Chapter Fifteen
Tessa rubbed her temple. She’d had a headache for a few hours and knew she should take some aspirin, but the day had been crazy, and she hadn’t had a chance yet.
The phone rang at the nurse’s station. “Hello.”
“I need one of you nurses to come down to the ER and get a child that needs to be on your floor. She’s been sitting in the room for over an hour, and we need the bed. It’s been crazy today. Must be a full moon.”
Tessa looked around and couldn’t see anyone. “I understand. It’s been like that here, too. I’ll be right down.” She called down to the main desk. “Is there a security guard available?”
“Not right now. They are having an issue in the ER. All the orderlies are busy, too. I can send one up as soon as they’re free.”
She couldn’t wait that long. If all the security was needed, something bad had to be going on, and she wanted to get the child out of there. “No, that’s fine. Thank you.”
Tessa hung up and headed for the elevator. She knew she’d be fine if she used the elevator because there was always someone on them. She made it to the level the ER was on and headed that way. A hand came out of one of the closets, and before she could understand what was happening, he pulled her into it.
Her first look at the man made her blood run cold. Pierce. How the hell had he gotten into the hospital? When she recognized the orderly uniform he was wearing, it made sense.
The man hit the side of her head, making her head spin. She saw the duct tape he pulled out of his pocket and tried to fight.
“You fucking cunt. You’ve made my life a living hell, and you’ll pay for it.”
“They’ll catch you, and then you’ll be arrested,” she cried out.
He tore off some tape and tied her hands together, the next one went over her mouth. The whole time, she struggled and pleaded. When the tape went on, it dug into her skin and made it hard to breathe.
She kept fighting him, but he would hit her wherever he could reach. When he started to pull her to the floor, her efforts doubled, and she started kicking. Things on the shelves started to fall to the floor. He had her pants over her hips, and then the closet door opened suddenly.
“Oh, my God! We need security. A nurse is getting attacked!”
Several people came into the room and dragged Pierce off of her. She was still fighting and trying to scream until a woman knelt beside her.
“Hey, you’re from Pediatrics,” she said. “I’m here to help you. It’s okay now. The guy is down. I’m going to take the tape off, okay?”
Tessa nodded. She felt like she was being smothered because of the snot from her crying, clogging her nostrils. She took in a huge breath when the nurse pulled it off. She lay still on the floor, trying to calm her heart rate as the woman cut off the tape from her hands.
“We’ve got a stretcher here for you. We’re going to take you to the ER.”
Tessa shook her head and then grimaced.
“You have blood on your temple, and your lip is split. There might be more wrong we can’t see.”
Tessa reluctantly nodded. “Can you call Peds and tell them what happened? I’ve got several patients today.”
“Yes. Let’s get you on the gurney first.”
Tessa was helped by two nurses and taken to the gurney. She heard a ruckus and looked down the hall to see Pierce being dragged down the hallway and several cops with the security guys.
“When you talk to the nurses on my floor have one of them call my guy.”
“Sure. Let’s get you in a cubicle first,” the nurse said. “It’s finally dying down, so you’ll be able to see the doctor quickly.”
“What about the child I was supposed to take up?” Tessa asked.
“Another nurse from the ER is taking her up now.”
Tessa sighed and relaxed. She’d done everything she could for the moment and just wanted to rest.
She must have fallen asleep because when she opened her eyes, Michelle was standing by her side, tears running down her cheeks.
“Oh, God. I about had a heart attack when they told me what happened.”
“Who’s up on our floor?”
“Don’t worry about that. Nicole is calling in a few nurses early. I called Dominik, and he’s on his way.”
Tessa nodded. The bright light made her head feel like it was splitting apart. Someone put a warm blanket over her.
“Hello, I see you’re a nurse here. I’m new, so we haven’t met yet. I’m Doctor Tremont.”
“Hi,” Tessa said.
“You’re in shock, which is normal. The nurse is starting an IV. Let’s take a look at your head.”
Tessa held still and then flinched when he touched the spot that Pierce had hit repeatedly. She was vaguely aware of the needle going into the back of her hand, but the pain in her head overshadowed it.
“Do you feel nauseous?” the doctor asked.
“No.”
“Let’s check your pupils.”
Tessa bit down on her lip when the pain soared through her. She grimaced again when she realized her lip was hurt.
“I don’t think you have a concussion, and if you do, it’s a mild one, but I’d like to take a CAT scan just to make sure.”
Tessa didn’t want one and didn’t think she needed one, but she was too tired to argue.
Michelle patted her arm. “I’ll wait here for Dominik.”
“Thank you,” Tessa said as they wheeled her away.
Thirty minutes later, they were wheeling her back. Her first look at Dominik made her stomach tighten. It looked like he was about ready to lose it. He visibly relaxed when he saw her and took her hand when they got her in place.
“Jesus, Angel. How do you feel?”
“I’m going to be just fine. My head hurts a bit, but they’ll give me pain meds as soon as the doctor sees the scan.”
His eyes traveled over her face, and he was careful when he touched her cheek.
She knew she probably looked like a mess.
“I received your scan,” the doctor said. “It looks fine, so I can give you something for the pain. I also won’t keep you overnight if you have someone with you.”
“I’ll be there with her every minute,” Dominik said without looking at the other man.
“Good.” The doctor said something to the nurse.
Tessa relaxed when she felt the medicine the nurse had given her start to mask the pain in her body.
“Is she hurt anywhere else?” Dominik asked.
“Mostly her head and arms, but you’ll find a few bruises on her legs. Her whole body will be sore tomorrow,” the doctor said. “I’ll send home a few pain pills if she needs them. She can also use Tylenol for the pain.”
Dominik nodded but still didn’t take his eyes off her.
The doctor handed the nurse a chart. “She’ll be ready to leave once the IV bag has emptied. I don’t want her to go to work for at least three days.”
She opened her mouth to argue but saw the determined look on Dominik’s face and stayed silent.
Michelle came closer and gripped her arm. “I’m going to head back up to our floor. Please call if there is anything I can do.”
Tessa smiled. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
The cubicle was silent as the nurse walked out but said she’d be back to check on the IV.
“I really need you to hold me,” she said.
He carefully picked her up and stepped over to the only chair in the room. She arranged her across his lap, making sure the IV wasn’t pulling. She tucked her face against his throat, relaxed, and fell asleep. The adrenaline and pain medicine they gave her made it impossible to stay awake. She heard voices and felt the tape being taken off her hand and then the needle sliding out.
“Take the blanket, and I’ll grab the bag her friend brought down and follow you out,” the nurse said.
She felt him tuck her into the seat of his truck and put the seat belt on her. The rhythmic sound of the tires on the pavement put her deeper asleep. The next thing she knew, she was on their bed, and he was carefully taking her clothes off.
Tessa watched as he cataloged every scratch and bruise she received.
“Can I have a shower?”
He stared at her and then nodded. “I’ll be in there with you. You’re not strong enough to do it yourself.”
“That’s fine.” She was glad he would help her because she was still so drowsy and knew she wouldn’t be able to stand on her own for long.
Tessa thanked God for giving Dominik to her. She couldn’t see her life without him.