Post by Skye on Sept 18, 2011 11:58:50 GMT -5
(Prior to Scars and Stripes)
Skye was slipping the second gold stud out of her ear as Toby walked into the bedroom. He stopped at the sight of her, giving her a leisurely once over. His eyes traveled upwards from the patent leather three inch heels to her black wool pencil skirt with pale blue pin striping, the back of her knee just visible through the kick pleat. Her light blue blouse pulled across her chest as she raised her arms, stretching the fabric almost to the button-popping point. Skye began to unpin her hair when he saw she was watching him in the mirror. Toby raised his eyebrows at her smile, and grinned back at her, before lowering his eyes again.
“You’re certainly all dressed up.” [/i]Toby stood at ease, rocking on his heels, keeping his hands in his back pockets, as if he were consciously trying to hold back.
“Where’ve you been?”[/i]
Running her fingers through her hair to loosen it from its uptwist, Skye turned from the mirror, and walked to him, lifting her face for a kiss, “I had a job interview at the Stangup and Boie Accounting firm this morning.” [/i]
He blinked, surprised, “You want to go back into accounting? I thought you were going seriously into your photography.” [/i] Leaning down, he gave her a quick but thorough kiss, then waited for her answer.
“Well no, I don’t really want to go back to working in an office. But photography doesn’t pay that much unless you have a really successful set up like Sonny’s. And it took him years to get where he is today.” [/i]Skye sighed, shrugging a shoulder, “Not that it matters, they didn’t hire me. They barely interviewed me after they realized I was ‘Skye from ‘that wrestling show’.” [/i]She kicked off her heels and padded out to the kitchen in her stocking feet.
“Why should that matter?” [/i]Toby growled out, a scowl crossing his face as he followed her, “You’re a good accountant, you have a degree and years of experience.” [/i]
“And apparently, too much fame for their firm.” [/i]She shrugged again,“Its ok, Toby. I hadn’t thought of that aspect of going back to work. But… That kind of notoriety might help me sell photos better than doing someone’s taxes, who knows?” [/i]
He looked thoughtful, “There’s that.” [/i]Putting his hands on her waist, he pulled her close, hugging her from behind, “Well, I like the outfit, so it wasn’t wasted. Oof!” [/i]He grunted slightly when she elbowed him in the stomach, but he could tell she was smiling as she did it by the way she held her shoulders.
“So, tell me about your day.” [/i]Skye pulled a couple of beers from the fridge handing one to Toby, Got any updates on your plans for your match?” [/i]He took her beer from her and opened it before handing it back, nodding. With a smile, she followed him into the living room to hear all about it.
●
(Scars & Stripes, Aug 21)
Her stomach heaved again and she leaned over the garbage can, retching, but nothing came up. When the convulsing stopped, Skye straightened and took several deep breaths, closed her eyes and ran the back of her hand across her brow in relief. Stepping over to the sink, she nudged her camera bag behind her with her elbow as she turned on the spigot, before cupping her hands under the cold water and rinsing out her mouth thoroughly. As she turned off the water and reached for a paper towel, two girls rushed in behind her and headed for stalls, their hands over their mouths and their faces an unhealthy tinge of green. She smiled softly in sympathy as she finished drying her hands, and tossed the paper towel in the trash before walking out.
She stepped outside, and dug around in her bag, coming up with a package of mints. Tapping out a couple for herself, she waited for the two girls, and listened to the crowd in the main part of the arena screaming for more blood. She shook her head and took deep breaths, trying to keep mental images from twisting her gut into knots again. The squeak of the ladies room door caught her attention and she turned, offering the girls each some mints and another sympathetic smile. They accepted gladly, thanked her and wandered off slowly, apparently in no hurry to get back to their seats. Skye couldn’t really blame them. She herself didn’t want to get back to her seat until this match was over and cleaned up.
Wandering over to the nearest concession stand, she got in line to order a ginger-ale to soothe her stomach, and did her best to avoid looking at the monitor hanging near the menu at the back of the booth. Several fans also in line were eagerly watching and cheering on their favorite. Skye tried to block them out of her senses as well. The line moved quickly and she soon had her drink and found a place down the hall away from the doors to the stands, a relatively quiet place to recoup.
