Chapter 12

Rhonda opened her eyes at the sound of quiet whispers. Steven and Rachel stood talking quietly with Cora and Dade.

Had that much time passed already? When had Kasey and Chris gone home?

She sat forward slowly and winced. She’d been in this chair for too long. As if sensing her pain Cora walked over and put a hand under her arm.

“These chairs are evil.” She whispered. “My entire butt went to sleep and Dade had to help me up.”

Rhonda grinned. “Just sitting is the evil thing for me.” She noticed Steven wasn’t with the others. Hopefully he would come back with something good to tell her. The nurses hadn’t really been at all helpful any time she inquired about Patrick’s condition. “I don’t even know what day it is.” She said to no one in particular.

Rachel smiled. “It’s almost nighttime now, Saturday.” She shrugged her jacket off. “It’s been almost twenty-four hours.”

Rhonda sighed. “So far so good then?”

Rachel glanced back to the door. “That’s what he’s gone to find out.”

It felt like every second was an hour as she tried to listen to the conversation while waiting for Steven to return. She looked around, the drab beige walls and the green chairs that appeared to jump out at you.

“Rhonda?”

She turned to see everyone looking at her. “Sorry, what?”

Rachel smiled again. “I wondered if you’d like something to eat or drink, Cora and I are going to go down to the cafeteria.”

She really wasn’t hungry at all, but knew she should at least try. “I suppose some tea and a snack couldn’t hurt.”

Cora nodded and turned.

Dade patted her backside as she passed him. “Try not to take over the kitchen, Love.”

Cora grinned but kept walking beside Rachel.

Steven walked out with his hands in his pockets. He went right over to Rhonda and started talking before she could ask. “He’s stable. All of his vitals look good.” He studied her face for a moment. “He hasn’t come out of it yet…” her eyes widened. “This is good, gives his body more time to build some strength.” He added quickly. “They have him on some pretty hard stuff, Rhonda, there’s going to be a lot of pain.” She just nodded and continued to hug her own arms. “You can go in for a few minutes if you like.”

“Oh…”

He smirked. “No mind talking though please.”

She nodded and touched his arm lightly as she walked by him.

Rhonda stood just inside the door for a moment. Patrick looked more peaceful now, almost as if he were just sleeping. The last time she’d been in, he looked as if his soul was no longer connected to his physical body.

Walking over, she studied his face. His dark lashes made his complexion seem even lighter. She stood beside him and lifted the blanket to look at the man under them.

One side was covered in a heavy gauze and tape. A tube ran from the gauze, draining what looked like blood. His left arm was wrapped tight against his body. He wasn’t going to be happy with that when he woke up. She didn’t picture him being at all cooperative once consciousness was his choice again.

“It’s so he doesn’t pull anything.”

Rhonda jolted and turned her head to watch an older nurse walk to the other side and flick the line of his IV.

“His arm,” she motioned with her head. “When he comes around, we want to limit his movement as much as possible so he doesn’t do more damage. They had to break a rib, well, separate them, during the surgery to repair the damage.”

Rhonda lowered the blanket. “He’s not going to be very happy once he’s awake.” She watched her check the machines and write something on a sheet of paper on the table. “The damage to his shoulder blade…” the nurse stopped to look at her, “will it heal completely?”

She smiled at her in an understanding way. “He’s a large healthy man. I don’t see why it wouldn’t…unless he does too much too soon.”

Rhonda laughed softly. “Oh, he will, be sure of that.” She ran a hand lightly over his messed hair. Then turned and saw the nurse looking at her scarred hands.

She smiled at her again. “Doctor O’Reily explained your own injuries to me.” She checked the drip once more than turned. “Let me know if there’s something you need.”

Rhonda nodded and waited until she was out of the room again before turning back to Patrick. “Do you hear that, Mr. Blaine? You’re going to have to behave when you wake up.” She smirked as she pictured the colorful reply she’d get from him.

She walked around to the other side and rested her hand on his. Patrick? Don’t use your mind to answer me…the machines don’t like the charge…but just let me know somehow that you’re okay. She gently squeezed his hand and watched his face. Maybe resting completely is better right now. I’ve missed you.

