Yes I am,” Brian lied. In his heart he didn’t feel as if he had lied, Nick was a
brother to him, just not the technicalities of being flesh and blood.
The doctor flipped open Nick’s chart and quickly thumbed threw the growing
stack of papers in it.
“We’re giving Nick some meds in his IV to help in stopping the seizures from
happening. The CT’s were negative, which is good news. I suspect that the
seizures are from the meds that he apparently overdosed on,” Dr. Schueller
stated.
“How soon before you know whether or not these meds are working?” Brian
asked, almost afraid to find out the answer.
“We should know within 24 hours. Nick has already had four seizures since
he arrived here, so I would suspect that if we are on the right track with
him, this should stop seizures entirely,” the doctor replied as he was
scribbling something in Nick’s chart.
The doctor flipped the chart closed. “Do you have any questions?”
“Will this be a lifetime thing.... I mean the seizures, will this be something
that can happen to him the rest of his life?” Brian asked hesitantly.
“There is always going to be that chance, only time will tell."
“Lizz! For goodness sake, you’re bleeding. You need to go lay back down!” Kyung cried, the exasperation and worry was clear in her voice.
“No! I’m fine really.” I insisted stubbornly.
Kyung threw a helpless look at Brian.
“No you aren’t. You are bleeding and you are shaking so bad that I don’t know how you can even sit up. You are going back to your room.” Brian told me as he came around to where I was.
“Please.” I couldn’t help it the fresh tears that started to fall. I was losing control of the situation. I couldn’tleave. “I need to be here. I can’t leave him. Please don’t make me leave. Please!” I cried brokenly. I was so afraid that if I left then something would happen. If I stayed then I could protect him. Make sure he was okay.
“Shhhh, it’s going to be okay. The best thing you can do for Nick is to get yourself better.” Brian soothed as he wrapped his arms around me. I held on for dear life with one arm, but refused to let go of Nick’s hand with my other.
“Lizzie, come on. We need to get your stitches looked at. Maybe after you have gotten some rest, you can come back.” Kyung said gently. Yet the urgency was still in her voice.
“No, I can’t.” I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I had let a few tears fall now and then since I had gotten here, but now I couldn’t stop the sobs that ripped through me. It was the combination of the pain, the failed kindeys, the fact that I could die, but most of all, seeing this happening to Nick. I had always heard that you could talk to people in comas and that they would hear you. I was so terrified of leaving. If I could just stay and talk to him. Tell him not to give up. That I was here and that everything was going to be okay. But, I was so scared. I couldn’t leave. “I need to stay. They can just stitch me up in here or do whatever they need to do to me in here. I don’t care.” Even as I said it, my vision started to get fuzzy on me. I fought it with every ounce of my strength. I wasn’t going to give into it. I started to go limp in Brian’s arms and I felt him tense.
“Lizz? Oh god...”
Kyung stood just outside Lizz’s room next to Brian and watched her while she slept. “I shouldn’t have let her out of bed. She had just got done getting her last stitches fixed. I can’t believe she tore them again.” She said softly.
“At least she didn’t tear them as bad this time. You can’t blame yourself. You know she would have found a way to get in there anyway, just like she tried to before and just like Nick did.” Brian replied. He shook his head, thinking back to how mad he had been when he and Kyung had returned from their coffee break. Kyung had been just as angry. Nick had just been loaded onto the gurney and was being wheeled out of Lizz’s room when they had walked up. The look on Brian’s face was one of horror as he ran over to see what had happened. Kyung rushed into Lizz’s room to find her back in her bed, shaking and white as a ghost. She was crying and looked scared out her mind. No one had told her anything so she could only sit there and wonder. She tried to get up and go find out for herself, but Kyung wouldn’t let her go anywhere. It had been a very long hour.
Kyung sighed. “What are we going to do?” At first seeing Lizz pass out in Nick’s room had scared her, but her doctor said that it was probably either the pain, the physical toll on her body, or the emotional. Now she was relieved that at least she wouldn’t be all worked up about seeing Nick.
