“I hit my head.” Brooklyn hated the sound of her voice. Why did she sound so weak? She tried to roll over, but froze when she felt like she’d throw up. “Sick.”
“Are you nauseous when you move?”
“It’s bad.”
“So, let’s not do that right now. Lie still and let me see what’s happening.”
His voice quieted as he talked to someone behind him. “Give me a neck brace and find a towel or something to wipe some of this blood up.”
“Did you fall off the chair?” Mark asked, turning back to her.
“Yes.”
“That sucks. I’m sorry, Brooklyn. I’m going to put this around your neck to protect your spine in case you hurt it.”
Giana held Brooklyn’s head stable as Mark guided the neck brace into place.
“Do you have any idea when you fell?”
Brooklyn tried to think. She’d planned to search for something for dinner when she finished. “Four?”
“Did everything go black when you hit your head?”
“White. Then, black.”
“Let’s get a board and get Brooklyn out of here. She’s hung out in the pantry too long,” Giana suggested.
“Could I get a bandage? I don’t know where they are,” Brooklyn whispered, feeling tears roll down her cheeks. Her head hurt so badly. “An aspirin? I don’t know where those are either?”
“We’re going to get you something for the pain,” Mark promised. “I bet you have a whopper of a headache.”
“Worst ever.”
“We’re going to roll you over, Brooklyn. Don’t try to help us. Just let us move you,” Giana told her.
“No!” Brooklyn protested urgently. She gagged as her world whirled around her and her stomach lurched. In a few minutes, they had her secure on a stiff board. “Please don’t move me,” she begged.
“I’m sorry, Brooklyn. We need to take care of you and this protects your spine,” Giana explained, brushing Brooklyn’s hair from her eyes.
“Let’s get her out to the bus,” Mark said softly.
Brooklyn braced herself.
CHAPTER 15
All the movements blurred together until they set her on the stretcher. She blinked in the cool night air. When had the sun set? That question disappeared from her mind as they eased the stretcher down the stairs, jostling her. Brooklyn swallowed hard, trying not to throw up.
“I got you, Brooklyn,” Giana assured her and held a bag near her mouth.
When they lifted her into the ambulance, Brooklyn lost control and retched. They tilted the board behind her to the side to keep her from choking. When she finished, they settled her back gently.
“You’re okay, Brooklyn. We’re going to get you put back together. I promise,” Giana told her. “Big ouch now, as they start an IV. Do you want Fluffikins?”
“Ow! I wish Da… Caden was here,” Brooklyn whispered, still with it enough not to blurt “Daddy.”
“Caden would want to be here too. Fluffikins?” Giana checked on her earlier question.
“Let Fluffikins stay at home. I’m too messy. I want him safe.” Brooklyn closed her eyes. Giana was here now. Brooklyn wasn’t alone. She could rest.
