Chapter Twelve
WHEN JULIE STIRRED again, the dim light of the hospital room revealed Rodney and the stern-looking agent named Boss huddled in the corner, their heads bent close together as they spoke in hushed tones, a palpable tension hanging in the air. The moment their eyes met hers, they abruptly stopped their conversation, the sudden silence amplifying the beeping of the machines surrounding her. Rodney, his expression a mix of concern and urgency, approached her bedside while Boss quietly slipped out of the room, leaving an unsettling atmosphere in his wake.
“What’s going on?” Julie asked, her voice filled with confusion and concern as she tried to push herself into a sitting position, pressing against the sheets with only her right arm. The effort proved futile, and she let out a frustrated sigh, convinced that the task was simply impossible. Instead, she turned her gaze toward Rodney and asked, “Could you please bring me another pillow from the nurse’s station?” Almost instantly, however, she changed her mind. “Never mind. Just get Dr. Sanders in here as soon as possible. I need to go home,” she insisted, feeling the weight of her discomfort pressing down on her.
Rodney nodded thoughtfully, his brow slightly furrowing. He walked slowly to the door and opened it just enough to reveal a faint silhouette outside. They exchanged a few hushed words, the details lost to the quiet of the hallway. After a moment, he returned to her side, the warmth of his presence enveloping her like a comforting blanket.
He gently reached up, fingers brushing her cheek as he tucked a few rebellious strands of hair behind her ear, his touch tender and reassuring. His dark eyes searched hers for signs of discomfort, and with a soft, genuine smile, he asked, “How are you feeling?” His voice was low and soothing, filled with concern and care.
His tender touch—one she knew she should resist for the sake of her principles—sent exhilarating shivers cascading down her spine and wrapping around her toes, which she eagerly embraced. There was an undeniable allure about him that resonated deep within her soul. This gentle caress conveyed more than words ever could, whispering sweet nothings of his affection for her.
She swallowed and nodded against the pillow. “I’m okay.”
As if he suddenly understood what he had done, Rodney yanked his hand away and quickly sat in the chair. “Good. You’ll be able to go home now. Grits and Pup brought you a fresh outfit.”
“Weren’t they in the SUV behind us? What happened to them?” Panic gripped her heart as she realized she hadn’t thought about their small caravan. The image of the tail SUV facing the shooter filled her with dread, especially after Boss had floored the accelerator, leaving them all in a race against time and uncertainty. Every second felt like an eternity as fear gnawed at her insides, wondering if they were safe.
“They’re okay. They pursued the SUV that fired at you but lost it in city traffic. Red lights and everything.”
A shiver ran down Julie’s spine as the horrifying truth settled in—the shooter was still out there. Fear tightened its grip around her heart, each beat a reminder that her life hung precariously in the balance. Desperation clawed at her mind as countless questions raced through her thoughts, but the most agonizing of all remained unanswered: why was this nightmare happening to her?
Before Rodney could elaborate, Dr. Sanders entered with a warm smile. “Good afternoon, Dr. Banks. It’s comforting to see you awake. How’s your arm? Are you feeling any lingering pain?”
As Julie’s mind danced between thoughts and emotions, she noticed a persistent, throbbing ache that pulsed through her arm—an ache she felt was manageable, a testament to her resilience. Tentatively, she moved her arm, bracing for the sensation. A sharp twinge of pain flared momentarily before it subsided, leaving her with a lingering awareness of her body’s fragility.
She wouldn’t have said anything if it hurt at all because she was ready to leave the hospital. “Everything seems normal. I’m ready for discharge.”
“Understood. I’ll begin the discharge documentation process. In the meantime, a sling will be applied to support your arm for several days until you can move it more freely without pain. Additionally, a physical therapist will visit to provide you with specific exercises designed to maintain strength in your arm.”
Julie nodded, having anticipated this process and often recommended it throughout her career. “Thanks, Jeffrey.”
More somberly, Dr. Sanders said, “Julie, I hope you can outrun whatever is after you. I heard about the bomb, and now this. Please take care of yourself.”
A thick, heavy knot lodged in her throat, constricting her breath. She desperately avoided the horrifying memory of the bomb attached to her car, the chilling connection between that explosive threat and her current predicament hanging like a dark cloud over her. Reality was relentless, no matter how much she wished to bury her head in the sand. It was serious—someone was determined to see her dead.
Clearing her throat with a slight rasp, she said, “Thanks.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. She nodded slightly as Dr. Sanders exited the room, his calm demeanor and reassuring presence leaving her to her thoughts and unease—and Rodney.
As Julie waited to be discharged, Stacy and Laura hurried into the room and rushed to her bedside.
Laura embraced her. “Stacy called me as soon as she found out you were in surgery. How are you? What happened?”
Stacy pushed Laura aside and then bent down to hug her as well. “Chill, Laura. Are you okay?” she asked Julie.
A loud throat clearing caught Julie’s attention. “I’ll be outside if you need me,” Rodney said before stepping out of the room.
