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THE HOSPITAL
Gabi rode to the hospital in the ambulance holding Antonio’s hand and speaking to him softly. The paramedic worked quickly hooking him up to IVs and attempting to stop the massive bleeding coming from his head. Ricardo followed the ambulance in his car praying to God that his brother survive. The nearest hospital was 20 minutes away but the ride seemed ten times that long. The paramedic was reporting to the hospital over the radio using long medical terms that made Gabi queasy. She kept asking for an update, but the paramedic was too busy stabilizing Antonio to talk with her. She provided the necessary vital information on his age and health history, but beyond that she felt utterly helpless as Antonio lay dying on the gurney in front of her. Upon their arrival, Antonio was rushed into the emergency room as the nurse held Gabi back. "I’m sorry, miss. You’ll have to wait here." Gabi put her left hand up to her mouth to stifle her sob. The nurse noticed Gabi’s blood covered wedding band. "Are you his wife?" "Yes," she replied without hesitation. "Gabi Torres." "It’s okay, Gabi." The nurse put a calming hand on her shoulder. "We’re going to take good care of your husband. Let me get you a towel so you can clean yourself off. Come with me." Gabi shook her head as the nurse led her into an examination room just outside the ER doors. Gabi cried as she washed Antonio’s blood off her hands and arms. She raised her eyes to look in the mirror and was horrified to see a dark red smear across her cheek. Slowly she wiped the towel across her face removing the last trace of his life source from her skin. She looked down at the now red towel in her hand and her entire body began to tremble. She couldn’t lose him now…not now. "Gabi?" Ricardo’s voice called out to her gently from the doorway. "The nurse told me you were in here." He stepped into the room. "Are you okay?" Gabi shook her head miserably and began to cry uncontrollably. Ricardo took her into his arms and she clutched the front of his shirt staining her hands once again with Antonio’s blood. "Shh," he offered, knowing his words would be of no comfort to either of them as they held each other, Antonio’s life hanging in the balance just a few feet away. Gabi stared blankly at the drab white hospital wall as Ricardo paced quietly. Antonio had been in the emergency room for over an hour and no word on his condition had reached them yet. Gabi’s arms were draped lovingly over her stomach as she began to fear that the only part of Antonio she would have for the rest of her life was their child she carried. Ricardo watched her from across the room with an infinite feeling of guilt. If he hadn’t convinced Gabi to go with him, leaving Antonio to wonder where she was, he wouldn’t have tracked them down and been in the accident. Ricardo closed his eyes as the events of the past few days flooded over him. So much had happened: finding Antonio and Gabi making love, learning that Gabi was pregnant, Antonio leaving the priesthood and Ricardo’s entire plan of revenge blowing up in his face. He would never forgive himself if his brother died. "Mrs. Torres," the nurse called out softly from the emergency room doors. Gabi jumped out of her seat with Ricardo close behind her as they made their way to the nurse. "You can see your husband now." Gabi nodded and followed the nurse into the hallway without so much as turning around to Ricardo. He stood in the hall alone as Gabi and the nurse disappeared around the corner. Had Gabi told them that Antonio was her husband or had the nurse just assumed since they rode in the ambulance together? At this point, it really didn’t matter. Ricardo took a deep breath and started down the hall after them. Gabi rushed to Antonio’s side and immediately took his hand in hers. His head was bandaged and his handsome face was nicked with scratches from the shattered windshield. An oxygen tube rested inside his nostrils and the crimson blood that had covered his face had been cleaned away. Gabi’s breath caught in a sob as she held his limp hand against her chest. The heart monitor beeped rhythmically as the small fluorescent green heart flashed in time. Antonio’s body was being replenished with fluids through a clear tube connected to his arm and he was receiving a blood transfusion to replace the large amount of blood he had lost. Gabi stroked his cheek softly as she whispered to him. "I’m here, Antonio. I’m here." The nurse spoke to her gently as Ricardo stood in the doorway. "It’s important that you talk to him, Gabi. Tell him how much you love him and that you’re here. He needs to hear your voice and your encouragement." Gabi shook her head without looking away from Antonio. "The next 48 hours are very critical. He’s unconscious but breathing on his own. He had some bleeding inside his brain from the trauma and we’ll be running a lot of tests to make sure that it stops in the next 24 hours. If it doesn’t," she paused, "the doctors may have to operate to relieve the pressure." Tears rolled down Gabi’s cheeks as she squeezed Antonio’s hand. "Your husband is very strong, Gabi. And he has you here for him." Ricardo looked to the floor as the nurse spoke. Antonio’s condition was extremely critical and there was still a chance he could die. Ricardo had to find a phone to call his mother and Maria. Antonio needed his whole family around him now. The nurse left the room with an acknowledging nod to Ricardo. Gabi sat on the chair leaning onto the bed with her face close to Antonio’s. Her eyes surveyed the damage the broken glass had caused and she lightly touched the bandage that wrapped all the way around his head. "Antonio," she