Emilio pulled the ambulance off the road to the site. Frank quickly spotted the most injured victim, a young man lying on the ground. Frank and Emilio took the stretcher out of the back. "Hey, guys, what happened here?" Emilio asked.
"A car came into our lane, ran us off the road. Go look at Sly, please," Chuck said in a frightened tone of voice.
Frank and Emilio came over to where Sly lay on the ground. Jon was holding his hand and looked frantic. Frank tried to assess the situation. "How did he end up out of the car?"
"He opened the door and climbed out just like the rest of us. Then all of a sudden, he just passed out. That's when we called you."
"What's his name?"
"Sly. Sly Eckert."
"Sly?" Frank said. "Can you hear me?" Sly didn't move. He and Emilio checked his vitals. "Ok, let's get him out of here." They carefully placed Sly on a backboard, then onto a stretcher, which they put back into the ambulance.
"Look, you guys need to get checked out, too. We'll radio for some more help. Just stay here." Frank climbed into the back as Emilio closed the doors. Soon the ambulance sped away, sirens screaming. The remaining members of Wildfire stood there; they were sick with worry, and they had no idea what would happen next.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*
The first thing he noticed was the amount of people shouting. Couldn't a person get some sleep? Then he felt a jostling movement. His head pounded. Oh, God, something was wrong.
Sly opened his eyes. He realized that he was in the hospital, but he had no idea how he got there. His vision focused, and the face of Karen Wexler greeted him.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," she smiled. She then shined a small light in his eyes. "How do you feel? Any pain?"
"My head hurts."
"Yes, a concussion will do that," a man with a soft Irish brogue said. "You've also got a pretty nasty black eye."
"CT scan and X-rays?" Karen asked.
"Of course," the man said.
"How did I end up with a concussion?" Sly asked.
"Well, it appears you hit your head on the steering wheel. Apparently, you got out of the car, then collapsed."
"I remember that."
"Well, you weren't unconscious too long, which is a good sign. We'll just run some more tests to be sure."
Karen came back into the room. "They're all set in radiology." An orderly helped Karen push the stretcher. "Time to go for a ride."
*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Emily walked into her room. Juan had dropped her off after the concert, and she was stuck talking to her mother, who was eager to hear about the whole night. She had eventually torn herself away. Now she could finally be alone.
She closed the door and climbed on her bed. She grabbed one of her pillows and hugged it to herself. She did not know why, but she felt tears start to sting her eyes. Soon she began to cry harder.
Why is this happening? She thought. I am in love with… She stopped for a second. It wasn't with Juan anymore. What had happened to their relationship? She used to be crazy about him. Now, no matter how much she tried to convince herself that nothing had changed, her conscience nagged at her. He still seemed so interested in her. It made her doubt her own feelings. Maybe if she tried for just a little bit longer, something would come back.
Then Sly would just look at her, and all of her resolve would melt away. Her attraction to him was strong, but maybe that's all it was- an attraction. It was biological, hormonal. They didn't share the same kind of history that she had with Juan. Sly was a childhood friend, not her first love.
She turned her head to the window, and saw that it had started to rain. She matched it tear for tear, until she cried herself to sleep.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Karen and Ian reviewed Sly's X-ray and CT scan results. "Looks like a simple concussion," Karen said.
"Yes, but look here." Ian pointed to something on one of the films. "Evidence of prior trauma. It looks like our friend had fractured his skull once before."
"Then he was really lucky that he didn't injure it again."
"He had an angel on his shoulder." Ian gathered up the films. "Let me talk to him, ok. Maybe I can get some answers."
Ian walked back into the room. He motioned to the nurse. "Jill, let's get this gentleman up." Ian and Jill helped Sly sit up. Sly had a faraway look in his eyes.
"That will be all, Jill." She left the room. "I'm going to listen to your lungs," Ian said as he put on his stethoscope. "Take off your shirt, please." Sly did as the doctor said, and looked away.
Ian's heart sank at the sight. Sly's chest and back were covered in scars. It was easy to see that the abuse was severe. "Breathe in, please." Ian listened. "Now out." Ian was not concerned about his lungs. He had to ask Sly to take his shirt off in an effort to confirm what he was already thinking.
"Ok, we're set." Ian handed Sly his shirt. Sly put the shirt back on, carefully avoiding Ian's gaze. "Well, we've confirmed that you've suffered a concussion. But it seems that this wasn't your first head trauma. You fractured your skull once before?" he asked gently.
"Yes," was the terse reply.
"Now that injury wouldn't have anything to do with those scars, would it?" He moved so that Sly had to look him in the eye. "Is someone abusing you?"
Sly looked right back at him. "Abused. Someone abused me."