She watched him leave, convinced they had experienced a breakthrough and could possibly consider themselves friends. Yet, her current friends wouldn’t allow her to dwell on that now. They were eager for details.
Laura deferred to Stacy. “You take the seat. You’re on your feet all day while I sit behind a desk.” As a medical billing and coding expert at a medical practice, Stacy spent all day sitting, which she hated. She often tried to persuade her employer to buy a standing desk to improve her leg circulation, even though there was no real issue with them.
Stacy sat and nodded at Laura. “Thank you.” She then turned to Julie. “Are you okay?”
Julie’s heart swelled with gratitude, tears threatening to spill as she felt the overwhelming warmth of her friends’ thoughtfulness. Their urgent presence in a moment of chaos spoke volumes about the depth of their care. “I’m fine,” she whispered, trying to suppress the emotions surging within her.
“Is that sexy guy in your room the one you told us about? The one who’s been your shadow for a few days?” Laura beamed. “He’s hot. You should hit that.”
Julie raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Hit that? What are you, sixteen?”
Laura fidgeted. “It’s what the young women at work say.”
“Well, I’m not going to hit that. He’s my bodyguard, and that’s all.” Julie couldn’t believe she had said “bodyguard,” but it was true. There was no point in hiding it any longer. The shooting brought everything to light.
“So?” Laura asked, arching an eyebrow. “Haven’t you seen that movie with the bodyguard?”
Stacy rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. “Yeah, but do you remember how it ended?”
Laura sighed, her confidence faltering. “Oh, right. So, what happened today?”
Julie hadn’t talked with Rodney about what she could and couldn’t share with her friends, but she wouldn’t hide the truth about this situation, which made her feel better. She hated lying to them. So, she relayed her morning, including the call from her attorney regarding court.
“Attorneys can be so narrow-minded,” Laura said. “They just want you to cover your rear. If you ask me—”
Stacy interjected, “We didn’t ask because we already know your stance on the situation. Yes, we agree that Julie and her partner did nothing wrong, so they shouldn’t be getting sued.”
That summed up her friends’ views on the case, but Julie wasn’t personally being sued. The medical practice and Dr. Garcia were. She was merely an unfortunate person caught in the middle.
“What are you going to do?” Stacy asked. “It doesn’t sound safe for you, even with the bodyguard.”
That moment flooded Julie with emotions, recalling the deep despair she had seen in Rodney’s eyes as he revealed his helplessness in protecting her. It broke her heart to witness him bear that burden, and she felt an intense urge to reach out, to help him realize it wasn’t his fault—that sometimes, life unfolded in ways they couldn’t control. But now, she had to reassure her friends that she would be okay, even though she had no idea what her life plan was after leaving the hospital.
“I honestly don’t know,” she admitted. “We haven’t discussed it yet.” She was concerned Rodney might send her into hiding at the safe house he mentioned earlier. Not that she didn’t want to hide, but with so many people depending on her, she couldn’t. They needed to devise a solution that would allow her to help her patients.
“Do the police have any idea who’s doing this to you?” Laura asked, sitting at the end of the bed near Julie’s feet. So much for her sitting too much.
Julie had no idea. She expected a visit from the police, but since she had been asleep for most of her time in the hospital, they must have come and gone. She was certain Rodney had sent them away, wanting to speak only with the chief of police because of their professional relationship.
She also wondered what had happened to the people who had worked with Rodney and were investigating. No word about their status had reached her—even when she’d eavesdropped. It seemed they were back at square one. This heightened her fear of not knowing whether a colleague, patient—past or present—or stranger was out to hurt her. How was she supposed to function?
“I don’t know,” Julie finally said, shaking her head. “I haven’t heard anything, but I’ve been out of it since they brought me to the hospital.”
“If you ask me—” Laura started, pointing her finger as though she meant to emphasize a point.
“No one did,” Stacy interrupted, cutting her off. “Now we just want you to be safe.”
Laura nodded. “Yeah, we do.” Then she smiled. “Would you share one of those cuties at the door with me?”
It took a moment, but soon, the women burst into giggles. Their laughter was delightful, allowing her to forget how her life had fallen apart momentarily. “Go for it. I’m falling all over them.” Then she added, “Just watch out for the one they call ‘Pup.’ He talks incessantly about dogs.”
“I love dogs!” Laura exclaimed, her smile illuminating the room.
Julie laughed and said, “Yeah. You’re not really that crazy about them.”
As the three women engaged in light-hearted conversation, Julie felt relief. Despite the burden of her troubles, she found comfort in the presence of friends—an unwavering support system she could always depend on. With Rodney now part of that circle, she needed to dismantle the professional facade that had kept them apart, allowing herself to be vulnerable and authentic. This openness defined what true friendship really meant.
In the wake of Rodney's loss, her need for connection resonated deeply with him, compelling her to become a confidante. She sensed he needed someone to lean on, someone who could help him reclaim the parts of himself that grief had overshadowed. Julie was determined to be that anchor for him, supporting his healing and helping him find redemption.
Now, the question that lingered in her mind: How could she weave their journeys of healing and growth together? That was her dilemma.