A barbed wire match? Seriously? Why would anyone agree to such a thing? She mentally shivered. It figured Rivera would come up with something so sadistic. The man was a menace. Times like this, Skye was glad she didn’t work for this company anymore. She could not have stood next to the ring during this match, let alone be there at the end, to announce the winner. [/i] She gulped at the thought, and had to take several deep breaths to calm her suddenly woozy stomach. Trying to take her mind off what was surely a gory scene in the ring, Skye turned her mind to the conversation she’d had with Roy Viper’s sister, Mary earlier in the week. She was still coming to terms with finding out that Sara had been cheating on Roy… not just once, but several times. The information, and evidence that Mary had shown her, implied that Skye hadn’t known Sara that well after all.
Her attention was drawn by a loud cheer in the main arena, and she heard the winner being announced. Thankful that the gruesome barbed wire match was over, she figured she’d wait out the brief intermission while they cleaned up the ring, and then head back to her seat before the next match started. She was hopeful her stomach would stay calm for the rest of the show, and she could get some pictures.
(In the wee small hours)
The hallways were brightly lit compared to the visitor’s lounge, but dim compared to the nurses’ station, where it seemed as bright as daylight. Several nurses stood near the counter, talking softly, keeping watch up and down the halls now and again for lights at the rooms, or wandering patients. The desk nurse kept one eye on the emergency board and phone, while chatting with her comrades. From down the halls, the faint beeps and whooshes of various patients’ medical devices could be heard. The window from the hallway into the visitor’s lounge was shuttered, though not completely. The nurses could see in, but the light from the station was not glaring. The lounge was currently only lit by a couple of table lamps, so that any family still there could rest.. if they were able to. Right now, there was one woman sitting at the end of a sofa quietly reading a magazine, waiting.
In a room, down one hallway, Toby Hunter lay sleeping, bandaged heavily. At his bedside sat Skye, gently holding his hand, though he was seemingly unaware of this. She was slumped over in her chair, sleeping fitfully, partially out of worry, and partially out of the cramped position she was in, her cheek against the mattress beside Toby. She’d been here since he’d been brought up from emergency. It had been a lucky thing that someone on staff at the arena had even told her he’d been taken to the hospital. Since Mark Rivera had banned her from backstage, she had no way of knowing how badly he’d been hurt. She’d been worried after the match, and asked someone to check with him, since she couldn’t go back. Would things have turned out differently if she had been able to be backstage with him?
The door to the room opened slightly and a young girl slipped in, carrying a tote bag. Allana Sabora stepped lightly towards Skye and stopped, realizing the woman was asleep. She looked over Toby, at how bandaged he was, and back at Skye. Allana’s father, Chris Sabora, was in the same hospital, in a similar room, down the hall. He however, was not in as bad shape as Toby. He hadn’t been brutally attacked by multiple persons after his match the night before. As Allana stood shifting from one foot to the other, debating whether to stay or go, Skye stirred, lifting her head and slowly straightening in the chair. Realizing where she was, Skye looked at Toby for any signs of consciousness. Seeing none, she sighed, before realizing she was not alone in the room. She turned her head, acknowledging Allana with a sleepy smile.
“Hiya. How’s your dad?” [/i] She asked, keeping her voice low. She rotated her neck and shoulders to ease the stiffness.
