She smiled. “Yeah, feeling much better today. Just stiff and sore as hell, but as soon as I can get up and move around, that’ll help.”
He nodded then turned to follow the chief out. “See you in a bit.”
She braced herself as the door closed. She still stared straight ahead, but her eyes darted sideways to take in the frowns of Cam and Sawyer. She wouldn’t even bother looking up at Hutch, because she knew he wasn’t happy.
Not willing to give them the chance to flex their muscles, she drew back the sheet with her hand and slid her legs toward the side of the bed.
“Whoa, baby, where do you think you’re going?” Hutch asked even as Sawyer moved from the chair to the side of the bed, his hand out to push her back.
“I’m getting out of bed,” she said calmly. “I want a shower. I want some clean clothes. I want out of the goddamn hospital.”
Sawyer looked guiltily over at Cam. “Did you bring her any clothes?”
Cam shook his head. “I thought Hutch was getting them.”
“So which one of you is going to go get them?” Hutch asked.
Sawyer turned to glare at Hutch. “I’m thinking you can go get them. Cam and I have done enough running around this morning.”
He swore as soon as he said it, and he looked up at Regina. “That didnotcome out right.”
She shrugged. “I’m not the moron sitting around here when I need to be working. I could get a ride to the station, and Birdie could drive me home. There is no reason for you guys to hang around here. I’m okay.”
Hutch uncurled his body from the bed and stood with a stretch. “I’m going to get you some clothes. You can stay here and argue with the other two boneheads.”
She inched her feet toward the floor again, and this time, Sawyer reached for her arm to help. As annoyed as she was, when her feet hit the floor, she was grateful for his support. She weaved and bobbed like a newborn calf, and a groan worked from deep in her chest.
“Jesus,” she muttered.
“I told you that you looked like shit,” Hutch offered on his way out the door.
“Tell me again why I put up with him?” she asked wearily.
“I don’t know. That’s a good question,” Sawyer said as he pulled her against his side to steady her.
“Move,” Cam said simply as he appeared in front of Regina.
Sawyer stepped back in surprise, and Regina found herself enfolded in Cam’s arms. He was careful not to crush her, but she could feel the tension rolling off his big body.
“Cam, I’m okay,” she whispered.
His hands ran up and down her back, and he kissed the top of her head.
“You scared me, Reggie,” he said. “Don’t do that again.”
The corner of her mouth lifted as he pulled away from her. “Believe me, I won’t make a habit of it if I can help it. Now can I take my shower?”
CHAPTER 4
Regina stood in the small bathroom staring at her reflection in horror. Dark bruises marred her entire neck. In fact, there wasn’t much skin that wasn’t discolored.
She glanced down at the brace on her wrist, the IV lock in her other hand and then the shower. How she was going to manage this she wasn’t sure, but she had an unholy compulsion to be clean again, to remove the taint of the killer from her flesh.
With her good hand, she reached in to turn on the water and then started shrugging out of her hospital gown. The IV would just have to get wet. Leaving the material in a wad on the floor, she stepped beyond the curtain and extended her left arm out of the shower to keep it dry.
Water pelted her chest, and she winced as it struck her tender ribs. She turned her face into the spray for a moment then wiped her eyes and looked around for the soap. Too late she realized that wasn’t something the hospital supplied.
With an aggravated sigh, she backed out of the shower, dripping water all over the floor. How the hell she was going to manage soaping her hair one-handed while keeping the other dry was a mystery anyway.
