Urgency

Emma felt like he was floating, his body weightless as the sounds around him blurred together. Bright lights flashed above him as the stretcher bumped along through the hospital halls, the ceiling passing by in dizzying streaks. Voices—calm, urgent, muffled—swirled around him, but he couldn't quite understand the words.

"...eight-year-old, irregular heartbeat… possible trauma…" He blinked slowly, trying to focus, but the light hurt his eyes. His stuffed animal was still clutched in his hand, its familiar soft fur comforting him in the haze of everything. His chest still ached, though the pain wasn't as sharp now, and his breathing felt less wild. He wanted to see Alex.

"Dad…?" he mumbled, his voice too soft, but no one seemed to hear him. A mask was placed over his face, and a soft voice, a woman's, spoke gently.

"Just breathe, sweetheart. You're doing great." Emma wanted to nod but couldn't. His eyelids felt so heavy. The world kept tilting around him, and he was too tired to fight it. As he drifted in and out of awareness, he could hear snatches of conversation from people rushing around him, their voices too fast for him to follow.

"Heart rate is stabilizing, but we need to keep monitoring… No major external injuries, but we'll need an ultrasound and an EKG…" His eyes fluttered shut again, his mind sinking into the darkness.

In another part of the ER, the medical team worked frantically to stabilize Alex. He was still unconscious, a deep gash on his forehead oozing blood, and his leg was bent at an awkward angle, likely broken. His vitals were weak, but there was still a pulse, and the team moved quickly.

"We've got possible head trauma, multiple fractures—let's get a CT scan ordered and get him stabilized. Blood pressure's dropping: we need fluids now." A nurse carefully cut away his shirt to examine for more injuries, her movements swift and precise. 

"Let's also get some X-rays to assess his insides, please?" Everyone knew the priority was his head injury. The concern on their faces was evident as they worked in silence, their hands steady despite the urgency of the situation.

"Get him prepped for surgery—if there's internal bleeding, we're going to need to act fast." They placed a breathing tube into Alex's throat as his pulse faltered again. The room filled with the rhythmic beeping of machines as the doctors worked furiously to keep him stable.

Back with Emma, his awareness slipped in and out like waves crashing and receding. He saw flashes—bright lights overhead, unfamiliar faces hovering above him, the feeling of cold metal as they placed small stickers on his chest to monitor his heart. He heard beeping again, slower this time, more rhythmic, like a lullaby.

"...Dad…?" His hand squeezed his stuffed animal tighter, the soft fur warm against his palm. A bright white figure sat peacefully at the end of the bed. His body felt too heavy, his head too foggy. Rachel's voice came from somewhere beside him, though it sounded far away.

"Hang in there, buddy. We're taking care of you… Your dad's being looked after too. You're both going to be okay." Emma's heart gave a little flutter, but the panic that had gripped him earlier had softened. He still didn't understand what was happening, but the soft touch of someone adjusting his IV made him feel safe. 

Slowly, the noise of the hospital started to fade into the background, and Emma's mind drifted off, the last thing he remembered being the soft, comforting pressure of someone holding his hand.

Meanwhile, the tension in Alex's room was reaching its peak. The monitors beeped wildly as the doctors fought to stabilize him. His breathing was shallow, and they were preparing him for surgery, trying to determine the extent of his internal injuries. The CT scan results came back, confirming a concussion and internal bleeding.

"Get him into the OR now—we need to stop the bleeding before it worsens." The team moved in unison, wheeling Alex out of the trauma bay and toward surgery, their faces lined with focus. Every second counted now, and they weren't sure if he'd make it through the night.

Emma's heart rate had stabilized thanks to the medication, and the doctors continued to monitor him closely. As he lay in the hospital bed, the room was quiet now, save for the soft beeping of the machines that kept track of his heart. The blinding white figure once sat on the end of the bed had seemingly disappeared long ago. His stuffed animal lay beside him, its fur still dirty but comforting. A nurse checked his vitals, whispering to another. 

"He's holding steady, but let's keep an eye on him for any changes." Rachel stood near the doorway, her face softening as she glanced at Emma, now peacefully asleep. She knew the road ahead would be difficult for both him and his dad, but for now, they were safe.

For now, they had time.