Chapter 9 #2
Nick knew that the doctor was talking about Ruth, but it was strange to see the picture before him through any other eyes than his own.
"I'm glad she was here for Katie."
The doctor put his hand on Nick's shoulder. "I can go through the chart with you and the films from the Xrays and CAT scan.
With one more longing look at the two asleep in the bed, Nick got up from his chair and gestured to the open area outside of Katie's room. "Let's talk out there. I'd rather not disturb their sleep unless we have to."
Doctor Nelson nodded and followed him to the doorway.
When they stopped just outside of the glass walled room the doctor gave him a smile. "I don't know how much you heard before you got here."
Nick shook his head. "What I did hear was mostly lost in the rush of blood pounding through my ears."
Doctor Nelson's rueful smile said he understood. "If something had happened to my daughter, even now that she's about to turn thirty, I would feel the same way."
Nick's expression must have been easily read by the doctor.
"No matter how old they get, they'll always be our little girls."
Nick lifted the back of his hand to wipe away sudden tears. He shook his head and mumbled an apology to the doctor. "I don't usually tear up like this."
The doctor's expression spoke volumes. "I understand." He took a step to the side and leaned his shoulder against the wall.
Nick understood. The other man must spend most of his working hours on his feet.
"Apparently, there was a missing carpet or something at the edge of the dance floor. During a run through, Katie didn't anticipate the slick hardwood under her ballet shoes."
Nick nodded. Over the years, Katie had told him a lot about what went on behind the scenes, or in this case, in the wings.
"Her feet slipped out from under her and she fell to the floor. No one is exactly sure if she hit her head just the once or if there was a bounce." The doctor reached out a hand and set it down on Nick's shoulder. "Are you okay hearing this?"
Nick nodded. "She's alive and she's going to be okay. I can hear it."
Doctor Nelson smiled and lowered his hand to his side.
"Katie was unconscious for a minute or two, but she came around quickly.
She was lucid and more embarrassed than scared.
" Doctor Nelson turned on the iPad he'd been carrying under his arm.
"Katie's mom gave me a complete run down of the facts.
I gather she'd been nearby when it happened.
From what Katie said, her mom took control of the whole situation.
Later when Katie's films came back she almost collapsed with relief.
Katie ended up comforting her for a bit.
" Doctor Nelson gave him a knowing look.
"You've got a great family, Mister Stone. "
"That I do. And call me Nick."
Doctor Nelson nodded. "Okay, Nick. Let me walk you through Katie's scans and if you have any questions, I'll answer them as long as another emergency doesn't call me away.
" He held out iPad and Nick took it in his hands.
"Katie's discharge papers are already on file.
You can take them home as soon as we're done here, or let them sleep for a bit.
We have a bunch of empty rooms tonight."
Nick smiled at the offer. "Thanks. It looks like they're both worn out."
Doctor Nelson nodded and pointed to the image on the screen. "Okay, this first image..."
RUTH
Woke up slowly. The first thing she registered was the cold fluorescent lights across the room.
She was definitely not at home.
And the rolling cart that passed by the doorway was enough to remind her exactly where she was.
She leaned back and looked down at Katie, still blissfully asleep on the surprisingly cushy hospital pillow.
Ruth lifted her hand and brushed her knuckles against Katie's cheek.
She'd seen others do that same gesture with their children and while she'd understood it on a human basis, she'd never really understood the feeling behind it.
Now, she did.
Ruth hoped that she'd have the chance to protect Katie and yes, care for her for years to come.
That is...
"You're awake."
She smiled at the warmth in Nick's voice and turned her head in his direction. He got up from the chair at Katie's bedside and leaned over, placing a kiss on her lips. A slow, gentle kiss before he stood back up.
"You got here okay?"
He dropped his chin and gave her a look. A look that asked if she really questioned it.
"I was just worried," she let out a breath, "knowing that you'd be worried. I didn't want you to take any risks."
He smiled at that. "One of my guys drove me over. I was worried about the same thing. He had someone bring a car around for us. It's in the parking lot. The keys are at the nurses station. As soon as you two are ready to go-"
"Dad?"
