A Life Down Under (South of the Border Sequel) Zac Efron Character x Reader

Chapter 4: News

Present Day

September 1st, 2023

Zac, asleep in a chair at Y/N's bedside, tightly shut his eyes as a nurse turned on an overhead light. It had been the first he'd slept in more than 48 hours.

"I'm sorry, I was trying not to wake you," she wheeled in a cart of medical supplies. "So, we've got ourselves a fighter," she said matter-of-factly, as she gently folded back the blankets covering Y/N's feet and legs, revealing a pair of Bombas slippers. She looked back at Zac as he sat up, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"Her feet-" he trailed off as he got teared up. "Her feet are always freezing. So, I had my mom bring those from home."

Nodding the nurse replied, "No need to explain. I promise I'll put them back on as soon as I'm done with my exam," she gently removed the slippers before she retrieved a small, sharp wheel from the cart.

"What's that for?"

"It's to test her reflexes, and response to pain stimulus."

"It's going to hurt her?" Zac was immediately on edge.

"Not at all, just like tiny pin-pricks," she assured him as she rolled the wheel along the arch of Y/N's foot. As she did, her foot flexed away. "That's excellent," she smiled back at Zac before repeating the process on the other foot.

"What does that mean?"

"Her nerves are intact," she carefully placed the slippers back on Y/N's feet before covering them back up with the blankets.

"So, she's not paralyzed?"

"No. As the swelling along her spine continues to go down, that should keep improving."

"That's the first piece of good news I've gotten since she got out of surgery," Zac relaxed somewhat.

Giving him a sympathetic smile, she said "They completed her EEG yesterday and the neurologist looked over the results this morning. He'll want to talk to you himself, but...more good news," she comforted him as she continued her exam, checking Y/N's vitals. All excellent or improving.

"Did you hear that? You're already getting better, peanut," he squeezed Y/N's hand, hoping she could hear him or sense he was there, how much he loved her.

"So, they're going to keep her sedated a few more days," the nurse was gentle with her tone, referring to the team of doctors involved in Y/N's care. "Just to give her more time to heal from-" she took a pause.

"From her injuries," Zac stated simply. "It's ok. Whatever needs to be done, to make sure she has the best chance at recovery," he wiped away tears, knowing, for as long as she was under deep sedation to manage her pain, and allow her body time to heal from what it had been through, she wouldn't be able to wake up.

"I hope they catch whoever did this to her."

"Me too," he nodded.

"My family and I are praying for your family."

"Thank you," he turned his attention back to Y/N. Her face was so swollen and battered, she was unrecognizable. If it hadn't been for the small tattoo on her left ankle, Zac wouldn't have believed the person in the hospital bed was his wife.

Before the nurse could say anything else, the neurologist was standing at her hospital room door, waiting to speak with Zac.

"I'll be back around lunch time to change her IV, but all her vital look great," she informed Zac.

"Mr. Efron," the doctor extended his hand to Zac, before pulling a chair across from him so they could talk. "So, we did an EEG yesterday, which measures brain wave activity yesterday."

"How did it go?" Zac was on edge, even if the nurse assured him it was good news.

"Overall, it went excellent," he held up a copy of the scan. "So, right here, is where a normal brain wave would be, for a fully conscious person who hadn't experienced any sort of traumatic injury," he pointed at the top line on the scan. "And here is where someone who is under sedation, but hasn't experienced any sort of injury," he pointed to the next line. "And right here is where your wife is," he pointed just below it.

"So that's good?"

"Phenomenal," he pointed to the next line. "Here is where most patients who have a traumatic brain injury register on the test, so you can see she's well above that."

"So, she'll be ok? She'll be the Y/N we all know and love?"

"Well, here's how I can explain that to you. Traumatic brain injuries are tricky. And they take time to heal. Her scans look good in terms of brain function. But, she may still have cognitive issues. Delayed speech, difficulty with fine motor skills, like tying her shoes. Those are things that can improve over time, with therapy. Unfortunately, they are also the types of things we can't measure until she wakes up. But, for what we can determine now...it's the best possible for scenario."

"Thank you," Zac was sincere, even though the worry he felt hadn't subsided.

Not five minutes after the neurologist left, Zac's dad arrived.

"I told mom yesterday-" he was immediately defensive.

"That's why she sent me," he sat down next to his son. "You can't do anything more for Y/N than you've already done right now."

"I'm not leaving her," Zac instantly dismissed him.

"Son, go see your kids. Go take a shower. Put on clean clothes. Shave. Eat an actual meal. Get a good night's sleep. You aren't going to be able to be here for her when she really needs it, if you stop taking care of yourself."

"I can't," Zac teared up, barely able to say the words. "I can't leave her alone again when she needs me," he revealed the real reason he wouldn't leave her side.

"You're not leaving her alone. I'll be here, JP and Mary will be here around lunch time. Your kids are scared and confused. They need their dad right now." Feeling he might be receptive to the idea, David continued, "I brought a few changes of clothes to the hotel for you."

"The house is still a crime scene? Have you heard from the detective at all?"

"We'll talk about all that, once you go spend time with your kids," David played the one card he had. "Please? You're exhausted, you look like hell."

"You promise you won't leave her alone?"

"I promise, I won't leave her alone."

"Ok," Zac finally relented.