Chapter 8: When Minutes Seem Like Hours

Bobbie is sitting with Laura in the ER waiting room. Even though Bobbie
knows it hasn't been that long, she feels like it's been hours since her
brother was brought into the trauma room. Bobbie hopes that no news is
good news.

Laura sits beside her, her lips moving in silent prayer. Lucky bursts
into the ER with Lulu in in his arms. He makes a beeline for Bobbie and
Laura.

Lucky:"Any news on Dad?"

Bobbie shakes her head. Lulu tries to climb into her mother's lap.

Lulu:"Mama, what's the brown stuff? Did you spill some paint?"

Laura notices her daughter for the first time, then her son. She hugs
Lulu to her tightly. Lulu starts to get upset.

Lulu:"Mama... Can't breathe.. Mama..." Lulu tries to push away, scared
by her mother's unusual behavior.

Laura releases her and grabs Lucky and holds him tightly. Lucky holds
his mother as she cries for a few moments.

Lucky: "He's going to pull through Mom. He has to."

Laura nods. Ruby arrives and takes Lulu off their hands.
Just as they are about to sit down. Alan comes out to give them news.
They gather around him.

Alan: "His condition is very critical. We've stabilized him for the
moment."

Lucky:"So that means he's going to be okay? Right?"

Alan:"It's not that simple. He has lost a lot of blood. The internal
injuries are severe. We have to operate immediately for him to have any
chance of survival. But he's very weak. There is a good chance he won't
make it through the surgery."

Bobbie:"So if he doesn't have the surgery, he will die. And if he does,
he might die anyway. Right?"

Alan nods."Yes. His only chance is surgery. The surgeon is scrubbing up
right now. We'll be bringing Luke out shortly."

Bobbie:"Thank you Alan."

A few minutes later, Luke is wheeled out of the trauma room. Luke has an
oxygen mask on, and looks ghostly white. They are all shocked at how
deathly still he is.

Lucky bends over and whispers in his father's ear."I know you'll make
it. You're too tough to die. I love you, Dad." Lucky's eyes fill with
tears. He steps back, his attention and thoughts on the man in front
of him.

Bobbie kisses her brother's forehead and whispers a few words of
encouragement.

Laura kisses Luke's cheek. "Luke, you keep fighting. You need to come
back to me..." The nurse attending to Luke indicates that they have to
get him to the operating room. Laura doesn't appear to hear her.
Bobbie gently pulls Laura away from Luke. Luke is whisked away to OR.

Laura returns to her seat and begins rocking back and forth.
Lucky walks up to Bobbie. "Mom doesn't look too good. I've only seen her
like this once.... and yet this time it's different."

Bobbie:"I paged Tom. Once he's done with another emergency, he'll come
and check on your mother."

Jason looks up from the phone booth to see Luke wheeled out of the ER.
He notices Alan at the ER desk. He makes his way over to talk to him.

J: "Alan. How's Luke?"

A:"It doesn't look good. It will take a miracle for Luke to survive the
surgery. I heard about Sonny. I'm sorry, I know how close you were.
Are you here with Alexis?"

J:"Thanks. Yes. I came with Alexis. Her elbow was injured by a bullet.
She's pretty upset. She won't let the doctor xray it. She's afraid it
will hurt the baby."

A:"She's pregnant?" Alan looks stunned. "I didn't know."

J:"She just found out. She and Sonny were out celebrating with Luke and
Laura."

A:"Oh God, no! Is the baby okay?"

J:"Yeah. Alexis demanded they check the baby first."

A:"Well, let me look at the chart..." Alan picks up her chart to study
it. "Dr Harris. Good physician, terrible beside manner. Maybe I can
help alleviate her fears about the xrays by talking her through the
procedure. There really is no other way for us to assess the damage."

J:"Would you? God, that would be great. I know she'll trust you,
because of everything Sonny and I have told her about how you've helped
Robin."

Alan smiles at the rare compliment."I'll go talk to her now. You want to
come along? She could use all the moral support she can get."

J:"I have some more calls to make. Nik is with her, and Stefan should
be here by now. I'll come in once I'm done." Jason leaves without
further ceremony.

Alan watches him return to the phone booth, amazed by Jason's odd choice
of priorities. He studies the Alexis' chart further before going to
talk with her.

