AT THE HOSPITAL
When the Mikes arrived with the other guys and Alyssa, they found Erik pacing the waiting room in nervous antics. He hadn’t been allowed to go with Jacob into the trauma room but they had figured he wouldn’t have been. It looked as though he hadn’t gotten any word on Jacob’s condition either. Trevor went over and put a hand on Erik’s shoulder. Erik jumped and turned to look into Trevor’s concerned face. Trevor held out his arms and Erik fell into his embrace, fresh hot tears streaming down his cheeks. Trevor didn’t say anything, he just stood there holding him, letting Erik cry on his shoulder.
The other guys and Alyssa went and sat down on the chairs in the waiting room. Ashley sat down next to Alyssa and put his arm around her again. Her head fell against his shoulder and she closed her eyes. Her tears had stopped coming but they had exhausted her and all she really wanted to do now was sleep. However, a part of her wouldn’t let that happen, she was too worried about Jacob to close fall asleep. She was afraid that if she did, she would have nightmares about what was happening to him and she didn’t want that so she forced herself to stay awake.
Trevor gently led Erik over to the chairs and sat down in one, never once letting go of Erik. He let him sit in his lap with his arms around his neck still crying. He rubbed a hand up and down Erik’s back and kissed him softly on the top of the head. Erik may have been the oldest of the group and known as the Tough Guy but right now, he was sensitive and Trevor wanted him to let out all his grief. After all, Jacob was Erik’s best friend in the group. Actually, Jacob was all of theirs; that’s why he was known as the Best Friend.
A doctor came into the room and the Mikes stood up to greet him. “You are Mike Morin and Mike Cronin I presume?” the doctor asked as he approached them. The Mikes nodded. The other guys looked up, anxiously awaiting the news. I’m Doctor Mason Fielding. I’m the one who will be taking care of Mr. Underwood.” He held out his hand and the Mikes shook it in turn.
“How’s he doing Dr. Fielding?” Dan asked, coming up to them. Dr. Fielding frowned and Dan became a little frightened.
“I’m afraid not too good. His vitals are very low and he has lost extensive amounts of blood. He will need a blood transfusion and surgery to stitch up the wound on his head. We are prepping him for that surgery now. I just thought you might like to know what was going on.”
“Has he woken up?” Dan asked. It was clear that the color had drained from his face. Dr. Fielding shook his head. Dan gulped and backed up to sit in a chair, just as his legs gave out from under him.
“No, he hasn’t woken up yet. And although he is still alive, he is not responding to us in anyway. We will do the best that we can for him but we cannot guarantee anything. The wound to his head is very severe. It looks as though he may have fractured his skull and that’s not good because if he did, it is likely that the broken pieces have punctured his brain. He hit his head pretty hard, he’s lucky to be alive, even in this state. I would prepare yourselves for the worst just in case.” Erik, who had finally stopped crying, buried his face in Trevor’s shoulder again, fresh tears making their way down his cheeks.
“I am sorry for whatever may happen but pray and good things will come,” Dr. Fielding said and he turned and left the room.
Ashley dropped his head into his hands again. “This is all my fault. It’s my fault his condition is so bad.” Dan looked at him.
“Ash, don’t say that. It’s not your fault. You didn’t know that his injuries were going to be so severe.” He put a hand on Ashley’s back.
“I know but I said that bit of negativity back at the venue. That’s what has caused his injuries to be this bad.”
“No it’s not. The rest of us have been trying our best to think positive and I know you changed to that outlook too. Besides, sometimes the people with the worst injuries are always the ones that come out better than ever. Jacob’s strong, he’s going to pull through this, I just know he is.”
“How can you be so sure?” Erik asked from his spot on Trevor’s lap. Dan turned to look at him.
“Because Erik, you of all people should know better than anyone, Jacob’s the most stubborn of anyone we know. Don’t forget, when he had that back injury, he didn’t want anyone to know and tried to get on with life they way it was. There’s no way he’ll let himself go. If anything, he’ll fight to get better faster.” Erik managed a weak smile. Dan’s words seemed to have made him feel a bit better.
SIX HOURS LATER
Dan was the only one awake when Dr. Fielding entered the waiting room once again. He stood up to greet him. Dr. Fielding had a smile on his face which Dan took to mean he had good news about Jacob. He shook Dr. Fielding’s free hand as his other was holding a clipboard.
“How’d it go Doctor?” Dan asked. Dr. Fielding’s expression suddenly became very serious.
