There are times to press rewind and start again. Thanks to Jessy19's significant contributions, here is a new and improved version of the sixth chapter in the saga of a boyfriend and brother with the same first name as Vanessa completes her quest:
I didn't know it at the time, but our pre-dawn wonderland changed my outlook and my future. Letting my guard down allowed me to ask for help and trust my inner circle. Both Kate and Fury had been critical of my reliance on Quinn, yet they supported me. Those few minutes marked my conversion into a self-confident trailblazer not a passive follower.
We had come a long way to find Quinn. Little did I know locating him would put my newfound confidence to the test. As the Jeep crossed the crest of the mountaintop, we plunged into a world of chaos, like one of those rides at Disneyland. The storm that came through had ravaged the valley, trees stripped naked, power lines down, and traffic lights not even flashing red. The University Campus was in sight, but how would we get there? The road littered with fallen branches, made our decent slow and cautious. Nick Fury would stop, push away a hazard blocking our way, only to repeat after a hundred yards. As windows rolled down to clear condensation, an eerie silence foreshadowed misfortune.
We turned into a pitch-black motel parking lot, empty except for cars covered in snow. The old three-story old building had seen better days with weathered paint and missing stucco, the appearance of extensive water damage. Part of the third floor boarded up for renovation did not reveal any sign of habitation. The lights were out, the lobby door locked and there no response upon knocking. We climbed the stairs to a single room on the third floor and waited outside for an answer.
My attention diverted to a small figure, dark against white, coming toward us and resolving into a man, carrying a small backpack in his arms filled with snow. Why would he need snow in this weather? He introduced himself as Jason and asked if we knew the boy inside. Through the open door I got my first glimpse of Nick Quinn, lying on a sofa when his head propped up. Jason exchanged the backpack posing as an ice bag. I shook Nick but there was no response. Placing my compact mirror under his nose, faint fog proved he was breathing. "Is this what you call medical care?" I cried. My eyes welled up, but I held my composure, knowing I would be of no use if I started blubbering.
A gasp signaled Kate's late appearance after a delay from trying to coax Nicky to come up. Fatigue taking him at last, falling into a deep sleep, leaning back in the driver's seat. The place was dark inside and the moldy wet carpet smelled dank. Not wishing anyone to see my gallery, I signaled Kate to take pictures on her phone. Jason apologized for the accommodations. "I've been with him all night. We had no power and no phone coverage, but I have been able to keep the room warm by stoking the fireplace."
"Where is everybody? I demanded.
Jason responded, "I volunteered to stay. Last night's wind looked like it was tearing the building apart. I volunteered to stay in the only place of safety, a converted banquet room with double thick walls. I have been watching closely and waking him every four hours from an alarm on my watch. I snuck out to refill the ice bag to make a soft pillow when you showed up."
"Thank you, Jason, but why you and why here? Doesn't the university have medical staff?" I said perplexed with the state of the room.
Jason explained, "I'm trained as a medic. The wind was pulling up trees and debris was flying so we bunkered down. Last night was like the black and white beginning of The Wizard of Oz. Everybody ran for cover to avoid the maelstrom. I know this doesn't look like an infirmary, but he has everything he needs."
What did he say? I had been worried what shape he would be in when I found him, but nothing could have prepared me for seeing Quinn in this condition. His complexion was ghostly pale and his there were black and blue circles around his eyes, resembling a racoon. His face was swollen and puffy, signs of punches to the face.
Kate messengered a picture to mom who she explained "probably a basilar skull fracture at the very least. His face is not damaged. But how did he get this if he was wearing his helmet?" Let me talk to this Jason." Kate handed over the phone.
Listening to one side of the conversation I heard "the helmet came off when he was hit from two sides. I checked his pupils with my flashlight four hours ago but have had to preserve the batteries. Yes, we should hear from people after the 8:00 am Sunday Church Service. I can imagine there are a lot of concerned townspeople with their own problems after last night's tumult."
I couldn't take it anymore, grabbing Jason's phone and looking through his contacts. I found "University Dean, Mr. Lucas" and punched in the number. "Good morning, you're in trouble" Silence. "I'm at the old Travel Lodge where you dumped the incapacitated quarterback." While I was speaking, Kate texted him the damning pictures. "I don't care if you are in church, wearing your pajamas or nothing at all. Be here in 15 minutes with an ambulance."
Once he realized what was happening, he replied "Okay, Okay, I need some time to put together the proper medical crew."
"You are out of time. You should have thought of that 10 hours ago. Last night's game was nationally televised, and my next call will be to the CBS reporter who interviewed me before the game. The photos alone will make the front page. Your university is about to suffer a major scandal. Shame on you!" was my retort.
