Hard Time (Part Fourteen)

Elisabeth woke up the next morning with a slight headache. The sight of Danny's sleeping body on the couch reminded her once more that yesterday's events had not been a dream. She sighed, tears about ready to break out once more. Keenyah was her best friend, she just had to make it!1

She moved as quietly as she could toward the kitchen and poured herself a bowl of Mini-Wheats for breakfast. She still didn't feel much like eating anything, but she knew that she had to if she wanted to survive the day today. Danny made some noises and rolled over, but the couch was too narrow and he ended up on the floor, a mess of limbs and blanket.2

"Owwww," moaned Danny from under the blanket. "What time is it?"3

"It's about six," Elisabeth said, "You might want to be getting up now."4

"I can't get out!" Danny called as he thrashed around, caught up in the blanket.5

"You have to be smarter than the blanket," Elisabeth laughed and went in to help him get untangled. In the process, she ended up falling on top of him.6

"Ow!" Danny yelped, finally getting his head to poke out from under the blanket. "Hey! You're wearing pink? Who would have thought that tough Elisabeth Lyons would wear pink!" Danny began laughing uncontrollably.7

Elisabeth's cheeks flushed. She'd forgotten that she was still in her pajamas, a hot pink tank top and black shorts. "There's a reason that I wear it to bed, because normally no one sees me in it. Tell anyone at work and you're dead!" she said as she went off to her room to get dressed. When she returned, Danny was already in uniform himself, eating a bowl of Mini-Wheats as well.8

"You wanna go early and stop by the hospital to see how Keenyah is doing?" Danny asked.9

"Yeah, I was actually going to ask you the same question. I'd really like to if you don't mind."10

"I don't mind at all," Danny said, moving to put his bowl in the sink. "Let's go."11

..........12

Scott paced his cell anxiously. How was Elisabeth doing? Would she even be at work today considering what had happened? She would, he knew she would. Elisabeth was not one to just wallow in sadness at home. She would go on with her life the best she could. Finally, the inmates were released to the indoor recreation area and gym. Scott saw Elisabeth smiled and mouthed "I love you." Elisabeth smiled back, but mouthed nothing. She seemed to be doing well for the most part.13

"You have the chance to talk to her yet?" Swede asked, adding one more weight to the bar. "Spot me?"14

Scott stood behind him and shook his head. "Not yet. She seems to be doing ok, but I know that she wishes she could be at the hospital right now, and I don't blame her. Officer Smithson is a good friend of hers."15

"Mmhmm," Swede grunted, pushing the bar up in the air. 16

"I don't care what the rules are. I have to talk to her at supper tonight. I'm sitting at your table no matter what."17

"I'll make sure you get a spot," Swede grunted again. "Ten!"18

Scott and Swede continued to work out and chat until the buzzer sounded, signaling dinnertime. Swede, true to his word, saved Scott the seat that Elisabeth normally sat across from. Elisabeth sat down, not noticing right away that Scott was there. "Hello boys," she said, trying to sound cheerful.19

"Hello Lyons." Scott said, causing Elisabeth's head to jerk up.20

"Scott! What? I thought we agreed to not sit together so as not to cause any trouble."21

"I want to know how you, and Keenyah are doing." Scott shrugged. "We all do."22

"Well, I'm doing fine. I'm alive at least. Keenyah on the other hand...they aren't sure she'll make it." Elisabeth swallowed.23

"Damn, Lyons. I'm sorry, but I'm glad you weren't shanked," Swede said. "It coulda happened to you."24

"Man, and I thought girls wouldn't be no trouble. I mean, I know they can be bitches, but I never thought they'd be that tough." Diablo commented.25

"Honestly, sometimes I think working with the men is easier than with the women. Women can be very moody and temperamental. Some of them already have anger issues, and it only makes them worse when..." Elisabeth left the setence hanging, hoping the guys understood that it was a "girl thing".26

Scott looked into her eyes. "I have to second what Swede said. You were right there in the action, and if you would have been stabbed, well, that would be very hard for me to take." Scott finished quietly, the emotion audible in his voice.27

Elisabeth swallowed hard and eyed him evenly. "I know, I know. I'm very grateful that I was unhurt, but that still doesn't take away the pain of knowing one of my best friends could die. I mean, we had just picked out dresses for the wedding, and..."28

Scott interrupted, "Wedding, eh?" He smiled slowly and mischeiviously. "And what will my beautiful bride be wearing in a little over a week?" 29

"I'm not telling. You'll just have to be surprised like everyone else but Keenyah is going to be." Elisabeth answered evenly. "Speaking of Keenyah, I'm going to go see if I can see her yet. The hospital still wouldn't let me in this morning."30

"Tell her that we're thinking about her," said Swede. Boy had Swede made a change. When Elisabeth first got to the PCF, Swede couldn't have cared less about anyone but himself.31

