"You sound different than I always imagined." Angus tried to focus on Betty and not on the fear that consumed him. He was seconds from dying, and while he knew death wasn't the end, he wasn't ready to move on into a ghostly life. He liked being alive. Had so many dreams he still needed to fulfill.
Betty laughed. "How did I sound in your mind?"
"Your voice is soft and gentle. I always thought it would be stronger, more authoritative. Maybe that's because you're like a second mother to me. I don't know. It's so much softer than I imagined."
"I was a singer when I was alive. Wanted to make it big." She sounded wishful.
"Will you sing for me now?" Angus asked, feeling the odd sensation that he needed to find a way to calm himself before hefound himself in a complete panic attack. This was too strange, too confusing. Still, he couldn't move, and he trusted Betty. If she told him to stay still, he would do just as she asked. He tried to stay calm as Betty started to sing to him.
CHAPTER EIGHT
"Sir, are you awake?"
Lance heard the male voice, but it seemed to come from a distance. He struggled to sit up and when a burst of pain rushed through his shoulder, he cried out in pain, coming fully awake. The sling on his arm reminded him of the injury and he groaned.
"Take it easy. Are you okay?" a male nurse asked.
Lance blinked several times and managed to nod. "Dislocated shoulder last night. Still sore." He managed to finally sit up straight.
"I'll get you an ice pack for that. It will help. I was told to get you when Mr. Young was brought in from recovery. We've just settled him in his room if you want to join him." The nurse stepped back as Lance rose quickly to his feet.
"How is he?" Lance cringed at the pain throughout his body, but he was too focused on getting to Angus to care.
"Stable, but we'll be watching him closely for the next few hours. You're welcome to stay with him. There's a recliner in the room where you can rest. Were you in the explosion last night?" The nurse held the waiting room door for Lance, then continued down a short hallway.
"Yeah, several of us. Angus's mother is upstairs with a leg injury. She should be released today, and his father will be around, but he broke his ankle. The others I was with got out with only some lacerations." Every step Lance took caused his cuts to stretch. It was like having a hundred ants biting him at once.
"Your injuries?" the nurse asked.
"Shoulder, and some lacerations, mostly on my legs." Well, most were on his ass, but he wasn't going to share that.
"Are you on medication?"
Lance shook his head. "Didn't fill it. Don't like pain killers. My brother will bring me ibuprofen when he comes back later."
"Do you need some now? It looks like you're hurting pretty badly." The nurse paused in front of a glass windowed doorway.
Lance didn't answer. His focus was completely on Angus who he could see through the glass doorway. He was so pale, and the bandaging around his neck bulked out, making Angus look lopsided. Lacerations covered his face and arms but didn't look too bad. None of the medical devices connected to Angus startled him. He'd expected it all. He slowly moved into the room, taking in every detail of Angus's body that he could see. A sheet and blanket covered him from the chest down. Lance noticed Angus's chest rising and falling, which gave him hope, but until he spoke to Angus, he was going to wonder if he was really still inside his body.
Eve stood near the bed and smiled at him. "He's a fighter."
Lance nodded but was aware of the nurse behind him, so he didn't speak as he walked over and gently rested his hand over Angus's.
"Try not to jar him or the bed. We've unplugged the bed so it doesn't accidentally get moved if someone leans on a button. He needs to stay as still as possible for now. His vital signs have improved since surgery. Does he have any medical issues we weren't made aware of?" The nurse stood at the foot of the bed.
"No, none." Lance wanted to lean down and place his head against Angus's chest and listen for his heartbeat just like he did when they were in bed at night. He resisted the urge, more scared of bumping Angus's body too hard and causing more problems. "He was strong and healthy."
"And he will be again, God willing," the nurse told him. "I'm Bryan. I'll be his nurse until seven tonight. As I said, we'll be in and out, but I suggest you rest along with him. You look like you need it."
"Thanks. And did you mention you might know where to find some ibuprofen or Tylenol?" Lance asked.
"I've got a bottle in my locker. I'll bring you a few along with some water. Feel free to call down for food if you want it. It will be charged to the room. I'll put a note in the computer that any food will be for family." Bryan nodded to Angus. "Talk to him. I'm a firm believer that they can hear you."
"I am too." Lance smiled at Eve, wondering what this nurse would think if he knew there was a ghost standing in the room. He had a million questions, but they weren't ones the nurse would have answers to.
"I'll get you those pills and something to drink. Be right back." Bryan left the room.
"He's holding on," Eve told him. "Don't worry about how he looks now. He's strong and will pull through this."
