Pushing through the door and turning the key to lock it behind her, Meeka was shocked to find two police men getting out of their car. The police cruiser was parked behind hers and for a moment, she paused as they walked towards her. She waited until they reached her, the breath trapped in her lungs and unable to come out.
“Can I help you?”
“Mrs. Rogers?”
“Yes, sir.”
“There has been an incident and we need to ask you a few questions.”
“Incident? What incident?”
“Your husband is in the hospital. Did you know that, ma’am?”
“No I haven’t seen him since late last night. He left here upset and he didn’t come home.”
“He's in a coma at Westland Hospital. It appears that he was assaulted by several assailants and we are trying to piece together what happened. Does your husband have any enemies?”
“Is he okay? Oh my God, I have to go. Can’t this wait till later?”
“No, ma’am, we need to find who did this to him sooner rather than later. He is in real bad condition and we don’t know if he is going to wake up. I want to catch who did this to him. Rick saved my boy’s life a few years back after he had a car crash and I want to know who did this.”
“No, but he did have an altercation with a guy a few minutes before he left. He hit him a couple of times, but nothing serious. The guy took off and that was the end of it.”
“Do you know who this person is?”
“Yes, it was someone I used to work with. We, ah… were friends.”
“I see, and your husband found you at home with your friend and they got into a fight?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Name?”
“Johnny Hayes.”
“Do you know where he lives?”
“I used to. I can give you his old address if you want.”
The tall blonde cop shook his head and his eyes seemed to bore into hers. Meeka’s cheeks reddened as he made comments like it was all so clear what had happened. She dug into her purse and took out her phone, finding the contact information that they wanted.
“Can I go now? I need to see if he's okay.”
The officer nodded, but she still had to wait for them to pull out from behind her vehicle. They followed her for quite some time, but Meeka was more focused on what was in front of her. Her mind raced and she just prayed that he would be okay. She couldn’t imagine Johnny doing something like that, but she wasn’t so sure anymore. He wanted her and maybe he had tried to get rid of her husband. She gasped. She really hoped that it wasn’t because of what she had said to him. Meeka almost called him, but couldn’t bring herself to. Not until she knew that Rick was going to be okay.
“He has to be okay.”
Meeka kept repeating that to herself as she drove to the town over. There was a question in her mind about why he was there, but her focus was only on seeing Rick. Everything else could be figured out when he was better or at least awake. Then he could answer what happened to him and figure it all out. She couldn’t think about an inevitability where he did not wake up, so she kept saying when he did in her mind.
***
Meeka was not familiar with the hospital, so she had to go to the information booth to find him. The woman behind the counter gave her directions up to the fifth floor and a visitor sticker to wear on the floor. The elevator took forever and soon she was on the intensive care ward and she walked softer. Her heels clicked slightly on the marble floors and she walked slower to make it less noticeable. It was silent as a graveyard there and she felt a couple glances from worn-out looking people as she passed several rooms. She looked down at the paper in her hand, though she had already memorized the number as she repeated it to herself on the way up there.
She stopped at the room with the number 5133 on the partially opened door. At first, she hoped that they had made a mistake and they somehow had the wrong guy. Maybe Rick had left his wallet somewhere, but when she saw the man on the bed, she knew it was Rick. Even with the tubes and bandages, she knew that it was him.
“Oh, baby.”
She walked towards his bed and touched his face gently. Bandages were wrapped around and only his mouth and cheeks were clear of the material. She brushed a soft kiss on his lips and lay on the bed next to him. Meeka did not know what else to do, so she dodged the tubes keeping him alive and laid her head on his chest. Maybe she shouldn’t have, but she just needed to be close to him. At the same time, she was convinced that he would just wake up any minute.
“Please don’t leave me, Rick. Not like this. I can’t take another loss and I need you. I will go to California, wherever you want to go, I will go.”
She pleaded with him and talked to him, explained herself as he lay there lifeless. Meeka thought that he could somehow hear her because his heart rate spiked several times. She was awakened by a nurse a little while later and after she was done checking on Rick and administering a medicine into his I.V., she was allowed to climb back into the bed with him. She would have been hard pressed to be told to get out of there anyways, but she was glad she didn’t have to fight them about it. There were also visitation limits and times, but they were overlooked by the staff. They let her stay all day and when she talked to her mother and she agreed to watch the kids overnight, she stayed the night with him as well. Meeka could not go home and face her children. She did not have the heart to tell them that Daddy may not wake up. She was only prepared to tell them that he was in the hospital getting better, so he needed to.
***
It was three days before he finally woke up. There had been whispers of pulling the plug with statistics from the doctor the day before, but Meeka would not hear any of it.
“He will wake up, Doc. You don’t know him like I do.”
“Meeka?”
“Yes, baby. I'm here!”
“Water. Can you…”
Meeka was up in a flash and grabbing some by the sink. She brought the straw to his lips and drank in the sight of him. His face did not have the same natural vibrant look that it usually did, but it didn’t matter, his eyes were open and he was speaking. She didn’t call the nurse right away, but she finally did walk in.
