[A/N] I told you I wouldn't leave you on a cliff-hanger too long. Thanks again for the continued support for my last two chapters, I do apologise for all the anguish I continually put Paige through but I mean she's strong and remains resilient. Having Emily around helps too. Without further ado enjoy this next chapter.
"Hi, we're friends of Paige's." Spencer tapped on the cop's shoulder who was now interrupted briefly from taking down notes.
"Yes and..." He brushed her off shaking his head, unmoved by her statement.
"Paige. As in the girl unconscious on the fucking ground. Are you stupid or something?" Her anger unwavering as seen in her ice cold glare.
Emily remained stood frozen, stilled by the image of Paige's weakened, hurt and injured body. She looked so small, so helpless. She looked broken. Her whole world continued collapsing around her, sick with anger that they were victim to another bump in the road, just when things seemed to be going so well. Flashes of the car accident traumatically invaded her memory, she couldn't bear to imagine how Paige felt when she saw Emily in a similar situation. The feeling of helplessness, heavy and suffocating, making you feel claustrophobic yet you're outside in the open.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Ma'am. We have a car chasing down the suspect." The greying police man spoke more sincere this time, apologising profusely when he caught sight of Emily stood weakly behind Spencer, their hands interlinked so tightly their knuckles shone white.
"Okay, but can you just explain what happened?" Spencer sighed once more, she really didn't care about the suspect in this very moment, Paige's well-being was her biggest concern.
"Yeah at the minute it seems to be an act of violence, a result of intoxication. Alexandra told us the young lady was defending her, trying to protect her when the man completely lost it, hitting her over the head with a bottle, before continuously kicking her on the ground. She lost consciousness just before you showed up. An ambulance is on the way, it should be here any minute. The medic is a local, she says Paige is stable but most likely suffering a concussion. Her heart rate is fine, her breathing is a little laboured which she suspects is result of pain in her chest. She identified a broken wrist, and suspects that Paige may have a number of broken ribs, so really now her biggest concern is internal bleeding." He explained as if it was nothing.
Emily felt violently ill when she heard a gut wrenching high-pitched screech, Paige's body jumping back into consciousness now overwhelmed by pain.
"Ma'am please remain calm, I understand you're in a lot of pain. But the ambulance will be here soon." The medic spoke with composure which seemed to ease Paige's laboured breathing and panicked heart rate a little. "I need you to stay awake. Some of your friends are here." She looked behind her, encouraging Emily and Spencer to approach her.
Emily moved forward slowly, her mind working in overdrive as she knelt down next to Paige caressing the girl's face. A quivering smile growing on Paige's features as she was momentarily removed from the fiery tenderness and aching discomfort, caught up in her girlfriend's eyes.
"I... I... must be dead. I-I'm in the presence of... of an angel." Her voice cracked, unable to breath very well making it increasingly difficult to talk.
Emily smiled through her red raw and tear stained eyes on hearing the cheesy line. It was such a Paige thing to say. "Paige..." the name almost lost to a brittle, terrified sob that Emily didn't mean to escape.
"God, your smile makes everything better." Her own smile faltering, now grimacing slightly as the throbbing intensified.
"Paige, what did you go and do?" Emily met her girlfriend's eyes, caressing the girl cheeks wiping at the tears that were falling there, her thumb swiping some of the blood too but she didn't care.
"Batman, p-p-problems." She laughed only for it to intensify the pain ten-fold, her eyes rolling into the back of her head, her teeth clenching as she hissed out a breathy groan. "Fuuuck." Her voice drawled, the pain on her words churning Emily's stomach, her own heart was racing knowing she couldn't do anything to help ease her girl's pain.
"Paige, my love. Try relax, ease your breathing. You've hurt some ribs, that's what causing the most of your discomfort." Emily reassured, pushing the girl's rain soaked hair aside.
"How am I supposed to relax when you're right next to me, Em?" Paige spoke on a breath, her words unintentionally causing her girlfriend to feel hurt. "No... no, I didn't mean it like. You drive me crazy, Em."
"Should I move away?" Emily questioned, anxiously looking between Paige and the medic.
