Fallout
~ Chapter Thirty Seven ~ Written by Grey
Lexie blew a breath out from her pursed lips as her flats slapped down the hallway. She wished she could have used some makeup to cover up the jagged angry looking laceration that ran the length of her left cheek, but Dr. Jonas had vetoed that idea. The specialist from plastics had come down to see her this morning prior to discharge and said that she would heal without a scar, yet still had given her an ointment to apply twice daily. She'd already spread a thin layer of the emollient, at least it smelled pleasant.
Her hair was clean, hanging free in big loose waves and she was wearing a long sleeved ivory eyelet blouse with charcoal grey slacks. A light touch of makeup brightened her chocolate colored eyes and lips and she felt semi-human again. The closer she drew to Knox's room, the faster her heart pumped, the tighter her stomach clenched and the longer it seemed to take. How long was this damn hallway anyway?
The glaring red stop sign on the glass partition separating her from him redirecting all visitors to the nurse's station brought her up short. Her breath froze in her chest, the curtains were all pulled from the inside and she couldn't see around them at all. Her nose was practically pressed to the glass, the steam from her breath fogging up in front of her face.
Flying to the nurse's desk, her eyes blinking rapidly to clear the tears that seemed hell-bent on destroying her hard work with the minimal makeup that Stefano had someone bring to her.
"There's a sign on room 271, that says you have to check in with the nurse's desk, that he can't have visitors?" Lexie hated the quiver in her voice.
"There's no patient in room 271."
"I know there's a patient in 271, I slept next to his bed last night."
Knox's nurse held Lexie's eyes, trying to give her the information she needed without saying a word.
"I know there's a patient in 271, I slept next to his bed last night." Lexie repeated.
"I am afraid I cannot give you any information." Dismissing her, the nurse returned to her work.
"But there's a no visitors sign…"
"That's right." The blonde stopped typing, looking up at Lexie with a look that was often reserved for those mourning the loss of a relative.
Lexie sucked in a breath, feeling the words as a physical blow. "Is he…"
"I'm sorry, I can't give you any information." Another baleful blink. She hated the 'I feel sorry for you' look that the nurse sitting at the desk bestowed on her as well. Her vision began to tunnel in, blackening from the outside. She grabbed onto the counter in front of her, taking a slow deep breath, determined to stay upright.
"I am not asking for information." She grit from between clenched teeth.
"Ok then." The nurse schooled her features into a neutral expression and looked back down at her computer screen.
"I just want to know if I can go in and see Knox. My name is…"
"I know who you are, Miss DiMera."
Lexie blinked again, jerking her head back as if she'd been slapped. The reminder of her name more effective than grappling onto the sharp edge of the counter with her fingertips, for the vertigo she was still suffering from.
"Good, so you know my name. Then perhaps you know my father." Lexie held the nurse's eye, injecting a little bit of the DiMera steel and intimidation that Stefano demanded they all be masters of. "And if you know me, and you know my father. Then you know that Knox and I… well you'd know that Knox would want to see me."
A corner of the nurse's mouth lifted. "I do know your father, Miss DiMera." She paused, folding her hands on the edge of her keyboard. You have your work cut out for you Knox. Good luck young man, good luck. "Unfortunately, the patient in room 271. Well, he is not accepting visitors at this time." A glint twinkled in her eye.
"Accepting? He's not accepting visitors? Well, we'll just see about that." Lexie whirled, stomping back toward Knox's room.
"No! Miss DiMera. Stop. Wait!" The nurse said quietly, grinning to herself. She slowly saved the note she was working on, watching out of the corner of her eye as Lexie sailed back up to Knox's door and slammed her hand on the silver plate next to door, barely waiting while the automatic door whooshed open and she flung the curtain open, bursting into Knox's room.
"Hey there."
Knox stared at the TV in the corner of his room, he flicked his eyes at her and then back at the television set. Striving to remain impassive. He hit the nurse call button as soon as she hit the doorway. He could hear the annoying blat of the ding coming in from the hall.
It hurt, god how it hurt to be so disdainful of her. She looked so beautiful it was acutely painful. Pulling his right forearm up over his eyes, he blocked his vision of her completely. It would be easier if he couldn't see her reactions. Right?
