Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Saving Grace ❯ A Terrible Wait And Horrible News ( Chapter 4 )

Arigatou to all who have reviewed this fic so far. I really appreciate it.

Author's Notes:

I hope that while you are reading this, you are aware of the risks and implications for trying such an act as suicide. I am in no way, shape, or form trying to glamorize it. Suicide is very real and if you or a loved one ever feel the desire to go that far, then please tell someone. Let someone in. They may be able to help.

Also, I am playing with Mia's past some. I know nothing of her past, so if it isn't technically correct, just say it is for this fic. Thanks. I appreciate it. But if you do know the real truth about her past, then please email me to let me know. I would appreciate it.

Chapter 4: A Terrible Wait And Horrible News

"Hello, what is your emergency?"

"My friend, he just tried to kill himself. He has cut both of his wrists and I can't get the blood to stop flowing. Please, you have to help us!!" Mia yelled into the phone, in near hysterics.

"Miss, please calm down. Where are you located at?"

Mia took a few calming breaths before rattling off the required address, adding as an afterthought, "it's the Koji estate, out by the lake."

"Oh right. I know where that is. An ambulance was sent that way about ten minutes ago. I'll radio them to swing by your manor. Is your friend conscious?"

"No. I tried to keep him awake, but he simple closed his eyes."

"And how long ago was that?"

"Not long, a couple of minutes."

"All right. Are you applying pressure to his wrists?"

"Yes. I have been ever since I found him." She paused as her ears picked up the sound of a siren. "I think the ambulance is here."

"That's good. I'll just stay on the line with you until they reach you. How's your friend's breathing?"

Mia glanced down at Rowen. "It's shallow, but at least he is breathing."

"All right, the paramedics should be arriving any moment."

Mia tilted her head, and heard the downstairs door opening. "Yes, they are here. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Bye."

Mia hung up the phone and held Rowen tighter. "Please Rowen, don't go. I can't do this on my own."

"HELLO?!!" a man's voice drifted up to her.

"We're up here. Second story bathroom!!"

She heard several people climbing the steps at a fast rate, and then they were filling the doorway. Things got rather hazy after that with everyone shouting out orders. A stretcher was brought in and Rowen was carefully taken from her arms to be placed on the carrier. The carrier was then lifted up by several men and carried out to the waiting ambulance. Mia hurriedly followed the emergency team down the steps, snatching her purse from the foyer where she had dropped it in her haste to get to Rowen, and out to the ambulance.

Worriedly, she touched one of the paramedic's arms. The man turned to regard her. "Please, may I ride with him?"

The man went to shake his head no when he saw the fear in the woman's eyes. Nodding slightly, he inclined his head toward the back of the ambulance.

Gratefully, Mia climbed into the vehicle. Picking up Rowen's sweaty hand, she held it tightly, letting him know he wasn't alone. Even when they attempted to move her, she refused to budge. She didn't let go of Rowen's hand until they wheeled him into surgery. Then the wait began.

It was the longest wait of her life.

A few hours went by and nervously she paced the waiting area, waiting for news, any news. None came. A nurse eventually came up to her and asked if there was any one else that needed to be contacted, and Mia shook her head.

"No, I'm the only family he has." The only family that matters anyhow. Rowen's mother you could never find since she was always on some trip or another and his father? Well, he was always too wrapped up in his work to even notice Rowen.

Rowen had told her and the others that they were his only family and Mia believed him implicitly, especially after seeing how losing four of his friends affected him. Though Mia thought that one of those friends meant more to the blue-haired boy than he was willing to admit. So lost in her thoughts, she was startled when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Miss Koji?"

Mia nodded, tears in her eyes. "Rowen, is he?"

The doctor pursed his lips. "May we go somewhere a little more private?"

Mia nodded but she was inwardly cringing. Every time she had ever heard those words, it meant bad news and this time would be no different.

The doctor led her away from the waiting room and into a cheery looking office. A landscape picture on the back wall would have made Cye jealous with envy. It was a landscape of the ocean with a killer whale depicted in the center of the water and the sun dropping behind the whale. Two dolphins were seen jumping out of the water in the distance as the dying light from the sun cast eerie shadows on the water. It was breathtaking but Mia hardly paid any attention to it. "What is it? What's wrong with Rowen?"

The doctor sighed. "Your friend did remarkably well while in surgery but just as we were finishing up, his heart stopped. We had to put him on life support to stabilize him."

