Chapter 1 #4
With two men holding her on each side, one of them carrying what appeared to be their belongings, she realized that she was far more unsteady than she realized.
She was handed from the boat over onto a small platform, where she was then helped across to the submarine, getting wet in the process, but she didn’t really care.
She was soaked already from being out on the stupid front of the yacht.
By the time she made it inside and downstairs, she began to realize just how cold and numb she was and how bad this whole situation had gotten.
When they finally came to a stop, she was exhausted, and her feet were screaming at her.
Her blood circulation had been completely stymied during the hours or days of being tied up like that.
Not to mention the effects of the cold ocean waves and the lack of food and water.
Then suddenly she was helped up onto a bed and a big curtain was pulled around her for privacy. A female nurse stepped in, smiling, and greeted her. “That’s a hell of an ordeal you’ve been through.”
“How’s Ricky?” she asked, immediately trying to hop off the bed. “Where is he?”
“We’re doing a full assessment on him right now,” she replied, holding out her hand and gently pushing Naomi back down.
“You can’t be in there with him, but you are beside him.
He’s on the other side of the curtain, so no need to panic.
” Naomi frowned at the nurse, who added, “You’ve both been through a lot, and you feel responsible for him.
I get that, but he’s been handed over to us. You did your job. Now let us do ours.”
Naomi closed her eyes and whispered, “Please keep him alive.”
“We’ll do our best,” she declared, as she motioned Naomi to sit back down. “Now let me check you over, and then we’ll run some tests on you.”
“I’m fine,” she stated, trying to shrug her off.
“Yeah, but that cheekbone doesn’t look fine.
I don’t know whether it’s broken or just particularly bad bruising and swelling.
Either way, let’s make sure we look after both of you.
” Naomi wanted to protest, but the nurse stared at her sternly.
“This isn’t a case of either or,” she announced.
“Both of you will get treatment, and you’ll both be fine if you just do what you’re supposed to do.
… He’ll need you when he wakes up, so let’s make sure you are capable of being there for him. ”
“That’s not in question,” Naomi declared, glaring at her.
“Maybe, but I’ve seen all kinds of things in my career.
Some include situations where someone like you thinks they are fine, then they go to sleep and just never wake up,” the nurse shared.
“So, believe me when I say this. That’s not just a pretty bruise, and, apart from that obvious sign, the cold is very unforgiving. ”
She continued. “Now let me get started. Then you can get changed into these pajamas.” And, with that, she laid Naomi gently on her back and started checking her blood pressure and the rest of her vitals.
After writing down her notes, she dropped the clothing on the bed next to Naomi and said, “Now you can get changed, and the doctor will check in on you soon.”
When the nurse returned, Naomi was changed and lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
The female doctor arrived soon afterward.
“I’m fine,” she murmured, she just wanted to check on Ricky and be done with this.
That she hurt all over wasn’t the point.
She was also very cold and wondered if she would ever again feel warmth.
The doctor smiled. “I’m sure that you want to be fine, but you’re not quite as fine as you would like to think,” she clarified. “We’ll take some X-rays of that cheek.”
“It’s that bad?” Naomi asked, with a slightly worried tone. “I knew that the blows were landing hard, but I didn’t really think too much about how I would look,” she added. “I’m far more concerned about Ricky.”
“And that’s commendable,” the doctor replied, scratching away at the chart in her hand. “We’re all quite concerned about Ricky, but there is more to be done. So, I’ll bring in a machine, and we’ll take some X-rays. You hang tight.”
“All right, if you insist. You might want to take a look at my left hand too,” she noted.
The doctor looked at it, shook her head, and frowned. “You didn’t mention that to anybody.”
“Honestly, I was so cold and the cables were so tight that I really wasn’t feeling my hands and my feet anymore, but now that I’m warming up,” she shared, “it’s starting to hurt like crazy.”
“Makes sense,” she muttered, as she examined it carefully. “Looks to be broken.”
Her tone was so cheerful that Naomi had to groan. “How can you laugh?”
“I’m not laughing,” she clarified, “yet you weren’t even going to come in here for treatment. If you’d had the chance, you would be sitting at the child’s bedside and in pain.”
“More like agony,” she muttered. “And I would do it right now if you would let me,” she added, frowning as she glanced at the curtain separating her from Ricky. “I really don’t want him waking up alone.”
“No, I’m sure you don’t,” her doctor agreed, “but I’ll take that over his not waking up at all.” And, with that, she added, “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Then she turned around and disappeared.