Not a word had been said. Nothing. The last word that came out of her mouth had been a NO.
Beside Theo's frustrated curses and failed attempts at talking Scarlet out of her trance, trying to tell her that Celine would be okay, Scarlet has heard nothing. Not even the sirens of the ambulance that took them from home to the hospital.

There's something absolutely so very wrong about a mother having to watch her child fight for their life, Scarlet has learned this the hard way. She has had to watch the skin of her little girl slowly turn into the colour of death. Her baby girl was so blue, she could see the last single bit of life being sucked out of her. It's the most painful thing in life, it has to be.

She had watched the paramedics hook her onto oxygen machines until she couldn't look anymore. She was even afraid to call her by her name. Because that was not her Celine. Her Celine shouldn't have been there, she shouldn't have been unconscious, or blue, or shaking vigorously with seizures like she was. How did she get there? It was all Scarlet's fault, no doubt about that. She'd chosen to go out with a man instead of staying home to take care of her daughter.

All her fault.

Scarlet didn't dare ask what was happening, she couldn't. Even up to the moment. Yet somehow she knew, she'd seen the doctors try to push oxygen into her baby and still nothing was changing. They were talking amongst themselves, but she'd heard them say it wasn't going in, that Celine's lungs were blocked by fluids. They had brought more machines into the ER, and started sucking out whatever was in her lungs after asking Scarlet to step out. All she could do was pace back and forth and search the doctors' facial expressions for something, anything. But none of them looked hopeful as they did everything to keep Celine alive, yet she refused, still refuses to believe that there's no hope. Not for Celine. Not for her baby.

There are moments when not even denial can keep one from losing hope. That moment for Scarlet, was watching a bunch of doctors push her daughter into the Intensive Care Unit and closing the door in her face. It is then that she'd realised, not even all the money in the world could save her baby at the moment.
At some point as she was slowly pacing, Theo, her mother and Becca had simultaneously tried talking to her. But Scarlet hadn't heard a thing of what either of them had said. Her ears were wide open, but the only sound they were open to hearing was the one they couldn't: the sound of Celine's voice. She'd give anything to hear it right now, if only to ask her one more of her endless questions.

Scarlet has no idea how much time has passed, days, hours, seconds, weeks? All she knows is the horrible sight of her baby hooked to so many wires and tubes, and a monitor with readings she does not understand. Because that, was the first thing she'd seen as soon as the ICU doors were opened. Scarlet had felt someone punch whatever had remained of her oxygen out.

Faith, belief in God, are some of the things Scarlet does not have.

Yet even still, when all the tears have dried, and her heart is numb, Scarlet finds her feet leading her to the one place she doesn't remember ever going to: the hospital chapel.
Silently, she walks down the aisle. Silently, she kneels down at the front of the chapel, and silently she looks up at the statue of Jesus. She has no idea how to pray, but if there's a God up in the clouds, He knows why she's here. If he really exists, he won't let her baby die. He needs to save her, if not for Scarlet, then for her.

"She's a good girl, isn't she?" Scarlet hears herself mumble. "She has never done anything wrong. She doesn't deserve to die, not like this! Not now, not ever!" The words leave Scarlet's mouth in the form of silent sobs, but before she knows it, Scarlet is full on sobbing, falling on the floor, crying.

Scarlet doesn't know how much time passes by before a pair of arms wrap themselves around her body, and she allows it. She doesn't look up to see the owner of the arm's face, she doesn't care. Whoever it is, it's okay. Because this is what she needs, someone to hold her crumbling self. Not the voice of Theo Steiner, or Becca telling her that Celine will be alright, not hearing anyone's voice whispering sweet nothings into the depth of her ears. All she needs is to be held, and that's what she's getting. Perhaps this is God's way of starting to work on Scarlet's requests. She fists the front of his T-shirt, squeezing her face inside his chest, her tears soaking him through his shirt down to the skin.

"You should go get some rest Scarlet, it's been four days. You've not eaten anything and you look...sorry...like crap."

Of course it's him. Hell, she knew it was him the moment his hands came around her, his scent is one thing she couldn't ever be mistaken about. The sound of his voice minutes later just gives her confirmation. Scarlet ponders on Theo's words, while he's right, she can't just leave her baby, she left her when they went out and look what happened to her. She just can't leave her alone. What if she wakes up, those machines would scare her. She would need her mother beside her. No, leaving is out of the question.

"I know what you're thinking, but Becca is here. Your mother left to freshen up but she'll be back. I will come back as soon as I freshen up too." He sighs. "Celine needs you well, healthy, alive Scarlet!"

Yes, but she isn't alive. Not when her whole life is hooked on to life support machines. But she does look like shit, if her Celine woke up this instant, she wouldn't like that, would she? She would want to see her mommy looking good for her, her puffy eyes and red tear stained face would only cause Celine's naturally curious head to ask questions. Scarlet wouldn't want her to strain herself trying to talk as soon as she woke up. So with fresh tears streaming down her cheeks, Scarlet lifts her head from Theo's chest and nods. He looks into her eyes intently for a few seconds, then softly, his fingertips reach out and caress the side of Scarlet's face. Simultaneously brushing her tears away.

"I'm not going to ask you to be strong because I can't even pretend to understand what you're going through Scarlet." Theo says suddenly. "But I promise I won't leave your side, I'm going to be around. And whenever you feel like breaking down, I'll be here to hold you. All right?"

Scarlet just closes her eyes again. She just can't seem to stop the tears as they continue to flow down her cheeks. Oh Theo! She thinks. Thank you, thank you so much. She doesn't know what she ever did to deserve a friend like him in her life. Even if she refuses to acknowledge it most of the time, Scarlet knows how much Theo has been there for her ever since the accident brought them together. He's been a great person and friend.
But she doesn't say anything.

