Breaking the Lock

Twelve

The hospital was smaller than GH, with sterile green walls and old gray linoleum. Nathan paced the hallway anxiously waiting for someone to talk to him. He turned his wrist and looked at his watch. 7:30. He'd been at the hospital for nearly two hours, arriving just as the Jane Doe had been wheeled into surgery. He tried to keep his mind off anything that might make him worry more than he already was and focused on good things. New Year's Eve, his first date with Maxie, the first time he kissed her. That was what he needed, wanted to keep in the forefront of his thoughts. Not the negative images that came unbidden when the worry threatened to take over.

A nurse finally approached him followed by a man Nathan marked as a fellow cop. He had an air of authority and purpose that Nathan recognized and appreciated. He stepped forward to meet them. The nurse motioned to Nathan and turned away but the cop moved forward his hand outstretched.

"Detective West? I'm Jim Ferris, Geneva Police. The staff tells me you might be able to ID our gunshot victim?"

Nathan shook his hand. "I have reason to believe the victim is my sister, Britt Westbourne."

"Yes, your partner filled me in," Ferris nodded. "Just so you know she was found outside of town on the side of the road. She was incoherent unfortunately so we weren't able to get much from her." He jerked his head towards the end of the hall. "I understand she is out of surgery and in recovery. Shall we?"

Nathan followed the detective to a set of swinging doors. He said a silent prayer that this was Britt and that she was truly okay. Ferris conferred with a doctor for a moment before motioning to Nathan to follow him again. They entered a room and identified themselves to the nurse there who left them with a caution that the patient was still groggy from the anesthesia.

"Well," Ferris said giving him a pointed gaze. "Is this your sister?"

Nathan shifted to the bed and looked down at the patient, breathing a sigh of relief. It was Britt, battered and bruised, but still Britt. He nodded, reaching for Britt's hand. He squeezed her hand, watching her eyes flutter.

"All right then. I'll give you a moment," Ferris said, leaving the room. Nathan pulled a chair close to the bed and waited for Britt to come around. She turned her head, moaning lightly. Her eyes fluttered open and focused on Nathan.

"Nathan? Where am I?" She asked struggling to sit up. He laid his hands on her shoulders, pushing her back down gently.

"You're in the hospital in Geneva."

She gripped his hand tightly, looking at him with a slightly crazed look. "Where's Maxie? Is she here too? Did she get away?"

Nathan felt his stomach fall away in despair but did his best to remain calm. "Maxie isn't here. Can you tell me what happened to you?"

Britt nodded and launched into her story beginning with being grabbed and ending with Maxie getting them unlocked and out of the cabin. She struggled at times, crying as she searched for the words to tell him what had happened. There were gaps in her story but what she didn't know he could easily imagine. He listened to her until she ran out of things to say and fell back on the bed exhausted.

"Get some rest, Britt," he said softly. "I'll be back soon." He made a move to leave but Britt reached up and grabbed his hand again. His phone buzzed with a text message but he ignored it. "I promise I'll be back soon. I have to call our mother and let her know you're okay."

"No Nathan, listen to me," she said in a desperate tone. "You have to find Maxie. He's crazy."

"I will; I'll find her. And I'll make sure the man that did this to you can't do it to anyone else ever." He bent over and kissed her forehead. "Get some rest. I'll be back soon," he added turning to leave.

"Nathan," Britt called as he opened the door. "Be careful."

He lifted the corner of his mouth in a half smile. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."