40. Gabby
40
Gabby
S unlight peeks through the curtain and pierces my eyes. I turn my head from the offending light. My body feels heavy, like I’ve been buried in weighted blankets. I can’t stand weighted blankets. I remember Michelle saying she thinks they are the best invention ever, but I don’t like the feeling of being held down. I blink my eyes open to move the troublesome blanket but realize that only a light sheet is covering me. It’s my own body that feels like lead.
I wiggle my toes in an attempt to wake up my feet. A tickly, tingly sensation shoots up my legs. I wiggle my fingers next. My one hand moves freely, but my other hand is stuck. With the energy of a sloth, I lift my head up a bit to see what’s trapping my hand. Another hand. Another hand is holding my hand through the rails of the bed. A hospital bed. I’m in the hospital all the time but not as the patient. I don’t need to follow the hand up to its owner because I’d know that hand anywhere.
Alex is sleeping in a chair next to me with his feet propped up on another. The usual stubble on his face is much fuller. I wonder how long I’ve been here, how long he’s been here, and who the hell put in these IVs?
“Al—” I try to call his name, but my mouth and throat are a dry, sandy mess. I try to say his name again to no avail. I resort to wiggling my fingers that remain under his heavy palm. He shifts at the feeling but doesn’t wake. I move my fingers in a scratching motion. That seems to do the trick. His eyes flicker open. We stare at each other for a moment before he leaps from his chair.
“Oh my God, you’re awake!” He cradles my head and places kisses all over me. He pulls back and sees the confusion written all over my face. “Do you know where you are? Do you remember what happened? Oh God! Do you know who I am? Wait a second!” He runs over to a table and comes back with a cup of water. Hallelujah!
With a shaky hand, I take a small testing sip. I can feel every drop of the cool liquid absorb into my body. I take a larger sip and then another. Alex watches me with wide eyes.
“Do you…umm…do you remember anything?” he asks.
I swallow another sip of water and test my voice. “I-I don’t know. What am I doing here? Was I in an accident or something?”
“You were attacked trying to protect one of your patients.” His face falls. It’s then I notice the dark circles under his red, puffy eyes.
“Brianna.” A blurry memory comes to the forefront of my mind and I wince as searing pain rips through my torso.
“Where does it hurt?” Alex grabs the nurse call button and presses it.
“Here.” My voice sounds gravelly as I wave my hand over my middle section. “Where’s Brianna? Is she okay?”
“Thanks to you, she is. She said you used your body to block her from her father. You have a lot of severe bruising and—” He pauses to take a deep, shaky breath. “He stabbed you.” Tears begin to streak down his face. He uses the hem of his shirt to wipe his bloodshot eyes. “I could’ve lost you.”
“Alex.” I hold out my hand to grasp his. My heart sinks, looking at the agony written all over his face. “You would’ve done the same thing. I don’t regret what I did. She was so scared.”
“I just wish I were there to protect you.” He brings my hand up to his lips.
“Did someone press the call button?” a familiar voice calls from behind the curtain.
“Yeah, Emily, she’s awake.” Alex doesn’t take his eyes off me.
A young nurse with dark eyes and a long braid down to her waist walks in. Her rose-colored scrubs look like they were tailored to her body, and the metal stem of the stethoscope around her neck catches in the sunlight. I don’t know Emily well, but I’ve heard several doctors sing her praises about the attention she gives to her patients. I smile, realizing that my care team was most likely handpicked.
“It’s nice to see you awake.” Emily checks my IV.
“Please tell me what happened.” I look at my nurse. “I know if I ask him, he’ll try to sugarcoat everything.”
Alex harumphs in his seat while Emily takes over my care. I know he doesn’t want to worry me, but not knowing will make it worse.
