A/N: See Intro for the standard stuff. May I add, that I have no medical training. I'm not even a medical librarian. I hope you all areenjoying this. Please R&R.
123: Heh, heh, heh...I chuckle evilly as I chuck a rock over the cliff edge and run away.
Annabel slowly opened her eyes and quickly closed them again as the bright light stabbed them.
"Come on now, Miss McGinty. Open those eyes again for me." Annabel struggled to do what she asked. Her one eye opened easily, the other was much more painful. "That's it. Now follow the light with your eyes. Mm-hm. Good." The light disappeared. Annabel blinked the not sore eye several times. The face leaning over her swam into focus. A doctor. Blonde. Thin. Glasses. The doctor smiled at Annabel. "Welcome back, Miss McGinty."
"Horatio," she croaked.
A shadow passed over the doctor's face. "Is that the young man...?" Annabel started to shake her head. The pain that went smashing through it stopped her.
"Police. Shot."
The doctor shook her head. "You're at Baptist. No gunshot victims here. You were in a car accident along Route 41. The young man you were with is dead."
Annabel tried to smile. "Good," she rasped. The doctor frowned again. Annabel sighed. "Water? Please?" The doctor held a glass with a straw to Annabel's lips. "Thank you. I was kidnapped. Not sorry he's dead." Annabel swallowed. Her throat hurt. "Call...Miami-Dade..."
"The police are already here."
"Who?" She tried to sit forward. Annabel winced in pain and her vision started to blur.
"Miss McGinty. I don't think..."
Annabel sat back against the bed. She rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I...need...to...know...who...is...here," she said very slowly.
"A couple of uniforms, a Doctor..."
"Alexx Woods? Is Alexx here?"
"Yes. That's her."
Annabel closed her eyes. "Thank you. Can I see her?"
"Miss McGinty, I haven't even appraised you of your..."
Annabel opened her eyes again and tried to pin the doctor with her stare. "I need to talk to Alexx now. I'm not dead, right?"
"No."
"Am I dying in the next 10 minutes?"
"No. Actually, all things considered..."
"Then let me talk to Dr. Woods. Now," insisted Annabel.
"Miss McGinty..."
Annabel tried to raise her left arm. It hurt. She picked up her right arm and held up her hand. "Dr..." Annabel squinted at her badge. "Marrin. I need to talk to Alexx. I won't listen to a word you say until I talk to her. So, you'd best just save your breath and go get her. Thank you." Annabel looked at the wall, ignoring the doctor. Dr. Marrin tried to say something again. Annabel closed her eyes. Dr. Marrin just shook her head and went out.
A few minutes later Alexx came into the room. Annabel opened her eyes and looked at her, carefully searching her face. Alexx gave her a smile and a small nod. Annabel let out the breath she had been holding.
"Thank God. Thank God." Annabel could feel tears rolling down her cheeks. That wasn't going to help how her head felt.
"Annabel. Was making sure worth ripping into that poor girl?" chided Alexx lightly. The M.E. couldn't be too hard on Annabel.
"Yes," said Annabel honestly.
Alexx laughed. "Well, Sugar, you must be feeling better than you look."
"No, Alexx, I pretty much feel like I was in a wreck."
"And you should. That was a stupid thing to do, Annie. Good thing that you weren't in that little ragtop of yours."
"Yes, it is. But I didn't have much choice, Alexx." Annabel looked at Alexx. "How is Horatio?"
"He was shot, Sugar. What do you think?" Alexx sat on the edge of Annabel'sbed and took her hand. "He was very lucky. Both of you were. It missed anything vital. He lost a lot of blood. And he hit his head very hard." She stroked Annabel's hand soothingly. "Now, we both know Horatio has a very hard head, but it wasn't meant to hit concrete. He hasn't come to. We don't know quite how bad it is."
"How soon can I see him?"
"Sugar, you were in a pretty bad accident. You need to rest."
"Alexx, I have to see Horatio. I have to see him with my own eyes."
"You can't be seeing much of anything out of that one eye. You're going to have a little scar."
"Alexx..."
"I'll make this deal with you, Sugar. You stay here tonight." Annabel started to protest. Alexx shook her head. "You stay here tonight. You be nice to Dr. Marrin. I will see about getting you transferred to Jackson Memorial tomorrow. If Dr. Marrin agrees."
"Okay."
"But when you get there, you have to rest still. You can visit Horatio, but you will not spend all of your time in his room."
"I promise."
"Liar. But I'll help you get there anyhow. If you are nice to Dr. Marrin tonight. And do everything she says. Without arguing. Deal?"
"Deal."
Alexx nodded and stood up. "I'm sending Dr. Marrin back in now. Be nice." Annabel nodded slightly. "I'll get her sign your transfer paperwork, but if she decides you gave her too much trouble, I'll tell her she can tear it up." Annabel nodded again. Alexx smiled. "Get some sleep, Annabel."
Alexx left the room and sent the young doctor back in. Annabel gave her a complacent smile.
Be nice. See Horatio. Be nice, Annabel kept repeating to herself. Be nice. See Horatio. Be nice.
---------