“He’s sleeping right now. He’s doing ok I guess.” [/i] Allana’s eyes shifted to Toby again, “Is he going to be ok?” [/i]She was a little scared by how still he looked lying there. Her dad didn’t sleep so soundly, even when he in the hospital and on medication, he still fidgeted, just a little. Toby was sleeping so very soundly that if his chest wasn’t rising, she would have thought…
Skye looked over at Toby, taking a deep breath, then back at Allana. “Of course he is,” [/i] She forced a positive tone into her voice, “He always pulls through.” [/i]
Allana didn’t look that convinced, but smiled anyway, “I’ll pray for him, Skye.” [/i] She stepped over and leaned down to give Skye a hug, “Are you going to come visit with Dad? I know he’d like to see you.” [/i]
Returning the hug, Skye assured her, “Of course, how about I stop by after breakfast? That’ll give me time to get a shower and change clothes.” [/i]She looked down and grimaced. Her shirt was rumpled and slightly smeared with blood that had seeped through Toby’s bandages. “Yeah, I definitely need to change clothes.” [/i]
“That reminds me,” [/i]Allana held out the tote bag, as if she’d just remembered she was holding it, suppressing a small smile at the look on Skye’s face. “When the nurse saw I was coming down here, she asked me to bring you this. I think Sonny dropped it off for you.” [/i]
“Oh, thank God! I swear he reads my mind sometimes!” [/i] Skye took the bag from Allana, and peered inside, “He thinks of everything.” [/i]
“I’ve gotta go now. Aunt Kelly is waiting in the lounge for me so we can go home. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” [/i]She gave Skye another quick hug and left, closing the door quietly behind her.
Once Allana had left, Skye sighed and leaned back in the chair. She was so tired, much of it from keeping it together while everything around her had been chaos. She looked at Toby and sighed again. “Oh Toby…” [/i]
Running her fingers through her hair, as if that would help her clear her thoughts, Skye’s eyes flitted about the room. Now that she was awake, she was restless. She stood, stretched out the muscles that had cramped from sitting in an awkward position for hours, and paced the room. After three U shaped laps around Toby’s bed, Skye ended her pacing at the window, leaning her forehead against the cool glass.
Staring absently out across the roofs of the nearby buildings, Skye reflected on what she’d watched Toby go through in the ring earlier that night. Or was it last night? [/i] She chuckled to herself, did it matter what day it was? [/i]She’d seen Toby take some beatings before in his career, but they didn’t compare to what she’d seen tonight. Between the match and the ambush afterwards, she worried about him. Skye smiled ruefully, she completely understood why May had hated seeing Ambrose in the ring week after week. Toby didn’t end up in the hospital every time he competed, but when he did, he did it up good.
The soft blips behind her took her attention away from her thoughts, and turning, she walked over to the bed and gently picked up Toby’s limp and bandaged hand. “You’re gonna be ok, Honey, I know you are.” [/i]Bending over slightly, kissing him lightly on his forehead.
A ray of the morning sun slipped between the curtains and crawled up the wall of the room. Skye watched it from her chair. She’d been awake now for a couple hours, checking the time, waiting until it was a decent hour to make a couple of phone calls, and visit with Chris Sabora before he was released. Lucky him, he got to leave today. Glancing at Toby, she wondered when he would be fit to go home.
Rising from the chair, she picked up the bag Sonny had left her and went into the connecting bathroom to wash up and change into something without blood on it.
As she finished putting on fresh makeup, she heard someone enter the room. Opening the bathroom door to glance into the room, Skye saw one of the nurses check Toby’s vital signs and make notations on his chart.
“Good Morning,” [/i]Skye came out of the bathroom, “How’s he doing?” [/i] She smiled at the nurse.
The nurse, Nancy by her nametag, smiled back at Skye, “Better than he was last night, but he still has a ways to go.” [/i]She hung the chart back up in its place and headed towards the door, “The coffee in the visitor’s lounge is fresh, whenever you’re ready for some.” [/i]
“Thank you, that would be great.” [/i]Skye replied, then ducked back into the bathroom to finish her makeshift morning routine.
Half an hour later, more awake thanks to coffee and a cream-cheese laden bagel, Skye figured that Chris Sabora might possibly be awake, so she gave Toby another kiss on his forehead and told him she’d be back in a bit even though she had no idea if he heard her or not. She stopped at the nurses station to ask which room Sabora was in and if he was awake, then went on down the hall to his room.
She poked her head around the door, noticing first thing the vast difference between Chris and Toby. Where Toby was lying quiet in his bed, Christ was sitting up, awake and aware, remote in hand, watching the TV across the room. His bandages were fewer, unless they were just covered by the hospital gown he wore. Skye chuckled to herself. Seeing Chris in a hospital gown and covered by a sheet, he was more covered than she usually saw him.
