Bound to You

Chapter 16: Figuring Out

Sierra paid the taxi driver and she and Ileana made their way to the entrance. Ileana jerked as the loud siren of an ambulance boomed suddenly around them and the vehicle sped away from the area. She watched it as it went. 

She reached for Sierra's hand and she was thankful that her aunt only tightened the grip. They passed through the hospital's automatic doors and as they entered, she found that it was unusually quiet today. This was rare. 

She could even hear the low rumble of the television which was pointlessly showing some national geography documentary about wildlife. No one except the receptionist was watching. 

As they approached the desk, she greeted them with a smile, "Sierra, how are you?" Her aunt managed a smile, shared a few random talks with her and then they headed to Room 12A. They knew the way by heart.

She slowed down despite herself as soon as she spotted the room. She didn't want to go through that pain again. A tight knot formed in her throat and she shuddered, "Sierra...I don't want to." 

Her aunt held her close, "It's going to be alright, sweetheart."

Sierra pushed the door which was slightly ajar and Ileana instantly barged inside, ran to the woman who was sitting on a chair, beside the bed, flinging her arms around her. The woman let the newspaper she was reading go and returned the embrace even more strongly. 

No words needed to be spoken. 

Ileana loved the comforting arms of her mother and during school terms, she only got to see her once per week and that was never enough. For a moment they stayed like that and Veronica pulled back, "How are you, my darling?" 

"Fine mom. How's dad?" The routine conversation. 

Sierra sat on the edge of the bed beside the man who was sleeping and she caressed his hair.

Mason Danvers was admitted here since almost a year now. Unbeknownst to him, he contracted an illness which doctors couldn't even classify. 

The symptoms only showed weeks after Leroy Burrell threw that chemical at him and his colleagues and locked them in that room. He was hospitalised immediately after he suffered a heart failure. 

The memory was so vivid it hurt. He was barely surviving. His conditions seemed to have just worsened as months passed and his wife, Veronica has been taking care of him all the time since then.

The woman released Ileana after that long hug and just motioned to Sierra to come outside with her. Sierra wondered if she had even taken a break from her work. She was doing a lot of overtime lately. She was still in her nurse uniform and just looked exhausted. 

Without a word, she followed her till they arrived to a spot where there were hardly any people.

Veronica stretched herself for a moment, not knowing how to put in the words. Sierra sensed the hesitation in her, "You can tell me anything, Vee." 

She held her shoulder, smiled warmly and the smile died down instantly when she heard the anguish in her voice, "His doctor told me he'll have to undergo an urgent surgery. A heart-transplant. I don't know what to do, Sierra." 

She suddenly broke into tears and Sierra instantly held her close, rubbing her back, trying to process the overwhelming information. She never saw her cry before. Knowing that such a strong woman could break down...she herself didn't know how to feel. 

Veronica cried silently, wetting her blouse with her tears, "I...I don't have the money. We've already trespassed the health insurance coverage two months back. If this surgery isn't done, I'll lose him forever. I can't let that happen." 

Sierra held her breath, feeling her grip around her. She pulled back and comforted, "I...I'll try to figure out something." She always did.

She angrily responded, "No. It's too much this time. I'm selling the house and...damn, I'll sell off everything." 

Sierra shook her, "Don't be stupid, Veronica. I'll manage I tell you. Just tell me the sum?" The number trembled off her mouth, "1.2 million..." 

She widened her eyes as she heard that. "What?! Are—Are you sure?!" She nodded, "You see?! I don't have much of a choice, do I?" 

Sierra stepped back, wracking her mind, "No...That's so unfair. Where the hell is Dr Fitzgerald?!" "Sierra wait!" But she ignored the call and stamped away. How just dare they? They have been paying so much and yet, Mason never showed a sign of recovery and now, they dared drop such a bomb on then?! 

