"Hey. Fatima. Before you leave. Are you sure you're okay?" Rountree said, grabbing Fatima's hand as they walked out together.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?' Fatima replied. Her ankle was throbbing, and she desperately wanted an ice pack, but she refused to admit it.
"You're limping. And I've never heard you scream the way you did when that van hit us. Fatima, that's not normal. You were scared and I know it. Don't lie," he said gently.
"Fine. I was in a really bad car accident when I was younger. When the van hit us, I just got really scared. I'm okay now, promise," she said. Rountree softened.
"Come here. It's okay. Why you limping?" he asked. Fatima frowned.
"I think my ankle might be twisted," she lied. She knew what a twist felt like, and she would trade that for her current pain in a heartbeat.
"All right, let's get you home and I'll help you get situated. 'Kay?" he said gently. Fatima nodded a little. Rountree put his arm around her and lifted her bad leg.
Once they were in her room, he gently removed her shoe and sock. He was surprised to see how swollen it was. He pushed her pant leg up a little and gently touched it.
"Ow," Fatima whimpered. Rountree raised an eyebrow.
"I'm pretty sure this is sprained, at best. I'll be surprised if it's not broken. We're going to the hospital," he said firmly.
"Please no, I hate hospitals" she whispered.
"Sorry. We need to get you some x-rays," he said. He pulled off her other shoe and sock, then put a flip-flop on each foot. Fatima groaned as he carried her back to the car.
TWO HOURS LATER
Sure enough, Fatima's ankle had a hairline fracture. She was ordered to be on crutches for a week, then wear a brace for another two weeks. Fatima groaned.
"Devin, I don't need you to carry me. Just open the front door?" she groaned, tossing him her house keys. Rountree got her foot propped up on a few pillows, then he got an ive pack and wrapped it in a towel. Once she was settled, he turned on her TV. He saw that she had been watching cooking shows, so he put those on for her.
"I'll sleep on the couch, okay? I have your crutches right here, in case you need to get up in the middle of the night. Remote, here, phone plugged in here, water bottle here, anything else you need?" Rountree was making a big show of babying her. Fatima smiled.
"Goodnight kiss?" she asked. Rountree grinned and kissed her lips. They separated after three seconds, and Rountree sat on her couch. He pulled his shirt off and got settled with a blanket. He was bored after about five minutes of her shows, but he was willing to put up with it because Fatima was so obviously into it.