Accident Prone

Sabrina, Ashton, and Max are in the waiting room of the neurosurgery wing at the Franciscan Medical Center.

Liz is doing multiple tests and scans on Jackson, and they are inside for more than an hour.

"We should eat something.", Max suggested. It's past lunchtime.

Sabrina refused to leave. "I want to be here and hear what is going on. And Jack's parents will be here soon."

"I will grab something from the cafeteria and bring it here.", Ashton suggested. "Max, I will get enough for everyone. Can you stay with Rina?"

"Sure." Max didn't want to leave Sabrina on her own.

Max and Ashton know that Sabrina is the most anxious one among them. Each of them is hoping that Liz will come up with a result that will undeniably label Jackson as a liar and provide a ticket for Sabrina to get a clean exit from that toxic relationship.

"Do you know what you will tell Mrs. Adams?", Max asked Sabrina when Ashton left.

"The truth. Almost."

Max knows that Sabrina will not lie, and that means she will leave out some parts. "You will tell her about the breakup?"

"Yes.", Sabrina responded confidently.

"Do you think that this is good timing to break such news?"

Sabrina exhaled. "So far, I was ignoring things or waiting for the right timing and ended up waiting for eight years. And I almost lost Ashton because of that. No more waiting."

Max approved Sabrina's attitude. She was always postponing anything that is not related to her business, and he likes that she decided to clean up her personal life as well. "I've got your back."

Sabrina looked at Max with a gaze full of gratitude. "Thanks, little brother."

Max shook his head. People see him as a mountain to be conquered or to be feared, but for Sabrina, he is a child.

He got his phone and checked his messages. Liz is texting him occasionally, but for the last ten minutes, there is nothing. He hopes to hear some good news.

"Max?", Sabrina called to get Max's attention from his phone.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for accepting Ashton as part of my life."

"Who said I accepted him?" Max asked grumpily.

Sabrina smiled. "He makes me happy."

"Then, you should not care what anyone else thinks. If he treats you well, I will not say anything. But..." Max made a dramatic pause. "It will take me some time to adjust to this."

Sabrina was curious. "Did you expect someone else?"

"Uhm... maybe someone older.", Max admitted.

Sabrina winked. "Younger is good, he will last longer."

Sabrina stifled a laugh when she saw that Max's expression turned ugly.

"As your brother, I don't need to know those things. Keep those jokes for your girl-gatherings."

"Your displeased face is the same as when you were five years old." Sabrina said jokingly.

Max snorted and continued looking at his phone.

"Oh, my dear…", a middle-aged woman (aka Paulina Adams) cried as soon as she peeked in the waiting room.

"Mrs. Adams…", Sabrina greeted Jackson's mom.

"I see that Max is here as well. Good. Good…", Jackson's father (aka Gregory Adams) was obviously pleased when he shook hands with Max.

"Are you OK, sweetie?", Mrs. Adams asked Sabrina.

Sabrina was surprised by this question. Jackson's mom was always extra-caring toward Sabrina, but no matter how Sabrina looks at it, shouldn't Mrs. Adams ask about her son's condition?

"Yes. Jack is the one who is unwell.", Sabrina reminded Mrs. Adams.

"I am glad to see that you are concerned about Jack.", Mrs. Adams smiled. "I am happy that you were by his side and that he reached the hospital in time." Mrs. Adams turned to Max. "Thank you, Max, for bringing Jack here."

Max saw that both Mr. and Mrs. Adams are smiling at him like he is some kind of an idol.

He met Jackson's parents twice so far, and it didn't go beyond superficial greetings. Both times, Nathan and Madeline were there, and they chatted with Jackson's parents.

Max is not sure how to respond to this closeness and he wonders if they are always like this, or does he get some special treatment. No matter which one is it, he does not feel like getting close to these two. Something does not seem right. Max brushed it off as an unease because he does not like Jack and these two are his parents.

"I didn't bring him here. We called the ambulance.", Max stated the facts.

"No need to be modest. You did the right thing…", Mrs. Adams said to Max warmly and then turned to Sabrina. "Can you tell me how it happened?"

Sabrina was ready for this. Almost. She practiced a few times in her mind, but she could not find a nice way to explain the current situation. Well, sometimes there is no nice way.

"Jack came to my apartment and we had an argument and we broke up.", Sabrina said bluntly. "I am sorry if our fight caused him to have a seizure."

