Author's note: Well, I've FINALLY got the chance to update, sorry it took so long - hopefully the next chapter will be a bit quicker. Thanks for reading! Angel x
25.
On top of her head injury and subsequent concussion, it was discovered, once the swelling went down, that Shannon was also suffering from three cracked ribs and, as a result, she was subjected to a two night stay in hospital. It would probably be safe to say that everyone would be relieved when she could go home as she was not a very good patient; she hated being cooped up and was anxious to leave, trying many times to convince her doctor that she didn't need to be in hospital. The only thing which was keeping her sane was the fact that she had frequent visitors in the forms of Paige and Chris, while even Chris Irvine, Nora and Terry had been popping in to see her. They were the only people who knew what had really happened to her as, at Shannon's request, Paige had informed the rest of the people who worked at the newspaper that Shannon was ill. She did not want everyone to know and would not even allow anyone to contact her parents as she didn't want them to worry or make a fuss. However, the issue with which those who did know were more concerned was that she still had not talked to the police. As she was obviously suffering more pain from her injuries than she would admit, no one wanted to put too much pressure on her, but they couldn't help thinking that she maybe wasn't handling the situation as well as she liked to think she was.
Nonetheless, Shannon admitted, if only to herself, that she hated the times between visits as it gave her too much time to think over the recent events, and even those which were not so recent. On one such occasion, she was therefore thankful when Paige came to visit unexpectedly when she should have been at work.
"Paige!" she exclaimed happily, wincing as she sat up to put down her already neglected book and hug her friend. "What are you doing here? What about work? Not that I'm not pleased to see you ...."
"Cancelled interview, but lets not talk about work - you'll get enough of that soon enough!" the brunette grinned, "So how are you?"
"As well as can be expected, I guess." sighed Shannon, "Still waiting to get out of this place though."
"Patient as ever, I see." teased Paige, taking a seat. "Have you heard anything about when you might get out?"
"Hopefully this evening, if everything's still okay."
"Do you need me to pick you up or anything?" asked Paige.
"That's okay - Chris insisted on stopping by to collect me. Thanks anyway though."
Paige smiled and raised her eyebrows knowingly, "Chris, huh? Still sticking with the 'just friends' story, are you?"
"Yes! I mean, no!" exclaimed Shannon, getting flustered, "I mean ..... it's not a story."
"Really? Oh." Paige paused and tilted her head thoughtfully, indicating a large bunch of brightly coloured flowers, "Who brought you these?" she asked innocently, already fairly sure that she knew the answer. "They're beautiful."
Shannon looked down at her hands and mumbled something unintelligible in a low voice.
"Huh? I didn't quite catch that ....." pushed Paige with a grin.
"Okay, okay! I said it was Chris. And don't look at me like that - he just wanted to cheer me up; it was sweet of him."
"Right!" said Paige sceptically, "I'm sure that's all it was."
In order to prevent Shannon getting annoyed, she quickly changed the subject by producing a small bag. "Anyways, I got you something too."
"Aww, you shouldn't have ....."
"Don't get too excited - grapes. Isn't that what you give someone in hospital?" grinned Paige and Shannon started to laugh.
"Well, the food here might be bad but at least between you and Chris Irvine I won't starve!" she giggled, producing an almost identical bag from the small locker beside her bed.
"Irvine? Which one's he?"
"Jericho." informed Shannon, making Paige's eyes light up suddenly.
"Y2J was here? And he brought you grapes too? That is so cool - we think alike!" she enthused, "You HAVE to introduce me! He is that hot blonde, isn't he?"
"Umm, I guess so." said Shannon, "You know, for someone who doesn't like wrestling ....."
"Well, sometimes you have to take an interest in these things ......" said Paige as Shannon rolled her eyes, "So who else was here? And stick to ring names please, for those among us who aren't privileged enough to be on first name terms with the famous!"
"Oh please - you make it sound like the President dropped by to say hello!" exclaimed Shannon.
"Who else?" insisted Paige.
"Just Rhyno ....."
"Oh, he's cute!" interrupted Paige, "Sorry - continue!"