Entering the room fully, Skye announced her presence, “Good Morning, how are you feeling?” [/i] She walked over to the side of the bed.
“Hey there,” [/i] Chris’s attention switched from the Television to Skye at the sound of her voice, “They tell me I’ll live. How’s Toby?” [/i]
She grimaced, “Better than he was last night, is the prognosis from the nurse this morning.” [/i]Shrugging, she went on, “He’s still sleeping, or under, it’s hard to tell. I’m worried, to be honest.” [/i]
“He’ll be fine,” [/i]Chris set the remote in his lap, reached over and patted Skye’s hand, “He always comes through. Nothing keeps a Hunter down for long.” [/i] As he finished Allana bounced through the door with a cheerful smile, and a handful of balloons for her dad. After a few minutes of catching up, Skye excused herself, wanting to get back to Toby’s side. Both Allana and Chris understood, and said they hoped to hear soon that everything was ok. She promised to let them know and left them just as Allana’s Aunt Kelly came in.
Getting back to Toby’s room, Skye realized that she hadn’t seen the Ritters yet, “Toby, why haven’t Annette and Cole been here,” [/i]she asked him, even though she didn’t seriously expect an answer. It occurred to her that they possibly had been here while she was with Sabora, but why wouldn’t they have stayed? “Hmmm, I’ll be right back, honey.” [/i]
At the nurses’ station, Skye asked if anyone had called or come to visit Toby while she was gone. No, no one had. Skye thanked them and walked slowly back towards Toby’s room. This was definitely odd. Reaching the room, she glanced at Toby to see if there’d been any change in his status. Seeing none, she picked up her purse and left again. Letting the nurses know that she was going outside to make some calls and how to reach her should Toby wake or have any other visitors, Skye headed outside. Damned ‘no cellphone zones’
On the elevator ride down, Skye realized she still needed to call Sara as well. She’d wanted to talk to her about the things that Mary told her. Skye wasn’t one to blindly believe one person over another – she was going to ask. Sara hadn’t responded to the voice mail Skye had left last night, so she’d try again.
But first, she was calling Annette.
Skye was slipping the second gold stud out of her ear as Toby walked into the bedroom. He stopped at the sight of her, giving her a leisurely once over. His eyes traveled upwards from the patent leather three inch heels to her black wool pencil skirt with pale blue pin striping, the back of her knee just visible through the kick pleat. Her light blue blouse pulled across her chest as she raised her arms, stretching the fabric almost to the button-popping point. Skye began to unpin her hair when he saw she was watching him in the mirror. Toby raised his eyebrows at her smile, and grinned back at her, before lowering his eyes again.
“You’re certainly all dressed up.” [/i]Toby stood at ease, rocking on his heels, keeping his hands in his back pockets, as if he were consciously trying to hold back.
“Where’ve you been?”[/i]
Running her fingers through her hair to loosen it from its uptwist, Skye turned from the mirror, and walked to him, lifting her face for a kiss, “I had a job interview at the Stangup and Boie Accounting firm this morning.” [/i]
He blinked, surprised, “You want to go back into accounting? I thought you were going seriously into your photography.” [/i] Leaning down, he gave her a quick but thorough kiss, then waited for her answer.
“Well no, I don’t really want to go back to working in an office. But photography doesn’t pay that much unless you have a really successful set up like Sonny’s. And it took him years to get where he is today.” [/i]Skye sighed, shrugging a shoulder, “Not that it matters, they didn’t hire me. They barely interviewed me after they realized I was ‘Skye from ‘that wrestling show’.” [/i]She kicked off her heels and padded out to the kitchen in her stocking feet.
“Why should that matter?” [/i]Toby growled out, a scowl crossing his face as he followed her, “You’re a good accountant, you have a degree and years of experience.” [/i]
“And apparently, too much fame for their firm.” [/i]She shrugged again,“Its ok, Toby. I hadn’t thought of that aspect of going back to work. But… That kind of notoriety might help me sell photos better than doing someone’s taxes, who knows?” [/i]
He looked thoughtful, “There’s that.” [/i]Putting his hands on her waist, he pulled her close, hugging her from behind, “Well, I like the outfit, so it wasn’t wasted. Oof!” [/i]He grunted slightly when she elbowed him in the stomach, but he could tell she was smiling as she did it by the way she held her shoulders.