I heard the siren even as I hung up. The ambulance crew arrived in four minutes but without the Dean. Coward! Instead, a distinguished man with unkept salt and pepper hair in a flannel robe came along with a woman and an EMT crew. We moved away for privacy, and he offered me a chair. Kneeling before me, he spoke softly but clearly, "I can relate to your feelings and your rage is justified but let loose of your anger. It will eat you up. I'm here to help and we need to work together. I don't know how you got here in the storm. You are a brave woman who may have saved his life."
"I know he looks bad, but I have seen worse. The bigger problem is what is going on with his brain, I'm Dr Nelson Walker, Chief of Neurosurgery from Baylor University.
Although I was in town for the game, I will be taking over care until he stabilizes. Meet my sister Nora, a PhD and member of the Traumatic Brain Injury Team here ... yes, that may sound alarming, but we will take care to safeguard him. Now if you will excuse me, there is much to do, and we can't spare a moment. Please step out of the way so we can get him secured on a gurney. We have to be careful to avoid a neck injury. You can ride along in the ambulance. Ask your friends to follow."
When we arrived in the emergency room, they took Quinn away through double doors, leaving me behind. Nora took my hand and lead me to the cafeteria.
We sat down as she explained "the first step is a series of brain scans to see if he is bleeding inside his skull. His condition is stable, and they are monitoring him closely. The only thing to do now was wait. Don't expect any quick answers."
"We are going to do everything to make you feel at home. I have to disappear now to arrange for you to stay here.
"What about my friends? We all have driven a long way without a break," I asked for assistance.
I'll try to find a vacant room at the dorm close to the facility for your friends, here is a 24-hour card but we can only allow one friend at a time into the ward. This cafeteria stays open until midnight and opens at six. You all will have the same passes we have and won't have to pay. I have left word to explain this to your friend Kate."
After 30 minutes, Nora showed me my quarters, a repurposed doctors on-call room with a full/twin bunk bed opposite a wall unit with a straight back chair, mini fridge, and small table in the corner, Two doors were set in the back, the right for a private bathroom. "The entrance to the public shower is through the left door, keep going through the opening and turn right. The cabinet has towels and scrubs for you here. I have to go now"
My room for the next several weeks would be dull and drab, slightly antiseptic odor, plaster walls desperately needing repainting and overhead fluorescent lights without a dimmer. Exploring the shower revealed flexible shower heads against one wall within a rectangular space with another entrance to the rear. Poking my head through the back I could see a bench and row of lockers.
Now that the crisis passed and I was alone without any distractions, everything settled in. I didn't know how I felt about Nick. On one hand I accomplished half of the task - to find him, but I was not certain I would ever have my Nick back. Cracks appeared in the thin walls I threw up to avoid needing to face the truth and allow me to look the
other way. I had no evidence to confirm my suspicion he may have cheated, but I didn't deserve how he dissed me in front of the cheerleaders. My antipathy had focused on them, but he was an active participant. I was his girlfriend, not his whore. Resentment wrestled with forgiveness.
All of this adrenaline was still flowing through my blood, heart racing with no way to work off the energy. I decided to take a shower to wash off the grime and guilt. After a thorough cleaning, I noticed I could move the showerhead. Masturbation was a secret way to burn energy and quiet the mind. I turned up the water to form a blanket of steam to create a secret place, then adjusted the spray and temperature. Placing the wand strategically, I closed my eyes, clutched the personal ring chain-let between my breasts and allowed the pulsing jet to transport me away. Starting with tiny tremors, my body released energy, like a private volcano erupting. My climax came quickly with a shutter, I stayed in place for as long as I could, until I turned off the shower knob.
Stepping away from the shower row, I noticed that I was not alone. A light skinned black girl was two stalls over. Looking her up and down I noticed her petite body, slim curves, and bright smile. "Haven't seen you before, jilling is an occupational hazard of working long shifts in a stressful environment. I'm Angie."
Angie departed through the rear exit as I dried off and put on a clean nurse uniform. I was fortunately dressed, when Doctor Walker and Nora walked in without knocking to debrief me. "Because of slow bleeding and swelling, we have lowered the level of brain activity and put him into a deep sleep."
"You mean he is in a coma?" I exclaimed louder than I had wished.
"This is a little different. We put him in this state and should be able to wake him when it is appropriate. We do not normally know the period of unconsciousness with a coma patient. We can control his condition, bringing him back when appropriate"
"But you will wake him?" I asked with anticipation.
"He will awake, but to what condition cannot be known at this time. Better to let nature take its course. Meanwhile, we will watch him closely. It will take time, probably days," he warned. "I have to go now to find more results of the brain scans and tests." Doctor Walker walked out with Nora on his heels.
