all american | lance tucker

ch. 46 • hospital

"What's wrong with him?" I was getting out of bed and pulling my clothes back on as I spoke.

"We don't know yet. He's being assessed as we speak. We will call you with any further information we discover." She explained. I huffed.

"Okay. Bye." I hung up, then took a second to freak out. Lance was in the hospital in Philadelphia. Possibly injured. And I was two hours away with four young kids who were supposed to go to school tomorrow.

Shit. The kids.

I couldn't take them with me. They had school and stuff. I had to call someone. I checked the time. 4:29 in the morning. Ugh. No one was going to be awake.
I tried both of my sisters that were in America, my babysitter, my brothers, my stepdad, Lance's sisters, and even Lance's brother. No one picked up. I felt like I was out of options. Who in the hell was up right now?

I had one option left, I realized. It wasn't a good one, but it was an option. And it worked. Hope was just entering the house as I was leaving, looking very surprised and tired.

"You're lucky you called. I had just gotten up to pee." She grumbled.

"I need you to watch the kids and get them to school tomorrow."

"Easy."

"And maybe take my shift if Haskey says I can't take the day off." I pleaded, leaning against the door. I had a bag with me with a change of clothes for Lance and for me. I had no idea how long I would be there.

"I'll just take it even if he says it's okay. Training your gymnasts sounds fun." She nodded to the door. "Go."

"Thank you so much. I owe you big time." I rushed out the door and to my car, rushing to turn in on and get the hell out of there.

"Hey Siri. Take me to Nazareth Hospital."

Two hours of driving knowing Lance was in a hospital alone was hard. I was anxious out of my mind, and I was still exhausted. So when I arrived, I was basically frantic.

"I'm looking for Lance Tucker? I'm his fiancée." I said to the first person I saw. She checked a chart she had in her hand, then pointed down the hall.

"Room 6283. He just got out of surgery so he's a little drowsy right now." She explained.

"Thank you." I hurried down the hallway, checking each room number until I found 6283. I peaked my head in, and saw a sleeping Lance. I ducked into the room quickly and stared at him. He was unconscious. And he was in surgery? I sat down next to him, noticing the cuts and dark bruises on his face. I couldn't see the rest of him. Surgery. He had been in surgery. Oh my god.

"I assume you're his emergency contact?" A voice scared me, and I turned to see what I assumed was a doctor. "Hi, I'm doctor Bartol." She said.

"What's wrong with him?" I asked, not taking my eyes off of Lance.

"Multiple contusions to the head, 2 broken ribs, a severe sinus infection, and large traces of cocaine in his system. He just got out of emergency surgery for a deflated lung, so he should be awake soon." She explained lengthily, glancing at Lance as she spoke.

"Cocaine?" It was all starting to come together now. And now I felt even worse.

"We know about as much as you do about what happened. We'll know more when he wakes up."

"Is he going to get in trouble with the law?"

"I can't tell you that yet. Call us when he wakes up." She exited the room, and left me alone with my unconscious fiancé. Something told me all of this was his fault. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. Seriously? He seriously did all of this? I felt like more and more of a babysitter every time he made a stupid choice like this.