whispered trying not to cry. "You’re going to be fine. The doctors are taking good care of you here. Ricardo saved you and got you to the hospital." She took a deep breath remembering the explosion just after Ricardo pulled him from the car. "I’m sorry that you had to come look for me. But you found me," she smiled despite her tears. Ricardo stepped into the room as Gabi continued speaking, unaware of his presence. "I love you, Antonio and I need you. You can’t go anywhere, you know. Our baby needs its daddy." She sniffled and wiped her nose with a tissue. "I don’t know what names you like or whether you want a boy or a girl. I bet you want a boy – I think all men do!" She smiled sadly as she touched his cheek again. "We need you, Antonio. The baby and I need you. Please, don’t leave us. We love you." Ricardo felt tears stinging his eyes as he listened to Gabi talk to Antonio. He could hear a distinction in her words from when she spoke to him in the hospital. For the first time, he understood that Gabi truly loved Antonio. It was evident in the way she held him and touched him. As much as it hurt Ricardo to admit, Gabi loved Antonio on a completely different level than she loved him and he could see that now. He took a deep breath and walked up behind her putting his hands gently on her shoulders. "How is he?" Ricardo squeezed her gently and she bit her lip to control her emotions as she shook her head. "Just keep talking to him, Gabi. Tell him you love him." Gabi turned over her shoulder and saw Ricardo smiling at her. She questioned him with her eyes and he nodded. She turned back to Antonio and leaned close to his ear. "I love you, Antonio," she whispered as she kissed his cheek softly. "I love you and I’ll be right here when you wake up." Ricardo squeezed her shoulder to let her know he approved. as a tear slipped down her cheek. "Gabi, why don’t you take a break…go get something to eat." Ricardo was concerned that Gabi was exhausted. She hadn’t moved from Antonio’s side since they got to his room. "Just take a little walk." "I don’t want to leave him," she spoke with a shaky voice. "I don’t want to be away in case…" She couldn’t finish before she choked up. Ricardo draped his arm over her shoulder. "Can I get you anything then?" Gabi shook her head no. "Eat something for the baby?" Gabi shook her head no and Ricardo nudged her. "Okay," she relented quietly. "Maybe just some soup." "I’ll be right back." Ricardo went to the cafeteria to find something for Gabi to eat. Gabi held Antonio’s hand and caressed his fingers softly. "Antonio, I know you can hear me." She watched for any sign that he was. "I just want you to know that he didn’t hurt me…he just wanted to talk. I don’t know what he was thinking taking me to that cabin, but I promise you, he didn’t hurt me. I don’t want you to be mad at him when you wake up because he saved your life." Gabi swiped away her tears. "He loves you too Antonio." She was feeling tired so she sat back and decided to close her eyes just until Ricardo came back with her soup. "Okay, Gabi," Ricardo called out as he entered the room. "Here’s…" His voice trailed off as he saw Gabi’s head leaned back with her eyes closed still clutching Antonio’s hand. He set the tray down and took a blanket to cover her up. He watched her for a minute then walked around to the other side of Antonio’s bed. He sat down in the chair and scooted it up close. "Hey, T." Ricardo’s voice cracked and he cleared his throat quietly. "You better open those eyes soon cause if you’re still out when mama gets here, there’s gonna be some hell to pay." He touched his brother’s arm and his eyes clouded over with tears. "Now you listen to me little bro, you have a lot of people waiting for you to wake up. Including me." He paused. "I know you probably don’t believe that, but it’s true. I know a lot has happened between us lately and it’s going to take a while for all that to heal." Ricardo looked at Gabi sleeping across from him. "But Gabi needs you and you better not disappoint that girl. You’re not going anywhere, T. You are coming back to all of us, but most importantly, you’re coming back to Gabi and your baby. She loves you, Antonio and I know that you love her." Ricardo sat back and blinked away the tears he refused to shed. "And besides, if you don’t wake up soon, I’m gonna kick your behind." Ricardo watched Antonio and Gabi both sleeping, their hands touching. It was almost two in the morning and he was sitting quietly when Antonio’s hand began to twitch. Ricardo sat up on the edge of his chair and spoke softly. "Antonio?" Antonio moaned softly and struggled to move his head. His eyelashes fluttered and he blinked quickly as his eyes slowly opened. "Gabi." She sat up as soon as she heard her name. "I think he’s waking up." Gabi threw the blanket to the floor and stood next to Antonio taking his hand tightly in hers. Antonio winced in pain as his eyes began to focus on the two blurry figures on either side of his bed. He moaned again more deeply as the severe pain that wracked his entire body became more pronounced in his awakened state. Gabi leaned over him so he could see her face. "Antonio…we’re here." Tears streamed down her cheeks as she smiled softly. Ricardo leaned over the other side of him. "Hey, T. You’re awake." Antonio looked nervously at the two people standing over him. He took a deep breath. "Where…" his voice was dry and rough. "You’re in the hospital…you had an accident," Gabi said reassuringly. Antonio squinted as he focused on her face. "Do you remember?" Antonio looked from Gabi to Ricardo and back to Gabi with a completely blank expression on his face. "Do I…do I know you?"
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