Mia's eyes widened in total horror and disbelief. "You mean he isn't breathing on his own?"

The doctor shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry to say, but no. Furthermore, his brain waves seem to be slowing down. If they stop, then it will be up to you whether he remains on life support or not. You are his only family correct?"

Mia's eyes narrowed. She really hated to lie, but she knew Rowen's dad could care less and God only knows where his mother was at the moment. "Yes, I am his only family."

The doctor nodded sadly. "Such a vibrant young man . . . It's a shame really."

Mia whirled on him. "Don't you DARE say that. He'll pull through. I know him and you don't!!! My family are known for being fast healers."

"Miss, the odds of him starting to breath again on his own are approximately . . ."

Mia cut him off. "I don't care about the odds, Doctor. Now if you forgive me, I would like to see my brother."

The doctor inclined his head in a soothing fashion. "Of course. Please follow me."

Mia followed the doctor down one hall and up the next before he finally came to a stop at a set of double doors. Palming the open switch, he waited for the doors to swing open. "He's still in the ICU ward because of his breathing. He needs to be closely monitored."

Mia nodded but otherwise said nothing to the man.

The doctor frowned at the young woman walking next to him. She was going to get her heart broken. He could see it. Shaking his blond head, he decided to try another tact with the young woman. "Do you have any idea why he went to such drastic measures?" he asked gently.

Mia blinked and nodded slowly. "He recently lost most of his family. I'm the only one he has left and I guess he just couldn't deal with it. I should have known . . ." Her voice trailed off as she wiped away the tears forming once more in her eyes.

"No, now don't go blaming yourself. It's a terrible thing the two of you have had to face. He may need counseling regarding this if he does pull through, and you might even benefit from it yourself."

Mia nodded, but knew they would never go to counseling. After all, what were they supposed to say to a therapist? A temple kidnaped our friends who are now lying comatose within its confines until we can solve some riddle that we have never seen? Yeah, that'll work. Right. They'd probably lock her and Rowen both up in a nice white padded cell.

Shaking the errant thought away, she asked, "so which room is he in?"

"He's in number 10, just past all of those bedsheets and supplies."

Mia eyed the sterile hallway with distaste. She always did hate hospitals. They gave her a bad feeling too often and reminded her of her parents. Her mom and dad had died in a hospital when she was a little girl, leaving her grandfather to raise her. Shuddering slightly, she vowed silently, 'it's not going to happen again. I won't let you go, Rowen. I won't.'

The doctor watched the expression of distaste form on Mia's face and sighed. It was obvious she did not want to be there. Reaching out to the young woman just as she went to place her hand on the doorknob, he said softly, "I don't mean to pry, but have you had any sleep lately?"

Mia blinked at him. "Why do you ask?"

"You just have a similar look to you that the boy does. I don't want you to do something like he did."

Mia narrowed her eyes. "I won't. I have a wedding to plan, and my brother needs me. So if you don't mind?"

The doctor nodded, a bemused expression his face. "If you need anything just ask for Dr. Samuels and I'll see what I can do to help you."

"I will."

The doctor gave the girl one last look before heading off to check on some of his other patients.

Mia sighed; leaning her forehead against the wooden door for a moment, she steeled her nerves. Then twisting the knob, she entered the mostly dark room. Blinking, she let her eyes adjust to the semi-darkness. She could just make out Rowen's form, pale against the white starchy sheets. Several machines were hooked up to the thin form. One was evidently the breathing machine, since she could see a tube going down Rowen's throat. The others, she wasn't too sure about, though she did recognize the one that showed Rowen's brain waves, heart rate and pulse.

Sighing, she sat down beside him in the chair provided, brushing his long blue bangs out of his eyes before taking his hand in hers. Kissing it lightly, she rubbed the pad of her thumb over the thick bandages on his bound wrists. "Oh Rowen . . . I wish you would have told me . . . Please come back. Come back to me."

Tears started to slide down her cheeks unbidden. Reaching up, she wiped away the droplets hastily, not wanting Rowen to see how upset she really was in case he woke up. Wearily, she closed her eyes, only intending to rest for a moment. However, the moment soon stretched as she slid into a restless sleep.

TBC . . .

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Author's notes: This was not what I had originally planned for our little Ro-chan but over the Holidays I lost my cousin to a terrible disease and I spent a good bit of time in the ICU ward at a local hospital. So I revised Rowen's plight some as a way to vent out my frustrations over not being able to help my cousin. Thanks for listening to my ramble. Ja ne!!