"No. No. Please don't." Paige looked so scared and so vulnerable, her eyes tearing up further as her brown orbs desperately begged Emily to stay close. "You make the pain seem a little more bearable."
Emily didn't respond, she simply wiped at her own eyes with the end of her sleeve this time, before tentatively leaning forward to place a feather-like kiss to Paige's forehead. "I love you, Paige. I promise I'm not going anywhere."
The next ten minutes seemed to pass in a flash, the ambulance arrived and Emily had to stand back letting the paramedics treat Paige properly. Paige seemed to be strapped inside the ambulance, hooked up to an IV and given an oxygen mask all in one motion. She begged to go with them, collapsing into Spencer's strong hold when they outright refused, Alex was more of a priority. Emily didn't remember Caleb showing up or the drive to the hospital, but here she was staring at the entrance sign before her. Coincidentally Paige was brought to the hospital Emily works at, she had seen this sign so many times, walked through these door hundreds of times but in the moment it seemed like a physically impossible task to overcome. Spencer interlinked their fingers, finally she found enough encouragement to walk forward, and she knew Paige was fine, unfortunately that darkening niggling thought in the back of mind was truly haunting.
But what if she wasn't.
Of course, that was the worst case scenario; Paige was still alert, awake and making stupid jokes trying to hide just how much pain she was in, when Emily last saw her before they slammed the ambulance doors shut. Emily still flinching at the memory. Paige's light hearted spirit was a good sign, but she still couldn't help her mind from running; what if her concussion was really a brain bleed? What if she did have some internal bleeding? What if her lung collapsed under the strain of her ribs?
What if?
"Emily, sweetheart what brings you here at this hour?" A voice echoed towards her. Finally she recognised it as Patty, the older woman who worked reception in the ER.
"Paige, my girlfriend." Was all she could will herself to say, the woman's cheeriness suddenly growing serious, as she began tapping away at the computer screen before her.
"That young girl brought in after being attacked?" She questioned, Emily remained unmoved, it was Spencer who answered with a subtle melancholic nod. Caleb was standing behind them, impatiently pacing back and forth as he too waited to hear some bit of news. "Okay, she's just gone for an X-ray and scan. She'll be staying in Room 241. I'm not supposed to let family members know such information but if you wait in the second floor recreation room you should be allowed to see her as soon as she is moved into the room. You go on up ahead, sweetheart."
Emily acknowledged her kindness with a tender smile. Wiping at her tearful eyes once more when she felt Caleb wrap an arm around her, pulling her into a warming bear hug. "She'll be fine, Em."
Slowly they walked up to small room, it wasn't an official waiting area more like a seating area that patients could socialise with family members outside of the confines of their ward or room. It was empty now, no reason for use in the middle of the night. Emily sat down, her motion driven on auto-pilot. On entering the small room she felt numb, she just wanted to see Paige again, make sure she was okay. Time seemed to pass by impossibly slow, looking at her phone every two minutes was making her weary, exhausted and frustrated. Spencer made her some coffee, but she could just about sip at the cup's black contents, the acidic taste doing nothing for her churning, nerve fuelled stomach.
She was startled when she heard a group of voices close by, Paige was asleep on the bed as they entered the room where she would staying. Emily immediately standing up, hoping to get a look at her girlfriend's face but they had already entered the room. She moved with speed to follow them, running into a porter, who was trying to exit, with force.
"I'm sorry we don't allow guests outside of visiting hours." He proclaimed, a sympathetic look on his features when he noticed just how distressed she looked.
"I know and I'm sorry. I work here and Patty up front said I could come up." Emily's words holding no emotion, her eyes staring at Paige now dressed in an off-white hospital gown which only seemed to emphasise her ghostly pale colouring, a bandage wrapped around her head tightly covering where a wound once brandished on-lookers eyes, while the rest of her body was wrapped comfortably in some bed sheets.
"Yeah? Which department?" The doctor tending to Paige questioned this time.
"Physio, the building out the back." Brushing off her response, she entered the room some more. Her heart calming somewhat when she got a better look at the brunette, she looked peaceful in sleep. "Is she okay?"