"How are you feeling?" She moved closer. He could feel every nerve ending in his body primed to respond to her every breath. She trailed her fingers over his legs. His gut clenched and without warning he got hard. Fuck my life.
"Are you in pain?" You have no idea.
"I can get someone for you." The only one I want is you.
"Knox? What can I do for you?" The nurse who he thought was on his side came to his rescue, reaching over his head to silence the nurse buzzer.
"For starters, you can get her out of here." Knox barked.
"What?" Lexie cried out.
"What was that?" The nurse asked, prying his arm from over his eyes.
"I don't want you." Lies. I'm going to be sick. I'm sorry, God I'm so sorry Lexie.
"What are you talking about?
"Get out of my room, can't you hear me? I want everyone out of here!"
"Are you hurting, can't you give him something? It's obvious he's in pain!"
"I said, get out!" Knox roared, removing his arm to glare at her. When he did, his eyes lit on the absolute last person he thought he'd see in his hospital room. Stefano DiMera stood with his mother, in the doorway, and he looked absolutely livid.
"Lennox Preston! What is the meaning of all this!" Kylie pushed her way past the nurse to get close to him, her eyes so like Knox's own, but filled with frustrated tears.
"No visitors Mom, I want everyone - but you, out of here. Please. Get them out."
~*~*~
"You have to do better!" Coach Dix yelled, his face a brilliant shade of crimson as he smacked his clipboard against the lockers, cracking the plastic. It was half-time and they were down 44-39. "Kiriakis, what the Hell kind of defense are you playing out there? Watch it, or you're gonna foul out before the fourth! And DiMera, make a foul shot for Christ's sakes! All of you, you need to stop trying to be a hero and make a damn layup!"
EJ blew out a breath, the last seventy two hours had been a roller coaster of incredible highs and crushing lows. Tonight was proving to be no exception.
"Bas! Box. Out." He exhaled as if the exertion of the commentary was more strenuous than the physical task his players were putting forth on the court.
EJ slouched on the bench, cupping his hands behind his neck.
"I know, you're all worried about Preston. He's fine. He's going to be fine. I know the rumors floating around this palace are probably bordering on supernatural. But he's going to be just fine. I talked to him." Coach made eye contact with Bas and the junior and senior members of the squad as if they were all some tight knit group. If they were so close, they would know he was just fine, right?
Really? You talked to him? Bullshit. EJ lifted his chin, his face wearing his disbelief. Because my sister tried talking to him. And was told under no circumstances was he allowed any visitors, and she was with him in the accident. In fact, she got in there and he refused to talk to her. Threw her out. She can't talk about it without becoming half hysterical. His cell phone, coincidentally smashed in the accident as well. So Coach Dix… I'm not buying your little dog and pony show here. Preston's not fine. And I'd bet dollars to pesos he's not talking to you. EJ snorted, dropping his chin and rubbing his neck again.
"You've got five minutes Coach." The door to the locker room opened and shut briefly as a spotter peeked in.
"Alright. You guys have got this. You can win this. Bring the Sectional title home to Salem. Everyone, bring it in!" Coach thrust his arm into the center of the huddle. "Warriors on three!" As everyone did their little chant and hoorah, EJ couldn't help but let his mind drift to Sami, she'd moved to sit right behind the cheerleaders. Lexie had decided to suit up and take the court with the rest of her squad. No laceration to the face was going to put her into hiding.
"I slept with Chloe this weekend." Philip murmured as the team was retying their laces and filling their water bottles.
"That's nice." EJ nodded, tugging his lace extra tight. He switched feet, then stopped mid loop to turn his head and look, eyebrows high, at where Philip was watching with a cocked brow of his own. "Wait, what did you just say?"
"Did you know she slept with Knox last fall?" Philip knelt down next to him, not needing to untie his laces, but needing an excuse to lower his voice.
EJ shook his head. "Jesus."
"No, he just thinks he's God." Philip huffed, twisting to plant his butt on the bench.
"Wow." EJ turned and mirrored Phil's position, squirting a good mouthful of water into his cheek. "How was it?"
"It was…" Philip pursed his lips. "Confusing. Real confusing. So when are you going to tell me what's going on with you?"
