Language of Love

Chapter 22 - A Long Wait

Sat out the back of the breakers on his board Troy looked back at the beach as he chatted with his brother. He spotted Whippet racing down the sand and automatically started scanning the water for trouble. Seeing nothing he looked back and saw Whippet gesturing for them to come in.
"D'ya reckon its a shark?" Christian pondered.
"Nah. That's what the shark alarms for!"

They caught a wave in. Whippet met them in the water.
"Radio chatter from Bondi. Abi's hurt."
"Low blow prank Whip!" Christian laughed. But Troy saw the worry on Whippets face and didn't join his brothers laughter.
"What happened? How bad?" He said. Christians laughter stopped as he realised Whippet was serious.
"Hit in the head by a surfer stealing her wave. She surfaced herself but Box was bringing her in. Didn't hear anymore, ran down here."
Troy ran for the lifeguard station.
Mouse was listening intently to the radio.
"Hop radioed. She's got a nasty head wound, not very lucid. They've taken spinal precautions but there's no loss of feeling. Ambulance is on its way."
Troy rose to leave. Whippet placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"You won't beat the ambulance there. If you wait here to find out where they're taking her you'll get to her faster."

Troy paced restlessly as he waited for more news. His brother shoved a t-shirt at him and almost in a trance Troy put it on. They were all tense and silent, listening to the limited radio chatter from Bondi.
Eventually Hoppo radioed in. Whippet grabbed the radio.
"They're taking her to Saint Vincent's. Maxi's with her."
Troy was out the door in seconds. Christian chasing after him.
"Throw me your keys bro. I'll drive." He insisted. Troy reluctantly handed over his keys and slid into the passenger seat.

The drive to the hospital seemed to take forever. Hoppo hadn't said how badly she was hurt but Troy had known his boss a long time and he knew that serious overly calm tone wasn't a good sign.

Christian dropped Troy at the emergency entrance.
"I'll park up and come find you."
Troy barely heard his brother as he headed for the entrance and the reception desk.
"I'm looking for Abi Heath. She was being brought in from Bondi Beach by ambulance."
"Are you family?"
"I'm her boyfriend."
"Take a seat love. I'll find out where she is."

The receptionist soon returned.
"She came in with a friend. I'll take you to where he is waiting."
Troy followed her down a corridor and quickly spotted Maxi sat bouncing his leg impatiently on a chair at the side of the corridor.
"How is she? Why aren't you with her?" Troy demanded.
"They told me I had to wait here mate. She's in and out of consciousness and not lucid when she is conscious. They've rushed her up for CT scans. Then think they'll do xrays to rule out a spinal but they don't seem to think there's an issue there."
Troy sunk into a chair with his head in his hands.
"Shit." He wiped a tear from his eye. "How did it happen?"
"She went surfing with Box. The swell wasn't big but a beginner surfer stole her wave, came down behind her and lost his board. It hit her hard in the back of the head." Maxi put his own head in his hands. "She went under but got herself back to the surface. Box grabbed her and took her in. Beardy, Bish and I met him on the shore. She was groggy but talking, signs of a concussion then became less lucid. By the time the ambulance arrived it was a fight to keep her conscious."

The wait seemed to take forever. Christian joined them, sitting silently beside his brother. Troy soon took to pacing the corridor. Eventually, a doctor approached them.
"You came in with Miss Heath?" She addressed Maxi.
"Is she okay? Can I see her?" Troy said.
"Her x-rays came back clear, no spinal damage. She suffered a severe blow to the head. The CT scans show some swelling but no bleeding on the brain. There's no cranial damage to her skull. She has a severe concussion and is still in and out of consciousness and lucidity. She's had sutures to close the head wound. We are admitting her for a few days to monitor the swelling. Once we get her a room, you can see her."
"Can I sit with her in emergency while we wait for a room?" Troy asked.
"It should be family only in emergency."
"She doesn't have family here. I'm her boyfriend." Troy was sounding frustrated.
"Very well." The Doctor said. "Follow me."