Ruth watched the big and burly man she'd fallen in love with turn to mush as soon as his daughter called him dad.
Yes, she'd fallen in love with her next door neighbor.
And his daughter.
"Hey, sweetie." Nick leaned in and placed a kiss on Katie's cheek and before he could pull away, Katie turned and wrapped her arms around Nick's neck.
"Dad, you're here!"
The achingly sweet tone of her voice warmed Ruth's heart and soul.
"I got her as quickly as I could."
Ruth heard the sadness in his voice.
"It just wasn't fast enough. Sorry, Katydid."
Ruth felt the pull of love between the two. "Katie was so brave, Nick. She kept calm. Better than I did."
Katie turned to look at her with a sweet almost-glare of reprimand.
"You were a rock, Miss Baker! Everyone said so.
Dad," Katie looked at her dad. "She never left my side, dad.
She held my hand and while the EMT's moved me to the ambulance she climbed right up into the ambulance with me, too! She didn't even let go of my hand."
Katie relaxed her hold on her dad's neck and reached out to take Ruth's hand in her own.
"Thanks again, Miss Baker. I... I was scared at first. I don't think I've ever been unconscious before."
Ruth reached out her free hand and gave Katie a gentle rub on her back. "You were scared, Katie. Anyone would be, but you were brave, too."
Katie gave her a wincing smile. "I didn't know if there were any kids around. I didn't want them to be scared, too."
Every day she was finding more and more reasons to admire Katie.
"You've got so much courage to do what you do, Katie. I can't imagine getting on stage the way you do."
Katie yawned.
Even though they'd both been sleeping for at least an hour, Ruth understood the feeling. "You ready to go home, sweetie?"
Katie beamed at her. "Absolutely! I want to go home and crawl into my own bed and hug all of my stuffed animals at once!"
Ruth looked at Nick to give his shirt pocket a pat.
"I've got her discharge papers right here. The staff was happy to let you two sleep for as long as you could."
Nick got up and crossed the room to lean out into the main area of the Emergency Room.
Ruth could tell the moment he got someone's attention. He lifted his hand and nodded.
When he turned back he tilted his head back toward the door. "They're going to bring us a wheelchair. It's hospital rules. As soon as they do, we'll head out to the parking lot and head on home."
It was probably horrible for her to think it, but she was a little sad that they were heading home.
She wished that Katie had never been hurt. That went without saying.
Ruth just didn't look forward to heading home.
Alone.
She tried to keep all of those thoughts off of her face.
She smiled as brightly as she could when Katie looked up at her.
"You're coming with us, right, Miss Baker?"
Ruth smiled. "If you can drop me off at the theater," she looked at Nick hoping that he could help her out, "that would be great. I have to get my car."
Nick shook his head and her hard won smile threatened to fall to pieces.
"I'll have someone pick up your car for you if you can give me your keys. There's no way I'm dropping you off at the theater to drive home after all of the excitement today."
She nodded. His words made sense. "Thanks, Nick. I know you and Katy are probably going to relax tonight. You both deserve it."
"Dad?" Katie crooked her finger at her father and he leaned in to listen to what she had to say.
Ruth turned around to make sure they were going to take everything from the room that they'd brought in with them. When she'd picked up her purse and Katie's dance bag and someone had brought it from the dressing room, she turned back to see father and daughter looking expectantly at her.
"What's going on?"
Katie grinned and Nick spoke.
"Katie and I want to know if you'd like to stay over tonight."
Ruth's instinct was to decline the offer.
It wasn't that she didn't want to stay.
The problem was how much she did.
"Please, Miss Baker? For me?"
Ruth knew hours ago as she'd held Katie's hand that she was likely to agree to anything Katie wanted from her.
It was just too easy to fall for the young lady who seemed to be growing by leaps and bounds every single day.
"Ruth?"
She turned her head ever-so-slightly to look at Nick.
"We'd really like for you to stay."
It was all too easy to open her mouth and agree. "Sure. I'd love to."
Katie beamed at her and Nick gave her a look that melted her like the chocolate she used to cover truffles.
She knew she was lost in love for this father and daughter.
Lost and somehow found as well.
She just had to hope that she didn't make a mess of everything.