today just made some of his previous thoughts in the day come to light. Jackson had been thinking about his future, and how it would be nice for Emma to be in his life through it. The thought brought a smile to his face for a few seconds.

Just as Jackson began to close his eyes as he sat back in the chair, he felt movement in his hand. He instantly sat up, and looked at Emma. Her head was turned slightly towards him, and he then heard the nurse run out of the room. With his other hand, Jackson began to touch Emma's face. "Hey sweetie." He couldn't stop smiling, feeling fresh tears forming in his eyes. Though these were tears of joy.

As the doctor examined Emma, Jackson stood back so that he could have room. This was the time for Jackson to compose himself, wiping his eyes so that he could be a bit more presentable when the doctor was gone, and he was again able to be near her. Jackson listened to what the doctor said, and was so happy to hear that everything was going their way. "Thank you for everything you have done so far. Thank you." Jackson couldn't thank him enough. He stood with Marcus as they watched the breathing tube was taken out. Emma tried to talk, but the doctor told her that she needed to take it easy. Then she was given water to help her a little.

Once the doctor and nurses were out of the room, Jackson made his way back to his chair. He met Emma's weak smile with a broad one of his own. He couldn't be happier right now. His one and only Emma had come back to them. Jackson knew that there was still a long way to go yet, but this sign of her waking up was something positive in his book. Just hearing Emma say his name made his eyes mist over, but not enough to bring on more of the water works. Jackson moved his hand over Emma's forehead, brushing stray hairs away. "Hey. I ... we are so glad that you are awake. How are you feeling?" Jackson knew the instant he said it, it was a stupid question.

[marcus]

After Marcus had initially spoken to Emma and apologised once again for causing the accident, he had slumped against the wall and hadn't moved from there often, other than to go to the gents or to stroke Emma's hair with his hand and speak to her softly willing her to live.

Every so often he would hear Jackson speak to Emma when he himself was silent, and he saw him holding her hand almost constantly. The wait really was rather crucifying, of course Marcus felt it was bad for him because he was the one who had caused Emma to end up where she was. Jackson had said quite clearly he wasn't to blame, but Marcus refused to believe that. He was to blame, if he hadn't shouted, Emma wouldn't have stopped, thus making the car not hit her.

~*~*~*Over Four Hours Later~*~*~*

Just as the nurse had instructed Jackson to take some time out, Marcus was told the same thing. He agreed, however, not wanting to invade Jackson's private space, he took himself off, first to the chapel thing and did something he never did in his life. He prayed. He prayed for Emma to live, so he could get to know his sister. After praying for a good ten minutes, Marcus took himself off to the hospital canteen and got himself a strong coffee.

He then sat down and sipped it slowly, thinking of what happened a few hours earlier. It shouldn't have happened, and although in the back of his mind he kept thinking it was his fault for shouting on her, he had to get it into his head, that it was the driver who hit her, the driver who had been driving while drinking, it was the driver to blame. He shook his head several times, and constantly rubbed at the back of his head and his eyes, trying to make sense of it all.

What if the doctor was right? What if she wouldn't be able to compete again? Surely that would devastate her, and he hadn't got to see her perform once, it was just awful. Maybe she'd be able to compete again in a few years after some physiotherapy he thought, giving himself hope, never mind Emma. After he finished his coffee, he took himself back to Emma's room, Jackson was already back there, holding her hand.

Not long after he had got back into the room, there seemed to be some commotion going on and he soon realised what was happening. Emma had woken up. Marcus got up off the floor quickly and just looked over at Emma from where he stood, and as the doctor came into the room and began checking her over Marcus couldn't wait to find anything.

"She alright then doc? Tell me she's alright? She's going to be alright?" Marcus stumbled over his words, as he ran his hand through his short hair. Then when the doctor finally did speak and said that she was a strong fighter and all her vital signs seemed good, Marcus let out a huge sigh of relief. "That's fantastic doc, thanks for everything ye've done." Marcus said, even though Jackson already said the same thing. Marcus shook the doctor's hand before he left the room.

"Yeah, damn right Jackson." Marcus said when he heard him telling Emma they were so glad she was awake. "So glad to have ye back, maybe now I can get to know ye." Marcus said softly as he leaned over and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Then stood back again a little, allowing Jackson to be closer to Emma, after all she was closer to Jackson than her own brother, sadly, but that was neither fault of Marcus or Emma.

[emma]

There was so much Emma wanted to say, but she was in so much pain, and her throat was so dry and sore, she didn't think she'd be able to get out one word never mind as many as she wanted to. She had heard Marcus blame himself over and over, while she had been in her deep conscious state, but unable to say anything, and even now she didn't know if she'd be able to say anything.

When Jackson asked how she was feeling, she had to give a small smile, before mustering up the energy to talk and actually joke with him, by saying, "Like...I've....been....hit...with....a....car." She then laughed a little, and that was when she could feel the dull ache in her head and leg, her head, wasn't worrying her so much but her leg was. She tried to look down, but it only hurt her head. Instead she turned to Jackson and pointed to her leg with her arm. She had a feeling she was going to be told something she really didn't want to hear, but she felt she had to ask. "My leg?" She managed to say, before having to cough to clear her throat, it was so sore and dry, finding words were virtually impossible.

She just smiled at Jackson as he said that he, they were glad to have her back, and then she heard Marcus' voice, and as he leaned over to kiss her cheek, she took a hold of his hand in her own gently, and kept it toward her face. "Not...your...fault." She said softly, and smiled at him again before gently letting go of his hand, because she couldn't keep both of them held to her face any longer.

When Marcus mentioned about getting to know her better, she just smiled at him again, as much as she could given the pain she was in anyway, "Same...here." All her words were slow and simple, but the doctor told her to take it easy, and every time she tried to talk, her throat was sore, so in a way it was forcing her to make quick answers anyway.