“So, tell me about your day.” [/i]Skye pulled a couple of beers from the fridge handing one to Toby, Got any updates on your plans for your match?” [/i]He took her beer from her and opened it before handing it back, nodding. With a smile, she followed him into the living room to hear all about it.
●
(Scars & Stripes, Aug 21)
Her stomach heaved again and she leaned over the garbage can, retching, but nothing came up. When the convulsing stopped, Skye straightened and took several deep breaths, closed her eyes and ran the back of her hand across her brow in relief. Stepping over to the sink, she nudged her camera bag behind her with her elbow as she turned on the spigot, before cupping her hands under the cold water and rinsing out her mouth thoroughly. As she turned off the water and reached for a paper towel, two girls rushed in behind her and headed for stalls, their hands over their mouths and their faces an unhealthy tinge of green. She smiled softly in sympathy as she finished drying her hands, and tossed the paper towel in the trash before walking out.
She stepped outside, and dug around in her bag, coming up with a package of mints. Tapping out a couple for herself, she waited for the two girls, and listened to the crowd in the main part of the arena screaming for more blood. She shook her head and took deep breaths, trying to keep mental images from twisting her gut into knots again. The squeak of the ladies room door caught her attention and she turned, offering the girls each some mints and another sympathetic smile. They accepted gladly, thanked her and wandered off slowly, apparently in no hurry to get back to their seats. Skye couldn’t really blame them. She herself didn’t want to get back to her seat until this match was over and cleaned up.
Wandering over to the nearest concession stand, she got in line to order a ginger-ale to soothe her stomach, and did her best to avoid looking at the monitor hanging near the menu at the back of the booth. Several fans also in line were eagerly watching and cheering on their favorite. Skye tried to block them out of her senses as well. The line moved quickly and she soon had her drink and found a place down the hall away from the doors to the stands, a relatively quiet place to recoup.
A barbed wire match? Seriously? Why would anyone agree to such a thing? She mentally shivered. It figured Rivera would come up with something so sadistic. The man was a menace. Times like this, Skye was glad she didn’t work for this company anymore. She could not have stood next to the ring during this match, let alone be there at the end, to announce the winner. [/i] She gulped at the thought, and had to take several deep breaths to calm her suddenly woozy stomach. Trying to take her mind off what was surely a gory scene in the ring, Skye turned her mind to the conversation she’d had with Roy Viper’s sister, Mary earlier in the week. She was still coming to terms with finding out that Sara had been cheating on Roy… not just once, but several times. The information, and evidence that Mary had shown her, implied that Skye hadn’t known Sara that well after all.
Her attention was drawn by a loud cheer in the main arena, and she heard the winner being announced. Thankful that the gruesome barbed wire match was over, she figured she’d wait out the brief intermission while they cleaned up the ring, and then head back to her seat before the next match started. She was hopeful her stomach would stay calm for the rest of the show, and she could get some pictures.
●
(In the wee small hours)
The hallways were brightly lit compared to the visitor’s lounge, but dim compared to the nurses’ station, where it seemed as bright as daylight. Several nurses stood near the counter, talking softly, keeping watch up and down the halls now and again for lights at the rooms, or wandering patients. The desk nurse kept one eye on the emergency board and phone, while chatting with her comrades. From down the halls, the faint beeps and whooshes of various patients’ medical devices could be heard. The window from the hallway into the visitor’s lounge was shuttered, though not completely. The nurses could see in, but the light from the station was not glaring. The lounge was currently only lit by a couple of table lamps, so that any family still there could rest.. if they were able to. Right now, there was one woman sitting at the end of a sofa quietly reading a magazine, waiting.
