I can't move. My body feels heavy. I'm sore all over. My head is killing me. I can hear people moving but I can't- I try to open my eyes and they may as well be cinder blocks. I can hear people moving around me and the faint sound of beeping but I can't interact with them. I can feel myself start to drift.
It's bright. Obnoxiously bright. Hospital bright. Oh hell. I immediately take inventory. One hand in a cast, ribs bandaged and an earth shattering headache.
I try to find the call nurse button but as soon as I twist my ribs scream their protest. This is going to get annoying really fast. I use my good hand to knock over a cup of water in an attempt to get someone's attention and it works. A nurse walks in and she looks surprised to see me.
"Mrs. Grey! I wasn't expecting to see you conscious for another 24 hours."
"What happened? What day is it? Did I fall?"
"Don't worry. I'll call the doctor who will explain everything to you. Your husband will be back shortly. He just ran down to the cafeteria. I'll call him for you."
"Husband?!" My voice jumped up three octaves and the nurse's face fell. Is that why she called me Mrs. Grey? I'm married? I look at my casted hand and there is a ring. A very big ring.
"The doctor will be with you in a minute." She looks down and can't get out of my room fast enough.
This should be interesting.
The doctor is gorgeous. Large bright brown eyes, soft brown hair and legs for days. She looks like an angel in her white coat.
"Welcome back Mrs. Grey." She flashes me with her perfect teeth. "How do you feel?"
"My head and my ribs hurt and I'm confused." I try to sit up and wince when my ribs yell at me again.
"I can fix both of those. Morphine for the pain and I can tell you how you ended up in my care."
"That would be wonderful."
She sifting through a metal chest of drawers when she starts the story that will be no doubt embarrassing. "You were in an motor vehicle accident."
"I crashed Wanda?" Oh hell. How am I going to afford a new car now? Maybe Jose can help me find one for cheap.
"No. Not exactly. You were walking into a Gucci store when a driver lost control of a Range Rover and hit you. Pushed you clear into the middle of the store. You're lucky to still be alive."
"Why was I walking into a Gucci store?" I can't afford Gucci. I'm not even sure I can spell Gucci.
"Mrs. Grey-"
"Steele. Ms. Steele. Please call me Ana."
She chews the inside of her lip, which is adorable, and squints. She's thinking about something. She places a blood pressure cuff around my good arm and while she's squeezing the ball there's a ruckus outside of my room. I see a wall of nurses trying to keep someone out.
"She's my wife goddamn it!" A voice booms and then he's in the room. He's all panic and grey eyes. He runs his hands through his hair. I think it's a nervous thing. He looks like he hasn't slept in days. "Oh Ana thank God. I thought-" He shakes his head like he's shaking the thought away. "Don't worry about anything. The baby is with my mom and I've had Charlotte deal with everything at the office." Baby!
I look up at the doctor, not sure how to respond.
"Ana? Can you speak? Can you hear me?" His eyes became even wider and I thought they may fall out of his head.
"Yes I can speak and I can hear you just fine but I do have a terrible head ache so it'd be great if you'd lower your voice." He starts to move toward me and I hold my hands up in protest. "I'm sore all over and if I'm being completely honest, I have no idea who you are."
His head immediately turns to the doctor. "You told me she'd be fine! You told me she'd make a full recovery!"
"Mr. Grey, I told you that she would survive, which clearly she has. She's recovering well, faster than we anticipated." She shoots me a pleasant smile. "Brain injuries aren't an exact science. No two are the same. We ran new CT's and MRI's this morning and brain swelling is down to a minimum. Mrs. Grey- Ana can be discharged in a few hours. I'll prescribe you some pain meds and you're good to go back to work as soon as you feel up to it. Just no driving."
This placates Mr. Grey. "I'll have your clothes brought up."
"Wait, no." Mr. Grey looks- I don't know of a word for it. "With all do Mr. Grey, I'm not going home with you. I don't know you."
He looks at the doctor and she places her hand on my shoulder. "Ana, he is your husband. I've seen the paper work myself. I know you're confused and afraid right now but I know this man loves you. He's been here all day every day. He's slept and worked and ate at you bed side. The best thing for your memory is to go home with your husband and to be back in your regular environment living your day to day life." My instincts are contending because I know I should listen to my doctors but I don't know this man. "I'll give you two a minute to talk." I stiffen and she notices. "I'll be at the nurse's station if you need me. Just press the button and I'll come right over. The rest of my patients haven't woken yet so you have my undivided attention." There's that smile again. She really is beautiful.
