Is this destiny?

JoAnna observed number of doctors taking turns in examining Sarah's arm.

After they finished with poking, prodding, nudging and using various devices, small army of doctors left, leaving only JoAnna and Sarah in the examination room.

JoAnna was looking at the computer terminal which showed results of the examinations and observations as doctors were entering them into the system from their offices. JoAnna wants to make sure that she has all the data necessary to understand Sarah's condition before she wheels her out to the VIP room.

"Anna…", Sarah called. "While I was gone… what did they do to me?"

JoAnna turned slowly to Sarah before responding. "They performed a surgery and removed the bullet from your arm. Based on the amount of drugs in your system when you arrived, it seems that they kept you sedated."

Sarah nodded. "I don't remember anything other than voices who spoke about my injury as something that can't be fixed. Permanent nerve damage…"

Sarah looked at her left arm and she was not sure if she can't move anything below elbow because of that damage or because of sedation her arm is under.

"I need my hand to work and fight. Were they telling the truth? It can't be fixed?"

JoAnna tilted her head slightly while thinking how to respond to this. "It's one thing what they say. And another one what I can do. No matter what happened to your arm, I will not give up until I fix you up."

Sarah took few deep breaths while preparing herself to ask next question.

"They also mentioned… a procedure without complications related to something that is seven weeks along..." Sarah's voice trailed away when she saw JoAnna lowering her head to avoid her gaze. "Anna?"

JoAnna's gaze landed on Sarah's stomach. She wanted to tell her, but she could not find words. How do you tell your sister that they induced an abortion without her consent… or knowledge?

Sarah understood what JoAnna was not saying with words. She placed her right hand over her belly and closed her eyes while trying to ignore all the emotions that swelled inside her. "Who knows?"

"Only Sophia and I.", JoAnna responded.

"Let's keep it that way.", Sarah whispered and leaned back on the bed. "Don't tell Aiden."

Fragments of the talk she overheard in that vehicle flew through Sarah's mind. That a handsome boy will serve as an example.

"What is Aiden's condition?", Sarah asked JoAnna.

"Two bullets in the back. No vital organs are damaged, and both bullets are removed."

"When will he wake up?", Sarah saw that JoAnna is avoiding her gaze again. "Anna, I need to know. Now."

JoAnna took a deep breath and looked Sarah in the eyes. "We found in his system traces of an unknown mix of drugs. But I can tell that it causes body to fall into a state similar to a coma. In normal circumstances, knowing what was injected will help us produce a drug that counters the effects. But when we found you it was too long since he was injected and… there is not enough for us to make a neutralizer."

Sarah felt numbness consume her. Her body, her brain, her emotions… everything was numb. "He can wake up on his own. Right?"

"That… we don't know. Medically speaking, he is stable, his life is not in danger, and he is in a coma."

"Take me to see him."

…

JoAnna pushed bed with Sarah into Aiden's VIP room.

Elanor and Oscar were in there, seated at the table on the side. They were looking at some documents and Oscar had a laptop in front of him. Two of them stopped talking when they saw Sarah.

Sarah's gaze fell on the man lying on the bed. She heard the heartrate monitor beeping and saw an IV drip connected to his left arm.

Aiden is slightly pale, probably due to blood loss, but other than that he looks peaceful, relaxed… like he is sleeping.

Sarah sat up on the bed and reached to hold his right hand. He is a bit cold and she moved to pull the cover higher over his chest.

As much as it pains her to see him like this, she told herself that he is alive. As long as he is alive, there is hope, and she will not abandon that hope. Ever. Because if she stops believing that he will wake up and come back to her… there will be nothing left.

She decided not to fall apart. She will be strong. Stronger than ever. And get revenge for what they did. She will make sure that everyone involved in this pays full price, with interest. Only like that she will be able to look Aiden in the eyes proudly when he wakes up. And when those enchanting dark eyes look at her again, she will tell him that she took care of everything and everyone while he was resting. Because he looks like he is resting.

Sarah is not sure how long she sat like that in silence.

When she turned to the side, she saw that everyone was there: Oscar, Elanor, Stella, Edward, Sophia, Felix, JoAnna, Jeff, Bridgette, Steve, and even Jasper and Ellie.

Sarah smiled faintly at the sight of all those people who looked at her with concern in their eyes, silently giving her support. She can see that all of them are looking at her and waiting to see her reaction.

"When can he be moved home?", Sarah asked JoAnna.

"He is stable, but I would like to have him here for another few days. Just to make sure nothing unusual shows up.", JoAnna responded.

Sarah looked at Stella. "They believe that my arm can't be fixed. That is why they let me go. Without my arm working I'm useless. And for Aiden… they said that he will serve as a reminder for the ones who don't obey their boss."

She glanced at the people in the room. "Don't be disheartened. I know that JoAnna will fix my arm and Aiden will wake up, and everything will be back to normal. He promised that in one year we will be married, and he never broke a promise made to me. I believe in him, and you should too."

Sarah's throat was aching from the talking, but she had more to say: "Anna, we know that there are King's spies in this hospital, and we can assume that he is not the only one with his people here. It will be good if all of them believe that my arm is permanently damaged, and that Aiden will not wake up."

JoAnna nodded in understanding. "I will call Emma to come here. She is the only one I trust completely. Your records will show that there is no chance of improvement, for both of you."

Sophia walked next to Sarah and JoAnna and said to Sarah: "If Anna or Emma can't be here, I will stay with you to make sure no one approaches you."

Ellie approached three sisters and announced: "I will stay in Los Angeles, count on my help."

Sarah spread her arms, and JoAnna, Sophia and Ellie ended up in a four-girl-hug.

Jasper watched all that with complex expression. He is happy that Ellie wants to help, but did she say that she will stay in Los Angeles? Doesn't she know that he is in Chicago? Even if he comes every weekend, that means that weekdays they will be apart! He sighed.

Jeff patted his shoulder gently.

Jasper glanced at Jeff and saw that Jeff's gaze was fixed on JoAnna.

Jasper remembered a conversation he had with Jeff last weekend… that there is no better way to realize your feelings than a separation. And that he looks ready to propose and get married. Jasper denied it at that time, but now he is aware that three days ago he considered getting Ellie pregnant in order to make her stay by his side. How ridiculous… Jasper Kiani, ultimate dream of so many girls in Chicago area (and wider), ended up plotting to get a girl pregnant on purpose in order to tie her to him... and yet, here he is... looking at Ellie's back and sulking because she declared that she will help her friend who was shot and kidnapped. Jasper nodded subconsciously and turned to Jeff.

Jeff noticed that Jasper is looking at him and raised his eyebrows questionably.

"You were right.", Jasper said quietly and turned to look at Ellie.

Jeff was not sure what that was about, but he will take it. He wanted to ask for the clarification, but the overall atmosphere in the room was not right.

When the girl-hug broke, JoAnna glanced at Felix. "I will need your assistance with Sarah's arm. I have reports from the tests, and I will talk to you once I come up with a plan."

Felix responded with a smile. "Of course."

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