"Yes, she has a few major bumps and bruises. Our biggest concern was her ribs, she has one cracked rib on her right side, and the others are just severely bruised. She was lucky to have avoided any breaking, given the traumatic event. They will still however take a good few weeks to heal, but I'm sure you know the protocol working in physical therapy. She has fractured her wrist, it appears to have been broken before?" Emily cringed without really thinking, she really didn't want to be reminded of the crash right now, especially when she was already fighting off thoughts and trying to block the memories of the past from evading her mind, being in the hospital always made it a little more difficult to do.
"Umm, yeah she was in a car accident about five years ago and broke her wrist. She fractured some ribs too, but as far as I can remember it was on her left side." Spencer interrupted immediately noticing the wounded distress register on Emily's features.
"Well that explains it, the cut along her forehead has been stitched up and cleaned. It was bloody but thankfully only superficial, she will have a small scar though. Paige has suffered a minor concussion too. We've given her a small dosage of morphine to ease the pain, especially to ease the pressure on her lungs and give her a chance to breathe fully, sleeping seems to be helping too."
"So she's okay?" Emily repeated on bated breath, her eyes starting to tear up once more.
"She going to be just fine. Being honest it all comes down to her pain threshold, her ribs will be very sore for some time." He smiled kindly reaching out to squeeze Emily's shoulder amicably. Emily understanding immediately, she had endured broken ribs in the accident too, and they were incredibly painful, it was hard for her to distinguish just how painful given it was just one element of her entire crushed left side.
"I do unfortunately have to wake her up now, I need to check her vitals once more, and check her pupils. Being completely honest, it's not going to be a lot of fun to watch. It will also give me a chance to adjust her pain medication. I'm guessing she was on morphine after the accident, how did she react to the medicine?" Emily paled, she hadn't been with Paige at all during that time. She was in a coma for three days and even once she woke up she was so caught up in her own life-threatening injuries she never even thought to ask.
"It triggered some PTSD panic attacks and increased her anxiety, but I can assure you once she knows Emily is nearby and safe she'll be perfectly okay." Emily looked to Spencer as she explained. Sucking in a deep breath before looking back to Paige when she heard a soft whimper quiver from the other girl's lips, the vulnerable sound breaking her heart.
"Okay, that makes sense now. She was a little anxious when she arrived here, looking for an Emily, whom I can assume is..." he trailed off a little, his eye line dancing between Emily and Spencer.
"I'm Emily, Paige's girlfriend. We were both in the accident together five years ago... the root of her anxiety." Emily explained without looking at the doctor, her eyes remained glued to Paige behind him. After hearing that Paige was going to be okay, she wanted to do nothing more than just touch the girl or hold her hand. Just something simple, she wanted Paige to know she was here, even in sleep.
"So we're going to attempt to wake her up. You might want to leave the room, Emily." The doctor spoke calmly.
"Can I stay? I mean if that's okay. I want to stay." Emily mumbled out reaching forward this time to sooth a warming hand over Paige's arm, it was the first time she got to touch her since Paige was taken into the back of the ambulance. Reassurance coming when the skin beneath her touch felt warm, unlike the cold, sticky and damp state she left in, soaked, withered and worn by the heavy downpour.
"And your friends?" He eyed the two other bystanders.
"I'll stay, you go call Hanna. Let her and the others know how Paige is doing." Spencer interjected, although even she was wrecked with nervousness in anticipation of what could happen. In the end she decided it was best that she stayed to be there for Emily.
Caleb nodded, he still seemed a little shook and upset by the whole event. He went to exit the room, but hastily turned on his heels to approach Paige's bedside his hand stretching forward gently squeezing her uninjured shoulder. "I'm glad you're okay, Cull" His brows furrowed slightly, coughing to fight back tears, a small, bashful grin appeared with time. He knew all too well that if Paige was awake she never let him live down such a sentimental moment. Emily pulled him into a hug, which he reciprocated almost immediately, squeezing her tight. He kissed her cheek, nodding once more before leaving the room.
"Okay. We're slowly going to stir her awake, nothing too invasive." The doctor explained once he moved closer to Paige's side, reaching forward to gently shake her on her left side where she was uninjured. "Paige? Paige we just want to do some more tests."
