A Home For MacKenzie

Chapter 12

Mackenzie faded in and out of consciousness for the next three days.  She had no idea where she was or how she had gotten there.  She vaguely remembered people in white coming in and talking over her head.  Nothing really made sense to her though.  She recalled a prick in her, sudden pain, and then nothing.  The teen felt like she was a in dream that she just couldn’t wake up out of.

            She flinched as light flooded into her room and fell over her eyes.  Mackenzie groaned softly as the squeak of the door cut through her and made her head hurt.  She tensed slightly as someone slipped their hand around hers.  The hand was calloused, but gentle.  Mackenzie wished she could open her eyes, but she was still too weak.

            “Mac, come back to us,” he whispered.  “I miss your voice.  Whatever made you run away we can fix.  Just please, don’t leave us.  Don’t leave me.”

            Caleb?  Was he crying?  No one had ever cried over her before.  She started to cough again, but still couldn’t wake up.  Caleb’s hand tightened on hers and she felt him brush her hair away from her face, causing her to tremble a bit.  She felt like she was in a fog that she couldn’t get out of.  Mackenzie groaned softly when he released her hand and she felt him get up.

            “Don’t go,” she breathed, not sure if she had spoken aloud or not.

            “Mac?” he asked, surprise and hope in his voice.  Mackenzie finally managed to force her eyes open partway.  “Mac!” he exclaimed, sitting back down beside her and pulling the chair close.

            She managed a weak smile.  “Hey,” she said hoarsely, her throat sore and raw.

            “Don’t talk,” he said gently, brushing her hair away form her flushed face.

            Mackenzie closed her eyes briefly.  She was pretty sure that she couldn’t have said much if she had wanted to.  She coughed hoarsely, her chest hurting.  She noticed that her left wrist was bandaged and throbbing dully.  She looked up at Caleb questioningly.

            Caleb sighed softly and picked her hand up, trying to warm it up with both of his.  “We searched all night for you.  You were delirious when Jeremy finally found you and you’ve been unconscious for the past three days.”  Mackenzie’s eyes widened in shock.  “The doctors say you got pneumonia really bad.  Apparently your body’s still fighting it.  And your wrist was broken when you were brought in too.  Why did you run, Mac?”

            Tears shined in Mackenzie’s gray eyes and she got choked up not able to explain.  They both looked over when the door opened.  A white coated doctor walked in, studying the chart he had in his hands.

            “I should go,” Caleb said, standing up.

            “No,” Mackenzie whispered, weakly reaching for his hand.

            He bent over and kissed her forehead.  “I’ll be back later.”

            Mackenzie’s hand fell onto the blanket at her side as Caleb slipped out of the room.  She turned her attention back to the doctor, not moving much as she felt sick again.  He gave her an encouraging smile as he scribbled some things on his clipboard.  He checked all the monitors before walking out again.  The girl sighed softly and closed her eyes, soon falling asleep again.

*~*~*

            Mackenzie was forced to stay in the hospital for another three days as her fever continued to go up and down.  She slept most of the time, only being awake for short periods of time.  Jeremy and Cassidy were there every single day and usually over night as well.  Caleb had been there most of the time too.  Fern and her parents even came to visit.  Mackenzie’s room was full of flowers and cards from people that she had met through Caleb and Fern.  Someone had also brought her her bear and it helped her feel a bit better.  Now she just wanted to go home.