Chapter 2
Megan
The days dragged on in this damn place. Nurses in and out at all hours of the night. Check my blood pressure, checking my temperature, asking me how I’m feeling, changing bandages, and fussing over me. I didn’t like it. This was not the person I was. I didn’t like people worrying about me or trying to take care of me. It wasn’t worth it. I wasn’t worth it.
Dr. Arthur had been in an hour ago to check on me and order another CT scan to make sure that there is still no bleeding on the brain or anything worse. I swear I am done with hospitals and doctors after this. Not that he wasn’t easy on the eyes. He truly was. I thought of Ryan almost nightly. Reliving the fight over and over again in my head. Ally says I need to stop thinking about it and that he was just seven levels of bad. I mean, she wasn’t wrong.
How many times a week did he text me saying I was worthless, useless, and horrible in bed? How many times in a month have I been accused of cheating on him with a friend or some random person online? How many times did he tell me that I said something I swear I never said?
What about all those things he would say when he was drunk? He would act as if nothing had happened. I never really thought about it, but he blamed me for every bad thing in his life. Didn’t matter if I was even part of his life at the time the bad shit happened to him. It was my fault. No wonder his one ex tried to message me. He always told me it was his exes’ fault the relationships never worked out. They cheated, they did drugs, they abandoned him in his time of need. I believed every word of it. Isn’t this the definition of gaslighting?
My sister Alice has stopped by a few times over the last two days to check in on me and to tell me she was right about him and that I needed to listen to her younger sibling wisdom. I told her that wasn’t a thing and she got pouty. I mean, she was right. I could admit it to her at least. Our parents on the other hand, no. Fuck that. I was not about to give my mother ammunition to hold over my head for the rest of my life. I’m still reminded of a car accident I was in 15 years ago. No thank you. Our family never let anything go. You fuck up once, it’s like you have a police record with the family to be used against you any time you make one small fucked up decision.
Our parents hadn’t come to see me yet. I knew eventually they would if I didn’t answer our mothers phone calls soon. Nothing against her, I just don’t have the energy to talk with anyone right now. Talking with the cops was as much energy as I was willing to give out at the moment.
Alice still sat in the chair, staring off at the tv as she flicked through the limited number of channels that we had available to us. It was 2 pm on a Tuesday, there wasn’t shit on except for reruns of Supernatural. Not complaining when she finally settles on the comfort show. Dean flashed across the screen, and I tried to remember the episode and what happened in it. Alice sighed at my side.
“You good?” I asked her, prying my eyes away from the handsome men on the tv. I was never a Sam girl, but I could see why people thought he was attractive.
“Are you seriously asking me if I’m okay?” she asked me. I guess I should’ve expected that. I know she was upset when she came into the room earlier. I know her. She isn’t going to let me have a moment of peace until I am safe and home and my face back to normal.
“Clearly, you’re sighing and huffing. And you stopped on Supernatural. It may be one of my favorite shows, but you couldn’t stand this show when it was on,” I say dryly to her.
“Okay, you’re right,” she sighed again. “I don’t like seeing you like this. I don’t like thinking that he hurt you. Mom got a call from his mom this morning. She was asking about you and how you are doing. She is worried about you. She isn’t happy with what he did to you, but she is afraid to come here,” Alice said. I can just imagine how our mother reacted to that phone call. I rolled my eyes. His mom wasn’t bad, she even tried to warn me. I should’ve at least listened to her.
“Great so mom is probably in such an amazing mood today,” I rolled my eyes and looked back over at the TV. Sam and Dean were arguing with Cas. Damn I wish I could remember what this episode was about!"
“Are you really focusing on the show right now?” she screeched at me. I rolled my eyes and looked at her.
“Yes, I am. I am tired. I have been stuck in a fucking hospital room and bed for days. I’ve had to relive the bullshit over and over and over. I know when I get out or when I finally talk to mom I will have to relive it over again because everyone loves to know details and put in their two cents about how they were right, and I should’ve saw the fucking signs. When you’re in it, you have fucking blinders on. If me trying to have some control by watching a show is a problem, please by all means, leave.” I snapped. She looked at me mouth agape like I said her dog got hit by a bus.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think about any of that,” she said quietly. And now I feel guilty again for speaking my mind. This shit is getting old. A knock came at my door and had my head snapping.
