Broken Bear (3 page)

Dr. Wilson nodded.

“Yes, well, perhaps when he regains consciousness, he’ll be able to give that information to us.” He said. “But, as it stands, I am afraid that it’s against hospital policy.”

Daniella
dropped her head.

“That’s okay, doctor.” Tricia replied. “We understand.”

But, it wasn’t okay with Daniella, not at all.

She
hadn’t even considered the possibility that she might not get to see him again. The thought of it sickened her and there was little question the emotion showed.

Dr. Wilson cleared his throat.

“Um, I suppose I could speak with the hospital administrator.” Dr. Wilson said. “Considering the circumstances, there might be something she’d be able to do. I’ll have a brief word with her and find out but that’s the best I can do for now.”

Daniella
smiled.

“Thank you Dr. Wilson.” She said. “That’s very kind.”

“It’s no trouble at all.” He replied. “The world would be a far better place with more people like the two of you in it. It’s the least I can do.”

Dr. Wilson left and the women sat down in the waiting room. A few minutes later, Billy returned.

“What’s the latest?” He said.

“They are transferring him and Dr. Wilson is checking if the hospital will allow us to visit.”
Daniella replied.

Billy nodded.

“Alright, well, it looks like things are at a standstill here for the moment. I’m going to run back to the station and get the preliminary paperwork started. I’ll have to come back at another time.”

The women nodded and Billy prepared to leave.

As he did, he looked at Daniella and asked, “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” She replied. “I’m fine. I was a little rattled earlier but I’m better now.”

“Okay,” he said. “Well, if anything dramatic should occur, give me a call. Otherwise I’ll see you later.”

Over the next couple of hours, the women passed the time in any way that they could but three-year-old magazines and abdominal crunch infomercials only go so far.

“Are you hungry?” Tricia asked.

“No,”
Daniella replied. “It’s hard for me to eat when I come here.”

“I know,” she said. “I’m sorry honey.”

“Daniella,” Tricia said. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No, I’d rather not.”

“Don’t you think that it would help?”

“Not really, no.” She replied. “It’s been almost two years Tricia. I’m over it.”

But Daniella knew that Tricia could tell when she lied. The truth was that Daniella
did believe
that she had gotten over it until she’d come back here tonight. The wounds were still there and with each minute that passed, she felt them affect her more.

“Bull,” Tricia said. “Why don’t you just go home and I’ll stay here?”

“No. Listen, I’ll be fine.” Daniella replied. “I just want to hear what the doctor has to say.”

“But why,
” Tricia asked. “What difference does it make, Daniella?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, we don’t know who this guy is or where he’s from,” she said. “He’s in good hands now anyway. Why do you want to stay here?”

“Because I do, Tricia,
” She snapped. “Go home if you want but I’m not leaving.”

“I can’t go home,
Daniella.”

“Why,” S
he asked. “No one is stopping you.”

“I don’t have a car, that’s why.”

Daniella forgot about that minor detail. She shrugged it off almost as soon as Tricia said it.

“Okay, take mine if you want but please stop bothering me about this.” She said. “I’m staying and that’s all there is to it.”

Tricia moved close to her friend and rubbed her on the arm.

Daniella
looked straight ahead. She felt herself begin to choke up.

“I’m sorry,”
Daniella said. “I didn’t mean to be so bitchy.”

“I know,” Tricia replied. “I realize how difficult being here in a situation just
like… Well, I didn’t mean to upset you, sweetheart. You realize that, don’t you?”

Daniella
looked at Tricia. Her eyes pooled with tears. The women hugged one another and as they did, Daniella said, “I know that. I love you very much. And, you’re right, it’s not a great idea for me to be here but I can’t help it. Look, I promise I will go. I just want to see how he is. Would you please stay with me?”

“Oh,” Tricia sighed. “I suppose so.”

“Thank you,” Daniella replied. “You are the best.”

“I know.” She said. “Look, I am hungry.
I am going to get something to eat. Are you sure you don’t want me to get you anything?”

“No.”

“Okay,” she said. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Alright,”
Daniella replied.

***

A few minutes after Tricia left, a wave of exhaustion came over Daniella. As much as she wanted to keep her eyes open, she couldn’t, and before she realized it, she’d drifted off to sleep. Unlike Tricia, who had the ability to sleep through any amount of noise, Daniella was a light sleeper. However, the events of the evening exhausted her and she slept better than she would under such circumstances.

Before long, she was in a deep slumber.

She had no idea how long she’d been that way when she thought she heard a voice talk to her.

“Miss Tanner,” it said.

Daniella was in the strange place between being asleep and awake. She shuffled about and attempted to ignore the intrusion.

“Miss Tanner.” The voice said once more but this time a touch of her shoulder accompanied it. As the hand grasped onto her and rocked her back and forth, her eyes flipped open.

“Dr. Wilson,” she said in a semi-startled tone.

“Sorry,” he replied. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“No, I’m okay,” she replied as she straightened herself up from her slouched position in the chair. “What is it?”

“A couple of things,” he said. “The first is the patient has been transferred to his own room. The other is the hospital administrator
saw her way fit to allow you to visit with him.”

“Oh,”
Daniella replied. “Well, that is good news. I am assuming since he’s been transferred to his own room his condition has improved or at least, stabilized.”

“Yes,” Dr. Wilson replied, “Correct on both counts. It’s quite remarkable.”

“What is?”