In a room, down one hallway, Toby Hunter lay sleeping, bandaged heavily. At his bedside sat Skye, gently holding his hand, though he was seemingly unaware of this. She was slumped over in her chair, sleeping fitfully, partially out of worry, and partially out of the cramped position she was in, her cheek against the mattress beside Toby. She’d been here since he’d been brought up from emergency. It had been a lucky thing that someone on staff at the arena had even told her he’d been taken to the hospital. Since Mark Rivera had banned her from backstage, she had no way of knowing how badly he’d been hurt. She’d been worried after the match, and asked someone to check with him, since she couldn’t go back. Would things have turned out differently if she had been able to be backstage with him?
The door to the room opened slightly and a young girl slipped in, carrying a tote bag. Allana Sabora stepped lightly towards Skye and stopped, realizing the woman was asleep. She looked over Toby, at how bandaged he was, and back at Skye. Allana’s father, Chris Sabora, was in the same hospital, in a similar room, down the hall. He however, was not in as bad shape as Toby. He hadn’t been brutally attacked by multiple persons after his match the night before. As Allana stood shifting from one foot to the other, debating whether to stay or go, Skye stirred, lifting her head and slowly straightening in the chair. Realizing where she was, Skye looked at Toby for any signs of consciousness. Seeing none, she sighed, before realizing she was not alone in the room. She turned her head, acknowledging Allana with a sleepy smile.
“Hiya. How’s your dad?” [/i] She asked, keeping her voice low. She rotated her neck and shoulders to ease the stiffness.
“He’s sleeping right now. He’s doing ok I guess.” [/i] Allana’s eyes shifted to Toby again, “Is he going to be ok?” [/i]She was a little scared by how still he looked lying there. Her dad didn’t sleep so soundly, even when he in the hospital and on medication, he still fidgeted, just a little. Toby was sleeping so very soundly that if his chest wasn’t rising, she would have thought…
Skye looked over at Toby, taking a deep breath, then back at Allana. “Of course he is,” [/i] She forced a positive tone into her voice, “He always pulls through.” [/i]
Allana didn’t look that convinced, but smiled anyway, “I’ll pray for him, Skye.” [/i] She stepped over and leaned down to give Skye a hug, “Are you going to come visit with Dad? I know he’d like to see you.” [/i]
Returning the hug, Skye assured her, “Of course, how about I stop by after breakfast? That’ll give me time to get a shower and change clothes.” [/i]She looked down and grimaced. Her shirt was rumpled and slightly smeared with blood that had seeped through Toby’s bandages. “Yeah, I definitely need to change clothes.” [/i]
“That reminds me,” [/i]Allana held out the tote bag, as if she’d just remembered she was holding it, suppressing a small smile at the look on Skye’s face. “When the nurse saw I was coming down here, she asked me to bring you this. I think Sonny dropped it off for you.” [/i]
“Oh, thank God! I swear he reads my mind sometimes!” [/i] Skye took the bag from Allana, and peered inside, “He thinks of everything.” [/i]
“I’ve gotta go now. Aunt Kelly is waiting in the lounge for me so we can go home. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” [/i]She gave Skye another quick hug and left, closing the door quietly behind her.
Once Allana had left, Skye sighed and leaned back in the chair. She was so tired, much of it from keeping it together while everything around her had been chaos. She looked at Toby and sighed again. “Oh Toby…” [/i]
Running her fingers through her hair, as if that would help her clear her thoughts, Skye’s eyes flitted about the room. Now that she was awake, she was restless. She stood, stretched out the muscles that had cramped from sitting in an awkward position for hours, and paced the room. After three U shaped laps around Toby’s bed, Skye ended her pacing at the window, leaning her forehead against the cool glass.
Staring absently out across the roofs of the nearby buildings, Skye reflected on what she’d watched Toby go through in the ring earlier that night. Or was it last night? [/i] She chuckled to herself, did it matter what day it was? [/i]She’d seen Toby take some beatings before in his career, but they didn’t compare to what she’d seen tonight. Between the match and the ambush afterwards, she worried about him. Skye smiled ruefully, she completely understood why May had hated seeing Ambrose in the ring week after week. Toby didn’t end up in the hospital every time he competed, but when he did, he did it up good.
