Second Chances (ON HOLD)

Chapter Five

It felt like they had all been sat waiting for days when, in fact, it hadn't even been 24 hours since they had brought Max to the hospital. It was almost 7 in the evening and the group were starting to get restless. Especially Steve and Lucas. Lucas hadn't spoken a word to anyone although he had been mumbling to himself for the past hour. Steve had already given the doctor a piece of his mind and he was just about ready to do it again. It was obvious Mrs Mayfield wasn't coming and it was time the doctor accepted it.

Just as he got up from his chair the doctor strolled through the door, a tired look on his face. The man hadn't gotten any sleep since the previous night but Steve didn't feel sorry for him.

"Mr Harrington, I presume you were just about to come and hassle me again. Well, there is no need. We've had no word from the girls mother so I think it's safe to say she is no longer with us," The man said as he flipped through his notes to the page he was looking for. "Max is stable but in a coma. We managed to reset all of her broken limbs but as we were doing so her heart stopped a couple of times. Thankfully we managed to bring her back. Only two of you will be allowed in to see her at a time so choose among you. She is in room 206."

"Doc, what about her eyes?" Lucas asked, finally speaking up. His face was filled with concern.

"I'm afraid we don't know yet. Only time will tell if she will fully regain her eye sight or if she will be blind. Either way, we have a specialist who will help her when the time comes. Anymore questions?"

Steve shook his head and thanked the doctor. To his surprise the doctor gave him a genuine smile before he left the room. Steve turned to his friends and took in all of the sad expressions on their faces.

"Poor Max! She didn't deserve this!" Dustin exclaimed, tears streaming down his face.

"If it's okay with you guys, Lucas and I will go first." Steve said. He didn't really care if anyone objected. He was going in first regardless.

"Of course it's okay, Steve. It should be the two of you!" Nancy said, giving him a nod. "I need to go anyway but I'll be back. I need to take some supplies to our friend. I'll be back when I can."

Everyone said their goodbyes to Nancy before she disappeared from the room. Steve and Lucas shared a grimace before they made their way to Max's room. Steve could tell Lucas was just as nervous as he was.

As Room 206 came into view Steve started to feel sick to his stomach. He knew her limbs were back in place and that they had probably cleaned all the blood off of her but he wasn't sure he was ready to see her lying lifeless in a hospital bed.

"You ready for this?" He asked Lucas in a hushed voice, resting a hand on the teens shoulder.

"Ready as I'll ever be, I guess!" Lucas whisperered back. "You go first."

Steve nodded and grabbed the handle, psyching himself up to open the door. It took him a few seconds but he forced himself to. As the door swung open Steve jumped when he saw what looked like a hooded figure sitting beside Max's bed. He closed his eyes for a moment in case his eyes were tricking him and sure enough, when he opened his eyes, the hooded figure was gone. He felt a chill run down his spine as he mentally scolded himself for being so stupid and made his way round the bed. Lucas went to the opposite side and they both took in the sight before them.

Max was hooked up to a lot of machines with tubes coming out of her and her limbs were all in casts. Apart from that she looked normal, like she was just sleeping.

Lucas took her fragile hand in his as he sat down in the other chair beside her, making sure not to hold it too firmly. He was afraid she would break.

Steve held back a sigh as he took a seat as well. He didn't try to hold her hand even though he wanted to. He could imagine her saying 'ew gross' and he smiled internally.