Chapter 27 - We're Just Two More Victims of the Night

 

 

 

Richie being the family friend that he has grown up to be,  has no problem going down to the chapel and checking on his friend and his neighbor.  The guys walk to the elevator and Richie pushes the  down button, and he can see that Jon is a little hesitant.

"I don't know about this Rich.  The chapel isn't a good place, especially a the hospital.  I think I'll stay here and wait for you." Jon tells his friend. 

The door opens and Richie grabs his arm, pulling him into the elevator, "If I'm going, you're going."

"Don't you think that the timing is wrong?  I mean, they're at the chapel.  The only time my family visits the chapel in the hospital is because someone had jut died or is very close to dying."  Jon tells him, really wishing he were anywhere but in that elevator.

"You're good.  She'll be happy to see us, she'll be thrilled to see you."  And he elbows Jon.

The 45 second ride down to the chapel floor felt like it had taken forever. When the doors opened, right in front of them was the chapel entrance. They looked at each other and Richie just shrugged his shoulders. The two of them exited the elevator and walked to the chapel door. Richie reached up and opened it, drawing the attention of those inside the chapel. They looked around and didn't see any familiar faces, well to Richie anyway.  Jon stated, "She's not in here."

 

They left the chapel and found the closest nurses station and Richie asked for information again.  "Can you tell me where I can find the Giovanni family?"  And he smiles at the young nurse. 

 

After a few clicks of the keys and another smile from Richie, she tells them, "Mr. Giovanni is in ICU, his family should be in the chapel or the ICU waiting room." She pointed towards the chapel, "The chapel is right there and the ICU is on the 8th floor."

 

Richie winks at her and says, "Thank you." while he slaps the counter and they walk away. 

 

"Let's go.  He's in ICU, that can't be good Rich." Jon pleads with him.  Jon isn't sure that he's ready to deal with more drama.  The last week with Liz about killed him.  He knows that this isn't even a comparison, but drama is drama.  It sucks the life out of him, regardless the situation.

 

"I want to check on Monica, Jon." Richie pushes the up button for the elevator, and when it opens they both get on.  Richie presses 8.  "We'll just see how they're doing and we'll leave.  We won't hang around, okay?"

 

"That's fine.  I just feel really uncomfortable in hospitals." Jon exhales hard, as the elevator door open.  Stepping off, they needed to turn left to get to the nurses station. 

 

When they approached the nurses station, Jon recognizes the nurse sitting behind the counter.  "Hi Jonny, what brings you here?" asks the red headed nurse.

 

Jon smiles at her and says, "Hey, Christy - we're here to see a friend."  Jon tells the nurse.  The nurse that lives across the street from him and has been chasing him for months.  She's a little older than Jon, and she didn't care.  He wasn't interested. 

 

"Who's your friend?" she asks the long haired men that are leaning over her work space.

 

Richie pipes up and says, "Vinny Giovanni, what room is her in?"

 

"He's in ICU you guys, you can't see him unless you're family."  Christy asserts some authority and really tried to impress Jon, unaware that Jon was there to see another woman.

 

"Where's the waiting room.  We'll go see if the family is in there." Richie asks her, with an idea of where it is.

 

"Down the hall and to your right.  I know his kids are in there."  Jon's heart did a little drop, knowing he could just be a few feet from Monica.  He really wanted to see her, he felt the need to see her. 

 

They thanked Christy and headed down the hall and to the right.  Once they entered the waiting room, Richie could see Matthew, Monica's brother and her mother.  They were talking and both looked to be okay.  Matthew seen Richie and got up to shake his hand.  "Wow, how are you?"  Matthew asks Richie.

 

"I'm good, how are you guys?  How is your dad?" Richie quietly asks him. 

 

Monica's mother stands and gives Richie a hug, "Hi sweety, thanks for coming.  Who's your friend?"

 

"Mrs. Giovanni, this is my friend Jon; Jon this is Monica's mom, Mrs. Giovanni." 

 

Jon extends his hand, "Sorry to meet you under these circumstances, ma'am."

 

"How is Mr. Giovanni doing?" Richie breaks the awkward silence, having to know how bad he is.  They don't just put anyone in the ICU.

 

Monica's mom takes her seat and looks up at the boys. "It's not good, but he'll pull through.  He has two broken legs, broken pelvis and many broken ribs.  One of his lungs were punctured and they removed his spleen and have to put a rod in his spine.  Four vertebrae are fractured and he had a small skull fracture."  She starts to cry and Matthew moves in closer to her.  "He'll be okay, but it's going to be a long road.  He'll be in ICU for weeks."

 

"Where's Mon?" Richie asks, "I dropped her off earlier."

 

"She's getting something to eat.  She needs to work tonight, so she's eating while she has time."

 

"How's she doing?" Jon quietly questions.  He's really worried about her now, knowing how bad her dad is.

 

Mrs. Giovanni looks up at Jon and smiles.  "Are you the young man that she went out with last night?"

 

"Yes ma'am."

 

She laughs a little bit and says, "You're the reason that she's so tired?"  She's just picking on him and he feels his face getting red from the embarrassment.  "She's a tough one, she's doing okay."

 

Jon smiles back at her, feeling like he wanted to crawl under a rock somewhere and never come out.  "That's good.  I think I'll go find her, will you excuse me?"  Jon says, looking at her and then at Richie.