Updating early because tomorrow is busy for me, being a US holiday and all.
———
⚠️TW//Medium⚠️
25 Weeks..?
"Luke," His head spins quickly, catching sight of eyes that look nearly as concerned as he feels. "Is she okay?" Peter's voice cracks slightly as he falls into the chair beside Luke.
"I don't know. They haven't given me anything hardly. The ER nurse said she was sent to scans and we were sent here to wait. I filled out all her paperwork and I've sat in this chair counting the seconds as the hand circles around that clock." He motions to the basic analog clock hung on the wall across from him. "When you called my name we were at 9,376 seconds since I sat down in this chair. It has felt like an eternity."
"What happened?" Peter asks softly.
"A car, it came out of nowhere, just flew around the corner and hit her." Luke shakes his head, his eyes tightening shut as he relives that moment. "The driver reversed and sped away before any of us could even process what had happened. Michael's trying to get info from the restaurant, or other shops around it, see if anyone got it on video by chance."
"And they don't know anything about the baby either?" Peter keeps going.
"No, and that might be more terrifying than not knowing how hurt Elodie is. At least I know El is alive, I don't know if our daughter is..."
"She is, my sister is as tough as they come, Luke. If Elodie is alive she has made sure that baby is also alive. I have to believe that. She loves that little girl so much, she would never let anything happen to her."
"I know she wouldn't, but she isn't in control this time, and that makes me uncertain and terrified. You didn't see the way she flew across that road, or the way she landed, you didn't see the pool of blood she left behind... I don't know where the blood came from, Pete, what if the landing ended the pregnancy instantly and that's where the blood came from?"
"You can't think like that, Luke. You can't." Peter's voice cracks slightly.
"He's right, Luke. You can't expect the worst, they are both going to be okay. They have to be." Crystal chimes in quietly.
"If I expect the worst then everything I'm told will be better than I'm expecting. Or at worst, it will be what I am expecting." Luke's tone comes out rather harsh, his emotions close to the surface again.
"Have some hope, Luke. We have to keep hope for both of them." Crystal reaches across the armrest to take his hand again squeezing it tightly between her own.
"I'm losing any and all hope by the second, I need to know where my girls are, and I need to know what is happening with them."
"Hey, guys." Michael appears suddenly. He evidently went home to change before coming here, his outfit now consisting of joggers and a hoodie, a duffle bag over his shoulder. "Any news?"
"Nothing yet, what have you got for us?" Crystal shakes her head.
"Ash and Brooke have Indy for the night, they're on standby for whatever we need, as are Cal and Brandy. They offered to come here but I told them we didn't need a crowd yet, especially since we don't know what's going on entirely at this point. Peter obviously beat me here. I called him as soon as I left the restaurant. The restaurant said they will process their footage from the front of the building and send it to the police who have opened a case for this hit and run. We weren't able to get into contact with the other shops on the block, but someone connected to the case will get anything else we can tomorrow when those places are open. No one caught the make or model of the car or license plate number though, so if we can't find anything through the camera footage we are at an impasse. Hopefully someone can give us the information we need tomorrow. I wish I had more or at least better news for you tonight, Luke. They have both your number and mine, they'll let us know if there's a break in the case at any point. Right now, you just need to focus on your girls and being here for them." Michael fills them in as quickly and concisely as he can.
"Thank you, Mike. For staying, for talking to the police, for trying to get any information you could from the restaurant. It means everything to me that you did that for Elodie and for me."
"You're my brother, Luke, I had to. I wanted to. I needed to. You'd have done it for me if the roles had been reversed, and I would do it again if I had to."
"Let's hope you don't have to." Luke sighs, "I just want to wake up... for this to all be a nightmare. How were we discussing wedding dates and plans four hours ago and now we're here, unsure if my fiancée or my baby are going to survive." Luke leans his head forward, running his hands through his hair again and again.
"We're going to get to the bottom of all of this, Luke. We will make sure justice is paid. Once Elodie and the baby are out of harm's way we will make it happen." Peter claps him on the back softly.
"I just need the doctor to come give me some good news, any news..." Luke sighs, pulling his phone from his pocket yet again, opening his notes app to the shared note he and Elodie had been keeping filled with name ideas for the baby. His eyes well with tears as he sees a couple names added to the list since the last time he'd looked. El must have added them this afternoon sometime.
"Elodie Stewart's family." Luke practically jumps out of the chair as he finally hears the words he had been waiting so long for.
"I'm Elodie's fiancé." He answers as the four of them gather around the doctor.
"Thank you for your patience tonight. Elodie came in with some serious injuries, we took her in for x-rays due to swelling in her arm. She sustained a humerus shaft fracture to her right arm, unfortunately we had to operate to set the break and prevent nerve damage. That is the biggest reason things have taken so long tonight. She did well, and she is in post-op right now while the nurses work to wake her. She also has a large amount of road rash to the right side of her face and body, and some significant bruising. Once she is awake we will do a concussion test, but all the neurological signals seemed to be firing correctly while she was sedated so hopefully her concussion isn't too significant. She may be dazed and confused when she comes to, having you there who she knows well will be a benefit to her."
"And the baby?" Crystal asks before Luke can.
"The anesthesiologist was monitoring the fetus' heart rate the entire surgery, and nothing seemed worrisome. Once Elodie is in her room and waking we will have the OB team come do a full assessment to make sure everything is still good with the pregnancy. But I saw no worries from my point of view, the baby seemed happy and healthy. They have monitors on Elodie's stomach to track if that changes at all."
"They're both okay?" Luke's knees feel weak as he asks, relief flooding his entire body.
"Banged up, and Elodie will be extremely sore for a while, but yes, from everything we have checked tonight they should both make a full recovery." He smiles kindly.
"Thank you. Thank you so much for all your work." Luke nods, "Do you have any idea when we will be able to see her?"
"They should bring her out to her room in about ten minutes or so, I'll have the nurse at the desk take you back as soon as they have her set up."
"Thank you." Luke nods again, reaching to shake the doctor's hand before letting him leave.
"Here, Luke." Michael slides the duffel bag off his shoulder, opening it and producing a pair of sweats and a crewneck from inside, along with Luke's favorite Converse. "Go get comfortable so you're ready when El is. We can run your things home for you after you change."
"Thanks, Mike. You guys should go home and get some rest after you see her, you can come back to visit tomorrow when she's awake."
"I need to see her first, but then we will. I'm so glad they're both okay, Luke." Crystal nods.
"Me too, and I'm not trying to kick you guys out, I just know the hospital isn't exactly a comfortable place to hang out."
"We know. Plus, after tonight I kind of want to go get my own baby girl and take her home and never let her out of my arms again." Crystal tries to joke, but they all know it's not a joke in any way.
"I'll let Ash know we are going to pick her up tonight, and I'll fill him and Cal in on what the doctor said. You go change, Luke. So you're ready when El is." Michael nods towards the bathroom behind Luke.
"Thanks, Mike." Luke sighs, turning on his heels finally and heading towards the bathroom.
—------------------------
Is Elodie actually okay? Is the baby? What happens when Luke sees Elodie finally?
Vote and comment!
I love you guys!!!
~M =)