A bunch of thoughts...

Chapter 5: Jake to the Rescue

I watch patients, doctors, nurses and janitors walk by me before I spot a boy who's a bit different.

I recognise him immediately, as my best friend and the boy who has come to my rescue so many times before.

He's dressed in his usual baggy jumper and ripped jeans, and his hair is messy. I like how it looks this way. More natural. The one similarity he has with all the other people in this vicinity, is the tired face and baggy eyes. It completes the I-didn't-get-any-sleep look that everyone around us is wearing. It's not really a surprise at 11:30 though.

I stand up and wave him over, embracing him in a tight hug before letting him speak. He just stands there for a second, and for a fleeting moment I wonder if I had grabbed a stranger because of his uncharacteristic stiff posture, but he breaks the silence.

"Hey." Jake mumbles into my hair. He's a good twenty centimetres taller than me, so my face is snuggled comfortably on his chest. "Sorry I'm a bit late. How long have you been here?"

"Only a little while. Maybe an hour." I look over to where Mishy is waving her hands frantically and laughing occasionally. She looks up and sees us standing there, says something to Skye and hangs up, making her way over to us.

"But what happened? How did he end up here?" Jake questions, clearly confused as to why we are all here at this hour.

"Christian was...hit, I think. Or pushed. Maybe his dad attacked him and he fell. I don't really know. He was pretty vague and didn't explain much about last night. His leg was broken when I reached him." I ask myself if I should tell him the whole story, or at least the parts Christian told me about, but I decide to just tell him the crucial details, and tell him the rest later.

"Oh god. I...he only broke his leg didn't he? Nothing else?"

"Nothing else that I know of, Jake."

"Hmm. Okay. Anyway, when did he go in? How long will it take?" I think back to the Christian's watch in the doctor's office, and the stars rising over the trees.

"He went in about thirty minutes ago. Dr. Valentin said it should probably  take about an hour and a half with no complications."

"Well then. Let's hope for no complications. I guess I'll stay here for him to come out, but in the meantime, I'm dying for a coffee. You want some?"

I hand him a twenty, which he refuses, saying its the least he can do, and give him my order. Mish orders as well, sneaking a tenner into Jake's pocket. He doesn't notice, and heads out the door to the nearby cafè.

When he returns with the coffee and some doughnuts, we indulge and chat about anything and everything, waiting for Christian's return.

*********

When a nurse finally comes forward at about 1 am, we all stand expectantly. She greets us and explains what's happened to Christian.
"He's in a ward and is still sedated but he should be awake within the hour." She says to us.

"Great. Can we visit him yet?" Mishy asks.

"I'm sure he'd love to wake up to you. His room number is 227 and he's in the bed next to Claire."

"Thank you. I think we'll go now, if you don't mind."

"Of course. Do you want me to take you there?" The nurse asks and Mishy nods. We follow the nurse down a long corridor with doors on either side. When we reach 227, she ushers us inside.

"Doctor Valentin personally assisted with the surgery. I hope Christian recovers well." She says and we proceed into the ward.