Her face began distorting, a quiet whimper trembled on her lips as she slowly reacted to the doctors' actions. "Paige? You're in the hospital..." On hearing that she jumped up, her eyes wide as a high pitched screech ruptured hauntingly from the deepest confines of her throat. The pain soaring through her stomach, violently knocking the breath from her lungs with brutal force as she collapsed back into the bed. The pain making it difficult to breath, or even move an inch, her eyes clenched shut, her teeth cemented together as she grunted seeking any kind of relief. Spencer had to look away, it was all too much of a reminder of the state she saw Paige in after the accident. Emily paled but instinct took over, cautiously she placed a hand on Paige's shoulder before moving forward, just like Spencer had mentioned earlier she needed to be strong for Paige right now.
"Paige, my love it's okay. You're okay, just try relax. I'm here." her voice soft and controlled as she whispered quietly into her girlfriend's ear.
"Em?" Her voice almost inaudible as she tried to speak, the simple task more difficult than she ever expected.
"You're in the hospital, Pay. The doctor wants to check you over once more."
"Paige, hi. I'm Doctor Matthews, you have suffered some badly bruised ribs, and one is cracked. You have a fractured wrist and a nasty cut above your eye. You also have a concussion. We've giving you some medication for the pain, but I'm going to insert an IV with more morphine that should ease the pain and pressure on your chest some more. You can control the dosage yourself, up to a safe level." He explained, thankfully his calm voice seemed to ease her initial worries. She hadn't even noticed she was clutching Emily's wrist like her life depended on it, the grasp contrasted by her index finger laying loose as she ghosted along Emily's beating pulse point. The words seemed to blur together as he spoke, she picked up on key words like; fractured wrist, injured ribs and concussion, it felt like she reliving a smothering nightmare about accident all over again, her heart racing yet the focus on Emily's pulse point making it seem somewhat bearable.
"You've been on morphine before? Yes? So you know what to expect."
Paige simply nodded, trying to speak wasn't worth the pain this time, still much too sensitive to endure. Paige honestly didn't like the feeling of morphine running through her veins it made her feel uneasy and on edge, she felt drunk and dizzy, she didn't like not having full control of her body. But the excruciating pain singed into her right side was currently unbearable, breathing in short panting puffs was truly exhausting, causing her to break into an uncomfortable sticky sweat. Her whole body felt weak, feeble and drained. So to have an opportunity to escape the reality of agony for a few hours was a more than welcome prospect.
"Before I insert the IV. Can you follow this light with your eyes. This is just to check your pupil dilation, just to keep an eye on your concussion." She did as she was told and he seemed happy with her reaction. He allowed the nurse to finish up the IV, before he offered a warm hearted salute as he headed out of the room. The nurse followed a few minutes after.
"How are you feeling, love?" Emily moved closer, her voice faint-hearted as she fought back apprehensive waves of tears.
"A whole lot better now I see your pretty face again." Paige spoke out, her voice raspy and hindered by short breaths. She forced out a smile but Emily could see through it, she could see the pain behind the brave façade, which Paige was so desperately trying to muster.
Honestly it was so incomprehensibly strange for Paige to be in a situation like this, she vaguely remembers the discomfort she felt after the car crash and she was in a much worse state then, than she was now. Oddly, the pain this time somehow seemed more excruciating. She didn't know whether it was just her memory failing her, it being difficult to recall levels of pain lost to the past or if it was solely a result of heart-wrenching distraction, her mind constantly concerned for and focused on Emily and perhaps that made her by-gone injuries and pain suffered seem completely insufficient. Now, here she was stuck in a bed, her body writhing in pain and while knowing Emily was perfectly safe beside her, which was a truly comforting thought, it was difficult to think of much more than the soreness invading her left side and wrist.
"You don't have hide from me, Paige." Emily whispered, ghosting a kiss to her girlfriend's forehead. Her lips quivered "You don't have to be strong or brave with me."
"I'm going to go find Caleb, maybe get some more coffee." Spencer stood forward, even she now seemed worn with emotions. Smiling sympathetically, as she headed towards the door.
"Latte would be great." Paige forced out still fighting off the heavy sombre tone lingering in the room, she hated being the reason behind everyone's dimmed and melancholic mood.
