Mum drove us to the hospital. We parked then went straight to the big emergency sign. I had rung Ted and explained where we were going and why as we drove.
We asked at the desk for Rod Burton, who had been bought in by ambulance. The nurse at the desk asked us to take a seat while she made enquires. Several minutes later Hilda arrived accompanied by her neighbor. She had felt too distressed to drive herself. Another nurse came and asked our relationship to Rod Burton. She took Sarah and Hilda into another room. Ten minutes later they returned. A doctor had spoken to them. Rod had sustained head injuries and had been put into an induced coma. Meanwhile they were currently operating to try and stem internal bleeding. They warned that his injuries were very serious and he was in a critical condition. They were told it was not possible to visit him at the moment.
Ted had by now arrived. We were all very confused. After 30 minutes we asked the nurse who had spoken to us earlier was there somewhere else we could wait. She took all of us into the room where Sarah and Hilda had been taken earlier. "Wait here while I find out the latest" she said.
She came back 5 minutes later and informed us they would likely be operating for several more hours. She suggested we had best go home and took Sarah and Hilda's phone numbers promising they would be contacted when there were any developments.
In the end Hilda decided she would stay with Sarah at the house. Sarah promised to ring us once she heard anything. I ended up going back to the McKenzie's with 'Mum and Dad'.
We had eaten at the hospital cafeteria. So I went straight to bed once we were back at the McKenzie’s.
I found some pale green satin pyjamas in Jenna’s nightie drawer and put them on. I went to the bathroom and relieved myself, then assuming that all the items in the bathroom were Jenna’s, cleaned my teeth and removed traces of makeup, as Sarah had taught me several weeks ago.
I examined myself in the mirror. I was now a blonde female of about 25 years old. I would need to check out when my birthday actually was. Judging by my pubes I was a natural blonde, indeed when I inspected my hair carefully could see no sign of dark roots. I did have a slight widow’s peak. My skin was fair with a few faint freckles. I had hazel eyes and a slightly turned up nose.
How long would I be in this body? That was a question. I would have to wait until Jenna was recovered. Who knows how long that would take? That was assuming we ever got the medallion back.
I went to bed, and soon found myself asleep. I did not sleep soundly. I found myself thinking about being raped. Could I have done something to prevent it? Did I give up too readily? Had I encouraged it by making love to him the previous night? It had made me realize just how weak and helpless a female body could be.
Sometime in the night the house phone rang. I could hear Ted answering. I assumed it was an update on Jenna’s or should I say Rod’s condition. I left my room and walked down by the phone. Eileen was also up watching Ted. He was listening. I could hear enough to tell that it was Sarah on the other end of the line. He hung up. “They have finished operating and are confident they have stopped any further blood loss. He is unconscious and they will be keeping him in an induced coma for at least 3 days. They described his condition as serious but stable. They are concerned that he may have spinal injuries. Sarah and Hilda may be allowed to visit after lunch. At this stage they want to limit visitors”
I went back to bed. If I ever did swap back with Jenna I might be in a disabled body. I cried myself to sleep.