She sat slowly on the chair beside the bed. Steven told her a few minutes, but she’d decided she was staying until they kicked her out. She watched the monitor with the bright green lines and numbers for a minute. Of course, if she understood what it was doing, she could look and know for herself things were good. The machine attached to the IV pole clicked every few seconds. Her eyes wandered back to Patrick’s face, at least he was breathing on his own. That much had to be a good sign. For all the complaining she had done over the months of him pestering her, right now she’d take it over the silence.

Rhonda felt empty, she wanted to feel his path on the other end, wanted to feel connected to him again, even if it was only for a moment. Patrick. A tear rolled down her cheek.

His head felt like it was floating. Where was he? Patrick’s eyes were so heavy he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to open them, so he took a few more minutes to assess what was going on. His entire left side felt heavy, and sore. Had he fallen? He remembered being in the barrels, remembered the gunfire starting.

Patrick.

Rhonda? Why did she sound so far away? He fought through the fog in his head to open his eyes again. He tried to say her name, but his throat was so dry he couldn’t get any sound to come out.

Someone squeezed his hand.

“Patrick?”

He tried to open his eyes again. What the hell was going on?

“Just open your eyes for a moment and let me see you’re okay.”

The weight of someone leaning on his arm registered vaguely in the fog inside his head.

“You’re in the hospital, Pat.”

He struggled to open his eyes, but the bright light blinded him, making him blink several times, unable to focus at all. Through the haze, he saw Rhonda’s lovely face close to his own. This wasn’t a dream, she was here with him.

“There you are. I’ve been losing my mind waiting for you to come to.”

Blinking he forced his eyes to behave and looked at her. Licking dry lips, he tried to say something, but his mouth was practically filled with glue, his tongue felt like sandpaper.

“Hang on and I’ll get you a sip of water.” She looked around.

“Here you go.”

Another female’s voice registered. One he didn’t recognize.

“Thank you.” Rhonda turned back to him and smiled down at him. “Just try a sip.” She placed something in his mouth and it took all his concentration to get his body to comply and suck on the straw Feeling moisture fill his mouth, he swallowed the liquid down his tender throat. “What happened?” Was that his voice? He’d barely heard his own words.

She set the cup down and leaned closer to him. “You were shot. Twice.”

“My arm?” Dammit, let him still have use of all body pieces.

“They have it bound to keep you from hurting yourself. You were shot in the lung Patrick, and there was a lot of damage…”

He frowned, trying to assess what his body was feeling, but it was all to numb to pick up on anything.

“But you’re going to be fine now.” A tear rolled down her cheek.

His eyes were getting heavy again. “Aw, lass…” He tried to bring her in focus again, but his eyes blurred and he wasn’t able to fight to open them again.

She watched his eyes close and waited a moment or two to see if they were going to open again. The nurse came back in and was checking the machines and lines. She smiled over at her briefly.

Steven came through the door and watched the nurse for a second then turned to Rhonda. “How long was he awake?”

Rhonda still held his hand. “Long enough to take a sip of water and ask what happened.”

He nodded and put the stethoscope in his ears then placed it lightly on Patrick’s chest. Pulling them from his ears he turned to the nurse. “Let’s cut back the drip, we need to get him up and moving soon.”

The nurse nodded and turned to the IV pump.

Steven turned back to Rhonda and smiled. “That’s going to be interesting.” He smirked. “Getting him up and going, we may need to bring in Dade and Owen to get him on his feet.”

Rhonda smiled for the first time since it happened. “At least he only has one arm to swing with.”

“He’ll be waking up off and on now, and the fact that he said something is a good sign.” He motioned to the chair. “Do you want me to get another chair brought in here for you?” She shook her head. “I’ve had meals started, so feel free to eat any that arrive if he’s still out, we can always get another tray brought in.”

At least, she thought, he’s not suggesting I go home and rest.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to pass on the news to everyone that he finally came to.”

“Thanks.”

He winked at her and turned towards the door. “Buzz when he’s awake again, I need to explain some things to him.”

She just nodded, but didn’t turn to look at him. She watched Patrick sleeping and hoped he’d rest a bit, then wake up again. Did I mention how mad I am at you for getting yourself shot? She thought she seen his mouth smirk in his sleep and somehow, she knew things were really going to be all right. With that realization, she also suddenly felt exhausted. Sighing, Rhonda squeezed his hand lightly again, then turned and positioned the pillow on the chair before sitting down slowly.