"I'll owe you one, McCullers. How's that?" Spencer winked offering a shy wave as she pulled the door behind her.
"How are you really feeling?"
"Honestly... like I've been hit by bus." Paige gasped her pain elevating as she moved to get more comfortable but the pain once again stopped her in her tracks.
"You scared me, tonight. Really scared me." Emily's voice trembled with fear, she could see tears threatening to fall from the distraught depths of her girlfriend's brown eyes now too.
"I was scared too, I saw black and I thought that was it." Paige swallowed, fighting back a sob as she nuzzled her face into Emily's palm finding a sense of security in her girlfriend's touch. "I was scared, I would never see you again. It was like the accident all over again..." She choked on her words, curtly interrupted by agitated emotion. Unable to look her girlfriend in the eyes as she spoke such an honest truth. Emily saw her pulling away, using her thumb she smoothed across Paige chapped lips, they were usually soft and slightly supple to the touch but now weakened by the day's events. Carefully she allowed her hand to capture her chin rising the brunette's head ever so slightly, tender enough not to cause hurt, their eyes meeting for only a fleeting moment but it was just enough that Emily could convey her message to Paige.
"I'm not going anyway." Her voice low settling into the buzzing silence around them. The two just allowed it to linger.
"I love you, Em."
"I love you too, Paige... but you should know as soon as your healthy enough I'm still going to kick your ass for trying to play batman." Emily was only half-joking. Her heart racing, hammering against her chest when she saw the slightest glint of a smile register on the other's girl's lips, just like it was for her, laughter, was the best medicine.
"I guess, I owe you that one." Paige eyes heavy with sleep now, using her strong hand she urged Emily closer. She was quickly able to read the girl's actions, moving to let her lips fall onto Paige's in a gentle yet tender kiss.
"Now get some sleep." the words caught between them.
"mmmhmmm." Was all Emily heard before she saw Paige close her eyes pulled back into sleep, the morphine no doubt kicking in. She settled into the armchair resting her head against Paige's bed, it felt comfortable. She looked at her phone 3:45am, she waited for Spencer and Caleb to return before earnestly asking them to leave, to go home to their families that they could all come back in the morning. Her mind raced for a while before she too found sleep, thoughts wandering to how she'd tell Nick and Claire McCullers, she knew even her own parents would be disheartened by the news, so the McCullers would be devastated. She tried to avoid thinking about the what-ifs anymore, it was unnecessary torture for her mind especially now that she knew Paige was alive, safe and on the mend. With one last glance, she cautiously took Paige's hand into her own, yawning now with fatigue as she willed her own mind to turn off.
Emily awoke first, the noise of her phone buzzing on Paige's bedside table. It took her a moment to realise where she was, but the acidic smell of bleach was the first to quickly awaken her realisation. The hospital. She looked at Paige who still looked peaceful in sleep, a slight crease inked just above the bridge of nose signalling the subtleties of pain the brunette was still in, even whilst asleep.
Her phone buzzed once more, Hanna's name signalling on screen.
"Hi, Han." Her voice still hoarse from the dry hospital air, as she rolled her neck and shoulders trying to release her tense muscles, sleeping in an armchair wasn't the most comfortable thing she ever did.
"Hey, Em. How's Paige doing?"
"She's still sleeping, but she's okay. That's all that really matters." Emily smiled sadly, her eyes roaming Paige's face sighing as she glanced as the small cuts and bruises, the swelling above her eye had gone down but the bruising had definitely darkened overnight.
"Do you think she's be up to some visitors, I felt awful not being able to leave last night." Hanna sighed her tone sounding genuinely apologetic.
"I dunno, Han. It's Paige so I'm sure she'd love to see everyone. How about I text you once she's awake and once the doctor has been around?" Emily chirped, not really knowing what to tell her friend.
"Okay, well send her our love. Talk to you late."
"Talk to later, Han."
