Crossed Signals

Crossed Signals
Daphne's POV

Sirens. They sounded miles away, piercing through a heavy blanket of fog.

"Phne! Da…..phne! Please, Da…..phne, look at me!" Cassidy’s voice sounded muffled, like when you are underwater and the voice carries from the waves. But muffled or not, I could hear the anguish in her voice, the absolute panic. She was crying but I didn't know why. It was soft here, soft and warm. The darkness was comforting.  

Then, the sensation of movement. Strong arms lifting me with a careful, urgent pressure. A scent filtered through the darkness, something familiar, stable, and warm. For a split second, the heavy weight in my chest eased.

“I’ve got you,” a voice muttered, surprisingly clear, clearer than Cassidy’s. There was a type of urgency and strain in the voice. 

“Just hold on. Hold on for me, Little Bird, hold on.”

I tried to open my eyes, but the effort was too much. The world tilted, and the faint sounds of shouting paramedics, and sirens, and familiar, comforting voices all dissolved into silence.

My awareness returned in fractured pieces.  I couldn't open my eyes, but the smell of smoke was replaced by the sharp, sterile sting of rubbing alcohol, bleach and flowers?

"Her stats are stabilizing, but we need to monitor the inhalation," replied a crisp feminine voice. 

"Monitor it? She was in a burning stairwell for ten minutes!" Ethan. His voice was a low, furious rumble that vibrated right through me. Why the hell is he shouting? He’s giving me a bloody headache. 

"If there’s even a hint of lung damage, it's your license on the line."

“Well, seeing as you do not have a medical license, I doubt you have any authority on the matter. She should  wake up soon. She just needs time to heal and as for lung damage, the tests show no indication of any damage. Besides, this would not be the first time im putting my licence on the line.”

Lung damage. Panic flared in my chest.I tried to open my mouth but  my throat felt like sandpaper. Were they talking about me? Would my lungs suffer permanent damage? I tried to breathe, but a sharp ache in my chest made me wince, and a steady electronic beep beside me suddenly sped up.

“What’s going on?” I hear the hint of panic bleeding into his voice. Since when did Ethan sound so scared? 

“Her blood pressure spiked up. Get out and let me work.” 

Huh, what do you know? Didn't know there was anyone other than me who could boss Ethan around like that. Those are my final thoughts before I am swallowed back into the embrace of darkness once more. 

I wake up to bright lights, b;inking against the harsh fluorescent glare, a familiar white ceiling stares back at me  as a constant electronic beep fills the room–a heart monitor. I am in the hospital.  

"Welcome back to the land of the living.” It’s the familiar voice of the woman  that was speaking to Ethan earlier but this time she sounds much  warmer. 

I turn my head  to discover the face behind the voice but I turn too quickly, a sharp breath  escapes my lips as my neck protests.

“Careful, don’t make any sudden movements, you will be sore for a while.” Now I recognize the voice.She moves to the other side of the bed, looking down at me with a mix of professional scrutiny and mild amusement. 

“Ah, uh.” My voice comes out as a hoarse croak before I burst into a coughing fit. 

“Don’t try to talk either, you’ve just been extubated so your throat will be a little sore for a while.”  I nod in acknowledgement. 

“Here.” She places a straw in my mouth. The cool liquid flows down my parched throat, relieving some of the discomfort. 

“Dr Stevens?” My voice still sounds like soundpaper. I try to lift my left arm to hold on the cup but a sharp, throbbing pain in my arm makes me gasp. My gaze shifts to the limb. It is immobilized in a sling. 

“In the flesh.” She sets the cup down on the counter beside me and helps me sit up when I try to do so myself, her lips tipping up slightly at my stubborness. 
“You know, Daphne, we really need to stop meeting like this.” She crosses her arms and  offers me a knowing smile.  

A small, breathless laugh escapes my lips, turning into a slight cough. “It isn’t deliberate, I promise. I try to avoid seeing your face as much as possible. Tell me, what’s the damage this time?

Her lips turn into a slight frown. She probably doesn’t like the way I worded that but it’s the truth. She continues none the less. 

“A minor concussion from your fall down the stairs, severe smoke inhalation and two more broken ribs. You also suffered a punctured hemothorax as a result of the rib fracture but that has been resolved’ She reassured me, probably because of the look of panic in my eyes when she mentioned that i had a punctured lung. 

“You gave your friend and your husband quite a scare. He brought you in himself. He made quite a scene shouting for a doctor, with you in his arms. The nurses will be talking about it for weeks.” She grinned. 

“My husband?” What is she talking about? 

“Yes, your husband.  He harassed me all throughout your treatment. It’s very clear that he loves you.  I guess both of you were able to resolve your issues then.” I thought it was Ethan that rescued me. I clearly remember him talking to Dr Stevens. And now she’s saying Greg did all that. Was I mistaken? I am so confused. 

The doors swings open, a frantic looking Greg shouting, “Where is she? Where is my wife?