Crossed lines

“Oh God, what have I done?!” Nick dragged his feet slowly down the hall towards Kevin’s room.
”She was just lying there, I..I…”

“Nick!” Kirstie called out to him.
“Huh!?” Nick spun around fast, causing his head to spin.
“Nick are you right man?” AJ’s eyebrows furrowed as he inspected Nick’s appearance.
“Uh yeah….I’m fine….” Nick mumbled.
“That’s good, have you seen Becca or Cassidy? Are they still packing or…” Kirstie asked.
“Uhhh….”
“You know, Cassidy…..your girlfriend, blond hair…..You sure you ok? You and Cassidy been fighting??”
“Oh God…..” Nick cursed as he brought his hands up to his pounding head.
“Nick? What’s wrong?” Kirstie’s eyes grew wide.
“I just stood there, I…. I just lost it….she didn’t move…..and….” Nick’s speech was erratic and incoherent.
“Nick who!? Where’s Becca and Cassidy?!” AJ took a hold of Nick’s shoulder, steadying him as he spoke.
“Becca she…..she was so pale….God what have I done….” Nick buried his face in his hands.
“It’s ok Nick….shh…..Now tell us what happened, where’s Becca now…” AJ asked calmly.

“Come on…..pick up please…..” Cassidy cursed the steady rhythm of the dial tone.
”What do I say!? Mrs. Fong, Becca’s collapsed, she’s at the hospital. I have no idea what’s happened to her and most of the Doctor’s here don’t speak English…….please pick up!”

Cassidy slammed down the phone impatiently.
“Becca you’re strong…you’ll be fine….Oh god please be ok…”
The image of Becca’s limp body scarring Cassidy’s memory.
She sat down numbly on one of the cold hospital benches. She began nervously biting into the flesh of her thumb with her third finger, digging away at the nail, then subconsciously stopped herself.
“She’ll be fine, it was probably just something she ate…she’ll be fine…I know it…”

“Careful!” Brian clenched his jaw as a young nurse began to stitch together the split skin around his knuckles. He turned his head away as the pain ripped through his arm.

Two broken knuckles, 6 stitches and extensive bruising. That wasn’t the beginning of Brian’s heartache.
“Why did she even waste her time with me….was I just a toy!! Never again….Leighanne was right….Leighanne….”

“Your x-ray is ready sir….you’ll need to return tomorrow so we can put that hand in a cast….for the moment, keep it in the sling….”
“Yeah whatever….” Brian got up stiffly and pushed the double doors out into the hospital corridor.

Kirstie and AJ walked quickly through the automatic doors and ducked around a trolley full of empty dinner trays.

“Oh Cassidy!!” Kirstie cried, enveloping her in a fierce hug.
Nick walked in a minute later, shuffling his feet, his head hung low.
“What have the doctor’s said? What’s happening?!”
“I have no idea…the nurses don’t speak English and the ones that do won’t tell me anything….”
Cassidy replied, her features drawn.
Nick looked at her briefly before taking a seat furthermost away.

“Does Brian know?” AJ asked suddenly.
“As far as Brian’s probably concerned Becca’s the enemy at the moment….I haven’t called him….” Cassidy said sadly.
“Maybe someone should….I’ll be back in a few….” AJ replied, before disappearing down the hall.

Nick looked across at Cassidy sitting next to Kirstie on the edge of her seat, sniffling slightly...head bowed, playing with her hands in her lap. He wanted more than anything to hold her so tight, but was sure that she wouldn’t accept his embrace.

Just then a doctor came out of one of the grey painted doors and walked over to them.

Cassidy jumped out of her seat so fast, Nick was surprised she didn’t fall flat on her face. He got up quickly and joined Kirstie as they rushed to meet the doctor.
“How’s Becca?? Is she ok??” Cassidy said hurriedly.
“You’re friend has had a garden variety heart attack....” The doctor said calmly.
“Oh god...” Kirstie gasped. Nick put an arm comfortingly around her. Cassidy looked at him briefly as he did so, wanting him more than anything to him to hold her like that.
“She’s in emergency surgery now, a procedure called a coronary aniogram and a PTCA......” The doctor continued emotionlessly.
“Is she going to be ok??” Nick asked quickly.
“It is uhh...how to say in English...uhh....Touch and go...” The doctor shook his head and walked away from them.

