When Dr. Meade arrived he walked into Scarlett's room. Mammy trailed in behind him. Rhett refused to leave while Dr. Meade examined Scarlett's bruised body. He sat beside the bed holding her hand.
After closing his bag Dr. Meade sighed, "She has some broken ribs and a lot of bruising. She's been knocked unconscious, but she should wake up in a day or two. If she wakes before then don't let her move, she could further injure herself. I'll be back to check on her soon."
Dr. Meade left the room and walked down the hall. He instructed Mammy on what was to be done until he returned, and then he was gone. Hours went by and Rhett only stared at Scarlett's placid unconscious face. His guilt was consuming him – it was his fault. If he'd only turned quicker, if he hadn't walked away in the first place...his thoughts rumbled through his mind like thunder.
He spoke softly, "Scarlett please, you must wake. I need you to open your eyes, please." He begged.
He sat beside her through the night. Mammy found him sleeping in a chair beside the bed the next morning.
"Mist' Rhett..." She touched his shoulder gently.
Rhett jerked awake and immediately looked at Scarlett. Her arms were various shades of black and blue and her closed eyes had dark circles surrounding them. Rhett could see beads of sweat had formed on Scarlett's head.
"Mammy, she's burning up." Rhett said as he placed a hand on the side of Scarlett's face.
"She done got a fevah Mist' Rhett. I's doin' everything I can to cool her down." Mammy placed a cold cloth on Scarlett's face and chest.
"Has Dr. Meade come back yet?" Rhett questioned worriedly.
"No suh, not yet." Mammy started out the door and down the hall.
Rhett sat in the chair beside Scarlett's bed and held her hand. His mind was blank. All he could do was pray – something he hadn't done since childhood. Rhett lifted his head and kissed Scarlett's hand.
He stood and leaned towards her face, "I'll always love you Scarlett." He whispered in her ear.
Rhett walked to his room and grabbed a bottle of whiskey from his table – he turned it up and drank. He dropped and bottle and lowered himself into a chair beside his bed. He ran his hands through his unkempt hair and let out a muffled sob. Rhett stood and wiped his hands down his face – this was all his fault and he knew it. Guilt ridden and out of whiskey he started for the kitchen to re-supply himself. Just as he reached the top of the stairs he heard a faint call from Scarlett's room. He ran through the door and saw Scarlett turning back in forth in the bed.
"Rhett! Rhett!" She called as she writhed in pain.
"I'm here my darling, what is it?" He ran over to her and grasped her hand.
"It hurts so much." She gasped.
"Scarlett you must stop moving, you have to stay still. Mammy!" He turned his head and called.
Mammy came rushing into the bedroom, "Go get Dr. Meade Mammy, Scarlett's awake." Rhett didn't take his eyes off of Scarlett as Mammy rushed out of the room.
"Rhett, what's wrong with me?" Scarlett asked in a single breath.
Rhett's guilt bubbled up to the surface. "You fell Scarlett, you don't remember?"
Scarlett had tears running down the side of her face, "I only remember seeing you."
Her words cut him like a knife. "You're going to be alright Scarlett; you've got to stay still. Your ribs are broken." Rhett sighed as he placed a cold cloth on her head. She relaxed back down into the bed.
"Mammy is gone to get Dr. Meade, just relax Scarlett." Rhett sat beside the bed and held her hand.
Dr. Meade came through the door holding his medicine bag with Mammy trailing behind him. He placed a hand on Scarlett's stomach pushing down slightly; she winced and jerked under his touch.
"Scarlett, you must stay in bed until your ribs heal. I'm more worried about this fever." He looked back at Rhett who was standing by the door. "Mammy, you need to keep cold cloths on her at all times until this fever breaks."
"Yessuh." Mammy answered.
"Good day Rhett." Dr. Meade passed Rhett as he walked out of the room.
Rhett walked back over to Scarlett and watched her slowly drift back into sleep. He sat beside the bed and watched her chest rise and fall. She was very hot and sweat was rolling down the sides of her face. Rhett and Mammy kept a close watch over Scarlett through the night. Mammy had gone down stairs and Rhett was in his room lying on his bed. Scarlett was sleeping soundly with a cloth on her chest and head; for a moment Rhett drifted into the twilight of sleep. Suddenly he heard an all too familiar scream slice through the silence. He jumped from his bed and ran over to Scarlett's room. He could see her rolling violently back and forth in her bed.
"No...Please! Rhett, Rhett...Help, No!" She screamed. She was having a nightmare.
"Scarlett, Scarlett wake up! Scarlett!" Rhett shook his wife's shoulders in an effort to wake her. "Scarlett!"
Her eyes fluttered open and tears rolled down her face. "Rhett, is...is that you." She whispered breathlessly.
"Yes darling, you're alright, hush now my dear." Rhett held her gently.
"Rhett...please don't leave me." She closed her eyes and felt his chest rise against hers.
He pulled his head away and stared into her gleaming green eyes. "Scarlett, I will never leave you. I wanted so badly to think I could – to think you meant nothing to me, but I was wrong. I love you Scarlett." He kissed her softly. He could feel her breathing even out as she calmed from her fear.
"Oh Rhett, I was so stupid. I should have realized how much I loved you years ago. You and Bonnie mean everything to me. Please stay with me tonight." She sighed and Rhett watched her eyes slowly fall closed as sleep consumed her exhausted body.
He leaned forward and whispered as a tear fell from his chin, "I'll be right beside you. You're safe now Scarlett."
Rhett gently laid her head back onto her pillow and watched her sleep. She was so beautiful. He placed his hand on the side of her face and sighed with relief at the normal temperature of her skin. She was alright, and finally, she loved him.
Hope ya'll liked this! I wish this could have really happened, but the vision in my head of Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh acting this out is almost as good. =) Lemme know what ya think!