Page 2 of Stanton Unconditional

He pats the back of my hand. “Sleep, worrywart.” I return his warm smile and nestle into position. Josh is right, I do feel safer with him around and I can totally be myself. He’s seen me at my absolute worst and hasn’t resigned yet which is strangely comforting. Max has even been sleeping in the guest room at Mum’s while Bridget and I have been staying there. Mum wouldn’t let him stay out the front in the car all night.… every night. I think that deep down she feels safer having him around as well. Brock has gone back to Afghanistan for another six-month-deployment so the house is eerily man free. He’s refreshing, although he hardly ever says anything. I know he’s in my corner and I trust him.

“Natasha, put your seat back up.”

I frown as I wake and stretch. “What.… I slept the whole time?” Max gives me a smirk as he nods. “Oww, my legs are asleep,” I groan as I seep back into consciousness. My heart starts to race as excitement courses through me. I’m going to see him for the first time in two months, my beautiful Josh. My God, I’ve missed him, I can’t wait to hold him in my arms and kiss his beautiful lips. I know he has been suffering like me. This whole ordeal has been a living nightmare.

“How are we getting to Josh’s?” I ask.

“Ben is organizing one of the drivers to pick us up. I rang him before we got on the plane.”

“You told him I want it to be a surprise, didn’t you?”

He nods. “Yes, don’t worry.”

Thirty minutes later we are at the luggage terminal and Max sees one of Josh’s drivers through the crowd. He nods at me as he walks over and starts to quietly talk in Max’s ear. I frown. That’s odd. What’s he saying? Bit rude, whispering.

“Max, I’m going to the bathroom.” He nods and then continues talking as I walk away. This is weird, Max doesn’t usually leave me alone at all. He must have really missed his friend the driver, they sure are deep in conversation. I exit the bathroom to see Max waiting patiently outside for me. I smile.

“Natasha, I need to talk to you, honey.”

I smile and frown, honey.… he’s never called me that before.

He looks uncomfortable, “There has been an accident.” I frown. “It’s Joshua,” he whispers.

“What.… what kind of accident?” I gasp. He grabs my arm and I snatch it away from him. “What’s happened, Max? Tell me.”

He swallows and looks around as if surveying the situation. “Joshua is in the hospital. He has taken a drug overdose.”

My eyes widen, “What? What do you mean? What drug?”

He rubs the back of his neck. “Cocaine, honey.”

My face drops and I turn and start to sprint toward the door with him hot on my heels. I look around frantically for the Audi. “Where’s the car?” I scream.

He grabs my arm, “Natasha, calm down.”

I snatch my arm away from his grip. “Take me to him!” I yell, as I start to freak out. This is all my fault. Dear God, no, not this. The car pulls up and I dive in as I angrily swipe the tears from my face. I have had just about as much as I can take.

Adrian

“I can only speak to immediate family.”

Of course, his brother who is also a doctor is in with him now,” I reply. He nods and enters the hospital room and I follow. Cameron turns to face us as we walk in. Joshua is in the hospital bed, unconscious and still. He is hooked up to machines in the intensive care ward and nurses are everywhere. I have never been so frightened. Actually, that’s a lie. I have, when I was in a hospital ward just like this watching my father lose his battle for life. How did it get to this? I thought he was ok. I knew he was down, but I never thought he would purposely take an overdose. This is my worst nightmare.

“I’m Mark Reynolds. I will be Joshua’s doctor.”

Cameron nods and holds out his hand to shake the doctor’s.

“Cameron Stanton,” he replies as he turns back to look at his brother. “What are the stats?” Cameron asks.

Dr Reynolds picks up the chart from the end of the bed. “We have put him in an induced coma to bring his heart rate and blood pressure down. He is suffering Tachyarrhythmia and at this point we are very concerned about him suffering a cerebral hemorrhage or heart failure.”

Cameron drops his head and picks up Joshua’s hand. “Christ,” he murmurs. “How long until he’s out of the woods?”

The doctor shrugs. “Usually about twelve hours, but it could be sooner. If we can just keep his body cool, I think he will make it, but I can’t be sure. And then you know of course, depending on how long he went without oxygen, there is a chance he may have sustained brain damage.” Cameron nods and drops his head again as I slump into the chair. Why is this happening? “I would suggest you call your family. Is he married?”

Cameron looks at Joshua again. “Yes,” he replies softly. “His wife Natasha is on her way.”

The doctor rubs Cameron’s shoulder. “I suggest you start praying.” He gives me a nod before exiting the room.