“How could Becca have a heart attack.....there must be some mistake..I..” Cassidy blurted as her eyes began to well.
“It’s ok.....come on sit down...” Kirstie directed Cassidy to the nearest bench.

Brian walked mindlessly down the busy corridor, everyone around him blurred into the background as his thoughts swam around in his head.
He stopped as he saw Cassidy, Kirstie an Nick sitting on one of the hospital benches. Nick had his head in his hands as Kirstie held onto Cassidy, both girls looked extremely upset.
Nick looked up suddenly, “Brian....did AJ call you?!”
“No, why are you guys here?!” Brian asked rudely.
“Your girlfriend’s.......” Cassidy began as she wiped her face on the sleeve of her sweater.
“She’s not my girlfriend.....” Brian replied sharply, before continuing to walk down the corridor.
Nick got up and began to jog to catch up to him.

“I thought you might be concerned that your EX-girlfriend is lying in a hospital bed!!” Cassidy yelled emotionally, tears now streaming down her face. Kirstie wrapped her arm around Cassidy’s shoulder as the two girls attempted to comfort each other.
Brian stopped walking and slowly turned to Nick who simply nodded, affirming Brian’s worst fears. His head was no longer swimming, it was suddenly drowned with thoughts. He slowly picked up his pace and began to stride down the hospital corridor.
“You don’t deserve her Brian! I thought you were better than that!” Cassidy yelled as Brian disappeared around the corned. Nick turned to face Cassidy, her eyes now filled with hate.
“Just go Nick.....” She said sadly.

Nick looked at her pained. Their eyes locked for a moment until Cassidy looked away and continued to stare at the ground. He sighed and continued around the corner where he saw Brian, who had collapsed on a bench, cradling his hand.

“What happened?” Nick said referring to his hand.
“Put my fist through a wall...” Brian said distractedly. He couldn’t think of anything but what Cassidy had just yelled at him.
“Do you wanna talk about anything?” Nick looked at his friend worriedly.
“What’s wrong with her?” Brian’s eyes pierced Nick’s.
“She’s had a heart attack.....she’s in surgery now, uhh..a..PTCA...I think” Nick replied solemnly.
“A percutaneous translucmial coronary angioplasy...” Brian whispered as he began to run his hand nervously through his hair.
Nick watched his reaction worriedly.
“Shit....I told her to get those pains checked out!” Brian slapped his forehead with his good hand.
“What? What pains??” Nick said confused.
“She was having chest pains, short sharp ones....for about 5, 10 minutes at a time...” Brian said lifelessly.
“Brian, you should tell the doctor this! You should go and Cassidy will.....” Nick started but Brian got up shaking his head.
“Brian??” Nick asked incredulously. “I can’t go in there Nick....I can’t do this....you don’t know what she did to me....” Brian looked Nick in the eye.
“Yeah I do Brian.....but this...”
“No, you don’t.....you can’t understand, you can’t even begin to understand what I’m feeling right now!!” Brian said raising his voice.
“Brian she could die!!” Nick said also getting louder.
Brian paused for a moment, as if registering the previous information manually, slowly.
“That.....she is no longer my responsibility Nick.....that is no longer my concern....” Brian said shifting his gaze and shoving his hands deep into his pockets.
“That’s bullshit Brian and you know it! You’re just as scared as the rest of us.....and she needs you....you owe her that....for all that you’ve been through...” Nick shook his head.
“I stopped owing her shit the moment that she even started thinking about leaking that tape.......” Brian said coldly, staring Nick down.
“Go.....just go, run away Brian.....and come back when you grow some balls. Now excuse me I’m going to help my friend who needs me....” Nick spat harshly.

Brian looked at him shocked. He then lowered his gaze and turned to walk in the other direction, around the corner and out of sight.

Nick sighed and turned the opposite direction. Cassidy was leaning against the wall in front of him. He stopped to look at her. Her pale face, drawn worried lips, red eyes.......yet she still looked as beautiful as ever to Nick.

“I’m so proud of you Nick....” She said weakly as she walked over to him.
“Well this really smart girl told me once that even the closest of people have to stand their ground...”
Nick whispered, his voice full of emotion as they embraced tightly, drawing on each other for strength. Cassidy let the tears flow as she drew in closer to Nick’s strong shoulder.
“Come on Cass baby.....you’ve gotta be strong for Becca....” He gently soothed her, running his hand through her hair.