Chapter 8
700 Words
“Yes.” Sam Innis smiled at her, trying to be reassuring. “You had a bad cut on your head, but you don’t have a concussion. You’re going to feel confused and woozy for several hours, mostly from the drug.”
“Can I go home?”
“Do you have some way to get in to your place? An extra set of keys somewhere?”
She shook her head, confused. “What do you mean? Why do I need an extra set?”
“Your purse, Mia.” Nick spoke quietly from the doorway. “Your purse is lost, remember?”
“It is?”
“Yeah. I told you that.”
“Oh. Oh, right.”
“So do you have a friend with a set of keys to your place, maybe?” Dr. Innis gently asked.
“Uh, yeah. But she’s away for the weekend.”
“OK. Now, you haven't got your cell phone so can we call someone for you?” he said. “Family? Boyfriend?”
“My family’s back in New England, and I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Anyone we can call to pick you up? Friend? Co-worker?”
She shook her head again. “The only people whose numbers I know by heart are Katie, Reena and Maggie, and they’re all away together at a conference. They're out of town until Sunday night.”
Dr. Innis looked down at her. “OK, well then, we’ll work with what we have. You can stay here until the police can sort all this out. Alright? We’ll move you out to the hallway, and you can try to get some rest there.”
Nick glanced behind him at the field of battle that was the hospital corridor. If possible, it was even noisier and messier than it had been ninety minutes earlier. “Out there?”
“I’m afraid so,” Sam Innis said. “We’ll need this room for another critical care patient.”
Nick looked at Mia, took in her pallor and confusion, and shook his head. “No way. She won’t get any sleep at all in that hallway.”
“My options are limited.” Dr. Innis looked regretful. “We won’t be admitting her to the general hospital, so until she can walk out of here under her own power, Mia will have to stay in the E.R.”
“I’m sure I’m fine to walk,” she said. “I don’t want to be in the way…”
“No,” Nick said gruffly. “No, you stay right where you are. I’ll sit with you until we figure this out. OK?”
What the f**k are you doing, Spencer? She’s awake and there’s a whole floor-full of staff paid to deal with her. Roll her into the goddamn hallway and bolt.
“Really?” Mia asked.
No, not really. I want to go. You’re on your own, sweet thing.
“Yeah, really.” Nick didn’t understand what was wrong with him, why he was saying these insane things, but he knew that she needed him. For some reason, that made him feel protective and tender, not stressed or edgy. “I’ll stay.”
****
Nick sat in the hallway next to Mia’s gurney, watching her sleep. He couldn’t believe she was asleep, actually. The noise and activity was crazy. It had to be the roofies – he was sure she hadn’t fallen asleep so much as passed out.
She moaned softly, and turned her head. He brushed her beautiful hair back off the bandage, and his rough fingers lingered on her skin, stroking it, marvelling at its softness. She moaned again; she sounded more agitated this time. Nick paused, wondering if he should get some help.
Mia woke up suddenly. Her eyes shot open and she gasped.
“Mia,” he said, startled. “Are you OK?”
She looked at him, her eyes unfocused. “Nick?”
At least she remembered his name, thank Christ. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m right here.”
She took a deep breath.
“Hey,” he said, concerned. “You’re shaking.”
“I’m cold, for some reason.”
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