“Shhh, don’t worry Caly, I’m ok.” She tries to soothe me, but nothing can. I am stuck in this bed connected to shit I can’t define and in more pain than anything ever before…and all I want is to hold my girl.
“Look who decided to wake up.” A guy in a white coat says as he walks through my door. My eyes on Jen, I don’t give a fuck about me. “Mr. Dorian, I am Doctor Lockhart. I assisted on your surgery…’ he drolls on and on about the damage from the stab wound, but I only care about the basics.
Hole in my stomach.
Bled a lot.
Fixed it.
I just wanted Jen. Being the arrogant prick that I am, I interrupt his monologue in medical terms I know nothing about. “Can you help her please. I need her right here beside me.” I say and pat the opposite side of the bed, knowing the good hand won’t be holding her any time soon.
“Well, not just yet. Let’s make sure all your vitals are good and get you comfortable first.” He smiles and I get it, he means well.
But, as I stated. I don’t care about me.
Only her.
“I fucking hurt, I need a drink and I need her close. I can’t make this shit any clearer to you Doc.” I say and they all collectively gasp.
“Cal…” Jen says, alerting me without being a bitch that I am in fact being an asshole. “Let him make sure you’re okay and stop with the dickery.”
A slow smile plays on the nurse’s lips at her tone, but I laugh even though it feels like I am dying when I do. “Dickery?” I ask, laughing again before wincing from the excruciating pain.
“Creative, gets the point across…” Says the Doc and I realize I am being dickish.
“Sorry Doctor…? I forget his name and stumble trying to find it in my foggy brain.
“Lockhart.” He says with a comforting smile as he checks all injuries. “You’ve sustained a stab wound through the lining of your stomach which we were able to close. We have a surgeon coming in the morning that your publicist found. He is the best in the business and has worked with other artists. Everything else is minor. Seven stitches to a bite on your calf as well as a rabies shot to avoid infection from the bite.”
In all that one word stuck out. “My publicist?” I ask and look to Jen, begging her to tell me what the fuck he was talking about.
‘Later.’ She signs behind the Doctors back. I immediately try to sign back, failing miserably as more pain erupts up my arm. It crushes me in a way nothing ever could and I look to Jen, more tears in my eyes. “How will I talk to him…” I say when the realization that though it could affect my career… my hand being broken will hinder communication with my son.
“We will figure it out.” She says with a sweet smile as well as in ASL. “I am sure there are ways baby.” She says.
“I take it your son is hearing impaired?” Doctor Lockhart asks.
“Yeah, I need my hand…” I groan as I try testing movement in my fingers at the least, causing some serious pain.
They dope me up and agree to let me have water, a Gatorade and some broth then tell me to try and rest. “Rest?” I ask Jen once they leave. “I’ve been asleep for a fuckin day.” I bitch, knowing I sound like an entitled bastard.
“You were out of surgery around three this morning when I left my room to come wait up here. You really haven’t slept that long Caly.” She says, but I look at the cute tight black Capri things she wears when she works out, matched with the black tank top and what do you know. Old dickery aint injured all.
Now, I know I won’t be getting any nookie here, but I need her beside me. “Come here Red.” I say and pat the bed beside me. I kiss her the minute she settles in. Injuries or not I was going to touch my girl regardless.
“What’s your damage?” I ask her, looking at the various bruises and cuts. I look to her arm in the sling.
“Broken shoulder blade, but it’s a minor fracture and was dislocated. Broken nose, but another hairline fracture so they won’t need to set it. The rest is superficial.” She says, before blowing me what looks like a painful kiss. “Dude hit like a pussy.”
I chuckle even though it kills me. “Stop making jokes Red.” I look down toward her thighs, feeling those tears again. “He didn’t…?”
He hands cup my face, turning me to look at her. “No. No there was some tearing from his hands, and he was trying…but you saved me Caly.”
I use her good hand to pull her into me as close as I can get her, tears falling down my face that I cannot control. “I was so scared I was going to lose you. Once he stabbed me and I knew he had a knife…” I cannot keep talking for the fear at the thought he could kill her.
She tells me about fighting him off and doing everything she could to get someone’s attention when Bright yelled to her.
“Yeah, they came to us as we finished loading up and I took off. Fuck… my shit is still at the Aloha.” I say it off handedly, but hope someone took my stuff. My gear were my other babies.