“Mr. Rogers! So glad to see that you are with us again. I will go tell the doctor that you're awake. He is eager to see you.”
Rick nodded and then smiled back up at Meeka. They had talked for a while and he knew now that it was all just a big misunderstanding. Meeka wanted to ask him about what had happened, but she did not think that he was ready yet. Or maybe it was her that was not ready to hear it.
“I have to go see the kids, baby. I haven’t seen them in three days and I know they will want to know that you're awake. I can bring them tomorrow, but I would like to stay here with you tonight.”
He shook his head and the kiss that he gave her was not from a hurt man, but a happy one. “Hurry back, Meeka.”
Chapter 12
Telling the kids that he was going to be okay was what she wanted to tell them for days. They took it better than she thought they would, though they missed their mother. It was the longest that they had been apart and Malik insisted that they go see Rick.
“I wrote him a card so that he will get better sooner.”
Meeka looked at her son’s handmade card and hugged him. He always surprised her how sweet and understanding he was. He had been extra affected by Rick getting hurt and Meeka knew that Malik was worried about losing him, like he had his father. They had gotten close over the last couple of years. Carter, on the other hand, just kept saying daddy over and over again.
Meeka got them ready and she drove down to the hospital with them. They were not willing to wait another day, so she decided that a quick visit was just what was in order. Rick was not expecting the kids, but he smiled as wide as they did. Carter had to be stopped from jumping on him, but he moved over and let the small child up in the bed. Malik joined him and Meeka about cried when she saw them hugging
each other. Her oldest son had tears in his eyes and Meeka was getting choked up watching it. With all the drama between them, her children loved Rick and she knew then that she would do whatever it takes for them to be and stay a family. They were better together and even if it meant moving away, they were just not complete without him.
“They've missed you, my love. We have all missed you. Have the doctors said how long you are going to be in here yet?”
“No not yet, but shouldn’t be but a day or two. More worried about concussions and all of that. So another day or two of tests and observations and I will be back home to you guys.”
Meeka bent to him and kissed his lips. Some of the bandages had been pulled away and she was able to see his face again. There was a little bruising around his eye and a small cut or two, but he was already looking better.
There was a knock at the door and Meeka turned to see who it was. She immediately recognized the police officers from earlier and she shifted off the bed. They walked into the room.
“Come on, kids. Why don’t we give daddy some time to talk to the officers. He is going to help them find out who did this okay?”
Meeka gave Rick another kiss and told him that she would be back in a bit. She was going to take the kids to her parents and stay the night there with him. Two days apart was enough for their marriage as far as she was concerned. She didn’t want to spend another moment without him. The kids both gave him hugs and then they all walked out to give him some time with the police. The blonde cop gave her a look that she couldn’t quite understand before she walked out. There was something unfathomable in his eyes.
***
Meeka was back at the hospital before it got dark. She had already talked to the nurses and they were going to look the other way on the visitation hours. They had moved Rick to another floor and out of ICU. She walked into his room and had a mild panic attack when she didn’t see him. She walked to the nurse’s station and they must have known what she was worried about because the nurse touched her arm gently.
“It’s okay. They took him down to three because he is breathing on his own now. Don’t worry. He is already doing much better.”
Meeka smiled and thanked her. The nurse looked up his name in the computer and gave her his new room number. Her heart was still pounding as she walked down to the elevator. She knew there were some tough conversations ahead, she had realized that whatever it was, she had to have Rick. It was true that sometimes a person doesn’t realize what they have until it's gone. Meeka was just lucky enough to not have to lose him completely to figure it all out.
“Hey, baby. Sorry I took so long. Carter and Malik wanted some time, so I read them a couple of stories. God they are missing you.”
“I miss them. I should be able to come home tomorrow or the next day at the latest.”
“Well I'm just happy you're okay. You scared the living crap out of me, Rick.”
Meeka couldn’t stand to be away from him and she slid her shoes off before she slid into the bed next to him. Her body molded against the side of his and he made a noise in the back of his throat.
“I’m sorry, baby, did I hurt you?”
He groaned again. “Not at all, Meeka.”
She laid her head on his chest and all of the stresses of the days prior caught up with her. She had meant to ask about what the police said or what happened, but she was out quickly on his chest. Rick kissed the top of her head and held her close as he too, found himself exhausted.
Chapter 13
Meeka woke up while it was still dark outside and her body had started to respond to her husband’s body next to her. She missed the feel of him and she laid her hand on his stomach. She had seen a small bruise that was still there that morning when he changed into one of the shirts she had brought in for him. The doctors had told her the extent of his injuries and the main one had been a few knots on his head. A couple of his ribs were bruised, but he was already starting to move around. Meeka was ashamed of herself for wondering how long it would be before he was able to do something in the way of the love department.
