#Chapter 14# Lost another Pinky

"Doctor, she is conscious." A nurse hurriedly came to inform the doctor, who was talking to Asher's mom.

"Do you mean Tara's mom?" Asher's mom asked.

The nurse nodded in affirmation.

"Oh my goodness!" Asher's mom exclaimed and ran with the doctor into the I.C. unit.

Their hastiness got the attention of Officer Nelson and Officer Gabriel. They also rushed to check on what was happening. As they got to the entrance, the doctor asked them to stop while he went inside alone.

"All of us going inside together might frighten or disturb her. She is just waking up from her unconscious state." Dr. Antonio said to them as they waited at the entrance.

Asher and I were still asleep when my mom gained consciousness.

A gentle knock came on the door, which woke Asher up. It was the beautiful sergeant, Sergeant Courtney.

"Good morning, Sergeant Courtney." Asher greeted. 

"Good morning, Asher. Please, you can call me by my name. Leave the 'sergeant' for official purposes." she said. 

"Is Tara still asleep?" She asked him.

"Yes, she is." He replied to her, opening the door widely to show her I was still in bed.

"Great. I came to check on you both. Stay safe. Okay?" She said so and left.

Asher came to where I was asleep and pecked me on the forehead. He entered the bathroom and came out after five minutes. He left the room later, while I was still sleeping.

"Good morning, nurse. Have you seen my mom?" Asher asked the nurse who brought toiletries last night.

"Yes, dear. She, the officers, and Dr. Antonio are at the entrance of the I.C. unit. Tara's mom is now conscious." She told him.

"Really?" Asher asked excitedly.

"Yes. But you don't need to go there right now. Let the adults handle the situation for now. Go back into the room and stay with Tara. Your breakfast will be served in ten minutes. Make sure you don't inform Tara yet." She said. 

"I can't keep something like this from her when I know about it." He replied to her.

"Then pretend you didn't hear anything," she said, walking away.

"This is great news. How am I supposed to keep this from Tara?" Asher asked himself. He came back into the room and found out that I was awake.

"Good morning, Babe." He said this as he pecked me on the forehead and sat beside me.

I yawned loosely, and he covered his nose with his hand, shifting away from me.

"Morning breath!" He said it, laughing.

I smiled back and knocked him hard on the head. He pulled me over and placed my head on his chest, wrapping his arms around me. I felt so safe and relaxed in his arms that I started to sleep again. While my eyes were closed, I remembered I hadn't gotten an update on Pinky's whereabouts. I rushed out of Asher's arms to run out to find Officer Gabriel. Asher stopped me as I tried pulling the door open.

"Where are you going in haste?" Asher asked me.

"I need to find Officer Gabriel. I need to know if Pinky has been found." I replied and struggled to open the door, but Asher rested his body on the door, preventing me from opening the door. He knew Officer Gabriel was also waiting at the I.C. unit, and if I go out to search for him, I'll get to find out about my mom's consciousness, which the nurse has warned him against.

"You can't leave the room now. The nurse asked that we freshen up and have our breakfast before coming out for anything." He said this, trying to convince me to stay back.

"No! Pinky is more important than breakfast or anything else. I also need to know how my mom is faring." I yelled at him.

"Babe, calm down. You're yelling." Asher said. 

"No, I'm not. Just let me go. Please." I begged. 

Asher sighed heavily. He did not know how to stop me from going out to look for Officer Gabriel.

As he was still standing in front of the door, there was a knock. Asher hurriedly opened it. It was Sergeant Courtney.

"Thank God," Asher said.

"What's going on here?" She inquired. 

"I was going out to search for Officer Gabriel, and Asher stopped me." I said. 

"Why are you looking for him?" She asked.

"I need to know if Pinky has been found." I said. 

"Well, you can't go out now to see anyone. You'll have to remain here until you're asked to go out. As for Pinky, she wasn't found in your house. But our sergeants are still looking for her, and I can assure you that she will be found." She said this, placed her hands on my shoulder, and left the room.

Tears rolled down my face. I was scared that Pinky had left me again.

"Hey, stop crying. Listen to me; if the sergeants don't find Pinky, I promise you that I will, myself." Asher said that and hugged me.

"No. Don't worry. Don't look for her. If the sergeants don't find her, I'll forget about her." I said it fearfully and hugged him tight.

"Why don't you want me to find her?" Asher asked curiously.

"Because I don't want to lose you." I said that and cried more.

I lost my dad the day he went to bring me back Pinky when I lost her. I was scared I might lose Asher too. Who knows if the unknown terrorist took Pinky away?

"It's going to be fine, Tara." He said. 

"I'm not sure about that, Asher. My mom is still unconscious, and Pinky has not yet been found. How will everything be fine?" I yelled. 

Asher sighed and said, "Listen. Tara, there is something I want to tell you, and I'm sure it's going to make you feel better. But before I tell you, you'll have to promise me that you will not try to leave this room when you hear it.

"Really? I Promise. I won't leave the room." I said this as I wiped my tears off my face.

"The thing is, your mom has gained consciousness." He said. 

"What!! When? How?" I asked, amazed.

"I found out when I woke up this morning. A nurse informed me and strictly told me not to tell you about it. That was why I stopped you from going out of the room, so you wouldn't find out. Officer Gabriel, Officer Nelson, my mom, and Dr. Antonio are all waiting in front of the I.C. unit to see if she is fine and get to ask her some questions." Asher explained. 

"Why can't we also go and wait there for her?" I said it anxiously.

"Let the adults do what's best. When it's time, we will be called upon, and you will get to see your mom. For now, let's just stay in here and hope for the best to happen." He said. 

I smiled, and he pecked my forehead. A nurse came in with our breakfast. We both freshened up and ate. peacefully. I was a bit relieved. I was already pondering the questions I would ask my mom when she was fully fine.

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The Doctor came out of the I.C. unit and asked Dr. Antonio to come in with him to see my mom.

"How is she, Doctor?" Dr. Antonio asked as he sat close to Mom, who was looking weak and pale.

"She is doing very well now. She has been responding to the questions she was asked and just finished taking Pap and some drugs. She was the one who inquired about you." The Doctor replied to him.

"That's great." He said that and turned, facing my mom.

"Please, sir, I would suggest you don't ask her too many questions for now until she has gained full strength." The nurse attending to her said to Dr. Antonio. 

"Sure. I know that. Thank you." He said. 

"Where's Tara?" My mom asked in a faint voice.

"Tara is fine. She is in this hospital and will soon come to see you. Just relax." Dr. Antonio replied to her.

She soon fell asleep.