Breathlessly, Nola and Stacey waited for the doctor to start speaking.

"Mrs. Chamberlain, unfortunately I don't have too much more information. I have gone over your husband's x-rays, and these first views seem normal, but . . "

"That's wonderful news," Nola beamed, trying to ignore the "but."

"It might be. But his reflexes have been unresponsive"

"Has he gotten up?" Stacey queried.

"No, but even unconscious, we should be able to check for reflexes. I don't think that we're equipped to deal with his condition here. There is a state of the art hospital in Singapore. And the top neurologist in all of Asia who specializes in spinal cord injuries works out of that hospital. I want to fly him there tonight. The flight is less than two hours. I think this is in his best interest."

Nola stuttered, "Do you think that there could be a spinal injury that you aren't detecting?"

"I'm not sure, but it is the views of his lower sacral segments that concern me. This is why I want to get your husband to Singapore as soon as possible."

"What do you mean? ‘Lower sacral segments'?" Nola inquired.

"The sacral area is the area lowest on the spinal cord."

"So what could that mean for him?"

"Injury to the sacral segments depending on whether they are partial or complete would involve varying degrees of lower body paralysis. An MRI would tell us a lot more, and they have those capabilities in Singapore."

"Paralysis?" Nola gasped. Everything seemed to somehow go into slow motions again. Her stomach twisted into a queasy knot. Stacey squeezed her mother's hand.

"Mrs. Chamberlain, this is very premature. I don't want you to worry needlessly, but I want you to know that we're being very thorough and giving your husband the very best treatment. His condition is stabilized now, and I would like to get him on a plane within a few hours." "All I have to do is get my baby," Nola nervously noted, desperately trying to hold back the onslaught of emotions boiling up, "and then I'm ready to go at any time." Stacey nodded, "Mom, Jack and I will get Ava and pack a bag for you."

"Dr. Amri, can I please see Quinton?" Nola pleaded. " I know he isn't up yet, but I need to see him."

"As long as you don't expect much, I can give you permission to see him. I'll speak with your physician about releasing you, and then we can arrange the visit."

"I'd really appreciate that," a tear ran down Nola's cheek. Her voice cracked, "I need to see him."

Dr. Amri nodded and solemnly left Nola's hospital room. Nola looked away from Anastasia. The tears continued to stream down her face and her shoulders heaved. Anastasia squeezed her mother's hand, "It's going to be all right. Daddy is strong. Remember that accident in Tanquir? He's going to be fine."

Anastasia and Jack went over to the lodge to pick up Ava and pack a few bags for the family. Meanwhile, Nola prepared herself to see Quinton in the ICU. The doctor warned her that he was in a traction device with an oxygen mask, IV's and other apparatus to constantly monitor his vitals, but even with the warning, it was still quite a shock for her. Quinton was utterly still in the bed. His head was bandaged up where his head injury was. The bandage looked larger than she had expected.

"Is his head okay?" Nola whispered to the doctor.

"The head injury is minor. At worst he may have a small scar there. I'll leave you alone, Mrs. Chamberlain."

The doctor left the room and Nola slowly approached her husband. "Oh, Quinton," she muttered under her breath. Her eyes searched over all the equipment, and then back to his face, his eyes. She pulled up a chair and sat next to his bed. "Quinton, it's me, Nola. Stacey is getting Ava, and AJ and Vanessa will be here soon. We're all here for you. And you're going to be okay soon. You have to be, Quinton." The tears flowed down her face as she was overwhelmed with emotion. "Little Ava needs her daddy, and as grown as Stacey and AJ are, they need you too." Nola quietly sat with Quint, as she tried to collect her thoughts and emotions. "But I need you more than anybody. You have to be all right, Quinton. I love you so much." Nola sobbed. She took his hand and squeezed it. He gently squeezed back.

Several hours later, the private jet landed in Singapore with Quint, Nola, Anastasia and Ava. The hospital has been able to get in touch with Vanessa and AJ before they departed Santa Barbara and again Vanessa had come through and made the special arrangements so Quinton and the family would be the most comfortable. She and AJ were due into Singapore the next morning. Ava fussed most of the way on the plane which turned out to be a welcome distraction for Nola. Nola doted on the baby the whole way, reassuring her that her daddy would be just fine. Ava's crystal blue eyes, even though often squinted up in frustration, calmed her mother. Looking into her eyes was like looking into her own husband's. There was no way that he could be taken so soon from the sweet little girl. Quint's MRIs were scheduled for the next morning. The neurologist in Singapore, Dr. Tan, insisted that Nola go to her hotel room and get some sleep. Stacey agreed to get up for Ava's late night feeding, so that her mother could get some sleep. Even with the aid of a sleeping pill, Nola tossed and turned until she finally fell into a deep sleep well past midnight. Anxiety dreams about Quint tortured her. As she drifted deeper into sleep, the fear seemed to leave her as the dream became more clear and cheerful. Before her, she saw the young girl with the chestnut brown hair and bright blue eyes. "Beatrice?" she questioned in an uncertain voice.

