“Her sutures tore,” he answered ignoring her protest. Then he looked at her in warning. “Tammy, he’s going to know anyway, you’re bleeding all over the dressing and into your clothing.” He lifted her shirt and took another look. Then he grabbed a clipboard and made some notes.
Tammy rolled her eyes.
“Enough Tam,” Lance scolded seeing it. “This is serious.”
“I’ll live. The pain meds Stan gave me—” she stopped talking. It seems that Demerol gave her loose lips. Her eyes widened.
Lance stared at her angrily. “I see that we still have some issues to work out.”
Stan bit his lip to keep from grinning. Tammy was strong willed. “Good luck with that.” He got up and left the ambulance.
“How much pain are you in?” His expression became concerned.
“Not much now,” she answered sheepishly.
Lance leaned over and put his elbow on his knee to support the arm holding the shirt. He cursed.
At that moment Stan came back, put several bags of equipment away, checked the IV and sat next to Lance again. Rob got in behind the wheel.
Stan opened a package of sterile gauze, moistened it with sterile saline and told Lance to replace the torn shirt piece he held over his head wound. “I’d actually appreciate it if you could wear it again. I have an urge to go to the gym.”
Lance didn’t feel the humor and just turned his head to looked at him.
Stan’s smile faded and he gave Tammy he’s-a-tough-audience look.
She lifted her brows as to say what-do-you-expect? They were just about killed. It was her ex-fiancé, and she didn’t tell Lance the truth about the injuries she received. Yup, things weren’t looking up.
Once at the hospital, the doctor on call restitched the wound after he determined there was no further intervention needed. Lance got six stitches.
“I’d like to keep you overnight for observation Tammy,” the doctor said.
“She’s going home with me. Jake’s going to take the night and stay with us at the house. She needs to be around family right now,” Lance interrupted appearing in the doorway. He had a bandage over his left eye.
“I suppose Jake could handle her well enough.” He winked at Tammy
“You do realize I’m capable of making my own decisions.” She glared past the doctor at Lance.
“Not tonight,” he said sternly.
She bit her lip to stop from saying something she’d regret.
He waited seeming to know but seemed satisfied and turned to the doctor. “Thanks.”
“Take care of her. She’s one of the best.”
“I know she is,” he said still looking at Tammy, his expression unreadable. He shook the doctor’s hand before he left. He then entered the room and stood next to the bed. “Colt’s coming to get us.”
“You are so bossy!” She was aggravated, hurt, devastated and exhausted.
“Yes. I told you I was,” he said calmly.
The lawyer. She sighed and stared at the white panels of the ceiling. “How am I going to tell Melanie?”
“I phoned your brother and told him. He’s going to sit her down and tell her.”
She should have been angry over his control over things, but she was surprisingly relieved. She knew why. She was so used to being in control of her emotions, but this was happening to her, and Lance was amazing. He was her rock. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes.
“Hey baby.” He leaned over and kissed them away.
