Sorry it's late, we've completed our exams and yet they still want more coursework off us *rolls eyes*. Kaysia stop worrying, you have NOT insulted/upset/irritated me, it was constructive criticism and I admire you for it, most people strangely don't have the guts, so I thank you for it. This chapter is kind of dry but sort of needed to move forward, hope you enjoy it anyway =D
Tabby lowered her book and glanced around in confusion as two porters began pulling up the safety rails of her bed. She then turned to Henrik, "Where are we going?"
"A side room, give you more privacy." He stated and walked with her as she was wheeled into the side room. He took the file from the bottom of her bed, "Now you will be taken for your MRI in 10 minutes, in the meantime is there anything I can get you?"
"Something to do? Jeez I now know how you felt when you were in. *huff* Do I have to go for an MRI? To be honest I just want to sleep." She got back to reading.
"Mr Harvey said he found you unconscious." He placed his hands in his pockets.
"I must have fainted." She shook her head.
"Do you have a history of fainting?"
"Not really, it just happens on occasion, normally after a shock."
"I see." Henrik nodded.
Tabby huffed and let her head back, "Henrik can't we just go now and get it over and done with? I'm sick of just lying in bed!"
"Alright, I know how you feel, just hang in tight." Henrik left the room leaving Tabby to sulk on her own.
"Thank you, Mr Hanssen, I really appreciate you moving her." Chrissie approached him.
"Of course." He smiled, motioning to a porter for the wheelchair.
She followed Henrik who wheeled the chair towards the side room, "I mean I know I was probably just being overly motherly and trivial but I want her to be comfortable, she's a pretty girl who was on the news earlier and I felt that people might, you know…?" She stopped by the door.
"I understand, there's no need to explain yourself any further." He commented before shutting the door on her.
Chrissie looked stunned, "Right ok." She muttered then turned back to the desk.
He parked the chair and stood next to the bed, "Right then, I'm going to take you down for your MRI." He helped her swing her legs from the bed and supported her as she hopped from the bed to the chair.
Henrik parked Tabby by the scanner bed before going into the control room and emptying his pockets and removing his glasses. He then came back in to find Tabby leaning against the bed looking exhausted.
"Tabitha, what are you doing?" He strode over annoyed.
"Trying to get on the… thing." She tried to jump up off her healthy foot.
"You're never going to get up there, here." He bent down and picked her up bridal style and placed her on the bed.
The radiographer came in and took out the wheelchair.
Henrik helped to sort Tabby out, "Right then, you know the drill, lie as still as you can, it will be loud so wear these…" He leaned down to her, headphones in hand, "...and I will be right here for you alright?" He whispered.
"Thank you." She whispered back.
He placed the headphones on her, moved the helmet over her head and moved her in, giving the radiographer the thumbs up and the machine began its loud and unusual sounds consisting of knocks, buzzes and alarms.
He stood patiently, holding the wire of the headphones, one hand on her lower leg gently rubbing his thumb on it. He occasionally glanced over her during the scan, watching her left foot and her right index finger tapping out a rhythm in sync.
She felt Henrik's hand on her shin the whole time, supporting her and helping her feel comfortable and every time she looked at the mirror, he was there. After a few minutes it was over and she was brought out to her boss who immediately got the helmet and headphones off her and as the radiographer returned with the chair Henrik picked Tabby up again and placed her gently on her feet, helping her hobble to the chair.
"Steve, can I just say you have a pretty good taste in music." She grinned as she was wheeled out.
The radiographer chuckled, "Thanks, Miss Rees."
Hanssen tittered slightly, "Thank you." He nodded to Steve as he and Tabby left.
Henrik entered the room to find Tabby staring at the end of the bed, completely in her own world as she jumped slightly on seeing him by the door.
"You can have this back now." He walked to the other side of the bed and took her hand to put her watch back on.
"How was the scan?" Tabby leaned over to retrieve her book from the bedside table.
"Steve has emailed me the images and it all looks clear. No bleeds, no masses or other abnormalities." He grinned.
"Mr Hanssen, Tabitha's CT results." Chrissie handed the tablet to him.
"Thank you, Nurse Williams." He turned it on before a small wince appeared on his face.
"Can I see?" Tabby leaned from side to side to get a better view.
Henrik handed it to her.