“I have some good news and some bad news.” Dan’s face fell. “I would ask you which you wanted first but it wouldn’t make sense to have the bad news first.”
“Alright, so what’s the good news?”
“The good news is Jacob made through the operation without any complications. He now has enough blood in his system and the wound on his head has been patched up.”
“And the bad news?” Dr. Fielding sighed.
“As I had expected he fractured his skull and like I said, the broken bone did puncture his brain. We have patched that up as best as we could but I’m afraid it has rendered Jacob in a coma. There’s no way of knowing when he will wake up or even if he will wake up.” Again, the color drained from Dan’s face. “If he does wake up, there is no telling what kind of neurological damage he has suffered.”
“You mean he could have brain damage?” Dan asked in horror. The doctor just nodded. “Thank you Dr. Fielding,” he said, again finding a chair as his legs gave out from under him. Dr. Fielding smiled, nodded, and left the room.
TWO HOURS LATER
Everyone was awake but no one was in a very happy mood. Dan had told them what Dr. Fielding had said and now they were more worried than ever. It seemed as though Erik would never stop crying and Ashley just kept saying he felt the whole thing was his fault. Dan was standing at the window and Alyssa was at his side. Trevor was still holding Erik as he wouldn’t leave the comfort of his arms. Erik had gotten so attached to Trevor that he even followed him to the bathroom when he had to go. As for the Mikes, they had left the hospital about an hour earlier to go see about some documents and paperwork but they promised they would call to get updates from the guys. Bree had shown up not long before and she was now sitting next to Trevor with her and on his shoulder.
“How is he?” Mechele Underwood said as she entered the waiting room. Dan had called Jacob’s family some time ago and told them what had happened. Steve Underwood, Jacob’s dad, had said they would be on the first flight out. Now, they had arrived and were anxious to hear about Jacob.
“Not so good,” Dan said, turning to face Mrs. Underwood. He noticed Jacob’s brother and sister, Bryan and Danielle standing behind his parents. Danielle’s cheeks were glistening with tears and Bryan looked angry. “He made it through surgery but he’s in a coma. There’s no telling when or even if he’ll wake up.” Tears began falling from Mrs. Underwood’s eyes and she turned into her husband. Steve pulled his wife into his arms and tried to comfort her.
“Who did it?” Danielle asked quietly. “Who caused my brother’s accident?” Dan looked down at the floor. Suddenly, Erik got up and stood straight and tall. He wiped the tears from his face and looked at Jacob’s family.
“It was Janie,” he said coldly. “Janie caused him to bash his head against the bathroom wall.” Mrs. Underwood looked surprised and Danielle looked as though she were about to throw up.
“How?” Bryan asked. “How did Janie cause his accident?”
“She had been pregnant,” Erik said, without hesitation. “The baby was his. She called him just before rehearsals for last night’s concert and told him she had fallen down the stairs and lost the baby.” Bryan’s eyes went wide.
“She lost it?” Erik nodded. Suddenly, Bryan became very angry again. “Or maybe she just pretended to lose it.” Erik looked at him with a confused expression. Ashley looked up, caught with interest by sudden accusation.
“What do you mean Bryan?” Steve asked his younger son.
“Well, what if there never was a baby? What if Janie just told Jacob she was pregnant to try and get him back? People do, do that kind of thing you know. Seeing as how Janie has been acting lately, I wouldn’t put it pass her to try it.” Everyone looked at each other. The guys hadn’t thought of that.
“But if she was trying to get him back,” Ashley began, “Why would she call him a month later and told him she had had a miscarriage?”
“Perhaps she thought she had wheeled him in back to her and decided to tell him she had lost the baby to erase the idea that there never was one. If you knew Janie like I do, you would know, she’s not clumsy enough to fall down the stairs. She’s never had an accident due to clumsiness in all the time I’ve known her and then all of the sudden, she comes up with this story? It’s obvious if she was pregnant, she was only in her first trimester. True, that’s the easiest time to lose the baby but she should’ve had no problem yet seeing where she was going. Her stomach wouldn’t have been big enough yet to obstruct her line of vision.”
“My God, he’s right!” Alyssa cried out. “You don’t start showing until around the end of your first trimester, beginning of your second. She wouldn’t have had any problem seeing where she was going!” Everyone looked at her and then they looked back at Bryan who nodded.
“How did you know that Bryan?” Erik asked.
