Fender Benders And Consequences

Logan heard the crash before he saw it. Turning the corner toward the exit he saw Scott's car in the street just beyond the garage. There was a pick-up truck imbedded in the side of it. On the passenger side. Where Marie had been sitting.

Logan suddenly got a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. They had met over an accident. Would she be taken away from him because of another one? Slamming on his brakes he jumped out of the car and starting running up the exit ramp, dialing *911 on his cell phone. He quickly gave the operator the pertinent information and demanded they hurry.

{Please let her be ok. Please let her be ok.}

He ran over to the passenger side, but the pickup was blocking his access.

{Oh, God, Oh Jesus.}

The entire front-end of the pickup was smashed like an accordion into the side of the Lexus. Steam was escaping from under the truck's crumpled hood, the passenger window had been shattered and glass was everywhere. Logan ran around to the driver's side and ripped the door open to find Scott pulling frantically on Marie's seat belt.

{Thank God, she had her belt on.}

Scott turned to him screaming, "IT'S STUCK...I CAN'T GET HER OUT!"

Marie was lying there completely still. She was unconscious, at least he prayed she was only unconscious, and she was covered in broken glass. Scott was now in full panic mode. Logan reached over and grabbed Scott by the shoulder.

"Don't move her. We don't know how badly she's hurt. Moving her could make it worse, Scott."

Scott continued tugging on the belt.

"We can't just sit here and do nothing - Oh, God, Logan." He was sobbing.

"I've dialed *911 - someone will be here soon, Scott. Don't move her. Help's on the way."

Scott was sobbing louder.

"Scott, check her pulse."

Scott put two shaking fingers on the pulse point on her neck.

"I can feel her pulse."

"Thank God."

Scott's temporary composure was gone and he was sobbing once more.

"I promised mom and dad I would take care of you. I didn't mean to hurt you, Tinkerbell," he cried, referring to his childhood nickname for her.

Of course, Logan wanted to panic too, but it was no use both of them falling to pieces. It wouldn't help Marie. He prayed the ambulance would get here quickly and he prayed she'd be okay. Surely, fate would not be this cruel to them. He clung to that hope desperately.

{Where the fuck are the paramedics? What's taking so damn long?}

He re-dialed *911.

"Yes, I just called to report an accident with injuries on Park Avenue and they're not here yet."

"Sir, we have that report and they're on their way. Please be patient."

"Well, tell them to take their thumbs outta their asses and fucking get here already!"

Logan slammed the cell phone shut. He was beyond furious, he was practically feral. Suddenly, he heard the siren of the approaching ambulance.

{About fucking time!}

He ran out into the street to flag down the paramedics. Scott rode in the ambulance with Marie, while Logan followed behind in his own car. Marie was rushed into triage and Scott was checked over, too. Miraculously, he didn't have a scratch on him.

"It should be me in there, Logan, not her. She doesn't deserve this."

Logan's heart was breaking as he nervously paced up and down in the ER's waiting room.

{What the hell was taking so damn long? Why doesn't someone come out and tell us what's happening?}

Every time the doors to the exam rooms opened - Logan hoped someone would come out soon with some news and he prayed that news was good. They'd been waiting for what seemed an eternity.

Just then the doors swooshed open again and Logan turned to face ... Jean!

Jean, who normally worked the day shift, looked as stunned to see Logan as he was to see her.

"Scott," she called, ignoring Logan completely.

{Why the hell is Logan here? He's not exactly friends with Scott.}

Scott, who'd been sitting with his head buried in his hands, looked up at the sound of his name coming from the familiar voice. Despite what had happened between them because of her stupidity with Logan, Jean still hated to see Scott in such obvious pain. She knew how much he worshipped Marie and this must be killing him. Scott jumped up and ran over to Jean.

"How is she? Is she ok? When can I see her?"

"One thing at a time, Scott. She's going to be fine. We've cleaned her up, removed all the glass from her hair, she has some superficial cuts and a concussion, but that seems to be all. She's very lucky."

"Oh, thank God, Jeannie, thank God."

Jean winced at the familiar play on her name only Scott and Logan ever used.

"When can we see her?" Logan demanded

That's when Jean noticed that Logan looked as distraught as Scott. What was she missing here?

"She's going to have to stay over-night for observation because of the concussion. We're just processing the paperwork now. Once we have her in a room, you can see her."

That seemed to appease both men.

Jean then added "And the baby's okay, too."

"BABY!" Both men yelled together.

"Apparently, you didn't know. It's possible she didn't either. She's only about three weeks along."

Logan turned towards Scott just in time to see Scott's fist come flying at his face. Scott's right fist connected with Logan's left jaw, knocking Logan to the floor of the waiting room.

"BASTARD!" Scott screamed

Suddenly it became crystal clear to Jean exactly why Logan was here too.