"Ouch, suddenly I think I need more painkillers." She grimaced.
"I can get you some more morphine." He nodded in understanding.
"Hey guys, I hear you have the CT results." Harry entered. He stood next to Tabby and took a look before sucking through his teeth, "Ooh, nasty, that's a lovely clean ankle break though. And sprained wrist is it?" He leaned to look closer, "So what it looks like is the car hit you from your right side, took your feet from under you, then as you landed you must've put out your left hand to save yourself but your wrist buckled under the impact." Harry guessed.
"It's like you were there." Tabby solemnly commented.
"Can we get her 5mg morphine please?" Henrik asked.
"Certainly." Harry left.
Henrik gently took Tabby's hand, "Are you ok?"
"Ye." She nodded getting back to her book.
"You seem to stress whenever the accident is mentioned."
"It was just a shock you know?" She let her book rest on her lap.
Henrik understood, "And that's why you fainted?"
She nodded, "I just want some time alone please." She pulled the blanket further over her and settled to a position to sleep.
Henrik smiled slightly, squeezing her hand before leaving.
(2 hours later)
Tabby felt something warm on her arm. She opened her eyes; the room was illuminated with the warm, orangey glow of her side lamp. As she turned her head to see what was on her arm she found it was a hand. She followed the arm up to the owner, clad in red scrubs, sat in the visitors' chair.
"Sorry did I wake you?" He asked quietly.
She shook her head, "No it's ok." She grumbled, "Have you operated on Keller?" She pointed to his attire.
He got to his feet, "Yes I have, I also tried to book an appointment with the on-call orthopaedic consultant but he's fully booked until tomorrow morning, so you're going to be in here a while longer I'm afraid."
Tabby hung her head before a loud sob erupted from her.
Henrik pulled up his trousers slightly and perched on the bed, "Tabby, what's the matter?"
"I don't know." She whimpered.
"Ok, now try and tell me something's not going on?" Harry pointed to the hospital boss comforting his PA in the side room.
Chrissie leaned over to take a look before smiling, "Well that's a side of Hanssen I never thought I'd see." She commented, carrying on sorting files.
Harry snorted before turning back to watch Hanssen wipe a tear from the girl's face.
"Well, get some sleep and I'll be here in the morning with the orthopaedic consultant." Henrik got up.
"Ok." She grabbed his arm.
He looked down at the hand that had hold of him then looked back at owner of it.
"Thanks Henrik." She smiled.
"You're very welcome." He winked then turned to leave the room.
Tabby snuggled down under the blanket and tried to get to sleep but after ten minutes Chrissie noticed Tabby fidgeting and went to see what was wrong.
"Are you alright Tabby?" She stood by the door.
"Can I have another blanket?" Tabby whispered.
"Of course you can." Chrissie soon returned with a couple more blankets and placed them over Tabby, "Give me a shout if you need anything else, alright?"
"Thank you." Tabby whispered and soon she dropped off comfortably.
"Morning Tabitha, are you awake yet?" Chrissie glided in and opened the blind.
"Hm, I am now." Tabby grumbled shading the light from her eyes.
"Mr Hanssen will be here soon with the orthopaedic consultant. Is there anything I can get you in the meantime?" She rested her hands on the bed next to Tabby.
"Cup of tea would be amazing." Tabby sat herself up.
"Sure thing." Chrissie winked.
"Ah, good morning, Tabitha, how are we feeling?" Hanssen entered with a sheepish looking James.
"I'm feeling better, thanks." Tabby nodded.
"Good, now I thought you and Mr Harvey here could make up after last night's debacle so he's going to examine you this morning." Hanssen motioned for the orthopod to start.
James rubbed his hands together, "Ok, now then, let's –"
"James, pause."
He looked up at her.
"I need to apologise. What I said last night, although true, I spoke in anger, so I'm sorry."
"Spoke? Tabby the whole flippin' hospital could have probably heard you. But apology accepted. Now my turn, I want to treat you as a way of an apology, is that alright?"
"Of course it is. Now get on with it so I can go home." Tabby huffed, leaning back.
As James lifted the blanket over Tabby's legs, Henrik's phone began to ring.
"Henrik Hanssen." He left the room.
"Is there something going on there or have just been single too long?" James grinned.
