Episode 10: Shocking Sights

Episode 10
SHOCKING SIGHTS

"You know, we have something in common. I don't play by the rules either. So I advise you to stay out of Patrick's way and give him some room. If you don't, you'll live to regret it. That I can guarantee."

Mike Donovan didn't know how he always managed to get himself in the middle of his brother's marriage. He had warned Patrick about Carly and her lies, but the never seemed to listen to him, not when it was important. Now Carly was calling him asking for advice. Just once he'd like to tell her exactly where to go, but he was too nice for such a crude conversation.

He snapped his cell phone closed. Why did Carly have to come crying to him when things went wrong? Did his shoulders look like they were wide enough to carry her burden plus his own worries?

Quickly, he tried to push Carly's annoying voice out of his mind and walked into Room 204. This was the room of the woman from the train accident. The one who was causing a media circus. He inwardly sighed. He wanted his hospital to get back to some semblance of order. And getting his new celebrity discharged stat was the only way to do that.

Dr. Donovan approached the bed glancing at the chart instead of the patient. A nurse approached him from the side. "She's still not responding to verbal cues, doctor."

"Thank you, Jenna."

The nurse quietly left just as Mike finally looked into the face of his newfound patient, the one he had acquired from Randy in Admitting. It was kind of a known thing that he would be tossed any incoming patients who could potentially cause problems to the PR of the hospital. This one definitely qualified.

It took him a half beat, but recognition dawned immediately. "Oh, My God. Angela!"

***

"Where in the hell is she?" John Holland muttered to himself, sounding almost like the Irishman he was. It had taken him years to lose his accent, but under times of stress, he somehow reacquired his accent. "Where are you, Alex?" He didn't expect an answer, but then again, divine intervention wouldn't go unaccepted.

He flipped his cell phone open and before he could speak, Cruz hit him hard with one of his classic annoying comments. Apparently, he had a million of them.

"Lost her, didn't you?"

"Another one of your classic understatements. One of the reasons why I love ya. But there is no need to rub it in, Cruz," John said in his own defense.

"I told you she was going to be a sly one."

"Cruz." John's one word plea had Cruz cutting shot his next put down. And at the moment, John didn't want to hear it.

"Well, I did warn you to be on your guard. But we did get lucky. A routine media sweep picked up a hit on Alex's name." Cruz rattled off the name of the hospital where the article had mentioned Alex was admitted.

"Jesus, Cruz," he said when he learned the entire sordid train accident story. "Everyone but her? That girl has more lives than a damned cat." He confirmed he was on route before clicking the connection between them closed.

At least one thing was in his favor, someone up there was definitely looking out for him and Alex.

***

Mike ran into the hallway and caught up with the nurse. "Jenna, call Patrick. Tell him I need him in Room 204 STAT!"

"I will immediately, doctor," she said in reply.

Mike couldn't believe it. He walked slowly back down the corridor. When he opened the door again, the woman was still there. He had almost thought he had dreamed her being there. He hadn't seen her in so long that she might have been a figment of his overactive imagination.

It had been awhile since he'd seen her, but he would know Angela anywhere even in her sleep. He brushed a hand against her hair with a light touch. "How did you survive the crash," he whispered.

Carrie Hawkins appeared behind him, she hovered in the doorway like a ghost. She eyed him suspiciously. "Aren't you acting a bit familiar with your patient, doctor?" Her eyes showed her concern.

Mike eyed her with equal venom. "Not that it's any of your business, but I've always acted this way with her... She's my sister."

Carrie was taken aback by his statement. "Your.. your sister? Alex Maxwell is your sister?"

The name caught him off guard. "Alex Maxwell?" Mike flipped to the front page of the chart he'd abandoned. "This is wrong. Her name is Angela Seraph, not Alex Maxwell." He fished his wallet out of his pocket and pulled a photo from inside. "Look at this and tell me she's not Angela Seraph."

Mike showed the photo to Carrie. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her visions chose that moment to strike. Immediately she began to feel dizzy. She didn't realize Mike had grabbed her arm. In her vision, the image of the woman in the photograph appeared to lift off the page then split in half. Suddenly there were two women where there had been only one.

A moment later she was able to shake the vision off and the photo returned to normal. It was then she heard the doctor talking to her.

"Are you all right? Talk to me!"