47I figured I couldn't leave you guys hanging forever and you wanted to know about Rusty's condition. This doesn't have much of a cliff hanger but the next chapter could get interesting. Let me know if I should continue. Thanks for all of your reviews, I'm so thrilled to know yours till enjoying it.
The nurse studied the room full of people, many eyes meeting hers as she looked around holding the file closer to her body nodding. "I'm sorry, I'm looking for Rusty's immediate family only."
Sharon took a step forward nodding holding out her hands to the woman to explain "I'm his mother." The words fell out of her mouth so quickly and easily she almost believed it, but then had to correct herself as Cynthia took a step forward and Sharon looked at the nurse with pleading eyes, "I'm his foster mother, is Rusty okay?" Sharon wasn't sure she was ready for the answer and set her hands on her together bracing herself.
The nurse nodded holding her hand out to touch Sharon's shoulder, "he's alive, he's stable for the moment, the next 24 hours are critical."
Sharon felt her heart beat a mile a minute and pushed her hands together thanking God, he's alive. "When can I see him?"
The nurse smiled "You can see him now, but only for a few minutes, he's touch and go right now and we need to keep the room as clear as possible, Dr. Bines is in with him now in the ICU checking his vitals." The nurse began to walk with Sharon down the hall Cynthia only a few steps behind listening carefully. "Dr. Bines can tell you more about how Rusty's surgery went."
Sharon nodded as the nurse led them down the hallway and opened the glass door. Seeing the man in the white coat hover over Rusty, the faint sound of the monitor beeping and Rusty bandaged up. His body is covered in cuts and bruises. Sharon covered her mouth with her fingers wanting desperately to reach out to the boy she thought of as her son and forget this ever happened.
The nurse instructed Sharon and Cynthia that only one person could go at a time and Cynthia let Sharon go first, Sharon was thankful yet fearful, she didn't know if she could handle seeing Rusty like this.
The doctor turned around and met Sharon's eyes, a familiar face and she wondered how she didn't pick up on the name before. Mark Bines, the doctor she has worked rather close with in her years of working in FID. Whenever the nurses were giving her trouble Mark stepped in to give Sharon the information she needed. Mark and Sharon had taken their professional courtesy to the next level. Things had gone too far with them on a personal level and Sharon used Rusty living with her as an excuse, avoiding him for months. She never expected to see him again, defiantly not for him to be Rusty's surgeon.
Mark turned smiling at Sharon, after his relentless unanswered phone calls he had given up on ever seeing the woman again but none of that seemed to matter when he met her eyes. "Sharon, interesting seeing you here, another one of your gang members you need to interview? He's going to be out of it for a few days, kid got a massive blow to the head, coded on us three times in surgery."
Mark met her eyes again quickly realizing this wasn't a work visit, her t-shirt and jeans should have tipped him off in the beginning but after 18 hours of pure chaos his mind was a little shot. He felt complete devastation as Sharon began to sob into her hand and he rushed to her side wrapping an arm around her back pulling her close, wanting to protect her. After a few moments he took a step back when he realized she was forming words, "he's my foster son."
Sharon stepped away from Mark reaching for Rusty's hand holding it tightly in hers brushing his hair out of his eyes careful not to touch the bruised part of his skull seeing some of it bandaged and wrapped. Not looking at Mark she started to speak again. "How bad is it?"
He took a step forward standing behind her now looking Rusty over realizing how sensitive the situation was. "He's stable. He didn't have a brain bleed as we originally had thought. The internal bleeding has been contained for the time being. The next 24 hours are critical."
Sharon nodded wiping the tears from her eyes still holding Rusty's hand in hers looking him over. "Brain damage?" She barely got the words out, but knew she had to ask the question after his previous comment.
"It's a possibility with such an extensive trauma, however he is responding to touch sensations, we're monitoring him closely. We won't know the full extent of the damage until he wakes up."
"When will that be?" Sharon turns to Mark finally meeting his eyes. She felt completely vulnerable to his eyes and emotions.
Mark sighs looking into Sharon's green eyes reaching for her free hand wanting to reassure her. "Not for a while. We're keeping him sedated for now; his body needs time to heal without interruption." Seeing that Sharon isn't satisfied with his answer he squeezes her hand gently. "Let's just get through the next 24 hours first, okay? We'll know more then."
Sharon nods looking back at Rusty leaning down kissing his head gently whispering in his ear, "You're going to be okay, I'm here." Her eyes quickly filled with tears and jumped back as the monitor made a quick two pulse beat. "What was that?!" Sharon felt panic as she looked at Mark worried she had done something wrong.
Mark smiled now standing at the food of the bed as he signed off on a paper. Closing the file he gave a small chuckle looking at her smiling, "He can hear you…"
There was not so much positive feedback about having a Sharon/Andy pairing so I decided to throw in a different twist and see what everyone thought. Not sure how much longer this story is going to be, It just depends on if you guys are still enjoying it or not.. let me know Thanks for all your reviews and comments, they are truly appreciated! Let me know what you think, any suggestions or ideas are always welcome!