Chapter 9

A gasp tore through the crowd followed by a man's voice yelling. "Lexi!"

Roman picked Daniel up and threw him over the barrier into the crowd, then turned back to find out what happened. His heart nearly stopped at what he saw. Oh God! Lexi lay crumpled on the floor near the opposite side of the ring, her face to the mat and not moving.

He raced to her, grabbed Eddie by the hair and shoved him out of the way. "Move!" he growled. Then he knelt down on one knee and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Lexi?" She didn't move. "Lexi?" He gave her a gentle shake, yet she didn't stir. Carefully, he rolled her over. "Oh God. Somebody get help," he yelled over his shoulder at anyone who might be listening.

Blood oozed from an open wound on her temple and covered the side of her face. The area around the wound had already begun to swell. The sight of her bloody and wounded was scary enough, but her unconscious state terrified him.

Dean and Seth crowded around him. "That looks bad," Dean mumbled.

"No shit. Get the doc," Roman snapped.

"Seth already gave the signal for the trainers."

Roman glanced over his shoulder toward the ramp, hoping to see the cavalry rushing out. Instead, the space remained empty. "This is taking too long." He slid an arm beneath Lexi's neck and legs and lifted her against him. "Screw the trainers. We're not waiting for help."

With Dean in front of him, clearing the way and Seth behind him, he carried Lexi alongside of the ramp, around the side of the structure into the back and up the access tunnel. Half way up the tunnel Doctor Amman and the Paramedics met him.

"Put her on the stretcher," Doctor Amman ordered.

Roman eased her onto the stretcher and stepped back to watch. Doctor Amman immediately began assessing her. "Was she ever conscious at ringside after she hit the post?"

"I don't think so." Roman swallowed hard. "I tried to get her to open her eyes, but she didn't move."

One of the medics eased a cervical collar around her neck then placed an oxygen mask over her face. Roman watched as a feeling of helplessness washed through him. He was supposed to protect her and he'd failed. "Doc, is...she?" A warm hand landed on his shoulder and squeezed and he glanced over to see Dean next to him.

"She definitely has a concussion," Doctor Amman replied. "How bad it is I can't tell yet. I also don't know what other injuries might be beneath the surface." His attention turned to the paramedics. "Start an IV with normal saline, wrap that wound to staunch the bleeding then get her to the hospital, stat."

The medics nodded and began opening bags.

The idea of being separated from her made Roman's heart ache. It was bad enough he couldn't do anything to help, but to be forced to stay behind was too much. "Doc." Roman reached for Doctor Amman. "I'm going with her."

The doctor looked up and gave Roman a nod. "Fine, but you ride in the front of the ambulance." He turned his gaze to Seth and Dean. "You two can follow in another vehicle if you want. Before you do, find Hunter and tell him what's happened and where we're going."

"Got it," Dean replied. He gave Roman's shoulder one last squeeze then darted up the ramp with Seth in tow.

It wasn't long before Roman found himself alone, sitting in the ER waiting room, his mind racing. He desperately wanted to be with her, to know she would be okay, but the pretty little nurse who'd blocked his access into the ER explained that he'd only be in the way. The last thing he wanted to do was hamper the doctors from helping Lexi.

The sliding doors opened and Roman had never been happier in his life to see his friends. Dean and Seth stalked toward him with purpose, and Hunter was close on their heels. "Any word yet?"

Roman shook his head. "They're still running tests." He looked up at Dean and Seth. "What the hell happened anyway?"

Seth closed his eyes and shook his head. "It was my fault, Roman. I leapt at Kane from the steps, not realizing Lexi was standing directly behind him. He fell backward into her and I think the motion threw her into the ring post face first." He swallowed audibly. "God, I'm so sorry. I feel terrible."

Knowing what happened was an accident did little to settle his nerves and Roman could only nod at his friend in response.

Hunter patted Seth on the back. "We all understand it was an accident, Seth. I'm sure the doctors are just being cautious and it's not as bad as it looks, right Roman."

"Right," Roman managed to choke out, but at that moment he struggled for control. Hunter hadn't seen the gaping wound on her forehead or been the one to carry her limp body out of the ring area and up that ramp. At that moment nothing was right in his world.

"Well," Hunter sighed. "Regardless, I called Bret to let him know what happened. He's grabbing the next flight he can get." He glanced at his watch. "With it being as late as it is, I doubt he'll be here until sometime tomorrow." The muffled sound of Hunter's theme song drifted through the air and caused Hunter to pause. He reached into his pocket, retrieved his phone and glanced at the display. "It's Vince. Excuse me gentlemen. I need to take this."

Seth slid into the empty seat next to Roman. "I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am."

"Don't worry about it," Roman replied. "It was just an unfortunate accident." An accident that had happened two and a half hours ago and he still knew nothing about her condition. He smacked the chair arm with his hand. "Damn it!" He pushed up and began to pace. "This waiting is driving me insane. Why won't they tell us anything?"

Just then the ER access doors opened and a dark haired doctor in a white coat entered. "Who is here for Lexi Hart?"

Roman spun on his heel and stalked toward the doctor. "I am." He glanced over his shoulder at Dean. "Go tell Hunter the doctor is here." Then he returned his attention to the doctor.

"I'm Doctor Stanton. Are you Mr. Reigns?" the doctor asked.

"Yes. How's Lexi?"

"Well she has what we would classify as a Grade three concussion, with initial loss of consciousness, then confusion, memory loss, nausea, headache and some dizziness. Her CT scan revealed a hairline fracture to the frontal bone. It's minor and will heal without problems."

"Is she awake?" Roman asked.

Doctor Stanton nodded. "She has regained consciousness and is slowly becoming more lucid. It will take some time, but I expect she'll make a complete recovery."

"When can she go home?" Hunter asked as he walked up.

"Normally with this kind of head injury, we'll want to keep her for at least twenty-four hours to watch for any complications."

"Complications?" Roman's eyes widened at the realization that maybe she wasn't quite out of the woods just yet. "What kind of complications?"

"Subdural Hematoma is our biggest concern," the doctor replied.

"You mean a brain bleed?" Hunter asked.

Doctor Stanton nodded. "She's not exhibiting any symptoms and nothing showed up on any of her tests, but many times with this type of injury it can start slow and build over a twenty four hour period. If not treated right away, it could cause permanent brain damage or even death."

Fear slithered up Roman's spine as the doctor's words took root. "But you said she's okay right now?"

"Yes," Doctor Stanton replied. "Keeping her is more precautionary than anything. I expect that she'll be able to go home the day after tomorrow."

"Have you moved her yet?" Hunter asked. "Because we want to make sure she gets a private room, and we'll want to arrange for a guard."

The Doctor frown. "Why a guard?"

"She's a wrestling star for the WWE," Hunter explained. "We don't want just anyone being able to gain access to her."

Doctor Stanton nodded. "I see. Well we haven't moved her yet. We called in a plastic surgeon to deal with her facial wound. Once he's finished stitching it closed, then we'll move her into a private room for further monitoring. You can talk to our head of security about a guard."

"I want to see her," Roman demanded. No matter what the doctor said, he needed to see her, touch her and know for himself that she was, in fact, all right.

Doctor Stanton glanced at his watch and grimaced. "It's really late. It would be better if you came back in the morning."

He'd waited and worried over her for too long to take no for an answer. Roman took a step toward the doctor only to have Hunter block his path. "Um...doc. Can I talk to you privately for a moment?"