She spotted the doctor speaking to some nurses and she furiously demanded as she barged into the conversation, "What's up with all that cost and those useless procedures!? You've already been replacing organs after organs and he still suffers." 

"Ms Danvers, please calm down." She crossed her arms, "I am calm!" 

He dismissed the nurses with quick instructions and turned his attention to her, "I know it's a lot to take in but we've found a way to exterminate the virus with extreme laser procedures we've recently developed. It is less risky, and powerful enough to destroy all the malignant cells. It'll work just great. But your brother absolutely need a heart-lung transplant. We can cure him. We've found the way. He'll be able to walk, to talk, to speak...like he did before. This is a chance not given to anyone, Danvers. All of his colleagues already died months ago. It's miraculous he's still among us. Do you understand how important this is?" 

She sighed heavily, "Wh...when do you need the money?" 

"Right now if possible but you can deposit half the amount in not later than a week." 

She panicked within her, "Please, can't I have more time? Can't you start the surgery now and I'll pay later? Isn't the hospital supposed to help, damn it?!" 

His eyes bore through hers for a long second and he held her shoulder firmly, "The hospital has spent millions in research to see what's wrong with your brother. We can't divert all the funds to a single patient. There are thousands other people who need the money and they have a better chance of survival. I'm sorry I can't do much about it. You should at least deposit half the amount. The hospital needs a guarantee that you'll be able to pay off..." 

"Doctor! There's an emergency! Room 7D." 

He quickly said before running off with the nurse who called him, "I'll see you later."

She bit her lips, feeling the stress all over again. God, where would she get such an amount in such a bloody restricted time? Crying was not an option, she told herself as she paced the floor. She needed a miracle. Even if they actually sold the house and her house, it'd be too late till they get the money.

She turned away to walk back to the room and stopped at the door as she heard sobs. Her heart constricted in pain as she saw her brother weakly raising his hand to caress Ileana's cheek.

Ileana swallowed hard and she whispered, "Dad please." Her eyes began to water. His hand was so cold and she felt so weak right now. She didn't want to cry in front of him and yet the tears fell. 

He grumbled quietly, "Don't cry, Ileana." And he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as if pain shot through him. Sierra walked inside, pressed her hand on her niece's shoulder and the latter quickly wiped her tears on her sleeve.

She lowered her father's hand gently and turned to Sierra, not really looking at her, "I want to go." "Of course." 

She walked out of the room and Sierra sighed towards Mason. She swore she wouldn't mind being there instead of him. This man had always been the one person who supported her in every of her decisions. He stood by her side in her hardest moments and he loved her so much. 

He was there for her and she, sure, would be damn there for him. She had to do something. And she was frustrated, knowing it was too difficult to take in. 

The bank or any other lenders themselves wouldn't lend her a personal loan exceeding a hundred thousand. And here, she needed a thousand of a thousand.

They found Veronica, sitting absentmindedly on one of the waiting chairs outside the room. Ileana informed her that they were leaving and she just nodded, kissed Ileana on her cheek as she stood to accompany them outside. She inquired, "Where's your car?" 

She pursed her lips, "Had to send to the mechanic. It broke down on Thursday. It's alright. We're heading to the taxi stand." 

Veronica sighed in frustration, opened her mouth to say something, glanced at Ileana and knew better when to keep quiet. She then threw caution to the wind and gritted, "Sierra, please. I need that—. Mason needs it. Why don't you—God, I know I shouldn't be saying this...but you can't live that life when you have so much— You're just...wasting— You know what I mean. Please, just this time. Ask them. They won't refuse you." 

Sierra's eyes darkened as she understood what she was trying to tell her, "I said I'll figure it out. Don't worry. Take care, Vee." 

Bringing up her past was never a good way to solve her present issues. Ileana suspiciously looked up at them but Sierra promptly said that they should get going.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jace could hear the loud music as he drove in the vicinity of the villa. God. Another pool party again? He was so sick of them. He stopped his motorbike in the yard and as soon as he removed his helmet, he could hear a lot of girls screaming his name. 

