Nope, I do not own W.I.T.C.H.
Irma's POV
I touched my aching head to pull back my fingers seeing blood...my blood. Then everything faded into a haze of lights and sounds then darkness. Darkness...cool, calm, quiet, and pain-free.
Ever notice that you lose track of time when your unconscious?
'Ouch,' I thought, 'my head really hurts', as I peeled my eyes open to bright lights and white walls. I was laying down, looking up at a strange ceiling. Slowly the sound of hushed voices and beeps made their way into my stupor.
I blinked a few times and heard my mother exclaim from my left side, "Irma! You're awake, we've been so worried!"
"Babe, how do you feel?," came Caleb's voice from somewhere near my feet.
I wanted to answer, tried to, but, all that came out was a raspy cough, my throat was as dry and scratchy as sandpaper. As I gave a nod to my mom and Caleb's voices I discovered I ached all over, and quickly decided that any movement in the immediate future was out of the question.
My bed began moving, lifting me to a sitting position, once there a straw was pressed to my lips and I took a few cautious sips of cool water. My throat hurt less with the fluids, I tried to speak again, "Wha' happened", my voice a cracked whisper.
Caleb stepped into my view on my left side and grasped my hand. "Martin gave you a pretty bad concussion, you passed out before I could get you to the nurse."
"Am I in the nurse's office?" Looking around still foggy and unclear.
"No, sweetie, you're in the hospital, you've been out for about four hours." My mom's voice was so soft and comforting.
Caleb squeezed my hand and I knew I'd be safe and okay. I lifted my eyes to meet his brilliant green orbs seeing concern and worry. Slowly the memories from the stairwell started coming back, and I said to Caleb, "Thanks, for saving me."
From somewhere behind my mom, I heard my dad, "Don't you worry honey, I'm personally going to make sure that animal pays for what he did and never hurt you or any other girl again."
My dad's rarely angry, he's really very happy go lucky, its something you don't find to often in a cop, especially a good one like him. The anger in his voice was both scary and comforting.
I turned my head to cast a grateful glance at my dad, but sharp pain resounded through my head, "Ow! Ow! Ow!," tears escaped my eyes suddenly, surprised by the pain.
"I'll get the nurse, you need more pain medicine," my mom said has she moved out the door, the familiar sound of her jangling bracelets filling the air.
"Babe, don't move, just be still and relax, okay?"
I tried to smile at him, but the pain made it more of a grimace. I found it easier to lightly squeeze his hand. I'm sure he got my message, he gently returned my squeeze and caressed my fingers.
Thirsty again, I croaked, "water." And my dad moved into view and pressed the straw to my lips again allowing me to ease my thirst.
The nurse and doctor came in followed by my mother, they were all smiling and it made me feel a little better, even if my head was still pounding.
"Well Ms. Lair," the doctor said as he leaned over me and shined a light in each eye, "you got a really good injury there. I don't get to see concussions like that much without cars being involved. But you're a real fighter, you're already making great progress. In a few minutes we'll move you down to radiology for some tests and then monitor you overnight."
Some time after eleven, I was feeling much better thanks to all of the medicine I was so generously being given. I could sit up and in between naps, I had eaten a late dinner. Emboldened by my improvements, I stood up to go answer nature's call, heading for the bathroom. The world began to spin and lurch, everything going topsy-turvy and I felt my knees collapse weakly beneath me. Instead of feeling the cold tile, Caleb caught me in his arms and steadied me.
"Take it slow Irma, head injuries can really mess you up."
I nodded, grateful for the help, and gripped his arm, allowing him to guide me to the bathroom. A part of me hated being treated like a helpless baby, the other part was really glad that he was there to help.
He helped me back to my bed and I fell asleep again as soon as my head touched the pillow. Caleb spent the night in a chair by my side as I drifted in and out. Every time I woke up, he was there wide a wake watching me and holding my hand.