"Thank you Dr. Shannon." I smile at her and it's genuine. I like her. She makes me feel safe; like she the eye of this whole shit storm.
"Ana- I"
"I have a lot of questions." My head isn't hurting as much anymore. It's the morphine which means I'll be sleep in a few minutes.
"I would be concerned if you didn't. Ask away."
"What's your name?"
"Christian."
"Christian Grey?"
"Yes."
"That's a nice name."
"My mother thinks so."
"So I married you?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Why does anyone get married?"
"I don't know. I don't remember ever getting married. Green card?"
"I'm from Detroit." He smiles shyly and it's cute.
"Do you know Kate?"
"You remember Kate?"
"She's my best friend. We live together. Well in my mind we do."
"Kate is married to my older brother Elliot. You haven't live together for a while."
"Did I graduate?"
"Yes, of course."
"How can you be sure I didn't lie about it?"
"Well, I was there. I gave the commencement speech."
"Is that where we met?"
"No."
"Jose?"
"Works in Denver. You take the helicopter to see him sometimes."
Helicopter?! "Mom?"
"Savannah with Bob."
"Dad?"
"Still alive and kicking and fishing."
"We have kids?"
"One. Teddy."
"Oh, I love that name. You said baby. How old is he?"
"Nine months."
"Umm…"
"Ana, you can ask me anything. Don't be shy with me."
"Um, are you, like rich?"
He laughs like a hyena. "What gave it away?"
"Well for one this." I hold up my left hand. "This ring must have cost like seven thousand dollars."
"Twenty five actually."
"And you haven't slept in days but still manage to look like a model. Only rich people can do that." He laughs loudly and freely and the sound sets me at ease. "And she told me I was going to the Gucci store when I was hit. I don't even know where the Gucci store is."
"You were returning a tie you bought for me. You had me try it on then decided you didn't like the color. You do that a lot."
"What about Wanda? Do I still have her?"
"No. You have a Saab and an Audi."
"I have two cars?! Why?!"
"Why not?"
"Because I don't need more than one car. No one does." He doesn't respond, instead he studies me like I'm a caged animal.
"I'm sorry about all of this. I'm kind of a magnet for trouble."
"I know."
"Yes, I guess you would know that."
"Ana, I know this is hard for you but I just need you to trust me. I love you. I've loved you since the day you fell into my office. I just want you back at home so I can look after you and we can get you better and move past this."
"Oh of course!" I roll my eyes and then shut them in embarrassment.
"What?"
"You said 'fell into my office'. Of course I fell the first time we met. I'm such a klutz."
"I don't mind so much." He smiles shyly again and I think I like this man. I guess I should. I married him.
"Do you have pictures and things from the wedding? I'd like to see them. I think it may help put the pieces together."
"They're at home. Mia made you a beautiful scrapbook." His face softens when he talks about her and I feel a pang of jealousy. He's my husband. I think.
"Who's Mia?"
"My younger sister." Okay. Jealousy averted. I look up into his eyes and I'm lost. They're a beautiful soft grey. I hear someone come in and I assume it's Dr. Shannon but I can't look up. I'm stuck in his eyes but a male voice surprises me.
"Mr. Grey. I have the clothes you asked for."
I look up and I know him. "Ana, this is-"
"Taylor?" It's a question. Not questioning his name. I'm sure his name is Taylor but why do I know him?
"Mrs. Grey, it's good to see your doing well." He smiles. He obviously doesn't know I'm suffering from, what? Memory loss? Amnesia?
I look back to Christian who is gaping at me. I just shrug at him and he presses the nurse button. Dr. Shannon all buy sprints into the room. She looks at Taylor who is obviously confused.
"Ana, are you alright?"
"I'm fine considering. Mr. Grey - Christian pressed the button."
"Mr. Grey?" The doctor looks at him and he's still staring at me. I think he's mad at me.
"Ana has no idea who I am but she recognizes Taylor, my head of security." He's still looking at me.
"Mr. Grey, you look alarmed but this is a good thing. Ana having sections of here memories associated with you is better than having none of them."
"What are we going to do with you Mrs. Grey?" Is the last thing I heard before the morphine reclaimed me.