“I don’t know, I honestly don’t know. I pray that something doesn’t happen to one of them because I don’t think, at this point, that the other one could take it.” Brian said quietly.
I felt someone messing with my arm and awoke with a start.
“Shhh...It’s okay sweetie. I just need to check your graft.” A nurse said softly. It wasn’t Della. Shifts must have changed. This one’s name tag read Cynthia.
I started to look down at the graft, but changed my mind. I wasn’t sure I wanted to see it. I knew there was going to be a nasty looking knot thing that was the graft under my skin. After asking if I need anything, Cynthia left me alone in my room. My thoughts immediately returned to Nick. The last thing I remembered was being in his room as Kyung and Brian tried to convince me to leave. What happened after that and how I ended up in my room again was a mystery to me. I was not happy about it though. I started to sit up so I could somehow get back to his room, but to my shock, I couldn’t even move. I turned my head to the door, hoping that I could get a nurses attention. This was freaking me out.
I tried as hard as I could to sit up, but my body simply wouldn’t obey me. The pain in my side was sort of a dull throbbing instead of that fiery sharp feeling. “Damnit.” I muttered. Even my voice sounded pitiful. I had to get to Nick.
“Lizz, what’s wrong?” Kyung stood in my doorway.
“What the hell is wrong with me? I can’t get up!” My frustration was growing.
“You pushed your body too far. You need to rest for awhile. Between what you did to it by overdosing and then tearing your stitches twice, you need to stay still. I shouldn’t have let you out of bed the second time.” Kyung’s voice was tired.
“I need to see Nick.” I said, dismissing what she said about resting.
Kyung shook her head. “Aboslutely not...”
I started to cut her off, but she continued.
“Anyway, his parents are here. Let them spend some time alone with him.”
“His parents?” I breathed. That blew me away and sort of scared me. I knew that Nick was very adamant about his parents not getting involved in the other times. The fact that they were now just told me of the seriousness of the situation. “Is he still in the coma?” I asked softly.
Kyung nodded.
“What about the other guys?” I asked.
She shrugged. I could tell there was something else on her mind.
“What is it?” I leveled a gaze at her.
“More than just Nick’s parents are going to be finding out.” She looked away.
I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean?” I asked slowly.
She sighed. “I didn’t want to tell you this, but you are going to find out anyway. This whole thing has turned into an even bigger mess. Someone here found a copy of you guys’ chat and has already called the National Enquiror.”
I gasped.
“It gets worse. Other major news stations know and there are reporters all over outside. Security is keeping them from coming in, but there has been some close calls.”
This was unreal. “Oh my god, everyone is going to find out. My parents, everyone at school. Shit!What is this going to do to to the Backstreet Boys? To Nick?!” I felt sick to my stomach.
“I don’t know. I wish I knew what to say, but I don’t. Oh and I heard someone in the nurses station mention that psych is sending someone up to talk to you.” Kyung frowned as she said this.
“What?! Why?” I demanded.
“Well Lizz, look at it. You are a suicide risk now. You swallowed a bottle of a pretty strong drug. It wasn’t someone like Tylenol. This looks like a serious attempt at your life. Everyone is still amazed that you are even alive now. Your body is still really screwed up. And I’m not even talking about your kidneys. The albuterol really did a job on you. Not to mention that you are making it worse by not taking care of yourself here. You have already torn your stitches twice.” Kyung’s voice rose.
“Like you said, I’m already all screwed up so I don’t care that much at this point. I am more concerned with Nick right now. He’s in a freaking coma. He’s having seizures and they don’t know why. His career might be ruined now. What if they can’t bring him out of this coma? What if he doesn’t get better? What happens with him is so much more important right now.” I fired all this out at Kyung and didn’t even notice how red her face got.
“Bullshit! Why is your life any less important, huh?!” She demanded angrily.
I just looked at her. “It just is.”
“Whatever. I’ll be back. I need some coffee.” She stormed out of the room.