“Well, when I first examined him, his injuries were extensive and as I mentioned, they could e
ven have been life threatening.” He said. “But, in the past couple of hours, I’ve seen a dramatic improvement. It is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in all my years of practicing medicine, to be frank.”

“Wow,”
Daniella replied. “Why do you think that’s the case?”

“The human body is a strange thing, Miss Tanner.” He replied. “Anything is possible.”

She nodded.

“Your friend, Miss Collins,” he asked. “Has she left?”

“No,” Daniella replied. “She’s in the cafeteria.”

“Alright,” he said. “Well, if she wants to join you in his room, you may want to let her know.”

“Oh, we’re going right now?”

“Yes, Room 601, East Wing.” He replied. “If you want to wait for Miss Collins to get back, I’ll let the nurses on the floor know you are on the way.”

“Thank you, Dr. Wilson.” She replied. “As soon as I can reach Tricia, we’ll be right there.”

***

When the women arrived at the location Dr. Wilson specified, they found him at the nurse’s station in the midst of paperwork. He looked up as he saw them approach, picked up his clipboard and headed towards them.

“Are you ready to go in and see him?” he asked.

“Yes.” Daniella replied.

Tricia nodded in agreement.

“Very well,” he said. “Come with me.”

The women entered along with Dr. Wilson. As they did,
Daniella saw that a nurse stood to the side of the man’s bed. A bandage covered his head while a handful of tubes connected him to an array of equipment.

Drawn shades made stranger’s room seem more ominous.

The only sounds audible were the tedious beeps of the vital sign monitoring equipment. When she’d first become acquainted with those noises, she took solace in them. She once believed, in a naïve way, that the machines and tubes could perform miracles. But now, the mere sight of them filled her with dread. Daniella was aware that if nature wanted to extinguish life, it would.

Dr. Wilson turned towards the women.

In a soft voice he said, “He’s sedated at the moment but all the same, it’s best to keep the environment as restful as possible.”

Daniella
nodded and leaned in towards the doctor.

“How long do you think he will be unconscious?” she asked.

“That’s hard to say.” He replied. “As I mentioned earlier, his recovery so far has been nothing short of remarkable but even so, it could be hours or perhaps, days. Excuse me for a moment.”

Dr. Wilson walked over to where the nurse stood. They began to have a discussion that was out of earshot for
Daniella and Tricia. As they looked on, Tricia leaned in towards Daniella and said, “Pretty incredible that he lived, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,”
Daniella replied. “That’s especially true considering the severity of the accident.”

“This reminds me so much of Benjamin, it’s eerie.” Tricia said.

Daniella turned towards her to see that Tricia looked at her.

“Oh God, I’m sorry,” she whispered. “It just slipped out.”

Daniella shook her head.

“It’s okay,” she replied. “Just keep that stuff to yourself, please.”

Tricia nodded and said, “How long do you want to stay?”

Daniella
shrugged at the question while her eyes remained fixated on him.

“I know we should go,” she replied. “But, I’d like to be here when he wakes up.”

“Daniella,” Tricia said. “You heard what Dr. Wilson said. That could take days. Why don’t you go home and get rest?”

“I
dunno…” she replied.

As the women spoke, there was a sudden movement and sound from the patient. He began to moan. It was low at first but as the seconds passed, the noise grew louder.

Dr. Wilson motioned for the nurse to make certain that all of the monitoring equipment was secure while he moved close to the man to stabilize him. While they did, the man’s head started to move in a slow roll from one side to the other.

“No, no, no…” he
chanted.

They reached down towards him and as they did, the man shouted, “Wyatt! Wyatt
!!!”

“Nurse!”
Dr. Wilson exclaimed. “Secure that right arm!”

“I’m trying,” she replied. “He’s too strong!”

The doctor turned towards Daniella and Tricia.

“Ladies, please!” he shouted. “We need your help!”

Both women hurried to either side of the bed.

“Grab his legs!” Dr. Wilson shouted at them. “Nurse, please watch that right arm!”

“Wyatt! Wyatt! Wyatt!!” the man shouted as he flailed.

The four of them struggled to get his limbs under control for five or ten seconds when all of sudden, he stopped and his body went limp.

They looked at one another and back towards him when his eyes flipped open. Wordless, the stranger’s gaze moved amongst them all. He began with the nurse, moved to Dr. Wilson, next to Tricia and last, to Daniella.

Dr. Wilson interrupted him.

He held a small flashlight to the man’s pupils and said, “Sir, please. Try to relax. Don’t try to sit up. It’s important that you stay as still as possible. Nod if you understand.”

The man nodded his head in agreement.

“My head…” he moaned.

Dr. Wilson continued, “Yes…
You’ve sustained a severe concussion, some cracked ribs and a bruised hip. If the police report of the accident is true, you are fortunate to be alive. The good news is that you will be fine. You will need considerable time and rest.”

“What happened?” he said. “Where am I?”

“I was hoping you could tell me.” Dr. Wilson said. “As to where you are, you are in the intensive care unit of Mission General Hospital. My name is Dr. Andrew Wilson.”

The man blinked and looked at the foreign faces that surrounded him but did not speak.

“Can you tell me what happened to you?” Dr. Wilson asked.

The man winced, closed his eyes and leaned his head back against his pillow.

After a few moments, he swallowed hard, opened his eyes and replied, “Yes… I…”

Dr. Wilson raised his eyebrows in an expectant manner.