Chapter
27
When they reached the hospital, the driver pulled the ambulance up to
the entrance of the emergency room. The two paramedics in the back whisked
Brian out of the ambulance and rolled him into the hospital.
The driver got out and came around to Nick's side. He helped him out
and led him into the hospital. There was no sign of Brian. Nick figured they'd
already wheeled him back to one of the rooms. The driver showed him to a
waiting room and sat him down in one of the chairs.
"Is he gonna be okay?" Nick asked.
"I don't know," the paramedic said. "I-" he
started, but was cut off by his beeper going off. "Listen, I've got to get
going. I've got another call. Just wait here, and I'll make sure someone comes
to talk to you about your friend when they know something." Nick nodded.
"Thank you," he said.
"You're welcome," the paramedic said, offering him a smile.
On his way out of the hospital, he asked one of the nurses to make sure someone
came to talk to Nick as soon as they knew anything on Brian's condition.
***
Nick waited for a little while. Then he remembered the AJ, Howie, and
Kevin. He knew he had to get a hold of them. He grabbed his cell phone out of
his pocket. He couldn't remember the number of their hotel room, so he tried
Kevin's cell phone. Kevin answered on the third ring.
"Hello?" he said.
"Kev!" Nick cried, relieved to hear his voice.
"Nick? What's wrong?" Kevin asked.
"It's Brian!" Nick choked out. "H-he collapsed in the
park, and he wasn't breathing, and I didn't know what to do, but these two guys
came and got help, and they took him to the hospital, and I don't know if he's
okay, and-"
"Nick! Calm down!" Kevin shouted, interrupting him.
"Where are you?"
"The hospital," Nick said.
"Which one?" Kevin asked impatiently.
"I-I don't know," Nick moaned. He choked back tears.
"Hang on a minute." He ran over to the receptionist's desk.
"Excuse me," he said, praying she spoke English. "What
hospital is this?"
Luckily, she did. "This is Koch Memorial Hospital," she told
him.
"Thanks," he said. He put the phone back up to his ear.
"I'm at Koch Memorial Hospital," he told Kevin.
"Okay," Kevin said. "You sit tight. We'll be there as
soon as we can." They hung up, and Nick slouched down in his chair to
wait.
***
