Page 92 of No Fear

“Maybe I like to be noticed.”

“Oh, it certainly gets noticed. Bright orange and a convertible.” The roof was off, as it normally was during the summer.

“It’s cyber orange. Do you own a car at all now?” The sun was warm, and the fresh air felt good. He missed being outside. His morning runs. A swim. Working out with the team.

“Yes. I have a Mini. It’s in Albany. I left it there when I moved to New York. Glad I did now.”

“A Mini. Yeah, that suits you. So what color is it?”

“White. Nice and boring. Plain like me.”

Donnie turned his head toward her and pain zipped through his temple. Fuck that hurt. He rubbed his forehead.

“You OK?” she asked.

“Yeah. Fine.” Shit. The pain felt like someone was stabbing a needle behind his eyes. He tried to ignore it. “Mini Coopers are not boring, no matter what color, and you are not plain.”

The car slowed. “OK. We’re at the gate,” Charlie said.

Donnie reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. “Open this, you’ll see my ID. Show this for me and tell them you should have a visitor pass waiting. You’ll need to show your ID, too.”

Mackie had called to say Sam had fast tracked a pass. His Bronco was registered here, so he wasn’t expecting any problems.

Charlie spoke to gate security, and they checked the car. Within a couple of minutes, they were moving.

“Well, that was easy,” she said.

“They know me, this car, and my captain gave them a heads up.”

“I feel very important,” she said with a teasing tone. “I see signs for Westside.”

“Yes. Follow them. There is parking at the front.”

Ten minutes later, holding Charlie’s arm after she guided him up and down curbs and through doors, they were inside Westside ER. Technically, he should have been assigned to another doctor, but none of Onyx wanted to see anyone but Sophie, and the hospital had given up arguing with them a long time ago. Sam had probably pulled some strings there, too.

“Donnie, right on time. You must be Charlie?” Sophie’s voice was warm and bright as he heard the click of her shoes walking toward them.

“Yes. It’s nice to meet you,” Charlie answered.

“You, too. And how are you, Donnie?”

Donnie grunted a response.

“Follow me,” Sophie said, apparently choosing to take no notice.

Still holding Charlie’s arm, he walked a little way before Sophie directed them into a room. He only knew it was a room because a door closed, and the noise of the ER disappeared.

“I’ll wait outside,” Charlie said, once Donnie was settled in a chair.

“No. Stay,” he said. “Save me repeating it all to you after.”

“Are you sure?” Hesitancy filled her voice.

“I am,” he said softly and held out his hand. She took it and he felt her sit beside him.

“OK, Dr. Swanson is going to join us shortly,” Sophie said. “But first, we’ll run some tests and do a CT scan. Has there been any change to your vision?”

“None.”