A War Between Souls Continued

Mina hung up, her hands shaking. She raced out of her room, slipping on her shoes, and grabbing her keys. She placed the note she hurriedly wrote on the kitchen table where she knew her grandmother would see it, then raced out the door. 1

"This can't be happening. Not Allie.... Not my sister. Not now", She thought to herself. 2

Tires squealing as she tears out of the driveway, Mina dialed furiously on her cell, hoping that they picked up.3

-"Dad! Dad its me.... Mina!...Dad where is Allie?....Ok..Childrens?....3rd Floor?... Ok Ill meet you there."-4

-click-5

Mina sped off into the night. It was 3oclock, and she was racing to get to the hospital before her sister got into surgery...Again. Allie had been chronically sick from birth, and she was now just turned 2. Kaya had said she stopped breathing again. 6

She slammed on the brakes barely making a red light. She was 5 minutes from the damn hospital and she needed to get there!
Mina pounded furiously on the steering wheel, tears forming in her eyes from frustration and fear. She couldnt loose Allie... Not now.7

------------2 years previously--------------
Mina stood in the Maternity ward, pacing back and forth. Her hair was a mess and her nails all bitten down to the quick. She looked up as her father stepped out of the room, his hands shaking, sweating bullets.8

"Its not going so well Mina. Shes loosing a lot of blood. The first twin is fine, 5lbs 7oz... But the second...Shes sick" He said, his face going pale.9

"Daddy, Whats going on? Why cant I go in to see Beth?" Mina said, running to her father, hugging him close. The other 4 kids were sitting quietly, playing games. Thank god they werent their usual rambunxious selves.10

"Beth has lost a lot of blood Mina", he said, not wanting to look in his oldest childs eyes, "They have had to resusitate her twice already."11

"Oh daddy... No...", She said, tears forming in her eyes, "You should be with her... dont worry.. The kids are fine. Ill be here if you need me"12

"Thank you sweetie", He said turning to go back into the room, "Please, I need you to call your grandmother. She will be a worried mess. Just dont tell her all Ive said Mina. I dont want her driving over here at 4 in the morning."13

"Ok Daddy. I love you" Mina said softly, watching as the door closes behind him. Walking slowly back to her seat she takes the youngest, Moira into her lap, cuddling her close.14

----------------------------15

At the Hospital Mina parked sloppily, rushing into the main lobby. She knew where the elevators were. She had been here so often. It was almost a second home to her and her sister. Punching the number 3 she urged the elevator upward. 16

Seeing the names on the doors she pushes open the door with Allie's name on it, Seeing her father sitting there with his head in his hands. As he hears her enter, he stands, bringing her into a crushing hug.17

"Mina, thank god you are here" He said, his brown eyes red "You need to call Beth. Shes working a friends shift tonight and they havent been able to page her."18

"Ok Dad, I have her cell number let me try her", Mina said, kissing her father on the forhead,pulling out her phone.19

-Beth answers, her voice low- "Hello?"
-Mina, talking frantically- "Beth! Its Mina. Listen you need to get to childrens"
-Beth "Its Allie....Ok. Ill be there soon Mina, Take care of your dad till i get there"
-click-20

Mina stuck her phone in her pocket, looking at her dad with tears in her eyes again.21

"She's on her way Daddy. She knows its Allie. Goddess why wont the damn doctors come out!" She screams, tears now flowing down her face, unable to hold them back any longer. 22

Mina starts to pace the floor, biting her nails nervously. Her tears flowing now, she had been unable to stop... It wasnt fair. Why does this happen to a young girl? A baby? Why has the Goddess brought this apon them?23

A doctor in blue scrubs pushes open the door, the mask still pulled over his face. A spot of blood stood out on his otherwise pristine scrubs as he walks over to Minas dad, whispering to him softly. As he walks away, her dad collapses, tears running down his face.24

"Mina...theyve saved her...Shes breathing..." He said between sobs. His body racked by the pain of the wait and the release of the good news.25

