Fate {{An Olivier Philippaerts Love Story}}

Chapter 2: A Turn For The Worst

C H E L S E A ' S   P O V: 

I was giving CPR and Rescue Breaths to Olivier for about three minutes but there was no improvement and no signs of him coming back. I heard the sirens and all the commotion but didn't stop what I was doing. 

"Okay what's happened?" The man asked me as he knelt next to me. 

"An articulated Lorry rammed into the horsebox they were in. He has a shard of glass buried in his ribs about three inches deep and he went into cardiac arrest five minutes ago. I delivered CPR and Rescue Breaths within thirty seconds but there's no improvement. His name is Olivier Philippaerts and he's 24 years old." I said. 

"Thank you miss. We can take it from here. You've done a great job." The man butted in as he took over what I was doing. They put a neck brace on Olivier and moved him onto a gurney before loading him onto the ambulance and driving off with him not once breaking the CPR routine. 

After I could no longer hear the ambulance or see it, I sat there on my knees crying as the rain poured down making my hair and clothes wet. I watched as the lorry driver headed back to his lorry and the police focussed on the roads that were in mayhem. Anger flooded through me as I got up and walked over to the driver. 

"Ma'am." He smirked, turning to face me. 

"You dirty little ASSHOLE!!!" I shouted, landing a punch to his cheek and feeling it break. 

"You bitch!" He yelled in pain, dropping next to his lorry. 

"That was for injuring a horse." I began before kicking his ribs and winding him. "And that was for Olivier Philippaerts." I snarled before John restrained me and pushed me towards the horsebox. I climbed inside before breaking down. 

"What if.......What if he dies?" I sobbed hysterically. John pulled me into a side hug and rubbed my arm soothingly.

"He won't. Ludo won't allow the hospital let him die. I guarantee you, Olivier will come and thank you himself at the end of the week. For now I want you to focus on Icos and getting him better okay." John said softly, wiping my tears away. 

"Okay. I will." I sniffed and pulled my seatbelt on, watching a recovery truck load the Philippaerts Horsebox onto it's back. John patted my knee comfortingly before turning on the trailer cam and driving off towards the stables.

Once back at the stables, I went to the door of the horsebox and very carefully unloaded Icos from the back and led him into the yard. He held his head high and looked around inquisitively before following me to the stable I gave him. It was completely empty but it wouldn't matter because I'd bring some shavings down from the barn to put in his stall for him. I also printed out a name card for his door with all the information I already knew. Once all that was finished, I went to go and ride Olympic out on a hack because I needed to calm myself down and clear my head of all the negative thoughts. 

O L I V I E R ' S   P O V : 

When I finally came around, the first thing to hear was my dad talking to me softly. I also heard my mother and brother's voice only I couldn't register what one it was. Probably Nicola no doubt. Then I heard the beeping of my heart monitor which told me I was certainly alive and not dead like how I felt. 

"Mmm." I winced as my eyes slowly opened to reveal my mum, dad and Nicola. 

"Olivier!" Nicola cried, tears flooding his face as he hugged me tightly. I loved Nicola so much. We always had each others backs and were constantly by each others sides. If one of us went, it would surely kill the other. 

"Nicola go easy on him." Mum said, prying Nicola off of me. She gave me a kiss on my forehead and dad also hugged me too. Mum called a nurse in who gave me a once over. 

"Welcome back Mr Philippaerts." He started, noting down my vitals and then examining me. "Give it another 24 hours and you'll be free to leave." He smiled, leaving the room with a clipboard. 

"How long was I unconscious?" I asked. 

"You were on life support for three weeks and started getting stronger last week. They took you off it and you continued to fight so I'd say about four and a half weeks." Nicola said, laying on the bed next to me and resting his head on my shoulder. I hugged him as mum took a photo of us before declaring a selfie to put on the page and social media. I was back and the second I got out of this hospital, I'd go and see Icos wherever he was being kept and if he was even still alive. Wait....they'd tell me if Icos was gone........right?

C H E L S E A ' S   P O V :

Icos' injury wasn't as bad as we first all thought it was. John got his on-site vet to examine Icos and have a closer look at the wound on his hock. As it turns out, it was only a graze and Icos panicked which made it look worse than it already was. I'd been exercising Icos very carefully these past 2 weeks, slowly getting him used to being ridden again and then today, I'd take him over a small course of jumps, no higher than a meter ten in height. 

I took Icos out of his stable and begun to tack him up with his tack which had been dropped off along with the newly repaired Philippaerts horsebox. He stood still as I quickly brushed him off and placed his tack on him. John was going to give me a lesson on him today and then tomorrow, I'd take him for a little in-hand walk.

Once tacked up, I mounted up onto Icos' back and rode into the arena. John closed the gate behind me and continued to set up the jumps. 

"Ok Chelsea. I have news from the hospital." He said as I walked Icos around. 

"And....." I asked hopefully.

"Olivier will be released tomorrow. He woke up this morning around 5am." John said. 

Oh my god that's brilliant news. You hear that Icos! Olivier will be back tomorrow!" I said happily to the bay stallion who happily begun to trot around the arena. 

After a good warm up, we began to jump the course John had set up for us. They were nice jumps with good stride lengths and easy turns and clear lead changes. Icos thoroughly enjoyed it but I found him slightly difficult to control. His canter was like a gallop and he fought me every step of the way. 

"Chelsea. Use your rising canter to slow him down. And don't be afraid to give him a sharp half halt to tell him off. Make him wait and make him listen to you." John called. I nodded and played out his advice whilst going around the course again before turning for the last jump which was an oxer. Icos took a turn for the worst and locked his knees before it, throwing me into the jump and then backing off in panic, as if he never expected me to fall. 

"Chelsea! Are you okay?" John asked as I slowly sat up and wiped a bit of blood from my right eyebrow. 

"Yeah. I'm fine." I said, standing up and going over to Icos who nuzzled me affectionately. 

"He must have spooked at something. Leave it there and we'll see how he goes over the next few days." John smiled as he patted Icos and came out the ring with us. 

I untacked Icos and hosed him off before throwing a cooler rug over him and putting stable bandages on his legs so they didn't swell up. I then went over to Olympic and took him out for a walk so we could chill and unwind for the night. I couldn't wait to see Olivier even thought he probably didn't remember what he said to me. 

"You're.......you're an angel. So beau.....tiful."