Chapter One Hundred and five

"There's been a complication." The family doctor, Dr. Kingsley said briskly walking up to all of us who had crowded the lobby for hours.

After the hour long trip on the helicopter. Damien was once again rolled out into the ER. I sat still for a long time until everyone else, I mean, the whole family joined me. Fiona clung to me like the baby sister she had become to me. She had her head on my shoulder, her arms wrapped around my torso as we sat waiting for some sort of news concerning him.

"A complication?" Aiden came forward.

"The gash was deeper than we thought and it's affected some vital parts. Unfortunately, Mr Kingston has slipped into a coma."

My eyes squeezed shut in reflex and I dug my teeth deep into my lower lip to hold back the scream that was about erupting from my throat.

Just like my husband, I slowly slipped into unconsciousness amid horrified screams from everyone else.

****

My eyes peeled open and immediately shut back up due to the unexpected influx of light that hit my pupils. When I tried opening them up again, my vision was hazy and I could barely register what was going on around me.

"You're awake!" Fiona exclaimed before pressing the button that would call the attention of a medical personnel, I presumed.

I slowly sat up and glazed over the room until my eyes fell on the IV fluid connected to my hand.

A young handsome looking doctor came in with her and came over to do a routine check.

"Where's my husband? I need to see him." I hoarsely spewed out.

"Ma'am, why don't you get some rest first before going to see him..."

"I'm perfectly fine. I need to see him." I tried ripping the well inserted needle out of my vein but the doctor held my hand to stop me. Instinctively, I pulled away like his touch burned me.

"Where is he?!" I exclaimed. I wasn't ill, I was perfectly fine. Maybe a little shaken but I was hale and hearty.

"He's in the next room." Fiona spoke up. I pushed myself to a full sitting position on the hospital bed and clambered down the next second.

"Calm down-"

If looks could kill that man would be six feet under.

"Fiona, take me to him." I said to her, still glaring at the man who had backed off immediately he saw how serious I was.

Indeed, his room was next to the one I was laid in.

The familiar beep of the heart monitor welcomed me the moment the door came open. The room was empty but for the presence of Aiden perched in a corner watching with a forlorn look on his face.

Damien's lifeless eyes were closed and he looked so peaceful. The cuts and bruises on his face and arms were more glaring now. The oxygen mask on his face was the only thing supporting his breathing or he most probably would be, gone.

I stood still, staring at him as a tear dropped down my cheek.

"Ari, he'll be fine. You shouldn't be crying right now, it's not good for either of you." Aiden advised in a placating tone.

I nodded and wiped my eyes of any trace of tears.

"Can we go home now?" Fiona asked with a yawn.

"I'll be staying here with him." I spoke up.

"Are you sure you want to give up the comfort of the villa for sleeping on an uncomfortable couch?" Fiona asked in disbelief.

Her statement managed to elicit a faint chuckle from me.

"This isn't my first run Fiona and of course I wouldn't be able to live in that place without this man right here. He's my husband and I have to do right by him." I glanced at him severally as I spoke.

"I'll have someone pack all the essentials you need. It'll be here by evening." Fiona assured, giving me a quick hug before leaving with Aiden who once again gave me a comforting pat on the shoulder.

I sat on the couch that was going to be my bed till when I did not know.

"I guess it's just me and you now, Damien." I soliloquized with a sigh.

****

It was day three since the accident and there was not much improvement in Damien's health. The family had been taking turns to check on us because more than two people weren't allowed to be in the room at a time.

I had no idea that Damien still had such a strong female fan base until I saw the array of balloons and get well soon cards that took over the room.

I went online and saw that a go fund me account had been set up as well as a bunch of prayer groups, to aid a speedy recovery for him. All these were done by diehard fans who I could tell would do anything to meet with him in person. It was heartwarming and overwhelming all the same.

I was shuffling through my purse searching for my pack of gum when my fingers stumbled on the coldness of a metal inside of it.

I brought them out and my eyes glistened with unshed tears as I stared at the shiny piece of raw platinum gold that symbolized what I shared with the man laying in front of me.

My hands trembled as I slid it on along with the flashy engagement ring. I was wearing this for the first time in over two months and it felt different. It was unlike the other times when I wore it because of how well it looked on my slender finger. This time, it felt like there was a meaning behind it, more than just a contract or marriage of convenience. Now it felt like, for better, for worse - the real deal.

I slid my hand into his and shivered at the low temperature.

"Please wake up babe. I just want you to be okay." I croaked out.

I don't know what was wrong with my eyes, tears just seem to drop even when I don't want them to.

I laid my head on the bed, right next to his arm. I rubbed and caressed slowly on his pale white knuckles even as I stared at his peaceful face.

"Er erm." A strange but familiar voice alerted me of a presence in the room. I sat up and stared at the handsome doctor that I had rudely responded to only a few days ago.

"Hello Mrs Kingston." He said courteously. "Just call me Ariana, Doc." I said, not in the mood for all the formalities.

"Okay, Ariana, I'm Caleb." He stretched his hand for a handshake and I took it.

"Nice to meet you, Caleb."

"Pleasure's mine." He said and glanced at Damien.

"You and your husband seem to be very much in sync."

"However do you mean?"

"I mean. You two are very quick to remind people of your marital status."

My lips folded inwards even as my brows shot up in surprise, anticipating what he had to say next.

"The last time your husband was here, a friend of his had a miscarriage and I mistook her for his wife. He, without delay refuted the claim with a strong statement. It was almost like we were having an altercation." He narrated.

I chuckled and glanced at the man who was the center of our conversation.

"That's Damien for you. I guess I've been infected with the same fever. I actually thought you were trying to hit on me because I wasn't wearing my wedding ring." I laughed at how silly I sounded until I saw the doctor staring at me intensely. I looked away immediately.

"Well, who wouldn't want to hit on you? You're so beautiful."

"Thank you." I muttered blankly.

"Maybe we-"

"Aren't you here to check on him?" I cut short whatever he had to say because it surely would not be good.

"Yeah sure. I'm just waiting for the nurse to,"

"Sorry for keeping you waiting, doctor Caleb." The nurse came in and apologized in the middle of his statement.

They did their thing and soon left.

"Talking to him in his state of comatose is actually a great way to help him wake up sooner." Caleb said before leaning, staring at me the same way.

We were alone once again.

"You better wake up soon so that dude would stop hitting on me." I said to Damien hoping he would hear me.

Maybe it was my imagination but I saw his index finger twitch. I shut my eyes and rubbed on them to be sure I wasn't hallucinating. I saw it move again and called for the doctor to come back and check it out.

It dampened my spirit when he said that it was normal for such to happen and although it indicated progress in some cases. He did advise that I should not get my hopes up so easily because situations like these would occur a lot over time. It was discouraging but it was too soon to give up.

I prayed more and more each day for a quick recovery because the longer we stayed, the more I thought about it and that was no good for my mental wellbeing.