"And that's where the skull fracture came in?"
"Yes. I spent weeks in the hospital. That was about two and a half years ago."
"And the abuse has stopped? You don't live with that person anymore?"
"No, I don't live with them! God, will you quit with the third degree? I'm fine now."
Ian's heart went out to the young man. "It's my duty to make sure that all of my patients are protected."
Karen came back into the room. "Well, your blood tests all came back clean. No drugs or alcohol."
"Of course! I would never drive under the influence." Sly sighed. "Are you almost done? My headache's gone; I feel fine."
"It's important that you know exactly what's going on with your health, Mr. Eckert," Ian said. "You have suffered a concussion, and that is a very serious matter, particularly for someone who has already suffered a major head trauma. If you had re-injured yourself, there was a good possibility that you might have died tonight."
Sly looked ahead in an effort to hold himself together. I could have died?
Karen took over. "You were very lucky. So, here are some instructions. Please, do not go to sleep tonight. If you do, there may be a chance you could slip into a coma. I would recommend someone keeping an eye on you if possible. If the headache worsens, please come back."
"Thanks," Sly whispered. "Do you know what happened to the rest of the people in the car with me?"
"I checked earlier. They were all treated and released. Just some bumps and bruises, nothing to worry about," she smiled.
"Do you have a way home? Some family members that could pick you up?" Ian asked.
"They're on vacation. I can call a cab."
"Ok, then. Why don't you come out to the waiting area, so you can fill out some paperwork," Karen said.
Sly shared an unspoken glance with Ian, then he left.
Karen came back a few minutes later. "Did you ever find out what the skull fracture was from?"
Ian looked away. "Abuse." He nearly punched the wall. "You should have seen the scars on this kid. It's enough to make someone sick."
Karen sighed. "I actually knew Sly. It seems like a lifetime ago." She was puzzled. "Wait, is he still living with the abuser?"
"No, no, it took place over two years ago."
Karen shuddered involuntarily. "Thank God he got out. I just hope he won't be all alone tonight." She walked out of the room without another word.
*-*-*-*-*-*
An incredible flash of lighting and crack of thunder awakened Emily. She looked at the clock, which read three am. She looked down and saw that she was still in her clothes from the club. She must have fallen asleep.
A tapping at her window drew her attention. She had no clue what it could be, so she got closer. She saw a figure on the small roof outside. What was Juan doing there at that hour? She opened the window, ready to yell at him, when she saw that it was Sly. He was drenched from head to toe, and he had a black eye. "Sly! Oh my God, what happened to you?"
He looked at her with desperate eyes. "Let me in, please."
I know it's late, I know you're weary
I know your plans don't include me
She moved away, and he climbed through the window. She quickly shut it. Sly looked at himself in the full-length mirror. He held a hand to his face, carefully tracing the area under his black eye.
Emily observed this. "Well, are you going to just stand there dripping on my carpet, or are you going to tell me what happened?"
"Car accident," Sly said, still looking in the mirror.
"Are you ok?" Emily asked, her voice full of concern.
Sly turned from the mirror to face Emily. "I have a concussion." He paced a bit. "We were run off the road, hit a stone wall. Everybody else is fine, but apparently I hit my head on the steering wheel." He turned away, looking in the mirror once again. "It's stupid, I know, but I never thought I'd have another black eye." He turned away. "Seeing myself like this, it brings me back to a really bad place."
Emily didn't know what to say.
"You should have seen the doctor tonight. His face, it showed how much he pitied me. And I don't want anyone's pity!" He paced a bit.
"Why are you here, Sly?" Emily finally asked.
"Because I can't be alone right now. I couldn't face going back to an empty house." He looked at her. "I need you."
Still here we are, both of us lonely
Longing for shelter from all that we see
Emily was surprised by his words. "Look, you should get out of those wet clothes."
"And change into what?" Sly asked.
"I don't know right now. At least take that shirt off. I'll get you a towel."
Sly gingerly took the shirt off as Emily returned. She saw his back, and was shocked. It was cris-crossed with scars. She wanted to gasp, or cry, but she swallowed those feelings.
"Here you go," she said, handing him the towel. He turned around. Even though his chest bore the same scars, Emily couldn't help but enjoy looking at him without his shirt.
Sly took the towel and dried off as best he could. His long hair hung damply down his back. "So, aren't you going to say something?"
"About what?" Emily couldn't take her eyes off of him.
"I see you, Emily. You're looking at these," he said, pointing to the scars. "They pretty much repulse anyone who sees them."
"I wasn't looking at the scars. I was just admiring your physique," she blushed. She couldn't believe she just said that, but she had to be honest.
