Chapter 10
Nathan walked in through the door and walked up to the end of Zoë's bed and picked up her chart.
"Nurse Zara called me, what's the problem?" Nathan questioned with a mild frown.
"We don't know Nathan." Alexx said with a concerned expression, with Horatio demonstrating the same expression. Zoë's heart rate was still slightly higher than it should be as she glared at him.
"Hmm" Nathan murmured to himself. Zoë's heart rate was not decreasing anymore, not since Nathan had walked in. Nathan walked over to her left side and her heart rate increased as she looked around to him with fright in her eyes. Alexx turned to Nathan and placed her hand on his chest to prevent him from moving any closer to Zoë.
"Could you possibly give us a few minutes please?" Alexx politely asked.
"Sure thing, come and get me when you're done." Nathan said with a smile, he walked out of the room. Alexx turned to Zoë with a gentle expression.
"Do you want us to leave the room, Zoë? We don't mind if you want some privacy." Alexx said whilst she tilted her head.
"No, no, please stay. Please don't leave me. I just want to get out of here." Zoë said in a panic while she pleaded them both to stay.
"Zoë, we can't help if we don't know what the problem is." Horatio calmly said looking at her. His eyes met her eyes as he sighed lightly, giving her a sympathetic look while he tilted his head.
"I just want to get out of here, I can look after myself, I've got advanced medical training." Zoë said in haste and then looked down as the blanket covering her.
"Well then honey, you know that you can't leave the hospital yet, you've sustained a bad head injury, you've still got to have CT scans, you have a very small bleed on the left side at the moment, that needs close observation." Alexx said with her head tilted. Her heart rate was beginning to slow down. Zoë sighed and took another deep breath to try and remain calm. "Nathan is a very good doctor, he's a good friend of mine and you can trust him, I'd trust him with my life. You've got nothing to worry about if that's the problem." Alexx said and gently stroked her shoulder. Zoë looked back up at her and lightly bit her lip. Alexx could see the uncertainty in her eyes.
"You know him? And you trust him?" Zoë said cautiously, quietly.
"Yes baby. You've got nothing to worry about." Alexx said caringly. Alexx and Horatio had never seen Zoë act like this before, she hadn't ever shown any weakness, even when a suspect put a gun to her head. But they saw sheer panic in her eyes each time she looked up at them. "Can I call Nathan back in, we'll be right here by your side, okay?" Alexx asked and Zoë eventually nodded and looked down. Alexx walked out of the room to get Nathan. Horatio placed a hand on Zoë's shoulder and gave her a caring smile. She smiled mildly back at him as Alexx found Nathan.
"Could you come back please, just go gentle and don't make fast movement, just talk her through what you're going to do, she seems a little untrusting of you right now." Nathan nodded understandingly. They walked back into the room. Nathan approached cautiously and stood next to Alexx with a gentle smile.
"How are you feeling?" Nathan asked. Horatio carefully studied Zoë's reactions to everything Nathan did and said.
"I'm feeling fine, thank you, doctor." Zoë said, clearly unhappy and uncomfortable.
"Please, call me Nathan." He said with a smile as he tilted his head and noticed that she was allowing Horatio to have contact with her. 'It's not a male thing then.' Nathan thought to himself.
"When can I get out of here?" Zoë asked quickly as she frowned at him.
"Not quite yet, we've still got to run tests. Hopefully within a few days though, if everything goes well." Zoë seemed to relax a little more as she nodded, but still wasn't happy.
"I'm just going to shine this light in your eyes okay, just try and relax." Nathan slowly pulled the safety bar down and leant over to shine the light. Zoë's heart rate increased by 30 beats in the space of seconds so Nathan quickly took a step back when he noticed her agitation. "I'm just going to take your pulse okay, I'll be gentle." He cautiously placed two fingers on her wrist. He smiled and then let go. Zoë seemed to relax a little more as she blinked rapidly at him, studying every detail about him. "We're going to take you up for another CT in about an hour and a half, okay? Is there anything I can get you?" He said with a wider smile, he was happy to see her starting to relax.
"I'm okay thank you." Zoë said before she hissed with pain when she shifted in the bed.
"Have you got any pain anywhere?" Nathan asked as he crossed his arms.
"No, I'm only a little sore, thanks. But I'd like to sit up."
"Are you sure, I can get you some painkillers?" Nathan casually pointed out towards the door.
"No thank you." She said firmly as she glared up at him.
