Steve walked behind Lindsay as she got wheeled into a cubicle. The nurse pulled the curtain closed behind her.
"Right Lindsay, what's going to happen now is that the doctor will come around soon to check on you. They'll decide on what course of treatment you will need for your wounds and if you'll need to stay overnight but what I need for you to do now is to put this gown on and get on the bed ready for them coming. Your bra will need to come off but your pants can stay on. I'll go and tell them you've arrived."
The nurse turned on the brakes on the wheelchair and placed the gown that Lindsay had to get changed into on the end of the bed and left the cubicle, closing the curtain behind her after she left.
"Do you have my phone, Steve?" Lindsay asked tapping her blazer pockets. "I need to call my mum."
"Not on me. I think I think it must have fallen out in the car. I'll text Kate to see if she has it."
Steve sent a quick text on his phone a reply coming in not a minute later.
"Kate says she's got your phone. It's in the car but it's smashed to pieces. I'm sorry Lindsay. You can use mine in the meantime."
"It's fine. It was to be expected. I'll wait to see what the doctor says first before calling my mum."
"I should leave you to get changed." Steve said as he made a beeline for the exit.
Lindsay grabbed his arm as he walked by. "No."
Steve turned to look at her.
"Don't go. I know this is going to be awkward." Lindsay said. "But I'm not going to be able to get my clothes off without your help. It's ok if you don't want to. I'm sure you can get a nurse who would help me out."
"No, it's ok. I can do it. Whatever you need. Let's get you on the bed first and then we can figure it out from there."
Steve gently picked her up out of the seat. Trying to not let her put too much weight on her foot which was a mixture of red and purple splodges. He wasn't a doctor but he was sure it was broken. He gently placed her on the bed facing him. He heard her wince but he was sure she was glad to have the weight off her foot. He wheeled the wheelchair out of the way and placed it at the side of the cubicle.
"We should start with your tie it will be the easiest thing to get off you and then go from there."
He loosened her tie and slipped it over her head. He reached down to her skirt and she lifted her legs one after another to slide it off her body. Steve watched as Lindsay placed her hand on the bed to leverage herself into that position. Hearing her call out in pain devastated him along with the bruises and marks on her face. As much as people hated her, she didn't deserve this.
He slipped off her blazer and started to unbutton her shirt and slip it over one shoulder. He then waited until she was comfortable and then slipped it off her other arm. This was a lot harder as he had to take it slow as the pain was intense this side as she believed this one was broken. He placed the items on the chair behind him.
He turned around to face her and watched as she curled up her body and try to cover up the underwear that she now had on show. He could tell she was uncomfortable and wanted this over with as quickly as possible.
"I don't think you expected this to happen when you woke up this morning." Lindsay said chuckling.
"No, I didn't wake up expecting that you would be changing in front of me today. I know you feel embarrassed because of it but I promise you that I won't go around spreading this to everyone at school."
"I know Steve. You're better than that. If I had to pick I'm glad it was you compared to Dot or anyone else."
"Thanks." Steve said. "It means a lot. I'll get the gown on you first and they I'll take your bra off you. If that's ok with you?"
"Of course, it is."
Steve lifted the gown off the bed and loosened it from its folds. He gently wrapped it around Lindsay's torso, tying it at the back, making sure to not hurt her in any way. He slipped his hands further down to her bra clasps and undid it. He stepped backwards, making sure to create a space between her as she slid the bra straps slowly down her arms, trying not to hurt herself, she folded it and handed it to Steve who hung it on the back of the chair. He had no sooner sat back down on the chair when the doctor appeared around the corner.
"Now what can I do to help... god, you look like you've been through the wars. "The doctor said surprised.
Lindsay laughed feeling uncomfortable.
"Yeah, some girls beat her up at school." Steve said wrapping his hand around Lindsay's fingers trying to ground her.
"School you say. High school?" The doctor asked.
"Yeah." Steve replied.
"Well, I hope the girls are getting disciplined for it. Since you are still in school your parent will need to be phoned."
Lindsay was about to disagree but the doctor stopped her.
"No buts, it's policy but that can wait too later. Now tell me where it hurts and your pain from 1 to 10 and we can focus on fixing that first."