"Well, that's a first." Sly handed her the towel. "Thanks."
Why should we worry, no one will care girl
Look at the stars so far away
She put it back in the bathroom and hung up the shirt. "Maybe that will dry out." She sat next to him on the window seat. "So you need somebody to baby-sit that concussion? That's why you came?"
"No, not really. I needed- I needed to see you tonight, Emily. I was so scared when I woke up at the hospital. That wasn't the first time I woke up with no memory of how I got somewhere. For a second, it was like I was thrown back in time. I thought I was back there." He looked away.
"Oregon?" Emily asked, a concerned look on her face.
"Yeah," he said with a shaky breath. "I came back to reality, though. But the doctors told me something." He paused.
"What, Sly?" Emily felt her heart fill with fear.
"My skull was broken before. If I had hit my head a different way, or harder…" He trembled involuntarily. "I could have died."
Emily sighed. "But you're ok, Sly. Don't worry about what might have been."
"No, Emily, I have to. This was my wake up call. If I had died tonight, there would have been so much left undone." He got up from the seat.
"What do you mean?" She leaned forward, watching him pace.
"There would have been so many things I didn't do, places I didn't see, things left unsaid." He put his hand on one of the poles of her four poster bed. "I've been taking time for granted. Well, this accident has helped me to realize how much things can change in an instant. We have no guarantee that we're going to take our next breath. So why should I leave things to chance?" He walked over to her. "All that really matters is this moment."
We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow?
We've got tonight babe
Why don't you stay?
"Agreed." Emily looked at Sly, so filled with concern for him. It was like he was pouring his heart out to her.
"Then you understand what I'm talking about." He knelt in front of her, and took her hands in his. Emily felt a kind of electricity in their touch.
Deep in my soul, I've been so lonely
All of my hopes, fading away
"I can't live my life denying my true feelings. I can't live without love."
"Wait a minute, Sly…" she started to say, but he put a finger to her lips.
"Just listen, please." He took her right hand, and placed it on his
chest. "Do you feel that? That is the beat of my heart." He looked
up at her. "Emily, you are my heart. You are what keeps me going. Before
you came back into my life, I used to be so cold. You have warmed me with your
presence. You have revealed parts of my soul that I thought were lost forever.
The world has never looked so bright and beautiful."
I've longed for love, like everyone else does
I know I'll keep searching, even after today
"But I can't compromise. I can't keep pretending that I'm not aching for you. The pull is too strong to ignore. I can't deny you because you are a part of me. I live from heartbeat to heartbeat, hoping that I won't lose you forever." He looked deeply into her eyes, and she could see his intense sincerity. "Emily, I'm in love with you, and I can never go back."
So there it is girl, I've said it all now
And here we are babe, what do you say?
Emily said nothing. Instead, she bent down and kissed him with all the passion in her soul. He kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her. When his lungs screamed for air, he pulled away. "Emily, does this mean…" She interrupted by kissing him again. They walked, eventually falling onto her bed.
We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow?
We've got tonight babe
Why don't you stay?
Emily ran her hands through his long blonde hair. She wanted his touch so desperately. She wanted him to be a part of her, too. They stopped kissing for a moment. They were both breathless, but Emily soon spoke. "Sly, you were right. I can't hide my feelings for you any longer. Some things are undeniable." She put her hands on his chest, running along some of the scars. There was nothing she wanted more than to help him heal. "We can fix it, Sly. We can make it real, right now, in this moment." She looked deeply into his eyes. "Every second counts."
I know it's late, I know you're weary
I know your plans don't include me
She kissed him again, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She felt like her heart was going to beat out of her chest. She looked at Sly, then whispered in his ear. "We are here tonight for a reason. Two souls searching for the answers."
Still here we are, both of us lonely
Both of us lonely
Sly smiled. "You have given me the answer, Emily. Nothing else matters but this moment." He looked into her eyes and saw a reflection of the love he was feeling for the first time.
We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow?
Let's make it last, let's find a way
She stroked his cheek lightly. She whispered again. "Make love to me, Sly."
Sly looked at her in surprise. "Are you sure?"
"I've never felt so sure in my life." She kissed him again.
"Wait, wait," he said. "I don't have protection."
Emily rolled over and reached into her bedside drawer. She pulled out a box of condoms. "Luckily, I am always prepared."
Sly kissed her happily. This was really going to happen. There was nothing he wanted more.
Turn out the light, come take my hand now
We've got tonight babe
Why don't you stay?
As the two young people began to make love, the only sound was of the pouring rain, baptism on a new creation.
Why don't you stay?
Song Credit: "We've Got Tonight" by Bob Seeger. Copyright 1976 by Gear Publishing Co, (ASCAP)