The ride to the hospital was passed in silence. I had driven before, but it was when my parents had gotten a little too drunk to drive. That particular tale happened about a year ago, and it was not one that I liked getting into. I had never sped in my life, but that night, I had to. I didn't really like my father much, especially after he lost his job at the factory where he had worked for almost twenty years, but he was still my father, and I did still love him. The building was condemned and all the workers retrenched. He tried for three years to find another job, but to no avail. After that, he pretty much became a drunken recluse, beating the shit out of my mother and I regularly, and only ever going out every once in a while to buy booze with my mother's hard earned money. When we moved here from Cloudsdale, I was twelve years old. I started working at the Apple Family farm to help us get by.
I hadn't realised how much time had passed until I pulled into the visitor's parking at Canterlot General. I found a parking space and pulled into it. I climbed out and went to the passenger side to help my mother out of the car. Once we were both out, I locked the car and we walked in. We went up to the receptionist, who looked up as we approached.
"Good evening, how may I help you?" she asked as we got to the desk. Seeing that my mother was unfit to speak, I spoke up.
"Good evening, ma'am. We're the family of one Mr. Dean Shadow. I'm his daughter. He was brought in earlier." I said as politely as I could.
"Okay, let me check the system quickly. Seeing as your mom isn't in the best shape right now, can I ask you to fill in this form?" she asked as she handed over the clipboard.
"Yes ma'am." I replied.
"Thank you. According to the system, he's just come out of surgery and is in ICU. Once you've filled in the form, you can go up to see him. Take the elevator, it's on the third floor" she said.
"Thank you. Four friends of mine will be arriving shortly, please make sure that they get up to us as well. One of them is called Bright Mac." I asked.
"Will do. My deepest sympathies to you and your mom." she said, all traces of the business tone she was using gone.
"Thanks." I said. I finished filling in the form and handed it to her, then got my mother and headed for the elevator.
We got to the ICU room that my father was in and my mother broke down for the second time that night. The sight of my father, lying on a bed with a breathing tube down his throat, most of his body covered in cast. The doctor walked in shortly after I got my mother seated.
"I take it you are the family?" he asked.
"Yes we are." I replied, seeing that my mother was still crying.
"I am doctor Task. Pleased to meet you, under the circumstances, of course." he said.
"It's a pleasure. How is he doctor?" I replied.
"Well, it's not good, but it's not bad either. He hit a curb and rolled the car, flinging him from his seat. He's suffered major damage to sixty percent of his body, including the femoral artery. He crashed twice during the emergency surgery, but we were able to bring him back. His spine didn't suffer any damage, though we don't know if he's going to make it through the night." he said.
At that moment, Burnt Oak walked into the room with the others not far behind.
"And who may you be?" the doctor asked.
"Well doc, my name is Burnt Oak, Violet's boyfriend, and these are our friends." Burnt Oak said respectfully.
"Very well, I trust that you all heard what I said, I don't want to have to repeat it and keep the family from paying respects." The doctor asked them.
"Yes sir. We heard. Thank you for what you have done." Bright Mac said.
"Well, I'd best be on my way. See you tomorrow." the doctor said as he turned and walked out. Suddenly, I heard a noise from the bed.
"Vio….let." it was my father, he had regained consciousness.
"Vio...let. Please." he struggled.
"I'm here, father. Save your strength, please." I said, feeling tears form in my eyes.
"Please… don't have…. time. Please… listen." he struggled.
"Okay, I'm listening." I said, tears now starting to fall. Burnt Oak came around the bed and wrapped me in a tight embrace.
"I… want to… apologize… for the way… I treated you… and your mother. Look… after her… she's all you've… got left." he said. After that exchange, he lost consciousness again. I hugged Burnt Oak tighter and cried for the first time that night.
"Come on Vi, let him rest. Ah'll take ya home. We can bring yer ma a travel bag with clothes in. Ya need rest for school tomorrow." Burnt Oak said gently.
"Okay. Pear Butter, do you think your dad will let me stay over, I don't think I can be alone now." I asked.
"Ah'm still grounded after being caught with Bright Mac the last time. Even with these circumstances, pa won't let ya stay over. I snuck out to come here." she replied.
"And I'm grounded for the fight that happened at school today." Candy said.
"Ah'll stay with ya." Burnt Oak said.
"Okay then," I said, trying to smile. I turned to my mother, "mother, we'll be by a little later with some clothes for you." My mother looked up and nodded. She looked over to Burnt Oak.
"You take care of her, okay." she said.
"Yes ma'am." he said. I grabbed his hand and led him out, Bright Mac and the others following.
We got to the parking lot and stopped together where I had parked Burnt Oak's Firebird.
"Well, this is where we leave y'all. See y'all tomorrow. I gotta get these two home."
"Yeah. We'll see ya tomorrow," I said to them, giving them each a hug in turn. "Come on, Oak, I'll drive."
"Alright then, Vi." he said as I unlocked the driver door. I unlocked his door. "Let's go."
I started the Firebird up and we pulled off into the night.