"And Molly Holly." finished Shannon.
"She's the one with the pigtails, isn't she? With the little Dudley guy? They are the cutest couple - do you think that's real? Them being together, I mean."
"No, it's not real. As far as I know, she's just started going out with Terry. Rhyno, you know?"
"Really!" Paige practically squealed, "Awwww!"
"You sure you're not a secret wrestling fan? You seem to be familiar with the storylines." asked Shannon suspiciously.
"I may have watched it once or twice." said Paige vaguely, before turning the subject towards the latest gossip from work.
*****
Finally Paige rose from her chair and sighed reluctantly, "Well, I should probably get going - let you get some rest."
"Yeah," snorted Shannon, "Like I'm not getting enough of that! Thanks for coming, Paige; somehow you always manage to cheer me up!"
"Any time, hon, any time. If you need anything, you let me know."
"Sure, thanks."
"Well, I'll be off then. You look after yourself."
"You too." said Shannon with a warm smile, before looking at her quizzically as Paige still lingered by the door.
"Everything okay?" asked Shannon, "Is there something you wanna talk about; something that's bothering you?"
"I was just wondering ....."
"Uh-oh, I can tell what this is about." groaned Shannon.
"Then I'll just come out with it." said Paige, determined to address the issue, "Have you talked to the cops yet?"
"Paige ....."
"Don't 'Paige' me - you haven't, have you?" she frowned, "Shannon, are you insane?"
"I just ..... I just want to forget about it and I'm having enough trouble doing that already without having to go over it again and again with complete strangers ....."
"So you're gonna let HIM off the hook? He does this to you and gets away with it? What if he does something like this again - to someone else, or even YOU? How are you going to feel then - knowing you could have stopped him?"
Shannon found herself unable to meet the intense gaze of her friend and lowered her head, raising a hand to touch the bandaging covering her head wound self-consciously.
"Don't try to make me feel worse than I do already." she pleaded.
Paige sighed and hurried back to the bedside, "Shan, I'm not trying to make you feel bad; I just want to make sure Billy gets what he deserves. You know if the roles were reversed, you'd be doing exactly the same thing."
"And you know that you wouldn't thank me for it."
"Probably not at the time, but in the long run I would. I know Chris talked to you too, so please, Shan, just listen to us. We're only doing this 'cause we care about you ....."
"I know, but I have to deal with this in my own time." explained Shannon, "You guys have been great and I am so grateful; please, don't think I'm not."
"Listen, I'm gonna have to get back to work soon - think about it and I'll call tonight to see if you're home." With that Paige left the hospital, leaving Shannon with a lot to consider.
*****
That evening, the doctor came to see Shannon and break the good news to her that she was being allowed to go home.
"Now, you will have to come back in a few weeks to have your stitches removed and we'll check then to see how your ribs are healing, but until then, you're free to go. All you have to do is keep the wound as dry as possible and preferably covered and keep your ribs strapped too; other than that, get plenty of REST- agreed?"
"Agreed." she nodded.
"In that case, we'll give you some pain killers and let you go - your lift is waiting."
"Chris is here?"
"He is indeed - he's waiting outside for you."
A short time later, Shannon was walking slowly towards reception to find Chris, carrying in one hand the sports bag which contained the few things Paige had brought for her stay and trying to avoid jostling her ribs.
"Hey!" came a call from behind her, "Are you disobeying doctor's orders already?"
"What?" said Shannon, turning a little too quickly for her protesting ribs and making herself wince, in turn causing Chris to jog up to her in concern.
"You okay?" he asked anxiously, taking her bag from her, "Knew you shouldn't be carrying that."
"Hey, Chris. And the bag was fine, it was YOU who made me turn too quick!" she said, but with a smile which dispelled any trace of blame from her light-hearted words. "I'm okay though."
"Sorry." he apologised sheepishly, "So are you ready to go?"
"Yep, thanks for coming to get me."
"No problem; come on, lets go - unless you WANT to stay here longer?" he grinned, offering her his arm.
"Hell no! I've had more than enough of hospital!" she exclaimed, gratefully slipping her arm through his, "Which way to the car?"
*****