Chapter 9
Spike woke up, wincing as knives stabbed at his head.
Fuck, that hurt.
He breathed through the pain, and tried to raise his hand to rub at his temples. Only his hand was stuck. Glancing down, surprise filled him as he saw Millie sleeping on the chair next to his bed.
He frowned.
Where the fuck was he? What was going on and why was Millie sleeping in a fucking chair and not a bed?
Anger filled him as he glanced around, taking in the room.
Fuck. It suddenly came back to him. He’d been in an accident.
Some asshole had run a red light and smashed into his truck.
It could have been worse. So much worse.
And now he was in a hospital bed with his girl sleeping in a fucking chair.
Nope. Not good enough.
Millie needed her sleep. He’d make sure of that once he got them both back home.
Fuck. He just remembered that they had house guests.
Where was Damon? He’d been here last night. Why hadn’t he taken Millie home with him?
Suddenly, his girl sat up with a gasp, terror in her face. She glanced around frantically.
Fuck. He hated seeing her like this. So scared.
“Baby doll, it’s all right. You’re safe. You’re okay.”
Her gaze went immediately to him, relief filling her face. “Daddy! You’re here. I was having a . . . dream . . .” She glanced around and seemed to realize where they were. “It wasn’t a dream, was it?”
“No.”
She stood, leaning over him. “How do you feel, Daddy? Do you need anything? Water? Your head?—”
“Millie,” he interrupted her.
“You must need some painkillers,” she muttered, ignoring him. “I’ll get the nurse.”
“Millie,” he said more firmly.
“Where’s the buzzer? I can’t see it. Never mind. Just wait here and I’ll go find someone to help you.” She brushed back her hair, looking frazzled and unsure.
His baby doll should never have to worry about anything.
“Millie, eyes on me.” This time, he kept his voice low and strong. He wasn’t going to let her wander off. Who knew what sort of trouble she’d find? With Millie, anything was possible.
Her gaze hit his and he took her in. She looked so damn tired. She was pale with dark marks under her eyes.
“You didn’t have any business sleeping the night in a chair,” he grumbled.
Fuck. That wasn’t what he’d meant to say.
“I couldn’t leave you!”
“You should have. You need more sleep. Damon should have made you leave.”
She sniffled. “I can’t believe you’d be so mean.”
What? Why was she so upset? He wasn’t trying to be mean, he was looking after her.
“Baby doll, I’m not being mean. You need some proper rest.”
“I slept.”
“In a chair,” he grumbled.
“I wouldn’t have slept at home,” she told him in a raw voice. “I would have been too worried about you.”
Fuck.
She was right. And he was being a grump.
“Sorry, baby. Come here.” He held out his hand to her.
She shook her head. “I can’t . . . I have to go get the nurse for you.”
“Baby. Please. I need to hold you.” And he thought she needed that too.
“I shouldn’t.” But she moved closer and he grabbed her hand, tugging her up onto the bed with him. He gathered her close, his arm around her while she rested her head on his chest.
She yawned. “Oops. Sorry. Tired.”
“Just rest, baby,” he murmured.
“But I should get the nurse for you.”
“I’m fine.” He had a killer headache and every movement hurt. But as long as she was all right, then so was he.
It wasn’t long until she was breathing more deeply. He had no idea what time it was, but he figured it was still early. So he closed his eyes. He’d just get a few more minutes of sleep.
Spike wokeup as someone slipped into his room. A nurse had been in and out all night. It was nearly impossible to get a decent sleep.
He couldn’t wait until he was at home. Then he could take care of his girl better. Spike knew that she was upset by everything that had happened. He couldn’t even imagine how he would react if he’d been in her shoes, waiting for her to come home and she didn’t return.
Yeah. He’d fucking lose it.
So she was holding herself together remarkably well.
However, this time it wasn’t a nurse, it was Damon. And he was holding two takeaway coffee cups.
“Where have you been?” Spike grumbled.
Damon raised his eyebrows. “I stayed here all night, but I needed to go home to check on Effie and Grady and shower. Then I figured I’d get some coffee. I didn’t really sleep so I need the boost.”
Okay, so he hadn’t left.
And you’re being a grumpy fuck.
Spike grunted. “Sorry. I just don’t like that she slept in a chair all night.”
