Disclaimer: Let me check . . . nope, still not mine.
Author's Note: Thanks for your comments :)
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Chapter Ten: Road to Recovery
Waiting room in the ER:
"Where are Olivia's parents?" Dr. Beresford asked the group waiting to hear about her condition.
"Damn, we forgot all about calling 'em," Fin said turning to Melinda.
"Everyone was too worried, and I think Casey was out of it for awhile," Connie added.
"Well where's Casey?" the doctor asked.
"She went to the cafeteria with Elliot. I'll go get them," Chester said moving towards the door, but he stopped when he saw Elliot coming their way with Casey close behind.
"How's my sister Dr. Beresford?" Casey asked as soon as she saw him standing with everyone.
"I'll get to that in a second. Where are your parents?" he asked.
"I totally spaced it, I forgot to call my dad. He's going to be so pissed, and so is Uncle John," Casey rambled nervously.
"Casey, calm down. It was an honest mistake that anyone in your shoes could've made it," Connie getting up to stand next to her friend.
"Thanks," she gave her a small smile. "I'll call my dad once I find out Olivia's condition that way I'll have answers while he's chewing me out and grounding me for life," she said more to herself than anyone else.
"Okay, but don't forget to call him. I'm surprised he hasn't yet been notified?" Dr. Beresford seemed puzzled. "As I was saying, Olivia is going to be fine."
As soon as those words left the doctor's mouth everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"So what's her prognosis?" Melinda immediately asked.
"She'll be just fine, she's resting now. However, her recovery will be somewhat painful. Olivia had fourteen stitches put in to close the wound on her arm, but scarring should be minimal. Oh, and a special thanks to Elliot who saved the day by donating his blood because of that Olivia was able to get the blood she needed on time, and she recovered the amount she lost before arriving here this morning," the doctor smiled at Elliot then squeezed Casey shoulder.
"Elliot's the man," Chester said trying to make a joke which nobody seemed to notice or rather ignored.
Casey turned to look at Elliot. The doctor's comments only made her feel worse about the way she spoke to him in the cafeteria. She knew she should've checked up on the stuff she overheard those girls talking about in the restroom before confronting him, but she wasn't thinking clearly.
The doctor continued, "Moving on to her more severe injuries, Olivia suffered a Grade 3 concussion which means that she actually lost consciousness, and because of that she's going to have to stay here overnight for observation. She had an MRI done as well as some neurological exams which showed that there seems to be no lasting damage because of it, but she will be suffering from headaches, disorientation, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, ringing ears, and so on everything of course will be monitored closely here, and when she goes home as well. These symptoms should clear within a week, if not you bring her to see me. We've given her something for the pain, and she has a cold compress to ease the pain from the bump she sustained to the back of the head. She needs to avoid anything that will exacerbate her pain, such as loud noises, or bright lights. She's also drinking plenty of fluids which should help her with her mild dehydration from the blood loss. I don't have to tell you that she should be extremely careful not to hit her head again to prevent any more aggravation to her existing injuries. Oh, and she's to refrain from any kind of sport or strenuous activities for at least a month if not longer. I'll determine that once she comes and sees me for a follow up appointment in a couple of weeks," the doctor looked at the group he was speaking to.
"Is that all?" Elliot anxiously asked hoping that was the extent of Olivia's injuries, and not anything worse.
Dr. Beresford took a deep breath, "Unfortunately, that's not all. The worst of her injuries was that she also fractured a couple of ribs on her left side from the impact she suffered when Mr. Stabler accidentally landed on her. The good news is that the x-rays showed that they are just cracked not broken, and they should heal in a month or two. It is still going be very painful for Olivia to cough, sneeze, and even to breathe. We didn't wrap her chest to immobilize the area because it prevents deep breathing which can lead to pneumonia or can cause a lung to collapse. Again, she'll recover, but it is going to be a slow and painful process."
"When will she be able to go to school Dr. Beresford?" Mike asked.
"About that, I don't think I want Olivia walking around so much and with so many students around her it will be impossible for someone not to bump into her and cause further damage to her injuries. So as of today she cannot go to school until I give her the all clear which won't be until I see her in another couple of weeks," he said.
"Two weeks, damn girl's lucky," Fin said which caused Melinda to elbow him in the stomach yet again.
"Hush," Melinda chided him.
"Keep that up girl, an' I'll have the Doc here checkin' me for broken ribs," Fin joked while rubbing the tender spot.
"She'll still have to do homework, but it'll be more like homeschooling," Dr. Beresford said while chuckling at Fin, and Melinda's actions.
Choruses of "thank you doctor" were said by everyone that waited to hear about Olivia's condition.
"When can we see Olivia?" Connie asked.
"We're setting her up in a private room so you should be able to see her within the next half hour. If there aren't any more questions, I'm going to get going," the doctor informed the group.
"No. Thank you for everything," Casey said as she hugged the doctor truly appreciating all he did for her sister.