"What are you on about?" Tabby smiled indignantly.
"Well, I'm feeling some tension in the room, tension of a… sexual nature." He teased.
"Mm, well, you might just be right there, but why would I tell you anything?" She suddenly winced, "Ouch, fuck, what sort of an apology is this?"
James stood straight, akimbo, "Well, I'm gunna put a cast on your ankle and I might get a support for it too. As for your wrist, I think a simple splint will do."
"Right, ok then." Tabby picked her book up and began to read.
James stood waiting for a moment, "Right." He then walked out.
Shortly Henrik entered the room, a disappointed look on his face.
"Hey what's up?" Tabby noticed and placed down her book.
"Mr Cunningham has informed me that the Malmö conference has been moved forward a week."
"Wait, that means that it's only the week after next."
"We'll need to change the flight tickets." Henrik sighed.
"We won't be charged for that because of the business we're attending."
"Well that's good then." Henrik spotted movement by the door.
"Here you are, Tabitha." Chrissie entered with the tea.
"Aw, cheers Chrissie." Tabitha took a sip, "Lovely." She whispered. She looked around her, "Did my bag come in with me?"
"Yes it did, do you want it?" Henrik reached for it by the bedside table.
"Yeah, I need my phone and laptop." She rummaged through the bag to get what she wanted, "I'll give the airline a call and change the tickets."
"Oh no, I'll do that." Henrik reached for the phone but Tabby pulled it away.
"I don't think so, Henrik, I'm sat here with nothing to do, and if you take this task off me I will go insane."
He recalled the same feelings from when he was in, "Alright."
As Tabby phoned the airline Henrik sat in the visitors' chair and listened to her phone call, admiring her professionalism and her casual, easy way of dealing with people.
"…Ok, thank you very much, thanks, ta da." She hung up.
"I've only just noticed how confident and enunciated you are on the phone, particularly over business matters." Henrik grinned his 'tell me more' grin.
"Yeah, that's just my phone voice, I sound like an utter chav in real life dun I?" She laughed.
Henrik chuckled shaking his head, "Of course you don't. Though there is the hint of a Welsh accent in your voice sometimes." He pointed out.
"Really? I've never noticed."
"Hello, hello!" James came gliding in with a trolley holding what looked like a bowl and some bandages, "Right let's get to work plastering you up shall we, now quick question, do you need the loo, because this will take a while to put on and dry and it will be difficult to pause mid-session so if you need to go, go now, otherwise we will get started." He grinned.
"Let's just get on with it shall we?" Tabby motioned for him to start.
"Righty ho then."
Chrissie then took off the padding and began to wrap some foam around her foot and ankle. She then kept her leg elevated whilst James picked up a bandage, dipped it in the liquid of the bowl, then placed it over the foam.
"Shit that's cold." Tabby gasped as some of the liquid dripped onto Tabby's toes.
"Right then Tabs, I'm only going to give you a thin cast and we'll put on an ankle brace to give you the main support." He carried on with the plastering.
Soon he was finished and they kept her leg on the padding of the splint she had on before. She then had a splint fitted for her wrist and soon she was padded up with the necessary equipment. Chrissie shortly returned with a crutch, "Now then, try this; you only get one because of your wrist."
Tabby swung herself out of bed landing on her healthy foot and she grabbed the crutch with her healthy hand and hobbled to the other side of the room.
"Yeah that's alright." She smiled, "So can I go home now?"
"Not yet, Tabby, you need to be seen by the physiotherapist who's going to teach you how to use that properly." Chrissie watched as Tabby made her way to the visitors' chair and sat.
"Right, for you, I'd always use the left hand rail and all you're gunna do is hop using these for support." He pointed to the crutch and the rail.
"Right then, let's go." She hopped up the steps like she lived on crutches and as she got to the top of the flight she looked down to see the physiotherapist nodding, impressed. She turned and headed back down with as much ease as she went up. She looked at him expectantly, "So?"
"I'll sign your discharge forms." He winked.
Henrik walked in to find Tabby sorting her things, "Where are you going?"
"I've been discharged." She kept packing.
He placed his hands in his pockets, "And how are you getting home?"
She paused, "Oh."
"Wait here for me." He spun on his heel and left.
Tabby sighed as she got back to what she was doing.