Page 74 of Backdraft
Chapter Twenty-Two
I was now managing to stay awake for longer periods. I still wasn't quite sure what had happened to me. The last thing I remembered was walking down the stairs and reaching for the firefighter’s hand.
After that, everything went dark.
Another fire marshal had been called in to investigate since I'd been hurt. I was relieved to hear the firefighter was doing okay and only had a broken arm.
They told me it was arson. Results were still coming in, but it struck me there were similarities to a case from a few years ago.
My mind was still somewhat befuddled. I knew Taylor and the officers needed me to be able to pull it all together quickly, and it frustrated me I couldn't. I was letting them down, and when I forced myself to remember, I got the worst headache.
"Hey, babe." Taylor came into my room and leaned down to give me a kiss on the cheek. The nurses told me he had hardly left my side.
I lifted my head to receive his kiss. Everything that had happened had proved to me we were good together.
"The police are coming in with some CCTV footage they would like you to look at."
My chest hurt, and my mouth dried up. "Really? I'm not sure. It worries me."
He pulled the chair from the corner to the side of my bed. "Why are you worried, sweetheart?" He took my hand and stroked the back of it.
I was a wreck with my left hand and arm burned in and my right hand having a broken thumb. Even my foot was broken. Which meant I was pretty much useless.
"I don't know. I think I'm afraid of what I might discover."
"I wouldn't be surprised if you have a bit of PTSD," Taylor suggested.
I nodded. "I was wondering the same thing myself."
"I really think you should talk to somebody to help you through this. I'm here for you all the time, you know that, but a professional could really make a difference for you."
I nodded. He was right, and I would see someone, but right now, I had to steel myself to look at the CCTV footage.
"I can't believe everything that happened while I was out of it." I stared out the window, and like a bolt of lightning, memories came rushing back. I turned to face Taylor. "I remember something. I remember voices. There were voices in my dreams. A lady screaming and commotion. Then I was being shaken."
"Even in your unconscious state, you heard the confrontation with the guy when he was in your room."
"What? A guy was in my room?" Panic nauseated me, and I reached for the cup of water and knocked it over.
"Hey there, hang on. I'll get it for you." Taylor righted the glass, poured more in, and then wiped up the puddle on the table. He held the straw to my mouth and continued talking. "The nurse came in and saw a man here. She called security to remove him, and he fought back."
"Oh my God. And I was helpless." It was terrifying to think all this had gone on while I was so vulnerable.
"There was a struggle, and your bed got knocked. That might be the shaking you felt. The doctors were worried about the IVs and your burned arm, so they had to recheck everything once they got rid of the guy."
"Do they still have him? Is he in custody?" I asked.
"Yes, they were able to hold him for a while. They hoped you would wake up and be able to identify him. He's not offering up any info."
"I guess I have to look at it then, don't I?" I sat back on the pillows, careful with my elevated left arm.
"I'm afraid so." His voice was so gentle, and I felt tears spring to my eyes.
"No tears now. You've been so brave, and this is one more step toward taking back control.
"The police can only hold him for so long, so they do want to show you the footage. Is it okay if they come in now?"
I nodded.