"You're welcome," he smiled and hugged her back before leaving.
Elliot got his stuff ready to leave the hospital.
"Yo', man where you goin'?" Fin asked clearly puzzled that Elliot would leave without seeing Olivia.
"Home or back to school. I haven't decided yet. There's nothing left for me to do here, so I'm just gonna head out," he informed him before walking out.
Everyone turned to look at each other to see if anyone had any answers as to why Elliot was acting strange.
"It's my fault," Casey spoke up before trying to catch up to Elliot.
"Women can't live with 'em . . ." Fin said chuckling.
"What you talking about boy?" Melinda said as she put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow waiting for her boyfriend to explain himself.
"Nah babe, you didn't let me finish. I was gonna say can't live without 'em; especially you," he grabbed Melinda by the waist before planting a big kiss on her lips that left them both breathless.
"Man, I need a girlfriend," Chester sighed.
"Casey's cute, why not ask her?" Mike said which earned him a dirty look from Connie.
"Now's not the time Mike, Casey has a lot on her plate right now. Besides, I think she can find her own boyfriend without your help," she said annoyed by her boyfriend's suggestion.
"Casey's damn hot; I bet her sister is too. No wonder Stabler is drooling over her," Chester muttered.
"Shut up Chester," everyone yelled simultaneously.
"Baby, why are we friends with him again?" Melinda asked Fin while leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Um, he has a dope car?" Fin said after thinking about it for some time which caused everyone, but Chester to laugh.
"Ha-ha, very funny guys," Chester said crossing his arms over his chest.
"He does have a good body," Connie supplied while admiring his body. When Mike turned to look at her with an annoyed look on his face she said, "That was for the Casey comment," she then gave him a sweet smile which earned her a swat in the butt by Mike.
"You go girl," Melinda laughed.
Hospital parking lot:
"Wait Elliot," Casey yelled after him. When she noticed that he didn't stop she yelled, "Fine you coward go run away . . . I know you have to lick your wounds."
That caused Elliot to stop and make a beeline for her.
"Shit," she said as she stumbled back.
"You have a lot of nerve little girl. What the fuck do you want from me? You tell me to stay away from your sister, and that's what I'm trying to do. What more do you want? You want me to move? Drop out of school? What?" he asked still angry at Casey, and at himself for letting Olivia take over his thoughts.
"I want you to shut up for a minute, and let me explain myself," Casey screamed.
"Go on, I'm listening," he said as he grabbed her by the arm and moved her away from the entrance that they were currently blocking.
'I can't believe I'm going to say this again,' she thought.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have jumped to any conclusions, but when I heard those girls talking about you in the restroom; you know about your "love 'em and leave 'em" motto. I-I-I just couldn't believe that someone would be capable of doing that to someone else," Casey said.
"Wait, what girls are you talking about?" Elliot asked completely dumbfounded by Casey's statement.
"Oh, they were a couple of blonde girls, I think they were cheerleaders because they were talking about dance routines and pep rallies. Why?" Casey asked curious to see if he knew who she meant.
"No reason. Please continue," he said while seething when he realized who the blondes in question were.
Casey missed Elliot's angry expression as she continued with her explanation, "I mean I heard rumors that Nick that was my sister's ex boyfriend, did or tried to do the same thing to her. I'm not sure which because in case you haven't noticed Olivia is a little strong willed so she won't let just about anyone in or share her feelings or problems with anybody anymore not even me. Although, she use to share all her secrets with her best friend since childhood; Alex Cabot, but when she moved to Europe about four years ago, Olivia had to find a new best friend which turned out to be some whore who slept with her ex boyfriend if the rumors from our old school are correct. I think she became jaded because of that whole experience, and shit I shouldn't have said all that. Olivia is going to kill me if she finds out I told anyone, but especially if she finds out I told you. . . ." Casey quickly stopped talking after she realized she said too much.
"Wow," Elliot said finally understanding Olivia's attitude. He found it strange that he had done something similar to what she did. Cutting people out of his life, and dropping the popularity title that seemed attached to him since childhood. 'Who knew Olivia and him were so much alike?' he thought.
"Hey, please don't tell her I told you all that. If you do she'll never talk to me again or worse she'll make me go to her feminist rallies she goes to which is way worse than any punishment she could come up with," Casey pleaded with Elliot.
"Don't worry. I won't say a word about it, I promise. So you think of feminist rallies as punishment?" he asked her because he found her comment about the rallies amusing.
"Hell yeah, because the people that gather at them are both cruel and unusual. So by calculations that makes those rallies cruel and unusual punishment," she laughed.
"You're crazy kid. Come on, let's go see Olivia," he laughed with her.
"Hey Elliot, what is it about you that makes people want to just open up? I don't seem to have a mute button around you," she laughed.
"I don't know. Maybe I should become a priest?" Elliot joked.
That caused Casey to snort. "Right, like you could stay away from my sister," she slyly pointed out before they both made their way back to the waiting room.