Emily looked at her phone, taking one last look at her girlfriend sleeping beside her, before she pressed the button to call Anne McCullers. The conversation lasted no longer than ten minutes, Anne got a little upset on the phone having to hand it over to Nick to finish chatting with Emily. They both wanted to come to New York, but Emily persuaded them not too, especially not wanting to put further strain on Nick's fragile heart. They were happy to hear their daughter was okay, and Emily made a promise that she'd get Paige to ring them later for further reassurance. Offering a comforting goodbye and telling the McCullers' their daughter was in good hands, she hung up the phone.
After a moment to collect herself, Emily stood up before carefully brushing the loose strands of hair behind her girlfriend's ear, moving to place a soft feather like kiss to her cheek. Paige slowly began to stir, she revelled in the intimate tender kiss but was quickly reminded by the pain in her side.
"Fuck!" She hissed turning in the bed, "Don't look at me like that." Paige's voice sounded weak and sleepy.
"I'm sorry" Emily sighed knowing Paige was referring to the guilt ridden gaze on her features "how are you feeling this morning?"
"Still as if I've been hit by truck." Paige's eyes looked weary, her voice drained of much emotion.
"You know you can just press this for more pain medication." Emily pointed to the button attached to the IV, Paige acknowledged her girlfriend's suggestion with a nod but didn't really like feeling woozy as a result.
"Maybe later, I can grin and bear it at the moment." Paige looked miserable even as she forced a smile. "Em? Actually?"
"Yeah?"
"Wait no, it doesn't matter." Emily looked at her confused, before taking an educated guess at what Paige was about to ask.
"You're wondering about Alex?" She sighed heavily, Paige didn't respond. "I haven't heard much. She was admitted too, that's all I know." Emily spoke matter of fact, she really didn't have much interest in talking about the other girl, but she knew it would be important to Paige. "Hanna called earlier, she asked if you're feeling up to visitors. She and Jacob were thinking of swinging by." Emily pulled the armchair closer, Paige reaching her good arm seeking Emily's hold wincing slightly as she felt a pinch of pain intensifying once more.
"I guess." Paige whispered with a sigh, she was only awake for about ten minutes and she already felt frustrated with her limited mobility and being stuck in a hospital bed.
"Paige, talk to me?" Securing her hold on her girl's hand she placed a kiss to back of her hand.
"There's nothing to talk about." She responded a little more harshly than she meant. "Can you just come closer, you're still so far away?" Paige quickly changed the subject, willing her girlfriend to come closer. That was all she really wanted, having Emily close to her.
"Emily Fields don't you dare hop up onto that bed, before I get to examine my patient." A man's voice echoed around the room, Emily immediately recognised it as one of her colleagues.
"Mike, Hi. How are you?"
"I'm good, but what I really want to know is what the hell you keep doing to your girlfriend that she keeps ending up here. It's just over eight months since you brought her in for a dislocated knee I seem to remember." He chuckled playfully.
"She wasn't really my girlfriend back then..." Emily trailed off into laughter, glad of the moment's distraction.
"Okay, Paige I just want to check over your ribs. If that's okay with you?" He asked cheerily approaching her bedside.
"Sure." Paige replied unmoved. "I'm just glad it's you who's my doctor this time. Not hot ex-girlfriend Tess, who thinks she can saunter in here and flirt with my girl." Paige remarked, her tone tinged with possessiveness brought on by slight envy at the moment's recollection.
"You thought Tess was hot?" Emily smirked, her tongue trapped between her teeth with intrigue. "Also you were still in a relationship at the time, I was single. No harm, no foul." She continued to tease.
"Well yeah, I mean she was pretty easy on the eyes. I'm still a lesbian at the end of the day." Blushing bashfully, while Emily side eyed the girl. "What can I say you have a good eye for hot women." Paige winked, but her good humour immediately put to rest when she sat up in the bed so Mike could get a look at her injuries. As she gasped, pain soaring along her right side, she bit down on her bottom lip to stop herself from shouting obscenities. Her knuckles turned a wicked white as she vehemently clutched onto the bed railing as he continued his examination carefully probing the bruised tissue.
Emily moved around the bed, forcing herself not to wince when she saw the deep swirls of purples, blues and blacks along Paige's side. It looked a lot like her own body after the accident. A wave of anger bubbling in the pit of her stomach, she hated that some person could do this to another. Paige caught on almost immediately, grinding her teeth to suppress excess pain as she reached out for Emily's hand.
