Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Felicity
“You should talk to him, even if he’s not awake. There’s studies that show that patients can hear us when we talk. I’ll be back soon to make sure he’s ready to be moved to the ICU.”
“Thank you again for taking care of Levi. He means everything to us.”
“He’s a lucky man to have such a great family.”
“Oh, there’s more of us. This is only a tiny portion, and I know they’re all grateful for you.”
I take a seat next to Levi’s bed. I’m so afraid of hurting him, but I take his hand and kiss it.
“We’re all here, Levi. Leighton, Lynton, Valentino, even my brothers are here.
Can you believe that? They closed our store and got on the plane with me.
Everyone is here, even the kids. Emiko, Emma and Piper are with them at the hotel.
When you get moved to your regular room, they’ll be able to come and see you.
Please wake up and let me see your gorgeous hazel eyes.
I love your eyes and your smile. I just want to see it again. ”
There’s no movement from Levi as I blabber on and on. I don’t know why, but I can’t stop talking. Nothing I’m saying is important. I just feel like I need to keep going. The hour goes by faster than I thought it would.
“It looks like Levi is doing well, we’re going to move him to the ICU. His room is next to Tristan Langford’s room. That way you can all be together. I’ve also approved it so that all of you can be in either room,” Doctor Kim tells me as they get Levi ready to be wheeled to his room.
“Does he have to have the breathing tube in, still?” I ask.
“After we get him settled, we’re going to take it out. Then we need to monitor him and make sure he’s getting enough oxygen on his own. The fractured ribs might make it harder for him. So if that’s the case, we will need to see about getting him more oxygen.”
“Is Tristan awake?”
“Yes, and he’s in his room. You’ll be able to see him when we get there.”
I nod and follow them as they wheel Levi to his room.
The ICU is a little scary, there’s so many noises, and they’re constant.
There’s even a patient screaming that he’s being murdered.
The nurse explains that he’s recovering from a drug overdose.
I told her that’s scary and she said he’s been in the ICU a few times this year.
I think it’s so sad that he’s gone through it more than once.
I see Lynton as they’re wheeling Levi into his room.
“Give us a few minutes to hook Levi up in here. You can sit with Tristan and we’ll let you know when he’s ready,” the nurse tells me.
I thank her and step into Tristan’s room. I hug Lynton and tell her and Tristan what the doctor told me about Levi’s situation.
“Levi wouldn’t listen to me, he’s a stubborn bastard.
I told him to stop because I saw the bar sticking out of his side.
But he was like no, I need to help these other people.
I tried to get up and help, but I fell. Doc said I have a severe sprains in both my ankles.
Nothing I can do but let them heal. And I don’t like it cause I can’t get off this fucking bed. ”
I chuckle as we listen to Tristan rant. I can see the frustration on his face, but I’m so glad that he’s okay. Now I just need my Levi to wake up so I can tell him that I love him. The rest of the family join us in Tristan’s room while we wait for them to finish up with Levi.
“Hi, you can come see Levi now. We took his breathing tube out, and we’re going to monitor him. If you see that he’s struggling, press the emergency button and we’ll be right there. Our main station is just outside their rooms. So far he seems to be doing just fine,” the nurse says.
“How long do you think before he wakes up?” Leighton asks.
“That’s up to Levi. The anesthetic is wearing off, so he’s just on the pain meds. No sedation. Doctor said he doesn’t want to sedate him unless it’s needed.”
“Thank you,” Leighton says as Lynton and her go with her to see Levi.
I stay back and let them have their time with Levi.
“He’s going to be fine,” Paxton says softly to me as he hugs me.
“I hope so, Pax. I really do love him.”
Paxton sighs. “I know you do, Lissy. And I promise, we’re all going to get to know him.”
“Thank you, I love you.” I sniffle.
“We’re going to get some snacks. The doctor said that they’re going to bring in more chairs for us. We just have to remember that if something happens, we need to get out of the way so they can work on him,” Lynton says to everyone.
I watch the others go over to Levi and kiss his head. They all tell him that we need him to wake up. After they step out, I go over to him and kiss his cheek.
“I love you, Levi. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before. I kept telling myself that you would run if I said it first. But I was just being stupid. It doesn’t matter who says it first. So—I. Love. You.”
Levi
I can hear Felicity talking to me. I heard her earlier, too. But I couldn’t open my eyes and with that tube in, I couldn’t talk. But now I can talk, although it feels like I’m still trying to wake up and opening my eyes is a struggle.
“I love you, Felicity,” I whisper.
“Oh my god. Levi?” She sobs.
I slowly open my eyes and see my pretty girl. I love her so damn much. I just wish I could hold her. But moving my arms is proving to be harder than it was to open my eyes.
“I need to call the nurse, stay here,” she says as she runs out.
I’m laughing in my head because I can’t laugh out loud.
Stay here. I wish I could get up and leave.
I look around the room and realize I’m in the hospital.
When I heard the voices talking earlier, for some reason I thought I was still at the crash site.
Even when I heard Felicity talking, I still thought that’s where I was.
Felicity comes back in with a nurse and a doctor.
“Hey, Levi. I’m Doctor Kim. Are you able to talk?”
“A little,” I say as I frown.
The nurse brings something over to me. Oh goody, I get what looks like a sippy cup. Fuck's sake. I really need to get better soon. Sippy cups are the furthest thing from manly and I can’t be unmanly around Felicity. I take small sips of the water.
“Are you having trouble breathing? Your oxygen levels are okay, but I’d like to see it higher. If it doesn’t improve in an hour, I’m going to put you on some oxygen. Just until you’re able to keep your levels up yourself.”
I nod at the doctor.
“I feel…a little…dizzy.”
“Give us a minute and we’ll get that set up. That should help you to feel better. But if you still feel dizzy, let us know.”
I watch the nurse hook up some tubey thing and then she shoves part of it up my nose.
“Ow.”
“Did that actually hurt?” Leighton rolls her eyes at me.
“Yes.”
And now she’s sighing at me. Felicity is giggling. I squint at both of them. As I breathe in, the dizziness starts to subside. And my head starts to clear.
“That feels better,” I tell the doctor.
“That’s good to hear. So we’re going to be watching your stats for the next couple of days. If you feel anything’s wrong, this button will call the nurses station.”
“Is Tristan okay?”
“He’s doing okay, he’s in the room next to you.”
The relief I feel hearing he’s okay makes my body relax.
“Can I go home after the two days?”
Everyone laughs at that one. I don’t know why, who the fuck wants to stay in the hospital?
“After a day or two, you’ll be moved to a regular room. You’re looking at being here for at least a week or two.”
“What? No…I only have two weeks. Can’t spend it here.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid your leave will be spent here.”
I’m pretty sure I’m pouting like a child. But this is not what I had in mind when I got on that stupid plane.
“Where am I? I mean what city? I remember when the Captain said that he had to make an emergency landing. But I don’t know where we landed. What about the other passengers?”
“You’re in Duluth, Minnesota. The passengers were taken to different hospitals. Some are here, most of them are doing fine. Some were lucky and only had minor injuries. You and Tristan were some of the worst ones. Now, you get as much rest as you can. And no parties.” Doctor Kim winks at me.
Oh, now he’s got jokes.