Mina rushes to her father, wrapping him in her arms. Sobbing with him, Alone with him in thier grief, in thier jubilation. Standing and pulling her father to his feet, she pulls a chair over and sits him down. Rushing out to find a coffee machine, wiping her tears away.26

On the way she runs into the doctor that spoke with her father. Stopping him, she shakes his hand, grateful to him.27

"Dr. Cotton, can you tell me please. And I want you to be straight with me... What will happen now? You have treated her from birth. Why is this happening?" She asked, looking into the face of the doctor she knew so well.28

"Mina, my darling girl, You know what I know. Which is very limited. Your little sister is very fortunate. We pulled her out of this before Brain damage could occur, but just before. We dont actually know for sure if we were quick enough, but tests will show." He said, looking at the strong young woman before him. The red hair slightly messy, just the way it was when they had first met. The day of the twins birth.29

"Doctor, I know you are doing all you can, But that little girl has been through so much..She cant take much more. I know she is strong. How could she have survived this far? But Dr. Cotton, She is in every medical book around the world. Her surgeries are taped and shown to doctors around the world... Why cant we help her?" Mina said, shuffling where she stood, biting her nails again.30

The doctor, unable to answer her question simply shrugged sadly. He wished he had an answer for the girl that took such good care of her family. That was so strong and yet was barely a woman. She had grown up to quickly. He knew that she would be persistant at him for answers, but he also knew there was only so much he could do...31

"Mina Im sorry. I just dont know... But I will work until the ends of the earth, to find out." He said, walking to the coffee machine beside them. Turning to her he asked, "Were you going to get your father his usual?"32

Mina follows him, nodding softly, her red hair falling into her eyes as she fumbles trying to dispense the money into the machine. But her hands are shaking so bad that she keeps dropping the dollar. The doctor bends and picks it up, handing it to her.33

"Ive got this one, dont worry about it." He said, waving away her objection as he punches in the code for a coffee with cream and sugar. Handing it to her he looks at her once more, unable to concieve the soul behind those startling green eyes.34

"Mina, I know you have to be strong for your father and your family. And you have been. But maybe its time for some 'Mina Time'. You need a break. Go out with friends. Get shit faced..Blow off some steam. If you dont, Mina, your liable to go crazy." He said. And without waiting to hear her object he turns, walking back into the operating room.35

Mina stood there, her fathers coffee going cold in her hand. The doctor was right... She knew he was...She just couldnt bring herself to actually agree to doing any of that. What if something would happen? To Allie... or any of the kids. And she wasnt able to be contacted... She would never be able to forgive herself.36

Walking back to the room, she hands her dad his coffee and collapses into a chair, waiting for her step-mother to show up. Hopefully she would be there soon. Maybe she should try to call Ross and let him know what happened. He would want to know.. And probably talk to dad.37

She pulls out her phone, and dials the number from memory. As it rings she goes over what she will say in her head.38

-Ross groggy and tired- "Hello? Who is this?"
-Mina- "Ross. Its Mina. Are you awake sweetie?"
-Ross coughs, mumbling softly- "Mina? What time is it?"
-Mina- "Its about 4 oclock, Ross. Listen Im at the hospital.."
-Ross, grumbles under his breath- "The hospital? What happened? Is it Allie again?"
-Mina sighing- "Yes Ross. She stopped breathing and the-"
-Ross cuts in, angrily- "Why did you call me over that! Do you not realize that I have to be up in 2 hours! I know that Allie is sick! You remind me all the time! You dont need to call me everytime she goes to the hospital with a cold!"
-Mina whispers- "Ross...She doesnt have a cold.. She stopped breathing and they couldnt find a pulse..they just now brought her through"
-Ross, screaming now- "Mina I dont care! Ok? Ive got a lot I have to deal with and I really dont feel like having your shit on my plate too!"
-Mina angry now- "Well I just figured you would like to know.. I thought maybe this would be important to you."
-Ross practically growling- "Let me say this one more time Mina, I dont care. Ok? I have to go. Ill call you tonight"
-click-39

She stared down at the phone in painful amazement. She hadnt realized just how he felt. Well...now she knew..
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