"Em, it's okay." Emily met her girlfriend's eyes, anger melting away into sadness as tears rimmed her glassy eyes. She felt selfish having Paige be the one to comfort her in the moment, it should be the other way round.
"I know, I just hate the bastard that thought it was okay to do this to you." Emily sniffed back her heavy hearted tears, a mixture of resentment, trepidation and sorrow.
"I know, my love." Paige sighed, her breathing hitching every moment she felt a twinge of intensified discomfort. She too swallowing hard so she wouldn't breakdown, tears rendering for her through a mixture of emotion, fatigue and a release of pain.
Mike feeling almost as if he was intruding on an intimate moment, coughed lightly. "Thankfully, there is no further swelling so it looks like things will heal just fine. You will be in some pain for some time though, I'm sure Dr. Matthews explained that last night. But I suspect you'll be released tomorrow morning after rounds, you'll heal just as well at home in your own bed, as you would here." He smiled kindly, offering an awkward wave before turning to leave, Emily jumped up running to give him a bear hug before he got out the door.
"Thank you!" Finding comfort in her colleague's arms, hearing that Paige could come home so soon was the final piece of reassurance she needed to know and believe that Paige would be okay.
"No problem. She's a good one, Em." He spoke quietly just enough for Emily to hear, as he tightened his embrace. They stayed like that a moment, the moment ending when they heard Paige release a soft interrupting cough, "Don't worry, Paige. I promise no funny business is happening her. I don't think I'm her type" He held up his hands defensively, Emily turning to look at her too just in time to see a spark of side smile edge onto Paige's lips.
"I know, I got lucky. Really lucky." Emily's heart picked up it's pace nothing made her feel more in love than when Paige had a smile on her face. She could see the pain lingering in the depths of her eyes, the shadows of creases caused by discomfort along her brow and the subtle way she gritted her teeth but yet the brunette was smiling and that to Emily was something truly amazing. It was something that completely and wholly summed up the kind of person Paige was. Tentatively she moved back to sit by Paige's side, caressing her cheek with a soft kiss and a further whispered 'I love you' before taking her seat.
"What were you talking to him about?" Paige inquired, her head rolling to the side falling into the soft confines of the fluffed up pillow to look directly at Emily.
"Nothing much, really. I just asked if my hot ex-girlfriend, Tess was on call today. I need a bit of action now that my girlfriend is out for the count for a little while" Emily smirked teasingly, leaning forward to rest her chin on the bed, they were so close, both could feel the swirl of hot breathy air between them.
"Hey! That's a bit of a low blow, Fields." Paige's tone mocking hurt.
"I know, I'm sorry. But you don't have to worry that pretty little concussed head of yours, I'm not going anywhere." Emily grinned, inching forward to connect her lips to Paige's for a soft kiss. "Do you think I could squeeze up beside you? If you have to move, don't. You'll only hurt yourself." Emily warned at the same time. Of course Paige didn't listen the prospect of having Emily lying next to her was the best proposition she had since she arrived at the hospital, sucking in a deep breath she push herself backwards on the bed.
"You should be fine." Paige spoke through bated breath, sweat glistening on her brow now after the painful move.
"I told you not to move!" Emily stood up, her arms folded as she chastised Paige. "That was really stupid, Pay. You could have really hurt yourself."
"I know, but I really just wanted you to cuddle with me. Everything seems to seep away when you hold me, Em." She sighed, her ribs still burning and she was now somewhat regretting her decision to move with such haste. She saw flickers of anger behind Emily's eyes, terrified her stupid move was enough to ward off Emily's temptation to climb in beside her. Now, almost completely dis-heartened that she may have challenged her pain for no good reason at all. Emily was incredibly stubborn and she was angered by Paige's actions, but seeing the vulnerability on her girl's features almost broke her heart. Without saying another word she carefully climbed up into the bed clinging as close to the far railing away from Paige until she felt safe enough to move closer to her girlfriend. Paige didn't say anything either, she simply lifted her head nuzzling into Emily's shoulder and neck once the raven haired girl had moved close enough.
"You doing okay?" Emily eventually broke the silence between them.
