"Well, it looks like you are a very lucky girl, Ms. Dennis." the doctor announced looking up from his clipboard. "We're just going to keep you over night to treat you for smoke inhalation and a concussion."
"See, guys," Nickole started, "nothing but a few bumps and bruises." she declared.
"More like a big bump to the head," Ann muttered under her breath.
"That's great," Don said to the doctor, "thanks."
"No problem," Doctor Hansen replied, "Since the police are done talking to you, I recommend you get some rest. Just yell for the nurse if you need anything." he reminded them, walking out of the room. Nickole lay in the hospital bed looking highly frustrated.
"Why do I have to stay here over night?" she asked angrily, "My parents are supposed to be coming home tomorrow!"
"Speaking of your parents," Ann said standing up, "I'm gonna go try calling them again." She too left the room.
There was silence for a minute then Nickole asked looking over at Don, "So did you really run into that house?"
"Yep," Don replied walking over to the bed.
"Stupid."
"What?" Don asked, confused.
"You shouldn't have done that."
"What was I supposed to do?"
"I don't know, but you could have gotten hurt." she argued beginning to get upset.
"It's okay," he said reaching out to hold her hand comfort her, "I'm fine."
Down on the ground floor, an unexpected visitor entered the hospital. He walked up to the information desk and asked for the room number for Nickole Dennis. "Room 318," the receptionist told him. He proceeded to make his way to the elevator, which he took to the third floor. When the elevator doors opened, he walked slowly down the hall. He passed room 306... 308...
"Thanks," Nickole said taking Don's hand.
310...312...
"Don't worry about it." Don replied, "I'm just glad you're alright."
314...316...
Eddie walked into room 318. Nickole sat up in the bed, "Eddie! What..." Eddie stopped right inside the door. Just as Don turned around, Eddie pulled out a gun, and...
BANG!!!
Don fell to the floor; Nickole screamed; Eddie bolted from the room. "Somebody HELP!!!" Nickole yelled; a nurse ran in, took one look at Don lying on the floor, and called for the doctor and orderlies. The medical team rushed into the room, and they took the unconscious Don into surgery as the nurse restrained Nickole. A second later, Ann came back into the room. When she saw Nickole sobbing with the nurse she started to ask,
"What...?" but stopped when she saw the blood on the floor. "Oh my gosh!" She stood frozen, staring at the blood in shock.
"The young man who was in here..." the nurse spoke up, "somebody shot him." Ann stared at her in disbelief, but then looked at Nickole.
"Was it Eddie?"Ann asked; Nickole nodded.
"Eddie?" the nurse asked, "The boy who burned down the Miller house." Ann looked at her perplexed. "News travels fast." the nurse explained.
"Umm, yeah… Could you go call the police and let them know that he was here? I'll stay here." The nurse left the room and Ann sat down next to Nickole who was no longer crying. "What happened?"
"Eddie just came in here and shot him," Nickole said calmly, "… like it was no big deal, and then the doctors came in and took Don away."
"They probably took him to surgery. It's going to be okay." Ann tried to comfort Nickole. "Let's just wait for the doctor to come back." Ann said. So, she and Nickole waited.
It seemed like the longest wait either of them had ever waited. Two hours later, the doctor came back in; Nickole sat up, and Ann stood up off the bed. "Is he going to be alright?" Nickole demanded to know.
"Yes," the doctor answered, "the bullet entered right below the right collar bone. It caused fairly minor damage, although there was a lot of bleeding. We were able to remove it easily."
"So can I see him?" Nickole asked.
"He should be waking up now. So I don't see why not, but are his parents here?"
"Oh, I had better call his mom." Ann said, "You go ahead."
The doctor showed Nickole to a room across the hall where Don was. He was sitting, propped up in the bed with his arm in a sling, "Hey," he greeted her quietly.
"Hey, yourself,"
"Where's Eddie?" Don asked looking around, as though expecting to see Eddie standing out in the hall.
"By now he's probably in the back of a police car." Nickole answered, taking a seat in the chair next to Don's bed.
Don slumped back upon his pillows, "Good."