“I remember going with my mom to all the doctor’s visits when she was pregnant with Danielle. I asked a lot of questions. The answers all stuck in my head like a sore thumb.” Mechele smiled down at her son. Just then, a nurse entered the room.
“I’m sorry but visiting hours are up for now, you will have to leave.” They all groaned and started to walk out of the room. The nurse put a hand up. “Wait, I’m not finished. You have already been here long enough after visiting hours were officially over. You may come back later this morning. One more thing, Dr. Fielding said it would be alright for one of you to stay with Mr. Underwood at his side. He wanted you to decide who but he had recommended it be the young man who came in with him.”
“Then I’ll go,” Erik said stepping forward. The others didn’t protest, not even Jacob’s family. They all seemed to agree that it was best for Erik to go stay with Jacob, he would bring the most comfort.
The nurse nodded. “Follow me.” Erik took one last look at the others in the room and followed the nurse out. She led him down a hallway and through a big set of double doors. They walked across another hall and entered another set of double doors. Erik noticed that the sign above them read ICU – INTENSIVE CARE UNIT. He gulped nervously as he followed her into the ICU and down a short hall. She paused outside a closed door and put her hand on the knob. “I must warn you, he doesn’t look very good. There is a bandage wrapped around his head and we had to insert a breathing tube down his throat. So if he does wake up, he won’t be able to talk. He is also hooked up to an IV and a heart monitor.” Erik nodded, showing that he understood the scene he was about to see would not be pretty. The nurse turned the knob and opened the door. She waved Erik into the room and pulled the door shut behind him.
Erik watched the door shut. Then he turned to face the room. His heart skipped a beat at what he saw. There was Jacob lying in the bed, a thick bandage wrapped around his head and a breathing tube secured into his mouth. His hands lay flat out on the bed and he had an IV in one arm. A heart monitor stood on the right side of the bed and Erik could see the little wires running down under the hospital gown where the connected to the suckle cups that he knew had been placed on Jacob’s chest. But the saddest thing in Erik’s mind, was the fact that Jacob’s eyes were closed. The prospect of Jacob being in a coma never really hit him until he saw those closed eyes. It appeared as though Jacob were in a deep sleep and that made it hard for Erik to remember that at least he was still alive.
Erik slowly crossed the room and took a seat in the chair by the side of the bed. Pulling it closer, he place a hand on top of Jacob’s and clasped it firmly. “Hey buddy, how you doing? It’s me, Erik. The other guys would’ve been here too but they said only one of us could come in, so we all agreed on me.” He paused, looked into Jacob’s lifeless face, tears still running down his own. “Your family’s here. They know everything. Dan called them. Bryan had a really good point and proposition about something but I won’t get into that now, you don’t need to hear it. We’re all praying for you buddy. Stay strong, and please, you have to wake up, you just have to.” Erik’s head fell down on the bed as he burst into tears once more. Moments later, he had cried himself to sleep.
TWO MONTHS LATER
Jacob still hadn’t woken up. Erik remained by his side the whole time. He refused to leave him. The other guys and Alyssa came and went bringing clothes and food for Erik and flowers for Jacob. There were ‘get well soon’ balloons littering the ceiling. And matching cards littered the bedside table. Lot’s of gifts had been sent by fans, the Mikes had brought them in. It was no longer a secret that Jacob had been badly injured and was now in a hospital in a coma. Fans all over were sad but the Mikes had said everyone was praying for him. Jacob’s family was in and out of the room as well, they refused to go back to El Cajun until they knew he was going to be alright.
Everyone else had left to go get some food and Erik once again, found himself alone with Jacob. His position hadn’t changed. His eyes were still shut, he still had the breathing tube, IV, and heart monitor and his hands still late flat on the bed. A nurse checked on him periodically and another nurse changed the bandage wrapped around his head daily. Although, he wasn’t really improving, he wasn’t getting any worse either. His condition remained the same.
“Jacob,” Erik said, “I have a surprise for you.” He leaned down and picked up Jacob’s guitar. Trevor had brought it in for him earlier that morning. Although Erik had no idea how to play, he strummed a few cords so that Jacob could hear and know it was there. “I know what you would say, ‘Erik, you really suck at that’.” He laughed lightly, looking down at the floor.
“Mmmmmm,” he heard a muffled weak voice cry out. Erik’s head shot up and he looked at Jacob. His eyes were open and he was looking at him. Erik’s face lit up. He set the guitar down and ran out of the room. He ran up to the nurse’s station. The nurse looked at him in surprise.
