Survivor

Chapter 6

 "Just stay calm. Remember she can't see you, or hear you," Jake says, squeezing my shoulders. "Easy. You're shaking, Caroline."

"Oh, am I?" I hadn't notice. My focus is all on her, and making sure my eyes aren't playing tricks on me. "I just..." My fear of her getting worse is gone; I'm glad she's better. It's like I'm in shock. I wasn't expecting her to wake up so soon.

"Just breathe. It's okay." He tries to pull me out of the room, but as soon as we hit the hallway, the door opens. There stands the nurse off to the side with the doctor talking to the parents in front. We both just stand still not knowing what to do next. "Those are her parents?" I just nod, and the group begins to walk towards us. My shock worsens; just what I need. Her parents to see her freaking out, but at least she's awake and doing better.

My breathing hardens and I feel him squeeze my shoulders, but all I can do is concentrate on her parents. They look so horrified and scared, and they are holding each other's hands. Tears are streaming down her mother's face while her father is trying to be strong. Seeing them makes me worry about how mine will react when they see me. They did get here rather quickly; they must live close by. I'm torn; I want to stay but I also want to give them some privacy, too.

They pass us and reach the end of the hallway. Their face changes as they see their daughter awake on the bed. Her mom covers her mouth in shock, but her father seems angry.

"I thought you said she was still asleep?!" Her father yells.

"Oh, hush dear, who cares? She's awake and it's perfect timing," her mother says.

"My sincere apologies; I'm guessing she's just woken up," the doctor begins. "We'll check her out, and then you can have your time with her."

Before the father can speak, his wife puts her hand on his arm. "Yes, that will be fine. Anything to help out little girl. We'll wait outside."

"Thank you. We'll come get you when we're all done here," the doctor says.

Her parents slowly walk out of the room while the staff work on Vikki. Jake tries to get me to leave, but my feet don't want to move.

"Come, let them work. Vikki will be okay. Let's go see if your parents have arrived yet?" he says. He firmly but gently pushes me towards the door. I can hear her parents on the other side; they are still freaking out, which makes me freeze. "Easy, Caroline. Stay with me, girl. Remember they can't see you."

I swallow and slowly begin to move with Jake, we walk through the door, and I see her parents holding onto each other to my left. They look frightened but yet excited. I don't blame them their daughter is waking up. It makes me sad; I only wish I was doing that well. I'm happy she is though. 'I wonder where Chris is though? They seemed really friendly before we left.'

We slowly walk past them, and down to the nurse's station. That's when I see my parents. "Oh boy. My turn."

"Easy, just relax. I'm here if you need me. Talk to me if you need to."

"Thanks," is all I can say when I get interrupted by my father.

"Where is out daughter?! What is going on? Is she alright?" he's not happy.

"Sir, please, we will tell you everything in just a moment," a nurse answers.

"No, I want an answer now! What the hell happened to our daughter?!" I can feel my body begin to tense up again as I watch him yell at the nurse for answers.

"Hun, please, be patient. Let them look. Maybe they can't tell us quite yet, or at least without the doctor," my mother says, trying to calm my father down.

"Fine. What can you tell us?"

Just then the doctor comes around the corner, "What's all the commotion out here?"

"Breathe, Caroline. It's okay." I inhale and exhale deeply with my eyes closed, it does help a bit. I open my eyes and notice my parents looks much different. The doctor is standing closer to them, talking calmly to them.

"What did I miss?" I ask Jake.

He giggles, "He's explaining your situation to them. It doesn't sound good." I take a deep breath in from shock with my hands over my mouth. I feel him put his hands onto my shoulders. "It's okay. They want to see you." I feel the tears begin to form. "The doctor agrees; he thinks it would be good for you." I nod in agreement. They start walking towards my room, and Jake and I follow after them.

Jake stays close to me the whole way down to my room. "How are you doing? What's going through your head?"

I'm so silent, so nervous, I feel like I can't think straight, so I tell him. "Honestly, I'm so scared. If they start crying, I may, too, and I don't think I can handle it. It'll be so hard to see my parents so emotional. My biggest fear is that they will still try to blame Vikki for everything. I don't think I can handle that right now."

He pulls me closer to him, "Shhh, it'll be okay. I'm right here for you if you need me."

I smile my thanks and say it aloud. "Thank you, I appreciate that."

"My pleasure, Caroline," he says and gives me a gently squeeze. Before I know it we're standing in front of my door behind my parents and the doctor.