Shit. I had pissed her off good. I haven’t seen her this mad in...I don’t even know. I suddenly felt really alone and really depressed. I felt tears come to my eyes and I blinked them away. I was sick of crying. A few escaped anyway. I heard a soft knock at my door and I turned away. “Go away whoever you are.” I muttered under my breath.
The knocking persisted. “Yeah?” I called out softly. I figured it was Kyung again so I was surprised it wasn’t her that gazed at me from the doorway.
The knocking persisted. “Yeah?” I called out softly. I figured it was Kyung again so I was surprised it wasn’t her that gazed at me from the doorway.
A woman that appeared to be in her mid thirties gave me a confident smile. “Hi. My name is Pamela Strait. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions.”
“Who are you?” I asked shortly. I knew I was rude, but I wasn’t in the mood for visitors.
“I’m a reporter from Channel 8.”
My jaw dropped. "How did you get in here?!" I demanded.
"Oh, I have my ways." She informed me smugly.
"I'm not telling you anything so you might as well leave." I said coldly.
"Could you just cooperate with a few questions. How do you know Nick Carter? Is it true that you both tried to kill yourselves with some sort of suicide pact? Are there any permanent results?" She started firing the questions at me.
"Get out before I call security." I glared at her.
"Just answer a few questions, then I will leave. There isn't a phone in here to call with anyway." She made her voice sound sickeningly sweet.
"Then I will yell at the top of my lungs." I snapped.
"Right." She sneered.
This wasn’t right. There was no way that this person was from Channel 8. "Fine, I'll strike a deal with you. You tell me who you really are and how you got in here. Then I will tell you something." I spoke slowly.
"Okay. I don't work at Channel 8. I am with the National Enquiror. And I was let in by one of the nurses here." She stated.
"Why would one of the nurses let you in?" I demanded.
"Because she is the one who called and told us everything. And I am their best reporter and I am used to getting what I want. So now you can tell me what I want to know." She said haughtily.
I shook my head in disbelief. "Bitch. Get out of here right now." I exploded. The adrenaline was pumping now.
"I don't think so sweetie. Answer my questions." Her tone went to straight nasty.
“Get out.” I repeated.
She only stared at me.
I reached over to my bedside table and grabbed the nearest thing. That happened to be a small pitcher of water. I held it up. “Get out of here right now before I soak your ass.” I threatened.
She took a step toward me and I threw the water on her, drenching her suit.
She gasped. “You little...”
I didn’t know what she was going to do next so I threw the empty pitcher at the wall as hard as I could. It made a loud clatter.
“Alright kid, have it your way, but it doesn’t change what is being printed in next week’s paper. I’ll make sure to send you a copy. You both will be all over the front page.” With that she turned around and flounced out of the room.
I shuddered at the memory of that. As soon as she had left I lost my energy and collapsed against my pillows, shaking like a leaf. The monitors above my head started beeping and I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath. Within seconds, my nurse was in my room trying to calm me down. When Kyung had returned, she was pretty mad.
Kyung was working now so she was on another floor. They were going to start my first dialysis treatment today and I had to admit I was nervous. Kyung tried to switch her shift around so she could be with me, but was unable. I didn’t want to be alone. My doctor explained to me that they had actually done the procedure when I was in my first surgery. So technically this was the second one, but since I wasn’t awake for that one, I counted this as my first.
I wasn’t due for another hour so I decided I was going to go see Nick. I was watched like a hawk for the past three days so I couldn’t go see him, but now everything seemed quiet so I could get away with it. Besides I wanted to be there when he woke up. The hard part was getting there. I knew that my chances of staying were better if I got caught when I was already in his room.
The wheelchair was still in my room and I snickered at that. With my history, you’d think they would be smart enough to keep it out of reach. Getting to the chair was going to be a task though. I don’t know what was wrong with me because I didn’t seem to be feeling much better. I wasn’t regaining my strength like I figured I would. I knew I was stubborn enough to make it to the chair though. I turned off my IV machine and clamped the line. It was too much of a hassle to maneuver that and the wheelchair and I knew that they would hook me back up to it as soon as I was discovered anyway. Next came the leeds that I was attached to. I flipped the switch on silent just like I had done before and then pulled them off. I was a little more hesitant to take off my oxygen, but it was a sacrifice I had to make. Finally, very carefully I slid into the wheelchair. My legs felt like rubber and I didn’t want to use them more than I had to. I didn’t need another fall.
