“Youdorealize, don’t you, that it hasn’t even been two days since you were abducted.”
Joshua lifted his head and met Colin’s eyes. “Not eventwo days!” Colin repeated, his hand lifting to cup Joshua’s face. “You’ve been badly injured. You’ve been traumatized and damn near killed.” He pressed a soft kiss to Joshua’s lips. “D’you think you could maybe give yourself a week to heal before deciding that the nightmare’snevergoing to end?”
“Are you suggesting that I may be…overreactinga bit?”
Colin scoffed out a laugh.
Joshua nodded then stared at him for a moment. “Are you going to be OK living with a husband who’s just slightly brain damaged?”
“So, whatelseis new?” Colin asked with a shrug. “You’ve always been a little weird.” The hand cupping Joshua’s face tightened. “And you’renotbrain damaged!”
Joshua held his thumb and index finger a short distance apart then squinted, twisting his face into a comical grimace.
Colin snorted out a laugh, then captured Joshua’s fingers and kissed them. “Listen, bud. You talked about faith. Well, now’s the time when webothneed to have a little faith.” He touched his forehead to Joshua’s. “We’re going to be OK.”
Joshua nodded, his left hand resting on Colin’s chest. “As long as you’re with me,” he whispered.
“Tryto get rid of me,” Colin muttered. “I’m not goinganywhere!”
* * *
Joshua’sfinal CT scan revealed nothing different from the first one. There was no swelling or bleeding in his brain. Dr. Casey also ordered a basic neurological test to evaluate his patient’s motor and sensory skills. In these area’s Joshua was still having difficulty but was well within the range of what would be considered normal for the injuries he had sustained.
Dr. Casey wandered into Joshua’s room later that afternoon to find David and Nate there visiting.
“You want us to leave?” Nate asked, and Casey shook his head.
“Only if Josh plans to throw another hissy fit.”
“Very funny,” his patient griped. “What’s the word, Doc? Can I please go home?”
“The word is your CT scan was negative...again. Your neurological test was a bit more iffy, but you knew it would be at this stage.” He huffed out a sigh. “The MRI on your knee showed some torn ligaments.”
“Peachy,” Joshua grumbled.
“You’ll need surgery to repair the knee, but that can wait. I’ll send you home with a knee brace, and you should be able to walk without a problem, just not for long distances.”
“Surgery?”
“Josh, relax. It’s an out-patient procedure like the one Colin had. You’ll be in and out and on your way home in a couple hours.”
Colin perched on the bed beside Joshua, holding his left hand. “Can he go home tomorrow, Doc?”
Casey sighed. “I’m going to discharge him tomorrow morning.But,” he added as Colin and Joshua both whooped for joy, “he absolutelyhasto rest!”
“He will,” Colin promised.
“I don’t mean rest his body, though I mean that as well. I mean hismindtoo. No TV, no smartphone, no reading, no bright lights, no loud noises.”
“I can’tread?” Joshua blurted out.
“You shouldn’t,” Casey replied. “Look. Your brain is like the engine in a car. It runs out of gas alotsooner when it’s injured. The only way to refill that tank is to rest the brain. Reading, TV, electronic devices, all that stuff is like jamming the accelerator to the floor.” He leaned toward Joshua. “You’re bound to experience some memory lapses, possibly for the next few weeks. Possibly dizzy spells or nausea as well. All of these symptoms are normal for a concussion as severe as yours.”
“So, what am I supposed todo?” Joshua said, his voice rising. “Sit and stare at awall?”
Colin’s hand tightened on his. “Josh,” he said, his voice low.
“Focus, Doctor Abrams!” Casey snapped. “You’re starting to slide.Focus, Josh.”
