Limbo

Here Without You

RACHEL:

I lie here in bed, pretending to watch TV, when all of my attention is really on the door. I've been here for three days, and the only people I've seen are doctors, nurses, and more cops than I ever realized existed. Not only have Whitworth and his people been here, but I've had to deal with a metric fuck-ton of questions from the Mounties, the CISC, and even a couple of people from Interpol. I know that they're just doing their job, and that they have to ask all of their questions, but after awhile it just gets to the point where I want to tell them, "It's been lovely, but I need to scream now."

But no matter how much time I spend staring at that slab of wood, or how much I wish for it, the people that I actually want to see are nowhere to be found. Even though it hurts, I've accepted the fact that Ash doesn't want anything to do with me anymore, but I thought that at least one of the other guys might drop in, even if it was only to say goodbye. But it seems that isn't the case, since no one has even called.

Unfortunately, that means that I'm bored nearly to the point of tears, because I can't really do much right now. My body was essentially in suspended animation for over a year, so my muscle tone and strength is pretty well fucked right now. This is my third day here, and I still need to have a nurse help me get to the bathroom, and I just this morning got my hands coordinated enough to actually pick up the TV remote, instead of just stabbing at it while it's on the nightstand. According to the doctors, I'm gonna have to retrain my muscles to do everything I used to be able to do, which means physical therapy, probably for several months. Somehow, I have the feeling that I'm not going to enjoy the process, but it's the only way I can get myself back to normal, so I'm trying to get myself psyched up to just do it and get it over with.

I hear someone tap on the door, and my heart sort of jumps as it swings open, but it sinks again when I see that it's just Peggy, my daytime nurse. She smiles at me and says, "There are some people here to see you, are you up for some company, hon?"

Finally, they're here! I think, as I try to look past her. "As long as it's not more cops, then sure. Go ahead and let them in."

She goes back out, and a couple of seconds later, the door starts swinging open, kind of slowly, and a head comes around the edge. But instead of Ash, or any of the other guys, the person who's looking at me somewhat uncertainly is a young girl with short blonde hair, who almost instantly breaks into a huge smile and hurls herself into the room.

"Sissy, you're really here!" she shrieks as she practically flings herself into the bed with me. "I've missed you so much, I didn't think I'd ever get to see you again!"

"I've missed you, too, sweetie," I say as I wrap my arms around her and squeeze as tightly as I'm able. "You look so much better than when you went away, are you feeling all right now?"

"Oh, I'm a lot better now," she assures me. "I still have to go have checkups once in awhile, but it's all gone right now, and the doctor said that I have a really good chance of not getting it back."

We talk for a couple of minutes, then the door opens again, and I look up to see my Aunt Wendy step into the room, with a couple of strange men behind her. She comes around to the other side of the bed and leans down to kiss my cheek. "Hello there, hon, we're so glad to have you back. We would have been here sooner, but we needed to take care of some things, so they won't interrupt us now."

Evie notices me glancing at the men, and gestures toward the closest one, who sort of resembles Viggo Mortenson, announcing, "That's Jed, he's really cool. He's Aunt Wendy's fiancee, so he's gonna be our uncle soon."

He smiles, and walks over to stand next to my aunt. "Hello, Rachel. I've heard a lot about you from your sister, so it's nice to finally meet you." He gestures to the other guy, and says, "This is my brother, Reid, he's an attorney, and he's agreed to help get everything sorted out for you and Evie."