Carolina Blue

Part 22

Lukas POV

I don't know when but eventually Carolina drifted off to sleep in her chair and it was just MaryAnn and I awake sitting in a comfortable silence. MaryAnn decided to break the silence first, "Ya know he thinks the world of you Lukas, although he always came home tired from your training sessions, there was also this peaceful determination after. And gosh does he love 'Lina, and he would appreciate you looking out for her right now." She didn't look at me till she finished her last sentence and sent me a careful smile. There was a gleam in her eye that I couldn't quite place.

"Thank you ma'am, I'm trying my best."

Somewhere soon after that I must've dozed off in chair I was sitting in.

I was woken up suddenly from the monitors in the room going crazy. A nurse hurried in and hit a button on the wall and all of sudden the hospital was yelling CODE BLUE CODE BLUE

We were all awake at this point, and the nurse looked at us, "I'm going to have to ask ya'll to wait outside please."

Carolina appeared frozen in place standing watching the course of action. Worried that she wouldn't move on her own accord I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and led her out of the room. Where the three of us watched nurses chase in with carts. I felt warm suddenly in my left hand, and felt Carolina reach to grab my hand, I looked at her and she shrugged and quietly said, "it's tradition."

I nodded fully understanding what she meant. Every rodeo I held her hand while Cope rode trying to ease some of her tension and worry. This was similar to that, but the stakes were much higher and we had no idea when it would end and the winning outcome was worth way more than a belt buckle and cash prize.

After several minutes passed the nurses and doctors stabilized Cope again. The one doctor came up to MaryAnn asking, "Are you Mrs.Yeller?"

She nodded in response.

"May I steal you for a moment?"

The doctor glanced at Carolina and I quietly asking for us to give them a minute, then added, "You can go back in and sit with him if you'd like."

We nodded and did just that. I watched through the window, trying to gauge what the doctor was telling MaryAnn.

I pulled out my phone and checked the time and saw that it was now five in the morning.

Carolina and I's chairs were still close together and she leaned over and leaned her head on my shoulder and whispered, "Lukas, do you think he's going to be okay?"

The feeling of Carolina's head on my shoulder seared warmth throughout my body, but I pushed that thought away. I am just being her friend right now, nothing more, nothing less.

I took a second to think before I responded knowing the weight of my words. "I don't know 'Lina, but whatever happens, I'll be here." As I finished I draped my arm over her shoulders and gave them a squeeze.

We stayed like that in silence for a second, until Carolina brought up one thing that I knew had to be swirling around in her mind somewhere. "You know I thought the worst thing about yesterday, was going to be seeing him, but man was I wrong. I would deal with nightmares the rest of my life if it would mean Cope would never have to go through this." Carolina didn't have the name the asshole she was referring to. It's is crazy to think that all happened yesterday as well.

Choosing to ask Carolina a question I had been wondering since she showed up on my doorstep on the annual anniversary of her assault, "How have you been sleeping, still have nightmares?"

Carolina takes a sharp breath, and I notice her eyes roll up to me for a second before settling on the wall and answering, "Truth?"

"Yes"

"That day I stopped at your house and fell asleep was the best sleep I've gotten in a long time, otherwise the nightmares are pretty constant. Sometimes I only get them once a night. Even if the nightmares don't fall in my slumber that night, sometimes I am so fearful to fall asleep." A tear slides down Carolina's cheek and I can't stop myself I brush it away with my hand.

"You're always welcome to come to my house anytime 'Lina. If you can't sleep and want to watch late night TV with someone or anything, I'm always here for you."

I would never turn away Carolina if she showed up at my house regardless of her reasoning.

Carolina takes me by surprise and wraps her arms around my torso and whispers, "Thank you for everything."

It takes me a second to react and hug Carolina back, "You're welcome, 'Lina"

We hear footsteps and tear apart from one another seeing a teary eyed MaryAnn settling back into the room.

Carolina asks the question of the hour, "MaryAnn, how bad is it?"

She shakes her head, "'Lina, honey, they're not sure yet, but it's not looking good. They say that there is lot of pressure build up in his brain. They say that even if Cope wakes up he may not be how we remember him, and may not be able to live life normally. But I'm not givin' up hope, we all know Cope will not give up without a fight."

I suck in a breath and lean forward and place my head in my hands. Carolina looks like she is still processing what MaryAnn said. However, an emotion is striking me and its anger. I'm angry that my best friend even if he wakes up may not be able to do what he loves. The anger is starting to crawl all over my body, and I'm afraid if I sit here any longer I may lash out on two others who definitely do not deserve it.

So I stand quickly, "I'm going to go for a walk, let me know if you need anything." Then I take off walking quickly out of the room just trying to wrap my head around everything. Flashing through memories with Cope. I then realize I should let Rhett know, so I grab my phone dialing Rhett up.