Zombies 6

Catching Up

Zed slowly looked around the room before turning back to Addison. She watched as he moved his lips in an attempt to speak, trying his best to communicate. When he failed, Zed's eyes widened and he began to claw at his face, desperately trying to remove the tube from his throat.

Addison jumped up from her seat and grabbed his hand, restraining him from causing damage to himself or the tube. "Zed, calm down. It's okay. You have a tube down your throat that's been helping you breathe. I can go get the doctor to remove it. Okay? Zed?"

Zed had gone completely  still in the bed, his gaze trailing downward. Addison followed his gaze and realized he was staring at her swollen abdomen that was now in full view thanks to her upright position.

After a moment, his gaze slowly lifted to meet hers. Addison could see the confused and questioning look in his eyes.

Addison's eyes widened. Zed probably didn't realize how long he had been out. And he most certainly didn't know she was pregnant.

"Zed." Addison's voice was soft. "We were in a car accident. I woke up in the hospital shortly after, but you've been in a coma for six months. When I came to, the doctor told me I was pregnant. We're going to have a baby Zed. You're going to be a father."

Zed's eyes softened as his gaze trailed back down to her swollen belly. He reached out a shaky hand and placed it against her stomach. The baby kicked, and Addison could see Zed's lips attempting to form a smile.

"Amazing isn't it?" Addison replied softly, placing her hand over his. "Zed, I'm going to get the doctor. Then I promise to fill you in on everything."

Zed let his hand drop and gave her an understanding nod. Addison smiled before quickly exiting the room to find the doctor.

💚

A moment later, Addison returned with Dr. McCoy and a nurse. The pair got to work removing Zed's breathing tube. Once it was out, the nurse held a paper cup filled with water to Zed's lips, allowing him to drink, giving moisture to his dry throat.

Dr. McCoy checked Zed over to make sure he was stable before taking a step back. "Well Mr. Necrodopolis, I must say I am very pleased to see you awake. It's been a long road and we've all been hoping for this day."

Zed nodded, reaching out to take Addison's hand. Now that he was more coherent, the idea of being in a hospital and talking to an unfamiliar doctor made him nervous.

Dr. McCoy took his silent acknowledgement with a smile. "Very well, now that you are awake I would like to perform a few simple tests to get an idea of your body's current range of motion and level of sensation. Is that alright?"

"Yes." Zed rasped.

"Great." Dr. McCoy replied. "Let's start with your head. Move it side to side then up and down for me please."

Zed did what he was told, all be it slowly, then turned back to the doctor. "Good?"

"Very good." Dr. McCoy nodded. "Now, lift your right arm as high as you can, then do the same with your left."

Zed's limbs were shaky, but he slowly lifted both arms, one at a time, into the air before putting them down.

"Excellent." Dr. McCoy praised. "Now wiggle your fingers."

Zed lifted his hands, wiggling all ten fingers before putting them down. "Finished?"

"Almost." Dr. McCoy answered, taking notes on his clipboard. "Can you wiggle your toes for me please?"

Zed nodded and Dr. McCoy uncovered his feet so that they were visible. They watched his toes closely, but with the exception of a small twitch in his right big toe, there was no movement.

"Anytime now Zed." Dr. McCoy instructed.

"I am." Zed replied hoarsely. "Can't you tell?"

Dr. McCoy frowned, moving around to the foot of the bed. The nurse brought him a small instrument and he began to poke the bottom of Zed's left foot. "Zed, tell me what you feel right now."

Zed's brow furrowed in confusion. "Is this a trick? I don't feel anything."

Dr. McCoy's frown deepened as he poked Zed's right foot. "How about now?"

Zed shook his head, starting to get irritated with the doctor. "I told you, I don't feel anything. Are you even doing anything down there?"

Dr. McCoy looked to the nurse. "Can you press the button over there to lift the bed so Mr. Necrodopolis is upright?"

"Of course." The nurse nodded, pressing the button until Zed was sitting upright in the bed. The fluffed his pillow up behind him to make him more comfortable before stepping away.

"Thank you." Zed told the nurse softly. He could see the  apprehension in her eyes since she walked in the room. But despite her fear, she was still managing to show him kindness. Zed respected that.

The nurse nodded, giving him a small smile as Dr. McCoy adjusted the blanket so Zed could see his own feet.

"Alright Zed, try moving your toes again please."

Zed sighed, looking down at his feet. "Fine. Let's get this over with."

Zed looked down at his feet as he willed his toes to move. When nothing happened, his eyes widened then narrowed in concentration as he tried harder. Still nothing. Panic began to set in as Zed tried to lift his legs. No matter how much he willed them to, they wouldn't move either.

Zed stared at his feet in disbelief then looked to the doctor. "What's happening? Why can't I move my legs?"

Dr. McCoy sighed. "You suffered a partial spinal cord injury during the car crash. I had hoped that your time in a coma had given your body extra time to repair itself, but it seems some effects of your injury have remained."

Zed's eyes were wide as the doctor's words crashed down on him. His fists gripped the blankets tightly as he asked the question that he feared the answer to the most. "Are you saying I'm paralyzed?"

Author's Note

I did it. I got another chapter out this weekend. Yay!

            -Meloetta246