ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON THIRTEEN

Episode 34

" I can't move my legs ! Why can't I move my legs ! "

Alan tried to sit up in his hospital bed in spite of the IV and tubes attached to his body , his eyes wide with panic , his young face a mass of conflicting emotions from fear to anger to confusion. " Where's Theodore? I need him ! "

Ariel patted him on his trembling shoulder gently and he pulled away from her. " Calm down, darling. It's alright. "

" No ! ," he yelled. " It's not ! I can't move my legs! "

Dr. Bex came over to the foot of the bed and lifted up the thin blanket and cotton sheet to reveal Alan's legs. He ran one finger across the bottom of the boy's foot and then looked at him. " Alan , do you feel that? "

Alan shook his head. " No ! I told you already ! I can't feel anything. I can't move ! I need..... get me Theodore. I need.... Help me. "

Nicholas watched as Ariel tried to comfort her son which just had him pushing her away.

Alan shook his head. " I want Dad. He's a doctor. He'll know what's wrong with me. Where's Dad ? He was driving me back home. Why am I even in a hospital? Where's Dad ? "

Ariel reared back as he asked for his father. She looked from her son to the doctor to Nicholas back to her son. " Alan, darling..... "

Nicholas gently said," Alan , you were in a car accident. You're at St. Paul's. Your father was ..... affected as well. "

Alan looked at him with even more confusion. " I don't remember an accident. I remember being sick at school and Dr. Oswell calling Dad because he couldn't reach Mom. I remember Dad picking me up. I remember him not wanting me to see Theodore at the dinner tonight. Dad looked at me. Not the road. He was arguing with me. I yelled at him. I didn't feel good! My stomach was upset. He looked at me. Not the road......" His face took on an anguished expression. " If there was an accident did I make it happen? Did I make him have an accident. Is it my fault? Where's Dad ? I want to tell him I'm sorry. "

Ariel reached out for her son and hugged him tightly. " No. No , baby. It was not your fault. At all. You were innocent. Your father didn't do anything either. Someone hit the car. After she hit another boy in the street. "

" Someone hit us ? I can't remember it.... How long do I have to stay here? I'm supposed to have dinner with Theodore and his uncles tonight. "

Ariel began to cry as she held onto her confused son. " It's not the same day, honey.  You've been in a coma. "

" Where's Dad at ? "

Ariel didn't answer him. She just squeezed him tighter in her warm protective embrace and sobbed into his blond hair.

Nicholas looked at them and then the quiet doctor. He sighed wearily. " I'm so sorry, Alan. Your father is dead. "