Better The Devil You Know

The Good, The Bad & The OK I Guess.

Nathan sat in the conference room, a pile of papers scattered around him. Danilo was currently explaining the battle tactics they had discussed last night to Sam and Mat who were arranging numbers of men and weapons.

All fell silent when Dr Harrison knocked on the door. Nathan waved him in, before downing the rest of his whiskey.

'Hi Boss, I've successfully finished my analysis report on Mrs Romano. I can wait until you're free if you'd rather do this alone?'

'Don't bother. These three would nag me until I told them anyway, please go ahead.'

'Well, Mrs Romano is 15 weeks post trauma, which is very good. The hospital she was sent to was extremely efficient and I'm happy to say that all of my x-rays show that she is well on the way to recovery. Most of her breaks and dislocations have sufficiently healed, although due to the number of breaks her body is to weak to currently hold itself. I've come up with an intense physio therapy plan which will fix that in no time. However, for now, she is still immobile, my main concerns now being her broken femur, her hip fracture and her traumatic brain injury, causing her lack of hearing. I come with good news though, having examined her thoroughly, I believe her jaw can be unset and released, and I'm positive that within the week we can have her off both heart and kidney support, and that by next month her shoulder will be out of a cast.'

Mateo turned and looked out of the window, muttering a 'bloody hell' under his breath.

'That's great. Thank you so much, Dr Harrison. When can you unset her jaw?'

🖤

Ok Miss, I'm going to remove your neck brace now. You will feel a slight pinch and it will be sore. You have some external bruising which should heal in no time.

The text pinged through and the nurse next to her smiled brightly.

Aurora took an intake of breathe as she winced slightly. She was in some weird contraption, a bit like a dentists chair, as the nurse faffed around her.

Dr Harrison will be in in a minute to unclip your wires.

After the painful removal of the jaw brace, Aurora slowly moved her neck as Dr Harrison instructed.

Try talking. Take your time and go slowly.

Aurora opened her mouth, pain filling her senses as tears filled her eyes.
Nathan stepped forward, gesturing at her to stop, no doubt yelling at the doctor.

Aurora gulped, the sensation weird to her, before opening her mouth.

No sound came out.

She tried again.

Nothing.

Everyone's faces filled with worry.

Maybe she was talking and she couldn't hear it?

That had to be it. Surely.

Why wasn't she talking?

🖤

'I don't get it. Why isn't she talking?' Angelina sat next to Izzy, the two now being thick as thieves.

'I thought you said she could talk once the brace was removed?' Angelo asked.

If Nathan wasn't worried about Aurora he would feel bad for Dr Harrison, but as it happens he was sick to his stomach with fear.