“Can I help you?” she asked confused.
“He’s awake, he’s awake, he woke up!” Erik cried. The nurse came out from behind the desk and ran into Jacob’s room. Jacob’s eyes were wide and he was staring at her. He looked down at the tube in his mouth, clearly indicating that he wanted it out. Erik was smiling broadly.
“Dr. Fielding!” the nurse called. The doctor came running in. When he saw that Jacob was awake, a wide grin spread across his face and he turned to Erik.
“Mr. Estrada, I believe your friend is going to be just fine.” Erik ran to Jacob’s side and picked up his hand.
“You hear that? You’re going to be just fine!” he cried happily. Jacob slowly nodded his head. His eyes were twinkling, which was enough to tell Erik he was happy. He picked up his free hand and pointed at the tube. Erik turned to the doctor. “Um, is there any possible way he can have that removed?” Dr. Fielding smiled.
“Of course, there were no internal injuries. His breathing is just fine, we just had to give him the tube so his body would remember to breathe in the state he was in. But now that he is awake, we can take it out.”
“Thank you,” Erik said, looking back down at Jacob. He waited patiently while Dr. Fielding removed the tube and checked Jacob’s vitals, which had dramatically improved since that morning. Then, he and the nurse left the room.
“Where is everyone?” Jacob asked quietly.
“They went to go get some food. They’ll be bringing me back something.”
“Why didn’t you go with them?”
“Because I wanted to stay here with you.” Jacob smiled and tightened the grip of the hand Erik had picked up.
“I’m glad you did.” Erik smiled and leaned over to kiss Jacob on the top of the forehead.
“I am too little bro. If I had gone, I would’ve missed you waking up.”
“If you had gone, I don’t think I would’ve woken up yet.” Erik looked at him with a confused expression. “It was the guitar Erik, the guitar brought me back. You played it and when my subconscious mind heard the familiar sound, it gave me the strength to open my eyes and wake up.”
“Well then, I’m glad I did it.” There was silence for a few moments and then Jacob looked back at Erik.
“Erik?”
“Yes?”
“What happened to me? Why am I in the hospital?” Erik’s face paled. “Please, tell me, I want to know.” Erik sighed.
“Well, we were about to have rehearsals for a concert and your phone rang.”
“Yes, I remember, it was Janie calling. I remember all that. I left the group to get some privacy. I went into my bathroom. She told me she had some bad news and then she told me she had lost the baby. After that, everything went black and the next thing I remember, is coming to in this hospital bed with you playing my guitar. And no Erik, you don’t suck, you just need a little practice is all.” Erik smiled.
“Well, you see Jacob, you had a little accident.”
“What kind of accident?”
“You bashed your head pretty hard on the bathroom wall. Ashley found you about forty minutes after you left to take the call. We were worried and he went to go look for you. He found you slumped against the bathroom wall unconscious. Your hair was matted with blood and it was trailing down the wall behind you, pooling up at your hands. You had dropped your cell phone on the floor but it wasn’t damaged. The doctor said, you’d lost a lot of blood and needed a blood transfusion. Then later, he told us that you had fractured your skull and the broken bone had punctured your brain. He said there was no telling what kind of neurological damage you might suffer. You were in a coma then and no one knew when or if you’d come out.”
“How long have I been out?” Jacob asked in a soft voice, quite unlike his own. Erik knew what had happened to him had horrified him. It was the only thing that caused his voice to get so soft.
“Two months,” Erik said shortly. Jacob’s eyes widened and he looked at the blanket.
“Sorry I scared you guys.” Erik just smiled and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
“It’s alright, you’re here now and that’s all the matters.”
“Jacob!” cried a sudden voice. Erik and Jacob looked up to see Ashley standing in the doorway. “You’re awake!” He turned to look at Erik. “When did he wake up?”
“A little while after you guys left. He woke up when I played his guitar. It brought him back.” The other guys appeared in the doorway, trying to see what was going on. Erik stood up and looked at them with a big smile on his face. “He woke up!” he said happily. Everyone pushed their way into the room and showered Jacob with soft hugs and kisses.
A few hours later everyone was eating cake and ice cream, happily celebrating. Dr. Fielding had announced that Jacob was expected to make a full recovery and with the rate he was improving he should be able to leave in just a few days. Everyone was happy to know that Jacob was well on his way to recovery.
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