“You’re in good shape, all things considered. You were stabbed in the abdomen. We had trouble controlling the bleeding, so you were sent for an exploratory laparotomy. Thankfully, the attacker missed all your vital organs. We’re running antibiotics in case of infection. You have a few compression fractures to your spine. You’ll be making a fashion statement with that back brace for a few weeks. ”
“Ugh.” I lean my head back. That’s also why I feel like I’m being held down. “He slammed me up against the door. What happened to him…the…um…father?”
“Greg,” Alex answers with his lips pursed tight. “He was taken into custody before I got a chance to beat the bastard’s ass. They’re holding him on assault charges, violation of a restraining order, and a laundry list of other things.”
I reach out to touch Alex’s face and am surprised by the amount of stubble. “How long ago did this happen?”
“Two days,” Alex answers. “You’ve been asleep for most of the time. You’d stir every now and then, but the pain meds kept knocking you back out.”
“And this guy has not left your side.” Emily gives a wink only I can see. My heart melts knowing this loving man has stuck with me. Not that I’d expect anything less. I have never once doubted his love for me.
“The guys at the station are taking turns covering for me. They knew I wouldn’t be in the right frame of mind to work.” Alex’s phone pings. “Peanut is looking for updates. According to Carter, she’s been stress-baking twenty-four seven.”
“Tell her I’m fine and she can come visit anytime, but please don’t bring anything to eat.” I fight back the pain in my lower half and adjust myself in the bed. I love her food, but I don’t see myself indulging in anything anytime soon.
“Will do.” He nods and types something into his phone.
“Aly must be a worried mess.” I can’t imagine how she took the news, between her anxiety and her heightened emotions during pregnancy.
“Legs is doing well. She’s pretty distracted right now.” Alex’s face twists into an odd smirk.
“Oh?” I say, confused, and then it hits me. “Oh my God! Did she have the baby? ”
I try to shift in my hospital bed with a surge of adrenaline. I don’t know where she is, but I want to be there for her.
“It happened the night you were attacked.” Alex stands to fluff my pillow. “She went into labor during the storm and had the baby at home. Well…our home. On the couch, specifically.”
“Wait. Don’t tell me you delivered J.J.” I gasp.
“All nine pounds, two ounces of him.” Alex puffs out his chest.
“Are they here?” I can’t believe I missed two days of baby snuggles.
“I think they’re getting discharged today.”
“More like right now,” Aly’s voice sounds from the doorway. A nurse pushes her wheelchair while Jax walks beside them, holding a baby carrier.
“No. Way!” I fight through the pain to sit up straighter. I already want to rip this back brace off me.
“Hold on, let me help you.” Alex puts his arms under mine and lifts me a bit.
“I insisted that you meet our newest family member before we left.” Aly lifts up from her chair to give me a hug. “I’m so happy you’re okay,” she says into my ear. “I wanted to come up and visit you, but I wasn’t allowed to leave maternity. Alex did a great job giving us updates, though.”
“I’m so sorry I missed J.J.’s birth,” I tell my friend as she pulls away from our embrace.
“Everything worked out.” She sits back in the wheelchair. “You should’ve seen Alex take charge of the situation. I knew we were in good hands.”
“Can we not talk about that part?” Jax mumbles as he gently unbuckles his newborn son from his carrier .
“Let me guess. Alex wants you to name J.J. after him now.” I try to stifle a laugh. I know it will hurt like hell if I do, but it feels so good to be surrounded by many of the people I love.
“Of course he does.” Jax rolls his eyes and moves closer to me. “Would you like to hold him?” He looks down at his baby boy.
I’m so excited, I can barely get the words out, so I opt to nod vigorously. Alex grabs a pillow to help steady me, and Jax places the most peaceful-looking baby into my arms.
“He’s so perfect,” I gush, taking in his chubby cheeks and button nose.
It’s at that moment I realize that I want the type of life Jax and Aly have. Heck, I always wanted to get married and start a family of my own. The only thing holding me back was fear. I look up at Alex, who watches me with all the adoration in the world, and I know he’s thinking what I’m thinking.
The next time he proposes will be the last time. I want to spend the rest of my life with this man.