The Door Between Worlds Chapter 17

Jason stood up from the table that the doctor had ordered him to sit down on, while he inspected his leg.  It hadn't looked good.  They had put him into a cast, but that wouldn't stop him from doing something about the situation they were in.  Jason quickly snatched the crutches that leaned in the corner of the small examination room and yanked the door open.  His dad, was who knows where in this hospital.  Obadiah was somewhere to the right of his examination room.  He knew this from the rumbling and bellowing that his ox-like comrade had been making.  Obadiah obviously disliked shots.

He peeked out the examination door.  All clear.  Jason soon acclimated to his odd step with the support of the crutch, This wasn't his first cast.  He passed the examination room to his left, listening intently.  Then he moved to the second one.  Nothing.  At the third, he heard low moans and groans.  Grinning, Jason slid the handle down and poked his head in.  Obadiah laid strapped down to a table similar to the one in Jason's room.  Apparently he had been struggling so much so that the nurses had to strap him down.

"How's is going, Obadiah?" Jason creaked into the room.

"I hate those needles.  Battle wounds I can take, but not those things that they just shove into you like they have nothing better to do."  He whimpered.

Jason snickered. 

"I blame you." Obadiah sighed.  And let his head drop back down onto the table.

"Good man.  I'm going to go look for my father.  They refused to answer me when I asked them.  I am hoping that he is okay.  Rest up." Slapping his comrades stomach, James moved out the door, ignoring the pitiful groans following him.

Jason swung down the hallway and around the corner.  Searching for the signs that pointed to the E.R.  The ambulance had gotten to his house quickly, but not quickly enough.  James' breathing had grown shallower and shallower.  It had been with immense relief when they had pulled up to the hospital.  

Turning the corner, he ran into a girl rushing in the opposite direction.  With a yelp of surprise both fell to the ground in a mix of limbs and crutches.  The girl stood up, helping him to his feet, breathing apologies.  

Jason grimaced, and waved off the apology, "Don't worry.  I'll be fine.  Thank-" He paused.  Stunned.  "Jenny, is that you?"  

His sister looked just as stunned.  "Jason?  How did you- how come- why are- I'm so glad you're alive!"  With this she thudded into his chest and gripped him in a bone-cracking hug.

He laughed as his fears and troubles seemed to melt away, so relieved was he that he finally came upon his sister.  "Why shouldn't I be alive?"

She looked up into his eyes, confused. "You don't remember the car accident?  The one that you and mom were in?"

Then he finally remembered it.  He had completely forgotten.  How could he have forgotten?  Did he really just assume that his mother was fine?  He felt sick with himself.  "I remember now.  Is mom okay?"  He asked anxiously. 

Jenny hugged him again, reassuringly, "Don't worry.  She'll make it.  She's.. she's been in a coma for two weeks.  And we don't know where dad is..  and where you were.  I didn't know where you were.  It's just been me.. by myself."

Jason hugged her back, trying to comfort her.  "Don't worry, Jenny.  I'm here now, and I've brought help.  But right now, we need to find Dad.  They probably put him in the E.R.?"

"Why is he in the E.R.?  Where was he?  Where were you?  And why is your leg in a cast?"

"That's a long story, one which we'll have to leave for another time.  Which way to the Emergency Room?" 

Jenny led the way, until they made it to a couple swinging doors that led to the Emergency wing, A couple nurses stood discussing in low tones outside of the doors.  When they saw the two siblings approach, one of them asked,"May I help you?"

Jason looked him in the eye, "Yes, our father in somewhere in there, and we would like to make sure he is okay."

The nurse looked him up and down, and noticed the patient badge, that had his name on it, that was clipped onto his shirt.  "What's your dad's name?"

"James.  James Sterling."  Jenny responded.

The nurse consulted a clip board, the nodded, "Come this way."  With that he swept through the double doors with the siblings trailing after him.  He led them down a long hallway that was lit by those lights you only find in hospitals and dentist offices.  Turning right, down a narrower passage, he stopped at a door, and opened it for them.  "I'll give you a few minutes."  And closed the door behind them.

Jason and Jenny looked at their still unconscious father in horror.  Despite having been given a shower, he looked just as battered and bruised.  Both of his legs suspended in the air, heavily wrapped.  His upper torso was bare, except for a broad strap of clean bandages that was wrapped around his rib cage.  His room was crowded with monitors, and filled the air with beeping.  Jason stepped up and grabbed his dad's only free hand, afraid that he might slip out of his grasp. "Hold on, Dad."