Simple Complexity

Part 8

'She's going to be okay,' the paramedic said to Abby as Holtzmann was loaded into the back of the Ambulance. Patty had taken the ECTO, driving to meet them at the hospital. Abby sat holding the blonde's hand, sirens blaring as the paramedics advised she was stable, telling Abby she had done the right thing and had gotten a pulse. The medics had tended to her head wound, adhesive dressings covered it, along with a bandage and Abby could already see the blood seeping through. Abby reached her other hand over to Holtzmann face, stroking her cheek softly and the blonde murmured a bit and Abby smiled, sure she heard the word, Erin. The woman pulled her hand away, and picked up her phone, taking in a deep breath and wiping her nose on her sleeve and then dialling Erin.

It wasn't long before Erin was woken. Her phone ringing, she dragged herself up, fumbling for it in her coat pocket, and she looked at her watch, realising it was nearing five in the morning. She turned a little, expecting Holtz to be there with her but she wasn't. Erin looked at her phone, assuming it to be Josh, and she suddenly felt her heart still, looking at the name and panic coursed through her.

'Abby?' Erin said quietly as she answered, swallowing hard. She registered the time again realising Holtzmann hadn't woken her, knowing she would have, just so she could make a flirty comment about her being in her bed.

'Erin,' Abby's voice was soft and Erin rose to her feet quickly, noticing the edge of panic in her voice.

'Where are-'

But Abby cut her off.

'I need you to come to hospital, it's Holtz.'

Erin suddenly saw white, and her legs gave way as she dropped back into a sitting position on the bed, head in her hand and phone pressed to her ear.

'Abby,' Erin breathed down the phone, 'Abby.'

'You just need to get here now Erin.'

'Abby,' Erin cried, 'Abby, what, is she...Abby?'

'Just get here Erin, she's okay, but please...'

'Ab..Abby, what..what happened?'

'Erin, she's going to be okay, just please, please get here.'

Erin nodded into the phone, trying to stand up, succeeding on her third attempt.

'What happened?' Erin cried out, bursting into the hospital waiting room, Patty rushing up to her from her seat next to Abby, the shorter woman standing, her face tear stained.

'Erin,' Patty cried, holding her arms open but the brunette stood back from her, and she looked down to the women's suits, they were blood stained.

'What? Is she okay? Is she okay? I need to see her,' Erin stuttered out, then pointed at them both, 'Is that, is that her blood?'

'Soon Er,' Abby said nodding, her hands running down her face, her eyes red from crying, 'soon honey.'

'What happened,' the physicist asked, tears streaming down her cheeks, her eyes not leaving the patches of red on their clothing.

'She was hit, hit pretty fucking hard with a piece of farming equipment,' Patty said, trying to hold back tears, putting her arms around Erin, 'she was in the barn, we didn't see it happen, we just-'

Erin sobbed, almost falling from Patty's arms as she felt her legs give way again.

'What happened?' Erin asked again, 'how bad is she?'

'She's got a head wound,' Abby sobbed, 'she stopped breathing. I- I - I gave her CPR.'

'Oh my god, I should have been there, I should have been there.' Erin wailed, 'I would have protected her.'