* * *
When we returned to the waiting room, Andy was asleep on the chairs, his head rested in Lindsey’s lap. The crew came up to me and asked how I was doing. I told them I’d be fine, just a few stitches. I hid behind my hair, letting it cover the right side of my face.
Patrick’s doctor came out and spoke with his parents. I couldn’t take my eyes off them. I don’t think I even blinked. I desperately tried to figure out what was being said from a distance of 40 feet away. His dad maintained his composure—exuding the strength that dads should in situations like this. His arm wrapped around Mrs. Connor’s back, supporting her, and I didn’t doubt, himself.
Mrs. Connor nodded nervously as the doctor spoke. It was like he wasn’t giving her the information she wanted quick enough. Her hand rose to her chest and sighed. The doctor put his hand on her shoulder as if to reassure her. He turned and walked away.
They stood there talking with each other for a couple minutes. Mrs. Connor shook her head. Whatever her husband was saying, she didn’t seem to agree. They quickly came to some compromise and walked over to me and the crew, hand in hand.
They shared the news with the rest of us. They had found a large amount of rohypnol in his system. He had suffered from respiratory depression when he arrived. His breathing had improved, his temperature was down. He was responding to stimuli. He still hadn’t woken up yet, they expected him to be asleep for several hours. The doctors believed that he would be fine and they were moving him into a room. I was so relieved. But I wouldn’t feel completely better until he was awake and told me himself.
His parents thanked everyone for their help and being there for him. “Go home and get some rest guys.”
Mr. Connor picked up Andy, who was still sleeping—it was way past his bedtime. Mrs. Connor and Lindsey hugged each one of the crew goodbye. I just stood there. I didn’t want to leave. Please don’t make me go home to an empty house. I’d go insane there by myself.
“Liz, I’d feel better if you stayed with me, since you’re parents aren’t home. The doctor said to keep an eye on you. If something happened and you were alone, I would never forgive myself.” Mrs. Connor gently took parental control over me. I honestly, didn’t mind.
I looked back at the crew. “I guess I’m staying.”
Mr. Connor pulled out his keys and insisted driving some of the crew home. He didn’t want them cramming into one car and was going home to put Andy to bed. Lindsey was going to stay at the hospital with her mom.
“No, it’s okay. We can all fit in Jason’s.” Bobby insisted.
“Not legally. If something happened…” I never heard Mr. Connor sound so tired. “Please, we really don’t want to worry about any of you right now.”
Bobby nodded and obeyed. “Okay. Thank you.”
The crew carefully hugged me, knowing that actually touching my sides, front, arms—well, basically most of me—hurt.
Bobby stared at me intently, seriously. The light that usually shown in his brown eyes was gone. It was replaced with heartache. “Liz, thank you. Patrick has been one of my best friends since kindergarten. If anything happened to him tonight…” He shook his head. “You have been a breath of fresh air in his life and tonight, you saved it. I should have picked up on what Becca was doing…” He looked down, ashamed. “I guess, as much as I saw through stuff she did, I didn’t. And because of that, I failed him.”
“No.” I was adamant. “You were there for him and me. You are a great friend. You got us here in time. He’s going to be okay.” I never thought I would be the one who would be the optimist, especially in the crew. That was Patrick’s job. Correction, it is Patrick’s job.
I reiterated my intent to call them with any news. We said our good-byes and out the door they went.
A nurse came out and told us the room number that they had moved Patrick to. Mrs. Connor put her arm around Lindsey and me as we walked to the elevator. I really hoped that Patrick would be awake before Andy returned and that Andy could remain blissfully unaware of how frightening tonight had been. How he could have lost his big brother. That he was spared the terror that Patrick told me he still remembered from when Lindsey was hurt.