Surviving Charming

Hannah & Gracie

The sun was illuminating the hospital room Hannah was sleeping in. She started to stir, opening her eyes and staring at the ceiling. She had a horrendous headache and her shoulder screamed at her. Moving her arms and legs, she sits up and looks around. At the nurses station, nurse Carol says " Page Dr. Adams, Miss Ryan is waking up." Walking down the hall, she knocks on Hannah's door and walks in quietly " Hello, Miss Ryan, I'm Carol, your nurse, how are you feeling?" Hannah swallows " Where's my sister?" Carol blinks " I am sorry, no one came in with you. They said you crashed your car into a tree and a few bikers called the ambulance. You were beaten up pretty badly, can you tell me what happened?"
Hannah shook her head " Not until I know where my sister is. She's 4, her name is Gracie. She was in the car with me. Oh God, i hope she is ok. I need to find her. Please." She reaches for the IV to pull it out.

Carol stops her " Honey, I'll make the calls, I promise, please just rest. The doctor will be here shortly, and we will find your sister." Hannah closes her eyes, " Please do. I need to know she is safe." Dr. Adams walks in " Hello Hannah. I'm Dr. Adams. I heard you ask for your sister. Chief Unser was here earlier, he's taking care of your car accident case. He said that your sister is with the family of the guys who saw you crash your car. The nurses are calling him now. I'll let them know to have her call you." Hannah shook her head "No, I need to see her please. I need to make sure she's ok, please."

" Ok, but please try to take it easy. You have a lot of injuries. I'll talk to Unser. In the meantime, do you need anything ?" Dr. Adams explains. Hannah rubs her forehead " Something for my headache please. What injuries ?" Dr. Adams explains what they found and how they are treating her, and who the guys are who helped her and Gracie. Hannah vaguely remembers most of it, and the sting of someone slapping her face. Her mind wonders when Dr Adams waves his hand in front of her to get her attention. " Are you ok Hannah?" " Uh, Yea, just thinking I guess. Has the nurse heard anything about my sister? " He turns to Carol and says "Get her Morphine, 10ml IV push and call Chief Unsee please." Hannah's head snaps up " Please, no narcotics. Just give me 2 extra strength Tylenol, and some ibuprofen." Carol asks " Are you sure ? Your injuries are.." " Yes, please. No narcs. I'll be fine." Dr Adams looks at Hannah, then nods to Carol before she turns to leave.

" Why no narcotics? Is there a history of drug abuse in your family ?" Hannah nods, " Yes, my mom. So thank you for respecting my wishes." Handing her the call bell, he says "I'll be back later to check in. I'd like to keep you one more night for observation. If your sister gets here, would you like her to stay tonight ?" Hannah looks up at him, " Yes please. " A few minutes later, Carol walks in with a lunch tray, and the medicine, setting the tray on the table. " Unser is over at Teller Morrow auto, where your sister and your car is. He's bringing her in. Please eat though. I'll bring them down to your room as soon as they get here." Hannah gives her a small smile, "Thank you."

Picking at her food, hoping the meds kick in soon, Hannah stares at the tv. Trying to process what happened and how she got here, little footsteps run in the room. "SISSY!" Gracie jumps on her sister's bed. Hannah smiles reaching for her, but Gracie startles and jumps down. " What's wrong baby ?" " You hurt." Hannah reaches her hands out, " I am baby but I'm ok. I've missed you. Come sit with me." Gracie climbs in next to her sister, and gives her a hug. " I yuv you,sissy." Hannah kisses her head and smells her shampoo, smells like strawberries," I love you. You are my sunshine, you know that?" She looks down at the clothes Gracie is wearing, an outfit she's never seen before. Carol walks in, followed by Unser, Juice, and Gemma. Unser extends his hand " I'm Chief Wayne Unser. This is Juice and Gemma. They've been keeping an eye on Gracie the last few days. How are you feeling, Miss Ryan?"

"Hannah, please. And I'm ok. Guess you want to know what happened." Unser nods " Yes, I don't mean to bother you but we can't seem to get ahold of your dad Daniel." Hannah says "Step dad, and I don't know where he is." Looking at Juice, Hannah says " Juice, do you mind taking Gracie out of the room for a few minutes. I don't need her to hear this. " Juice smiles and says " Gracie, catch me if you can." He runs out of the room and Gracie giggles, and chases after him. Gemma chuckles, then turns to Hannah and says " My sons saw you crash your car and Gracie has been staying at my house. Do you want me to step out ?" Hannah shakes her head " No. You can stay. I have a feeling you'll find out so you should hear it from me."

Unser and Gemma sit on the sofa under the window. Hannah turns off the tv, looking at Unser, she begins " I don't know where my step dad is. We don't get along. He is the one who beat me up and I guess I couldn't take it anymore, so I grabbed my sister and left. I only remember bits and pieces right now, but thank you for looking out for Gracie. I was scared I lost her." Gemma says " She's a doll. She looks like your mini-me, and She loves Chibs. " Hannah smiled, and thought Gracie always loved dogs so naturally she would love Chibs, whatever breed it was. Unser pulls out Hannah's keys from his pocket," If it's ok with you, I'd like to go to your house and look around. See if Daniel is there." Hannah nods. Unser shoves the keys back in his pocket as he stands up." I'll bring them back when we are done."  " Sure. I want Gracie to stay with me tonight. Where did her clothes come from? Did the suitcases get ruined?" Gemma shook her head," Oh no, Juice went out and bought it for her when he picked up the suitcases from your car. He said he saw it in a window and had to get it." Hannah looked surprised, " He didn't have to do that. I can pay him back. "

Gemma held up her hand," No need. He doesn't mind. The guys all dote on her. It's funny, they all act tough but when she's around, they melt like butter. " Hannah chuckles " She has that affect on people. I appreciate it. I'll pay you for taking care of her." Gemma shook her head, " No need. She's preparing me for grandparenting. My grandson Abel is here, in the NICU." Hannah smiled, " Gracie was a premie as well. Spent 2 months in the NICU. She had jaundice , and they had to use phototherapy. It was cute, the nurses made this little beach scene on the back of her incubator, and she had little sunglasses over her eye protectors. That's when I nicknamed her sunshine."