"What the fuck are you doing?" I say, lunging towards the back of the ambulance, ready to claw my way out if I have to. I look out the window just in time to see Caleb drop to his knees on the side of the road before I feel the ambulance start to speed away.
"You don't need to be there for that, Brett," Dave says as the familiar siren screams into my ears.
"Where's Sarah?"
"She's probably at the hospital by now. Left a few minutes before you got there. She had a heartbeat and was breathing but they couldn't get her to wake up. They worked on her for a while, she's got some pretty deep cuts on her arms and legs. She was thrown from the car. She's banged up, but I heard from Dan that she started mumbling something just before they loaded her up. That's a good sign, Brett."
"Holy fuck." The relief I feel at his words leaves me light-headed. I lean back trying to catch my swirling head and steady my racing pulse. As the adrenalin leaves my body, my hands and legs begin to shake and tears pool in my eyes.
"Alright man, get it together. We're only a few minutes from your woman, and now would be a shitty time to show her what a pussy you really are," he tries to joke.
I let out a relieved laugh, forgetting all about the heartbreak that is taking place just a few miles behind us.
Brett
WHEN THE ambulance pulls into the emergency entrance to the hospital, I jump out running, with Dave hot on my heels.
"Slow down, Sharp. You know they aren't going to let you see her yet."
"I just need to know what's going on," I say just as I step up to the desk, pulling out my badge flashing it to the nurse. "Sarah Sharp, she was brought in a few minutes ago after a car accident. Where is she?" I bark, more anxious than angry. I pinch the bridge of my nose impatiently as she starts typing on the computer.
"Sir, she doesn't have a room assigned yet. Give me a minute and I'll ask the doctor where she is."
"Forget it," I snap, motioning for her to buzz me through the doors into the emergency area. She pauses, unsure if she should let such an obviously unstable man into the back. Looking over my shoulder at Dave for some sort of answer, he motions for her to let us in.
Dave darts in front, stopping me by shoving his hand into my chest, "You have to calm down! I know you're upset, but no one is going to tell you where she is when you're acting like this. You're scaring the nurses. Even if you do find her, do you think her seeing you this crazy is going to help her? Take a deep breath and chill the hell out!"
He's right. I know he is. But a few minutes ago, I thought my wife was dead. I just need to lay my eyes on her to truly convince myself that she's okay. I take a deep breath and allow Dave to take the lead asking doctors and nurses for Sarah's whereabouts.
Finally, a doctor informs us that she is awake and they are running a CT scan. He leads us into her room while we wait for her to return. In the corner, draped across a chair, is a plastic bag where they placed all her belongings. I reach inside and pull out her jewelry, trying to find something that will make me feel close to her right now. I just need something of hers to hold, something tangible to ground me. I decide on her wedding rings, but the first thing I pull out is a silly half of a heart that says, "Be Fri." I know that Manda has the other half, and when joined together it says, "Best Friends." The girls wore these silly necklaces everywhere. While I would love to tell you they have had them since their middle school years, the truth is they bought them last year while away on vacation together.
"Oh God, Manda." Suddenly, it hits me that she's gone. I fall back into the chair, tears springing from my eyes. "This isn't happening."
Dave’s leaning against the door jam, allowing me just enough privacy without actually leaving me alone.
"Where's Caleb?" I manage to choke out.
"He's with the body, they got here a few minutes ago."
"I need to find him."
"No, you don't. You need to be here for Sarah when she gets back. There is nothing you can do for Jones right now."
Again, I know he is right, but that doesn't stop the stabbing pain in my heart at the very thought of what Caleb is feeling right now. I sink deeper into my chair trying to calm my nerves by reminding myself that Sarah is alive and well. I'm the lucky one in this situation. That's a joke though. This hurts too damn bad to feel lucky about anything.
An hour later, they wheel in a battered woman who barely resembles my wife. I jump out of the chair and the moment our eyes lock Sarah bursts into tears. I rush over, needing to hold her (although by the way she looks, it's going to hurt like hell). As gently as I can, I lean over her bed drawing her face into my neck.
"What happened, Brett? No one will tell me anything. They just keep telling me I was in a wreck, but I don't even remember being in a car. Everyone keeps staring at me, and I can't help but feel like I'm missing something here."
"Shhhh, it’s okay baby. I've got you now," I whisper into her blood-streaked hair. I realize this is the only comfort she has before I have to tell her all about the accident.