Page 15 of Forgetting the Enemy
Chapter 6
Michael
When we get to the hospital, a woman approaches me and asks, “Mr. Vitali?”
“Yes,” I reply as I continue to walk. Ricco follows briskly behind me.
She hurries alongside me. “Mr. Vitali, Dr. Siegel asked me to meet you here, sir,” she says fearful.
I increase my pace, and the poor woman has now broken into a jog.
“Mr. Vitali!” she calls after me, breathless.
I continue to work my way down the hall, and she calls again, “Mr. Vitali, please! Can you please just wait a moment?”
I stop and stare at her, giving her a look that tells her I have no time for this. Can she see that I have to know where they took Zaira? I’m not really sure what has come over me since they took her, but the thought of her not being under my protection… I mean, if people find out who she is and word of her father’s murder gets out, this could be all kinds of fucked up. So, to appease the worried woman, I say, “What?”
She is breathing heavy from chasing after me. “Thank you. Dr. Siegel wanted me to personally escort you to Radiology, sir,” she says.
Well why the fuck didn’t she tell me that in the first place? “Oh, well then lead the way,” I reply, and I watch her physically relax. She works her way through the emergency department toward a set of elevators.
When the elevator opens, we all step in. She presses three on the panel, and the doors close. She turns to me and says, “I’m Mary, Dr. Siegel’s assistant, sir. While he is in with Ms. Doe, he has asked me to provide you with whatever you need.”
I’m thankful Dr. Siegel rememberd to admit her for her tests under a Jane Doe. I soften a bit and say, “What would help me most is to see, uh, Ms. Doe.”
“We might be able to arrange that. If you’ve gotten here in time, you might be able to see her before they take her in for her tests.” The elevator doors open, and she says, “Follow me.”
We walk down a long hallway, patient rooms lining each side, and approach a set of double doors labeled Radiology. After stepping inside, we turn right and walk past the information desk and down another hallway. There are fewer patient rooms here, and at the end of the hall is another set of double doors. Before we get to them, we turn into one of the patient rooms on the right.
“Ah, I see you made it,” Dr. Siegel says when we enter the room.
“How is she?” I ask as I rush to her side. You would think there was more than just friendship between us by the way I am acting, but for some reason, I am compelled to ensure she is cared for and is safe.
“She’s the same,” he replies. “The orderlies will be here shortly to take her back. You will not be able to go with her, but you are welcome to remain here until she is done. If you’ll excuse me, I have a few things I need to attend to.”
“Of course,” I reply.
“Mary will remain here in case you need anything,” Dr. Siegel says.
“Thank you.”
Standing next to the bed, I take Zaira’s hand. She’s still unconscious. I take my other hand and lightly graze her cheek. “Everything’s gonna be all right, Zaira, I promise,” I whisper under my breath.
“Forgive me for asking, Michael, but what’s going on?” Ricco asks.
“What do you mean?” I reply defensively.
“Michael, I wasn’t born yesterday. I’ve known you all my life. We’ve grown up together, and I have never seen you so attentive to a woman before, even if she is comatose,” he replies.
I wave my hand to brush him off. “It’s nothing.”
“Don’t fucking tell me it’s nothing. I know better,” he says. Ricco is right. He has known me all his life, and I trust him with mine. None of the other soldiers would even think about talking to me like this, but Ricco is different. He’s also right that I have never been so attentive to a woman before. Women come and go. I never found one I wanted to invest the time and effort for. So why am I behaving this way toward Zaira?Because I fucking love her! I have loved her for years!
I run my hand through my hair and shake my head, deciding to lie. “Fuck, man. I don’t know.” He smirks at me, and I continue. “I guess I feel responsible.” I lower my voice and walk toward him. I continue to speak in a hushed tone. “She was never supposed to be in the line of fire. It was assured to me she and her siblings were not going to be in that room when we attacked.”
“She didn’t get shot,” Ricco says.
“I know, but she should be with her brother and sister, mourning her father’s death. Not comatose in a hospital awaiting a scan on her brain.”