"It's about an 8. My chest, it hurts to breath. I have a headache; my arm really hurts along with my ankle." Lindsay said pointing to where it hurt.
The doctor looked at each area separately. Looking at each injury and taking in the information to make a medical diagnosis.
"Right, what is going to happen now is that I'm going to order some scans. That will give us an indication of if anything is broken and then we can go on from there. From the look of you though I highly expect that your arm and ankle are broken. If your chest hurts when you breathe then it's possible, that you have broken a rib and I want to make sure that you don't have any concussion so we might have to keep you overnight. Are you allergic to any pain medication Lindsay?"
"No, I don't think so."
"That's good. What I'm going to do is get you hooked up to an IV which will administer you some strong pain meds. Which should take the edge off of what you are feeling currently and then we can take you to get your scan and anything you may need afterwards. Does that sound alright?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"I'll be back soon." The doctor said and he did just that. Coming back later to get her hooked up to an IV drip. A porter came to collect her a while later to take her for her scan and returned her back to the room. The doctor came back to check on her with the results.
"So, Lindsay, how are you feeling now? Are you feeling any better?"
"Still sore but not as much as before?"
"And how would you rate the pain now?"
"About a 3 or 4"
"That's good. The pain killers have kicked in. You will still feel discomfort even after we fix you today. It will happen until the bruises go down but we'll make up a prescription for you to take home and you will soon start to feel better. Now I have been on the phone with your mum, she says she was up in Scotland for a course but she's told us that she's on her way back. She should arrive within the next few hours but we will be keeping you in, just over night, so that we can test and make sure that you haven't sustained any head injuries in the fight. Also, we need to put your arm in a cast and I have been in talk with some surgeons and there's talk of getting you fixed in tomorrow for surgery on your ankle. He fears that it will need some pins in it but we can talk about all of that when your mum arrives. Someone will be along to take you to get your arm casted and then they will take you up to the ward."
A porter returned taking her to get her arm cast and then to a ward. Lindsay sat in bed. Looking around the small room she was placed in. She felt alone. She didn't know where Steve was. Had no way of contacting him, she had none of her belongings and she didn't know when her mum would arrive. She wrapped the bed sheets around her the best she could with one hand. She laid down as best she could and just watched as the time on the clock ticked by.
She heard a noise in the hallway a while later and turned her head to see who it was and Steve was popping his head around the door.
"Alright to come in?" He asked.
"Yeah." Lindsay nodded. "Where have you been? I thought you might have left."
"I was left hanging like a prat downstairs. No one could tell me where you had gone. When I told them that I still had your things they were a bit more receptive as to tell me where you are. I wasn't going to leave you. I stopped at the shop downstairs on the way up and bought you some magazines and some chocolate."
He placed all the bags down, sat in a chair and opened his bag to reveal his stash. Passing them over to her.
"Do you know anything more?" He asked as Lindsay took the goodies off him and placed them on the cupboard beside the bed.
"Nothing yet. I'm nil by mouth until I find out if I'm getting surgery but I will use the magazines and eat the chocolate when I get the chance. Thank you for bringing them, Steve."
"No problem. I've also texted the gang what's happening and they've said they'll come if you're up for visitors."
"That would be nice." Lindsay said.
Steve picked up his phone, typed quickly on It and got a reply.
"They are on the way."
Lindsay and Steve talked about anything until the gang arrived. She was surprised that she hadn't talk to any of them on a deeper level because the more she found out about them from Steve she thought they were actually quite sweet.
The door knocked again and in walked Jo and Kate, with Dot hanging at the door. Steve got up and let Kate sit down on his seat. Jo going around the other side of the bed to sit on the chair that was placed there.
"I brought your phone." Kate said as she passed it to Lindsay. Lindsay looked down at device in her hand. It was obliterated. The glass smashed beyond repair. She would need to get a new phone. She placed it on the cabinet.
"How are you feeling?" Jo asked.
"Sore." Lindsay smiled. "I have a broken arm. Broken ribs. I'm possibly going in for surgery tomorrow to fix my ankle and they are keeping me in overnight just in case I have concussion."
