Watch Me Drown

16. Emergency

TW: mentions of smoking addiction

(Lucy Dacus's point of view)

"Holy fuck!" Julien yelled. "We have to go to the hospital! We have to go to the hospital now! Her heart rate is at 116 and it's getting faster!"

She picked Abby up and we all ran out the door. We left the lights and the coffee on. We didn't have time to lock the door. Dorothea barked and howled.

Julien was the fastest. She got to the elevator and was aggressively hitting the button first. She was panicking. I could see it in her facial expression; eyes wide, forehead wrinkled, bottom lip in between her teeth. She was swearing a lot.

Phoebe was quiet. She watched anxiously. She was panicking as well, but silently. Her expression was neutral, except for her eyes flashing between me, Julien, and Abby, who was still in Julien's arms, still unconscious.

When we got to my car, I opened the door for Julien and got in the driver's seat. Phoebe was in the passenger seat. We were in the same spots as yesterday, and it felt weird.

"Julien, check her heart rate." I said.

"It's gone down," She said after a moment. "But it's still high."

"Keep an eye on it." I told her.

"I, um..." Phoebe said. "I grabbed everyone's shoes."

She handed them out as I started to drive. I had subconsciously taken charge of the situation. I always seemed to do that. I forced myself to stay calm. If I freaked out, everyone else would freak out even more. I just had to drive to the hospital for now.

"This isn't the right way to the hospital, Lucy." Julien said a few minutes into the drive. Her voice was shaky and strained.

"Shortcut." I said simply.

"Lucy, you're kind of notorious for your 'shortcuts' being longer." Phoebe added tensely.

"Abby??" Julien suddenly said, before I could respond to Phoebe.

"Julien, what's happening?" I asked.

I couldn't see Abby at all. Julien had laid her down, letting Abby's head rest in her lap.

"She's waking up!" Julien said. She leaned down slightly. "Abby, wake up...hi. You okay? Abby?"

"Julien?" I asked. 

"Abby? Can you talk?" She wasn't listening to me, understandably so.

"Is she having trouble talking?" I asked louder.

"Yeah, she can't...Abby?" Julien was distracted again before she could finish. "Abby, keep your eyes open, okay? Abby? Please?"

"She passed out again." Phoebe said. She had momentarily turned in her seat to look.

Julien leaned back in her seat and put a hand over her face. Her hand was trembling. I would calm her down after we got Abby into the ER.

We got to the hospital shortly. I parked right by the entrance of the emergency room and jumped out. I picked up Abby before Julien could; Julien was too freaked out. We ran in, causing a lot of alarm. We yelled for help, then two guys came with a stretcher that I placed Abby on. All three of us watched them roll Abby away. When we couldn't see them anymore, I turned to Julien, to talk to her, but before I could say anything she spun around and walked right out.

"This wouldn't have happened if I didn't argue with her." Phoebe said as we watched Julien leave.

"Phoebe, don't blame yourself for this!" I said. "This would have happened eventually."