The soft blips behind her took her attention away from her thoughts, and turning, she walked over to the bed and gently picked up Toby’s limp and bandaged hand. “You’re gonna be ok, Honey, I know you are.” [/i]Bending over slightly, kissing him lightly on his forehead.
.....
A ray of the morning sun slipped between the curtains and crawled up the wall of the room. Skye watched it from her chair. She’d been awake now for a couple hours, checking the time, waiting until it was a decent hour to make a couple of phone calls, and visit with Chris Sabora before he was released. Lucky him, he got to leave today. Glancing at Toby, she wondered when he would be fit to go home.
Rising from the chair, she picked up the bag Sonny had left her and went into the connecting bathroom to wash up and change into something without blood on it.
As she finished putting on fresh makeup, she heard someone enter the room. Opening the bathroom door to glance into the room, Skye saw one of the nurses check Toby’s vital signs and make notations on his chart.
“Good Morning,” [/i]Skye came out of the bathroom, “How’s he doing?” [/i] She smiled at the nurse.
The nurse, Nancy by her nametag, smiled back at Skye, “Better than he was last night, but he still has a ways to go.” [/i]She hung the chart back up in its place and headed towards the door, “The coffee in the visitor’s lounge is fresh, whenever you’re ready for some.” [/i]
“Thank you, that would be great.” [/i]Skye replied, then ducked back into the bathroom to finish her makeshift morning routine.
Half an hour later, more awake thanks to coffee and a cream-cheese laden bagel, Skye figured that Chris Sabora might possibly be awake, so she gave Toby another kiss on his forehead and told him she’d be back in a bit even though she had no idea if he heard her or not. She stopped at the nurses station to ask which room Sabora was in and if he was awake, then went on down the hall to his room.
She poked her head around the door, noticing first thing the vast difference between Chris and Toby. Where Toby was lying quiet in his bed, Christ was sitting up, awake and aware, remote in hand, watching the TV across the room. His bandages were fewer, unless they were just covered by the hospital gown he wore. Skye chuckled to herself. Seeing Chris in a hospital gown and covered by a sheet, he was more covered than she usually saw him.
Entering the room fully, Skye announced her presence, “Good Morning, how are you feeling?” [/i] She walked over to the side of the bed.
“Hey there,” [/i] Chris’s attention switched from the Television to Skye at the sound of her voice, “They tell me I’ll live. How’s Toby?” [/i]
She grimaced, “Better than he was last night, is the prognosis from the nurse this morning.” [/i]Shrugging, she went on, “He’s still sleeping, or under, it’s hard to tell. I’m worried, to be honest.” [/i]
“He’ll be fine,” [/i]Chris set the remote in his lap, reached over and patted Skye’s hand, “He always comes through. Nothing keeps a Hunter down for long.” [/i] As he finished Allana bounced through the door with a cheerful smile, and a handful of balloons for her dad. After a few minutes of catching up, Skye excused herself, wanting to get back to Toby’s side. Both Allana and Chris understood, and said they hoped to hear soon that everything was ok. She promised to let them know and left them just as Allana’s Aunt Kelly came in.
Getting back to Toby’s room, Skye realized that she hadn’t seen the Ritters yet, “Toby, why haven’t Annette and Cole been here,” [/i]she asked him, even though she didn’t seriously expect an answer. It occurred to her that they possibly had been here while she was with Sabora, but why wouldn’t they have stayed? “Hmmm, I’ll be right back, honey.” [/i]
At the nurses’ station, Skye asked if anyone had called or come to visit Toby while she was gone. No, no one had. Skye thanked them and walked slowly back towards Toby’s room. This was definitely odd. Reaching the room, she glanced at Toby to see if there’d been any change in his status. Seeing none, she picked up her purse and left again. Letting the nurses know that she was going outside to make some calls and how to reach her should Toby wake or have any other visitors, Skye headed outside. Damned ‘no cellphone zones’
On the elevator ride down, Skye realized she still needed to call Sara as well. She’d wanted to talk to her about the things that Mary told her. Skye wasn’t one to blindly believe one person over another – she was going to ask. Sara hadn’t responded to the voice mail Skye had left last night, so she’d try again.
But first, she was calling Annette.