Time was running short before I was discovered so I wheeled myself to the doorway. I was already feeling lightheaded and short of breath, but I was getting used to that. I wasn’t going to let whatever was wrong with me get in my way. The hall was empty so I headed toward Nick’s room.
The door was slightly ajar so I pushed it open a little more. The door swung open, but now I hesitated. Several pairs of eyes turned in my direction.
“Gee thanks Bri, you look like crap yourself.” Lizz retorted. “How is he? I want to see him.” She tried to peer around Brian, who was standing in front of her.
“He’s still asleep.” Brian replied. Then he remembered that Lizz had never met Nick’s parents. “Jane, Bob, this is Nick’s online friend, Lizz. Remember I told you about her earlier?”
Jane nodded and held out her hand for Lizz to take. “Nice to meet you.” She said.
Lizz shook her hand and flushed. She thought of how silly she must have looked being so pale and having bright red cheeks. She turned back to Brian. “Will you push me over to him?”
Brian nodded and angled Lizz at the side of the bed. Lizz looked carefully at him and her eyes widened. She had expected him to look like he was sleeping peacefully, but instead he didn’t look all that peacful. His eyes were partway open showing a sliver of his blue eyes. Lizz looked at Brian uncertainly.
“He’s been like that for awhile. I guess it is part of coming out of the coma.” Brian tried to reassure her. Unfortuntately his voice didn’t sound as confident as he would have liked.
“Hey Lizz! I can’t stay, but I need to tell you something.” Kyung came in and stood by the side of my bed. She looked at me closely. “You look terrible.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks. Between you and Brian...” I trailed off.
“Um, there was a message for you on the answering machine. It was your mom...” She began.
My hopes lifted. As much as I was worried about how she would react, I needed her to be here.
“You were right about your mom and dad going to Kansas for that auction. Well, your mom said that they were going to go ahead and drive to Illinois to see the rest of your family. She said that they are going to stay in a hotel on the way so they will be on the road for a few days.” I could tell Kyung hated relaying this news.
I forced a smile. “It’s all good. My mom would freak if she knew anyway. It would be better if I was in better shape when she knew.” I couldn’t ignore that little voice in the back of my mind that said “ifI got better.”
She nodded uncertainly. “Well you should still call them. Do you know any of your relative’s numbers?”
“Nope, not a clue.” I sighed.
“I’m sorry, sweetie.” She squeezed my shoulder.
I gave her a tight smile. “I start my first dialysis in about 20 minutes.”
“I know. I wish I could be here.” It was obvious she felt bad. She tried to switch shifts, but it didn’t pan out.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine.” My voice wasn’t as convincing as I would have liked.
She leaned down and gave me a hug. “You’ll be alright, I know you will. I’m going to swing by and talk to Brian and see what I can find out. I’ll try to get some info back to you okay?”
I nodded, not trusting my voice at the present. She left and I don’t think I had ever felt so alone in my life. That is the thing I hated most about being in the hospital. How lonely it was. I wished more than anything that my parents were here, but they didn’t even know what was going on. Kyung had told me that a few of our friends had called, but I didn’t know how to handle visitors yet. The situation was too delicate. Kyung had been great. All her spare time between class and work was spent with me. Brian had also spent some time in here too. It was those silent moments. The past few nights when I couldn’t sleep. And more than ever, now. I wanted to be the strong person that everyone always told me that I was, but I didn’t feel strong right now. I didn’t want to be alone through this dialyisis thing. I fought the tears that were trying to push through.
Barbara McKean struggled for the third time to get the right combination on her locker. Her hands were shaking so bad that she kept hitting the wrong numbers. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. The image of Nick Carter’s face kept going through her mind. It was wrong. What Dr. Minnick had done was wrong. What he was doing now was beyond comprehension.