In the morning, the doctor reviewed the results of my tests. The bottom line being that I had a grade A concussion, I would need to stay in bed for at least one more day and someone would need to check on me regularly. Then he impressed upon us all what symptoms to watch out for for the next week: first and foremost headache, drowsiness, nausea, and dizziness, then the longer lasting problems with concentration and memory, irritability, depression, anxiety, and fatigue. I was to stay away from strenuous activities and just take it easy.
The good doctor was oh so very right about those side effects, as we all saw when they brought my breakfast which included poached eggs. As soon as the lid came off the tray, the smell assaulted me, bring back a body memory of Martin forcing himself on me and up came last night's late dinner.
That little episode added an additional two hours of monitoring before they would let me go home.
Finally after lunch they let me go home, my head still hurt, especially if I moved too quickly, and I still walked like a drunk but the nurse said all that was very normal for concussions as they wheeled me to my dad's patrol car.
Arriving home was awesome, I was so tired of being poked and prodded. That darn little light they insisted on shining in my eyes every two hours had gotten on my last nerve.
Caleb helped me up to our room, and I was greeted with a new full sized bed. While I was in the hospital the new furniture had arrived and my mom had done a great job of arranging the new pieces and had dressed the bed in deep purple jewel tones and huge overstuffed pillows. It looked so warm and inviting, I just wanted to crawl in and sleep for days. I even tried.
I shuffled over and collapsed onto the satiny comforter bed fully dressed with my shoes, exclaiming, "Oh thank God, this is heaven."
Caleb came over and began removing my shoes and socks. Then he gently flipped me over and began undoing my pants.
"Ummm, I'm so willing but I don't think I can right now," I joked, my eyes closed as he unfastened my jeans.
"Ha ha, you need to put on your pj's, you're on bed rest for a while...nothing strenuous...you're not getting any until your completely healthy again."
I opened my eyes to look at him, "You're kidding right?" Didn't the doctor say the side effects could linger for weeks, even months?
Seeing my distress, Caleb smirked and replied, "Not funny is it? So be good and heal up quick."
"Just to be clear...we're talking a day maybe a day and a half?"
Ignoring my question, Caleb shook his head at me,"I've created a sex manic." He eased my bottoms up over my hips then helped me sit up to remove my top.
I noticed he took a moment to appreciate the view before he he slid my tank top over my head, "If I'm the sex maniac then what are you?"
"I thought we covered that: a horny teen-aged boy. I can't help but look," Caleb smirked.
"In," he commanded as he folded back the covers for me to climb in. Once I was in, he covered me up, then he removed his coat, shirt, and shoes and climbed in beside me, pulling me close. I leaned against him and savored the smell of his skin and his feel as I snuggled into his arms.
"I've never been so scared in my life, even when we faced Phobos and Cedric. It took the nurse a while to stop your head from bleeding before the ambulance arrived." Caleb kissed my forehead and stroked my back.
"I never thought...it...it...it happened so fast. Thank you..."
"I was looking for you but couldn't find you, I heard you scream and ran toward the noise. I could hear you fighting."
"That wasn't me that screamed, it was Martin. He held me down and I couldn't get away as he kissed me, so I bit his lip with all my might. It gave me a chance to kick him in the groin."
"I'm glad you could think so quickly, a few seconds more and he might have got his way...I'm so sorry babe...sorry he hurt you...sorry I didn't keep you safe." His words trailed off into a pained whisper.
I pressed my check to his, sharing my warmth and love, and told him with all my heart, "Yes you did, you stopped him and got me help. I don't expect you to supernaturally predict every danger that will come at us. All we can do is fight to keep each other safe and find a way through."
Caleb nodded slightly, "Okay get some rest now."
I let out a deep breath and relaxed in his embrace and drifted off to sleep, comforted by the sound of his breath and steady heartbeat. I slept soundly cocooned in Caleb's warmth until interrupted by the clattering voices of my four best friends and Matt.
