PART 10:
Liana sat on the side of Trip's bed. She had sat with him yesterday and would have stayed all night, if it wasn't for the promise she made to her father. But today was a different day and she had sat there from the moment she walked in. Watching him closely for any signs that he was waking up, but there were none and she was worried the doctor was wrong about his condition.
She traced her finger around the bandage on his forehead down to his cheek and over his lips. She wanted nothing more for him to wake up so she could see those beautiful blue eyes she loved.
Loved, she thought, I'm in love with him, and that brought a smile to her face and tears to her eyes.
All of a sudden she heard him moan and saw him move his head slightly. Taking his hand into hers, she watched as his eyelids began to flutter open.
Trip slowly became aware that he was lying on a bed. His head hurt and he took inventory of the rest of his body to see where else it hurt. The dull ache in his ribs told him they were either badly bruised or broken. He wanted to stay sleeping so he didn't have to feel the pain, but he remembered the falling rocks and Liana and his eyes flew open.
"Liana!" he called out, trying to sit up.
Liana gently pushed him back down. "Stay still, I'm right here," she said.
Trip looked at her. "You weren't hurt?"
"No, I'm fine," she told him. "You pushed me out of the way before any rocks could hit me."
Trip closed his eyes, his head was kill him and his ribs felt no better. "I wish someone would have pushed me out of the way," he said.
"The doctor should be here soon, he'll give you something for the pain."
Trip opened his eyes again and looked at Liana. "How long was I out?"
"I'd say a little over a day," he heard Archer say as he walked up to the bed. "How you feeling, Trip?"
"Besides this killer headache I have," Trip said. "Just peachy."
"You keep this up," Archer said with a smile. "I'm not letting you go on anymore away missions."
"I keep this up, I'm not going to want to go."
"Well I guess we can't help when a freak accident happens."
"I don't think this was a freak accident, sir."
Archer frowned. "What are you talking about, Trip?"
"Before I blacked out," Trip explained. "I could have sworn I saw someone standing on top of the cave."
End of Part 10