Her hand went lower on his body, swirling around his navel and then sliding underneath the soft blue cotton. Her nails were slight on his skin, though she could feel a rash of goose bumps in the wake of her fingers. The skin underneath her trembled as her advance lower continued. She heard his breath hitch in his throat as her hand slid underneath the top of his sweat pants. Her hand was met by a throbbing piece of meat and a soft groan from above.
“Good morning, baby. I see you are feeling better.”
Rick tried to push his hips up to meet her hand, but she stopped him.
“Relax, you are supposed to be trying not to move, remember?”
Rick made a whimpering sound that drove her mad. Her hand finally clasped his length and he made another noise, though she could tell he was trying to muffle his sound.
“Shh, you're going to get a nurse in here and I'll have to stop.”
Meeka glanced at his face and his eyes were closed, his teeth biting his lower lip. For a couple of years, they had been having sex almost daily, if not several times a day. Their bodies missed each other, even if their brains still had some things to come to grips with.
Meeka kneeled sideways on the bed, her mouth taking over as her hands pushed his pants further until his long length broke free and stood at attention in front of her. Her mouth needed to taste him and she bent forward to take the tip into her mouth. It was soon not enough as her tongue roamed over the head, tasting the salty discharge that came with his excitement.
“Mmm, I have missed this taste.”
She pushed him back into her mouth and forced him deeper against her throat. Her muscles pushed on his sensitive tip as her reflex took over. Instead of pulling him out, she held him there as his cock jerked and he moaned. His hand went to the back of her head and pulled her up by her long braid. She shrugged him off and her hungry mouth found his rod in need of her touch.
Rick’s hand ran down her back and then cupped her thick ass cheek. He pulled at her waistband and then went through the bottom of one of her short’s legs. His fingers found her damp panties and Meeka pulled him out of her mouth.
“Rick, you're going to distract me.”
“Good.”
His finger wormed into her panties and then a thick finger sunk into her weeping center.
“Suck.”
His hand went to the back of her head again, this time adding pressure and pushing himself deeper into her hot wetness. His fingers incessantly pushed in and soon Meeka was crying out around his length. Her head bobbed faster as he pushed her down and her body shook with her first orgasm in a week. She felt the fluid rush out of her and onto his arm.
He cursed and then held her down as the first stream of his own desire shot out of his tip. It had been too long without her and he could not manage another second in her. Meeka swallowed as fast as he could give it to her. He had a slight chemical taste from the medicine, but she sucked him dry nonetheless.
Fingers finally left her core and her mouth finally released his length. Meeka layback down in the crook of his arm, both were breathing heavily.
“God Meeka, that felt so good.”
“Mmmhmm.”
***
Meeka’s eyes fluttered closed and once again his heart beat took over. The sound lulled her back to sleep, while Rick stayed up for quite some time. Her body was like a glove to his, as it had been for a long time. There had been one night where he thought he had lost her and he didn’t want to ever feel that way again. He was angry, but he had learned that Meeka was telling the truth, though he had known it all along. It was fear that had driven his rage and he saw that now. Seeing his kids had cemented the same feelings and the surety that they were supposed to be together, that was his family that he had always wanted. He had it and he was not going to mess it up.
He tasted the essence on his fingers and felt his cock stir in his pants. He thought of waking h
er, but as he went to shake her awake, a sharp pain came from his abdomen and he decided against it. Tomorrow was another day and soon they would be back home to finish what they had started. Rick laid there content, holding Meeka with the love of a thousand lifetimes in his eyes.
Chapter 14
Rick was discharged the day after their night together. Meeka had gone home early that morning to get things ready and to pick the kids up. They wanted to be there as he drove home and she could not deny their pleas. Malik wheeled him to the hospital entrance and he walked out a little slowly on his own two feet. He had to show Meeka that he was well enough.
On the way home they stopped and got a movie and some dinner. The rest of the evening was spent watching a cartoon that Malik had been dying to see. They all just laid out on the carpet and couches. Meeka looked around at the scene and she felt as she once had before, that her life was perfect. Her family was perfect and she wouldn’t have asked for it to be any other way.
The kids were allowed to stay up until they passed out where they lay. Meeka was going to take them to their rooms, but Rick stopped her.
“Just leave them be. They look so comfortable.”
Malik was holding his younger brother and they both lay in the same position. It was comical and adorable. There was an urge to go get her camera, but she knew that the memory would always be there. She took the offered hand of her husband and followed him into the bedroom.
“So are we going to talk about what happened, Rick? I just want to know what happened.”
“I think you know. It was Johnny and a couple of his friends. I guess he followed me back to the bar and they jumped me on my way out.”
“Oh, Rick, I am so sorry that he did that. I want you to know that I never would have guessed he would do something like that. It's so unlike him. I hope he rots in jail for it.”
“I don’t.”
“What?”
Meeka looked at him puzzled. She was not sure why he wouldn’t want that very thing. He hated Johnny and now that he could make him pay, Meeka couldn’t believe that he could actually give up the opportunity. She meant what she said and thought that Johnny deserved to be charged criminally.
Doctor's Baby - BWWM Romance (Doctor's Love Book 3) Page 5