Hello again. I hope you all like this chapter. Before we get started I just wanted to address a concern in one of the reviews.
The Sea: I couldn't figure out how to PM you, but I am curious about the Americanisms you were talking about. I'm not sure what you mean, probably because I am an American and therefore used to it, so if you could point some out for me or give me some examples I can try to lessen them in the future. Thanks!
To All Readers: I LOVE CRITIQUES! So if you want to point something out, good or bad, please do. :D
Enjoy!
Jess didn't feel at all bad when she abandoned Katie the minute they found out what room Becker was in, and judging by the look on Katie's face she'd expected nothing less. For the first time she actually had to search for an injured Becker to visit him. She cursed Dr. Timo again and fervently wished she had downloaded the hospital layout to her phone. In the end it took her about ten minutes to find his room. There was a nurse checking his IV line when she finally stepped inside, and a sigh of relief left her when she saw he was sleeping peacefully. While she watched him sleep, she was once again amazed at how young he looked. At work, and even at home sometimes, it was easy to forget that he was only twenty seven.
"Can I help you?" The sound of the other woman's voice jolted Jess, reminding her of the nurse's presence.
"Sorry," she said with a slightly nervous giggle, "I just came to see my husband," she pointed at Becker, and felt a little silly since it was rather obvious who she was here to see.
"Nurse Parker," the older woman said with a kind smile, holding out her hand to Jess, "I'll be taking care of Captain Becker during his stay, so just let me know if either of you need anything." Jess couldn't keep her eyes from widening, before she quickly got herself under control.
"Thank you," Jess said taking her hand finally, "I'll remember that." Jess glanced at Becker again since it was difficult for her not to worry about him. The nurse must have caught the look, or she'd been here long enough to know what was going through her head, because she slipped passed Jess with a light squeeze to her shoulder.
"Everything looks fine, but I'll send the doctor in to explain everything." She told the worried young woman, "Go be with him."
Jess didn't need to be told twice. Her butt was firmly planted in the seat next to the bed and her hand in Becker's before the door was even fully closed. She ran her free hand thru his sweat dampened hair, brushing it away from where it had fallen into his eyes.
"What am I going to do with you?" She asked him softly, strangely afraid of waking him if she spoke too loudly. With a soft sigh Becker turned his face into the hand that had wandered from his hair to cup his cheek. Glancing at the door quickly, jess leaned in to brush her lips against the warm skin of Becker's forehead.
"I swear if you don't start wearing full body armor I'm going to weld you into it while you sleep," she whispered. Unable to resist, Jess pressed her lips gently against his, only to be interrupted by a yawn.
"Okay," she said in the middle of her yawn, "Being pregnant kinda sucks." Recognizing a hopeless battle, Jess settled back into the thankfully fluffy recliner and drifted to sleep, with Becker's hand clutched tightly in hers.
Jess jolted awake and the hand on her shoulder quickly fell away.
"Sorry," the man said, "I didn't mean to startle you. I'm Dr. Hansen." It took Jess a second to realize that the man was wearing a white lab coat. Jess was out of her chair in less than a second.
"It's fine," she told him quickly, "Is everything alright?" The doctor smiled at her, which instantly relaxed her. Dr. Hansen smiled at her, which instantly relaxed her. His mostly grey hair told her that he was only just past his prime, but his build and well weathered face showed that he obviously took care of himself.
"He's doing fine," he assured her, "He went into hypovolumic shock at one point, but we were able to reverse it relatively quickly."
"Can you dumb it down for me please?" Jess asked with a wry smile and received another smile in return.
"His body went into shock when he lost too much blood." Jess shoulder muscles tensed up again as he spoke, her mind racing through what little medical knowledge she had. Unfortunately it wasn't much, which let her imagination run wild.
"But he's fine now right?" She asked, partially afraid to hear the answer.
"He's fine," he said as he glanced quickly at the chart in his hand, "Has he woken up at all since you've been here?" Dr. Hansen walked over to check the machines attached to Becker as he spoke.