Elisabeth smiled as the buzzer rang. "I'll do that."32

.............33

Back at Scott's cell, Elisabeth was trying to prepare herself for the worst.34

"I mean...what if they tell me she isn't going to make it...what am I going to do? She's supposed to be in the wedding...and work just wouldn't be the same."35

Scott held Elisabeth's hand in his, "You're just going to have to pray about it, Bethie. And remember, I love you and I'm not going to leave you."36

Elisabeth smiled and kissed Scott gently. "I know you do. I love you too."37

"Keenyah's a strong girl. She's going to make it, and she'll be in the wedding." Scott said assuredly. On the inside, he knew that even if she did recover, it would be unlikely that it would be in time for the wedding. Elisabeth leaned her head against the cold, steel bars and Scott kissed her head through them.38

"I better go. I don't want to get there really late, plus I need to go feed Dad's dogs. I didn't do that yesterday, and they must be starving." Elisabeth said finally.39

Scott nodded. "Alright, but not without a goodbye kiss!" He smiled and met Elisabeths lips as she raised her head towards him. "Bye, love."40

"Bye. Sleep well!" Elisabeth said as she turned to go down the hall.41

...........42

Elisabeth nervously walked up the steps of Memorial Hospital. She opened the door to the front desk. It was like all waiting rooms, painted a pale, soothing color, in this case light blue. Visitors as well as patients waiting for check ups dotted the darker blue couches lined up neatly across the floor. Elisabeth swallowed hard and walked up to the front desk. "Can you plese tell me which room Keenyah Smithson is in?"43

The plump receptionist smiled at her. "I'll find out in a second, honey," she said while typing something into the computer. "She's in the ICU on level 6."44

"Thank you," Elisabeth forced a smile and headed for the elevators.45

"Anytime, dear." The receptionist replied. 46

Elisabeth entered the empty elevator. A nervous feeling twisted in the pit of her stomach. Was Keenyah going to be ok? Would she be awake? Finally, the elevator landed on the 6th level and opened. Once again, Elisabeth found herself in a waiting room, this one stark white with red couches. Nervous family members of patients waited here. A few of them were crying or praying silently. Once agian, Elisabeth walked to a desk.47

"Which room is Keenyah Smithson in?"48

This nurse was older and harsh looking. "Three doors down the hall to the left. Her mother has been expecting you." The nurse said in a raspy voice.49

"Thank you." Elisabeth took off down the hall. A tall slender black woman with greying hair pulled back in a low knot sat on a chair outside the door, but stood up when she saw Elisabeth.50

"You must be Elisabeth," she said, extending her hand. "I'm Emalee Smithson." She looked exactly like Keenyah, only 20 or so years older.51

"I am," Elisabeth smiled. "It's so nice to finally meet you! I just wish it was under better circumstances."52

Emalee's face became more serious then. "I wish so, too. I'm afraid it isn't looking very good. She's got a bad infection and...they're saying it's going to take a miracle to save her," she finally finished, choking back tears.53

"Is she awake?" Elisabeth asked. 54

"Yes. She's been asking for you all day." Emalee motioned toward the door with her head. "Go on in and see her."55

Elisabeth swallowed, nodded, and headed into the room. There Keenyah was on the hospital bed, ashy and hooked up to tons of tubes. She looked at Elisabeth. "Hey," she said in a whisper.56

"Hey yourself!" Elisabeth forced a smile. She had to be strong for Keenyah. "How are you doing?"57

"Lyons....I'm...they say I'm not going to make it," she finally finished.58

A tear rolled down Elisabeth's cheek, "Don't say that, Keenyah. Anythings possible. Don't give up hope yet!"59

"Elisabeth, listen to me. This infection has already shut some vital organs down. I'm ok with it alright? I'm going home!"60

"But you can't die yet, Keenyah! What about my wedding? You haven't even been married yet. There's so much more for you to do!"61

"I've done all I need to do, girl. I feel peace. I don't even hurt right now." Keenyah struggled to breathe with each word, but smiling nonetheless. "I need to rest."62

Elisabeth quietly stood to her feet. "Alright, I'll go now and let you rest. You need to rest if you want to get better. And you're going to get better." 63

Keenyah just smiled. "See you later, Lyons."64

"I love you Keenyah girl."65

"I love you Bethie girl." With that, Keenyah closed her eyes as Elisabeth turned to leave the room. Elisabeth said goodbye to Emalee Smithson and exited the hospital as fast as she could. She ran out to her midnight blue Accord, got in and fell against the steering wheel in sobs. 66

"Why, God, why? Why does this have to happen to my best friend? You can't just take her from me. She has to get better. She has to!" Elisabeth cried out in frustration, trying to push herself to believe that Keenyah would make it. But try as she might, she knew the truth.67

Keenyah wouldn't live through the night.