Something More

by Jenna Tyler

Drew must actually be asleep because he didn't move or say anything when I laid my hand on his. Good. He needs sleep. It seems like he’s always awake.

  * * * * *

  My eyes fly open and I take in my surroundings. I'm in the bedroom on Drew’s plane. Damn. It wasn't a dream. I must have dozed off. I start to feel the plane descending and I snatch my phone to look at the time. Holy shit! I slept the whole trip! I sit up in the bed and reach over to crack open a window shade. Sunlight shines in, nearly blinding me, and I quickly close it. Rubbing my eyes, I crack it open again to use it for light. Looking around, I see that Drew brought my bag in here and leaned it up against the bed. I'd have tripped over it had I not cracked the shade open. I also notice he's not in here and I scowl. He said he'd never let me wake up alone again. Liar!

  Taking the bag, I head into the bathroom. It's pretty big for an airplane, but tiny in comparison to a normal bathroom. Of course, it's all wood grain and white, like everything else. All I can do is roll my eyes.

  Getting myself back to looking human and brushing my rank morning breath away, I feel less zombie-like. I just need to stay positive. Charlie will be okay. I need to keep repeating that in my head.

  Making my way out to the main cabin, I see Drew sitting at a makeshift desk, typing on his laptop. His eyes dart to me when I enter the room and he raises his arm to beckon me over. When I get there, he pulls me into his lap. “How did you sleep, Rebecca?” he asks, wrapping his arms around me.

  “Better than I expected to,” I reply, wrapping one arm around his shoulders. “But I woke up alone. Again. So much for your promises.” He looks at me in horror. I'm not really mad or upset, but it would've been nice to wake up with him next to me. It's fun to make him squirm a little.

  “I know, baby. I'm so sorry, but I had to make sure everything was taken care of with your boss and at my office. I would never leave you alone in bed, but I should've gone back in there when I knew we were approaching our destination.” I gasp. I forgot about calling Dr. Thompson.

  “What did Dr. Thompson say?”

  “Don't worry. I let him know what I knew and that we were going to Florida.” I let out a deep breath. “He understood and he said to please call with updates. You still have a job, baby.” I slump down.

  “At least for now. I'm sure I won't if I have to be gone for a while.”

  Drew rubs my arm up and down, soothing me. “I'm sure I could find something for you to do if you were to get fired.” I can hear the mischief in his voice. I jab him lightly in his side.

  “Are we there?” I ask, anxiously.

  “Yes, actually. We are.” The plane starts to descend a little more. “You should grab something to eat because I know you won't want anything once you get there.” My stomach growls at the mention of food and my hand flies to it. I grimace at the defiance of my belly. “See. You should grab a muffin or a bagel or something. You need food.”

  “Fine, but only to shut this thing up.” It growls even louder. It's not usually this bad this early in the morning, but it is past ten back in Portland. This time change is going to mess with me and I've only been gone a few weeks. Drew smacks my butt and gives me a shove to get off his lap. “Hey. No need to be pushy.”

  He closes his laptop and we both stand up. He leads me into the little kitchen area where there is a small array of breakfast items displayed. My stomach appears to be talking to the food. I grab a cheese danish, put it on a plate, and pop it into the little warmer. Drew grabs a muffin and when my pastry is warm enough, we go back out into the main cabin.

  We take our seats and buckle up to prepare for the landing. I finish up my breakfast in lightning speed and really could go for another. Moving to unbuckle my seatbelt to take my plate back to the kitchen, Drew's hand flies over to stop me. “What are you doing, Rebecca? We are about to land.” My mouth still full with food, I raise my eyebrows and the plate to show him I was going to put the plate back. “No. Sit. Alexa can put that away.” I roll my eyes at him as he calls for her to come and get the plate and our trash. She doesn't seem very pleased when she comes to get our stuff. She even has a slight attitude when she snatches it up.