"No," she told him, looking back at the soldier lying on the bed, "At least I don't think so. I'm not really sure how long I've been here in all honesty, I seem to be drifting off more and more lately. Is that normal during pregnancy?" Jess slapped her free hand over her mouth, "Oh lord! I'm rambling again." Jess could tell Dr. Hansen was holding back laughter, and didn't really blame him.
"Needing more sleep is expected, so don't stress too much about it and just listen to what your body tells you," he looked at the gauze on Becker's shoulder and quickly back at her, "I need to take a look," he said pointing to Becker's wound, "Do you want to step outside, or…"
"I'll be fine," she told him, "If it's too much I'll just close my eyes."
With a nod, he swiftly went to work peeling back the stark white dressing layer, by layer. Jess felt her stomach churn a bit as the white fabric slowly shifted to red. As soon as he pulled away the last bloody layer Jess had to close her eyes. Unfortunately she wasn't fast enough to miss seeing the multitude of black stitches holding together swollen, red and angry skin. The only thing she could do was sqeeze Becker's hand a little tighter, hoping he could sense the comfort she was sending him.
"He's wrapped up again," Jess heard Dr. Hansen say and she slatted her eyes open just enough to check, just in case. Sure enough, Becker's shoulder was once again wrapped with pristine white gauze.
"Everything looks good, but the bandage has to be changed regularlly," He told her, "He should be able to go home in a few days."
"Thank you." Jess said, letting out a sigh of relief.
"During his surgery, we had a plastic surgeon come in to take a look at the wound-"
"Why?" The question was out before she could stop herself, and she looked at Dr. Hansen with a sheepish smile, "Sorry."
"It's just a normal consult to see if it can be sutured a certain way to reduce scarring, or if a more invasive procedure is necessary. In Captain Becker's case, it would require a more intricate procedure. The surgen will come talk to you in a little while."
"Alright." Jess wasn't sure if Becker would really be that interested in going through another surgery simply for vanity's sake, but she'd let him make that decision when he woke up.
"Will the nurses-," Jess question was cut off by a commotion from the hallway.
"Take you hand off me," a woman's voice yelled, "You will take me to see my brother now, or I will sue this charity case of a hospital and make sure all benefactors pull their support." The woman's voice was getting louder and more beligerant, making Jess and Dr. Hansen share a quick look, before the arguemant came to a halt outside the door. Dr. Hansen made a subtle, but quick move to put himself between Jess and the door. Jess couldn't help but put a gold star in the doctor's column on her mental list for his move. The door was swung open violently, slamming into the wall, and a well dressed middle aged woman walked in followed closely by Nurse Parker who looked like she'd happily throw the woman out a window.
"My poor baby brother!" The woman wailed as soon as she saw Becker and made her way to his bedside, only to be stopped by the larger man in front of her.
"I think you may have the wrong room Ma'am," he told her gently, while still preventing her from moving any closer to the bed. The woman looked him up and down before tossing her perfectly, yet obviously, dyed hair.
"Obviously not, since I'm here to visit Hilary Becker," she sneered, pointing at the still form on the hospital bed. Jess took an instant disliking to the woman and shifted closer to Becker, as if she could protect him.
"Becker's an only child," she said, hoping to defuse the situation quickly. The woman obviously had other ideas.
"Who are you and what are you doing in my brother's room?" she demanded, taking in Jess' appearance from her mussed hair and now missing flats. Though Jess honestly wasn't sure when she'd taken them off.
"I'm his wife, and like I said. Becker doesn't have a sister." Jess said firmly. The other woman's face started turning red.
"My brother is not married!" she hissed, "He wouldn't get married without telling me and certainly not to some cheap little slut like you!" Jess' knees wobbled, and she sank into the chair before she could fall.
"Get her out of here," Dr. Hansen shouted to the security guards who had just arrived. Jess could vaguely hear the two men telling the woman claiming to be Becker's sister that she could leave on her own, or be escorted out. She chose to leave under her own power and her parting reply, which Jess was sure was laced with well-bred threats, was drowned out by Dr. Hansen asking her if she was okay.
"I'm fine," she told him before glancing at Becker, "But he better wake up soon, because I want to know what the hell that was about."