EJ froze with his water bottle halfway to his mouth again. "What do you mean?" His heart pounding in his chest.
"I know you."
"Let's go ladies!" Coach Dix picked the perfect time to interrupt and EJ wanted to kiss the man for saving him from having to choose between keeping his promise to Samantha and keeping a secret from his best friend.
"Soon. We're going to discuss this soon." Philip popped him on the shoulder, puffing his cheeks out until his dimples disappeared completely. EJ's stomach rolled, knowing that he was going to have to come to a decision and quickly.
~*~*~
"Hey Sami." Rafe plunked down next to her on the bleachers when Marco went to get her a refill on popcorn. He held out his packet of Twizzlers.
You've got to be kidding. Uncle Steffie is down videoing the girls sectional routine and Rafe comes to sit next to me. No scenes. No scenes. He would be so disappointed with me if I caused a scene. Sami offered a wan smile, refusing his licorice with a grimace that covered a lot of things. "Hi, no thanks."
"I didn't hear from you all weekend. I thought maybe we'd get a bite to eat or something."
"I was a little busy." Sami explained. With a lot of things. She thought with a guilty conscience, a lot of amazingly wonderful things.
Rafe nodded, scooting a little closer under the guise of listening more attentively.
"Did you really tell Lucas that he couldn't be friends with me?"
Rafe almost choked on a Twizzler, gasping and turning a garish shade of bronze before forcing the mouthful of candy down. "What?" He rasped.
"Did you, or did you not tell Lucas Roberts today at lunch, that I was only being nice to him because I felt sorry for him?" Sami turned her head to the side, watching as Rafe worked his throat.
He swallowed again before nodding guiltily. "I did."
Sami blinked, she hadn't really been expecting Rafe to fess up. "Why?"
"Because I was jealous. You sit with him. Not me. I like you. I want to date you." Rafe maintained continuous eye contact, making her shift slightly from the aggressiveness of his stare.
"You do?" Sami swallowed, her voice small. She looked down, picking at her nails.
EJ glanced up into the stands, the team coming back up on the court and noticed Rafe sitting next to her as Stefano started moving back to his seat. His concentration was completely shot. He wanted to say fuck the game and beat the shit out of Rafe Hernandez.
"Rein it in DiMera." Philip clapped him on the shoulder, when he paused on the sideline.
"Look at that twat waffle. I want to have another go at him right now." EJ felt his chest puff up and his blood pressure skyrocket.
"Dude, where is Octopussy, isn't it his night to babysit Sister Sami?"
"Who knows, him and Melanie are probably snogging under the bleachers."
"Melanie? My Melanie?"
Shit. EJ could have kicked himself. "Uh. Yeah? Your Melanie? Didn't you just tell me that you and Chloe..."
Philip shrugged.
"I'm not allowed to date." Sami explained.
"Oh." Rafe's shoulders sagged. "But the Snow Ball?"
"It was a group thing…" she shrugged. "I'm only fifteen. Sorry."
Fifteen? Definitely a virgin. God, I have to have her. Rafe was practically salivating. "We can still hang out and stuff though, right? I mean, until you can date."
Sami blushed, yanking a hangnail free until a droplet of blood formed and began to drip down her finger. She popped it into her mouth, her eyes widened at the sting. Rafe wanted to pounce, watching her so intently.
"Excuse me Mr. Hernandez, but you're in my seat." Stefano interrupted.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Rafe apologized, standing and sticking his hand out to shake the elder DiMera's hand. Stefano smiled, appreciating the gesture, giving the young man a firm shake.
"Why don't you join us?" Stefano invited. "I'll sit on Sami's other side, you can have my seat."
"Are you sure?" Rafe practically wet himself, he was so excited.
"Of course!" Stefano climbed over Sami to take Marco's spot.
Their conversation ended with the buzzer indicating the end of half time. Sami cheered just as loud as anyone in their section of the particularly boisterous competitive sectional game. It came down to the final seconds, but unfortunately, luck was not on their side and Salem High did not bring home a Sectional Title.
As the game ended, EJ and Sami's eyes met. He was crushed. She wanted nothing more than to run and comfort him. But how was she going to explain that to everyone else? What a mess this was!