  My eyes dart to Drew to see if he can give me a clue of what the fuck that's about. He looks annoyed, but just takes my hand and kisses the back of it. Maybe they had an altercation while I was asleep. Or maybe she's mad because she and Drew were fuck buddies and now I’m here. I have to ask. After about a minute, I hear the plate crash into the sink. I can tell it didn't shatter, but it was put in the sink with more force than an accidental drop. Drew and I both look in the direction of the kitchen for a moment and then I look at him.

  “What the hell was that all about?” It sounds a little harsher than I would've liked.

  His thumb caresses my hand. “It's nothing, baby. Truly.”

  This answer doesn't satisfy me so I probe some more. “Why is she being rude, if it's nothing?”

  Drew turns to look at me. “She's one of those women, Rebecca. The ones who think they can date me or catch me or whatever it is they envision. It's really nothing.” Oh, a wishful thinker.

  “So she doesn't like the fact that I'm here. Thought she might get lucky if you were by yourself?” I'm talking aloud, but really to myself.

  When he answers, I'm surprised. “Yes, I guess so. You should know that I've never had, um…relations with any of my employees.” Well, that's welcome information. “I like to keep my business just business.”

  “Thank you for telling me that little nugget of intel. I'm always willing to accept more information about you.”

  He raises my hand to his lips again, placing a gentle kiss on it. “I'm an open book for you, Rebecca. And now that I know she's that kind of woman, she will no longer be employed by me. This is her final trip.” Oh, nice. A man of action. As if I didn't know this already. Drew's even hotter when he's in work mode. That totally turned me on, even in my fragile state of mind.

  Seventeen

  The plane touches down and when it starts to slow down, we are free to move about the cabin. Immediately, I unbuckle and head to get another pastry. Turning into the doorway of the kitchen, I see Alexa putting things away. She's about to put the food that's she's already wrapped up into either the trash or the refrigerator, I'm not sure which. “Wait,” I almost shout and she whips her head in my direction. “I would like a couple of the danishes, please.” She apparently is still mad at me or mad at being let go. The daggers she is shooting my way are probably supposed to be making me uncomfortable, but it's almost amusing to me at this point. With my head all wrapped up in Charlie, this crap is just that. Crap.

  I try my hardest to keep my composure. I don't know why I find this funny, but something in me just wants to laugh. Maybe the stress and lack of sleep is making me delirious. I start contorting my face to try to avoid laughing and end up biting my lips as hard as I can to distract myself. Alexa looks at me strangely, like she's trying to figure out what I'm doing. She shoves the whole tray of the sweet treats into my arms, rushes around me and out of the kitchen. Yep. She's mad at me. Or maybe just at my existence. Finally, I let out a quiet giggle.

  Now I have a bunch of pastries wrapped in plastic wrap and nowhere to put them. Backing out of the kitchen, I walk back to the bedroom to get my bag and set the food on top so they don't get squished. I drop the tray back off in the kitchen and head back out to the main cabin to find Drew talking to Alexa. Now she looks pissed and hurt. Oh, well. Time to put her big girl panties on, I suppose. Continuing on my path while they're still talking, her eyes flash to me and Drew turns. I smile at him, he returns one, and I go to take a seat to wait for him.

  When he's done talking, he heads in my direction and I see her wipe away a tear as she turns to walk away. But not before she gives me her “eat shit and die” look again. I just smile back at her, which speeds up her walking. There has to be something more to her story to make her that pissy about me being in Drew's life. Either he doesn't know or he's not tellin
g me. Something isn't sitting right with me about Alexa, but I can't worry about it because I have to focus on Charlie.

  Just as I come out of that thought, Drew is standing there with his hand out. “Time to go see Charlie, baby. Let's get out of here.” As he helps me up, I get this feeling that everything is going to be alright. A sense of anxiousness comes crashing over me and, instead of him leading me out, I pull him along behind me. I want to get to that hospital as quickly as possible.

  Once we finally arrive at the hospital, I jump out of the car before the driver barely has it put into park, leaving Drew behind to get my things and instruct the driver what to do. I run inside to the information desk and ask where Charlotte Michaels is. They tell me she's in the ICU on the third floor, pointing me in the direction of the elevators.

