by Cindy Pike
“The doctor will be right with you.” The woman says then gently closes the door as Owen thanks her, I seem to still be in shock from the waiting room revelation. I just look at him and try to examine my own feelings in regards to Owen. I know that they’re strong and leaning towards love, but I’m trying hard not to give them that label. Deep down, I know I’m just delaying in my head what’s already in my heart for all of them. Yes, even including Kyle, despite his best efforts to keep his distance. Just as I work up my courage to ask him what he meant, there’s a knock on the door and my doctor opens it and sits on the rolling stool.
He looks old enough to be my father and has a small-town doctor feel to him, despite his bigger than average size, it’s all in muscle though. He’s in incredibly good shape for his age. His white lab coat is stretched tightly over is biceps, navy-blue shirt and black slacks, paired with shiny black dress shoes. I can tell he takes care of his body. As he comes toward me, Asia perks up.
She goes from sitting to standing and I give her a command to allow the doctor to be able to approach me. She sits back down but watches the doctor closely. He gives me a puzzled look and I explain, “I was attacked recently, hence my injuries, and I have moments if strangers get too close to me that I panic, she helps keep people away.” He nods his understanding and slows his approach. It’s a sweet thing to do and makes me feel more at ease.
“Let’s take a look, shall we?” His eyes are kind and I can tell he hasn’t been jaded from doing this job for a long time. I hand the leash to Owen and Asia gives a whine, but Owen soothes her with pets, while I lay back on the table. He checks me over, and then moves back, sitting on the stool again. “Everything appears to be good. I’d like to get x-rays of your knee, ribs and shoulder just to be on the safe side, but if they all come back without any concerning images, then you’ll be clear to resume all normal activities.” He gives me a soft smile, “Any questions?” I shake my head no and look to Owen. He does the same then the doctor shakes our hands and breezes out the door.
Owen rises from his seat, handing me back Asia’s leash, then holds the door for me to proceed him. As I go to pass him, his arm shoots out around my waist, keeping me from moving forward, “This is excellent news, I’m going to get the guys together to celebrate with dinner at my house.” Then he kisses my temple and releases me, giving me a small push to get me moving again. My tummy is filled with butterflies that won’t stop fluttering around as we make our way to the x-ray department. When we reach the reception window for x-ray, I check myself in this time as Owen waits for me just off to the side. I sign my name then give the guy behind the desk a polite smile and move out of the way so the person behind me can sign in. Owen picks the only two seats that are beside each other, but have people sitting on both sides. My anxiety starts to rise as we near the seats and Asia presses tight to my leg, releasing a soft whine. I stop and look at her giving her a pet behind her ears then take my seat next to Owen and a strange man. Asia crowds my legs pressing as tightly to me as she can, with her head on my lap. I scratch both of her ears and give her head a kiss telling her she’s a good girl. Owen puts his arm around my back and pulls me into his side after I sit up again. A small smile breaks out on my face at his protective/possessive behavior.
12 Bruised and Broken
Darkside by Ty Dolla Sign & Future
The wait for my x-rays is long and tedious, for most people. For me not so much, I just sit and people watch as Owen types away on his phone, probably saving patients via text message, he’s so damn good at everything. Not long after we sit, a woman and small boy are brought in by none other than Detective Daron and another male police officer. Detective Daron is holding the woman in his arms and she’s clinging to him like her life depends on it. The other officer has the little boy, who can’t be older than four, holding him chest to chest, with the boy’s arms tight around his neck. Owen gets up and heads directly to the group with the detective. They have a brief conversation and then they all head over to our seats, I stand but Owen firmly presses me back into my seat as the officer I don’t know hands over the boy to me. At first, he protests then the woman says something so quietly I can’t make out what she’s said and he stops fighting and wraps his tiny arms around me. Detective Daron takes Owen’s seat as Owen kneels and does a preliminary check on the woman in the detective’s arms.
As he does, I notice the boy is shaking in my arms, so I wrap my arms around his frame and hold him tight, whispering softly into his ear. I don’t know how much he hears or is taking in, even subconsciously, his attention is riveted on the woman. Soon he stops shaking so badly and the unknown male officer brings over a blanket, I take it and wrap it around the boy tucking it into him as best I can with him clinging to me like a monkey.
“From what I can see she’s got some serious injuries, Gemini. Why didn’t you bring her to Emergency?!” Owen whispers fiercely.
“She didn’t want Zander exposed to that and all that comes with it.” Detective Daron responds, I guess his first name is Gemini, I never had a need to know it before. The little boy scooches closer to me when Gemini says the name Zander and it makes me think that’s his name. As Owen and Gemini continue their whispered debate I try and get Zander’s attention.
“Hey, Zander, I’m Nora. Detective, I mean Gemini, is a friend of mine. Do you like dogs?” I frantically search for something to distract him from the very adult conversation happening next to us. He peeks up at me from trying to hide behind the blanket and my hair. “See her?” I point to Asia who wags her tail while resting her head on top of the blanket covering Zander’s legs. He peers at her then huddles back down into my hair as she tries to give him a lick.