"Okay, I'm just going to help you sit forwards so I can put the bed up, okay?" Nathan reached forward. Zoë flinched slightly and Nathan backed off again. He looked up to Horatio who nodded at him.
"Nathan will sit the bed up while I help you, yeah?" Horatio asked warmly and she glanced over to him and took a breath and then nodded. Horatio helped her to sit as he placed one hand under one of her arms and the other around her back to place a delicate hand on her other shoulder while Nathan slowly brought the bed up. Horatio gently settled her against it.
"Okay?" Horatio asked. Zoë nodded at him and then gave him a small smile before she looked down to the bed and began to fiddle with her fingers.
"Your wounds are going to need to be re-dressed soon, I'll get one of the nurses to come in in a while okay?" Nathan casually said as he looked at her chart. Zoë's heart rate instantly picked up and was racing along as she looked up at him with wide eyes. "Or you can tell me who you'd rather have do it?" Nathan said alarmed by her involuntary response.
"Alexx?" Zoë questioned as she looked up at Alexx.
"Yes honey?" Alexx asked warmly as she looked down to Zoë and stepped forwards.
"Could you do it please?" Zoë questioned quietly.
"Of course baby." Alexx said with a warm smile as she held on to Zoë's hand.
"I'll bring you in some gauze and tape." Nathan said to Alexx and Alexx nodded at him. Nathan disappeared and then returned with some stuff for Alexx.
"Whenever you feel comfortable. Zoë, are you sure you don't want any painkillers? It's going to hurt." Nathan questioned as he stood at the end of the bed.
"No, I'll be fine, thank you Nathan."
"Okay, if you change your mind, just get Alexx to find me." He said with a smile before he left, Zoë's heart rate returned to normal after a while.
"See baby, he's not too bad, he just makes some bad jokes sometimes." Alexx said smiling. Zoë nodded and smiled mildly at her.
"Right Zoë, are you ready for this?" Alexx asked and Zoë nodded as she furrowed her eyebrows a little. "Okay, can you turn on to your left side then please and face Horatio." She asked warmly as she pulled a pair of gloves on.
"Do you want me to leave for a little while Zoë?" Horatio questioned cautiously as he looked down at her with a gentle expression.
"No, please don't." Zoë made eye contact and Horatio smiled at her warmly as he nodded.
"Okay, I'll stay right here." He held out his hand, she took hold of his hand and gripped it as she furrowed her eye brows at him. "Squeeze my hand if you need to, I know it's going to hurt you whether you admit it or not." He smiled sweetly at her. She flashed him a smile back. Alex pushed the blanket down off her as she turned onto her side. She then pulled the gown over her side to uncover her back, she carefully placed it on her side.
"I'll try and make sure your gown doesn't fall so you don't flash Horatio." Alexx chuckled warmly.
"Alexx!" Zoë said jokingly and giggled herself as she glanced up to Horatio. Zoë moved her right arm to make sure the gown covered her and wouldn't' move. Horatio at this point was blushing rather red.
"What's the matter Horatio? A little hot?" Alexx chuckled naturally again with an easy smile.
"Hmm, just a little!" Horatio joked attempting to hide his embarrassment. Zoë smiled up at Horatio and then gave him a playful wink to which he blushed a little more.
"Okay baby, this is going to hurt a little, I'll try and be as gentle as I can be." Alexx warned as she looked down at Zoë's swollen, bloody and bruised back. 'I don't think I see one bit of undamaged flesh, she must be in agony! It's all red and swollen!' Alexx thought to herself.
"Just do it Alexx. I'll be fine." Alexx pulled the gauze and tape off her wounds on her back. Zoë hissed a little and concentrated on Horatio's badge intensely while he tried to soothe her by gently rubbing the back of her hand.
"Okay baby?" Alexx asked,Ttying to make sure she was okay.
"Yeah, fine." Zoë replied as Alexx carefully washed and dressed her wounds. It wasn't too bad, she squeezed on Horatio's hand only slightly. Alexx finished and pulled the gown back over her back and blanket back up over her. She disposed of the dirty, blood soaked bandages. "Zoë, can you lean forwards for me please, I just need to re-dress your head wound, then I'll be done."
"Sure." Zoë replied as she lifted herself forwards, Horatio placed his hand under her arm to steady her.
"This one may sting a little okay." Alexx warned.
"Yeah, just go ahead Alexx, it's nothing I can't handle"
"Okay baby." Alexx took the bandage from her head. Alexx washed it which caused Zoë to take a sharp intake of air.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, just carry on Alexx." She re-dressed the wound while Zoë's head began to get lower.