Meanwhile Stefan enters Alexis' exam room to find Alexis sitting on the
bed with Nikolas.

Stefan:"I came as soon as I heard." Stefan clasps Alexis' good hand
briefly has he kisses both of her cheeks.

Alexis:"I'm glad you came." She wipes a few stray tears from her eyes.

Stefan:"I heard the news about Sonny. I'm am sorry for your loss,
Alexis.. "

A:"Thank you Stefan. "

Stefan looks her over and notices her loosely bandaged elbow. "It
appears the doctors have been ignoring you. Why aren't they here taking
care of your arm?"

A:"That's my fault Stefan. I won't let them xray it."

S:"What?"

Alexis takes a deep breath."I just found out today that I'm pregnant. I
won't do anything to jeopardize this baby. It's too important..."

Alan enters the room."Well, I'm here to make sure nothing happens to
that baby of yours."

Alan greets Nikolas and Stefan as he takes a seat.

Alexis looks relieved at Alan's assurances. "I'm glad to hear you say
that Alan."

Alan:"Would you believe me if I told you there was a way to xray your
arm without putting your baby at risk?"

Alexis:"Is there?"

Alan:"Yes, there is. Let me tell you how we do it. We have you lie on
your stomach with a lead jacket completely covering your torso. Then we
have you extend your arm as far back as you can , like this..." He
demonstrates. "It will hurt like hell to do it. But I bet you won't
complain."

Alexis smiles at him."You make it sound so simple and believable..."

Alan:"It is. I'm telling you. The radiation won't get anywhere near your
little baby. I could show you the research that's been done and the
statistics from our own hospital, but I don't think you want to wait on
that arm. The longer you wait. The harder the surgery will be."

Alexis looks at Alan's sincere face. "Okay, you convinced me. But I
think I want another doctor. Dr Harris does not impress me..."

Alan:"You can certainly request another doctor. But before you decide,
let me say this. Dr Harris is a top notch orthopedic surgeon. His
bedside manner is the pits, but you can't get a better doctor in the
operating room for the injury you have."

Alexis:"Thank you, Alan. I guess I'll stay with Dr Harris then.

Alan:"Great. I'll have him order the xrays." Alan leaves the room.

Stefan:"You made a wise choice, Alexis. Alan would not steer you wrong."

Alexis:"I know. I'm just scared. I've lost so much. How can the best day
of my life turn into the worst?" Nikolas rubs her back to comfort her.

Stefan takes Alexis' hand in his. "This was not supposed to happen
Alexis. I will find out who did this, and they will never hurt you
again. You and your child are under our protection. Always. You will
never have to be alone to raise this child. This is my promise to you.
We are your family."

Alexis begins to cry again at his oath. "Thank you Stefan. You don't
know what it means to me to hear you say that. First Jason, now you and
Nikolas..."

Stefan:"You would do the same for me. I am certain of it. Whatever our
blood ties, you are the sister of my heart, Alexis."

A nurse enters, interrupting their conversation. "Dr. Quartermaine has
informed me that you are ready to have your elbow xrayed. If your
family will go to the waiting room, I'll take you down to xray right
now.

Alexis says her goodbyes to Nikolas and Stefan and follows the nurse to
xray. Stefan and Nikolas sit for a moment in the room.

Stefan:"Tell me what you know, Nikolas."

Nik:"Sonny and Alexis were out celebrating with Luke and Laura. That's
when they were shot."

Stefan looks stunned."Luke and Laura also? Was Laura shot?"

Nik:"No. Laura was in the theater lobby at the time. Luke was shot
though. He's in surgery now, according to the nurse who came in before
you did. It doesn't look good."

Stefan:"We need to find your mother."

Stefan and Nikolas walk out into the waiting area. Stefan stops dead in
his tracks when he sees Laura a few feet away, a picture of hell.

Laura is sitting in one of the chairs, rocking back and forth muttering
to herself, completely unaware of her surroundings. Her clothes and
hands are still covered with Luke's dried blood.

Bobbie and Ruby are unsuccessfully attempting to calm a crying Lulu.
Lucky is pacing the floor. Lucky looks up and sees Stefan. He lunges at
Stefan, grabbing him by the lapels.

Lucky:"YOU! You did this didn't you! I'll kill you with my bare hands,
you son of a ..."