“Come in,” I called, suspicion rising. No nurses were due any time soon and very few people, as far as I knew, had a clue I was here. A tall, fit man walked into the room. Dark blue jeans, a tight black T-shirt and brown boots made their way to my bedside. His ocean blue eyes and light chestnut brown hair made him look like Dean Winchester met Chris Evans and had a baby. Who the hell was this?
“Pardon my intrusion,” he had a slight southern draw to his deep velvety voice. “I was wondering if I could talk to you Miss. Monroe.” The way my name slipped off his tongue was like pure fucking sin. Did I have a thing for a southern accent.
“You are?” my sister questioned from the other side of me, and I wanted to shoot her the biggest warning glare I could muster up.
“My name is Max. Officer Max Carter. I was the one who caught you in the parking lot of my station,” he replied, and just like that. A cold bucket of water was doused on the flames sparking in me. Yup, I should’ve known no one as attractive as him would be here to see me for anything more than information regarding the bullshit. I sighed.
“I told the officers everything I can remember,” I replied dryly. He laughed and looked at Alice.
“Would you mind if I talked to Miss. Monroe alone for a few minutes please miss?” He asked her all politely. Well, they did say southern boys were brought up right. Loving their momma and treating a woman like a queen. Guess I was born on the wrong side of the Mason Dixion.
“Of course, officer,” Alice replied, quickly grabbing her bag and phone. He did just save her from my wrath after all. “I’ll come back by tomorrow. I have to go pick up Mike from the airport in an hour anyway. I love you.” She hugged me gingerly before nodding her head at the officer and leaving the room.
“I didn’t mean to make her leave,” he said, apologetically. He looked at me and then at the flowers and cards. His eyes landed on a huge orange, yellow and red bouquet of roses in the corner. I hadn’t even checked who any of these were from. I probably should seeing as I have to send thank you cards as soon as I am out of the hospital. “Oh good, they did arrive.”
I looked at him walking over to the roses and turning them, so the array looked more like floral fire in a vase. They were beautiful. The only really beautiful ones in the bunch. “You sent those?” I asked, curiosity leaking into my voice.
“Yes, I hope you’re okay with that. You looked as if you could use a pick me up,” He smiled and gestured to the now vacated seat by the bed. “May I?” he asked softly. I nodded and he took his seat. I could make out some tattoos under the sleeves of his shirt, but I couldn’t focus on what they were.
“So, if you’re not here to ask me about that night, then why are you here?” I asked, hoping I wasn’t sounding rude or disrespectful.
“I’ve been checking in on you periodically. I made sure EMS got you here before heading to your house. Got clipped by a car pulling out of the driveway. Never would’ve expected that,” he chuckled to himself. The pang of guilt racked me again. If I would’ve stayed in the house, he wouldn’t have gotten hit by Ryan’s car.
“I’m sorry you got hurt,” I said, eyes glued to my hands as I wrung the blanket between my fingers. “I shouldn’t have went there and got you involved. Are you okay?” I looked up at him. A pure look of terror shot across his face.
“Please don’t ever say that again. You did the right thing, Miss. It is my job to serve and protect others. I know the risks of it, and I would gladly pay it, if it meant I saved one life.” He replied, pride in his voice. He looked at me and sighed. I wish people would stop sighing around me. It’s getting old. “You’re looking a lot better than you were when I first saw you. I’m glad of that.”
I felt my cheeks heat slightly, I couldn’t for the life of me wonder why he was coming to see me. “Do you always check up on girls you save?” I asked teasingly. It was his turn for his cheeks to blush a light pink. I guess not.
“No, Miss. I just didn’t like seeing a woman like yourself in danger and looking like you went a few rounds in a boxing ring,” he replied.
“My names Megan. You don’t have to keep calling me Miss. So, Officer Carter, what can I do for you,” I smiled with what I thought was a flirty smile, but who knows how I actually look. I felt like I was run over by a mac truck. Who’s to say I don’t look that way too. He smiled at me and looked over at the TV.
“Supernatural fan, huh? I’d have to say I think Cas and Crowley are my favorites,” he chuckled.
“Dean and Cas for me,” I replied, a more genuine smile took over my face. Nothing more was said, and nothing more was asked of me. He sat with me for the next few hours, as we watched Supernatural reruns.