Part 7
Rich parked outside the hospital and Paul had almost jumped out of the car before it stopped. He had managed to tell Rich what had happened and they had left Paul's flat right away. Paul was quiet for the entire car ride, all his thoughts now on Tim and whether he would be all right. He ran into the hospital and straight to the front desk, Rich was close behind.
"I'm looking for Timothy Ferguson. He was in a car accident."
"He's in ICU. Down the hall to your right."
Paul took off full-speed down the corridor with Rich in hot pursuit. Paul ran up to the nurses station and repeated his question.
"I'm looking for Timothy Ferguson."
"And you are?"
"Paul McDermott. I was called and told that Tim had been in a car accident and was here."
"Take a seat. I'll page the doctor for you."
Rich gently grabbed Paul by the arm and lead him over to the nearby chairs. But Paul refused to sit, preferring to pace up and down until the doctor finally arrived.
"Mr. McDermott? I'm Doctor Johnstone."
"Where's Tim? What happened?"
"He ran a red light and his car was hit by a truck coming in the opposite direction. He was rushed here to the hospital suffering a broken leg and internal and head injuries. I'm afraid he's slipped into a coma."
Paul felt the tears falling once again. He looked over at Rich, who was also crying. He turned back to the doctor.
"Can I see him?"
"I'm sorry but we don't really allow visitors in the ICU. Are you a relative?"
"No, I'm .."
Paul couldn't even work out how to finish that sentence.
"I'm sorry, you'll just have to wait out here at the chairs."
Paul couldn't hold in his emotion anymore.
"Look you called me down here! I get down here right away, you give me the news that the man I love has slipped into a coma and then won't even let me into see him!"
Rich moved closer and wrapped an arm around Paul. The tears flowed freely down Paul's cheeks as he buried his head in Rich's shoulder and wrapped his arms tightly around his waist. Rich led him over to the chairs and sat him down.
"I'll be right back okay?"
Paul looked up and nodded, not bothering to wipe away the tears. Rich stood and walked back to the doctor, who looked a little unsure of what to say.
"So Paul and Tim .. they're .."
"Lovers. But it's much more than that, they love each other more than I believed two people ever could."
The doctor looked over at Paul, who was sitting on the chair with his head buried in his hands, weeping openly. The doctor sighed.
"Room 651. Down the hall to your right."
"Thank you."
The doctor nodded and then left. Rich went back to Paul.
"Come on, let's go see him."
Paul took Rich's hand and together they walked down the hall to Tim's room.
Paul walked into the room first, and one look at Tim lying there made his heart break into a million pieces. He was lying motionless on the bed, surrounded by a bunch of machines. Paul walked over and stood next to the bed just looking down at Tim, the tears rolling down his cheeks once more.
"It's my fault, Rich."
Paul was speaking to Rich but his eyes never left Tim. Rich put a comforting hand on Paul's shoulder.
"You can't blame yourself."
"Who else is there to blame? If I hadn't been such a prick we'd probably still be at my place now. He never would have got angry and left, and he never would have.."
Paul couldn't bring himself to finish that sentence. He pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down, taking one of Tim's hands between his own.
"I'm sorry Tim. I'm so sorry. Please don't leave me. I love you, always and forever."
part 8