Nurse McKean was faced with the biggest moral dilemma she could imagine. She couldn’t let Dr. Minnick get away with this, but how could she expose him without taking the fall herself? She couldn’t afford to lose this job. One little mistake she made as an intern could now destroy her career. On on the other hand, her ethics couldn’t let her stay quiet. Dr. Minnick was well known and respected. Personally, she didn’t like him. He was ill-tempered and had a miserable bedside manner, but he was a good doctor. Until now.
Her heart broke at the memory of the reactions of this poor kid’s parents. And that young man that was with them. It was his eyes that she couldn’t forget. She had to do something about this, but she didn’t know what.
I never got nervous about anything, but I sure as hell was now. Several people in scrubs had just let themselves into my room and were hooking up what I guessed was the dialysis machine. I wished more than anything that someone was in here with me. The techs, or whatever they were called, were very efficient. They wasted no time in setting everything up and getting this started. I wanted to find a way to stall them. I thought about saying I had to go to the bathroom, but my nurse made sure I went before the crew got here. She also had me weighed. That had something to do with the dialysis. Making sure that they exchanged the right amount of blood or something. I wasn’t too clear on all this yet.
“Okay Elizabeth, we are going to have to put the catheter in now.” One of the ladies told me. She took the needle out of the package and I could feel the color drain from my face.
“Oh my god.” I whispered. It was huge!I had never had a needle that big get put into me and I had had a lotof needles stuck in my in my life. And it was going in my neck? I wanted to throw up. Instead I started coughing uncontrollably. I do that when I get nervous, upset, or anxious. Now it was all of the above.
“Are you alright?” Another asked me watched me carefully.
I nodded and after a few minutes, the coughing subsided. “I’m ready.” I said hoarsely. Actually I wasn’t, but I didn’t have much choice.
“Wait, can’t I have some lidocaine or something?” My voice hit a frantic note as she moved towards me.
“I‘m sorry honey. With your compromised health, it would be dangerous to numb your neck that much.” The first one said apologetically. I saw that her name was Lenora.
“What about versed to knock me out?” I pleaded. I did notwant to feel that thing.
“That would have to be ordered from the pharmacy and we have to get this started. We do have a spray though. It will be able to take some of the sting out.” She suggested.
“Okay.” That was a relief. She had me lay back and relax. Riiiight, relax...The other techs were fiddling with the machine. Man, I wanted someone here with me. She sprayed the stuff on my neck and waited. It was cold and almost immediately I started to go numb. She waited for about three minutes.
“Ready?” Lenora asked gently. I nodded and she counted to three. I didn’t feel the needle actually go in, but then once it was in, I felt her threading it. I sucked in my breath sharply and felt tears come to my eyes. It hurt.
“Hold still okay?” Lenora told me.
I clenched the sheets tightly in my hands and prayed that it would be over soon. After another minute she was done and began to secure it with tape. I let out a shaky breath and shut my eyes. “That was not cool.” I whispered.
“You did great though, honey.” I could hear a smile in her voice. “At the other end of the catheter are two tubes. One is for the outflow and the other is for the inflow. This will take about 4-6 hours and you might experience some side-effects. Espeically considering your lung condition and your, um...overdose. Call your nurse if you feel anything.” She informed me.
“‘K” I whispered. She patted my knee and everyone left. I didn’t want to move so I just layed there as still as possible.
“We’ll be back in a little bit to check on you.” And then I was alone.
Terri rushed up to Monica. “I have been looking for you all day!”
Monica nodded absently. She wasn’t very please with Terri right now. She had found out about Terri calling the National Enquiror several days ago and was livid. How could Terri do that?! For all the years of being best friends, Monica had never seen this side of Monica.
“Have you seen the mob outside?! It’s huge!” Exclaimed Terri, excitedly.
“Yeah, I saw them.” Monica mumbled. She started to move past her to grab a few charts that needed tending.
“I just gave a couple interviews. It’ll be on tonight’s news. Think of the exposure this is giving me!” Terri was grinning gleefully.