When she opens her eyes, Theo smiles. A small, sad, but comforting smile. He isn't forcing her to say anything, he understands. Scarlet couldn't be more grateful. "But now that you can listen," he says. "The doctor needs to talk to you first, he's been wanting to for the last three days."

Scarlet's eyes momentarily slide painfully shut. Again.

The doctor, the doctor treating Celine, he needs to talk to her. So it's all real, not a lie. Not one big horrible nightmare. How did they get here? Her baby was alive, and smiling and yelling at her a few days ago. Not even sick!

                                           ....~....

"Mrs Greene,"

"Miss," she corrects.

"Miss Greene, I'm Dr. Mathews and I'm in charge of your daughter's case."

"Are you?" Scarlet asks, regarding the doctor with a distasteful gaze. God! She needs not to do this, it's not the doctor's fault that Celine's here.

"Miss. Greene, I understand how you feel right now but--"

"Do you?" Scarlet snaps, her tone surprises even her. She had intended for it to come out sacarstic but it's menacing, deathly. The doctor visibly swallows. Scarlet sighs. "Just please tell me what I need to know about my baby is all I want," she whispers.

The doctor nods. "Like I was saying, you need to pay close attention to everything I tell you because it's crucial information. And it'll be vital for both you and your daughter if you keep it mind.

"Your daughter suffers from a hypoxic brain damage. Hypoxia is a reduction in the blood oxygen supply. Cerebral hypoxia is a hypoxic condition that involves the brain." He pauses.

What does he expect? An answer?

"Okay," Scarlet says anyway.

"The brain requires approximately 3.3 millilitres of oxygen per a hundred grams of brain tissue per minute." He continues. "Initially the body responds to lowered blood oxygen by redirecting blood to the brain and increasing cerebral blood flow. But in the case of your daughter, it was not able to correct the problem as she must have stayed locked up in the car for long hours. That's why her skin was bluish, her heart rate high, and she had seizures.

"Out of a hundred percent of oxygen needed for the brain to function, when you arrived here, her oxygen level was at thirty percent. The severity of her condition depends on what class of cerebral hypoxia she's in right now. While we have yet to determine that, if the cerebral hypoxia is localized to a specific part of her brain, the damage will be localized to that region. A general consequence may be epilepsy. But the long-term effects will depend on the purpose of that portion of the brain. Damage to the Broca's area and the Wernicke's area of the brain--"

Scarlet stares at the doctor blankly. Really?

"Um...or the left side of the brain typically causes problems with speech and language. Damage to the right side of the brain may interfere with her ability to express emotions or interpret what she sees. Damage on either side can cause paralysis of the opposite side of her body.

"If the hypoxia results in coma, the length of unconsciousness is often indicative of long-term damage. In some cases coma can give the brain an opportunity to heal and regenerate, but, in general, the longer a coma, the greater the likelihood that she will remain in a vegetative state until death."

Scarlet just continues to stare into space. Each of the doctor's words has become nothing but a nail being hammered into her heart, right now, she's playing a lone game of how many more nails she can take before she drops dead.

"Even if the she wakes up," the doctor, oblivious to Scarlet's pain continues. "brain damage is likely to be significant enough to prevent a return to normal functioning." He sighs.

"However, the good news is that the percentage of your daughter's condition resulting in a comma is fifty. She may or may not."

Was that supposed to make her feel better?

"And we're working towards the former. Yet, all we can do is treat her, do our best, pray and hope for the best.

"I'm so sorry Miss Greene, no baby deserves to go through this."

He's done, finally. Scarlet gets up, realisation that she isn't dead hitting her. Yet, maybe death would've felt better than this.

                                   .....~....

Silently, painfully,Scarlet walks up her driveway. Her heart is numb, her self is somewhere in oblivion. She does not know where exactly she stands, or what is going to happen next.
The most painful kind of pain is when the tears have dried, they can't fall anymore. You can't cry, you don't see, or hear. You just exist. And that's what is happening with Scarlet.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, she'd heard Walters talking during the whole drive home. But was she listening? She wasn't. The cold excruciating breeze of the evening hits her face like the stab of an ice dagger frozen from a poisoned well.

It hurts. Everything hurts.

As she continues her short but somehow long walk, a gentle hand rests on her shoulder, and that in itself is like a huge load weighing her down until she can't lift her feet anymore.

"Bee,"

Victor

"I heard about your um...daughter and came as fast as I could. I'm so sorry kiddo," he says.

Scarlet isn't so sure she wants to hear someone say they're sorry one more time. She nods, and tilts her head in the direction of the door, then starts walking again. When they reach inside, she heads for the kitchen to make something hot to drink for the both of them.

A few minutes later, as she makes Victor's coffee, Scarlet hears the faint sound of a voice she knows in the living area. So deciding there's someone else, she makes two coffees instead of one, places the cups on a small tray and heads out the kitchen. The more she nears them, the louder their hushed voices become until curiosity gets the best of her. She stops to listen in.

Why would Victor and Theo be growling at each other? They've barely even met before!

"You son of a bitch!" Theo grits out. "After everything you've put--"

But Victor's deep chuckle cuts him off. "What about you son?" he asks mockingly.

"I'm not your fucking son!"

"What about what you've put her through, huh?" he asks again, ignoring Theo's growl.

"I did fucking nothing to Scarlet and you know it you miserable excuse for a man!"

Victor continues to ignore him. "Does she know who you really are? Why you ever met her in the first place? Does she know what exactly you were doing the day you claim to have hit her with your bike? Does she? Or are we still playing pretend?"

The clattering sound of breaking cups and a tray snap Scarlet out of her trance.

"Fuck!" Theo curses.