"Irma!" Hay Lin squealed as she floated into the room. "How do you feel?" She was wearing a denim mini with a sky blue peasant blouse that flowed around her as she skipped over and grabbed the desk chair and moved it to the side of the bed as the others shuffled in and took up places throughout the room. I looked up groggily, instantly caught by the glare of her braces as she beamed at me.
Will gasped, "Whoa, nice shiner does it hurt much?"
I put my hand to my face,wincing at its tenderness, then remembering Martin's punch to my face yesterday. I hadn't looked in a mirror yet, poking Caleb in the ribs, I asked, "Why didn't you tell me I had a black eye? How bad do I look."
Caleb rolled onto his back and before I could elbow him again he answered, "I had other things on my mind, like you waking up after being attacked. You're beautiful, you're always beautiful."
Then he stretched and moaned, "Man! I had just fell asleep!"
Waving him off, Cornelia walked around the bed and said, "Stop whining, there's nothing wrong with you, you can sleep any time. We're here to see Irma. Whoa, that is going to need lots of cover up." Then she plopped down next to me adding a graceful swoosh of motion as she threw her silk scarf over one shoulder.
"That's not true, we were thinking of both of you, we brought your homework," said Taranee with a grin.
Matt stuck his hands in the pockets of his grey cargo pants and said, "Hey don't blame me man, Will doesn't take no for an answer."
Will punched her boyfriend in the arm and I noticed Will and Matt were wearing matching Cibo Matto T-shirts. "Darn right, boyfriend duty means," she said with a smile, "I have the right to make you come with me to check up on sick friends."
"No what it really means is that if I don't do what she wants, I don't get any make out time until she forgives me, and she's good at holding a grudge," Matt quipped back with a grin.
"So how do you feel? We've been dying to know what really happened," Hay Lin redirected the conversation.
I leaned into Caleb's shoulder for comfort and support then told my story of running into Martin in the hall and his meltdown into mad attacker. Ending with my own disbelief that nerdy little Martin could pull such a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, around the room my feelings were echoed by nods of agreement.
"So what did the doctor say? Will you be able to go to the dance?" Will asked.
So much had happened that I had forgotten about the dance tomorrow. I had to admit I had begun to feel excited about the prospect of spending the night dancing with Caleb.
Caleb spoke up, "Her concussion is pretty severe, she's still walking like a drunk, with headaches and nausea. I don't think we'll be going to the dance."
"I am not. Besides I'm sure I'll be okay by tomorrow night." I snapped, a little too defensively.
"Oh, yeah and add irritable and clearly lacking good judgment."
I punched his thigh, but said nothing...I was not giving him any more fuel against me.
"Ow!, that counts as strange behavior you know," then he kissed my check and said, "all we need now is memory loss and she have the complete set of symptoms."
"And you looked so beautiful in your dress," lamented Hay Lin.
Cornelia thought for a second and said, "Well, maybe you could wear it to the junior/senior prom,"
"Oh yeah, I forgot Caleb's a junior – you get to go with him! You can still wear your dress!" Hay Lin's mood perked up at the thought of prom, "But we won't get to go with you none of us are juniors."
"Hey speak for yourself, I'm officially dating a senior, so I plan to be at the prom too," announced Cornelia.
We all turned to her dumbfounded by the news, everyone that is but Caleb, "So Peter finally got it in gear and asked you out, huh?"
Like watching a tennis match, all eyes turned from Cornelia to Caleb.
"What? The guys had the hots for her for months...don't tell me nobody else knew that. Why do you think he was fooling around with her while we were dating? He was trying to steal her from me."
The only sound came from Taranee, "Oh...I guess that explains a lot."
Even Cornelia looked at Caleb strangely, "So you're okay with all of this?"
"Yeah. I want you to be happy. We're not boyfriend/girlfriend anymore, it's not my business who you date but we're still friends. And I like Peter, he's cool.
"Hmmm" was all I could say as I stared at my amazing fiance.
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