"Nearly there Zoë, hold still." Alexx said as Zoë's head began to drop a little more.
"Zoë?" Horatio questioned when he felt Zoë's muscles relax.
"Okay, let's lay her back." Alexx said as she quickly lowered the bed. Horatio's left hand under Zoë's left arm gripped tighter as Horatio brought his right hand around to her neck to support it as he gently laid her back. Horatio laid her down on the bed as Alexx ran out and got Nathan. Nathan rushed in and Alexx explained what had happened. Nathan quickly looked into her eyes with the torch and took her pulse.
"I think she's just passed out, perhaps from the pain." Nathan said softly, he didn't seem too worried.
"She didn't seem to be in too much pain though Nathan." Alexx questioned.
"Okay, well, I'll slip a little painkiller into her IV anyway, just to be sure, it won't knock her out." Zoë quickly came around and the pain did feel a little better. Nathan made a quick exit after making sure she was okay.
"Try and get some rest Zoë, we're not going anywhere." Alexx said warmly.
"I don't need any more rest Alexx, I've had enough today."
"Zoë, doctors' orders, don't worry, I'll be right here." Alexx said as she sat down on the chair beside her. Zoë slowly closed her eyes and she quickly fell asleep. Horatio quietly walked over to the window when Eric called. He quickly answered his phone and slipped out hoping not to wake Zoë.
"Eric, how's it going?"
"It's going well, we've got our suspect, he's a little short for words I'll say."
"Okay, are you back at the lab yet?"
"No, we're just about to pop by the hospital on our way back, if that's okay?"
"Sure."
"See you in a few then H." They hung up. Horatio walked back in quietly. He sat on the chair on the right of Zoë's bed.
"That's the first time I've seen you sit today!" Alexx sniggered in a whisper and Horatio gave her his secret smile. Outside the nurses were moving a bed down the corridor and accidently clipped Zoë's door. Zoë instantly woke and shot up into a sitting position. Her heart rate jumped and increased by 40 beats at the shock, she quickly calmed back down after she'd looked around the room.
"Woah, slow down there Zoë!" Horatio smiled at her as he stood. Alexx stood as they went to help her lay back down.
"I'd rather sit up, please." She said warmly as she looked up at the both of them.
"Eric and Ryan are just popping by Zoë, hope you don't mind too much. They've also got your handbag." Horatio said as he held Zoë steady while Alexx pulled the head of the bed up so Zoë could sit up. Horatio gently eased her back.
"That shouldn't be a problem." Zoë said with a small smile as she looked up at Horatio. Alexx gave them both a stern look.
"You should be resting, shouldn't you..." Alexx said as she raised an eye brow.
"There's plenty of time to rest." Zoë said with a cheeky grin forming.
XXXXXXXX
Eric and Ryan pulled up in the hummer and found Zoë's room. They knocked on the door.
"Come in." Zoë called and they both entered. They asked how she was and she replied. They stood by the bed before Nathan walked in and looked around the room, a little surprised that there was more people there for Zoë.
"Hi there, I'm Zoë's doctor, you can call me Nathan." He held out his hand to Eric.
"Eric Delko." he said as he shook Nathan's hand firmly and nodded at him. Nathan then held his hand out to Ryan.
"Ryan Wolfe." Ryan said as he shook Nathan's hand. Ryan quickly crossed his arms and expanded his chest, he was obviously feeling threatened by Nathan. Ryan mildly scowled as he studied Nathan. 'Oh, I bet you're enjoying treating Zoë, aren't you Mr. Handsome with your dark brown eyes and fancy styled black hair. Oh look at me, I go to the gym everyday and I like show off. Oh look at me! I'm taller than all of you! I bet that tan isn't even real. It's got to be fake. Ha, yeah… fake. Hmphh.' Ryan thought. They all looked at Ryan whilst Nathan had his head buried in Zoë's chart. They all knew Ryan felt jealous, they could see it in his body language. They all grinned at each other finding it quite funny. Zoë didn't really catch on though, she was too busy worrying about what Nathan was going to do next. Eric nudged Ryan to stop him from staring at Nathan while Alexx nudged Zoë.
"Hey, you alright?" She questioned warmly.
"Yeah, fine." Zoë replied as she nodded.
"Right Zoë, we're going to take you down for a CT soon, would you like to be sedated?"