"You didn't do deserve that, Lindsay. You didn't." Jo said.
"Jo's right. What they did to you was so shit but anyway we're here now. We'll look after you." Kate replied.
"You will?" Lindsay whispered. Surprised by what she was hearing.
Kate grabbed her hand and held it tight. Lindsay looked up to face her.
"Of course, we will. We're not going to leave you alone after that happened. You're one of us now."
"Thanks." Lindsay smiled. She wiped a tear away from her face. She didn't want to look weak in front of her new friends.
"What will you do about Michael?" Steve asked from the corner near the door.
"Whatever he says Lindsay, you shouldn't believe it. His girlfriend beat you up. He doesn't deserve you." Joanne said.
"Ah, speak of the devil and he shall appear." Dot said as he turned his head to look out of the window facing onto the corridor.
There was a knock on the door and it opened to reveal Michael standing there with a bunch of flowers. A smile on his face. Steve wondered how he could be so brazen in his actions. Steve launched himself across the room, pulling the door out of Michael's grip and pushed him into the corridor. Dot following him out.
"WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU HERE? DO YOU THINK SHE WANTS TO SEE YOU AFTER WHAT YOUR GIRLFRIEND DID TO HER?"
"Steve, come off it. You're making a scene." Dot said trying to pull Steve off of Michael.
Lindsay, Jo and Kate could hear the commotion in the corridor through the open door.
"I want to see him... I want him to explain why it happened."
"Are you sure?" Kate asked.
"Yes."
Kate stood up and went to the door. Looking out at the chaos in the corridor. Steve holding Michael against a wall. Michael trying to push him off. Dot trying to desperately pull Steve back. The nurses in the corridor getting angry about what was going on. It was incredible to watch.
"Steve...STEVE! GET OFF HIM. Lindsay wants to talk to him."
Steve let go of Michael's collar.
"If you hurt her, I won't be in charge of my actions." He whispered as he let Michael walked past him.
Kate and Jo walked out of the room leaving Michael and Lindsay to their privacy. Michael sat down on one of the chairs and passed the flowers to Lindsay. She placed them on the cabinet.
"Sorry, they aren't looking their best now." He spoke.
"Why are you here Michael?" Lindsay said. Her voice deep, her question a warning that if he didn't say the right thing he would be chucked out.
"When I heard what happened I came straight away. I'm sorry she did that to you."
"Who?... Your girlfriend Michael. You can't even say it. You lead me on and this is what I got for it. Look at me Michael."
Michael raised his head to look her in the eyes.
"This is what your girlfriend and her friends did to me Michael. I have a broken arm. Broken ribs. I'm going for surgery tomorrow. My mum's having to come back from her course early to find me like this. You bet she will be going mad when she gets here. You can promise your girlfriend that."
Michael went to speak.
"Get out of my sight Michael."
"I..."
"I SAID GET OUT OF MY SIGHT."
Dot entered the room.
"You better do what the lady asks." He said in a threatening tone.
Michael stood up from his chair. "I'm so sorry Lindsay."
"I don't want your apology." She said as Michael exited the room and watched him as he walked down the corridor. The gang came back in the room.
"We're going to have to leave you Lindsay, visiting time is almost over." Joanne said.
"Oh, ok." Lindsay replied. Trying to hide how she truly felt about the situation.
"Steve has our number so if you want to talk to us later then you can." Kate said.
"You're staying?" She asked Steve.
"Of course, I am, I wouldn't leave you alone... well not until your mum arrives anyway."
"We'll see you when you're better and back at school Lindsay. Bye." Joanne said.
Lindsay waved bye as they left the room. Steve came back down to sit in the chair beside her.
Lindsay winced at the pain. She had been sitting upright for too long.
"You can lie back a bit if you're sore." Steve said as he passed her the remote control of the bed. "You don't need to worry about me. I can entertain myself. Relax a bit and I'll tell you when your mum arrives."
"Thanks Steve." Lindsay truly couldn't believe the way today had gone. She finally had friends. Her mum could finally stop worrying about how lonely she had been. She didn't care that she had to go through pain to get it because she finally got what she had been dreaming about all along.