The Gemini: Emancipation

16 - Eraser

December 15, 1996
9:07 a.m.

Suspect. This story doesn't feel right.

"Alone?"

That's what the practitioner told Jody. Her husband was the sole occupant in a vehicle that was found totaled by the roadside. Smashed into a light pole to be more specific. Though unscathed, he was unconscious behind the wheel. And after being rushed to the hospital – the ambulance call curtesy of an onlooker – he's still under.

"Yes, alone." Studying over the patient chart in hand, the doctor lifts a page, skimming results. "We've ran a CT and everything's come back normal. Blood checks out. Vitals are normal."

To Jody that's the part flagging amiss.

"So why hasn't he come to yet?"

The white coat delays, thinking of a fancy way to cover the fact that he isn't sure. Jody knows that game of doctor's pride, she used to get paid to play it. Right now, she's got not the time nor patience.

"You don't know," she answers for him.

"At this time, it's not clear."

Looking over to the gurney where her husband lay, Jody's thankful he's alive.

"All we can do now is wait."

Distractedly, she nods at the other man's words. "Yeah."

The white coat thought about putting a comforting hand to her arm. He quickly abandoned the notion when one of the two guards standing in wait eyed him down.

Catching the message, "Excuse me," he said then took his leave.

Jody's concerned as any wife would be, but she can't act on that right now. She'll have to push aside that normalcy and operate as the wife of a showman.

"Waiting room," she informed, already walking for the exit. Knowing that one of the guards would tag along while the other kept post at the room's entry.

Down the corridor of this quiet special patients unit, she travelled to where her personal assistant sat waiting for news. Wearing a nervous look, the woman with the auburn finger coils stood as soon as she saw Jody.

"Is it bad?" Bianca asks.

"He's fine, but he still hasn't woken up."

"Is that normal?"

"Depends," Jody sighed. "We'll see."

"Do you need a hug?"

Warming at the kind offer, "Sure."

Before Jody could speak the word fully out, Bianca's arms were encircling her.

The woman can never be called unsupportive. One of the main reasons why Jody's kept her around for so long is this. Over the years, through thick and thin, there she's been as both a reliable employee and friend. The way she holds on now tells that she not only wants to give comfort, but she needs it herself.

Though she's been around it all, the good and the bad, Bianca remains the same Prince fan that she's always been. Once explaining that seeing him behind the music has made her love him more. Respectfully of course. Jody understood, knowing that despite how absolutely frustrating and occasionally annoying her husband can be, he's lovable. You'd have to be a doorknob to be unaffected.

Affected, Bianca was, to the point of almost tears when she got the call. She was awakened by an unknown number ringing her phone. A male's voice she swore she'd heard before told her about the accident and advised her to inform Jody immediately. Directly after, she did.