Monica stared at her in disbelief. “Haven’t you thought that maybe they might want a little privacy here? When people start getting wind of what you did you could get fired!”
“No I wouldn’t. Freedom of speech. Besides Brian, or whatever his name is, shouldn’t have gone off on me like that. I mean geez! You should have heard the way he was talking to me!”
Monica exploded. “Damnit Terri, do you blame him? Honestly? You are telling the whole world that his best friend is suicidal! Come on!”
“The people have a right to know.” Terri said hotly.
“No they don’t! That is their personal business. Not ours or anyone elses! What has gotten into you?” Monica glared at her.
“Please, Mon, don’t tell me that this doesn’s excite you just a little bit. It doesn’t get any juicier than this. Nick Carter tried to kill himself and in the process took some other girl down with him. He, more than anyone should have the perfect life, and yet he does this? Why? And who is this other chick? How does she play into it? Why would she do such an insane thing?” Her eyes were glowing.
Monica felt like she was going to be ill. “You must think this is some sort of game. Do you realize that these are people’s lives? Neither one of them are looking too good at the moment. How can you be so sick?! It’s like I don’t even know you!”
“Oh relax, sheesh.” Terri waved her hand as if dismissing Monica’s anger.
“Look...” Monica started icily. But she was cut of by a doctor that was running by.
“Monica, I need you. A young male just collapsed.” He called.
I was starting to feel slightly nauseated now. I had a relatively tough stomach so I tried my best to ignore it. TRL was over so I flipped the channel. I never watched TV anymore so I didn’t know what was on. I couldn’t keep my mind on that anyway. The churning feeling in my stomach got worse only it wasn’t just nausea. It was also a clenching, twisting feeling. This was different. I started to feel agitated. What the hell? My whole body got tense like there was something wrong. It was something kin to a sixth sense. I knewsomething was wrong. And I knew what it was concerned with.
The machines started to make some beeping noises. It was the heart monitor. My heart was racing and I could only attribute it to what was happening so suddenly. I knew a racing heart could be a side effect to the dialysis, but this feltdifferent somehow. It was starting to scare me.
Not five seconds are the beeps started going off, Caroline rushed in. “Sweetie, what is it?” She asked.
I was starting to shake now. “What the hell?” I whispered.
“Relax, take a deep breath.” She instructed.
“This isn’t from the dialysis. It’s different.” I gasped urgently. It was starting to sink in what was happening to me, but I couldn’t tell her. She would think I was nuts. Hell, I was beginning to question it myself.
“Lizz, you need to calm down.” She said gently, but sternly.
I shook my head. “What is going on with Nick? I need to know.” I couldn’t stop shaking. I was so tense, my muscles began to ache. My breathing became erratic almost. I neededto know.
“Sweetie, now isn’t the time.” She said carefully as she adjusted my oxygen flow.
“Where is Kyung?” I was beginning to grow desperate. There was an urgency in my feelings and it was beginning to take me over.
“She, uh, is tied up with a patient.” Caroline looked uncomfortable.
I needed Kyung. I was on the verge of losing it. I had never been in such a state as this in my life. I knew what was making me do this, but I didn’t know how or why it hit so suddenly. Something was wrong.“What is happening with Nick? I knowsomething is wrong. He is upset about something and I haveto know what it is!” My eyes darted wildly.
She looked shocked. It was almost like she couldn’t fathom my behavior. All I knew was that the tension in my body was getting stronger and the desperation was spinning me out of control. I felt like I was beginning to unravel and I tried to fight the overwhelming panic. There was a battle going on inside me. But it wasn’t my battle. I was feeling Nick’s.
“Lizz, please, you need to calm down. What’s wrong? Lizz!” Caroline cried in frustration.
I couldn’t even think straight. I was so scared. More than I ever have been in my life. Over and over I just murmered, “God, pleasehelp Nick. Help him.” I didn’t know why this was happening, I only knew that it was somehow connected to Nick.
I didn’t even notice the other people that had rushed into my room. I didn’t notice one of them put something into my IV. Everything stared to grow hazy and I fought it. I felt like, whatever this was, I had to hold onto it. Keep praying. That option was taken out of my hands as the medicine started to take effect and I lost consciousness.