“Asia, no.” I reprimand her, then try and reassure Zander. “She won’t hurt you, she’s very well trained.” I go into how Heath trained her, before I know what’s happening, Zander is petting her, listening to me. I continue to talk about the guys and all the amazing things they can all do that make me proud of them and having them in my life. Zander and I don’t notice when Gemini takes the woman (I learned she’s Zander’s mother from catching snippets of Owen and Gemini’s talk) back to get x-rays. Owen is sitting next to me in silence and I don’t know he’s listening to every word I’ve spoken. A while later, Zander slips into the sleep only a child seems to able to accomplish (meaning anywhere and in any position). Shortly after that Gemini wheels out the woman in a wheelchair, she’s been bandaged and is sporting some nasty looking bruises. They run down the side of her face, along her temple, and around her neck. I’m guessing she has more, but I can’t see them because she’s covered by clothing and the blanket she’s got over her legs and lap. I hope they gave her something for her pain, if they did it seems have only taken the edge off.
Gemini stops the chair as close to in front of me as he can with Asia now laying down at my feet. “They’re going to admit her for observation overnight, after that they’ll evaluate her and go from there. She says she doesn’t want to be away from Zander and have him placed with a foster family while she’s in here. I tried to tell her that wouldn’t happen, I won’t let it, but she’s stubborn.” Owen nods his affirmation to Gemini then stands and moves to take Zander from me.
“Give him here, Gorgeous. I’m going to help get Heather settled in her room and figure out Zander’s situation for the next few nights so she can get the care she needs. Will you be okay for a bit here? I can have one of the guys come and sit with you then take you home, I don’t know how long I’ll be.” Owen has got his doctor hat on and I don’t want to take his attention from the woman. It’s a good thing he works here. Heather, she needs him more than I do right now. Besides I can sit in a waiting room, I’ll have Asia with me, she’ll guard me.
“No, go do what you need to, to help her. Text me her room number and when I’m done, I’ll come find you.” Owen looks at me with doubt in his eyes, “I’ll be fine, I’ve got Asia with me and it’s not like my stalker is going to attack me here.” He
still hesitates so I pushed harder, “Owen, it’s a crowded hospital, what can happen to me?” He still doesn’t look sure, but nods and then leaves with Zander in his arms (he didn’t even twitch when Owen took him from me, poor baby) and Gemini pushing Heather out into the hall, toward the elevators.
My name is called not long after and I head back to the x-ray machine with Asia in tow. The x-ray tech helps prep me and takes Asia’s leash, leading her behind the protective wall so she’s not exposed to any unnecessary radiation. She whines but goes with the lady technician, after I give her a command to do so, until they capture images of all the areas my doctor ordered. Finally done, I sit up on the x-ray table and Asia bounds over to me, skidding to try and stop herself, but the flooring is slick linoleum and she slides right into my legs, almost bringing me down.
“I’ll get these sent over to your doctor and they’ll call you with the results.” The lady tech says as she shakes my hand then leads Asia and I back to the waiting room. I check my phone and run into a woman that’s got blonde hair and dull gray eyes, she looks like she hasn’t showered in days and has dark bags under her eyes.
“I’m so sorry, did I hurt you?” She grabs my arm to steady herself as Asia growls at her and she takes a step quickly back, tucking her hands in her hoodie pockets.
“I’m fine, sorry I wasn’t paying attention.” I raise my phone up in a small wave then go to move past her, lifting my purse strap up to my shoulder, after it slid off in the collision. Asia and I move on and I check my phone once more to see the room number Owen sent to me, being more careful this time so I don’t bump into anyone again. It was odd that Asia didn’t alert me to a stranger being so close to me. I brush it off to be a fluke and press the up button for the elevator. When I make it to Heather’s room, I pause in the doorway not wanting to just enter a stranger’s room. Owen comes from behind the curtain and gives me a sad smile, holding out his hand for me to take. I move to it and, him, wrapping my arms around his torso.
“How’d it go? Any concerns?” Owen kisses the top of my hair then rests his chin on the top of my head. I love how the guys are all tall enough to do this with me, it helps me feel feminine when, let’s face it, I’m taller than the average woman.
“Fine, just like I told you it would. How are things with Heather and Zander? Did you find a place for him to stay?” My mind is filled with concern for the little boy I held in my arms as he fought his fear then fell asleep. It was one of the most precious gifts I’ve ever been given.
“Heather is in rough shape, she’ll probably have to stay here for at least a couple days, they want to make sure she doesn’t have any internal bleeding and watch her for her concussion.” Poor Heather, I wonder what happened to her. “Zander is going to go home with Gemini’s brother, as Gemini is staying with Heather at least for tonight.”
“That’s good that she’ll have her husband with her. Though I’m not sure why Zander would have to go into foster care just because his mom is in here and his dad stays with her overnight.” I muse out loud to myself.
“I’m not Zander’s dad, that mother fucker is the reason Heather’s in here right now, he tried to kill her this morning.” Gemini says, as he closes the curtain, and I hear the hooks strain with his grip still on the curtain. I go still as his words sink in and the reality of this situation hits me so close to home I’d have fallen if Owen didn’t have a good hold on me.