"More than okay, now you're here beside me." Paige kissed the side of Emily's neck, her breathing was still weak, coming in shortened pants.
"You're unbelievable... in the best way possible, Paige. I love you." Emily whispered kissing the top of Paige's head. Silence settling in around them once more, for a hospital room in a bustling hospital, it was surprisingly quiet, and they could head the faint sound of hustle and bustle coming from outside the door but nothing to really disturb their closeness.
"Em, make me a promise?" Paige voice hummed against her skin. Emily's brows knitted together in confusion, nodding to signal for Paige to continue. "No more hospital visits... unless it's because one of us is pregnant."
Emily was sure her heart skipped a beat on hearing Paige's words. Unable to help a subtle grin from growing on her lips. "You know I can't make that promise, we can't control what happens to us... but I will do everything in my power to make sure we stay out of anymore hospitals. At least until one of us is pregnant."
"Good, because as much as the idea of having a baby absolutely petrifies me. I somehow lately can't stop imagining how fun it would be to have a little Emily running around the place, one day down the line." Paige spoke her voice laden once more exhaustion, her sore body and throbbing ribs enough to wipe her out after only a few hours. Emily smiled, tears forming in her eyes on hearing Paige's soft spoken and honest words.
"So I'm the one carrying the children am I?" Emily teased.
"You're too cute not to reproduce. You'd be doing a disservice to our planet, Emily Fields." Emily laughed at that.
"Oh right, yes. Of course." Emily played along knowing Paige's words were somewhat fuelled by the pain medication she was on, even though she decided to forego a stronger dosage of morphine they're was still enough in her system to make her a little loopy. "What about little Paige's?"
"The world can only handle one. They'd be awkward and shy, and get themselves into all sorts of trouble without even realising how they managed to get there." Paige voiced into Emily's shoulder where she was lying half asleep.
"I don't think so. I mean they'd have me as a mother too, so they'd have a little bit of hope." Emily sniggered lightly.
"Nobody mentioned us having these imaginary kids together, Em. I just said I liked the idea of a little Emily running around one day, it doesn't necessarily have to be my child too." Paige remarked dryly, hoping to one up Emily's game.
"Oh. Right yeah, I mean..." Emily brows creased, she was enjoying this little game not fully realising the words meant more to her, than what Paige was saying.
"I was just joking, Em." Squeezing her girlfriend's arms to emphasise that point. Her ribs starting to spasm in discomfort once more as move slightly to relieve a little pressure grimacing into Emily's shoulder.
"You doing okay?" Emily didn't move she remained still allowing Paige to reposition herself on her own.
"I never thought breathing would become so difficult." Her hand hold tightening around the end of Emily's jacket, as she willed the pain to settle down.
"Try sleep my love." Emily soothed.
"I fuckin' hate this." Her voice quivering, a single tear rolling over her cheek. "Will you hit the button for more morphine, please?" She felt defeated asking, but she couldn't withstand the incessant throbbing much longer.
"Maybe I should get up."
"No!" Her hold tightening almost impossibly so, for a completely different reason this time. "Please stay, I hate how the morphine makes me feel. I feel safe with you next to me."
"I can stay. Maybe do some reading." Paige nodded, slowly starting to feel the soothing effects of the medication enter her bloodstream easing some of the burning tension.
"Em, I know I'm a little out of it on medication. But I want you to know, I would seriously love to have children with you one day in the future. That amongst many other things. Everything about that is the truth. I promise." Her voice much quieter this time, as sleep began to win out. Emily looking at the girl in her hold with such admiration and love, she could see the pain, and it hurt her heart, but here was the girl she loved with her whole existence still valiant, true and ultimately determined to put on a brave face.
[A/N] Thanks for reading. I really hope some of the light-hearted and sweet dialogue and conversations in the chapter made up for the angst in the last chapter. Please continue to review, I really do appreciate every single review I get. They give me the motivation to write and ultimately help to drive this story along. I can't say when I'll have the next chapter up, but hopefully soon (not as quick as this update though, unfortunately). Thanks again for continuing to support this fic, and I hope to hear some of your thoughts in the reviews. Thanks and until next time -KTF