Both Mr. Adams and Mrs. Adams were staring blankly at Sabrina for some time.

Mrs. Adams recuperated first. "Ah, you kids… arguments happen. But you should not be hasty to break up. After all, the two of you share a history."

"To be honest, Mrs. Adams, there is not much history between Jack and me. We are drifting apart for some time and this was only the last straw."

Mrs. Adams frowned. "Don't make decisions in the spur of a moment. You might regret it later when you realize that your actions come with consequences."

Max didn't like how Jackson's mom is talking to Sabrina. Is she threatening her? If they think that he will allow that, they are gravely mistaken.

"Mrs. Adams…", Max called. "My sister is a grownup, and aware of what she is doing. I am confident that the decision such as breaking up an eight years long relationship didn't come in the spur of a moment."

"Let's calm down…", Mr. Adams said while patting his wife's shoulder. "We are all under stress that Jack had a seizure. How long is he inside?"

"About an hour.", Sabrina responded.

Mrs. Adams didn't like this. "Why so long?"

Max lifted his chin proudly. "This hospital has a top-notch neurosurgeon. She is examining him now."

Mrs. Adams panicked. "They should only confirm that he is fine after the seizure and the rest should be handled by his doctor. Who allowed Jack to be examined here?"

Max remembered what Liz told him about the protocol that should be followed so that they can't be sued. "This is where the ambulance came after the 9-1-1 call. Dr. Williams is the neurosurgeon here, she is one of the best Seattle can offer. Jack is in good hands."

"I want to speak to the doctor in charge…", Mrs. Adams said.

"Jackson is being examined.", Max repeated. "Only medical staff is allowed in there until they are done."

Mrs. Adams was obviously displeased. She looked at the door, and it says 'Employees Only' and not to enter without an escort. If she tries to force her way in, she will cause a ruckus.

She turned to her husband. "Call Jack's physician. He needs to take care of Jack. Tell him to hurry."

Mr. Adams immediately got on his phone.

Sabrina and Max exchanged glances. Why does it seem that both Mr. and Mrs. Adams are panicking? The Anderson siblings understood that there is something fishy going on. Is it possible that Jackson is in cahoots with his parents related to his fake epilepsy (assuming that it's fake)? What else would explain that they don't want Jack to be examined by the best neurosurgeon in the city?

Ashton arrived while balancing food on two large trays, one in each hand. He placed the trays on the table nearby and Max and Sabrina joined immediately without waiting for an invitation. They are hungry.

"I didn't know what you like, so I got a bit of everything…", Ashton told Sabrina while holding the chair for her to sit.

Sabrina smiled. "Thanks."

Mrs. Adams narrowed her eyes at Sabrina and Ashton. Why do they look so close? And the way Sabrina smiles at Ashton rubbed Mrs. Adams the wrong way.

"And you are?", Mrs. Adams asked Ashton.

Ashton looked at the woman who appeared like she wants to smack him. He knows that they were expecting Jackson's parents to arrive, so these two must be them. Introducing himself as Sabrina's boyfriend is not the right thing to do.

'Sabrina's boyfriend. Yup, that is me.' He smiled at that thought.

Ashton didn't allow Mrs. Adams' snappy attitude to affect him. He is working as a barista at the coffee shop for years, and he met all kinds of people along the way. He smiled politely.

"You must be Jack's mother. I am Ashton. Hunter's friend. I was there when Jack had a seizure and it didn't seem right to bail out when everyone else came here to see how Jack is doing.", Ashton responded and returned his focus on the food.

Max didn't wait to be offered to eat. He was already devouring a taco while carefully observing Jackson's parents.

Max hoped that Liz got something to eat as well, but he knows that she probably didn't. When Liz works, she forgets to eat. When she comes out from the exam, he will go and get something fresh for her to eat.

Sabrina took a bowl of potato soup.

"Eat something…", Sabrina urged Ashton. "You must be hungry as well."

Ashton smiled, happy that Sabrina is thinking about him. "I will. I want to make sure you make your picks first."

Sabrina was touched. "I got the soup, that will be plenty. When we leave the hospital, we can go and have a nice meal, so now you can take whatever you want."

Ashton got a hamburger and fries and took a big bite happily. He smiled while thinking that after this, they will have a nice meal, and then go to their apartment. The weight of Sabrina's relationship with Jackson is gone, and Ashton has no more thoughts of staying away.

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