“Gemini!” Owen rebukes him, while running his free hand along my back. Asia pushes in on my legs, sensing my unease. Gemini takes several deep breaths then turns toward Owen and me.
“I’m sorry, Nora. I can’t think clearly, with my woman laying beat to shit, almost killed by her fuck-of-a-husband, because he couldn’t be a fucking man and take the hit that she is finally, fucking finally, leaving his abusive mother fucking ass.” The rage in Gemini Daron’s eyes has me shrinking back into Owen, thankful I’m not Heather’s husband. Whoever he is, he’d better hope, and if he’s the praying type, pray that Gemini never sees him. If he does, it’s over, that man is as good as dead. I get it and am glad Heather has that kind of devotion from him. I don’t know her story but if her current situation is anything to go by, she’s gonna need him and his devotion.
“It’s fine, Owen, I’m glad she’s got him.” I place my hand on Owen’s abdominal muscles and try to calm him after my slight freak out from the intense reaction of Gemini’s rage.
“Heath is going to come and get you and Asia and take you back to my house after his shift at Flex.” Flynn must be at the bar tonight or else it’d make more sense for him to pick us up. “I’m going to go with Gemini and grab us some lunch from the cafeteria, Gorgeous.”
“Okie dokie, I can stay here and watch over Zander.” My suspicion is that he wants to get Gemini out of the room and calm him down before Zander wakes up and gets the crap scared out of him by the detective. Lord knows Zander’s seen enough of that sort of thing for a lifetime. I’ve got a feeling this isn’t the first time something like this has happened to Heather. The men leave and I settle down in a chair next to a sleeping Zander. Asia lays at my feet. I sit and all the horrible things that have happened to me race through my mind. Seeing Heather in this state hits close to home for me, making me hope I can be there when or if she needs someone who’s been where she is. I can look at things with more objectivity now that I’ve talked about them in therapy, and gotten help from the lessons with Heath. Just like Sara was there for me.
Zander wakes up just before Owen and Gemini get back with our food, he’s playing with Asia when they come in and bring a tray of food for Zander. It’s got a slice of pizza, green Jell-O, and a bag of chips, with a chocolate milk to drink. He seems in good spirits considering the situation. Kids amaze me at how resilient they are. Zander gobbles it all up and Owen takes the trash and disposes of it while Gemini has a talk with Zander on his lap. I try to give them some privacy and stand next to Heather’s bed, staring out the window with my body facing the wall her bed is against. She’s been sedated while we were waiting for the men to get back and Zander was eating, so when I feel a weak squeeze on my hand, I startle but not enough to disrupt Gemini’s conversation with Zander.
I look down at my hand then into startling green eyes a shade darker than Owen’s. Her platinum blonde hair has been cleaned of the blood that prevented me from noticing the color earlier. She looks like she barely escaped death (which I guess she has) and my breath catches remembering how I felt when I woke up in the hospital after Jason. I smile at her, but I know it’s a sad one and she returns it, though I can tell even that small act brings her pain.
“Hey, I’m Nora, a friend of Gemini’s, and now Zander’s I suppose.” She gives my hand another weak squeeze and looks around the room her eyes catching on Zander sitting in Gemini’s lap. Tears spring to them as she takes in the sight they make. Gemini must sense her gaze on him, because he looks up and stops talking to Zander, standing with the little boy in his arms coming to the side of the bed with him.
“Let’s be careful not to hurt mommy, okay, little man?” Gemini warns Zander as they draw near. Zander nods his little head and tears fall from his eyes, the same color as his moms. He’s got jet black hair (that must be from his dad) and strong facial features that are a masculine version of his moms.
“Hey, my baby boy.” Heather’s voice cracks and is rough even to my ears, not having heard her voice before. I don’t want to intrude on this moment, so I ease my way back and out of the room door. I lean my head back on the wall and Asia sits by my side; she’s such a good dog.
Owen comes back from the direction of the nurse’s station and runs his hands along my arms in a soothing gesture.
“I’m sorry, Gorgeous, I didn’t mean to put you through this.” Owen brings me closer to him enveloping me in a tight hug. Reciprocating, I hold him and let the emotions flow over me, releasing them as I do.
“I’m not, I’m glad I can help her even if it is just watching Zander for a few hours
.” He shouldn’t feel guilty for this, so I try to ease that feeling in him. My phone chirps with a text, I pull it out and check the message.
Heath: I’ll be there in about an hr. You know if they have a car seat for the kid?
“Does Zander need a car seat? Heath says he’ll be here in an hour.” I show my phone to Owen, he pulls away from me and I have a moment of sadness that we can’t stay in our embrace for a little longer. Then I remember that I could be the one in the hospital bed and thank my lucky stars that I got even that little bit of time for Owen and me to hold each other.
“If not, I’m sure we can find one.” I text that back to Heath and then put my phone in my front pocket. It’s something I’ve taken to doing since having the guys in my life, most of the time they all put them in their front pockets, or if I’m with them, they ask me to hold them in my purse.