"Yes, mama," the little girl replied with certainty.

"I haven't seen you in so long, I miss you."

"Silly, I'm always here," she light-heartedly stated.

"Your daddy, I'm so worried about your daddy."

"Don't be worried, Mama. Daddy is all right."

"How do you know that? He's so hurt. It was a terrible accident."

"I know, but Daddy is very strong." Beatrice assured, "He told me he is trying to find his way back to you and the family."

"When did you talk to him?"

"Just a moment ago."

Nola's heart felt lighter somehow. She no longer felt that there was any reason to worry. "So everything's going to be all right," Nola beamed as she embraced her daughter.

"It won't be easy, Mama. But Daddy is all right."

"I miss you so much, baby girl. I'll never stop missing you. I love you."

"I love all of you too. It was hard for me to let Ava leave this place. But she's going to grow up to be someone very important in your world."

Nola felt such great comfort embracing her young daughter. As she held her tightly, she slowly drifted away. While Nola realized it was a dream, she also believed that she was actually connecting with Beatrice. And Beatrice particularly seemed to come to her in times of crisis. She was a child, but always the voice of reason and clarity. Beatrice always made her think so much of Vanessa who looked so much like her in childhood photos. After their early combative relationship, Vanessa had turned into a savior for the family, stepping in with generosity and a clearer head when things went wrong. Nola hoped that Vanessa and AJ's plane would be on the ground when she woke up in the morning.

Nola, Stacey and Ava went to the hospital first thing in the morning. The receptionist directed them to the third floor. Standing at the nurses station, like the most welcome sight in the world, were Vanessa and AJ.

"Vanessa, AJ," Nola gushed. She threw her arms around her grown son, letting herself get lost in his strong embrace, burying her face in his chest.

AJ towered over his mother, "Mom, are you all right?"

"I'm a lot better now that you're here." Nola continued to hold onto her only son.

"Aunt Vanessa, thank you for arranging for the private plane. Daddy was very comfortable."

"It was the least I could do." Vanessa's eyes adored the baby, "May I take my niece?"

Stacey gingerly passed the baby to Vanessa. Watching the baby swap hands, Nola held AJ tightly around the waist.

"She's changed a lot already." Vanessa cooed to the baby, "Your Aunt Vanessa missed you a lot, Ava."

A voice with a thick Asian accent interrupted the family reunion, "Mrs. Chamberlain?"

"Yes," Nola whirled around to the sound of his voice. "Dr. Tan, do you have some information about Quinton?"

"We do," Dr. Tan's eyes scanned the people he had not yet met before.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Dr. Tan. This is our son AJ, our baby daughter Ava and this is my sister-in-law, Vanessa Chamberlain. You can say whatever you need to say."

"We have done the MRI on your husband. There does appear to be some pressure build-up on his lower spine."

"What do you mean?"

"The accident caused severe bruising, and this is one of the body's defenses. Unfortunately it is affecting his lower sacral segments."

"Is my dad okay?" AJ probed.

"We can't be sure of the long term prognosis in a situation like this. But at the very least, we are dealing with temporary paraplegia."

"That just can't be," Nola shook her head. Vanessa, AJ and Stacey gathered around Nola who turned pale as a sheet.

"I'm very sorry, Mrs. Chamberlain. These situations do sometimes correct themselves over time. There is no actual injury to his spinal cord. But we can't guarantee anything."

Again, Nola felt as if the room and her world was starting to spin. How could this happen to them? They had been through so much already, and now this terrible news. They had come to Borneo for an adventure, never expecting an outcome such as this. Her eyes burned with her own tears. Through the awful buzzing in her ears, she could barely make out the comforting voices of her family, the coos of her baby, so completely innocent and unaware of how this could affect her life. But through it all, she knew she had to be strong for Quinton. Quinton would wake up soon, and she would have to tell him this news. As his wife, his partner, it was her job to tell him. She couldn't let him see how hopeless she felt.