Relieved that no one had seen him hit the wall, Brian continued carefully towards Nick’s room. He knew that Kyung was also frustrated that he had decided not to let the doctors keep him in bed and even run more tests if necessary. It didn’t matter though. He was needed by Nick and that was where he planned on being.
Once in the elevator another wave hit him and he leaned heavily against the wall. He felt emtpy inside. Like someone had drained him completely of all energy. His eyes were heavy, yet he knew that he wouldn’t sleep. He had barely eaten anything since this had started and had gotten even less sleep. He probably hadn’t even had fifteen hours in the past 5 days. And even those hours were disturbed and even nightmare filled. When he reached for the button for his floor he noticed that he was shaking slightly so he shoved his hands into his pockets.
He decided to stop in the restroom to splash some cold water on his face. That seemd to help. When he came out, he saw Kyung step out of one of the elevators. She looked concerned.
“Kyung?” He called.
She stopped and walked over to him. “I just got a page from this floor and it has Lizz’s code in it. I’m sure everything is okay, she is probably feeling sort of crappy from the dialysis.”
“I was on my way to see Nick.” Brian stated as he shifted his face away from her. He had a feeling she was going to say something. He was right.
“Brian, you look horrible. You need to rest!” She admonished.
He repeated what he had told Dr. Knapp. “I don’t have time to rest. I need to be there for Nick.”
Kyung groaned. “Honestly, you are acting like Lizz and Nick do. You are supposed to be more level-headed than that. What good are you going to be to him if you get sick because that is the direction that you are headed.” She pointed out.
He gave her a wan smile. “I’m fine.” Then another wave of dizziness hit him and he started to sway.
“Fine, right!” Kyung exclaimed, rolling her eyes. She steadied him and led him to a bench. “Stay there and I will be right back. You aren’t moving until you eat something.”
With that she went to the small kitchen to find something for him, trusting he would stay there. She didn’t even know if he would be able to even stand up.
Caroline, Lizz’s dialysis nurse, was visibly shaken by what she had read. Lizz’s other nurse had made a note in her chart that Lizz had just had a panic attack. Like Lizz had requested, Caroline checked on Nick. His chart read that he had just experienced a panic attack also. How could that have happened? It must be some sort of mistake,she thought. She recognized the initials underneath as Allison’s and called her over.
“What is it?” Allison asked.
“Patient in 13 just had a panic attack?” Caroline asked carefully.
Allison hesitated. “Yes, why do you ask?”
Caroline merely pointed to the two charts laying side by side.
“Patient in 15 just did also?” Allison’s voice was skeptical.
Caroline nodded. “She had to be sedated. Al, look at this. That is Nick Carter. This girl is the one who drank whatever she did in order to stop him from trying to kill himself. Explain this to me.” She said as she pointed in turn to each chart. “They both had them at the same time. How is that possible? How is that a coincidence?” She demanded.
“I, uh, don’t know.” Allison said uneasily. “That is really weird.”
“It gets weirder. When she started to panic, her focus was on Nick. She kept saying that something was wrong. It came totally out of the blue. She hasn’t talked to him or anything.”
The two women continued to talk about it, not realizing that someone was listening to every word of their conversation. Terri vowed that later she would make photo copies of the part in their charts that mentioned that happening. She was dumbfounded by it, but it excited her because she figured that would bring in even more money. For now she would try to get a few pictures of this other girl. She was a little hesitant at first because of what had happened to Nick, but this other chick was out cold so she could get away with it.
She pushed her cart down the hall and tried to act nonchaulant as she went inside. The room was dark with the blinds drawn and no lights on. Only what shone in through the curtain. All the machines beeped steadily now, unlike Nick’s had. The girl looked peaceful and it seemed odd that she would after what she just went through according to the nurses. Terri decided she would like some of whatever was given to the girl.
She whipped out her camera and began snapping away. When the button wouldn’t push she realized that the roll was full and she needed to get more film. Satisfied that she hadn’t been disconvered, she emptied the camera and dropped the roll into her pocket. She had a delivery to make.
