“Yeah, well, that may be the case, but you’ve been hurt and we’re all going to want to lay eyes on you to make sure you’re okay. You’d be the same if it was the other way round. Remember that time Callum was knocked out when he was working on the reservation in Botswana and you had a flight booked within twenty minutes of finding out? That.”
She had the grace to look reprimanded. “At least I managed a head injury in this country. That was a fucking expensive trip.”
Jackson eyed her. “And be glad it’s just me here, because it was nearly the six of us.”
She smiled and I saw her eyes tear up. “I don’t think the hospital would’ve been too pleased to have you all in here. I wouldn’t. My head is banging and you know how much noise Seph makes.”
“We could always have gagged him,” I said. Seph was the youngest brother and the loudest. He’d always been a good kid although when I was eighteen and he’d been nine, we had teased him a bit. He could’ve ended up more emotionally scarred.
“That’s a good solution a lot of the time,” Jackson said.
The door opened again and the doctor Claire had seen earlier came in. “How’s the patient?”
“Still moaning,” I said, making sure I kept a safe distance.
The doctor laughed and approached Claire without the caution I would’ve used. “How are you feeling? Are you okay for me to talk in front of these two or shall I send them out?”
“They can stay. It’ll save me repeating everything. I have a headache. I’m tired. I’m also really hungry.”
He shone a light into her eyes and gave a nod. “You gave yourself a nasty whack which is why you have a headache but there’s nothing to suggest on the scans that you’ve done any permanent damage. We’ll keep you in overnight for observation and look at you going home tomorrow but you have to rest. Concussion can be a strange thing and it might be in a couple of days when you start to feel worse.”
Claire nodded. “Can I have something to eat?”
“That’s fine but keep it light. A sandwich or something.”
“I’ll go grab something from the shop,” Jackson said. “Then I’ll leave you to rest.”
“Do you feel any dizziness at all?”
“No. My head bangs. I think that’s making me feel a bit nauseous.”
The doctor gave a brief nod. “I’ll prescribe a stronger painkiller. I’m also prescribing some antibiotics to clear up any infection in the cut to your head. It was fairly deep and not the cleanest.”
“It was a lamppost in London. There was probably more bacteria on it than a sewer,” Claire said, looking uncomfortable. “And I think the depth of it was made clear when you cleaned it out.”
“You were very brave. I’ve had men as big as him cry like babies over smaller cuts.” The doctor gave her a grin and I was surprised she didn’t give him the finger, but then he had promised her painkillers.
“What time will I be able to go home tomorrow?” she said.
“We’ll see how you are. See how you sleep. Is your gentleman here staying with you?” The doctor looked at me, his expression friendly. He looked to be around his late fifties, small and slim, with Harry Potter style glasses and a kind face.
“If that’s okay,” I said, knowing it would be.
“The chair isn’t very comfortable,” he said.
I shrugged. “I’ve slept on worse.”
“Military?”
“Marines.”
He gave me a knowing smile. “I’m guessing officer. Commandos?”
“You guessed right. You served?”
There was a brief nod. “That’s where I started my medical career. I’m guessing you know what to look out for with a concussion.”
“I think I can remember. The biggest problem with this one will be getting her to take things easy.” I glared at Claire who was looking mutinous.
