French Benefits

32/ In The End

* DISCLAIMER: Contains explicit language, drug use, violent references, sexual content.

Monday · January 14, 2002 · Chicago, Illinois

Five hours later, Sid, Corey, Jim, Joey and Hanna raced into the Emergency room doors asking for the three women who had just been admitted a couple of hours prior. They were all told that they had to wait to see Alice and Sam, who were in surgery, but that one person at a time could visit Mandy. Without question, Hanna stepped forward and followed the nurse to Mandy's room.

"Holy fuck! Babe, what the hell happened? Corey has been telling us his side of things, but he didn't hear anything except for the crash!" Hanna cried at the side of her friend's bed.

"Some idiot asshole ran a red light and hit us. My SUV tumbled off a bridge and flipped a bunch of times. Are Alice and Sam okay? The fucking doctors won't tell me anything!"

Tears still ran down Mandy's face. She'd never felt fear like this. And it's been constant for hours now. Why wouldn't the doctors and nurses tell her if her friends are okay? Did something else happen?

"They're both in surgery but that's all I know. I'm so glad you're okay. I don't know what I'd do if I lost any of my girls!" Hanna cried out again.

The two continued talking until Jim came knocking at the door. Then Mandy smiled genuinely and waved him in. Her injuries only consisted of bruised ribs, a broken arm and a lot of scratches and other bruising.

"I'm so happy you're okay sweetheart," Jim kissed her forehead gently, not wanting to hurt her.

Sam's injuries were much worse. She had three broken ribs and her shoulder was broken. The main problem with Sam was her baby. The doctors were going to have to choose one life to save: Sam or the baby. They needed her next of kin to make that decision and Hanna agreed to let that be Corey, the father of her unborn child.

"I can't make that decision! You can't put that on me." Corey cried out.

How could he possibly be put in this situation? His child, or the mother of his child had to die. And the decision was on him? The fate of a human life falling on Corey all at once. This can't happen.

This just couldn't be happening. 'Fuck, Taylor. How did you get in this fucking situation?' He felt like pulling his hair out, but he knew that wouldn't fix any problems they were currently facing.

Corey just couldn't stand to lose Sam like this. Hell, he couldn't stand to lose her, period. He wondered why he had to argue like that on the phone with her? This just proves that anything can happen at any given time. "She would choose the baby." Corey spoke in barely a whisper.

The doctor continued asking if that was his final decision. "It's what she would want. So, yes. But can I see her first?" Corey pleaded and they finally let him go back to see Sam.

◊◊◊

"When will Alice be out of surgery? I need to see her, please! For fucks sake!" Sid was starting to lose his mind here.

They had been at the hospital for nearly eight hours and still no update on Alice. Shift change finally came and hopefully this lady would be nicer than the last.

"Are you family?" The nurse looked up at Sid through her glasses and he nodded.

"I'm her husband." She started typing on her keyboard again.

"She's still in surgery, sir. I can't give you anything else until we-"

Just then, doctors started rushing to the room that Sam was in and both Hanna and Corey jumped up to follow.