Half an hour later the two men were allowed to see Sharon. She looked like a porcelain doll, pale and tiny in her hospital bed, a couple of needles sticking out of her cuts covered arms. Rusty broke down in tears and he didn't dare breathe or speak, kissing his mother's forehead as he sat by her bed and just watched her sleep. Andy was sitting on the sofa by the door and couldn't keep his eyes off of Sharon. He wanted to scoop her in his arms and hold her to be sure she's breathing, he wanted to kiss her and hold her so she knows she's safe with him. If he was mad at her for leaving him in the electronics the feeling faded away the moment he laid his eyes on her. She seemed so small and fragile and he wondered how long had she been building the Darth Raydor armor that made her look taller and tougher than the woman he was looking at. She stirred and Rusty held his breath.
-Get the nurse, I'll be here- he nodded and Rusty ran out of the room.
-Andy…-Sharon croaked, her voice dry from intubation.
-Hey, princess…-he kissed her forehead just below the bandana they've put on her head to monitor her EEG-Don't speak, keep your eyes closed. Just smile at me and I'll know you're ok-he whispered running his finger over the bridge of her nose and up to the spot between her eyebrows. Sharon smiled and Andy kissed her sweetly.
-Rusty…-Sharon felt a rush of panic. The last thing she remembered was being thrown against a tombstone, a sharp pain in her stomach and then nothing but pitch black. Now that the effects of anesthesia were fading away she could feel every cut on arms and legs and her ribbs felt like they've been used as grill bars, aching and burning with her every breath. The pounding in her head stopped, but the light hurt her eyes so she kept them closed. Something below her ribcage itched and she wanted to scratch it.
-Princess, no. You'll tear the stitches. You had a splenectomy. The doctor will come and…-he didn't finish because Rusty came in with the doctor and a nurse.
-Mom! Are you ok?- the boy rushed to kiss her cheek and she could feel the fear in his voice.
-I'll be fine, Rusty. Don't worry- she whispered knowing how stupid it was to tell her son not to worry when he had to watch her get slammed into a tombstone.
-Ok- was all Rusty could say and the notion of his mother comforting him from her hospital bed was all he needed to believe she'll be ok- I love you and don't you ever do that again- he whispered into her ear and Sharon whispered a croaky ''I promise''.
-Hi, Sharon. I'm doctor Richards. Do you remember what brought you here?- he asked slowly.
-An explosion at the cemetery-Sharon had trouble speaking, but they heard her.
-Good. I'm gonna go over your injuries with you and I want you to tell me if you feel any pain and how bad is it on a scale from one to 10, ok?- the doctor asked and Sharon nodded.
-You had a concussion. Any pounding, nausia, light insensivity?- the doctor took his pen out.
-The pounding stopped. I don't feel nauseous, but the light is giving me a headache-Sharon nodded as if she knew the doctor was nodding back.
-Ok. You've got cuts on your arms and legs. Do they hurt?- the doctor scribbled something in the chart he was holding.
-No, they itch- Sharon winced.
-Ok, itching is good. Moving on to ribbs. Can you tell me how much they hurt and can you describe the pain?- the doctor waited for a moment for Sharon to calm down because she inhaled deeply and tears spilled down her cheeks from a sudden rush of pain.
-I'd say a solid 7 and I feel like someone used them for grill bars because it burns to breathe-Sharon took shallow breaths.
-You're doing great. Last thing. Can you feel the stitches from the splenectomy? Your spleen was ruptured due to a hard blow to your abdomen. You'll be ok in a couple of months- the doctor smiled seeing Sharon's breathing evened out.
-The stitches itch. Isn't there a way for me to get back to work sooner?- she asked and the doctor shared a silent snort laugh with Andy and Rusty.
-Sharon, you literally got blown away into a stone block that gave you a concussion, broken ribbs and a ruptured spleen. Take it easy. Let your son and husband take care of you. Even superwomen sometimes need supermen to take care of them- he smiled- This- he took her hand and laid it on a small remote- is how you call the nurse if you need her. I'm on call tonight so I'll come check on you, ok? Try to get some rest- he gently patted her hand and turned to Andy-Would you like to sleep here tonight?
-Yes, please. I don't think I'd be able to fall asleep at home- Andy smiled and looked at his sleeping fianceé.
-I'll tell the nurse to get your bed when I finish my rounds, ok?- dr. Richards then looked at Rusty.
-I'd like to stay, but I'm guessing I'll be told to go home and get some rest- Rusty sighed.
-Andrea and Gavin are picking you up. Get your clothes from the condo because you'll be sleeping at Andrea's and she'll take you to work in the morning. I'll call you after morning rounds and you can stay with Sharon while I go home to shower and change. That ok?- Andy asked knowing Rusty wouldn't like staying home alone.
-Yeah, sure. Thank you. Hang in there and call me if you need me- this time it was Rusty pulling Andy into a hug and kissing his mother's cheek before he left the room. Andy sat back on the sofa by the door and doozed off snapping out of his dreamless sleep to the sound of squeeky wheels.
-Here you go, Mr. Flynn, this is your bed. If there's anything you need just press the button on the remote by your wife's bed. Should I write you down for breakfast?- the nurse asked softly.
-Yes, thank you-Andy nodded and taking his shirt and pants off when the nurse left he crawled into bed and fell asleep the second his head touched the pillow, adrenalin and the stress draining from his body. Empty, warm feeling lulled him to sleep much like a fever fit, with him coming in and out of it to the slightest movement and sound he could register. Sharon stirred once and Andy held his breath until her breathing came back to normal. He was wide awake long before dawn and after getting dressed and washing his face he slowly paced the room waiting for Sharon's doctor.
-Her vitals are fine. If it weren't for the splenectomy we'd discharge her tomorrow morning. I think she'll be ok to go home in three days- the doctor calmed Andy down and he immediately called Rusty and Provenza. The team said hi and promised to come visit Sharon when they wrap up the Ortiz case.