Previously –

In the hospital room the scream was only a whisper.  When Dana fell to the sand, her body jerked and her heart rate steadied.  Now, like in her dream, Dana lay silent, motionless, and alone. 

Chapter 10 –

Alice and Shane stepped into the hall as the nurses wheeled Dana back into her room and reconnected all of her monitors.  Dr. Kelly had asked them to wait in the hallway for a few minutes, telling them he had to check on another patient then he would be back to speak with them.  A few moments later Dr. Kelly returned. 

“We ran some tests and checked Ms. Fairbanks brain activity.  It appears she was trying to wake up from the coma.  But in the process she stopped.  She has no fully come out of the coma but she’s not fully in it anymore either.” 

Alice was confused.  “What do you mean she stopped?”

Dr. Kelly continued.  “The best way to try to explain it is this.  A patient generally has to fight to come out of a coma.  Depending on how long they have been comatose, the fight to regain consciousness can be rough.  Sometimes the fight can be too difficult and the patient’s body just quits fighting before they become fully conscious.  In Ms. Fairbanks case I think the fight was becoming too difficult and she just gave up.”

“Bullshit!”  Shane yelled at Dr. Kelly.  “Dana’s a fighter.  She doesn’t know how to give up.”  Shane was angry.  How dare someone say Dana just gave up.  After everything Dana had already fought through and survived, Shane could not believe someone would actually say she was giving up now.  Shane started to walk away before she went off on Dr. Kelly more.  Keeping a close eye on Shane, Alice thanked Dr. Kelly for the update and apologized for Shane’s outburst.  Alice then walked over to Shane to try to comfort her.

“Come on, let’s walk down to the waiting room and get some coffee.  I could use the walk and we both could use the coffee.”  Alice put her arm around Shane’s shoulders and started down the hall to the waiting room at the end of the wing.  Alice made a fresh pot of coffee while Shane paced back and forth still angry about what Dr. Kelly said.