Page 90 of Private Exhibit
Maybe Ashworth-Grahams would never be curable.
Andy swore he heard the ticking of a clock growing louder by the second. The sound followed him around. Haunted him. Dogged every step he took, making his heart constantly race, knowing that the end was rushing up on him.
He got up and stormed across his office. He'd have to go home and bring Devon in to run more scans. More tests. He couldn't see any other way.
Andy came up short when Junior suddenly appeared in front of him.
“Gods almighty,” Andy gasped. He stared at his son, his brain protesting painfully as it suddenly switched gears. “Where the hells have you–”
Mom's in the E.R.!Junior gasped in a panic.
Andy froze. “What?”
Something's wrong, Junior blurted out, his eyes wide and pleading.And she can't see me and I can't do anything and you have to help her!
Andy winced.I can't do anything!He'd heard those same words over and over again the past several days. And not just when Devon said them. They ran on a loop through his own head, in his own voice. “Junior,” he sighed. “I don't have time for this–”
Dad, please, Junior begged, grabbing his arm as Andy tried to push past him.Please!
Andy stopped and looked at his son.Gods damn it all. He needed to get home and get Devon. Needed to find a cure.
But then he really noticed the fear on Junior's face.Oh hells. He couldn't deny him anything.
Andy ran down the hall to the elevators, Junior right on his heels. They rode down to the ground floor and rushed along the maze of hallways until they reached the emergency room. Andy spotted Lydia right away. There was an unusual amount of activity going on, but even so, Andy manged to zero in on the mother of his son without even trying.
“Doctor Gerard!” a nurse gasped. “Oh, thank gods. We could really use–”
Andy brushed past the nurse and crossed the room, heading in Lydia's direction. He stopped short at the sight of Crawford bending over her, rapidly checking her vital signs.
“Get away from her,” Andy barked, nearly shoving Crawford aside.
But Crawford ignored him and flung his stethoscope around his neck before grabbing the gurney on which Lydia lay. “We need to get you into surgery right now,” Crawford announced.
“What is going on?” Andy demanded.
At the same moment, Lydia gasped, “No!”
“I'm sorry?” Crawford asked.
Lydia's eyes were wide and pleading, though she had an almost guilty look on her face when she started to glance in Andy's direction. She turned back to Crawford and said, “I can't have surgery.”
“Lydia, I'm sorry, but we don't have a choice–”
Dad, Junior whined.
“Would somebody please explain to me what the hells is going on?” Andy practically shouted.
Lydia flinched, as did a man standing beside her, holding her hand.
Crawford huffed out an impatient breath and said, “There was a boating accident.” He waved at the room in general. “She's got some internal bleeding, so I need to get her to an O.R. right away.”
“You can't!” Lydia cried, hugging herself.
Standing beside Lydia, the unfamiliar man asked, “Is there no other way?”
“Who the fuck are you?” Andy demanded.
The man scowled at him. “Not that it's any of your business, but I'm her fiancé.”
