Chapter 9: Recovery

Novak's POV:

Where the hell am I? The last thing I remember is being on a stretcher and being taken out of that building. I open my eyes slowly, but close them immediately after because the light is so bright. I open them again and adjust to the light before looking around.

I'm in the hospital. I try to sit up, but I am in so much pain that I can't bear to move. The door opens and a doctor walks inside.

"Good to see you're awake, Mr. Novak." I look at him and look around the room, I barely manage to reply.

"What happened?"

"Well from what I understand you were in quite a bad situation, you're lucky the police got there when they did."

"Is anyone here?" He looks up at me from his chart and smiles.

"Actually yes, there is a young girl here to see you. She was told you can't take visitors right now, though that didn't stop her from roughly pushing past the nurses and trying to break in." I can't stop myself from laughing, even though it hurts my chest. Kelsey is learning too much from the guys.

"Can I see her now?" I need to thank her; she saved me from so much pain.

"I'll tell the nurses that she can be taken out of the 'private room' they put her in." He tries to hold back a laugh and exits the room.

No more than five minutes later, I can hear Kelsey shouting at various people about how stupid the visiting rules are. She nearly forces the door open and looks at me. I smile at her and she starts to tear up.

She quickly runs over to the side of the bed and throws her arms over me for a hug. I wince slightly and she pulls back.

"I'm so sorry, Brandon. I'm just so happy you're back and that you're safe." I look into those gorgeous brown eyes of hers and remember what a purely sweet and genuine person she really is. I couldn't have asked for anyone better.

"Thank you. You're the reason I'm here right now." I pull my arm over to her and take her by the hand. She takes a chair and pulls it over to the side of the bed. "Now, I think we need to have a talk about why it's not okay to break into hospital rooms.

She cracks up and squeezes my hand harder.

"Hey, they should have just let me in." She smiles really wide.

"What 'private room' was the doctor talking about?" At this, her voice raises slightly.

"They locked me in an empty room that is used for physical exams! They told me that I needed to be in a more stable environment until you wake up!" I laugh at this, until I think of Bam.

"How is Bam doing?" She doesn't let go of my hand.

"He's fine; I knew you were asleep so I went to his room first. He should be getting released soon so I'll let him know that you're alright."

Kelsey's POV:

I tell Brandon I'll be right back and leave to go back to Bam's room. The nurses eye me the whole time, hoping I won't do anything stupid.

"I'm just going to Bam's room, are you going to throw me in a holding cell for that too?" At my outburst, the nurses resume their work. Even from where I'm standing, I can hear Brandon laughing loudly. I reach Bam's room and proceed inside.

"How's the bullet wound, tough guy?" Bam looks at me from the bed and smiles.

"Hey, I heard you tried to break into Novak's room and got locked in a physical exam room." I laugh and roll my eyes at the same time.

"I'm never going to live that down am I?"

"Not while I'm around." I continue to laugh and lean against the wall.

"Brandon is awake. I saw him a few minutes ago." Bam leans up with excitement.

"Really? I want to see him!"

"I'll get the doctor so you can ask him." I leave the room and it doesn't take me long to find the doctor. I tell him that Bam needs to see him immediately and he runs back to the room with me. He barges into the room as if Bam's life depended on it.

'Hey Doc, can I leave now so I can see my friend?" The doctor looks at me, annoyed that I made it sound life-threatening. I can't hold back a smile but I stifle my laugh. Bam does the same.

"Sure, Mr. Margera, your injury was not too serious so you're free to go to another room. Just don't leave the hospital until a nurse says it's okay." He agrees and hops out of the bed. I take him to Brandon's room and we go inside.

"Bam, glad to see you're okay."

"I'm glad to see you're not dead." Brandon laughs.

"Have I ever told you two that you're out of your minds?"

"Hey, if Kelsey didn't want to run after you, I probably would have."

"Oh sure you would." I reply. "Did the doctor come in and say how long you're going to be here for?"

"Yeah, he said I should be out in about three days. I have some internal bleeding, broken ribs and a broken arm. He said I can stay if I want to, but I can leave after three days if I feel okay."

The doctor enters the room and looks at me and Bam.

"Sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but visiting hours are over." I glare at him.

"I'll show you visiting hours." Bam grabs my arm and apologizes to the doctor. He looks at me.

"I'm not sure about letting you back in here." He says with a smile. "So I would be careful." I can tell he is joking, so I laugh.

"Okay, but can he leave yet?" I point to Bam. The doctor looks at his chart.

"Just come with me and we can ask the nurse if she thinks that's a good idea." I say goodbye to Brandon and tell him I'll see him tomorrow. Bam and I follow the doctor to the desk and the nurse says that bam is free to go. We take off for the house to inform the crew of Brandon's safe return.