Karen Rose - Have You Seen Her?

"Hey, Daddy."

"Hey, baby. How are you?"

"Fine." There was a beat of silence, then an upbeat, "Aunt Helen made pudding for dessert."

"Chocolate?"

"Tapioca."

"Mmmm. Did you save me any?"

Nicky giggled softly. "No, on account of you getting fat."

Steven smiled. If that was the shtick Nicky wanted to harp on, he'd go along for the ride. As long as he could hear his baby giggle. "I am not getting fat."

"Well, Aunt Helen says we've got to keep you fit so you can catch Jenna."

Steven coughed. "She said that?"

"Yessir. So when y'gonna catch her?"

Steven was speechless. "Honey, I don't know that I will." He skillfully guided the conversation elsewhere. "I do know, though, that I love you and wish I were home to kiss you good night."

"Will you see Jenna tonight, Daddy?"

So much for his skill. In more ways than one. He thought about the last two times he'd seen her. He'd be lucky if she ever wanted to see him again. "Probably not, honey. Good night, baby."

"Night, Daddy."

Steven punched END and rolled his eyes. He was going to tape Helen's mouth shut. But she'd probably find some other way to meddle. Sign language or semaphore or something. He'd slipped his phone in his pocket when it jangled. "Thatcher," he answered.

"Thatcher, this is Al Pullman. Investigative Division?"

Steven sat up straighter. "Yeah, sure, you took Dr. Marshall's statement on her slashed tires. Did you catch the boys that did it?'" He could only hope. It would give them a way to get Rudy in for a DNA sample if he got arrested.

Hey. That was an angle.

"No," said Pullman, bringing him back. "But Dr. Marshall's had another incident with her car. I thought you might want to know since… well, since you two seemed… involved."

The hackles on Steven's neck had already started to rise. "What's happened?"

"Her car was vandalized again, but this time they cut her brake line."

Steven's heart jolted, as if struck by lightning. Then raced. "Is she hurt?"

"No, but her friend is. She'd let the friend borrow the car for a weekend outing. Her friend lost control going around a curve and went off the embankment. She's in critical condition."

Steven had to make himself think. Talk. Drive.

Think. She was okay. Jenna was okay. Alive. "Where is her friend?"

"Wake Medical Center," Pullman said. "Dr. Marshall is there with her. I didn't tell Dr. Marshall about the brakes yet. I thought you might want to."

"Thanks, Al. I will. I have an emergency," he said to Davies. "I'll drive you to your motel when I'm done at the hospital."

Thursday, October 6, 9:10 P.M.

Lucas leaned back into the sofa in the surgical waiting room. "I feel so helpless," he murmured. "When are her parents going to get here?"

Jenna looked across the room at Casey's boyfriend, Ned, who was standing in front of the television in the corner, a completely vacant look on his face. "Ned said their flight gets in at eleven or so. I offered to go pick them up at the airport, but he insisted on doing it himself."

Jenna stared at the man she'd previously thought to be adolescent and insensitive. And he may have been in the past, but he wasn't tonight. Ned had taken charge of the situation, signing forms, doing everything Casey needed him to do. But right now Ned's face was blank.

"He's gone into screen saver mode, I think," she murmured, memories of Adam rushing back. All those hours waiting in hospitals just like this one. Sometimes the mind simply couldn't function past the stress anymore. "I've been there."

Lucas took her hand and entwined their fingers. "I guess you have, honey."

A wave of reality unexpectedly bowled into her, leaving her shaky. Blinking away tears, she laid her head on Lucas's shoulder. "She might die, Lucas."

Lucas put his arm around her. "Sshh. Don't think it, Jen."

"I can't help it," she whispered. She's all I have left . "I couldn't stand to lose her, too."

Lucas said nothing, just pulled her closer and laid his cheek on top of her head.

A woman in green scrubs appeared in the doorway. "Casey Ryan's family? I'm Dr. Neuss."

Jenna and Lucas jumped up. Ned turned from the television, slowly, and Jenna saw the look in his eyes she instantly recognized. He truly loves her , she thought. And he believes she will die .

Lucas stepped forward. "We're her friends. Her family's on their way from out of state."

Ned stumbled toward them, looking nauseous. "Is she…?"

The woman smiled kindly, but wearily. "She's alive."

Jenna felt her body sag, grateful for Lucas's strong arm. "Thank God."

The woman's expression became more businesslike. "She's alive right now. She came through the surgery, but not well. She lost a lot of blood. She has trauma to her head where her skull hit the steering wheel on impact." She looked from Jenna to Ned. "The air bag in her car didn't deploy?"

Jenna's stomach heaved. "It was a classic car," she heard herself whisper. "It didn't have an air bag." Oh, God , came the irrational yet very real realization. This is my fault .

Dr. Neuss looked philosophical. "Well, it might have prevented some of the damage, but then again, who knows? The car rolled down an embankment, so there is quite a bit the air bag wouldn't have protected her from. We had to intubate her during surgery. That means she's not breathing on her own right now," she added, again kindly. "She's a fighter, your friend. We had to resuscitate her twice, but she fought like a…"

"Like a mama tiger," Jenna whispered. The tears were coming and she didn't even try to stop them. "Oh, Casey."

"Like a mama tiger," Dr. Neuss repeated, then squeezed Jenna's arm. "Will you be okay?"

Jenna nodded. "I'm fine. I'll be fine." The words were rote. She may even have believed them.

Dr. Neuss slipped her hands in the pockets of her scrubs. "Well, she's stable for now. The next twenty-four to forty-eight hours will be critical."

"Can we see her?" Ned murmured.

Dr. Neuss shook her head. "She'll be in recovery for a few more hours. Once we get her a bed in ICU, one of the nurses will let you see her on a very limited basis."

"I understand," Ned murmured, but looking at his face, Jenna wondered if he really did.

"I'm on call tonight," Dr. Neuss finished. "Call if you have any questions. And try to get some sleep. The next few days will require you all to be strong."

The doctor walked away leaving them in silence.

Then a sob broke free. Ned's. Standing upright, the man just seemed to crumble inside. Without a thought, Jenna wrapped her arms around him and held him like Casey had held her all the times Adam's illness had become too much to bear. It only seemed right she support Ned now. She held on, rocking him, smoothing his hair, letting him cry. It helped, giving comfort to another. Gave her something to do, kept her own fear from choking her to death.

"Jenna," Lucas said urgently.

Jenna looked up and her eyes widened. There, not ten feet away, stood a pale Steven Thatcher next to a man she'd never seen before. A sense of relief coursed through her. Why? Just because he was here? Yes, just because he's here. He came .

Then Steven looked at Ned in her arms and his brown eyes flashed in-what? Anger ? It sure as hell better not be , she thought. She hadn't done anything this time. Hurt? Unwarranted. Jealousy? Not acceptable considering she'd done nothing more than try to be Steven's friend.

Or more.

She cleared her throat as he turned to walk away while the mystery man remained planted in place, his dark eyes narrowed and alert.

"Steven, wait," she called and watched him stop. "Just wait." She turned Ned toward the chairs and gently, pushed him into one and looked at his ravaged face. "I'll be right back. Do you want some water or anything?"