All through that night Kyung had kept a vigil at Lizz’s bed. Brian had done the same with Nick, much to Kyung’s frustration. She had managed to get him to eat a few crackers yesterday after he had nearly passed out again. He was just so damned stubborn. Once, at about 3 am, she went to Nick’s room to check on them. She was relieved to see Brian was curled up in the corner of the chair, asleep. Unfortunately that didn’t even last an hour because he came to see how Lizz was about 45 minutes after that. He didn’t go back to sleep.
Kyung sighed and rubbed her eyes. It was only a little after 7 am. Her shift would be starting in less than three hours. She watched Lizz sleep and her thoughts drifted to the day before when she and Brian had learned what had happened.
She had returned from the kitchen to find Brian leaning forward, his head in his hands. She frowned, used to seeing him in that position. After giving him the graham crackers they both walked over to the nurses station.
Caroline immediately rushed up to them. Kyung was disturbed by the look on her face. She almost looked scared.
“Kyung right?” She asked.
Kyung nodded.
“Has Lizz had a history of panic attacks that you know of?” She asked.
Kyung shook her head slowly. “No, never.” Where was this going?
Caroline shifted her attention to Brian. “Has Nick?”
Brian shifted uncomfortably. That was too personal of information to be giving out to some random nurse. “Why, do you ask?”
“Please, it is very important!” Caroline stressed.
Both Kyung and Brian could see hear the urgency in this nurse’s voice and they glanced at each other. Finally Brian nodded slightly.
“But Lizz never has? Are you sure of this? Could she be prone to one?” Caroline persisted.
“No, of course not. I would know, she’s my best friend. What is going on?” Kyung demanded.
Caroline leaned forward. “Nick just had one.”
Upon hearing that, Brian shut his eyes. That was the last thing that Nick needed. What had brought this on? He then felt a pang of guilt. If he had been there...
Caroline continued. “At the same time, apparently, Lizz also experienced one.”
Kyung’s mouth fell open. “Lizz did?! Why?!” She exclaimed.
“We don’t know, but it had something to do with Nick. She was very insistent that something was wrong with him. She kept repeating that, and getting more and more upset. Her monitors started to go haywire and she had to be sedated. There was no way that she could have known that Nick was having a panic attack at the very same time. There aren’t phones in the rooms and she, of course, couldn’t go anywhere hooked up to the dialysis. Not to mention that Nick can’t even speak.There was no way that she could have known!” Caroline stated in awe.
Brian looked like he might faint again and Kyung could only stare at the nurse in shock. This was unfathomable. Lizz had never in her life had anything like that happen to her. She couldn’t imagine how this was possible.
“Wait, I’ll show you.” Caroline went to go get the two charts. She brought them back and laid them on the counter. When she opened them, however, those pages were missing. “What on earth?!”
She whirled around. “Allison! What happened to the notes that were just written about the panic attacks?”
Allison looked up from her charting and gave a puzzled look. “What do you mean?”
“The pages aren’t in here!” Caroline exclaimed. “Who would have taken them?”
Allison began to rummage around the desk. “I don’t know. The only people that were even in here were you, Marissa, but she was not even over here, and a girl from housekeeping.”
Kyung and Brian exchanged nervous glances. That didn’t sound good
.
“I’m sure they will turn up.” Caroline assured them.
Kyung sighed again as her thoughts returned to the present. Lizz had remained knocked out all night. Whatever they had given her was obviously pretty strong. Nick had woken up once, but he got agitated and had to be sedated again. Everyone was still puzzled over the whole situation, but at least one of the nurses had found the missing chart papers. They were actually back in the chart where they should have been in the first place. Kyung wasn’t sure why, but that unnerved her. As did Lizz having a panic attack and why it seemed to be connected to Nick’s. It frustrated Kyung because she liked to have concrete answers to things. This was something that she couldn’t figure out.
There was a knock at the door and a second later Brian let himself in. The look on his face was ashen and his eyes were red.