The Many Regrets of a Cyborg Werewolf

Defamation of Character - XXIX

The waiting room was empty except for them, which made the silence all the more deafening. Erin leaned on Mahi's shoulder as they sat next to one another, exhausted beyond measure but unable to rest, while Luke leaned up against the opposite wall completely still and silent. Nobody knew what to say, and if they did there was no point. The overwhelming failure didn't bear articulating. Instead all they could do is wait for the doctor, as well as Mercer and Monica, and recount the events that brought them here. Jim had been able to fly them back, but they immediately called an ambulance upon touching down. Mahi had to hide his incomplete fingers and own wounds lest questions be asked, and at least so far their cover story was holding up. Erin didn't like how naturally lying had become. White lies for the sake of her job were common, the innocent half-truths that she always told herself were harmless, but it was all in pursuit of the greater truth. Now the truth was a burden, if not an outright threat, and she couldn't tell anyone what really happened. Nor could she tell anyone what was coming. Nobody would even believe her if they did.

"They're here," Luke uttered as he stepped away from the wall. His tone was low and soft, almost reluctant, but it was startling against the near silence of the deserted waiting room. Sure enough a few moments later the doors opened, and a very worried Monica immediately rushed over to her daughter, not even saying a word as she wrapped her hands around her.

"I'm fine, mom," Erin hugged her back.

"How's Jim?" She asked.

"He has a broken leg," Erin said, "that's all, it's not serious."

"A broken leg can be pretty serious," she replied, not exactly consoled by the information. Mercer entered the room, propped up with his cane, and glanced at Luke. He said nothing, but his eyes spoke volumes, and as Luke looked away his gaze fell. Not long after the doors on the opposite end of the room opened, and a doctor stepped out with a clipboard in hand.

"Broadhead?" He asked, Erin and her mother approaching.

"I'm his wife," Monica said, "how bad is it?"

"He's a little banged up," the doctor nodded, "but he'll be fine. He has a fractured fibula and two broken ribs, and he was a little dehydrated, but all and all I've seen worse skiing accidents."

"Thank god," Monica sighed, Erin sharing her relief.

"I will say, I've never seen a fracture quite like his," the doctor looked at his notes, "you said someone reset it? Truth be told, I've never seen this kind of fracture set without surgery." Erin glanced at Mahi, who didn't take credit, but she silently thanked him all the same. "He had bruising on his leg that suggested his femur took a hit, but there were no fractures on the X-rays. He'll be off the slopes for a few months but he should heal just fine."

"Thank you," Erin said, "are we allowed to see him?"

"Of course," the doctor replied, "we have him on IV and would like to monitor him overnight, but he's awake. Room twelve." Erin and Monica headed for the doors, only for the former to stop and beckon Mahi to follow, which he did, leaving Luke and Mercer alone. The waiting room fell quiet once more, until Mercer made his way to a chair and took his seat.

"I'm sorry, Lucas," he began, "I should have been there to help, I could've-"

"You couldn't have done anything," Luke replied. "We lost the moment I decided to go. She got us to lead her right to it, and I just... let her."

"You couldn't have known."

"Yes, I could," Luke said. "If I just took two minutes to think it over I would've..." Luke pulled out a box of cigarettes from his pocket, only to remember he was in a hospital, then stuffed them back in. "They all died because of me."