Nick’s brothers crowded him and guided him to the waiting area .. a rep from National Geographic taking them where they needed to be...
Nick moved slowly as if his feet were leaden....he had no idea what to feel ....if he should be happy or sad...after all no one had actually said she was ok ...for all he knew she could still be dead
They all sat down .....except Kevin who paced and wandered into the corridor looking anxiously for someone official ...
He exchanged a few brief words with the rep who then left to speak with the doctor
Nick had not spoken the whole journey but suddenly he felt the urge to explode..."Kevin!!"
Kevin spun around the tone of Nicks voice totally taking him by surprise
"What the fuck is happening?"...
their eyes met and Nick seemed to scrunch up into a ball again ......as if the exertion of the outburst had drained him.
"I'll find out Nick ...it won't be long trust me we will see her soon"
Kevin glanced quickly at the others and disappeared....... Nick was silent again...
Brian attempted to make smalltalk but Nick wasn't interested .....his eyes fixed on the door.
Kevin came back with a doctor.....a gentleman as tall as him ....distinguished and english.
Nick rose unsteadily to his feet
The doctor respectfully adressed his greeting to Nick... "Mr Carter?" he held out his hand and Nick took it ......the man had a firm handshake
Nick wanted to just ask if she was alive but he didn't....
"My name is Dr Reynolds and I am taking care of your financee.... Heather"
Nick smiled..in one sentence the Dr had given him hope and acknowledged his place in her life.
"I will take you right to her in just a moment but I need to talk to you first.... would you care to sit down? .....you look like you need to"
Nick shook his head "I'd rather stand thanks"
"Well to begin with you need to prepare yourself for the amount of machinery that surrounds her.. she is in out Intensive Therapy Unit..and she is on a breathing machine....a ventilator"
Nick nodded..... his eyes never leaving the doctors face
"She had some intravenous lines in.....a cast on her arm ..her right arm was broken she has numerous cuts and bruises...she has three broken ribs...."
Nick looked the doctor in the eyes "How?"
The doctor repeated the question not really understanding..... "How??"
"Yes how?.... ..how did she get these injuries...was it just the landslide?.. can mud do all that?"
The doctor stalled trying to think of what to say to the young man "Well I believe the cause of some of her injuries is still under investigation..."
Nick stared at the floor swallowing hard...
Kevin looked at Brian puzzled ....wondering what Nick was getting at..
The doctor spoke again "She is also ......well you will see yourself in a moment ....having
spent so long in the mud her skin has been coloured by it.....it will wear off.... but she looks
well...muddy"
The doctor half smiled and then coughed .....the intensity of Nicks gaze making him uncomfortable. "Follow me ..."
the guys surged forward..but Nick held back......
Kevin waited with him..... "Nick?...."
Nicks eyes avoided Kevins
"What if?...."
Kevins voice was gentle..calming "Nick don't......... lets just go see her...... you will see she's alive.."
Nick let Kevin lead him out of the waiting room.
The walk down the corridor seemed endless..
The last few feet toward Heathers bay felt like slow motion to Nick .....he could only hear the blood pumping through his ears...his eyes both wanted to see her and refused to search but his will was stronger...
Despite the black streaks over her skin were the mud was ingrained ....he still recognised her....
even with breathing tubes and drips and wires he recognised her....his brothers held him as if they expected him to throw himself upon her...but he shook them free and walked swiftly to her side .....his fingers reaching out to touch her as soon as he was near enough ....he rested his hands either side of her face and bent low enough to whisper in her ear "Baby it's me ....Nicky...I love you.....please don't leave me" He stayed like that for ages just whispering....his hands occassionally straying to touch her arms her hair...even matted to her head he still touched it.....
his memory serving him well for how it really felt.
A figure appeared beside Heather at the other side of the bed....it was a nurse...
Nick smiled.... "Is this okay ...am I in the way?"
"No honey not at all......I'm Cora.... Heathers nurse...ask me any questions you need to ..."
Nick straightened and began a barrage of questions about the equipment surrounding Heather that lasted about half an hour....
Cora answered them all patiently..the guys watched him and marvelled at his strength...
AJ watched him thoughtfully "I thought he'd crumble"
Brian smiled "Well obviously ...he isn't going to ..maybe seeing her gave him the strength"
Only one question stopped Cora in her tracks
"Can mud really cause all these injuries?"
Brian shot Kevin a horrified look 'What is he doing...what is he after?"
Cora calmly answered... "I think you need to speak to the doctor and the investigation team
about that"
Nick looked at his brothers ....then back to his girl.... that was something he has every intention of doing!
Slowly he lowered his head again and kissed her forehead.....
At the window to the bay a man stood watching...he stopped a nurse as she left the room
"Who is that?"...he pointed at Nick
The nurse stared at him.... "That depends on who you are.."
"Oh sorry..... my name is Simon I'm a close friend of Heathers......the woman in the bed?"
Sarcasm never far from his reach......
The nurse looked him up and down "I see.......well that is Nick..... her fiance.."
Simon stared back in the direction of the tall blonde man...he whispered low 'So you're Nick'
At that exact moment Nick turned and fixed his eyes on Simon...as if something told him he was there
Simon felt his blood run cold....the look in Nick’s eyes..on his face...
Panic built up inside Simons gut … his mind raced..did Nick know anything?........and if he did how?....