He was bothered as one of them grabbed his hand dragging him, another one offering him a glass of fresh lemonade and the rest pushing him to join the party. He shoved them away and rudely said, "Go find someone else to annoy, you cows." 

They gave him an atrocious look and another woman, wearing a one-piece swimsuit quickly barged in the group and saying, "Sorry! So sorry girls! Just ignore him." 

Once they distanced themselves, the woman leapt at him, soaking his clothes with her damp body as she hugged him tightly, "My baby! You look good today." 

He sighed heavily, returning the embrace and pulled away in a grimace, "Hi mom. You hosting another party?" 

"Yes, to celebrate Lola's arrival." "Who?" "My Chihuahua! Look there. Isn't she a cutie?" 

He could see a petrified dog on a floating buoy in the pool, dressed in small ridiculous clothes. Poor animal. This place was just a mess...and his mother, she always had something  to celebrate about. 

He casually sipped into the lemonade and his mother said, "Remove your shirt, sweetie and go  have some fun! Hmmm, where's Ron already? Oh there he comes!" 

He could already regret being here as he noticed his mother's boyfriend coming towards them. He had a ridiculous flower garland around his neck, coconut water in one hand and another woman in his arm. He rolled his eyes. Why wasn't he even surprised. 

He turned to her, "Hey I just came to tell you something important." She heard her 'friends' calling her and she exclaimed, "Later, honey. I've got a lot to do." 

He groaned, gripped her arm before she could leave and emphasized, "It's important. Your fake friends can wait." 

He suddenly felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and he cursed, slapping the unwanted hand away, "Back off, dude." 

"Woah, golden boy. Why are you harassing my girlfriend like this?" He rolled his eyes, "Not your problem and don't call me like that."

Dinah laughed nervously as she noticed the tension between them and said, "Hey babe, relax. I'll have a little talk with Jace and come right away to you." Ron released the other girl to kiss her hard, "I'm already missing you, my sugar pie. Be quick."

Jace chose to ignore that disgusting thing and walked out of this fool's party to the garden which was much quieter. He tossed the empty cup to the bin and inquired, "I guess you're happy here." 

"Yes, I am. Ron's a sweetheart." 

He brutally said, "And he got tons of cash to burn." 

Dinah rolled her eyes, "He just loves me. And I love him." "Yeah right. Who am I kidding with? Okay listen, let's cut it loose. I just want to tell you that I don't need to come to this zoo anymore." 

"What zoo? Where?" "Here damn it. I'm bloody eighteen and I want to live my life my way." "Oh please, Jace. You're my son. You can't just—" 

"I've been wanting to tell you since a long time now...but I'm done being supportive. I had enough of this masquerade and you know what, I don't care. If you're happy then I'm happy but I'm not going to stay here over weekends anymore. I'm done putting up with your madness." 

"You...you prefer to stay with that fool? He probably doesn't even take proper care of you. He can't spare time for anyone. He doesn't care about anyone. He's just a selfish, cold-hearted insensitive man." 

Anger rushed through his body as he tightened his fists. No one had the right to speak ill of his father. "He cared for you and you just ruined everything with your tantrums." 

"Jace, you're still so young. You won't understand. If he cared for me, he would have listened to my needs." 

"You want me to be honest? You're just an exigent woman who's after useless materialistic wants and luxury. Damn it, you're just running after those imbeciles' money. Look, I said what I wanted. If you call me, I'll come. You're my mother and I love you... but if it's for wasting my time with your annoying parties, then I'm off. Bye." 

She hysterically said, "Jace. Just listen to me!" He deliberately ignored her, walked back to his motorbike and off he went, passing before her as if he didn't care...and deep inside, he knew he would never stop caring for her...and sometimes he felt that she stopped listening to him, to reason. This woman was a mess.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~