Rainbows after Hurricane

14. |p r e s e n t|

>>c h a p t e r   f o u r t e e n<<

|p r e s e n t|

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Asher's eyes slowly opens, his vision blurry, making him feel disoriented for a moment as he takes in the position he's in. Why is everything upside down? Then, his eyes lands in the figure with him on the car, and panic settles inside his body, making him rigid.

                 "Ashley!" he cries, struggling to get free to reach out for her. Ashley is lying in a similar position as his, but she is not opening her eyes. Red thick blood is dripping down from her head, covering her entire face, trailing down her neck. He shouts again, but his voice comes out weak, strangled, and with each second his vision goes blurry.

                "Ashley!" he yells one more time, his eyes drooping down as he struggles to keep them open, "Help!" he croaks, hating the way it comes out, resisting the darkness that were pulling him towards it. He tries to reach forward to touch the pale, limp Ashley, but, finds the darkness taking over him. He hears the faint, distant sound of siren from somewhere, before succumbing to darkness.

**

With a jolt, Asher jerks forward, clasping his hand tightly on the side of the chair he fell asleep, waiting on Dianna. His breath comes out in pant, sweat dripping down through his forehead, as Ashley's limp face covers his vision, blocking him out from the reality.

                     "Dude, are you okay?" A hand on his shoulder drags him from the horrific daze he seemed to be in. He draws his eyes to the figure sitting beside and musters a weak nod.

                    "Yea, I am fine, Jason." He croaks; his throat suddenly dry and itchy from the nightmare that's been torturing him since the day Ashley died.

Jason doesn't look convinced, as he keeps his eyes trained on him, studying him carefully. "Are you sure? You're shaking." Jason points out to his trembling hands, watching him with concern.

Asher hastily clasps his hands together, hiding the trembling limbs. Sucking in a deep breath, he cranes his head towards the OT that's still closed, and says, "I am fine, just worn out from the stress. How long did I sleep?"

                   "Not long, just ten minutes, I guess." Jason says, leaning against the chair.

Asher gives a curt nod, looking around when his eyes meets Zach's curious gaze, studying him like an open book. Asher darts his eyes away from him and shoots up to his feet, stretching out his cramp muscles.

                  "I am going to get some coffee. Want some?" Asher asks, keeping his eyes away from Zach's which he can still feel burning the side of his face.

Meredith and Jason nods simultaneously. Asher waits for Zach's answer but when he says nothing, he cocks his head to the side and looks at him expectantly. "Do you want coffee?"

Zach doesn't answer immediately, just watches him curiously for a minute longer before slowly nodding his head. Asher lets out a small sigh and walks away toward the small coffee machine on the right corner, feeling relived to be away from Zach's scrutinizing gaze. As he walks away, he can still feel Zach's eyes burning holes on his back.

**

                   "How long has it been?" Jason asks Meredith, sipping his coffee.

                   "Almost three hours." Meredith replies, glancing toward the still closed OT.

Jason lets out a low sigh, slowly rubbing the plastic cup. "Three hours? I don't understand what they are doing to Dianna since three hours? Does it always take this long for every operation?"