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<<

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Asher's eyes flickered open, his vision swimming as he struggled to make sense of the world around him. Everything was upside down, the dim light casting strange shadows across the shattered interior of the car. Confusion turned to dread as he realized he was hanging by the seatbelt, and then his gaze landed on the figure beside him.

"Ashley!" he choked out, panic gripping him like a vice. She was slumped motionless, her face pale, streaked with blood that dripped from a deep wound on her forehead. The sight made his stomach churn, fear flooding every inch of his body.

He fought against the seatbelt, his trembling hands fumbling at the latch as he twisted toward her. "Ashley, please, wake up!" His voice cracked, raw with desperation. She didn't stir. 

"Help!" he shouted, though the sound was hoarse and weak. He tried again, louder this time, his cries echoing in the stillness of the night. His vision began to blur as exhaustion and pain took hold, his strength fading with each passing second.

Asher reached out toward Ashley, his fingers grazing her arm, but his body betrayed him, unable to move further. The distant wail of sirens pierced through the fog of his mind, a faint, fleeting sign of hope. But it was too late. The darkness closed in around him, pulling him under as he whispered her name for the last time.

**

With a start, Asher jolted upright, his hand gripping the edge of the chair he'd fallen asleep in while waiting for Dianna. His breaths came in sharp, uneven gasps, and sweat trickled down his temple as Ashley's lifeless face haunted his thoughts, her image refusing to fade.

"Hey, you good?" A hand on his shoulder pulled him out of the suffocating memory. He blinked, his unfocused eyes landing on Jason, who sat beside him, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity.

"Yeah... I'm fine," Asher rasped, his voice hoarse and barely audible. His throat felt dry, as if the nightmare had drained him entirely. He rubbed his palms against his jeans, trying to rid himself of the cold, clammy sensation lingering on his skin.

Jason raised a skeptical brow, his gaze shifting to Asher's trembling hands. "You sure about that? You're shaking pretty bad," he said, his tone gentle but insistent.

Asher quickly clasped his hands together, hiding the telltale sign of his distress. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to steady his breathing. Turning his eyes to the OT doors, still firmly shut, he muttered, "I'm fine. Just tired. How long was I out?"

Jason leaned back in his chair, his gaze lingering on Asher for a moment before he answered. "Not long. Maybe ten minutes tops," he said, though the worry in his voice remained evident.

Asher nodded sharply, his gaze briefly flicking across the room before catching Zach's. Zach's eyes were fixed on him, sharp and searching, and the intensity made Asher's stomach churn. He quickly averted his eyes and stood, his muscles aching from the rigid position he'd held.

"I'm going to grab coffee. Anyone else?" Asher asked, keeping his tone casual and his gaze on the floor.

Meredith and Jason both nodded without hesitation. Asher lingered for a moment, glancing toward Zach. "Zach? Coffee?"

Zach didn't respond right away. Instead, he studied Asher, his eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to solve a puzzle. After what felt like an eternity, he gave a small nod.

The knot in Asher's chest loosened just a little as he turned and headed toward the coffee machine in the corner. The walk felt longer than it should have, and even with his back turned, he couldn't shake the sensation of Zach's unrelenting gaze following him.