“I get it. I got them to bring in a bed.” Damon nodded over to a cot that Spike hadn’t noticed. “But she kept getting out and sitting next to you. I think she wanted to touch you.”
Spike sighed. “Yeah, she can be stubborn.”
“Really?” Damon drawled. “Pot, meet kettle.”
Spike glowered at him. Asshole. “Give me the coffee.”
“These aren’t for you. Caffeine isn’t good when you have a concussion.”
“Who the fuck says?” he demanded, then regretted it when Millie stirred and sat up.
Fuck.
“Baby doll, go back to sleep,” he told her in a gentler voice
“I . . . what? I fell asleep? Drat.” Her head moved around as she climbed off the bed. “Damon?”
“Hey, sweetheart,” Damon said, his entire body softening as he moved over to Millie. “I got you coffee.”
“You did?” She reached out and took the coffee cup. “That’s why you’re my favorite.”
“I’m your favorite,” Spike grumbled, knowing that he was acting like a jealous ass, but unable to stop himself.
She spun toward him, then tripped. On what, Spike had no idea, but pain flooded him when he attempted to catch her.
Thankfully, Damon grabbed her, managing to keep her upright while still holding his coffee.
“Oh drat! Sorry!” she said. “I tripped.”
Spike attempted to breathe through the pain. Fucking hell. It felt like he’d been run over by a train. Then a van. Then another train.
“Over what?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“Nothing. My own stupid feet. Oh, Daddy, are you all right?”
Stupid feet?
Nope. Not having that.
“None of you is stupid,” he said. Or he attempted to. But he was also trying not to vomit. So maybe it came out garbled.
Then he felt her cool hand on his face, soothing him. It helped break through the pain. He focused on her touch and not the stabbing agony in his brain.
“Just breathe,” she said in a quiet voice. “I’m here. I’m sorry I’m such a klutz. I’ll try to be better.”
Fuck that.
He wanted her just the way she was.
“You’re perfect. Never forget that.”
She didn’t say anything.
“And I’m keeping track of every time you’re down on yourself. There’s going to be a reckoning if you keep this up.”
“You just concentrate on feeling better.”
He could do that. And keep an eye on her.
That was his job.
Damon tookthe coffee mug from her hand as he led her to a chair out in the waiting room. Probably a smart idea. She wasn’t sure how she hadn’t spilled that coffee all over herself when she’d tripped over nothing.
Stupid idiot.
The nurse had come in and kicked them out of Spike’s room. Millie didn’t understand why she couldn’t stay.
“I wanted to stay with him,” she said with a small pout.
“I know, sweetheart. But I’m guessing they want to get him into the bathroom.”
“So? I could have helped.” It wasn’t as though he hadn’t helped her in the bathroom plenty of times.
“I know,” he soothed as he led her to a chair and waited until she’d sat to hand her coffee back to her. “But you know how Spike is. Independent and stubborn.”
She snorted. He had that right.
“You know he’s going to be a terrible patient, right?” Damon asked as he sat next to her.
Millie took a sip of her coffee. Ahh. Nectar of the Gods. She felt yuck. She needed a shower. A change of clothes. No doubt she looked a fright.
But for now, this coffee would have to suffice.
“I know. I’m going to force him to let me take care of him, though.”
“Good luck with that, sweetheart. Maybe you should both move in with me. Until he’s feeling better.”
She frowned. It was a kind offer. But she wanted to be in her own home, surrounded by her own things. And she was certain that Spike would feel the same way.
“Thanks. But I have this. I can take care of him.”
“Not doubting that, Millie,” he reassured her. “But who is going to take care of you?”
Surprised filled her at his words. “I can take care of myself. I did it before I met Spike.”
“Not to insult you, sweetheart, but you constantly found yourself in trouble before you met him.”
“I did not!” She thought that over. “Well, okay, I did a bit. But I have got this. And I’d rather be home. Oh shoot!”
“What is it?” he asked.
“I just remembered that my friends are staying the week with us. I hope they’re all right. I wasn’t there to show them their bedrooms or cook them dinner. And everything is still outside from the Easter egg hunt.”
“Everything is being taken care of,” he reassured her. “Effie and Grady went back to your place yesterday after they left here. Duke, Sunny, and some of the others did too. They tidied everything up and made sure your friends settled in all right.”
Relief filled her. “Thank you. All of you. I’m so grateful.”
“That’s what family is for, sweetheart.”