  While I'm standing there waiting, Drew finds me, my bag over his shoulder. Seeing that makes me think of an older couple, when the man walks around holding the woman's purse and the shopping bags while she shops. It makes me smile. I reach to grab my bag from him, but he turns it away from me. “I got it,” he says and takes my hand in his, bringing it to his lips to give it a kiss. He does this gesture so often, and I love each and every time he does it.

  The elevator dings and we ride up to the third floor, holding hands, and my anxiety starts to build the longer it takes for this stupid elevator to reach the correct floor. Nervously, I start swaying back and forth from foot to foot. Drew places his free hand on top of the one of mine that he's holding and I look at him. Normally it would calm me, but right now seems to be the exception.

  Waiting to see Charlie and talk to her doctors is about to make my heart leap out of my chest. The elevator dings again at our floor, but it seems to take forever for the doors to open. I dash out when they do, dragging Drew behind me. Following the signs to the Intensive Care Unit, I find the desk of nurses I need to talk to. I startle the women when I rush up to the desk demanding, probably not in the kindest manner, to see my daughter.

  One of the nurses steps up to the counter. “Ms. Michaels. I'm Andrea, your daughter's nurse this shift. We have been expecting you. I have your identification bracelets ready to go into the ICU.” How did they know Drew would be with me? And his name? And whatever other information they need for that type of thing? She clips our bracelets on. “Please, come with me.” I'm a little confused, but I roll with it. This nurse can lead me to Charlie and that's all I care about right now.

  As the nurse comes around the desk to lead us to Charlie, I look to Drew for reassurance. He's right there behind me…ready, waiting, and confident. I reach my hand out for him, and he takes it. He's going to be my rock. I need him next to me. We walk behind the nurse on our way to see my daughter. With her hospital badge, the nurse opens the glass sliding doors to the ICU and we all walk into an oval-shaped room, patient rooms lined along the outer walls. There is another nurse's station in the center, enclosing some nurses and doctors with their computers. It looks too fancy to be real, like a TV show. It must be a newer hospital.

  Our nurse leads us to the nurse's station in the center and walks up to an older looking gentleman. A doctor. At least he looks like one with his white lab coat on over his blue scrubs. When we approach, he peers up from the computer screen, looking first to the nurse and then to me. He smiles when he gets to Drew's face and stands up to come around the counter. I turn to look up at Drew, who also has a smile on his face. What the hell is going on? The doctor walks around and straight up to Drew, embracing him. “It's good to see you, son,” the doctor says, patting him on the back rather hard. Son? He returns a hard pat on the doctor's back before they separate and take a step back.

  The doctor turns his attention to me now. “Is this your girlfriend, Andrew?” He's nearly as tall as Drew with gray hair, slightly wrinkled, and glasses over blue eyes. Not quite the same blue as Drew's, though.

  Drew automatically takes my hand again and pulls me closer to him. “Yes, Dad. This is Rebecca. Rebecca, this is my father, Dr. Nathan Chambers. He's a neurologist.” Dad? I'm a little taken aback. I offer my hand to his father to shake, but he pulls me into a hug instead.

  “I'm so happy to finally meet you. My son has talked about you quite a bit recently. I'm glad to see him with someone that makes him happy. And so beautiful to boot.”

  “Thank you. It's nice to meet you, too. He makes me happy, as well. Now, not to be totally rude, I'd like to see my daughter.” The pleasantries can wait until after I see Charlie and get the status on her. I've waited long enough.

  “Of course. She's right this way.” He leads us to a room a few doors down the corridor. Dr. Chambers stops us at the door. “She's still critical, but stable. Andrew called me in to make sure her brain was functioning properly.” He holds up his hands to stop me from asking the question I was about to ask. “Her brain seems to be working just fine. She probably has a concussion from the impact, but her brain is doing well. I just got here a few hours ago myself and I'm going to stay until she wakes up so I can assess her further.” I tighten my grip on Drew's hand and he squeezes back.

  Dr. Chambers steps aside and lets me by to go into the room. I start to tremble just before I'm about to round the doorway and see her. Stopping for a second, I take a deep breath and give myself another second to fight back the tears that are inevitable. Drew says, “I'm here for you. Whatever you need.”