"Definitely not, thanks." Zoë replied firmly and Nathan nodded before he quickly left. Zoë looked to Alexx with a worried expression and Alexx knew what she was going to ask and she nodded with a gentle smile. Nathan appeared again.
"Are you ready to go?" He asked and Zoë nodded and looked towards Alexx.
"Nathan, I'll be joining if that isn't too much of a problem?" Alexx questioned.
"Not at all." Nathan smiled. A porter walked in and Zoë just stared at him. Horatio noticed and stepped forwards to place a gentle hand on her forearm.
"You're going to be fine, I'll still be here when you get back, okay?" Horatio smiled warmly at her as she looked up at him, she then nodded and gave him a small smile, but he could see that she was nervous. Whilst Zoë was down for another scan Eric and Ryan brought Horatio up to date with the case.
"Looks like you two have it all under wraps! I better watch out for my job!" Horatio smiled just as Zoë was wheeled back in. Ryan and Eric said goodbye and left. Zoë quickly fell asleep again.
"Alexx, you should probably get going home, your husband and kids are probably missing you." Horatio whispered, hoping not to wake Zoë.
"Oh don't worry about that honey, I'll give them a ring, they won't mind. I don't think it's a good idea to be leaving her if she's that petrified of the doctors and nurses!" Alexx said back quietly.
"I'll stay with her for the night, I don't mind, I didn't have anything planned anyway." Horatio said warmly as he glanced to Zoë briefly before settling his gentle eyes back on Alexx.
"Only if you're sure, Horatio?"
"Yeah, it looks like she's going to be asleep for most of it anyway, she looks exhausted." Horatio smiled at her.
"Okay, thank you baby. Tell her bye from me, I'll be here tomorrow." Alexx got up and picked up her jacket. She said bye to Horatio and went to find Nathan. Horatio sat back in the rather large chair and began to relax himself. Alexx found Nathan.
"Hi baby, I'm off for the night, I'll be back tomorrow though. Take good care of them. Horatio is going to stay for the night, if Zoë wakes up and finds that there's no one there I'm pretty sure she'll get up and walk out. Just be gentle with her. Both of them can be stubborn, so watch your back." She said with a cheeky smile.
"She'll be in good care, I'll be off home soon, but I'll take her for one last CT before I go so she doesn't have to have another until morning. Don't worry about them." He said with a reassuring smile. Alexx hugged him goodbye and left. Eric and Ryan had brought Horatio a case file so he had his head buried in that for the next hour until Nathan quietly walked back in. Horatio looked up at him.
"I just need to take her for another CT, then I'll leave her alone for the night. Will you do the honours of waking her up please? I'm not sure how she'd react with me standing over her while she sleeps. She doesn't seem to be too comfortable with me around yet." Nathan smiled shyly at Horatio.
"Sure." Horatio put the file down and gently woke Zoë up. She slowly woke up and looked at Horatio in a daze. She blinked at him for a few minutes.
"Zoë, I'm sorry to wake you, but they've got to take you for another CT, it's the last one you'll have until tomorrow morning." Zoë's eyes widened as she frowned at him. "There's no need to worry." Horatio said calmly.
"If you want, Horatio can come with us?" Nathan said softly. Zoë instantly nodded and looked up to Horatio.
"Of course." A smile grew across his face. Horatio picked up his gun from the table behind the chair and put it in his holster.
"I don't think there's going to be any need for that, Lieutenant." Nathan said with a grin.
"Call me Horatio, and I'm not just going to leave it on the side in a room, am I?"
"No, of course not. Sorry, I didn't think." Nathan answered and his smile disappeared. 'I guess I shouldn't try and be a smart-ass around him' he chuckled to himself.
"Are you ready then?" Nathan said as Horatio placed a case file down on the bed as Horatio helped push it. Zoë picked it up and started reading.
"Zoë, you're unwell, you shouldn't be reading that. You're not supposed to be working any cases." He said warmly with a light smile. She glanced back to him with a fresh smile which made him smile a little more.
"I know, I'm just having a look, I may be able to enlighten you though, you know… a fresh pair of eyes." Zoë cheekily said.
"Fresh? More like totally exhausted eyes." Horatio replied softly. They arrived at CT. Horatio waited outside while they took the scan. Zoë was soon done and they were on their way back up to Zoë's room. They got to the room and Zoë soon fell asleep with Horatio sat in the chair next to her. Not long after, Horatio himself fell asleep in the chair. He had sat on the case file just in case anyone wanted to nose at it while he slept.