Unpredictable Love II

Chapter 101

Chapter 101

Harry's POV

"Explain to me what happened again?" Dr. Pope asks in a tired voice. One of the nurses called his cell and asked him to return to the hospital, at 2 in the morning.

My fingers rake through my hair as I go over, again, the story of how Karleigh screamed in her unconscious state.

Dr. Pope nods along with each detail of my story and lets out a long breath when I'm finished talking.

"Well Harry, believe it or not, this is completely normal." He starts to say. "Because Karleigh is in a coma, she has minimal brain activity, meaning just because she's alive doesn't mean she can move or be woken."

I nod slowly taking in his words as he continues.

"Being in a coma means Karleigh has a low level of consciousness, so she may be making noises, grimacing, twitching, or possibly even opening her eyes. It doesn't mean she's aware of what she's doing, or is awake from her coma or even have control over them. Her level of consciousness very well depends on how well her brain is functioning, which could change between now and a half hour. It's important that you know her recovery is strictly based on how the head trauma was caused." He explains to me in depth.

My heart is partly shattered to learn that Karleigh may have many more episodes much like the one tonight, and she could just as well remain unconscious.

"What can I do doc?" I ask, painfully.

"Harry the best I can suggest is just to keep living life as normal as possible. Pretend she's away at college, go home, sleep at your own place and just come visit her. Talk to her while she's unconscious, she may not be able to respond but she may be able to hear you." He coaches and I nod along, soaking in each and every bit of his advice.

"Thanks Dr. Pope, sorry to wake and disturb you." I say to him. He nods his head, and smiles before exiting the room, and shutting the lights off before he left.

Legs first, I slide back into my bed and cover my shivering body.

"Love you more." I tell my sleeping Karleigh. Before heading back off to sleep.

**

My dreams are disturbingly real and Karleigh's angelic voice is tainting me...

"Harry..." She calls out, but I can't find her. "Harry, help me."

"Karleigh!" I shout, desperate to find her.

"Ahhhhhhh!!" A scream that sounds identical to Karleigh's, pierces my ears and I start to run.

"Where are you? KARLEIGH!!" I shout, running to nowhere in particular, just desperate to find her and keep her safe.

"Don't leave me." She sobs, and my heart aches.

"Never. I'll never leave you." I promise to my invisible Karleigh.

"Come back to me." Her voice is faint and distant as if it's fading away. "Just come back to me Harry."

I stand still looking around the dim light, empty room. A silhouette is barely visible across the room, and I take a small step towards the shadow.

"Karleigh?" I ask.

No response is given and I move closer to the silhouette, now getting a better vision of the dark shape.

It's her.

Karleigh.

Her back is facing me, and I stand directly behind her.

"Karleigh." I say.

As I ca out her name she turns around to stare at me, her blue irises piercing through my soul. My hand reaches out toward her and brush the soft skin of her face.

A sigh of relief falls from my lips, but suddenly, Karleigh starts to fade. In a panicked gesture, I grip her tightly with both arms refusing to let her slip away. But in a moments time, she's gone.

Just like that.

**

I wake with a rattling jolt.

Sitting upright I look around the small, private hospital room. The room is dimly lit and Karleigh's monitor is beeping in its usual rhythm.

The door to her room opens with a click and my head snaps in the direction of the doorway. A slim figured blonde enters the room, and steps closer to Karleigh's bed. As she comes into the light, shock takes over my features.

"Mandy?" I ask in a sleepy voice.

Her head snaps up from her clipboard, and her eyes meet mine. She tilts her head to the side and my mouth opens slightly with confusion. She's dressed in lime colored scrubs and her hair is tied back in a messy ponytail?

"Harry, um, hi?" She manages to say with a shy smile on her face.

"You work here?" I ask, confused. I could've sworn Niall said she was a student at a nearby university.

Mandy scratches the back of her neck as her eyes move between Karleigh and I. "Not exactly, I'm a medical student and I'm an intern her for school credit." She explains slowly, her eyes moving back down to the clipboard she's holding.

"My god, she's pretty..." She trails off when her eyes meet mine. "...damaged." She finishes with a look of guilt. I gulp loudly and nod my head slowly, agreeing with her statement of Karleigh's gruesome condition.

I turn to look at her sleeping figure, and frown slightly. "Yeah, she is." I choke.

Mandy moves around Karleigh's bed, checking IVs that are pricked into her arms, pouches of liquids and medicines, as well as her heart monitor.

"Well besides the fact that she's, in a coma...she seems to be doing well on the bodily functions part." Mandy comforts me after checking all of Karleigh's vitals.

Relief washes over me slightly at the news her words bring to me. "Thanks Mandy." I awkwardly murmur as she moves to exit the room, giving me a curt nod of courtesy as she departs.

Standing up, I fold my sheets from last nights bed and shift the bed back into a chair. Once everything is settled, I move my chair closer to Karleigh's bed and sit down, laying my head in her lap.

Karleigh makes no movements when I lay my head in her lap, and I take her hand and place it in my hair. Wishing she could tangle her fingers in my curls like she usually would do, or comb her hand through my hair.

The door opens once more but I don't move, expecting it to be Mandy again, probably realizing she forgot something. A throat clears and I jump up my eyes landing on Dr. Pope and Jocelyn.

"Good morning Harry." Dr. Pope greets with a warm smile and I fight to return the gesture.

"Karleigh has some tests she's got to go through, so why don't you head on out for a while... Maybe get some food?" Dr. Pope offers.

Jocelyn smiles politely, trying to fight away the brimming tears as she takes in Karleigh's sleeping, bruised, and stitched condition. "Uh, why don't we go grab some breakfast?" Jocelyn suggests and I nod rising from my chair.

I glance back down at Karleigh one last time and lean down to press my lips against her forehead. "I love you." I vow to her, as I turn to leave her alone with Dr. Pope as Jocelyn and I go to fetch breakfast.