  My poor heart can't take it and a tear runs down my cheek. I turn my body towards his and place my forehead on his chest. After one more deep breath, I look up at him and see him hurting for me. “Can you give me a little time alone with her?” I ask.

  “Absolutely,” he replies. “I'll be right here if you need me.”

  “Thank you.” I turn back towards the room.

  When I finally round the doorway, my eyes flood with tears. Seeing my baby girl lying there battered, bruised, and hooked up to machines is something no parent ever wants to experience. I swipe away the tears and move closer to the bed. Once I reach it, I lean over Charlie and start moving her hair away from her face, rubbing her head. I really just want to crawl into the bed with her and lay her head on my shoulder. I just need to hold my baby.

  Standing up, I take her hand in mine and grip it, hoping she will grip it back, but she doesn't. Willing her to wake up isn't working, either. I spot a chair over in the corner and I release her hand long enough to drag it over to the bed. I'm not leaving here anytime soon and I want to hold her, even if it's just her hand.

  * * * * *

  Sitting here for I don't know how long, hunched over with my head resting on our hands, has my body aching and itching for movement. Before I make a move to get up, I hear the door open and feel Drew's presence beside me. He places his hand gently on my shoulder, and I raise my head up and look at Charlie. She hasn't moved and still looks the same. Drew gives my shoulder a little squeeze and leans down to talk quietly in my ear, “The doctor wants to come in to check on Charlie and run some tests. And Marcus is here.” I whip up my head to look at Drew with wide eyes.

  “Marcus? You met him?” I ask, sounding terrified. Well, I kind of am. It's never very comfortable for an ex to meet the new man in your life. It must be really awkward when the new guy looks like Drew and wears expensive suits.

  He nods once and smirks at me. “You look nervous, babe.”

  “I am. That must have been a little awkward for you. I'm sorry.” I stand up and my bones crack and pop, my muscles are overjoyed to be moving again. Stretching a little, I give Drew a hug. “Thank you for coming with me. Just knowing you are here comforts me.” Turning back to Charlie, I lean over and give her a kiss on her temple. “I’ll be right back, baby,” I whisper. Taking Drew's hand, I head out into the corridor and see Marcus down the hall.

  When he sees us come out of Charlie's room, he starts toward us. “How is she?” he asks, all but yelling.

  “She's unconscious, Marcus. Keep your damn voice down.” I can't believe he's being so loud in the ICU. What a fucki
ng moron.

  “I see you've met someone. Is he rich or something?” I roll my eyes and then close them for a moment, trying to control my anger. I can't believe I used to be married to this asshole.

  When I open my eyes, I look at Marcus. “Or something, you dumbass. What the hell is your problem?”

  “My problem is that your boyfriend here wouldn't let me in to see Charlie.” I look up at Drew and he looks like he’s trying hard to control his temper. I am, too. Turning back to Marcus, I start to wonder if he's back to being a drunk. He just looks sloppy and he seems a little irrational, but I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

  “Well, I can see why. You're acting like a total asshole for no reason. Drew was just letting me have some alone time with Charlie. When the doctor is done, you can go in there and spend time with her. Until then, shut the fuck up! No one here wants to listen to your shit.”

  Marcus looks at me dumbfounded. I finally didn't keep my mouth shut, like I usually do where he's concerned, and I told him off. I really don't know what came over me. Maybe it's the situation with Charlie. Maybe it's the confidence I have with Drew next to me. I'm not quite sure. But I know that I liked it. I don't know why I've never really done that with him before. When I was done with the relationship, I just left. I've only had to deal with him when it came to our daughter. Once she turned eighteen, I was set free. Only having to deal with him via text over the last few years has been great. The distance of over a thousand miles has been even better. No more hiding behind racks in stores if I see him, just to avoid any drama. No more seeing him driving around town. Yes, it's been fabulous being away from him.

  Now Marcus looks at Drew, who is looking quite pleased. Marcus looks like he wants to say something, but he just stalks off around us and waits outside of Charlie's room. I look up at Drew and he smiles down at me with bright eyes. “Let's get some coffee, shall we?”